《Ascension of the Nephilim》


 Chapter 1 - The Knight Called Kyros

    A knight stood on top of a mountain of corpses. His once magnificent armor had already been broken, and his blood continued to trickle down slowly. Yet even with his pitiful appearance, no one dared to climb the mountain of corpses to fight him. He had in many warriors from various races. His many enemies employed various means to fight him, and they even tried to shower him with a torrent of arrows. Yet this man would casually use the strong bodies of the fallen to shield himself from the many bows.


    As such, the Vampire Kin continued to send more and more soldiers who would ascend the steps and would die. Soon, the warriors began to hesitate on climbing the steps as his unending and unyielding power remained.


    The Kingdom of Omega had already fallen, yet this knight did not surrender. He would fight until his death. He held two swords. His shield has already been destroyed from the many heroes he faced.


    "So there are no more heroes in this faction of the Vampire Army?" He murmured to himself.


    A red-haired vampire with a cowl that signified royalty arrived from the heavens. He was seated in arge four-winged dragon. He gazed at the human who continued on his pitiful attempts to fight.


    "It''s the Vampire Prince of Scarlet Sword!"


    "Vampire Prince!" The nearby soldiers began to praise. All who were not of Vampire Kin had already prostrated themselves to the floor.


    "Warrior! Your efforts are futile." The Vampire Prince called out to the man on top of the corpses.


    "Your kingdom has fallen. Your king is dead. You have shown valiant strength and might in battle! You have even impressed me, Prince Protokon of the Scarlet Sword!" The Vampire called out. His voice boomed across the wrecked walls in the fallen kingdom.


    The soldier on the top of the corpses simply stood and looked nkly at the Prince. He looked once at the look of the Prince and simply shook his head and sighed.


    The Prince twitched as he saw the carefree expression of the warrior.


    "Arrogant! I''ll show you the power of a-"


    The Prince''s head was sliced off as powerful sword energy shed through the heavens.


    The crowd below was stunned silent. It took a few seconds for the retainers of the Prince to realize what had happened. They didn''t expect their Prince to be killed in a sh.


    "Oh? It looks like I''ve gotten stronger. I guess this life and death experience allowed me to hone my swords skills to the limits. To think a simple Force sh could reach that far..." The warrior smiled as he saw the result of his casual strike.


    The retainers of the Prince grew wild, and all rushed towards the man, and another battle erupted.


    From afar, one of the General''s who went along with the Prince took out a strange card. The card contained a magical power that allowed its users to activate whatever spell was inside of it.


    At that moment, the warrior who was in the middle of shing and hacking his enemies drew a curious look as he sensed a strange power.


    "That must be from an advance Kingdom. To think they have such handy spells at the ready." The warrior sighed.


    The Vampire General cast a rathermon spell. It was the spell [Gauge]


    It is a spell that could gauge the current power, level, and might of the target.


    The stats of the warrior was shown after the spell collected and gauged the power of the warrior.


    ---


    Kyros Steele


    ---


    Race: Human


    Bone Age: 37


    Job- Celestial Pdin [Spec Job]


    Level 99


    ---


    Strength- 1914 (2741)


    Magic- 344 (870)


    Dexterity- 1120 (2302)


    Vitality- 1744 (3544)


    Second Source- 866


    ---


    Active Skills:


    [Celestial Guard]


    [Holy Strength]


    [Precision]


    [Marvel Speed]


    [Light Regeneration]


    [Blood Recovery]


    [Over Limit]


    [Might Aura]


    [Force Maniption]


    [Death Stance]


    The General was stunned to see the mighty warrior''s stats and immediately called the attention of the nearby Generals who were also arriving to observe thest battle happening all over the Omega Kingdom.


    "Oh? With those stats, this Pdin can''t be from the Omega Kingdom. He must be from the Higher nes and found a job here. Why can''t your Gauge show the rest of his stats?" A nearby General who was twice as tall as the first General asked.


    "This..." The first General was unsure. He only had limited ess to the spells from their n.


    "It''s because of Second Source. That is a powerful ability that only people of certain races or bloodlines possess. Bloodlines like mine." A voice spoke as a figure hovered from the heavens.


    The Generals turned and bowed to a beautiful vampiressnded. Her skin was white as snow, her hair was golden, and her lips of deep red.


    She nced at the warrior and could not help but sigh. She did her best to hide her pain and regret after seeing the identity of the mighty warrior.


    "My Lady!" The General''s bowed.


    "My queen." The tall General saluted.


    "Leave him to me..." The Vampiress spoke as she moved through the skies.


    The Generals bowed and slowly followed. Their faces contained worry as they knew that this man was strong enough to threaten the Queen of the Blood Crest n.


    As she moved, the retainers of the Prince of Scarlet Sword had already perished.


    Kyros looked at the floating woman and could not help but smirk.


    "Finally... Thank the heavens she''s here." Kyros smiled as he watched the descending beauty from the heavens.


    "Onest fight?" The woman smiled as she spoke softly to the Kyros.


    "I would want that... But... I''m tired. Just kill me." Kyrosughed.


    The woman''s smile slowly faded.


    "Kyros. It doesn''t have to end that way. Serve us. Many humans have vowed to serve our cause. You can do the same. We have fought and shed several times, and I know how strong you are. I''ve always suspected that your true birthright lies beyond the Higher nes. Your kingdom and family may have fallen, but all is not lost." The beautiful woman pleaded.


    "Oh? Why so... generous?" Kyros smiled.


    "You have been my enemy and rival even before the Great War of All. I respect your strength. I do not want you to die. I see that you''ve already activated Death Stance. I will not be shy in admitting that I have grown fond of you. Please. I am offering this sincere proposal. I do not wish to deceive you." The woman exined.


    Kyros was stunned at her words. He gave her a charming smile as tears began to fall down his cheeks.


    "This the best news that I have heard all my life! To receive the favor of the Fair Maiden of the Dark Alliance would have sent some of your worst enemies to euphoria. How can such beauty taint herself by treasuring a lowly mortal like me." Kyros smiled.


    "Kyros. I am serious. Please." The woman continued with an even firmer tone.


    "My Queen. I would want to ept that offer. But right under this pile of corpses is a noble of the Eldrich n. He boasted and harbored ill intent on my bloodline and my strength. Unless you outrank him, which I highly doubt, then my fate will be a resurrected and tortured pawn through Necromancy." Kyros voice trailed off as he said thest sentence.


    It was as if lightning struck the beautiful maiden. Her once charming and kind look turned to horror.


    "No! No! They can''t! I will plead on your behalf! They will respect and listen to my authority!" The woman eximed.


    "It seems that your authority isn''t high enough... I guess death and curses await me. I beg of thee, fair maiden. If you hold me in any form of regard or care for me... Please strike me down now. Banish my soul before they arrive. I intend to fight them to myst dying breath, but I was also hoping that you would arrive first. Death by your hands is a far sweeter end for me. Please! Time is running out. The Eldrich would have been notified the moment I shed with that noble. They areing here as we speak. Please kill me." Kyros pleaded.


    The woman was trembling as she heard those words.


    "Please. I know that this would be very inconvenient for you. You might even get chastised for doing so. But kill me and drink my blood. I would rather that my life will feed yours. I hope that the Eldrich won''t kill you for this..." Kyros begged.


    The woman wanted to speak, but no words could leave her lips. She knew what cruel fate awaited if the Eldrich takes the body of Kyros. And now that Kyros has in a noble, there would be no hope for this man to leave peacefully. The experiments of the Eldrich would shackle and bind his soul. His body will be mutted, feasted, and even be used in several experiments. The Eldrich may even try to cultivate his body and grow a garden out of him.


    All these horrifying thoughts filled the woman''s thoughts. Kyros was right. Death was the best choice for him.


    The woman slowly raised her hands, and a dark sword manifested on her hands. She held the sword high, ready to strike.


    "Your Majesty! Stop! If that man''s words are true, you cannot kill him!" The giant General shouted.


    "Goodbye... Kyros." The woman ignored the pleading General and readied her strike. Dark energy gathered, and the air around the kingdom trembled.


    "This is my most powerful attack." Her expression turned frosty cold as if she was looking at her most hated enemy.


    "Thank you..." Kyros smiled.


    "Vampire Empress of the Blood Crest... Mechiel Bloodcrest... I know this sounds strange... But now more than ever... I am sure that I loved you." Kyros gazed longingly at the woman before him. [1]


    The Vampire Empress shed down. But suddenly, a strange pale green light shot at the dark shing sword.


    The sword failed to kill Kyros immediately.


    "Impudent. The Will of the Eldrich will not be ignored!" A sinister voice could be heard in the distance.


    Kyros''s vision went dark.


    "Well, that sucks..." Kyros cursed.

 Chapter 2 - The Old Man Called Calaminus

    Kyros felt a great sense of despair. He had seen the sudden attack that caused Mechiel''s attack to weaken. The attack created a grave wound on his body, but when he woke up, the wounds were healing. Though his body was weak, he knew that he was no longer in critical condition. He was in some dark jail cell. Various prisoners were also here and looking at their conditions, Kyros knew that they would also join him to serve the undead soon.


    Mechiel''s attempt to kill him failed, and he would soon be a tool used for the Eldrich race.


    Kyros could do nothing but recollect the bitter life he lived. He was an orphan found by his foster parents. He had lived in the wild for so long that it took his foster parents more than two years to bring him back to his senses. The various doctors believed that the painful past was something so much that the sudden peaceful life caused Kyros to block out the wild memories he had back then.


    Kyros remembered his childhood to be rough as he had always brought pain and trouble to his parents. Although his parents were a duke in that kingdom, his wild tendencies caused problems after problems. Yet his loving adoptive family always took care of him. He was even assigned to be cared for by a ve girl that his family bought. And this ve girl did her best to serve Kyros even though he was wild.


    Such care and love did not go in vain. Kyros soon found a job as a knight. He was a powerful soldier that catapulted his family to fame because of his great deeds. And just when Kyros could repay a fraction of the love and thankfulness he felt, a great upheaval in the kingdom urred. Various groups had revolted and caused this kingdom to plummet. Soon, an Orc kingdom attacked and managed to breach the gates. Kyros was fighting and did his best to hold the fort. But little did he know he was only one among the assigned soldiers that managed to repel the enemies sessfully. The rest of the gates had already fallen.


    By the time Kyros realized that the Kingdom had been breached, it was toote. His entire adoptive family had already been killed when he ran to his house.


    Kyros raged and massacred so many orcs that day were so many that it was there he became a legend. The toon that he served within that Kingdom followed his escape. Soon they became a powerful mercenary force that brought terror all over the Minds.


    Most of the missions he took were against the various orc raids as Kyros wanted to avenge his family. There, he met and fought against the powerful Vampire group that had been rising in strength in the Minds. It was here that Kyros fought and shed against Mechiel Bloodcrest. The Blood Crest n was but a weak and bullied group within the Vampire kingdoms and had not grown in power yet.


    But it was in these random battles that Kyros felt a great sense of security again. He had secretly admired the beautiful and powerful Mechiel Bloodcrest.


    Soon, the human kingdoms in Minds began to fall one after the other. Even the mercenary band of Kyros were all killed, and only Kyros survived. Kyros fled and found himself serving the Omega Kingdom, which was thest human kingdomposing all the fallen kingdoms in Minds.


    But this alliance was short-lived. Human greed killed it as various nobles, dukes, and even royal members of former kingdoms had already betrayed them. They had sold information to the other races that were invading the Minds.


    The strongest army that fought Omega was thebination of several races being led by the mysterious Elderich race. Necromancy showed its power as various undead groups terrorized Omega and the siege, whichsted several years, led to an insurrection led by several soldiers. The gates were opened, and then the Omega Kingdom fell.


    Kyros didn''t even know that he was thest soldier fighting. He was also the only knight to have in a warrior of the Eldrich race. Something that had not happened for so long. It was because of this that the Eldrich raced to get his body. Various ns within the Eldrich race wanted Kyros.


    Kyros looked back on all this and sighed.


    "My life... sucks..."


    "You know what else sucks? Vampires. Oh. And mosquitoes." An odd, loud, and crazedughter echoed to the side.


    Kyros frowned and turned to find an old man sitting next to him. The odd part was that, unlike the other prisoners, this man wasn''t chained.


    "Kyros Steele. The Mighty. The Unmoving. The Unwounded. Oh... You''re not exactly unwounded now, are you? You''ve got many titles in your belt. I believe you ought to be the strongest warrior in all of Minds."


    "We are all destined to be undead monsters for the Eldrich now."


    "Oh, are we?" The old manughed.


    Kyros nced and wondered why this old man would say this.


    "My name is Cminus. Thest of the Ancient Gods. I am the God of Time itself!" The old manughed.


    Kyros looked at the crazy old man and shook his head.


    "Oh. You don''t believe me. But you will. Soon, someone wille here and will set you free. And soon, you will see that I am indeed who I im to be."


    "Someone will set me free?" Kyrosughed with a bitter expression.


    "Wouldn''t that be something!" Kyros sighed as he recalled Mechiel. It would be nice if she had such strong feelings to set him free.


    "You''ll see soon. Let me tell you a tale, dear Kyros. The Ancient Gods were the first of all. We were the beings that guided fate and life in this universe. But soon, the Greater Gods came into existence. They were a rowdy bunch of kids. They created most of what this universe has. Even these nes, which are known as the First Convergence, are among their creation. But to think these kids would still killing each other..." Cminus sighed.


    "Soon, these kids did the unthinkable. They killed one of their fathers. Us! The Ancient Gods! After all we''ve done for those kids, and how we killed the Fallen, they betrayed us! Funny how things turn out, right?" Cmusughed a bitterugh as bitter as the one Kyros would make.


    "Anyway... The hardest god to kill is actually me. The Time God. I have enough power to revert time itself and pull it back. So I was their first target. They had developed an interesting power. They must have found a way tomunicate with the sealed Fallens and created a powerful curse and turned me into a mortal!" Cminus revealed.


    "A god became a mortal?" Kyros decided to humor the insane old man.


    "I was surprised myself. Reverting Eternity itself is an impressive feat! But they did it! They seed! Those kids lusted after all powers of their Fathers. Most of the Ancient Gods tried to protect me. But the Greater Gods found us anyway. Being a mortal, I couldn''t help them anyway. With thest of their powers, the Ancient Gods hid me and sent me to this ne. But for years, I couldn''t find a way to help them."


    "You can no longer revert time?" Kyros asked. Despite the insanity, it was a rather good story.


    "I can. But in reverting Time, I am unaffected. This means that if I turn time back, I would still be a mortal then. And that would mean that whatever power I have now would be lost. As a mortal, it would take years and even decades for me even to acquire one percent of my powers. And even before I could recover two percent, I''d be dead."


    "That''s... a veryplicated situation." Kyrosughed.


    "Indeed. But then, I found you¡ªa warrior of interesting potential. Even I cannot pierce through your past. What exactly happened before you reached ten years old? Where were you?" Cminus wondered.


    Kyros''s mocking expression vanished as he heard this.


    "What did you say?!" Kyros asked.


    "It''s really a mystery, isn''t it? Who exactly managed to shroud your past that even I, the Time God, can''t look to your past? Only Gods or the Fallen, which you call the devils, can do that. You have quite a history, you know? But enough of that. Just think about what I said for now. She ising."


    "She?" Kyros asked and suddenly heard the jail doors burst open.


    The guards of the jail fell down, and their heads were rolling. This was one of the ways to kill a Vampire that had high recovery powers quickly.


    "Kyros!" A woman cried.


    "Mechiel?!" Kyros was bewildered. Why had Mechiele to save him?


    "We have to get out here!" Mechiel hurriedly shed the chains and threw Kyros his sword.


    "Let''s go now!" Mechiel ordered.


    The confused Kyros stood up and held his sword. He immediately turned towards the crazy old man to save him.


    But the old man was gone. It was as if he wasn''t even there.


    "The old man?!" Kyros was confused.


    "Kyros! We don''t have any time left! Let''s move now! The Eldrich ising!" Mechiel urged as she ran towards the jail entrance.


    Kyros followed, but his thoughts were fixated on the old man.


    "Was it true? Is he really an Ancient God of Time?"

 Chapter 3 - The Vampiress Called Mechiel

    Now was not the time to be lost in thoughts. Kyros knew that. He immediately ran and followed Mechiel.


    As they moved out, a horn resounded, and gongs echoed all over the ce to alert the camp of the breach.


    Kyros recognized where they were. This was the eastern castle in the Omega Kingdom. But now, the residents were the Vampire n.


    "Kill the traitor queen!" Shouts and howls could be heard everywhere.


    Mechiel didn''t hesitate to attack the vampires that were near. Mechiel''s power was strong that it easily killed them like they were nothing.


    "Stand down! I order you by the Blood Crest Symbol!" Mechiel shouted as she noticed a familiar toon approaching.


    The soldiers were trembling as they heard it. A giant vampire took a step forward.


    "My queen. Why?"


    "I have my reasons. Will you stand in my way, Duplicus?"


    "I dare not, my queen. But I fear this may be thest time we will see each other in this manner. I hope that you will survive this. It has been my honor serving you!" Therge General saluted.


    "Guards! Form ranks and cover every inch of this passageway. Nothing gets past us! The queen has turned traitor, and we cannot let her pass here!" Duplicus ordered.


    Mechiel''s eyes softened as she heard this. The location where Duplicus guarded was never her escape path. However, various soldiers would rush from this direction.


    "Thank you..." Mechiel said.


    Duplicus tossed a strange bottle towards Kyros.


    "Warrior. You would remain a burden with those wounds. Protect her just as she is saving you." The General smiled.


    Kyros nodded.


    "May you have a good life, my queen. I hope your suffering ends one way another." Duplicus saluted.


    Mechiel turned away unceremoniously as she led Kyros to retreat.


    "Blood Crest! Move! Your toon is on the way!" Another group of vampires rushed in. These were from the Scarlet Sword n.


    "To protect the Eldrich from invaders is our honor! We will not give up that glory for you, Scarlet Sword!" The General howled.


    The vampires realized just who this tall General was and dared not answer any further. The leader of this toon could only gaze angrily at Duplicus and ordered his man to turn around and use another exit.


    "Blood Crest! Make sure to guard the entrance! We make sure that no prisoner escapes!" Duplicus held a strange crystal on his hand that began to glow.


    All over the castle, several toon leaders heard thismand and immediately made barricades to cover the entire path. But none of the Paths that they barricaded were among the paths that Mechiel chose to escape in.


    In fact, as they would pass by these barricades, the soldiers would even offer Mechiel a salute.


    Mechiel was in tears as she saw her men do what they can to help them.


    Kyros saw all of it and nced at the faces of these soldiers that gazed lovingly at their queen. But mixed in those looks were eyes of pity. It was as if they were looking at someone doomed to die and can only wish her sufferings would end.


    "Why?" Kyros asked as they fled.


    "I''ll tell you all about it once we''re safe. Look ahead of us. The enemy is here. Can you fight?" Mechiel asked.


    "Yes," Kyros answered.


    "Good. Those soldiers are organized and trained. It will be rather difficult for us to pass them."


    "Send me whatever buffs you can," Kyros stated.


    "Ok." Mechiel began to channel magic on her hands.


    "Dark Thirst. Soul Devourer. Dark Defense. Midnight Veil. Moonlight Blessing. True Haste. Dark Sight." Mechiel started to cast the various buffs and enhancement on both of them. Kyros felt various powers surrounding him.


    Kyros''s mana had also recovered thanks to the medicine that Duplicus gave, and he began to cast his own sets of spells.


    "It''s a good thing that the Eldrich negated my Death Stance. A blessing indeed." Kyrosughed. Death Stance granted him a false life and strength, but he would die from the rebound of the attack. But it seemed that the Eldrich had used their magic to heal him. He felt stronger as the effects of Death Stance had permanently increased his strength.


    "Celestial Guard. Holy Strength. Precision. Marvel Speed. Light Regeneration. Blood Recovery. Force Maniption." Kyros began to cast his own spells.


    Excluding Death Stance, Over Limit, and Might Aura, Kyros immediately activated all his most powerful buffs.


    The two had fought each other and knew well how strong each buff was. For the first time, they used their buffs not only on themselves but also on each other.


    "So this is Celestial Guard? Half of those soldiers wouldn''t wound me with their level of attacks." Mechiel praised.


    "I''m curious about trying your Soul Devourer. That gave you the strength to break through my Celestial Guard." Kyrosughed.


    "I''d never thought this day woulde." Mechiel smiled.


    The two began to sh with the various soldiers consisting of different races.


    Dark elves. Lizardfolk. Undead. Goblins. Arthropodians. Vampires.


    These were the races thatpromised the Dark Alliance. Leading them was the Eldrich n, a mysterious humanoid n that was said to have half the bloodline of a Dark Devil of legend.


    "Mechiel! You traitor! Die!" A Spider-likedy of deathly beauty broke out of the marching ranks and charged towards Mechiel. Six needle-like legs appeared behind her, and her size grewrger. The monstrous half-spider attacked. Her face was now hideous and did not have any remnants of her beauty.


    "Grashel. Good to see you." Mechiel smiled and began to spin her de slowly.


    "Oh? A strong enemy? To think you''d use that immediately." Kyros noticed Mechiel''s actions.


    "With my current buffs, she should be nothing. But I don''t want to waste time. That Undead Skeleton, Relios, is strong. Don''t underestimate him." Mechiel warned.


    Kyros nodded and began to charge directly to the Undead Skeleton that Mechiel warned about.


    The Skeleton released a terrifying aura that distorted the space around him.


    "Defiler!" The Skeleton summoned as a path leading towards Kyros grew dim. Skeletons are generally great mages. Through a dark spell that transforms them, they abandon the flesh to make their souls stronger. As such, the magic they control is usually twice or three times greater than a standard magic-user.


    And against a human that that was a Pdin who emphasized healing magic, the dark magic of [Defiler] was perfect for it. It was a spell that could subdue the strongest holy magic of defense provided that the summoner''s soul was stronger than the recipient of the spell. Even if Kyros could erect a powerful Holy Shield that would resist a Grandmaster Level spell, the [Defiler] being only in the Advanced level could destroy it.


    But what Relios didn''t know was that Celestial Pdin''s are different. Being the first of his kind, not many knew the potential of Kyros. They did not know that Kyros was not limited in wielding the Holy Element. He could wield all¡ªeven Dark element as possible.


    Because of this, Relios didn''t know that Mechiel''s [Soul Devourer] was buffed on this Pdin.


    Kyros didn''t even stop with his charge and shed the approaching darkness with his sword. Soul Devourer absorbed the powerful soul energy of the attack and negated it.


    With the surging Dark energy, Kyros sneered and immediately used his Celestial Powers to activate it.


    "Reformation!" Kyros yelled as the Dark energy was being transformed.


    [Reformation] was a Celestial art that allowed Kyros to change the nature of any Element. Although the conversion wasn''t exactly 1:1, the massive dark force that Kyros received from a high-ranking undead was enough to cast that crowd-controlling water spell.


    Kyros raised his arms and threw the ball of water.


    "Maelstorm!"


    A ball of water energy shot towards the ranks of Relios.


    Relios was so stunned by the sudden counter that he was unable to erect a shield quickly enough.


    The spell fell, and the small ball of water erupted, and a powerful torrent of water threw the organized ranks of the various soldiers into chaos.


    Relios didn''t turn to see his allies but rushed towards Kyros and prepared for powerful soul magic.


    "Reapers Sword!" Relios summoned the dark energy of the various souls he controlled.


    "Are you an idiot?" Kyrosughed as he lunged his sword.


    BOOM!


    Relios was split in half. Kyros devoured the Soul Core inside his skeleton frame.


    Kyros smiled as he looked at the poor state of the remains of Relios.


    "You died just like that Eldrich Noble, Hordes. You didn''t know I could wield more magic." Kyrosughed and continued to run without waiting for Mechiel.


    Mechiel suddenly arrived next to Kyros.


    She held a long spear with the upper torsos of the many strong warriors on all the races trying to stop her.


    She plucked off the head of the spider-woman who faced her earlier and bit the neck area to suck her blood.


    "How... That was... light..."


    "Marvel Speed. The spell that catapulted Kyros to legend rank during his battle against the Orcs. That''s why he''s called Kyros the Unwounded."


    "How... can a vampire... wield the light?"


    "Do you know what happens when a vampire bites and drinks of the blood of a Celestial Pdin?" Mechiel asked the spider-woman.


    "Mechiel... She''s already dead. Get ready. There''s another crowd upfront. Let''s do the same. Use your explosive powers while I aim for the shield-warriors, tanks, Defenders, and Spell Defenders." Kyros spoke.


    "Alright." Mechiel tossed the woman''s dead head and drank on another race that was still impaled on her long shield.

 Chapter 4 - The True Eldrich

    The pair moved and mowed down the many enemies that stood in their way. Many mighty warriors fell at the hands of the two. Kyros and Mechiel''s teamwork was excellent. While the two had never fought together, they were in perfect understanding of each other''s habits. Both have studied how to counter each other''s abilities. And because they knew each other''s strengths and abilities, they knew how to wield them.


    Kyros was enjoying the Soul Devourer, and Mechiel was leading her enemies to attack her without fear because of the Celestial Guard. The enemies were also tricked. They knew Mechiel was a Vampire and held astonishing Dark powers. The Pdin was known by many warriors and assumed that he wielded powers of the Light.


    Even among the Eldrich, various ns were vying for supreme power. The information about Kyros''s potential was kept a secret by the Eldirch n that discovered Kyros''s condition.


    Now, there were various soldiers from the Eldrich facing them.


    Most of these warriors still underestimated the two, for this was the Minds. A weak and fringe kingdom that rarely produced mighty warriors.


    And so, they attacked Mechiel and Kyros. And they all died.


    Kyros nced and finally saw the exit. They would soon be out of the gate.


    "What''s the n? How are we supposed to escape from here?"


    "An Energy Catapult. The Eldrich brought some here. We use that to catapult ourselves over the wall. And into a certain area. I''ve already ordered my men to position them before rescuing you. We keep riding them until we escape."


    "We are going to be... live rounds?"


    "With your Celestial Guard and my Dark Swamp, the impact shouldn''t hurt... much."


    Kyros smiled as he approved of the insanity of Mechiel.


    "Concentrate on fighting for now. I will answer all your questions. Why I saved you, who killed your mercenary force, and who killed your adoptive parents." Mechiel spoke as she rushed towards the group of enemies.


    Kyros was stunned. He couldn''t believe Mechiel''s words. How could she know?


    Kyros, however, was not distracted by this. On the contrary, he fought with more focus as he was determined to escape this ce. Hope had filled the once-broken heart of Kyros. Could this be the start of a new life for him?


    The two fought across the army and began to battle the many races. But none could overpower the pair.


    Soon, the soldiers began to hesitate. It seemed that the two only grew stronger inbat!


    But suddenly...


    BOOM!


    A figure crashed from the sky and created a deep impression on the ground. Kyros and Mechiel were able to evade it at thest moment. The two looked towards the source of the hole and couldn''t help but have a trembling sensation all over their body.


    Not every race, every person, or being is created equal in this harsh world. Some are born with an innate aptitude for battle. Some were born to be heroes, while others were born to be like gods among men. The Purest blood of the Elderich was such a being.


    They had the physical strength no weaker than demon-kin, magic that could challenge the Elven race, inexhaustible stamina for might, and magic that could level with the dragon-kin.


    Yet this was not because they had brutish physical strength, nor did they have element cores that the Elves had or innate biology superior to the rest. The reason why this being stood a level higher than most races is because of their soul. These were borne with their souls already manifesting in the physical realms.


    The figure of a pale-white humanoid stood at the center of the crater. His hair was glowing white. His eyes were like fire. He had a very gentlemanly attire that was clean and untainted. His features looked so young, but his countenance felt so ancient. But it could not hide the reddish hue that his body naturally released.


    "This is an Eldrich? What was that kid that I fought back then?" Kyros frowned. When he defended the Omega Kingdom, his wounded state was not because of the many enemies that fought him. No one was able to touch him. It was the Eldrich Noble who fought him that brought him to that wounded state. And yet, that noble didn''t even have the glowing white and fiery eyes that this being had.


    The Eldrich had a bored look as he gazed at Kyros and then at Mechiel.


    "What''s going on here? You guys were so noisy that my brothers said I should take care of this. What did you do to my Elderich Captain, Queen Mechiel?"


    "I paralyzed them."


    "Oh. No wonder they aren''t here to stop you. So you merely paralyzed them. I see. That way, we won''t implicate your army." The man yawned.


    "I have read the reports. I don''t care how skilled this man is or what you think of him. He will be a vessel for our soul."


    "Which is why I am betraying you, my lord. This is one thing I cannot allow. I owe it to him." Mechiel then transformed.


    Darkness consumed Mechiel as two dark wings that looked like fire appeared. Her entire body suddenly had a dark-purple armor. Her fangs grew longer, and her spear was coated in the same dark-purple form.


    "Pity. I nned to make you a mate to my boy." The Eldrich sighed.


    Kyros also released his powers. From the Celestial Realm, he summoned his armor. Using the harnessed souls in his arms, he used the Celestial power to reform his armor.


    The Celestial Pdin''s Armor coated Kyros, and he was once again back to the golden armor that made him famous.


    "Gold God Kyros. That''s what they call here, right? Impressive. Very impressive. You seem to have unlocked a heritage of a god. This should be fun."


    "I can''t believe that they have monsters like this in the Eldrich Race. And here I thought I wouldn''t need to get serious." Kyros sighed.


    "This is just for show. The truth is much more shrouded than this." Mechiel replied.


    Kyros realized what Mechiel said.


    "Alright. Let''s see if you can withstand one blow." The Eldrich chuckled.


    And he waved his hand to send his attack.


    Kyros rushed forward and channeled his energy onto his shield. He then did something that didn''t make sense. Kyros jumped.


    Right behind him, Mechiel also jumped and began to hold on to the back of Kyros. For some strange reason, she was pulling Kyros as if trying to adjust where he was. She used her powers to keep herself behind Kyros as she channeled dark energy that also began to cover Kyros''s shield.


    BOOM!


    An invisible force struck the two and sent them flying a great distance back.


    The Eldrich frowned as he saw it.


    "What idiocy. Did they think that riding the force of my attack will weaken the damage?" The Eldrichughed as he slowly walked towards the direction where the two were.


    "Still, that Kyros is rather strong. To be able to withstand that attack. Bravo." The Eldrich smiled.


    It was then that he saw it from a distance.


    Arge fireball suddenly flew towards the heavens. An energy catapult had the ability tounch an attack more than ten kilometers from the current location.


    "An Energy Catapult?" The Eldrich wondered as he gazed towards it. The catapult''s attack flew off to the distance andnded somewhere.


    "Who would fire it now? Are there enemies?" The Eldrich wondered.


    And then another catapult wasunched. It seemed to havee from the very same ce where the first volleynded.


    It was then that the Eldrich''s expression changed into horror.


    Using Celestial Guard and Dark Swamp, which provided a cushion fornding, the pair would crash on the ground and mount another Catapult conveniently positioned nearby. The guards near the catapult were confused at the scene.


    They saw the Queen of Bloodcrest arrive and mount the next catapult and was thrown off further. Then the catapult would explode as Mechiel would drop a small bomb she had prepared.


    Four catapultster, and the group was in the clear.


    They had traveled over 40 kilometers in an instant and reached the swamnd that existed just outside of Omega Kingdom. This was Omega''s first line of defense as the swamnd was a particrly hard terrain for an army to cross. But for Mechiel and Kyros, this was the perfect ce to disappear and throw off the search parties.


    The phrase that Mechiel said was something that Kyros was familiar with. On one of their shes, Mechiel was ordered to trap and kill Kyros. And just when Mechiel thought she was victorious, Kyros had pretended to be struck by Mechiel to send him into a warp pad that Kyros discovered on an earlier quest. And just like their catapult escape, Kyros had destroyed the portal before Mechiel could use it.


    Kyrosughed as he stood up and wiped the blood off his mouth. The two were lying down on the ground. The quick and consecutiveunches had caused them to expend nearly all of their energy.


    "I knew that we would be the only people who could do this. The Celestial Pdin who could harness the fire for added protection and Celestial Guard to protect us. My assistance in solidifying the shield and softening ournding would ensure our survival." Mechiel slowly lifted up her bloodied body.


    "We have to move now. We cannot be careless. Who knows what the Elderich has to trace our escape."


    Kyros nodded. But suddenly, his expression changed.


    He gazed on the empty area nearby. Space began to crack as if it was ss and a familiar figure emerged.

 Chapter 5 - The Chance Of Reincarnation

    It all happened too fast. Kyros tried to stop the attack, but the shing force had already struck Mechiel.


    Mechiel''s body was sliced in half. Kyros quickly caught the upper half of Mechiel''s body and stood in front of her. As a vampire, it was still possible for Mechiel to survive that attack. But with a terrifying enemy in front of him, it was nonsensical for Kyros to put up a fight.


    The space shattered as the Eldrich emerged once more.


    "How dare you y me, Vicarous a fool?" The enraged Eldrich screamed.


    "You made me waste all that to break space and find you! How dare you!" Vicarous roared.


    The roar alone sent Kyros tumbling back. Kyros grabbed on to Mechiel and tried to flee, but suddenly a strange force wrapped around him, and Kyros couldn''t move at all.


    Vicarous had held on to a strange jewel, and his expression grew angrier by the second.


    "Your interesting ability to wield all elements saved you. You took the brunt of my attack and made it your own to protect you from the catapults burning energy! What ingenuity! I should praise that Queen for her tact. What an interesting scheme! As a reward, I will feast on her right before your eyes!" Vicarousughed.


    Kyros tried to move but found that his body was unable toply.


    "Trying to escape? Foolish. I stopped time around your body. You have quite a strong soul. I guess using these artifacts to capture you is worth it." Vicarousughed as he walked towards Kyros and snatched Mechiel off Kyros''s arms.


    "I guess I have to find my son a new mate..." Vicarous sighed and immediately drew Mechiel to bite her.


    Kyros exploded in rage but s, not an inch of his body was moving.


    Suddenly, Vicarous stopped right before his bite connected.


    "Perfect. Just as nned." Theughter of a familiar old man was heard.


    Standing right behind Vicarous was the old man, Cminus.


    "I told you you''d soon believe me." Heughed as he moved towards Kyros.


    "Speak with your mind. I took advantage of this stopped time to emerge. After all, I can''t be too careful. I know that after they cursed me, using my powers would alert them. So here I am left to do these shameful things like relying on a punk Eldrich to speak to you." Cminusughed.


    "Who- who are you?" Kyros called out with his mind.


    "As I said, I am Cminus, the Ancient God of Time. And I am here, young Pdin, to help you."


    "Help me? You are here to save me?"


    "No. I am here to ensure that you do die!" Cminusughed.


    "Enough with the games! Save her!"


    "No. Rather, what are you going to do after this? Let''s say you defeat this Eldrich... even if by some miracle that you do kill him, his family wille here. Didn''t you hear? He used a time and space artifact to trace you! His first attack had already marked you with his Soul! If you kill him, it won''t be difficult for the other Eldrich races toe here. This power to bend through time and space is based on an extremely inferior version of Time magic. But it''s enough to get them here. This Eldrich is the weakest of all purebloods." Cminus exined."


    "Then what are you here for if not to save her! If you choose to save only me, then forget it!"


    "My hotblooded friend... remember what I said. I am an Ancient God who is in the same predicament as you! I am being chased by the Greater Gods who betrayed me. Remember?" Cminus smiled as he moved closer.


    Kyros was confused at first but then tried to recall his former conversation with this old man.


    "You... have the power to revert time?"


    "Yes. It is the ancient of all magic. I can reverse time itself. All of this will not happen. And if you agree to help me, I can reverse time all the way back to the time before you even lost your adoptive family!" Cminus exined.


    "My family?"


    "You can save them! Not just your family! You have a shot at saving your kingdom! You will even have the chance to save this vampiress whom you have fallen for and make her live a better life!" Cminusughed.


    "Why me?" Kyros asked.


    "Because you are the strongest person here."


    "That Eldrich wouldugh at your statement."


    "Who do you think his real master is? This so-called Great War of All is just one of the effects of the battle in the God Realms. Besides, you hold an interesting legacy, the Celestial Code. It''s a legacy from one of the Greater Gods who allied with us. Frankly, it''s truly the blessings of the heavens that I have found someone strong and smart enough to wield the Celestial Code."


    Kyros was stunned to hear these words.


    "Great God Daradiel is my close friend. He must have appeared to you when you received this legacy of his! I can sense a bit of his soul in you, my friend."


    "Daradiel is a God?!" Kyros eximed.


    "WAS a god. He died fighting and sent his legacy to the lower realms hoping that someone like you would acquire it. It looks like it indeed went to the rightful owner. But s, our enemy is smarter. I don''t me you for your weakness and ineptitude in falling for those many schemes. After all, there were several gods involved. But now is our chance to change it."


    "I must die for this magic to work?"


    "Yes. I will be passing down to you my magic. It is magic that can turn back time itself! However, I can only use it when the caster dies. As already exined, the curse granted to me is quite powerful. In fact, if I die and is reborn, the curse will travel back, and to some extents, the Greater Gods will know of my death and where I am when I reincarnated."


    "Then what use is it for me to be resurrected in the past? Won''t they just kill me and find out?"


    "Except that when you were less than ten years old, you have such strange magic upon you that shrouds even my eyes. So if I can''t pierce through where you were back then, so can''t they! They may have an idea as to where you will time travel, but with such a broad scope, finding you will be difficult!" Cminusughed excitedly.


    "Can''t you see? You are the perfect one! You are the perfect vessel!"


    "Vessel?"


    "I have to die as well. I don''t intend to leave everything to you. I will join you and die with you. My soul will be bonded to you, and you will face all those tribtions and painful moment and ovee it! This is your destiny! Haven''t you wondered why you lived such a bitter life? Although you''ve had moments of victories, all that you gained were lost before you. Your family. Your kingdom. Your friends. And now, your love."


    "What are you saying? I was destined for these things!"


    "Yes! And this is why I''m sure that you are to be my vessel because an Ancient God died and used simr magic like mine to set the fates. It was by destiny that I arrived here. It was by destiny that I met you. It was by destiny that this Eldrich race found one of the oldest legacies I left behind and found a means to replicate the maniption of time!" Cminus waved his hands grandly to the heavens as if bragging of such great victory.


    "The Greater Gods thought they won, but what they don''t know, killing that Ancient God has ensured the survival of the Ancients! See how the heavens arrange our victory together!"


    Kyros''s had Mechiel in his field of vision. He could still see the dying expression of this beautiful vampiress.


    "I ept. What must I do?" Kyros asked.


    "You have to die. To be more specific, this Eldrich must kill you. I have just the thing to force him to kill you! This is a powerful poison strong enough to injure or kill an Eldrich pure blood." Cminus revealed a small bottle and poured it on the de of Kyros.


    "I will use my magic to undo the time constraining your body. Stab him with your sword. This will be beyond his expectation. He will counterattack, and all you have to do is let yourself be killed." Cminus exined.


    "I understand." Kyros felt his hand growing itchy. He was hoping that he could exact revenge on this person for what he did to Mechiel.


    "I''m sure that you won''t fail me. Alright. I will be transferring my soul to you now. This body of mine will wither, and there will be no returning. I will be bound to your soul and will reincarnate with you. I can only hope that the destiny forged by Ancient Fate is enough to help me reform my godly being. If not, it is fine. If you are able to warn the Ancients, it will already enough to greatly aid our side."


    "I will not fail you!" Kyros vowed.


    "Good. Now let our souls be intertwined!" Cminus reached towards Kyros, and almost instantly, the body of Cminus turned to dust. Very soon, even the dust disappeared.


    The soul of Cminus was bound to Kyros.


    And as Cminus saw through the soul of Kyros, he pierced through all his secrets.


    "MY GOD! WHAT IS THIS?!" A terrifying howl echoed within Kyros as the soul of Cminus witnessed the horrors and wonders in Kyros''s bodies.


    "You...! This soul...! You are a Nephilim!" Cminus eximed.

 Chapter 6 - The Nephilim

    Cminus was quivering in great fear.


    "A Nephilim! A Nephilim! A mighty fragmenting Nephilim!"


    "...?" Kyros was confused. He could hear Cminus but wondered what he was talking about.


    "You! Do you know what you are?!"


    "What I am?"


    "Yes! What you are! No wonder you have Second Source! No, wait! This isn''t Second Source! This is... God Source! Oh, my Sovereign! Devil Source?! You have it too?!"


    Kyros was getting more and more confused.


    "But how is it... this soul... it isn''t unstable! How can this be? Nephilims have such souls? And those seals! Have I been decieved? Are Nephilims not what we thought them to be?"


    "What are you talking about?" Kyros asked.


    "Never mind then. Instead of exining it, let me just show you! I will be using magic that only the higher realms andnds have. But this one is far stronger since it''s the level that gods have! With the power of God''s Eyes and show you your real status!"


    "My real status? You mean...? I''m not single?"


    "...? What?"


    "What?"


    "What''s wrong with you all of a sudden?" Cminus wondered. Kyros was a serious soul. But suddenly, there was sarcasm.


    "I... I don''t know. My soul... It''s changing."


    "Of course! My soul mixed with yours, and it somehow weakened the curses! I''ll exinter, but for now, behold your status!"


    All of a sudden, various images appeared in front of Kyros. It was simr to the magic [Gauge] used on Kyros by one of the Generals.


    ---


    Kyros ????


    Race: Nephilim


    Soul Age: 63


    Mortal Level 53 [Max Level Cap Reached]


    ---


    Strength- 1914 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 344 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 1120 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 1744 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- 758 ( Sealed/ Greatly Cursed)


    Soul Force- 760 (Sealed/ Greatly Cursed)


    Ancient Source- 437 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 429 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    Active Skills/ Spells:


    [Celestial Guard]


    [Holy Strength]


    [Precision]


    [Marvel Speed]


    [Light Regeneration]


    [Blood Recovery]


    [Force Maniption]


    [Time Stop]


    ---


    Active Seals:


    [Devil Bound]


    [God Bound]


    [Devil Trapper]


    [God Trapper]


    [Paramount Devil Sealing]


    [Paramount God Sealing]


    [Soul Shackle]


    [Imprisoning Light]


    [Imprisoning Darkness]


    [Fate Limiter]


    ---


    Active Curses:


    [Enfeeble]


    [De-Might]


    [De-Magic]


    [De-Smart]


    [De-Wise]


    [De-Joker]


    [De-Spacito]


    [Enemy of Fate]


    ---


    Kyros read through his stats as they somehow appeared in his vision. There were green boxes that contained all of them. Although Kyros couldn''t understand what these visions were, he could somehow discern that this magic was disying his stats.


    But as he read, he even grew more confused.


    The first peculiarity was his name and race. His Legacy Name was not revealed. He concluded that Cminus [Gauge] magic must have tried to search for his real family, and thus it didn''t show the Legacy name he took from his adoptive parents.


    The next was the race ''Nephilim that Cminus talked about earlier.


    But Kyros decided to move andpared his stats to what he remembered.


    Kyros read the list of status and was wondering why his stats changed. There were ways to determine most of the stats shown by taking various tests and exams in the army, guild, and other relevant ces where all the stats are tested. It had been several months since Kyros''sst test.


    His previous test revealed that he was already level 99. But here, he was 53 and had reached max level cap! This was not among any information that he received.


    From what he could tell, his strength has grown by nearly a hundred. From 1811 it shot up to 1914. His magic had grown from 290, his dexterity from 830, and his Vitality from 1100.


    But now, his new stats revealed that it was all sealed and cursed.


    Additionally, data that were formerly incalcble were there. Intelligence and Soul Force now had data, and both stated that it was greatly sealed, unlike the rest.


    His Second Source, which he learned about when he met the remnant soul of the fallen God Daradiel


    had now be God Source, and another appeared, which was Devil Source.


    He noticed that his body was under the active Spell [Time Stop], which should be the time magic that Vicarous used and what Cminus exploited.


    But aside from this, were several curses and seals ced on his body.


    "What a monster! I can''t believe this! What a freak!" Cminus kept cursing as he was observing Kyros the stats. The previous entric, egotistic and easy-going personality vanished as the Ancient God kept running his mouth in pain, bitterness, surprise, and anger.


    "Cminus... Would you tell me what all these means?"


    "It means you''re a freakin freak, freak! Are you freakin kidding me? Three devil seals?! Three God-tiered seals, a Soul Seal, and a Saint Seal?! And yet with those curses, you still have that disgusting strength of yours?!"


    "Um..."


    "Do you know that with the seals and curses in my body, which is about two times weaker than yours, I only have a strength of 2122? What kind of joke is this? What the fragment did Ancient Fate do? Did she die three times and reforged destiny three freakin times?! Can anyone tell me what''s going on?!" Cminus continued to rant.


    Kyros was so confused that he kept reading the stats. He finally decided to take things one step at a time.


    "What is a Nephilim?" Kyros finally asked.


    "It''s an abomination. That''s what it is! It''s the ungodly and even undevily spawn of an Ancient God and a First Fallen!"


    "Undevily? First Fallen?"


    "Undefily! I don''t know what word describes something that will make a devil tremble in fear! Ancient Gods is to gods as First Fallen is to devils! I belong to the firstborn of the Light, and they are the firstborn of the Dark! Light and Dark existed when creation began, and we were the beings that manifested it and gave birth to all of creation today!"


    "So... you mean...? I''m the child of an Ancient God and a First Fallen?"


    "Yes! And that doesn''t make sense! A Nephilim cannot exist! When one of the Ancient Gods had fallen in love with a First Fallen, they gave birth to three beings. Each of these beings held great power. The shocking power they had at birth already eclipsed both of the Fallen and the Ancients that the two sides of creation united to y these beings! The moment they were born, the universe itself quaked! But such union was not possible. Even before we could kill them, the children died! We took that idiot Ancient who can''t keep it in his pants, and the Fallen took that idiot Fallen who had such stupid standards that she fell in love with that Ancient to court her! Both of themter died! But ever since then, none of the Ancients or the Fallen would have such rtionships! It would break the universe itself!" Cminus exined.


    "Then what exactly happened? Who am I?"


    "I don''t know! But this answers the mystery of why you couldn''t remember anything when you were young and how I am even unable to see through your past with my powers! It all makes sense now!"


    "Then am I a threat to this universe?"


    "A threat? The Greater Gods is a threat! You are a freakin cmity!"


    "Then the deal is off?"


    "What the deal is off?! I just told you, my soul is bound to you! I can''t turn back now!"


    "Then what do we do?" Kyros asked.


    "I need to go back in time." Kyros dered as he nced back at Mechiel.


    "Hey, kid... You don''t feel... like you''re hungry for the blood of mortals, right?"


    "What? Of course not!"


    "Hmm... You''re right. Although three seals were made, it still allowed a very small fraction of your Ancient and Fallen powers to leak. And yet... you''re still you... This is interesting. Could it be? What a great mystery urred back then that managed to quell both Light and Dark?" Cminus thought out loud.


    "Cminus. I don''t know who or what I am. But I have to go back in time. That power you promised. I must have it!" Kyros vowed.


    Cminus fell silent.


    "I guess... You have faced such pain in your life, yet you did not allow all of those to consume you. Perhaps this is a good thing. You could even be the salvation of this universe..." Cminus murmured.


    "Can you unseal all of these seals and curses? I don''t understand any of them!"


    "No. Or rather, I can''t now! We have to try when you are reborn. Once I turn back time, you will revert to whatever curse you''ve had back then. So it could get worse. It might be the reason why you don''t remember anything. It''s possible that you were sealed back then!"


    "I was sealed? Then if that''s the case, won''t you get sealed along with me once you turn back time?"


    "Of course not! Those seals are exclusively bound to you. That''s why I wondered just what Ancient Fate did. It is as if this moment was prepared so long ago. That''s why I won''t unseal any of these now."


    "But you have the power to do that, right?"


    "Of course! I may have be a mortal, but no mortal has more mastery in the Soul than me. Besides, I am counting on something else. If you managed to break away from the seal ten years ago all by yourself, then with me, it''s even easier to do so!" Cminus exined.


    "What about the curses? I don''t understand what they are."


    "Yeah. About those curses... Exactly how smart are you?"


    "Smart?"


    "Not just smart. How happy are you suppose to be? These curses are the result of the Fate Limiter seal!"


    "It''s that strong?"


    "Strong?! It''s the weakest of them all! If I ignore that seal, the other seals that you have are very powerful seals! It''s so powerful that even if I am to use all of the powers I have right now, it''s still insufficient to remove even one of them! I can''t even halve the power of one! Only the Fate Limiter can be partially removed!"


    "What does it do? Does it mean that if these Seals are removed, I''ll get stronger?"


    "Stronger? Considering your current strength, if I removed Fate Limiter, the weakest of those seals, I don''t think you''d have met this cruel fate now!" Cminus wept at how unfair the world was.

 Chapter 7 - The Space Sea Two

    Cminus was suddenly weeping. Kyros was so baffled. The sight of this mighty Time God who was entric, mysterious, and awe-inspiring was now crying because of some mortal who was going to die.


    Cminus took the time to review the stats. He kept cursing every time he read it and would suddenly mutter strange words that Kyros couldn''t understand.


    Two minutes passed, and Cminus kept doing this.


    Even Kyros began to grow impatient and afraid. What if the spell wears off? What if other enemies arrive?


    "Mighty God Cminus..." Kyros began.


    "MIGHTY GOD?! DID YOU JUST CALL ME, MIGHTY GOD?! I HAVE TO BE YOUR MOTHERS PET DOG TO BE CONSIDERED A MIGHTY GOD!" Cminus cursed.


    "I... I am sorry."


    "You''re sorry?! You''re sorry for what? For being a disgusting existence that transcends this entire universe?!"


    Kyros could only remain silent as Cminus kept reading.


    "What exactly are these seals? Won''t that mean that if these seals were removed, I''d be strong enough to challenge the gods themselves?" Kyros decided to resolve Cminus''s envy and anger by reminding him of possible victory.


    "Yes! Of course, it is! But it''s just so unfair! I was the strongest! I was the strongest that my enemies had to rely on trickery to defeat me! I was their main problem! And now... I can''t believe that this dying Pdin would have greater potential than me!" Cminus wept.


    Kyros wanted so much to shake his head in ridicule. Just how prideful is this god?


    "Then, can''t we get on with it so that you can help me and I can help you?" Kyros asked.


    "...Fine... But as I said... of the following seals, I can only partially resolve the Fate Limiter seal. I won''t exin the other seals because it''s irrelevant as of now. But Fate Limiter is a terrifying and utterly cruel seal."


    "Cruel? Being sealed in itself is cruel enough already."


    "Not as cruel as the Fate Limiter. You see, this seal is used on someone that a god or a saint utterly hates. This hatred is so vast that killing the target isn''t an option. It is meant to make the person suffer. Take a look at all those curses again. All of those are caused by Fate Limiter. Truthfully, it would have been better to use a Seal or curse that makes you sick or kills you when you reach a certain age. At least in those types, the recipient will have a chance to experience joy. But the Fate Limiter isn''t like that. Because as the name states, it limits your fate."


    Kyros nced at the list of curses again.


    "Enfeeble and De-Might and De-Magic are the only things that make sense. It limits my strength and magic capabilities, right?"


    "Enfeeble curses you to have a body that hinders you from harnessing energy. It is the reason why you have a level cap and that your strength cannot increase once it reaches a certain point. De-Might is a curse that weakens the amount of Force Energy you can wield. De-Magic limits the amount of magic you can wield."


    "What a nefarious curse! It was so subtle that I couldn''t even sense it! To think that the energy I thought I had in my body, in my force and magic would be limited!" Kyros was disgusted by these magic. Indeed, with these alone banished, it would have been possible for Kyros to grow strong enough to threaten the Eldrich!


    But as Kyros said this, Cminus felt a terrifying stab on his heart. He had these very same curses.


    "You... You couldn''t even feel it? Don''t you feel a sense of heaviness all over your body? Don''t you feel as if Magic rejects you? Or that the Force Energy in your body is wild and rebellious?"


    "No. Should I?"


    Cminus felt like he was in hell. Was this his destined torture for his arrogance and selfishness?


    "Moving on..." Cminus decided to move to the next topic.


    "Along with the physical and magical limitation, a person bound with Fate Limiter is afflicted with many curses that limit their cognitive thinking. De-Smart and De-Wise limits your intelligence and your wisdom."


    "Are you saying that it''s a curse to make me... dumb?"


    "Yes."


    "... I would disagree with that. I am many things. But I have survived several battles by the skin of my teeth because I was smart enough to do the right thing."


    "That''s the interesting thing! You aren''t the smartest person I''ve met, but you''re not dumb! Which begs the question... Just how smart are you? Your current state is cursed!" Cminus wondered.


    "I don''t know... But I''m not smart enough to figure out thest curses... De-Joker? De-Spacito and Enemy of Fate. I don''t understand these."


    "De-Joker is a cute name for a terrifying curse. It makes the person unable to find joy in the simplest of things. This curse is meant to make you suffer. It erases whatever joy you have, forcing you to live a life of sadness. And as for De-Spacito is a curse that is meant to slow down your agility and speed."


    "Slow down? You mean like those Slow magic attacks that limit my movements to the point that I can''t move?"


    "I didn''t put it in the same category as Enfeeble, De-Might, and the rest because this curse, like De-Joker, De-Smart, De-Wise is a curse on the mind. De-Spacito makes your brain react slower than it should. Your brain will analyze things slower than how it normally would."


    "My brain analyzes things slower?"


    "The truth is things are really slower than how you see things. If I throw a ball, normal people would be able to see it and follow the ball. But you won''t! In your vision, that ball was moving around twice faster! But that''s now the limitation of this curse. So it is actually something that hinders not only your intellectual potential but your physical as well!"


    Kyros was now starting to understand why Cminus was reacting the way he did.


    "But if what you say is true, how is it that I am among the fastest fighter! Even before I acquired Marvel Speed, I could already fight with men who had the titles of the Swift, the Fast, the Uneseen."


    "Yes! And you seem to be forgetting that it affects your thinking! That is even more terrifying! Because the path of Immortality demands great wisdom! But right now, you are a mortal that has reached the peak! And if given decade, despite all these restrictions, you would have be a saint! The first saint to ascend in Minds for over two thousand years!"


    "So this state of mine, my way of thinking and perceiving the world is slower than the rest?"


    "And that''s why I say you''re a disgusting fragmenting monster! You seemed to be unaffected by these curses! Even the powerful De-Joker didn''t limit you! You''veughed several times in your life! You aren''t hindered in your physical strength!"


    "Wait! Could it be...? The Celestial God? I received his blessing! I remember that it was after that that I found a bit of joy in my life. Could his blessing lifted up the curse?"


    "Then I ask you this, which part of your stats shows that you have some blessing from the Celestial God?" Cminus challenged.


    Kyros nced back at his stats and began to wonder why no blessings were written in his stats. Did Cminus hide them?


    "I didn''t hide them if that''s what you''re thinking. I believe that the blessing negated even more curses! The blessing you received came from the dying soul of a God. It gave whatever remaining strength he had to you. And that improved your stats! Yet, the curses you have are so strong! I believe that your original curse is far stronger than what we see now! So if this curse has more than what we see now, then this shouldn''t be a Fate Limiter, but a Sovereign Limiter! The same curse set on me!"


    "To limit the Sovereign? That is a domineering name."


    "Only those of the First Fallen could have inflicted you with such strong magic. But who would hate you so much to do this? You are a mystery, Kyros. And truth be told, I cannot fathom your strength."


    "What about the Enemy of Fate? What curse is this?"


    "Bad luck. And not just any bad luck! It''s bad luck that you pass on to others. Enemy of Fate makes the universe hates you and will try to ruin you! This is why everyone you loved died and how every group you were associated with met their bitter end! This even exins why it was the Minds that became the battleground for these nations!"


    "What a terrifying curse!"


    "And that''s not the worse part! I am afflicted by that same curse! And since our soul is bound, and my curse will travel with you, both of our curses maybine. It could be that our curse will no longer be Enemy of Fate! But it will be a stronger curse, the Adversary of Fate!"


    "A stronger curse?! Then you have to do something about it!"


    "You don''t think I don''t want to? The Enemy of Fate not only affects you, but it also affects me! That curse will be used as a channel to send any possible information of our resurrection to my enemies! Because you have the same curse, it also amplifies whatever information they can receive! But I can''t do anything about it! My current state is not enough to weaken the seals of this curse!"


    "Then... they will know of my location?"


    "Not specifically. Although the shroud of where you were when you were ten years old can still distort it, the scope will be smaller. They may deploy Gods or Saints to look for you!"

 Chapter 8 - The End

    The powerful Curse of the Enemy of Fate had targeted Kyros''s soul. And because Cminus had bound his soul to Kyros, that curse itself would grow stronger as the curses on Kyros and Cminus will merge during the time-reversal.


    "The most difficult part of this curse is how it will reverberate to all that you know and cherish. It will grow stronger and stronger, and fate will slowly desire to hunt those with who you have developed some rtionship with. As you live, Fate will slowly remember that it hates you and will attack all those you love." Cminus added as he sighed.


    "You mean to say that if I am reborn, my family, friends, and Mechiel might die even before I met them?!"


    "That is why you need to grow stronger. Kyros. Do not underestimate your heritage! It sounds hopeless, but you have to understand that even with all these curses, you''ve managed to be this strong! I can take advantage of how my enemies designed my curse to scatter and inform them. When it scatters, I can forcibly repel Fate''s target on you. This will give us years where the curse is minimized and won''t affect them. But unless you grow stronger, the curse will catch up, and Fate will find you and start to attack them. This means that harm may befall them earlier than what you remembered in this life! This will begin to affect your friends, family, n members... You will have an easier start, but unless you grow strong enough to fight them, they might die an even more terrifying fate!"


    Kyros began to ponder. If his stats are as exaggerated as Cminus, then Kyros knew that there was hope. Of the many depressing things that Kyros faced in his life, the one thing that hasn''t diminished was his fighting spirit and his confidence on himself.


    "So be it! I can''t give up! If this is my heritage, and you say that I can grow stronger, then I myself am more curious at how strong I can be!" Kyros said as his gaze lingered on Mechiel.


    "Well said! For now, we talk about which of the other curses I need to weaken." Cminus nced at the curses once more.


    "The moment we time travel, I n to use the shock waves of my time magic to attack the Fate Limiter seal and weaken it. With this, I might be able to remove some of the active curses. I can even choose which of the curse effect to attack."


    "You can remove all the [De] magics affecting me?"


    "It''s not that easy. The curse is strong, and the limitations of my current powers will only allow me to remove two strong curses at most!"


    "Why not just use that power to weaken several? Won''t that be more helpful?"


    "The magic that I need has to be strong enough to at least damage it. Spreading out that energy would weaken the effect of damage. It''s like throwing an egg to several hard rocks. It will be futile if I do that. But if I focus the energy into a few curses, it would be like driving down a hammer to a rock."


    "Then what curse do you intend to break?"


    "Of all these curses, the one that surprises me the most is De-Smart and De-Wise. Both elements of intelligence and wisdom are very important for cultivation. Honestly, I''m quite curious..." Cminus smiled.


    "Curious of how smart I am?"


    "Yes. And hitting De-Smart and De-Wise will allow me to weaken De-Joker. We may even destroy it totally. De-Joker and De-Spacito are all linked to the mind. So hitting those two might weaken the rest!"


    "What about Enfeeble or De-Might? I am already smart as it is. I need strength! The more, the better!"


    "That''s why I am hitting De-Smart and De-Wise because you need strength! You are Nephilim! Neither a god nor a devil! If you relied on the training method or on the power I could bestow, or what the mortals know, it will hinder your growth! Besides, De-Smart and De-Wise are the strongest curses! Look at your stats! Check on your intelligence!"


    Kyros did so again.


    Intelligence- 758 ( Sealed/ Greatly Cursed)


    "Of all your cursed stats, Intelligence is greatly cursed! It means your aptitude for learning is far stronger than this! Right now, you are a mighty Force cultivator! But it is possible for you to be a magic-user! You may have the aptitude to outdo your peers in the areas of studying! While most cultivators will spend most of their lives trying to understand either Magic or force, you have the possibility of understanding both in a single lifetime!"


    "I can be a mage? The truth is, I nned to do that. I have grown strong using Force. I n to look for other means to help my family. That includes being a physician, an alchemist, magic, or a weapon forger!"


    "Well, let''s see. In this lifetime, you might even shock me in wisdom! It might be that you will have intelligence and wisdom that equals mine! I need that since the cultivation of a Nephilim has never been created before! I need all the help I can get to make you stronger! And that is why I want to attack De-Smart and De-Wise!"


    "Then so be it! We should hurry and be on the move. I fear that our enemies will soon notice."


    "Rx. I am the master of time here. It''s a bit annoying since you have De-Spacito, but our conversation has been going on at ten times the speed faster during our soul conversation! It hasn''t been a minute outside! Besides, we need to discuss more what to do. If we go back to your youth''s time that you cannot remember, there is a possibility that you would be asleep or immobile. But I fear that since you are a Nephilim, you might be in a berserked state. Weren''t you living like a wild animal back then?"


    "That''s right..." Kyros realized it.


    "You see, the reversion of time will create an immense physical force. I will try to look for the right time to explore that energy. If you are sealed, it might weaken the physical integrity of the seal itself. So in your berserked state, you might awaken earlier, and if you are unable to control yourself, you might end up somewhere dangerous, and I won''t even deny the factor of being discovered."


    "You have no way to awaken my berserked state?"


    "I don''t have the luxury of using my magic after the rebirth. I n to channel the energy when I reverse time. So after that, I would also fall into a state where I am magicless. I''ll be with you, but you can''t rely on me to use my magic. And if I try to alter your state of mind during the time reversal, it might be dangerous as I might damage your brain. So it''s all on you. You have to keep yourself awake!"


    "But how? How can I keep myself awake?"


    "You need an obsession! Something that will drive you to fight it! In the process of reversing time, your soul will travel in a strong and torrential passage. Time is being reversed, and it''s difficult to exin what that is. But what I am certain of is that you will experience immense pain. I am the god who lived as long as creation itself. So this won''t affect me. But traversing the years will take a toll on your soul. But if you have something that will keep you awake, it may just be able to hold until you reach the time of your rebirth!"


    "Then I know just the thing! Mechiel ims she knows something about my past. She even knows who it was that killed my parents! That has been my obsession for so long! If I know who killed them, I might just be able to do it!"


    "Good! Then I shall restore time now!"


    "Wait!"


    "Wait?" Cminus wondered.


    "Will your enemies have a vision of what urred here? Will they know my face?"


    "They will see your sight. With the power of our curses, it may give them the ability to see at least five seconds prior to your death."


    "Five seconds? Alright. I have an idea. Do it!"


    "Get ready..." Cminus nodded.


    The Eldrich was about to bite Mechiel as it was taking pleasure on how it was torturing Kyros, who was trapped in time.


    But suddenly, time changed. The Eldrich was the one that couldn''t move for a second. And that second was enough.


    Kyros''s sword stabbed the Eldrich. The force of his attack threw the Eldrich back.


    "AGH!" The Eldrich cried in pain.


    Kyros grabbed on the half body of Mechiel. But then, Kyros realized that the attack of the Eldrich was draining Mechiel''s life.


    "Mechiel! Who killed my parents! Who?" Kyros asked urgently. He had to know.


    "Kyros... I think... I''m dying."


    "Mechiel, it''s going to be alright. Please tell me who-"


    "I never did tell you why I''m saving you."


    "It''s alright... What''s important is you-"


    "It was me."


    "What...?" Kyros felt numb. His entire body stiffened.


    "I was... the servant who the Steele Family took to take care of you... I was that servant."


    "Wait... What?" Kyros was awakened from his shocked trance.


    "When I learned that they killed the Steele family, I was so angry... I wanted to take my revenge..." Mechiel smiled as she looked at Kyros.


    "I can''t... see... I can''t hear. Are you there? I can''t feel anymore..." Mechiel began to cry.


    The sight of her tears falling was a crushing blow to Kyros''s heart. A great rage was surfacing.


    "Kyros... I''ve known you for years. But I didn''t know... you were that young master... that lonely... sad young master that I served... until the Great War of All began... I was bound to honor and to serve my race... But now... I am free."


    "Mechiel..." Kyros lost sense of his purpose.


    "Kyros!" Cminus shouted to remind Kyros.


    "Kyros. The reason I saved you... it actually has a very simple... truth behind it. I love you." Mechiel smiled.


    Kyros trembled as he heard those words.


    "Wha... what? She actually loved him?" Cminus was brokenhearted at the revtion and began to cry.


    "DIE!" An enraged shout was heard as the Eldrich hacked arge de towards Kyros.


    Facing the falling de, Kyros didn''t retreat but stepped forward.


    Kyros brought all his anger into one strike.


    BOOM!


    The sword shed with the Eldrich, and the Eldrich was actually blown back! Kyros exerted a force that he couldn''t have produced even at this peak.


    "The soul shackle seal has weakened. No wonder he got stronger." Cminus analyzed in between his tears.


    Kyros fell on the floor. His entire body was bleeding. The attack caused his body to break and his blood vessels to rupture. His angry gazed remained at the Eldrich, who was thrown back. The poison was once more attacking the Eldirch.


    Kyros gazed back at the dying body of Mechiel. All he wanted to do right now was protect her in the next life.


    It was then that an idea surfaced.


    "Mechiel! I have bested you! But I will kill you again! I will make sure that you will suffer!" Kyros shouted.


    Cminus was stunned at Kyros''s sudden shouts.


    "Eldrich! Be warned! I will hunt you all down! You will all fear me...!" Kyros was shouting at the Eldrich but suddenly stopped.


    "Cminus! Make up a name and a domineering title! Quick!" Kyros suddenly called out to Cminus in his soul.


    "What? What are you...?"


    "Quick!"


    "Erm... Cracky Batcheeks the Naked Offender!"


    "CRACKY BATCHEEKS THE NAKED OFFENDER!" Kyros shouted at the Eldrich.


    When Kyros''s strength was spent, and as he saw the enraged Elderich stand up and rush towards Kyros to kill him, it finally dawned on Kyros.


    "What did you make me say?!" Kyros cursed at Cminus.


    "Forget about that! Look! He''s killing you! The Eldrich is killing you! Remember! Mechiel loves you! Protect her in your next life! Remember that!"


    Kyros saw his vision spinning and flying. It thennded on the ground. Kyros saw his headless body, and his vision became dark.

 Chapter 9 - The Interlude

    At Kyros''s death, his soul began to change and gather energy.


    All over the universe, the Ancients, the Fallen, the Gods, and other Divinities all felt the shaking of space.


    "So he''s finally dead... Time will finally revert. He will be born as a mortal, and when he dies, Time will finally be ours..." A Greater God smiled as he could feel the entire universe changing.


    Time began to move backward at a quick pace. The grand spell of the Ancient God, Cminus Slimus Eternal, was activating.


    [Time Survivor] was activated.


    Yet even though the gods. Devils and deities could feel it. They were helpless against this magic. Everyone knew this would soon happen. They had heard that Cminus had already been cursed and became a mortal.


    Some of these eternal beings tried to activate a special power to send their thoughts back through time, but without Cminus guiding these souls, all the power they were sending back in time became lost.


    Cminus gazed at the soul of Kyros.


    "You are still holding on, eh? We didn''t find out who killed your parents, but thatst confession really brought me to tears." Cminusughed.


    Kyros didn''t respond. He was spiraling through the universe and moving back in time. Such a state was very nauseating and strange that Kyros couldn''t respond.


    Cminusughed as he recalled the following events.


    "It seems that De-Smart and De-Wise were weakened, and that gave you a rather smart idea. Brilliant! I can''t wait to break those two curses in your reincarnated body!"


    At thosest moments, Kyros knew Mechiel had some terrible secret in her past. When Mechiel revealed that she was ''that'' ve, it meant that Mechiel''s past was full of suffering. Kyros didn''t want that. Kyros hoped that his n would seed, and Mechiel would live a morefortable life.


    "You made it look like that she is your sworn enemy so that the Greater Gods will help her grow stronger. Since she will soon suffer from the effects of the curse Enemy of Fate, you are allowing her to be strong enough to resist it! Brilliant! You gave her name and made the Greater Gods focus on the realms of the Higher nes! And that name! Brilliant! Well, I thought of it. But still, Cracky Battcheeks the Naked Offender! That is one amazing title!" Cminusughed.


    "Those Greater Gods will exert effort in finding a Cracky Battcheeks! You are truly a genius! It seems that you are quite smart. So how about this! We have a few years of traveling like this. Let me train you to know. I will talk all about the things I know. From cultivation to skills, to items, weapons, alchemy, forging, beast taming. You name it! Hopefully, you can still listen to what I can say." Cminusughed.


    "Now, let''s see... what should we talk about first? Cultivation? Magic theory? The possibilities are endless! It''s a good thing that the curses of De-Wise and De-Smart had weakened when I merged with your soul. This gives you more chances of hearing what I have to say." Cminus pondered.


    "I know! Since you are Cracky Battcheeks, the Naked Offender, let''s talk about streaking! The art of running naked! And then, we will talk about the magnificence of exhibition! Oh! We also have the magic of nude art! We''ve got time! Let''s talk about all these things!"


    Cminus began his lecture.


    "Streaking is not just about running naked. It''s about beingfortable! There is no better way of saying I am confident and I amfortable than running naked! Clothes were invented to hide the shame. But if you are confident, you don''t need clothes! You only need you!" Cminus passionately exined.


    Kyros was crying as he heard this lecture.


    Months passed, and Cminus continued to talk about various things he had learned about in the God realm. He talked about his most passionate hobby. He was a master herbologist and a famous alchemist, even among the gods.


    "So basically, the poisonous herb is a cure to many known diseases! Most of the mortal world don''t know about it! It''s actually funny! Most godsugh, and the more cruel ones try to gift these mortals the Pungent Shackling Poison Fruit, and they don''t use it even if they are an inch away from death! You see, the Pungent Shackling Poison Fruit is poisonous, and even their stench can kill you if you inhale too much. But the seed of a ripe Pungent Shackling Poison Fruit can absorb several of the greatest mortal poisons around! The reason why a Pungent Shackling Poison Fruit is stinky is because of its ability to absorb the poisons of those around it! That''s why these fruits only exist near poisonous ces!" Cminus exined.


    "WILL YOU SHUT UP!" Kyros roared.


    "Oh? You can talk?"


    "...! You can hear me?" Kyros wondered. He had finally managed to regain consciousness during the travel through time, but it was like he was suffering from a severe headache.


    "Amazing! Could it be? Through our travel, the Soul Shackle was weakened? Well, that makes sense. Soul Shackle bounds the soul, but a soul traveling through time isn''t staying in one ce. Amazing! Your soul is strong enough to resist this ce! How did you manage to stay awake? You nearly fell asleep three weeks ago."


    "How can I not fall asleep! You kept ranting and making guesses of how Mechiel would live a poor life if I don''t get better!"


    Cminus was a master storyteller and made guesses on how a Vampire of her bloodline ended up a ve in the Minds. Cminus made one horrifying story after another and used his imagination on how the Enemy of Fate curse would attack her at an early age.


    His stories ranged from serving several disgusting, fat, and smelly perverted masters to being offered as a sacrifice to the Serpents of the Swamps, which was located on the Higher nes.


    "So it was helpful! Good to know! Look at you! Already talking to me! So have you heard what I kept ranting these past months?"


    "I don''t know... This ce is very... difficult for me to sustain my consciousness."


    "Of course it is! We are traveling not across distance but time itself! To me, it''s easy, but to you, I bet you''re hearing past, present, and future conversations being made in this space. The thoughts of your soul couldn''t even stay at one point in time. It''s surprising that you woke up, honestly."


    "This is very ufortable. Do I really... have to stay this way for the trip? This is very exhausting."


    "Hence I told you that it is only through will and determination that you can stay awake. You can give up right here, right now. And you will awake when you were reborn. But again, you might only awaken after whatever incident it was that took you out of your berserked state." Cminus shrugged.


    Kyros felt as if his head was constantly being split and pressed. The pain was so staggering. But he remembered Mechiel''sst moments and how her beautiful lips curved into that smile.


    "I will... persevere. Fine. Let''s continue to talk. You said that the seed of the Pungent Shackling Poison Fruit could absorb the poison. Then wouldn''t it be possible to create a weapon of poison by forging a sword with that seed used as a core?"


    "You can''t use a seed as a core! It''s too weak!" Cminusughed.


    "Yes. But around eighteen days ago, you said that one of the Saint Forgers believed that it is possible to create a weapon using seeds and soul fruits, but they don''t have a working framework. Why not make an Earthen weapon? As long as the wielder has powerful Earth magic or can attach earth cultivating artifact on it, can''t it sustain the fruit to grow and gather poison?"


    "Are you even listening to yourself? How can Earth Element contain poison? The poison would corrode the Earth!"


    "Use the ground where the Pungent Shackling Poison Fruit is grown. You said that nts always create a means to cultivate the ground for it to be capable of carrying its properties. Isn''t that the basis for most god-tiered nts? A mortal level poison fruit ought to be the same. Also, is it possible for the Pungent Shackling Poison Fruit to reach a god-tiered level? A month ago, you mentioned this miracle. What if the Pungent Poison Fruit is cultivated to absorb poison slowly so that it can sustain itself from mortal to saint to god? Will that work?"


    Cminus wanted to rebut Kyros strongly. But fell silent on his statements. He realized that while it looked like Kyros was spouting nonsense, it was an educated question in truth.


    "That... sounds possible... Wait. You can remember my words?"


    "Sort of. Aren''t we in a ce where past, present, and future ispressed as one? I feel that if I keep thinking like this, I can ease the pain."


    Cminus looked at Kyros and began to feel a sense of dread.


    "You''re theories are wild and crazy. You''re mistaken when you said those statements. But being wrong is a step close to being right! It''s like you gave an incorrect answer to a math question that I asked. You didn''t just randomly guess a number. You followed an equation, and while this equation is wrong, it shows you do understand the principles of the math!"


    Cminus fell into a trance as he began to pierce through the strange changing scenery around them as they traveled in time.


    "Cminus?" Kyros asked.


    "Two years. This trip will still take two years! That''s enough! Kyros. In this ce, your memories are all jumbled up! But this is also an advantage! You can easily remember everything I said. This makes it easier for you to learn! So these two years... let''s talk, debate, and argue about all the stuff I know! By constant discussion of these theories and facts, whatever memory we shape here might be instilled in your mind once we get out of this ce!" Cminus dered.


    And so began the longest ss in all of history.

 Chapter 10 - The Beginning

    God Realm...


    On a certain ne on the Devil Lands, several men and women clothed in shinning gold apparel sat around arge chair. Their appearance was golden and mystifying. They were beautiful beyond description and had glowing lights flickering at their back. On the other end of this table stood reddish and scaly creatures with long tales. Their features resembled that of a human and had a different form of beauty. While the golden men and women looked dignified, these reddish creatures had a very seductive and dangerous beauty. One had beauty to awe, while the other had a beauty that led to great lust and obsession.


    "I hope you called us all here for a reason..." Seated on the center of the devil''s group, a three-horned devil ask.


    "I had to cross a thousand nes to get here..." Another beautiful devil chuckled at the side.


    "Rhykestorn Ever. What business do you have to summon all devils and gods? Our preparations are on its critical point!" Another devil asked.


    "Indeed, honorable Rhykestorn. What has happened that requires everyone to be here?"


    "You should feel it anytime now." The god they called Rhykestorn simply tapped on the table and waited.


    It was then they felt it. A strange sensation that no one couldprehend.


    Immediately, dark energy began to appear around a certain orb that Rhykestorn had ce on the middle of the table.


    Soon a strange image began to emerge from the stone.


    It was a beautiful vampiress with half of her body sliced off.


    "Mechiel! I have bested you! But I will kill you again! I will make sure that you will suffer!" The person whose point of view was being shown shouted at the woman.


    After saying these things, the person shifted his view to an Eldrich race standing up and clutching his chest. He appeared to have been stabbed and shouted angrily at the man.


    "Eldrich! Be warned! I will hunt you all down! You will all fear me...!"


    There was a pause as the person kept looking at the Eldrich, who gathered his strength to kill off the man.


    "CRACKY BATCHEEKS THE NAKED OFFENDER!" The person roared before the Eldrich sliced off the person''s head.


    The vision suddenly ended.


    "Cracky Batcheeks?" A god asked.


    "Naked Offender?" A devil frowned.


    Even the usually nk Rhykestorn had a strange expression as he was still staring at the spot where the vision appeared.


    "What is the meaning of this?" One of the devils who had nearly twice the size of the rest demanded.


    "While it''s very... surprising, that was a vision that my curse brought back to me. He has used his mightiest spell. Cminus Slimus Eternal has time-traveled to our time." Rhykestorn exined.


    "What?!"


    "He has!"


    "Hehehe. This means time will soon be on our hands." One of the devilsughed.


    "Lord Rhykestorn. How was it that our curse managed to create this vision?"


    "Who knows? We don''t know what happened in the future. Maybe we managed to attack and hurt him and added another Enemy of Fate curse on him. He managed to dispel it temporarily by scattering it on how the curse will inform us of his time travel. But see, look how the Adversary of Fate whispers in anger. Soon, it will zero in on Cminus and curse his mortal life once more. But we must not bex. It seems that our ns worked better in the future with how Cminus received more curses. Sheolrah. How do we find Cminus?" Rhykestorn asked one of the female gods on the table.


    "As you know, we had ced that curse on Cminus two decades ago. And while he has escaped, we blocked off his path and limited the ces he could go to. I''ve sent my clones to locate the area where that curse leaked out, and it is somewhere in the end region of the nes Realm."


    "The nes Realm? We cannot afford to go on a manhunt to look for them in the nes Realm! If Cminus makes it to any members or nes belonging to the Ancients Path, this n will backfire. Cminus may leak whatever ns we have in the future!" A devil growled.


    "Please do not panic. Cminus is a man now. And by the looks of it, he did not reincarnate on his own. He must have been wounded or injured that forced him to put his soul on someone else!"


    "Exactly!" Rhykestorn eximed.


    "Cminus is in trouble. We might have found out where he went to and managed to weaken him that he was forced to merge his soul with another in an attempt to weaken the seal. This mean he chose someone of great fate and destiny or someone who was beloved by Fate."


    "Then our victory is assured!" A devil woman celebrated.


    "Yes. But we cannot leave this all to chance. The mortal that he chose had enemies among the Eldrich and a vampire race by the looks of it. Sheolrah, look for a ce where these two races are present."


    "I believe that there is one in the nes World. I shall seek the Higher nes for these and look for a Vampiress called Mechiel." Sheolrah answered.


    "Good. Command the Saints to look for someone with a True name or Title of Cracky Batcheeks. Mechiel and that unnamed Eldrich will somehow offend Cracky. I entrust the process to you."


    Sheolrah nodded.


    "As for the rest of us, we have to ensure that no other god from the Ancients Path will venture into the nes World or in the nearby nes."


    "Oh? A group of dying gods I ambushed had fled into a certain region. They could have hidden in the nes World."


    "Leave them. As long as we ensure no one else ising in, the secret of Cminus Time Reversal sticks with us. I trust you devils know what to do?"


    "Of course. Just be quick to find Cminus, Sheolrah."


    "We will. I will leave no stone unturned." Sheolrah vanished, and soon, the many gods and devils began to vanish one after another.


    Rhykestorn gazed at the stone and smiled.


    "Your arrogance was your downfall, Cminus. Time will be ours soon!" He smiled as he took out a map to look at the nes World and the many nes it has.


    "It looks like I will have to push my ns for this ce ahead!" Rhykestorn concluded.


    Meanwhile... On the deep mountains of Airom Vagat in the Culcrik Londs ne...


    A small town had appeared with over a thousand men and dwarves worked here.


    Excavators and miners were employed to dig into the mountain as the nearby kingdom found an ancient ruin that predates the rise of known Empires. The miners had only scratched the surface, and it may take years for them to dig into the mountain.


    Suddenly, this mountain trembled as an earthquake urred. The many miners who were digging in this mountain''s mines began to retreat as the sudden earthquake rampaged.


    Deep inside the heart of the mountain, there was arge space. And at the center of this space was a strange structure that had the architecture used to create the churches used by the Temple of Light.


    Inside this temple were four pirs that created a reddish ss-like field that was meant to seal someone.


    "WE''RE HERE!" Cminus cheered as he saw the ce. He immediately moved his soul out of Kyros''s body and assumed his old man form. His clothes were not like the crazy old prisoner but had a distinguished green coat this time.


    "Kyros? Are you awake?" He turned towards Kyros. But then he was shocked to see Kyros.


    "My body... I can''t move... And I feel... angry..." Kyros groaned. They had time-traveled to the past, but the ten-year-old Kyros didn''t look so young.


    "Odd. Your bone age is Ten. But your soul age now is on its teens." Cminus observed.


    "Argh!" Kyros felt a strange power attacking him.


    "So, how do you feel? I managed to knock down De-Smart and De-Wise! As an added bonus, destroying those two curses also managed to destroy De-Joker and weaken the effects of De-Spacito by half!" Cminus smiled.


    "It hurts!" Kyros shouted.


    "Of course it hurts! This is a torture chamber or a sealing chamber that gods use!" Cminus sighed.


    "Although this looks like a very weak version as it is made of mortal instruments, it''s still enough to seal any being below Saint level. This must have been why you forgot all about it! Your mind was physically blocking it. And apart from that, there are some powerful god-tiered barriers used to hide your presence."


    "Help me!"


    "I can''t! I am spent on all the energy I had in that magic. I am merely a conscious soul without any means to use any magic at all. If you weren''t a Nephilim and didn''t have all of these annoying curses and seals, I would have some magic. So you have to get out of here yourself." Cminus exined with aughing expression.


    "Why are you so carefree?!" Kyros roared angrily.


    "Because your Soul Shackle has also weakened! You''ll get out of here soon! You just have to bear the pain! Honestly, I didn''t expect the seal to be this. A dual god and devil sealing tform! Even I don''t know how to make it."


    "What?! The Soul Shackle Seal has weakened?!" Kyros was stunned to hear this. During the time travel lectures, Cminus had already exined what Soul Shackle was and how powerful it is.

 Chapter 11 - A Fresh Start

    Kyros was chained by the four pirs and prevented him from moving. And there was a continuous wave of red electric attacks that continuously hurt Kyros''s soul. There was no harm done on his physical body, but Kyros''s soul was hurt.


    Cminus had left Kyros''s body since the attack would harm him as well.


    Soul Shackle was a powerful curse that cages the soul of a being by adding constraints to it. When ced on normal mortals with weaker souls, their physical bodies die as the soul is unable to function at all.


    Those who manage to train in the soul can function better as they are able to move their bodies but with great difficulty with such a seal.


    Kyros learned in the few years traveling through time that his soul was sealed and that it could not grow stronger. Soul Shackle was inhibiting Kyros from ever absorbing any soul strengthening powers.


    Cminus stated that it was a miracle that Kyros even managed to enhance his soul to the point that it caught up with his level. In Cminus''s own analysis, Kyros should not have reached his real level of 53. It stated in his status that his level had reached max cap. But the truth was he was always at max cap since level 30.


    Most mortals had level caps of under 40. The inferior ones that would never qualify as knights would have an estimated max level of 20. But raising this level cap could be done through various means. There was through creating potions, pills, and herbs, rituals that allowed mortals to merge with monsters and other races, inheritances, bestowals, power transference, and through intense training.


    But the goal of most of this was to strengthen the soul. Kyros knew this well. But now, the seal was weakened!


    "How do I get out of here?!"


    "I could tell you, but I want to see how smart you are. But the trick in getting out is understanding why the soul weakened!"


    "How did the seal weaken?" Kyros asked with a pained expression.


    "Remember our little lesson about the soul?"


    "It''s a bit blur... The memories are all jumbled up, and I can''t concentrate on this pain!"


    "Alright. Let me remind you. The body is the water, and the soul is the vessel. While it sounds like the opposite is true, our soul is the one that can wield energy! Be it Force Energy, Magic Energy, or God Energy, the soul is capable of wielding it. Are you starting to remember now?"


    "Yeah. You were shackled with the same seal as me to have a very weak soul so that they can make you mortal. Therger my soul is, the better it is, the higher my max level can be. In short, my physical body, my Magic Pool, and my Force Pool can only reach the next level if I increase my soul."


    "Correct! So you do remember! Now, think. You have De-Smart and De-Wise. You should figure out how you got stronger."


    "I thought my max level was 34. I went through hellish training and consumed various elixirs to strengthen my soul. I was always poor at it, but that was really because of the Soul shackle. But through training, I managed to increase my max level to 47 through various means. And finally, the Celestial Code, allowed me to reach up to level 70. And I was able to forcibly increase it still through all those life and death experiences and reached 99. But that was what I thought my levels were because I followed the standard that mortals have. If I follow the Status Level by Potential that you use, my real max was 20. I managed to raise it 30-something and got the rest when I acquired the Celestial Code."


    "Good. You managed to deduce it at a very urate level."


    "But something doesn''t feel right. My soul was shackled with a powerful curse. Could it be that when I acquired the Celestial Code, it was the remnant soul that Greater God Daradiel left on me that continuously got stronger?"


    "Very perceptive! It looks like your intelligence is finally showing!"


    "The Soul Shackle Seal should have prevented me from leveling up. Those various means of forcibly increasing my level had nothing to do with strengthening my soul, but it was like I was connecting more pieces of stuff to make my soulrger. And finally, Greater God Daradiel''s soul became the final piece in making me stronger."


    "Getting warmer." Cminusughed.


    "Then that means... that the reason why the Soul Shackle Seal is weakening is that my current soul has grown stronger!"


    "Ding Ding Ding! Correct!"


    "What''s ding ding ding?" Kyros asked.


    "Oh, sorry. It''s because I''m a Time God! I rule over time and even the alterations of time. Because of this, I am somehow connected to the other versions of myself that exist in the multiverse. Imagine that this entire universe that we live in has separate versions that make up a totally different world. I exist in those worlds where cultivation is way different than how this universe is defined! I exist in universes that are vastly different than this. I even exist in multiverses where it is impossible to cultivate! In one universe, I''m a slime monster. In another, I''m also a time god. In other universes, I''m a famous gamer who trolled countless enemies, some literally to their death. In yet another one, I''m a writer of some sketchy sci-fi, cultivation fusion story with reincarnation."


    "I have no idea what that means."


    "It means I can break the fourth wall."


    "What does that mean?"


    "I have no clue. But it''s because of this that I managed to create the whole level system used here. One of my incarnations is what they of that universe would call a weeb and a nerd. I defined this system that allowed you to view the level, which by the way, has been passed on, and even Mortals use it. And so, that is why you get these odd terms that don''t make any sense."


    "Like De-Spacito?"


    "Yep. It''s because in one of my multiverse incarnation that words mean slowly."


    "So those weird things you were teaching me?"


    "Yep. Some of them I learned in those alternate worlds."


    "Ah. That makes sense. So Ding Ding Ding means I''m right?"


    "Yes. Don''t ask. I don''t usually know what these things mean. You''ll get used to it. The Ancients liked it. Although, I think that the Greater Gods betrayed me because they hated this whole thing."


    "Anyway... Going back to my theory... My soul increased... but why?"


    "Why indeed?"


    "Can you just tell me? My body is hurting everywhere, and my memories are a mess! I can''t think straight!"


    "Exactly. That''s why your soul increased!"


    "Because I am in pain?"


    "No. Because the current pain you are feeling is something, you can easily resist! Do you know, the current pain that you feel is directed to your soul! This could have been why you never woke up for nearly three decades! You were constantly knocked unconscious from the immense torturous pain of this contraption! Remember your stats? What was your bone age, andpare it to your soul age!"


    "My bone age was 37, and my soul was 63... Then..."


    "That''s right. In this torturous state, your soul would have been knocked out and remain in an unaging state. Your soul grew older, but your mortal body didn''t grow. Oh, and don''t worry. Your physical body now is technically ten years old. And that will be your physical age."


    "So I am not knocked out now... because I spent nearly two years of being conscious while time was reversing. Wait. You didn''t suffer from time-reversal! Is it because of your soul?"


    "Yes! Although the soul Shackled me, I was already an Ancient God then. It''s like having a small box and trying to fit an entire person in! The best they could do was find a slightly smaller box than my soul and force me into it. Of course, limiting my soul was only step one of the ns. The real reason was so that they could turn my physical body into a mortal!"


    "So your soul was strong enough that time reversing didn''t bother you... But howe now... Your soul is very... small."


    "Time reversing magic isn''t just any form of magic, you know. It eats up my soul. If I weren''t mortal and still at my peak, my magic could turn back over a thousand years. Right now, my soul is very weak, and since it is a sealed god''s soul, it will take a lot of effort to replenish it. But since I''m betting on you, freak, I''m sure it will work out. Now I''ve given you a hint. Figure it out! Why did your soul seal weaken?"


    "I get it!" Kyros grunted.


    "My soul was strengthened during the time-reversal. The Soul Shackle wasn''t functioning to its maximum efficiency there, and my soul had already grown stronger. By the time I traveled back in time, my soul was already several timesrger and stronger than what it was."


    "Righto! If I were to use my earlier analogy, you used to have a box that so little because your soul was little, but now! Poof! Your soul suddenly grew bigger and bigger than the Soul Seal couldn''t properly contain you!"


    "Then how can I get out of this torturous device? How did I get out thest time?" Kyros looked around.


    "Well, I think the real answer was that those mortals that I can sense outside might have found a way in here or broke something that caused this device to lose power. But that should happen nearly ten years from now."


    "What?! Ten years!"

 Chapter 12 - A Torturous Experience

    "TEN YEARS?!" Kyro shouted in shock.


    "Yep. More or less. Your soul age is still at sixteen. Your bone age remains on ten, though. Very interesting. But remember, on your previous life, you were thirty-seven years old but had a soul age of like sixty-three. Since you are sixteen now, it would mean that you got out of this ce and began to grow when your soul age reached twenty-six. When the soul is unconscious, this strange contraption somehow halts the growth of your body. Hence the time difference between your ages.."


    Kyros wanted to curse at Cminus but tried to calm down. There was a reason why this Cminus was not worried!


    Kyros began to concentrate and think. But the pain was making it very hard for him to think. The current attacks were stronger than the pain in his soul back when they were time traveling.


    He kept trying to think what was going on as manius hinted that the answer was something he could figure out with his intellect.


    He looked around at the various pirs that were keeping him immobile. How was it that his soul age grew, but his body didn''t? He began to recall Cminus''s exnation.


    "That energy... It can''t be! It only attacks because it detects my soul? It''s trying to make my soul sleep through the pain!" Kyros realized it.


    "Bingo!"


    "Bingo?"


    "Yeah. It means correct. For some reason, it also means you win the cash prize and is probably a farmer''s dog."


    Kyros was beginning to understand why the Greater Gods wanted to kill Cminus.


    "Then you''re not worried because all I have to do is resist this, and these devices will run out of energy? How long will it take?"


    "Hard to say. I am a god''s soul, but apart from sensing other souls and the fates of weak mortals, I can''t help you understand the source of energy in this temple, especially since it''s kept deep inside some contraption. I even sense a lot of darkness immediately outside this temple. But don''t worry, this device should have zapped you with this painful soul attack for less than half a second to keep you unconscious. But now it''s attacking you constantly. Let''s wait for it to run out!"


    "How long has it been since I reincarnated? Since De-Spacito is taking effect, I don''t know how long it''s been! It''s gotta be at least an hour! I think slower than normal. Right? You told me during Time Reversal that De-Spacito wasn''t functioning correctly, and I was experiencing true time as it actually flowed!"


    "Oh right! You experienced two years'' worth of time moving normally. When I talked, you were so mad because you were used to seeing things faster and thought I was talking slowly. It''s kind of weird. That curse ended up making you stronger! You were used at having other people talk like they''re in Fast-forward!"


    "I don''t know what fast-forward is! Just tell me how long it has been!"


    "You wouldn''t like the answer!" Cminusughed.


    "What? Shouldn''t time be moving faster with my slow perception?"


    "Because the curse was making you think and see things slowly, youpensated and trained yourself to move and think faster! You were used to seeing the whole world moving faster, and you adopted to that speed!"


    "Wait... You can''t mean...?!"


    "Yup. It is as you fear. Right now, you just existed the Time Reversal, and your previous habits back then are happening here. You have naturally been thinking faster. And now, it''s even faster since De-Spacito has been weakened! So in your head, it looks like an hour has passed, but the truth is, it''s only been ten minutes."


    Kyros felt great pain in his heart as he realized what this meant.


    "So you mean to say, it''s been about ten minutes since I reincarnated?!"


    "Look on the bright side! Because of your nasty habit, which De-Spacito trained you to have, you could study faster, learn things faster, and if your physical body manages to catch up, move faster!"


    "ROAR!"


    Kyros was so mad that he began to roar like a wild animal.


    "Don''t worry! It has great benefits! Besides, this means you can do that anime thing where the MC begins to recollect his past in the middle of a battle! If anything, that will make you stronger! If you face a moment where you are about to die, you just start thinking about the past and remember love, friendship, and hope! And then you win!"


    "WHAT ARE YOU EVEN SAYING?!"


    "I don''t understand either. But it sounds awesome, right?"


    Kyros closed his eyes and decided to ignore Cminus and began to think.


    "If this is constantly attacking me, trying to knock me out, it means it can sense my soul and attack it with the right amount of attack. But since I was so used to the painful soul attacks during time reversal, I can easily resist this. That means, if I can increase my soul, my soul would get stronger, and that would force this device to attack me with stronger attacks!"


    "How can I increase my soul?" Kyros asked.


    "Try to remember our talk." Cminusughed.


    "Wait... That''s it! Knowledge is converted to the soul! All those talks from two years ago! I should start concentrating on merging them all! That''s why I can''t think straight! This damned Soul shackle is trying to stop my soul from growing bigger than what it is!"


    "Wow! Now you''re thinking!" Cminusughed.


    Kyros closed his eyes and began his journey in trying to remember everything they talked about.


    But for some reason, it would suddenly disappear!


    "Soul Shackle! It''s preventing my soul from growing bigger or stronger!" Kyros gritted his teeth.


    "Alright! I ept your crazy challenge, Soul Shackling Seal! Let''s see if you can catch up!" Kyros roared and began to think hard.


    "Oh? He''s thinking as fast as he can that even Soul Shackle can''t keep up with the increasing knowledge! Normally, a lifetime''s worth of knowledge can only increase the soul by a very small amount. But because we were talking and even debating as we were traveling. So his knowledge is something that couldpare with five lifetimes of a genius! This kid is really smart. I wonder what he''ll be when he''s out of this ce? Without De-Joker, he should be more funny, right?" Cminus wondered.


    Kyros began to think of many things. As he forcibly tried to remember things, more and more bits of their talks were being solidified. Kyros was talking with the great and multi-talented god, Cminus, and learned of many things. The special state of time was distorted. Kyros was able to remember things said a year ago as if it was just ten seconds ago.


    And now, Kyros was slowly forcing it all back.


    His knowledge was slowly increasing and was erging his soul permanently. The Soul Shackle fought back but couldn''t negate or eliminate the knowledge that Kyros was swiftly solidifying.


    The attack of the pirs was also getting stronger and stronger.


    Hours passed, and the pirs'' pain was making it extremely difficult for Kyros to think. But Kyros kept resisting the pain and tried to focus harder than he ever could.


    Cminus watched the scene and couldn''t help but smile.


    "His concentration is increasing. Amazing. He could be anything in this world! With all that knowledge and that focus and the speed of his thoughts, he cultivates to be a god in no time! It''s a good thing I followed Ancient Fate''s n. It worked out well. They killed her, not knowing her power, and thought that I was the real threat." Cminus smiled.


    Days passed, and Kyros managed to increase his soul again, but Kyros felt like he was about to faint!


    "Hold! Hold!" Kyros told himself.


    "If you can find Mechiel earlier, you might change her fate and make her live a happy life. The same goes for your family, your team, and even your kingdom. Remember your resolve." Cminus smiled.


    Kyros howled, and his body finally managed to twitch. His physical body was lifelessly standing, being held by several chains. But suddenly, he managed to move the body.


    The pirs started to gather strange red energy. Once it charges after five seconds, it sent out a red bolt to attack Kyros.


    "AHHH!" Kyros finally fell unconscious.


    "WHY ME?!" Cminus also shouted. The attack was so strong that the attack struck everything inside and caused Cminus great pain. Cminus fainted and was floating around.


    Thankfully, the attack was designed to create pain and not harm the soul.


    In Kyros''s dreams, Cminus appeared.


    "That was bad! I need to go back in your soul when I wake up!" Cminus cursed.


    Kyros saw Cminus.


    "How are you here?"


    "Our souls are bound together. You are in a state called Soul Sleep. This was the goal of that device. Rest for a while. I can feel your soul growing stronger. You have such monstrous talent! It''s like it''s doing it with you controlling it! It could be that the pressure and stress that you felt in the Time Reversal and the attacks here are taking a toll on you and are forcing your soul to ovepensate! But it''s weird. Your soul is condensing faster now that you are asleep!"


    Kyros was too weak to answer or exin how he did it. He just shook his head and closed his eyes.


    "Really? Dreaming in the dream world? Oh well. You should increase you soul strength by a bit after this. Too bad the Soul Shackle is hindering your soul! Otherwise, you''d consolidate all of your memories when you wake up. But now, I''m guessing only a small percentage will be consolidated."


    Cminus immediately left Kyros''s dreams and allowed him to sleep peacefully.


    A day passed, and Cminus''s soul finally woke up. He sighed in relief as the contraption didn''t attack him. As he deduced, it would only attack Kyros.


    "Might as well help Kyros and merge with his soul and help him with mine. That way, it will cause the device to attack more, and I can share the weight of the attack.


    He then moved inside the body of Kyros.


    "Kyros... Wake up!" Cminus called out in the dream world.


    "...Alright..." Immediately, Kyros''s soul woke up again.


    The attacks happened once more.


    Kyros was shouting in pain again. Cminus was hiding deep within Kyros''s soul and was generally received only a bit of pain. But because Cminus merged with Kyros, the pain was still shared between them.


    "Get stronger, Kyros! I''ll slowly be decreasing my support as time pass!"


    After three minutes, the same red charge appeared and shot Kyros.


    Kyros and Cminus fell unconscious again.


    A day passed, and Cminus woke up earlier.


    "Ugh. That hurt..." He then observed Kyros''s state.


    "At least, Kyros''s soul is getting stronger. Now how can I make Kyros release more of his God or Devil source? Hrm? His soul... is actively thinking? How? It''s like it has a mind of its own!" Cminus eximed.

 Chapter 13 - A Way Out

    Cminus observed the pirs and noticed that there were very small cracks appearing. He sighed in relief.


    "Good. It looks like we are causing this contraption to go beyond its limits!"


    Cminus waited for a day and began to call Kyros again. But this time, it took a few minutes before Kyros was roused awake.


    The attacks continued, and soon, the reddish charge struck Kyros again and knocked him and Cminus out again.


    This cycle continued again and again, and nearly a weekter, Kyros was not knocked out from the first red bolt! It took another charge to knock Kyros out.


    Cminus had already been decreasing his support, but the attack was so strong that it still struck Cminus with such great pain that he, too, fell asleep.


    Another week passed, and finally, the pirs broke.


    BOOM!


    The red ss that surrounded Kyros fell apart.


    Kyros fell on the floor as the chains that held him also gave in from the destruction of the pirs.


    The attack was so strong that it was four times stronger than thest bolt!


    Kyros fell and felt great pain all over his body, although there were no wounds. His soul kept trembling.


    Despite the powerful attack, Kyros mysteriously remained conscious but greatly exhausted.


    "Cminus?" Kyros called out.


    There was no answer.


    "Cminus fainted..." Kyros growled.


    Kyros was resting, but he could feel a great upheaval urring outside of the temple where he was in.


    Strange howls and growls could be heard at the exit of the temple.


    He saw strange creatures slowly moving in. They were ckish creatures that had shapes that were like men and crawled like shadows on the ground. Others were standing and looked like thin papers moving.


    There were so many that it looked like their darkness was moving within the temple.


    The creatures bore strange teeth on their mouth and had sharp w-like fangs.


    It moved over the weakened body of Kyros.


    These strange creaturesughed at Kyros and watched their meal remain unmoved.


    "Shadow Ghouls. So this is what Cminus meant by the darkness outside the temple..." Kyros looked as one of the creatures moved closer.


    It used its strange ws to pull Kyros up by slicing through the gray robes that Kyros was wearing.


    Kyros was pulled up as the two-dimensional creature stood up and showed its sharp teeth to Kyros.


    "How did I survive?" Kyros asked himself. But his question did not pertain to how he survived the monsters before him. He was extremely hungry.


    "I woke up. And despite this hunger... how did I survive? Could this be the answer?" Kyros wondered. He knew for some strange reason that he could do ''that.''


    It was then he saw a strange notification appear on his vision.


    [Dark Consumer passive skill acquired.]


    "Ah. Just in time." Kyros smiled.


    The Shadow Ghoul moved its mouth closer to bite Kyros, but Kyro opened his jaw as wide as he could and bit back.


    Since the monster was as thin as paper, Kyros managed to bite the head and tear out arge piece of the monster.


    The Shadow Ghoul lost more than a quarter of its head, and it began to scream as it drew back.


    The others howled angrily as it saw itspanion retreat.


    Kyros swallowed the darkness which made up the monster.


    [Health Increasing]


    Kyros smiled as he saw it.


    "So this is what Cminus meant that my soul would receive alerts and notification on its own. Thank Fate the Time God''s Soul is in me. I wonder how I should bring up the details of my status?" Kyros mused.


    The Shadow Ghouls didn''t attack as it wondered how Kyros managed to eat darkness. They couldn''t even eat each other. But when Kyros bit the Shadow Ghoul, the darkness didn''t reform.


    "Now the mystery is how I managed to kill all of you in a berserked and weakened state..."


    [Dark Maddening status sessfully repelled.]


    "Dark Maddening? Was this the cause of me going berserk? It''s a good thing I programmed my soul thanks to Cminus''s lessons of Java and C#...."


    "Celestial Guard!" Kyros shouted.


    [Activation failed.]


    "Tsk. It looks like I can''t use those skills until I receive the Celestial Code from Greater God Daradiel."


    Kyros then tried to harness Force energy.


    [Force Lock prohibits wielding of Force Energy]


    "What?!" Kyros cursed.


    The Shadow Ghouls began to jump and attack.


    The movement of the Shadow Ghouls suddenly became slower.


    Kyros could perceive things six times faster than normal humans thanks to living a life suffering from De-Spacito. The sudden jumps were slow, and Kyros moved his body faster.


    His entire body was suddenly in pain as his movements exceeded the limit of how he could move. But Kyros bore the pain and positioned himself under one of the leaping Shadow Ghouls and bit the arms.


    [Health Increasing]


    Another alert appeared, and Kyros felt the pain in his body lessen by a small degree. With his previous experience sensing the smallest changes in his body, it was crucial to fight against various enemies of different races who had various curses, poisons, spells, and abilities.


    Kyros tore the arm out as he pushed the leaping Shadow Ghoul upwards.


    His arms pushed in the body of the creature as if Kyros were pushing against a watery substance.


    As Kyros felt his hands sink, it was as if his soul reacted. Almost instinctively, like a creature born of the dark, Kyros knew just what to do.


    [Dark Wielder passive skill acquired.]


    The once intangible nature of the shadow suddenly hardened at Kyros''s touch. The Shadow Ghoul was thrown back, and it flew and hit the roof.


    Kyros also evaded and was in the middle of several confused Shadow Ghoul. In their vision, It was as if Kyros suddenly blurred and moved with great speed that the leaping ten ghouls all missed.


    "ROAR!" One of the Shadow Ghouls roared as Kyros bit it.


    Kyros then pped the creature and sent it flying.


    Kyros grabbed on another and bit its face while flinging his arms and kicking around. The creatures that were struck would fly at the slightest touch.


    The Shadow Ghouls realized what was happening and began to retreat out of the temple.


    Kyros was gripping one Shadow Ghoul and had bitten off its head. He would take other parts of the creature and bite it more parts and saw his health increasing.


    [Health Increasing]


    The notification appeared, and Kyros observed his surrounding. His previous memories and his newly gained knowledge continued to assess the creatures.


    "Shadow Ghouls is a terrifying creature for most beings. Warriors can''t strike its intangible form, and the darkness devours most elemental attacks. Only Holy Fire, Light, and Brimstone could harm these creatures. But luckily, my soul was strong enough to tap and utilize my Devil Source." Kyros assessed.


    The Shadow Ghouls were all roaring at Kyros, who stood inside the temple. Suddenly, another set of creatures appeared.


    It had the same appearance as the shadow ghouls, but it held what looked like a two-dimensional, paper-thin staff. It pointed towards Kyros, and various ck spears were forming above them. It shot towards Kyros.


    Kyros focused as the speed of the attack was faster than what most humans can see.


    [Pronto skill acquired.]


    [Pronto activated.]


    As Kyros''s perception of time moved faster, he quickly moved and evaded the many iing ck spears. He grabbed on one and caught it.


    Some of the spears struck the walls of the temple, which suddenly activated a holy spell.


    DING! DING! DING!


    The sounds of metal striking metal could be heard as the ck spears met an unbreakable light shield.


    "So this is why it fled the temple. It thought the temple itself was weakening them." Kyros bit on the solidified darkness spear and ate it.


    [Health Increasing]


    [Dark Maddening status acquired.]


    Kyros felt a strange sense of hunger, sadness, and anger engulfing him.


    "If I recall, Dark Maddening is a curse that causes the inflicted to fall into a debase manner of thinking. At full effect, the afflicted would be like a wild beast driven by urges of hunger and killing... So this was the curse that was afflicting me in the past. Something or someone must have managed to find this ce and undid my seal. Could whoever found this ce fought these creatures?" Kyros nced at the angry and howling monsters outside the temple.


    [Dark Maddening Status dispelled.]


    "Good. My soul is naturally able to dispel this status." Kryos smiled and continued eating the spear. His previous states where his soul was traveling and constantly attacked by the four-pir seal improved his concentration and focused to an extreme level. Weaker attacks that disrupt the mind or emotions would be easy to quell for Kyros.


    "Now how could I have survived this before? Did I kill all of these creatures and ate them? Impossible. The me right now is a special case. But normal humans would find it almost impossible to kill Shadow Ghouls. Unless they have warriors or mages with skills leaning on the Element of Light and Brimstone, or if they can produce Holy Fire, fighting this many would kill them..." Kyros wondered.


    He finally took thest bite of the Dark spear and went back to eating the squirming and headless body of the two Shadow Ghouls that he fought with earlier.


    "Regardless of how I did it, I must have consumed a lot of these creatures to have ended up in a maddened state. Oh well... For now... I eat!" Kyros rushed out of the temple gates and attacked the unending horde of darkness.

 Chapter 14 - A Perfect Training Ground

    Cminus found himself in a strange world where darkness was encroaching all over him.


    At times the darkness would weaken, but most of the time, the darkness covered it all the time. Finally, Cminus was so annoyed that he urged his soul to awaken.


    The moment he woke up, he suddenly saw a whole throng of Shadow Ghouls roaring angrily at him. He realized he was still inside Kyros''s body.


    "You''re finally awake." Kyros slowly said.


    "Kyros?!" Cminus was stunned to hear and see what Kyros was doing.


    His body had deep wounds and cuts. Parts of his body had holes. But Kyros was ignoring all of it and began to eat the squirming body parts of various Shadow Ghouls inside the temple. The temple had drastically changed. It was now releasing pulses of holy power that prevented the hordes of creatures from moving in.


    "What happened here?"


    "These Shadow Ghouls tried to eat me. Apparently, I can eat darkness as well. This temple seemed to have some defense mechanism, but I don''t know how to make it work. It didn''t release any holy energy at first... but soon... it started too."


    "You''re crazy! You''re eating so much darkness! It will corrupt you! You''d fall into that berserked state again!"


    "Not possible. I know my limits. Of course, I am extremely angry and hungry for those dark creatures. That''s why I took out a few and brought their bodies inside here." Kyros exined.


    "Wait... you can touch and eat it without problem? You have Dark Consumer and Dark Wielder! The powers that only the purest of the Fallen have! How did you activate it?!"


    "I don''t know... I''m very tired. Although my body is healing as I eat this... I feel like I would fall unconscious anytime. Will this strange shield stay? Howe it activated now?"


    Cminus realized the necessity for information and began to look at the peculiar temple. His soul went out of Kyros and moved towards the center where the four pirs which sealed Kyros were.


    "This design? Now that we''re out of that seal, I can see it. Kyros! Say ''Show Temple Info!''"


    "Show Temple Info." Kyros followed immediately.


    A strange hologram appeared right above Cminus.


    The words disyed the same kind of entric format that Cminus created for disying stats and skills for people.


    ---


    Nephilim Sealing Temple


    Status: Kyros Unsealed


    Nephilim Training Commencing!


    Shade Level: 1 (02:22:15:04 remaining to Level 2)


    Temple Level: 3 (104/1000 points to Level 4)


    ---


    Acquired Rewards:


    Holy Ground- Makes the entire temple ground ufortable for low-level Shades to step on. Basic Dark Spell resistance applied.


    Holy Healing- Staying in Temple Ground makes Kyros recover faster and defuses Dark maddening.


    Holy Barrier- Creates a Holy Barrier. Defense Strength of Barrier increases as Temple Level increases. Shade Level 2 creatures can breach the barrier.


    Carrier has Arrived!- Locked.


    Holy Beam- Locked.


    Library of the Light- Locked


    Enlightenment Chamber- Locked


    Holy Wave- Locked.


    Holy Cow- Locked.


    ---


    Kyros read it and immediately allowed himself to fall asleep.


    "Kyros!" Cminus eximed.


    But as he drew closer, he could see that Kyros was simply resting.


    "I see. He was really doing his best to hold on. He realized he had nearly three days'' worth and decided to rest. What is this ce? I thought this temple was a seal?" Cminus wondered and moved over to look around. He peered outside and could see that within the darkness, a strange red light was glowing.


    "That glow? What is that?" Cminus felt a strange foreboding at the light.


    "I know I''ve felt that strange sensation before..." Cminus frowned.


    The energy of darkness was steadily growing within the red orb.


    "It seems that the Level of Shade will increase with that orb... Too bad it''s too far. Kyros would have to make an effort to get there. But this is odd... This ce. A holy Temple that grants powerful spells and even a library. And at the same time, it offers the Shade race as food for Kyros. Its as if this ce is designed to teach Kyros how to walk the path of the Fallen through devouring and fighting, as is the way of the Fallen. And it also offers a ce for meditation, purification, and enlightenment as is the way of the Gods!"


    Cminus decided that he should try to ess the temple info.


    "Show Temple Info!"


    The hologram appeared overhead again.


    ---


    ¡¥_(¥Ä)_/¡¥


    ----


    "What the fragment?!" Cminus cursed.


    "Who could have created this?" Cminus began to think which of the Ancient Gods loved his strange antics that they adopted their own.


    "I can''t ess it, but what''s with that joke? This is impossible! This couldn''t have been created by one god! The materials used to create that pir and seal was something made by the Fallen!" Cminus began to hover from one area of the temple to the other and began to analyze the materials used to explore more of this ce''s mystery.


    Soon, Cminus fell into an obsessive trance as he kept studying the temple. Cminus was so absorbed in his study of the ce that one day soon passed.


    "Genius! This ce is just genius! No wonder even gods can''t find it! The arrays! The force fields! This ce is just amazing! But where is it drawing its power from?" Cminus observed.


    "Ugh..." Kyros groaned.


    "Kyros! You''re finally awake! I didn''t rudely interrupt you this time and let you have your beauty rest. Are you alright? Are you berserked?" Cminus moved and hovered over Kyros''s lying body.


    "Of course I''m alright. You know, if we disregard the fact that I just died, traveled back in time, and got electrocuted with strange magics for months and had to fight a horde of Shadow Ghouls... I''m peachy. You look great too. Up and about, I see..."


    "Wow... De-Joker must have ced quite a curse on you. You''re already sarcastic. You''re peachy, huh? So this is the new and improved Kyros... So first things first. Check your stats!"


    "My stats?"


    "No. Your mother! Call your mother! Of course, your stats!"


    "I don''t know how! It''s not like you taught me how to do it! Two years of time traveling, and you didn''t tell me how to bring up my stats! I assumed only you could do it!"


    "You just will it! Think in your mind that you want to see your stats. You can also try saying ''stats'' so that the readers will know that you''re bringing it up. Otherwise, the author will just say something strange like ''and then Kyros willed his stats to appear.'' We don''t want that, do we?"


    "What?"


    "Just do it! Say stats!"


    "I don''t want to say stats. It''s too... in. Disy Character Profile. And set auto-response to say ''Character Profile Disyed on the execution of themand."


    "Character Profile Disyed." A strange robotic voice echoed. It sounded like Kyros impersonating a thick Austrian-American voice that came from the future.


    "Is that... Arnold?" Cminus marveled.


    "I don''t know... Who''s Arnold?"


    "It''s not Who''s Arnold. It''s Hey! Arnold. But I don''t know who that Arnold is. It''s something my other multi-dimensional incarnation knows. But how did you know his voice? Wait... is it because our souls have merged?"


    "Oh no! That''s means I''m a weird and entric as you!" Kyros made an ugly expression.


    "Well... You can just ignore all these strange suggestions that pop in your head."


    Kyros thought for a bit.


    "You know what? It sounds good. I''m sticking to it. Now let me check my stats."


    ---


    Kyros ????


    Race: Nephilim


    Soul Age: 16


    Bone Age: 10


    Mortal Level: 1


    ---


    Strength- 50 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 0 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 247 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 50 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- Bruh... ( Sealed)


    Soul Force- 0 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 100 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 100 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    Passive Skills:


    Deviant Soul


    Time Surge


    Unlocked Time Perception


    Time Resistance


    Lightning Resistance


    Greater Soul Resistance


    Dark Consumer


    Dark Wielder


    ---


    Active Skills/Spells:


    [Greater Soul Meditation]


    ---


    Active Seals:


    [Devil Bound]


    [God Bound]


    [Devil Snare]


    [God Snare]


    [Advanced Devil Sealing]


    [ Advanced God Sealing]


    [Spirit Shackle]


    [Shackling Light]


    [Shackling Darkness]


    [Sess Limiter*]


    ---


    Active Curses:


    [Enfeeble]


    [De-Might]


    [De-Magic]


    [De-Spacito]


    [Force Lock]


    [Magic Lock]


    [Apathy of Fate*]


    Note:


    392 days until Sess Limiter bes Life Limiter.


    80 days until Apathy of Fate bes Hated of Fate.


    Kyros read it and wasn''t sure what this meant. What he could discern was that his strength was stronger than what it was. In the past, he recalled his first strength test drew in a score of 46. This was already impressive for his state. But now, it had reached 50 and was something he acquired when he was at level 8.


    His Magic stats were back to 0 just as it was. He never had magic, and it was only when he received the Celestial Code that he could wield magic. Force Lock was something new. He knew that his previous life began with him having difficulty using Force and his adoptive parents went to great lengths just to allow him to release Force.


    "So I had a curse, and my parents found a way to bypass it?" Kyros read. Then Kyros turned to the first peculiarity among many.


    "Bruh?" Kyros wondered.


    "Cminus... Is this stats any good?"


    "ANY GOOD!"? Cminus howled.


    "MOTHER FRAGMENTING FIRMAMENT OF FICTITIOUS FRUITS!" Cminus roared so loud that Kyros''s soul trembled.


    "I''m guessing it''s that good then." Kyrosughed.


    "Good? These stats are literally god-shocking! Your soul is so strong that it weakened the god and devil seals! Look! The Trapper Seals for God and Devil became Snare! The Paramount Sealing became Advanced! Do you know what kind of strength it takes to weaken God and Devil seals?!"


    "Something strong, I guess. Why is my stat for intelligence just saying ''Bruh...''?"


    "I didn''t expect you to be that smart! You see, unlike the other stats, intelligence is more difficult to quantify. So unlike the rest, which gauges the strength you carry, your physical endurance, how fast you can move and think, or even the amount of magic you can wield, intelligence and wisdom are more or less subjective. It consists of a lot of things. From memorization to mental acuity, problem-solving, and logic or that innate talent to simply understand things. So instead of that, the current stats your seeing is an intelligence format whichpares it to me."


    "To you?"


    "Well, the gods didn''t have a standard for measuring intelligence as a whole. So theypared it to me, who was the god who designed this system. In the mortal world, most of the regr or lower regions even set Intelligence caps at 999 through the various tests that mortals give. It may increase depending on the knowledge and strength of the region you are in, but for gods, it was impossible. So for gods and fallen, that stat is N/A since it is designed to rate human knowledge!


    "Then why does it say, ''Bruh...''?"


    "Because! It... It means you''ve surpassed my intelligence." Cminus was trying his best to answer calmly and not shove Kyros out to be fed to the Shadow Ghouls.

 Chapter 15 - A Window To Close

    Kyros paused for a bit and nced at the constipated-looking soul of Cminus.


    "What? How''s that possible? Everything I learned and know is from you."


    "That''s exactly what I''m curious about! How did you be smarter than me?! That''s unfair!" Cminus cried.


    "I don''t know. Did you be dumb when you got here?"


    "Hmm... Well, now that you mentioned it... I mean, I did a bit... When I was sealed, it took away most of the powers that I naturally know when I was an Ancient God."


    "Naturally know? You mean like how a bird knows how to fly and how a fish knows how to swim?"


    "Yeah. When you ascend to godhood or well... descend to the fallen state, you develop a different body. These things are not taught but can only be understood if you are a god or a fallen. So when I became human, it took away a lot of things. My understanding of the elements, the powers of a God, and so on have been limited. What I can remember, I still carry. The only reason why I was able to cast my Time Survivor Skill is that it is associated with the soul."


    "Then if we cultivate and get you stronger, you''d be able to remember them?"


    "Yes. That part is true."


    "Alright. Then I guess this is severely limited. Rx. It might be basing your intelligencepared to a very weak you!" Kyros consoled.


    "I have to find a way to get you to have a body. It''s weird having a crazy older man stuck on me. What''s Spirit Shackle? I used to have Soul Shackle, but now it''s Spirit."


    "Right! We didn''t talk about Soul powers during our little time trip! Truth be told, I thought we didn''t need it."


    "You didn''t talk about Soul and Spirit, but you had the time to talk about Corporate management andpany rtions? Which, by the way, still doesn''t make sense."


    "It will! When you soon save a kingdom and rise to power, you can use those tricks to make sure your people are happy."


    "So, for me to defeat the coboration between the Fallen and the Greater Gods, I need to make that thing that what you discussed for two whole days? I need a Mission and Vision Statement?"


    "All sessfulpanies have them. So why not, right? So you do need that, and you have to set your OGP."


    "Setting Objectives, Goals, and ns can help me defeat divine and ursed beings? But theoretical and practical knowledge on Soul training isn''t included?" Kyros challenged.


    "Well, I figured you didn''t need it! You have three souls, for crying out loud! You don''t need to cultivate it. You just need to unseal them!"


    "Wait. I have THREE souls? And you just figured that me knowing that I have three souls is of less value than understanding C#? I was already getting the hang of Java and am already able to program my soul to search for a means to analyze things constantly, and you still made me go through that."


    "What?" Cminus was startled at his statement.


    "What do you mean?"


    "I already programmed my soul to constantly assess and think of a way to get me unsealed faster. I am also using my ability to draw out the energy of this world to increase my soul. How do you think my soul could recover even when I fell unconscious. My soul was acting in auto-pilot mode!"


    "What the fragment?!" Cminus eximed, unable to believe what he was hearing.


    "Impossible! Quick! Show me the details of... that one! Greater Soul Meditation on your Active Spells! I don''t recall any skill with that name! Focus your will to see it! Now!" Cminus demanded.


    Kyros was surprised at the sudden demands that he made a mistake and locked into Greater Soul Resistance under Passive Skills.


    "Er... I made a mistake."


    The details of Greater Soul Resistance appeared.


    ---


    [Greater Soul Resistance]


    The ability to resist soul-rted elemental and non-elemental attacks. The soul is also more resistant to possible mind-altering attacks that originate from forcibly altering the state of the soul. This includes mind control, beguiling, and confusion.


    ---


    "Close it and open the other one! This one helps exin how you were quickly able to ovee your Dark Maddening state! But that''s not important! Close it!"


    "How do I get out of this erm... thing?"


    "Just close the window!"


    "Alright." Kyros immediately rushed and closed the nearby windows that were surrounding the temple where he was sealed in. It was difficult for Kyros to do this as the window disy in his eyes was blocking the view. Several of the Shadow Ghouls attacked Kyros and nearly wed his arms that were moving out of the shield to pull the windows back. But thankfully, the shield protected them. Kyros did this several times as he closed the windows on the four sides of the temple.


    "Done." Kyros wiped his hands to disperse the dust.


    "Hey. It''s not working. This thing about Greater Soul Resistance is still here."


    "..." Cminus facepalmed himself.


    "FRAGMENT! No wonder my other incarnation resigned from the call center industry! I meant close that disy. Click on the X button."


    "Click?"


    "Make your will select the X button on the top corner!" Cminus urged with great frustration.


    Kyros finally did so.


    "Oh. So that''s what you mean by ''window''!"


    "For someone who surpasses me in intelligence, you can''t close that window?!"


    "You never exined what a window is! Why would this be called window and not ''floating'' box? And you didn''t even bother to tell me the details of this stat system which would have been helpful! You didn''t teach me more about this temple! If I knew that I had nearly three days to recover, I would have stopped fighting and rested! Maybe I surpass you in intelligence because you''re so dumb!" Kyros cursed.


    "I didn''t know about this temple! This is something that honestly surpasses my own! The mystery of this temple and even this ce is something that shouldn''t be possible! This ce is designed to train you to awaken your Fallen and your ascension to a God! This is what the temple is! A training ground for a Nephilim!" Cminus exined.


    "This is a training ground?" Kyros clicked on the X button and closed the disyed screen of Greater Soul Meditation.


    "Show Temple Info!" Kyros shouted to disy the temple stats.


    ---


    Nephilim Sealing Temple


    Status: Kyros Unsealed


    Nephilim Training Commencing!


    Shade Level: 1 (01:15:35:42 remaining to Level 2)


    Temple Level: 3 (104/1000 points to Level 4)


    ---


    Kyros mused over the first set of information and immediately bolted out of the door.


    The many Shadow Ghouls were caught off guard. They couldn''t see inside the temple as the light was hindering their sight. So when they saw Kyros moved out of the temple, they were caught off guard.


    Kyros bit the head of one of the Shadow Ghoul to kill it as he began to kick and punch the monsters. Even though the Force Lock curse was hindering his ability to release the Force energy, he had already learned how to deal with the hordes of monsters before him.


    The monsters were immune to physical attacks. But Kyros could attack them. And because of that, Kyros could send them flying with ease. Even when several would pounce at him together, they would all get easily blown away by a sweeping kick or punch.


    And while his attacks wouldn''t kill these Shadow Ghouls, it gave Kyros the chance to knock them back and deal with the others.


    And so, Kyros would make a wide swing and attack and reach for one to bit its head and toss its body towards the temple.


    Kyros had already discovered on his previous fight how powerful the Holy Barrier was. The Shadow Ghouls recklessly charged and rushed at Kyros even when Kyros was standing in front of the temple. Kyros retreated, and it was there that the Holy Barrier suddenly appeared. When it did, the rushing Shadow Ghouls were purged as they passed the barrier. Although these creatures managed to reach the other side, they were severely weakened, and their sizes shrunk until only one-third remained.


    "What are you doing?! Get back inside, and let me check on your stats!" Cminus roared.


    "Didn''t you see? I have a day to get my points up to level 4! So help me!" Kyros argued and kept fighting.


    "We can talk about my statster! I need to get to the next level!" Kyros answered as he kept attacking and evading. The skill Pronto was once more activated and allowed Kyros to move and retreat before these creatures could move.


    Although the speed of Kyros would normally prove useless against these numerous beings, the problem was that Kyros stuck close to the entrance of the temple, and so the horde couldn''t recklessly rush in as they would get burned by the temple''s shield.


    As such, the horde-styled invasions of Shadow Ghouls didn''t happen, and all the ghouls merely kept trying to swipe or pull Kyros.


    "Amazing. With all his abilities, the creatures that level fifty or sixty mortal warriors and mages is something that this level 1 Kyros could fight!" Cminus observed in awe.


    "If you want to see my stats help me kill more!" Kyros shouted.


    "Fine! I saw that Passive skill Time Surge! Either by your disgusting constitution, or because my soul merged with yours, it allowed you to carry Time Reversal Magic! I normally wouldn''t allow you to use it since it would alert the gods and fallen. But since we are here, I guess they won''t sense it."


    "What''s Time Surge?!"


    "Simply put, your body always has an excess of time! There are a lot of possible ways to use it! But the most helpful now is to use Time Haste! It''s a Time spell that allows you to time faster for a few seconds in the area around you!"

 Chapter 16 - A Skill Called Taunt

    "How do I use it?" Kyros asked.


    "I''ll channel it. You should be able to feel it. Once you sense the energy, let it explode out of you!"


    [Time Haste skill acquired.]


    Kyros quickly retreated back to the inside of the temple and began to devour the dying Shadow Ghouls tossed inside.


    "You''re not going to use it?"


    "I have to surprise them again for me to aplish my n. So I''ll kill some time back here and emerge to attack them again.


    "Show me your stats now! Show me your stats!" Cminus kept urging.


    Kyros, however, didn''t. He began to experiment and look at what other stats or details he could find.


    Aside from his character profile, Kyros found a list of all the spells and skills he could use, and next to it were levels.


    ---


    Passive Skills:


    Dark Consumer- Level 20 (Max)


    Dark Wielder- Level 20 (Max)


    Deviant Soul- Level 1


    Time Surge- Level 1


    Unlocked Time Perception- Level 2


    Time Resistance- Level 6


    Lightning Resistance- Level 4


    Greater Soul Resistance-Level 2


    ---


    Active Skills:


    Time Haste- Level 1


    Pronto- Level 1


    ---


    After looking at the stats, Kyros began to explore other functions in the built-in screens that he could navigate in his head. There was also a strange tab that had the word ''party'' on it. Going by what he canprehend, Kyros figured that the party was for any allies he might be connected with.


    It was then that Kyros finally went back to his Character Profile page and opened the details of Greater Soul Meditation.


    [Greater Soul Meditation]


    A passive and unique soul-empowering skill created by Kyros. Kyros''s soul is in a constant state of strengthening and meditation aimed at improving his power. It can perform various operations in analyzing, deducing, and experimenting with any imputed power, energy, or object in Kyros''s soul. All operations are performed through the Soul Console, an open-source Java-based developer workspace created by Kyros.


    Cminus and Kyros read the description.


    "Wow. Your device is quite amazing. It was able to detail and analyze my Soul Console so quickly!" Kyros was amazed.


    But Cminus was shocked.


    "You... You! Open your Soul Console thing!"


    Kyros agreed and opened the Soul Console. Unlike the previous stats, this was something that Kyros created by himself. A ck screen appeared on their vision.


    ---


    Soul Console 1.03b


    Current Soul Tasks:


    Origin Absorption- Level 1


    ALERT! Spirit Shackle is limiting the rate of origin absorption. The soul cannot grow stronger.


    Soul Unsealing- Level 1


    Estimated time of decreasing Spirit Shackle''s strength by a discernible margin: 350 years.


    God Unsealing- Level 1


    Estimated time of decreasing strength of all god seals: Unknown.


    Devil Unsealing- Level 1


    Estimated time of decreasing strength of all devil seals: Unknown.


    Celestial De-Code- Level 0


    Estimated time of decoding the Celestial Code: Unknown.


    Fate Comprehension- Level 0


    Task has failed.


    ---


    Cminus''s mouth was wide open. He began to see and observe the careful actions of Kyros''s soul by moving and observing every detail of the soul.


    At that moment, Kyros felt something moving within his body.


    "Hmm... Odd. I need to program my soul to alert me for these things." Kyros immediately went to his Soul Console and began to add functions,mands, triggers, and a bunch of strange ''if'' statements.


    "Let''s test it. Hope this works." Kyros hoped for the best and enabled the software.


    "The following hidden statuses have been detected." Arnold''s voice was once again heard.


    The stats of Kyros were disyed once more. But this time, at the very bottom, was a new category.


    ---


    Unknown:


    Soul Parasite


    Soul Link


    4th Wall Breacher


    ---


    "Oh! I get it. Because you were outside, my soul was unable to sense all these things. But now that you merged again, our soul link got detected. It looks like your strangeness has affected me. I have this strange 4th Wall Breacher Status!" Kyrosined.


    "What? How did it speak?!" Cminus was stunned.


    "I programmed it to." Kyros shrugged and devoured more of the dying


    But disregarding Kyros''sints, Cminus was looking at the strange Soul Console and was sensing the strange activities that Kyros''s soul was doing. While he was still linked with Kyros to some extent, it was only now that he could feel everything.


    "You-You...! You managed to program your soul with Java?! No! This is beyond it! You! You applied andbined all those rants and created an artificial intelligence based on your soul!"


    "Yeah. Wasn''t that the reason why you ranted about those stuff in the first ce? Why else would you talk about that?"


    "I just wanted to brag! One of my incarnations is a nerd! I was running out of things to say, so I went for this one!"


    "Wait... If that''s the case, what use was it for? You were just bragging?!"


    "It''s not useful in this world! But- but- you! How did you create an artificial intelligence and even gave it the voice of Arnold?!"


    "Erm... My Int stat?" Kyros guessed.


    "Mother Fragments! You!"


    "Whatever... Anyway... I know that the two Imprisoning Seals are used to limit my power. The Celestial Code allowed me to wield almost all Elements except Time, Dark, Entropy, and Brimstone. It took me quite an effort to harness Light. But I know now that my difficulty in learning Light was because of the Seals. But since they''ve weakened because of my stronger soul, I should be able to harness bits of those Elements." Kyros analyzed internally.


    "Then, to gain power, I need to get the power of the Celestial Code earlier. But how can I do it?" Kyros continued to n.


    Cminus could only look at Kyros, who was now nning his future. He then turned towards the soul and peered into Kyros''s Soul Console to see all of its activities.


    "He''s Soul is constantly battling! It''s like it has a mind of its own! Monster... monster...!" Cminus could feel the upheaval that was happening.


    "Putting aside the dark shadow creatures, this ce looks like a training ground for me. It helps grow in Light and Dark... If I were to consider my fate in acquiring the Celestial Code, then I should be able to wield all elements easily."


    "Perhaps a working of fate? It''s giving you everything to make you grow stronger."


    "Then, for now, I need to level up. Get ready to activate that Time Haste. Making time move faster in an area around me sounds useless since it would affect my enemies, but a well-timed use, it could help me here." Kyros stood up and prepared to run. He had devoured the Shadow Ghouls inside.


    Kyros peered over to check his points.


    ---


    Temple Level: 3 (112/1000 points to Level 4)


    ---


    "I killed two and attacked a few back then. If the points increase upon killing those creatures, then I get four points apiece. That sounds about right. I have a hundred points earlier, and I did more or less killed twenty of those things back then..."


    "So what are you going to do now?"


    "I recalled that you said the problem with these creatures was that they were numerous and would rush like a tidal wave of darkness. So I''ll use it against them!"


    Kyro immediately moved and rushed out of the temple again.


    Upon exit, he moved towards the area, grabbed two of the dark creatures by the head, and pulled it to bite them.


    Pronto and Kyros''s fast perception allowed him to kill the two before it could move.


    The Shadow Ghouls retreated as it red angrily at Kyros, who now stood in the small space before him.


    Several dark spears were thrown at him, and all were casually evaded.


    Kyros even managed to catch one of the dark spears and skewer the two creatures'' headless bodies.


    Kyros crumpled the paper-thin spears, and it was bing a round stick.


    [Dark Maniptor acquired.]


    "Woah. It became this?" Kyros was surprised. His casual actions of trying to reshape the paper-thin weapons allowed him to reshape the paper spear into a stick.


    One of the Shadow Ghouls rushed forward to attack, but Kyros stabbed it first. He used his ability of Dark Wielder and imputed that power in the stick.


    The spear pierced through the Shadow Ghoul. Although it didn''t seem to have done any damage, Kyros immediately swiped sideways, making the creature move to the right and hit the floor.


    The nearby Shadow Ghouls were startled. Had they just given Kyros a weapon? The other ghouls stopped throwing their spears as they saw Kyros.


    "These guys are too weak." Kyros shook his head.


    "Normally, these guys could kill level 50 mortals. It just so happened you have abilities that are suited for them." Cminus exined.


    "I''m curious, though. Will Dark Maniptor work on skills?" Kyros mused and struck the Shadow Ghoul with the stick once more and flicked it towards himself.


    The Shadow Ghoul tried to w Kyros, but Kyros pped the hands and to the side and bit the Shadow Ghoul.


    The Shadow Ghoul screamed as part of its head was bit off.


    SLAM!


    Kyros smashed the Shadow Ghoul to the ground and stepped on its arm.


    "Weak! You all are weak!" Kyrosughed as he taunted and pulled the Shadow Ghoul on his feet upwards to gnaw at its head.


    [Taunt skill acquired.]


    Kyros smiled as he knew that it worked.


    The Shadow Ghouls were all enraged and rushed towards Kyros.


    Kyros stepped forward and readied his stick, and as the horde of enraged and shouting ghouls approached that their fangs and ws were about to hit Kyros, Kyros activated it and retreated.


    "Time Haste!"


    The time in the area around them began to elerate. While their speed increased, the perception of the area around them didn''t, and so the ghouls couldn''t stop themselves from lunging themselves towards the entrance of the temple.


    Kyros had retreated in, and because time was moving faster and the Shadow Ghouls couldn''t react in time, a horde of Ghouls entered the room, and the howls of pain resounded all over the temple.

 Chapter 17 - A New Job

    Time Haste altered the speed of everything within ten meters from where Kyros stood. As such, the horde of darkness that charged recklessly was pulled as the sudden increase and eleration made it toote for them to stop.


    FIZZLE! FIZZLE! FIZZLE!


    The sounds of the Shadow Ghouls passing through the temple barrier purged them all, and some even died as they passed through.


    Kyros also stumbled down. He felt a strange weight all over his body as the effects of Time Haste took a toll on his body.


    "Show Temple Info." Kyros called out and searched for the important detail in the list of info that appeared.


    ---


    Shade Level: 1 (01:15:10:14 remaining to Level 2)


    Temple Level: 3 (268/1000 points to Level 4)


    ---


    Kyros smiled as he was satisfied. Those that immediately died during the rush already gave him over a hundred points. There were still plenty remaining, and all he had to do was kill them. He could feel his body recovering.


    Kyros began to crawl and grab one of the dying Shadow Ghouls and began to bite and eat the creature, which sped up his recovery. It was then that Kyros sensed a notification that he didn''t read earlier when he activated Time Haste.


    [Soul Over Mana skill acquired.]


    "Hm? Does this mean I can use my soul to create magic?" Kyros wondered. He never heard of that power.


    "As expected! I knew it! You even have the Ancient God''s Soul Over ability. You should be able to do the same with force now. Of course, since you can''t do Magic or Force because of the seals, it will greatly exhaust you."


    "I feel really weak. That took a toll on my soul."


    "Normally, people die if they did what you did. But you''re soul is so resilient, so I knew this would happen. Still, that speaks a lot of your strength. I mean, people at your level wouldn''t even have a Second Source! But your soul broke out that you have over two hundred worth of points! That equals to about eighty points of magic!"


    Kyros kept eating the Shadow Ghouls as he talked with Cminus, and then Kyros felt a surge in his powers.


    ---


    Level up!


    Strength- 50-> 55 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 0-> 3 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 247-> 253 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 50-> 55 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- Bruh...-> Still Bruh, Bruh... ( Sealed)


    Soul Force- 0-> 1 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 100-> 20/103 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 100-> 25/108 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    "I leveled up? Right... You said that Fallens level up through consumption. Still... Pitiful increases just like before. It seems I have to train to grow stronger physically."


    "This is an interesting development. Most creatures that are aligned to the Light level up through the same method that the gods do. They absorb the Life Energy that is dispersed upon eliminating or killing a creature. Humans, Dwarves, Elves, and many other races do this. As for the Fallen, they level up through devouring the bodies of others and channel the Death Energy in their bodies. Vampires, Skeletons, Orcs, and those aligned to the darkness use these methods. But you can do both!"


    "I thought my soul got stronger... But to think that it increased only by one. That means that the soul force stat that we saw was because of the Celestial God Daradiel."


    "That''s right. Of course, the Gauge skill of mortals won''t see that stat. In most cases, mortals would see abined number of both your Ancient and Fallen Source stat. But now, to think that a single level allowed you to breach and bring out a single point of your third soul!"


    "You have to exin to me what this third soul is."


    "I don''t know. I''m guessing that in order for your Ancient and Fallen sides of your soul to live in harmony together, it needed a third soul to mediate and unite both the Life and Death, the Light and the Dark together."


    "But why is it Zero? You mean that my soul that resisted the time travel and withstood the torture of that pir was my Ancient and Fallen souls?"


    "Yes. The more you level up and have a stronger body, the more parts of your soul you can wield. But Honestly, I don''t understand how your neutral soul appeared. It should be something so small that it is very hard to sense. It was supposed to only be a bridge that allows you to exists. I don''t understand why it finally emerged."


    "It''s probably you. Something about your soul allowed me to bring it out and strengthen it. We don''t know if the Soul Force that you showed me back then, which had 760 points, was of Greater God Daradiel or if it had small parts from mine. But I''m betting that it was all Greater God Daradiel. If a Greater God instilled a remnant of his soul in mine, it would have to be at least 760 points."


    "You''re right..."


    "For now... I eat. Hopefully, I''ll level up with all of these monsters here." Kyros began to eat the darkness.


    After eating some twenty monsters, Kyros began to rest to allow his soul tobat the Dark Maddening effect. The Temples Holy Healing also began to aid in removing the effects.


    Nearly five minutes passed, and Kyros stood up and began to eat again.


    "That Greater Soul Meditation technique is such a cheat..." Cminus muttered as he was amazed at how fast he recovered. Dark Maddening was a curse that was very difficult to cure in the mortal realm. And yet, Kyros could just eat as much as he can without suffering from any permanent damage.


    Kyros had killed all of the monsters that crashed in the temple. However, he didn''t eat all of the Shadow Ghouls but intentionally left a few and began to pile it up in one spot. Sadly, he didn''t level up again.


    Kyros checked the temple level again.


    ---


    Shade Level: 1 (01:14:55:14 remaining to Level 2)


    Temple Level: 3 (648/1000 points to Level 4)


    ---


    "I can make it!" Kyros smiled.


    "I''m sorry to burst your bubble, but you can''t activate Time Haste like that again. Those Shadow Ghouls are organized and smart. They won''t fall for the same trick."


    "I know. That''s why I left these things here." Kyros pointed to the pile of dead Shadow Ghouls.


    "Darkness usually has a fluid-like state. But luckily, these creatures have a body that gives darkness a pseudo-physical form. If I can wield this to make some form of armor, I should protect myself from their attacks. Having a weapon would also help. Let''s try to shape it."


    Using the knowledge that Weapon and armor Forgers, Artifact cksmiths, and Enchanters, Kyros began to reshape the dark bodies of the dead Ghouls.


    "What are you doing? You think you can harden-"


    "Good. This looks like a good hard, metal!" Kyros admired his work. He managed topress a pile of the dead bodies and somehowbined it to make strange dark steel.


    "Wha- What?!"


    [Dark Artificer job acquired.]


    "Dark Artificer? What job is this?" Kyros knew all of the jobs, but this was a strange term that he didn''t hear from Cminus''s lessons.


    "HOW?!" Cminus was stunned that it was tearing the hair out of its soul''s head.


    Kyros ignored Cminus and opened up his stats to check the description of the Dark Artificer.


    ---


    Dark Artificer Level 1


    Harnessing the Soul of a Fallen, the Dark Artificer wields darkness to craft, shape, and create cursed objects. Only the most skilled of mortals can create objects of darkness.


    ---


    "Interesting. My magic points went back to zero, but it looks like this ce is recovering it." Kyros observed. He had noticed that his Magic points are now 0/3. But after a few seconds, it went back up to 1.


    "That was tough. But if Iplete this hammer, I should be able to craft these dark bodies without expending more mana." Kyros made his plot and immediately went to work.


    Kyros began to work and reform thest part of the hammer. His MP would be consumed every time he would try to merge or harden the darkness. Soon the hammer formed.


    "Now, with this hammer, I can forge a weapon!" Kyrosughed as the memories of all the theoretical theories that Cminus talked about surfaced.


    "Pronto!" Kyros activated the skill. His brain began to move in overdrive, and he was thinking faster.


    "When did you find the time to make this an active skill? You programmed your soul to limit your thinking speed?!" Cminus cursed. He hadn''t noticed this before and only realized it now as he was checking on Kyros''s soul console and saw the codes.


    With great dexterity, Kyros began to work and hammer the darkness. With a hammer that had a dark element, Kyros was now able to tamper the darkness without consuming great amounts of MP. In fact, a single point would nowst for five strikes. And so, the interval of how Kyros could make a hammer was growing faster and faster.


    [Dark Artificer Level 2 reached!]


    [Dark Maniptor skill level increased!]


    The amount of MP that Kyros expended lessened and lessened. Kyros paid no attention to his stats as he kept on forging and hammering.


    An hour passed, but Kyros had been working for nearly twice that time thanks to his ability, Pronto.


    [Dark Artificer Level 3 reached!]


    [Dark Maniptor skill level increased!]


    [Dark Bestowal- Dark Artificer job skill acquired.]


    "Dark Bestowal?! You can''t mean?! You can add magic to your weapons?!"


    [Absorb skill acquired.]


    "Absorb! Amazing! He learned to absorb! The basic ability that allows Dark magic to be feared among the elements! And with Dark Bestowal, he can imbue that power to his weapons!"


    Kyros, however, did not bother with Cminus''s exmations and continued to work.


    After two hours since Kyros began, a pair of armguards were finallypleted.

 Chapter 18 - A Method Of Increasing Stats

    The arm guard looked as if it was made with very dark-colored steel. It had a small clip so that Kyros could lock it. The arm guard had a small de protruding on the forearm side. Kyros wore it and smiled.


    [Bestow name to the crafted item?]


    "Set name to Dark Arm Guards. Let''s keep it simple for now and reserve the more powerful names forter." Kyrosughed as he looked at his dark creation.


    "Disy item stats!"


    ---


    Dark Arm Guards (Element Crafted Weapon)


    Attack: 14


    Durability: 10


    Dark Resistance: (+5)


    Absorbs 3% dark element per second of contact.


    ---


    "Wow. Just wow. The attack is weak. Normal mortal swords have attacks of at least 20. But still... This is quite amazing for a first Element Crafted Weapon!"


    "I guess I have to code my soul to think of a way to refine this method..." Kyros sighed.


    "I guess I''ll just code it in my dreams. For now... I have to fight. Show Temple Info!"


    ---


    Shade Level: 1 (01:12:51:03 remaining to Level 2)


    Temple Level: 3 (648/1000 points to Level 4)


    ---


    "Two hours, huh? But it makes my soul feel heavy if I keep Pronto up. Deactivate Pronto." Kyros ordered and allowed Pronto to lose effect.


    "Now it''s time to train! My dexterity is high enough to fight these monsters. And with this guard, I can give those creatures a better fight. Thest trick I pulled ought to make those Shadow Ghouls think twice before charging off like thest time." Kyros smiled and moved towards the exit of the temple.


    "If you n to do that, then I suggest aiming for that strange area in the middle."


    "What''s over there?"


    "There''s a red light hidden in the darkness. I think it''s the one thing that is creating these monsters. If you get there and destroy that object, it should stop creating more of these Shadow Ghouls. Maybe it will allow you to receive a huge amount of points!"


    Kyros looked at the direction where Cminus was pointing and nodded.


    "Alright. Let''s see what''s out there!" Kyros immediately moved out.


    The temple detected the arm guard that Kyros crafted, and the moment Kyros moved out, the barrier opened a small port.


    "Oh? It was this smart?"


    "I knew it. I thought it would have this ability. This is my training ground, after all. Now, let''s start raising those stats of mine!"


    Kyros had a body that was simr to humans. And Mortals can increase their stats through handwork and training. Although there was a limit to how strong one can train in, Kyros was able to raise his stats to phenomenal levels. And right now, he was training to increase his stats forcibly.


    The Shadow Ghouls had retreated a bit further from the temple entrance. They were afraid that the same strange event would happen that pulled many Shadow Ghouls inside the temple. So it kept its distance and didn''t attack even when Kyros had moved a few steps away from the barrier.


    "My my... how smart of them." Kyrosughed.


    "Just because these creatures have ghouls in their name doesn''t mean they are dumb creatures. I''ve only given you the basic exnations of what they are. But as I said, we as gods take no interest in the lives of mortal life-forms. You probably know better than me."


    "So these Shadow creatures are among the mortal creatures that are worthy of bing known to gods?"


    "Yes. Some of the Fallen were once shadows. Some began as Shadow Ghouls!"


    "Interesting. It''s such a pity for me to kill them. If I can tame one, I''d have a strong helper."


    "I think that''s the intention. This is a Nephilim Sealing and Training Temple. Whoever built it wanted to seal you in and train you until you''d be ready for the real world."


    "Oh? Maybe I can make one of these Shadow Creatures be my actual Shadow! I guess I should start looking for that red light you saw." Kyros searched for the red light.


    The temple had been releasing a bright-yellowish light. Yet because of the Shadow Ghouls, the light could only prate so far. So it took a few minutes until Kyros saw a shing red light. It was gone so fast, and Kyros concluded that that the Shadow Ghouls was blocking the view to see it clearly.


    Kyros immediately rushed towards where the red light was.


    The Shadow Ghouls leaped at Kyros when he had reached a certain distance.


    But instead of evading and moving faster, Kyros fought at regr speed and used his arm guards to block the w attack.


    Kyros kept on making some wild swings and used the small de to sh through the heads when he got the chance. His feet kept on moving as the numerous ws and bites of the Shadow Ghouls kept reaching for it.


    The fight was growing intense as Kyros would face at least ten Shadow Ghouls at a time. Some Shadow Ghouls were jumping over the other Shadow Ghouls to attack Kyros from above. Yet despite this, Kyros managed to hold his position, evading and blocking the attacks. He would, at times, take a step back but rush back forward for a bite or a sh.


    This battle went on and on for nearly ten minutes, and exhaustion could be seen on Kyros''s face.


    All of a sudden, more of the Shadow Ghouls began to attack and encircle Kyros.


    Kyros would retreat and move closer to the Barriers. The Shadow Ghouls would then retreat and regroup at the first distance they were at.


    Kyros was gasping for breath. He had several wounds and cuts from the attacks, and he retreated back inside the temple and sat down to rest.


    "Set rm to twenty minutes," Kyros ordered his soul and immediately fell asleep.


    Cminus watched in shock.


    "Wow. That''s so efficient."


    The temple began to heal Kyros of his wounds and was restoring his stamina. His soul was also recovering from overexerting itself.


    Kyros awoke after exactly twenty minutes. His body jolted awake.


    "Woah. That''s the worst rm clock ever! But I have to fight. That one-hour nap was great!" Kyros smiled.


    "... You sped up time and made it feel like you slept like an hour?"


    "Yeah. I mean, my physical body is resting here, but the mental strain of what I did needed deep sleep." Kyros sprung up.


    "Disy Character Profile."


    [Disying Character Profile.] Arnold alerted as Kyros''s stats are disyed.


    "You''re really going to set that voice prompt? I mean, the other notifications for level-ups and stuff need those alerts. But you better stop that for this one!"


    "Why?"


    "It''s too much work for the author! Do you expect him to type ''Arnold notified Kyros'' over and over again every time you say it?"


    "Can''t the readers assume that in the future? I mean, the author can just disy the profile and leave it to the readers to imagine Arnold saying ''Discing Character Profile.''. Wait a minute, what am I saying? Ugh. This cursed 4th Wall Breacher is making me say weird things." Kyros shook his head and observed his stats.


    ---


    Strength- 55 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 3 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 255 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 55 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- Bruh... ( Sealed)


    Soul Force- 2 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 103 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 108 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    "As expected... My dexterity increased by two points by fighting those things! My current body is catching up to the battle experience and fighting styles I gained in my past life. I am slowly adjusting to this current body. Too bad these creatures have such weak defenses. My strength won''t increase like this. And here I thought Vitality would increase after receiving those wounds. I guess that''s Enfeeble curse for you..."


    "What''s amazing is that Soul Force increased!"


    "What would that small amount do?"


    "You don''t understand! Remember your initial stats! If normal mortals were to look at your stats, they would assume that you have Second Source! Your soul was so strong that it actually increased all your basic stats. Your Ancient and Fallen Source acted together and sort of made a Second Source! But now, your actual soul is appearing! This isn''t going to be a Second Source, but a Third Source!"


    "And that''s useful because...?"


    "There are no avable means of detecting the Third Source! This could surprise your enemies! The stronger and more advanced, and powerful enemies in this world may be able to detect your Ancient and Fallen Source and assume its Second Source! It can be a means to make it look like you are weaker than them!"


    "I guess that''s nice. If that''s the case, I can technically deplete all my Ancient and Fallen Source and still be alive right?"


    "That''s another benefit! Of course, it will still weaken you to a great extent. But if you manage to get that higher, at least fifty points, then you can deplete the energy in your Ancient and Fallen Source and still live!" Cminus exined.


    "Then I guess it''s important I head back to training!"


    Kyros rushed again and attacked the enemies.


    This time, Kyros made a reckless charge and dove towards the ranks of the Shadow Ghouls. Kyros ran so fast that he was able to make a cutting sh using his arm guards.


    The heads of two Shadow Ghouls flew, and Kyros caught one and bit on it.


    The Shadow Ghouls began to attack again. But this time, they immediately encircled Kyros and gave no ce for Kyros to flee.


    Kyros kept fighting with the enemies in front and right as he was surrounded with his back full of enemies, Kyros activated it.


    "Just as nned!"


    [Pronto activated.]


    Kyros dove back and rammed the many Shadow Ghouls sending some flying back into the barrier.


    All of a sudden, Kyros was moving nearly twice as fast as before.

 Chapter 19 - A Sword In The Dark

    When Kyros fought the Shadow Ghouls thest time, he didn''t use Pronto during battle. But in those minutes of fighting the enemy, Kyros was pushing himself to the next limit. With the numerous ws that kept shing and tried to grab him, a single mistake would lead to death.


    At times, Kyros even allowed himself to get shed or stabbed to escape. Yet, in that battle, Kyros was able to move and even kill a few of the Shadow Ghoul.


    The more Kyros fought, the more he realized that someone watched him and wasmanding the Shadow Ghoul. And so, Kyros had fought the enemy also to observe the ns of the enemy.


    Kyros was very sparse in using Pronto. He only activated it to move in or out of the enemy lines. Even when he first used it, his soul was in a greatly weakened state. When the Shadow Ghouls have surrounded Kyros, Kyros finally used it to the full extent.


    He tackled the Shadow Ghouls that tried to cover his retreat.


    But then, a horde of shadow ghouls rushed down recklessly, not even caring for their lives to totally block the entrance to the temple.


    But when this happened, Kyros ran in the opposite direction.


    The power of Pronto was disyed, and with Kyros''s dexterity, he managed to evade and strike the unsuspecting Shadow Ghouls.


    "You''re pretty smart! Youmanded a group to block the entrance even if it would send a few of your Ghouls inside the temple. And then youmand these ghouls to make a pincer attack if I tried to run inside the Temple! But you were my n since the start! Time Haste!"


    Kyros controlled the power to only take effect for less than a split second. He moved further from the entrance, and the Shadow Ghouls aimed for the pincer attack passed by Kyros.


    Even Cminus felt scared at Kyros''s reckless charge. But despite this insane gamble, Cminus wanted to see. Just how strong and amazing is this Nephilim?


    Kyros kept running even when the Time Haste was not in effect. He felt his body weaken but continued to attack and head towards the red light. If he failed, Kyros would surely die. He was using his arm guards to bump and tackle through the darkness. The Shadow Ghouls were caught unprepared for Kyros''s sudden rush, and only a few even managed to take a swipe at Kyros.


    "It never showed itself or attacked me. Either you''re as weak as a regr Shadow Ghoul, or you couldn''t move!" Kyros broke through thest ranks of Shadow Ghouls.


    A bright red light could be seen, and a strange sword with a bright red gem was embedded on the ground.


    Kyros dashed ahead and could sense strange darkness from the Sword. But without hesitation, Kyros ran and grabbed it.


    BOOM!


    A powerful red sh appeared as Kyros was near the Sword.


    The nearby Shadow Ghouls were blown away, and many howled when the red sh appeared.


    Kyros felt a strong force attack his soul. But Kyros onlyughed.


    "This pitiful soul attack?! You''re mine!" Kyros reached out and grabbed the Sword.


    "NO!" A pained and angry cry was heard as the Sword struggled and fought against Kyros.


    Dark energy was now appearing around the Sword and began to cause wounds around Kyros''s hands.


    "Oh? You think darkness is your ally? But you merely adopted the darkness; I was born in it!" Kyrosughed a strangeughed as he spoke with the odd voice of someone wearing a peculiar breathing apparatus.


    He then bit down and took a bite at the sword energy.


    "AHHHHHH!" A pained scream resounded as Kyros bite a huge chunk of the dark energy.


    "Woah. I know that Sword! Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges! It''s here all along?!" Cminus was stunned.


    "Quick! Tell it to submit to you, or you''ll eat its soul!" Cminus immediately advised.


    The red light grew brighter and brighter. It already had the same strength and form as the lightning attacks that tortured Kyros''s soul for months.


    Kyros almost lost consciousness at the attack, but he then swallowed the piece of dark energy in his mouth.


    [Health Increasing.]


    "Submit!" Kyros ordered.


    "Never!" The adamant voice of the Sword answered back.


    "If you won''t... Then I''ll force you! Dark Wielder! Dark Consumer! Maximum output!" Kyros roared as he channeled the full limit of his power.


    "WHAT?!" The Sword was shocked as it could see its soul trembling. All of a sudden, a powerful vacuum appeared as the Sword began to absorb all the Shadow Ghouls in the area.


    "How can this be?!" The Sword panicked.


    Kyros opened his mouth as a strange power appeared behind his teeth.


    The Sword shivered.


    "I surrender! I surrender!" It cried as thick dark energy was escaping the Sword and created a small ck orb floating near Kyros''s mouth.


    "You know... I''m feeling a bit... hungry!"


    "You''re insane! You''ll lose control over the Sword!"


    "Lose control? I could already control it! You can''t fool me! I am the onemanding the Shadow Ghouls to return to the Sword! You are merely a soul trapped in this Sword! Without you, I won''t have anyone to hinder me!"


    "No! This can''t be! I am the Prince of the Night!"


    "So what if you are a Prince? I am Darkness! I am the Night! And I am Hungry!" Kyros bit down.


    "AHHH!" A hideous scream was heard as Kyros devoured the ck soul.


    All of a sudden, there was silence. None of the Shadow Ghouls remained in the room. And because of the light of the Temple, Kyros could now see the entire area.


    But before Kyros could observe anymore, a trumpet st sounded. It was a sound of victory and celebration.


    Strange pops were heard, and something like small cuts of paper began to fall.


    "Confetti?" Cminus realized what these things were.


    A hologram disy appeared at arge screen above the entrance of the temple.


    ---


    BONUS OBJECTIVE COMPLETE!


    Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges Acquired!


    Remnant Soul of Azerret, The Prince of Darkness destroyed!


    Bestowing Reward!


    ---


    All of a sudden, a bright light shed, and a strange cloth appeared near the screen and fell.


    "Oh? A reward item? This must be powerful!" Cminus was excited.


    Kyros approached the fallen cloth and picked it up.


    "Is that a... T-Shirt?" Cminus was amazed.


    "A T-Shirt is a type of apparel, correct?"


    "Yes. But it doesn''t exist in this universe. This is the back part. Flip it over."


    Kyros did, and there were strange marks written on the shirt.


    "I defeated the Prince of Darkness, and all I got was this lousy T-Shirt?" Kyros read out the words written.


    Cminus blinked.


    "WHICH GOD MADE THIS PLACE! HIS AS ANNOYING AS I AM!" Cminus cursed.


    "Anyonee to mind?"


    "A few... The Ancient God of Space... A few Greater Gods. It''s as if many gods created this ce to annoy me for all the things I did to them!" Cminus eximed.


    Suddenly, a strange power surged out of the shirt.


    ---


    Cloak of Darkness (Lvl. 1)


    Defense: 50


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy.


    Dark Resistance: +30


    Dark Cloak


    Shadow Familiar


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    Kyros blinked and rubbed his eyes as he watched the stats.


    "This looks... pretty strong..."


    "STRONG?! THAT''S THE CLOAK OF DARKNESS!|


    "I can read, you know!"


    "You don''t understand! This means... You! You just killed the remnant soul of Azerret! One of the Lieutenants of First Fallen! He was really strong and took a few Greater Gods to defeat him!"


    "So this Cloak is at the God Level? Wow."


    "Not just that! That Sword and this Cloak is a part of a set! The Armor you have is one of the rare weapons created during the first war against the First Fallen! It''s not just any God-tier Weapon! But something that could challenge several Greater Gods! Check out the Sword!"


    Kyros nodded and held the Sword.


    "Show stats."


    ---


    Sword of a Thousand Grudges (Lvl. 1)


    Attack: 20


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy.


    Shadow Ghoul Familiar (5)


    Soul Trapper


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    "Looks like a normal sword. But it seems to grow stronger, just like the cloak. What is this, Heart of the Fallen? And why is there a number nearby?"


    "As I said, that weapon and that cloak are parts of a set! The Heart of the Fallen means that this weapon and that cloak has the heart of a Fallen! And that means this Sword will generate dark energy indefinitely! That''s how the Sword was able to create all those Shadow Ghouls! And that power now belongs to you! You just have to find a way to make it grow stronger!"


    "So this means these two are indestructible?"


    "Yes. Even if they break, the Heart of the Fallen will repair it. Of course, if left alone, you''ll need hundreds of years! Unless you find a ce with thick dark energy, you can''t just repair it! So you have to be careful even when using these!"


    "Cool. With my ability as a Dark Artificer, I should be able to improve it soon!"


    "Exactly! You''re a being that transcends mortal wisdom now! Oh right! You also have more rewards in the Temple!" Cminus recalled.


    "Right! There was that!" Kyros ran towards the Temple.

 Chapter 20 - A Temple To Build

    Kyros was running towards the temple and entered it. Cminus assumed his human form, and his soul floated nearby. But the moment they entered the temple, a bright light shed, and Kyros saw himself flying up towards the heavens.


    "Woah! What''s happening?!" Kyros marveled at the scene.


    "This is... Spirit Journey! We are traveling! Something or someone out there is calling us and is forcing our souls to journey towards it!"


    Kyros was flying so fast that he found himself in the deepness of space. He was moving so fast that he could suddenly see severalrgendmasses being held up by strange branches that led to arge tree.


    "Where is this? Isn''t that...?"


    "Right..That''s the nes World! The ce where we were at! It''s one of the unique worlds that isn''t a. But who exactly is calling us? Kyros... We might just find out more about your heritage!" Cminus eximed..


    Their speed sped up, and soon they found themselves moving across countless gxies.


    Some would be a, and some had a Yggdrasil carrying them simr to therge three carrying the many realms just like the nes World. Kyros sawrgendmasses being carried by gigantic creatures that were the size ofs.


    Soon, they reached the edge of the universe.


    "Wait...? We are going beyond the edge?!" Cminus was scared.


    The two souls rushed towards the end of the universe. Beyond the edge was nothing. Matter ceased to exist. And yet... they breached it.


    All they could see were strange colors and bright lights.


    "Where are we?" Kyros wondered.


    Kyros and Cminus couldn''t see.


    "Kyros... If you''re here, then Fate must have been kind." A mysterious voice that was enchanting and mystical could be heard.


    "Cminus... Thank you for protecting my son. I hope that a day wille that you can breach the gap and unseal us. Kyros... You are our hope. Fate''s powers have its limits. It brought you here, and everything that happens from here on out lies in your hands. Free us, my son. Free me and free your father."


    All of a sudden, the vision was gone.


    Kyros and Cminus found themselves in the temple once more.


    "Woah..." Kyros was shocked that he stood still a few seconds after that.


    "Who were they?" Kyros asked Cminus.


    "I... don''t know..." Cminus answered.


    "What? You don''t know?"


    "I really don''t... But they seemed to be Gods that are far more stronger than I can imagine... If they can exist outside the Edge of Infinity... they must be great beings of power!"


    "She said... She was my mother, and that I have to free her and father?"


    "I... can''t help you with this one. This is something that is beyond the Ancients and the First Fallen."


    Kyros nodded.


    "It can''t be helped. For now, I press on. The more we struggle and fight, the more these things should reveal themselves."


    "Right."


    "Show Temple Info!"


    ---


    Nephilim Sealing Temple


    Status: Kyros Unleashed


    Nephilim Training Commencing!


    Shade Level: 2 Interim (18:23:52:34 remaining to start Level 2)


    Temple Level: 4 (1284/10000 points to Level 5)


    ---


    Acquired Rewards:


    Hallowed Grounds- Makes the entire temple ground ufortable for all Creatures aligned to Darkness. Advanced Dark Spell resistance applied. Converts life energy and divides the energy equally among current Temple upants. Allows ess to Temple Core.


    Greater Holy Healing- Staying in Temple Ground makes Kyros recover faster and defuses Dark Maddening, Poison, minor curses, and injuries. Allows healing of limbs. Increases difficulty for negative fate curses to find you while residing in the temple.


    Holy Barrier- Creates a Holy Barrier. Defense Strength of Barrier increases as Temple Level increases. Shade Level 3 creatures can breach the barrier.


    Carrier has Arrived!- Allows ess to Dimensional Magic to carry the entire Nephilim Sealing Temple and the Trial Grounds in a pocket dimension. Kyros may enter and exit temple grounds for 50 magic points. Grants ess to Nephilim Inventory and the Temple Storage Space.


    Holy Beam- Locked.


    Library of the Light- Locked


    Enlightenment Chamber- Locked


    Holy Wave- Locked.


    Holy Cow- Locked.


    ---


    "I can bring the entire temple with me?!" Kyros was astounded!


    "So it is as I thought. This is a Heavenly Abode. Or at least, that''s what we called it. Gods and Ancients, Fallen or the First Fallen, created a mobile fortress or home. We bestowed great magic to it so that it bes a fortress that we can bring out at will. If gods and fallen made this, then it''s only natural that it will have this ability."


    "So I have a mobile fort? What''s the Temple Core?"


    "Try calling it out." Cminus said.


    "Show me the Temple Core." Kyros called out.


    Suddenly, the ce where Kyros was sealed suddenly began to tremble. The ground opened up, and a bright round orb surfaced.


    "Woah. That''s one powerful core. Too bad it''s sealed. This is probably the strongest Heavenly Abode in all of history!"


    "What''s the Core for?"


    "Its functions vary. It allows the creation of various protocols. In fact, that soul console you created could be set here to allow this heavenly abode to function."


    "What exactly can this thing do?"


    "More than I probably know..." Cminus sighed. He knew that Kyros was far smarter than him and could create various programs and apps for this entire temple to do.


    "For now, try linking with it. If you want to own this entire temple and all of its features, you need to link and connect your soul to it."


    "Alright." Kyros approached the core and held out his hand.


    [Soul Link Complete. The Nephilim Sealing Temple of Kyros Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos is now online.]


    A powerful tremor urred, and bright lights shed, and various memories were imbued on Kyros''s head. The knowledge of how to control and run the temple was known to Kyros.


    "So that''s his name?! Soter and Vasilius, the First Born of the Ancients! Tyrannons, The First UnDivine, and Kyriachos, Lord of the Fallen! This is it! The answer to his lineage! But how?! How is it possible? How can he carry four bloodlines?! Who is he exactly?" Cminus was shocked. It was impossible to determine which among the four was Kyros''s true father. And none of these names even mentioned the mother!


    Kyros was still in a trance as he could see the various memories flooding inside his head as he began to understand the capabilities of the temple.


    "A forge? Interesting. But I need to find materials outside. An Alchemyb? It needs materials to build it. There''s also a training room, Farnds... Magic channeling room... Artificer room? Oh, I like that! What''s a Gun collection room?" Kyros wondered as he was reading through the newfound memories.


    "How is it?"


    "Well... This temple is in vast need of things. Right now, everything we see here is all that I could use so far. But if I manage to add more resources to this ce, it can assimte, and the rooms will be crafted. If I find the right power source, I can create all of these various rooms. The Temple can expand in size if I feed it more power."


    "What power source does it need?"


    "Some are power stones. Some are monsters. It''s all found in this little quest thingy. Let me show you. Disy Temple Quests."


    ---


    Temple Quest Lvl. 1


    ----


    Monsters:


    Char Vermillion Lizard King


    Char Vermillion Lizard (80)


    Swamp Man-Gator Prime


    Swamp Man-Gator (40)


    Stonic Creatures (50)


    Wicked Ruler


    Wicked Humans (150)


    Ghoul Captain


    Ghouls (200)


    Orc Cheif


    Orcs (100)


    Lizard Captain


    Lizardmen (100)


    Eugene


    ---


    nts:


    Skin Mending Herbs (20 Bushels)


    Blood Berries (20 Bushels)


    Green Poison Five-leaf nt (5 Bushels)


    Red Poison Ivy- (5 Bushels)


    Azureth Aranth Flower


    ---


    Minerals:


    Nara Red Lumber- (20 Trees)


    Grook Brown Lumber- (20 Trees)


    Snite Stone- (5 Tons)


    Graphite Char Dread Stone- (2 Tons)


    Iron Ore- (1 Ton)


    Gold Ore- (1 Ton)


    Silver Ore- (1 Ton)


    Calever Ore- (1 Ton)


    Wroth Bronze Pors Ore- (1 Ton)


    Various Metals- (1 Ton)


    Titerium Ore (1 Ton)


    ---


    Cminus read the list and could not help but scratch his head.


    "Eugene?" Both chorused and looked at each other.


    "Anyway... As you can see, this temple is designed to train me in various fields and help me get stronger. It forces me to fight and acquire resources in the world, and as I gather it, I can easily ce it all here. Now that I can control it, I can summon the storage room outside to bring these materials inside. Any objects that are brought in that storage room are marked, and once it''s marked, I can bring it out and in simply by willing it. But man... Tons of rocks and trees, and I have even to kill wicked men and orcs and stuff? Where can I get those?" Kyros wondered.


    "I guess you have to fight for it outside. So that means you can store the entire temple?"


    "Not just the temple. The area where we fought those Shadow Ghouls is part of the Outer Gate. This entire ce is a huge dome. And it hasn''t even unlocked all of it. This dome will growrger. The next level will open the next space of the dome. Since I defeated it before the time, it''s giving me time to prepare."


    "Failure to beat the time will throw you in the next level. So it''s pushing you to the limits..."


    "Yeah. Pretty soon, the training will make me end up fighting hordes of Darkness which have constantly been creating its monsters since they were unsealed. The longer I waste time. The more these creatures grow in number."


    "I see. So it gives great rewards but forces you to build an army. Quite interesting. You will need an army in the future to fight with the Greater Gods or the Fallen."


    "I guess the best thing to do is check out what is outside of this dome. I wonder where we are sealed?"


    "Wherever this is, it really sets you up. Since you have neen days to prepare, then level 2 Shades ought to give you some problems. But this temple sets you up for the next stage. I''ve been sensing quite a few familiar signatures. It just so happens that outside this ce are Char Vermillion Lizards."

 Chapter 21 - Out Of The Dome

    Kyros walked over to the edge of the dome. The darkness of the Shadow Ghouls once covered it, but now Kyros could see its edges. Soon, he found a strangerge door.


    "You mean you can''t just take away this entire Dome?" Cminus asked.


    "Yup. If I take it, the sudden instability will cause the entire mountain to copse. I''m not sure what''s going on outside. So I don''t want to kill a few innocent bystanders in this area. The first thing to do is get out and scout the area. Besides, I need to bring items inside of this temple and increase the level of the Temple Storage Space.|


    Kyros then saw the details of the Nephilim Sealing Temple in his vision. Because he is linked to it, he could bring out the temple stats immediately.


    ---


    Nephilim Inventory


    Kyros to mark ten items for quick storage and retrieval in the Temple Storage Space. Number of marked items increases per level. Marked objects cannot be unmarked and marked within 24 hours. Number of avable objects to mark: 6.


    May be upgraded with quest objects.


    ---


    Temple Storage Space


    A fifty cubic meter storage space that resides in the dimensional space of the Nephilim Sealing Temple. Kyros can store and retrieve unmarked items at the cost of 3 magic points per cubic meter of the item to be stored/retrieved. If items are physically carried inside the grounds of the Nephilim Sealing Temple, transferring the item into the Temple Storage Space can be done without expending magic. However, retrieving the item to move anywhere within the temple still requires magic.


    Storage space cannot store water, air, and other intangible objects.


    Quest objects are directly absorbed into the temple and are not stored here.


    May be upgraded with quest objects.


    ---


    "So with this, I should be able to retrieve a few in the missions list. It seems that a lot of limitations are set so that I can''t take advantage of this..." Kyros looked at the description andughed.


    "Yeah. This temple is training you. You''d have to think of ways to bring everything inside this temple to increase it. I think you should also upgrade the Temple''s defensive protocols..."


    "Well, we''ll see about this. I can always try to tame monsters to help me guard this ce. And if I can recruit my original team, they could be trained here. Of course, right now, some of them are but kids like me. The younger ones might not have been born yet since I awoke nearly three decades earlier than in my past life!"


    "It''s a good thing that vampires age slowly. She should have been born now... That Mechiel."


    Kyros sighed as he recalled that woman.


    "It''s a good thing that this temple has some defenses that hide me from fate. So It should take a while for Fate to find me if I train here. If fate is slower in finding me, they won''t make an adversary out of them yet."


    "It won''t kill them. But right now, they should be inflicted with the same curse you have. They will live harder lives now."


    "Then all I have to do is change it! For now, I''ll focus on increasing the temple! If Iplete the inner core areas of the temple, it will growrger." Kyros noted.


    The quest he had allowed him to select the rooms to be built and createyers of walls to increase the temple grounds. The area which included where the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges was now part of Kyros''s temple. When the next level of Shade would be fought, a newer dimensional area would open and would make the temple groundsrger than ever.


    "I need to make those many rooms. Alchemybs, forges, and all that. There is also that farnd. If I am to stay here and protect those I love, I have to create those too!"


    "You should consider bringing some people in here. You know, ves and the like to help you with these things."


    "I''ll see what I can do. What if Greater God Daradiel can stay here?"


    "Well, if you find him, it is possible..." Cminus realized this possibility.


    Kyros concentrated, and therge door began to open. The door was sliding upwards and revealed a strange tunnel heading out. It was pitch ck, and Kyros took a deep breath and began to march in the dark cave.


    Kyros held a sword on his hands and wore a pair of dark arm guards. These were among the items that Kyros marked.


    "It''s a good thing the system detected the armguards as one item." Kyrosughed. He then summoned one of the objects he had marked with Inventory.


    A torch appeared on his hands. The fire was burning with a strange me. This was one of the torches that lit up the inner parts of the temple.


    ---


    Temple Torch


    Attack: 1


    Durability: 10


    Inexhaustible torch.


    Fire burns out at the will of the wielder.


    Uses 1 MP to activate outside of Temple Grounds.


    The fire of this torch is hot. Keep out of reach of children.


    ---


    Kyros willed it, and the torch began to emit fire as he ignored the odd text description of the torch. He then slowly rose through the rocky tunnel leading upwards.


    "Where am I?" Kyros wondered as he looked at the rocks and minerals in the area around them.


    "These nts... Those minerals... And then we have Char Vermillion Lizards... This isn''t in any location I know. But since we are inside of a mountain or underground, then I shouldn''t be familiar with this ce. Hopefully, this ce is still close to the Minds." Kyros sighed.


    Kyros then began to walk slowly, and suddenly, he could hear some strange voices.


    "Humans?" Kyros wondered. He then willed it, and the doors leading to the Temple closed.


    "It looks like this ce is being explored or mined. But if there are Char Vermillion Lizards are still here, this means that these humans ought to be an extermination team hired."


    "You might want to change the text on your shirt. It draws attention." Cminus reminded.


    "Right! The t-shirt!" Kyros looked at his shirt and saw the odd words. But through the power of Dark Cloak, Kyros covered the white text on his shirt. It looked like Kyros was wearing an all-ck shirt.


    "You have to find some new pants, Kyros. That robe pants of yours are just on the edge of breaking."


    "Right. Because the most important thing that I should worry about is my pants..." Kyros remarked sarcastically.


    Soon, the voices were getting closer.


    "Baron Steele. I seriously think we should retreat now. This pay isn''t worth the work! That was a Char Vermillion Lizard! We haven''t seen one of those in the Londs for a while! If there is a nest here, it will take more than eight men to kill them!" A voice could be heard echoing out in the distance.


    "Steele?" Kyros and Cminus reacted together.


    "Well, it makes sense..." Cminus nodded.


    "Indeed. I was found here by a member of the Steele n. If I recall correctly, it was my uncle, Aron Steele, who found me." Kyros recalled.


    "Fate still is kind to you. You get to meet a member so early."


    "Well, it has to. The title, Baron, indicates that my family just managed to secure a noble title from knighthood. But this still means they are the lowest nobility rank yet. They already received the rank of Earl in my time."


    Kyros decided to start running towards the sound of the torches.


    "Help! Are you humans?! Help!" Kyros began to shout.


    The knights heard the shout and immediately reacted.


    "That voice? Someone''s still in here! Quick! Move!" The familiar robust, and decisive voice echoed from the end of the tunnel.


    "It is Uncle Aron!" Kyros smirked as he began to move closer.


    The sight of eight armored men appeared holding torches.


    Kyros began to make himself look frail and afraid.


    "A boy?" In histe twenties wearing iron armor that stood out of the other men, a young man wondered as he looked at Kyros.


    "Who are you? Why are you still inside the cave? Everyone evacuated since that earthquake three weeks ago!"


    "I''m sorry... I... don''t remember." Kyros decided to go with this lie. If his wild state drew the interest of his uncle, who decided to bring him home, then it would be possible that his kindhearted uncle would take pity on him this time.


    "You don''t remember?"


    "No. I woke up... With this sword nearby and this armguard on my hands. I... don''t remember anything." Kyros sighed.


    "Please don''t leave me here!" Kyros begged.


    "How did you survive? What about food?"


    "I had some food with me... but they all ran out since yesterday..." Kyros sighed.


    "Were there no monsters who chased you?"


    "There were some strange lizard creatures. But I kept running away from them. I''m sorry... I don''t remember."


    "Alright. Kid. Do you have the strength to move on?" Aron asked.


    "Lord Aron?!" One of the men asked.


    "This child must have been from an earlier mercenary team sent in to deal with this ce. Look at his sword. The design. A noble family must have crafted it."


    "But that''s a boy! Why did they bring a boy here?"


    "For experience. This is the Londs ne. If a family from the Minds sent their men here, they''d have no fear over whatever creatures this ce has. But it seems that the danger is worse than ever." Aron exined.


    Kyros noted that he was at the Londs.


    "Right. I forgot that my family said they once hailed in the Londs..." Kyros recalled,


    "Boy... Do you remember your name?" The young man asked.


    "Kyros... That''s all I remember." Kyros answered.


    "So be it. Kyros... We are on a mission to explore this cave and have journeyed inside here for two days. Moving back would be a waste of time. We have enough food and rations to help you. Do you have experience in using that sword?"


    "I... I can wield it!" Kyros answered.


    "Good. Then join us for now. But you have to work for your food!" Aron exined.


    "Thank you!" Kyros dropped on his knees and knelt before Aron.

 Chapter 22 - Out Of Its Burrow

    Kyros loved this uncle of his. He was very grateful. Although he wasn''t the one that raised him, Uncle Aron Steele always encouraged Kyros to take courage and keep on fighting. It was this person that encouraged Kyros to be a Knight. It was the swordsmanship of the Aron Steele that forged Kyros''s way of the sword.


    And so, this kowtow was more meaningful and held such gratefulness.


    "Uncle Aron... I won''t let you die this time! I won''t let all the unfair treatments of those politicians and kings seed! I''ll surely grant you your Dukedom!" Kyros vowed secretly.


    "Stand up, kid. You seem like someone who has had his fair share of pain. You lost your memories without any wound on your head. Kid, if you want to get stronger, you have to face the truth. Did your family and friends die inside this cave?" Aron asked immediately.


    "Still the strict and stalwart uncle..." Kyros secretly observed.


    "I... don''t know. I woke up in a strange temple. I was alone... No one else was there. Thest thing I remember was running. Some people... were shouting and telling me to escape. Ugh! My head!" Kyros faked a pained headache. His face began to sweat.


    "Alright. I won''t ask for now. Men. We have to see what''s inside so that we can report. Where is this strange temple?" Aron asked.


    "Deep inside this cavern. But um... Sir Knight..."


    "Just call me Uncle Aron. If I''m right, you should also be descended from a Knight or Lord. That sword is quite exquisite. If yourpanions wanted you to escape, you must be a Young Lord or Baron at the very least." Aron exined.


    "Ok... Uncle Aron." Kyros changed the way he addressed Aron. Kyros felt his heart warm. He had wanted to call this dear uncle of his by this title.


    "Men. You heard what I said. Treat this kid as you would to my younger brother." Aron ordered.


    "Yes, Lord Aron. We greet young lord, Kyros." They gave a bow.


    "I..."


    "ept it, kid."


    "It''s not important... Uncle... The temple that I found is strange. No dead creature can stay there. I was escaping and managed to kill a wounded Char Vermillion Lizard... And it disappeared!"


    "Oh? That is interesting. Show me where the temple is." Aron''s expression was startled.


    "It''s over there... Also, the temple managed to heal me from my wounds!"


    "Heal your wounds?"


    "You may not believe it... but I lost a finger a few days ago when that Char Vermillion Lizard tried to kill me. But when I woke up, the lizard was gone, and my finger was back!" Kyros eximed.


    Cminus had a strange expression. Why was Kyros telling the group about the temple?


    "What an interesting temple. Can you lead us back?"


    "I''m... not sure. I feel that I''ve lost my way. If I see some of the ces, I might be able to remember. But it was so dark... I''m not sure if I can tell you where I went." Kyros sighed.


    "It''s alright. We''ll take our time." Aron nodded and gave the orders.


    The group began to move back.


    "Why are you telling them?" Cminus asked.


    "It will make them experiment with the ce and try to carry those Char Vermillion Lizards back to the ce. And, since this may take a while, I want to give my uncle a small base for his escapades here. Since fate is going against them, I have to do what I can to make my uncle raise his ranks."


    "You want him to take credit for finding the temple? But this temple will disappear when you need to leave!"


    "Exactly. My uncle gets the necessary rewards for finding the temple. I''m sure when he reports it, the other nobles will get jealous and try to get the Steele family out! I mean, what right does a Baron have to hold this ce! And when these traitorous thievese and give my uncle payment not worth their contribution... I take this temple away." Kyros couldn''t help but reveal a cruel sneer.


    "Big oof to the guys who tried to take it away from the Steele n!" Cminusughed.


    "But I know that when my uncle informs the kingdom, the kingdom will do their best to keep this ce a secret! But they will begin experimenting on this ce and even build stuff on therge space here. They will send people inside this ce. I''m even certain that they will try to make this ce a fortress! They will bring in stones, ores, and the like to make this an important ce in the kingdom."


    "So they bring minerals, rocks, lumber... And that willplete some of your quests! Oh boy. Oh boy. You are one crazy scheming cultivator!"


    "Since fate is going against my family, I''m sure that fate will prod these folks to treat my uncle harshly. But I''m curious. Does fate know I own the temple? If my uncle and the Steele family use the temple, I may make this temple stay here longer. But if fate gives my uncle a series of treacherous events, then it shows that fate isn''t that smart."


    "I see. You are experimenting on fate! I forgot that you programmed your soul to do that continuously!"


    "Yes. Does fate know that sending traitorous and backstabbing people inside this ce acts to my advantage? I can wait it out and let the Level 2 Shade enemy happen. The men could even help me fight the monsters inside! Or... they could get killed. Either way... that will help meplete my wicked men''s quest."


    "Bruh..." Cminus marveled and spoke Kyros''s Int stat.


    "But why aren''t you leading it towards the temple now?" Cminus realized it and asked.


    "I need to find a Char Vermillion Lizard that they can kill and bring inside. The more, the better." Kyros exined.


    "No wonder the quests sound quite tedious. It was meant to make you use your intellect to the max!" Cminus realized it.


    "That temple is truly a perfect training ground for someone like you! It gives rewards and consequences that will drive you to your limits!"


    "Alright... Be quiet. I need to prove my lordship to Uncle and his mercenary friends first. Which means I need to fight them lizards with the honed skills of a baron!" Kyros answered and focused on the darkness.o


    As the group moved, Kyros was trying to make them take the wrong path as he pointed out the direction opposite to where the temple was.


    The group traveled quietly and cautiously.


    "On your guard! I can smell some approaching!" Aron advised.


    While most men would find this strange, Kyros knew that his uncle had a superb sense of smell.


    "One... Two... Three... Oh my god! Retreat!" Aron shouted as he ordered his men to retreat.


    Without hesitation, the group retreated.


    "ROAR!" Several loud roars suddenly resounded as severalrge creatures emerged from the ground.


    They had dark-orange skin, long snake-like heads, and arms and feet that allowed them to stand like humans. Their tails began to whip loudly.


    "We''re surrounded!" One of the mercenaries cried.


    "Fight!" Aron shouted as he charged and bashed his shield on the figure of the lizard.


    The mercenaries were out of order as they were panicking and fearfully evading the shes and strikes. One of the Mercenary got whipped by the tail, and although his shield blocked it, it sent him flying and crashing to the wall.


    Kyros ran forward without hesitation.


    Severalrge figures emerged, but Kyros moved forward.


    "Pronto!" Kyros charged and began to evade the attacks.


    "Boy!" Aron shouted as he saw Kyros disappear in the dark.


    With Kyros''s high dexterity and with Pronto, he managed to move deep within the darkness. His experience in fighting in the dark allowed him to easily evade the attacks and reached the area where the torches cannot illuminate.


    In the darkness, Kyros finally activated it.


    "Shadow Familiar and Shadow Ghouls! Come out!" Kyros called out.


    Kyros''s shadows stood up and formed the paper-thin figure simr to the shadow ghoul. But this shadow also had the same gear as Kyros.


    Five Shadow Ghouls emerged and leaped out to attack the numerous lizards. Kyros began to retreat.


    The Shadow Familiar and the Ghouls were attacking and shing the lizards. The Lizards couldn''t kill the shadow forms even if they tried to bite and whip them. Their attacks would pass through, and it caused the many emerging lizards to focus on attacking them.


    But the Familiars and Ghouls of Kyros couldn''t also kill the lizards as their ws, fangs, or the shadow sword of his familiar couldn''t prate the thick skin.


    "That should keep them busy." Kyros concluded as his ns worked. Kyros began to attack and slice his way wounding the Lizards as he went back to where Aron and the mercenaries were.


    His attacks could only leave wounds to the lizard and not cut through.


    "How thick!" Kyros cursed.


    He tried to sh the more vulnerable parts of the lizards, but even that couldn''t critically wound them.


    "I guess I should just focus on helping the mercenaries survive." Kyros concluded and went back.


    The mercenaries and Aron continued their heated battle. The mercenaries had grim expressions, and helplessness could be found in their eyes. They could still see that more lizards had yet to reveal themselves in the darkness.


    Suddenly, Kyros emerged and gave a powerful stab to the back of the head of one of the lizards.


    The lizard squealed in pain.


    "Now! Attack it!" Kyros shouted.


    Aron immediately moved and delivered a mighty chop and sliced the head of the creature.


    Kyros jumped and didn''t stop and began to rush towards another, evading the dangerous ws of the lizard.


    "He''s fast! The kid is fast! Men! Attack when he distracts the monster! Kid! Try to distract the lizard!" Aron immediately ordered.


    "On it!" Kyros nodded and began to evade the maws and whips of the lizard. He would attack and leave a light wound on one lizard and flee by jumping and rolling to the side to harass another.


    Kyros focused his instincts to move as the memories of his other life emerged.


    "Kyros. Don''t lose yourself to this trance!" Cminus could feel what Kyros was doing and feared for the worse.


    But suddenly, the Soul Console of Kyros appeared.


    ---


    Calcting path and priority of attack...


    Attack Lizard on the northeast corner.


    Actionplete.


    Evade and roll to stab the eye of the lizard on the other edge.


    Actionplete.


    Move towards lizard attacking Aron and stab the back.


    Actionplete.


    ---


    "His soul! He''s using his other soul to control his thinking!" Cminus realized what was happening.


    "I guess having multiple souls is showing. So this is how he fought against the orcs and became a legend in his past life!" Cminus finally understood how Kyros performed some of his miracles. Kyros had already done a weaker version of this in his previous life. Was this how Kyros was able to immerse himself into battle without losing his awareness?


    "The Soul Console is disying how his two souls are working. One is immersing itself in battle. The other one is giving offmands!"

 Chapter 23 - Out And In The Temple

    Kyros was moving fast, and the pressure that the mercenaries faced lessened.


    As such, the might of the Mercenaries managed to pierce and cut the lizards. Their morale steadily increased as they began to fight and


    Aron was the strongest as he could kill a lizard with a carefully timed blow.


    There were times when Kyros would take advantage of an already inflicted wound made by the mercenaries, and Kyros would stab deep into the opened wound. Sometimes, the lizards would be killed with the stab of Kyros. On other times the lizards would howl in pain and allowed the mercenaries to kill them because the lizards would be unable to defend themselves.


    Soon, Aron noticed that the Lizards attacking them were few.


    "Men. Use your force attacks in rotation! Let''s finish these monsters!" Aron ordered and made his first force attack.


    [Knight''s Charge]


    Aron ran, and the force energy caused him to dash so fast and used his shield to ram a lizard and knock it back.


    The lizard fell down and staggered from the stunning attack, and Aron shed down to kill the beast.


    The others began to use it one after the other. With Kyros harassing the lizards, the used attacks would always kill the lizard.


    The lizards began to escape as it saw that they were dwindling in numbers. They began to jump back into the hole or dig down the ground to escape.


    Kyros pretended to follow one, but he actually began to retrieve the shadow ghouls and the shadow familiar. Three lizards had died from their attacks.


    He then ran back to the group.


    "Kyros!" Aronughed. The mercenaries also cheered.


    "Sorry, I just had to kill one of them, so I chased one more. One less of those things means more lives saved in this cave." Kyros gave an embarrassed remark.


    The mercenaries cheered again. They began to see Kyros in a new light.


    "Brilliant! That swordsmanship! You truly are a son of a noble! The poise of your strikes, your precise attacks! Your form even bears a resemnce to mine! But why didn''t you use any force attacks?" Aron wondered.


    "I... don''t know. I feel that I couldn''t do it..." Kyros muttered and disyed his head-aching look.


    "... I see. It seems that what you are suffering from isn''t just some form of a traumatic or psychological effect. My apologies for my earlier remarks." Aron bowed his head.


    "It... it''s alright, Uncle. I''m sorry as well. When we were fighting, I recalled that this isn''t the way to the temple. We took a wrong turn earlier. My memory is all fuzzy, and it almost killed us."


    "Yes. But with these many creatures, we might just be able to level up! Let''s head to the temple. If you were knocked out and managed to stay alive without being eaten, there should be some power to protect us. Let''s bring back whatever monsters we can so we can absorb their life energy to level up!" Aron gave his orders.


    "But... my Lord, didn''t he say that the dead bodies disappeared?"


    "Umm... It did. But when I woke up, I also leveled up." Kyros exined.


    "WHAT?!" The mercenaries were all stunned. Harnessing the life force was a tedious and lengthy process. It required focus and attention. But Kyros managed to level up even when he was unconscious?"


    "Its true!" Kyros exined. He had seen one of the uses of the temple and knew it would help him absorb life energy.


    "It seems we might have found an interesting ce. Men, let''s move! Carry as many as we can.


    The eight men were able to carry fourrge lizards and began to move. Kyros was unable to help them in carrying but began to lead them towards the ce.


    "It''s this close?" Kyros pretended to have a shocked expression. The group found themselves into a strange tunnel leading down.


    "The temple was this near?" It hadn''t been four minutes since they moved, and Kyros already lead them to the tunnel.


    "I- I''m sorry. I was very disoriented and... and..." Kyros tried to exin.


    "Kyros! Rx! This is good! If it''s here, then we should be able to bring in more lizards!" Aronughed.


    They walked down the staircase and found themselves at a dead end.


    "Oh? What happened?" Kyros was ''shocked''.


    "Was the temple here before?" Aron asked as he began to feel the wall.


    "I... think so. No! I''m sure of it! But when I was running down here, it was open. This door leads to a dark and wide room with a temple at the very middle!" Kyros exined.


    Aron began to feel the walls, as did the other mercenaries. They used their torches to touch and feel it.


    "Pass... Password..." Kyros held his head in pain.


    "Password?" The group asked as they heard.


    "There was a password. We figured it out! We were here! That''s how I knew to get back here. There was a password?"


    "A password? And you don''t remember?"


    Kyros fell into deep thought. As he was doing that, he had connected with the temple and uploaded a specificmand. When a certain keyword is heard, Kyros would be alerted, and he would have the choice to open or close it.


    "Password123!" Kyros mumbled under his breath.


    The wall suddenly trembled, and it began to move up. A dark pathway was revealed.


    "Really? Seriously? Password123? That''s a very weak password!" Cminusined.


    "No, it''s not. You have to make the P sound loud and exim it. It''s case sensitive, so if you start the P weakly, it won''t work. Same with the intonation. It has to end loudly and not have any other inflections other than the exmation point!"


    Cminus shook his head.


    The group looked with a strange expression.


    "We should move. We can go back and grab the other fallen Lizards!" Kyros reminded.


    The group woke up in their stupor and began to rush right in.


    "Just drop it inside! With the wall, we can keep this ce closed. Let''s run back and grab the other lizards!" Aron ordered.


    "Kyros. Wait here. Let''s hope that the Lizards won''t disappear as you said."


    The group dropped the lizards, and a notification rang on Kyros''s mind.


    [Quest Item: Char Vermillion Lizard (4/80)]


    Kyros tried to maintain his smile as his ns worked.


    The group went out of the door and looked out of the door.


    "How does this door close? Password123?" Aron tried to say the password.


    "It won''t work. You have to make a strong P sound and end with an exmation point." Kyros guided.


    Aron had a strange expression but decided to follow Kyros.


    "Password123!"


    The door suddenly closed.


    "Alright! Good! Let''s go, men! We have to hurry!" Aron''s voice could be heard as he led his team to the corpses.


    Kyros was also delighted that his programmedmands worked. When Aron said the password, Kyros was alerted and had the option to open the door.


    "Good. Now with these men, I can immediately level up. I wonder what the rewards are forpleting the Lizard Quest would be?" Kyros wondered. He hoped thatpleting the quest would allow him to gain some rewards that would be helpful for his next mission.


    Soon, the group managed to bring the twelve fallen lizards inside with the numerous trips.


    [Quest Item: Char Vermillion Lizard (16/80)]


    The group closed the door and sighed in relief.


    "Kyros. Where is that temple?" Aron asked. Unlike before, Kyros made the temple lights grow dim. And so, it was dark.


    "Follow me." Kyros led the way. The group carried one of the dead lizards, and soon they reached the temple area.


    "It is a temple!" One of the mercenaries eximed.


    "Do you feel it? Such potent holy energy..."


    "I don''t think we should step inside..." Another said.


    "Rx! Kyros spent the night there. No wonder it saved Kyros. The Lizards are creatures of death and darkness. They hate this temple." Aron exined.


    "Well... Let''s test what you just said." Aron was the first to take a step inside.


    All of a sudden, he could feel a strange power activating, and it began to heal him.


    "This is...? Heal!" Aron eximed.


    The mercenaries were in awe. They could see Aron''s minor cuts slowly closing up.


    Immediately, the mercenaries moved inside, and the heal spell began to affect them.


    "We''re healing!" The mercenaries eximed joyfully.


    [Char Vermillion Lizard detected. Assimte to the temple and disperse experience points?]


    A notification appeared. Kyros willed it to do so, and suddenly, the bright lights shed.


    Shouts were heard as the lights surprised them.


    Kyros felt a strange power fill him. But sadly, no notification appeared about his level up.


    "Seriously? I ate the soul of that Prince of Darkness, and I haven''t leveled up yet?" Kyros cursed.


    "You have three souls. You are exponentially harder to level up." Cminusughed.


    Kyros shook his head but told himself that there were more and he should level up with the next batch.


    "I... Leveled up?!" A mercenary eximed.


    "Me too!" Another also shouted.


    "Amazing..." Another was in a daze.


    "Lord Aron!" It was then that another noticed Aron running out of the temple!


    "What are you idiots waiting for! Get back and get the Lizards!"


    The group stampeded out of the temple in a hurry to bring the lizards in the temple.

 Chapter 24 - Out To Get A Son

    As mercenaries began to scuffle like madmen to bring the Lizard, Kyros remained.


    "Woah. That power boost! That was far stronger than any methods to increase experience!" Kyros was amazed.


    "Indeed. That conversion of energy was so strong." Cminus praised.


    "But I''m confused as to why it would be like this..." Kyros frowned.


    "Is it because you feel that such conversion should be impossible to sustain?"


    "Yes. How many times can this temple absorb the full amount of life energy from the fallen corpse you bring inside and disperse it as experience? It was so precise that even these mercenaries could feel the difference!"


    "Of course it is! This ce is made by the gods! All your other methods of gaining experience will palepared to this!"


    "That''s my point! I recalled the method that the Steele family had was the alchemic method. They would use various alchemy techniques to melt the organs and the blood to melt it into something they can drink. But of course, this is very weak. The Omega Kingdom used the Wizard Purging Method. But those damned corrupt mages would charge people they didn''t like with crazy amounts to proceed with the experience, and they even steal a bit of the monster''s experience for themselves!" Kyros recalled several hateful experiences.


    "So?"


    "So? The wizards and alchemists charged because they are the ones converting the energy. How is this temple going to do that without any form of means to recharge itself? The functions that this temple has are already amazing. But what is the power source? Can I do this process endlessly?" Kyros asked.


    "Ah... I didn''t mention what this temple core is during my tutorial days because I thought that you needed mortal wisdom. The Temple Core is a virtually inexhaustible power source. It has a limit as to how much power it needs, but it can recharge itself. Right now, the temple''s energy can run out, but it will just recharge. I''m guessing some of your quests will help you upgrade or unseal parts of the Temple Core so that it can function. In short, if it''s these little things, don''t worry of the temple running out of energy."


    "That''s good to know..." Kyros sighed in relief.


    "But this one was not only easy. The quality is just amazing. But what about the other parts? The bones, the scales of the Lizard... Such a waste." Kyros sighed.


    The group brought the lizards all together. Soon, all the fifteen remaining lizards were brought inside.


    As the group was doing that, Kyros set an automatedmand which activates at his confirmation.


    When the group brought everything, they kept howling and begging the temple to make them level up.


    And soon, the power activated as Kyros confirmed it, and a bright light began to sh. The body of the lizards was slowly disappearing as if bing dust.


    When the light ended, none of the lizards remained. But as for the knights, they felt powerful energy filling them.


    All of them had confirmed once more that they had a level up. Some even had two level-ups.


    As for Kyros, a notification appeared.


    ---


    Level up!


    Strength- 55-> 57 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 3 -> 4 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 255 > 263 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 55-> 56 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- Bruh...-> Bruh... You''re still getting smarter?! ( Sealed)


    Soul Force- 2 -> 18 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 103 -> 107 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 108 -> 112 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    "This is just sad. I only leveled up once. And those increases are pitiful! What did the Steele family do to free me from this weakness?" Kyros cursed. Even in his past life, his stat increase per level was greater. But now, it was so small! Only dexterity had a good increase, but this was only allowing Kyros somewhat to use the speed and experience in his past life.


    "At least your Soul Force increased."


    "I noticed that too. But happened with my Soul Force? I expected Fallen source to increase considering everything I devoured. Could it be increasing topensate for the growing darkness?"


    "That should be it. If your Fallen Source increases so much, it might cause some problems and turn you into a devil. I think that your own soul acts as a buffer to protect you."


    "But this Soul Force feels different. I feel like an explosion of power erupted within me." Kyros then closed his eyes and tried to change the flow of his power. Suddenly, the stats that were disyed began to change.


    ---


    Strength- 57 [63] (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 4 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 263 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 56 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- Bruh... ( Sealed)


    Soul Force- 18 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 107 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 112 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    "My strength increased?"


    "Amazing. So that''s the use for it! While the Ancient and Fallen Source is still sealed and cannot perfectly function as a second source, your Soul Force can already increase a stat!"


    "Seems about it. This is good. In that case, I should be capable of wounding these lizards." Kyros smiled.


    It was then he noticed another notification from the temple.


    ---


    [Quest Monster Char Vermillion Lizard 16/80. im Minor reward?]


    Kyros was amazed. He immateriality selected the ''Yes'' option.


    [10 Vermilion Scale Armor acquired. im reward at the back area of the temple.]


    Kyros was amazed at the sudden reward.


    "I got a set of armors?" Kyros murmured.


    "It must have bestowed the rewards since you have defeated ten. This means..."


    "The more quest Iplete, the more items I get. This is amazing! It might even be possible for me to have an army!" Kyros was shocked.


    "Kyros! You really are a blessing to my Steele n!" Aron finally moved over after the rejoicing.


    "This level-up thing is amazing! Watch how I will conquer the tournament soon! I will definitely raise the ranks when I tell them my kingdom about this ce! I could be a Viscount! Or an Earl!" Aron continued to rejoice.


    Kyros gave a happy smile. But he knew how the kingdom would treat Aron. Kyros kept quiet, for he knew he wouldn''t be able to convince his uncle not to give this over to the kingdom.


    "Uncle Aron... I have an audacious request." Kyros asked.


    The young lord was curious as to the sudden request of Kyros.


    "Young Lord, with your contribution, is there even something as an audacious request?" One of the mercenariesughed.


    "Indeed! What is it that you want? As long as it is within the power of the Steele n, we will agree!" Aron dered.


    "Then I shall ask two requests. The first... It is regarding my past. I remember now who I am. My parents and I went on this trip. We were once a prosperous family, and just like Uncle Aron, I too belong to a family that is a Baron in our kingdom. However, our family was betrayed, and we fell into harsh times. Disowned and kicked out from the kingdom, we heard the rumors of powerful magic deep within this ce."


    "Magic?" One of the mercenaries was shocked.


    Aron was silent and had a contemting look.


    "Is this it? Is this why several kingdoms began to move and send their teams to explore Airom Vagat?"


    "The Londs..." Kyros silently realized that they were in the Londs.


    "Yes. My family ventured towards the Culcrik Londs ne and searched for the power here." Kyros exined. Since he now knew where they were, he was able to identify the exact name of the ne he was at.


    "But... we were too weak. We met those monsters earlier, and soon we ran into a Char Vermillion Lizard King." Kyros said with a pained expression.


    "A Lizard King?!" The mercenaries were shocked as they heard this. These powerful creatures were so strong that they needed powerful warriors and mages to fight and kill one.


    "Yes. And after that, the events continued as you expected. My family and lineage have been massacred. I am the only survivor." Kyros exined.


    The group fell into silence.


    "My condolences..." Aron didn''t know what to say.


    "I found this temple when I was escaping... I guess it''s the way fate worked. I am without a family now. I can see that you are a noble and righteous family. I have no ce to go, and this temple gives me great hope in killing those wretched nobles of that kingdom! Please ept me into your family!" Kyros bowed deeply.


    Aron was surprised at Kyros''s request. He couldn''t help but turn towards the mercenaries. He was at a loss on what to say.


    "What are you looking at us for, my lord? If you don''t take him as a Steele, I''m going to force him to be betrothed to my daughter!" One of the older mercenariesughed.


    The group began tough, but Kyros remained bowing.


    "Stand up. I cannot speak for my father or nor do I have the authority to do that. And I myself am not even married yet." Aron frowned.


    The mercenaries had an almost angry expression on their faces which they tried to hide.


    "My Lord! What are you-"


    "But my brother is married." Aron smiled.


    "Since he really doesn''t have a choice when I decide for him, then you shall be his adopted son!"


    Kyros felt his heart warmed. Things worked as he had hoped. He would be able to call and serve his family once more in this life."


    Aron drew his sword and made a small wound on his forearm. As the blood dripped out, he wiped the blood onto the forehead of Kyros and raised his sword.


    "Kyros, on behalf of my brother, I name you his son! You shall henceforth be called Kyros Steele, a son and a knight of the Steele n! Mercenaries, you are all witness to this day!"


    "We are witnesses!" The mercenaries thundered joyfully.


    "And that''s that." Aron sheathed his sword, to which the mercenariesughed.


    "And here I thought you are asking your younger brother to marry the madam would be the worst prank you gave him! Who would have thought that your little trip out of the kingdom would give your brother a son?" One of the mercenaries began tough loudly.


    The group began tough as there was some form of an inside joke. But Kyros knew what they were talking about and remained quiet as if he didn''t know what they were talking about.


    "He probably won''t let you go out of the house from now on! He would be so afraid that you would go out to get him another son!" Another mercenary teased.


    Aron was alsoughing. He couldn''t wait to see his little brother''s ugly expression for what he did.


    "Uncle... Follow me to the back of this temple. There is something that I must show you." Kyros gave a mysterious smile.

 Chapter 25 - Out Of Steel

    Aron and the group continued tough as they went out of the temple and moved to the back of the temple. They kept on teasing Aron about his crazy antics of what kind of trouble he would give his little brother.


    Kyros knew that his uncle had the nasty habit of getting into all sorts of trouble and was practically a crazy and reckless man. Kyros''s foster father and Aron''s younger brother, Branze Steele, was also a strong warrior like Aron.


    In the past, a certain tournament was held to raise the ranks of whoever wins to Baron. Several families were vying for thend and joined the tournament. Branze was the expected winner as he managed to defeat all his peers, who were also the youngest members of other knight families. One of Branze''s rivals cheated and managed to defeat Branze, winning the championship, the title, and thend.


    The disheartened Branze was so full of hatred at his loss and wanted to murder the winner. Aron stepped up and joined an even biggerpetition which had several Viscount families joining.


    Aron was so strong that he won the tournament easily and even impressed the king. Though he was not granted the title of Viscount since he was not supposed to have joined that tournament, he was granted an audience with the king.


    When it was time to meet with the king, Aron pleaded with the king about the previous tournament results. This angered the king and demanded an investigation whichter proved that Branze was the winner.


    But right before the king could deliver his punishment, Aron offered a possible resolution. The family that cheated did not know what their daughter did. And Aron didn''t want the two knight families to have a fallout. And so, Aron offered a solution that pleased the king.


    The family would retain their Baron title and thend, but their youngest daughter would have to be given as a wife of Branze.


    Branze was so shocked that day that his jaw was almost touching the ground.


    The woman, whoter became Kyros''s foster mother, was also so stunned that he recalled her telling of how she fainted and was asleep for three days at the shock. The culprit behind this forced marriage, Aron, was rather happy with himself. The murderous hate of his brother was resolved, and as a plus, his brother got one of the most attractive girls in the kingdom.


    "So mom and dad just got married now, eh?" Kyros realized from the jokes that the mercenaries did.


    "They must still hate each other at this point. If Fate is cursing them, then their hate must soon foster. But in my previous life, the two had already fallen helplessly in love with each other." Kyros recalled.


    "Ah. This is an interesting double tsundere situation." Cminus murmured.


    "Yeah. It sounds like some cheesy anime that both shoujo and shounen fans can watch. Wait, what am I saying? That''s my mom and my dad you''re talking about!"


    The group reached the back of the temple and was stunned at what they saw.


    Ten armor disying a dark orange armor was there.


    "What is... that?!" The group was amazed.


    Kyros took a look at the stats of the armor through the temple.


    ---


    Vermillion Scale Armor


    Defense: 102


    Durability: 35


    Minor Fire Resistance


    Impact Absorption


    Stab Resistance


    ---


    Kyros couldn''t help but drop his jaw.


    "This..." Kyros had served as a knight and knew the quality of weapons that most mercenaries could afford. This armor was practically top tier! It would even be considered to be of great quality in the Hignds!


    "What is that...?!" The mercenaries eximed.


    "That armor! It''s... strong!" Aron approached immediately and began to touch and feel it.


    The rest did so as well.


    "Men... This armor is even better than my current armor!" Aron finally made his assessment.


    "What do we do with it?" One of the mercenaries looked at it in a daze.


    ...


    "Why don''t we... wear it?" One finally suggested.


    Everyone looked at each other.


    Suddenly, the mercenaries made a run for it and began to outfit themselves with the armor.


    Even Aron began to do so.


    Kyros shook his head andughed as he began to put on one of the armor.


    The group was amazed as they wore the armor. It was light and fitted them perfectly. The reptilian scale armor even expanded to fit themselves.


    "Woah. A one size fits all armor!" Kyros was amazed.


    Aron himself was so amazed that the armor was thin that he could wear his iron armor without being hindered.


    "I found this armor even before I left here. But... if a lone boy were to travel with such an armor, I''d be making myself a target to robbers." Kyrosughed.


    "Good call. As expected of my nephew!" Aron praised.


    "Uncle... I still have a second request."


    "Is it revenge?" Aron asked.


    "No. I''ll do that on my own. My request is this... Don''t inform the kingdom of this ce yet. I have seen a lot of disturbing betrayals in my own kingdom, and I fear that it will befall my new family."


    "I see. Kyros, my dear nephew, you can rest assured that our kingdom is not so petty. Sure there are some power struggles, and we did get cheated several times..." Aron''s expression slowly drained as if regret was painted on his face.


    "But with the approaching threats of the Orcs to the southern border, we need such powerful object. Look at these mercenaries. They could only hope of reaching level twenty in this life of theirs. But with this temple, they can finally reach higher levels! Thirty! And even beyond! While we Barons and Knights could even go well beyond level thirty!" Aron exined.


    "I understand, Uncle. But that''s exactly my point. Such power will be abused and desired by many. We know the fees that we have to pay for leveling up, be it through Alchemy, Wizard Purging, Monster Refining, and other methods, are so astronomical that mercenaries like yourpanions cannot afford it. What happens if they find a ce like this? Also, do you think the ability it has to bestow experience is something that will remain forever?"


    Aron was stunned.


    "You''re right. It has a healing source and a way to bestow experience. This temple must have some remaining power source that may soon run out!" Aron eximed. Just as Kyros feared, Aron realized that this energy might not be forever.


    "It may require the wizards, alchemist, or whatever to add power to the temple. And this means we may have to pay up for the experience." Kyros exined.


    The mercenaries all had an ugly expression.


    "And that is why I suggest we don''t inform the kingdom yet. We hunt more lizards. With armors like these and our increase in levels, we may be able to kill that damned creature that killed my first family!" Kyros clenched the sword in his hand with great hatred.


    The mercenaries all looked towards Aron.


    "This... The kingdom has stronger warriors. Warriors that are much more talented than me and could benefit from this! I cannot take it." Aron rejected righteously.


    The mercenaries sighed. But Aron was right. The greatest good was to give whatever remaining energy to the kingdom so as to strengthen the mighty warriors defending it. While it was a bitter pill to take, they could not help but admire Baron Aron.


    "Uncle. You said that you would do whatever I request. As long as it is within your capability to help me!" Kyros reminded.


    "Oh! Looky there! I forgot about that! Men! Let''s go hunting! Kill all beast and level up!" Aron dered as he changed his stance regarding this moral dilemma faster than a guy heading to his girlfriend''s house when she tells him her parents aren''t home.


    The mercenaries cheered.


    "Is there a way to send all the Steele family here? It would be great if more of our n will stay here inside."


    "Right! I can destroy my life talisman so that they would think I''m in danger." Aron offered.


    "Do the mercenaries have this as well?"


    "Yes."


    "Then have all, but one destroy those talismans. But you must leave yours intact."


    "Brilliant! They would immediately send a rescue party! If I am the only one, they would definitely send help, and the hope of my survival will force them to act hastily!"


    "Yes. It will seem suspicious if we leave. The best way is to have another team go here."


    "My brother would probably rush here. That''s a great n!" Aron marveled.


    "Erm... I''m kind of hungry..." Kyros felt his stomach growl.


    "Right... We''ll eat first!" Aron realized that they were quite tired from everything they have been doing.


    The group decided to spend the night and continued to talk about all sorts of things.


    The mercenaries were excited at the prospect of their level up and couldn''t wait to go outside to fight the lizards.


    Kyros and Aron, however, had an important talk regarding the state of the Steele family.


    "So my father and my mother hate each other?" Kyros asked.


    "Yup. Your mother was a rather spoiled woman as a knight. Even more so when she became a Baron, but her skill is the real deal. Your father is also a good fighter. He could even be stronger than me if he was as old as me. He is some sort of a battle genius. And so, these two people who loathe each other are now married. They fight almost every day. And the scary thing is that your mother is also a genius! They are now evenly matched as they try to kill each other every day!"


    "And... grandfather... likes it?"


    "His son has grown stronger, and his daughter-inw is just as terrifying. Of course, he''s happy. Diana may be spoiled, but she loves her family. Her stupid act that got her married to your dad is already something that she regretted as it brought shame to her family. She wouldn''t do anything stupid." Aronughed.


    Kyros listened eagerly and was amazed at what he found out. It had just been two years since the Steele family had be a Baron. In the past, Kyros met them when they were already a Viscount, and it was his might that aided and made them an Earl. Kyros clearly remembered how his family talked about their grandfather, who Kyros never got to meet. But in this life, his foster grandfather is still alive.


    Kyros had no idea what the past of the Steele family was. He never even got the chance to meet his grandfather. By the time he was taken into the Steele family in his past life, he had already passed away. Kyros knew that it was an assassination and listened to the details that his uncle exined.


    "Uncle... If I may... You know what just happened to my family. And honestly, I don''t have the time to cry. You have shown me great love by epting me. So please, do not mind these rather critical questions. Who are the enemies of the Steele family, and what threats are there looming in around us?" Kyros asked seriously.


    Aron looked for a few seconds and then finally sighed.


    "Actually... The Steele family is dying out."

 Chapter 26 - Out Of Money

    "Dying out?!" Kyros was shocked. How was this their past?


    "That''s why I urged my brother to marry that other Baron family. The truth was they were from a family of Knights and were only raised in rank through thepetition. But we''re sure that their state is as bad as ours. Why else would a distinguished Baron like myself here as mercenaries? Those serving me aren''t just any mercenaries."


    "Yes. I noticed that they were very fond of you and are loyal. Are they your vassals?"


    "They are now. But originally, they are ves born from our own house. Our Grandfather wanted to make us a powerful group. Only if we had power on our own could we aplish great deeds for our kingdom do we have the chance to rise. You see the problem: the kingdom we serve is in a bit of political and military turmoil. Several Viscounts and Earls have risen due to the departure of many knights and other nobles from other kingdoms and are moving to newer kingdoms and want to serve new kings."


    "Could it be...? The UnHuman Races?"


    "Oh? It seems your family history is rted to that?" Aron asked.


    "My father never confirmed it. But our kingdom did ally with several UnHuman races. Some Mixed Humans and Demi-Humans were granted refuge from the battles down the Underworld nes." Kyros gave a broad answer. He knew that before he mysteriously left the Nephilim Sealing Temple in his previous life, the sudden influx of various races seeking refuge created a storm to the many kingdoms around the world was happening.


    Many nations agreed to ept these races, and even the Steele family epted. But among these races were many traitors who were spies sent by the other kingdoms. Some UnHuman Families entered into service to the human kingdoms only to have been proven spies.


    Many kingdoms valued the power of these races. In the Londs, most human kingdoms werergely inferior in strength and only had numbers. And so, these outcast families were even fought over by the human kingdoms.


    Aron continued to exin how the appearance of these ns brought a change into thendscape of the human kingdoms. The tournaments held, which were open for all vying to be knights and barons, were supposed to kindle camaraderie among the races. But the truth was, it was one way to see which humans made the cut.


    "Thankfully, my brother was strong enough to catch the attention of the kingdom. I also managed to win, which secured our slot. But that''s the thing... The truth was, the mixed races overpowered us so much. Take our family, for example. Me and my brother could barely beat an UnHuman. But we are considered geniuses among humans! What is our strengthpared to a family of UnHumans?" Aron exined.


    Kyros could only sigh in sadness.


    "Was this the same case with your real family?"


    "I... guess. I never really knew. I never even got to say goodbye to them."


    "Are you alright? You can cry, you know? I''ve seen your father cry many times. I have. There is no shame to weep and mourn."


    "My life... was already very bitter. My dad always said, ''I''ve lived my life crying. Son, live your''s gritting your teeth. Cry when this is all over. For the meantime, pick up your sword and fight!''" Kyros recalled. These were the words Branze Steele said to him in his life.


    Aron was silent.


    "I will cry when this is all over, Uncle. But it will not be of sadness, but of joy." Kyros vowed.


    "Look''s like my nephews more of a man than I am!" Aronughed.


    "Uncle, what do we need to get stronger? As a family?"


    "That''s none of your concern. Let this Uncle of yours deal it with your father."


    "I''m guessing money is one. Considering that you are doing odd jobs as mercenaries, then our family desperately needs it, huh?" Kyros guessed.


    Aron''s eyes widened.


    "For a ten-year-old, you sure are smart!"


    "So, we are out of money, eh?"


    "I guess there''s no use hiding it. So what do you think we should do to gain money quickly? I mean, this temple is quite important. And the armor is too valuable. What does my intelligent nephew have to suggest?" Aronughed.


    "You guys could go outside and show off your sudden increase in level. Tell the people that an entric wizard lives inside the temple and can level the people up for half or even a third of the price. I could pretend to be a wizard. Imissioned you to help me earn money and only help people level up if they are blindfolded. That should attract people. Since there are many mercenaries and ns outside, there should be someone willing to pay, right?" Kyros asked.


    Aron was silent at first, and then his nk expression became frozen as his eyes slowly widened.


    "Since the wizard doesn''t want to make his identity known, he demandsplete silence that news of him dwelling here should be kept hidden. All we need is one volunteer. Since many are hesitant to put their lives to a group of mercenaries, blindfolded, we may also have to give one of our own mercenaries to be their hostage. The password to open the door makes this wizard lie believable too." Kyros murmured.


    "WAIT! WAIT! STOP! STOP! MEN! COME OVER HERE! WE''RE GONNA BE RICH! RICH I TELL YOU!"


    The mercenaries huddled up, and there, Aron began to exin the n.


    The mercenaries looked at Kyros with eyes of shock.


    "Kid, you''re a genius!" One of the mercenaries shouted.


    "You idiot! What kid! That''s the young Lord, Kyros Steele!" Another mercenary pped the head of the other.


    "We need to work out the details! Tomorrow we have to go out and hunt more of these Lizard things! Although it might lessen the energy we get, it will make us rich! If we can show the effects to the mercenaries and other knights outside, we might be able to earn a lot! We could easily earn ten times this mission!" Aron continued.


    "Ten times?! Boss! If we can show them that they can multiply twice, we''d earn twenty times!"


    The mercenaries cheered.


    "If that''s the case, then all of you will be knights!" Aron vowed.


    The mercenaries cheered once more.


    "Uncle... I have some suggestion as to what we will do." Kyros smiled.


    "MEN! QUIET! MY NEPHEW SPEAKS!" Aron growled and silenced everyone. Aron knew that Kyros''s words were gold. In this case, it was literal gold!


    Kyros made the arrangement, and the mercenaries and Aron were even more blown away at the details and specifics of the n.


    "In short, our priority tomorrow is leveling up. When we reach a certain level, we can initiate the n. It would also be better if my father would be here by then. That way, we have more people to help usplete the n." Kyros smiled.


    "Good n! Good n! The Steele family shall rise!"


    Cminus was also amazed at how Kyros was able to create such detailed ns.


    Soon, night fell. The mercenaries couldn''t sleep well as they were excited for what the next day would bring. While many would have been afraid of the thought that they were staying near a Char Vermilion Lizard''s nest, these mercenaries weren''t. They managed to survive the attack of that many Lizards and now still survived. With the armor and the increase of level, they were now more confident.


    As for Kyros, he was making the most of his time by secretly linking with the Temple Core to explore it''s functions while pretending to be asleep.


    Kyros read through the many functions and began to experiment with the many things.


    "I can build a room underground? Interesting. It seems that this dimensional room is magical. Once a room isplete, I can move it around... Good." Kyros smiled.


    "Are you thinking of building the forge or the artificer room?"


    "No. The Steele family has those, and I can use them. The priority is to strengthen the weakness of the Steele family. We need more magic power... So that''s what I''m going to go for." Kyros opened a certain window to disy the room and the requirements.


    "The library?"


    "The Temple Info states that it contains various forms of battle techniques. From sword techniques to spears and even magic. That''s the one thing you didn''t teach. Mortal arts and magic."


    "I see. You''re setting the foundation of your family. And you n to use these things to help them. Although you already have a formidable sword art that can easily defeat everyone, you n to make your family an expert of everything."


    "I n to make my family a kingdom of gods." Kyros dered.


    "Fate is cruel, and if I fail, your enemies may go after them. I will try to establish my own kingdom. This temple offers that opportunity. The Temple Quest objectives are still at level one. Pretty soon, it will be asking me to kill gods and fallen. The rewards it has been giving isn''t something that is meant for an individual. My real parents created this temple for that purpose."


    "I noticed that as well. The more this temple grows, the more it allows you to use its amazing power to create a shelter and a fortress for your loved ones."


    "Exactly. I also have several years before the Great War of All. At this time, that war should happen earlier. But since our enemies won''t be staying silent, I have to make my move. The Steele family should rise! And getting my family out of its debt is the first step!"

 Chapter 27 - Out To Play With Rocks

    The mercenaries arose quite early in the morning. The temple had a strange rm clock that woke them up.


    Aron wondered as he could hear a strange ringing sound that resounded loudly and woke them up.


    Aron turned towards the youth who was tossing and turning and was trying to cover his ears as he tried to sleep.


    "Kyros? Do you hear that?"


    "Five more minutes..." Kyros answered in a very drowsy manner.


    "The Temple! Somethings happening!"


    "No. It''s just the rm."


    "The rm? Something''s alerting it? Are there enemies nearby?!" Aron stood up and warned his men.


    Seeing the sudden misinterpretation of Aron finally aroused Kyros to wake up. He mentally turned off the rm and cursed.


    "I forgot to turn it off!" Kyros was gritting his teeth.


    "Get ready for battle!" Aron told the mercenaries who were now in position.


    "Bring it, Lizards!" One of the mercenaries shouted.


    "No! Not that... The temple has erm... some sort of thing that wakes us up early. That''s what woke me up yesterday when I fainted." Kyros made up a lie.


    Yet inwardly, he wasining. Because of that rm, he had no choice but to let that rm wake them up very early every day. He set it on the first day but never had any intention to follow it, but now the group has made preparations for the day.


    "What an impressive temple. It really looks out for our well-being." Aron marveled as they went away.


    "Alright, mercenaries. Today, we head deeper into the nest!" Aron addressed the mercenaries.


    "Just like thest battle, we handle the heavy lifting and cutting while Kyros harasses our enemies. But men, if you want to be knights, then as a vassal force, it should be you protecting him and not him protecting you! Yesterday he was a young kid we picked up. But today, he is Kyros Steele!"


    "Yes, my Lord!" The mercenaries began to cheer. It had been years since they were addressed as a vassal force. Now that Aron regained his confidence, the mercenaries began to treat Aron as they used to when they were ves.


    The group left the room and began their hunt.


    The group went towards the path they followed before and passed the area where the Lizards ambushed them.


    Kyros was looking around carefully and frowned.


    "These markings..." He noticed the floors had trails of the lizards. But all of them suddenly stopped, and the trails indicated that they retreated.


    "It looks like the lizards were here." Aron assessed.


    "Yes. But they didn''t move forward. They suddenly retreated. They didn''t bother to follow us..." Kyros wondered.


    "Is this a problem?"


    "Yes. These lizards devour their fallen to level up. I don''t understand why they wouldn''t chase us..." Kyros frowned.


    "Well, let''s be more careful! Men, upfront!"


    "Wait... Allow me. I have another ace up my sleeve. This sword isn''t a regr sword. My family purchased it at great costs. We believed this to be a wise investment, but we encountered so much problem that we never got to show the true potential of this sword." Kyros raised his sword.


    Kyros''s shadow suddenly moved. It wasn''t the sword that was powering the shadows but his cloak. Because of the armor, his dark cloak was hidden underneath, and it didn''t show the strange changes that were powering the shadow.


    The shadow moved towards the darkness and disappeared into the distance.


    "What was that?" Aron was amazed at what he saw.


    "Shadow Scout." Kyros mentioned a skill he knew some of the Skeletons and Undead practitioners used in the war.


    "Shadow scout?"


    "Yes. This sword is dark. It can create a shadow scout that can find enemies ahead." Kyros exined.


    Of course, the shadow that was sent out wasn''t a shadow scout.


    The Shadow Familiar is a stronger dark art that can create a sentient shadow controlled by the caster. The Shadow Scout skill can only detect how many living creatures there were within the scope of it''s sight.


    But the Shadow Familiar can see and hear the objects in front. It can even fight.


    Kyros was using the power of his shadow to look beyond the area ahead. This wasn''t a mindless scout but a being controlled by Kyros.


    "Let''s slowly follow." Kyros exined as he led the group forward.


    Aron was looking in amazement at what he saw.


    "My brother got quite a son here..." He was amazed.


    Kyros was walking, but his concentration was on his shadow that had scouted a long way ahead.


    "Darkness...." Kyros murmured.


    "What?" Aron asked.


    "Darkness... The Lizards aren''t the only creatures here. Think about it... How can the lizards live here for so long? Why appear now? Why haven''t there been any appearance of the lizards outside? Even the townsfolk who lived nearby never saw it."


    "Right... This means they all appeared when the earthquake urred. Something must have happened when that earthquake happened. It might have opened the secret chambers of this mountain!"


    "Exactly." Kyros answered. He heard that an earthquake urred from the mercenaries. By counting the days, Kyros realized that it must have been the time when he reincarnated.


    "Now think about this. If there are lizards inside the cave, how could it survive? What food source did it feed on? They can''t survive without meat."


    "You mean... there''s more down here?"


    "Yes! That''s why they didn''t chase us! They were scouting! They were looking for a new source of food. But at the same time, these lizards can''t send out more of them to chase us. They need to guard themselves..."


    "Against what?"


    "That is the question. What lives down here apart from the lizard? We have to be more careful." Kyros addressed.


    "Nephew... How old are you exactly? You seemed so learned and smart."


    "My family invested in my education when I was younger. I also drank a lot of milk and was thought by a schr named Blippi when I was young."


    "Blippi?" Cminus suddenly murmured.


    "I don''t know. I was just making things up." Kyros answered Cminus mentally.


    "Wow. I''m really starting to infect you with this strangeness of mine."


    "Hrm? I can sense it! What is that?" Kyros noticed another group of strange creatures.


    A Shadow Scout would have only detected life. The creature seemed to have the same strength and life force as the Lizards, but this creature wasrger and slower.


    "Stonic Creatures! That''s a Golem!" Kyros recognized the creature.


    "Golems? Are they natural made, or magic made?" Cminus wondered. One of the many things that he discussed with Kyros was the basic exnation of all the creatures and how they came to be. Although Cminus couldn''t give them a full detail of the bestiary, Kyros now understood how golems came to be.


    "Golems. We have golems..." Kyros suddenly told Aron and the group.


    "Golems? How is that possible? Aren''t golems summoned by mages? Are there mages in here?" Aron was shocked.


    "Not necessarily. Golems are made by several things. The ones that mages summon are a replication of their will. But in a ce like this, where darkness gathered, it''s possible for the souls of the fallen that seeped into the ground to create life and movement. Especially if those souls are mages themselves." Kyros exined.


    "There''s such a thing?"


    "Yes. This means the depths of this mountain must have had a great battle. Because one dead mage couldn''t create this many." Kyros deduced.


    "What do we do?" One of the mercenaries asked.


    "It looks like the lizard retreated because we killed many, and they were afraid there would be more of us who could kill them. Right now, the golems are the ones scouting... Interesting... It seemed that an underground ecology is buried inside this mountain." Kyros exined.


    "So it''s dangerous if we proceed?"


    "The ce my scout went should be safe. I have a n. You guys wait here. I lead the golems here, and we ambush it." Kyros smiled.


    "Lead it here?"


    "We have to level up, don''t we? Uncle, when will the other members go here? We should try to capture more of these creatures but save the experience when everyone is here. We only take what we need to be strong enough to fight these creatures."


    "They would probably reach here within four days. It might be faster since they think I''m in danger."


    "Then we have four days to prepare this. The more people we have, the easier it is to explore and conquer here and get enough experience from the temple before handing it to the empire."


    "My brother should bring a message talisman that can contact the rest of the family. We can use that to have everyone go here. Hopefully, this temple willst long enough to give the family at least a single level up." Aron clenched his fist.


    Kyros tried to hide his smile. He knew that the temple won''t run out of means to grant them experience. He nned to simply stop the feature and run the Temple Off Protocol to make it look like the temple had no energy.


    "Still... If we could level up even by one or two levels for all family members, it would be very beneficial already. Let''s n for our ambush now. It''s time to y with rocks."

 Chapter 28 - Out Of The Prison

    Twelverge creatures that were made of hardened soil moved in the darkness. It the shape of a human but was around seven feet tall.


    These were the golems.


    The golems were walking and marching. Suddenly, the Shadow Familiar of Kyros rushed out and shed one of the golems. The shadow had a sword just like Kyros, and the shadow de struck and barely left a dent at the golem.


    The golem immediately punched the shadow.


    Its fist passed through the shadow, and the shadow retreated.


    The golems began to chase the shadow. For creatures made of hardened soil and rock, it could move fast.


    Soon, Kyros appeared. Even in the darkness, the stone creatures could see him and roar.


    "So it''s not using eyes. If these are creatures of magic, it could probably see me through my life source." Kyros smiled as he retreated.


    "Let''s hope my n works."


    Kyros ran back, and the golems were now chasing him.


    "They''reing!" Kyros alerted.


    Aron and the mercenaries had covered themselves with dirt. They were lightly buried in it. Aron was hiding behind arge rock.


    "Be careful! They might detect you! If I see them going for you, I''ll warn you, and you have to fight immediately. If not, then our ambush might work!" Kyros shouted as he ran.


    The golems were drawing closer to the hiding mercenaries. Kyros was observing them through the shadow familiar.


    The golem kept chasing Kyros and ignored the hiding mercenaries.


    "Ambush them! Now!"


    The mercenaries burst out of the lightyer of dirt that hid them and suddenly attacked when several had already run past them.


    Aron was the first as he jumped out of the rock and performed his Knight skill.


    [Knight''s Charge] gave Aron the boost of speed as he smashed one golem at the tail end of the rush and knocked it back.


    With a quick cinder, the torches were lit up, and the mercenaries began to attack the golems that were left. Aron was fighting one alone, two pairs of mercenaries attacked one each, and a trio attacked another.


    The ambush was sessful as these four golems were struck and had critical wounds.


    Two golems kept on chasing Kyros, who disappeared in the darkness, and when Kyros had traveled some distance, he immediately released the Shadow Ghouls and the Shadow Familiar that began to attack the golems.


    Kyros immediately retreated when the golems were distracted by Kyros''s summons.


    When Kyros returned, Aron and his mercenaries were dealing with the six remaining golems. The four that the group ambushed were already wounded.


    The insides of the golems weren''t just dirt or rocks. The mystery of rising magic made these golems had certain magic channels that connected and allowed the golems to move. Their very body is alive.


    While the attacks caused no pain to these creatures, the damage still caused the body parts of the golems to halt or fall off since the golems had a body that followed humans, the mercenaries aimed for parts that would sever the limbs of the creatures. The parts that were hacked and sliced off kept on squirming about. While it couldn''t move like before, it was clear that these parts still had some life in them.


    Aron was facing another golem and fought it one-on-one. He would block the punches of the golem with his shield, and these massive punches left dents that damaged the shield he carried.


    The mercenaries were using their advantage in numbers to attack the five remaining golems, but they were unable to attack them properly.


    One of the mercenaries attacked the golem on the chest with his ax. The ax couldn''t prate deep enough to cut the torso of the golem. The golem was quick to counter and punched the mercenary on the chest.


    The mercenary was knocked back and sent flying.


    "No!" One of the mercenaries charged.


    "Stop! Don''t be reckless!" Kyros dove right in and stabbed on the golem''s chest, which had a small wound due to the previous attack of the mercenary.


    The golem suddenly trembled and appeared to be in great pain.


    Kyros felt it. Darkness was found in the golem.


    "A soul?" Kyros recognized the sensation. He had encountered the energy of the same kind before. The Prince of Darkness only had a wisp of this.


    Kyros channeled the dark energy that was in the stone and began to siphon it.


    The golem suddenly lost its strength and fell down. It fell into the same state as the other golems who got ambushed and received numerous damage. But unlike the rest, which was hacked to pieces, this golem only had a wound on the chest.


    Kyros realized that his ability to absorb the darkness weakened the best.


    "The core is in their body! If you can wound their chest, I can use this sword to absorb the darkness!" Kyros called out.


    The mercenaries began to fight.


    The mercenary, who nearly charged in anger, had retreated to look at his friend.


    "<Cough! Cough!> I''m fine!" The mercenary groaned as he went back to his feet.


    "That hurt like hell... But the armor saved me! Amazing!" The mercenary was amazed.


    "Fight!" Kyros called out, and the mercenary realized he was lollygagging.


    With this realization, Aron immediately used his skills. Knowing that they had a ce to heal their wounds and recover their force energy gave Kyros the confidence to use his skills in session.


    The forced energy filled his sword, and his stabs delivered deep strikes in the chest of his golem.


    Kyros rushed in and made his attack, which weakened another golem. The mercenaries now had an easier advantage and attacked the golems. Knowing that their armor could give them decent protection and they could be healed at the temple made them rush their attacks at these golems.


    The golems were now being surrounded and could not defend themselves from the many attacks of the mercenaries. Kyros secretlymanded his summons to return and lead thest two golems back.


    Soon, all the golems were lying in pieces, and the mercenaries were celebrating.


    "Another easy win! We should be able to gain a level or two from this battle!" Aronughed.


    "What are you guys doing?!" Kyros, however, cursed.


    The group was stunned.


    "Uncle, why are you using all your skills in session? And you? What are you doing? Attacking without fearing for your life? Are you relying on the temple? Are we aiming to level up or drain the energy of the temple from our reckless behavior? If we fight smart and conserve our energy, we could probably save two or three rounds of these energy converting abilities!" Kyros berated.


    Truthfully, he was angry because he wanted to train these mercenaries. If the Steele family had strong soldiers, it would make the Steele family''s future brighter. And so, while the temple wouldn''t run out of energy, he didn''t want these soldiers to be rxed and wanted to drive them further to battle.


    Aron was the most embarrassed at Kyros''s remarks.


    "My nephew is right. We should learn from this experience. We are getting stronger here, and we are leveling up. But our skills have to level up with our level! We have to be smarter in fighting." Aron exined.


    "You are all knights-to-be. You have to live like it! This battle was very embarrassing. If the temple wasn''t here, and I, a ten-year-old boy wasn''t here to help you, you all would have died!" Kyros spoke harshly.


    "It''s no wonder the Steele family has fallen so low. How can it survive when they have useless men?!" Kyros shouted.


    The mercenaries grew helpless. The one who was punched was the most ashamed at Kyros''s berating.


    "Uncle. For now, since we cannot waste the energy of the temple, I suggest we get back to get healed and have these mercenaries undergo formal training!" Kyros exined.


    Aron was silent, but he nodded as well. He couldn''t help but clench his fist. His nephew spared the harshest words. He was to be med for this.


    The group went back towards the temple and began to roll the body parts, which had some roundness in them. The stone parts would move around and squirm, but they were practically harmless. But as they were moving back, Kyros noted that these golems were somehow slowly recovering their core.


    "What an interesting creature. This isn''t just magic. How does it live?" Kyros observed.


    "That core thing is the answer." Cminus pointed out.


    "I noticed. It seems that even without physical organs, this golem has created a means to imitate human biology and craft a human from this. This isn''t just simply magic. For this to happen, the battle that involves mages deep within this temple would be so strong that their remnant souls created life from the ground itself!"


    "Indeed. Their body seems to be made of soils and rocks, but in fact, it isn''t. I even think it''s edible. It''s something in between stone or soil and the flesh of humans."


    "This temple is indeed interesting. I never heard my family talk about this ce in the past. Which means this area may have never been opened. But how? The lizards should have been able to dig their way out of here. The only exnation is that there is another barrier. Perhaps made of magic that is stopping these creatures from stepping out of their prison."


    "It must be the temple. Somehow, when you broke out of your prison, it also opened the prison of these beasts." Cminus answered.


    "Regardless, I should scout this area first. I just hope the rewards I get for killing these golems would be good enough to help me..." Kyros sighed.

 Chapter 29 - Out To Get Stuff

    The group finally reached the temple entrance.


    Kyros gave the password, and the doors opened up.


    While most of them were excited to rush in and offer these parts, the group was silent as it obediently followed the directions and orders that Kyros or Aron would give.


    The group rolled all the stone golem parts inside the descending entrance, and Kyros received the notification.


    [Quest Item: Stonic Creatures (12/50)]


    Kyros noticed that there were no notifications for the minor rewards.


    "I guess I have to assimte it in the temple first."


    The group moved and carried the heavy bodies of these golems into the temple.


    They were careful and hasty in bringing in the stones as they were afraid that the temple would suddenly convert the energy.


    Soon, at the cursing of Aron, the group was able to bring in all the stones when they noticed that it didn''t convert the creatures immediately.


    Kyros waited for a bit before opening the notification.


    [Stonic Creatures: y Golem detected. Assimte to the temple and disperse experience points?]


    Kyros selected yes, and the bright lights shed again.


    The group felt the power surge within them. Once more, the group experienced a level up. The life energy of these creatures was distributed among everyone and made everyone stronger.


    Just as Kyros expected, he didn''t level up again. He knew that leveling up would be harder for him with all these seals.


    [Quest Monster Stonic Creatures 12/50. im Minor reward?]


    Kyros selected yes once more.


    [1 Basic Earth Core acquired. im reward at the back area of the temple.]


    Kyros immediately used his connection with the temple to store the Basic Earth Core into the Temple Storage space.


    The mercenaries rested and began to talk, and Kyros pretended to fall into some meditation.


    The group decided to allow Kyros to meditate, and Aron decided to also do the same.


    Kyros read the description of the Basic Earth Core.


    ---


    Basic Earth Core


    An extracted Prime Earth Core of Earth Elemental Mages. Allows channeling of magic on this object grants Earth Magic to the wielder.


    Magic Points- 20


    Summon Golem (2) ¨C Spell charges can be recharged in the temple.


    Upgradeable


    ---


    "Woah. That''s one powerful core you got right there! You basically now have twenty points of Earth magic avable with that object!"


    "Indeed. You said that Mages create cores which they ce in their bodies. Warlocks use magic thates from their soul, while Mages create a magic core in their heart. But what is a Prime Earth Core? It wasn''t in the list of Cores you showed me." Kyros immediately marked the item for quick retrieval through his Inventory.


    "Again. I was talking about mortal cores. No one in this ce can create a Prime Core. Remember what we talked about? Mortals struggle and level up to level 99. But that''s the cap. In order for them to take a step into the divine, they undergo Transcendence. That Transcendence brings you to a state that we call half-gods or half-fallen, depending on the route you chose to grow stronger. A Prime Earth Core is what Transcendent beings have."


    "So meaning, this Basic Earth Core can be upgraded from Basic to Advanced, Superior and the mortal limit which is Power Earth Cores? But since this is a Prime, then it could reach the level of Prime Earth Cores!"


    "Yes. Right before you be a full god or a true fallen, that''s the path you take. It''s actually amazing that this temple could create that from some golems here... Still, this allows you to have an external source of wielding Earth magic. If you could learn more spells, this would be extremely beneficial! I mean, even if the temple doesn''t create more Earth Cores, if you gather more stonic creatures and use your skills as an Artificer, you could create more weak earth cores! It won''t be as good as this, but it can help your family!"


    "Then I have to hurry and build the library! Only through that can I learn newer spells!" Kyros then brought up the requirements to build the library.


    ---


    Library of the Nephilim Level 1


    Grook Brown Lumber- 4 Trees


    Graphite Char Dread Stone- 300 Kilograms


    Silver Ore- 200 Kilograms


    Skin Mending Herbs- (1 Bushel)


    Blood Berries (1 Bushel)


    ---


    Kyros and Cminus read the report.


    "That''s hard..." Cminus cursed.


    "Well... Not really. I have golems now. The Graphite Char Dread Stone is probably close by. I just need to mine those ores and get back here. It''s inevitable. But I have to go out alone to get all these stuff."


    "But how? I doubt you wanted to show your uncle the Earth Core since you hid it."


    "That''s right. I just need to bring it to the entrance. Since it''s dark, they might not see the golems bring it in, and I could immediately send it to the store. The problem is the trees... I may have to scout the mountains and find a way to go out through another exit..." Kyros nned.


    "Besides, I still need to scout the area." Kyros decided.


    "Uncle. I''ll go out and scout the area."


    "Scouting? Alone? It''s too dangerous!"


    "Uncle. Has my skill proven to be inadequate to challenge the monsters here?" Kyros asked.


    "Erm... No." After seeing Kyros''s skills, even Aron was unsure that he could defeat Kyros in battle.


    "I have to do this, Uncle. It''s easier for me to move alone. As you''ve seen, I can even run through a pit of snakes and escape unwounded. I have to see what else is in there. You stay here and try to train the mercenaries in fighting. This ce gives some healing. We can sacrifice a bit of healing energy now to get our forces ready to battle. That way, our next battles will have no expenditure." Kyros exined.


    "I guess that makes sense... And we do have to wait for your father to arrive. If we keep hunting now, it may be dangerous. Alright. I''ll stay here and take care of the group. But you have to be back here within seven hours. Any more than that, and I will send the men out to search for you. Don''t forget. You are a Steele now."


    "I understand, Uncle. Kyros nodded.


    And with that, Kyros left the ce alone. It was already noon time when Kyros left the cave. Time was confusing inside, but suddenly a clock manifested inside the temple, which told time.


    Kyros left the group after exchanging pleasantries and left the temple grounds. The moment he was out of sight from the group, he sent his five Shadow Ghouls out and the Shadow Familiar to scout ahead immediately. The stone door that enclosed the temple was already open as Kyros willed it.


    Although he couldn''t link and see what the Shadow Ghouls could see, they could send a message to Kyros, which allowed him to understand what the Shadow Ghouls could see.


    As for Kyros himself, he held his trusty temple torch to observe the rocks nearby. He was just near the exit when he did this.


    He found a few rocks, but as Cminus only gave a brief exnation to the geology since Cminus strangely believed that ''geology isn''t a science,'' Kyros had to experiment how to identify if this item was the quest material.


    He picked up several different colored stones that he found littering around and threw them inside the temple.


    Kyros then hoped for the best and opened his Temple information and checked the newest items sent inside.


    ---


    Rock- 11 Grams.


    It''s a Rock- 12 Grams


    You found another rock, Congrats- 16 Grams


    Rocky Stone- 21 Grams


    Dwayne Johnson- 13 Grams


    Graphite Char Dread Stone- 18 Grams


    Char Vermillion Lizard Dry Feces- 8 Grams


    Iron Ore- 22 Grams


    ---


    Kyros and Cminus nced at the words and were getting more infuriated at the strange things the temple did.


    "Mother Fragment! I touched Lizard poop?" Kyros cursed.


    "Dwayne Johnson?!"


    Both had different reactions from what they got.


    Kyros clicked on the item and found that the item in his sight was suddenly glowing.


    "Is this it?" Kyros moved closer towards the rock that he tossed in and picked it up. He then nced at the other quest object and found it.


    "If only there was a way to see and search these items with my soul. It would take me a long time to look for these rocks." Kyros sighed.


    ---


    [Scan surrounding temple grounds for quest items?]


    ---


    A notification was disyed.


    Kyros and Cminus were blinking again as they looked at the notification.


    Kyros confirmed the option that appeared.


    [Temple Level 4 can search for objects within 2 kilometers of the temple. Confirm?]


    Another option appeared. The two read it together, and Kyros hit the yes button again.


    Suddenly, he could sense and see strange markers appearing in his vision. He could even gauge the distance between where he was to these items. The number of markers was too many, that Kyros had to change the disyed items and that those that are nearer would appear in deeper shade.


    "Hmm... Some of these things are underground! It would take days to dig into them. I have to set the search parameter to be different. I wonder if I can outsource coding these damned things to someone else..." Kyros then tried to will something, and it finally urred. Several of those markers that required a lot of digging disappeared, and only those that were essible without digging were disyed.


    Kyros kept tinkering with the temple disys, but Cminus was shocked.


    "Kyros. This temple isn''t just a sealing temple! This is clearly connected to you!" Cminus marveled.


    "What do you mean?" Kyros asked.


    "It is the seal itself, and at the same time, it is your very soul!"


    "What? It''s the seal and my soul?!"


    "Yes! It''s difficult to exin, but this is the truth! This entire temple is part of your very soul! That''s why it''s called the Nephilim Sealing Temple. The thing that sealed you wasn''t THE seal! It was just a chamber! I was wondering about it since the start. How was it that the hologram appeared before and required you to makemands to disy it, but anyone else can''t see it? But now, after essing the Temple Core, it could appear in your vision following the disy format I invented!"


    "Are you saying that the true me has the power to search for rocks within two kilometers of where I am?" Kyros frowned.


    "Yes. That''s what I''m saying. You have the power to do more. And this temple is helping you understand just what you can do!"

 Chapter 30 - Out To Mine Rocks

    Kyros was startled at Cminus''s deduction.


    "What do you mean by this?" Kyros asked.


    "It''s like this... Have you ever considered what it''s like to be a god? To see things differently? To have powers that you don''t understand? Why do you think the first Nephilims that were born died immediately? It was precise because of that! You have such great power, power to shake the universe itself, and if you were left to be born by yourself with all your powers, you could destroy this universe, or just like those kids, kill themselves!"


    "Then this temple is teaching me how to be a Nephilim and is allowing me to slowly and mortally understand my powers?"


    "Exactly!"


    "Then my previous life of suffering was intended. It taught me to be a mortal first..." Kyros realized it.


    "Yes. That''s the point! The temple is a manifestation of your soul! No wonder the Temple Core was so powerful! It turned out, someone took a huge chunk of your soul and programmed it to be the temple! Your powers of creation, the manifestation of energy, and so on are being handled by the temple and are slowly being unlocked to you! That''s why you were able to program your soul using those Programming Languages! Normal people can''t program their souls like that! And if they did, they''d mess up because they would code it incorrectly!"


    "Code it incorrectly? There is such a thing?"


    Cminus looked at Kyros and wanted to p him. But Kyros was right. Kyros had yet to make any mistake in his codes. If Cminus tried to do that, he''d probably get various syntax errors.


    "Bruh..." Cminus ended up uttering Kyros''s insane INT stat.


    "Anyway, I get it now. That answers a lot of mysteries. For now, it seems that I just have to slowly learn about this temple and understand who I am." Kyros then held out his hand and brought out the Basic Earth Core from his inventory.


    He also summoned the Shadow Familiar and the Shadow Ghouls. And finally, Kyros held the Earth Core, and then a small bright glow of bright brown enveloped the Earth Core.


    Two figures emerged from the ground below. It was as tall as an adult man but shorter than the golems he fought, and Kyros couldn''t help but look at the stats of the creature.


    ---


    Soil Golem


    Using the Earth Core, a semi-sentient and weak Golem is summoned to do the bidding of its summoner.


    Strength- 85


    Magic- 0


    Dexterity- 47


    Vitality- 85


    ---


    "Weaker than those y golems but strong enough to harvest ores and do the heavy lifting! Nice!" Kyros smiled.


    "I wonder if I can upgrade the Earth core the more Stonic Creatures I kill?" Kyros wondered.


    Kyros then began to move, and his summoned beings also went their ways. Kyros kept looking at the markers. The Shadow Familiar was sent to search and detect any enemies that wandered nearby. The Shadow Ghouls began to move towards some of the markers to pick up the small rocks and dig some up using their paper-like ws.


    The Golems moved towards the ces where arge concentration was discovered. Kyros knew that it was an ore field and ordered the Golems to begin harvesting.


    Kyros was seated near the entrance as he concentrated onmanding the numerous summons.


    [Eyes of the Supreme General skill acquired.]


    [Micro-Management skill acquired.]


    The notification popped up, which caused Cminus to be amazed.


    "Woah. Eyes of the Supreme General is the skill that only the best mortal Generals have! With that, they get a mental image of the battlefield for a certain range. To think you have this naturally!" Cminus exined.


    "But what is Micro-Management?" Cminus wondered.


    All of a sudden, the vision that Cminus saw through Kyros changed. He no longer saw the sight of what Kyros was supposed to see. But he saw arge ck screen which disyed Kyros, the golems, and his shadow ghouls.


    "Woah. You''ve turned your view to be a real-time strategy game!" Cminus was shocked.


    "Oh? This became a skill?" Kyros smiled.


    "What did you do?"


    "I was trying to look for a convenient way to control multiple summonses and realized that this was the best way. I believe your other incarnation called it RTS games?"


    "Yes. Real-Time strategy. That means you canmand yourself, right?" Cminus asked.


    "I don''t know." Kyros focused and selected himself on thisrge screen.


    Kyros appeared, and several strange icons appeared. The skills of his items and his own skill Pronto appeared on the side which he could select. He tried to control himself through the skin, and his body moved automatically.


    "Very interesting." Kyros was amazed and began to explore the functions.


    Through therge screen, Kyros was able to control the actions of his summons and himself. It allowed him to setmands such as mining and picking up stones. Most of what Kyros could see on this screen were pitch ck. There were parts of the map that had a ck ovey, and he could see the terrain and the tunnel but couldn''t see what exactly was happening over there.


    "Your vision is interesting. It uses a fog of war that ismon in RTS games. Those are the ck areas that are unexplored. The slightly darkened areas are explored areas, but of course, you don''t know what exactly is happening to those areas."


    "I get it." Kyros did more experiments.


    When the Golems of the Shadow Familiar would move near these ck areas, the area would slowly reveal itself. If his golems or the Shadow Familiar could move, he could clearly see behind the darkness. But when the Shadow Ghouls would move, Kyros could only see a strange outline that didn''t even reveal the terrain.


    "I need to strengthen my link with these ghouls of mine." Kyros sighed.


    As for himself, Kyros has been controlling it to move and pick up the small rocks nearby. He had borrowed a small bag from the warriors and was using it to fill the bags. But as Kyros was able to see everything at once, he was able to make and issue quickmands for the creatures to bring small stones back.


    "This is... amazing. This is far more superior to the Eyes of the Supreme General. They would only have a form of mental picture of this, but you can actually see everything! If you have a way to link with your army just as you do with these summons of yours, your military prowess will practically go through the roof!"


    "Good. I need it with theing wars." Kyros smiled. He then turned to focus on controlling his summons.


    The summons began to work. The golems mined while the Shadow Familiars and the Shadow Ghouls were picking up the rocks that they could find.


    Suddenly, a notification appeared in Kyros''s vision.


    [Lifeforms within 500 meters from the temple detected.]


    "Oh? The temple can do this? Interesting. I wonder if there is a way to make my body do the same thing..." Kyros began to move and used one of the abilities of the Cloak of Darkness.


    Darkness covered Kyros as he activated the skill [Dark Cloak].


    Kyros then moved towards the direction where the humans were.


    A group of mercenaries could be seen.


    "Humans? Well, it''s about time. Looking at this, this should be some hired scouts to look for the Uncle Aron since he disappeared for more than a few days." Kyros mused. He exited his view as hemanded the Shadow Ghouls to return to prepare to attack the humans.


    At Kyros''s orders, one Shadow Ghouls began to attack and wound the humans. The humans tried using various means to attack the shadow ghoul, but they found no attacks or magic could damage these creatures.


    "Ah! Kill it!" The mercenaries tried to slice the dark, paper-like creature only to have their attacks pass through.


    "I can''t hit it! It''s passing through!" One mercenary that specialized in hand-to-handbat tried punching it, but his fists passed through.


    "Hmm. You need Haki to use it." Kyros smiled as he activated Dark Wielder, which coated his arm with a shiny dark-purple color.


    "Wait... What am I saying?" Kyros frowned.


    The mercenaries couldn''t attack the shadow ghoul. Although Kyros was controlling the Shadow Ghoul to not kill the humans, it did do some severe wounds on the humans. Kyros even allowed the shadows to sh away the bags of these humans to obtain their loot.


    Soon, the wounded group began to retreat as the Kyros allowed the remaining shadow ghouls to attack and harass the humans.


    With the entrance well-guarded, Kyros continued his loud mining activities. Hours and hours passed, and the group was able to send most of the rocks and ce them right at the closed door leading to the temple.


    After four hours since Kyros left the group, he began to move further towards the unexplored area of the mountain. He found an underground river and rejoiced.


    "Finally. I can take a bath! I guess I should lead my Uncle here tomorrow before I meet with my father. I have to make a good impression." Kyros smiled.


    As he moved deeper into the depths of the tunnels, Kyros discovered that while the temple could only mark objects within two kilometers of where it was, anything within fifteen meters from where Kyros would be marked. And even if Kyros managed to move away from the area, the markers remain.


    "I guess these markers save the locations in the darkened area of the map, but if I move away from it, the markers remain. I''m guessing these markers mark thest known location of the items, so if the items were moved, it wouldn''t be reflected..." Kyros analyzed his capabilities.


    Soon, Kyros had arge pile of stones in the area, and finally, it was time to go back. It had been six hours since Kyros began his work.


    Kyros tried to see if he can see what was going on in the temple area. The vision changed, and Kyros could see and even hear the actions of Aron and the mercenaries who kept training inside the temple.


    "The loud training should mask the sliding sounds of these rocks. Good." Kyros smiled. He held on to the bags that he managed to steal from the mercenaries and readied his entrance.


    Kyros opened the temple, and the temple immediately detected the rocks that slid down to the entrance.

 Chapter 31 - Afraid Of Breaking Swords

    The notifications began to ring out when the stones came tumbling down, and soon, the final calctions were shown.


    [Quest Items:


    Graphite Char Dread Stone- (27 Kilograms/ 2 Tons)


    Iron Ore- (114 Kilograms/ 1 Ton)


    Silver Ore (35 Kilograms/ 1 Ton)


    Skin Mending Herbs (3.7 kilograms/ 20 Bushels)]


    Blood Berries (1.4 Kilograms/ 20 Bushels)


    [Assimte to the Temple?]


    Kyros quickly clicked on the yes button, and the rocks immediately disappeared.


    [Quest Items


    Char Vermillion Lizard- 5


    Iron Ore- 10 Kilograms


    Silver Ore- 10 Kilograms


    Stonic Creatures- 5


    im Minor reward?]


    Kyros was amazed at what he saw. He already received a minor reward for the Stonic Creature and the Char Vermillion Lizard. And yet, here was another reward forpleting the items.


    "What? But I thought these items are used to build a temple!"


    "Don''t forget that you aren''t human. Gods and fallen can easily create items out of nothing or use their powers to build something else from something. This temple is a physical manifestation of your soul. So it isn''t really going to need the exact amount that is physically needed to create everything."


    "Is that why the items the temple creates have special powers?" Kyros asked.


    "Yes. Don''t forget that if it''s just materials, the temple still has an amazing power to merge with these items you gather. Expand what you think this temple can do. It is linked to your triune soul of an Ancient, a First Fallen, and whatever the other third of your soul is made of."


    "Whatever works, I guess." Kyros smiled and willed that the items that would be created be sent into the Temple Storage Space. He was afraid that if he just confirmed it, the sword would manifest and appear right in front of his uncle, who was training behind the temple.


    [Vermillion Earth Sword stored in Temple Storage Space.]


    Kyros immediately retrieved it from the storage space and assessed the item.


    A long orange sword with exquisite craftsmanship appeared near him.


    ---


    Vermillion Earth Sword


    Attack: 47


    Durability: 30


    Absorbs kic energy from constant strikes and releases a light explosive strike on every fifth strike.


    ----


    "Woah. This sword is strong." Kyros liked the sword and marked it in his inventory.


    The sword was rtively heavy. But since Kyros''s strength stat was naturally higher in this life, he could still wield it easily.


    "I guess this will be my main weapon for now," Kyros smirked as he went back to meet his uncle.


    He had stored everything but retained one bag consisting of various objects and minerals used by mercenaries on their trip.


    The training was very simple. The mercenaries would fight themselves in a rotation. Three of the seven mercenaries would fight Aron together. Yet even then, the superior skills of Aron were able to fight back and defeat the mercenaries easily.


    Aron''s swift speed despite his heavy armor was shown. The shes and strikes of these warriors wielding their spare swords couldn''t only be caused Aron to block once in every four or five strikes. The rest were evaded.


    "Most warriors make the shield, their first defense. But if you train yourself to be swift enough, the shield bes the second line of defense." Aron lectured as he moved into the many swords.


    "If your swift enough, you don''t even need a shield. As they say, the best defense is an offense." Kyros arrived as heughed.


    "Young Master! You''re back!" The mercenaries gave a relieved smile.


    "I was able to find an interesting weapon. But it''s dangerous inside. There are more golems and lizards. This item is the only thing I managed to find." Kyros showed everyone the sword.


    "Good sword!" Aron abandoned his training and ran to observe the sword of Kyros.


    "Sorry, Uncle. I intend to keep this!" Kyrosughed.


    Aron nced in envy and couldn''t hide the desire in his eyes.


    "I promise that I''ll give you some in the next trip." Kyrosughed.


    "What was out there?" To change the subject, Aron finally asked.


    "The depths of this mountain are even scarier. I found strange shadow creatures. They looked like the Shadow Scout but had ws and would even attack the Lizards. Although one couldn''t kill the lizards, they were made of an almost intangible form."


    Aron''s expression turned serious.


    "What do they look like?" Aron asked.


    Kyros began to describe the Shadow Ghouls that he fought earlier.


    "What?!" Aron was shocked.


    "Shadow Ghouls! That sounds like Shadow Ghouls!" Aron eximed in terror.


    "This cave... is more dangerous than we think it is!" Aron had a wary expression.


    "Are these creatures dangerous?"


    "Yes. It''s not something our small band of men can handle. They are intangible and require powerful magic to even damage them."


    "Oh? Are they that dangerous? I was able to kill a few with this sword." Kyros raised the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges.


    "This sword! Of course! It has some dark powers in it! No wonder you were saved! That''s good to know. These creatures are terrifying, but if we have the means to attack them, then even a single skilled warrior wielding a weapon escape and fight against these creatures! This is good! This is good!" Aronughed that his previous fears vanished.


    "My Lord. I have heard of these Shadow Ghouls. It is said that they can easily kill an army!"


    "That is true, but if we have the means to attack it, they aren''t that scary. You see, while they are intangible and immune to most weapons and magic, a sword that can hurt their intangible forms could easily kill them! I''ve fought these creatures, and while I couldn''t kill them, since my dear nephew already killed a few, we have nothing to fear!" Aronughed.


    "I noticed that you were training the mercenaries. Are the spare swords alright?"


    "We do have some small travel anvils and hammers to give it some good repairs."


    "Oh? Mind if I use themter? I have some skill in cksmithing." Kyros asked.


    cksmithing was among the many things that Cminus taught Kyros. And so, Kyros wanted to put these things to the test. He had already done his practice on dark elements, which he had somehow made into metal through his special condition. But now Kyros wanted to test his skills and the theories he knows with real steel.


    Aron had a peculiar look.


    "Kyros. Those swords are spares, but keep in mind that they are our only weapons for training." Aron spoke.


    "Lord Aron! Don''t worry! Are you afraid Kyros might make a mistake? They are for training anyway. So don''t mind that. At most, we would have a dull sword."


    "I''m afraid he might break it."


    "Uncle. Don''t worry. I may be unskilled, but I know the theories for hardening and stabilizing a sword." Kyros then began to exin the basic theories taught by Cminus.


    "See, Lord Aron? Kyros is well-taught! I can help him if you want." One of the mercenaries volunteered.


    "I guess it''s safe if you are there. Keep watch to how he hammers with these swords." Aron finally agreed.


    "Alright. Good. We will need to hammer those swordster. For now, I noticed that you guys have been training with Uncle in battle techniques. But Uncle is a Heavy Armored Knight. I think it''s time to switch to a dual-wielding speed specialist." Kyros smiled a strange smile.


    "Oh? You want to train them, Kyros?" Aron asked.


    "Yes. I was trained quite brutally by my father. He believes that the best teacher is experience. If they experience fighting against something so fast constantly, they will naturally get faster." Kyros exined. Suddenly, a strange pressure appeared, and the mercenaries felt threatened.


    "What a genius!" Aron was amazed.


    "That is..! Warriors Intent!" One of the mercenaries called out.


    "No. That''s not it. It''s something above that. yers Intent." Aron mentioned.


    "Get ready. I am not as generous as my uncle."


    Almost instantly, Kyros moved like a blue and brandished his two swords, and shed on one of the mercenaries.


    The pressure the mercenary felt was as if he was no less to when he was facing the lizard. He thought he was going to die.


    The mercenary struggled with all his might and blocked the strike of Kyros.


    The powerful sh knocked him back, and while he blocked it, the sword strike reached his neck, and a small wound was left.


    Kyros kicked the mercenary and began to attack the others.


    The mercenaries quickly began to fight seriously. They had seen how Kyros was skilled in fighting. But now, they were facing the other end of Kyros''s swords.


    "Pronto!" Kyros muttered as his perception grew faster.


    Kyros was moving so fast that the mercenary could only see blurring figures with two metal swords whirling around.


    Kyros used the Vermillion sword''s ability that created a sudden explosive st afterpleting five strikes. He would cause a mercenary to stumble back and stab near the head of the mercenary. Some mercenaries fainted because they thought they died.


    The cries of the mercenaries echoed all over the temple.


    Aron watched in shock as he saw the fight. He knew his nephew was fast, but his nephew was already faster than him, even with his high levels. He couldn''t help but feel an itch on his arm and challenged Kyros after the mercenaries all fainted training, and the two fought until Kyros was out of stamina.


    After Kyros gave in to the fatigue, everyone was resting inside the temple. Some of the mercenaries were still unconscious.


    Kyros was greatly exhausted. He was lying down on his back and allowed the temple to heal him.


    "Un...cle... This should be... part of our daily training..." Kyrosughed.


    Unlike Kyros, Aron was more rxed. He was closing his eyes and was concentrating as if he was fighting Kyros mentally.


    He opened his eyes at Kyros''s words.


    "I agree. We can fight monsters and gather them on the start of the day, and then spend the rest training like this. Little Nephew, I should have been the one to adopt you! You are extremely skilled! What is your dexterity stat?"


    "It was... somewhere around 200," Kyros answered.


    "That wasn''t 200, Kyros. You must be reaching 300 now! Amazing! For armored knights like me, speed has always been the issue! Although my dexterity will naturally be hindered by my armor, fighting someone as fast as you are greatly helpful! You''re even faster than your father, who uses light armor!"


    "I wonder when they would arrive?"


    "Your father will definitely make haste. Right now, he should still be headed towards the town and would be asking directions for this mountain. But that long tunnel headed down here took us two days to explore! It led to a lot of dead ends. It would have been faster if they went straight. It could save them nearly a day!"


    "Then we should have one of the mercenaries wait there. And besides, seeing as you haven''te out after four days, more humans might try to move in here." Kyros said.


    "If that''s the case, maybe I should go back immediately. I will wait for my brother. If it''s another group, I''ll try to convince them to retreat." Aron decided.


    "That sounds like a n." Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 32 - Afraid Of Losing Everyone

    Kyros began to gather all the spare swords used in the training sessions and also took the anvil that the mercenaries brought with them.


    Kyros sat by the campfire and hammered away at the many swords.


    The mercenary with basic cksmithing skills apanied Kyros to see what the young lord nned to do.


    But as he saw Kyros hammering away, he was rather impressed.


    "Lord Kyros. You have such skill!" The mercenary praised.


    "Is my form alright?" Kyros asked.


    "Compared to the style my family has, it is a bit inferior. But your strikes are rather urate." The mercenary gave an honest assessment.


    "Can you teach me the proper way to hammer and the form as well?" Kyros asked.


    The mercenary happily obliged, and the two began to discuss more about cksmithing.


    Kyros had learned a ton of theoretical knowledge. While he was able to create the Dark Armguards, he knew his hammering skills needed a lot of work. And this was exactly what he needed.


    The night passed, and even the mercenary went to sleep, but Kyros stayed upte at night hammering away. When he noticed that everyone was asleep, he then brought out the Basic Earth Core.


    "Hmm... While I can''t easily wield Earth Energy, this Basic Earth Core should have enough energy to help me add some added magic effect on this, right?" Kyros wondered.


    And suddenly, Kyros summoned the Basic Earth Core.


    He then began to channel the sword, and with the newly learned hammering skills, he began to hammer away.


    The power of Earth was sent to the hammer that Kyros wielded, and he began to strike away.


    Memories of the Celestial Code appeared, and while Kyros could not fully grasp it, he was somehow able to send the energy into the hammer.


    [Earth Artificer Job acquired.]


    The notification appeared.


    Kyros kept channeling the energy, and after several twenty-some strikes, the magic in the Earth Core was drained.


    Kyros sent the item back and looked at the stats.


    "It didn''t recover the MP. So it has to be in the temple..." Kyros then sent the Basic Earth Core from the Inventory and willed it to appear inside the temple area. Kyros used one of the back areas of the temple where no one could notice it. The Earth Core began to recharge, and Kyros continued hammering without the Earth Magic.


    After a minute, the Earth Core had been recharged, and Kyros summoned it back to himself and continued hammering.


    The theories of Cminus were being applied, and Kyros was even able to add his variation.


    "Impressive. Having experience wielding the Celestial Code has given you a basic understanding of Earth. While you can''t create it, you can redirect it. Pretty soon, you''d be able to wield it!" Cminus praised.


    Kyros was silent and continued to concentrate on improving the spare swords of the mercenaries.


    "Wow. So much effort for your mercenaries." Cminus teased.


    "I''ve seen war and lost my men in battle. I don''t want that to happen. And while expending great amounts of gold is reckless to outfit my men, these things that also contribute to my training are perfect. I''m afraid, Cminus. I''m afraid of losing everyone again. Sess Limiter. That is the curse that is befalling me. And while I have ways to survive the fangs of Fate, these people do not have that luxury." Kyros exined.


    "Well, at the very least, you have a way to protect your family now."


    "I''m not so sure about that. I can feel it now. The call of Fate and how it wants to kill me. Its attack is getting stronger."


    "Impossible. You just have the Sess Limiter. What you have is Apathy of Fate. This means Fate neither hates nor loves you."


    "Yes. But my actions have already changed things! Sess Limiter is working double time because I am getting sessful! Look at what I''ve heived! Fate is adjusting itself to hinder me. It is apathetic of me, which means I won''t get any fated benefits. Fate''s favor won''t shine on me because of this curse. But yet, the Fate that I have to time travel is something that clearly shows great favor. The gods and fallen who created this temple had found the means to bypass Fate or outsmart it. But remember what my mother said."


    "Fate''s power has its limits..." Cminus recalled what the goddess said to Kyros.


    "Yes. And so, Fate ispensating. The Limit of Fate is swinging to the other side of the pendulum because I am seeding. It will try to stop me."


    "I see. Wow. You are finally learning what Fate is about! Wait... That means your Soul Console is working!"


    "Yes. For some strange reason, I can now feel Fate''s changes. Let me check my Soul Console." Kyros willed it, and the ck screen was disyed once more.


    ---


    Soul Console 1.43


    Current Soul Tasks:


    Origin Absorption- Level 2


    ALERT! Spirit Shackle is limiting the rate of origin absorption. Next Soul Force increase: 13 days.


    Soul Unsealing- Level 1


    Estimated time of decreasing Spirit Shackle''s strength by a discernible margin: 344 years.


    God Unsealing- Level 1


    Estimated time of decreasing strength of all god seals: Unknown.


    Devil Unsealing- Level 1


    Estimated time of decreasing strength of all devil seals: Unknown.


    Celestial De-Code- Level 1


    Estimated time of decoding the Celestial Code: 587 years.


    Fate Comprehension- Level 1


    Estimated time of decoding the Celestial Code: Unknown.


    ---


    "Incredible! Your Origin Absorption has grown stronger! It can fight the seal in your body!"


    "Celestial De-code now disys an estimate. I guess wielding the Earth element helped my body remember and is now trying hard to understand how to use Earth. And Fate Comprehension has finally changed. Instead of a failed task, it now shows an unknown time estimate..." Kyros noted the changes.


    "When my foster father arrives in the days toe, I''ll just hurry to get them to bring all of the Steele n here. I try to ensure that everyone gets a level-up, and then I''ll tell my father and uncle to send for the kingdom. Let''s see how Fate ys his cards. Will he allow the wicked men toe here which will benefit me? Does Fate know that I am the temple? Or has my mother found a way to deceive them?"


    "Hey! Now that I think about it, you''re right! The temple has a way to slow down the process of Fate. And if it can, why can''t Fate target the temple? Is it because it''s an inanimate object? What an interesting theory."


    "We''ll see where this goes." Kyros continued to hammer away. When it was three hours until the rm would sound, Kyros dragged his tired body and slept in the temple and while activating Pronto.


    Aron was already awake even before the temple rms resounded. Although he had woken up several times during the night as Kyros kept hammering on and on, he was generally well-rested thanks to the temple.


    The first thing he did was observe the swords that Kyros spent all night working on.


    "I wonder if Kyros repaired the spare swords?" He retrieved one of the swords and unsheathed it.


    "Not bad. He repaired the dents! And here I thought we''d have a safer sparing match with these blunt swords." Aronughed and took a closer look at the swords.


    His smiling expression slowly faded as he realized the strength of the sword.


    "What did my nephew do to these swords?!" He finally shouted.


    "Lord Aron? What happened?" The mercenary cksmith was stunned at Aron''s shout.


    "These swords!"


    "Lord Aron, did Lord Kyros make a mistake? I can assure you that his skills are good enough to repair the spares!"


    "Good enough to repair?! These swords are stronger than your real swords! What good enough to repair!?"


    Aron cursed as he showed them the swords.


    The amazed mercenaries looked at it, and even the one who thought Kyros some tricks were tongue-tied.


    The rm soon rang, and Kyros awoke.


    "Good morning." He greeted happily.


    Aron, however, looked at Kyros and immediately raised the swords up.


    "How did you do this? Those were spare swords that we bought with cheap change! And now these things are... how?"


    Kyros looked at the stats of the swords as he was confused. All he didst night was make sure that the swords were repaired.


    ---


    Definitely not a Spare Sword


    Attack: 32


    Durability: 30


    Can channel Earth magic.


    ---


    Kyros was shocked at the sword stats. The average swords had an attack power of 20. Aron''s sword was at 38, and this was considered a top-tier sword among nobles! And if Aron knew that the sword could be used to channel Earth magic, he''d be bewildered. Wizards, battlemages, and other spell casters will love this sword and pay a great price to acquire it!


    The mercenaries had swords that the cksmiths of the Steele n worked on, and they had an attack of 25 to 29. The small gap of 29 to 30 was the dividing line from normal swords to magic swords. Unless powerful steels were used, average swords crafted by average metals could only go as high as 29.


    Kyros managed to change the spare swords that were at 24 and brought it up to 32.


    "Oof. How are you going to exin this, Kyros? I thought you knew what you were doing." Cminusughed.


    "I didn''t check the stats! Who knew it would be like this!" Kyros cursed.

 Chapter 33 - Afraid Of The Dark

    "Kyros! How did you do this?" Aron asked again.


    "I erm... I am skilled with... Earth Magic? I was trying and experimenting with it. The temple can restore my magic points, so I was able to fix something. This is the secret technique of my n. My father was the one who made the sword." The more Kyros lied, the more he became confident and spoke without stopping.


    "I see! Amazing! You are a Magic Forger! Amazing! This is awesome news!"


    "I''m sorry I hid it. You know the value of what it means to be a Magic Forger. So I didn''t say anything."


    "We understand! Magic forgers can only be recruited or killed! You made the right call! This is incredible!"


    "Uncle. Let us assign someone to run back towards the entrance to meet my father and prevent more people from moving inside."


    "I was thinking the same thing! But we have to also hunt for more creatures to show your father of the magic of this temple."


    "We can hunt for another group first and be on our way back. I also found a water source nearby! I believe it would be proper if I prepared myself before I meet my father!" Kyros called out.


    "Oh? I guess it''s only proper. How near is it?"


    "Just a little bit ahead of the area we fought yesterday. I also found a this bag among the spoils yesterday. It contains soap." Kyros brought out the bag of the noble that Kyros targeted yesterday. Since he had the most sophisticated looks, Kyros knew that only expensive things could be acquired if he stole this bag.


    "Oh? That''s a rather expensive soap. That marking... It''s from a viscount family! It seems that while we were inside here, some have ventured in." Aron deduced.


    "But when I checked earlier, there were no signs of people." Kyros frowned.


    "They must have retreated. This cave is something that an ordinary mercenary group couldn''t handle. But men, for now, you go with Kyros and fight. I won''t join you. This is also training. I have to wait for my brother to go back and to stop people from moving inside." Aron exined.


    "Uncle. Do you have a Signal Compass?" Kyros asked.


    Signal Compass were magical objects that would point towards a Signal. Small groups of travelers used these so they wouldn''t lose each other during quests. As long as the signal is within fifty kilometers, the Signal Compass would point at it. Not only do these devices estimate the direction of the Signal, they can even tell the distance.


    "We have four Signal Compasses. This is a rather expensive Signal Compass. Three mercenaries are equipped with it. It is bound to their life. Unless they aren''t dead, thepass can point at them. The Last Signal Compass is bound to me." Aron revealed a Signal Compass. It was pointing directly at one of the mercenary and had a bright red glow.


    Three mercenaries also revealed the same thing.


    "These Signal Compasses detects the other three. So my men can find me with that." Aron pointed at the three Compasses that the three held.


    "Of course, only they can equip it. If you give the Signal Compass to another person, it won''t work." Aron exined.


    Kyros nodded. He was very familiar with this and had often used this in his previous life.


    "Good! Then here''s what we do... If people doe, ask them to go with you! Make it look like you need help as a strange dark monster attacked you! You then lead them back to us. Suppose the mercenaries can see that you are moving towards. I''ll make preparations to make it look like the mercenaries have died using makeup. Once you are close, I''ll have the three pass thepass to someone else to make it look like they died."


    "That would work. Then I guess we have to spare some corpses or leave one golem or lizard alive?"


    "No. That would be too much work. What we can do, is make it look like a strange ck creature is attacking everyone."


    "Your Shadow Scout?"


    "Not the Shadow Scout." Kyros smiled as he held the Sword of a Thousand Grudges.


    "I noticed this when I was absorbing more of the darkness from the core of the Golems. I can now do this." Kyros willed it, and Dark Cloak was activated.


    Kyros was covered in darkness.


    Kyros suddenly began to move.


    "Uncle, be careful! I''ll be attacking!" Kyrosughed.


    All of a sudden, Kyros began to attack his Uncle. Aron could only see Kyros at thest moment and was able to block it.


    But Kyros was lost in the darkness once more.


    "How is it?" Kyros''s voice echoed out.


    "Powerful! With your speed, you can defeat a Baron''s Escort!" Aron knew how strong Kyros was. With this power, he could easily defeat the vassal knights of Barons!


    "Then this is the n. If someone rushes here and we don''t have the corpses of Golems and Lizards, we use this. Of course, if there are golems and lizards, we can show them the corpses first and make my appearance. The Signal Compass will be used in this manner. If we notice Uncle is going nearer to us at a certain speed, we make preparations!" Kyros exined.


    "A good n indeed!" Aronughed.


    "I can pretend to kill Uncle when I see that the humans are retreating. They would be scared if they see all the dead mercenaries and even more scared if there are mutted lizard and golems corpses. After all, those golem bodies squirm from time to time. And if a dark creature like me starts attacking and cutting their bags and cut off their torches..." Kyros smiled.


    "Perfect! They''ll be afraid of the dark and escape! This is a good n! I''ll scout ahead and check out the area beyond the entrance and backtrack. I have to find a way to change the markers we set for those leading to dead ends but leave a special marker that only my brother can notice." Aron decided.


    "For now, Kyros. Practice leading the Mercenaries... No! They are no longer mercenaries. I forgot. Practice leading the Steele Knights!" Aronughed.


    The ''knights'' felt a swell of pride at this title.


    "Once your father arrives, we will put on to y your money-making scheme. With enough money, we should be able to afford to grant all these mercenaries a formal Knight job!" Aron smiled.


    The knights cheered. Some of them could only dream of bing a Knight.


    "I will, Uncle. Knights! Let''s see if yesterday''s training was of any use! If you disappoint me, I''ll scare you to death during training!" Kyros dered.


    Despite the threat, the knights roared happily. Even their young Lord called them knights.


    And so, both groups departed.


    Kyros had already explored the further regions of the ce and knew where to go. He sent his shadow scout to go over and search the areas that he intentionally avoided the other day due to the tracks that he saw.


    "These tracks mean that there was a fight here. I avoided them yesterday but now, we may have to move closer. Follow me, and let''s do the same ambush we did the other day." Kyros instructed.


    They moved towards the path, and Kyros had already sent his shadow to search for the area ahead.


    As they were moving, Kyros gave several observations about the Golems and the Lizards.


    "The golems are slow at turning. So if you fight them, continue to fight by encircling them as you attack. You can also make an abrupt counter-turn to confuse them. As for the Lizards, the best way to deal with them is to feint charges first to draw out the lizard''s tail. With your sharp swords, you should be able to damage their tails now. Aim for that first so that the lizard will be hesitant in using the attacks that have the longest range." Kyros talked.


    The knights were absorbed in Kyros''s teaching as he continued to exin tactics.


    [Heretic Teacher job acquired.]


    [Oration skill acquired.]


    ---


    Heretic Teacher Level 1


    Harnessing the wisdom of the gods and the beguiling powers of the fallen, Kyros is able to teach and instruct others with great charisma and allow the listeners to hear and understand things easier. The effect of the Heretic Teacher is two times stronger than other Teacher jobs.


    ---


    Kyros immediately willed the details as he was curious. Cminus had already exined the job levels of various groups that were even unknown to Kyros. But this title was something he didn''t teach.


    "Amazing. You practically have the most powerful Teaching job known in this universe! You have a skill that is two times stronger than teaching jobs! That''s crazy! Do you feel the power coursing in you? Do you feel the wisdom?" Cminus asked.


    "I feel that I need inspirational quotes with scenic backgrounds that can help my teaching career. Also, I should trick people by taking math test using ''only people with high IQ can solve this test.''" Kyros sensed it.


    "...What?"


    "I don''t understand it either. Anyway... Now that this appeared... I wonder. I mysteriously acquired a job two times already. I thought the first one was because I was in the temple. But it''s clearly me! Normally, people have to go through the process of receiving a Job Assignment or a ss Change to have an official title from guilds and groups. But I managed to manifest one on my own. This further proves your theory. The ss that I can earn muste from one of my powers that is slowly being unsealed. But if I can unseal jobs at will, can the temple help me bestow Jobs and sses to my others?" Kyros wondered.


    ---


    Job Bestowal (Locked)


    Requires: Temple Level 5


    ---


    ss Bestowal (Locked)


    Requires: Temple Level 6


    ---


    Kyros and Cminus blinked at the sudden appearing stats.


    "... I really can... Wow."


    "Jobs and sses are but simple imputing of magic and force that allows themon man to have a more solid foundation. But with you and this temple forged by gods and fallen, the jobs and ss changes you can give ought to be more amazing..."


    "I just need to outfit them! We would be a powerful force! After that... I gather my old team and build an elite force with powerful jobs!" Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 34 - Afraid Of Chipping A Sword

    Kyros continued to teach and, at times, would show the group how to do it as they would pretend to be golems and lizards while Kyros taught them the tricks. As the group journeyed deeper, the Signal Compass that was currently set to detect how far Aron was, had turned into orange color and then soon became yellow. This meant that Aron was far from where they were.


    They soon passed the part where there was water. The group restocked their water supply and drank a lot. They had been drinking at a set ratio, but now, they could drink to their heart''s content.


    "We should try leaving a lizard bodyter. We can try cooking it..." Kyros suggested. Among the many things that Cminus talked about was cooking. They spent more than three months talking about meals and exining cooking theories down to the chemical level.


    "Cook it?"


    "Yes. My family used to cook lizard before..." Kyros brushed off as they kept moving forward.


    The knights were curious just what kind of freaks his family was and how they even managed to die.


    "Lord Kyros... What if your brothers and sisters?"


    "I''m an only child. And my family invested a lot in me." Kyros exined.


    The knights stopped asking questions.


    They had reached deeper into the cave and even got to the parts where Kyros hadn''t explored yet.


    Kyros used his shadow familiar to scout ahead.


    It wasn''t long before he found a small group of Lizards fighting against Golems.


    Through the shadow familiar, Kyros could see the battle.


    The two creatures fought almost equally. The strong and fast swipes and strikes of the lizards met the slow but sturdy strikes of the Golems.


    One of the Golems had a sturdier form, and Kyro realized that, unlike the y golems, this one was made of harder rocks.


    Kyros could see that the lizards were losing because of this stronger golem.


    "Knights. Stay here. There seems to be a battle up ahead. If we y our cards right, we could get both Golems and Lizards." Kyros smiled.


    "Take care, Lord Kyros."


    "Don''t worry. With the darkness with me, I don''t think they can kill me." Kyros smiled as he wrapped himself in darkness.


    "Prepare for an ambush! It looks like the Lizards are losing. We''ll be fighting golems. One of them appears to be stronger than the rest. I lead it here. You attack the rest and leave out the stronger one. I''ll tell youter which one is it. After you kill your golems, we fight the remaining one. Remember my lesson."


    The knights all nodded and made their preparations.


    When Kyros had disappeared into the darkness, he used Dark Cloak and moved closer to the battle.


    He could see that the lizards were losing because of the Rock Golem and decided to prepare for an ambush.


    He moved on the only possible escape route the Lizards could take and summoned his golems and the shadow creatures and waited.


    Soon enough, the lizard did retreat.


    The golems came to life and ambushed them, and working in the coordination of the shadows. The fleeing lizards were immediately killed.


    Kyros brandished his Vermillion Sword and could finally attack the lizards. With his speed and superior swordsmanship, this creature that would have required people over level fifteen to kill was in by a level 3 Kyros.


    Upon swiftly killing the Lizards, Kyros immediately made way to observe the Golems.


    The Golems were busy ransacking the remains of the Lizards they killed.


    They would open their mouth and use a strange magic force that would suck the life of the creatures.


    "Golems that are creatures of darkness... What an interesting sight. All my previous life, I only fought golems that summoners and mages created. This one is rather strong. I wonder what happened in my previous life? Why hasn''t this ce been discovered?" Kyros wondered.


    "It could be that this ce wasn''t discovered. Your time travel might have created an earthquake from the strong shockwave it made... Either that or..."


    "The Temple also sealed this ce, and the temple was designed to unseal it if I break through it."


    "Right. Your mother knew me. And while I can''t recognize her, she assumed that I was with you. She must be connected with the Ancient God Fate. Consider the bnce created in this cave! If only Lizards and Golems lived here, one group would have already been killed."


    "I know. The ecology down there ought to be moreplicated than we know. I guess we''ll find out the deeper we reach into this cave. It''s a good thing that the scouts they sent were killed. But I have a feeling that this means the lizards and the golems are preparing for arger force. If they attack together, they may end up fighting each other."


    "That''d be good for you and your team."


    "Sounds too easy. Fate will definitely stop me. Oh well... for now. We kill these creatures. I''m curious if the Vermillion Sword can prate that rock golem." Kyros immediatelyunched his attacks.


    The Soil Golems he summoned were ordered to stay behind.


    Kyros dashed and aimed for the Rock Golem, and with the Dark Cloak, he managed tond a powerful strike.


    BANG!


    The sound was loud, and the golem howled a strange coarse roar as it swiped several punches towards Kyros.


    Kyros easily evaded the attack with his Dark Cloak and revealed himself, and stabbed at a nearby y Golem.


    The Soul Force he had erupted and gave him an increase in strength.


    The head of the nearby y golem was lopped off.


    "Weak. You are all weak." Kyrosughed.


    [Taunt activated.]


    The notification rang and caused the golem to roar angrily. It gave chase to Kyros, who began to retreat.


    Unbeknownst to the golems, the shadow ghouls and familiar began to harass three golems that we''re unable to give chase to Kyros. The soil golems of Kyros then appeared and fought these golems.


    While the soil golems were weaker, they were capable of damaging the golems. Together, the eight summoned beings began to attack the three.


    Kyros, on the other hand, was running towards the knights.


    "Get ready!" He called out to warn the group.


    "Don''t attack the first golem! It''s made of rocks! I''ll distract it, and we deal with it once the others are done!" He gave his orders.


    As instructed, he zipped by, and the knights ignored the first creature that ran faster than the rest of the golems.


    And then, the knights initiated their ambush.


    The experience of the first fight and the training with Kyros and Aron now showed its effects as the knights were more careful and managed to fight the group in a more organized manner.


    Their swords were also stronger, and every attack left a deep wound on the golems.


    Kyros kept on taunting the Rock Golem to keep it from attacking the knights.


    The Shadow Familiar also returned as the golems that it stopped with the shadow ghouls have been killed. It was careful not to reveal itself on the light and only attacked the back of the golems.


    The ambush and crowd attacks worked as they managed to kill the golems they ambushed.


    "This sword is awesome!" One knightughed as they fought the golems. Kyros''s training proved effective as they managed to easily find the blind spot of the golems.


    Kyros smirked and was happy at the progress of the knights and continued fighting the rock golem while waiting for the knights to finish their enemies.


    Soon, only the Rock Golem was left.


    The knights encircled the Rock Golem, who was still busy punching at Kyros.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Kyros then noticed that the knights weren''t attacking the Rock Golem.


    "Guys?! What''s up?! Attack!"


    "But... Lord Kyros. Won''t this chip our de?" One knight asked. Wielding the new strong sword felt like having a new wife to some of them.


    "Mother fragments! I can repair them! Fight you fools!" Kyros cursed.


    The group moved after hearing Kyros''s assurance.


    The knights crowded and attacked the Rock Golem.


    At first, they were having a hard time damaging the Rock Golem, which could move faster.


    "Wait! Listen to my instructions! Surround it!"


    The knights followed.


    "Alright. When I call out your name, you attack!'' Kyros ordered.


    And slowly, the group got into the rhythm. They managed to make an organized attack, with one person attacking after the other. Soon, the orders of Kyros grewplicated as he began to give out specific orders. One knight would strike, and the other would make a feint.


    With so many enemies hacking and stabbing in a synchronized manner thanks to Kyros''smands, the Rock Golem was slowly chipped piece by piece until finally, it received a powerful stab to its core.


    Kyros switched swords and stabbed the Sword of a Thousand Grudges into the wound and wrecked the dark energy of the golem.


    "Dead." Kyros smiled as he looked at the death of the golem.


    The knights cheered.


    Kyros smiled as he looked at the knights who were cheering. But secretly, Kyros vowed to use Pronto in training these scums in their future sessions because they ced more value on their swords than his safety.


    "Alright. Let''s move! The Golems were fighting some lizards, so we have quite a haul here. Let''s slowly move them out of this ce." Kyros gave his orders.


    While they were fighting, the golems had already been moving the dead bodies and ced them closer towards where they were before being unsummoned.

 Chapter 35 - Afraid Of The Next Level

    The group found the fallen creatures. Since the golems that Kyros summoned had moved the dead bodies closer, the group was immediately able to do a quick count of the creatures.


    "Nine Lizards and Seven Golems! This is awesome!" One of the knights rejoiced.


    Kyros was immediately observing the limbs of the golems to see if his ns could work.


    "Alright. Cut off the limbs of all the y golems. Also, cut the legs of these golems in half... They look long enough to be additional logs." Kyros ordered the team.


    The group followed with curious looks, and then when all the limbs of the y golems were removed, Kyros arranged them ahead and gave more instructions on how to move all the creatures easily.


    The limbs were used as some form of sleds that rolled as the bodies moved on top of it like a conveyor. The knights would pass the limbs at the very end and move them to the front to keep the conveyor-like sled moving.


    The knights were impressed at Kyros''s solution, and the group was able to transport the heavy bodies of the creatures easily and would only lift them when they reached impassable terrains due to the rocks around them.


    But the way they did it made it easier for them to carry the creatures and would have them retain their strength.


    Along the way, Kyros made the group aware of an ore deposit around the rocks as well as a silver one.


    "This could be useful," Kyros stated as he pointed out how his family would soon be present.


    The knights agreed and made their ns to make it easier for them to gather these things.


    "It''s just ore and stuff. I''m sure that even if we report it to the kingdom, they wouldn''t mind." One of the knights suggested.


    Kyros also nodded.


    "That''s the n. We should make our group move quicker. We do not know if the other knight''s groups would move inside here."


    "Once your father is here, and he sends the group a message, they won''t have to go through the trouble of retracing our steps. It might take less than three days for your family to be here with the urgent tasks ahead. It might even just take two days! Besides... We can stay here for a long time anyway." One of the knightsughed.


    Kyros was silent. He wanted things to move fast because he intended to have the kingdom send their men to help him fight the next level of the temple.


    Kyros willed to make the stats appear again.


    ---


    Nephilim Sealing Temple


    Status: Kyros Unleashed


    Nephilim Training Commencing!


    Shade Level: 2 Interim (15:21:13:19 remaining to start Level 2)


    Temple Level: 4 (1284/10000 points to Level 5)


    ---


    "I have to manage my time properly. I have a feeling that the reason why there is such a long gap was to give me time to prepare for the next level."


    "You''re afraid of the next level?"


    "The temple is clearly sentient. So it may force me to fight another army that my current skills can''t handle. I''m afraid that if it''s just the Steele family and me, many will die."


    "You''re right. You even got the sword. If it were me, managing the temple, and I gave you that time, I will give you something that is impossible for you to handle." Cminus agreed.


    "Hence, I need to get the kingdom here and all their wicked men to fight for me. I wonder... If I clear the stage early, will the gap for the next level be longer?"


    As they continued, Kyros suddenly noticed an alert.


    [Lifeforms within 500 meters from the temple detected.]


    "Oh? Someone is there?" Kyros noticed.


    "It''s a good thing we decided to leave uncle there. But who could this be?"


    Kyros used his ability Micro-Management to bring up the screen and could see his body. The knights with him couldn''t bemended as they weren''t part of his summoned team. He could see a grey fog of war on the path they just passed, ultimately leading to the temple.


    The five hundred meter location around the temple was visible. And when Kyros watched what his uncle was doing, he was startled.


    "Uncle is fighting someone?" Kyros was confused.


    What happened to the n?


    Kyros took a closer look and found several men giving chase to his uncle. Aron would asionally stand and deliver several strikes when there were only a few enemies nearby.


    "Vampires?!" Kyros was shocked.


    "Oh? To think a vampire n will attack you guys here. This will pose some problems. If you kill them or let them live, it will still force whatever vampire n to investigate this ce." Cminusughed.


    "This long gap between the levels are also tests. It''s testing me to see how I take advantage of all the chaos and circumstances that happen in between. I really should be more serious with the next level." Kyros sighed.


    Kyros revealed no expressions to his group.


    "Where''s Uncle?" Kyros asked.


    One of the knights took out the Signal Compass and looked at it.


    They were growing closer to Aron, but then they noticed that thepass was trembling. As if Aron was moving back and forth.


    "Is he moving towards this ce?" One knight asked.


    "That''s strange for thepass to move like that. Men! Continue to bring the corpses down. I''ll scout ahead. Be ready to arrange the corpses if I tell you. I''ll send my shadow familiar. If you see it, then we may have to fight enemies. If I go instead of the shadow familiar, then we initiate our scare n." Kyros exined and immediately left.


    Kyros activated Shadow Cloak and hastily made his way.


    Aron and the band of vampires had already disappeared past the visible area of the temple.


    After several minutes, Kyros could hear fighting.


    "Give up, Knight! The darkness is our ally here!" A vampireughed.


    "The darkness beyond here will kill all of you!" Aron shouted back.


    "We shall see!" The vampireughed.


    Kyros stopped moving and hid in the darkness. Soon Aron and the Vampires continued their chase.


    Kyros counted their numbers and noticed that the group had three small ves who were in charge of carrying their luggage.


    "Twelve vampires and three ves. They have quite some dark energy. I wonder..." Kyros had suddenly felt a strange hunger. He hadn''t eaten any dark beings in nearly three days. The exotic taste of darkness was something Kyros had grown fond of. He even tried to eat a few of the Golem''s darkness, but it couldn''tpare to the pure darkness of the Shadow Ghouls.


    He even thought of eating the Shadow Ghouls to his sword but realized it would take five days for another Shadow Ghoul to be born in the sword and relented.


    But now, he felt the darkness of these vampires wereing close to that level.


    "Those Crest... The Dark Shine kingdom? And they must be from the Blood de n... So as early as now, the Eldrich have been sending their minions all over the ce. Good. All the more reason to kill them." Kyros gripped his sword as he recalled the Eldrich race.


    He summoned the Shadow Ghouls and the Shadow Familiar and continued to chase.


    Only Aron had a torch with him. Vampires could see well in the dark and chase without any hindrance.


    But what they couldn''t see was the darkness itself that they had passed by.


    Kyros, who they had passed, was now the one giving chase.


    Aron''s fighting skill was still impressive. Even under disadvantageous conditions, he still managed to fight back and even managed to wound several vampires who attacked impatiently. Aron continued to retreat after throwing off the two vampires.


    The Vampires continued to chase Aron, and those who Aron had wounded had fallen at the back to heal themselves. Aron was able to wound and cut many of them who would go back and apply healing magic.


    Kyros took the opportunity and began his assassination.


    The Vermillion sword that was coated in the dark energy of the cloak shed through and easily decapitated the vampire. The other sword struck the other vampire in the heart.


    The vampire tried to squeal, but Kyros activated Dark Consumer.


    The vampire was stunned as he was now able to see the dark form of Kyros.


    "The darkness..." He muttered in shock as he died.


    Kyros continued to drain the energy of the vampire.


    It was then that the Sword of a Thousand Grudges began to tremble.


    "Oh? It looks like Soul Trapper is working. So monster souls don''t make the cut for soul trapper? Or does this sword require a certain level of intelligence from the creature?" Kyros wondered.


    ---


    Sword of a Thousand Grudges (Lvl. 2)


    Attack: 20 -> 21


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy.


    Shadow Ghoul Familiar (5 ->6)


    Soul Trapper


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    Kyros saw the increase in stats.


    "I should have used this sword to kill the others instead! Oh well..." Kyros regretted his actions but then continued his chase.


    The vampires were so focused on attacking Aron that they did not notice the darkness moving.


    Kyros stabbed another vampire at the back using the Vermillion Sword. Almost immediately before the vampire could even scream, a sword stabbed down and impaled it on its mouth.


    Kyros timed the attack together with another sh against Aron.


    The sword began to tremble once more as it sealed another soul.


    Kyros saw no increase in level, but the amount of Shadow Ghouls it could summon had increased to seven.


    One of the ves had noticed what happened as the vampire that died was right in front of her.


    "Little girl, do you want to be free?" Kyros asked the ve. The ve was a dhampir.


    The ve was petrified as she saw the darkness talk to him. But slowly, the darkness moved out to reveal Kyros''s face.


    "Who is the vampire that turned you? It looks like you''ve had a terrible life." Kyros noticed the many wounds on her face.


    The ve-girl pointed ahead.


    Kyros knew that this ve was Marked with various Vampire arts, making her unable to betray her master.


    Kyros smiled and chased after the group.


    The other two ves were also dhampirs and were Marked ves.


    Kyros decided to take in these new ves and chased after the other vampires.


    This time, Kyros summoned the seven Shadow Ghouls and began to harass the other vampires.


    "AGH! What are these?!" A vampire shouted.


    "Darkness! It''s the Darkness! Another vampire shouted.


    Aron realized that this must be Kyros.


    "I told you!" Aronughed as he took courage and attacked the vampire closest to him.


    The Vampires at the front were stunned, but before they could properly arrange themselves, Aron''s powerful Force Energy erupted.


    The sword he wielded began to glow with bright light.


    "Pdin?!" A vampire was stunned.


    Kyros, on the other hand, knew better. This was the Steele family''s special art. This was how Kyros managed to be the coveted Celestial Pdin in his previous life. While Pdin used Holy Power, Celestial Pdin''s imitated that path through Force energy.


    Aron Steele and Branze Steele would teach Kyros the foundations of this job.


    The Force Energy became a bright light, and Aron shed it towards one of the vampires who used his dark powers to resist it.


    SLASH!


    The sword shed through the dark energy and killed the vampire.

 Chapter 36 - Afraid Of A Creepy Uncle

    Aron was coated in a thickyer of Force energy. His power had grown twice. Knowing that these vampires would not stop until they are dead, he immediately went all out.


    Another reason he didn''t hesitate to use this was to protect his dear nephew.


    The Force Energy that was imitating the Holy Knights used Force Energy instead of Magic. This technique wasrgelyughed at as Force could never rece Magic to add power to it. But the Steele family had taken such aughable concept and managed to apply it in a powerful means.


    The Job ss of Holy Knights such as Pdins, Pure des, Holy Defenders was Knight sses that not all noble groups could afford. Creating a single knight required great costs and investments as these Knights would have to invest in studying and harnessing their magic energy.


    Barons and Viscounts couldn''t even afford the cost of making one. But the Steele family was able to imitate the Holy Knights and create a poor copy of the strength that these knights have. Instead of Magic, the Steele family used Force. And while the effects and strength that these pseudo-Pdins had were weaker than the true power of real Pdins, it surpassed the power and ability among regr knight sses.


    It was this skill that allowed Aron and Branze to have a power greater than their peers.


    The sudden imitation of the Holy Light shocked the vampires. For creatures of darkness, a Holy Knight was their bane.


    The Vampires all channeled the Death Energy in their bodies and attacked Aron.


    Aron stabbed on the ground.


    "Force Cross!" Aron shouted as he stabbed down.


    BOOM!


    Powerful energy exploded, creating a ripple at the shape of the cross.


    The vampires used their powers to block it. The vampire at the front raised his right hand, and a strange dark power erupted from the bracelet he wore.


    The Force energy collided with the Dark energy that shielded the group. Aron''s attack couldn''t even crack the dark shield.


    "?" The vampires that used the strange bracelet felt that the energy that attacked him wasn''t holy. He expended a lot of energy to block it and realized that they were shielding paper with steel.


    "It''s not holy! You!" The vampire roared.


    "I never said it was! But be careful! The darkness behind you looks scary. And even hungry." Aronughed.


    "My men will deal with the darkness! I will feast on your blood! You made me use the Bracelet of Death! I will use your Force Energy to replenish it!" The Vampire leader drew out a strange sword.


    "Behold! My Blood sword! I have feasted on hundreds of men to make this!" The vampireughed as he held the dark red sword. It looked as if the blood was oozing down. But some strange force would suck it back in, not allowing any single drop to spill.


    "Your blood will make a fine collection to my sword! You"


    "Cool story, bro. Hey, Uncle. I''ve killed the rest. Shall we have fun with this one together?" Kyros asked.


    "Who''s there?!" The vampire turned around yet maintained his wary attention to Aron. But then he saw his men dead. One of his men was even being feasted on by the ves.


    "WHAT?!"


    The vampire was shocked to see that everyone was dead.


    "Where are you?!" The vampire roared.


    "Right behind you! Die!" Kyros roared as a strange sound struck behind the vampire.


    The vampire leaped back and sted a strange ice-cold st.


    Aron took action and chased to attack the vampire.


    The vampire raised his sword and shed at Aron.


    But something felt wrong. He could see his sword flying to the distance.


    "Idiot. You believed that I was behind you?" Kyros sighed.


    Using the Vermillion Sword, he shed the arm of the vampire. The sound he heard behind him was Kyros''s Shadow Familiar.


    "BWAHAHAHA! Nice feint, Kyros! Die vampire scum!"


    Aron shed down and gave a deep cut at the vampire.


    At the same time, Kyros stabbed from the back using the Sword of a Thousand Grudges. But almost immediately, Kyros sensed something and withdrew his sword.


    "ARRRRGHHHHH!" The Vampire shouted as he felt the sword wreck his soul.


    Aron took a noble stance before the vampire, as was the knight''s code of conduct in ying nobles.


    "No! You can''t kill me! I am a noble of the Blood de n! If you kill me, then you will be hunted by the kingdom!"


    "He''s right, uncle. I noticed a Dark Bond in him. If we kill him, the alert will be sent to his family members." Kyros nodded.


    "A Dark Bond? That Dark Magic that links the bonded to the Prime Bonder..." Aron recalled the dark methods that vampires used to create ves and servants.


    "Right. Most noble families create a contract that links them to another family member they call the Prime Bonder. If we kill him, the Prime Bonder could receive a vision of how he died. We don''t want more powerful Blood de members here..."


    "But if we let him live, he''ll inform his family either way! If this is the case, then we have to inform the kingdom immediately! That way, they can take control of the temple and not send the Blood de n members here! We cannot afford to give the temple to a vampire!"


    "We could wait and see what happens if we bring him into the temple. If it could heal, maybe it could somehow create a shroud to disrupt the ability of the Bond to ry information! If it can''t, we can imprison this vampire in the temple. That temple is a Light Temple. At the very least, if we put this guy in the Temple, the holy energy will continuously weaken this vampire, prohibiting it from recovering. He could die in a few days. We tie him up to see the ceiling of the temple and make sure he doesn''t see any of us when he dies. That will buy us time and will make the cause of his death seem natural rather than murder." Kyros suggested.


    "But a missing team involving a Vampire Noble will still create amotion!"


    "That''s why we keep him in the temple and leave him there. Father should arrive tomorrow, right? We could wait for Father to go in here. We wear their gears and pretend to go out. Our Knights can do that, and they can join up with the rest of the Steele family. That way, their trip here will be even faster with someone guiding them, and at the same time, we leave a false trail for this vampire n. At most, it can buy us a few more days."


    "That makes sense. I guess I have to cut off its arms and legs..."


    "Yeah."


    SLASH!


    "ARGH!" The vampire shouted as Aron chopped of its two legs.


    SLASH!


    Another sh took his remaining arms.


    "Arggghhhh!" The pained cry of the vampire echoed out once more.


    "Uncle. They have three Dhampir ves. They are young, but they are quite strong. Why not we take them for our own? They could be servants for my mom and dad."


    "Oh? They killed their master? How did that happen?"


    "This sword seems to have destroyed the ve Curse." Kyros brought up the sword.


    "What an intriguing sword! It grew stronger! It seems that sword is equally as powerful as your Vermillion Sword."


    "It is. Also, the sword of this vampire looks strong too. I am also a Dark Artificer. I think I can use his sword as a basis to improve your sword, uncle. I''ll need his Anklet of Death, though... I''ll save some for father as well."


    Aron and the limbless vampire each wore a different expression when they heard Kyros''s im.


    "You''re a Dark Artificer?!" Aron shouted.


    "Yeah. One of my family''s benefactors is a strange man called Cmin- Cmidy. He was the one who taught us how to be cksmiths that can wield Earth. But, he made me his apprentice and taught me theoretical knowledge for harnessing Dark energy. He even... bestowed me a great gift. He called it Dark Wielder."


    "Dark Wielder!? Impossible! Only the purest of vampires has that!" The limbless vampire shouted.


    "How dare you taint the bloodline of the ck! How dare you insult the dignity of Darkness! How dare you mock the disdain the ultimatum of the Undead!" The vampire roared relentlessly.


    "Your mockery will be made known to all, and we shall kill you and your family for your wretchedness."


    "Oh no! Anyway... see?" Kyros held the dark energy in his hands. It was one of the leaking darkness that came from this vampire.


    The vampire was now closer to death. Although the undead does not suffer from stroke or heart attacks, he somehow managed in his great shock.


    "Oh boy! He''s dying. We have to hurry and bring him to the temple! If he dies now, we may have to pretend to be the vampire team instead!" Kyros shouted and carried the body of a limbless vampire and rushed towards the temple.


    "Kyros! What about the ves?"


    Kyros realized it.


    "Have them follow us. They''re vampires, so they should have great stamina and strength. Have them carry the bodies of the other vampires. We might be able to harness experience from them."


    "But... they won''t follow me!" Aron argued.


    "Erm... Bribe them with candy? I don''t know. I have to hurry, Uncle. This vampire is dying!" Kyros rushed off and carried the torso of the vampire who was dying.


    The three ves looked at Aron.


    Aron had a very pained expression and checked his pocket and found a sweet treat that he brought to supply him sugar and energy.


    "Erm... He-Hey Kids... You want some candy?" He offered tasty treats.


    The three dhampir ves retreated as they suddenly felt a strange fear of the creepy uncle.


    Kyros ran fast, and when he was some distance from Aron, he then decided to act.


    He harnessed the dark energy of his Fallen Source.


    "Five points of Fallen Source should be enough, right?"


    "Make it one. We don''t know how strong the Fallen soul of yours is." Cminus instructed.


    Kyros channeled one point of Fallen Source and sent it to the vampire''s wrecked heart with the damaged soul.


    "Good. It''s stabilizing." Kyros sighed in great relief.


    "If I leave this guy in the temple, he will soon die."

 Chapter 37 - Afraid Of Being Weak

    Carrying the unconscious Vampire, Kyros managed to reach inside the temple.


    [Enemy detected. Limiting undead powers.] A prompt appeared.


    The moment the two entered the temple grounds, the vampire felt a terrible force attack him, and he began to squeal in tremble in pain.


    Kyros looked at the notification and sighed in relief.


    "Good. I don''t have to program the temple to do this. Looks like it can sense my will and heal the allies it detects and attacks the enemies." Kyros moved and reached the area where he once sealed.


    Kyros tossed the body of the vampire near one of the pirs. The chains that once bounded Kyros had been tied by Kyros neatly to the side to hide the fact that the pirs once sealed something. Using the chains, Kyros tied the vampire to hide it.


    "This was a good day. I can''t wait to check on the spoils. Those vampires brought a lot of stuff!" Kyros smiled.


    Soon, Aron entered, carrying two of the fallen vampires.


    The three ves also followed and walked inside, each carrying one vampire. Despite their size, these Dhampirs were stronger than regr humans.


    Behind them were the knights who also arrived. They were now slowly carrying the corpses into the temple.


    The moment the ves entered the temple grounds, they rushed towards where Kyros was.


    The three gave a respectful bow.


    "Thank you for saving us!" The three respectfully saluted.


    The knights were curious and drew closer. They abandoned the corpses that were piled outside the room and took a more curious look at the ves.


    "They''re dhampirs, right?"


    "Poor kids. Look. They still look human. They must have been turned a few weeks ago." Another knight sighed.


    "It''s alright now. You kids can cry. We won''t make you ves and will try to help you live good lives. Our family is in need of vassal knights. Given that you have such strong vampiric powers, you''ll be a good help to our team!" Kyros smiled.


    The three were stunned at what they heard.


    They looked at Kyros with a bewildered look.


    "You three are dhampirs. I noticed that the bite mark is just recent. Did you belong to the nearby towns? They must have turned you to carry their belongings. Poor things. Are your families dead? If so, don''t worry. We can be your new family. For now, feel free to mourn your loss of family and childhood."


    Aron and the knights heard Kyros and looked at the pitiful three ves who were now crying.


    Ever since they were turned, they were forced to do various tasks and were bounded by their masters to not cry. Whenever they did, a great pain in their hearts would erupt, and so they couldn''t even mourn or process the pain of their loss.


    The three cried their heart out.


    "How did you free them?" Aron wondered.


    "I thought that if you kill a dhampir''s master, it will kill them."


    "Depends on the type of curse. That''s why I stabbed the heart. This sword. It can destroy dark magic circles. I knew that that would where the bonds are." Kyros revealed the Sword of a Thousand Grudges.


    "Just what sword is that?"


    "My family''s benefactor told us of this sword, and this is why we sought after it. He called this the Sword of a Thousand Grudges. It was a sword belonging to someone on the Higher nes." Kyros exined.


    "The Higher nes?!" Everyone reacted.


    "Yes. But he says this was weakened. That''s why my Benefactor, Cmidy taught me how to be a Dark Artificer."


    "Where is this Benefactor now?"


    "He was killed by... Cracky Batcheeks the Naked Offender."


    "Cracky Batcheeks the Naked Offender?" Everyone chorused.


    "That''s right. Uncle, when we are done here, please help me exact vengeance if possible." Kyros begged.


    "What an odd name. But if he managed to kill your benefactor, who has deep knowledge and outstanding capabilities, I doubt the current Steele can. But rest assured, we will." Aron vowed.


    "Anyway, we all had a terrifying day. I suggest we call an end to it. I think the kids need to rest. We could go swimming right after we bring these vampires and offer it to the temple."


    "You... do know you''re a kid too, Kyros." Aronughed.


    "And that''s why I want to swim!" Kyrosughed.


    "Boss, what about these corpses? I know we n to store them forter, but these vampires might turn into ghouls!"


    "Let''s just gather the experience from them. If the Temple can convert lizards and golems, it should be able to do so with vampires!"


    "Ironic. The vampire masters of these ves will be used to make the ves stronger." A knightughed.


    "But wait... Don''t vampires level up differently?" One of the knights suddenly asked.


    "That''s right? What do we do?" Even Aron didn''t know what to do.


    "Let''s just see what it can do. The temple converted those golems who were made of darkness. Let''s see if it can give these kids a level up." Kyros suggested.


    But Kyros was curious as well. He knew that the temple allowed Kyros to level up both through Light and Darkness. The light level-up method was through the conversion of all souls and bodies to be light energy which was used to level up. This was how most of the human empires did their level up. But those of the darkness could level up in a simpler method. They didn''t need to purge or convert the souls and bodies but merely devour them.


    "Whatcha doin'' kid? Why did you reveal Cracky Batcheeks?" Cminus frowned.


    "The enemies will soon be making their move to look for a person with that name. If we spread the news and make it look like we have a grudge with Cracky Batcheeks, the gods and fallen may try to help my family."


    "Oh... I get it. Good n. But what if they know about that name being fake? What if they know that that was a fake name and end up targeting your family?"


    "I''m curious as well. That''s why I did that to experiment. Right now, I don''t understand how Fate works since there are two conflicting natures of it. There is the design of Fate that arranged things to happen from our meeting to my rebirth. Then there is the curse of Fate that affects my body and soul. I''m guessing that the curse of Fate is something that happens together with the first arrangement? This means that there is something that we have yet to understand with Fate. We see these two sides of Fate and categorize them as curses or blessings. But what if, in Fate''s eyes, both are the same! The curses and blessings are designed to help me!"


    "Hmm... I never thought of it that way. Your Fate Comprehension really is working!"


    "If you think about it if Ancient Fate had used her power to help me, why couldn''t it just totally destroy the curse that I am sealed with? She could have used her power to weaken my curses, but this isn''t the case. So I believe on her death, it fixed my Fate to meet you. But my Fate is also designed to have these curses. She may have known about me, Cminus..."


    "I know. It''s rather obvious that she knew of you before. The curses you have can only be given by her."


    "Because of this, I''m not afraid of the curses of Fate. She might have used this to force me to grow stronger. What I fear is being stagnant. I fear weakness. And I''m sure these three ves also have that feeling."


    Kyros led the three ves into the Temple and wondered if the temple will heal the vampires.


    As the three ves went in, a notification appeared.


    [Allied Creatures of Darkness detected. Temple effects not applied to them.]


    The group finally ced all the dead vampires in the temple.


    Kyros saw the notification.


    [Blood Borne Vampires detected. Assimte to the temple and disperse experience points?]


    Kyros selected yes. But instead of a bright light, a set of notifications appeared.


    [Vampire Master of the Dhampir ves has been in and offered to the temple. Bestow true blood to Dhamphir allies or purge the power and cure the ves?]


    Kyros saw it and was confused.


    "Oh? So this is what your Fallen side can do."


    "You didn''t teach me these things." Kyors sighed once more.


    "For a god who had years to teach me, you missed out in a lot of lessons."


    "Give me a break! You''re so freaky and could do stuff that mortals and even saints can''t do! I can only guess what this temple is asking you. You killed the vampire who is the masters of these dhampirs. From the looks of it, these dhampirs are the weakest kinds. Dhampir Ghouls, if I recall. You know that vampires create bonds toplete their dark contracts. This ve contract still binds the vampires to their ves. But with this temple, you can either use it to purge the vampires and cure them or bestow the bloodline of the vampires to them."


    "I see. Because they are bounded to their master, the temple could use its mysterious powers to either release them from this contract or turn them into a stronger vampire."


    "Exactly."


    "I wonder what the ves want."


    The knights were waiting excitedly. These were vampires! These were feared creatures, but now they had nearly ten of them being offered! But the temple didn''t do anything.


    "What''s going on?" Aron frowned. He was afraid that the temple had run out of power.


    "Uncle. We know that this temple is smart. It knows when to heal us and when to cure us. Maybe it''s not moving because of them." Kyros pointed at the three dhampir ves.


    "We- we can immediately step out!" One of the ve boy suddenly reacted.


    "No. That''s not what I meant. I think the temple doesn''t know what to do with you. Look." Kyros pointed at the ce where he tied the vampire noble. There was a strange power surrounding him.


    "Lord Zid Blood de!" One of the dhampirs cried out in shock.


    They could see that the strange power was burning and attacking this vampire noble.


    "The moment I stepped in this temple, the temple kept attacking him. But you three weren''t attacked. It as if the temple knew that you are our allies." Kyros exined.


    "That''s right. Then what is going on?"


    "I think the temple doesn''t know whether to curse you and turn you back to humans or help you level up as vampires."


    "This temple can turn us into humans?" One of the ves was stunned.


    "Probably. We did bring your master''s dead body here. Aren''t they the Prime Bonders in charge of your curse? Although my sword weakened the curse and didn''t kill you when I killed them, maybe this temple has a way of healing you." Kyros exined as he stood over the dead bodies of the Dhampir''s master.


    "What do you guys want? Maybe if you call out to the temple, it''ll know what to do. Do you want to be healed of this dark contract? Or do you want to stay as dhampirs?" Kyros asked.


    The ves still had surprised looks, and the three looked at each other.


    "Of course, they want to be healed!" Aron frowned.


    "Really? Uncle. You don''t understand them. They lost their family. They hate their weakness. I know that feeling. If I were in their position, I would strive to get whatever power I can in order to survive!" Kyros dered.

 Chapter 38 - Afraid Of Strengthening The God

    Aron was surprised at the words that Kyros spoke.


    Aron had an awkward look at Kyros. It was then that he thought how Kyros must be in great pain.


    "I am sorry, Kyros. You''ve been a very amazing nephew that I forget the terrifying past that you had to ovee." Aron recalled how Kyros had no memory when he met him. Was this because of some concussion? Or was it a curse? Aron now believed that it might have been a mix of various things over the shock of the death of his n.


    Aron turned to the three ves.


    "Do you wish to have power? Or do you wish to be cured? Vampires are generally physically stronger than most. The more they consume, the stronger they be. And while the vampire families may have special means of maximizing the energy use to increase the power and bloodline of a vampire, this temple may be able to do the same thing." Aron exined.


    "Just as Kyros said, you have that choice. So if my nephew is right and that the temple doesn''t know what you want, you have to decide. While being a vampire will grant you strength, you will be cursed, and most humans won''t want to associate with you." Aron added.


    "Will you despise us, Master Kyros?" The young girl asked Kyros.


    "No. And not just me, if you vow to be loyal to the Steele family, you''ll have a family in us." Kyros answered.


    "Then the answer is obvious. We want power. We have seen how these vampires would devour each other to grow stronger. The greatest revenge that we can offer our families is to devour those who devoured our family!" The girl viciously dered.


    "I want power!" The boy next to her dered.


    "Me too! I don''t want to be a weak boy anymore!" The third one cried.


    "Then so be it." Kyros smiled.


    Kyros nced back at the options that had appeared on his screen.


    [Vampire Master of the Dhampir ves has been in and offered to the temple. Bestow true blood to Dhamphir allies or purge the power and cure the ves?]


    Kyros selected Bestow, and bright lights immediately lit up the room. There were strange howl-like sounds, and the sounds of screams could be heard.


    Kyros could feel how the souls of the vampires were being harvested.


    Did Blood de saw the scenes and felt a great fear befall him. He knew that those were the means that Skeletons, Vampire Lords, and Eldrich use to absorb the darkness for themselves.


    These were the cruelest forms of absorption. Those who walked in the path of Death had the advantage of being reborn through dark magic. For nobles like him, death would only be extremely costly but not a fatal finality to his life.


    But when he saw that magic, he shivered as he feared that even he would be devoured. A ripple of magic attacked him, and Zid fainted.


    As the process urred, the kights could feel a strange empowering force fuel them.


    "Magic?!" Aron was the first to notice it. He could feel the power of magic filling him.


    The strange power that was being bestowed to them felt like a reforming of the body. The knights, the former vampire ves, fell unconscious as the full power had created an amazing change in them.


    As for Aron, he remained awake, but the strange energy is circting in his body was stabilizing and allowing him to gain new power. As the power settled, inspiration urred, and Aron fell into a meditative trance.


    As the lights faded, Kyros could see several notifications appearing on his vision.


    ---


    Cloak of Darkness (Lvl. 1->2)


    Defense: 50->55


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy.


    Dark Resistance: +30


    Dark Cloak


    Shadow Familiar (1->2)


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    Level up!


    Strength- 57->58 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 4->5 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 263->267 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 56->57 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- Bruh...-> Bruh... You''re still getting smarter?! ( Sealed)


    Soul Force- 18->28 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 107->111 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 112-> 113 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    Dhampir Ghouls have evolved into Vampire Bloodlines.


    ---


    All Knights now have a Magic pool of 1.


    ---


    Kyros was stunned at the sudden level-up. They did not put the Golems or the Lizards in the Temple but only took eleven of the twelve vampires they killed.


    Kyros estimated that it would be longer for him to level up.


    "I leveled up?"


    "The bloodline. You absorbed a Vampire, which has more concentrated dark energy. Not to mention this temple managed to disperse its soul. The advantage of being Fallen..." Cminusmented.


    "It seems that my powers can reach newer heights if I absorb powerful races that are close to the darkness or the light." Kyros assessed.


    "Indeed. And to think that you could even turn people into vampires!"


    "This temple is indeed amazing. This also means that I need resources to perform Job bestowal and the ss changes. The Temple can''t bestow it, but I need acquire certain items toplete them!" Kyros concluded.


    "Right. You needed the master of the Dhampirs to turn them into vampires. So I guess, if you get a certain Holy energy source, you can even create Pdins!"


    "Yes. Uncle and father were powerful swordsmen with the Steele''s secret arts. If I can help them achieve bing a Pdin earlier, then the Force Pdin special job can be created!" Kyros smiled.


    "I think it maye earlier than expected! Look around you!"


    Kyros looked around and noticed that everyone was unconscious and his uncle is in a meditative state.


    "Right. They developed their Magic Pool!"


    "This means that they can officially do magic! Amazing! Although it''s a small point, their potential as mages is possible! And if you can give them Elemental cores, they could be Battle Mages!"


    "Let''s take things one step at a time." Kyros smiled.


    It was then Kyros noticed something.


    There was still lingering energy at the top of the temple.


    "What are those?!" Kyros was amazed.


    The soul hearts of the in vampires were being harnessed. Suddenly, a power shot out of the bodies of the vampires.


    The energy didn''t explode out in Kyros to grant Kyros the experience he needed. But instead, it was condensed. The Souls were being converted into another energy form.


    The soul power was beingpressed, and it gathered around the Soul of Cminus, which was attached around Kyros.


    "What''s happening?" Cminus tried to avoid the energy, but the temple somehow knew how to get to the soul, and it always caught up with Cminus.


    Suddenly, it wrapped around Cminus.


    The energy gathered, and soon, a dark purple Jewel appeared in Kyros''s soul space.


    ---


    Cminus Continuum Soul Wisp Formed!


    Continuum Soul Wisp Level 1


    Abilities:


    Continuum Diety


    ---


    Cminus and Kyros were shocked at what they saw.


    "But how?" Kyros was confused.


    "I leveled up?" Cminus was horrified.


    Cminus had already nned with Kyros the possible ways they could revive his god soul. The main issue was that a single level up of Cminus''s soul could spell disaster. He was still a god, and having all that power cased in a mortal soul would mean that most gods and fallen could easily find him if they were close enough. So they nned to not make Cminus increase a single level until they made enough preparations to hide the powerful changes of when a mortal soul with godly powers level up.


    "Cminus?! I thought you said you wouldn''t leech off from the energy I get!"


    "I wasn''t leeching off! As we already discussed, I''m afraid that if my soul got stronger, we might get discovered by the other gods!"


    "This is bad! Wouldn''t the enemies be able to detect us now?" Kyros frowned.


    "I think not... Because I don''t feel that strong." Cminus frowned. He expected to gain such godly powers. But nothing happened.


    "Best check with the Temple." Kyros willed it to make the Soul Wisp details appear.


    ---


    Cminus Continuum Soul Wisp


    The Soul of Cminus Slimus Eternal.


    By transforming the soul of a cursed god into a wisp form, Cminus can retain its Continuum Powers and cultivate from Soul Wisp to godhood. As a Soul Wisp, Cminus can independently grow yet conceal its god-powers by being born as a mortal soul. The stronger Cminus grows, the more Continuum powers he slowly acquires.


    ---


    The two read the description, and only Cminus was amazed by it.


    "The temple can do this?!" Cminus was amazed.


    "What does this mean? How can it conceal your powers?"


    "This answers a lot of questions. You see, when we got here, I felt that I lost almost all of my godly powers. I figured that the seal of this temple somehow took away most of my powers during our arrival. I mean, I checked my stats. It''s basically useless and only retained my Wielder of Continuum trait. This is why I couldn''t help you with powerful time magic and had to use your own powers to activate some spells." Cminus began to exin.


    "But now I get it! It wasn''t dispelled or removed! I was reborn into a soul wisp! The temple solves a lot of problems! I was thinking how I can step out from being this parasitic soul attached to yours, but now this temple provides the opportunity just to do that!"


    "Meaning, you have your chance to ascend to godhood without getting noticed?"


    "Yes! But it''s not only that! By growing stronger, I get ess to more of my power!"

 Chapter 39 - Afraid This Would Happen

    Kyros kept tinkering with the details of the stats and noticed that there was an option to see the growth of Cminus.


    "Click on it! We''ll get a better understanding with my soul if you check on my growth path!" Cminus insisted.


    Kyros began to check the details of the soul.


    ---


    Soul Wisps- 10 Levels


    Soul Core- 10 Levels


    Soul Seed ¨C 10 Levels


    Soul Being- 10 Levels


    ???? - ????


    ---


    "Ha! I thought so!" Cminus rejoiced.


    Kyros wasn''t as fast in understanding the details and slowly thought about what each level meant.


    "Soul Core... That''s what the Undead create. Most who pursue being a Skeleton create a Soul Core. Liches create a Soul Seed. And Soul Being refers to those who cultivate their soul into Eidolons, Wraiths, or Devils, right? Then it seems the temple has managed to secure your growth in a way that it is parallel to mine!"


    "Yes! I can grow alongside you without worry! And the more I grow, the more my powers will return!"


    "But just to be safe, how does the temple hide you? We need to know in case the enemy will use some means to exploits whatever advantage we think we have and find you."


    "It''s like this... When a God or Fallen is born, it creates a ripple that all God''s and Fallen can sense. The enemy nned it well. By turning my soul into a mortal, it could not only stop me from time traveling as a god, but it practically makes me a target that is easy to find!"


    "Because you''re a mortal?"


    "Yes! When I time travel, I leave my mortal shell but bring my mortal soul. You''ve heard how our travel created a powerful earthquake in this area! And that was with you being sealed! Imagine if that''s not the case!"


    "So you used me because you couldn''t see my past even with my power. You were confident that I must have been sealed somewhere to prevent the gods and fallen from finding us. I got that part. But what happened? Looking at your stats, you didn''t time travel with me."


    "That''s exactly the amazing thing! The temple, or rather, you did not limit or buffer the ripple. No ripples happened! I was reborn into a new soul! I thought I was sealed along with your soul and was afraid that your level up would slowly leak out my powers. But this isn''t the case! Because I am reborn into a pitiful creature, my powers can slowly return without creating a ripple! It will slowly return ording to the level of my mortal soul!"


    "Let me see if I understand it properly. Originally, if you leveled up by a single level, it would add ten thousand points because you carry a portion of your godhood contained in a mortal soul. But now, it would add ten points that don''t create a ripple to warn the gods and fallen?"


    "Yes! I am less than a soul! I am a wisp! That''s the genius of it! Think of it this way, the gods and fallen can feel the weight of this entire universe. To use your term, if the weight suddenly increases by ten thousand points, they would notice it! But because I slowly gain my powers, it will slowly add ten, then a hundred, then a thousand! If we do it right and I cultivate alongside you, the weight added wouldn''t be noticeable!"


    "But people cultivate and reach higher sses every day. Can''t we just hide somewhere where a lot of people cultivate to hide your ascension?"


    "It''s like this, when a mortal ascends and fights the heavens to be a saint or a devil, the increase isn''t that great because the mortal would have to be level 99 already. So from a mortal to a saint, let''s say it''s roughly 1000 points. But how many mortals move and be saints? And how many saints have done the impossible to be gods?"


    "I see. But if it were your original soul, it''d be 10,000 points immediately!"


    "Exactly! A single level in my old mortal soul would be like someone moving from a mortal level 1 and immediately be a mid-tiered saint! That shatters the bnce in the weight and points a target over me. The gods and fallen nned all this to make sure that I wouldn''t dare level up. Of course, eventually, they would find me and kill me! But now... it''s different. I can also grow stronger, and my powers can greatly aid you!"


    "Indeed. Time Haste is a powerful spell."


    "Right. Time Haste used to cost you 80 points of Fallen and Ancient source each. That was 160 points worth of Source points. If you had the MP, it would probably cost you 80 magic points. But now, because I grew stronger, the time power flowing through me and to you has grown stronger as well! It should not be as expensive as before."


    "Let me check..." Kyros then willed to see the stats of Time Haste.


    ---


    Time Haste Level 1


    Doubles the speed in an area of ten meters.


    Cost: 75 Magic points (150 Source points)


    ---


    "It decreased just by five magic points? Better than nothing, I guess..." Kyros sighed.


    "What do you mean, better than nothing? That''s a god-tiered spell! If it wasn''t for your Time Surge Body, that spell would have killed you! This isn''t like those Haste and Slow spells! What you are changing is True Time and not just Perceived Time!"


    Suddenly, a strange force began to emit out of Aron.


    Kyros was stunned as he saw it.


    "Father was right. Uncle is a genius. By the time I met him, he already was an invalid who suffered terrifying wounds. But now, I get to see Uncle in his prime. He even awakened that mysterious warrior''s power I envied. Warriors Instinct! With his MP, he got the inspiration to solidify the power of Force Pdins! It looks like the fate of the Steele has changed for good!" Kyrosughed.


    It was then that Kyros felt it. There was a strange change in the air that Kyros couldn''t exin.


    "Somethings... wrong..." Kyros frowned as he gazed outside.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Fate... It feels... restless..." Kyros frowned.


    "Magic! So this is Magic! Now that I finally have a Magic Core, I can create even better art for Force Pdin! This temple is amazing!" Aronughed excitedly.


    The knights began to awaken at Aron''s loud cheers.


    Even the Vampire Bloodlings woke up.


    "I have a Magic Point?!" A Knight eximed loudly. Only powerful and rich knights could afford to go through a bestowal or blessings from Priest and Mages. And yet, these lowly knights who never had the hopes of seeing a second ss change had one!


    "I also have magic! Amazing!" Another shouted excitedly as he could feel a special force around them.


    While everybody rejoiced, Kyros felt great terror in his heart. It was as if there was something reaching out of him.


    ---


    Sess Limit Breached!


    Fate Intervening...


    ---


    The strange warning appeared, and Kyros felt his heart stop.


    "What the?!" Cminus was shocked.


    "This is it... This is the answer. Now I know how Fate can exist to bless and curse me! I''ve breached the Sess Limit of Fate''s curse, and now, it''s intervening to curse me!" Kyros''s expression turned ugly.


    "What''s going to happen?"


    "I don''t know. But until I can understand how Fate ns to attack me, I have to keep my uncle and the men here... Because they met me, Fate''s curse must be stronger on them. I have to also check on my father just to be sure..." Kyros decided.


    Kyros decided to wear a smile and approach his uncle.


    "Uncle. It seems you''ve broken through. I suggest that you and the Knights stay here and-"


    A powerful bright light exploded out of the temple.


    At the center of the temple, a strange ck hole appeared. It began to create a powerful magical pull that immediately sucked in almost everybody.


    "No!" Kyros shouted as he realized what was going on.


    He himself was sucked into the ck hole.


    Only the limbless body of the vampire Zid Blood de remained in the temple.


    The temple lost the holy power that was surrounding it. Soon, darkness began to grow.


    Zid awoke from his unconscious state.


    "What... happened?" He wondered as he forced his head up.


    The darkness around him was slowly healing him.


    Meanwhile...


    Kyros found himself falling into an endless dark pit. The ck hole had sucked all of them and was throwing them somewhere.


    Almost instantly, theynded on the ground.


    Kyros was groggy from the strange power that absorbed them. But the very second he arrived, he immediately activated Pronto.


    He looked around, and all he could see was darkness.


    The groaning and confused sounds of the knights could be heard, and Kyros even heard Aron.


    Immediately, Kyros retrieved the torch of the temple and channeled magic on it to light it up.


    As the torch lit up, Kyros realized that they were still in the same cave where they were.


    "What is fate up to? What did it do?!" Cminus cursed.


    "I was afraid this would happen! No wonder fate was pretty silent these past days! It was nning this!"

 Chapter 40 - Afraid Of Fate

    Kyros was extremely worried. He didn''t know what happened. A thousand thoughts were happening as he looked around at the area.


    Aron and the group were slowly analyzing their surrounding. Many of the knights didn''t know what had happened. They all witnessed the strange energy that sucked them all into a new ce.


    Kyros was frantically looking around the ce. Even when he activated Micro-Management, he found an area that was covered in the fog of war. The Temple was not even on the map he saw. He could see that there was an arrow indicating where the Temple was.


    "What happened?" Aron asked.


    "I don''t know. Something must have happened!" Kyros frowned.


    "What did you do?" One of the Knights shouted at the vampire bloodlings.


    The vampire was frightened. Although he had the power to easily kill this knight, he reacted in fear.


    "It''s not his fault... ugh! My head!" Kyros pretended to have a headache.


    "Fate is Intervening. Sess limiter breached... The Fate Temple bestows its... trials?" Kyros muttered with a confused expression.


    "Kyros? What did you say?"


    "These words... These words appeared on my head! I don''t understand!" Kyros frowned.


    "Fate is intervening... The Fate Temple? Men. It looks like the Temple bestows great blessings but offers great challenges to us." Aron deduced.


    "What do you mean, Uncle?" Kyros feigned ignorance. His priority was to remove any doubt that the vampire bloodlings were involved in this sudden urrence.


    "You said it yourself. Fate is intervening. Kyros, it seems that because you are the first to have seen the temple, it bestowed some form of connection with you. That''s why it disyed those words to you. As for what''s happening, it seems that every blessing we got from the temple has a price that we should pay!" Aron exined.


    "What price?" The knight asked.


    "I don''t know. Everyone, be on your guard. Men, arm the vampires with the weapons and armor that they wore. And shame on you for ming these children." Aron immediately chastised.


    The knight said nothing but did not apologize to the vampire.


    "We have to move. We don''t know where we are... But for some reason... I know that the temple is that way." Kyros pointed at a direction.


    "Alright. Kyros, send your scouts ahead to ensure our safety. Everyone stays close and be on your battle formations. Kids, what are your names?" Aron asked.


    Kyros nced at the three ves. Their previous haggard and wounded appearance were gone. Their awakening as a Vampire changed their constitution making the two young boys appear handsome and strong.


    The young girl had a dangerously beautiful face. The scarlet hair that she wore had transformed and had a brighter shade of red.


    Kyros could not help but be reminded of another vampire ve who took care of him when he was young.


    "Mechiel..." Kyros could not help but mutter as he recalled the woman who gave her life for him.


    "I''m Avary." The first boy said.


    "Gregory." The other boy answered.


    "Scarlet." The girl answered.


    "Alright. Right now, you are all vassal knights to the Steele Family. I don''t think my brother will appreciate it if I force him to adopt vampire kids." Aron chuckled.


    Kyros had already summoned his two Shadow Familiars. They only saw one shadow move, but the two were actually moving together that it looked like one. When they entered the darkness, one moved ahead, and the other retreated to the back and began to explore the other way.


    Aron began to talk with his men and asked the details of what they gained. Although only a few of them managed to gain a level up, the most important win was the creation of a mana pool. This mana would increase as they leveled up and would help them get a chance to find a ss change. But even without ss change, knights with MP are more valuable as they could equip themselves with basic magic.


    With this, the group kept moving, but Aron kept instructing what their magic can do and how it was possible to use it as force energy.


    The addition of the vampire trio also needed the group to reassess their battle formation. The three were ves who had little training inbat.


    Aron continued to issue simplemands on how the three could act.


    Kyros focused on exploring the ce.


    The more they walked, the more grim Kyros''s expression was.


    "The trails of the lizards... Are over a hundred. We are deep within their nest." Kyros gave the grim assessment.


    "What? Should we move faster?"


    "It might make amotion. And running ahead could be dangerous. Let''s maintain my scouts." Kyros sighed.


    Aron nodded, and knights had a dreadful expression on their faces.


    "Men, turn off your torches! And keep one of your eyes closed! Our eyes adjust the darker or brighter it gets. If you keep one eye closed or covered, it will adjust its sight to see better in the dark. This torch can easily be turned off and on. I might have to cut the light if the lizards are chasing us and bring it back up. So whenever I turn off the torch, use the eye that you closed. And if the light is back, use the first eye that was used to see in bright areas. Are we clear?" Kyros ryed the instructions.


    The group nodded.


    Kyros still had to show them, and in the next few minutes, he showed them how effective this trick was.


    "So that''s why bandits and raiders had eye-patches..." One of the knights realized.


    "Right. Instant night vision. We use this to our advantage as well. The lizards have poor vision and mainly rely on scent. But if I use this trick to make the area suddenly brighter, it could blind them or surprise them." Kyros exined.


    With that, the group continued their long track. Kyros was careful to observe and send his scouts ahead to search for enemies. But there seemed to be no enemies.


    "Fate is cruel. But why did the Temple do this?" Cminus finally asked.


    "I could only make a few guesses. It looks like the Temple is directing the way Fate affects me. It offers me coincidences and gives me great luck that somehow allowed me to grow stronger. But at the same time, it will do this. It will make things extremely difficult for me. Sess limiter is now working against me, and the Temple threw me right into the depths of this cave. It''s trying to limit my sesses."


    "You mean... the sess of these knights? The temple is trying to kill them?!"


    "Fate is trying to kill them. The Temple gave me a shot at protecting them. It transforms the twists of fate into periods of tribtion. That''s why it waited before it sent me. It could have tried to send only a few of my knights here to let them die. But it didn''t. It gave me a chance to protect them."


    "But these tracks! There could be hundreds of Lizards here! And look! Your familiar who scouted the north region found golems! This twist of fate endangers you! This isn''t just a sess limitation anymore! Fate is trying to kill you!"


    "That''s exactly the point. All the previous sesses I''ve had were not affected by the Sess Limiter. But now, all that Fate should have done is tied into a single bundle and thrown at me! That''s why this circumstance that Fate has thrown me in is very, very dangerous! I made the wrong analysis. It looks like Fate should be feared! I feared being weak, but it seems Fate will push me and be forced to search for power!"


    "And to think this situation happened because of the Sess Limiter? What happens in Life Limiter? Or beyond it? What situations will Fate bring?" Cminus was horrified at the thought of Kyros''s future endeavor..


    "We both have to get stronger, Cminus. That''s our only choice. This arrangement helps me have a chance of fighting back. Honestly, I prefer this. This way, I know that the curses will primarily be concentrated on my immediate friends and me because the Tempel sort of creates a target over me but holds it back until I breach the limit. We can make preparations on how to save my friends and family. Even her..." Kyros frowned.


    "Then this should be a terrifying reminder for us. Everything that we managed to achieve was not good enough. The situation now looks grim. Even with you ere, can you save everyone?"


    "That, I''m not certain. But I''d rather be given a chance to save or help them directly, instead of being distant and have no way to save them. We should think of ways of how we can outsmart Fate. This only happened when my Uncle finally found the means to be Force Pdin. It seems to add up certain breakthroughs or achievements and victories to gauge if we broke the meter. We have to be careful next time and carefully plot how to outsmart it..." Kyros frowned.


    "Stick close, everybody. There''s something strange up ahead." Aron warned.


    "Warriors instinct..." Kyros recalled what his father said about his uncle. He was a man who had a rare trait called Warriors instinct which could detect danger.


    "Oh right! Your father said that your Uncle had something simr to the Spider-sense when he was at his prime!"


    "Shut it! Don''t get the author in trouble! It''s called Warriors Instinct, ok?!" Kyros cursed.


    Even before Kyros could wonder at the strange words he could see, he finally realized what had happened. His shadow familiars had limitations. It could not see underground. Unlike the previous encounters, the Lizards would dig their way underground. Kyros''s keen sense would have noticed it. But now, the Lizards burrowed themselves at a far distance and waited. They waited for Kyros''s team to approach. And this was how they escaped Kyros''s senses.


    "They''re underground!" Kyros shouted as he ran ahead and activate Pronto. With the Vermillion Earth Sword, Kyros stabbed on the ground.


    "ROAR!" A pained roar was heard as severalrge lizards suddenly surfaced.


    A great tremor was heard as several lizards suddenly surfaced and began to run towards them.


    The number of lizards that surfaced was too numerous.


    "Retreat! We''re dead if we stay here!" Kyros ordered.


    The group immediately retreated.


    Kyros sent out all of his shadow ghouls to attack the lizards while they retreated.


    All seven shadow ghouls leaped out and attacked one lizard at a time and began to stab and cut them.


    While some lizards tried to help their allies, the rest continued to chase after them.


    The group ran as fast as they could.


    But the echoing sounds of lizards hissing and roaring made everyone tremble.

 Chapter 41 - Kyros鈥檚 Leadership

    The roars and hiss only added to the fear and hesitation that the group had while running in the dark. The knights even wanted to ignite their torches.


    "Keep it dark! Remember the n! Use one eye to fight and another to see in the dark when I undo the fire of this torch!" Kyros chastized as he noticed it.


    There were numerous paths that the group was hesitant on which to go. Worse still were the loud howls of various monsters echoing out around the halls that made them afraid to run into another group of lizards.


    "Uncle! You decide! Your Warrior''s Instinct has awakened!" Kyros shouted.


    "What?!"


    "Decide whatever path! If there are enemies, we mow through them! We have to keep moving!" Kyros shouted.


    Aron finally agreed and picked a path to move. The group followed Aron''s lead.


    Kyros didn''t know just how many enemies there were, and from what he could tell, the ce was a maze. They might end up facing another horde if they carelessly picked a path leading to the temple.


    "Knights! Keep on moving! Our goal is to escape. Once I get an idea of theyout of this cave, we try to find a way back to the temple. Don''t ask how! Just trust me! Avary to the front of the knights! Scarlet and Gregory, stay at the right and left sides of our formation! Use your eyes to see if there are lizards underground! You have better eyesight! Give Avary that Blood de!" Kyros instructed.


    The group did as instructed as they continued to retreat.


    Kyros recalled all of his shadows when the familiar he sent to scout the north region was also met with various lizards.


    It moved and shed along the way, but suddenly, arge tail swopped down on it, and unlike the previous attacks, it pulverized the shadow familiar of Kyros.


    The Cloak of Darkness trembled at the loss of the Shadow familiars.


    As he saw that, Kyros immediately turned his attention to his shadow ghouls and noticed severalrge lizards approaching.


    Kyros immediately ordered all his Shadow Ghouls to retreat.


    "Those Lizards have Dark Element! They have Dark Wielder! Fate? Are you trying to massacre everyone?!" Kyros cursed.


    The Shadow Ghouls and the Shadow Familiars were among Kyros''s ace. And yet, in this cave were some of the very few creatures that could attack and kill them!


    Kyros had no choice but to order his ghouls to retreat and leave a sh or two while doing it. The ghouls were now careful and would avoid lizards that had the dark energy.


    "Danger! Danger up ahead!" Aron frowned.


    "I see it! The earth is moving!" Avary warned.


    Kyros closed his eyes and harnessed the power of his Job.


    [Oration skill activated.]


    He was a heretic teacher. His lessons proved effective. The Knights were able to easily grasp his words when he taught them.


    "Vassals of Steele! You have seen my might and wit. Do you trust me?!" Kyros shouted.


    The knights and even the vampire were confused at his sudden question.


    "Avary! Jump as hard as you could towards it and stab the ground!" Kyros suddenly ordered.


    The strange power of [Oration] came to effect. Without hesitation, Avary followed Kyros''s orders and jumped high and stabbed down at the ground.


    The lizard couldn''t even utter a cry as Avary was able to kill it immediately.t


    The rest of the lizards began to break out of the ground.


    "Charge!" Kyros shouted as he ran with his two swords brandished and his dark gauntlets worn.


    The knights did so immediately, and they didn''t even hesitate for a single second.


    Thebined effort of all knights allowed them to attack and stab the lizards, not even giving them a moment to fully emerge from the ground.


    Aron sliced off the head of one lizard. Kyros also managed to kill one with the Vermillion sword also by decapitating the head.


    The knights worked in synch with each other and everyone stabbed in different ces to bring down two.


    Gregory and Scarlet were the slowest to act, and it gave the lizard a chance to attack them. Avary leaped and stabbed once more, but the tail of the lizard whipped at Avary.


    But right before the tail could p, several shadow ghouls leaped and stabbed at the tail, causing the tail''s aim to be off.


    Avary was struck at the legs and sent him spinning in the sky.


    Gregory and Scarlet roared as they saw Avary take a hit and used the swords they carried from their masters to sh at the lizard.


    The strength of the two vampires was shown as they managed to prate through the tough skin with their swords.


    Kyros finished the job and decapitated the lizard.


    Aron picked up Avary, and the group began to run.


    Kyros stabbed his sword on the decapitated heads of the lizard as they ran.


    "Steele Vampires! You disappoint me! We cannot fight that long! You are vampires, and we will be counting on you!" Kyros berated as they retreated.


    "Drink the blood of these lizards! You are true vampires now!" Kyros ordered.


    "The stronger you get, the higher our chances of surviving this! Do you understand?" Kyros berated.


    "Ye-Yes!" Scarlet was the only one who answered.


    "Knights and Vampires! Vassals of the Steele family! We will go through this! Follow my orders, and we will survive!" Kyros dered.


    "Yes! Lord Kyros!"


    Aron was secretly amazed at the charisma of Kyros. The mostmon reaction, when faced with this situation, was to panic. Even Aran panicked. But his nephew managed to keep a clear head.


    Aron gritted his teeth and gripped his sword very tight. In his frustration, he punched himself on the forehead.


    "Uncle. Don''t hurt yourself now. Your Warrior Instincts has to grow stronger!" Kyros encouraged.


    "I know. I just needed that hit to pound some sense into me. Let''s get out of here so I can introduce you to your dad!" Aron smirked.


    Kyros was looking at the map as they moved. In some cases, he would tell the group to move on a certain direction as they slowly moved towards the temple.


    With the mini-map that he had ess through his Micro-Management skill, Kyros was able to ensure that they weren''t running around in circles. Although the fog of war remained and Kyros couldn''t tell if there were enemies, he could roughly gauge theyout of the cave and the paths avable. Aron could tell if there were monsters up ahead, and Avary, Scarlet, and Gregory would now perform that attack of the underground creatures.


    At a crucial point, Kyros cursed and realized that they had to go through a lot of lizards; otherwise, they would move further from the temple.


    "Uncle! We have to move right! If we don''t, we''ll be moving further and further to the Temple!"


    "There should be a lot of buried lizards there!"


    "I know! But we have no choice! If we keep this up, we will run out of stamina and die! We have to break through this! Besides, I think that the buried group is thest of the lizards! We''ve been gathering them. If we move past that buried group, we are at the clear!"


    "If we fight them, the lizards at our backs would catch up to us! We''d be caught in a pincer attack!"


    "I have a n! First, we fight the lizards that are chasing us and offer our backs to these underground lizards!"


    "What?!"


    "At my order, we withdraw right before they surface! We''ve already managed to outmaneuver the lizards earlier who were killed before they leaped out of their burrow! But this time, instead of fighting, we run as fast as we can! Give the torches to the vampires. Right before they pounce, the vampires rush and ran through them. The sudden action will surprise the lizards, and they will surface to attack the vampires and turn their backs against us. And that''s when we flee!"


    Aron was stunned.


    "That''s..." Aron wanted to say crazy, but there was logic in Kyros''s words.


    "Has your scent ability surfaced? That''s why I had you eat their blood! You can smell them, right?" Kyros turned to vampires.


    "Yes. We can do it! Lord Steele!" Avary confidently answered.


    "Yes!"


    "You can count on us!"


    Scarlet and Gregory also affirmed the n.


    "The most vulnerable moment for predators is thest few seconds right before they pounce at their prey. Their focus is their weakness. They will be so focused on attacking that they would be startled if we attacked first. Knights! Trust the vampires and follow them!" Kyros ordered.


    "Let''s do it!" Aron finally agreed. He knew that if they didn''t make any progress in running towards the temple, they would be dead. Their stamina was indeed the main concern.


    The group slowed down and went into a formation ording to Kyros''s instructions.


    The knights formed a line with the vampire standing right behind them. They had their backs exposed to the burrowing lizards approaching them.


    The lizards that were chasing them had finally caught up. Without the harassment of the shadow ghouls, the lizards were now running with incredible speed.


    Kyros struck a nearby rock with the Vermillion Earth Sword four times.


    "Kyros?"


    "We need to stop their charge," Kyros said as he moved ahead and took out the Earth Core. The sudden appearance of the Earth Core surprised everyone.


    "Sorry for keeping these secrets. I wanted to surprise you all. As Uncle said, the temple chooses me to be its keeper. I got this as a prize." Kyros channeled the earth magic and bestowed it to the Vermillion Earth Sword.


    Although the sword didn''t have any description that it could or could not channel earth magic, the kic explosion itself of the sword was proof that it can channel Earth energy.


    Kyros raised the sword high, awaiting the arrival of the rushing Lizards.


    "Uncle... I''ll be borrowing your technique that other day." Kyros smiled.


    Aron and the Steele family taught him to be a Force Pdin in his previous life. When Kyros met Greater God Daradiel, he transformed that special ss and made a more powerful version. He was a Pdin that could use various elemental magic.


    Kyros''s drained ten points from his Ancient and Fallen Source each, which equated to ten magic points. This was used to wield the Earth energy.


    As the Lizards approached, Kyros ran forward and stabbed on the ground.


    "Earth Cross!"


    The ground exploded out, and some of the rocks even jutted to stab the approaching lizards. The ground opened up in the shape of a cross, the rushing lizards stumble and fall on each other. Kyros timed the attack at a very precise moment that made the charge into a stampede.


    "Kill!" Kyros roared.

 Chapter 42 - Kyros鈥檚 Juggling Skills

    "Kill!" Kyros ordered as he began to stab the heads of the pile of lizards that were now stepping on each other.


    The knights roared and began to attack as well.


    And while the knights were hacking down on the monsters, the Shadow Familiar, the Shadow Ghouls had secretly moved out and began to attack the legs of the lizards that were climbing over theirpanions.


    Because the lizards were still charging recklessly, the sudden stampede caused them to bump on their allies. They started to crawl and jump on top of their allies. But the secret attacks of the shadows in the chaos only led to more stumbling lizards.


    The group kept hacking and attacking.


    Kyros kept a close watch at his back.


    The ground behind him was deathly quiet and didn''t even tremble as the lizards were approaching the knights as a predator would slowly sneak up on their prey.


    "On my mark..." Kyros slowly ordered and waited for the right moment.


    The lizards were now only ten meters from where they were.


    But even then, Kyros did not issue themand.


    The totality of Kyros''s experience was being relived. He imagined himself as a hunter waiting for that sweet moment when he would pounce for the kill.


    In his mind''s vision, he even saw himself as a lizard driven by instinct. The lizard slithered underground and could only smell their prey. The lizard smiled and prepared to attack.


    "Now!" Kyros ordered as he stabbed on the ground behind him.


    The three vampires ran carrying the torch that Kyros had and zipped past the many lizards with their amazing speed.


    "ROAR!" The roars of the lizard erupted as the lizards emerged from the ground in chaotic order.


    The lizard nearest to the group was stabbed by Kyros. He couldn''t even emerge as he was already killed with the sword stab that miraculously struck right on the mark.


    The sudden rush of the vampires drew the attention of most of the lizards.


    The Vampires even stabbed on the ground when they could. Although their stabs weren''t deep, they still wounded and surprised the lizards, who emerged angrily.


    The chain reaction of emerging lizards created a disorder in the long line of lizards behind them.


    The knights and Aron also made their charge. The distracted lizards had already turned their backs on them and were chasing the vampires that zipped past them.


    Only Aron would stab or hack the lizards and kill them as he retreated.


    Kyros was even bolder. He was using the emerging lizards as a footstool and began to expertly run on top of the heads of the lizard. And as he was hoping and stabbing the lizards, he would send the ck energy of his Cloak to cover one of the knights who would have otherwise been attacked.


    The knights were surprised at yet another ace their Young Lord revealed and used it to escape the attacks.


    Kyros wouldmand the Cloak of Darkness to transfer its cloaking ability to the knight who needed it or would have been killed. As the Cloak could cover up the scents of the knights, it allowed the knights to easily and quickly zip by the lizards.


    "Keep rushing! sh when necessary! But sh to move forward and not to kill!" Kyros ordered.


    As this was happening, the Shadow Familiar and the Ghouls had also begun to charge alongside the knights making sure that none of them would get stuck or wounded.


    "Avary! The torch!" Kyros ordered.


    With the [Oration] skill in effect, Avary threw it without hesitation. The timing of Kyros''s orders was also urate as Avary had just passed thest line of burrowed lizards.


    Gregory and Scarlet quickly passed thest lizard and immediately began to fight.


    As the torch was a certain distance from Kyros, it immediately disappeared and appeared on Kyros''s hand. He had been willing the object to enter his inventory to retrieve it quickly, but he got alerts that the object was too far. Only when the torch was five meters from Kyros did it finally work.


    With the torch in one hand, Kyros used the sword in his other arm to stab a decapitated head of a lizard. He then continued to jump on top of the lizards.


    "Knights! Stay low!" Kyros ordered.


    As he did that, Kyros began to torch the head of the lizard.


    "Burnt lizard! My favorite!" Kyrosughed.


    [Taunt skill activated.]


    The lizards then noticed the bright and burning figure of Kyros who was over their heads, and it enraged them.


    With him driving the aggression, the knights and even Aron slipped past the lizards by keeping their heads low as they moved.


    The lizards began to crowd and rush towards the leaping Kyros, who began to execute a wall run.


    Suddenly, the torch disappeared, and Kyros pulled the Cloak of Darkness''s effects back to him.


    The disappearance of Kyros was so sudden and event the sudden change of light affected them that the lizards halted their charge and began to search where Kyros was.


    Suddenly, the light appeared once more, and Kyros was now visible. He stepped on the head of one lizard and decapitated another lizard nearby.


    All of a sudden, Kyros disappeared once more. He had been sending the torch to his inventory and brought it out again. Luckily, Kyros''s experiment worked. The torch managed to stay lit up after sending it to the inventory and bringing it back up. With this, Kyros managed to move from one ce to the other. Kyros wasn''t moving in a straight line this time but would jump back and forth, killing and stabbing some.


    "Kyros! Look out!" Aron warned.


    Kyros was alerted and looked back and found a strange ck bolt headed towards him.


    Kyros used the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges to block the de and activated Dark Consumer at the same time.


    BOOM!


    Kyros was still knocked back from the impact of the attack and stumbled backward. While most of the dark energy was absorbed,


    Kyros was defenseless with his Cloak dispersed and the torch a few meters away from him, and a nearby lizard lunged to bite Kyros.


    "Knight''s Charge!" Aron roared.


    SMASH!


    The Lizard was knocked back, and Aron began to attack.


    Kyros immediately stood up and ran, quickly withdrawing the torch. Aron also retreated as he began to attack and stab the enemies. But soon, Aron was surrounded as he didn''t have the nimble skills of Kyros.


    "Throw me those sword spares I improved!" Kyros shouted, and a knight immediately reacted and threw it.


    Kyros kept his item in his inventory, caught the sword, and immediately marked it for his inventory as he dove towards Aron''s location.


    A lizard was stabbed with the Vermillion Earth Sword, and Kyros didn''t even bother to pull it as he quickly retrieved the Not a Spare Swords out and shed on another.


    The Vermillion Earth Sword was then sent to the Inventory as Kyros willed it and began to stab, sh or stick a torch on the mouth of a lizard and would send it back to the inventory.


    It was as if Kyros was juggling the Vermillion Earth Sword, the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges, the Not a Spare Sword, and the magical torch to attack the lizards.


    Aron was stunned as to how fast Kyros was able to make an opening by attacking key ces that would stagger, stun or make the lizards take a step back.


    Kyros managed to open a small path for Aron could run through.


    "Kyros! Evade! Knights Charge!" Aron shouted as he activated his skill.


    Kyros dove out of the way as Aron plowed through the lizards who were still grimacing from Kyros''s attack.


    With the pair out of the circle of enemies, they began to run out and escape.


    The Knights and the vampires were now out of the circle harassing the lizards. Thanks to Kyros''s attention-grabbing taunt, only a few were fighting with the lizards.


    Kyros was also harassing and attacking the lizards and would throw the Not a Spare Sword or the Vermillion Earth swords to the Lizards who were charging at him.


    If the lizard would block or evade, the sword would mysteriously vanish, and Kyros would suddenly be armed with a sword that would stab the lizard or strike it.


    Kyros would then move forward and retrieve the sword as he ran.


    Like this, the feints and attacks of Kyros who was juggling the swords. The Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges would only be used to attack the eyes or other vulnerable parts of the lizard. The Vermillion Earth Sword would suddenly appear when Kyros needed to decapitate an enemy, and the Not a Spare Sword was used to stab or wound.


    The execution was smooth as Kyros rotated in throwing the swords, recalling a sword to his empty hand and would do a two-handed sh to wound the enemy.


    "Kyros! I open the way! Use that trick to make sure none of those lizards get me!"


    Aron was no longer using his Knights Charge but still ran ahead and used hisrge shield to smash and bash the enemy. Aron had witnessed Kyros''s amazing juggling ability and believed that it would be possible to break through the lizards surrounding them. Knowing his uncle''s ns, Kyros began to hurl his swords or the torch to the lizards that attempted to attack Aron from the side.


    With this, the pair managed to leave and escape thest line of Lizards.


    "Run!" Aron shouted and drew the knights that were still fighting some of thest lizards.


    Kyros was hurling the swords and cing them back to his inventory quickly to draw the aggression of these beasts and allowed the knights to safely flee.


    Kyros tried to stay behind as long as he could to distract the enemy and finally began to flee as he saw another dark bolt crash down near him.


    "Is that the Lizard Captain? No... It''s still too small... What is that, and why does it have dark energy?" Kyrosined as he fled.


    That dark lizard was nearly the cause of Kyros''s death.


    "I can''t be careless! Fate is really sending me to hell!"

 Chapter 43 - Kyros鈥檚 Mistake

    Bolts of dark energy shot out and exploded around Kyros. Kyros could vaguely see the figure of the lizards through the torch he had.


    The knights had already rushed forward and made use of Kyros''s trick to see in the dark.


    And Kyros finally saw the Dark lizards that were moving closer. It was twice bigger than the regr ones that appeared. They could cling to the ceiling of the cave and would move unhindered. The regr lizards would still make a run for it.


    Kyros maintained a further distance from the rest to draw attention to these dark lizards. He knew that apart from his other skills, the Cloak of Darkness would be enough to protect him and allow him to survive an attack.


    "There are several lizards, and Aron and the knights are running in the dark! It''s too risky if I let the lizards hit my family!" Kyros cursed.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The attacks struck the ground. Kyros was able to evade the attacks and finally used another trick.


    Kyros kept throwing the torch everywhere and would retrieve it to his Inventory and bring it out to throw it on another direction. The speed of his throws and how he could precisely gauge the max length of his Inventory''s instant storage were all factors that allowed him to remain untouched.


    The lizards had superior vision in the dark. But the chaos of the moving torch lights that appeared and disappeared was annoying to these lizards. Their sight could not keep up with the chaos of having a bright light and then suddenly falling into darkness. The Dark Lizards could not make a proper aim and would strike the walls or the ceilings.


    As their attacks were not hitting, the Dark lizards stopped shooting and gave a loud cry that made the lizards rush faster.


    Kyros kept looking at the map and found that the group was headed to a tight corner.


    "Go right at the next corner." Kyros ordered as he kept a close look at the map and guided his team.


    He brought out the Earth Core once more and began to channel Earth Energy. This time, Kyros was forcibly holding the Vermillion Earth Sword and the Earth Sword.


    "Wait... Earth Sword?" Kyros was confused at the new name of the sword.


    "I changed the name. The author already shortened it to Not a Spare Sword from Definitely not a spare sword, but I took pity on him on thest chapter. He repeated it like four times. I mean, it was a good joke and all, but keeping that name is just too tiring, especially if you probably will repeat that name several more times in the future. So I decided to give it an easier naming scheme and changed it to Earth Sword."


    "Really, Cminus?! Breaking the 4th wall at a time like this?" Kyros cursed.


    "How did you change the name anyway?"


    "You just broke the 4th wall too! Who are you toin? Anyway, I could finally ess some of your consoles now as a Soul Wisp! I''m not a Parasitic Soul anymore but can function as some sort of back-end support or admin. I''m setting the transparency setting of your mini-map for easier viewing as well." Cminus offered his support.


    As the two continued to bicker about the settings and how Kyros despised getting his settings changed without prior notice, the group passed the first curve but ignored it as Kyros ordered them to aim for the next tight corner.


    "Catch!" Kyros threw the torch towards one of the knights.


    The tight corner finally came to view as the knights kept passing the torch to Avary, who illuminated their retreat path.


    "Move ahead! I''ll slow them down!" Kyros ordered as he was slowly adjusting his speed.


    Kyros kept channeling the energy and used over 40 points in Ancient and Fallen Source each.


    The group turned to the right, but Kyros ran towards the wall and jumped and kicked it to throw himself back.


    The Earth Core disappeared, and Kyros was holding the Vermillion Earth Sword and the Earth Sword and stabbed at the floor.


    "Double Cross!"


    BOOM!


    Arge explosion urred as many parts of the earth erupted and caused yet another stampede.


    The power of two Earth Cross erupted, and with Kyros''s using it to create a preemptive strike, the Dark Lizards leading the charge, and the many others were caught off guard from the sudden explosion.


    Another stampede urred as the lizards began to fall over one after the other.


    Kyros had withdrawn the swords and made his retreat to follow the group.


    "Faster! We have to gain some more ground!" Kyros ordered as the group continued to run.


    With the explosive attack, the running lizards were smashing into each other, and it took a while for them to recover.


    Kyros saw another path leading the east of the map. After a quick analysis, Kyros knew that this path would lead to a dead-end or lead them further to the temple.


    "Keep straight! Ignore that other path! It''s leading us further from the temple!" Kyros warned, and the group followed.


    They ignored the path leading east and followed the wider path.


    "Uncle, any enemies up ahead?" Kyros asked Aron.


    "I''m not sure..." Aron gave an uncertain answer.


    "Not sure?" Kyros was confused as to why his uncle gave an uncertain answer. Previously, he could quickly gauge if there are enemies or none, but now, his uncle couldn''t sense what was on this path.


    "I guess it''s alright... If there are enemies, it shouldn''t be that many. Get ready to fight!"


    The howls of the lizard were getting further and further. The surprise earth attack gave them arge gap, and some of the knights couldn''t help butugh as they believed that the worse was over.


    The small path they were following led to arge open area. Even with their torch, they couldn''t see just how far the ce extended to.


    "Vampires! What do you see? Are there any heat signatures?" Kyros asked.


    "None, Master Kyros!" one of the vampires answered. Kyros knew that vampires could see much better and had a way to see heat signatures.


    "Good! Let''s move!"


    "Wait! Something''s wrong!"


    "Hrm? His spider-sense is tingling?"


    Kyros didn''t have the energy to reprimand Cminus but focused his attention on the wide area before him.


    Soon, a number of green, yellow, and pale green eyes glowed all over the darkness. The numbers were plenty, and Kyros realized what they were.


    "What are... those?" One of the knights trembled.


    "Master! Avary is right. There isn''t anything beyond there. But what are those eyes?" Scarlet asked immediately. She also said this to defend Avary from what appeared to be a mistake.


    "I forgot. There is something in this cave that wouldn''t have heat signatures... Because they are made of earth!" Kyros cursed.


    Suddenly, a strange yellow glow appeared right in the center of the darkroom. The bright glow illuminated what was beyond the wide, open space. It was an ancient ruin that looked like a city.


    The yellow glow came from a strange orb that looked just like the Earth Core that Kyros has.


    With this light, more than a hundred golems were now seen. Most were the y Golems that they fought. There were several that were Rock Golems and even a Golem they had never seen before. It seemed to be made of something simr to metal.


    "This is... the city of Golems!" Kyros was horrified.


    "It''s... been a while... since I saw... humans... was another path... opened? How... did you pass by...? Or did you dig your way on those small... gaps... to get here... like the lizards?" A slow and old voice echoed out of the room. At the top of one of the ruined buildings was a throne. And in that throne, a tall Golem roughly three meters tall stood in the darkness and towered all the other human-sized golems.


    The Golem had different kinds of stone in his body. Some were metal, some gold, and some shining like diamonds.


    "Golem King!" Cminus identified the horrifying creature before him.


    "Humans... Regardless of how you got here, our ancient duty... remains... Kill them!" The Golem King ordered the army of Golems began to march towards them.


    Everyone was trembling when they heard that. The sight of over a hundred golems charging towards weakened the knees of the knights, and some had fallen in fear.


    The sounds of the lizards from behind them were getting louder.


    Kyros looked at the charging horde of golems, and a deep sense of anger was building upon him.


    "Fate is trying to kill everyone!" Cminus concluded.


    Seeing how everyone was not moving, Aron spoke.


    "Let''s retreat! We use that other path to escape."


    "The Golem King said something that implies there is no other path leading to the temple. The lizards must have been digging their way through small paths to avoid this ce. It seems that the Golems here are in charge of not letting anything get out. They send their team to hunt the lizards that dig their way to the other side." Kyros voiced out.


    "I... see." Aron sighed. He then began to take a step forward.


    "Uncle?"


    "Kyros... With your darkness ability, you could escape! We''ll create an opening! If you can make it out, at least, you''ll be able to save your father! Knights! You have yourst mission!" Aron called out to the others.


    "We try to save Kyros! It seems that the heavens want the Steele family dead! It gave us hope! It led us to a temple and made me call out my brother, who should be arriving anytime soon! Now, if my brother tries to look for me, he''ll die! Men! The Steele family may fall unless we save Kyros! Let us die in a ze of glory! Knights die in battle! Let''s live up to that code! For the Steele Family!" Aron roared.


    The knights cheered and roared and began to form ranks in front of Kyros.


    "Hail to you, Master. Thank you that even though we have be a Cold One, you allowed us to feel the warmth of family." Avary bowed, and Scarlet and Gregory followed as well.


    The trio also went ahead and joined ranks.


    "Hey, Vampire kids... I never did apologize for ming you." The knight who med the vampires spoke.


    "It''s an honor to fight with such young heroes!" The knight saluted.


    And as the knights all made their preparations to die, the anger in Kyros''s heart reached its peak.


    Kyros was gritting his teeth so hard.


    "I hate my stupidity! I hate my weakness. I thought I was starting to understand how Fate works, but I underestimated its cruelty! Fate was leading me and yed me like a fool. I became arrogant with my intelligence! And Fate used that..."


    Cminus was surprised with Kyros''s assessment.


    "So... this... is Fate''s Curse... I underestimated the extent of the sufferings Fate has destined me to go through too! I keep forgetting that my ultimate enemies are gods and fallen! Fine then. I''ll take this more seriously from now on!" Kyros murmured, controlling his anger from exploding out.


    "What''s the n?" Cminus asked Kyros. He saw how angry Kyros was. And even though Kyros was by far the smartest mortal he met, Kyros was still beguiled by the workings of Fate."


    "Like hell am I letting Fate kill anyone!" Kyros vowed.

 Chapter 44 - Kyros鈥檚 Plans

    Pronto was being used, and Kyros began to think faster and faster.


    The more he thought about how Fate was leading him by the nose, the more he hated it.


    Despite Kyros''s many curses, he managed to seed. That was the trap of Fate itself. Fate allowed Kyros to seed in order for him to exceed the limit and receive the nefarious trap.


    How was it that Kyros would suddenly meet the very people he wanted to save? If Fate was working to curse him, why did it allow him to get the chance to turn the knights into stronger warriors immediately? That was the trap.


    It gave Kyros a temptation he couldn''t resist making the Steele family stronger, and when Fate''s limits were breached, it then sentenced everyone to death.


    "Like hell am I giving my family over to Fate! I am a Nephilim! Whether I ascend as a god or descend to be a destroyer, I will fight t save everyone!" Kyros vowed.


    But in Kyros''s hatred was a terrifying calmness. Kyros felt time slow down as De-Spacito was even weakened further due to his focus.


    And with that, Kyros made his ns.


    Kyros was much more detailed and more thoughtful in this n. On the outside, barely five seconds passed.


    "Everyone! Like hell am I going to allow anyone to die! We move back! If an army stands before us, we use another army to fight it back! Retreat!" Kyros ordered.


    [Oration skill level increased.]


    "Master Kyros? You have to escape!"


    "I have a n! We retreat, and you guys move towards the other path. Fight and kill everyone you meet. I will taunt the Golems with my skill and use them to sh with the Lizards! I will then activate my dark magic to escape! Rather than fight here, let''s make a suitable ce for ourst stand!" Kyros ordered.


    The knights began to retreat, and Kyros began to run forward with a torch in hand.


    As his allies disappeared into the darkness, Kyros used his skill.


    "Do golems poop? And if you do, does your poop fertilize the soil? If that is true, then are strong golems nourished by golem fertilizer? Hey, Golem King! I should call you King of Golem Poop instead!" Kyros asked a very existential question that enraged the King Golem.


    [Taunt skill level increase.]


    "KILL HIM!" The King Golem roared angrily, and the army ran towards Kyros.


    Kyros dyed for a few more seconds and stabbed one of the golems at the chest before retreating.


    The golem didn''t die from the attack but had a deep crack on its chest.


    Kyros retreated and ran towards the intersection. Very quickly, Kyros managed to outrun the golems and reach the intersection faster. Kyros then stood at the intersection and could hear the roars of the golem and the lizards behind him.


    But as the two groups approached, Kyros made his preparations.


    He knew leading the two groups to attack each other wouldn''t be enough. Based on the words of the Golem King, Kyros knew that the golems didn''t normally enter the tunnel but guarded that path as was their duty. They only sent golems out to chase the lizards that managed to dig their way through the area.


    Because of everything that Kyros experienced, he knew Fate wouldn''t have made things so easy for them. The Golems would have stopped in their pursuit once Kyros and the knights would disappear in the tunnel. If Kryos did just that, the golems would not chase, and the lizards would. They would find themselves trapped in a corner facing the lizard horde.


    This was why Kyros immediately shut down Aron''s suggestion at first and stated that it was pointless. He had no n then. But now he has. The trick was to make sure the Golems would chase them. And so, Kyros taunted the King to make the king ordered the golems to chase and kill Kyros.


    The golems charged and chased after Kyros and were closing on in the intersection. The lizards also appeared on the other end just in time for Kyros to make his preparations.


    Kyros held his torch, and both groups saw each other from the distance as there were lights illuminating the room.


    The lizards howled at the golems, and the golems also made a crazed roar.


    The dark lizard then began to howl a different kind of his that it was usually using.


    "Serpentaringuage...? So this is one of those smart lizards. I should have known..." Kyros recalled one of the many lessons that Cminus taught him.


    "A lizard is speaking a serpentaringuage. This is interesting."


    "I can''t make out some of the terms..." Kyros frowned.


    "There are several dialects. The one I taught you is the most popr one, which is the one used by He Who Must Not Be Mentioned. Otherwise, we might get mmed by copyrightws."


    A Golem coated with strange metal moved forward from the ranks and spoke in anothernguage.


    "The First Wordnguage? This is the oldestnguage of all!" Kyros recognized thenguage.


    Both sides didn''t attack each other recklessly. Kyros could hear the Dark lizard asking why the golems had trespassed in their territory.


    Kyros saw it and smirked.


    "I was right. Fate was trapping me again. If my n remained in leading to groups to meet, this would happen. The golems would demand me but leave the rest to be in by the lizards. I survive because I can escape, and my allies would die. But now, Fate, take this!" Kyrosughed.


    Out of the darkness, a Golem suddenly emerged and delivered a devastating punch towards the Dark Lizard at the very front.


    SMASH!


    The punch came so suddenly that therge lizard''s head was buried to the ground.


    The lizards were startled and began to hiss as they attacked the golem that ambushed their leader.


    Suddenly, dark bolts shot out of the back of the lizards and struck the golems.


    One of the golems fell down and died at the attack and enraged the other golems.


    Kyros had already vanished and ran towards the dark lizard.


    "You use your tongue to lick the soil? Golems poop. You probably licked thousands of Golem poop. Want to lick my poop?" Kyros spoke using the First Word Language the metal golem spoke earlier.


    The Dark Lizard was enraged and attacked the Golems, and an all-out battle urred between the two groups.


    Kyros had slipped out of the battle and took the intersection, headed towards the ce where his allies were.


    He had summoned one of his golem and used the Cloak of Darkness to hide it. Because it was made of y, the dark wizard wasn''t able to detect it. Kyros also sent his Shadow Ghouls and his familiars to hide within the ranks where the lizards were forming and bolted out to attack as if they were the dark bolts that the Dark Lizards spat out.


    Kyros even left the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges and was used to stab the heart of the Golem, which he had attacked and left a crack on the chest earlier. The death of a golem and the attack at the lizard followed by Kyros''s strange taunts all worked for hand in hand to create the battle between the two races.


    But all of this would soon stop. Kyros used it only to buy him time to execute his ns.


    Kyros retreated and soon found a few dead lizards, which the knights killed.


    Kyros then sliced one open and began to drink its blood.


    [Dark Consumer activated.]


    Kyros began to absorb the dark energy to replenish his consumed mana and his Dark Source.


    He then made his way towards the end of the tunnel.


    The tunnel was getting thinner as Kyros noticed that there was no longer soil but rocks. Soon, a narrow rocky path that could only fit a few people was seen, and it led to a small room.


    Kyros could see the knights fighting and attacking a few lizards who were there. Kyros joined in, and with his harassment, the lizards were soon killed.


    As they killed thest lizard, they all made preparations to barricade the entrance with the bodies of the dead lizard. With Kyros''s torch, the group discovered a small hole tunneling out.


    "We should be able to escape here!" Aron cheered.


    "No. Uncle, if we go there, we will definitely die. Remember what the Golem King said when it saw us. He wondered if another path was opened. This means that he knows all paths leading in and out of this lizard''s nest. He didn''t know we were brought inside through teleportation. The lizards must have created this small tunnel. Look at it! The lizards must have tried to dig their way from the solid ground. If we go in that small hole, what do you think we will face?"


    "The golems!" Aron cursed.


    "Exactly. The Golems seemed to have been charged with ensuring nothing goes in or out of this ce. If the Golem King assumed we didn''t use this path to go in here, it means that the exit is also heavily guarded. Some Lizards squads may be able to move out of the cave, but these must have been scouts! The earthquake must have opened new paths that allowed some of the lizards to move through. But after the batch that we killed and a few others we met, there were no more. That''s why they didn''t send a squad to attack us! They couldn''t! The Golems also only hunted these Lizards, and it was us that provoked them. But if we try to go out now, the Golems will hunt us!" Kyros exined what he had realized since earlier before.


    "Then what do we do?" Aron frowned.


    "I have a crazy n. But I think it can work." Kyros answered.

 Chapter 45 - Kyros鈥檚 Preparations

    Kyros detailed the n to everyone and exined every detail of it.


    The more he exined it, the more horrified the group was.


    Avary was the most confused as he had a series of strangemands.


    "But... That''s crazy! You will risk killing yourself! It''s better if you take the dark cloak and leave!"


    "I''ve already lost my family once; I''m not allowing that to happen again!" Kyros dered.


    "If I don''t do this, I might as well die, Uncle! How would you feel if you failed to protect and lost your family twice? I have vowed to get stronger the first time, and now it''s happening again! Do you know how painful that is? I might as well die now if I don''t try this!" Kyros shouted.


    The knights and Aron were silent.


    "Vampires. What do you think? You lost your first families first." Kyros then asked.


    "...I understand Master Kyros''s feelings. If Master Kyros flees and survives... I can''t imagine what he would feel. When the vampires killed my family and turned me, I felt helpless and became an empty shell. I wanted to die with this family. I understand master''s feelings." Scarlet answered.


    "The same with me."


    Avary didn''t answer as he was still confused on his specific mission and kept mouthing the words Kyros ordered him to memorize.


    The knights looked at Aron.


    "... Fine then. Let''s consider this your Steele inauguration ceremony. Let''s do the n!"


    "We''ll survive this storm! Trust me! Uncle. Try to barricade the entrance with the dead body of these Lizards to make it harder for more to move inside. Leave a few bodies for the Vampires to feed onter."


    "Alright. Men, you heard my nephew! We have to barricade the entrance!" Aron began to order the knights who moved.


    "Vampires, drink my blood," Kyros ordered.


    The vampires reluctantly agreed. When Kyros exined the n earlier, he revealed that his master bestowed on him a special bloodline. Kyros lied and said that this bloodline allowed him to wield the dark sword without any painful side effects. And so, he wanted the three vampires to drink his blood and create a Bond.


    Aron was surprised, but he had no time to argue earlier. But the vampires were very hesitant to bite on Kyros.


    "Do it! My blood is purer than yours! This will make you stronger!" Kyros ordered.


    The vampires bit on Kyros and began to feed on him.


    In Kyros''s previous life, Mechiel managed to bite him and had grown stronger as a result of the bite. Kyros thought that the reason Mechiel managed to have the power to wield the energies aligned to the Light was because of Kyros''s Celestial Pdin status. But Kyros now know that it was much moreplicated than that.


    It was his blood. Now he was unsealed and was almost certain that the powers he could pass on to the vampires would be far greater. He originally nned to do this secretly and mix his blood in some pills or alchemic potion, but now, he had no choice but to let them bite off him.


    [Vampires Devotion acquired.]


    [Anthro-Pteropid Cryovirus acquired from Devotee Vampire. Assimte virus?]


    Kyros selected the assimte option.


    [The power of the Fanged Fallen awakened.]


    [All Devil curses slightly weakened.]


    [Shackling Darkness slightly weakened.]


    [Blood Devourer skill acquired.]


    Kyros read all the notifications and didn''t have time to ponder on the new information that his stats reflected. It only made his ns better.


    The three had finished feeding on Kyros and suddenly stumbled backward as they felt a strange power course through them.


    [Three Devotee Vampire has drunk your blood. Allow Blood Lustrate ceremony?]


    Kyros quickly allowed the Blood Lustrate to begin.


    [Blood Lustrateplete.]


    [Create a Coven?]


    Kyros quickly agreed. He had expected something like this would happen.


    The three vampires could feel a strange power course through them.


    [Coven Created.]


    [Dark Linkability acquired.]


    Kyros could see the stats of his group.


    ---


    Avary Steele


    Race: Vampire Bloodline


    Age: 14


    Level: 14


    Coven: Coven of the Nephilim


    ---


    Strength- 43 (Coven Blessing active)


    Magic- 10 (Coven Blessing active)


    Dexterity- 61 (Coven Blessing active)


    Vitality- 41 (Coven Blessing active)


    Intelligence- 32


    Dark Force- 12


    ---


    Scarlet Steele


    Race: Vampire Bloodline


    Age: 13


    Level: 13


    Coven: Coven of the Nephilim


    ---


    Strength- 36 (Coven Blessing active)


    Magic- 18 (Coven Blessing active)


    Dexterity- 51 (Coven Blessing active)


    Vitality- 37 (Coven Blessing active)


    Intelligence- 49


    Dark Force- 7


    ---


    Gregory Steele


    Race: Vampire Bloodline


    Age: 14


    Level: 13


    Coven: Coven of the Nephilim


    ---


    Strength- 49 (Coven Blessing active)


    Magic- 10 (Coven Blessing active)


    Dexterity- 41 (Coven Blessing active)


    Vitality- 48 (Coven Blessing active)


    Intelligence- 25


    Dark Force- 18


    ---


    "Vampires. While I am not a vampire, In my blood is the true lineage of a vampire. My fallen master gave this to me on hisst day. This was also one of the reasons why my family died. You three will be the first of a new breed of Vampires in this universe. I do not know what your limits will be. For now, fight and kill. Drink the blood of these lizards!" Kyros ordered mentally.


    The three heard the voice and were stunned.


    "Hide this from all the Steele family. This will be our little secret. You are now members not only of the Steele Family but also of my Coven. Serve me well. Now go!" Kyros ordered once more.


    The three began to approach the in lizards and began to drink their blood.


    Kyros began to observe his newly gained powers.


    ---


    Blood Devourer


    By devouring the lifeblood of creatures that are alive or recently in, Kyros can absorb the life and death energy and slowly recover wounds, mana, and stamina.


    ---


    Kyros read it and smirked. He stood up and suddenly rushed at the nearest lizard and bit on the open wound to drink it.


    Aron frowned but did not say anything to Kyros. Some knights noticed what Kyros did but ignored him and continued to create the barricade and push more dead lizards to block the entrance.


    "No matter what... You''re my nephew..." Aron secretly sighed.


    Kyros could feel his mana recovering, and his stamina was also recovering.


    "Good. This will help me in theing battles. Now... Let''s see if I can turn that Blood de into my personal sword..."


    "Give me the Blood de." Kyros ordered, and Avary immediately gave it to Kyros.


    Kyros marked the Blood de and then concentrated on it.


    [Blood de under the ownership of Zid Blood de. Expend 50 magic points to destroy seal?]


    Kyros immediately confirmed. With his newly gained ability, he could recover the mana he would lose when casting spells.


    A dark red light began to explode out of the sword as a strange dark ball was being yanked out of the bloody hilt of the sword. The process was very simr to the soul that Kyros found in the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges. But the small soul that appeared was unlike the first soul Kyros fought. This soul was a whisk and didn''t even have any sentience. But upon closer inspection, Kyros recognized it as the soul of the vampire Zid.


    Kyros mercilessly bit on the darkness and activated Dark Consumer.


    [Blood Sword wielder skill acquired.]


    The notification rang out.


    All of a sudden, Kyros could somehow feel the Blood Sword as it was alive.


    "How grotesque. This idiot Zid has been gathering such weak and impure blood? What an idiot." Kyros cursed.


    "Master, I have recovered to full health and have filled my jug with the blood of the lizards." Avary suddenly bowed.


    "Alright." Kyros then waved his hands, and the dark cloak moved and connected with Avary.


    "Do your mission without fail. The Dark Cloak may cover you and help you sneak out of that tunnel, but I don''t know how far it can protect you. You''ve seen those iron golems. They might be able to detect you. Scarlet and Gregory will apany you to the entrance and draw their attention but will quickly retreat and go back here to help us fight. Do not fail me!" Kyros urged.


    "I willplete my mission." Avary vowed.


    "Avary. Those words I said... Not a single word must be missing. Have you memorized it?"


    "Yes, I have, Master."


    "Then go. Time is of the essence. I pray that Fate will be kind to you, Avary. Go now."


    Avary nodded and went into the small hole that was tunneling out of the lizard''sir.


    Scarlet and Gregory followed into the small hole with great speed.


    The knights were ready at the blockade of bodies and were quietly waiting.


    The howls and hisses of lizards could soon be heard.


    "Tsk. The Golems and the Lizards stopped fighting already?" Kyros cursed.


    Despite the chaos and preparations, he made to force the lizard and the golem groups to fight, Fate somehow intervened and caused the two groups to stop fighting recklessly against each other.


    "Knights! Hold as long as you can." Kyros ordered at the three knights who were pushing back to keep the blockade of bodies from spilling over.


    "The rest, get ready to fight! The more we kill, the tighter the space for the lizards to slip through. This rocky floor will make it harder for them to dig their way through. So we will be fighting these lizards one reptile at a time. So fight and keep fighting!" Kyros ordered.


    "Yes, Young Master! For the Glory of the Steele n!" The knights cheered.


    Kyros then turned to his Uncle.


    "Uncle... The moment that blockade is broken, I''ll go on ahead. I''ll leave the knights and the vampires to your protection. You have to hold! Promise me!"


    "I promise. You''re Uncle''s not that weak." Aron smiled.


    Kyros turned back and looked at the blockade of bodies in front of him.


    "Ultimately, this is the best n I cane up with. Even with all my INT, my weakness can only make me do this risky n that still endangers my family..." Kyros cursed secretly.


    "Lesson learned. Let''s do better next time. I''m not so helpless now. I''ll takemand of the Familiar and the Shadow Ghouls. You focus on fighting and reaching that ce."


    "Yeah. Let''s do this."


    At that moment, several lizards broke through and made the wall of dead bodies copse.


    Kyros ran towards the lizards and readied his attack.

 Chapter 46 - Kyros鈥檚 Charge

    The knights were very thorough in building the blockade. After Kyros''s instructions, the group ran back and brought in more of the Lizards they killed on their way to the room to add to the dead bodies they already had found in the room.


    The n was to plug the entire narrow path with the bodies of the lizard. The narrow path could only fit two or three people to pass through simultaneously, but that meant that two lizards would find it hard to move inside and would already be bumping into one another.


    This narrow path was now plugged with the bodies of the lizard. The knights followed Kyros''s instructions to ensure that no gaps in between these bodies would exist.


    "The path should stop the charge of a toon of knights like Uncle Aron!" This was Kyros''s instructions. And so the knights quicklybored and stuck the tails, bodies, and decapitated limbs of the lizard into whatever gap there was.


    They even tested it by charging against the wall of dead bodies to confirm its'' strength.


    When the lizards arrived and rushed towards the area, they charged and tried to smash their way through the lizard corpses. But adding the fact that the space was narrow, the lizards couldn''t do a united charge that had enough strength to breach the wall. And when they couldn''t, they began to push, pull, and even devour the corpses of their allies.


    This went on precisely as Kyros nned. Kyros knew that the monsters like these lizards would grow stronger through consuming others. The lizards could consume the golems, and they would even cannibalize each other to absorb a small percentage of strength and energy their allies had.


    The bodies that were pilled up and used to cover the entrance to this small room fulfilled their purpose. A group of lizards rushing and charging towards them would have immediately killed all the knights and even Kyros. The force would crush them, and their shields and swords won''t save them.


    Kyros couldn''t afford to use his Earth Cross attack because the ground was harder, and it wouldn''t have the force to disrupt the charging monsters as it did on the previous time they shed.


    There was also the concern of mana. Although Kyros had forced himself to drink the lizards'' blood earlier and restored a portion of his mana, it was too little, and the cost of using such magics would easily outweigh the gain. Kyros hadn''t tried drinking blood again, now that the Fanged Fallen had awakened as he didn''t have the time, but Kyros estimated, the magic that he could restore was still too little, and he needed time to drink and kill.


    And so, Kyros made the group pile the enormous bodies of the lizard to create a wall that would protect them from that charge. The wall did so, and while the lizards were able to push through the dead bodies, their speed and charge weren''t strong or fast enough to knock off the knights.


    When they breached the wall, the knights were already there to attack them with powerful skills Kyros instructed them to use. The staggered lizards caused more traffic.


    Kyros also deployed the Shadow Ghouls and his Familiar on his first strike and sent them to attack and annoy the lizards stealthily. With Cminus controlling them, the shadows were able to easily harass lizards at the right time and ce to further add to the congestion in the path.


    And due to the small gap, the lizards were moving shoulder-to-shoulder with each other, which created immense traffic, causing only a few to slip through inside the room. As such, the Knights all stopped the lizards in that choke point as Kyros nned.


    Aron was standing at the very center of this chokepoint and bashed the lizard with his shield with his Knight''s Charge. The disruption of movement at the center of this chokepoint caused even more issues and stopped the lizards from breaking in.


    The Earth Swords were effective against this, and since Kyros had returned the Earth Sword he was holding, all knights could fight effectively.


    Kyros had attacked the ce right next to where Aron was guarding. Since Aron had stopped the lizard in the center from gaining any grounds, the lizards next to it were also struggling to move right inside.


    With the Vermillion Earth Sword and the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges, Kyros immediately stabbed against the eyes of the lizards that managed to just break through the barricade.


    After stabbing one, Kyros began to take advantage of his small frame to slip to the left and right of the line to attack and ambush more of the lizards as the knights stopped them.


    One of the lizards was stabbed by a knight, and using the deep wound, Kyros buried the Blood de inside. After destroying the seal, the Blood de had fallen into a pitiful attack point of 5 and became a small dagger.


    Kyros buried it deep into the body of the lizard and kept harassing it and striking it. He then retreated and observed the battle, and gave instructions on what to do.


    Kyros also utilized his juggling skills to throw and disrupt the lizards.


    "You''ve been holding out on us, young master!" One of the knightsughed as he fought.


    Kyros couldn''t smile at this praise. All his skills were supposedly secrets that he wouldn''t reveal but were forced to now. Kyros kept ordering and using his throw and quick inventory retrieval to give the knights the chance to kill the enemy in front of them.


    Soon, the bodies of dead lizards were growing, and the lizards were now climbing through the hill of corpses that was forming.


    Scarlet and Gregory finally emerged from the small tunnel. Gregory joined the knights in battle while Scarlet gave her report.


    "Master! Avary has safely passed through the Golem patrol! As you predicted, there were many golems there and were led by those metal golems! Avary snuck out first, and before they could notice him, we appeared and drew their attention that allowed Avary to breakthrough!"


    "Good! Go and help the knights!" Kyros answered while throwing his sword and switching his perspective to see the map through his Micro-management skill.


    He could see Avary moving on the map as they were of one Coven.


    "Avary, go in this direction." Kyros tried to issue amand.


    Avary, who was moving past various paths, suddenly slowed down and stopped.


    "Avary, this is Kyros. Do it." Kyros urged.


    After a moment''s hesitation, Avary continued and followed the path that Kyros instructed.


    "It seems I can''tmunicate clearly. But Avary seems to have sensed my intentions..." Kyros concluded.


    He gazed back and look at the line of knights that he called family and the newest addition.


    "I better not fail them. If we stayed at the Golem City ce, I wouldn''t have the chance to do this with the Lizard threat approaching. Nowes the hard part. Getting from this ce to the Golem City."


    "You''re insane. This n is just crazy. You could just try to move through the small tunnel and get to the Golem city from the back." Cminus pointed out.


    "No. If I go that direction, I''d still be forced to fight those Golems. Aside from the fact that my swords couldn''t wound those metal golems, I would be in trouble if I kill some golems along the way. This is the safer route." Kyros smiled as he looked at the swarm of lizards trying to breakthrough.


    "There he is. And with his arrival, I finally got my opening path." Kyros caught sight of arge lizard deep inside the darkness. It was clinging to the ceiling and looked from the outside of the narrow path. The Dark Lizard didn''t attempt to crowd into the group of lizards, nor did it shoot. It kept howling various orders at the lizards.


    The orders were to slowly devour and clear out the corpses of the fallen lizards. He kept shouting to even tear apart the bodies of the corpses they could find nearby. The once chaotic charge slowly got organized as the corpses were being picked up and tossed towards the back. The lizards began to bit and chopped off parts of the corpses as it was being sent back.


    The charge of the lizards even began to slow down as most at the back focused on clearing the bodies that blocked the way, and only a few lizards continued to fight at the front.


    "Incredible. Such intelligence. I really need to stop that, lizard!" Kyros had already expected the Dark Lizard to be this intelligent. The fact that both the golem and the lizards stopped fighting was proof that this lizard coordinated in giving the orders to stop. If only one race stopped fighting recklessly, the battle would have continued longer. But in only a few minutes, the battle stopped, and the lizards moved in an organized manner to attack them.


    "That Lizard must have immediately found out that the golem that attacked it was a different kind and somehow considered how I was behind it. What lies on the nest of these lizards, I wonder." Kyros recalled the Earth Core and began to channel the earth''s energy to the Vermillion Earth Sword.


    "Knights. Await my return!" Kyros suddenly informed the knights that he was to go with the next phase of their n.


    "Kyros. Be sure to keep safe. We''ll hold as long as we can as discussed and use the tunnel if things turn sour."


    "You too, Uncle! Stay strong and hold the line! No one must die!"


    Kyros ran towards the heart of the battle, and he activated Pronto.

 Chapter 47 - Kyros鈥檚 True Fighting Skills

    Kyros had expected Fate to be cruel. He knew that the Dark Lizard would order his minions to make ample preparations. If they were stuck in the small room, the piling numbers of dead lizards might even clog the path and make it even more difficult for the lizards to move forward.


    It would even be possible for the group to survive and even kill all the lizards. The Dark lizards wererger and couldn''t fit in this small path so massacring the entire pack was possible with Kyros''s abilities.


    And so, Kyros waited for the Lizards to switch tactics. By making some of the lizards retreat and have them start pulling or killing the corpse wall, Kyros could move into the once tight path.


    The moment Kyros ran, the knights suddenly began to move forward and dove deeper into the heart of the battle. The lizards were startled at the sudden offense of the group and began to fight back.


    The Shadow Ghouls and the Familiars began to appear and distract the lizards who were busy trying to remove the corpse wall. Kyros ran into the middle of the fight and continuously channeled the energy in the Vermillion Earth Sword.


    With his speed and the distraction that the knights, the two young vampires, and the shadow ghouls made, Kyros passed through the ranks of the fighting lizards swiftly.


    Kyros''s focus was powerful and the training he had that allowed him to see despite the fast speed he was making allowed him zip by the lizards, who would only howl a few secondster.


    But as the knights had rushed and attacked, the many lizards were unaware and distracted that as they turned around, Kyros was already zipping through their blind spot.


    As he moved past the narrow path, he could see therge Dark Lizard that could speak Serpentaringuage issuingmands. It was clinging to the cave''s ceiling, and several smaller dark lizards were also clinging to next to therge dark lizard.


    Kyros hurled the Vermillion Earth Sword towards it.


    The sword flew with great speed, but therge Dark Lizard noticed it and suddenly swayed its body to evade.


    BOOM!


    The integrity of the ceiling copsed as the sword released a powerful tremor simr to Kyros''s Earth Cross.


    The ceiling began to fall, and even therge Dark Lizard and several others nearby also began to fall from the copsing ceiling.


    Taking advantage of the loud distraction and the fall of the lizard''s leader, Kyros continued to dash ahead and evaded through the lizards, who were now being hammered by the stones and dark lizards falling on them. He quickly retrieved the Vermillion Earth Sword into his Inventory and ran further down the lizard-infested region.


    But instead of taking advantage of the silence, Kyros drew his sword.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    Kyros shed and stabbed as he kept moving through the lizards.


    The angry roars of the lizard echoed out, and many of them chased Kyros.


    As some of the lizards were moving forward, the sudden angry pursuit of the lizards caused even more chaos in the path.


    He threw the Vermillion Sword de, which stabbed on the head of one of the lizards and caused the lizard to squeal in pain. Kyros withdrew the sword back to his Inventory and stabbed the Blood de on the opened wound so it could begin to absorb the blood.


    And right there, in the middle of several Lizards, Kyros did not run forward but began to hold his ground and fight. Kyros began to reveal his true fighting skills.


    He had fought several battles and faced hordes of armies, and stood his ground. This was the biggest reason why he was confident in surviving. It wasn''t because of the Cloak of Darkness, but his skill. His dexterity was vastly stronger than those of his peer andpared to the hordes of shadow ghouls that could stack up severalyers to each other, therge frames of these lizards in a tight spot was easy for Kyros.


    In that location where several lizards began to lunge, bite and sweep their tails, Kyros found excitement. He had always been limiting his fighting skills when in front of his Uncle and team. The truth was, Kryos would be able to overpower his Uncle. While he had shown bits and pieces of his Inventory exploitation skill, he had not revealed it with the actual speed and skill that Kyros truly possessed.


    The Vermillion Earth Sword, the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges, and the Temple Torch suddenly appeared on Kyros''s hands. It was then he began to fight.


    As Kyros stood his ground, the lizards began to rush at him to crush him.


    But Kyros took advantage of his small frame and would duck, slide, and dodge and even move near another lizard, making the lizards hit themselves with their w and tail sweeps.


    Kyros would throw the torch on the air as he dove downwards and would surface back up and swipe it on the ce where itnded. Kyros was moving slowly but was making sure that the sight of the lizards was on Kyros.


    The Blood de would then stab the lizards on the same spot where the Vermillion Earth Sword had stabbed. As the sword was easily retrieved and stored in the Inventory, Kyros was able to do this with shocking speed. Kyros was very precise that he remained at thest possible distance to instantly retrieve the Blood de, which was stabbed on another lizard.


    The blood de grew bigger and bigger, but Kyros would suddenly bite down it and devour the blood gathering.


    Slowly, Kyros was recovering the mana expenditure of his attacks as he fought his way down.


    The howls of the Dark Lizard could be heard as it began to order the dark lizards to chase after Kyros.


    But Kyros kept moving and slipping through various lizards and kept employing his abilities while the crowded lizard could even attack properly.


    The three weapons would juggle around Kyros as he hacked and shed his way through with the torch flying up and down.


    As Kyros moved forward, he employed unique fighting styles using the Inventory. Kyros stepped on one of the lunging lizards, jumped to the sky, and made a downward sh on the lizard behind it, forcing the lizard to block it with itsrge arms. But Kyros would send the sword back to the Inventory so that no contact would happen and used his movement to ran further deep into the next lizard and summon the Vermillion Earth Sword to stab and would immediately use the Blood de to be buried deep into the hole where the Vermillion Earth Sword was.


    But Kyros moved. He didn''t even kill any of the lizards but was efficient in attacking and kept making slow progress in his movements.


    The Dark Lizards began to fire its attacks once in a while, but the attacks would miss as Kyros would take advantage of the cramped space.


    "The ns working!" Kyros smiled. The lizards were drawn to his wild and aggressive movements. Themotion he created was drawing the lizards and dark lizards to attack him.


    "Now, where is that stupid Dark Lizard?" Kyros couldn''t see therge figure.


    "Where are you, Poop Eater?" Kyros taunted once more as he shouted in thenguage that the golem used.


    A loud hissing noise echoed around the dark tunnel, and Kyros could understand it.


    "A human... knows First Word? But you speak strange words..." The Dark Lizard hissed.


    "Soldiers... Kill...others first! Ignore boy!" The dark lizard finally gave his orders and ignored the strange phrases that Kyros was saying.


    Kyros''s expression turned angry as he heard it. His taunt failed to draw the Dark Lizard mad. He nned to lessen a load of Aron and the knights by drawing the attention of the Lizards. He provoked the Dark Lizard leading the swarm to keep it frommanding the lizards. He stayed a certain distance and kept bringing up the torch to wound and attack as many as he can to create traffic further.


    But now, the Dark Lizard had given the orders to ignore him!


    "Coward! Poop eater!" Kyros kept calling the Dark Lizard names, but the notification for his taunt skill didn''t appear. Kyros even tried to speak Serpentari, but there was no response.


    "It''s your pronunciation! It''s not working because you''re not saying the words correctly!" Cminus exined.


    "The throat of the golem and the lizard isn''t something that you have! You may not say these words correctly!"


    Kyros realized that his taunt earlier only worked at the lizard because there were golems were there.


    Even though some were fighting Kyros, the flow of the lizards was now more organized as they headed towards Aron''s ce.


    The other Dark Lizards formed a perimeter by positioning themselves in the ceiling and at the walls. All of them were carefully watching Kyros.


    Kyros knew that these Lizards were hindering him from returning to his Uncle.


    With the orders to ignore him, Kyros decided to hide the torch in his Inventory and used the sudden change of light to make him move and evade the lizards. Kyros opened his other eye, which he kept closed during the entire fight to see. And with great haste, Kyos rushed for the Golem city.


    "My ns are working so far. I hope my actions have deceived Fate! Let''s see if he can catch up with my flexible schemes!" Kyros began to run so fast and zipped past the lizards, caught off guard with the sudden change in light.


    ---


    Check outments for visual rendition of the map using Heroes 3 of Might and Magic map editor.

 Chapter 48 - Kyros鈥檚 Decision

    Kyros knew that Fate wouldn''t be so kind in this. While a part of himself expected this, a part of himself was worried. Would Aron and the knights survive? Kyros could only hope that the lectures and instructions could give them an advantage in how to fight the lizards.


    As for Kyros, he had already done the best of what he can do to help the knights in his efforts. He tried to create traffic, and dy the movements, and even did his best to taunt the Dark Lizard leading the group.


    But Fate was keenly intent in killing them. Kyros even sacrificed and gave the Cloak of Darkness to Avary, which would minimize Kyros''s chances of surviving the battle. And even now, Kyros continued to charge forward. Despite Fate''s many attempts to show him a way out, Kyros chose the treacherous path as if he wanted to join the knights in the ship-sinking scenario.


    Kyros began to expertly throw the torch and store it in the Inventory and retrieve it. With the light-switching actions of Kyros, he managed to escape the attack attempts of the many lizards easily. Kyros also timed how he opened and closed his other eye to ensure that this eye would still retain its ability to see in the darkness.


    "I can''t believe thatzy afternoon, when the author was procrastinating by watching that science entertainment show where the people were busting the myth that eye-patches give night vision would actually be an interesting plot point." Cminus mused as he observed Kyros''s well use of the light and darkness.


    Who you callingzy? Let me have my me time!


    Kyros moved unhindered and kept wounding the lizards as he moved through, he kept bringing the torch in and out, and suddenly, he heard something in the darkness.


    The sound was very familiar for someone like Kyros. One of the few things Kyros trained was to hone his ears. While most humans would react and hear the sound of falling coins despite being in the middle of a crowded street, Kyros trained his ears to hear even the faintest sound that would be heard when this was around.


    Even in the middle of a war, Kyros was very sensitive to this sound. It was also this skill that allowed him to attain the title, the Unwounded.


    Kyros used his two armguards to block the iing strike.


    Ting! Ting!


    Kyros swiped his two arms and blocked the two arrows that were shot in the darkness. His senses and honed mind allowed him to block the arrows at the exact time immediately.


    "Lizardmen." Kyros knew what race could do this.


    "Only they have the intelligence to wield arrows and could co-exist with these Char Vermillion Lizards.


    Kyros moved faster and kept his body low to avoid being shot by arrows.


    "Shhhh harrr sssstttt shhharre!" Kyros tried to speak to the Lizardmen to stop shooting him using the Serpentaringuage.


    "Harr sssstttt shhharre?" Various murmurs were heard from the distance. The Lizardmen was confused.


    When the Lizardmen began to utter what Kyros had shouted in Serpentari, Kyros realized he just asked the Lizardmen to ''stop non-renewable energy'' in Serpentari.


    "That''s right, Kyros. Go Green. The best way to urge the world to stop non-renewable energy lies in the hands of youths who had not finished their education." Cminusughed.


    "Damn it! When we''re done with this, I''ll improve mynguage speaking skills!" Kyros vowed as he moved further into the ranks.


    "And I guess I should expect Swamp Man-Gators as well." Kyros sighed as he saw the end of the lizard horde. The intersection would be near, and Kyros knew that the Lizardmen would be waiting and made a barricade on that intersection to stop him.


    Right before Kyros emerged, he knew he had to break through the great horde and bit down on the Blood de to recover as much mana as he could. His Ancient and Fallen Source had gradually recovered, but he knew that the spell he would be using would consume the most energy.


    Right when Kyros side-stepped to finally move to pass thest Char Vermillion Lizard, he activated that skill right after throwing the torch overhead.


    [Time Haste.]


    Kyros dashed as fast as he could and ran to the side as he knew that the Lizardmen were aiming at that location. But his sudden exit was so fast, and his movements were so erratic that the lizardmen began to shoot and miss.


    The arrows shot and began to hit some of the Char Vermillion Lizards, who were now crying in pain from the rain of arrows.


    Kyros ran so fast that his sprint allowed him to run on the side of the wall and even on the cave''s ceiling.


    The torch was still being thrown and tossed around, creating chaotic lights which tricked the lizards where to shoot.


    With Kyros''s night vision, he could now see the figure of the Lizardmen.


    They were as tall as humans and were smaller than the Char Vermillion Lizards. They wore bone armors that were made of the skeletons of Char Vermillion Lizards.


    Kyros then hurled the Vermillion Earth sword towards the nearest Lizardmen, and the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges was thrown at another.


    The two swords struck quickly. With Time Haste active, Kyros''s attacksnded immediately.


    Time Haste wasing at its end just as Kyros was reaching the intersection.


    Kyros kicked off with a strong stomp and rushed towards the exit leading to the Golem City as he began to collect the swords he threw.


    As Kyros moved, the effect of Time Haste was now affecting the Lizards, who suddenly began to move faster. But in their speed, their perception of time remained, and they began to lose control and timing of how they moved.


    Kyros ran through the group of lizardmen, not attacking any and conserving everything he had to break through the group.


    As expected, arge towering alligator who could stand in two feet was there. They had scales that looked like rocks and were near twice the size of the Char Vermillion Lizard.


    Kyros used them and took advantage of the Time Haste that confounded their senses.


    Thest Lizardmen were in sight, and Kyros knew that he would have the chance to slip away from these creatures finally.


    "Impressive." A sinister hissing sound spoke in Serpentari.


    Kyros felt something grab one of his arms.


    Without hesitation, Kyros took out the Vermillion Earth Sword and stabbed.


    Blood sttered around, and Kyros continued to run as fast as he could. Time Haste had now ended, but the Lizardmen and the Swamp Man Gator were not in a position to shoot at Kyros.


    "Shall we pursue him?" One of the Lizardmen spoke in Serpentari.


    "No. He''s doomed to die. Those Golems won''t ever abandon their duties to let that boy pass. Still... That boy had quite a lot of powerful magic."


    The Lizardman who managed to catch Kyros''s arm nced at the arm he was holding in his hands. It was Kyros''s severed hand.


    "He cut off his arm almost instantly. He knew my armor would be too tough for his sword to cut through, so without wasting a second, he sliced off his arm. It was too fast that I didn''t even manage to pull him and stop him from running! That kid''s battle instincts are terrifying..." The Lizard Captain praised Kyros''s fast thinking.


    Kyros was running so fast and was not minding the blood that was trickling from his hands.


    "That... was dangerous. That Lizard Captain... He should be a mid 30 leveled creature! His dexterity was fast enough to move in your Time Haste!" Even Cminus did not have his previous yful mood. He had seen Kyros''s capabilities and knew that while the lizard horde was horrifying, Kyros could survive it even without the Dark Cloak and escape. But the appearance of a Level 30 creature with such high stats made Cminus fear that Kyros wouldn''t be strong enough to survive the storm.


    "It''s no surprise. Some of those Golems we saw earlier already reached 50! If they could stop the Lizards and these Lizardmen from moving through, they have to be at least that strong!"


    "Then what''s the n? You only told those Knights that you would force the Golems to fight with your taunt skill. But it''s not effective. We already confirmed that earlier! How are you going to draw them to fight?" Cminus asked.


    "You''ll find out now." Kyros finally reached the wide entrance that led to Golem City.


    The city immediately lit up as the yellow glow appeared once more.


    The golems began to turn around and observe the human that entered.


    "Oh? You survived?" The Golem King was amazed as he used a strange earthen power to make him rise higher from where he was standing.


    "Golem King! I see that arge Yellow orb is powering up your city and is the one responsible for the creation of more golems. Then help me save my friends! And I will give you this!" Kyros then brought out the Earth Core.


    The Golem Kings expression changed as he saw the Earth Core.


    "You can tell, can''t you? This is a weak Prime Earth Core! With this, I can grant you Transcendence!"

 Chapter 49 - Kyros鈥檚 Army

    The Golem King saw it and could not help but tremble in excitement. It was one of the objects of legend. He had one himself, but the Earth Core he had was weaker. The ancients that made them and charged them with the vow they had to fulfill were tied to therge Earth Core behind him.


    The Earth core was powered by death. The more blood and flesh they offered to therge Earth Core, the more energy it had.


    The Golems had faced several races. The Lizards weren''t the only ones. And the number of their enemies grew more and more.


    The Golem King even concluded that they would all soon die. But true to their charge, the golems epted their fate.


    But the appearance of that object was like hope to them in their darkening despair.


    "A... Prime Earth Core?"


    "Can you sense this? The moment I saw thatrge core behind you, I could guess what that is! You are guardians of this ce! Your sworn duty is to make sure that nothing passes through! But you are losing this battle! The Lizards have amassed their armies. The Swamp Man-Gators and the Lizardmen are growing more and more. You will soon die! But if you had this, you could have a chance!"


    Kyros then summoned the Soil Golem from the ground, and it stood right in front of him.


    Many of the golems appeared to have gasped.


    "It looks like the sentient golems are fewer than the ones that are..." Kyros noted.


    "You know that humans don''t exist here! We did not vite the terms of your vows that demand us to be killed!"


    [Oration skill level increased.]


    Kyros saw the notification and kept speaking.


    "If you save us, I will give you this... In fact, I could even find more of this to be granted to you! And if that is the case, you will have many strong golems that can resist the attacks and even acquire the power that I have! But if you abandon us or try to kill me..." Kyros suddenly brought the Earth Core back to the Inventory, and it vanished.


    The Golem King, who had locked down on it and was about to attack Kyros, suddenly froze as the energy of the Earth element disappeared.


    "What say you?!" Kyros asked once more.


    "...Who are you?" The Golem King asked.


    "Who I am, is not important! Save my friends, and you will have not only this Earth Core but the chance to survive and be Transcendent! You know the tongue of the First Word! By that, I can roughly guess your potential. Are you not descendants of the great Gigantes race?!" Kyros asked.


    "Gigantes! Of course, why didn''t I thought of that!?" Cminus realized it.


    "Bruh..." Cminus praised Kyros for how he connected the dots.


    "You are born of man and darkness! But darkness cannot dwell in mortal man. When the Gods created humans, they took soil and breathed life into it! And so we say, from dust, you are to dust return when humans die. But you... The Fallen took the death of these mortals and crafted them to make their own children like the Light. They made saints, but you here... are the Gigantes race! Weak bones that don''t even have a soul. I offer you the chance to transcend!" Kyros shouted again.


    The golems were all silent. The various metal, gold, and other golems began to look at their king.


    Their King was silent.


    Kyros stood waiting for the Golem King''s response. It all boiled down to this. When they first reached this room, Kyros knew that it was impossible to plead for them to establish an alliance. There just wasn''t enough time. He could try to do this, but the wild charge of the golems would cause some of the knights to die. The Golem King may also use the knights as hostages to get Kyros to hand over the Earth Core if he hid it in his Inventory.


    And if the battle would be stopped and Kyros failed in negotiating with the Golems, he and his family would have no ce to retreat to as the Lizards would catch up to them and pass by the intersection.


    Because of the many risks and factors, Kyros decided to go with this n. He ordered the group to retreat and find them a safe ce to defend themselves. Kyros continued to test the intelligence of the golems in his attempt to put them into fighting with the lizards. If he seeded in causing the two sides to fight, then it would mean that reasoning with the golems was pointless as they wouldn''t have the intelligence to understand what an Earth Core was. If this was the case, he would initiate another n and use the battle between the two races to their advantage to escape.


    But the fighting ended quickly. The Golems retreated, and the lizards continue their pursuit over them. This proved that the Golems were not only intelligent, but they valued their number. They knew that their enemies outnumbered them and avoided any sh as possible. Their duty was to do what they can to ensure no lizards would pass through them.


    Kyros was careful not to use the secret tunnel to escape. He didn''t want to make the Golems kill him and his allies to cross the line until the Golem King agreed to his proposal. This was why he gave Avary the Dark Cloak spell that his Cloak of Darkness provided to help Avary escape unseen in order toplete the secret task that also demanded attention..


    Kyros believed that if he used that path to escape or breakthrough to meet the Golem King, he would only draw the anger of the Golem King. Kyros used the more dangerous route of breaking through the Lizards, which also brought chaos among the lizard ranks.


    "You think it will work?" Cminus asked.


    "I don''t know. I didn''t have the luxury to iron out this n."


    "Bruh. For the short time you had, this is already impressive! You were able to view things in different scenarios."


    "I just hope it''s enough to outsmart Fate." Kyros''s expression remained grim as he locked eyes with the Golem King.


    "If this Earth Core is improved, it can summon more than one golem! It may even be possible to summons stronger golems! y, rocks, metals, and whatever form!" Kyros tempted once more and activated Oration.


    The Golem King began to approach Kyros slowly.


    "I am not your enemy!" Kyros suddenly shouted as he noticed that the Golem King was still hesitating.


    "You said for yourself if another path was open that allowed us to move inside. Did you find it? There are no other paths! You have already found the path my allies found! And if there was another secret path, why are the lizards bothering and chasing me to death?!" Kyros challenged.


    "If you can save my friends even without one dying, you will have my gratitude! They are on the other end of the new tunnel that you are guarding! Allow them to escape from there! I can even create more Earth Cores and strengthen that Earth Core behind you! But if any of my friends are dead, I will make sure to kill you all!" Kyros roared loudly.


    [Taunt activated.]


    "Why did you activate taunt?!" Cminus cursed.


    "Taunt won''t work to the higher leveled Golems. And that wasn''t just an insult. That was me showing my resolve." Kyros nced at the Golem King.


    The many golems roared angrily, and some began to approach.


    "HA HA HA!" The loud and powerfulugh of the Golem King echoed out in the hallway.


    The suddenugh caused all the golems to pause.


    "Your actions have caused a few of my men to die! Why should I save your men?"


    "Then I will replenish those lost men! You create more golems through drawing out the life and death energy of other creatures, right! Then send some of your men to fight with me and attack the lizards! I have breached through their defenses. I can help you kill all of them without losing another!" Kyros dered.


    The Golem King smiled at Kyros''s bold deration.


    "Since you evaded even the hands of Lizard Captain, it seems you do have some resolve. I ept. Golems, do as... he say. And send someone to scale that tunnel to save those men." The Golem King answered.


    "But... my king! There are Swamp Man Gators and Lizardmen there!" An emerald green golem spoke.


    "We would be losing a lot of men for this gamble!" A ruby red golem was also added.


    "Foolish golems! Don''t you see?! That''s why you should attack! They believe you all to be so strict and stoic! They even sent their armies here without fear of fighting you! If you attack them now, you can kill a lot of them, for the forces that they brought will not be numerous!" Kyros urged.


    The golems that were made of precious stones began to look at each other in realization.


    "I would even suggest you ambush them! Those creatures are strong and are even. It would cost you a lot to kill them! But I have a way of blinding them! They are good at seeing in darkness, as well as in light. But not when these two happen all of a sudden."


    Kyros then hid and brought out the torch, creating the scene once more.


    "Have one of the stronger golems carry me to present me back to them as a means to offer an exchange! The lizards are after me for some reason. It could be the taste of new meet, or it could be my bloodline! But they will allow you to make an exchange!" Kyros exined.


    He knew that if Fate sent him here, it would be with a use that the lizards would pursue him. This way, even his ability to speak differentnguages won''t save him.


    "You''re bloodline?" The King Golem was curious.


    "I''ll talk moreter! Time is of the essence! Mypanions could die!" Kyros urged.


    The King Golem stood up.


    "Stoph. Lead the way. Do as the human suggested."


    "Send a Golem that could speak English and scale that small tunnel and inform my allies that Kyros has made a deal so that they can escape. Otherwise, they might fight you if they see a golem scale the tunnel." Kyros added.


    "Mardock. Go. Do as this Kyros said. Human. I will only save your friends if you are able to save mine. Since you made it here with only a missing arm, you ought to be strong. Make sure that none of my golems perish. If one does perish, I will kill one of your allies. A golem for a human. A life for a life. What say you?" The King Golem challenged.


    Kyros sneered.


    "You think I would hesitate? Consider it done. Get your men ready and have them follow my instructions. I will make sure, not one perishes."


    "Oh? And here I thought you''d be so eager to scale the other tunnel to save your friends. But it looks like you are more excited in going back to face those lizards." The King was bemused.


    "I have to get my arm back." Kyros turned around and gazed at the darkness leading to the lizards.


    An army of golems was approaching him, only this time, it was Kyros''s army.

 Chapter 50 - Kyros鈥檚 Tactics

    The golems were marching at a rxed pace.


    On the intersection, the group of Lizardmen and Man-Gators were on their guard.


    Despite the darkness, the lizards could see the march of the golems.


    "Captain..." One of the Lizardmen went to the Lizard Captain.


    "Oh? It seems that the golems killed the boy." The Lizard Captain smirked as he saw Kyros being carried by the Ruby Golem.


    "It seems that the boy is not a match to the legendary, Stoph." The Lizard captainughed as he called out to Stoph in Serpentari.


    "Why are you after him?" Stoph asked in thenguage of the First Word.


    "Oh? You noticed? Our master has smelled a strange scent. These new creatures have to whet his appetite. Although we are more curious with that boy in your hands."


    "We won''t ask for much then. This boy with thirty corpses of lizards." Stoph answered as he held Kyros up, tightly clutching him by the neck.


    "Thirty? Don''t make meugh!"


    "This boy was quite powerful. It even escaped your grasps. I am sure that they have killed more than this number already."


    The Lizard captain was silent.


    "Fine. Hand him over to me." The Lizard Captain finallymanded.


    Stoph moved forward, and several iron golems followed closely. The rest of the golems slowly followed but maintained some distance. As the golems approached, the Lizard Captain and a few Lizardmen also moved forward to receive Kyros.


    As they drew near, Kyros finally acted.


    He knew that the golems could see in a different manner. So what he did would not affect them. He withdrew the torch and poured much mana into the torch, causing it to burn brightly.


    The sudden sh of light surprised the lizard captain.


    Stoph immediately acted as nned. He rushed and delivered a powerful punch the sank into the Lizard Captain''s stomach.


    Stoph''s powerful punch pushed further down and smashed the lizard to the ground.


    The Lizard Captain spat out a lot of blood. Two Iron Golems followed what Kyros instructed and held the mouth of the lizard wide open. A few more pinned the Lizard Captain.


    After handing the torch to another Iron Golem, Kyros retrieved the Vermillion Earth Sword.


    Kyros strode towards the Lizardman, and his anger was immense. He red at the Lizard captain, who understood what was going to happen to him.


    "No! Please! Mercy!" The Lizard Captain hissed.


    Kyros held the sword up high and looked the Lizard Captain dead in the eye. The left arm of Kyros that was cut off began to throb in pain as Kyros gazed at the culprit who caused him to cut off his hand. He could vividly remember the arrogant smiled of the Lizard Captain when Kyros was escaping. And Kyros vowed to kill this lizard personally.


    "This is for my nipples!" Kyros shouted in Serpentari as he stabbed the Vermillion Earth Sword down the throat of the Lizard.


    "Nipples?" A confused Iron Golem repeated in First Word.


    "DAMN IT!" Kyros cursed as he could hear Cminusugh in the background.


    "Man. I wish this would get an anime adaptation! That was gold!" Cminusughed.


    Kyros ignored the confused Iron Golems, who was now looking at the direction of his nipples and stored the Vermillion Earth Sword and retrieved the Blood de. With the Blood de in hand, Kyros stabbed down on the opened mouth of the lizard and began to drink the blood of the Lizard Captain.


    Kyros also saw his arm and stored it expending mana to bring it into the Temple.


    With the de inside the Lizard Captain, Kyro rushed off to aid in the battle.


    He still had to ensure that the Golems would not die per his agreement with the Golem King.


    The ambush was a sess, and the Golems gained an advantage at first. The lizards were still confused why the Golem broke their code and attacked first. They had always been defending and only would chase and attack for some special circumstances.


    Kyros reached the heat of the battle and began to dive in without fear. He pestered the Swamp Man-Gators with his attacks and the Shadow Ghouls he summoned. With the Shadows summoned, the Golems gained even more advantage and was able to bring down therge Aligator-like creatures.


    The appearance of the Shadow creatures amazed Stoph.


    "Youmand the darkness?" Stoph was so amazed and asked this question in First Word.


    "Yes. Thanks to my erectile dysfunction." Kyros answered in First Word as he pointed to the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges.


    "???" Stoph''s face could only be described as ''cuttlefish'' because of the great confusion he had from Kyros''s statement.


    Cminus wasughing so hard.


    "DAMN IT! I ANSWERED IN FIRST WORD UNCONSCIOUSLY!" Kyros cursed as he realized what he just said.


    "And here I thought, this old Time God would have that problem. I pity Mechiel..." Cminusughed.


    "English? You understand English, right?" Kyros ignored Cminus and asked Stoph.


    "Yes," Stoph answered in English.


    "It''s because of the sword. I can''t speak First Word clearly. Ignore my previous words. Now... hear my words and instruct the Golems on my behalf. We have to move fast and coordinated!" Kyros exined.


    Kyros ryed simple instructions to get the Golems to reform in a formation and maximize their defenses. As someone who has spent his life on the battlefield and his tremendous wisdom, Kyros began to ry tactical instructions and maximize the battle''s efficiency and speed. At any point where the battle line would copse, he would send his Shadow Familiar and the Shadow Ghouls to pester the enemy.


    The Iron Golems moved to the front and became a metal shield for the weaker golems behind. The arrows of the lizardmen could not prate the thick armors of the metal men.


    Kyros then used his torch trick to darken and brighten the area around them to throw off the aim of the lizardmen. After instructing Stoph to get the blood de buried deep in the lizard captain, Kyros bit down and drank the blood.


    The de was then stabbed in a dying Man-Gator as Kyros continued to fight.


    He suddenly made a surprise sprint and ran on the wall to evade the line of Man-Gators acting as shields to prevent the Iron Golems from reaching the Lizardmen. With his torch trick and the Dark Armguards that he used to knock off any arrows, Kyros safely passed through the Man-Gators and jumped on the many Lizardmen shooting their arrows.


    Kyros began to rampage behind enemy lines with his Vermillion Earth Sword stabbing out.


    The chaos he created even caused some of the Lizardmen to shoot an arrow on the Man-Gators.


    "The Blood de!" Kyros shouted, and Stoph threw the Blood de towards him.


    Although the throw wasn''t urate, Kyros used the Inventory trick to bring the Blood de in his hands, and Kyros drank more of the absorbed blood. Kyros''s mana was finally restored to the point that he can cast a certain spell once more.


    The Vermillion Earth Sword appeared with a quick switch, and Kyros jumped and stabbed the ground beneath him.


    "Earth Cross!" Kyros roared.


    BOOM!


    The ground beneath them suddenly erupted, causing the defense line to falter.


    The Man-Gators lost their bnce, and the Golems rushed and attacked the Man-Gators that had stumbled down.


    The Lizardmen fell into panic as many of the Golems rushed and attacked them.


    "Retreat!" The orders were made as some of the lizardmen ran off. With their captain dead, no one could reform the ranks.


    The line of Lizardmen and the few Swamp Man-Gators were now being crowded and pummeled by the golems.


    As Stoph saw the line copse, he was amazed. His king gave the order that no golem should die. Kyros was confident that he could do this. Seeing is believing. Stoph couldn''t help but nce at Kyros, who was fighting and finishing off thest Man-Gator and stuck the Blood de down its throat.


    "Stoph, assign someone to finish up here and follow me with several Iron Golems," Kyrosmanded his Shadow familiar to merge with him, and the darkness concentrated on his arm. The decapitated hand was now reced with a dark hand which Kyros started to control.


    Dark Maniptor and Dark Wielder allowed him to reform a physical arm using the darkness. Stoph was shocked at what he saw.


    "This boy... is powerful! He will make a necessary ally in the battles toe! I must inform the King!" Stoph decided to give a favorable report. They had lost no golems in the charge, and the boy had mysterious powers that didn''t make sense.


    With his arms reformed, Kyros took a bow and several quivers of arrows.


    "Tell your men not to kill any surviving Lizardmen. Crush their arms, legs, and tail so they can''t move and have your men drag them. We''re going to use them to kill those Char Vermillion Lizards."


    Stoph nodded and gave the orders immediately. The Golems began to look for some of the wounded Lizardmen and began to crush their limbs.


    Kyros also urged the Golems to carry some of the sharp weapons nearby to carry out the nter on.


    Without hesitation, Stoph followed even though Golems never really needed sharp weapons to fight.


    Kyros did onest check at the lizardmen that they wounded. When Kyros confirmed that they could no longer move, they began to march and dragged the barely alive lizardmen.


    "Let''s go! I got a dark lizard to catch!" Kyros strode towards the intersection.

 Chapter 51 - To Shield The Golems

    Kyros exined the tactic to Stoph while firing several arrows in his attempt to get used to his dark arm and the arrow. His previous life had trained him in various disciplines ofbat. Although he had not mastered the bow as he did with his sword, it was still superior to an average archer.


    The bow and arrow used were made from a strange wood that Kyros realized was a Grook Brown Lumber. This was one of the trees needed in his Temple!


    And while this raised various questions, Kyros focused on the task on hand. The bow and the arrows that he had were strong enough to damage y Golems. While he hadn''t seen these arrows strike a y Golem, he was sure that it was this strong. Since his arrangements ced the Iron Golems on the front and he had already broken through the front line and attacked the Lizardman archer before they could fight back. The fact that the lizardmen even made that arrangement to attack the golems proved that their arrows were effective.


    And if these arrows could wound a golem, then it should be sharp enough to prate the scales of the Char Vermillion Lizards that were generally weaker in terms of defensepared to the y Golems. Even the summons of Kyros, the Soil Golems was slightly harder and morepact than the Char Vermilion Lizard body.


    Kyros had to constantly pour in his soul force to strengthen the dark hand to have the strength to shoot it. After several test shots, Kyros was slowly getting the hang of it. His quick shots became smoother, and Kyros found that his aim was already at an eptable level for this battle. Kyros was confident in what he could do.


    "Our main concern is the charging force of these lizards. If our two forces ran up to each other, it increases the chances of losing one or two golems. So our tactic will be to stop the wild and reckless charge of these lizards." Kyros then began to exin the n''s details to Stoph, and Stoph began to cascade it down to the golems.


    Kyros ran ahead and carried the torch and could soon see the crowding lizard. He stabbed the torch down on the ground, which acted like some spotlight that caught the lizard''s attention.


    Kyros then took out one arrow and drew it to a full arc, and shot it.


    FWIP!


    The arrow flew with amazing speed and pierced through the head of one of the lizards that weren''t looking at Kyros.


    The lizard roared in pain. Even though the arrow pierced through it, the resilient body of the lizard still allowed it to live.


    Kyros smirked and fired several more.


    The arrows struck other lizards, who then squealed in pain.


    A Dark lizard emerged and began to fire its dark bolts at Kyros.


    Kyros took out the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges and blocked the attack.


    BANG!


    Kyros was knocked back by several steps, but then the shocking scene appeared.


    A remnant of the dark bolt was somehow captured by Kyros when he used his dark hand. He held the energy and devoured it.


    "This won''t work." Kyrosughed as he picked up his bow and continued firing at the lizards at a hastened speed.


    The arrows struck therge bodies, and it was difficult for these lizards to evade because of the tight passage.


    "Roar!" The Dark lizard hissed, and a few Lizards charged at Kyros.


    "Now!" Kyros ordered.


    Before the few Lizards approached, several Iron Golems and the Ruby Golem, Stoph, appeared in the light and began to pound the surprised Lizards.


    Against these Iron Golems and the Ruby Golems, the wounded lizards were no match.


    Kyrosughed as if seeing the crushed lizard''s head was the funniest thing he saw.


    [Taunt activated.]


    [Taunt skill level increase.]


    The Lizards roared angrily, and arge amount began to charge towards the Golems.


    Kyros waited for the perfect time and finally gave the order.


    "Now!"


    Several bodies of Lizardmen were thrown towards the empty area beyond them.


    The golems constantly mocked the lizardmen that they were dragging with taunting gestures as Kyros ordered.


    They kept telling the lizardmen how they would die and how it will be through a stampede caused by the Char Vermillion Lizards. All throughout the walk, the lizardmen were dragged with their mouths held shut.


    As such, when the lizards were thrown, they kept shrieking and shouting for the Lizards to stop.


    The sudden appearance of the Lizardmen startled the Char Vermillion Lizards, and those at the front tried to stop.


    SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!


    The Char Vermillion Lizards instinctively halted as they heard the cries. This createdmotion as the Char Vermillion Lizards crashed down on each other.


    The most annoying factor was now removed in this battle. Without the force and power of the charge, Kyros knew that the Iron Golems could now attack without worry.


    "Go!" Kyros finally gave the signal, and the Iron Golems began to ran. The y and some Rock Golems followed while Kyros kept shooting.


    Kyros''s jumped on the backs of several golems, and with great skill in maintaining his bnce, Kyros used the golems to stand and shoot. The golems were already ordered to stay still if Kyros was on top of them.


    Kyros began to give several orders on how to fight. The lizards that had stumbled were brutally smashed, stomped, or kick. The power of the Iron Golem easily killed them. Kyros then made other instructions to pull the dead lizards and bring them back.


    There, the golems imitated the n Kyros had. They needed shields to protect them from the magic attacks of the Dark lizard. And the best shield was the Char Vermillion Lizard itself.


    At the same time, the Iron golems took some of the corpses and used them to smash the lizards by throwing them by the tail. With the Iron Golem''s might, two or three lizards would be outbnced.


    Kyros gave out more orders and kept shooting the lizards.


    The terrifying scenario that nearly killed the Steele family was nowughable. In the tight path, these lizards couldn''t fight properly, while the slimmer form of the golems allowed them to fight the lizards two on one easily. And because of Kyros''s quick orders, which Stoph could ry, the group managed to fight effectively.


    Oration also helped as Stoph was slowly beginning to understand the strategy of Kyros.


    The Blood de would be stabbed on the dead Char Vermillion Lizard that was nearby. The golems were already instructed that if Kyros was to give them this sword, they would rip off the tough scales of the nearest lizard and stab the de or would stab the sword on the tongue of the lizards, which was rich in blood.


    Kyros was focusing his attacks on the Dark Lizards who had retreated,


    "Off to warn the big dark lizard, huh? Where are you, you big reptile?" Kyros murmured as he kept shooting. Therge Dark Lizard that he saw was of main concern. He knew that only Stoph could match that creature.


    "Stoph, tell the shield-bearers to get ready!" Kyros shouted as he kept attacking.


    Stoph gave themand, and several of y Golems started to lift the dead bodies of the Char Vermillion Lizards. They were using some of the sharp des and swords of the lizardmen, the golems carved through certain parts of the lizard''s body so they could plunge their arms inside. Like this, each y Golem would carry two Char Vermillion Lizards and would raise them in the sky.


    The y Golems also started to position themselves ordingly to create a meat shield that would protect them from the bolt attacks of the Dark Lizards.


    But something was wrong. The Dark lizard that retreated earlier should have returned by now.


    "What did Uncle do? Are they still fighting?" Kyros frowned. He knew that the golems would have reached his uncle by now and warned them.


    "Is fate tricking me again? Did the Golem King lie in sending them a golem, or did Uncle stay behind to help me know that I would lead the Golem charge?" Kyros pondered. He wanted to send the Shadow familiars and Shadow Ghouls, which were already mixed in the front line, but he knew the Dark Lizards could see and kill these summons.


    "I must wait and keep shooting!" Kyros began to harass the lizards further inside the tunnel and even began to shoot randomly. The howls and pained hisses could still be heard as he knew that it was more crowded deeper inside the tunnel.


    Kyros soon saw the figure of a dark lizard return. It became even more frantic as he could see the situation on the battlefield that it recklessly bumped some of the stctites. It hissed louder, and several Dark Lizards followed it.


    The Dark Lizards did not hesitate to ready their magic attacks.


    "Shields!" Kyros shouted, and Stoph shouted the very samemands not a secondter and began to fire his arrows at the Dark Lizard.


    While he was shooting, the y Golems carrying the shields rushed near the front line of the battle. The Iron Golems who were fighting and pummeling suddenly retreated, and it was as if there was a wall of corpses shielding the golems instantly.


    Oration''s power had already taught Stoph a lot that he even began to give orders before Kyros did.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The meat shields proved effective as the bloody gores of the Lizards were exploding around.


    The y golems carrying the lizards were barely wounded from the st as the Char Vermilion Lizards proved to be excellent meat shields.


    Soon, a loud roar was heard, and therge Dark Lizard could finally be seen approaching.

 Chapter 52 - To Say The N Word

    Therge Dark Lizard howled as it noticed the terrible situation it was in. The Dark Lizard that retreated only informed him that several Golems and the boy were at their tail. But now, it looked like it wasn''t just several Golems. Therge Dark Lizard could sense the numerous presence that matched the number of Lizards he had! But now, the battle was tilting to the lizard''s disadvantage.


    Kyros retrieved his torch and allowed the ce to sumb to darkness. It was no use revealing the torch, and Kyros nned to reveal it at a critical moment.


    The Char Vermillion Lizards couldn''t fight a Rock Golem solo. And those at the front were already Iron Golems. A single punch from these could render the Vermillion Lizards squirming in pain. Some of the more deadly punches could shatter the ribs and bones of the lizards with one punch.


    The Golems fought in great coordination, and the golems were standing so near each other and had other golems supporting from the back.


    The long tail whips of the Lizards would even lead to their disadvantage as the strike did little damage. The force of their attacks would be distributed as the golems stood so close to each other that the attack would strike at least two Iron or Rock Golems.


    Stoph had so much force that his punches would blow up the head in one stroke. If Stoph aimed for the body, his punches prate deep into the lizard''s body, and with a quick back toss, the body would be thrown to the golems at the back. The presence of the Ruby Golem made ranks of the lizards break since those in front of Stoph would hesitate in attacking him. i


    The shadow ghouls also kept on their harassment. Even though their attacks would only be like a bee sting to these lizards, it still was sufficient to add to the copsing rank of the lizards.


    All these factors enraged therge Dark Lizard. The smaller dark lizards had already sent shot after shot, but the meat shields absorbed all the blow.


    A simple nce of the battlefield, the Dark Lizard, realized that it was facing annihtion, so it began to shoot its attack. The tactic therge Dark Lizard decided on was to wilt down the golems with their ranged attacks.


    Upon noticing therge Dark Lizard, Kyros had already given his orders to the y Golems, who were carrying several of the Char Vermilion Lizards to wait for his signal.


    When the Dark Lizard began to shoot, Kyros gave the signal, and several y Golems at the back suddenly threw the dead bodies of the lizard towards the small space. The force of several golems throwing a lizard was strong, and it struck at the right moment.


    BANG! BANG!


    The bodies burst in midair, but the dark bolt exploded in the air. The golems were also ready and braced themselves from the exploding debris of the lizard.


    The y golems immediately ''reloaded'' their meat shield as new lizards were brought to the front and would be catapulted whenmanded.


    The dark lizards kept shooting, but the meat shields just prevented them from attacking.


    Kyros began to count the Dark Lizards shooting them and frowned.


    "That''s all of them right here... What happened? Why aren''t some lizards moving forward to use the small path?" Kyros thought for a bit and realized what most likely happened.


    "Uncle! Don''t tell me you guys are still fighting and blocking off that path?" Kyros frowned.


    His n was to attack the lizards from this area so that the lizards would be a force to run out of the small tunnel. This would have createdbat on the exit of the tunnel. Any golems that would have died there wouldn''t be pinned to Kyros as he wasn''t there. But now, the zeal and desire of his Uncle to fight are disrupting the n!


    "Is Uncle fighting because he could not bear me fighting alone and wants to help me? The fool! They would risk their own life!" Kyros cursed. The more he tried to see through the darkness and attack the Dark Lizards, the more he confirmed that all the dark lizards he saw were here. No one was supervising the lizards at the other side.


    Although therge Dark Lizard couldn''t slip through the narrow path headed to the room where Aron was, the rest could.


    "It could be Fate." Cminus suggested.


    Kyros realized Cminus was right.


    "Fate might have deceived my Uncle and made his Warriors Instinct work against him! By staying and fighting in that small room, not only is he risking their lives, but it''s making it harder for me to win this battle without losing a golem. I have to act fast!" Kyros cursed.


    Kyros kept harassing them and was forcing the Dark Lizards to be more aggressive. The arrows could prate through their scales and cause them to squirm in pain as the attacks were very precise and aimed at the lizards'' vital organs.


    Kyros had already known their anatomy from the many lessons of Cminus and his observations of the body from his previous encounters.


    The Dark Lizards began to move closer and shoot more of their dark bolts at the group, but therge Dark Lizard ordered them to maintain their position.


    "Damn it! It wants to fight a battle of attrition! Just how many bolts can it send out!"


    Kyros then gave a new set of orders which Stoph also cascaded.


    The effects of the n became immediately apparent. The Char Vermillion Lizards were now standing at a higher ground as the Golems slowed down on their charge. This made it difficult for the Dark Lizards to shoot as they might hit the Char Vermilion Lizard.


    Instead of charging forward after killing the next enemy, the Golems only took a few steps forward and waited for the lizards to attack. The lizards would then soon be stepping on top of their fallen ally to approach them.


    asionally, Kyros would sneak in and touch a body of a dead lizard and expend mana to send the dead body into the Temple Storage ce. The sudden disappearance of a body would cause the lizards standing on top of these corpses to fall or stumble, which naturally led to their death.


    Kyros kept using his blood de to get more and more blood which replenished his mana.


    Kyros also began to use the Basic Earth Core to channel Earth Energy straight into the Iron Golems, who was at the front. The effects were minimal, but Kyros could tell it was healing them. Kyros then began to make orders to switch some of the Iron Golems with the Rock Golems.


    Yet as all these were happening, Kyros could not help but worry about the state of his Uncle.


    "It''s too slow! We have to force thatrge lizard to move closer!" Kyros decided.


    "Stoph! Taunt that lizard!" Kyros ordered. Stoph nodded immediately.


    "You are going to die, Lizard Prince! Your men are quickly dying!" Stophughed.


    The Dark Lizard finally cried out angrily.


    "What are you after, Ruby?!" The Dark Lizard shouted in Serpentari.


    "Stoph! Our goal is to either kill that monster quickly or make these lizards surrender!" Kyros decided to use the intellect of therge lizard that Stoph called the Lizard Prince to his advantage.


    "What do I say?"


    "Ask it to surrender or die."


    Stoph nodded.


    "Char ck Lizard Prince! Surrender now, or die!" Stoph called out in First Word.


    "Never!" The Char ck Lizard Prince howled back as it shot more dark bolts.


    Kyros cursed. They were running out of lizards to use as shields, and the dark magic of the Char ck Lizard Prince seemed to be endless.


    "Keep saying it!" Kyros ordered Stoph, who kept calling the lizard, to surrender.


    Yet even then, it wasn''t working. Oration and Taunt didn''t work through Stoph.


    "Char ck Lizard Prince! Surrender now, or die!"


    "Char ck Lizard Prince! Surrender now, or die!"


    "Char ck Lizard Prince! Surrender now, or die!"


    Stoph did so several times, but it didn''t change. The Char ck Lizard Prince didn''t budge and kept shooting.


    "I guess we''re referring to the Dark Lizard as ck Lizard, right?" Cminus murmured.


    DUH.


    "Cminus! Help me out here. I have to do the taunt myself! Only by Oration or Taunt can I draw that lizard here!" Kyros decided.


    "Alright. How do you n to do it?"


    "Is my pronunciation correct?" Kyros spoke the same taunt Stoph gave.


    "A little off. But you didn''t say anything weird."


    Kyros began to mimic Stoph''s words again and again, and Cminus would help him. After a few attempts, Kyros decided to shout the very same phrase Stoph kept repeating and repeating.


    Kyros did his best not to mess up. He managed toplete the first word correctly, but Kyros slipped and mispronounced the word as he reached the second. As that word had already been murdered, Kyros decided just to go ahead and say the rest of the sentence. Then, the phenomenon where people managed to perform better urred, and Kyros perfectly said the rest of the words.


    The only word Kyros mispronounced was the word, ''ck.'' But what Kyros didn''t know was that the word he said a word was an offensive term that should never be referred to arge ck lizard. In the world of the lizards, saying this term was politically offensive and very racist for the ck lizards.


    [Taunt Skill Activated.]


    The Char ck Lizard Prince froze as it heard the evil ''N'' word. The nearby ck Lizard was visibly startled at the insult.


    "Oh snap! You called him the N-word!" Cminus was horrified.


    "The N-word?" Kyros didn''t know what he said in First Word as he was trying to say ''ck.''


    "ROAR!" The other Char ck Lizards shouted and began to shoot more bullets.


    Kyros disregarded the confusion he had and focused.


    "It''s working! Say it again! Say that N-word that offended the lizard! Say the second word I said by ident!" Kyros ordered Stoph. He didn''t know why it worked, but Kyros decided to capitalize on it.


    Stoph nodded and readied to say the N-word again.


    Stoph channeled the energy within him so he could deliver a powerful shout. When the energy was ready, Stoph let lose the loudest shout he could manage to say the nefarious N-word.


    "NEWT!"


    "NEWT!


    "NEWT!"


    Stoph shouted the racist N-word that mockingly called the distinguished reptilian lizards the water-loving amphibian of the smander race.

 Chapter 53 - To Slay The Lizard

    The words ''Newt'' resonated throughout the small cave. With the magic that reced the lungs of the Golem, the cry was like thunder.


    Three rounds of the dreaded N-word that disgraced the Char ck Lizard Prince''s noble linage echoed across the cave. For a lizard with a distinguished and respectable reptilian lineage, they hated how they werepared to the disgraceful amphibian ss of lizard wannabes. The newts always had an intense rivalry with lizards, and for a lizard of such distinguished status to be called a newt, it was the straw that broke the camel''s back.


    The Char ck Lizard Prince knew that it faced annihtion. His team was never strong enough to survive the golems. And that word was riding on the first time Kyros said it. The effects of Taunt were reflected and carried over to the cry of Stoph. And this word drove the Char ck Lizard Prince wild.


    "I WILL KILL YOU!" The Char ck Lizard Prince howled and abandoned all restraints and charged at Stoph. He mowed down the stctites it passed in its anger. As it ran, it continuously shot its dark attacks at the group when it was nearer. All the Char ck Lizard that followed it around also moved closer to attack.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    The Lizard Prince recklessly attacked even though some of the attacks would hit its allies. It continued to crawl up the ceiling, moving closer and closer in its attack.


    Kyros had already given the order, and most of the Golems raised the dead bodies of the nearby lizards to block them.


    Kyros held out the Earth Core and exined his ns. He quickly summoned a Soil Golem and retrieved the Blood de, absorbing more blood from the fallen lizards. Kyros bit down to absorb the blood and replenish as much mana he could. Although Kyros has been doing the cycle of absorbing blood through this technique, he was cautious that it wouldn''t be enough and couldn''t help but take onest bite before executing his n.


    Kyros then gave two instructions to Stoph. The instructions were rather simple, but it sounded crazy.


    "What?" Stoph was amazed at the order.


    "Do it! Let''s go!" Kyros jumped up and stood up on Stoph''s shoulder and fire arrows at the ck Lizards.


    "Throw me!" Kyros shouted as he dropped the bow and held two swords on his hand. The Vermilion Earth Sword was on his human hand, and his dark arm was holding the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges.


    Stoph reached back, and Kyros stood on Stoph''s arm, and Stoph threw Kyros as if Kyros was a ball.


    The might of a Ruby Golem was on disy as it hurled Kyros.


    The speed and velocity created from hurling Kyros would have confused anyone else. Even those reaching near level 20s would not be able to do anything but helplessly allow themselves to be thrown and crash on a wall or a lizard.


    But now, Kyros. Pronto was activated. He could see and perceive things faster than an average human. What should have been a whirling blur for others was crystal clear to Kyros.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    Using the fast speed, Kyros shed and hacked the nearest lizards with Kyros''s amazing dexterity.


    The shes and strikes were decreasing the velocity as Kyros was intentionally doing it to reach the Lizard Prince.


    As Kyros approached, the Lizard Prince whipped itsrge tail towards Kyros.


    The Shadow Familiar and the Ghoul appeared and pushed Kyros down before getting smacked and disintegrated. But they had seeded in their mission. Kyrosnded at the bottom, stabbing the Vermilion Earth Sword and the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges on the nearby monsters to stop his movements.


    Almost immediately, Kyros stored the two des in his Inventory and jumped up right before the tail of Lizard Prince smashed the ground squishing the Char Vermilion Lizards nearby.


    Kyros managed to evade the attack on thest minute and was using his dexterous parkour move to do a wall run.


    The Lizard Prince readied to pounce on Kyros, but then...


    SMASH!


    It was as if arge rock smashed on Lizard Prince.


    The impact was so strong that the Lizard Prince lost its grip from the top and plummeted to the Char Vermilion Lizards below.


    The cause of the impact was from the Soil Golem that Kyros summoned.


    After summoning it, Kyros told Stoph to throw him towards the Lizard Prince. And once done, he was to throw the Soil Golem that he summoned.


    Kyros managed to slice and kill the many obstacles that would have hindered and given Stoph a clearing for him to hurl the Soil Golem like a rock.


    Although the Soil Golem was weaker than the y Golem and the Rock Golem, it didn''t mean it was so soft. Its body alone was harder than a Char Vermilion Lizard. The lizards had scales and biology that absorbed the blow, but a Soil Golem was sturdier if it was just in hardness.


    And the whole body of the Soil Golem smashed and broke to smithereens on the Lizard Prince''s head.


    The groggy Lizard Princeid with its back on top of a few Char Vermilion Lizard that it fell down on.


    Kyros was thenpleting his final attack and leaped towards the downed Lizard Prince.


    He had the Earth Core in hand and the Vermilion Sword on his dark hand. He channeled all the Earth energy remaining in the Earth Core and fueled his Vermilion Earth Sword. The added Earth energy made the Vermilion Earth Sword heavier, and Kyros activated a split second Time Haste to increase his speed and velocity.


    The Vermilion Earth Sword stabbed at the heart of the Lizard Prince.


    A muffled sound was heard, followed by a painful howl as the Vermilion Earth Sword seed in prating the heart of the Lizard Prince.


    Kyros stored the Vermilion Earth Sword and retrieved the Blood de on his human hand and the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges on his dark hand. With the two thinner swords on hand, Kyros stabbed down the heart of the Lizard Prince.


    [Dark Devourer activated.]


    [Blood Devourer activated.]


    Kyros jumped up and stomped on the two swords to stab the two further inside the heart before jumping off.


    "Stoph! Throw more Lizards here! No need to shield yourself from the ck Lizards!" Kyros ordered and ran off, leaving both swords stabbed on the heart of the Lizard Prince.


    The Lizard Prince kept howling and was wing at its chest. It began to squirm around and cry in fear. It was dying.


    Kyros stored the two items into his Inventory and retrieved them once more, and began to greedily devour the dark and blood energy.


    The Lizard Prince pounced at Kyros in anger but then...


    SMASH!


    A lizard was hurled at it and struck its back, causing it to stumble once more.


    Kyros took the chance and stabbed the Vermilion Earth Sword on the opened mouth of the Lizard Prince.


    Only three seconds passed since Stoph threw Kyros at the moment that Kyros stabbed the opened mouth of the Lizard Prince.


    It even took a few more seconds until Char ck Lizards realized that their Prince had been stabbed in critical locations, and it was only then that they pounced and shot dark energy at Kyros.


    Kyrosughed and used his dexterity to move and evade the attacks. He suddenly ran and jumped on several lizards and began to attack the ck Lizards.


    SMASH! SMASH!


    More dead lizards were hurled. Stoph realized how strong his throws were and began to throw the bodies of the lizards he got to the area.


    With his amazing dexterity, Kyros began to fight the nearby lizards and evaded the dark bolts of the ck Lizards.


    Stoph ordered the Iron Golem to rush forward. Without the bombardment of the ck Lizards, they could fight without worries. The Iron Golems would kill and even rip off the Char Vermilion Lizards, and Stoph would take the dead and hurl it towards the ck Lizards or to the Vermilion Lizards near the location where Kyros was fighting.


    Kyros continued to shout more orders which Stoph immediately gave to his men. While he continued to hurl Lizards on the ck Lizards, the Rock Golems began to work together and grab the dead lizards by the tail.


    The Iron Golems fought at the vanguard, and the Rock Golems would move just behind them and smash the lizards by carrying by the tail and throw them.


    It was as if the Rock Golems had arge, long hammer that they would smash to the lizards, bypassing the Iron Golems fighting.


    The ranks of the Lizards never reformed, and the Golems were pushing faster and faster.


    Soon, the Lizards began to panic, and many retreated. The surviving ck lizards kept howling and ordering them to stay, but they were all ignored.


    Kyros kept fighting and evading his way.


    He drank more blood along the way and even stabbed a downed and wounded ck Lizard. Kyros ate the darkness of this creature but continued moving. Soon, Kyros reached the narrow path leading to his uncle.


    The path began to narrow, and Kyros could still see several Lizards crowding on the small path. Corpses were at the side, and some lizards were eating their way out.


    Kyros gritted his teeth in anger as he saw it and charged for attacking the crowding lizard. With such an amount of lizards there, Kyros feared that a few knights have already been killed for refusing to escape.

 Chapter 54 - To Save His Knights

    Kyros decided to retreat. Unlike before, the entire area was so crowded with the lizards and the chopped-up body parts of dead lizards. He knew he couldn''t move, and his sword couldn''t even cut his way through.


    His only option was to get the golems to kill.


    Kyros could only hope that his uncle is safe and rushed back, evading the stampeding lizards rushing at his direction. The lizards were in a state of panic that most didn''t even notice Kyros slipping through the gaps and running on the side of the wall to escape them.


    asionally, Kyros would attack some of the lizards to make them stumble and create another stampede. With this, Kyros managed to make several points where a pile of lizards would crash on each other. On some extreme cases, the lizards at the very bottom had already died.


    As Kyros reached the back, some of the ck Lizards managed tomand the lizards nearer to the golem horde to fight it. Yet under the leadership of Stoph, who was now implementing the new amazing stuff, Kyros taught him, he was slowly getting ustomed to the tactic.


    The Iron Golems were moving faster and could kill more. The Rock Golems even began to rece some of the damaged Iron Golems.


    Kyros took advantage of the frantic concerns that the surviving ck Lizards had and ambushed them.


    The torch appeared once more and startled the ck Lizards. As it had been several minutes since the torch disappeared, its sudden appearance blinded the group once more.


    The startled lizards were attacked, and Kyros began to order Stoph, which ck Lizard to target.


    The battle didn''t evenst another minute as the ck Lizards were stunned and down, which made the Golems move faster as no more enemy was shooting at them.


    The entire squad of lizards that remained died, and Kyros urged Stoph to send the strongest team ahead. Kyros retrieved his bow and arrows, which he left and urged Stoph.


    "Stoph! Hurry! My friends didn''t escape and are still at the end of the tunnel."


    Stoph''s expression changed.


    "Why?"


    "I don''t know."


    Stoph''s expression changed. He suddenly thought of something...


    "Then let us hurry. Human Warrior. You are quite strong. Since you have allowed us to kill this many without losing a single one, I will do my best to help you. Only answer me honestly. That Earth Core that you have, can you use it to refuel my Life Source? I''ve seen you refuel the Iron Golem''s magic!" Stoph asked.


    "Yes! But it will be very slow! With my magic, it can''t restore much. But if you''re asking that question because you have the means to eliminate their enemies quickly, I have another means that can quickly refuel your Life Source!" Kyros answered without hesitating. He was a Nephilim. He had seen how the Temple functioned. And if the Temple was something that was designed to control and help him get used to that power,


    "I will trust you. I will show my sincerity and sacrifice a huge chunk of my life source for you to get to your friends. I hope this will show you how much I am trusting you." Stoph dered.


    Kyros was amazed at Stoph''s offer.


    "Yes. If you do that, I can give not just you but everyone this opportunity!" Kyros dered.


    "Good!" Stoph said as a strange bright red energy began to appear.


    The Ruby rocks became hot, and Stoph''s entire body burst with molten me.


    The Iron Golems had to move away from Stoph as the intense heat was enough to affect them.


    Stoph immediately ran towards the lizards without fear and just dove right in.


    The terrifying heat burned and charred the lizards and burned them down to ashes. The heat was so terrifying that even those that didn''t touch Stoph were in pain. Stoph kept pushing forward after leaving the charred remains of some lizards and the squirming survivors. Some of the survivors had lost their limbs as Stoph burnt them as he ran.


    The lizards fought back and attacked Stoph, but their attacks would all be sacrificing whatever limb they had.


    The Iron Golems quickly followed along with the Rock Golems, and they all began to kill the remaining lizards.


    Kyros was amazed at the scene.


    "I get it. The lifespan of these creatures depends on the energy. That''s why Stoph was hesitant to use this power until now! This is some strange magic. I cannot identify which of the gods could create such potent life energy that it literally grants life to objects!" Cminus was amazed.


    "This exins it then. The more they fight, the more they deplete their lifespan. He must have offered this to me since this battle didn''t deplete the life energy of the golems by that much. They gained so much that Stoph''s perceived value of me has increased." Kyros smiled and charged forward.


    With Stoph leading the way, the ck Lizards and the Char Vermilion Lizards were dwindling quickly.


    Stoph was moving as fast as he could to get to the location where Kyros''s allies.


    Soon, he arrived at an opening that had lots of deal lizards which made it difficult to move through.


    Aron was standing at the small gap. He had noticed the strange heat that was approaching, which was killing lizards, and gave a cautious look at Stoph.


    "You must be... his allies." Stoph smiled as the heat he released slowly disappeared.


    The very moment it did, Kyros immediately emerged.


    "Uncle!" Kyros cried.


    "Kyros! You''re safe!" Aron smiled and immediately fell as he lost his strength.


    "Why didn''t you go down?" Kyros asked immediately. But Aron was already unconscious. His wounds were severe. His shield was broken, and his armor had many bite marks and was bent in odd ways. Some parts of his armor already revealed the Vermilion Scale Armor underneath.


    Kyros confirmed that Aron was not in a critical state and immediately nced around to check on the knights.


    The first thing that caught his attention was the emerald green golem that the Golem King called Mardock. The golem stood with a frustrated expression and red at Kyros.


    Kyros now understood why Aron chose to stay. Aron wasn''t deceived by Fate as Kyros and Cminus thought. Aron''s Warriors Instinct protected them from Fate! Kyros didn''t have time to deal with the Mardock and decided to ignore it. He didn''t even leave threatening remarks as the priorityy with the knights.


    The two vampires were the only ones standing. The seven knights were gathered up near the small tunnel that Avary used to sneak out. They were lying down and were drained of all energy. At a nce, Kyros could tell that none of them have the strength to fight. Yet all of them were tightly grasping on their weapons.


    Their armors were a mess. All but one had bite marks and had no limbs.


    Scarlet also lost an arm, but she kept standing up and finally stepped forward to report to Kyros.


    "Young Lord. The rest have bad injuries. We should be able to treat them. But... three, however..." She trailed off, unable to say the next words. There were tears in her eyes as she said this.


    "My Lord... Three are bound to die. No medicine we have can cure them... Unless we can bring them back to the Temple quickly. But... they are at their dying breathes. Lord Aron kept calling at them all the time we were fighting to do our best to live. He said that you areing and will save them. Those three are... only alive by the strong will and desire to see you." Gregory answered.


    Kyros knew that the vampires were the only ones who could still fight as they have been feasting on the Lizard''s blood to survive. Kyros ran towards the knights who were at the side.


    Just as Scarlet reported, all of them couldn''t fight. Three of them were dying. Their wounds were bad. Their limbs were bitten off. Their bones were clearly broken.


    "Young Lord...? You''re alive!" The knight who taught Kyros to hammer smiled as Kyros approached.


    "I can now die... Lord Aron told us... our duty isn''t over..."


    "We haven''t... requested to go... on a leave of absence." The other dying knightughed.


    "We three are dying...Lord Aron kept telling us to stay awake..." The other knight exined.


    "My Lord... can you... promise... to treat my family well?" One of the knights asked.


    "I hope... that my lessons were good enough... Helping the young master is a great honor! Be an awesome cksmith for the family!" The knight who thought Kyros some cksmiths skills smiled.


    Cminus observed the three and fell to silence. They had lost a lot of blood and are only alive because they were using the small amount of magic they have to keep them awake. Even with everything, Cminus taught Kyros about medicines and healing. They did not have the herbs and items that could heal them.


    "I forbid you!'' Kyros suddenly dered.


    "You''re already saying goodbye to me? You think I will let any of you die?!" Kyros furiously asked.


    "Vampires! Turn them! Bite these three mercenaries! If they cannot stay next to me alive, then they will be with me as an Undead!" Kyros ordered.


    Scarlet and Gregory were shocked.


    "You three! I forbid you to die on me! Be a vampire for my family! Serve me! That is your duty as Knights! Serve me!"


    [Oration skill activated.]


    "Kyros!" Cminus was stunned.


    "Cminus... You may be thinking that there is nothing they can take that can heal them, right? Wrong!"


    "Turning them won''t be enough! Even if they could turn into vampires. It still wouldn''t be enough! No blood can save them! Not the Man-Gators, Lizardmen, the ck Lizards! It''s not enough to make their recovery faster! They would die even before their vampire power settles!" Cminus argued.


    "My blood is here! The moment the Fanged Fallen has awakened, I can feel the special properties of my blood! That was why I allowed the vampires to bite me! If they be vampires and drink my blood now, they will recover a small bit of health! The blood of the Fallen Fang is in me! I will give them as much as I want. The blood of the lizards will nourish my blood loss!" Kyros answered.


    The two vampires remained hesitant.


    "Do it now!" Kyros ordered again, and the two moved and bit at the dying three.


    Kyros stabbed the blood de on the nearby lizards to gather more blood.


    The Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges also appeared, and Kyros made a cut on the arm.


    Scarlet had bitten the cksmith and Gregory, but the two others and the undead power of the vampire began to affect them.


    "Knights! With a covenant of blood, I name you my knights forever!" Kyros offered them his own blood to drink.

 Chapter 55 - To Tie Up Loose Ends

    Kyros forced the dying knights to take a bite at his arm and drink his blood even as he was human.


    The blood that Kyros gave to them was a lot of blood. And as the curse of the Undead flowed through them, a mysterious change urred. The blood of Kyros enhanced the curse, and it transformed into a previously unseen form of power.


    Just like the Vampires next to them, they were bing something more.


    Kyros was allowing these three to feed more blood from them, and their bodies'' recovery became more evident.


    Mardock was shocked at what he saw.


    "What is this?!"


    "Mardock. It''s a good thing they didn''t follow you..." Stoph red at Mardock and called out in First Word.


    "Stoph... You used your powers?!"


    "I had to! This boy is far more powerful than you think!" Stoph questioned angrily.


    Mardock didn''t answer.


    "How many of our golems do you think died?"


    "With those Lizard spawns? There was Char ck Lizard among them! We would have lost thirty or so, golems!"


    "Wrong! Not a single one died!" Stoph argued back.


    "What?! Impossible! The Lizardmen at the start would have killed some of our men! Their arrows could pierce through y Golems!"


    "That is why we were wrong! Our ways of fighting are very, very inferior! I have seen just how strong the Golems are in our battle! We didn''t lose a single one! The Iron Golems were at the front. The archers were unable to kill them or prate their armor! With that, we were able to close the gap!"


    "Why would you put the Iron Golems in front! That would waste their life source! And they would be fighting Dark Lizards or Swamp Man-Gator!"


    "The boy found a way to get behind the enemy lines and used an attack that caused the Man-Gators to lose their footing! He then disrupted the archers and allowed the rest of the Golems to attack since the Man-Gators were being killed! We killed all Man-Gators and killed more than thirty Lizardmen!"


    "At the cost of the Life force of the Iron Golems?"


    "Are you stupid?" Kyros couldn''t take it in.


    "Which is more expensive? Creating more y Golems or restoring the life force of the Iron golems?"


    "Restoring the life force? That''s impossible!"


    "No. He did it to some of our Iron Golems. It was minimal, and the restored life force was already depleted by the end of the battle. But he can. Given enough time, he could restore all the Iron Golems, including my energy." Stoph interrupted.


    "Heh. I don''t need time. I have the means to recover everyone''s energy! It won''t take time. It will be almost immediate!" Kyrosughed.


    "You do?" Stoph was amazed.


    "Yes. But since this Mardock plotted to kill my family, not one bit of that power will be given to him or his division!" Kyros vowed.


    "Kill us?" Scarlet asked.


    "That''s why my Uncle didn''t want you to go down. This golem may have offered an escape, but his golems down there would have attacked you! If Uncle didn''t have Warriors Instinct, this idiot golem would have killed you!" Kyros shouted.


    Stoph''s expression turned ugly. He was afraid that Kyros would find out.


    "You brat dare curse me?!" Mardock shouted.


    Kyros retrieved the Blood de and bit down on it. After absorbing the blood, Kyros threw the de, which stabbed easily on one of the open wounds of another dead lizard. He then retrieved the Earth Core.


    "Stoph. Come over here." Kyros ordered.


    Stoph approached without hesitation.


    Kyros channeled the Earth energy and bestowed it on Stoph.


    Both Stoph and Mardock could sense the power of Earth being sent to Stoph and refueled Stoph.


    "What?!" Mardock couldn''t believe it. Heughed at the ims of Stoph but seeing as how the Earth Energy infused with Stoph proved that the boy could indeed do what he imed to. The boy also appeared to be devoid of strength after losing so much blood. He then thought that if the boy had recovered, he could do more than this.


    Kyros retrieved the Blood de and drank more blood.


    "So what? That little recovery rate is a hundred times slower than our Life Birthing Earth Core! It would take forever for you to recover enough mana just to-"


    Another round of Earthen Energy was bestowed on Stoph.


    Mardock was shocked.


    "Stoph, begin bringing the dead lizards back to your base. We don''t know when the lizards will be sending their reinforcements here. Also, help carry my men. I wish to have another audience with your king."


    "Impudent!'' Mardock roared once more.


    "Mardock! This boy has the power to control the darkness! I''ve seen him summon shadows! He has means and magic that we never knew!"


    "That''s right, Mardock. I have magic and power beyond your understanding. I will tell you this. My value will quickly surpass yours. And when that happens, I will ask your king to execute you topensate for nearly killing my family!" Kyros vowed.


    "Die!" Mardock raged and attacked.


    But suddenly, Stoph stood in between and blocked the blow.


    Several Iron Golems also rushed in and surrounded Kyros as they red at Mardock.


    "You choose to ally with a stranger over me?"


    "No. I choose to ally with the hope of our city over the foolishness of one senile golem!" Stoph defended adamantly.


    Mardock red angrily at Stoph and began to retreat.


    "We shall see what the king thinks of this fool!" Mardockughed.


    "Newt!"


    Kyros insulted Mardock in First Word. He had no other insults, but in anger, he shouted the N-word hoping to irritate Mardock.


    Mardock gave a strange and confused look before descending down the small tunnel.


    "Scarlet... How is everyone?" Kyros asked Scarlet.


    "They are recovering!" Scarlet happily dered.


    "The curse of the Vampire is taking effect. The blood I gave them stabilized their condition. I can feel my blood circting in them. It''s keeping the heart and mind alive and not moving elsewhere. As expected of the Fallen Fang ability." Kyros was relieved.


    "I don''t understand, Lord Kyros."


    "They''re safe. Though their bodies are badly wounded, the flow of blood that came from me is now focusing on keeping the body and the mind alive. This gives us time to head to the Temple and heal them." Kyros gave a broad exnation.


    "How did you feel their blood flow?" Cminus couldn''t help but ask.


    "I gained that ability when the Fanged Fallen awakened. I can feel my lifeblood being absorbed and nurturing the vampires and even these Knights. How else did you think I managed tomand Avary from here as to what directions he should take?" Kyros asked.


    It was only then that Cminus recalled Avary. He checked the map, and Avary was already near the Temple!


    "The Coven! Of course! Their lives are now linked to yours! Amazing. The Fanged Fallen''s powers are not to be underestimated!"


    "Treat me as someone who has the power simr to that of vampires. But even stronger. Vampire Lords can easily manipte blood just as how the Blood de n was able to forge their signature weapon." Kyros smiled.


    "Stoph. Please bring us all back." Kyros finally asked Stoph after confirming that the knights were not dying.


    "As you wish." Stoph obediently followed and gently carried the group.


    "Also, bring me the same way we came in. I want to take a few bodies for myself."


    Stoph agreed. He had noticed Kyros''s strange ability to cause the bodies of lizards to disappear.


    Stoph carried Kyros, and the Iron Golems carried the allies, and the group began to move back.


    Outside, the other golems had already begun to transport the dead bodies of the lizards.


    Meanwhile...


    In the dark and abandoned Nephilim Sealing Temple...


    The strange darkness that pervaded the Temple and it was constantly healing the severely wounded Vampire.


    The Vampire had no limbs to walk or even crawl a few hours ago. But the darkness was so potent that it was allowing this Vampire to recover and managed to restore parts of his limbs.


    "Do I leave now...? Or do I wait?" The Vampire asked himself.


    The Vampire was Zid Blood de. When the team was teleported away, he remained, and the entire Temple suddenly released strange dark magic that began to heal him.


    The silence of the cave remained, and he was hesitating on whether to leave or stay.


    "That brat and his men were taken somewhere... But will they return? I must report to my family this Temple!" Zid Blood de vowed.


    The workings of Fate were cruel. Aside from teleporting Kyros and his family elsewhere, Kyros''s advantage and preparations would soon be pointless. Once Zid Blood de leaves this ce, the Steele family would find itself at odds with a vampire n. Such was the cruelty in limiting the sess of Kyros.


    Fate allowed Kyros to seed, only to take everything away.


    "This Temple clearly has a strange power. If we gain ess to this... then we can win the favor of the Eldrich!" Zid sneered.


    He then turned towards his legs and watched them being healed.


    "I must concentrate and channel the dark energy that my body is absorbing to my legs. I have to get out here!" Zid closed his eyes.


    SLASH!


    "AHHHH!" Zid suddenly felt pain as the legs that recovered were destroyed.


    As he opened his eyes, a small figure cloaked in darkness was there.


    The sword stabbed down on Zid''s throat.


    "Zid Blood de! You struggled quite a bit! To think you almost fled from me! It''s a pity that you will die now. The Scarlet Sword will be next! Soon, all Vampires will fear the terror of my Master! Cracky Batcheeks the Naked Offender!" The dark figureughed.


    "And to you, Prime Bonder of the Blood de, wash your neck! Your atrocities will soon be repaid! The Knights of Perragrim will kill you and enve your women! You will regret serving the Eldrich! Hahahaha!" With a swift motion, the dark being shed upwards and slew Zid Blood de.


    The dark figure waited several seconds and began to walk away.


    "Lord Kyros. I did everything. Now, all that''s left is to meet Lord Branze, and I would havepleted my mission!" Avary began to move with great haste. He followed all of Kyros''s instructions.


    All of a sudden, an eerie feeling came to him, and Avary stumbled.


    A few secondster, Avary stood up once more.


    "What was that?" Avary frowned.


    A split secondter, he knew there was no time, and he began to head towards the entrance of the cave to meet with Branze Steele.


    Back near the Golem city, the vampires and the unconscious knights trembled.


    Scarlet and Gregory stumbled from their march.


    "What was that?" Gregory eximed.


    "Rx, Gregory. That was Fate." Kyros smiled. He was waiting for Fate to target him.


    "Fate?" Gregory was confused. As a being of darkness, he could sense a strange disturbance in the air. It was as if the ws of death were after him.


    "Looks like Avary has finally tied up thest loose end. How''s that Fate?" Kyrosughed.

 Chapter 56 - To Find Destiny

    The nes World was among the manys in the universe that was made of arge Yggdrasil tree. The divisions of therge tree had varying environments, and each had a different kind of environment.


    At the very top of it was a powerful energy that emanated great heat and light. The heaven bodies would rotate as it is drawn by the gravitational pull of the Yggdrasil and the nearbys. This heavenly body of great light would move in its circuit, bringing light and morning whenever it was present, and would fall into the night whenever it was away.


    The Yggdrasil was a living and is an ancient tree nted by Ancients during the Times Long Forgotten.


    At the very top of thisrge tree were the Heavenly nes. They were the leaves and peak of Yggdrasil. It was the part that was closest to the nearest heavenly body that provided sunlight.


    It was naturally rich in the elements of light and was home to many powerful beasts. Divine beings and Saints also resided in this part of thend. It was the most blessed part of the Earth of the Light and was full of life energy.


    Next to it was the Higher nes. These were thest bastion of defense that the Heavenly nes fought against the Netherworld during the Nether Wars. It is home to the oldest kingdoms of various races and is on a constant campaign to battle the threats below the nes and beyond the nes World itself.


    The rich and natural resources of the Higher nes had caused many kingdoms to lust over it. Ever since the end of the Nether Wars, various kingdoms of humans, elves, and UnHuman races in the Minds have waged war against the Heavenly nes. Yet, the few Kingdoms that guarded the Higher nes were never at a disadvantage. In fact, to train their warriors and encourage economic trade and the development of mighty artifacts, weapons of war, and so on.


    The Minds was thergestnd in all of the nes World. It was a wide stretch ofnds that were the branches of the Yggdrasil that extended from the far East to the extreme West. The Mind also constituted the trunk of the Yggdrasil and extended downwards. This is also why the Minds is often referred to as the Cross Lands, as it is therge Cross shape part of the Yggdrasil. In this region, most races that aided the Heavenly nes resided. Very few kingdoms of races that originated from the Nether nes resided here.


    The Minds was also home to the various Inhumans, which were half breeds of humans and other races that served the Heavenly nes.


    Traveling south of the Minds was the secondrgest region of the nes World. The Londs region is the first ne where the Dark races resided and have fully conquered before the Nether Wars. Being far from the nutrients of the sun and the light of the heavenly bodies, the Londs was ground that was fertile for Dark energy, magic to be born.


    Creatures of darkness resided here, as well as various races and kingdoms. Due to the diminishing light that reaches thisnd, the environment is different as the nts and creatures that reside here are of the darkness.


    Several human kingdoms, orcs, and demi-tribes, and vampire factions resided here. Because of the mixing of races, thends are generallywless and more chaotic as very few Adjudicators or ne Judges existed to uphold the bnce, unlike in the Minds. Wars are more frequent, but the humans and orc races have be the mightiest races in the region due to their number.


    The Londs ends when it reaches arge and mysterious chasm of a great sea. The sea extends millions of miles southwards and is known as the ce where no light shines. Variousrge continents exist in this wide wateryer and are home to all races that practice dark magic. The Outcast races of humans and demi-tribes to devilkins reside here.


    Further south, it reaches thend of great darkness. Yggdrasil harnesses dark energy and the Heavenly nes to acquire the Light and create the energy of Yin and Yang, which fuels the Yggdrasil. Thisnd of great darkness is the Nether Worlds. Home of the Devils, the Dark and Horror races.


    On that day, a mystery urred that brought a strange, faint, and barely noticeable tremor across the entire Yggdrasil. Only those who were near their Ascension or the Descent could sense it. From the Heavenly nes to the Nether World, the trembling urred. It belonged to one of the most mysterious powers that even the gods and the fallen couldn''tprehend.


    Heavenly nes...


    A man was seated in a white and wide throne. His raiment was made of white, and his aura was golden. He was the victor of the Nether War and the King of nes World. The energy of Light was channeling through his throne and in him was the strongest power that emanated from the Light and leaves of the nes World.


    His previous nk expression changed as he sensed it.


    "The movement of Fate? Since when has it been this clear?" The man frowned.


    "First, that Greater God Sheolrah barges in here and taints my dignity, and now this?" The man frowned.


    But as he was about toin more, another force echoed and called from the great beyond. And what was even more amazing was that it did not create any ripple but affected only nes World. The strange magic echoed on all nes World beings. But as with Fate, only those near Ascension or Descent could feel it.


    "Destiny?!" The man was stunned.


    "An Invoking of Destiny? What happened?!" The man''s angry expression turned to rm.


    "Guards! Call the ne Masters! I demand that they will be here for an audience with me in five minutes!"


    "But your Grace! Each ne Master are on an assigned task-"


    "Call them!" The man shouted. The faint ripple of Destiny was getting clearer and clearer. After ascertaining the works of Destiny, the King grew more and more worried.


    "Guards, The ne Masters must have felt it. They should be on their way back here. Prepare to receive them."


    The guards nodded, and right after he left, a powerful portal opened up that breached the heavens.


    A tall and handsome Elf radiating in powerful fire, ice, and lightning energy appeared from the portal. He was the only being who was granted permission to enter the Throne Room of the ne King freely.


    The remaining guard immediately made his formal introduction.


    "Presenting, from the nes Watch Tower, Supreme Magistrate and Magic Master of the nes World, Magistrate Supreme Gandor Ellisium!"


    "I have sensed it, your Grace. And I hurried here to your side. The others must be arriving soon." Gandor bowed. The area in the Throne Room suddenly grew rich in magic. Lightning, fire, and ice began to appear in small bits in the area around him.


    And as was expected, another member of the ne Masters immediately arrived. The moment the guard moved out of the hall, another Supreme had used his ability to cross the great distances.


    "Presenting, From the Otherworldly nes Fortress, the Supreme Champion and Force Master of the nes World, Champion Supreme Pyrekaiser Fafnir!"


    "The foreboding call of Destiny shall not stop my de from serving you, your Grace!" A deep voice echoed in the hall. A tall figure with green dragonic scales extending from his neck to the back entered the room. His figure and face were that of a human, but his hulking body had traces of the Dragon Race.


    "Presenting. Supreme Cardinal and Keeper of the Light of the nes World, Cardinal Supreme Ss Soter."


    A tall and beautiful woman who shined brightly like jewels in a pedestal arrived. Her every step was dignified and bright letters that signified the Voice of Creation were appearing around her at her every movement.


    "The Light beckons its rays to you will, you Grace. The mystery of Fate and Destiny shall be known to you soon."


    "Presenting. Ne-newly hired assistant chef serving in the kitchen of Supreme Chef and Providence of the nes World, Patrick."


    "Ha-Hi. I''m Patrick."


    There was silence as a weak and frail thin man with buck teeth entered the hall.


    "Thi-this is my first day as assistant to Supreme Chef Moribius Oveseus. He- he told me to go here and present myself. I- I don''t know what to do."


    Everyone continued to look at him.


    "It seems... that the Supreme Chef will not be in attendance." The king decided to ignore Patrick. Otherwise, he would hurl the thin man with great strength that the man will be sent flying all the way to the Netherworld.


    "My King... I am... hungry. I just finished the conquest against the Lizardfolks monster. The scent this man has on his hands... This chef is clearly the Main Meat Chef of Moribius." Pyrekaiser said with little embarassment.


    "Fine. Go and cook bacon, Patrick. I trust Moribius has told you of our taste?"


    "Ye-Yes, your Grease!"


    The King''s eyebrow rose.


    "I mean, Grace! Your Grace! Not grease, Grace!" Patrick panicked.


    The guards began to escort Patrick out.


    "I really meant Grace. I was just thinking of grease..." Patrick continued to reason out as he left.


    "I trust that Moribius''s absence is justified?"


    "Yes, your Grea- Grace. He is currently out hunting for Emperor Whales at Whalemart." Gandor confirmed.


    "Whalemart the inteary market?" Pyrekaiser confirmed.


    "The inteary market is Whelmart, Pyrekaiser. Whalemart is the on the nearby Stad system." Ss corrected.


    "My apologies. Ever since the movements of the Netherworld, I have been quite busy, and it''s been three hundred years since I''ve studied the system beyond."


    "Our main concern..." The king began.


    "Is what the cause of this Destiny is? What do you sense, Ss?"


    "Destiny here is very strange, your Grace. I have pierced through it... But Destiny has marked someone to die." Ss exined.


    "Just one person? Who?"


    "I do not know my king... I cannot sense it. The ripple of Fate disappeared, and the ripple of Destiny was elsewhere. The two ripples beguiled my senses. It should be rted to that man that Greater God Sheolrah asked us to search. Although, both me and Gandor have yet to find any clues of that man." Ss frowned.


    "Cracky Batcheeks, the Naked Offender... What an enigma..." The nes World King frowned.


    While the meeting of the Supremes urred in the Heavenly ne, Kyros was petrified by what he saw. His haughty smirk on how he has outsmarted Fate disappeared. Of the many notifications regarding how he defeated Fate and what he gained from the entire battle, a very ominous sentence was present.


    ---


    Curse of Destiny activated.


    Mechiel Bloodcrest will die in the arms of Kyros Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos.

 Chapter 57 - To Understand His New Challenges

    The Ripple of Fate had reached Kyros and has bestowed a stronger curse on him, and Cminus was looking at the notifications trying to understand what was happening.


    But just as Kyros was reading through, another force struck him.


    The invisible, unstoppable, and unexined powers of Destiny reached Kyros.


    "Ugh!" He felt a strange sensation gripping his soul.


    "What is this?!" He shouted at Cminus.


    "Destiny! Why is Destiny moving?!" Cminus cursed.


    The gripping sensation disappeared, but Kyros knew that something in his very being has changed.


    "Young Hero?" Stoph asked.


    "I''m fine... Just keep moving." Kyros urged.


    Kyros felt great fear in his heart. And then he began to look at the full list of notifications once more.


    ---


    Sess Purging Trial Passed!


    Kyros has sessfully subverted Fate!


    Rewards:


    Fate Challenger Status


    De-Magic Curse weakened.


    Magic Lock Curse removed.


    ---


    All members of the Steele Family are now cursed with Bloodline Sess Limiter.


    All members of the Steele Family are now cursed with Bloodline Apathy of Fate.


    All members of the Steele Family''s Limiter and Fate Curses increase as Kyros''s curses increase.


    ---


    Fate Challenger Level 1:


    Challenge of the Lizard Lords Activated.


    Okto-Kefali Whelpling Eugene will be unsealed in: 12:23:59:54.


    ---


    Curse of Destiny activated.


    Mechiel Bloodcrest will die in the arms of Kyros Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos.


    ----


    Blood Cmity Queen released.


    ---


    Thest entry only appeared when the second force struck him. The words made Kyros''s heart stop, and pain in his soul appeared because he could tell what that curse meant with his high INT stat.


    "Alright!" Kyros pped his face with his two hands to wake himself up.


    "No time to worry..." Kyros said with his hands still shaking from the shock. He took a deep breath and decided to go through everything one step at a time.


    "In short, I have received a Fate Challenger status which allows me to challenge Fate. And it looks like this is a challenge that pits me with more problems. The Challenge of the Lizard Lords ought to be something rted to the Lizard Race. It seems that allying with the Golems were within Fate''s expectations..." Kyros focused on the first points of interest and brought up the description of the Fate Challenger.


    ---


    Fate Challenger Level 1: Challenge of the Lizard Lord


    To fight and subvert Fate, Kyros must face the hordes of the Lizard Race locked within the Nephilim Sealing Mountain.


    ---


    "Nephilim Sealing Mountain? Does this mean that this entire mountain is still part of my seal? Then my alliance with the Golems must have been something that should naturally happen even if I wasn''t thrown there because I breached Fate''s Sess Limits!" Kyros concluded.


    "It looks like we can''t just pack up and leave... Not unless you upgrade the Temple." Cminus suggested.


    "Right. This entire mountain seems to be mine. The Golems are guardians of this ce. And it looks like my alliance is necessary. While I have subverted Fate, it''s still within the expectations of Fate. I thought allying with the Golem and convincing them to be our allies would be tantamount to outsmarting Fate. But it seems this was still within Fate''s expectations! And here I thought my ns to ally with the Golem, my schemes to topple the lizard squad, and even how I used Avary to kill Zid Blood de was surpassing Fate! But it was still among its expectations!" Kyros cursed.


    Kyros knew that Fate would do something to help the wounded Zid survive. And not just survive, but he would be able to escape and inform the vampire family about this. And so, Kyros calcted everything and made Avary kill Zid Blood de.


    To resolve the concern about being detected by the Dark Bond, Kyros made Avaryugh and say those words to redirect the attention to other areas.


    Kyros even used a Human traitor family, the Knights of Perragrim as a scapegoat. They were the perfect scapegoats as Kyros knew the history of these knights through his future hunting of this group after his squad died. The family resided in the Londs and was one of the families that aided the spies of the Unhuman Races to enter the many human kingdoms.


    And to make it all the more believable, Kyros made Avary say a secret that he only knew as someone from the future. And that was the Eldrich. They were a mysterious race that only appeared and became a powerhouse decadester from the current year. Only then did the world realize how many vampire kingdoms had already severed them even before the Eldrich appeared.


    The words Avary stated would definitely attract the vampire''s attention and carelessly send their forces in this ce. After all, if a mysterious group knew about the Eldrich and the servitude of their n, it would invoke fear.


    But all of Kyros''s clever tricks and schemes were just something Fate expected. It was as if Fate was just giving Kyros a perfect grade in this harsh test. Kyros simply knew the answer to Fate''s tough question.


    "How many times until I learn my lesson! Fate is not easy to beat!" Kyros cursed.


    "We''re still falling in Fate''s hands... But this looks better. It''s like Fate is still giving us a way out. The appearance of this Challenger of Fate may havee as a blessing."


    "How so?"


    "It redirects the Curses. Unless you make a shocking breach of the limits of the next Limiter, you won''t be sent like we were earlier. Whatever challenges and dangers we will be forced to face will being from the direction of whatever lies beyond this Golem City." Cminus assessed.


    "Then Fate is trying to help me. Its curses and its rewards all follow the same line of thinking. It''s like she''s heating me up and then quenching me and then hammering me. It beats me up and forces me to strengthen myself!"


    "Yeah... But I''m curious... Fate Challenger. Does this mean Fate is training you on how to ovee it?"


    "That seems to be the case. But that was just too dangerous! And it seems that Eugene is just a cute title. What''s an Okto-Kefali Whelpling?"


    "Erm... Yeah. About that... I know of an Okto-Kefali Prime Devourer. It''s asrge as this nes World. And it devourss. It was the creation of the Fallen."


    "He''s a what, and he devours what?!" Kyros was shocked.


    "That was the main ship that the Fallens used back in those wars. As for the Prime Devourer, we thought we killed him. He''s actually onerge floating in the War Realms. His name was Bob. So it looks like Eugene is a Whelpling. Sounds cute and all, but the adult form is a Eater. That''s gotta be something terrifying."


    "What exactly is an Okto-Kefali?"


    "An eight-headed serpent."


    "A hydra?!"


    "Hydras are serpents which have tasted the blood of an Okto-Kefali and evolved. So you''re facing something much more terrifying done a hydra."


    "Great. How am I supposed to face it?"


    "Look on the bright side. You now can do magic!" Cminus cheered.


    "Is magic effective against Okto-Kefalis?"


    "No. Okto-Kefalis usually are born with eight elements, and their heads are immune to it."


    "..."


    "Well, we have a Golem Army, right?"


    "I guess that''s something. Then let''s move to the most important part. What is Destiny? What is its rtionship with Fate? I can see that Fate is associated with Destiny? Is Fate Destiny''s child?"


    "No. Destiny''s Child is an amazing girl group which the author is definitely not a fan of, nor does the author know their songs or jam on to them while writing his sci-fi story."


    "Be more serious!"


    "Alright! Alright! Jeez. Ease up, will ya. Let me put it this way. Fate bends the direction of actions, events, and circumstances. It bent the direction and led me to you prior to our reincarnation. It changed how the wind blew and allowed us to fall into the specific circumstances that Fate wanted us to be in. But Destiny is much more cruel and mysterious. There are no Ancient Gods that have the Power of Destiny, unlike Fate."


    "Then what does Destiny do?"


    "We get the word ''destination'' from destiny, right? If Fate makes us go to the path it wants us to take, Destiny is a specific location. It isn''t as broad as Fate. It is set. You could say that Mechiel''s final and ultimate destination is what you read in that curse."


    "So you mean to say... that Mechiel will die in my arms? No matter what I do?"


    "Yes. She WILL, and she MUST. We haven''t even outsmarted Fate yet. Destiny is much more ruthless, Kyros. It bends and alters the will of the Universe. It''s as if the Universe won''t be right unless that happens. And look at thest notification. It appeared right after the Destiny notification. That Blood Cmity might be the one that will ensure it!" Cminus added.


    Kyros''s expression turned sour. He gritted his teeth and bit down on it in hatred. And then, a strange thought emerged.


    Kyros recalled his past life and how Mechiel died on his arms. They had an ingenious escape path. And after learning and discussing with Cminus the many artifacts of the world during the 2-year ss, he knew that an artifact that could bend space was so rare that the Eldrich race shouldn''t have ess to them. Much less an Eldrich race at the level of Vicarous.


    "So that Eldrich Vicarous who killed Mechiel and me... His acquisition of that item that allowed him to teleport to us... Was that Destiny''s work?"


    "Of course not! Destiny''s curse just... Wait... You could be on to something. Destiny is not bounded by time. That''s how even I can''t escape my Destiny. That ripple we felt earlier. It felt so clear. Even without your notification system, I could sense what it was trying to say." Cminus was lost in thoughts.


    "Hmp! That means that Mechiel''s Destiny has always been this. Destiny is just informing me of it. This notification could be a reward because I fought Fate."


    "Right. I''m sure the gods and the fallen could sense it. They hear Destiny''s whisper demanding someone must die..."


    "Then... if that''s the case... What if... the destinies of my loved ones are...?" Kyros guessed. He then could see the dying faces of his family and friends in the past life.


    "Like hell, I''m giving in to that! Be it Destiny or Fate! I will conquer them! They won''t have their way!" Kyros vowed.


    The Golem city was now visible.


    "Cminus... We have work to do!" Kyros turned to see the Golem City. What once was his proud achievement now looked like one of the many rewards the Temple has given. He thought the weapons, the swords, and every advantage he had from the Temple were great. But now, he knew they would be barely enough for theing storm.

 Chapter 58 - To Fight To The End

    The dark cave kept going on and on.


    Branze Steele led his toon and was worried. The Signal Compasses had died, and all that was left was his elder brother''spass.


    They kept urging on quickly.


    "Brother! Please be alright!" Branze kept repeating this thought again and again. He could only hope for the best ending.


    Suddenly, a strange figure appeared in front of them.


    It was a dark figure that stood in the shape of a man.


    "A Shadow!" Branze was horrified when he saw it and immediately drew his sword.


    "Lord Branze Steele! I am Avary Steele! A newly knighted vampire of the Steele family! Please hurry! Lord Aron and the others may not survive!" Avary immediately bowed.


    The words that he said shocked the group of knights who suddenly stopped.


    "Aron Steele? My brother would never mingle with the likes of darkness! If you im to know my brother, prove it!" Aron Steele shouted back. The surrounding Mercenaries also took their position and red hatefully at the shadow.


    "Prove it? Lord Aron never said anything..." Avary suddenly panicked. He forgot to take any form of proof from Aron or Kyros about his new identity.


    The knights encircled the dark being they found before him. When this being imed that he was a vampire, they began to be more cautious.


    "Lord Aron has not granted me any form of proof! They are fighting with Char Vermilion Lizards and Golems as we speak! I was tasked to y my former master, Lord Zid Blood de of the Blood de family."


    "Your former master? My brother managed to free you from a Dark Bond?"


    "It wasn''t your brother. It was your son! Lord Kyros!"


    "Son? I don''t have a son!" Branze roared.


    "Oh! Right. The Knights did mention that in passing. Yes. Lord Aron adopted Lord Kyros on your behalf."


    Several mercenaries unsheathed their swords.


    "What are you doing?" Branze roared at the mercenaries.


    "Lord Branze. His ims sound like something your brother would do." One mercenary mumbled.


    "Right. He gave you a wifest time. Why not a son?" Another asked.


    Branze''s mouth was wide open. He wanted to retort but couldn''t think of anything to say.


    "My Lord, we must hurry! If you wish, you may bind me and tie me up. But we have to hasten towards Lord Aron and Lord Kyros! They are fighting about a hundred Char Vermilion Lizard!"


    "Lord Branze. Let''s do as he suggested. I wouldn''t have believed him... but he did say something Lord Aron would do." Another Mercenary urge.


    "Fine! Men! Tie him up! Let''s hurry!"


    And so, the group made their preparations and ran faster than ever.


    The Golem City was celebrating the return.


    It looked like a parade of heroes. The number of creatures they slew would greatly replenish their ranks. The reports that the first golems gave have been confirmed. No golems died other than the golem that Kyros summoned, which was used as a rock.


    The Iron Golems had sentience and could talk and have long reported back of the battle itself. Kyros''s strategy frustrated the golems at first, but then when the report came, it became all the more impressive.


    The Golems followed a principal that was the exact opposite. This tactic was because the Golems could not afford to have their stronger warriors expend their life energy in battle. The y and the Rock Golems would be at the front, while the Iron Golems would be positioned at the back. And both the lizards and the golems would fight and wilt themselves off.


    But Kyros''s risky arrangement brought more good than bad. The Iron Golems that fought could easily recover the energy from the number of lizards, lizardmen, and Swamp Man-Gators killed.


    The group even killed several Dark Lizards, and a single one could already turn a Rock Golem into an Iron Golem and give them sentience.


    The rejoicing continued, but one golem was not happy. Mardock couldn''t believe the sess they brought. He believed that the lizards they killed could barely restore the expenditure of the Iron Golems. But seeing the dead bodies, he could easily calcte that the energy the Golem army spent would only be one-eighth of the energy they would gain.


    Even Mardock couldn''t find a fault in the applied tactics with an energy supply of eight times their expenditure. He then realized why Stoph willingly expended his life.


    And there was even another prize. Kyros could restore them of their energy and could offer the Prime Earth Core, which was the primary reason why the Golem King agreed!


    Kyros finally stood up. Kyros only regained the strength to stand after drinking a lot of blood along the way.


    "As per our deal. No Golems died. But you nearly broke yours! You knew what Mardock would do, didn''t you?" Kyros spoke coldly.


    The rejoicing suddenly died out at the challenge of Kyros.


    Even Stoph, who was standing at the back, was horrified at Kyros''s challenge.


    Mardock sneered. It seemed this boy was an idiot easily given to rage.


    "I gave him amand which he followed. You cannot me me for what actions Mardock does." The Golem King frowned.


    "Then the deal is off. Kill us if you will. But the Okto-Kefali Whelpling will awaken soon. The Lizard Lords will be united, and you and your city will burn!" Kyrosughed.


    The grin of the Golem King froze.


    "Wha-what did you say?!" The King shouted.


    The nearby Golems raged, but the King suddenly shouted.


    "Quiet!" The hall was suddenly silenced from their hateful roars.


    Kyros smirked. His assumptions were correct.


    "I have done you a great favor! And the workings of Fate and Destiny have whispered the truth in my ears. The eight-headed monster that could devours has awakened. Your pitiful men of Golems will die!"


    "How did you know of that monster?!"


    "Because only I can kill that monster! Only I can y Eugene!"


    "Eu-Eugene?! You know its True Name?!"


    "Who do you think I am? I am Kyros Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos Steele! True Master of this Nephilim Sealing Mountain!" Kyros shouted.


    [Oration activated.]


    After learning of the existence of Eugene, the Lizard Lords, and learning of the truth of the Nephilim Sealing Mountain, Kyros was more certain that the entire mountain was rted to the seal. The items inside the mountain had all the monsters and the needed items to upgrade the temple.


    And through that, Kyros knew that it would still be rted to him. Kyros immediately mentioned the existence of Eugene to startle the Golem King.


    The Golem King was stunned. His mouth kept shaking. For the first time since the centuries passed, he had finally felt a strange fear. He heard the names of the most powerful beings that worked together to craft this mighty temple.


    "There is a way to know if what you im is true." The King finally mumbled.


    "The Earth Core here is more than just an Earth Core. It is the testament and the legacy of the beings that built this temple. You im to be the owner of this mountain, then prove it! Stand before the Earth Core and im it! If you are wrong, the Earth Core will kill you! If you are right, then I will do more than just spare you. I will name you to be an overseer of Golems. You will have the authority to rule the golems next to me!" The Golem King dered.


    Stoph and Mardock were shocked at Kyros''s deration.


    "Oh? So if I do prove myself, you will allow me to decree the death of Mardock?" Kyros challenged.


    "YOU-!"


    "Mardock! If he can im the Earth Core, then you have nearly caused the death of the Awaited One''s family." The King warned.


    Mardock froze. To think that the King would say such ims!


    "Kyros! I cannot allow you to decree his True Death. Mardock, Stoph, and two other Jewel Golems that are asleep have an Earth Core of their own. But if you are the Awaited One, and you have realized the weight of what Mardock is and still want to kill him, then you may destroy his body, but leave his core!" The King decreed.


    Mardock''s expression was extremely ugly as he heard this. While he would still be alive, the powerful body that he has developed over the centuries that passed would be lost.


    Kyros smiled and looked at Mardock as if confident that he would win.


    Without hesitation, Kyros marched towards the area where therge glowing orb stood and radiated with immense Earth Energy.


    Mardock looked in fear. He kept hoping that this arrogant man would die. But the closer Kyros moved to the orb, the more certain he was of losing his cultivated body.


    Kyros approached and touched therge orb that descended the moment the Golem King waved his hand.


    The moment Kyros touched it, a bright light exploded out.


    It was as if a thousand beings of immense power and might appeared.


    Kyros found himself standing on arge tform, and beings of great power from all over the Cosmos looked at him in the tform.


    "He who has broken forward is here." A voice announced, and all the beings looked at the Kyros. By some mystery, Kyros felt that he was so small. Compared to these beings, he appeared to be much smaller than a speck of dust.


    And yet, these gigantic beings were so many that thousand upon thousand stood by.


    Kyros''s vision began to spin. He saw a great battle unfolding. Gods and Fallen and a host of strange beings were there and were fighting each other.


    The scene was so chaotic that Kyros couldn''t tell who was on which side. Gods fought against gods. Fallen fought Fallen. And the throng of beings from all races fought in the great heavens.


    And then the sound of a thousand voices was heard. The roaring multitude spoke in unison.


    "I am the Alpha, and I shall face the Omega."


    "I am Beginning, and I shall battle to the End."


    "Awaken O Nephilim, and conquer Forward!"


    "Awaken O Nephilim, and preserve Today."


    "Arise and challenge what is to Be."


    "Arise and challenge what is to Come."


    "Arise and fight alongside the Beginning."


    "Arise and fight to end the End."


    "Arise and im True Eternity."


    "I am the Alpha and shall be the Omega."


    "I am the Beginning, and I shall be the End."


    The vision immediately disappeared.


    Kyros was on his knees the moment he regained consciousness.


    The vision seemed like a few seconds, but Kyros felt as though as he has lived through thousands of years.


    Kyros stood up and marveled at what he saw. But then he realized he was back at the Golem City.


    All the Golems were now kneeling. Kyros didn''t know when they knelt and turned to the Golem King.


    The Golem King remained standing, and a small ck and white orb appeared on his hand.


    "Hail Kyros Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos Steele! The Cornerstone of the City!" The Golem King dered.

 Chapter 59 - To Talk With The Golem King

    Kyros was still in a daze at what he saw. The vision was so outstanding that he was stunned in shock. Even the sight of all the Golems kneeling towards him didn''t seem to have brought Kyros out of his shock.


    "Cminus... Did you see it?"


    "If by it, you mean, the psychedelic acid trip were we saw strange, powerful beings that surpassed the gods and fallen, that war and the cryptic message... then yes..." Cminus trembled.


    His soul could be sensed by all thoserge beings who looked down on them and judged them.


    "That ce... It felt like it was beyond the heavens. Where was that?"


    "West Virginia."


    "Where is West Virginia?"


    "I don''t know where that was! I was being sarcastic! Wherever or whenever that was, it was something I haven''t seen or been through! It existed outside of our time. That ce where we have defied the veryws that this entire universe was built upon!"


    "It existed outside of our time?!"


    "Yes. The truth was, you only survived in that ce because of your Time Surge status! What that Golem King said was true! If you lied, you would have died in that ce!" Cminus exined.


    "It had to be me! It knew! This ce knew about me! This isn''t just about the powers of Ancient Fate working to help us fight off the Greater Gods and the Fallen! There is something so much more about me and this entire trip!"


    "Right. It''s too coincidental. Just who or what are you?"


    "Awaken O Nephilim, and conquer Forward. Awaken O Nephilim, and preserve Today. This verse is something that defines who I am! I conquered Forward by going back! And now I have the chance to preserve today!"


    "You mean it was talking about your time travel?"


    "Yes. I can preserve today and save the present now. I was called to struggle. Besides, the next line sounds suspiciously regarding Fate and Destiny. Arise and challenge what it is to Be. Arise and challenge what is to Come."


    "Now that you mention that..." Cminus nodded.


    "But I can''t understand thest part. Whatever or whoever made this and destined me with such Fate and Destiny wants me to face them and be End?"


    "That''s something that even I don''t understand. Kyros, I suggest leaving that out for now. We might find more clues the more we unleash more parts of the Temple and even this mountain."


    "I guess so. For now... I have to understand more about this city." Kyros turned towards therge glowing orb.


    He reached out and touched it and could immediately feel the link with it.


    [Soul Link Complete. Control over the City of Golems is avable. Merging data with Nephilim Sealing Temple.]


    Kyros could feel information regarding the Temple enter his head.


    ---


    City of Golems


    Powered by the Gigantes Earth Core, the City of Golems is the bastion of defense to keep the monsters within the Nephilim Sealing Mountain from emerging to the world beyond.


    Gigantes Earth Core Energy- 14% remaining.


    Upkeep:


    Soil Golem- 0


    y Golem- 192


    Rock Golem- 68


    Iron Golem- 29


    Elemental Golem- 2/4


    Estimated time of Energy Depletion- 182 years.


    ---


    Golem King Petra


    Race: Golem King


    Level: 93


    Strength- 2812


    Magic- 386


    Dexterity- 910


    Vitality- 3961


    Intelligence- 131


    ---


    Golem King Spells:


    Bestow Life to Soil (Linked to Gigantes Earth Core)


    Upgrade Golem ss Linked to Gigantes Earth Core)


    ---


    Kyros read through the information and then turned towards the King.


    "You are Petra?"


    "You truly are the Awaited One. Indeed I am. I am Petra, Golem King of this City of Golems. We are charged to prevent any creature in the Nephilim Sealing Mountain from escaping by an ancient decree. We were ordered to wait, even unto death. Our duties were to aid the Awaited One, which is you in defending or conquering the Nephilim Sealing Mountain."


    "Alright. First things first! I want your golems to help carry my family and bring them into a certain ce. There is another ce beyond this city that can heal and restore my friends. Send your Golems to bring my family there." Kyros immediately asked.


    "Apologies. But that is not within our duties. We were created with great magic that binds us to an oath and purpose. Unless we are to guard other exits other than this, or if we need to send golems to hunt those that have trespassed beyond this city, we cannot send those golems out."


    Kyros frowned.


    "I sort of expected this, though." Kyros turned towards the knights and took a closer look at their condition. The group that needed the most aid were the newly turned vampires. They looked pitiful and even had various parts chopped off from the battle. But despite this status, Kyros confirmed that they were in no immediate danger of dying.


    The rest of the knights, including Aron, remained unconscious. But they were stable, nheless.


    "Hrm?" It was then that Kyros noticed Avary returning. He had ordered Avary to meet with his father and only return once that waspleted.


    "They are still a bit far from the Temple. I guess it''s better if we just wait here for them." Kyros decided.


    "Things would have been so easier if you managed to store the Temple in a pocket dimension, you know. You could have brought it out here." Cminus chastised.


    "What use would that be?"


    "What do you mean?" Cminus frowned.


    Kyros sighed and willed the information of [Carrier Has Arrived!].


    ---


    Carrier has Arrived!- Allows ess to Dimensional Magic to carry the entire Nephilim Sealing Temple and the Trial Grounds in a pocket dimension. Kyros may enter and exit temple grounds for 50 magic points. Grants ess to Nephilim Inventory and the Temple Storage Space.


    ---


    "First, if I tried to do that, it would do more harm than good. I can carry the Temple, but it doesn''t say if I can put it out. Maybe in the higher levels of the Temple, but not now. And look, I can enter the temple ground for 50 magic. It doesn''t say if others can. Besides, when Fate began to interfere, it teleported us out of the way so fast that I wouldn''t have the opportunity to do that if I could." Kyros exined.


    "Oh. So until you level it up, you intended to keep that Temple there?"


    "Yes. That''s why I nned to only do it after tricking the kingdoms into helping us! I wanted to level the Temple up first so that [Carrier has Arrived!] would improve. After all, the temple spells that have been unlocked change in terms of power as the temple level increased." Kyros exined.


    "That makes sense. Hopefully, you could merge the Temple and this City when you level up."


    "That''ll be something to consider in the future. Now, time to have a little talk to the Golem King and see if my assumptions and guesses about this City are correct." Kyros stood back up from checking on the status of his family and walked back to the King.


    "Golem King Petra, I was also linked to this Gigantes Earth Core and saw the information about this. Please confirm my understanding. This Gigantes Earth Core is the one that constantly provides energy or life to all golems in this city. But I think this excludes you, correct?" Kyros asked.


    Petra was startled at Kyros''s statements.


    "As expected of the Corner Stone of Golem City! You are indeed our savior."


    " It is as you have deduced. This Gigantes Earth Core provides life and energy to all golems here. It continues to fuel us."


    "And the more Golems awake, the more of the energy that this Gigantes Earth Core you spend. Is this why two of the Elemental Golems are inactive?"


    "That is correct."


    "Could you please borate more about this? I noticed that as King, you are given the means of how to divide this energy. And going by the previous conversations that I had with Stoph and that idiot Mardock, you seemed to have created some form of reward system for the golems. And it seems that you don''t allow the weaker golems to recharge their energy here."


    "That is correct. The Gigantes Earth Core is an amazing magic artifact. It harnesses the souls that we offer it and allow the creatures to be reborn as golems. Of course, it can also just turn the souls and make it fuel. Because of this, each golem is a unique individual. When they are summoned, they have an average of two years to live. I do not allow the Gigantes Earth Core to constantly recover their lifespan but enforce them to fight and kill. If they are able to kill monsters, they are able to add their lifespan. The Gigantes Earth Core can also not only increase the lifespan of the golem but make them stronger."


    "You mean your established system in this city is to make your golems kill to not only save themselves but also to level them up?"


    "Yes. Of course, only a very small percentage goes to their experience as the current rules of exchange prioritize the lives of the Elemental Golems and the Iron Golems. If a golem manages to be an Iron Golem, then he has proven to be strong and worthy of being among my elites. y Golems that are level ten can rank up to be a Rock Golem. And when they reach level twenty, they may rank up to be an Iron Golem. I designed this reward system to push my golems to fight with their lives at stake and force them to grow stronger. If I wantonly use the dead to increase the level of all golems, it would give me high leveled, or even ranked up golems that are not good fighters." Petra exined.


    "Wow. For a rock, you sure are smart. No wonder your intelligence exceeds the hundreds." Kyros praised.


    "But we may have to tweak this setup moving forward slightly. As I said, the Lizard Lords areing. So let''s talk about that first. What exactly lies deeper in this Nephilim Sealing Mountain?"

 Chapter 60 - To Conquer A Dungeon

    The Golem King''s expression changed to a ratherplicated one as he heard Kyros''s question.


    "Is something wrong?" Kyros couldn''t help but ask as he noticed that Petra had a bewildered look.


    "The truth is... we don''t know."


    "You don''t know? Erm... How long have you been here?"


    "We do not know. This world is of endless darkness. We could not tell how long exactly, but it must have been centuries already."


    "I doubt that with your intelligence, you weren''t curious about it. You didn''t bother to explore the deep areas of the mountain? I understand why you can''t go up the mountain towards our ce because of your vow as protectors... But surely you should be able to go deeper and explore the depths of this mountain, right? How else are your golems going to get stronger if not by going on some hunts?"


    "We have explored it. It took more than a year, but we achieved it! We know that the monsters that appear beyond the city are of different races."


    "So it''s not just Lizards in here?" Kyros was amazed.


    "Yes. You must have seen from Stoph''s power that our Elemental Golems are quite strong. We''ve led an escapade to massacre the enemies that we have here long. At first, our enemies were orcs, and we routed them and even massacred them. And even when we searched every inch of the mountain, some orcs would suddenly appear out of nowhere."


    "They just appear?" Kyros pondered.


    "Could this be like some spawning ground?" Cminus wondered.


    "Spawning ground?"


    "It''s verymon in the games of my other incarnations. Monsters appear on certain locations. Maybe this whole ce is a dungeon-like structure that ismonly seen on many light novels. But if we were to try to replicate that, we still need to consider the energy source that creates these monsters..." Cminus guessed.


    "If it just spawns monsters, it wouldn''t create things that are as organized as those Lizards were. The monsters have sentience." Kyros mentally argued to Cminus. He turned back to Petra and continued asking.


    "What can you tell me of the sentience and intelligence of the monsters? Do they seem unrted to the rest?"


    "When we wiped out the first batch of orcs, those that followed even asked us what had happened to the former group. We soon ascertained that the first orcs we fought and those that cameter were rted. So they weren''t merely created monsters that the Nephilim Sealing Temple randomly spawns." Petra exined as he could guess what Kyros was considering.


    "You''ve thought of that as well?" Kyros asked.


    "Yes. We''ve interrogated a few. Some were sent here. Others would fall into some ident and awaken to find themselves here." Petra revealed.


    "Are there any portals or such deep inside the Temple?"


    "None. That''s the thing. There is definitely a portal that sends monsters here. Some go in willfully, some by ident. But as to where they appear, it''s pretty random. Eventually, we stopped our efforts in eradicating the monsters and focused on defending the city. Our efforts were wasted, and we lost quite a bit of the energy that the Gigantes Earth Core provided. If we kept an aggressive front, we would run out of life energy, and the monsters will overrun us."


    "Then you switched from offense to prioritizing defense and hunting? That means the lizards weren''t that many before."


    "Yes. We often send out our squads to hunt for more monsters to kill to refuel us and act to make our Golems grow. Sometimes, monsters that are not lizards appear all by themselves. At times, they are a small group. Some are confused and uncertain where they are, while others know about us and the other races. These groups be our source of life and possibly food for the monster groups that eventually formed. The lizards managed to hide from us and gather through their burrow ability. So by the time we realized their numbers, we couldn''t expend any effort to kill them all." Petra exined.


    "I see. If that''s the case, this mountain must extend a great distance."


    "It does. It takes over a year to reach the end. During the age of orcs, we reached the end. Two of our Jeweled Golems were the ones that led the campaign."


    "Those are the two inactive ones?"


    "Yes. They had such low energy that we ced them into a deep sleep to be refueled. Since our life energy dwindles the more we move and fight, constantly exploring the Nephilim Sealing Mountain that goes on and down the depths is reckless. So we focused on hunting monsters and kept bolstering our numbers while bestowing energy to recover the energy of our golems."


    "Then were you just in a war? The number of your Golems and the remaining energy of the Gigantes Earth Core looks terrible."


    "Yes. We just did. The Lizard had a campaign against us these past hundreds of years. And frankly, we are losing. We estimate that we could hold this for a decade."


    Kyros took a mental note. The Gigantes Earth Core stated that it would take them 182 years before they dwindle with their current upkeep. But if they were in battle, then the energy they would draw from the Gigantes Earth Core would only be enough for a decade.


    Kyros was silent and began to think. The vision he saw earlier revealed a majestic war that involved all races, and even the gods and fallen took part.


    "Could this Nephilim Sealing Temple be a gate to another world?" Kyros guessed.


    "That sounds like the logical answer. Various races are trying to enter this ne, and we get to be the guardians. But how was it that this ce never got opened in your previous life?" Cminus wondered.


    "We can only make guesses. There are too many mysteries here. But one thing is certain... We have a dungeon to conquer." Kyros sighed.


    "Can you help us, Cornerstone?" Petra finally asked.


    "Yes. This looks like a good ce for the Steele family to grow. What I''m afraid of are the political mind tricks that ur and the betrayals of kingdoms. In this ce, the Steele family can fight Fate together! Our knights can help in hunting and replenish your ranks as well as aid you in the wars toe!" Kyros dered.


    "Good!"


    "But...Petra. Regardless of what happened, your stupid Elemental Golem or Jewel Golem or whatever that idiot is... He nearly killed my family. Since I am the Cornerstone that you im, I will demand three things. His current strength will be canceled and be brought back to a Soil Golem. Do not worry about his body. I can use all of it to make something just as powerful from it. And secondly, I demand that he bes my summoned golem! And the third thing...!"


    Kyrosid out his third demand as he noticed the approach of Avary through his Micro-Management skill...


    Branze Steele was moving faster and faster. As the group moved, Avary continued to detail the features of Aron Steele, which convinced the group that they were, in fact, from the Steele n!


    Avary also mentioned all the knights and their respective prominent features. What was more, Avary was able to point out some things about knights, such as their personality and habits. Avary also praised the bravery of these knights.


    Of course, Avary was still tied up and was being carried like a log. The darkness around him just wouldn''t disappear, and so the group maintained caution when talking with Avary. But of all the things he said, the details of Lord Kyros Steele continued to amaze them.


    Soon, the group reached a wide splitting path.


    "Move to the right! But be careful! The Golems are there!" Avary warned.


    He had told them that the Golems had the power and strength to challenge a level 30 knight.


    As the group ran, Avary could see a bright light shining somewhere. The source of the light was still hidden as the tunnel turned right.


    "It''s that! That''s the Golem City! It was dark before, but it lit up a bright orange glow when we reached that ce!"


    Branze grew serious. He had fought a lot of magic users in his career as a knight. Though he didn''t have Mana, he could tell that there was a thick amount of Earth energy.


    But as they took the turn, they were startled as a line of golems were waiting for some twenty meters from where they were.


    "What the...?!" Avary was stunned.


    Among the golems were three particrly powerful ones that Branze felt he had no chance of ying.


    A red golem emanating great fiery power stood. A green emerald golem also stood, and powerful poison energy that could corrode stone was there.


    But the most horrifying one that had caused Branze to fall into a state of shock was the golem at the very center.


    It was arge golem. Its body was made of metal, gold, and rocks that shined like diamonds.


    "Humans of the Steele family, I believe?" The Golem King asked.


    Branze and the mercenaries trembled at the sight.


    But the bounded Avary noticed something, but before he could speak, the Emerald Golem approached.


    His face looked extremely angry as if he would burst out and start killing everyone.


    Each step he took caused the group to sense the poison.


    The Golem walked and moved towards Branze.


    Branze gripped his sword and shield. He could not abandon his brother and raised the sword and shield.


    "Men! We fight!" Branze shouted as he raised his two weapons.


    The mercenaries behind him were frozen from the sight of the golems and the green one moving forward.


    Avary wanted to cry out something, but the mercenary carrying him was so scared that it began choking Avary, making it difficult for Avary to say something.


    He knew something weird had happened, for he could see another figure standing next to the powerful golems!


    "Branze Steele?" The golem asked.


    Branze didn''t answer but smashed his sword to his shield, signaling to fight.


    The emerald golem was shaking in anger. He heard someone behind him answer his question.


    "That''s him! Do it! Do it now!" The voice demanded.


    And so, the golem what he was supposed to do.


    With great hate, he turned to Branze Steele.


    "Please p me, daddy!" The golem revealed the side of his buttocks.

 Chapter 61 - Never Disappointed

    When Kyros exined his third demand, Mardock charged and wanted to kill Kyros.


    With a simple p, the king sent Mardock flying.


    "Cornerstone, my concern is that this body that Mardock has. It won''t be easily formed." Petra exined.


    "Don''t worry. I hold another power apart from this. You have seen how I could casually bring out items from thin air. Stoph and your golems could attest to the miraculous power of it."


    "Indeed. Cornerstone can pull weapons out of thin air, and he could even make objects disappear." Stoph confirmed.


    "Trust me, but the body that he built over the years will definitely be something that can still help you. Beyond this city, towards the ce where we came from, is another legacy of the beings that created this ce. The Nephilim Sealing Temple!"


    "That has been mentioned by the beings that created us. It is one of the things that we are also protecting!" Petra was amazed.


    "That ce is linked to me and allows me to draw the magic out of it. And so, even if Mardock loses his body, it won''t be much of a loss!" Kyros smiled.


    He had seen how the Temple used some y Golems and crafted an Earth Core. He knew that if he were to acquire such rare materials made from the Emerald of Mardock, he would receive powerful weapons, armors or may even find a way to upgrade Mardock''s core. In truth, the core that held Mardock''s life was his true purpose.


    Kyros aimed to study the mystery of magic itself. Due to his proficiency inbat and the use of the sword, Cminus decided not to teach him mortal arts and magic but focused on teaching other fields like cksmithing, alchemy, and so on. But luckily, the Temple offered a means to fill that gap. The Nephilim Sealing Temple''s Library would help Kyros. And with the Magic Lock curse removed, and De-Magic weakened, Kyros needed Elemental Cores.


    Instead of further strengthening his sword, Kyros knew that his advantage of being a Nephilim would be in the magic powers that he could wield.


    Petra pondered for a bit. Apart from killing Mardock, Kyros wanted Mardock''s soul to be his. But then Kyros retrieved the Earth Core.


    "I made this. And if I have Mardock''s core and his body, I could even strengthen Mardock''s core. But even if that''s not possible, I can still have special uses for it!"


    [Oration skill activated.]


    Petra held the Earth Core and could sense its peculiarities.


    "Then the first two demands are not true demands." Petra guessed.


    "Correct. They seemed costly, but it will benefit you and this city more than what you can imagine. Hence, my third demand. That is my real demand. Mardock will live, and it is even possible that he will grow stronger if the core is with me. So since that is the case, I demand his pride be attacked!" Kyros smiled.


    And with that, Petra agreed. And this led to the weird scene before Branze Steele.


    Branze Steele gazed with a ridiculous expression.


    The golem before him was mighty. Yet now, it offered his side to Branze.


    "He''s not doing anything. You have to convince him!" A demanding voice was heard from the back.


    The Emerald Golem''s intestines turned green in regret. If he had known this would have been the ending, he would have not only allowed Aron to go down safely, but he would treat Aron like a Diamond Golem!


    "Ple-Please... p me, Daddy." Mardock said once more.


    Branze didn''t want to p a poisonous, mighty golem that could end him in one punch. He turned to Avary.


    "What in nes World is going on?"


    Avary had seen Kyros standing alongside the three golems at the front. He even saw Scarlet and Gregory at the side. But those figures were dwarfed by the golems. Branze and most of the mercenaries saw the King Golem first.


    Itsrge and tall frame and the dangerous powers he released made the group forget the rest.


    But Avary''s thoughts were on Kyros and the rest. When he saw them, he realized that Lord Kyros must have done something. And while the situation seemed confusing, he wanted to get to Kyros and his friends as fast as he could.


    "Just p it!" Avary finally eximed.


    "Like hell, I''m pping that!" Branze shouted.


    "Is that Branze Steele?" Petra asked Kyros.


    "Yes. That''s my father." Kyros affirmed.


    "Father?!" Petra was shocked.


    "That is the Cornerstone''s, the Awaited One''s father?!" Petra thought that the people arriving would be the vassal force or reinforcements of the Steele family. Petra wasn''t stupid and could easily piece things together. He had noticed that Kyros never meant the Steele family to be his blood family. How could a being that preceded them be someone of noble birth?


    Kyros was also the acting leader of the group who led the team and even negotiated with him. But when Kyros affirmed that this man was his ''father'', Petra knew that he could not afford to be disrespectful.


    With haste, Petra ran with a speed that was unfitting for his frame.


    "Good sir! Good morning! Or Evening! I am Golem King Petra, leader of Golem City. We wee you to Golem City! Please ept the humble apology of Mardock for his harsh and cruel treatment of Lord Aron Steele. May you smack his buttocks with such force that it will dispel the anger in your heart."


    "What the fragment?!" Branze eximed.


    Seeing the three-meter tall golem speak with such courtesy and offer the green golems behind confused him all the more.


    "If you feel threatened, here..." Petra''srge figure held the side of Mardock so that it could not move.


    "Do it! Feel free to do it!" Petra urged all the more.


    Branze turned once more to Avary. For some strange reason, the dark shadow was now in the form of a young boy.


    "Do it!" Avary called out.


    "What?!" Branze was even more confused. He could tell this boy was Avary from his voice, but why was he no longer covered in a strange dark power like earlier?


    "Do it!" Avary urged again.


    "Do it!" Stoph chanted, and some of the Iron Golems did so also.


    "Do it! He hurt Uncle Aron!"


    [Oration skill activated.]


    And with that, Branze gave in.


    SLAP!


    Branze smacked it so hard that cracks were appearing. Due to the pilling pressure, confusion and frustration, he released his full might and even used Force energy.


    Mardock held down his painful scream.


    "Oh. You guys feel pain?" Kyros asked Stoph.


    "Yes. Our bodies do feel pain through the magical energy in us. It tells us if we are losing energy." Stoph exined.


    "Smashing smack worthy of being Kyros''s father!" Petra praised. He was truly astonished as he didn''t expect a mere human could do such damage.


    Almost instantly, Petra reached out and broke the neck of Mardock.


    His jewel body crumbled like broken stones.


    Branze was horrified. That Emerald golem was so strong that even his full power could only do so much, and yet, to this tall monster, it was as easy as killing chickens?!"


    Petra picked up a green orb that looked simr to the Earth Core of Kyros.


    "Is everything to your liking, Cornerstone?" Petra turned to Kyros.


    As Petra turned to Kyros, Branze couldn''t help but turn his attention to where thisrge golem looked.


    Kyros approached and took a good look at Branze Steele.


    Kyros felt his emotions well up now that he could take a close look at his father.


    Memories of that day surfaced.


    Kyros recalled rushing towards the ancestral home of the Steele Family to see many dead orcs piling like a mountain. But at the very top of the mountain was the figure of his worn-out and dead father, who had died from multiple stabs, arrows, and attacks.


    Branze''s dead eyes seemed strange. For it was the eyes of a father looking proudly at his son. The orc that managed to finally kill Branze boasted that while the knight was strong, he was a delusional idiot. Instead, Branze kept hoping that his son would return as he was confident that his son could easily survive the war. He fought hard to stop the horde, hoping that his son would arrive and the same not only him but also his family.


    Even to hisst breath, Branze gazed on the distance, waiting for his son. His eyes were never disappointed, nor did the shine of his eyes lose hope. It was forever hoping and proud of the man he called son.


    Kyros would never forget those eyes.


    "Lord Kyros!" Avary shouted in delight and awoke Kyros from his daydream.


    Branze realized that the man that Golem King respectfully addressed as Cornerstone was the same Lord Kyros who his brother adopted on his behalf. And the only thing Branze could think about was how amazing Kyros was.


    The Golem King Petra could easily conquer the kingdom he served with such great power. And so, it would only be natural that Branze would have deep respect to Kyros, who managed to make this Golem King someone who would greet the guest.


    Branze also felt a mixture of hope as he knew this Golem would change his family forever. And so Branze looked at Kyros. And that look was one that was swelling with pride. He didn''t care who this boy was. He would forever be proud to call him a son.


    As if Destiny willed it, Branze gave Kyros the same look that he had on that day.


    Kyros felt his knees weaken from the sight. His entire body was trembling. But he did not dare to stumble. He vowed that never again would he show himself to be weak before his father.


    As Kyros took each small and slow step, he recalled the vision he saw and remembered the words the great multitude spoke.


    "Awaken O Nephilim, and conquer Forward!"


    "Awaken O Nephilim, and preserve Today."


    "Arise and challenge what is to Be."


    "Arise and challenge what is to Come."


    "I will preserve today!" Kyros vowed in his heart.


    "Whether if it''s Fate, Destiny, or even death itself! I will not allow things to end up the same way they did in the past! I will save my family! I will save my men! I will save Mechiel!"

 Chapter 62 - Going To Make Him King

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


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


    Branze had aplicated expression.


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


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


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


    Branze was stunned.


    "They''re vampires now?"


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


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


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


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


    It was then that Branze realized his mistake.


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


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


    "The Temple? No."


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


    Branze and his mercenaries were startled at what they saw.


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


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


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


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


    Branze was startled.


    "Do you believe me, father?"


    [Oration activated.]


    Branze smiled.


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


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


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


    "Duke?" Kyrosughed.


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


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


    The knights felt their blood boil.


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


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


    Branze didn''t feel offended butughed.


    "Son..." Branze shamelessly called.


    But those words struck Kyros''s heart.


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


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


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


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


    ---


    Curse of Destiny activated.


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


    ---


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


    Kyros felt great rage at Destiny.


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


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


    BOOM!


    Arge crack urred as the power of the Ancient and the Fallen angrily exploded. Like broken ss, cracks appeared around the vision, and the entire scene became distorted.


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


    "Fate Challenger!" Cminus eximed.


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


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


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


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


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


    Branze was startled, and everyone became confused.


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


    Kyros tapped Branze''s shoulder.


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


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


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


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


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


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


    "I want one too."


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


    "Restore? You can also restore their energy?"


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


    Petra''s eyes grew wider.


    "You are certain of this?"


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


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


    "Yes."


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


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

 Chapter 63 - Give Up The Nobility

    "Interesting... If our hearts are set on guarding this ce, it might just be possible for the golems to go there. Your words have meaning. But we are not sure."


    "Where is this vow inscribed anyway?"


    "In the Gigantes Earth Core. We do not understand it, other than the fact that that core used to be the Core of a Gigantes being that ascended to godhood."


    "I expected that. Then can you check if your vow allows you to send your golems back?"


    "Let me inquire with the Gigantes Earth Core. It will judge whether it is possible or not." Petra moved back and headed towards the Gigantes Earth Core. Kyros followed.


    As Petra approached, he touched the core and closed his eyes.


    "It is possible for us to go. But we cannot fight any monster along the way. If an enemy approaches, we can only stare or even get ourselves killed. Any golem that acts out of this will die." Petra exined.


    "You were hoping to have an army?" Cminus teased. He knew Kyros was looking for a way to pull the golems out and help him fight certain battles.


    "Worth a try, right?" Kyrosughed. He nned to test just how he could exploit the rules and vows bestowed on the core. But after seeing Petra and the Gigantes Earth Core interaction, Kyros knew that the Gigantes Earth Core was still alive.


    "It''s possible that I can use this Gigantes Earth Core to revive the being..." Kyros thought to himself. He saw the core, not as some magical artifact but arge version of the cores he had.


    Kyros touched it and willed to send the object to the Temple.


    ---


    Sending failed. The file you''re sending is inessible.


    ---


    "..." Cminus no longer concerned himself with what he saw.


    "Was this ce sealed before? I mean... the path leading here, the one my father used to get here. It should have only opened up recently, correct?" Kyros asked Petra.


    "Yes. The truth is, this path you im to be leading towards the Nephilim Sealing Temple was closed until a few weeks ago. It mysteriously opened up and created a deep tremor around the mountain."


    "That must have been the time I was unsealed," Kyros whispered to Petra.


    "Sealed?"


    "I was sealed here. I''m not human. It''s rather hard to exin. These people really ARE my family, and I would kill to protect them. But I am a Nephilim."


    "You are the Nephilim?!" Petra was startled at Kyros''s words. But then, Petra''s expression changed.


    "It does make sense. With all the powers that you''ve shown, it''s clear that you, the Cornerstone, would have such identity."


    "I hope this gives you enough reason to trust me. But please keep this secret between us. No humans must know of my real identity. Gods and Fallens are seeking my doom. The reason why this Gigantes Earth Core is here is clearly so I can summon and revive it."


    "Revive this? You have the power to revive the mighty Gigantes?" Petra was amazed.


    "Not now, but yeah. I think I can. I am fighting against the gods and fallen who are fighting those who created this entire Temple. So it only makes sense that they will give me something to shelter me from theing storms. With how Destiny and Fate are at work to kill me, it won''t take long before they find me. So it''s a race against time, and both Fate and Destiny are challenging me. This entire ce is designed to help me ovee it all. So the logical thing is to revive this Gigantes core. I saw how you interacted with it. It''s clear that this Gigantes Earth Core has intelligence. And if the Jewel Golems and you have souls stored in their core, then this thing should have the same."


    "That does sound usible. It seems that our destiny goes beyond being mere guardians of the Nephilim Sealing Mountain." Petraughed.


    "The Gigantes Earth Core bestows its energy depending on your will, right?"


    "Yes."


    "Is it possible for me to link up with it? I want to know exactly what the Gigantes Earth Core can do. And I noticed that it is already linked to you." Kyros asked.


    "Link with the Gigantes Earth Core? You mean to control it?" Petra thought.


    "You are the Cornerstone. And it was prophesied that you would be both our salvation and our leader. But I don''t know how to pass on the powers that the Gigantes Earth Core has on me."


    "Hmm... How about we try holding the Gigantes Earth Core together?" Kyros suggested.


    "If a transference of power is involved, it should involve the two of us. So let''s reach out to the Gigantes Earth Core and see what happens. Honestly, I would rather that the summoning of Golems and the upgrading is up to you. I just need to have some form of connection with you as I would be spending more time in the Temple to train my men. Just as you have your mission to protect the monsters from going out, I have my own troubles to deal with the monsters outside."


    "That would be an excellent arrangement." Petra smiled and held the Gigantes Earth Core.


    Kyros did the same.


    A bright light shed as Kyros and Petra felt a rush of power linking them together.


    [Establish Temple-City link?]


    The notification appeared, and Kyros immediately clicked on yes.


    A strange glow manifested. Kyros could feel a link that connected him to the senses of Petra.


    "Oh? We''re linked together?" Kyros smiled.


    Petra was startled at the thoughts and pulled back his hands. Kyros felt the link got terminated.


    "Oh. The link only happens when you are touching the core. Still, this is good enough! We''re practically connected." Kyros smiled.


    Petra was stunned but wanted to see if Kyros''s theory was right and reached out towards the Gigantes Earth Core. He moved slower to see if the touch was indeed the cause of that link or if Kyros managed tomunicate with him through other means.


    As expected, the link was established when he touched it. And as the link confirmed, Petra sent a message that was the only thing message a person would send given the unusual circumstances ofmunicating telepathically to another.


    "Hello? It''s me." Petra began.


    Kyros felt and resisted a strange urge to sing a powerful bad that began with these very words. Kyros felt as if he became a woman full of nostalgia and regret and who has been trying to reach the person on the other side but failed for at least a thousand times.


    "Ye-Yes. I can hear you." By some miracle, Kyros managed to resist the soulful power to answer in poetic expression, imitating a dark-clothed woman with a fabulous long, ck scarf on her neck.


    It was then that Kyros could feel see the entire City of Golem and even see the continuing movements of the golems who were still bringing up the dead body of lizards into the city. Kyros could also see several golems scattered near the area of the city. Kyros could tell that these Golems were searching for possible routes and paths that the lizards must have found or any other opening caused by the earthquake.


    There were golems moving near the temple area and were also patrolling the region towards the Temple.


    "The Temple! And it seems I can see your vampire friends!" In the same manner, Petra could see the exact ce of the Temple.


    ---


    City-Temple Linkplete.


    The world is changing.


    Who now has the strength to stand against the armies of City and Temple? To stand against the might of Kyros and Petra and the union of the Two Towers?


    ---


    Kyros and Cminus looked at the impressive statement.


    "I''ll admit it. I liked this one." Kyros sighed as he read the oddity of the Temple''s notification.


    "Petra. With this we should be able tomunicate easily. I''ll take my leave then. We can discuss more of our ns once I discuss things with my father. Have your golems send a few lizards to test the efficiency of the Temple''s power."


    "Alright. That seems to be within thews of thews."


    "Let''s move out then! Since you can see the Temple, I''m sure you can direct them to go towards that ce. I''ll talk with my family now."


    Kyros went to his family, and the group immediately departed.


    The group moved with haste. The Knights of Branze had various requirements at the ready, including stretchers as they were prepared to go on a rescue mission to save all of Aron''s knights.


    As the group marched, Kyros began toy out most of the ns he has. One of the previously unconscious knights had recovered and managed to share some parts of their sesses while Kyros was talking.


    "This is amazing! If what we heard was true, Aron has perfected his path as a Force Pdin! And if our men can gain mana..." Branze began to dream.


    "Father... The Temple bestows things... but it immediately pushed us into a very brutal trial. If not for the idental alliance and favor of Petra the Golem King, we would have been wiped out. So... there is an exchange for everything we acquire."


    Branze was awakened from his dream.


    "So it''s very dangerous? With what they told us, the battle was insanely difficult that it''s a miracle they are alive."


    "Yes. We are all going to be fighting and challenging Fate itself. So I have a suggestion. Fate seems to have a way to gauge our current standing as a family. It only sent us to that ce when Uncle awakened the powers of Force Pdin and when our knights received mana. Because we received so much, the Fate that governs the Temple found it necessary to test us. But I wonder... what if our standing isn''t all that high?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "What if we suddenly decline as a family?" Kyros proposed.


    "Decline? How will our family decline?"


    "Think of it this way, father. We currently have 100 points. Let''s assume that the next limit when Fate begins to attack us is 200 points. We haven''t lost anything we can recover in Fate''s first test... Well, except the humanity of these three." Kyros pointed to the three knight-turned vampires.


    "But what if we give up ournds, our businesses, and even our nobility! That will put us way down, allowing us to gain more advantage to fight Fate''s next test!"


    "That sounds mad!"


    "Please, father! Urge grandfather to give up our nobility!"

 Chapter 64 - You Have To Be Champions!

    The knights finally reached the majestic temple and saw how Kyros opened the door by some strange password.


    Stoph journeyed together with Kyros and the Iron Golems and a few Rock Golems, and they were all dragging several Lizards each. Two were dragged, and one more was being carried on the shoulder.


    "Alright. Bring it all up to the Temple. First things first, we need to recover and restore our energy. And this will be our chance to test just how much experience we can get and how much energy will be restored for the Golems." Kyros exined.


    "We can discuss more of our future ns after this. Seeing is believing. You guys need to experience just what the Temple can do. Remember, this goes against Fate. The moment you receive its blessings, the cure of Fate will affect you." Kyros warned as he spoke to the rest of the Knights.


    The group walked up and began to put down the lizards. The dead body of Zid Blood de was still on the temple grounds.


    "That''s the Blood de member you talked about?" Branze asked.


    "Yes, Father. I made Avary kill him, and knowing that the Prime Bonder will see thest moments of his life, I made Avary dere that he is serving the killer of my Master."


    "Cracky Batcheeks, the Naked Offender. What a strange name." Branze shook his head.


    "That''s correct. I also made it look like that the Knights of Perragrim were involved so in sowing discord and making the Blood de focus their efforts in killing that mysterious group."


    "I have never heard of them. But if they have managed to pressure your family to desperation while staying in the shadows, then they must be formidable." Branze nodded.


    "Alright. Everyone inside. I''ll bring out the rest that I took." Kyros then used the Storage Space of the Temple, and several other monsters appear out of thin air.


    After the battle, Kyros had already taken and threw many lizards into the temple space just in case the Golems couldn''t make the trip to deliver the monsters.


    The Char ck Lizard Prince was among the spoils that Kyros sent here.


    Man-Gators, Lizardmen, and several Char Vermilion Lizards appeared, and the entire temple was actually full of dead bodies. Even the broken-down body of Mardock appeared.


    "Is it alright to desecrate the temple like this?" Branze asked.


    "It''s alright. The temple doesn''t waste single blood. Alright, Stoph. Let''s hope that it can pay back what you wasted in that battle." Kyros smiled.


    [Quest Items detected:


    Char Vermillion Lizard (59/80)


    Swamp Man-Gator (2/10)


    Stonic Creatures (50/50)


    Lizard Captain


    Lizardmen (8/50)


    Assimte to the temple and disperse experience points?]


    Kyros looked at the stats and noticed that Stonic Creatures became 50/50 after putting the body of Mardock. The case was also simr as the number of Lizards that Kyros brought out exceeded the calction amount.


    "As expected, Mardock is worth that much. The Char ck Lizard Prince and Char ck Lizards are also added despite being of another race. So they are an evolution of the Char Vermillion Lizard Race!" Kyros smiled.


    "Either they are an evolution or are mutations.


    "Well, here goes nothing. After this, I really have to urge Father to dissolve our nobility..."


    Kyros selected yes.


    [Stonic Allies Detected. Temple Level Bestowing cap breached.Cannot perform Golem Hardening. Disperse all energy to restore Golem Life Source?]


    Kyros selected yes again.


    [The following monsters have breached the Golem Life Source:


    - Iron Golem


    - Jewel Golem


    Perform Golem Life Source Restore operation anyway?]


    Kyros expected that the Temple wouldn''t allow him to restore all of the Golem''s life source fully. Otherwise, it would have been a cheat for Kyros as he could easily exploit it. Kyros selected yes and hoped for the best.


    A bright light shed.


    ---


    Level Up!


    Strength- 58->60 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 5-> 80 (Sealed/ Cursed)


    Dexterity- 264->275 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 57-> 59 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- I''m doneparing myself to you. ( Sealed)


    Soul Force- 18 -> 33 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 107-> 119 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 112 -> 121 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    Dark Resistance acquired!


    Dark Maniptor skill level increase!


    Earth Wielder skill level increase!


    Deviant Soul skill level increase!


    Time Surge skill level increase!


    Nephilim Inventory mark items limit increased to 11!


    ---


    Soul Unsealing Level increased!


    God Unsealing Level increased!


    Devil Unsealing Level increased!


    Celestial De-Code Level increased!


    Fate Comprehension Level increased!


    ---


    Continuum Soul Wisp Level increased!


    Cminus learned Ssh!


    ---


    Cloak of Darkness (Lvl. 2->3)


    Defense: 55->60


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy.


    Dark Resistance: +33


    Dark Cloak


    Shadow Familiar (2-> 3)


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    Sword of a Thousand Grudges (Lvl. 2->3)


    Attack: 21->23


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy.


    Shadow Ghoul Familiar (7)


    Soul Trapper


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    Basic Earth Core ->Harnessed Basic Earth Core


    Magic Points- 20->30


    Summon y Golem (2->3)


    ---


    True Entropy Soul Core


    Mardock Soul Core Level Increased! (1->2)


    Magic Points- 150->160


    Summon Soil Entropy Golem Mardock


    ---


    Vampire Fledgling has evolved into Vampire Bloodlines.


    ---


    All Knights Mana pool increased.


    ---


    Life Source Cap reached. 40% of the Life Source of Rock Golems were restored. Time remaining until Life Source Restore may be performed on these Golems: 124 Days.


    Life Source Cap reached. 25% of the Life Source of Iron Golems were restored. Time remaining until Life Source Restore may be performed on these Golems: 364 Days.


    Life Source Cap reached. 10% of the Life Source of the Jewelled Golem was restored. Time remaining until Life Source Restore may be performed on this Jewel Golem: 3 Years.


    ---


    Kyros nced at his arm to find it fully healed. After confining that all his wounds of the vampires were healed.


    Kyros took a quick scan at the results.


    "You can use ssh?" Kyros asked Cminus as he found the odd report.


    "Ugh! My own system and entric notes are used against me! Its other name is a Soul Tap. With my current soul, I can move around and make a light physical tap. If I do that over water, it will ssh."


    "How can that be of any use?" Kyros frowned.


    "You''re pretty smart. You figure it out. But, if I do that, nothing happens." Cminusughed.


    The Knights were amazed and marveled at the changes. They felt their power surge and leveled up.


    "Err... Where am I?"


    "Brother!" Branze called out to Aron.


    The other knights also rejoiced when the others began to wake up.


    Stoph''s expression was strange. His expression looked at Kyros as if he would worship the man.


    "Cornerstone! You are indeed the salvation of the Golems!" Stoph dered.


    Kyros sighed.


    "I only recovered 10% of your entire Life Source. Was that enough to help you?"


    "More than enough! I expended only nearly 1% of my powers, and that boost has aided me!"


    "I can''t do it on multiple times. There is a limit on how much I can do. For you, I need another three years before I can do that again to you. The same with the Rocks and Iron Golems. The restoration of energy they have now is the maximum of what I can do. And it takes months to years until I can do it again. But if you send your two sleeping Jeweled Golems with more monsters, we should be able to recover about 10%. But I don''t know how much the remaining monsters can heal. This batch contained a Lizard Captain and a ck Lizard Prince. And since that ck Lizard Prince can fire an unlimited amount of dark bolts, their energy is generally richer than the rest."


    "Then we will bring all ck Lizards here to awaken them! It''s a pity Mardock is too weak to see this." Stophughed.


    Kyros raised his hands and used the True Entropy Soul Core.


    A strange green energy gathered, and a green-soiled creature stood.


    "...Mardock?" Stoph was amazed.


    "My soul... It has grown stronger." Mardock couldn''t believe it.


    "I''ll think of a way how to increase the Souls of the other Jeweled Golems," Kyros exined to Stoph.


    "With Mardock''s core, I realized that what all Jeweled Golems have is a Soul Core. That Gigantes Earth Core ought to be a Gigantes Earth Soul Core. In any case, I might be able to find a way to strengthen the souls to the point that your energy will continuously increase. Return to Petra and exin the arrangements. This temple cannot harden any golems above Rock Golems. I''m not sure with y, but use the City to increase the Golem Hardening of your Golems in any case. And this should be a ce to restore the Life Source of the Golems. And you also have to consider refilling the energy of the Gigantes Earth Soul Core." Kyros exined.


    "I understand, Cornerstone." Stoph gave a respectful bow, as did the rest.


    "I have more to discuss with my family. I will contact Petra when necessary. Unless needed, don''t let him call me as I believe it uses the energy of the Gigantes Earth Soul Core." Kyros instructed.


    "As you order, Cornerstone!" Stoph bowed.


    As the golems moved, Kyros turned towards his notification screen and minimized the option to im the rewards.


    "Being conservative, are we?" Cminusughed.


    "I have to keep the rewards to the bare minimum. If I im it, it will cause Fate''s works to act." Kyros answered and moved towards the Knights who were celebrating.


    "I hope you now see the power here." Kyrosughed.


    "Kyros!" Aron eximed as he saw him. With his brother bombarding him with questions, he didn''t have the chance to search for Kyros.


    "We''ll talkter, Uncle. Father, I hope you can consider my proposal."


    "I think I understand now. But giving up our nobility means giving up so much of our family."


    "Fate is working to kill us, father. And right now, all of our family has this curse. So we have to cut off whatever advantages we have and grow stronger. If you and Uncle grow strong enough, we can demand our nobility back faster!"


    "You want us to be fully-fledged Pdins?" Branze asked.


    "No. I want you not just to be Pdins. But through your might and power, be something that exceeds a Pdin, even if your ss is just a Pdin! You and Uncle... You have to be Champions!"

 Chapter 65 - Up Against Fate

    Kyros knew his father best. He had seen the strength and power of his father and have heard tales of how the two grew up. But, as Kyros grew older and met more powerful warriors, he knew that his father was a cut above the rest.


    And so, even with their little strength, Aron and Branze Steele lived legendary lives that were only eclipsed when Kyros grew strong. But the foundations that these two men left behind greatly refined Kyros. And as Kyros found the workings of Fate and destiny, Kyros began to suspect something.


    Was the Steele family the family that Kyros had to meet ording to Fate''s design?


    Kyros believed so. Kyros believed that Aron and Branze aren''t just normal warriors. The invention of the Force Pdin itself brokemon sense. And so, Kyros plotted a new path that his family would follow. It would be a Path that relied on Aron and Branze to get stronger.


    "Champions?" Aron and Branze spoke together.


    "Yes." Kyros nodded.


    "Uncle. You have seen the cruelty of this Temple. Do you think that the future challenges will be easier?" Kyros asked.


    Aron immediately shook his head.


    "No. If it weren''t for you, we would have been massacred. My full abilities would only lead to death."


    Branze was amazed that his strong brother admitted this.


    "The Temple has bestowed to me a title called Fate Challenger. There is a great mystery in this mountain and to what the Golems protect. Have you been informed of what has happened?"


    "I deduced that you managed to create a rather beneficial alliance with the golems. But other than that, I''m confused. That green golem over there was quite powerful before. But now he''s weaker. That one called Stoph was rather submissive to you." Aron pointed at the other golem.


    "He plotted to have his men kill the knights if you went down. Your Warrior''s Instinct saved the men, Uncle. If you followed this stupid golem to go down, the other golems would have attacked you."


    "I knew it! I was right in not trusting him! Kyros, are these golems to be trusted? While I am happy that they are still with us and do not discriminate against their new race, I still count three of my men dead! And that golem is to be med! What of the rest? What could they be plotting?"


    "He... already apologized." Branze interrupted. As the person responsible for degrading the pride of such a respected creature, Branze felt the need to inform his brother that he should no longer bear any hatred.


    "Apologized? That''s not enough!" Aron frowned.


    Mardock''s expression was incredibly ugly. Was he to offer his buttocks once more?


    "It''s like this..." Branze interrupted and went ahead to tell of the fabulous tale.


    "He... called you Daddy?" Aron was amazed. His focus was not on the fact that the Golem King killed Mardock, and this was some form of a weaker resurrected body.


    Mardock''s expression turned even uglier at how Branze recounted the tale.


    Branze even detailed the loud sound of the p.


    Aronughed, and the Knights were allughing as well.


    "Right now, this Mardock is my summoned Golem." Kyros exined as he raised the True Entropy Core.


    "This is his punishment for going against his word. So, please forgive this golem''s injustice, Uncle. And that goes for you all. These Golems have paid back in full whatever debt they have incurred. They are our allies now. Is that clear?"


    "Yes, Lord Kyros." The Knights and Vampires chorused.


    "Alright. Now back to our topic. These Golems protect something inside froming out. There is a great mystery in this Temple, and it seems to be a Temple that challenges Fate itself. In fact, upon defeating the ck Lizard Prince that led thoserge lizards, I got a notification that I have be a Fate Challenger." Kyros tweaked the details.


    "Fate Challenger?"


    "Fate is a mystery that we cannot fathom. But it seems to be that we can go up against Fate and even challenge the destiny that the gods, devils, and the heavens itself have set on us! Father... Uncle. You two are mighty warriors. Uncle has Warriors Instinct and how Father did not cower in front of the Golem King Petra proves that you are unlike any other. And so, I ask you to aspire to this impossible mission! Be Champions without bing Champions! Be warriors that can fight and even kill Champions with the level, power, and abilities you have now!"


    Branze and Aron both frowned.


    "You want me and your father to have the strength of a Champion, which is a ss higher than the Pdin, with just our current strength?"


    "Uncle and Father. The two of you are now capable of magic. This means that the chances of bing a Pdin that uses Force are possible! You have to get stronger with this foundation! I allowed us to use the Temple one more time, but we should stop doing so."


    "Can''t we just stop using the Temple altogether? We''ve already gotten what we can to the temple! Why not abandon it and lure other people here. Then, those vampires can try to own the Temple. I am convinced that no one can do what we just did!" Aron agreed.


    "The problem is, Uncle... We have to keep using it because if we don''t, we will die. My discussion with Petra revealed an interesting thing. This Temple... no, this entire mountain is arge seal. It is used to seal horrifying creatures like those lizards. And the golems are dying. You must have heard what me and Stoph discussed on the way here, Father."


    "I have. Brother, these Golems have limited magic. Their life itself is spent as they move and fight. If we leave them alone, the monsters down the mountain will soon kill them, and it spills out and create a great turmoil in thends." Branze exined.


    "We should inform the kingdom!" Aron suggested.


    "No." Kyros and Branze spoke together.


    Aron was surprised that the two spoke in unison.


    "You two seemed to be bing more and more like real father and son." Aron frowned.


    "Why?" He then asked.


    "Our travel here was faced with various obstacles, brother. The nobles are acting once more, and there is clearly is a power struggle within the kingdom. The knights told me of the curse that befell them. It seems it wasn''t just us. Father even used a powerful Message Talisman right before we met Avary. He informed me that he felt a strange upheaval that he could not exin. It was so clear that he sent me that message to warn me! And when Kyros told me that Fate is after us, it made sense. If we inform the kingdom, they will silence and kill us as we would get caught in the middle of this power struggle!" Branze exined.


    "So that''s it... The moment I woke up, I have been feeling a sense of danger lingering around me. So it''s Fate? This is crazy!" Aron realized the strange uneasiness in his heart.


    "Yes, Uncle. But this insanity is with a purpose. I believe that based on what I''ve seen and heard from Petra, the monsters that are appearing here are something brought together by Fate. The Temple trains us to fight not just the monsters but also a mysterious power that perhaps involves gods and devils! This is why the Temple bestowed its rewards on us!" Kyros exined and twisted the truth about the Temple and the Nephilim Sealing Mountain.


    "So we are now... people bound to challenge Fate no matter what we do?"


    "That is correct. Who knows? What if the Fate of this world, of this entire nes World, is to be overrun and killed with monsters? We not only have an obligation to keep fighting, but we don''t have a choice anymore. We have to fight." Kyros exined.


    "So we need to use the Temple, but the Temple is going to throw us into near-impossible situations whenever we achieve a certain level of sess just like what happened to us in that lizard hole?!" Aron cursed.


    "This is why I proposed to Father that we are to give up our nobility and be freemen. We sell ournds, our estates, and businesses and hide from the world. Remember what Fate told me before we got sent to lizards nest? We''ve exceeded Fate''s limits, and it began to throw its tribtion on us!"


    "I see. So you intend to reduce our family''s power. Does that mean... that our family... the Steele Family is now under a curse of Fate?" Aron questioned.


    Branze turned to Kyros as well. He felt this and knew that Fate targeted his entire family since his own father sent him a message.


    Kyros willed for the temple to disy it overhead.


    ---


    All members of the Steele Family are now cursed with Bloodline Sess Limiter.


    All members of the Steele Family are now cursed with Bloodline Apathy of Fate.


    All members of the Steele Family''s Limiter and Fate Curses increase as Kyros''s curses increase.


    ---


    Kyros had tried to program the Temple to minimize the Temple''s information or even make the Temple show fake information, but he failed. Left with no choice, Kyros decided to show this since he had already told Aron that the Fate Temple had some direct link.


    Branze and Aron were amazed at the appearance of the information overhead. The knights all had disbelieving and horrified expressions.


    "What curse do you have?" Branze asked Kyros.


    "I have the same curse with you, father. But I feel that it will change soon. Fate has chosen us to be her warriors. And to do that, she will throw us into hell!" Kyros exined.


    The expressions of the knights of Aron and the three young vampires turned grim. Some were even visibly trembling. They all experienced the horrors that this Temple brought.


    "Uncle. Father. This is why I am asking an impossible thing from you." Kyros pleaded.


    Aron wore an ugly expression. A knight saw Aron''s expression, and his face sunk all the more.


    It was then that Aron realized his expressions and reactions were causing morale to drop. He then recalled how he lost morale and how Kyros stood firm and saved them.


    "I''m such an idiot. And I thought I''d be stronger..." Aron sighed quietly.


    "Knights!" Aron suddenly shouted.


    The knights were startled.


    "Why are you all having such pitiable expressions!? We have grown stronger. We have survived. But need I remind you that we did because of my nephew?! Listen, we were caught off guard! But my nephew is pretty smart! And don''t forget, we are allied with a Golem army!" Aron berated.


    "So what''s with the ugly looks? The answer is simple! We have to get stronger! We have to get strong enough to go up against Fate! And me and my brother will lead the way! We will be stronger! I will show you a Pdin that can not only kill a Champion but a Supreme!" Aron vowed.


    Branze smiled at Aron''s speech.


    "That''s right. I will also point out, dear knights... of the amazing powers you now have. If we train properly, we can all easily challenge and defeat warriors, mages, and fighters that are several levels higher than us!" Branzeughed.


    Kyros also smiled. He didn''t need to use oration, and Aron managed to bring back the morale of his knights.


    "That''s right, Father... Uncle. You two have to get stronger. Let''s escape the workings of Fate and destiny together!" Kyros thought in his heart.

 Chapter 66 - Never Fear!

    South of the Londs was a vast sea with many continents and underwater cities. This was thest part of the Yggdrasil Tree and was considered the roots of this giant tree. This enormous and long winding sea spread out and reached the dark celestial body on which the Yggdrasil was nted.


    The roots of the Ygdrassil were known as the Dark Sea. Despite the many years that passed, only about 40% of this region has been explored. It was the most difficult region to explore and a harsh region to inhabit. The Nethends was even richer due to the potent dark energy in which it was made of. Yet, just like the Heavenly nes, the Nethends was the exclusive region for the strongest devilkins and monsters in the entire nes World.


    This Dark Sea was the realm of the Undead, the Animated, the Magic Fueled, and the Forsakers of Flesh. The lifestyles of those alive by unnatural means or who have found ways to stay alive despite the corruption, darkening, or deterioration of the flesh are different.


    The environment of the Dark Sea and the Nethends, which had little or no sunlight, meant that the nts, the people, and the cycle of life were vastly different even whenpared to the Londs, which received some light.


    Most nts that grew in the darknds matured through skotosynthesis, which used darkness instead of light to grow. And so, the nts that cultivated in the darkness didn''t give off food that is only used for consumption, but it became rich in dark magic, which was used to sustain the fake life of all creatures. Just like the golems, the Undead that no longer is alive in the flesh, the Animated, the Magic Fueldm, and the Forsakers of Flesh live by a constant supply of magic.


    While humans eat food that nourishes their body, those of the Undead require constant magic to preserve the flesh of whatever body they have and to have the energy to move it.


    The only difference between the golems and these Dark Dependent creatures is that the Dark Dependent has always had the means to supply their energy through food. They have ways to stabilize their body and allow nts or other dark artifacts that could harness and even create a small bit of darkness on their own.


    Because of this, the Dark Dependent can live and function without worrying that they would be ''drained'' of any energy they have, unlike the golems. Just as humans or those alive require food to nourish their bodies, so does the dark-dependent life but only seek other forms of food.


    In one of the many kingdoms that existed and bred in darkness on the east region of the Dark Sea was a mighty kingdom that vanquished all of the neighboring dark kingdoms. And even though their conquest in the region was over, they were already making preparations to move to the next region and carry out more wars.


    The dark fruits that grew from the darkness and the many strange vegetation were hauled and prepared for long-distance travel. No longer were the residents sparing to leave a few of the fruits but harvested most. A few farmers, fishers, and other ground cultivators would be left behind, along with some who would be in charge of sending food to the next area. But other than these groups, everyone else would be forced to move. Everyone in the kingdom was enlisted to be part of the army.


    Everyone in the kingdom was being forced to migrate. The n to move on to the next region and conquer the next zone was a bold n. This kingdom had no ns of returning but would constantly conquer and move forward, and those that remained will be logistical support to fuel the conquest of the kingdom.


    In the dark halls of the Vampire Lords, an angry shout erupted.


    "I will kill you! Cracky Batcheeks!" The roar was so loud that half of the kingdom heard it.


    A dark figure flew, and it was so loud and fast that it left a sonic boom in its wake.


    It flew so fast and went towards the camp of the Forsakers of Flesh.


    Arge number of skeletons watched as the Vampire Lord flew with incredible speed.


    "What business do you have, and why are you in such a hurry, Lord Zord Blood de?" Arge floating skull asked as it hovered overhead.


    "Bone General Urrekus. Call Bone Lord Stiggma." Zord Blood de impatiently demanded.


    "What do you want?" A voice was heard, and piles of dust appeared and reformed into a tall skeleton with bone wings.


    "Zid is dead! Who is Cracky Batcheeks?!"


    "I believe the question is, who HAS cracky butt cheeks."


    "Answer me seriously!"


    "I know not of someone with that... horrifying name. To think he could kill one of your sons... Such boldness. Maybe he''s some mercenary that managed to luck out and kill your son." The skeleton answered.


    "He should be a vampire! The one that killed my son is but a minion of this man! And that minion should be a Vampire Bloodline!"


    "A Vampire Bloodline?" The Skeleton''s voice grew curious.


    "You mean to say... that someone whose master is a Vampire Ancestor killed your son?"


    "Yes! I am not mistaken! The killer was even young! So young! And yet he possessed a great power that turned his entire body to a Shadow!"


    "You must have seen it incorrectly. Even you, the Blood de Lord, is a Forgotten Bloodline Vampire Lord since your Ancestor has fallen into Eternal Sleep. There are no Vampire Ancestors in this world since the great Nether Wars."


    "I have seen what I have seen!"


    "And you im that this Vampire Ancestor calls himself Cracky Batcheeks?"


    "Yes. Cracky Batcheeks the Naked Offender."


    "Of course, his True Title would be ''the Naked Offender.'' It''s just perfect for him." Stiggma shook his head and answered sarcastically.


    "I want you to open another magic portal to send my Elites through."


    "Are you insane? We are preparing for war. That magic that will carry your men through the great distance and send them into the Londs would be of great cost! I do not have the energy or any desire to support you in your revenge for Vampire Ancestor Batcheeks."


    "Stiggma! I am dead serious!"


    "I am also technically dead, and I, too, am serious. Good day, Lord Zord." Stiggma turned to leave.


    "STIGGMA!" Another angry roar was heard as arge dead dragon flew through the sky.


    "Oh, for crying out loud! Now what?! Necromancer, we''ve already finished our negotiations!" Stiggma angrily shouted, annoyed that this necromancer who he just finished meeting with would suddenly run to him with an enraged emotion.


    The dead dragon had a tall rider that even though the dragon was over 20 meters tall, the man roughly constituted a third of the dragon''s size.


    "STIGGMA! WHERE IS MY AMULET?! YOU THIEF!" The giant of a man used Stiggma.


    "Necromancer Lorjdenheign. You clearly are unlike the stereotypical necromancers in all of thends. Instead of a dark, brooding terror of a name, you have a ssy name with many silent letters. Instead of a thin, skeleton-like, old man with pale-white skin and summoned bones, we have arge, gigantic, muscle toned man with tanned skin, dashing good looks, and a big D."


    "A big D?" Lord Zord asked.


    "Dragon." Stiggma pointed at the dragon the necromancer was ridding.


    "And finally, instead of a cruel, calcting, otherworldly wise being, we have a forgettable, clumsy fool. Look at your right hand!" Stiggma shouted.


    Therge, tanned, handsome necromancer with big D looked at his right hand.


    "My amulet!" Lorjdenheign cried in delight.


    The angry necromancer thenughed.


    "You know that thing, where you think you lost something, and all the while you''ve been holding it? That''s what happened! Sorry, friends." Lorjdenheignughed.


    "I''m surrounded by idiots. It''s a miracle we won the war."


    "Anyway... why is Lord Zord here?" Lorjdenheign asked.


    "He''s failing to convince me in sending an elite group of Vampires to the Londs through portal magic. His son is dead. Killed by an alleged shadow being who also happens to be called Cracky Batcheeks, the Naked Offender. And get this, that crazy person is a Vampire Ancestor!" Stiggmaughed.


    Lord Zord was turning red in anger. The way Stiggma pointed these things out and the tone of his voice made Zord''s im sound crazy.


    Necromancer Lorjdenheignughed out loud, but deep inside, he was shocked.


    He was meeting the king of their kingdom by some chance and happened to hear an important discussion. The King was talking with various advisors about a man called Cracky Batcheeks! It was a secret mission assigned only to the best of the kingdom! Though he heard of it, he wasn''t given a chance to search for this man!


    "It seems me meeting with Stiggma and clumsily forgetting where I ced my amulet is the will of the heavens!" Lorjdenheign thought to himself.


    "But your son is dead? Although the other things sound suspicious but never fear, I am here!"


    "What can you do?" Lord Zord frowned.


    "I have a group cultic follower who managed to take control of three Viscount groups in a certain kingdom in the Londs. I canmunicate with them."


    "Is this true?"


    "As true as the silent letters in my name."


    "Necromancer Lorjdenheign, please! Help me kill those who murdered my son!"


    "Where did he die?"


    "He died in the mountain regions of Airom Vagat in the Culcrik Londs ne."


    "What a coincidence! The kingdom my followers are from hail in the Culcrik Londs ne! This must be Fate, Lord Zord!" Lorjdenheignughed.

 Chapter 67 - Going To Town

    Night had fallen outside the mountain. Kyros and the group continued to analyze their gains and made ns since they were healed.


    The knights were all encouraged and motivated to fight. After hours of confirming their new strength, the group began to organize what they now had and discussed what they should do next.


    Kyros, Branze, and Aron discussed the temple, the golems, and the mountain itself.


    "So the Temple can bestow items based on the creatures that we offer it?" Aron asked.


    "Yes." Kyros revealed. He knew that with what happened, he couldn''t hide the power of the temple. But Kyros tweaked the truth, and that he exined, he now has these in his head after seeding to challenge Fate.


    "Aside from all-out gains, the monsters that we have sacrificed have been absorbed to the temple and can bestow us with some rewards. But as I said, I refused to take it." Kyros exined.


    "You believe that if we ept all of its rewards, it will draw us closer to another tribtion?" Branze confirmed.


    "Yes, Father."


    "And abandoning our Nobility will draw us further away from the Tribtion?"


    "That''s what I am theorizing. You have to inform Grandfather of this decision and have their head here at once. You can tell him what Fate has done. Since Grandfather felt it, then it should be easier to convince them. If we gather all our men in one ce, we can protect each other more. I believe that since the Sess Limiter is upon us, Fate will do everything in its power to send us opposition that would rob us of our current sesses."


    "That does make sense. We have to get stronger, just as Kyros said. It''ll be impossible, but impossible has always been our goal, right brother?" Aronughed.


    "A Force Pdin like you should have a shot at doing that. But we need to create a totally different ss if we want to make it as strong as Champions."


    "There is a way." Kyros exined.


    "The Temple has some requirements that we can use. One of which is to build a Library that holds the knowledge of the world."


    "A library?" Branze grew interested.


    "Yes, Father. From what I can sense, that library ought to have some ancient knowledge that we could use to solidify it!"


    "That''s interesting. If I can grab hold of that... we should be able to make something good out of it! I can study the arts and have Aron test it." Branze began to ponder.


    "So we''re finallybining brains and bronze, eh? Or is it Aron and Branze?" Aronughed.


    Kyros gazed at the two and couldn''t help but feel a sense of excitement.


    His father and uncle were two different warriors who walked on a different path. Aron was a man of incredible skill, talent, and instinct. Even as an invalid, he managed to teach Kyros and bestow amazing insights on how Kyros unlocked his fighting potential. And after seeing it first hand, Kyros could tell that his uncle was amazing.


    In their mock battles, Kyros never managed to gain an advantage. Although the level gap was mainly the issue, Kyros had incredible dexterity and a lifetime''s worth of battle experience that eclipsed his uncle''s several times over!


    Kyros even believed that his rounds of fighting with his uncle stimted the awakening of his warrior''s instinct.


    His father was the opposite. He didn''t have talent like Aron, but he had brains. Intellect and fortitude that could analyze practically everything. It was Branze who created the theoretical means to be a Pdin without requiring the Holy Element. And his analysis was spot on. The theories he discussed with Aron on one of their drunken parties made Aron interested to try it.


    And so, the impossible urred the next day. The theories that Branze couldn''t put into application happened when the genius Aron picked up his sword.


    The two together solidified the path, and even Branze managed to use that power andter mastered it.


    "I guess this is the right path. It''s a good thing that you already have a n in mind, son. You''re very smart!" Branzeughed.


    "He really is! I wouldn''t have survived without his quick thinking! I really should invest in knowledge! That battle earlier was an eye-opening experience!"


    "With my son here to teach you and me, you could be a lot smarter, brother. I was never a good teacher. Since my son is smarter than me, he could tutor you better!" Branzeughed.


    Kyros could only smile and look fondly at his father.


    "Cmius, you saw my memories right. That man before you was how I managed to grow a lot smarter in my past life." Kyros couldn''t help but brag.


    "I saw. He taught you tactics, nning, analysis, and all those stuff. Who knows? Your intelligence should have been sealed. It must have been him that helped you break that seal and acquire a lot of intelligence anyway."


    "I will have to draft what to say to father. Brother, what do you suggest?" Branze turned towards Aron.


    The two began to discuss what the content of the message to their Grandfather would be. Since the message they could send had a limited amount, the pair had to limit the words they could say.


    "Hey, Kyros." Cminus called out again.


    "You sure about this? Although Ancient Fate is dead, we haven''t managed to outsmart thews she designed for you. Are you sure with your n to give up your nobility?"


    "It''s worth a shot. Land, prestige, and power ought to be within Fate''s calction. We have to keep trying to find a way to outsmart Fate. Even that powerful being who knew you and imed to be my mother stated that Fate''s powers have their limits. So I decided to cut off all those useless things. Those things are useless given our current situation. But those things are of real value, and we really will be giving them up. It''s not like I am fooling Fate by changing my name."


    "...But do you think you should try it?"


    "Changing my name? Wouldn''t that be pointless?"


    "Well, Destiny has set your Ancient and Fallen name on those curses. But what if Fate can be outsmarted. Ever since you''ve been awake, you''ve been living as Kyros. Why not try to change it? Besides, you have Fate Comprehension that''s actively running in your Soul console. And since it''s up a level, what if forcibly changing your name will give you a clearer sense of how Fate works?"


    "I guess you''re right."


    "And try to make the name a woman."


    "Why?"


    "Maybe it''ll confuse Fate. Regardless, we need to see how Fate reacts. So the change has to be drastic."


    "Fine." Kyros sighed and suddenly stood up.


    It drew the attention of Aron and Branze, who were in the middle of drafting the short message which would convince their father to give up the nobility.


    The other knights and vampires who were discussing various things also noticed Kyros''s serious expression.


    "Gentlemen, from this day forward... You will all refer to me the name Becky."


    Odd stares fell on him.


    "Isn''t... Isn''t Becky a woman''s name?" One of the knights secretly asked hispanion.


    Kyros tried to pierce through the workings of Fate but found nothing happening.


    "Nope. No responses. Never mind, guys. I just was trying something with regards to Fate." Kyros sat back down.


    Everyone still had confused looks but decided to carry on with their many discussions.


    "That was a waste of time."


    "Did you at least feel anything?" Cminus asked.


    "No. If there were any changes, I should have felt it. I know that Fate is working. Ever since I got the Challenger of Fate status, I could roughly sense its intentions."


    "Oh? Like what?"


    "It should be finding a way to bring more enemies here. The issue is that the sess I got from oveing the Sess Limiter trial is being targeted by Fate. I wouldn''t be surprised that humans and orcs will begin to target and zero in on our family. But I have to ascertain it by going out of this mountain and to the nearby towns."


    "So this is what we are reduced to? We will constantly be testing the parameters of Fate?"


    "Yes. We have to understand how she works so we can find a way to fight back. I arrogantly believed I was outsmarting her back there, but I was being toyed by her. So even this n to strengthen the skill of my knights without trying to rise to a level is yet another test. Since Fate is pushing me to grow stronger, I doubt that it is level-dependent. I just have to be stronger."


    "Then you n to focus on teaching the knights?"


    "Yes. My Oration skill is very overpowered. I noticed how strong it is in battle, and I''m sure it will be outside of battle. I need to train archers, fighters, mages, and the like. It''s a good thing that fathers here. With him around, I think it''s possible for the two of us to figure out how to pass on that status."


    "The Fate Challenger status?"


    "Yes. You''ve seen it. The vision that Destiny showed me was pushed back. That is the key. I have to find a way to give that all to them... What''s that?" Kyros then felt a strange feeling.


    "Fate?" Cminus could feel it.


    "That was fast. It''s already acting to send people here! I have to hurry!" Kyros stood up and suddenly wrote a series ofmands in a small parchment.


    "Kyros?" Branze wondered.


    "Fate Challenger has revealed to me a bit of Fate''s intentions. I have to act now." He then handed Branze the small parchment.


    "Father, I live you in charge. Feel free to train the knights in the lizard''s nest. Please ask the Golems to help you retrieve these items if possible. Always train in groups. Every time you venture to fight, know that Fate is after you."


    Branze''s expression turned serious.


    "Alright. You can count on me. If you managed to save your uncle and men out of that hell, then I''m sure you know what you are doing."


    Kyros nodded.


    "I won''t be alone. Vampire Coven!" He called out.


    The six vampires suddenly stood up.


    "Follow me. We''re going to visit the nearby towns."


    "What are we going to do in the nearby towns, my lord?" One of the Knight-turned-vampire asked.


    "Kill people and drink their blood," Kyros answered as he walked towards the exit.

 Chapter 68 - Let The Enemy Have...

    Kyros and his six vampires left quickly.


    "So... When am I going to have my thanks for giving you such a monstrous son?" Aronughed.


    "Monstrous is a very poor way to put it. A vampire is monstrous. But a young boy who could turn a level 90 being into his ally? Not to mention those Jeweled Golems... I managed to ask the Red one''s level, and he told me he should be at level 40. But based on my calctions, no one under 50 can defeat him! And my sonmands one? The Golem King broke the body of the green one without hesitation! It valued the favor of my son more than the strength of that green one!"


    "You''re not bothered that he''s a vampire?"


    "A vampire? Open your eyes, brother. He''s more than a vampire. Didn''t you notice? His body..."


    "Yeah, I know. He didn''t have that Undead, Dark Dependent body. It was clearly alive. This Temple must have done something to him."


    "Done something to him? It didn''t do anything to him! I think this temple sealed him!" Branzeughed.


    "Sealed?"


    "Geez, brother. You''re quite slow. Look at where we are sitting. There used to be four pirs there and something in here in the middle. It''s at the very center. Something was sealed here. And if the Golem King immediately became very subservient to Kyros, it''s obvious that there''s something more to the boy than just being a vampire!" Branze pointed out.


    "What?!"


    "What excuse did he say when you found him?" Branze pressed more.


    "Well... his family died. Killed by the lizards-" It was then that it dawned on Aron of the lies of Kyros''s family. It would have been impossible for Kyros''s family to be in by lizards now that they know that the lizards lived beyond the Golem City.


    Kyros has shown to be strong and powerful. He had just saved them from certain death with impossible odds. How was it possible that he failed to protect any of his family?


    "He lied to me?! Then what exactly is he?"


    "I don''t know! You spent more time with him. You should tell me!"


    "Ugh. It''s sort of awkward to bring it up now."


    "Then don''t. Besides, my son''s really smart. He probably already knows that we know."


    "What a troublesome smart pair."


    "And you''re the idiot brother who adopted him for me."


    "What are they going to do up there?"


    "Since we still have a lot to talk about, it doesn''t make sense why he left immediately. But because he did, I''m guessing he sensed that Fate already has some enemies headed this way now."


    "What? So fast! Fate really is cruel. What''s he up to?"


    "I''m still going through the letter. But if it were me, I''d be going up there to cause a lot of havoc up there to prolong the arrival of our enemies. That would give you more time to train andplete the mission." Branze began to go through the letter. His expressions were confused at first. But then, realization slowly appeared.


    "What''s the n?"


    "I''m not sure yet. But by the looks of it, he''s nning something really interesting."


    "Interesting? Why do you have a strange look on your face."


    "Because it''s an insane n. I got a son smarter than me and more reckless than you..." Branze shook his head.


    "And you, brother, have an important mission as well. The instructions in this letter imply that you need to be a fully-fledged Force Pdin that can equal the real thing. And part of this n requires more Force Pdin. This means you have to train our men while another group helps me in my mission.


    "Well, if that''s the case, we can split the tasks. You can take care of Kyros''s mission while I train the men. Since we have all awakened our Mana pool, it''s possible to train that. And with the temple present that can restore our mana, we could go all out. Unless, of course, there is some healing limit of this Temple. Regardless, we should keep training to our limits before trying to heal ourselves." Aronughed.


    Branze ignored Aron and kept reading the letter.


    "What''s in that letter, anyway?"


    "The first part... looks like quest items of some sort. It could be rted to this mysterious Temple connected to him. Our job is to collect these things. Were there trees and flowers in the ce you fought?"


    "Not that I recall. But then again, we were running for our lives."


    "I see. The second part is what''s interesting. Is he thinking of doing that? That''s very daring!"


    "What''s the n?"


    "I''m not a hundred percent sure yet. I''ll try to figure things out. It''s like Kyros intentionally gave me cryptic orders without telling me his intentions! This is just great! I already have a reckless brother giving me endless trouble. Now I have an insane son?!" Branze cursed.


    Aronughed.


    "He was pretty bold and insane back there. So I guess this is to be expected. In any case, you do the thinking, and I''ll train the men. But I need to train you as well. The faster you learn how to be a Force Pdin, the easier it will be for you to impart the theories to the men. I''m thinking of training by actualbat where we use real swords. Too bad Kyros took most of his crafted sword."


    "You n to have our men fight to near death?"


    "Yes. I also have to fight you too. I now have a higher level than me. Since our goal is killing a Champion, you should gather more data for this fight."


    "Hmm. We''ll see about that. I might lose the first few rounds, but you won''t stand a chance once I gather enough data."


    "Oh, brother... You''re so cute when you say that. So how long will Kyros be gone? I got very attached to that kid."


    "Leaving the cave should take about a day with their speed. That''s why he took only the vampires among the knights. They''ll be probably be moving without stopping or resting. And we don''t know how long he will be up there."


    "Do you have any idea what they n to do? I mean, he said some strange thing and now gave you a letter full of different instructions. What did he mean by kill people and suck their blood?"


    "I''ve never been a vampire, brother. How should I know?"


    "Then guess. What do you think he ns with that letter? Is he nning to create havoc to stop people from going inside this ce?"


    "That''s what''s confusing. With what he said when he left, I assumed that he ns to cause a lot of havoc but, at the same time, keep the family strength of the Steele family within a certain limit. If it were me... I''d turn more people into vampires and send them in a suicide attack to kill as much of the people led here by Fate."


    "Cruel and ingenious as always, brother. Where''s the confusion?"


    "Because the instructions of this letter assume that we will be having a lot of guestsing here. So I think he will dy the arrival of men for a few days but will then lead an army of friends or enemies here! This means... that he could be ning to give our enemies Golem City!"


    As the knights continued to rest, the Coven of the Nephilim continued to run at great speed.


    As vampires, their stamina is different. They had drunk a lot of blood, and the life source in their body allowed them to move without growing tired for the next fifty or so days. This is what it meant to be an Undead who relied on the lifeforce of others. Drinking the blood of a single human provided the vampire a great source of energy, and their body would not deteriorate or go through the process of metabolism.


    As vampires, they didn''t need to sleep, and as long as they are kept fed, they don''t get tired.


    With the various cloaks, robes, and armor that Branze brought, the entire team was outfitted with the dark outfit. They all held an Earth Sword and had a hood to hide their faces. A mask covered their faces, and only the red in their eyes could be seen.


    Leading the dash was Kyros. Behind him were the six dark-clothed people. Three were adults, and the other three were kids.


    "For thest time, Cminus! We are not drawing red clouds on our dark cloaks, and I won''t put metal screws on my face or wear a swirly-swirly mask!" Kyros cursed.


    "Sheesh! What a killjoy! I''m just bored."


    "You''re level 2, right? Has anything changed? You should be able to help me more, right?"


    "As level 2 Soul Wisp, I think I can move further from you now. I could only be some fifteen meters away from you before, but now, I think I should have the ability to move some thirty meters!"


    "That''s great! That and Soul Tap, we''d be unstoppable!" Kyros smiled.


    "What? Unstoppable? What can ssh do?"


    "You''ll see." Kyros smiled.


    "Coven of the Nephilim! Listen up! I''ll be telling you the n now!"


    "What is our next mission, Lord Kyros?" Scarlet asked.


    "Well, for starters, you can''t call me Kyros."


    "Becky?" Avary asked.


    "No. Let''s go with that other name."


    "Cracky Batcheeks the Naked Offender?" Avary confirmed.


    "Yup." Kyros gave a helpless sigh. But he had no choice. He has to use that name.


    "You shall all identify yourself to be the Bloodline Vampires of Ancient Cracky. And we are the Coven on Crack."


    "Do you know what that means?" Cminusughed.


    "Of course I do. But think about it. I''m nning to let our enemies have Golem City. What else am I on if not crack?" Kyrosughed.

 Chapter 69 - You Must Tell Everyone!

    The mountain regions of Airom Vagat in the Culcrik Londs ne were rich in various forms of minerals.


    Mines were being erected from one ce to another as rich minerals could be found. The location was also properly divided among several kingdoms. Some were orcs, and other kingdoms were humans. A clever trade was also established that generally brought a ceasefire. But because of the proximity, orcs and humans guarded the area through mercenaries, barons, and other nobility seeking to make a contribution to the kingdom.


    A strange tremor erupted, and the earthquake created a deep passage right at the center of the mountain.


    The mountain itself had rich precious rocks, and it was theorized that various mineral deposits would be inside. And so, requests were made to explore it.


    The mountain belonged to the borders that the human kingdoms owned. The human kingdoms began to hire mercenaries and knights to explore the cave. But few agreed as they feared that Dark Dependent creatures may have grown inside the cave.


    The first mercenary force that entered did not surface after a few days.


    A group of rogue vampires that have terrorized a nearby vige escaped into the mountain, hoping to refuel their energy and search for a greater power source.


    Just several hours after the vampires entered, a group of mercenaries entered and had the same crest as the first mercenary group. It waster found out that the two groups of mercenaries that entered right before and after the vampires were of the Steele n.


    Rumors began to explode as to what was inside the cave, and soon, the nearby town kept observing just what would happen in that mountain. But no one dared to enter the cave if it could threaten the life of the mighty Aron Steele, who knew what dangers lie inside the cave.


    In the tavern at the nearby town, which operated as the center for shipping the nearby mines, the mercenaries and guards hired to protect the mines and the cities from various wild beasts spent the night drinking and talking of all that transpired.


    There were various mercenaries and venturing knights looking to earn money through missions.


    Kyros was among those who escaped and listened at the tales of regrs. He easily identified the crests of some of the knights who were present and could not help but feel angry. Among the group were families thatter betrayed their nation in fear of being devoured by the undead march.


    Kyros began to memorize the groups present. The drunken boasts of the mercenaries also allowed Kyros to learn of the other families present. Slowly, more and more ''targets'' appeared.


    After confirming his selection of targets, Kyros stayed a bit longer than nned as he was eavesdropping on the discussion surrounding the unknown Vampire group that entered the cave. As there were presently no vampire kingdoms nearby, it didn''t make sense how the Blood de managed to reach Airom Vagat.


    "So... those Blood de from the Dark Shine Empire was a scouting party," Kyros concluded.


    "If it''s the Dark Shine kingdom, then they should be allied to a Skeleton Order led by that powerful Lich, Stiggma. Could it be that the Blood de teleported a group of selected vampires into this region?" Kyros began to wonder.


    The strangest detail that Kyros had been pondering over when he saw the Blood de was how they reached the Londs in the first ce. The Dark Shine kingdom hadn''t yet seeded in their conquest over the East region of the Dark Sea, and as traveling from one end of the sea to reach the Londs was difficult, it didn''t make sense how a Noble of the Blood de would be here.


    Kyros was very cautious in killing Zid Blood de as he didn''t know the situation outside. His previous talks with Aron confirmed that the humans were still unaware of the rising tension in the Dark Sea that wouldter spill over to the Londs and soon reach the Minds. But Kyros could only act in caution, fearing that more of the Blood de n was near.


    His relief in learning that the Blood de n has not yet created a foothold allowed him to conclude that the group of Zid Blood de was sent to create a foothold.


    "It has to be teleportation. But if the Blood de is far away and will require costly magic to teleport, how will Fate move and send me my enemies? Cminus, is there a teleportation power that can send powerful warriors at great distance with low cost?"


    "No way. Teleportation increases the higher the level a person is. Sending those vampires alone would have been very costly. Since you say that it is a kingdom on the East side of the Dark Sea, it would require immense energy and a high price if they n to send someone who is level 30. Even Liches cannot easily afford that price!"


    "I see. Then is Fate leading a team of humans to attack me? But how? Could it be through a series of coincidences?" Kyros pondered.


    "Ah... Whatever... If the enemy is human or orc, my ns will still work. I can start now." Kyros sighed.


    Suddenly, a dark shadowy figure moved out of his body. And soon, two dark beings stood near where Kyros was.


    Several strange shadow beings also began to appear and crawl to the floor, and some were even flying and sticking to the ceiling.


    The hooded figure of Kyros was now warped in thick darkness. Only the mouth of Kyros and his red eyes could be seen as he stood up and revealed himself.


    The sudden strange scene shocked the mercenaries as they looked towards Kyros.


    "I''m sorry. It''s time for me to feed. Be d! Rejoice! You are food to the great Cracky Batcheeks! Be the meal to the Coven of the Cracks!"


    Kyrosughed hysterically and sent his minions to attack the nearby mercenaries.


    The mercenaries began to fight back. But they were helpless. The shadow ghouls could not be hurt as they kept on stabbing the men. Two familiars even began killing people.


    Seeing the undefeated forms of darkness, most fled the horrifying scene!


    The barkeeper stood in horror as he was trapped in the corner and could only watch as the shadow approached.


    But suddenly, a tall knight stood and unsheathed his sword, and with a great sh, it struck the shadow and blew it back!


    "Pdin!" Kyros shouted.


    The Knight drew his sword high and revealed a sword worthy of Nobles.


    Some of the mercenaries who remained were stunned to hear the noble job.


    "I have found you! Bloodline Vampire of Ancient Cracky!"


    "Knight of the Light?! You dare disturb my mission?!" Kyros shouted in anger.


    "Give us the True Heart of the Ancient that you stole!"


    "Why should the True Heart of a vampire be kept by filthy humans like you!"


    The two charged at each other and began to fight.


    The shadows began to attack the Pdin, but they were all thrown back at the wild swings of the Pdin.


    Suddenly, a bright light exploded out, and a strange heat could be felt.


    A pained scream erupted, and the moment the light went out, the shadows, along with cloaked person, retreated and broke out of the window.


    The surviving mercenaries looked in shock at what happened.


    "Tend to the wounded and be on your guards. Cracky Batcheeks is here!" The Pdin shouted.


    "You must all beware! That man holds a legendary artifact thatmands the power of an Ancient Vampire! You must tell your kingdoms of this! You must tell everyone that a darkness is befalling this world!" The tall knight quickly ran and broke out of the same window where the dark figure disappeared to.


    The tavern went into a panic, and all of the towns were roused at the words of the Pdin.


    Kyros and the ''Pdin'' were now hiding in the dark forest along with the other members of the Coven.


    The two had worked together to put on the show of faking a Pdin, and Kyros even brought out the torch and poured out a huge chunk of his mana to make it create a powerful burst of bright fire. Kyros stored the torch at thest second and left.


    With that, the fake scene of a Pdin fighting waspleted.


    "Good acting!" Kyros praised.


    The Knight was rather happy about his performance.


    "You know... You should consider saying the names of these three knight vampires. You never addressed them individually, and it''s about time to do so." Cminusined.


    Listen to the man, Kyros.


    "Fine." Kyros rolled his eyes.


    "Alright. Here''s the n. We divide into three groups. Avary, Scarlet, and Gregory, you attack any group with this crest." Kyros drew a strange insignia at the ground.


    "Going by your strength and the level of knights they have, you should be able to fight them. You''ve faced a horde of lizards. Experience teaches you things and hardens your resolve. In short, in front of these mercenaries, your courage should be twice as strong. You also have leveled up and underwent the purest form of vampire strengthening. Take courage and fight them. Remember, you are to bite them and turn them."


    "Yes, Lord Kyros!" The three nodded courageously.


    Kyros then turned to the three knights that he has never called by name. Like, ever.


    "Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey." Kyros called.


    "You three brothers have the greatest courage among the knights. Uncle told me of your bravery that pushed you three closer to death than the rest. And now, you are as close to death, and in fact, you embody it. Therefore, the task that I will have you do will be different from the vows of knighthood that you took." Kyros exined.


    "Lord Kyros. No need to worry about that." Hunter smiled.


    "Although I''m sure I''ll make a fine Pdin, as we just saw... I''d rather be serving you. I do not know what great mysteries you hide. But those three knights have died and their vows with them. We are the Coven of the Nephilim."


    "Yeah. And if biting and turning people into mindless vampires is the first mission, then let''s get it on!" Hemsey added.


    "You really don''t have anyints about killing people?" Kyros asked.


    "Which family are we after?" Hems asked.


    Kyros drew another insignia on the floor.


    "It''s the mercenary group, Havoc Bringers."


    "Oh... Then I''m good." Hems sighed in relief.


    "Really?"


    "That family, the umm...."


    "Corinth." Hunter continued.


    "Right. The Corinth Family has actually been one of the families that have been pressuring and secretly attacking our family. That Mercenary group is also an unfavorable group. But no one touches them because of their backers."


    "If it''s just these people... I guess I can. But Lord Kyros... If-"


    "Don''t worry, Hems. I won''t make you attack the innocent. That''s why I scouted ahead to pick our targets." Kyrosughed.


    "That''s great!" Hems sighed in relief.


    "That''s right! Lord Kyros. The Corinth family also has support from a nearby kingdom. Killing them will make things worse!" Hemsey remembered the connection that the Corinth family had with a certain high-ranking official in a nearby kingdom.


    Kyros smiled.


    "That''s exactly the n! Our goal is for everyone to spread the news. It''s part of our grand quick cash and quick level gain initiative that uses Fate to our advantage!"

 Chapter 70 - Down The Mountain

    The group was shocked at Kyros''s deration.


    "What exactly is our n, Lord Kyros? I thought we''re here to stop an enemy group that Fate has sent to attack is." Scarlet asked.


    "That is the goal. And to do that, we have to draw in as many people to this ce. And do just that, we need to fake the presence of an Ancient Vampire."


    "I don''t understand how that can help us, Lord Kyros. I thought you said that Fate would bring many enemies here." Scarlet asked again.


    "Exactly. And that is why we need more people. If we have several kingdoms or noblesing here, which Fate has set to be our enemies, then the best thing we can do is bring more people here. That way, many neutral groups can even be our allies. If the people that go here are hostile to us, then it''s alright. Because with so many opposing factions, they''d end up fighting each other. And I can also perform that n."


    "That n?" Scarlet asked.


    "Wait! I know! It''s the n you exined back then! The n to make money!" Hunter recalled one of the schemes Kyros revealed.


    "That''s right. We can perform the n I had back then on earning money by offering some of these groups a chance to level up by paying the right price. Hostile or not, the chaotic environment of having several groups will somehow create peace. Especially with the ns that I made Father and Uncle prepare. If there are neutral groups drawn by the mor we create, then I am even thinking of not giving them a steep price but will only hire them to help us."


    "I see! These people will be our shield! Something that is not within our families'' power but can help us in terms of military power!" Scarlet understood the n.


    "Right. Since they are not part of our family and may even betray us, they will still act as a temporary shield to buffer the iing threat. There is more to this n, but this is what you guys need to know. And so, we n to create dark chaos over this region which will alert as many as we can." Kyros exined.


    "Lord Kyros. We do not know if we can create vampire familiars. I know that among the vampires of the Blood de n, only a few had the power to create familiars. They even used that magic on us kids because they probably couldn''t create a stronger force."


    "Leave that to me. While others can''t, I''m confident that I can create more minions. Besides, they won''t be vampires. I n to have you create ghouls." Kyros smiled.


    "Ghouls? My Lord, you can create ghouls?" Avary was amazed.


    "Yes. I don''t know how many I can make. But I''m sure I can make at least ten. We''ll be focusing on quantity instead of quality. Hopefully, you guys can also create a few ghouls. You have my blood, after all. This brings me to the next order of business. We will be splitting up here. So I have to test that ability."


    Kyros gave the orders and began to test hismunication powers through his ability, Micro Management. He was curious whether this ability was something he could do within the Nephilim Sealing Mountain, so he tried to do it now.


    The group still had confused expressions. They felt a strange prompting, but as they were confused, they hesitated. But then... Avary reacted. The first to follow was Avary. Scarlet and Gregory followed shortly, andstly, the triple H knights did so as well.


    "What''s it like? You received my message and followed it. What do you hear?" Kyros asked. He had given the instructions for the Coven to raise their arm.


    "We... don''t hear anything. We just have this strange feeling that prompted us. When I saw Avary do it, I decided to follow." Gregory exined.


    "Yeah. I followed their lead too." Hems answered.


    "Was it you, Lord Kyros?" Avary asked.


    "Yes. Avary, how was that orderpared to when I was telling you which direction to take when you fled."


    "I knew it! It was you even back then! Now it''s a stronger sensation. Back then, I felt that it was some form of gut feeling. But when I found myself reaching closer to the temple, I knew that I was being led by something."


    "So it''s not a clear instruction but more of an impression..." Kyros frowned.


    "Yes." Avary answered.


    Kyros then continued to instruct more specific questions to Scarlet. It was a simple instruction wherein Scarlet would tell Hunter, ''High-Five'' and have scarlet raise her right arm to make Hunter give her a high five.


    Scarlet had a confused expression and raised her hand towards Hunter but couldn''t say the words.


    "I feel like I should say something." She said to Hunter.


    "Hm... So it''s not that clear, huh? But at least I know that I can give simplemands to the group." Kyros noticed that his previous orders of what direction caused Avary to move in the right ce. And right now, Kyros could make more clearer orders. Since Kyros and Cminus leveled up, then Kyros began to think that the rity was rted to either Cminus''s soul or his own.


    Hems suddenly fell on the ground and rolled over to face the sky with the ground on his back.


    "Erm... Hems? What are you doing?"


    "I''m following your orders, Lord Kyros."


    "But I didn''t order you to do it..." Kyros was bewildered.


    The vampires looked at Hems with a weird expression.


    "Erm... Then this feeling that I have it''s...?"


    "Something you just thought in your head. Don''t be an idiot." Kyros facepalmed.


    "I... I was sure it was from you!"


    "Just what exactly goes in that head of yours, brother?" Hunter couldn''t help but ask.


    "In any case, this allows me tomand you guys to make certain actions. I won''t be giving you a lot ofplex orders but only a few. In case some of you make strange actions because they thought it came from me." Kyros gave Hems a straight look.


    Hems turned away in embarrassment.


    "Since I can''t clearlymunicate telepathically, let me exin the other reason why I brought you up here and why we are to drink lots of blood. It is to make you stronger. Aside from Uncle and Father, I n to focus on making you guys stronger. You will be a separate force within the Steele family. After all, you are all part of my Coven. And so, from now on, you all have to train in the ways of controlling dark energy." Kyros then harnessed the dark energy from his sword as a Shadow Ghoul became pure energy.


    "This should be within your capabilities. It may seem difficult to master. But you have to learn it. And my n is to fill you guys with blood. Hopefully, the more Death energy you have, the easier it is to master it."


    "Blood? Death Energy?" The group began to discuss with each other.


    "No time now." Kyros did not exin. As a master warrior who fought mages of all races, he had a superb understanding of elemental magic and its association. Cminus also filled in the gaps about the theories on what the elements really are and how they affect the world.


    "We''ll talk when we have time. There are several towns and camps of mercenaries and knights nearby this ce. Avary and team, you guys attack the insignia of the families you find in this town. H knights, you go to the camp near the bottom of this mountain. And if you find a family that is wicked or has been known to be practicing some injustice, drink their blood. This is part of your training. You have to find ways to kill as many as you can efficiently. You must also capture a few knights and bring them to where I''ll tell you to go. These captured knights will be the first group we will experiment with to turn into an undead warrior. Is this clear?"


    "Yes, Lord Kyros!" The Coven responded.


    "Then go!" Kyros gave the orders, and the Coven moved.


    As the Coven moved out, Kyros closed his eyes and tried to sense the power of the dark.


    The Cloak of Darkness and the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges had grown stronger. And Kyros had also broken one magic seal and weakened another. The innate power that was shared among his two weapons, the Heart of the Fallen, could now be harnessed. Kyros nned to use this to give him an appearance worthy of the enigmatic Cracky Batcheeks.


    "Umm... Yeah. Before you do your power-up thing, I have a question."


    Kyros rolled his eyes in disdain as Cminus''s soul appeared before him in his old man attire.


    "Aren''t you worried that Fate will inform the Gods and Fallen? You have been making a big mor using Cracky Batcheeks." Cminus asked.


    "Why will Fate inform them? Fate will move and give me problems, but only ording to the amount of power I have. That''s why I nned to lower it to minimize the chances of those beings to know about me."


    "You think Fate will stop them from knowing about you?"


    "Yes! Leveling up my Fate Comprehension helped. Think about it. Fate is working to make me something that can challenge and surpass it. And right now, I have Sess Limiter and Apathy of Fate. It will stay at that level. The fact that I sensed Fate sending armies to this ce proves it! It could have warned the Greater Gods and Fallen after me, but it didn''t! Just as how some coincidences and ident urred to send me enemies, coincidences and idents will also protect me from these Gods and Fallen."


    "Hrm... Interesting. After going through hell, you''re learning how to take advantage of Fate."


    Kyros ignored Cminus and closed his eyes to harness the dark energy of the Sword and the Cloak.


    The Heart of the Fallen was activated. In the dark of the night, it began to harness the dark energy.


    The Shadow Familiars, with the help of the Shadow Cloak skill, began to merge. The fusion of the two and the Heart of the Fallen fueling it with more darkness created a strange ck substance.


    [Heart of the Fallen skill, Form of Darkness acquired.]


    The darkness finally took form, and a strange ck, liquid substance covered his entire body. It was as if Kyros was wearing living armor.


    "Let''s do this!" Kyros smiled as he was satisfied with his new look.


    "Cracky Batcheeks will finally make his appearance!" Kyrosughed.


    "You should really consider merging this Form of Darkness with a spider creature."


    "No. Don''t get me in trouble." Kyros shook his head.


    He could see that Avary''s group has reached the town that was a stone''s throw distance from where they were.


    "Down the mountain, I go." Kyros ran.


    Further down the mountain and near the entrance to the mountain region, a group of knights walked. The team consisted of over fifty soldiers.


    Leading the group was a man carrying arge halberd.


    "Faster!" The leader urged.


    "Viscount, there are several powerful forces nearby. I am sensing that there are two more beings with roughly the same level and strength as you." A hooded man next to him replied.


    "That should be our allies that serve Master Lorjdenheign. Let us hurry. The group that finds the mysterious temple where Zid Blood de died will receive the most rewards!"

 Chapter 71 - Making A Secret Base

    The viscount and his escort finally reached the fortress that defended the pass towards the mountain regions where the humans mined.


    As the region was divided between orcs, humans, and a kingdom of mixed demi-humans, each region had a fortress.


    While it was possible to scale the mountain and go into the region, only small forces numbering a dozen or so could move without getting detected. There were scouts, patrols, and camps all over the mountain region that ensured no orc or demi-human spy could infiltrate and steal tons of ores harvested.


    The squad of men, led by a Viscount noble, finally reached the entrance of the fortress.


    "Presenting! Viscount Gradier Conquistar, Spear Master of Jericho Kingdom!" A soldier announced as the group entered.


    "A powerful Viscount? What''s he doing here?" One of the soldiers murmured.


    "You know how chaotic it is now in the Lond Human Kingdoms. Viscounts are shing to be Earl''s as a new kingdom is being established." Another man exined.


    The knights and warriors guarding all saluted the man as he entered.


    "Will you be resting here, my lord?" A soldier approached and gave a salute.


    "No. I am in a hurry. Something awaits up the mountain." Gradier walked onward, and the group followed.


    The group departed the fortress and journeyed in the darkness of the night.


    "My lord." Gradier''s Armor-bearer spoke.


    "I know. Rx. They are not enemies."


    "You''ve grown quite stronger, Gradier." A taunting voice called out.


    A woman approached. Behind her were several hooded figures.


    "Esmeralda of the Toro n. What does a level thirty mage have to do in a ce like this?"


    "I was tasked by the same person who tasked you." She chuckled.


    Gradier had a surprised expression.


    "Oh? I knew I would meet allies, but I never expected it to be you. Isn''t your family a mage group dedicated to the light? To think you would be the secret worshiper of Lord Lorjdenheign."


    "When one studies the great mystery, one must seek all of its aspects and not just the dogmatic and constrained views of the Magic of Light." Esmeraldaughed.


    "A Mage, a Spear Master, and a Ragion. What an interestingbination." Another voice echoed out.


    "Ah. It''s you. I expected the great Viscount family of the Stonefist to join this little gathering. Querk Stonefist." Gradier smiled.


    "It seems our mission in that mountain is rather troublesome. If he all ordered us to go there, it means this is something that greatly advances ''their'' ns."


    "The Eldrich will soon rise. Their movements echo throughout the nes World." Esmeraldaughed.


    "So let''s go and kill this hindrance. The man called Cracky Batcheeks." Querk ordered, and three Viscount groups moved out to hunt the man.


    Meanwhile, in the mountain region, several towns were attacked by powerful vampires.


    As the deaths piled up, the Baron family marshaled his entire squad and prepared to attack the three vampires that went on killing.


    The blood of the knights refueled the vampires that even the wounds they received from the sh were healed.


    "So this is a vampire''s body?" Hunter praised.


    "Amazing. The more we kill and drink, the longer we can fight."


    "This is amazing. I''ve fought a few vampire familiars and ghouls. How does Lord Kyros''s blood allow us to heal wounds this fast?" Hems marveled.


    "I don''t know. He called our Coven the Coven of the Nephilim. It''s very obvious that there is something peculiar with Lord Kyros''s blood. To think a human could create a contract!"


    "Can any of you move the darkness yet? I think I felt something."


    "It''s thanks to the mana that was bestowed from those vampires. And something about Lord Kyros''s blood is within us.


    "Oh... here theye. Our main target." Hunter pointed.


    A group of knights approached. Behind them was a g bearing the insignia that Kyros ordered the three H to attack.


    "Surrender, vampires!" The knight called out. He stood in the forefront of his team and brandished arge sword.


    "That sword looks good. But it''s nothingpared to this." Henry smiled as he brought out the Earth Sword.


    "Hmph! A single sword is not enough to-"


    Hunter and Hems also unsheathed their swords.


    Three powerful swords were shown, and even at a nce, they could tell that the swords radiated with a strange power. Kyros had imbued Earth power with the Earth Core making the sword release a strange pulse of energy.


    "Oh? That is interesting. Men! Whoever kills the first vampire gets one of those three words!" The knightughed.


    The surrounding knights all had greedy expressions and slowly approached the group.


    "Need help?" A group of mercenaries also approached at the back as the swords drew their attention.


    "Bastard mercenaries!" The knight howled.


    "Hehe. Every man for himself. Men, let''s get those swords!" The mercenary captainughed.


    The mercenary group didn''t intend to fight and only held a perimeter. But now that a baron group challenged them, the allure of the swords made them yearn to fight.


    "Hunter... What do you think?" Hemsughed as he watched the camp of men encircle them.


    "They look at least... two times smaller than those darned lizards." Hunterughed.


    "Where is Lord Ky- Cracky''s support?" Hems wondered.


    "Worried?"


    "Not at all. I was hoping it wouldn''te out yet. I want to see... just how strong I''ve be. Down in that hell where no light of hope appeared,pared to this very useless predicament..." Hemsughed.


    "Let''s fight!" Hunterughed, and the three vampires ran off in different directions and fought the enemy that encircled them.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    The three vampires fought and shed their swords. Because of the Earth''s power, the sword was heavy. If it was a normal human, they wouldn''t have the strength to wield it. But the added strength allowed each of the vampires'' shes to have immense weight.


    Those who tried to block the sh were instantly wounded as the Earth Sword broke the swords they carried and hacked all the way down.


    The vampires moved with great speed, and the strength and courage they disyed stunned the mercenaries and the knight that surrounded them.


    The three feared no sword and stab. They fought onward and even would suffer wounds and grave injuries. But the three would bite and feast on the blood.


    It was then that five shadow ghouls appeared at the back of the soldiers and ambushed the group.


    STAB! STAB! STAB!


    Their ws prated the skin of men easily and slew those at the back.


    The Shadow ghouls leaped from one man to another and killed them by stabbing the heads.


    "Shadows!" A knight shouted to warn the group.


    The appearance of these dark creatures horrified some of the men, and the ranks that encircled the three vampires broke.


    On another town, a simr battle was happening.


    Three small vampires that looked like mere children fought the knights. The three had infiltrated the homes and began to kill the knights who were asleep. By the time another group noticed it, more than half had already died.


    A battle broke out, but then two shadows aided the three who charged. The shouts drew the attention of the other knights. By the time theypleted killing everyone save for a few groups, several mercenaries were already outside.


    "I know that mercenary with the insignia of an alligator. They''re good people." Scarlet recognized one of the mercenary groups.


    "The Baron Family Proggad... They''re good people too." Gregory added.


    "Spare them then. Remember to tap the shadow ghoul if they try to attack them. Lord Kyros has already ordered them only to kill who we want to kill." Avarymanded.


    The three young vampires dove in once more, and a fight began.


    Right behind the sh was a tall green golem that walked closer and closer.


    It wasn''t until Mardock delivered the first punch that the knights noticed him.


    "What is that... thing!?"


    As the battle continued in these towns, Kyros finally reached one of the mountain stations near the bottom of the mountain. Several stations were erected on parts of the mountain that overlooked the region. This was so that they could guard the area against orcs that would have scaled the mountain.


    When Kyros saw the numerous guards each station had, he decided to target one.


    "If this station has that many guards, then the fortress at the bottom ought to have an army. So I guess creating my zombie horde here would be better." Kyros decided.


    As Kyros approached, he noticed that there were archers and mages on the nearby towers.


    Kyros stopped approaching and looked at the several towers.


    "How am I to bring that down? Hey Cminus, don''t you have some sort of spell that I can use? Like the ones that Greater God Daradiel gave me?"


    "Those magic spells were his way of allowing you to cast magic using Force Energy since you have those Magic seals. The Celestial Code also allowed you to wield magic and convert it into Force energy for you to cast. Right now, you don''t have those terrifying seals and already have mana. You''re smart. Figure out how to shoot dark bolts." Cminus scoffed.


    "Oh. I already know and am confident that I can shoot dark bolts. It''s easy."


    "You what?"


    "The problem is, that tower has some force field around it. I don''t know what Fate did, but this fortress is expecting me! Look at all those guards! Hrm... it''s hindering me from making a secret base. And this was supposed to be the area where I nned to make my Coven bring all those dead men and turn them into zombies."


    "You can cast dark bolts?!"


    "Yeah. I''ve seen the lizards cast it many times. I''m unsealed in magic, so it''s very easy."


    "You''re not a lizard!"


    "Anyway, can you help me or not? Don''t you have newer abilities now that you leveled up?"


    "No! It''s just ssh! Time Haste was an ability you got that changed your soul!"


    "Ssh, huh... Wait a minute! That''s it! We can kill him now!"


    "What?"


    "You have Ssh!"


    "How can that be helpful?"

 Chapter 72 - Making A Splash

    The small outpost had a wooden wall that covered the area. Several wooden towers that were a level higher than the height of the walls overlooked the entire outpost.


    "Four archers and three mages..." Kyros counted the people standing on the tower. Two archer towers had two archers each. The mage tower at the center had three mages guarding the spot.


    With Kyros''s dark powers, the one that was the greatest threat among all were the mages who could use various magics to detect him.


    Cminus was confused at Kyros''s deration.


    "Don''t you have that ability? Ssh? Or soul tap?"


    "It''s not something that will hurt or kill that man!"


    "Really? You think that the ability to touch, tap and make noise within thirty meters of where I am whilst being invisible isn''t useful?"


    Cminus was silent for a moment. And then it dawned on him.


    "You''re right! Man. I named it Ssh because I found that ability as a cool reference to a useless fish. But now that you mentioned it... it should be helpful."


    "Alrighty. Now for my part." Kyros smiled.


    Because of the new items Kyros acquired, he decided to adjust the items he had marked in his inventory. He currently can mark eleven items that he could store and retrieve with ease. Not knowing what the outside world would have, Kyros decided to unmark the Cloak of Darkness, the Dark Armguards, and the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges as he equipped himself with these weapons and armor.


    The new items that he had marked for easy storage and retrieval were the Temple Torch, the Blood de, Vermilion Earth Sword, the Earth Core, and the Entropy Core, a bow, and two quivers of arrows.


    As expected, the Temple allowed the quiver of arrows to be stored along with all arrows as it was marked as a ''single'' object despite consisting of many objects.


    Kyros retrieved the bow and arrows he stored.


    "Alright, Cminus. I''m going to move closer. You have to move towards the tower and tap the area on the east side of the tower. Make it look like something is attacking them. The entire tower has some form of light force field. The mage must have erected that force field just now as they are anticipating an attack."


    "Hehehe."


    "What are youughing at?"


    "You said erect."


    "..."


    "Please continue."


    "In any case... The force field uses Light energy. Right now, it''s spread out to cover the four sides of the mage tower. With their current position, they seemed to be expecting something from the west. However, if you go to the east side and make continuous sshes, it will create a continuous ripple of light as the force field will detect being hit by something. What would the mage do with an unexined continuous tapping?"


    "If I do continuous sshes, the mages will fortify the energy on the east side, fearing a stronger attack."


    "Right. That''s enough to weaken the strength on the other side. The current strength of those force fields isn''t enough for my bow and arrow to break. When they fortify that side, that''s when I attack."


    "Genius!"


    "You still have to keep on using ssh on the east side even after I kill those men. With continuous sshes happening on the east side of the mage tower, what will the other soldiers think?"


    "That there is an attack is on the east side and put their attention guarding that ce. That gives you the chance to slip in on the west side..."


    "See? Now you get why my INT stat is higher than yours? While I''m thinking of ways to use what you considered to be a useless skill, you make childish remarks andugh at me saying the word erect."


    "Look, with someone as smart and capable as you, I feel like I joined the thesis group with the ss genius who can do all the stuff. If I try to make any contribution, I''d end up making a mess. I don''t know how Fate works. So instead of being the guy trying to contribute, I''ll be the guy who''s in the background making quirkyments to addic relief to the tedious work."


    "Fair enough." Kyros sighed.


    "Alright, my thesispanion! It''s time for you actually to do something. I''ll move closer, and you start taping."


    "Quick question. You don''t have any qualms at killing that mage?"


    "No. Why?"


    "Really? No qualms whatsoever? I mean... you gotta talk about the moral dilemma here. You''re killing innocent people."


    "I thought you saw my memories! I''m already generous. But you saw how my family was driven out and betrayed. Most of the human kingdoms in the Low Lands became supporters of the Eldrich race. While these foot soldiers may not be wicked, they are still part of a big kingdom that eventually bes one. Wouldn''t killing them be good?"


    "How so?"


    "It''s something that I learned from Fate. I think Fate can contribute to the life of a person and determine where this person goes when he or she dies."


    "It can?"


    "You told me that most souls that die either to the high heavens and be part of the cosmic light that shines or provides light like the sun or down to the Nether region. They either enjoy a blessed, pure life as the sun or fall into constant anguish in theher region. You said that the soul''s afterlife depends on the kind of life that person lived, right? If their souls are full of ''Light'' in that they have done good and pure deeds, they be fuel for the light while those that don''t be dark beings that reside in the dark."


    "Right. Unless, of course, the mortal can transcend." Cminus added.


    "Right. Me killing people will make them enter the right cycle and reach the heavens. The earlier they die, the lesser evil they do. If I kill that mage and he is wicked now, then the time when the Dark Shine Kingdom attacks and tempts people to betray their kin and country will only assure his death. If that mage is righteous and may soon fall into depravity because of the future terrors, then I am doing him a favor. Who knows? Maybe when the Dark Shine Kingdom invades, he might give in and betray his kingdom and stack on his soul wickedness."


    "I get it. That makes sense. The righteous man perishes, and no oneys it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from cmity."


    "Wow. That sounds beautifully poetic."


    "Eh. It''s Biblical. Anyway, now that the moral dilemma is settled, let''s go and kill that man!" Cminus cheered.


    Kyros was covered in the thick, ck power that made it harder for him to see within the darkness. The Dark Cloak ability of his cloak was not only something that covered him in ck, but it made him harder to detect.


    As such, Kyros was able to move closer and closer and reach the region near the watchtower. Cminus was able to move his soul and reach the direction which Kyros told him to. Cminus slowly moved so as not to tap and trigger the force field identally. He slowly hovered in front of the mage and watched it.


    Kyros drew his bow and harnessed dark energy on the tip of three arrows. With his magic seals weakened, the dark energy was more potent, making these arrows have a piercing ability on another level.


    Kyros waited, and Cminus finally reached the area.


    "Do it!" Kyros telepathically ordered Cminus.


    [Cminus used Ssh!]


    [Something happened!]


    TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!


    The force field of the tower suddenly lit up as it could sense several strange taps.


    "Enemy attack!" The mage warned.


    The fortress suddenly sprang to life at the alert. The archers moved to position, and the knights readied a battle. Hounds were released to search for nearby life.


    Ripples of lights continuously appeared on the east side of the mage tower as they reacted to something.


    The mages were frantic. The tower they were on only had a small gap where they could peak out of and cast spells. At the height they were on, the attacks kept urring at their head level. If they were not careful, they could die.


    "Quick! Strengthen the shield!" The mage ordered.


    The three mages harnessed the energy and charged the forcefield.


    At that moment, Kyros released his arrows.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows flew and pierced through the weak force field on the north side, which had been weakened, and it carried on and pierced the heads of the mages.


    Cminus kept sshing, and even after the mages were dead, he kept at it for a few more seconds.


    Meanwhile, Kyros had moved to another area.


    The forcefield kept reacting, and soon, the ripple of lights disappeared.


    The group moved to check on the mages.


    Kyros ran towards the west wall of the fortress. As the attacks urred on the east, most soldiers went to that area and left the west wall with very few guards.


    With the dark, liquid armor he wore, Kyros easily scaled the wooden as the dark powers assisted him in sticking on the wall.


    Cminus had stopped sshing on the tower and moved closer to Kyros. He headed towards the spot where one of the archers stood guard.


    [Cminus used Ssh!]


    The archer was startled that something tapped him from behind, and he jumped and drew his bow.


    This gave Kyros the chance to scale the wall unseen. The bow appeared on his hand, and Kyros shot another arrow at the archer, killing him instantly.


    "Infiltrationplete. Time to kill!" Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 73 - Making A Sword

    Kyros moved all over the base with the darkness enveloping him. Moving at the maximum length of thirty meters was Cminus, returning to the top of the Mages tower.


    One of the archers realized finally confirmed their fear as he reached the top of the Mages tower, who were no longer responding.


    "The mages are dead! Enemy attack! Sound the rms! Light up the to-"


    Cminus finally gave another ssh which was once more from the east side.


    The sudden tap caused the archer to panic and reached for his bow.


    FWIP!


    A single arrow pierced from the back of his shoulder, and he stumbled and started screaming in pain.


    They only saw the archer turn to the east and suddenly was struck from the east to those at the bottom.


    Cminus moved towards another archer tower and used ssh, distracting them.


    The knights heard the panic voices of the archers, but then, a strange dark shadow taking the form of a human appeared and attacked them.


    The surprising appearance of this shadow drew the attention of many.


    Kyros then moved silently and approached another archer on the tower that was not within the sights of the others. Using the Vermilion Earth Sword and the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges, Kyros stabbed the two archers.


    "AH!" One of the archers gave a pained scream.


    Several knights and two archers emerged from their rooms as they were awakened from the shouts.


    TING! TING! TING!


    A metal sound resounded as Cminus used ssh on a metal shield hidden in one room.


    The knights that left the room heard it and were confused as they knew no one was left in that room!


    "What''s going on?" One of the knights shouted.


    "Fight the shadow!" A mage appeared and began to harness holy magic to attack the dark familiar.


    FWIP! FWIP!


    The first arrow struck some form of barrier, but the second prated through and killed the mage.


    Another shadow attacked another knight. Cminus was bouncing and sshing around, creating taps and touching sensation on the knights, further added to the chaos.


    "Something''s here!" One of the knights shouted as he drew his sword as he tried to sh the unseen Cminus.


    Cminus used ssh on the sword, and the sudden resistance caused the knight to charge forward and try to ram something in his desperation.


    "Knights! Be on your guard! Get the torches!" One of the knights ordered, and they began to fight the shadow familiar. But Cminus kept sshing on the torches that it added more panic.


    Kyros stood on top of the wall. After he scaled the wall and made the two shadow familiars fight, he kept activating Dark Cloak. Kyros was confident they wouldn''t notice him with no mages around and the archers on the towers killed.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    And just like that, the knights were all wounded by Kyros''s harassment. Some had already died.


    The two Shadow Familiars suddenly retreated.


    The surviving three knights ran after it in great rage.


    Two died as arrows struck them right in between the gaps of their helmets.


    The remaining one that was chasing the shadow familiars died as the two shadows suddenly attacked.


    Kyros made his move and slew thest man together with his shadows.


    Just like that, the entire outpost was wiped out.


    "Finally. All dead. Now time to begin the harvest." Kyros retrieved the Blood de.


    Kyros found the many weapons in the outpost and began to send them back to the Temple.


    The Blood de continued to absorb the blood of all the humans. Since Kyros was not devouring the blood, the de soon transformed into a long de.


    "Now it''s time to merge it. The Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges is a sword that can harness the souls of Dark Dependent. The Blood de appears to be a special form of magic that branches out from the powers of an Ancient Vampire. By the looks of it, this magic ought to be left behind from a vampire that ascended." Kyros observed.


    "Both uses Dark energy to fuel it. If Ibine these two swords, I should have a slightly stronger sword. If the Blood de fuses with the Heart of Fallen core of the sword, it should be able to gather both blood and darkness." Kyros smiled.


    He brought out the many smiting items left in the outpost and gathered the various artifacts that the Mages had.


    [Allies are trying to ess the Temple Storage Space. Open the doors?]


    Kyros was stunned at the sudden notification.


    "What the...?" Kyros closed his eyes. Due to the distance, viewing the temple through Micro-Management required five mana per minute.


    Kyros saw his father tapping around one part of the Temple.


    "Hm? Did he hear something when I sent these stuff? Oh well... I guess it''s better this way. I can easily send items in the temple and evenmunicate with them." Kyros took out a parchment and began to write on it.


    He clicked on Yes, and a secret chamber on the west side of the Temple opened up, leading to an underground storage facility.


    "Why did it open?" Aron was amazed. The group went down and found ores of all kinds, some weapons, anvils, and other smiting equipment.


    "What is this ce?" Branze wondered.


    "I recall that Avary said Lord Kyros could send items into a different ce. One of the knights pointed at a sword lying on the ground. Oh, look! Those are Lord Kyros''s weapons!"


    Suddenly, a pile of tables, chairs, and other odd equipment appeared.


    On top of the table was a small notebook.


    "Dear Father. I see that you''ve found the Temple Storage Space. I didn''t know where this was. But now that you found it, this makes things easier. We canmunicate through writing reports here. I have marked this notebook for easy storage and retrieval. If there is anything you need me to bring, please write it here. But as I am busy, please give at least two to three business days to process your request. Thank you." Branze read the notebook.


    "Oh. That''s amazing! So Kyros can send stuff here! Men, do you want anything?"


    "This is... a Mage basic magic book!" Branze was amazed at the nearby books that were on a pile.


    "Wow. Those books are worth hundreds of gold! To think we got some for free!" Aronughed.


    "This is good. Kyros''s adventure can help us grow stronger here. Since father already got my message, he should be selling ournds to purchase weapons and equipment. But it seems we can spare more gold if Kyros can find the things we need!"


    "This sword is amazing! It''s a standard knight''s sword!" One of the mercenaries praised.


    "A knight''s armor. It''s weaker than the scale armor we got, but it should outfit the men who don''t have such armor!" Another mercenary praised.


    "Damn it! I should have learned of this earlier! I could have sent father a message to minimize spending so we can save it for any possible purchases in the future!" Branze wept.


    "Oh. Did you use up the energy of the message talisman? What if... the Temple can restore the energy of Talismans?" Aron guessed.


    Branze''s expression changed as he swiftly bolted to the top of the Temple.


    Meanwhile, Kyros continued to absorb the blood of the men. Kyros had stabbed the sword on one of the knights. He had sessfully merged the two weapons. And it was rather easy to do so. The Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges sensed the power, and a notification appeared that confirmed if Kyros wanted tobine the two weapons.


    Upon selecting yes, the two swords fused into a dark reddish sword with a strange beating heart onto the sword''s hilt.


    The notification remained as Kyros continued to observe the stats.


    ---


    Bloodied Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges (Lvl. 1)


    Attack: 28


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy and Blood


    Shadow Ghoul Familiar (7) / Blood Golem (2)


    Soul Trapper


    Dark Trapper


    Blood de


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    "Nice. Now it can absorb blood and darkness!" Kyros cheered as he read on the details of the ability.


    Dark Trapper allowed him to gather bits of dark energy.


    "If this is the case, I can level up just by killing people. But the experience it gives should be way, way, way weaker than the experience the temple can give."


    Kyros began to think more about the sword''s details and found that he can still unmerge the two swords at will.


    "So the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges can level up on its own. But something is missing. It feels like the Blood de is iplete. It can''t level up. I have to find a way to make it more powerful."


    Suddenly, he heard screams on the outside.


    Kyros sighed.


    "And there goes Fate. Sending me new enemies. Oh well... Time to test my new sword."


    Kyros wore the dark armor using the shadow cloak and stepped out. He kept stabbing the sword on the dead man as he dragged the man outside.


    Eight men were there. A mage, three archers, and four knights stood.


    Leading the group was a tall and dark, beautiful woman. She raged as she saw her team dead.


    "What happened here?!" The woman roared.


    Kyros revealed himself as he dragged the knight. He held a torch on his hand so that the eight can see the horrors of his sword.


    The Blood de kept absorbing more blood, and Kyros stood over to arrogantly disy his cruelty.


    "Ah... Fresh Meat!" Kyrosughed.


    The mage was enraged. The knight that Kyros was devouring was one of his closest friends.


    "Die!" The mage shouted and shot a firebolt.


    Kyros moved a bit to the right and allowed the firebolt to hit his left arm.


    BOOM!


    The firebolt exploded out, revealing a bloody, gory arm. The darkness had been breached, and blood fell down Kyros''s arm.


    Kyrosughed and held the Blood de tight.


    The blood in his sword began to refuel him and heal his wounds at a visible rate.


    "Life Steal!" The woman muttered in horror.

 Chapter 74 - Making A Fool Of An Archer

    Life steal was a very advanced form of Dark magic. The immediate feeding and healing of the bodies are only present among the highest-ranking vampires and other beings. Low leveled vampires wouldn''t have such strong ability. Though vampires do heal through the absorption of Dark energy and blood, it wasn''t as fast as Kyros''s exaggerated effects.


    The strange thing was that the healing came directly from the sword. The blood was clearly rising from the sword hilt, and the blood rushed up to the arm of Kyros, which in turn was used to heal the wound.


    "You will all be fuel for my sword!" Kyros made a sadisticugh.


    [Taunt activated.]


    "Stop it now! Before it heals itself!" The woman cried out and immediately retrieved a bow and began to fire.


    Kyros was standing near a torch, and when he moved out of the light, he activated Dark Cloak and disappeared.


    The arrows missed, and it exploded upon contact on the wall behind.


    "A Force user... How can a Force user be here on the Londs? Fate really is cruel. Am I to expect warriors at the same caliber of my father and uncle soon?" Kyros frowned.


    "Assume a formation! Knights to the front! Archers to the-"


    "Are you sure you want to challenge me? I killed everyone here before they could light the rm beacon." Kyrosughed.


    [Oration skill activated.]


    The woman was surprised and looked at the beacon. None of the archers or the Mage managed to shoot a fire arrow or fire magic to the top to light it up. She couldn''t understand just how fast this creature killed them.


    Kyros began to retreat to an unseen location and summoned his three golems.


    The rocky sound of the golem moving out of the earth alerted the group.


    Immediately, Kyros put away the Earth Core and brought out the Entropy Core. Although he couldn''t summon Mardock since he was already apanying the Avary and team, he could still harness the Entropy magic from it.


    With an external form of energy that provided Entropy, Kyros enveloped several arrows with Entropy.


    He taunted the group at the beginning to give the impression that his weapon was a sword. As Taunt was activated, and since Kyros also hinted that he managed to kill everyone with his sword, the team of soldiers was on the alert to prepare for Kyros''s charge, which would attempt to assassinate them.


    The knights formed a perimeter around the team. Inside the formation were the archers, the mage, and the woman.


    "Captain! We should retreat! That monster massacred everyone!" A knight urged.


    "Yes, Captain!" Another archer added.


    "Spike, you retreat and warn the outpost up north! That''s the nearest ce where you can find reinforcement. We''ll buy you some time!" The woman decided.


    "Captain! We should all retreat!" a knight argued back.


    "It killed the entire outpost without even giving them time to light the warning beacon! This thing is fast and strong! If we retreat, we fall prey to this hunter! Haven''t you seen its figure? Its dark powers made it hard to see! If we flee, we stand at a higher risk of getting massacred. Our goal is to make sure someone gets to the nearest outpost and warn or light the rm beacon! To do that, some have to stay and fight!" The woman exined.


    "Screw this!" A knight retreated and broke formation. Soon the others followed.


    "Knights! You hold your ground! Stop!"


    "Leave her! She''s supposed to die anyway!" The mage shouted as the group retreated.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows flew and struck the mage and two archers.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Even before these three could scream, another volley struck the knights and the remaining archer.


    The group was unprepared. The summoned golems continued to make sounds, and the soldiers were naturally putting their attention there. Unfortunately, they didn''t see Kyros move to the side.


    "Arrows! Evade!" The woman warned.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Thest set of three arrows flew, and two hit the target, but the woman who led the eight men managed to evade it and shoot several volleys to counter Kyros.


    The arrows flew with fantastic uracy, and if it weren''t for Kyros''s high dexterity, he would have been hit.


    Thest arrow even required Kyros to make this two shadow familiars jump forward to weaken the arrow.


    "She''s strong! Stupid Fate! This isn''t an average Force user! Just how strong will my future enemies be?!" Kyros then ordered the golems to rush and attack.


    "Men! The dark being is an archer. Do not escape! He can kill you! Do not-" It was then that the woman noticed the men were screaming in agony. She turned to peak and saw that the mage and archers were already dead. The knights that should have survived a single arrow were screaming in agony as the part that was struck was leaking greenish energy.


    One of the knights removed the arrow that was lodged on his shoulder and kept screaming. Finally, he removed the armor in a panic and found that his shoulder was turning green as a powerful gnawing sensation kept attacking it.


    The other knights did the same thing. One of the knights who was struck near the neck died as the strange poison got to his throat and caused him to be unable to breathe.


    "Poison! I''ve been fooled! He was not just a swordsman!" The woman cursed. She was so focused on fighting a swordsman that the arrow attacks that had poison surprised her.


    "These arrows are sharp! The arrow is made of some strong material!" She cursed. The arrows that attacked the knights easily prated through their armor.


    Kyrosughed.


    "Those arrows can pierce through rocks. Those pitiful armors of your men are useless. Just die! Golems! Kill her!" Kyros ordered.


    Suddenly, the golems appeared and charged for attacking the woman.


    The woman paused and took a deep breath. Then, she nced at the approaching golems and concentrated.


    FWIP! FWIP!


    Several more arrows flew to attack the woman, but the woman began to ran and used force on her feet to jolt her backward.


    "She used a version of Explosive Arrow on her feet? Damn... She''s good!" Cminus praised.


    "She is indeed. And her dexterity is quite high that I wouldn''t be able to kill her. No choice. Let''s use our secret weapon."


    "Secret weapon?" Cminus wondered.


    "Ssh." Kyros smiled.


    "I''m a secret weapon?" Cminus blushed.


    "I can''t believe Ssh is a secret weapon. I wonder if I''ll learn Tackle soon..."


    "Get ready!" Kyros urged.


    The woman jumped and rolled on the ground, taking a sword from the knight rolling in agony. She charged and stabbed at the golem, and the sword exploded upon contact.


    The woman evaded the punches of the golems which were now surrounding her. She punched and kicked the golems with each hit containing the explosive force, but it wasn''t enough to kill the golems.


    Kyros continued to shoot arrows and ordered the golems to start killing the surviving knights.


    But the woman''s movements proved skillful. She evaded Kyros''s attacks and pushed, kicked, or struck the golem with his swords to keep the knights alive.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Another trio of arrows was shot, and the woman evaded two but then caught the remaining one headed for her head.


    BANG!


    The woman''s grip contained the same explosive force which stopped and broke the arrow to pieces.


    Kyros shot more arrows, but they were either being evaded or caught in the woman''s explosive grips.


    [Cminus used Ssh!]


    "Gotcha!" Kyros shouted.


    The woman suddenly jumped backward as she felt the strange tap, and she used her explosive kick tounch her further away as shended.


    When she found nothing there, she immediately turned her attention to the side and found an arrow headed straight towards her.


    She caught the first one and broke it, and immediately went to catch the second one.


    By the time she noticed it, it was toote.


    The second iing ranged attack wasn''t an arrow. It was a Dark Bolt.


    BOOM!


    The woman was struck on the chest as the dark bold slipped through her arm.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Two more dark bolts struck her on the leg and on the arm.


    She stumbled on the ground and was in pain. She felt the dark energy corrupting his body, and a grave sense of heaviness prevented her from moving her arm and the leg that was struck.


    "My muscles are torn?" Sheughed.


    She could see the golems approaching, and the dark figure revealed itself once more as it approached her.


    "I am Martha of the Bowheart n! My bow can only bend or break. And today, my bow finally breaks!" She shouted. There was a sense of release in her cry. She could finally rest.


    "Martha of the Bowheart n? Could it be... her?" Kyros was amazed. That was a name he had heard in his past life.


    "It was an honorable fight. You fought with great trickery and made a fool of this archer. But a loss is a loss." Sheughed.


    "Yeah... about that... I don''t think I can kill you..." Kyros hesitated.


    "Really? She just said she''s Martha, and you''re not killing her? I didn''t know Ascension of the Nephilim had a Snyder Cut."


    "Martha Bowheart? The Genius Archer abandoned by his family?" Kyros asked.


    The woman was amazed.


    "Who... Who are you?"


    "Do you know someone named Aron Steele?"


    "Aron Steele, the Half Pdin?"


    "Force Pdin. But yeah. That one."


    "I have heard of him... What business do you have, oh, creature of the night?"


    "Are you... by any chance... single?"

 Chapter 75 - Making An Ally

    Martha had a confused expression at the strange question of the dark being that stood over her. She was ready for the most excruciating forms of death and partially was relieved to be freed from her torment.


    And yet, herees the creature asking for her personal affairs.


    "Single?"


    "Yes."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Are you taken?"


    "Taken?"


    "You know... Do you have a boyfriend?"


    "No... I''m not sure why this is important."


    Kyros was silent. He was cursing as to the current events of this life.


    "Why is this important?" Cminus finally asked.


    "When I reincarnated into this body, I wanted not only to protect my family but also make their life better. This is why I didn''t only challenge Fate and Destiny to defy their will and keep my family alive, but I also wanted to make my father king. This girl, Martha Bowheart, was the one girl who came very close in making my uncle fall in love."


    "I saw your memories. Your father kept talking about the one woman who died during the war that broke your uncle''s heart. She was a skilled genius of the Bowheart n, but due to her lineage being an illegitimate child and how the legal wives of the Bowheart were spurring the heart not only of her father but of the entire n to throw her an outcast led to her eventual death." Cminus recalled.


    "Yes. So it sort of weird for Fate to throw her in my direction. I was keeping quiet the entire battle, but I''ve always had the urge to kill her."


    "Honestly... I had that weird feeling too. Like she had to die."


    "Fate Challenger was the one thing that kept me from killing her. The desire conflicted with each other, that it made me curious. It''s a good thing that my cautiousness got the better of me. If at thatst barrage I aimed for her critical parts, then she would have died. It''s quite scary."


    "Scary indeed. What if Fate is leading you to a point where you have to kill Mechiel?"


    "That''s a scary thought indeed. In any case... I have to convince Martha to join us."


    "This should be interesting to watch." Cminusughed.


    "Martha Bowheart. One of your men earlier imed that you were supposed to die. And frankly, those men who followed you seemed rather disloyal to someone who is a noble. Are you from a Baron family or a Viscount family?"


    "A Viscount family..."


    "Which kingdom?"


    "Addorant Kingdom."


    "The Addorant Kingdom? Wait a minute... That doesn''t make sense. The Addorant Kingdom is a kingdom that has secretly supported the Dark Shine Kingdom''s horde..." Kyros frowned.


    In Kyros''s previous life, the survivors of the Bowheart n were with him in his final stand of humans that grouped together in the Minds Omega Kingdom.


    "Wow. Your family is quiteplicated. I guess there is no perfect family. They mistreat you like you are some animal, but they have a surprisingly loyal and upright sense of justice!"


    "?!" Martha was surprised at the strange creature''s urate description.


    "Am I right in saying that?"


    "Yes... Who are you, and how do you know my Bowheart n?"


    "Alright. Let''s start everything from the very beginning. Hi, I''m Kyros. And I''m not a bad guy."


    "How do you exin your very malicious and dark form."


    "Right. See! It''s not my true form!" Kyros undid the darkness.


    The appearance of a ten-year-old boy stunned Martha.


    "You! You''re human!"


    "Yes. So, yeah. I''m not a bad guy. I just have a bad guy costume."


    "Your golems are... killing the knights that have managed to survive your poison arrow."


    Kyros turned around, and sure enough, the golems were stomping the heads of the knights.


    "Drats." Kyros scratched his head. He forgot to stop the orders.


    "You''re definitely a bad guy. You massacred the outpost with astonishing speed, used dark and poison to kill my men, and assail me. You also have golems stomping the heads of my soldiers."


    "Those are all circumstantial things that simply portray a small picture of who I am!"


    "You have a sword that can drink blood and heal your body like a monster."


    "So I have a few cool tricks! That doesn''t make me a bad guy. The important is that beyond my erm... apparent circumstantial actions and appearance, is a boy who desires the greatest good in this world. I am, in fact, a servant to the most benevolent Ancient Gods that side on truth and justice!"


    "Lord Kyros! We havepleted the massacres you ordered us to do. We are pleased to report that we killed all of the mercenary group and in at least five more knights. Here are our spoils. All in all, we captured nine men which we can turn into ghouls. The Poison Golem Mardock carried three men. Many will know that the darkness of Cracky Batcheeks will spread in this region!" Avary reported with great passion.


    "Lord Kyros! We also have killed and massacred many and drank the blood of many! We have burned houses and in, carving the name of Cracky Batcheeks on their bodies. We managed to bring ten men here, which we can bite and turn into mindless ghouls that will do your dark bidding! May the world tremble at the rise of the mighty Prince of Darkness whomands the darkness with ease! The blood of the innocent shall be offered to you, oh dark one! We will now go and capture beautiful virgins for your consumption." Hunter liked Avary''s report and decided to follow through and added a few jokes for fun.


    The Shadow Ghouls of Kyros also appeared nearby and hissed as it ran towards the sword and miraculously disappeared.


    "..."


    "... You were saying?" Martha asked.


    "Maybe I should just kill you..." Kyros sighed in exasperation.


    "Yes. That is also my preferred option as I am a virgin and don''t want to be consumed by you, oh dark one." Martha scoffed.


    "Who is this, Lord Kyros?" Scarlet asked.


    "This is Martha of the Bowheart n. Has any of you have dealings with that n?"


    "I have, my lord. The Bowheart n is one of our trading partners. They usually avail of our family''s business." Gregory spoke.


    "You! I know you! Gregory Porter! Son of the Baron and transporter mogul Zach Porter!"


    "Was the son. My family and the vige were attacked by vampires a few days ago. Since most of our knights are away, the vampires killed everyone, including my father."


    "Vampire? You mean..." Martha turned to Kyros.


    "Er... No. Not Lord Kyros."


    "Gregory, please introduce us. There is a great misunderstanding between the two of us. I don''t want to kill her and want her to join us."


    "Join you?!" Martha screeched.


    Gregory looked around and scratched his head. He could guess what was going on and knew that trying to convince Martha would be difficult.


    "Erm... Lady Martha. I seem to recall that you have visited our vige on several asions. Forgive me for not greeting you all those times. I didn''t know you are a direct descendant of the Bowheart n. I thought you were one of the escorts. In any case, this is Lord Kyros Steele. He is the son of Baron Branze Steele, who have rendered great service to the kingdom he served."


    "Son of Branze Steele? Branze Steele the Sword-Wise? As you can see, this CREATURE killed an entire outpost full of archers, knights, and mages. He then continued to massacre my men, and when some of them were immobilized, he sent his golems to stomp their heads. And you im that this man, or whatever he is, is the son of Branze Steele who is benevolent, righteous, and who upholds justice and defends the dignity of Barons? This dark one is his son?!" Martha questioned.


    Gregory turned to Kyros, not knowing what to say.


    "I am adopted." Kyros exined.


    "Kill me now..." Martha begged Gregory.


    "They say action speaks louder than words... Heal her. There should be some herbs and healing equipment in the room. Gregory, keep herpany and exin what you have seen so far." Kyros sighed.


    "Yes, my lord." Gregory bowed.


    "If you wish to prove to me that you are not the evil being that you im to be... then there is a way to convince me." Martha suddenly spoke.


    "Oh? What is it?"


    "Save Myas."


    "Save your ass?" Kyros frowned.


    "Erm... Lord Kyros. She means Myas. I know her. She apanied her on several trips on our vige and is in charge of transporting goods within the Bowheart n. I have talked with her on several asions."


    "Oh! It''s a person. Alright. Where is she?"


    "She was captured in an Orc raid. She is now a ve in the orc mines on the other side of this mountain range."


    "Hmm... We don''t have time for now. But we will be attacking orc forts soon. You have my word that we will save her. She''s not in some immediate threat, is she?" Kyros asked.


    "No." Martha shook her head. Her eyes turned hopeful.


    "How is she rted to you?"


    "My half-sister. I vowed to save her. The Bowheart n couldn''t afford to attack their fort. You said you nned to attack them?"


    "Soon. I have my reasons, but I need to kill a lot of Orcs." Kyros recalled the temple missions.


    "Then as long as you promise to save her, and spare her, vowing not to heart those close to her, excluding me, then I will give myself to be a wife to Branze Steele."


    "Actually, it''s Aron Steele that I''m hooking you up with."


    "Aron the Half-Pdin?!"


    "It''s Force Pdin. But yeah. In any case, I still want you to see me in a good light. So get healed and talk with Gregory to understand the situation that my family is in. Gregory, I''m counting on you to make her see past all the apparent darkness I''ve shown her."


    "My lord, some of these knights we captured are close to dying. We should turn them into ghouls now. Are we the ones to bite them, or will you do it? Will you let them drink your blood, or should we let them drink our blood?" Hems asked.


    Martha''s hopeful eyes turned to darkness as she heard Hems'' report.


    "See, Gregory? Good luck." Kyros sighed.

 Chapter 76 - Making Ghouls

    Gregory, Scarlet, and Hems moved Martha inside one of the rooms and found the various herbs used to heal her and stabilize her condition.


    Kyros was outside and observed the status of the people that his team brought.


    They had already been bitten, and the power of the Vamp Virus had already spread throughout their body.


    The humans had already been weakened, and some were about to die.


    "We thought that they would undergo a vampiric transformation from our bite... But nothing has happened so far. When my master turned me, I immediately felt a strange link with them." Avary added.


    "That''s because I disallowed it. But you do have that power to turn and create vampires on your own." Kyros exined. He had seen the notifications when his Coven bit these people but did not approve of the change.


    "It requires your permission, Lord Kyros? I thought vampires can create familiars at will."


    "They can''t. In the vampire world, those like Zid Blood de, who has a Prime Bond with a more powerful vampire, cannot create servant vampires without the approval of their master. In your case, the vampires that made you into Dhampir needed Zid''s approval. This ensures that no servant can rebel against their master. You six are Vampire Bloodlines and are superior to Vampire Blood Borne. And you could bestow your power to create a Dhampir Prime, which is a stronger ss of Dhampirs. If you spread out the energy, then a Vampire Bloodlines could create two Dhampir Ghouls. The Blood Borne can only make one Dhampir Ghoul."


    "Vampire Bloodlines? What is that? Aren''t we Dhampirs?" Avary asked.


    "You were Dhampirs. But not anymore. I can''t exin everything now. The less you know, the better it is. But I am confident that you can probably be equal to the strongest vampires in the vampire kingdoms here in the londs or the Dark Sea." Kyros boasted.


    "I disallowed you to turn them into Dhampir Ghouls because I wanted quantity, not quality. For now, we make ghouls!" Kyros then retrieved the Bloodied Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges.


    "I wonder how many ghouls we can make..." Kyros opened the Soul Console and prepared the codes he created.


    "Let''s see if this works." Kyros stabbed the sword on one of the dying humans.


    The human couldn''t even scream from the severe weakness and pain that his body had. Slowly, Kyros was pumping very small amounts of his blood. His Soul Console began to work and bestow some form of sentience that altered the vampiric powers that the Coven inflicted on these men.


    The man that was stabbed began to convulse as changes started to ur on his body.


    The body of the human started to turn. His skin grew white and whiter. Fangs and ws began to form, and his eyes turned red.


    "Looks like a sess!" Kyros smiled.


    [Coven Ability: Create ghouls skill acquired.]


    "Hunter, this man was bitten by you, right? You should feel the connection soon. I already allowed you to create the link. By the looks of it, I''ve managed to divide the bindings that you have in making Dhampirs and forced a code... oh don''t understand that term... let''s just say I tinkered with your ability to make dhampirs and now you canmand four of these ghouls." Kyros exined.


    Martha, who was watching from the inside, watched in horror.


    A strange creature was standing up. It was howling and throwing about, and its face started to change.


    The man''s face turned monstrous. The shape of its head was bing like that of a bat.


    "I can sense a link! I can control this ghoul!" Hunter eximed excitedly. He could somehow sense the transformed man and even order it around. He tested it and ordered the ghoul to move, and it did.


    "It''s simr to how youmand us, Lord Kyros!" Hunter eximed.


    "Good enough! Simplemands are all that we need anyway..."


    Kyros excitedly continued the process. Each time he made a sessful ghoul, he celebrated. Soon, all neen of the men and women brought to the outpost had be ghoul. Each creature stood up and began to howl screeches and hisses.


    "Good! With this, we could create an army soon!" Kyros crackled a disturbingugh in his excitement.


    "Soon, kingdoms shall fall, and the undead shall rise! And we, my Coven, shall be lord over the dead!"


    "Lord Kyros. Martha is watching."


    "Oh right! I mean... Love! And world peace!"


    Martha''s mouth was wide open as she looked through the window.


    "Um... Miss Martha... Going back to our exnation, Lord Kyros isn''t all that bad!" Gregory tried to change the topic.


    Kyros, however, was absorbed at the ghoul and observed them one by one and even brought out their description.


    ---


    Ghoul (Monster level dependent on Coven Level)


    Race: Ghoul


    Coven: Coven of the Nephilim


    ---


    Strength- Host + 1


    Magic- 0


    Dexterity- 1/3 of Host


    Vitality- Host + 2


    Intelligence- 0


    ---


    "So... these ghouls are driven by instinct. They can live for a very long, long time as long as they eat humans to replenish its body, just like most Dark Dependent creatures. In any case, we can make up to twenty-four ghouls in total. This should be just in time to attack our enemies."


    "Do you have any estimate or guess as to who or what this enemy is, Lord Kyros?"


    "I''m guessing they should be Viscounts. But their power should be superior among their peers. Let''s just assume we have to fight enemies that are at least level thirty. I won''t be surprised if we fight level forty, though."


    "That''s at the level of Lord Aron and Lord Branze!"


    "We are fighting against Fate. Order the ghouls to eat the corpses of everyone. I''ll have to go and lead our teams to terrorize the other towns in this mountain region in an hour or so. I intentionally picked a path that is out of the way from the main road of this region to meet our enemies. Fate ought to lead our enemies into the cave to attack Uncle and Father."


    "Why not us? Won''t Fate lead that group to find us first?"


    "No. We are outside the mountain. As vampires, we can easily escape, especially at night. So logically, it will order the group to attack those in the cave where they will be trapped. The golems can''t help us in the cave, and that means father and uncle would be forced to face those Viscounts and their party."


    "Lord Aron and Lord Branze will be outnumbered. Then they have to retreat to the Golem City! Is this why the n is to give the Golem City?"


    "Yes. But not immediately. If they find the Golem city too soon, the kingdoms'' armies behind these Viscounts will reach here first. I don''t want that. I ordered you to make amotion to bring people here, right? That way, the human kingdom alliance will all send their own teams. We can ally with some, hire some and even bribe some to protect us. Now is not the time to give the Golem City."


    "Then our goal is to attack these Viscount squads and dy them?" Hunter confirmed.


    "Yes. For now, Scarlet and Gregory can stay here to nurse Martha. The rest will apany me out the mountain. Our goal is to dy them. They should be headed to where father and uncle are at full speed. Since this outpost is a long way from the main road, they would not head over here. We make a few preparations, and we leave immediately. I estimate that Fate shouldn''t be able to work fast and send warriors here. I picked this ce by random chance and since it is located quite a distance from the main roads." Kyros then exined the n.


    Meanwhile... On the main road heading towards the peak of the mountain range...


    That night, the messengers ran all over the mountain region. The reports of the vampire attacks urred everywhere. Very soon, a triune group of Viscount also have gotten word of the reports.


    "Vampire attacks?" Gradier, the spear master, was astounded.


    "Yes, Viscount Gradier! Several viges and camps near the peak of this mountain range have been attacked. There were over thirty killed in two different ces. Reports of Shadow Ghouls were appearing!" The scout reported.


    "Shadow Ghouls?!" Esmeralda the mage eximed.


    "Could it be? The mountain had opened the way to unexined creatures?" Querk the ragion asked.


    "That is the dominant theory. A Pdin was also foundbating the dark threat. He managed to repel the Shadow and chase after the dark being that attacked the town. The reports state that an Ancient Vampire with an unusual artifact appeared!"


    "Was there a name?"


    "Indeed there was, Viscount Esmeralda. The name was carved on one of the men. Cracky Batcheeks!"


    The three were startled at the name.


    "Cracky Batcheeks!" Gradier eximed.


    "I am off to report my findings to the main fort below. Please take care. The darkness is our enemy tonight!" The scout moved up.


    "It seems that we have to hurry and scale the mountains. It is good that we went on our way." Querk spoke.


    "Right. Let us make haste!" Esmeralda agreed.


    "You move ahead. I am going to take a long detour."


    "A detour? What could be more pressing than getting to the bottom of this appearance of the vampire?"


    "To create a way in this mountain region! What is more pressing; finding that vampire with our small team or creating a secret entrance for our forces to move inside? If we take down one of the eastern outposts, we can have our men scale the mountain and easily enter this ce without passing through the main fortress! With the reports that we have, it''s clear that the enemy is more formidable than we thought."


    Esmeralda and Querk nced at each other.


    "This will also give our family a chance to establish a secret trade route here! We use the threat of the vampire to infiltrate an outpost, and then we kill everyone. We rece the outpost with a few men of our own. And we''d have a way in. Lord Lorjdenheign would then have an easy way in this fortress!"


    "Genius! That also gives us a tremendous advantage and can allow us to exploit the riches in this mountain! For a Spear Master, you speak like a Tactician!" Esmeralda praised.


    "Ingenious indeed!"


    "Truth be told, it''s fate that I thought of this! I want to kill a certain woman who has scorned and embarrassed me. She is a talented Archer of the Bowheart n. I have been thinking of an excuse to kill her! Now I have! Pardon my selfishness. But this selfishness will greatly benefit us! I know which outpost she is assigned to!" Gradierughed.

 Chapter 77 - Making A Special Delivery

    "Keep moving! We have to reach the next town!" A group of soldiers, archers and some mages marched quickly. They brought with them a caravan. With the many reports of attacks, one of the most wealthiest family started to send his men to bring the belongings batch by batch down the mountain.


    The sudden appearance of the mysterious vampire with a powerful artifact drew many to move out and search the mountain, it also caused panic on some wealthy families. The reports were eerie that this particr family decided to leave the region and return to the main fortress at the bottom.


    As the group march, they were unable to take notice of a strange shadow that followed them.


    The shadow soon retreated and met up with another group.


    "They carry a crest of a leopard and a bear." Kyros told his team.


    "The Urslepar family." Avary recognized them.


    "Are they good guys?" Kyros asked.


    "They''re not really bad... I''ve heard of them. But they are not really good either. I don''t have any problems killing them." Hunter told Kyros.


    "Avary?"


    "Let''s kill them. They have been collecting protection funds from some merchant. Or rather, its payment for them not wrecking the business."


    "Alright. That''s good. We attack them and turn some into ghouls to fill our quota. Remember, strike the mage first." Kyros gave the orders.


    The Urslepar family continued to march until they turned and found the bodies of men lying on the ground.


    "What the? There was a battle here!" One of the knights ran off.


    "Help me!"


    "I''m dying!"


    Kyros and his men had joined the lying bodies.


    The knights and soldiers of this squad was rtively powerful. Some of the warriors were nearing level 20. The wagon they brought which had a lot of weapons and some bit of supplies proved that the were wealthy. Instead of fighting them directly, Kyros decided to go for an ambush.


    "I am Avary Lockfield! Son of Geren Lockfield! Please save us and my father will pay!" Avary shouted.


    "Lockfield?" One of the mages were stunned.


    "That kids lying. That was one of the towns that was massacred the other day. They must have been the first victim of this vampire threat we face now." One of the soldiers answered.


    "Then could these men be of the Lockfield?" One of the soldiers approached.


    Suddenly, several grunts and hisses could be heard.


    Four golems and several dark beings appeared and slowly crept on the darkness. Leading them, was a small humanoid figure with a long red de.


    The torches of the soldiers allowed them to see the horrifying forms and the group went into position.


    "Shadow Ghouls and golems! And look! Thats the being that matched the description! It could be a servant to that Ancient Vampire!" One of the knight eximed. They formed ranks and began to make ns how to attack.


    Kyros suddenly attacked.


    The mage shot several fire bolts and the arches also began to draw their bows.


    But almost instantly, the lying corpses and the four vampires sprang up andunched pincer attack.


    The vampires went for the stronger ones all together and Kyros also attacked one of the near twenty knights.


    "Behind!" The knight warned as he sensed the attack.


    He smashed the shield he had on to a nearby vampire and used his sword to block Kyros''s shes.


    CLANG!


    Two metal swords resounded as Kyros was knocked back from the impact of the sword.


    The knight cursed as he saw several ghouls rush at his allies. The mage in their group was hacked and shed by the vampires killing him.


    The golems and the shadows also attacked and the warriors died from being unable to block the two attacks.


    All that was left was the knight who was able to sense the enemies from around.


    "Interesting. Force Zone, eh? Using your Force energy, you created a zone around you that can detect enemies." Kyros smiled.


    "Let''s end it. See if you can sense this!" Kyrosughed and four vampires attacked together with him.


    The knight brandished his sword and prepared to do a spinning attack.


    Kyros was the first to attack among the vampires and he shed down.


    The knight rotated to do a sh that will block and attack all that approached him. But then...


    CLANG!


    Kyros''s sword sh broke the de and made arge gash on the stomach of the knight.


    "What...!? You''re sword..." The knight was surprised. The sword that Kyros used was different. It was sharper and more powerful and had a strange earthen energy.


    Kyros had swapped the sword though his Inventory and upon attacking, Kyros channeled his soul force to increase the power of his attack. His strength stat was 60 and his soul force was 33. By focusing all the soul force into strength, Kyros was able to perform an attack with 76 strength points. Adding the power of the de, the level twenty knight who recklessly challenged his sword at Kyros was defeated.


    "I can''t win going by your stats. But your sword is just too weak!" Kyrosughed as the Bloodied Sword appeared on his other hand.


    Hems and Hunter rushed to hold the knight down. Without a sword and due to the great wound, he was easily bound.


    Not a minute since the battle start, the squad was defeated. The pincer of ghoul, golem and shadow ghouls was just too much for the rest.


    "Five warriors including the knight subdued!" Hunter reported.


    "Good. Let''s turn them into ghouls!" Kyros ordered Avary who has yet to max his ghoul quota to bite on the knight. The rest also began to bite the warriors stabbed the Bloodied Sword on the knight. Since they could only make mindless ghouls, the stronger their physical stats were the better.


    "Amazing. Lord Kyros, you defeated a level twenty warrior with such great ease!" Hemsey praised.


    "You guys should be capable of doing at least this. Fate is challenging us. Remember that. If you are unable to fight and easily kill warriors of this caliber while being weak, then Fate will outrun you." Kyros warned.


    "Fate has thrown me to fight high-leveled and skilled warriors along my way. In most cases, it would have been a miracle for me to win. If Fate gets stronger, it will pit us against warriors far stronger than what we can handle."


    "We will be ready, lord Kyros." Avary answered.


    "But this is great! With such a powerful ghoul, our ambush against those teams should be easier!" Hemsughed.


    "Don''t count on it. This little sneak attack won''t work against someone so strong. The main issue here is this knights sword is weak. I fooled him into using a technique that was meant to deflect me with his raw strength. But I had already used the Vermilion Earth Sword and increased my might. The group that we are after will be far stronger than this. In all honesty, I am not even certain that we can get out of thising battle unscathed."


    "My Lord. The caravan contains quite an array of food, dishes and other luxury supplies." Hems reported.


    "Look at this haul! It really proves that this family has been taking advantage of thewless and corrupt region of this mountain." Hemsey was looking at the various objects they found in the caravan.


    "Those carts and caravans will be very useful for uncle and father. Arrange the objects so that we can send it all back."


    "Erm... Including this caravan?"


    "What''s in it?"


    "It ranges from beautification products, to spring salts that are used in baths."


    "Eh... We all need to rx. Unlike you vampires who don''t feel tired, the others still need to rx. So I think it''s good for the men to have some refreshing experiences. We too, will enjoy it once we get back. Prepare it all. I''ll send the caravans itself. Father ought to have read my instructions."


    The vampires began to arrange the objects and even the golems assisted.


    "This is quite envious. We''ve be a special delivery service for the others."


    "These things... they are what Viscounts and Earls enjoy! Even I haven''t had the chance to enjoy these treatments!" Avary nced at the various herbs that were used for rxing naps.


    Kyros couldn''t help but look forward and back as he kept creating ghouls. His expression seemed conflicted.


    "Is this far enough? Or do I wait some more? Too much and it''s toote! Too soon, and it might change!" Kyros cursed.


    "What are you thinking?" Cminus noticed Kyros''s peculiar thoughts.


    "Nothing... It''s just something I''m nning." Kyros tried to calm himself down. He kept looking at the peak of the mountain where the entrance to the temple was.


    Meanwhile, as Kyros was continuing their climb, the group of three viscounts continued to walk towards the outpost where they knew Martha Bowheart was assigned.


    "She did what?!" Esmeralda was amazed.


    "My brother was tasked with an easy mission. He was suppose to kill this small toon guarding a delivery from the recently annihted Porter n. Of course, he was disguised as some random mercenary group to steal it. He has seeded in amassing great resources here. But when he attacked that convoy, that woman was there. She is quite a force user. Her arrows explode through maniption of Force energy. And one of the arrows exploded near his..."


    "A warrior has fallen..." Querk sighed.


    "Indeed. You could imagine what rage my family has for that girl. Still... this gives us a great opportunity to attack them. Let us move fast. We still have to go up the mountain after this!" Gradier hastened his march and the rest followed.


    In the outpost...


    Scarlet and Gregory continued their attempts to convince Martha.


    Martha continued to argue with the two but suddenly, she felt a strange sensation.


    "Hrm? This sensation?"


    "Is something wrong?" Scarlet asked.


    "I''m not sure. But I''ve always had this strange feeling at certain times. It could be simr to the power you im Lord Aron has."


    "You feel danger?"


    "I''m not sure." Martha sighed.


    "Considering I''m surrounded by vampires, you could be the danger."


    "I told you! We''re not evil!" Gregory eximed again.


    "My name is Gregory Porter. Even though I killed men despite being so young and have turned four men into undead ghouls, I am still a good guy." Martha imitated the way Gregory talked.


    "I give up. Scalret?" Gregory asked.


    "I''m not listening to some fifteen year old vampire who has a crushing on a ten-year old Ancient Vampire." Martha shot down Scarlet who was about to say something.


    "You like... Lord Kyros?" Gregory was amazed.


    Scarlet ran out of the room in embarrassment.


    Martha shook her head.


    She then turned out the window as the two vampires couldn''t do anything.


    "What is this feeling? I''m sure its not from these vampires. That Kyros kid clearly isn''t a demon of some sort... Then what is this danger I feel?"

 Chapter 78 - Making Traps For The Outpost

    Deep inside the Nephilim Sealing Temple...


    Aron, Branze, and the Knights were busy fulfilling the many tasks that Kyros gave.


    The team had already cleared out the Storage room as was instructed. The sets of items that Kyros sent from the outpost had also been cleared out and brought outside.


    A set of tables and a few cushions which were used as beds were present. Kyros had sent various items, which came as a great relief to everyone. And since Kyros would be sending more items, the group.


    Since Kyros would be delivering item after item, he asked the team to make more items.


    "This is really helpful. We should start listing what we need to Kyros." Branze nodded.


    "Right. It''s a very convenient way to get stuff in. What do we need?"


    "For the current mission we have, we need a caravan or a cart to help us bring the items that he wants to carry. Although we don''t have horses, anything with wheels can greatly help us moving around this ce. Especially since we will be mining ores."


    "Right it down on the notebook. If Kyros reads it, he might look for it soon."


    "Alright." Branze wrote on the notebook that they needed a cart.


    "My lord, can you ask for Kyros to bring more tasty treats! Not that I''mining, but I do miss meat. If Lord Kyros finds some..." A knight mentioned.


    "You imbeciles! Don''t you know that it''s already hard for my son-"


    "Brother. I want meat too. Kyros is strong. Bringing in meat should be easy for him." Aron chuckled.


    "...Fine."


    "How about some bathing tools? We can rx at the deep underground river that Lord Kyros found the other day."


    "Right. The vigers have those scented soaps they use for the pools they make in the southern part of the mountain. Maybe Kyros could go on a trip."


    "My Lord... If it''s not much of a trouble... Can Lord Kyros also look for some music box? I use to sleep well." A knight asked.


    "Leg warmers for me."


    "A new bag would be good." Another knight added.


    "..." Branze and Aron nced at their men.


    Branze sighed and began to list the items as the rest suddenly recounted what they want.


    After writing thest entry among the request, the notebook suddenly disappeared.


    "Oh? Just in time. Kyros decided to get the notebook."


    Along the way, Kyros would randomly get the notebook to see if there were any added entries or add new orders to the notebook.


    But for some strange reason, Kyros kept his orders vague and left it up to his father to think or connect the dots.


    "I hope that our requests aren''t too much for Lord Kyros." The knight who requested a music box, a new traveling bag, boots, and delicious fruity treats sighed.


    Branze was gritting his teeth at thement of this knight but said nothing.


    "Kyros will go over the things ording to priority. I''m sure that he will try to look for a cart and caravan. As for your other request, don''t expect it to be sent soon! With all your crazy requests, I''m sure that my son will get mad and chastise you all! Even you, brother!" Branze vowed.


    Suddenly several carts and horse-driven carriages appeared.


    "Is that a... cart?!" Aron was amazed.


    "It''s not just some cart. The wheels are actually designed for traveling on rocky roads!" Aron eximed.


    "This has got to be some coincidence. Kyros might have seen several carts in the outpost that he said he is in..." Branze thought to himself.


    "A music box!"


    "Nice! Leg warmers!"


    "Hey! Isn''t this the famous Airom Vagat Mountain Spring Salt used for baths! Amazing!"


    "Wow! These are good swords! Not as good as the Earth Swords, but this could be useful!" Another knight eximed.


    "Wow! Vagat Boar meat! A rare, high-ss ingredient!" Another knight''s mouth watered. Aron ran and checked on the meat.


    "Men! Tonight we feast on meat!" Aron cheered.


    Branze spotted the notebook among the pile. He took it and opened the pages.


    All of the items he had just listed were crossed out.


    "See, Lord Branze! You were worried over nothing!" A knightughed.


    Branze was slightly irritated by being proven wrong.


    "Move out the items. Kyros still has a huge caravan to send in." Branze ordered.


    "Hey, bro! See! Kyros is this capable! You should consider writing impossible things instead!" Aronughed.


    "I might do that."


    Branze began to scribble something on the notebook and showed it to everyone.


    Written prominently and withrge letters, the request was ''a wife for your uncle Branze."


    The knightsughed, and Aron himselfughed as the carts were being moved out.


    Suddenly, the notebook in Branze''s hand disappeared.


    "Let''s see how Kyros will fare. Will he seed like thest?" Branzeughed. His son had humiliated him. Just as he was thinking of this, arge caravan appeared again.


    "There''s thest haul. Branze pointed at it and found the notebook again.


    He opened it and curiously looked for Kyros''s reply.


    Aron also took a peek.


    Their smirking expressions changed as they saw a very beautiful painting.


    "This is...?! Isn''t this the girl you liked at that tournament?!" Branze was amazed.


    The crest belonged to the Bowheart n. And along with it was a magically preserved image depicting the face of Martha.


    In the notebook, Kyros wrote his reply.


    "Can''t send humans directly to the Temple. I''ll bring uncle''s wife back together. Uncle may need to rescue her sister. More details next time."


    "Wha-what?!" Aron was shocked.


    Meanwhile, Kyros was absorbing the blood of the rest of the knights they had killed. They took out the armor of the knights and sent them to the temple. Kyros was busy absorbing blood to recover all the mana he depleted from sending those things in.


    "Alright. This should do it." Kyros stood up. Around him were sixteen ghouls. Adding the eight ghouls they left with Scarlet and Gregory, the Coven had twenty-four ghouls in total.


    "Let''s continue moving!" Kyros ordered as they traveled northward.


    The vampires and the ghouls began to sprint with fast speed towards the top of the mountain.


    Back in the outpost...


    A conversation to convince Martha continued. Scarlet and Gregory eventually found a great argument that practically made Martha listen.


    The Airom Vagat mountain range is a region that was founded by the coboration of various kingdoms. Just as the other side of the mountain range consisted of a series of forts constructed by the different orc kingdoms, this region was usually considered to have its own culture.


    It took years and years of diplomatic offers,promises, and coboration until the chaotic region found a system. All knights in this area would work together even if some kingdoms were enemy kingdoms. The ore, the metal, and other resources were just too valuable to give to the orcs.


    But despite the chaos, this region was primarily untouched by the orcs and other races. Aside from avoiding a conflict that will spur all human kingdoms in the londs, the other races had already entered into lucrative deals with the humans, which relied heavily on the mountain region''s resources.


    The peace that thisnd experienced made it an ideal ce for most soldiers, knights, and other kingdom officers to stay in. While patrols and security were the one thing the soldiers didn''t treat with contempt, everything else in line with their duties wasrgely ignored.


    The many towns and cities that developed over time werewless. Too many kingdoms, each with their agendas, made murder verymon in this region.


    Scarlet and Gregory, who grew up here, used this knowledge to convince Martha to join their team.


    "So that''s your argument? This ce is bad in the first ce, and that gives your lord the right to kill them?" Martha challenged.


    "Well, he doesn''t have the right. But we''ve already told you. The Steele family is in a bind. Very soon, they''ll die out. Would you rather a wicked and corrupt family would survive or one that upholds justice?" Scarlet asked.


    "Is it alright if we put it here?" Gregory asked.


    Scarlet and Gregory, and the ghouls began to move the many woods they have from dismantling the tallest wooden tower in the outpost. This wooded tower was suppose to be used as a beacon to warn the other groups when the outpost would be attacked. Martha ordered the group to dismantle it and after weakening the joints and clearing out therge mmable oil and wood on the top, Scarlet and Gregory managed to copse the entire thing with the help of the ghouls.


    "These logs are made of Amber Ordin trees. Unless they n to slowly cut through this tree, not even level thirty warriors can cut it down." Gregory noticed the wood used that made up the entire outpost and even the tower.


    "What''s going on anyway?" Scarlet asked.


    "I don''t know... But I feel that a threat ising. I just know it. Thank you for agreeing to do this. Can youmunicate with your Master? Just in case the threat that I feel is too dangerous..."


    "No. Right now, our Coven level is too low. Lord Kyros said it might be possible when our Coven level increases. But right now, only he canmand us, but we can''tmunicate with him." Gregory answered.


    "Then prepare for battle. I am not fit to fight theing enemies."


    "There is a way to heal you. Kyros left a lot of his blood here. If you allow us to turn you and drink the blood of Lord Kyros, you will be one of us. But that means you''d be giving your life to Lord Kyros and will be joining our Coven. If you do this, you may drink the blood of the remaining corpses and heal."


    Martha was in deep thought. The threat seemed to increase as time went by slowly.


    "For now, we continue setting up these traps. I don''t know what wille that''s making me feel uneasy, but it should be a force that''s many times stronger than my formerpanions in this outpost."


    Scarlet and Gregory had solemn expressions as they heard that.


    "You can choose to leave. I will stay to fulfill my duty as a watcher of this post. The enemies that areing here are strong. You can try to catch up with your lord and escape."


    Scarlet and Gregory looked at each other.


    "We refuse. Our orders were to stay here and convince you to be our allies. There is no way we can convince you if you are dead."


    Martha smiled.


    "You two seem rather courageous for your age."


    "We''ve died once and faced horrors that make warriors as you faint. It''s normal." Scarletughed.


    "Fine. Then I appreciate this. Follow my ns and set up more traps. If the enemy is too strong, then you may turn me into a vampire."

 Chapter 79 - Making The Viscounts Wait

    Gradier and the three viscount groups finally reached the outpost.


    The gate of the outpost and the sides had shown signs of a battle. Few people were standing on top of the towers inside the outpost.


    "Who goes there?!" One of the people in the tower called out.


    The towers were dim, and the only torches that were lit up were the ones on the sides of the wall. As such, the group couldn''t see who was standing on top of the tower.


    "That voice sounds quite young." Esmeralda frowned.


    "This ce has been attacked. Look. There are even corpses outside..." Querk pointed at the nearby corpses.


    "The vampire attacked here?!" Gradier was amazed.


    "Identify yourself, or we will shoot! Vampires have attacked this ce!" The voice warned.


    "Vampires? Then why have you not lit up the tower?!" Esmeralda questioned.


    "You think we didn''t try?! Are your eyes blind? Do you see the tower?! The vampires infiltrated this outpost and brought down the tower from within!" The angry voice argued.


    "If you don''t identify yourself, we will shoot!" Another voice on the other archer''s tower warned.


    "Don''t shoot! We are a Viscount team sent by our kingdom to aid in the hunt for the vampires! We are not your enemy!"


    "We have not received any reports that a Viscount team will move! Much less three viscount teams! Who are you?" The archer shouted.


    "I am Viscount Gradier Conquistar. With me are Viscounts Esmeralda Toro and Querk Stonefist! The vampire reports all over the mountain had grown wild. Since you have been attacked, then you know just how dangerous the threat is. We have been assigned to move out and search for this vampire. Other Viscounts now roam the mountain."


    "What do you want?!"


    "We are here to investigate the cause of the vampires!"


    "How do I know that you are not vampires?!"


    "We are not vampires!"


    "That''s what vampires would say!"


    "What proof do you need to show you that we are humans? We are on a quest to find the vampires! The entire mountain region is in chaos because of the vampire attacks. You are not the only group that was attacked!"


    "...Fine. Stay where you are. We will be having a meeting!" As the voice died out, shadows of two figures climbing up the towers could be seen. The original watchers moved down to report.


    "Should we continue our n? This outpost is on guard!" Esmeralda frowned.


    "Even if they are on guard, the number of knights that have died outside the walls prove that they probably have only archers and mages inside. If we can move inside, it will be easy killing. Can you destroy those walls with your magic?" Gradier asked.


    "Yes. But I will need to charge the magic for some time. And it eats up a lot of mana. So I would be willing to do so for any fights. But since this trip here is our initiative, I wish not to waste mana."


    "I understand. Let''s try to talk our way through. They won''t expect us to be traitors. We just need to prove that we are humans. Because of the vampire threat, they will let us in."


    As Gradier and the Viscounts made their ns, another meeting was also happening.


    Gregory and Scarlet were next to Martha and had been shouting to pretend that they were the ones shouting on top of the archers.


    "Any idea who they are? I have not heard of those families." Scarlet frowned.


    "Me too."


    "Those families are from the outside of this mountain region." Martha frowned.


    "There are roughly fifty of them. And those three leading the group... were quite powerful." Gregory exined.


    "They definitely are. I only know of the Toro n, which is a family n of powerful mages. The Gradier n is also quite famous within the military. And those leading the squad are actually the elites among the families. So we have no chance of surviving. They are too strong!" Martha''s gritted her teeth.


    "What if they are not the enemy?"


    "They are! I can feel it! Someone in that group wants to kill me! I''ve been dealing with this all my life. I am very sensitive in discerning killing intent towards me! This is what awakened my Warriors Instincts!"


    "You? Why would they want to kill you? Have you offended any of them in any way?" Scarlet asked.


    "No! My conscience is clear. I have lived a tragic and pitiful but righteous life!"


    "It could be Fate. These Viscounts are after you. But it led them here. While you are their target... Fate''s target... is us." Scarlet turned to Gregory with a solemn expression.


    "That makes sense. Sess Limiter. Fate is wilting down the vampires in Lord Kyros''s Coven!" Gregory realized it.


    "Is it connected to the Fate thing you talked about earlier?"


    "That''s right. Lord Kyros is just a level five human. Although he has some mysterious power that we can''t exin, his strength is only better than other humans. But even with that, Kyros managed to challenge monsters greater than what level fifteen or twenty humans could do! If you gave me the stats of Lord Kyros, I wouldn''t dream of defeating a skilled high-leveled archer like you. And Fate has led us to encounter three viscounts of such power. Kyros told us that the enemy we would face would be many times stronger than us!"


    Marhta nodded. She was very skilled in setting traps and prided herself in her strategy. But she was fooled and easily defeated by Kyros.


    "So you''re saying Fate is using me to kill you."


    "It makes sense. Lady Martha. Think about it. Out of all the outposts that Lord Kyros chose, he just happened to go here. Even if he did kill you, those warriors would still be brought here! And with ghouls and vampires, they would kill us anyway." Gregory exined.


    "This is insane. Fate has turned its fangs on us... It wants us dead. It''s minimizing the sess of the Steele family..." Scarlet began to whimper as tears fell on her face.


    Martha looked at the two kids and could not help but feel a twinge of guilt.


    "Leave. They might kill you if I try to throw myself out to eliminate all survivors. Instead, I''ll buy you some time. Turn me into a vampire and let me drink Kyros''s blood. I''ll fight them, and you can jump off the wall. Since your vampires, you should survive the fall..."


    "No!" Scarlet shook her head.


    "I will fight to the death!"


    "What?!" Martha was confused.


    "Scarlet is right. If we don''t fight here, Fate will find another way to make them catch up with us. Our experience in the mountain has shown us how Fate worked. If we fight here and win, then we beat Fate."


    "But that''s crazy! Your death is assured!"


    "It''s the only way. Lord Kyros helped us by creating great miracles to save us. If we don''t fight here and escape, it might make things harder for Lord Kyros and the Steele family. But if we fight, we might kill a few of their men. And if we win, we beat Fate, and the challenge that Fate has set might be over."


    Martha nced at the resolute faces of the pair.


    "Fine. I''ll fight with you. Turn me into a vampire and dy them as much as you can. You already know how to trigger those traps we set."


    "You will fight with us?"


    "Yes. So turn me now. I need to heal myself by drinking blood." Martha smiled.


    Back outside, the group of Viscounts finally came to a decision.


    "We kill everyone inside. If Martha Bowheart is not here, then we''ll just use this ce as a fort to bring things inside. Martha Bowheart may also be on a routine patrol. So if she''s still alive and hasn''t met a vampire group, she should return here." Gradier exined.


    "We''ll follow that arrangement." Querk nodded.


    "Looks like the negotiator ising back up. Get ready, men. Esmeralda noticed the two figures running back up.


    "Alright. We have ryed the instructions. Our superior seems unfamiliar with your team. You are not from this mountain region?" Gregory asked.


    "As I said, we have been sent here! Do not dy anymore! We have medicine that can treat the wounded if you have people bitten by vampires!"


    "How can we be sure that we can trust you?" Scarlet asked on the other tower.


    "Why would three viscounts be here, in this backwater region, if not to hunt for powerful enemies?!" Gradier asked.


    "...Alright. We believe you. We''ll open up the gates now."


    "Finally!" Gradier sighed and turned towards his men.


    The n was that these men would immediately attack and keep the gate open.


    Three soldiers marched up towards the gate and waited for it to be open.


    Several small peeping holes were present, allowing the people on the other side of the thick gate to see through.


    The two peeping holes opened the cover on the other side.


    "Show us your faces!" Gregory called out.


    The three soldiers showed themselves by drawing their faces towards the small hole with the torch on their hand to illuminate the area.


    STAB! STAB!


    A spear ran through the small hole and struck the two soldiers.


    One died, and the other managed to evade by backing away but still got stabbed on the chest.


    "UGH!" The soldier cried.


    "You can''t fool us, vampires! That''s how thest group entered!" Gregory shouted.


    "Your tricks won''t fool us!" Scarlet shouted as she let loose a few arrows.


    Another soldier was struck on the head and died at Scarlet''s attack.


    Gradier saw it and shouted.


    "Attack! Break that door!" Gradier roared.


    "Brutes. You''re up!" Querk ordered his team of barbarians. They used arge pike and used it as a battering ram and charged towards the gate.


    "WAIT! WAIT! Gregory! They are humans! The ones I shot died! They really are humans!" Scarlet shouted in a panic.


    "Stop attacking! Stop attacking!" Scarlet pleaded.


    "Stop!" Querk cursed and ordered his team to stop.


    "No! Continue!" Gradier demanded.


    "Let''s wait! Patience! We would lose more men if we were forced to fight!" Querk argued.


    Gradier was trembling in rage.


    "You can kill and torture them once we break inside. But, for now, gain their trust!" Querk whispered.


    Gradier watched the archer that shot an arrow.


    He had lost two men, but he didn''t want to continue fighting.


    "These damned paranoid archers will pay!" Gradier vowed in his heart.

 Chapter 80 - Making A Plan To Fool Fate

    "They''re humans?!" A horrified voice echoed on the other side of the wall.


    "Yes! Yes! Stop attacking! Viscounts! We are sorry for our mistake!"


    "You are sorry?! You killed two of my men! And you wish to brush that out by saying you''re sorry?!"


    "Please understand, Lord Viscount! We were tricked by vampires masquerading as humans! They destroyed our beacon and prevented us from asking for help, and killed many of ourrades! We can''t afford to send out our men in the middle of the night as they might be attacked! We had no choice!" Scarlet cried.


    "You had no choice, so you killed my men without even confirming things?! I''ll kill you! Men!"


    "Gradier! Stop! That archer is right! Rx!" Esmeralda shouted at Gradier.


    Querk held on to Gradier and whispered to him.


    "Calm down! You can kill themter! But attacking recklessly will cause more of our men to die!" Querk was greatly displeased at Gradier''s impatience.


    "Wait! There were three toons! What if the vampires enved humans like they said they did! Most of them could be humans!" Gregory shouted.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Three arrows flew in the air and struck the huge barbarians that were part of Querk''s family.


    The arrow was more precise and aimed for the neck of the giant warriors.


    Three barbarians began to choke and stumbled as blood spilled out of their mouths.


    Martha was officially part of the Coven. She had drunk the blood of Kyros after getting bitten by Scarlet. While she still had great injuries, her new constitution as an undead allowed her to shoot urately.


    "The other family also has humans," Martha reported.


    "KILL THEM!" Querk raged as the power of the Ragion erupted. A thick blue Force Energy covered him.


    "Tsk! A Ragion. We really are domed. My arrows would be useless against that man''s defenses!" Martha cursed.


    The warriors ran towards the gate and readied to strike it!


    "Wait! Wait! We''ll open the gates! We''ll open the gates! We have to ascertain that you are humans! This is the order of our Earl!"


    Those words startled the three Viscounts.


    "An Earl?! You serve an Earl?"


    "Yes! Why did you think the vampire attacked this ce?" Scarlet asked in a respectful tone.


    "Our Earl had retreated here, and vampires pursued them!" Gregory asserted.


    The Viscounts were silenced.


    "An Earl? Which respectful Earl has retreated here?"


    "Why should we tell you? There are various viscounts and barons from enemy kingdoms! If they find out an Earl is here, won''t they attack us and make our lord fall into harm!?"


    The three Viscounts nced at each other and couldn''t help but find logic in this.


    "Is an Earl really here?" Esmeralda asked.


    "The chances are next to zero, but it''s not impossible..."


    "We can''t afford to challenge an Earl. Even if it''s one that managed to rise, not through strength and personal power, and Earl''s connection could kill us!" Esmeralda frowned.


    "That archer! It''s her! She could be lying! Our reports stated that the girl was rather tricky and could create traps when necessary!"


    "Then we can be certain that there''s no Earl here! If there were, we''d have seen more men and more powerful warriors! Break the gates! Men!" Querk ordered immediately.


    The hesitant barbarians drew courage from the order of their Viscount and charged towards the gate.


    They smashed their strong fist with their huge clubs.


    "Stop! The gate will fall! You will draw the wrath of our Earl!"


    "Then what is the name of your Earl! Prove it to us that you even know one!" Querk shouted.


    "It''s Earl Yuri!"


    "Yuri? Who is Yuri!"


    "You retarded! Do it!"


    The discussion allowed Gregory to scale the wall push therge barrel that was prepared at the top. It contained half of the mmable gas that was used. Some of the wood was used to be footholds that hid the barrel. Gregory reached it in time, right before the barbarians could break the gate.


    The barrel was flipped over, and all the gas fell on the barbarians right in front of the gate.


    Martha shot a ming arrow which caused the soaked barbarians to burn in mes.


    "GYAHHH!" The screams of the Barbarians who were soaked in mes echoed loudly in the


    The soaked barbarians and some of the knights at the front were burned.


    The group retreated, and the Viscounts began to curse.


    "Shield bearers! Protect the mage! Mage! Cast an ice spell to destroy the heat. Archers, shoot down that archer!" Gradier began to order the troop. As the military expert, the other viscounts agreed.


    "Leave that door to me." Querk ran towards the gate.


    "Querk! Retreat! Wait for the ice to weaken the door and put out the fire!" Gradier urged.


    "No! I have a feeling that there are just three or four soldiers inside! Don''t be fooled by their antics and the attacks they prepared!" Querk answered as he rushed forward.


    "Esmeralda, kill that archer!"


    "My pleasure!" Esmeraldaughed as she began to channel a terrifying lightning power.


    "Mages, if what Querk is saying is true, then there should be just a few archers. Illuminate the skies! My Lightning will kill them!" Esmeralda ordered the few mages who were with her to prepare for an attack.


    Martha tried to shoot several arrows at the Ragion, but his Force Energy that was like an invisible force field, was impregnable.


    After two explosive arrows could not prate the defense of the Ragion, Martha began to focus on the mage as she knew that their spell would be the end of them.


    She began to run across the towers and jumped from one part to the other. The excess wood they got from the broken-down beacon was used as small tforms that they quickly hammered on different ces to make footbridges near the wall and the towers. Despite outpost was dark and had no torches to illuminate the ce. But Martha was now a vampire, and they could see clearer in the dark.


    Martha and Scarlet kept shooting while using the various wooden tforms near the wall to quickly move from one side of the wall to the other.


    Martha kept attacking knights and archers to kill them, but Gradier''smand brought order to the group.


    Scarlet''s arrows were now useless. She was not skilled in shooting in the first ce, and with shield bearers protecting the mages and archers, all she could do was act as a diversion.


    Querk''s tremendous blows on the gates echoed loudly. The heat around him did not affect him as his Force Energy prevented the fires from reaching him. It was as if he had an invisible armor that prevented anything from reaching him.


    BANG!


    The gate of the outpost finally gave in from the tremendous force of Querk''s attacks.


    Therge battleax he brandished was full of Force energy that it was stronger than a team of barbarians running a battering ram on the wall.


    As the wall gave in, thick smoke covered the entrance. The different wood that would have been ced on top of the beacon was now ced in front of the gate. The heat and thick smoke prevented Querk from seeing what was in front of him.


    Gregory threw the barrel with the remaining gas to create another thickyer of fire.


    But the Ragion did not retreat but advanced bravely.


    "These childish traps are nothing to a Ragion!" His domineering steps moved quickly.


    Gregory, along with eight ghouls, looked with a solemn expression at the approaching giant.


    "I just have to dwindle his force energy! He already expended a great amount on those attacks! If his force energy runs out, Martha can kill him!" Gregory kept his mission in mind and led the ghouls forward.


    "Vampires?!" Querk noticed the strange undead presence, but then his surprise turned to a sneer.


    "Perfect! It looks like we''ve hit the jackpot." Querkughed as he stomped forward.


    "Force Rage!" The Ragion used his tremendous and thick harnessing of Force energy and created a powerful shock wave that blew away everything. The wood that was burning, the ghouls, and even Gregory was blown away. The explosion of force energy created a tremor that made Scarlet lose her bnce.


    Martha had to find her footing and lost the capability to shoot on that precise moment.


    "Now!" Gradier shouted as he sensed the power of Ragion''s attack.


    The mages shot several bright lights that acted as fireworks that illuminated the sky.


    The shield bearers that stood in front and covered the way lowered their shields for Esmeralda to have a clear shot.


    Martha was trying to retain her bnce and nced at the mage.


    "Found you!" Esmeraldaughed. With her level, her dexterity wasrge, and shooting an archer was easy as pie.


    Martha sighed and chuckled. She knew her death hade.


    Esmeralda''s staff grew bright as the lighting energy leaked out.


    But then...


    "Time Haste!" At that time, Kyros emerged from the forest behind and brought his full team with him.


    He had deceived Fate. He had known this was the n and made his group move north. But in truth, Kyros knew that the Viscount team would not race to the top but travel and attack the outpost Kyros was arrived at. Meeting Martha was the main hint that allowed Kyros to discern Fate''s n. Kyros knew that Fate would arrange something since he met Martha. And so, Kyros pretended to move ording to the will of Fate. But Kyros was secretly making a n to fool Fate with his actions.


    He had led his troops to the top to make Fate make its move, and then, Kyros made a quick march towards the bottom.


    He took a strong leap and was right on top of the staff that Esmeralda was pointing towards Martha.


    Kyros focused and activated Pronto to the maximum.


    The kick must not be too strong. Otherwise, he would miss in attacking the Ragion. This was the do-or-die moment. If Kyros missed, Gregory and Scarlet would surely die.


    The kick of Kyros redirected the direction of Esmeralda''s aim.


    The staff that was supposed tounch a charged Lightning Bolt to Martha was now aimed towards the gate of the outpost. The shield bearers'' height would have proven a problem. But thankfully, Querk was a giant of a man.


    ZAP!


    The bolt shot towards Querk, who was now empty of his Force energy. He needed a few seconds to create a shield once more. While he could have made ample preparations to do that, he didn''t count on an ambush attack.


    The lightning energy struck Querk on his back and sent him flying forward.


    Right after kicking the staff, the midair Kyros summoned the Vermilion Earth Sword and the Harnessed Earth Core. The energy coursed immediately, and Kyros stabbed on the ground.


    "Earth Cross!"


    BOOM!


    The earth explosion drew caused a copse within the enemy ranks.

 Chapter 81 - Taking Advantage Of Fate

    Going back thirty minutes from when the Viscounts reached the outpost...


    Kyros and his men kept moving with haste towards the top. They found another band of mercenaries traveling and killed another group.


    "Recover as much as you can and drink their blood! From here on out, we will be rushing like crazy!" Kyros ordered.


    The vampires agreed and began to recover their stamina by drinking blood.


    Kyros drank a bit but began to fill up his cup from the blood of the mercenary he just killed. While waiting, Kyros closed his eyes and took deep breathes.


    His Fate Comprehension was working, and he began to attempt to figure out the essence and workings of Fate.


    "Fate must have been moving. It is trying to trick me. Since the curse now affects my entire family, it will be harsher. Sess Limiter could end up trying to limit the sess of the family by killing off some of my team." Kyros muttered.


    "What?" Cminus was surprised at what Kyros said.


    "This should be enough." Kyros suddenly stood up.


    "Coven, let''s move back! I have no time to exin, but run as fast as you can!" Kyros shouted as he began to sprint.


    The Coven was surprised at Kyros''s sudden words but immediately followed. The entire team ran like crazy down the mountain slope. For some strange reason, the path they took was different. They didn''t follow the main road but went through a certain distance. They even jumped off cliffs and went the dangerous downhill slopes.


    Kyros kept giving orders as to what to do and where to go.


    "Follow my footsteps! You cannot make any mistakes!" Kyros ordered as his speed grew faster and faster.


    "What''s going on?" Cminus asked.


    "Cminus... Do you think that Fate acted because it knew our ns?" Kyros asked.


    "What do you mean?"


    "I''ve been thinking about it. Does it know our ns? Or does it react ording to our ns? Is it deaf and only sees our actions? Or can it even hear our ns?"


    "I don''t know..."


    "Fate Challenger means that Fate will always try to outsmart me. That was the case in the events inside the mountain. Every n I thought of was easily countered. I don''t want to live ording to the tests of Fate. I want to outsmart the teacher thoroughly. I knew that it would try to minimize the sess of my family by killing my team. The fact that I met Martha proved this! It was just like it was back when I met my Uncle when I left the Temple! It was a huge coincidence. But that coincidence gave me great sesses, which Fate was plotting to take away from me."


    "Right. It sent you to that ce to fight all those lizards."


    "Exactly. Martha is no exception. Why would I meet her in a ce that I picked randomly? That outpost I chose was something that I decided on a whim. While there were specific reasons why I went there, there were other outposts that would have been good enough. The moment I met Martha, I knew that Fate was nning something! I was led there! But instead of fighting the actions of Fate, I did something else! I gave Fate the opportunity to kill her!"


    "You mean you made her bait?"


    "Yes. I knew that those teams that were sent here, which would have logically went up the mountain to fight my father, would change the ns of those warriors and lead them to that specific ce! If I could be led to that outpost by sheer luck, then those Viscounts can be too!"


    "Then why did you leave Scarlet and Gregory there along with Martha?"


    "To fool Fate! If I moved together with Martha and those two, Fate would move the Viscounts to the mountain since pursuing us would bear little fruit! With our team, escaping is easy. So I made Fate find the opportunity to attack my group with such real threats that Scarlet and Gregory might die! This opportunity trigger Fate''s attempt in Sess Limiter. And once Fate has made her move, it''s not so easy to call back."


    "You mean because the impression or coincidences Fate has inspired on our enemy, they will be headed towards that ce, and it would be toote to stop it?"


    "Exactly. All there is to it now is a race against time. This was why I never talked about my ns even to you because I''m afraid Fate could sense it. Although Ancient Fate is dead, I should not underestimate the power of a dead God that managed to manipte events for us to meet together!"


    Kyros and the group ran faster and faster. It took them over four hours to get to where they were, but the descent downwards utilized shortcuts that even Cminus was surprised by.


    "You even hid the fact that you knew a faster way to go down from me!"


    "If Fate is reacting to my ns and actions, then I should keep on surprising it!"


    With the n in motion, Kyros descended the mountain and eventually arrived at the battle scene.


    As the battle started, Kyros didn''t immediately rush out.


    "Why isn''t Fate warning them that you are here?" Cminus asked.


    "It''s probably trying, but it can''t. Even if Fate can lead impressions and so on, there is a battle going on. And since I am using Dark Cloak and have ordered the Coven to stay at the back, it won''t find me. And herein lies the heart of my experiment. Fate has already yed its hand. Can it recall or change the result of a dice that has been thrown?"


    Kyros waited until the battle reached a critical moment. Martha would die from Esmeralda, and Scarlet and Gregory would also fall from Querk ording to Fate''s machinations.


    And there, Kyros made gave the order to his team. He warned the group to be careful as he would use Earth Cross and make the most of this attack and kill as many as they can. The vampires were to prioritize their attacks on Gradier, and he would deal with Esmeralda.


    The vampires and ghouls all rushed together, and Kyros moved to attack.


    But Kyros moved faster with a bit of Time Haste.


    BOOM!


    The Earth Cross erupted and threw the surrounding warriors off guard.


    The ghouls that the vampiresmanded were not normal mindless beings but those who were driven mad and given a half-life. They ran and stabbed their swords on the archers and mages at the back of the group.


    The vampires all rushed and attacked Gradier.


    The golems made a mad rush to m onto the knights who were holding up their shields to cover the archers.


    The Shadow Familiars and the Shadow Ghouls leaped on the archers and mages and those who had little armor.


    Even Kyros didn''t waste time. After stabbing the Vermilion Earth Sword, the Bloodied Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges started its bloody dance and attacked Esmeralda first.


    But Kyros''s sword struck something hard, and a white shield erupted as Esmeralda channeled her magic.


    "Mana Shield!" Esmeralda managed to cast.


    Mardock reached from behind and delivered a powerful punch.


    BANG!


    The shield managed to retain its form, but cracks were now appearing, and Esmeralda felt the mana in her body drain as she resolved to keep the shields up.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Two arrows exploded on the shield, and Esmeralda''s mana couldn''t take it anymore. She had been drained from most of her mana from her attack and needed to recharge, and with the little amount left, her shield gave way.


    Martha saw the suddenmotion that urred. She realized that Kyros was leading the charge as the familiar figures attacked. And then she felt a prompting. It was a strange sensation, but she knew what this was after talking with the two teen vampires. So she aimed for Esmeralda and shot attacks that consumed all of her Force Energy.


    Another arrownded and exploded on her chest.


    BOOM!


    The mage had died just like that.


    Gradier, who had stumbled from the Earth Cross, held his spear and tried to attack. But as his bnce waspromised, his attacks were not as fast as it would have been.


    The four vampires had learned from Kyros''s previous victory over the knight. Instead of attacking the Viscount directly, they brandished their swords to attack the spear.


    The spear was shattered from the continuous blows of the vampires. The tip was cut off as Gradier tried to block the sword strikes. And not letting up, the vampires kept rushing and attacking.


    Gradier imbued Force energy on his spear and stabbed forward.


    Hemsey took the blow and allowed the spear to stab right through him. But without hesitating, Hemsy dove forward and not retreated.


    "Vampires!" Gradier realized the race of the figure before him. Hemsey shed down and struck Gradier, who was wounded.


    He had a powerful artifact that could be used against vampires. But it was toote. He was so focused on dealing with the archer and humans that he had not that weapon on the ready.


    The attacks of the other vampires finally reached as the immobilized Viscount had no more means to block the attacks. The attacks reached him, and the crazed vampires kept striking and striking his body until Gradier was dead.


    As this all happened, Gregory and Scarlet were also moving and stood up from their fallen states. They had received the orders from Kyros and ran towards the groggy Ragion and hacked down their weapons together with the Ghouls.


    Ragion tried, but his defenses slowly weakened. The attack from Esmeralda was too terrifying, considering that it struck him on a vulnerable time.


    When the weapons finally struck and wounded Ragion, Scarlet bit down on him.


    And so, an impossible urrence happened. Through the maniption and deception of Fate, a group of low to mid-level warriors managed to kill three levels 30 Viscounts.

 Chapter 82 - Taking Care Of The Viscount鈥檚 Troops

    The Viscounts had been defeated, but the battle raged on.


    The Earth Cross created a crack on the ground, which caused many to stumble. The army of Kyros used this well and killed as many as they could.


    "Enemy attack from behind! Knights! Formation! Mages and archers reform in our perimeter!" One knight tried to take charge after seeing the deaths of their Viscount.


    The group disyed experience as the groups began to reform into a battle position that ounted for the enemies around them.


    "Coven and Mardock, protect me!" Kyros cried out as he summoned his bow and arrows.


    Although the Viscounts were killed quickly and efficiently, the remaining forces still numbered over thirty. Yet the forces were all busy as the numbers that Kyros overwhelmed them with a powerful rush.


    Kyros was now using his bow and arrows to shoot more of his enemies. As he was in the middle of the enemy formation, Kyros had a good position to attack the enemy. Using his dexterity and intelligence, Kyros attacked critical times and would critically wound or stagger an enemy with each blow.


    [Cminus used Ssh.]


    Cminus also joined the fray and would tap and startle a nervous enemy. Since they were being attacked from back and front, those who Cminus tapped would jump, evade or sh at the area. These distractions would lead to an enemy.


    "Tap that ass! Tap that ass!" Cminus made a strange chant as he began to use Ssh on the hind areas of the enemy.


    "Time to focus our attacks. Coven, send your ghouls to attack there!" Kyros shouted without even pointing where. Yet with their link, the Coven knew where to send the ghouls.


    CRASH! CRASH!


    The ghouls ignored the attacks they received and recklessly charged for inflicting attacks with their weapons or through biting and wing the knights and barbarians.


    "These are?!"


    "The vampires!" The mages cried.


    "And there are Shadow Ghouls among them!"


    The surprise attack didn''t give the Viscount troops time to identify the enemy. But now, they could clearly see what they were up against.


    After seeing the ws and fangs of undead men, the group realized that they were facing undead enemies and began to switch their weapons to fight them quickly.


    "Don''t give them any breathing room! They have weapons specifically made for vampires! Keep pressing and pressuring them! Kyros ordered.


    Scarlet and Gregory emerged from the gates along with their ghouls and joined the battle.


    The knights had just managed to hold a line, but then eight ghouls and two vampires attacked at the back.


    "Kill the mages and the archers first!" Kyros ordered.


    Suddenly, all the ghouls that were charging and smashing their bodies on the knights sprinted madly on the mages.


    "st them with mana sts! We need to blow their heads and body!" A mage cried as he spam cast his mana.


    Some of the mages shot fire bolts and various magic, but the ghouls paid no mind to this.


    Some of the remains of the ghouls fell as they tried to leap over and step on the shields of the knights.


    The mages kept shooting and blowing back the ghouls, but then, one of the ghouls that they thought were dead suddenly bit on one of the mages who lost his focus.


    "Always double tap. They need to learn." Cminus sneered as the formation of the mages that held the line fell from the inside. Another archer made the same mistake as he thought his headshot on one of the leaping ghouls killed it permanently. But once more, the ghoul bit on the legs of the archer, and it caused yet another gap.


    The gap allowed Kyros to send in his Shadow Ghouls.


    As magescked physical strength due to the focused study on magic, they could only wear light armor. These made them susceptible to the Shadow Ghouls, who could w and stab. The archers were another delicious target for the Shadow Ghouls as they valued mobility over defense.


    The knights tried to reform their ranks to stop and use their bodies to shield the Shadow Ghouls, but another creature had the immense strength to knock them back.


    The golems assaulted them were using the bodies of the in soldiers as weapons and smashed them onto the knights with such throwing force. Kyros also wilted down the forces by shooting his arrows from afar.


    Martha couldn''t harness any more force energy but kept attacking and harassing enemies. But she had a strange impression that she shouldn''t kill all enemies, especially the knight and barbarians. So she left the deadly kill-shot for the mages and archers.


    The knights tried to surround the archers and mages, close the gap to protect them, and enclose them to form shields. But while this stopped the ghouls, the shadow ghouls'' paper-thin shadow form managed to slither inside and attack the mages.


    Several fire bolts erupted, and strange Holy energy apanied it, which killed one of the Shadow Ghouls. But these attacks affected the knights who were holding up the shield. With nomander, the troops acted on their own, and since they weren''t experienced in fighting together, the knight''s attempt to shield the mages became the trap that gathered all archers and mages inside.


    The vampires managed to kill a few knights and barbarians that were maintaining the formation, and eventually, an unshielded area appeared.


    One by one, Kyros and Martha snipped the mages. However, the mana shield that one of the mages managed to cast was quickly destroyed as Kyros added Entropy element to his arrows.


    After confirming that all mages and archers were dead, Kyros gave the order to finish the job.


    "Spare as many of these knights and barbarians as you can!"


    Shadow Ghouls and familiars also jumped from one soldier and the next. The purpose of the shadow ghouls and familiars wasn''t to kill any of the enemies but was using their constant hops, ws, and tackles to distract most of the enemies.


    By the time the enemy knights and barbarians managed to kill most of the ghouls, they had already lost so many men.


    The battle steadily tilted to the side of Kyros''s team. With two skilled archers attacking and supporting the vampire and golems, none of the main forces even got wounded from the battle. Cminus was also extremely useful as his sshes struck on a strange ce that added to the knights'' nervous reactions.


    Soon, all the enemies were subdued.


    The fifty strong men of the three Viscount patrol consisting of mages, barbarians, knights, and archers had been defeated. Most were dead, but a few were allowed to live.


    As for Kyros''s team, only three of the ghouls remained at the end of the battle. One of the golems died duringbat, and two shadow ghouls were destroyed by the mages that used strange dark-subduing magic.


    "We did it... We defeated... a viscount squad! Three viscount teams were defeated!" Hunter couldn''t believe what happened.


    "Bite the survivors. We need to replenish our ghouls!" Kyros exined as he began to absorb the blood of Esmeralda and Gradier.


    ---


    Level up!


    Strength- 60-> 62 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 80-> 36/88 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 275-> 283 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 59-> 60 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- I''m doneparing myself to you. -> Why haven''t you tried curing cancer? ( Sealed)


    Soul Force- 33-> 46 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 119-> 125 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 121-> 126 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    "Oh? I leveled up? Is it because I absorbed rather strong soldiers?" Kyros was intrigued.


    "Your three Sources are increasing steadily. It seems your seals have really weakened!"


    "I should really study magic..." Kyros sighed. He looked at his stats and knew that he would make a jaw-dropping mage even when using a Mind Kingdom standard.


    Martha walked down and looked around him.


    "Thank you..." She spoke.


    "Don''t worry about it. You drank my blood, but while your heart is very unwilling, you are now part of my Coven. I hope you can trust me now."


    "I have a question... Why am I so..."


    "Unchanged? You thought that by bing a vampire, you''d be a mindless creature?" Kyrosughed.


    "You literally control mindless creatures." Martha pointed at the ghouls.


    "Oh right. Those are different. I can create two contracts through my bloodline. The first one is what you and these guys have. You submitted to me and willingly entered into a contract. The other is these ghouls. I force my blood on them and take over their body. It kills them in the process, though."


    "That is different from the rituals that most vampires use. I''ve captured several Dhampirs, and I know that they cannot betray their masters through a dark contract. How is that I feel I can shoot an arrow at you and not suffer any bacsh."


    "I can drain the blood out of you if I want. Do you want me to?" Kyros smiled.


    Martha didn''t want to test Kyros''s patience.


    "But how do you do this? You''re different from the vampires I dealt with. And now that I am a vampire, I can tell... I''m different. How did you turn me into this?"


    "My bloodline." Kyros smiled mysteriously.


    "Now... To the matter at hand. Let''s start turning these survivors into ghouls. As for the rest of the survivors and even for those fresh corpses, drink up, guys! You might level up as vampires! But hurry. We need to leave this ce. That bright magic that the mages cast on the sky would draw the attention of others. Bind that Ragion and carry him. We''ll be interrogating him shortly." Kyros ordered.

 Chapter 83 - Taking Me For A Fool

    The group moved and did as Kyros instructed. Ragion was bounded with various metal chains that the Viscount team had brought themselves.


    "We leave the weapons and armors of these people?" Hemsey asked. This was unlike the previous actions they did. Normally, Kyros would strip the armor and only leave the clothes. But this time, they left the precious armors of the enemy save for a few nice weapons.


    "Yes. Only take the extraordinary weapons that they have brought. I have also sent the bodies of the two Viscount to the Temple along with a note exining the current situation. Keep on drinking blood. The moment you guys finish drinking them, we leave." Kyros ordered.


    The group followed Kyros''s instructions, and even Martha had to drink blood despite her apparent distaste.


    Martha did her first bite on several humans.


    "I feel nothing, huh?" She sighed as she bit on the human. It was as if a part of her couldn''t feel disgusted or horrified at her act.


    "You''ll get used to it." Scarlet smiled.


    "Besides, I''m confident that Lord Kyros will only make us go after bad people."


    "Look around you... They are all bad people." Hunterughed as he passed by.


    After resolving to ept her new life, she bit down.


    Surprisingly, the taste wasn''t as disgusting as it would be.


    "A little stale... But I guess this new life isn''t as nauseating as it seems." She sighed.


    "Stale?" Hems heard her and bit the dying knight.


    "Hey, you''re right! Lord Kyros, why is this guy''s blood stale?"


    "He must be anemic. Move on and keep biting." Kyros ordered.


    As they continue to feed, a new notification appeared on Kyros''s vision.


    ---


    Coven Level increase!


    Coven: Coven of the Nephilim Level 2


    Coven Blessing: 2 -> 3 Added stat points


    ---


    Abilities:


    Dark Link Level 1->2


    ---


    Minor Life Vampiric Trait bestowed on all Coven members.


    Ghoul Commander Skill bestowed on all Coven members.


    ---


    A faint reddish hue appeared on all members of the Coven.


    "Lord Kyros!" Scarlet was startled.


    The others also reacted as they began to feel a strange sensation and warmth around their body.


    "I''m... alive?!" Hunter realized what had happened.


    "Rx. It''s my bloodline. The trait that allows me to be a living being and undead is being passed on to you. But this is only a small portion of our power. Still... This would allow us to travel freely as a faint life is detected on you. We might have to pretend to be ill to fool our enemies, though. Anyway, let''s move out!"


    With the addition of Martha, the group managed to turn twenty-seven ghouls. While another slot was avable, Kyros decided to leave it empty. And so, the group traveled north and headed towards the mountain peak.


    They carried a bound Ragion that was groaning in pain. Aside from being wounded, the pain of the vampire curse continued to assail him. Slowly his heart was being corrupted. He was also gagged that prevented him from screaming.


    After marching a few kilometers, the group found shelter in the middle of several rocks that were covered by thick forage.


    "Alright. Let''s rest and regroup here. Check for any damages in equipment, heal any wounds, and so on..." Kyros ordered.


    "I don''t understand, Lord Kyros. Why have our ns greatly changed?" Hunter asked as they finally had the chance to talk.


    "Because of Fate. This has been part of my n from the start. With our experience in the mountain, when we fought those lizards, I realized that Fate was actively moving and being involved in making ns to attack us. It gave us opportunities and even allowed us to meet a group of lizards that managed to slip through and survive the golems so that we would have a false idea of the mountain. Didn''t we assume that there was a strange ecosystem in there? Who knew the golems were guardians! If we knew about that, then things would have been smoother from the start."


    It was then that the Coven realized how cruel Fate tricked them.


    "The moment I met a skilled archer like Martha, who just happened to chance to be on patrol and returned just when I was busy drinking blood, I knew that Fate''s works were crueler this time around. Not only is she far skilledpared to a regr archer at her level, but she is also a person of interest to my Uncle!"


    "She''s rted to Lord Aron?"


    "My Uncle has this small crush on her. Don''t tell him I told you this. He told me on that night we talked."


    Martha was blushing. As she now had life, a faint blush appeared on her face.


    "Oh, and Martha... I won''t force you in a rtionship with my Uncle." Kyros assured.


    "So... I knew something fishy was going on with how Fate arranged those things. I knew Fate would go after us. These guys, including this Ragion was supposed to go up the mountain and investigate the appearance of Cracky Batcheeks. But Fate led them to that specific outpost. The question is how?" Kyros turned to Querk.


    "You scream, I kill you. Who are you?" Kyros removed the gag.


    "Who... are you?!" Querk was so surprised at Kyros''s deduction that he asked that question back.


    "Right now. I''m you''re daddy. Answer my question! Who do you serve? Are you a servant of the Eldrich?"


    "Daddy?" Scarlet repeated in confusion.


    "Eldrich?" Querk was also confused.


    "The Eldrich is alive? I thought they were all killed during the Nether Wars." Martha asked.


    "No. My master, Cminus, told me that they are alive. So this Cracky that I used as a moniker is a servant or a traitor to the Eldrich race. But enough about me... Why were you after Martha?" Kyros asked.


    "And please hurry. That vampire bite won''t turn you into a vampire unless you drink my blood. And while you''re level and various resistance could have allowed you to survive, you will die with many wounds and many bites from my Coven. Answer me, or I won''t heal you."


    "... It is as you said. We were three Viscounts sent by our respective to look for that person you used as a moniker. Our mission is to find Cracky Batcheeks for all the activities that he caused here."


    "Oh? What''s interesting is that we only used that name a few hours ago. So the kingdom can''t know that name and send it... And I didn''t say Cracky Batcheeks but only said Cracky. But you knew who I am talking to... So the Eldrich must really be behind whoever you are serving and have ordered you to look for Cracky..." Kyros smiled.


    Querk''s expression was more confused with Kyros''s deration.


    "So the Eldrich already knows of Cracky? This sounds bad." Cminus thought.


    "Not really. By the looks of things, Fate has been actively following its limitations. Sess Limiter only allows certain people to know about Cracky Batcheeks. Otherwise, the Greater Gods or the Fallen would be after me. I think that Fate led a person to overhear or find out about that name somehow and is trying to score some good points at their Eldrich boss." Kyros smiled.


    "I still feel ufortable at you throwing out that name recklessly."


    "I am ufortable as well! You just had to go with some strange, entric name!" Kyros cursed.


    "But I think we can rx. Fate''s doing his part. I believe that the Fallen or the Greater God is busy with something else which makes them ignore whatever rumors are circting about Cracky Batcheeks."


    "Greater God Daradiel..." Cminus realized it.


    "Spot on. Fate must be helping Daradiel and drawing attention that demands immediate action."


    Kyros then turned back to Querk.


    "If you are after Cracky, why did you head to that outpost? Me and my team created havoc to the north of this ce. Why did you go here?"


    "It was that Spearmaster. He was the leader of our group and wanted to use the chaos of the vampire to take control of that outpost."


    "I see... Create an illegal entry for you and your allies."


    Martha''s expression turned angry.


    "It was an opportunity of a lifetime. Finally, we had the means and the people to do that..."


    "Traitors! This mountain range belongs to all the human kingdom!"


    "That''s very ironic,ing from a vampire..." Kyros chuckled.


    "But why did you choose that outpost? Has it something to do with Martha Bowheart?" Kyros asked.


    "Yes. You are correct once more. Gradier Conquistar wanted to kill her."


    "What fault do I have against the Conquistar family? I don''t have any quarrels with him, his n, or even the Jericho Kingdom!"


    "Let me guess..." Kyrosughed.


    "Martha... Have you killed any mercenaries, thieves, brigands, and the like?"


    "Of course I have! I guard the caravans and transports!"


    "There you go. The Conquistar must have had a special unit here that steals and piges caravans. Since this ce is located in a remote region with too many kingdoms, killing and stealing would be hard to trace."


    "What?! Why would a family of powerful viscounts-"


    "He''s right," Querk confirmed.


    "Specifically, you attacked one of their young masters, which is also Gradier''s younger brother. You blew up his -erm... sword."


    Martha was stunned.


    "See? And here you were having a moral dilemma of the people we kill. Not everyone is as righteous as your Bowheart n. And yes... I said it. Righteous. Your Bowheart n, for all its faults and poor treatment towards you, still stands as one of the better families in this world. Now... which group do you serve? Do you belong to a Coven of vampires, a Gathering of Skeletons or Liches?"


    "No. I don''t know about the others. But I am paid for my services. I do not serve the undead but have dealings with them. However, since you brought me here, you intend to make me a part of your Coven, correct?"


    The vampires were amazed.


    Scarlet and Gregory had seen firsthand the power of this man. If he were part of the Coven, it would be very helpful to them!


    Kyros couldn''t help but smile at Querk''s words.


    "You talked about Fate. So you mean to say my decision to join in this escapade would soon help me find a powerful vampire master? You are an Ancient Vampire, correct? Is this Fate? That I am to serve you?" Querk asked.


    "It does seem that Fate brought you to my hands. But, for my contract to work, I need a soul that is willing to serve me."


    "Then so be it. I am willing. Save me from death by making me be it!"


    "Alright." Kyros then stabbed his sword to Querk''s heart.


    "Wha-what... are you...?"


    "Are you taking me for a fool, Fate? Martha was one thing... But this one? Too suspicious!" Kyrosughed as he pushed the sword deeper and released dark energy.


    Querk''s death was assured.


    "Why... did you... kill me...?" Querk roared.

 Chapter 84 - Taking A Break

    The sudden stab that Kyros made surprised everyone.


    The three H knights, the original three vampires, and Martha looked in shock at how cruel Kyros was.


    "Why...?" Querk only had a few seconds left. He could feel the strange blood coursing through him, and the vampiric poison inflicted by Scarlet and Gregory was making him go mad. He knew he would be a ghoul from this ruthless attack.


    "You can''t fool me. You said that you are a hired hand and not a servant who willingly made an oath to the Undead, yet why do I detect that power? You may not be a vampire familiar, nor a Skeleton''s Keeper, but don''t think your ims would fool me. You are worshiper of a Necromancer! Probably a level fifty or sixty Necromancer." Kyros smiled.


    "Sixty?" To the Coven, a level fifty is even an impossible dream. This Ragion as serving such a powerful being?


    "How-how do you...?!"


    "I killed the other two Viscounts, remember? I kept it hidden from you, but I had already got the secret weapons they brought with them. With such dark weapons, do you expect me to believe that you three are just hired servants?" Kyrosughed.


    The dark energy of the sword began to react as it sensed something in the heart of Querk.


    "Oh? What an interesting turn of events! If I hesitated in killing you and attempted to turn you into one of my own, I''d have quite a predicament in the future, right? A Necromancer Soul Bond. But it''s quite weak... Did you perform the ritual by yourself? A true Necromancer Soul Bound is simr to the Prime Bond that vampires make. But this is quite weak."


    Kyros''s power in the Bloodied Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges had Heart of Fallen, which was ruler over the dark. Kyros knew that Necromancers bound the heart of those that worship them. Sure enough, invisible yet present darkness that takes hold of the believers and turns them into fanatics was there.


    As Kyros began to attack the Dark energy, another scene was ying out in the Dark Shine Kingdom.


    The Necromancer Lorjdenheign was silently meditating in a dark chamber with a crystal ball before him. He tried to pierce through the shroud and find out how it was that two of his strongest worshipers had died.


    "What''s going on? Two viscounts died immediately?" Lorjdenheign frowned.


    "I have to concentrate and strengthen the link with Querk Stonefist!" He then channeled dark magic and even sacrificed a few living beings toplete the ritual.


    At that moment, Kyros smiled as he sensed a soul resonance in the heart of the dying Querk.


    "You know, I was tempted. A Ragion! Wow! That''s quite an offer. But I know that you are not the reward of Fate. Just as how Fate tempted me to sacrifice those vampires to add mana to my family and breach the Fate Limit, you are an enticing meal. I probably can turn you into an ally. The Soul Bond of Necromancer should be susceptible to my [Dark Consumer] skill. But if I forced it, I''d be in great trouble, won''t I?" Kyrosughed.


    "I will abandon... serving him! I will... relinquish my service to... Lord Lorjdenheign."


    "No way. Just die." Kyros ignored him and began to focus on turning Querk''s body into a ghoul.


    "No! No!" Querk squirmed, but there was no escaping this.


    The soul resonance was getting stronger and stronger.


    "This should do it..." Kyrosughed and activated the power that the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges had.


    [Soul Trapper]


    Back in the Dark Shine Kingdom, a great cry echoed inside the halls of one of the strongest necromancers...


    Lorjdenheign immediately canceled his attempt tomunicate with Querk as a malevolent force attacked him. The attack was too strong and terrifying that Lorjdenheign cowered in defeat as he knew he had no chance of fighting that power.


    "What was that?! That power...! Not even the Vampire Ancient had that darkness!" Lorjdenheign found himself covered in his own sweat. The pressure and power of that pull were stronger than the weight of power Lorjdenheign feels when he stands before the Dark Shine Emperor.


    "Could this be the reason why only the strongest of the Dark Shine are tasked to find Cracky Batcheeks? He could be an Eldrich!" Lorjdenheign concluded.


    "Looks like I''ll have to apologize to the Blood de and tell them to go look for it themselves... I''ll just say that my group was killed..." Lorjdenheign decided.


    Back in the Londs, Kyros sensed everything that had happened and even noticed the surging soul of Querk.


    The surging energy only convinced Kyros that he made the right choice. If Kyros wanted to keep Querk active, he would have to unchain the bindings slowly. But Kyros didn''t want Querk and used the sword to obliterate it instead.


    "What a waste." Cminus felt his heart bleed. This was a level 30 warrior! And Ragion was a divergence from the Berserker warrior ss and is a rare and powerful warrior ss in the Minds!


    "This is a trap. Fate leads me not just by challenges but also by tempting me to make certain choices. If a person is fated to die somewhere, then Fate will either make conflicts to lure that person there or use very tempting offers. It could be money, a honey trap, opportunities, and all of those. This is what Fate is doing. If I want to defeat Fate, I need to be able to discern which things I can get for myself and which things are baits created by Fate."


    Querk was slowly losing his consciousness. The madness of the darkness was now entering his mind.


    Kyros managed to destroy the dark bindings that were ced on Querk''s heart. The dark energy that bounded Querk''s heart was absorbed, and the sword suddenly sprang to life as if it detected a very delicious meal ready for it.


    Although the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges has been weakened, it was still a powerful artifact used to fight Greater Gods in wars long forgotten. What could a Necromancer do against the magic that was bestowed upon this sword?


    The surging soul of the necromancer was quickly devoured, and it replenished the sword causing it to undergo a level increase.


    ---


    Bloodied Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges (Lvl. 1->2)


    Attack: 28->29


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy and Blood


    Shadow Ghoul Familiar (8) / Blood Golem (2)


    Can channel Dark magic.


    Soul Trapper


    Dark Trapper


    Blood de


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    Kyros was still musing over the improved sword when another notification appeared.


    ---


    Sess Purging Trial has been thoroughlypleted!


    Rewards:


    Fate Challenger Level 3.


    Bloodline Sess Limiter has been halted for twenty days.


    Bloodline Apathy of Fate has been halted for twenty days.


    Kyros''s Fate Curses halted for twenty days.


    Okto-Kefali Whelpling Eugene seal prolonged to twenty days.


    Fate Triumph Certificate. (Frame not included)


    ---


    "Wha-what?!"


    "I knew it," Kyros smirked.


    "What happened? Those benefits... they''re too good to be true!"


    "It''s simple. The things that Fate threw against me have all been conquered. The reward of twenty days means that Fate can''t do anything, and it will take twenty days for Fate to make circumstances and coincidence that will move new enemies to be my next challenge. The challenge that she threw at me at this time would have kept me busy if I kept following the directions Fate designed. But since I threw it off its game, it doesn''t have anything to throw at me anymore!"


    "This is... amazing!"


    "The rewards are indeed useful. I never thought Fate would also give me some break. With the Okto-Kefali''s seal prolonged, it will give me more time to prepare and strengthen my men."


    "Will Fatepensate for this? What happens after the twenty days?"


    "No. ording to my Fate Challenger, it will probably give me a harsher trial, but the feeling I get for this reward is that it''s making me enjoy the fruits of mybor. While it may use whatever events or circumstances that I create during these twenty days, It is as if Ancient Fate is encouraging me to break the machinations that she has set on this world."


    "Lord Kyros... I feel... strange." Scarlet was the first to say it.


    The other vampires turned curiously towards Scarlet.


    "Was it the blood you drank? You might have drunk a person with some rare blood disease!" Hunter answered worriedly.


    "You drank Leukemia?!" Hems shouted in fear.


    Kyros facepalmed.


    "Rx, guys! You guys are vampires! You don''t easily get poisoned because of your near undead state. The feeling Scarlet sensed isn''t that! It''s Fate! Scarlet sensed that Fate has somehow weakened its curse on her!"


    "That''s it! No wonder I feel a sense of lightness..." Scarlet was amazed.


    "It''s interesting that you are sensitive to it. Coven, we have twenty days where the effects of this curse are lifted. Anything bad that happens is just natural urrences and not Fate working against us. In short, we won''t have bad luck like what''s been happening these past days." Kyros had a very relieved expression.


    "What do we do now, Lord Kyros?


    "We can train and hunt without worries. And since Fate won''t be interfering, let''s raid this entire mountain region! We have twenty days. In about thirteen days, another tribtion will happen which needs us to be present."


    "A tribtion? What sort of Tribtion?"


    "I faced a Tribtion before you guys arrived. And it will happen soon. We will prepare for that, and we have to bring as many warriors and knights as possible." Kyros smiled and brought up the Temple stats.


    ---


    Nephilim Sealing Temple


    Status: Kyros Unleashed


    Nephilim Training Commencing!


    Shade Level: 2 Interim (14:02:13:43 remaining to start Level 2)


    Temple Level: 4 (1284/10000 points to Level 5)

 Chapter 85 - Taking Things From Strong People

    The Human Vagat Fortress was the fortress guarding the entrance to the great mountain region and had arge long wall that had the advantage of being up on the mountain. The fortress itself was more difficult to attack than most of the human kingdoms.


    But on this day, the soldiers guarding that fort were not busy at the movement and urrences outside of the mountain pass, but they kept listening to the news of the events that had transpired within the mountain region.


    Two days have passed, and terror urred when night came. Some outposts were wiped out, and if it weren''t for the fact that one managed to light the beacon, the main force that protected the Airom Vagat region would have never known that several outposts have been eliminated.


    In arge hall, various army generals of different kingdoms had the rare sight of being in one room and discussing with a unified mindset to resolve the issues within the mountain regions.


    But this discussion was full of shouts, curses, and threats to kill each other.


    "The targets of the vampires are not limited to one single kingdom! Many mercenaries fell prey to it! The Steele family has already requested to enter and sent all of their mercenaries and former vassals to scale the mountain! Their two sons are missing! The three viscounts from those different kingdoms have also reported that the lifepass of those viscounts has shown that they are dead! We don''t know what is going on!" One of the Generals shouted to silence the arguments.


    "No one is plotting against anyone! We have a vampire gue in our ce! Several towns were attacked, and sightings of golems were also stated. Our attempts to contact these Pdins that were sent here have all failed. This means they''re either dead or in that cave where the first sightings were reported."


    "Then what do you suggest we do? We cannot send out our forces to scale the mountain! Besides, those discounts are only iming that because they want to gain entry here! This region is already at the brink of destruction with all of you traitors and self-seeking, wicked people! Do we give more powers to the strong influencers that dictate the economic movement within this mountain?!" Another general from another kingdom argued.


    "Sir! We have confirmed it! We went to the outpost that triggered an illumination spell two nights ago. We found the teams of the Stonefist, Conquistar, and the Toro n. Their bodies are there. Some other humans who had the traits of being undead were also there!" A soldier reported.


    Several stones were held up, and through these stones, a magical hologram of the outpost was disyed.


    The gates were burnt down. The bodies of the soldiers were scattered near the walls of the outpost, and a battle also seemed to have happened outside the outpost.


    The generals observed the details of the battle and began to frown.


    "It seems that there are at least three groups present. Those inside the outpost, the viscount team that was trying to go inside the outpost, and there''s that third group of undead that attacked them."


    "It must be a vampire. It attacked the outpost by scaling the wall and killed the outpost guards from within. The viscount teams must have faced the familiars of the vampires. How many of those dhampirs are there?"


    "We are not certain if they are Dhampirs. They looked like Animated Dead!"


    "Low-leveled Animated Dead don''t wield swords. Those do. And by the looks of it, these Animated Dead are rather organized. Then it means a high-leveled Necromancer or Vampire Masters have infiltrated this region."


    "Then who could it be?"


    "If it''s a Necromancer... I''ve heard stories of one of the Barons in our kingdom was executed for worshiping a Necromancer power. It could be that those who have entered this fortress were worshipers..."


    "That is a possibility. But worshipers of Necromancers don''t have the power to raise the dead. So the most probable cause is a Vampire Master. They are at least at level 30. But it may take two or three humans of the same level to fight them!"


    "Each of us should send a Viscount and two Barons to search the mountain region." One of the Generals, who was silent the entire time, suddenly spoke up.


    "Agreed."


    "Sir! Animated Dead! Attacking the fortress!" A soldier eximed.


    Everyone was startled at the report and immediately stood up to take action.


    The attack happened from the inside of the fort. No one could know how the attackers managed to enter as those who weed the group was already dead.


    Torches were once more lit up to brighten the darkness. If the enemies were vampires, they would focus on extinguishing the light, which would be advantageous to the undead.


    When the beacons were illuminated and some of the mages cast their illumination spells, the attackers could now be seen.


    Several knights charged and attacked several hulking men who ran madly at them without any concern for their life.


    Their attacks had immense power, and with therge weapons, they wielded, even knights who took up a shield would be blown back from the attack.


    Thergest figure continued to m his fist and carried what looks to be the body of a young boy, which he was carrying around while with his palms crushing the poor boy''s skull.


    "Querk Stonefist! Why are you attacking this fortress?!" One of the Barons recognized the warrior.


    The tall, hulking figure noticed the knight and began to walk towards the knight.


    "I am no longer Querk Stonefist! Necromancer Lorjdenheign has given me greater life! I am Querk Deadfist! A necromancer of my own right!" Querk Stonefist was shown, and he tossed the body of the poor boy to the side.


    "Then you are no longer the friend I knew! Die monster!" The knight brandished his sword and attacked.


    The two began their battle.


    Mages started to shoot firebolts, but then Shadow Ghouls leaped from the darkness and attacked the mages.


    The power of the undead Querk was too strong. It managed to kill the knight that challenged it with a strong pound. The archers couldn''t prate it as some form of Earth energy protected even his skin.


    Some wounds were inflicted, but Querk kept pushing on and was headed to the gates.


    A group of undead ran together with Querk, and they crashed towards the knights that stood to stop Querk from reaching the gates.


    As the battle continued, some of the undead were killed, but previously in knights began to rise and attacked their allies.


    "An undead gue! That''s an Undead gue!" A mage noticed one of his friends who were killed rose as the undead and attacked those near him.


    More mages began to gather and shot powerful fire spells.


    "[Incinerate]!" The first mage shot a beam of fire that incinerated the body of one undead. Several more began to join in, and the undead was soon obliterated.


    Querk was finally subdued. Several Spear Masters and Grand de masters used their long weapons to stab and stop the raging Ragion from moving.


    "His body is like made of stone!" One of the Grand de cursed as he held on to the huge sword he used to stab Querk.


    "Keep him bound." An angry voice ordered, and a figure hovered over and stood before Querk.


    "General!" One of the viscounts recognized the person who approached. Only Force Masters reaching level 40 could perform flight. This general belonged to the strongest ss of Knights. Champion Knights.


    "Look at you. You are already lost, Viscount Querk. Your mind has degraded, and you are now just a zombie. But why did you attack? You killed a few of our men. But what is your purpose?" The Champion questioned.


    "Look! Over there!" A panicked cry shouted, which drew the attention of many.


    Two strange dark beings that had the shape of a human began to run towards the exit.


    The Champion frowned and flew towards the direction of where the two figures ran.


    The other General''s also took action.


    A woman ran on mid-air. A mage became a bright light and shot towards the location.


    But as the Generals chased, the two humanoid shadows suddenly disappeared and turned into mist.


    "What was that?!" The woman arrived and asked.


    "Whatever that was, it matched the first reported sighting of the vampires. We were fooled. That Querk Stonefist was meant to distract us. With the undead and those shadow creatures attacking, we failed to sense that something from the outside was waiting for the right time to enter this region."


    "A necromancer?"


    "Who knows. But I believe everyone is in agreement. We can no longer assure our kingdoms that this ce will not bepromised. I will tell my King to send reinforcements. I don''t care if you guys would or would not approve."


    "I n to do the same." The mage answered.


    "As will I." The woman answered.


    "I assume the rest are in agreement?"


    The remaining generals began to arrive, and all wore solemn expressions.


    "We search the mountain region for darkness. Let us all assigned a team of Viscounts and two Barons to move out immediately. And we have to send another team to explore that cave that opened up. Since it is near the first sightings of those vampires, something must be there."


    "... Is that smokeing from my quarters?" One of the Generals frowned as he looked back at the fort.


    Several turned their heads and was horrified at what they saw. Immediately they sprinted back with great haste.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the fortress, Kyros and his seven vampires walked down the mountain region. After aplishing their mission, the group snuck out and left the mountain region.


    "See? I told you it would work." Kyrosughed at Martha.


    Martha''s expression remained shocked. She couldn''t believe what they had just pulled off. Not only have they snuck out of the fortress, but Kyros managed to steal various items in the armory, the image library, the archer''s barracks, and even on the rooms of some General!


    "We... stole weapons from Level 40 powerhouses!" Martha just couldn''t believe it.

 Chapter 86 - Taking The Road Less Traveled

    The entry to the fortress was the main problem. Although it wasn''t as exaggerated as the one facing the other side, it was practically impossible to do so for a small team.


    To resolve it, Kyros sent Querk Stonefist and a few disguised soldiers to pretend to be the Viscount squad returning from the intense battle that led to a defeat. The moment the guards saw it, they hesitated. Kyros even heard the discussion.


    "It''s Querk Stonefist!" A guard identified.


    "Open the gates!" The leader of the toon immediately ordered.


    "Weren''t they confirmed to be dead? Many of his squads were found among the remains of the Viscounts he was with!"


    "Close the gates!" The leader ordered again.


    "But his body wasn''t found there! He''s alive!"


    "Open the gates a little!"


    The opening gave Querk and the group a chance as they suddenly rushed inside and killed the group. Kyros shot several arrows with Martha to kill the group.


    With two days that passed, Martha had managed to heal most of her wounds and was battle-ready. The two-shot the arrows and killed the enemy with ease. The darkness of the night made the rest unaware that the gates were opened by a little and that intruders had already entered.


    With the infiltration sessful, the Coven moved secretly along the side, killing enemies with stealth. But they would always bite or make wounds that made it look like the ghouls were responsible.


    Meanwhile, Kyros allowed himself to be carried off by Querk''s zombie body. Scarlet was controlling and giving simple orders to Querk.


    When Querk was discovered, Kyros talked on behalf of Querk when the knight called out to him.


    The deception was sessful. Querk threw Kyros''s body to the side after talking, and the battlemenced.


    The fight began, and even though Querk''s body should have fallen, Kyros had experimented on Querk''s body. Through Cminus''s many lessons, Kyros was able to apply a light coat of earthen makeup that had the power of Earth. This made Querk''s body retain a hardness that made it look like he still was strong.


    While Querk attacked, Kyros and the group secretly moved throughout the many rooms of the fort, ransacked it, and even burned some. Kyros found oil from his previous trips and used Mana to retrieve it from the Temple, which burned the ce.


    After burning the area, Kyros sent two Shadow Familiars that raced outwards and used [Oration] to warn the group.


    This caused the Champions to chase after the creature allowing Kyros and the team to steal from the room of the Generals of the base.


    And then they left.


    "Are you alright, lord Kyros?" Scarlet asked.


    "A little injured, honestly. That ghoul Querk was very reckless when he held on to my body."


    "I am sorry, Lord Kyros." Scarlet apologized.


    "It''s not your fault... They can''t really carry me with such precise orders. Although yourmands are not more urate, our ghouls still can''t follow themand ''be careful.''" Kyrosughed.


    "Where are we going, lord Kyros?"


    "The orc fortress, of course. We are going to rescue Martha''s little sister." Kyros exined.


    Martha was stunned.


    "You- lord Kyros?! You mean it?"


    "That''s the first time she called the young lord, lord." Hemseyughed.


    "Of course. I told you, I''m a good guy. I hope I proved it to you."


    "Well... disregarding the fact that we have been killing on feeding on humans these past two days... I can''t say I''m thoroughly convinced."


    "Oh,e on! Almost everywhere we went, we''ve proven they''re guilty of stuff. Do you think the orcs are all evil? Many of them are more righteous than you! You are so caught up in Lond''s perception. The kingdoms of the Lond region had long created this propaganda that orcs are bad, humans are good. It''s not true. Humans can be as bad as vampires."


    "Humans don''t feed on other humans."


    "Vampire don''t feed on other vampires either. If they do, it''s to absorb the power and is rted to cultivation. But humans feed on monsters, animals, sentient beasts. We even eat dragons which are one of the most intelligent beings! So how different are humans to these dark beings?"


    Martha was surprised at Kyros''s statement.


    "Listen, the reason why we believe that dark is bad and all that nonsense is because of where we get our power. Most of humanity needs light to live. We channel energy and search for eternity by harnessing that light to be gods. Those who live from the lower Londs to the Dark Sea and the Nethends cultivate through the darkness. Both are just trying to cultivate and survive in this eat-or-be-eaten world. We just get our food and cultivation resources from different things. If you think a race is more righteous than the other, you are wrong. It''s just a propaganda made by those in the Hignds. They won the Nether Wars and now define what righteousness is."


    The three H''s had little educational background and couldn''t understand what Kyros was saying.


    But the rest were of noble or high-born status. They had some idea as to what Kyros was saying and were enlightened.


    "So you mean... I''m not evil?" Avary asked.


    "Evil is what we do with our lives, Avary."


    "Like... killing humans?"


    "Killing corrupt humans. Let''s take those three Viscount teams we killed. I''ve shown you their dark artifacts. It''s quite powerful. It''s a Necromancer''s magic that consumes darkness to create a new dark soul. It''s how Necromancers can create powerful summons." Kyros exined.


    "I get those three. But I just don''t feel that killing those people who only have petty crimes is justified. Especially if innocent men were doing their jobs as soldiers." Martha sighed.


    "Are you going to apply that morality when we are in the orc kingdoms?" Kyros sneered.


    Martha was silent.


    "Just because an orc isn''t human, you already feel that you have the higher ground to kill them. They have lives too, you know. Orc lives matter."


    Martha grew all the more silent.


    "I''ll let you guys in a little secret. Something that uncle and father don''t know. The Temple has shown me a vision of the future. A great upheaval is happening in the entire nes World. And not just there, but the heavens itself. I n to cultivate all the way to godhood to survive this storm. You will see that killing people, wicked or righteous is better!"


    "An upheaval? Godhood?"


    "It''s possible. And the way things are going, I''ll need an army of gods on my side. And they will be you. So when we fight and kill, don''t worry. It will be grace to the righteous, for they will enter into the afterlife and be part of the great celestial light that shines over the nes World. They will die and not experience the tribtioning and live in joy. The wicked who perishes go to the Nether World and endure the torment of being used, abused and even devoured by the dark beings there."


    "That doesn''t give you the right to kill them!"


    "It doesn''t. But it is more beneficial. Who knows? In the uing tribtion, it may force people to do unspeakable things. The vision the Temple showed me had mothers eating their sons and daughters from the terrible siege in the future wars toe." Kyros sighed.


    While the Temple didn''t show him this vision, he saw those same scenes in the battles he survived. The disgust and horror that Kyros disyed silenced Martha.


    The group traveled quietly after that talk. Martha was in deep thought and began to question her morality.


    Scarlet, Gregory, and Avary kept talking with Kyros about how the dark beings lived, and the more they learned and heard how the propaganda deceived them, the happier they were. They no longer saw themselves as dark, evil creatures.


    The group continued to head towards the west side of the mountain range, which would be the entrance to the orc side. They soon reached the region known as the Airom Logat, which was the mountain''s western side.


    A long canyon trail that was full ofva and thick smoke separated the two regions.


    "The Great Airom Red River. It was said that these mountain regions used to be connected, but a God hailing from the Hignds stepped down to the Londs and attacked an insurrection ofher beast who hid deep in the mountain. A great sword sh sliced through the region and created this deep canyon that opened volcano in the Airom." Kyros recounted as they passed through the unassable canyon.


    "Alright. We wait here for Grandfather. My father has already told my Grandfather to meet us near this region. After we send their items directly inside the Temple, we head to the Craggy Steps further west of here. Like in Airom Vagat, there will be cliffs full of outposts and are manned to warn of any group that intends to scale the mountain. But in the Craggy Steps, it''s doubly deadlier to move there since the stones have a brittle exterior that cracks and will create echoes. But I know of a hidden cave that leads to the surface." Kyros smiled.


    "You seem to know your way in this ce..." Martha was curious. In Airom Vagat, Kyros knew nothing about the geography from within. Yet how was Kyros able to make a detailed exnation to this region.


    "How do you know of a secret cave that even orcs don''t know. They don''t call this region the road less traveled by humans for nothing. Because of how easy it is to detect those scaling here, this ce is a frequently used trading route for Orcs."


    Kyros smiled and didn''t answer. How could he tell her that he had raided Airom Logat in his anger after the Orc army killed his parents? Kyros and his future mercenary group formed after the massacre of various human kingdoms used this secret entrance that the most secretive smugglers used to enter the region.


    "Orcs..." Kyros suddenly held out his hands to silence and stopped everyone from moving.


    It was a caravan of orcs that was had departed from the mountain region. The guards it had were numerous and numbered more than a hundred.


    "Stay low and stay hidden. These orcs have a great sense of smell. But since you are undead, and I have a way to masks scent, we should be able to evade these orcs." Kyros ordered.


    The groupid low on the thick shrubs nearby as the caravan passed.


    "I''m just d to be alive..." An orc spoke as he passed. Although it spoke in orcish, Kyros could understand his words as he was taught by Cminus how to speak them.


    "They are calling that threat the Blood Cmity! The mountain itself bleed from the terror of that creature!" The orc continued.


    Kyros heard it and drew closer. This was the Blood Cmity that Kyros saw, which followed right after he saw the notification of Destiny regarding how Mechiel will die.


    "You saw the Blood Cmity?" One of the Orc asked.


    "Yes. I was the only survivor in my team."


    Kyros frowned. He needed information on the Blood Cmity as fast as he can.


    "Coven... Get ready! We will be kidnapping that orc."


    "What?" Martha and the group nearly shouted in surprise.

 Chapter 87 - Taking An Orc

    The entire brigade of orcs consisted of all forms of Orc sses. Orc Brutes, Riders, Archers, Magi, and tall, level twenty Orc Primes led the caravan.


    Orcs were generally more superior in strength than humans and required humans to master force energy to stand toe-to-toe with Orcs.


    The entire caravan was carrying arge number of ores harvested on the mountain. Just as it was in Airom Vagat, the region of Airom Logat consisted of a united orc army hailing from different kingdoms. The caravan itself had various orc breedsing from different tribes.


    The march continued with the orcsughing and taunting each other. Even the women orcs were very boisterous and wild that it seemed like a miracle no one was killing each other.


    "Hahahaha...." A crazyugh echoed around the area.


    Theugh ran around the area and was echoing all over the ce.


    The orcs suddenly turned serious.


    "Where is it? I don''t smell anything!" One of the orcs cursed. He was at the forefront and couldn''t even smell where theugh wasing from.


    "Riders! Move out!" The Orc Prime leading the team ordered.


    As orcs were naturalmunicators with various animals, beast taming was an essential job for them.


    The Orc Riders was a job for orcs that used beast taming as a foundation. Severalrge wolves that stood over a meter tall with long spikes like that of a porcupine began to move out. It used its smell to search the area and used its speed to chase the fast-moving sounds.


    Theugh continued to run around, and the wolves couldn''t smell where the enemy was. It was as if theugh was from above. Then, all of a sudden, several moreughs were heard around the entire caravan. Some were of men, others of women.


    Then strange figures emerged from the dark and began to attack the wolves that were running about.


    "Enemy attack!" The orc riders shouted.


    Suddenly dark bolts shot out from the darkness. Dawn had not yet broken, and so the dark bolt was not seen until it drew near. By the time the orcs could see it through their torches, it was toote.


    BOOM!


    A bolt struck the head of an Orc Brute, causing it to stumble down. The face looked like an arrow pierced through it.


    "Dark Magic! Orc Magi! Cast illumination spells! We are fighting the undead!" The Orc Prime revealed his experience. He knew the undead had no scent, and they couldn''t rely on their improved senses to search for the enemy.


    The Magis quickly channeled their energy, but more bolts began to arrive from the sky.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The magis began to channel the illumination spell, and they could finally see their attacker.


    It was a dark creature with oily, ck skin that seemed to be alive.


    It stood on top of the tree and continued to make a crazedugh.


    "Tell me where the Blood Cmity is, and I''ll spare you, young ones." The creature called out in the tongue of the orcs.


    "Who are you?!" The Orc Prime cursed.


    "I am Cracky Batcheeks, the ck Cmity. Devourer of All! Where is the Blood Cmity that I may devour its power!" The creature spoke once more.


    In his hand, a roundpact form of dark energy gathered that turned into a long spear made of darkness.


    "Dark wielder!" The Orc Prime saw it and was horrified. Only the strongest and most evil of dark dependent has that ability.


    "Tell me!" The dark creature urged once more.


    "I don''t know! The creature we call the Blood Cmity has fled inside therge mountain region in the Endless Caves!"


    "If you won''t answer me, then just die! Zombie horde! Attack now!"


    [Oration activated.]


    Suddenly, shadow ghouls and golems appeared on several fronts. One of the Spine wolves was knocked back from a malicious punch of a green golem.


    "Enemy attack!"


    "Argh! It''s got me!"


    "A horde of undead from the back!"


    "Archers! Enemy archers!"


    "Dentists!"


    "Help! Monsters in the dark!"


    Several voices were heard shouting from different fronts of the battlefield.


    The Orc Prime


    "Assume formation! Wolf pack retreat! Brutes to the front. Protect the archers and mages!


    The group began to assemble into a formation. Some of their members were being attacked with archers. But the thick hide armor managed to protect them from receiving critical blows.


    As the orcs finalized their formation with the caravan goods in the center, the dark being that stood up the tree nced over at a distance.


    "There you are, my enemy! Let''s see which Cmity is stronger!" And then the dark being jumped from one tree to the other and disappeared from its fasts movements.


    Suddenly, the shadows and golems retreated, and the orcs were left wondering what had happened.


    "Orcs! Retreat! We have to keep moving! Move out now!" The Orc Prime ordered as the group hastened their horses.


    Meanwhile, on the other side of the dark forest...


    Kyros was standing over the one orc they managed to capture. This was the same orc that said he had survived the Blood Cmity.


    "Alright. That was a good spoil. I managed to get severalrge ores on each caravan. They probably would notice that their haul iscking by daybreak." Kyros smiled.


    "Hunter. You were supposed to say the Orc word for Golems which is Baguzzyr. But you said Backussire, which means dentists." Kyrosughed. He had instructed each of the Coven to say a specific phrase.


    The groupughed at Hunter.


    "Don''t worry, though. I made a lot of simr mistakes. It''s a good thing that oguage is easier to say as it needs a human mouth. Unlike First Word or that other cursednguage." Kyros recalled an embarrassing memory.


    "We could have fought more. Your tactics would have allowed us to kill many since they would be on the defensive. We would then have all those caravans." Martha answered.


    "Our purpose was to kidnap these guys. Besides, you underestimate orc hide armor. Your arrows can''t do much to them. You''d run out of arrows soon. Besides, we need survivors to talk about Crachy Batcheeks. Don''t worry. My ns all have their purposes." Kyros smiled.


    Martha couldn''t help but agree. She was impressed with Kyros''s n.


    When Kyros ordered the ''attack'', he sent out his Shadow Ghouls and Golems and immediately made his team shout those phrases together.


    This gave the impression that the orcs were being attacked from several sides and made the Orc Prime give orders to reform the group.


    In that reorganization of ranks, everyone was focused on rushing to assume the formation. Martha was shooting arrows which caused all to run and cover. The Coven used that opportunity to capture and gag the orc that talked about the Blood Cmity and drag him out of the caravan.


    The group ran to a more recluse area and finally unbounded the gagged orc. But even as they unbound him, they kept choking him so that he couldn''t scream.


    "Orc. You have the chance to live as long as you tell me about the Blood Cmity. If you do not fear death, look around you and see that vampires surround you. I can grant you a more painful life by turning you into one of these." Kyros released the Shadow Ghouls.


    [Orations activated.]


    The dark shadows emerged and bowed before Kyros.


    "I''ll talk! I''ll talk!" The orc was terrified. Not only did this young boy know thenguage of orcs, but it also had the power to do dark bidding.


    The orc recounted the events that transpired over the past three days.


    A strange tremor urred around the mountain, and a cave opened up. The stories that were told were simr to when Kyros was unsealed.


    "Hrm? This is strange. Was there another being that rivaled you? I remember that three Nephilims were born. Could it be that another one is sealed?"


    "That sounds possible. But this is scary. If that is a Nephilim, and it''s the Blood Cmity, then won''t that mean we are fate to fight each other? Could it be that only one Nephilim should be allowed?"


    "Well... You are partly Fallen. And Fallen and most Dark Dependent devour each other to grow strong. It is normal for them to use that lifestyle and have their sons and daughters devour each other to get stronger."


    "In any case... I guess I have to be careful." Kyros finally turned to the orc.


    "Now... What to do to you?" Kyros smiled.


    "I... Please don''t kill me! I have a family!" The orc begged.


    "See, Martha? He has kids too. Do you want to take away a father from his kids?" Kyros smiled and turned to Martha.


    "I know you wanted to kill more because as a soldier, you are taught, the less orcs there are, the more humans are saved. But will you kill this man?" Kyros asked once more.


    Martha was silent.


    "If this is for the sake of teaching me a lesson in my question earlier to kill more orcs, I already said it was for the ores. You have shown cksmiths skills and can even do it on corpses. I just wanted better equipment." Martha answered coldly.


    "Martha! That is Lord Kyros you are talking to. You might have also been the daughter of a Baron, but now we are a Coven. So show more respect to the lord!" Gregory rebuked.


    Martha could only bow her head in silence.


    "Anyway... I think it will be helpful for all of us if an orc apanies our Coven. Since humans have been seen taking orc ves and vice versa, it should be alright. So tell me or, what do you want to be? A ghoul or a vampire?"


    The orc''s eyes grew dim.


    "I guess... a vampire..." The orc began to weep.


    "Oh, don''t cry. It''s not that bad. Besides, you are still alive with my power, which means you can probably procreate with your wife. Let''s get her and your kids when we have time." Kyros consoled.


    "Martha... You bite him as punishment for being disrespectful." Hems suggested.

 Chapter 88 - Taking A Vampire As A Son

    As the vampires discussed which of them would bite him, the orc could only lie down and reflect on his life. He had seen the power of a vampire turning someone, and it was a painful and wretched process with the result making the most pitiable being on the nes World.


    ''There is no ve like a vampire''s ve is a phrase that is famous throughout the Londs. Many vampires have be mighty aristocrats, mercenaries and have be individuals of great renown in the Londs. These untouchables vampires operate and are generally treated with fear and respect y the orc and human kingdoms. However, their presence allowed many to see and know the cure that binds a ve to the vampire master.


    The other dark dependent beings such as the Animated, the Magic Fueled, and the Forsakers of Flesh all do their best to create a ve with a vampire''s ve as the pinnacle goal.


    "Tell me your name, orc," Kyros asked.


    "Grugnyr." The orc helplessly answered.


    Grugnyr had epted his fate. He could feel the poison of the vampire coursing through him, and as he drank the blood, a power was binding his heart and his soul.


    He could feel the strange power lurking and controlling his very soul. Yet, no matter how he tried, he could not want to do harm on his master. He could not lie. He could not cheat or do anything to directly or indirectly harm his master.


    He had seen this magic once. His brother became a vampire and defended the undead to thest of his breath, though tears fell down his eyes as he charged and tried to harm his family. Death was an escape that his brother dly weed.


    And then the binding wasplete. The orc became a Vampire Orc.


    But as he opened his eyes, he noticed something.


    "Kyros?" The vampire called his master by name.


    "Hey! Be respectful, orc! That is your lord now!"


    "Why am I not bounded to call him lord?"


    "Oh? You knew someone who was a vampire familiar?" Kyros was surprised at Grugnyr''s sudden question.


    "My brother. We raided a human town before, and it turned out to have several vampire residents who were controlling the entire town. They were vampires of higher status. The Blood Borne vampires. They turned my brother into a dhampir orc, and he was bounded to do many things. We captured my brother and tried to save him, but he kept longing to return to his master. He called him lord and could not even say anything bad about him. But you... Stupid master!" The orc shouted.


    The Coven drew their swords and wanted to kill the orc.


    "Stop! Rx guys. He didn''t mean it." Kyros chuckled.


    "But lord Kyros!" Hemsey argued.


    "Don''t worry. All of you have the same soul bounding power. Just like him, you all can''t do anything that can directly or indirectly hurt or attack me. When he said those words, it was because he was testing if he can say it. But in his heart, he didn''t mean it. If he did, he would have been attacked by such a great pain that he would have wished he died. You guys can actually say the same things too. You just choose not to because of the loyalty and trust you built with me."


    "What power is this? Are you a vampire of a weaker bloodline? Why is my very so weak?" Grugnyr asked again.


    Even Martha felt a little insulted at the orcs analysis.


    "Lord Kyros, a weak vampire? He can y with the lives of level 30 warriors and direct their deaths! Is that a weak vampire? He could toy with a fortress full of Champions, Grand Masters, and Omni-Eyes! And didn''t we, a group of seven vampires, fight against a hundred orcs and easily kidnapped you and stole nearly a ton of ores?" Martha challenged.


    "You managed to steal our ores?!" Grugnyr was amazed.


    "Yeah. It''s one of my tricks. And it''s not that I have a weak bloodline. It''s actually the opposite. The vampires of old follow a certain power that has been passed on to them. They are unable to modify the vows they give their ve. Here, I''ll show you. You too, guys. Now that our Coven is level two, I''ve programmed a simple message to exin who we are, which you can now see independently. Concentrate in your mind and have a desire to see the status and details of the Coven of the Nephilim."


    The group followed and closed their eyes. A status appeared on their vision.


    ---


    Coven: Coven of the Nephilim Level 2


    Prime Bonder: Kyros Steele


    Vampire Bloodlines: 8/8


    Coven Blessing: Plus 3 to all stat points


    ---


    Abilities:


    Dark Link Level 2


    Minor Life Vampiric Trait Level 1


    Ghoul Commander Skill Level 1 (Maximum of four Ghouls per member.)


    Dhampir Maker Level 2 (2 Dhampir Ghouls or 1 Dhampir Prime)


    Dark Consumer Level 2.


    Dark Sensitive Level 1.


    Blood Devourer Level 1.


    Dark Resistance Level 1.


    Micro Managed Level 2.


    ---


    Coven of the Nephilim Mission and Vision Statement:


    Mission: To build a better tomorrow by biting or killing the bad guys today.


    Vision: To be the Shadow that haunts the enemies, the Shade that protects our loved ones, and the fangs that bite to those who do harm to the nes World!


    ---


    Bonded Vampires rules:


    1. Thou shalt have no other masters than Kyros.


    2. Thou shalt not or do anything intentionally or unintentionally, directly or indirectly, to harm Kyros.


    3. Thou shalt not or do anything intentionally or unintentionally, directly or indirectly, to harm the allies, friends, and people that Kyros loves or deem important.


    4. Thou shalt not make for yourself, any dhampirs, familiars, or ghouls without the approval of Kyros.


    5. Thou shalt not kill, harm, or attack the innocent without the approval of Kyros or unless in a life-or-death situation that demands immediate action.


    6. Thou shalt keep the secrets of your master Kyros and guard it with your life.


    7. Thou shalt say in thine hearts, ''We are bad guys, but this does not mean we''re bad guys.''


    8. Application for leave of absence, except for emergency sick leave, shall be filed within five (5) days before the effectivity of leave.


    ---


    "I can... file for a leave of absence?!" Martha was shocked. This was a great deal!


    As Grugnyr read the strange things in the list, he couldn''t help butpare these cute rules to the heavy curses and limitations that his brother followed.


    "So this is why I felt stronger! There is such a blessing?" Avary eximed as he read through the additional stat increases.


    "It gets stronger the more our coven level up. The Coven levels up in two ways. The first is by drinking more blood. But it isn''t just any kind of blood, but the blood of strong and powerful creatures and monsters. The second way for our Coven to level up is through rare and magical herbs and fruits, concocted pills, and other energy sources. Needless to say, the stronger our Coven grows, the more abilities you have."


    "Who are you?" Grugnyr couldn''t help but ask.


    "That''s very difficult to exin. Just go along and find out." Kyrosughed mysteriously.


    "Let''s move out and meet my Grandfather. After this, things will be a lot easier with an Orc ally. Since you have Minor life, I doubt none among the orcs can sense that you are a vampire now. Let''s get acquainted along the way."


    As the group walked, they continued to recount the great and amazing feats of lord Kyros.


    When they left the fort, they needed to avoid getting spotted by any human teams. Due to the appearance of the Blood Cmity, Kyros decided to have Cracky Batcheeks make his appearance to generate a report and rumors among the orcs. But Kyros didn''t want any news of Cracky Batcheeks being spotted outside of Airom Vagat spreading among humans.


    Since Kyros was avoiding the main road of humans, they traveled to Airom Logat off-road by hugging the mountain cliff''s trail. This ensured that any human groups would now see them. But now that they were deep within orc territory, Kyros finally headed for the main road to meet with the Steele family.


    The groupter reached the crossroads that separated the paths of Airom Vagat and Airom Logat. A small hill stood nearby that overlooked this crossroad.


    A caravan with a toon of warriors and servants stood up this hill.


    An old man nced on the road leading to the orc''s territory and couldn''t help but sigh. On the past days, he had received several messages from his son. He couldn''t understand how a single message talisman could have the energy to send several messages.


    At first, Branze''s message was concise yet would carry as much information as it could. The messages were ''sell ournd and send off the children of our servants to serve under my wife''s house.''


    The Steele Patriarch would deduce and discern the intent behind these words, yet he followed as he trusted his son''s ns.


    But then, Branze sent a series of messages detailing exactly what the n. Soon, various unnecessary messages were sent.


    The Steele Patriarch continued to read thetest message sent.


    "Buy Airom Bacon. The one with the delicious grease spreading that made it taste rather juicy. You remember that one in the orc town we visited, right? The one being sold by that orc-aunt Juruyet? It''s the small shop where Branze choked on his food and unknowingly called the orc on the next table a pigs bride. If you bete when meeting with Kyros, tell him his uncle was craving something. He''d understand. He''s strong anyway."


    The Steele Patriarch had aplicated look on his face.


    "Was this really necessary?" He asked himself as he took another bite at his share of the juicy bacon.


    "You sure you don''t want to try?" The Patriarch asked.


    Standing next to him was a woman of breath-taking beauty. Her scarlet red hair danced at the approach of the early morning breeze as she looked towards the horizon, watching the first light of the brilliant sun brightening up the dark Londs.


    The woman was formerly known as Baron Diana Redde. But due to a certain incident, she became engaged and married to another powerful Baron and is now legally named Baron Diana Steele.


    "I find the taste of the orcs to overpowering. I''m also quite disgusted that a distinguished Baron n would have friendly dealings with an orc town." She answered coldly.


    "Oh? It''s funny that you would have such contempt against UnHuman and demi-human races. After all, you have just taken a vampire as your son! And if Branze''s deduction is correct, your son should be a Vampire Ancient that the world has never seen!" The Patriarch chuckled.


    "That creature is no son of mine!" The woman red.


    "Patriarch! A group of eight humans and an orc is going uphill and is headed towards our position. Among them is the famous Martha Bowheart." A mercenary reported.


    "Oh? That pitiful Bowheart, eh? Wee her. Her life has nothing but pain. She might be good friends with my daughter-inw as the two are dissatisfied with their current family." The Patriarch chuckled.


    "Patriarch... leading the group... is a young man that matches the description Lord Branze gave. We also noted that among the eight are the three brothers who serve Lord Aron. Their appearances have slightly changed, but the closer they approach, the more certain we are that it is them."


    The Patriarch and Diana''s expressions suddenly changed.


    "Allow me to meet that detestable creature." Diana suddenly stormed off.


    Kyros was still a great distance when his heart trembled.


    Memories of her kind face and how she cared for Kyros all those years.


    If Branze Steele was Kyros''s glory, Diana Steele was Kyros''s joy.


    "Mother..." Kyros couldn''t help but whisper.

 Chapter 89 - Taking Warmth In An Embrace

    In the past life of Kyros...


    Kyros was seat down, with chains binding him. He was bleeding and wounded. Once more, the strange madness that controlled his body and made him mad had ended. The Steele family was once more in trouble.


    A woman stood in front of Kyros.


    The madness in the eyes of Kyros had not died yet. He growled and shrieked with mad anger as he looked a the woman. The memories of Kyros''s wildness were one of his earliest memories.


    The woman looked at him and did not say anything.


    "I am a woman of scorned destiny. I am married to a man that I hated, into a family I despised. My years of fighting have made me incapable of rearing a child. And the son that I actually get is a madman such as you." The woman approached as Kyros began to howl louder, trying to break the chains that bound them.


    "Such a despised life." The woman looked closely at the boy who she calls her son.


    "I hated your father too, you know. Perhaps much more than you despise me now. I hated him, and I hated my life and only served the Steele family inbat. The one thing I knew I was still good at. My life was very much like yours. I longed for battle, and unlike the many baroness and women of my age, I sought the sword. Yet destiny was kind in giving me my beauty. Even when I was married, many men rose and asked for my hand. For honor, I refused."


    The woman sat down and looked at her son eye to eye.


    "But then... I fell in love with your father. I despised him for so long that when I fell in love, I couldn''t help but love him all the greater." The woman smiled.


    "Don''t tell him that. He''s a bit insecure and would long for my praises. Perhaps it''s all our previous history that prevents me from telling him how much I really love him." Diana chuckled.


    "But just when I fell in love with him, I realized that my foolishness and recklessness had turned me into a woman that couldn''t give him a child. Ironic, isn''t it? I vowed in my hatred that I won''t ever rear his child. In the end, it became true. And I already wanted to start a family with him..." Tears began to fall from her eyes. She approached Kyros, who continued to struggle and rage and even tried to bite the beautiful woman before him.


    "So when I heard that you became adopted and would be named as his son... I promised that you would also be my son no matter what." Diana reached down and embraced Kyros.


    The rage of Kyros did not stop, and he bit Diana on her shoulders.


    Like a wild animal, he tried to tear away the shoulder of Diana.


    Diana, however, began to sing a luby. She kept patting and stroking the back of Kyros''s head.


    Tears continued to fall as the pain did not make her flinch.


    Soon, the luby and the warm embrace drew the crazed Kyros into a strange sensation. As he was born and tortured within the Temple, and through some miracle was able to escape, he had never known what love or warmth was. All he knew was to fight, rage, and kill. And so, the foreign sensation of warmth confused him. And soon, Kyros found himself longing for this embrace and stopped his animal-like behavior.


    The two were held in an embrace, and Kyros finally started to cry. But no longer was this an angry and berserked cry, but a cry of fatigue and a cry asking for help. He had cried the many moments in that Temple as he was tortured, yet no help came.


    Now, it finally came. The darkness that enveloped his heart was being washed away by the blood of the woman who was bleeding so much that it soaked Kyros.


    "It''s alright, my child. Cry. Cry your heart out. I will always be here, for I am your mother. No matter what, I promise to love you."


    It was on that day, the wild animal that Branze brought home was tamed.


    It was on that day that Kyros finally lived for the first time.


    Time flowed, and the love that Kyros received was full from the warmth of his mother and the sheltering of his father.


    He lived proudly as a Steele, and while he brought them disappointment after disappointment, his powers soon grew, and he became someone that brought pride to the entire Steele family.


    Until the day the orcs raided the castle and massacred the kingdom to which the Steele family served as a duke.


    Kyros had seen the mountain of corpses that his father left and had made his own nearby. He immediately rushed inside his home.


    The guards were all there. The familiar old faces of the mercenaries who were now Barons and Viscounts of their own rights were there. Their dead bodies were proof of the amazing loyalty they disyed.


    Inside the main hall were more bodies, and his uncle''s dead body was seen seated on the Seat of Power. How he managed to kill all these orcs alone was a mystery in itself. But Kyros could only press forward and reach the room where his warmth would be.


    Her mother was seated. She was wearing a coat of armor and killed every orc that broke in.


    "Kyros?" She smiled.


    "Mother?!" Kyros ran and caught her mother, who lost all strength and immediately fell.


    "Mother, don''t move! I will heal you! I-"


    "It''s alright, my son. I am long gone." She smiled.


    "No! No! This skill! [Death Stance]!" Kyros realized it.


    "I wanted to say goodbye to my baby. Is your father waiting for you, or is he waiting for me?" She smiled.


    Kyros cried. He couldn''t say anything. He kept crying.


    Diana smiled and used the remaining strength in her body tofort her child as she always had done.


    "It''s alright, my child. Cry. Cry your heart out. I won''t be able to be with you any longer. I was...a good mother, right?"


    Kyros could only nod as hard as he can. He couldn''t even vocalize how great a mother Diana was.


    "Then I''m happy. I lived my part of the bargain. No matter what, I promised to love you, and I did. Now... You''ll be alone from now. You''ll be alright. I have to go to your father''s. You know how he is. But don''t take your anger out on the entire orc race, ok? You know there are good orcs, right? We love that cooked bacon that vige cooks us."


    Kyros nodded again. He kept weeping and merely listened. These were the usual things her mother would remind her of when he would be on a trip. So Kyros could only relish the moment and listen.


    "I''m happy I get to say my goodbye. Did you talk with your father?"


    Kyros shook his head.


    "That was awfully irresponsible of him. I''ll tell him when I see him. Seeing of his son is the least he could do." Diana joked. She then held her son''s head and looked straight into his eyes.


    "Thank you, son. You may not believe it, but you gave me joy. The wasted years and my previous pain. You took them all away." She smiled.


    The Death Stance finally took effect. Her body remained frozen stiff with that smile and that look thest thing she gave to Kyros.


    Going back to the real-time, Kyros saw the woman who gave him the warmth of life, looking at him coldly. He had talked with his uncle Aron and expected this to be the case.


    But even as the cold, detached, and strict woman approached, Kyros found himself trembling.


    "Hunter, Hems, Hemsey. I see that you are no longer of the living." She took one nce and mocked them.


    "Erm... It''s nice to see you, Madam." Hunter could only chuckle awkwardly.


    "And you must be..." But Diana could not continue her sentence. There was something in the eyes of the boy as he looked at her.


    Diana was beautiful, and she has long been used for the longing looks of men. But the look of Kyros was vastly different. It was so pure, so innocent, and so tender. Her cold heart began to sway as she looked at the eyes of Kyros that was wet with tears.


    "It''s... amazing to finally see you, Mother." Kyros choked on his own spit as he tried to contain the emotions in his heart.


    Diana''s cold, sarcastic and prideful approach was left unguarded by such pure gazes. She had already trained to mock, attack, and even insult the men who talked to her. But a boy with such an innocent gaze caught her off guard.


    "Why... are you looking at me like that?" Diana asked.


    "I''m sorry. I... lost my mom. I''m just d that I have a new one." Kyros smiled.


    "I am... quite perplexed to have a vampire as my son..." She was supposed to attack this young boy. But she could no longer do so.


    "I know. And it''s alright. But no matter what, I promise to love you. Because you''re my mother." Kyros gave a warm smile.


    Diana could not help but be overwhelmed with such emotion that her heart started to beat.


    "I guess... having a son is alright." She finally smiled.


    The moment she did, those of the Steele family who were nearby were stunned. Even the Patriarch was shocked.


    "As expected of Lord Kyros. There is not a human, vampire, or orc that can best him in any field." Hemsughed. He had already known Diana and had never seen her smile. And yet, there it was.


    "I suppose... You''d want to hug your mother. I believe that it''s only proper." Diana offered awkwardly.


    Kyros couldn''t control his body as he rushed and embraced his mother. His warmth was back.


    "Thank you!" Kyros contained his emotions.


    "Oh! That was sudden. Surprisingly, for a vampire, you are quite warm."


    "He is alive and well, Lady Diana. We are part of his Coven. And as you can see, we have traits of being alive. We aren''t technically undead." Hunter exined.


    But as the group continued to talk, great anger began to boil within Kyros''s heart.


    He had felt the trembling that coursed in the air.


    Branze felt it. Scarlet sensed it as well. Even the Patriarch could feel an eerie sensation.


    Destiny had moved. But this time, no notifications of Destiny were shown regarding Diana Steele. It was as if Destiny was mocking Kyros.


    Kyros respectfully removed his embrace over his mother.


    "I have made a fool for myself. Mother. Please wee my Coven." Kyros turned to introduce his team. But the real reason Kyros detached was because of the trembling anger he had over Destiny.


    "Mock while you can, Destiny. And I will ovee!" Kyros vowed as he harnessed Fate Challenger.


    "Grandson Kyros." The bearded man with bright blue eyes called out.


    "Grandfather."


    "I''ll cut to the chase. How do you have that power?"


    "I am honestly curious as to why you have it too, grandfather. As for me, Fate bestowed it to me. But how is it that you have that same power? Why do you have Fate Challenger?" Kyros asked.

 Chapter 90 - Taking You With Me

    The moment Kyros met his grandfather, Kyros was sure that the faint power of Fate Challenger was within his grandfather. In truth, he had expected that his grandfather had it.


    The more Kyros saw the straits of the Steele family the more he began to realize that Fate must have had been targeting them even before. Yet, despite that, the Steele family did not die out. And even in Kyros''s past life, the Steele family would face the challenges they face today yet surpass it all.


    Kyros had long noticed that there was a form of limiter or an attack of Fate that must have been affecting his family but he couldn''t understand what it was. Kyros believed that it had something to do with Destiny. While the family clearly had no immense curses of Fate, their deaths were still assured.


    Yet this family was able to ovee it all and even reach the level of Duke in their previous life.


    Kyros knew that there was something odd in this.


    His uncle Aron had a form of Fate-Challenging mechanism in his Warrior''s Instinct ability. It was that ability that preserved the life of his men. If his uncle hadn''t sensed the evil intents of Mardock, they would have all died. So Kyros only won and overcame that challenge because his uncle helped him challenge Fate.


    Another great mystery was how his father had also sensed the changes of Fate together with his grandfather. It was then that Kyros guessed his family had this strange ability but couldn''t understand how.


    "The Temple bestowed it to you? The Fate Challenging Temple?" The Patriarch asked.


    "Yes, Grandfather." Kyros nodded.


    "Interesting. I don''t know whether to consider that Temple as my family''s salvation or the curse that could y us. I knew that Fate was against my Steele family in how it constantly brought hardship after hardship among us when Ipare it with other families. To think that the Temple almost killed my son."


    "The Steele family is my family too. And I think it is our shot at saving the destiny of the Steele family."


    The Patriarch smiled at Kyros''s words.


    "You speak so fondly of my family, and there seems to be some sense of great ties that bind us. Considering how you brought my daughter-inw to such an embarrassing state, I can''t help but notice and draw amazement at your loyalty to my family. Let it be so then. I, too, approve of your status as part of my Steele family."


    Kyros bowed.


    "I am honored."


    The Coven also bowed. Even Grugnyr had no choice but to do so.


    "We thank Patriarch for epting our master into the Steele family."


    "Such an interesting crowd. And you even brought a powerful archer. They call you master, so they are your dhampirs?" The Patriarch turned to the group.


    "I am the current Patriarch of the Steele Family. Mezal Steele. And I wee you all to my family. I see that there are members of other fallen houses here. Porter, Trodden and the Lockfield young nobles. It seems Fate has been cruel on you as well. Then there is a Bowheart n member. And finally... an orc?" Mezal turned curiously to the orc.


    Grugnyr could only keep his head bowed down. He knew that his servitude to Kyros would draw in various contemptuous reactions from all sorts of people.


    "I have a question for you, orc!" Mezal asked seriously.


    Grugnyr took a deep breath.


    "Do you know how to cook Airom Bacon?" Mezal asked with immense passion.


    Grugnyr was surprised at the question.


    "I... I believe so."


    "Good! Good! This is amazing! I take it that your servitude to a human is making you feel quite problematic! You can join my family and make your sons vassals to my family. Together, we shall improve Airom Bacon!" Mezalughed.


    "Ah, Bacon. The great equalizer." Kyrosughed.


    "Um... Grandfather. Going back to my previous question... How do you have Fate Challenger? This is quite a pressing concern considering that I found a Temple that is altering the Fate of our family."


    "Oh! Right! That one! It pertains to my adventures on my younger years. My real family went by the name of nder n."


    "The nders?" Martha and Diana eximed together.


    "Oh, you two know of it?"


    "Forgive my rudeness!" Martha apologized and bowed and refused to speak further.


    Mezal smirked. He knew why Martha didn''t want to continue.


    "Perhaps my daughter-inw could tell me the tale of the nders.


    "I have heard of the nders from my mother and father. They were a powerful family in my father''s time. I hear that name from the mouth of my mother. The story goes that the nders were a powerful but wicked family. They were arrogant and desecrated various temples of various gods. It was said that their downfall could have been an act of the gods themselves. But..." Diana frowned.


    "Despite my stupid husband''s disgracing attitude... I would say that your family is rather upright."


    "Interesting. My daughter-inw now knows how to praise my family. You did well, Kyros." Mezalughed.


    Diana was blushing, but she revealed a hateful expression towards Mezal, who ignored her looks.


    "The truth is, I did not reveal my family name as it would draw more unwanted attention. This Bowheart member surely knows of it. The rumors are true. My family was very wicked. And perhaps because of our atrocities and disregard to the gods, they cursed our family. I ran off and survived the cmity of that day and became a wanderer for many years. But Fate was cruel. It still tried to kill me. In the end, I found myself in a strange and far-off vige that worshiped an ancient forgotten goddess. And there, the vige shaman tried to undo the wickedness surrounding my bloodline." Mezal exined.


    "An ancient goddess?!" Kyros eximed. Cminus was also curious.


    "Do you remember what the goddess looked liked?"


    "She had three suns that appeared to be floating behind her, and her hair cascaded all the way down to her feet. At least, this is what the picture looked like."


    Cminus shook when he heard it.


    "Ancient Fate! That''s Ancient Fate! Kyros! That vige should be one of the many viges that Ancient Fate left in this world! You have to go there someday!" Cminus urged.


    "Grandfather... Going by the description, that should be the Ancient God, Ancient Fate. My departed master told me of her."


    "Fate is a goddess? Who knew?"


    "What happened in that vige?"


    "The shaman told me that a malevolent curse affects me. I was destined to die, and that the curse assured that my family line would die out. To subvert it, he helped me by casting a spell on me that allowed me to see Fate. Also, I underwent a ritual in which I was to change my name and the family I was in. I thought that fixed it. I managed to find a wife within that vige who was brave enough to take me."


    "Grandmother was a member of that vige?"


    "The shaman''s daughter, to be exact. Don''t get me wrong. Your great grandfather was quite fond of me and did his best to revert the curse. This was how I was able to change my family and fool Fate. At least for a time. It slowly returned, and now, I''m convinced that it''s trying to wipe out my family. My sons have shown potential in having the same ability I have. That meant my father-inw''s spell worked. So the appearance of this Temple is something that I am curious of." Mezal smiled.


    Kyros was amazed at the backstory of the Steele family. He didn''t know of this past in his past life, for Mezal was already dead when Kyros became a normal boy.


    "Your father has told me of the n in his messages. You are to send all of these items directly inside the Temple so to make it look like we are just sending a normal squad of men, right?"


    "That is correct, grandfather. The next days are critical. More soldiers from different kingdoms will arrive soon. I managed to stop others from journeying inside. Fate has recently lost all of its attacks, and we are safe for the next seventeen days. But we need to use this time effectively. I will send my men to rescue Martha Bowheart''s sister and investigate another simr event in Airom Logat. It could be possible that another Temple is present there. The orcs talk about a being known as the Blood Cmity there. I believe it is linked to Fate."


    "That is too dangerous. You can''t charge into orc territory just like that!"


    "Yes, I can. I can walk right into that orc territory."


    "No, you can''t."


    Cminus couldn''t resist the meme potential.


    "Actually, he''s right. One doesn''t simply walk into an orc-infested territory." Cminus exined.


    "Shut up." Kyros sighed.


    "WHAT?!" Mezal red.


    "N-no! Damn it! I was talking to a- oh never mind! Grandfather, forgive me for my reaction. But I know of a secret entrance near the Airom Canyon. It is a secret trading route that most orc smugglers use." Kyros exined.


    "There is such a path?" Grugnyr eximed in orcish.


    "Yes. It''s actually near the ce where we met you." Kyros also answered in orcish.


    "You know orcish?" Diana was amazed.


    "My master taught me manynguages. Grandfather, I can speak orcish and understand their words. This will help me in that mountain region."


    "No! Didn''t I just tell you? Fate wants to kill all my descendants! You are a Steele, and that makes you a target!"


    "Grandfather, please. I have to go." Kyros requested.


    "I refuse. Our priority is being together again. Fate will be trying to kill my son, and they are now in a ce where the two of them are present. I always kept them separate or near me for a reason. If it weren''t for that sted Viscount hindering me, I''d have gone to rescue Aron and wouldn''t need to send Branze." Mezal rejected.


    "I can''t tell you now, but just as Fate is after father and mother, more harm will be done if this Blood Cmity is left unchecked. I have to go! Just like you, I have some things I must protect!"


    "Whatever it is you are trying to protect or save, it is less important than your life!"


    "Fate has already tried to kill me, and she has failed. I won on one asion, and that allowed uncle Branze to survive. And I have outsmarted Fate in another! I can handle it, grandfather. I have the power of Fate Challenger just like you!"


    "No. You may have that ability, but you don''t have the power to fight Fate."


    "I have! Ask them!" Kyros pointed to Martha and the group.


    "Patriarch, Lord Kyros has-"


    "Silence!" Mezal shouted at Martha, who was about to confirm Kyros''s power.


    "Kyros Steele, You are now a Steele and are bound by my orders. You will go back with me." Mezal frowned.


    "I refuse, Grandfather. That which I need to protect is more important than me!" Kyros argued.


    "I am taking you with me. That is final. Aron told me of your wisdom. But that won''t do anything in a real fight! You have to have real power to fight Fate." Mezal dered.


    "So if I defeat you, would you agree?" Kyros sneered.

 Chapter 91 - One Punch

    "I can go with him, Father-inw." Diana interrupted. She felt great fear when Kyros challenged the Patriarch.


    Despite the many things that the Steele family did and how poor their standing was because of their brash behavior, no one would try to abuse them and touch their bottom line. This was because of the monster known as Mezal Steele, the Three-de Fort.


    "With me, that should assure our strength, right? We already have heard of the might of Martha Bowheart. With her and an orc, this would be possible for us to survive."


    "Patriarch. We are also vampires now. We are faster and stronger than before." Hunter added.


    "And don''t underestimate these young nobles. They are strong as well." Hemsey pointed to the three.


    "My presence alone would assure his safety," Diana assured.


    Mezal turned to Diana and gave her a strange look.


    "I see that you are taking motherhood quite seriously." He chuckled.


    "I-I am bound by honor. What use is being a Knight if I can''t protect my son? Even if this is a sworn son, it''s the same." Diana defended.


    "It''s not enough. You will be in an orc territory. Besides, Fate will try to use that to kill him and you since you are married to my son. I''ve kept it from you because I feared you would leave if you knew such a curse had affected my family. Now you are my daughter-inw and will be a target. With the mystery of the Temple, we can''t act recklessly."


    "You underestimate me, grandfather. And besides, I understand Fate. It''s is not going to kill me! At least, not right now. You must have felt it too. Fate''s clutches have loosened!"


    "It''s the eye before the storm. It may be safe now, but nevertheless, I will not allow you."


    "Then test me! You said that strength is necessary, then test me in that area!"


    "Oh? So if you fail my test, you agree to follow my words?"


    "Yes." Kyros answered confidently.


    "Then let''s test it, shall we? It''s been a while since I had a good exercise. Kyros. Have you and your Coven fight me. Diana, you can join in as well." Mezal smiled.


    Mezal removed a certain bracelet in his hand, and all of a sudden, an immense pressure fell on everyone.


    Martha was startled. She has not sensed such potent energy even from Viscounts. Only Earl''s had this power!


    "Level forty?!" Diana cursed as she felt it. She instinctively drew her sword and retreated as the power that Mezal released was threatening.


    "Impossible! If you wield such power, why did you remain a Baron and not an Earl?!"


    "If I did, it will paint a target over my head. Fate will chase me with greater trials."


    "He isn''t level forty. He''s actually on his middle thirties. By all ounts, his strength should be that of a Viscount. But Grandfather seemed to have some interesting surprises. Like my father and uncle Aron, grandfather also can challenge people who are a stage higher than he is. He could probably challenge someone at mid-forties." Kyros gauged.


    "Is this confidence or foolhardy? You didn''t even break a sweat at my pressure. Even skilled and experienced warriors drawback when I release my Force."


    "That''s because I''m confident that I can evade your attacks. But of course, I''m quite surprised at your skills, Grandfather." Kyros smiled.


    "Let''s see if your confidence remains. Then fight me, you and your Coven. Diana, you can even join if you want. If you can''t defeat me, then you have to follow my orders!" Mezal held out his hand, and two of his servants approached and brought him arge sword with three handles.


    "Trinity!" Diana was stunned. She had seen that sword at the Steele household. But never did she expect that someone wielded it.


    Mezal held on therge sword and lifted it. Trinity was a dark blue de that consisted of threerge swords that could be attached and be one. What was frightening was the fact that Mezal held all three swordsbined in one hand!


    "Come at me. All of you!" He dered with augh.


    "Wait. Let me face him alone for now." Kyros raised his hands and ordered the Coven to retreat.


    "What?! This is a mid-level thirty!" Martha eximed. Although she had seen Kyros kill Viscounts, it was all paired with ambushes, traps, and tricks. Never before has Kyros faced someone of this level alone.


    "Do as Imand, Martha."


    "Ha Ha Ha Ha! Do you think you can defeat me? Boy, my buffs alone can already resist your punches. You won''t even be able to move me!"


    "Shall we wager on that then? If I punch you and you react or move in the slightest, will that prove my strength?"


    "You wish to challenge me? What level are you? Even a level 10 warrior can''t make me move with my force defense! Even if I don''t use my stone defense, your attack won''t phase me! Go ahead!" Mezalughed.


    "Don''t mind if I do!" Kyros smiled as he gauged his grandfather''s defense.


    "A defense of more than 150 without any buffs... Interesting." Kyros gauged the defense of his grandfather.


    "Oh? You can estimate my strength? You''ve been trained well. Then you should know unless you have a strength of nearly a hundred, you won''t be able even to tickle me!"


    Kyros held his arm.


    "So I more, huh? My current strength is just 60."


    The Coven was surprised to hear that. A strength of 60 at level ten was a huge sign of Kyros''s future potential. As cultivation improved, the human kingdom made a chart to determine whether a person''s strength would match their level. Some people level up and have very little stat boosts. But with a 60 stat point, Kyros was practically someone who could challenge an inferior level twenty-person!


    "Sixty? Not bad for someone reaching level ten. The average state range is at 30, and you''ve doubled it. If you maintained the same stat increase, then perhaps you could hurt me by the time you are level 20." Mezalughed.


    Kyros gripped his fist and harnessed all his Soul Force, and made it his stats. This was an ability he mastered to be a Celestial Pdin. And half of his Soul Force was being added on to his strength stat. His 60 stat point shot up to 75. But it wasn''t enough.


    Then Kyros continued by harnessing his Magic power and use his Ancient Source and Fallen Source. He was able to harness his energy and increase his strength all the more. This increase could only be done through preparation, and he needed a lot of time. And since he cannot control the energy and contain, he can only harness and wield the energy for a time.


    Kyros depleted most of his Ancient Source and Fallen Source and channeled it. When convert these Sources into magic, Kyros now needed only a single point of Ancient or Fallen Source to be Mana point. But since Kyros converted it from his Sources and turned it into Force, he needed to consume five times the energy.


    Kyros had 119 Ancient Source points and 121 Fallen Source Points. And Kyros began the long process of converting it.


    "Oh? It looks like you have a decent attack." Mezalughed as he watched Kyros channel more and more energy.


    Then Mezcal''s expression slowly faded. He could sense that the increase in power was not stopping.


    "Gauge!" Mezal activated a spell that he acquired from the shamans, which became very handy for his battle.


    The [Gauge] spell was absent in the Londs'' spell lists, yet Mezal had it.


    He could see the Strength of Kyros''s right arm climb.


    75...85...95...105! The Strength of Kyros could already injure a level 30 warrior.


    "It looks like I have to rely on Stone Skin..." Mezal thought as he frowned.


    But the strength kept climbing.


    Kyros could increase his strength by more than 20 points for each Source. Kyros decided to leave only some 15 points for his Sources and added a resounding 42 points to his strength, bringing it up from 75 to 115!


    "Hey, wait... That''s illegal!" Mezal confirmed. If he stood by and watched Kyros continue to add energy to that arm, the punch would definitely hurt! It would breach through his defenses!


    Then suddenly, Kyros raised his right hand, which now had 115 points, and an orb appeared. Wielding elements was a very advanced thing that only master mages can do. Most mages are focused on creating the element. But since Kyros had an Earth Core, he was just diverting the energy of the Earth and practically didn''t need to do the difficult process of wielding it.


    From 115, his fist had thick Earth Energy and increased the power by another 20 points!


    Finally, a Shadow Familiar was sacrificed and became dark energy that enveloped his fist.


    The darkness was wielded and reshaped, making Kyros''s fist pitch ck.


    The smiling and arrogant look of Mazel turned ugly as he sensed a terrifying power in Kyros''s fists.


    "Its... its over 130!" Mezal had a horrified expression. It was close to his base stat. If he took an attack like that head-on, it could even critically injure him!


    "I still have Stone Skin and my other buffs! If I use it and forcibly grit my teeth, I may just fool him! But I might need to cast my high-tier magic!" Mezal thought.


    The energy kept climbing! The Earth Energy and the Dark Energy were turning the attack into something deadly. The more it rose, the more nervous Mezal was.


    Earth added great weight to Kyros''s fist, and the Dark Energy somehow contained all the magic inside andpressing the energy. But the increase finally stopped. Kyros had 153 points on his arm.


    The deadly energy was just barely enough for Mezal to withstand the blow.


    "Good. I can still resist that!" Mezal sighed in relief.


    Kyros suddenly stored the Earth Core and brought out the True Entropy Core.


    Unlike the Earth Core, Mazel immediately felt a threat at this orb that harnessed True Enthorpy. There were no artifacts or magical stones of this level within the Londs.


    Kyros turned to Mezal with a taunting expression and began to harness the energy from this core.

 Chapter 92 - One Gift

    The Earth Core was already a powerful artifact that would have urged mage-emphasizing kingdoms to pursue war with its existence. It was a Core that Saints would have used after all. The Earth''s energy and how that magic would be used could make warriors turn into wizards instantly. And the True Entropy Elemental core was at a different levelpared to the Earth Core.


    The energy of pure Entropy that was now coating Kyros''s arms brought fear to Mezal.


    "Magic!? Impossible! What artifact is that?!" Mezal could sense the nefarious Entropy element coating the fist of Kyros. With such terrifying destion, his Stone Skin, Force Barrier, and Iron Will would falter easily.


    "Give me a few more minutes, grandfather. I''m stillpressing the energy that would break your defenses so easily that Fate will start feeling sorry for you." Kyros chuckled.


    [Taunt activated.]


    "Screw it! Do you think I''m going to stand here and take that attack head-on?! The battlefield is full of unpredicted factors! If you think your enemy would just take an attack like that, then you''re even more of an idiot than I thought!" Mezal roared as he ran forward.


    The Entropy orb disappeared, and Kyros revealed a sword that summoned two creatures that his Bloodied Sword could create.


    Two Blood Golems rushed out from the ground and attacked Mezal. Three more Golems appeared to the side. Kyros had been sending his Cores back to the Temple and gave his father specific instructions to immediately recharge the energy at the Temple.


    With his Core charges full, he finally created the golems who suddenly attacked.


    Despite the shock of how Kyros could produce this, Mezal hacked on the nearby golems and destroyed them with a single sh. But as he did, several arrowsnded on him.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Three exploding arrows sent out by Martha struck the unprepared Mezal from the back!


    "What?!"


    But before he could react, he found that the entire Coven had already approached and was in a particrly dangerous formation.


    "How?!" He couldn''t understand but immediately acted.


    Mezal held on to one side of the Trinity and pulled out one of the other words, which he used to quickly sh in a circle to stop the approaching Coven who was wielding dangerous swords that Mezal immediately assessed. As ones that are near the level that Barons used!


    While his force could have blocked a single stab or sh, stone skin, and other abilities, several attacks on different parts of his body would cause his defenses to spread and be thinned out. And since he just got direct attacks from Martha''s powerful exploding arrows, his current Force Defence was unstable.


    He used his dexterity as an advantage to spin and block all attacks and finally strike the ground.


    "[Force Explosion]!" Mazel stabbed the ground and sent a powerful Force Energy to his sword, which created a shockwave of force energy that exploded around him.


    All the Coven were sent flying back, and many of them spat out blood.


    With a quick flick of his Trinity Sword, the other sword currently attached to the Trinity was flung out like a whip and extended the reach of the Trinity sword.


    His target was the figure at the edge of his vision, and it shed through.


    But as Mezal looked, he realized that what he attacked was a Shadow Familiar!


    "Still hiding from me?! It''s useless!" Using his superb reflexes, he charged for where he could sense Kyros was. Arrows were being shot at him, but Mezal easily dodged all of them without even looking at Martha.


    Kyros was on sight, and he was still channeling the energy on his right arm, which now had very dangerous energy around it.


    "I''ll dispel all those energy with a sword strike!" Mezalughed as he shed down.


    TING!


    An explosion of force urred, and a figure was standing in between Kyros and Mazel.


    "Diana! Why are you here?!" Mazel roared.


    "Grandfather, it was you who said that we would all fight you!"


    "Your son said that he would face me alone! His Coven attacking me was already breaching our agreement."


    "No. I clearly heard my son say that he would face you alone, ''for now.'' He never said that his Coven would not join the battle. The fact that his Coven attacked in such precise arrangement proves that that was all part of his n!"


    "She''s correct, grandfather." Kyrosughed.


    "I''ve been fooling Fate and have been manipting even Champions! What''s a pseudo-Pdin like youpared to them?" Kyrosughed.


    Suddenly, a green figure emerged to the side.


    "Coven! Buy me more time. I''ll finish this in one punch!" Kyrosughed.


    The Coven rushed without fear. Martha continued to unleash her arrows that shot out expertly and avoided her allies.


    Mardock charged towards Mezal.


    "Force Stance! Iron Will! Bravery!" Diana began to cast her buffs.


    "Stone Skin! Maximum Force Defence! Iron Will! Force Wielder! Domination!" Mezal also cast his buffs and finally moved.


    The wind blew along with his movements. Mezal was a warrior that could challenge level forty warriors. In the Londs, that was equal to fighting against Earls!


    The sword exploded and created a powerful Force sh that blew away the arrows and the approaching Coven.


    Diana stood her ground and shed with her sword and shield.


    The Stance of the Trinity was made. Three swords danced as Mezal would stab a sword on the ground to create another force shockwave while he used the other two to attack. At times, Mezal would toss his sword to send it spinning in the air, but the way the sword flew, spun, and released even more force shes was precise that it stopped the many attackers from ever reaching him.


    Kyros watched and grew in amazement. He knew that his father and uncle never reached the same level of power that his grandfather had.


    Kyros finally moved. At first, he was fighting to prove his grandfather wrong. But now, his passion as a warrior surfaced. He wanted to beat this monster before him.


    Diana kept standing before Mezal and was able to hold her position to stop Mezal from advancing forward.


    "Will you really go against my will, Diana? Then I have to apologize to your old man!" Mezalughed as Mezal took the sword that was stabbed on the ground to deliver a terrifying sh.


    Diana stood firm due to [Bravery]. She knew that this sword would break her shield and possibly kill her,


    At that exact moment, Kyros rushed forward.


    [Time Haste activated.]


    Kyros ran with incredible speed.


    "Foolish!" Mezalughed as he shed therge sword.


    Boom!


    The sword sh was so strong that Force Energy created a cut on the ground.


    But even though the sh was strong and fast, Kyros was faster. Mezal''s dexterity stat was a monstrous 227 points, which was way above another person of his level.


    But Kyros, who became known for his fast de, was faster. The curse of [De-Spacito] had weakened, and Kyros could even think faster. While his body didn''t have the strength and power to do the crazy movements he had, his mind alone helped Kyros have a stat point of 275.


    The sh was easily avoided, and Kyros dove further in.


    In Mezal''s vision, everyone was like a statue, but Kyros was a blur.


    Mezal used his sword to sh down, and various Force techniques were used. But despite his array of abilities, the attacks and presence of Diana, the Coven, and the barely standing Emerald Golem, he could not disy his full attack.


    And so, Kyros reached the inner circle andunched a powerful punch towards Mezal.


    Mezal''s vitality with all his buffs was at 184. And Kyros''s punch contained an attack power of 187.


    The corrosive EntropyEntropy ate away the force shield, and the destion damaged the Stone Skin.


    The impact finally happened.


    BANG!


    Mezal was sent flying all from the punch, and the impact created a strong shockwave the threw those nearby to the side. Mezal crashed on the wall, and his armor was ruined. Blood flowed down his mouth, and he struggled to get to his feet.


    "You! You! Stupid grandson! You cheated!" Mezal cursed as he fell on his feet and kneeled.


    The attack had attacked him so much that he had to use his force to keep the Entropy in check.


    "You''re a poison user!"


    "I haven''t begun doing that yet, Grandfather." Kyros smiled. With his knowledge from Cminus''s training, he hasn''t had the time to search for things to concoct the many poisons he knew of.


    "The deal is off! You cheated!"


    "What part did I cheat? You said that everyone, including my mother, would attack you. And they did. I just had to give them somest-minute instruction for the formation they used, which dyed you."


    "Formation? When did you tell them to assume that formation?" Mezal asked.


    "Part of my powers is that I can mentally order my Coven. I told them where to stand and when to attack."


    "That formation... was brilliant! You even knew your mother would fight without you telling her!"


    "Of course. She''s my mother. Why wouldn''t she?" Kyrosughed.


    Diana was still trembling as she sat on the ground from the impact. She needed Bravery to stand firm and fight Mezal. She looked around and felt a sense of shame. Her son was not afraid. Even the Coven fought without fear as they charged recklessly towards the powerful monster.


    "I have... new respect for the Steele family." Diana sighed. For once in her life did she finally admit to being inferior to Branze Steele. If this was Branze''s father, then her defeat was almost assured.


    "Just continue to challenge my son. I''ve never seen him progress so much. I hid my strength to you for that very reason."


    "I don''t think I need to challenge Branze constantly. He''s the father of a freak that can defeat you. If he wants to be a good father, he''d have to cross the heavens." Diana shook her head as she turned to her son.


    "Son. I am your mother. What gift do you have for me? That green core looks nice."


    "Shameless..." Mezal cursed.


    "Says the old man who fought against a bunch of brats who was level 24 and lower. You didn''t even stand by your first challenge and take my son''s punch! Now Kyros, be a good boy and hand over that True Entropy thing. That will suffice as your gift to your mother!" Diana demanded.


    "Don''t listen to your mother! I am the Steele Patriarch. Show me your fealty and give me that Enthopy powered jewel! I-I just remembered that it is proper for Steele family members to give one gift to another member of the family that they haven''t met. So that will do."


    The Coven, the surrounding mercenaries and servants of the Steele family, and even the golem Mardock couldn''t help but be amazed at the shamelessness of the two.


    How can the Steele family have other members which they haven''t met yet? The Steele family consisted of Mezal and his sons!


    "One gift, eh?" Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 93 - One Way To Help

    "That''s cheating! There is no suchw for the Steele family to give you gifts! But there is what you call a son''s desire to bestow gifts to her mother!" Diana shouted.


    "I am the Patriarch, and I make the rules. I dere that rule now! First, I have a son who takes wives and hands them over to his brother, and now I have a grandchild! At first, he gave me a daughter-inw who was the top beauty and the most skilled knight suitable for my Force Pdin! And now, he brought me a son of such great power that can defeat a pseudo-Pdin! Haven''t you seen his speed? Not even you can keep up with it! What''s next? Will Aron give me a pet that is actually a god? So hear now, my decree! Henceforth shall new members of the Steele family bestow a gift to the Patriarch!" Mezal dered.


    "Then I, as his mother, will tell him to give my family, the Redde n, one gift!" Diana argued.


    "This item is ours!"


    "No! It''s mine! I mean, it''s the Steele families artifact! It will be our heritage artifact!"


    The two started to argue.


    Everyone had strange looks at the bickering two.


    "I thought that lords of the Steele family are kind and gentlehearted," Avary whispered to Scarlet.


    "Are we going to give them gifts too?"


    "No... I think that''s not how it works. At most, lord Kyros ought to be our representative, right?" Gregory guessed.


    "I guess that''s how it works." Scarlet agreed, recalling some simr procedures among nobles.


    "This is really stupid. That Entropy core belongs to lord Kyros!" Martha hated the result of the battle.


    "We have a lot of things we received from the raid in the fortress! Can''t lord Kyros give those?" Hunter whispered to Martha.


    "No. Nothing appeals to them more than that! Look! Even I was amazed when I saw it. Those were among the things that even swayed me to serve the lord! I realized that Kyros is a good lord. He would bestow such powerful things to me! " Martha exined.


    "Well, that''s awfully selfish of you." Hems frowned.


    "I was aiming for that core! But now those selfish jerks are getting it!" Martha cursed.


    "Martha, that''s the Patriarch and our lord''s mother you''re talking about." Hemsey reminded.


    "Whatever! They took my dream! That power that can add devastating Entropy would have made me the strongest archer in the Londs!"


    "Maybe Kyros would give you something else of value. I mean, didn''t lord Kyros nned to give you as a wife to Lord Aron? That would make you his aunt, and he would probably remove you from the Coven and gift you a gift." Avary asked.


    "That was also my n! But now he can''t give it to me!"


    "Lord Kyros knows where and when to maximize his power. Maybe he won''t give that entropy to you. He knows that as an archer, you would benefit from it the mostpared to the Patriarch and the madame." Hunter added.


    "You think I didn''t know that? That was why I would have epted being married to lord Aron! But that core would be given! Nothing, and I say nothing can surpass the value of that core to those old farts!" Martha cursed.


    While everyone began to argue and murmur at each other, Kyros had just finished writing on his notebook and sent it back to the Temple.


    He waited a while, and finally, the items were there.


    Kyros finally let out a loud sigh.


    "Alright. I guess I can give my mother this." Kyros sighed.


    "What?! Why?! Do you despise the will of your grandfather the Patriarch?"


    "But I guess I should give the gift that father and I prepared to someone else..."


    "Oh. Ok. I guess I''ll keep this then." Kyros brought out one of the many things he nabbed from the golem. Before they left, Kyros asked his father what his mother''s favorite jewel was. For some tsundere-rted reason, Branze actually knew exactly what jewel Diana loved. And not just loved, but fanatically adored.


    In fact, when Branze realized that an alliance had been struck with the golems, he was eyeing that jewel but was too shy to ask his son that he just met to grab that gem.


    It was a bright diamond of brilliant light. It used to be attached to the Golem King. Kyros asked if he could take it. The golem happily gave it to Kyros and said that the diamond has some special properties if added on weapons. Kyrs promised the Golem King that he would give something of better value soon, and the Golem King agreed.


    The diamond sparkled and shone a bright light that left Diana breathless.


    "I guess mother loves emeralds over a diamond. Martha,e here. I will gift this to you instead."


    "Wow... What is that...?" Martha was mesmerized at the stone.


    "It''s my gift to you. Mother prefers the emerald, so I might as well give this to you on behalf of my uncle." Kyros smiled.


    Martha quickly ran to grab the gem.


    SWISH! SWISH!


    Two sword shes blocked Martha''s approached as Diana swung her de.


    "Stop!"


    "Lady Diana? Would you mind stepping aside and allowing me to receive a gift from my master? Isn''t the gem the one you want?"


    Diana gritted her teeth. The gem was just too perfect! It moved her heart, and it would be given to this Bowheart!


    "FINE! GIVE ME THE DIAMOND INSTEAD!" She cursed as her heart bled.


    Kyros approached and gave the bright diamond to her mother, who trembled at the very touch of it.


    "Dad told me you loved diamonds. He really knows what to give you, mom. I think he likes you." Kyros chuckled as he gave and swiftly turned around.


    "What?" Diana was surprised, but Kyros was already walking to his grandfather.


    "Good grandson! You have done a good deed to our Steele family! By giving me the Entropy-"


    "I won''t give it to you, Grandfather. I have much use for this." Kyros shook his head.


    "What? I demand that item!"


    "You can get other items instead of this."


    "No! I want that!"


    "You haven''t even seen the other items I have!" Kyros frowned.


    "I don''t need to see it! If you think that whatever trinkets and objects that you have can move me, you think too low of me! Do you think diamons will tempt me? You are such an idiotic, arrogant and-"


    "Here is the Pdin Armor of Champion Drake Vestitude when he was still a Pdin. Here is the ck Massacre Greatsword of the Champion Berserker Emberwood. I also have the inscribed teachings of Pdin Legacy Rootworth of the Hignd nes, which has the teachings of the skills of a Pdin and a Champion." Kyros revealed the items that he managed to pilfer from the many Generals guarding the fort.


    "And-and-and a heroic champion! You are flowing with grace, goodness, and righteousness! Such magnificence cannot be contained in this nes World! May you live forever, oh Grandson of mine!"


    "Alright. You''ll ept these things? These are things that I got from the Temple." Kyros had stored the items in the Temple and retrieved them.


    "Of course! I''ll ept them!"


    "Then... Won''t you go after my Entropy core? Forgive me, grandfather, but you already broke one of your promises."


    "I stake my honor that I won''t renege in my vow."


    "Then grandfather, I hope you agree to me going over to the orc region. I have an important mission toplete there."


    "You do have shocking strength..." His grandfather nodded.


    "I forbid you to use it."


    "I know. Our trip''s purpose is to search for clues regarding the Blood Cmity."


    "I''ve heard of news regarding the events in Airom Vagat. I take it that the vampire threat is you? I assume you intentionally leaked it? Why so?"


    "Because of Fate. Fate has sent a squad of three Viscounts to attack uncle and father."


    "What?! Then why didn''t you say so?! We have to make haste and chase after them!"


    "They''re already dead, grandfather. We killed them."


    "..."


    Diana and Mezal nced at each other.


    "You killed three viscounts?"


    Kyros pointed to Martha to exin.


    "Yes. Spearmaster Gradier Conquistar, Mage Esmeralda Toro and Querk Stonefist."


    "All of which are worshipers of Necromancer Lorjdenheign. He should be a powerful Necromancer of the Dark Shine kingdom. Now, grandfather. I have a request to make. You have to spread the news that you were attacked. Since many have seen your departure from our kingdom, they know that you have brought a lot of our treasures. Report that a strange vampire squad is attacking the area under the orders of the Dark Shine Kingdom. They stole all our stuff. This will be further shown if they see you enter the fort without any caravans and items."


    "The Dark Shine Kingdom?"


    "They will be the primary kingdom that Fate will use outside of the humans. The earlier we make the human kingdoms suspicious of their actions, the better. This will also cause all the Steele ns enemies tough at us. With uncle and father''s whereabouts unknown, and how you were prompted to take action to save them and found yourself in dire straits from being attacked by the Dark Shine kingdom, they will think we are finished. Haven''t they been the ones chasing after us?"


    "This is a rather interesting way to outsmart Fate... But it sounds logical."


    "We can''t just react to Fate, grandfather. If you do, the little victories that you have only mean that Fate will cast another n. We have to thoroughly defeat Fate and make sure none of its ns remain. That''s how we overcame the previous Fate and killed three Viscount teams that would have otherwise killed more than half of uncle and father''s retainers."


    "These vampires... They were turned because they nearly died?" Mezal asked as he turned to the three H brothers.


    "Yes. I wouldn''t have turned them if they weren''t at death''s doors." Kyros said as he moved towards the carts and carriages that brought all the items of the Steele family.


    Kyros touched it, and it immediately vanished. Only the horses which pulled the carriage remained.


    "What? Where did it go?"


    "I brought it inside the Temple storage ce. It''s a secret ce inside the Temple. This may take a while. I need to drink a mana potion to send all of this. And we seemed to have a lot of horses..." Kyros nced at the caravan. This was the entirety of the Steele family''s fortune.


    "A dimensional storage space?! And how did it manage to cross great distances! Just what is this Temple?!"


    "This is but the least of its capabilities. And there is possibly another object of this power urring in Airom Logat. That is why I must go there. Only me, who knows the secret of the Temple, could unravel the mystery of the Blood Cmity urring."


    "But it''s still risky. I have no right to make your stay, so I can only ask how I could be of help."


    "Now that you mention it... There is a way to help! Grandfather, how many fighters do we have now?"


    "We have all our former vassals. Eleven warriors and seven archers. We also have a dozen servants, both men, and women that can wield a bow." His grandfather answered.


    "That''s enough! We can do it! If we create amotion outside of their fortress, we could bolster the forces in the main forts but leave the rest of the mountain region without defenses."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Grandfather, let''s hunt and attack an orc army!"


    "You want to what?"

 Chapter 94 - One Slash

    The Foreshire Orc kingdom was the main kingdom that took advantage of Airom Logat. Since it was the closest Orc kingdom that could afford to send great numbers of toons to apany a single caravan, most merchants and orc traders would create shops in that kingdom which would then be the point of transfer to send it to the nearby kingdoms. With the long winding, Eversteed river, the trade between one orc kingdom to the next took advantage of this river to protect it from the attacks and raids made by humans.


    As such, the Foreshire Orc Kingdom quickly became the richest orc kingdom in the region.


    The number of soldiers that apanied them was over two hundred. And leading the group were several orc magis, orc archers, and wolf riders.


    "Are the scouts back?" A tall orc with tworge hook swords asked as he observed the terrain before them. He was the captain and the leader of the entire 200 man army. He is a level 26 Orc dual-wielding berserker and is famous for his quick responses, and is often a favorite for vanguard during war times.


    "Captain Crook. The scouts haven''t returned, but they gave the signal for safe crossing. They might be standing guard for any possible spies scaling the other side of the mountain." Another orc captain answered.


    "Then let''s move. The faster we leave this intersection, the better." The orc led the group and moved. The nearby scouts stood on top of the hill and watched as their allies crossed below.


    To the left of the orc army was the cliff of the hill. To their right was a thick forest. The main road passed by this area and was a favorite spot for bandits and enemy races to ambush any passing group because of its strategic position.


    The group quietly passed by, and all of a sudden, a tall and valiant figure emerged and gave a heartyugh.


    He was human and wore an armor of a Holy Pdin. The Force Energy that he released was so potent that this could only be a human champion.


    The orc captain sensed the fluctuations and charged to the front. He had a caravan to protect and could not understand why a Holy Pdin would be here. The only time an Earl would move out of the kingdom was during a war. Earl''s were treated as generals of war. And so when the orc saw the Champion, it made him rage.


    "What happened to our scouts?!" The orc cursed as he asked the nearby orcs. The scouts went ahead of them and had been seen standing in the area to confirm that there were no enemies. This pass was a critical ce and would be riddled with ambushes. And so, the scouts would be sent ahead to warn if there was arge force waiting and would signal a retreat.


    "What are you doing here, Champion? Are you breaking the agreements that bound our races? Attacking our escort in thisnd is tantamount to war!"


    "That is what I''m here for, orc! We want the Blood Cmity! We know of the terror happening in your mountain! You Foreshire orcs will fall before my Vaux Imperial Kingdom! Men! Attack!"


    Suddenly horse riders emerged from the side of the hill and marched down the slope. As they did, several arrows could be seen flying on the air behind them.


    "Take cover!" The orc shouted.


    An arrow had flown from another area and struck the neck of one of the Orc captains.


    BOOM!


    An explosion that created a strange green mist urred, and the orc immediately died.


    "Poison!" The orcs shouted.


    This was a level twenty orc warrior! They had great recovery and stamina, but a single arrow had immediately in him!


    Suddenly, more arrows flew over the hillside and attacked the caravan.


    The orcs raised their shields and ran for cover under the carriages that they had. Several others pulled outrge wooden nks that became a shelter for them. The small army had several monstrous creatures which were twice the size of the orcs tookrge wooden boards that protected the iing arrows. The arrows struck their thick hide, but it didn''t seem to do much damage.


    "Trolls! Keep protecting our archers and magis! Magis! Prepare to cast a magic shield!" The captain ordered as he scrambled tomand his men.


    "Magis at the ready, sir!" An orc magi reported.


    "Once the shield is up, I want archers firing back and end out our riders to attack that hill!" The Orc captain ordered.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Several small green explosions urred, which struck the three of the trolls protected the most archers and magis.


    The trolls stumbled down and began trash about from the pain, and the soldiers hiding under the wooden boards were now open to attack.


    "What was that?!" One of the orc leaders reacted as he turned to check the trolls.


    The trolls had a small hole in the area where they were hit and a strange green destion was spreading.


    "Poison magic! It''s affecting the trolls! They have a poison expert!" One of the orcs reported.


    "How can that be? Trolls are immune to most poison! Damn in! Regroup! Shield Maidens, Shield Bearers to the front! Archers, fire on top of that hill now! Wolf riders! Charge on the other side and attack the archers beyond the hill!"


    The wolf riders at the back began to move forward. As a cavalry was charging down, the wolf riders decided to rush for the other side of the slope to attack the archers. The wild and unpredictable movement of the wolves makes it hard for the archers to shoot them.


    A red light emerged and protected the entire two-hundred-strong orc troop. The mages and archers assumed their battle formation as the arrows could not prate the force field, making it safe for them to move out of the shields and covers.


    But then, the pdin harnessed a great amount of energy.


    "You think this will stop me?! I will destroy your shield with one sh!"


    The pdin ran and jumped over the hill to attack the orc army below.


    "He''s crazy!" An orc cursed as he ordered the team to shoot at the pdin.


    The arrows passed through the magic force field and zoomed as the barrier allowed objects to move out. But the arrows didn''t even reached the pdin and struck something invisible and couldn''t do any damage.


    "GRAND CROSS!" The pdin shed the long powerful de towards the empty air as he sensed a magic barrier being erected.


    "Focus the magic shield on his attack!" The orc leader roared, and all the orc magi harnessed their energy to the area where the pdin attacked.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Several explosions urred simultaneously on different fronts of the orc army as several attacks happened the moment the shield was created.


    "AHH!"


    Shouts were heard as the pdin''s attack pierced through the shield and struck the ground creating an explosion.


    "What?! How is that possible?!" The orc leader roared angrily. This was not his first fight with a level 40 hero. That shield would have stood strong as long as the magi focused their energy on that spot.


    "Captain! Enemy attacks with strong Force energy urred at the north and the west end!"


    But before the orc could respond, he could see that the pdin began its powerful attacks that began to throw off all orcs.


    The shield faltered, and the Pdinsrge sword breached the magic shield and began to fight with the shield bearers and shield maidens of the orc.


    The sh of the pdin wielding therge sword would blow them away.


    The human cavalry waited at the side and prepared to make a charge.


    "Archers! Attack those cavalries! Kill the horses first! Warriors with me! Let''s face this pdin!" The orc ordered.


    "You were wondering where your scouts were and why you''ve fallen for our trap, right?" The pdinughed.


    The leader of the orc squad was confused until he saw it.


    From the top of the hill, several figures jumped up and wielded their weapons.


    More than two dozen orcs appeared as some jumped over the hill, and others raced through the side and ran even faster than the charging horses.


    "Kill!" An orc cried as he was running to the side.


    "Traitors!" The orc realized what had happened, but it was toote.


    The scouts didn''t care for their lives as they ran towards the opening that the pdin made. Those that jumped were now crashing on top of the other orcs and began to fight.


    The archers began to shoot the orcs, but the orcs ignored the arrows and charged madly. Several horse riders managed to break the inner circle and attack as the orc archers focused on these wild orcs.


    Their weapons were strong and stood at a ss that matched the strength that only Barons would wield.


    Outssed and facing mounted enemies, many of the orcs were brutally in.


    The pdin led the charge and headed for the strongest warriors.


    "On me!" The orc ordered, and several of the orc captains charged alongside to fight the mighty pdin.


    Four Orc captains fought against the pdin.


    Going back a few moments, right before the pdin jumped down and attacked...


    Kyros observed in a hidden area. Near him were all his golems summoned and ready forbat. But the weird thing was that they were wearing light armor to make them appear human.


    He had watched his n y out. His grandfather could imitate a powerful champion. And so, recalling the enemy kingdom that surrendered and served the necromancers, Kyros took the pdin''s armor and made his uncle dere his allegiance.


    The n yed out beautifully. Most of the servants knew how to shoot a bow. And they didn''t need to be urate. They just need to appear to be many. And so, they stood on the other side of the hill, unseen, and kept shooting like crazy.


    The scouts that the orcs sent were all captured thanks to Kyros and Martha. They started by turning a few that they captured into ghouls and bringing more scouts until they had killed all the scouts. Then, with the scouts in theirmand, they gave themand to make these scouts give the signal to send the army in.


    "All that is left is for me to attack." Kyros smiled as he wielded the sword and harnessed the same level of energy that he used on his grandfather. But since the power was being harnessed into the sword, the attack would be far terrifying.


    As his attack became ready, he then dashed forward as he knew his grandfather would jump down and make his attack.


    The wolf riders ran and passed through the magic barrier. They noticed Kyros running towards them.


    "Tear him apart!" The orc wolf rider who led the pack roared.


    Kyros ran and gave a mighty leap. With his strength over 100 points, his superhuman jump brought him several meters high.


    And right when he was on top of the wolf riders, heunched his powerful attack.


    "Caravan Crash!" Kyros shouted as he summoned the several carriage carts and caravans from the Temple.


    SMASH! SMASH!


    The caravans crashed, and the sudden appearance stunned the wolf riders, and they all came crashing into the chaos.


    Kyros ignored the wolf riders and kept rushing towards the barrier.


    His grandfather was about to strike the shield. On the west side, his mother, with the Vermilion Earth Sword full of Earth Energy, made her strongest attack.


    And with perfect synchronized timing, the three struck the barrier and broke it.

 Chapter 95 - One Carriage To Protect

    The destruction of the magic barrier happened as the simultaneous attacknded.


    With the fall of this shield, the arrows that had just beenunched reached as if the entire scene was correctly timed. The wounded orc magi, archers, and the unguarded warriors all shouted. The horse ridersposed of Kyros''s Coven and the mercenaries of the Steele family began to rush in and attack.


    Some stayed from afar and shot arrows targeting the weakened members of the group. The warriors were specifically busy because of the destroyed magic shield. The bacsh of the destruction of the force field caused many orc magi to stagger, and the weaker ones even fainted as the magic force they were channeling was disrupted.


    The more skilled orcs looked for a certain enemy archer who was so skilled and targeted the stronger and higher-leveled orcs. Three captains had fallen from this attack.


    "It''sing from the forest!" An orc shouted, but another pdin guarded the way to where the archer stood!


    Diana donned an impressive armor and fought off the orcs that approached. However, the nearby orcs were frightened because this warrior was one of the three attackers that wrecked their shield!


    On the northern side, the dust from the attack and the stampede of the wolf riders had not yet settled. The other wolf that reached tried to bypass the wreckage but found another wooden cart hurling towards them.


    "Caravan Crash!" Kyrosughed. He was still recuperating from the energy he unleashed but still had the strength to throw the remaining caravans that he told his father to leave inside the storage ce.


    "I hope the stronger levels of the [Carrier has Arrived!] Temple ability allows me to minimize the magic required and move bigger objects in and out!"


    He had his Bloodied Sword absorbing the blood of therge wolves and the orc riders to restore his mana from his attacks.


    The golems rushed out after Kyros destroyed the barrier. They began to attack the wolves and the orcs.


    As the golems came to sight and began to punch and strike the downed orc and wolves, the Orcs were amazed. These were like tall men that looked liked mighty warriors.


    Kyros had focused his power to create golems that had tall length. Though their defenses were weaker and it would have been evident that these golems looked deformed, they wore some light hide armor that hid their features.


    More orcs began to attack the young man who stood with his sword stabbed on a dying wolf.


    But just as they reached, a strange blood figure emerged from the ground and began to attack.


    "What are those?!" An orc was horrified at the strange blood creatures.


    The blood creatures began to attack. Nearby, the female Pdin had pushed deeper as the pressure lessened.


    Arrows constantly rained over the hill keeping the army in a disorganized order.


    Mezal did his job and created a distraction that made the orcs fail to notice the undead state of the orcs attacking them.


    Kyros rushed fast and wasn''t even afraid to move deep within the area where the arrows over the hill fell. He was careful to search for which caravan that the group would guard the most.


    He knew that in this battle, they would abandon whatever they can afford to abandon. And Kyros saw the carriages and carts that were protected and surrounded.


    Kyros took advantage of another volley of arrows that made everyone hide. Next, Kyros gave an order to first shoot at will, and then once Mezal would jump, they would shoot at timed intervals. This made the orcs expect the arrows and defend ordingly.


    With this, Kyros knew when to move in and move out. The falling arrows did no harm to him as his dexterity and [Pronto] took care of evading the arrows.


    Every time a volley reached, Kyros would bolt from one ce to the other. Soon, Kyros arrived at one of the carriages that had a great number of orcs defending it. Kyros ignored the orcs and ran straight to touch the carriage. The moment he touched it, Kyros tried to send it to the Temple.


    [You cannot fast store items when enemies are nearby.]


    A warning prompt appeared.


    "As expected." Kyros nodded. Immediately, Kyros jumped back as a firebolt erupted and broke the ground where Kyros was standing.


    BOOM!


    "Reveal yourself, human!" One of the leading battle magis was able to keep track of Kyros''s fast movements and shot a firebolt.


    The orcs also gave space as the orc magi leader challenged the enemy.


    As the dust cleared, the sight of dangerous armor was seen.


    "Quick de Knight!" The orc magi identified the horrifying level 40 job ss.


    "But captain, there are no Quick des in the Vaux Imperial!" One of the nearby orcs grunted.


    "Why are you with the Vaux Imperial Kingdom?!" The magi asked Kyros.


    Because Kyros used another armor from another general, the orc magi realized that this one was from a human kingdom that generally had bad rtionships with the Vaux Imperial Kingdom.


    Cminus had been prodding Kyros non-stop since the n was exined to everyone.


    "Say it! Say it! Or I''ll keep talking to you all your life!" Cminus threatened.


    "Fine..." Kyros cursed at Cminus before assuming a battle stance.


    "Hello. My name is Ignacio Montana. You killed my father. Prepare to die!" Kyros charged forward and activated Time Haste.


    The sudden attack made the orc magi panic and retreat as he shot several fire bolts, which were easily dodged by the Quick de.


    He then channeled the energy and shot arge Fire Ball towards the ground between them.


    BOOM!


    Therge fiery explosion rocked the battlefield.


    Kyros''s body was gone, but the orc magi knew better.


    "There is more than one human kingdom fighting us! Inform the leader! Two strong enemies are attacking us!" He shouted and made his troops pass along that message. The Quick de and the female Pdin were not to be underestimated. And the orc magi knew that the leader was not informed of their presence.


    The message was passed along, and it reached the ce where Mezal was fighting.


    BOOM!


    Mezal unleashed another powerful attack that exploded on the other side of the battle.


    At that point, the number of volleys that Kyros set for the archers to shoot had just ended. And this was the perfect time to charge.


    The Cavalry that the Coven led charged towards the orcs. They didn''t fight the front line but used the gap that Mezal created to enter the orc''s formation. They were targeting any orc that was unprepared for meleebat.


    The news from the back that another human army attacking them with force just as powerful made the orc captain curse.


    With all sides breached, the orc captain immediately came to a decision.


    "Orcs! Protect the middle carts! We are going on a full retreat! Secure each cart, and we will leave!" The orc captain ordered.


    "Shield warriors! Hold the line! Do not let the orc traitors move past you!" The orca captain stayed on his position and kept the Pdin busy.


    "Keep at him! The Pdin has expended too much of his Force Energy from destroying the shield!" The orc captain ordered as he called his men to fight. Therge orcs that fought the Pdin were taller and more muscr, but they could only defend and harass the Pdin on multiple fronts.


    "If it weren''t for that damned shield, you youngsters would be finished by now!" Mezalughed.


    "My mission will beplete! They areing!" Mezal charged.


    The orc''s expression grew ugly. Was there a third group approaching?


    "Focus on the main cart! Abandon the rest! We are retreating now!" The orc captain shouted once more.


    The orc forces began to abandon many carts and carriages and focused on bolstering the carriage at the center of their formation.


    "Make a path!" The leader ordered, and the orc magi''s followed.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Attacks from the orc magis grew rampant as they used their destructive magic to open the path.


    Even some of the carriages that bared the way were destroyed.


    The Orc captain saw the state of the wolf riders and their pack and how they seemed to have been attacked by a caravan of some sort.


    Yet, there was no time for them to stay still.


    "st them! Don''t worry about friendly fire! We have to escape now!" The orc captain roared.


    The orc magis began to shoot powerful fireballs that blew away the blockage of wolves, orcs, and caravans.


    The golems were also defeated from the magic attack. But the group kept running and marching like crazy.


    "No! Do not allow that carriage to escape! Archers! Kill everyone! We can''t afford one orc to escape!" Mezal shouted.


    The archers on the hillside were now revealed as the army moved past thest blockade of the smashed caravans. The enemy archers numbered over fifty from afar and made the heart of the orc captain run cold.


    Suddenly, a red barrier was erected and protected the small region where the main carriage was and where the captain was.


    The orc magi expended his remaining mana to cast a small barrier along with some of the orc magi who could manage.


    "No!" Several angry cries were heard as Mezal and Diana shouted in anger with the barrier.


    The arrows of the archers were easily deflected, and the orc group began to escape. Most were running on foot with a few carriages that some of the orcs managed to use with wolves or surviving horses.


    Some even had a wolf and a horse pulling it together, making it rather unstable to drive.


    Mezal kept shouting more orders and urged to give chase, but it was toote.


    As the orc escaped and disappeared out of sight, Mezal and the restughed.


    "I can''t believe it! We did it! No deaths, right?" Mezal asked as he turned to the Coven led the reckless charge of the Cavalry.


    Many of the archers on the hillside rejoiced. The exaggerated numbers were by erecting strawmen wearing armors and ced them around the servants to make it look like the archers were more than they actually were.


    "I lost my horse." Avary sighed.


    "Me too." Gregory did so as well.


    The three H''s and the orc Grugnyr had the most devastating injury. In fact, Hemsey was left for dead. If it weren''t for his vampire body, he would have long been gone. He kept drinking the blood of those nearby to recover.


    "Where is Kyros?" Mezal wondered.


    "He snuck in the main carriage." Diana sighed.


    "What?!"

 Chapter 96 - One Hope

    When the orc magi fired a powerful fireball that created a massive explosion and kicked up the dust, Kyros immediately sent his armor into the Temple.


    What remained was a regr orc hide armor that Kyros had worn inside. With a full helmet on, Kyros began to merge with the groups fighting. When the order to focus on the main carriage appeared, Kyros took advantage of themotion by sending two carriages and a small cart into the Temple.


    His mother became the distraction that he needed to send these things without drawing attention.


    Later, he moved towards the main carriage and pretended to defend it. It was there that Kyros ordered his Coven to focus the attacks on that particr area and even made the surviving ghouls rush towards the main carriage so he could pretend to be one of its defenders.


    As everyone was focused on fighting, Kyros entered the carriage to see just what it was guarding.


    Kyros killed the orc guarding it on the inside as he activated Time Haste and shed the enemy.


    The object that was being guarded was severalrge chunks of dark reddish ore. A strange heat was being released by the ore. While most would be amazed at the magical properties of the ore that had fire energy and therge amount of this precious material to appear, what caught Kyros''s eye was an ordinary grey stone that was protruding to the side of one of the chunks.


    If it was anybody else, they would have ignored the stone. But Kyros knew what it was.


    "A dragon egg!" Kyros was amazed at his find.


    "Is Fate still helping you?" Cminus questioned.


    "I doubt it. This is just in luck. This is what it means to win over Fate. In Fate''s estimate, my battle with those three Viscounts would have cost me more days inside that mountain. This army of orc, the Blood Cmity, and possibly many others are things that Fate never expected me to have the time and luxury to chase after these things." Kyros grinned.


    Kyros took everything. But upon trying to send thest chunk of ore, it failed.


    [Sentient beings of Life or Unlife cannot be sent into the Temple.]


    "Oh... Right. This egg has life. I can''t send this one." Kyros realized and began to chip the ore around the egg to remove it.


    After detaching the egg, Kyros sent the ore to the Temple and carried the egg. It was as hard as a rock. Kyros estimated that even his current 60 stat point wouldn''t be enough in breaking this egg.


    The magic barrier was erected at this point in time, and the group was on full retreat.


    Kyros waited for the group to reach the edge near the forest and finally used that attack once more.


    The Orc leader was looking at his retreating team with a sullen expression. His wolf had many wounds from the fight with the Pdin. Near him were the other orc captains. Some didn''t even have the opportunity of saving their mounts and were only running aside him. It was a good thing that orcs had little problems with stamina and could continuously run twice as long as their human counterparts of simr levels.


    "What is the count?" He asked.


    "We lost a total of 78 men in that sh. Thirteen were over level 20. Most of our warriors are wounded. We also lost all our trolls from the poison user." An orc reported.


    "Out of the carriages that were transporting goods, we lost three of the five." The orc reported.


    "We''ve lost so many. But we''ve survived an ambush from a kingdom. They sent a small team to hide their movement in this territory. But they had several warriors at level 40! This is equal to dering war!"


    As the group talked, several carriages suddenly appeared falling in front of them.


    SMASH! CRASH!


    The carriages following the main carriage began to make sharp turns to avoid crashing on towards the wreckage that followed from the impossible appearances of these carts.


    "What happened?!" The leader roared. He managed to evade the attack, but some of the captain and the main caravan created a chain reaction of crashes and smashes.


    Kyros allowed himself to be thrown out of the cart. The body of the orc he killed had already been sent to the Temple. Since Kyros seemed to be the only orc kicked of the carriage, everyone thought him to be the only guard.


    "Quick! Reform and retreat! We cannot be careless!" The orc captain began to order.


    "Look! At the north! Is that the enemy?"


    [Oration activated.]


    Everyone looked towards the distance and found several carriages moving towards them with some armed guards.


    "Captains! Get ready for battle! Everyone else, I want those carriages and the items transferred to working carriages! Move! Move! Move!" The orc ordered.


    Everyone tried to bring the dark stone that spilled out from the caravan crash.


    "Captain! An orc drives that carriage! It''s another transport team!"


    "Subdue it and force them to serve us by order of the Foreshire armyw! And we need as many men as possible!"


    But while the group was moving, no one noticed that Kyros had bolted on the other direction, entered the forest, and activated his dark cloak.


    He brought out some of the ores he got from the Temple, and in the frantic panic, no one noticed that what they had been moving around were just regr ores of various minerals.


    Back at the ce of the battle, Mezal ordered his team to move whatever they could keep into the forest. The Coven created more orc ghouls from the orcs that were wounded or incapacitated.


    "Great shooting!" Diana praised as she turned to one of the key factors that aided in the battle. It was Martha Bowheart.


    "The arrows that Lord Kyros made me use with the thick Entropy helped out in killing those trolls. To think such a tough enemy would fall from a single arrow." Martha was amazed as he looked at the dead trolls.


    "What if my son?" Diana asked.


    "He is alright. He just stole the items from the main carriage and is on his way here through the forest.


    "It''s good that he''s alive. But he just caused a great war in this region. The orcs will grow mad at this. They might attack human kingdoms!" Diana sighed.


    "That was the n. Kyros is using this war to make it harder for Fate to move. I think I understand now." Mezal joined in on the conversation.


    "The human kingdoms have already sent their groups into the mountain. More will arrive ahead of us. But when these forces move, war will erupt on the outside. This means the kingdoms will have a hard time sending in more of their men because they need to prepare for war. As for us, our arrival in the mountain will be apanied by reports and rumors of being attacked by vampires and the orcs of Foreshire Kingdom! We can even leave lies that we saw the Foreshire Kingdom''s army moving to prepare the human kingdoms! And while everyone is busy, the Steele family will rise as the dominant yers in the mountain! With Kyros''s power and wit, and how our forces can grow stronger, he may even conquer all the humans in that mountain!"


    "That''s a bit too cruel, grandfather." Kyros chucked as he emerged from the forest.


    "Lord Kyros." The Coven reported.


    "So what is your purpose if not to devour everything?" Mezal asked immediately.


    "To devour the enemy and to strengthen our allies, of course. The Fate of this ce is not that easy, grandfather. The Dark Shine Kingdom looms in the horizon, and with it is the rise of Eldrich race! It will not stay at the Londs but will spill over towards the Minds and even the Hignds. It''ll be a Second Nether War."


    "A Second Nether Wars? That''s crazy talk! After their defeat, the beings in the Nether Realms no longer need the Light."


    "It goes beyond basic needs, Grandfather. Gods and Fallens are involved. A great war is happening. In the Temple, we found a strange inscription that the powerful Golem army was watching over. It talked about a being known as Beginning and End. There were mentions of an Alpha and an Omega and implied a great war between the two. It was too big for me toprehend. But this I know, Fate is leading the armies here. So we have to get stronger and create a powerful kingdom and an alliance that will stand and fight. That is our one hope in surviving not only as a fam11ily but as a race!"


    Everyone was amazed by Kyros''s deration.


    "A war of gods?"


    "Lord Kyros, is the Temple rted to it?"


    "Yes. I don''t know how yet, but it surely is. And the Blood Cmity that is raging in Airom Logat is something that could be equally important. I must go there now, especially when Fate has ceased his hand for several days. This is part of how we outsmart Fate. This time that Fate is dormant is the right time to move! Fate is training those associated with the Temple. The trial right now is how we use time. The hardship that we faced may cause us to want to rest, to find peace. But with what''s over the horizon, we have to do what we can, when we can."


    "Then what kingdoms do we ally?" Mezal asked.


    "Those that are righteous. The power that challenges us will be so overwhelming. It will seduce many, and we need not more than the human kingdoms! We need an orc kingdom and even a vampire kingdom or any of those kingdoms on the Dark Sea."


    "Even orcs?" Grugnyr asked again.


    "Yes. I won''t discriminate. You seemed rather unaffected by your actions. Is there enmity between you and the Foreshire Kingdom?" Kyros asked.


    "Yes. I belonged to a lesser orc kingdom that they enved." Grugnyr answered. There was a strange look in his eyes.


    Kyros noticed it.


    "Could it be? Is it Fate''s working?" Kyros wondered but ignored it.


    "Then that''s good. The Foreshire Kingdom has to go. It''s the most powerful and most abusive orc kingdom. They have to burn. So we will be killing a lot of them." Kyros said seriously. The Steele Family fell from this kingdom.


    "It seems that I have to get used to the crazy ims of my son."


    "There is a lot at stake, Grandfather. If this kingdom stays, it will be a powerful force if it allies with the distant Dark Shine Kingdom."


    "Then I guess we have to hurry." Mezal nodded.


    "I willmunicate with father through the notebook. The many preparations that happened on this battle are because of their assistance." Kyros exined. He had given orders to his father through the notebook to act quickly and keep emptying the room. Whenever a carriage would appear, Kyros had already given orders to make them quickly remove any important items as soon as possible for Kyros to use as his Caravan Crash.


    "Kyros... The items you get from the Temple. Is it freely essible to my sons?"


    "Yes."


    "Then these armors that you gave me..."


    "Yes. You would have naturally had ess to it if you went to the Temple." Kyros gave him a malicious smile.


    "You little brat!"


    "Honor your vows, Grandfather!" Kyrosughed.


    "Coven. Make preparations. I''ll be cleaning up the stuff, but we''ll need an orc ghoul squad when we move inside!" Kyros ordered as he ignored his cursing grandfather.


    "Son... I will join you." Diana added.


    "Of course, mother. Let''s have a good trip!"

 Chapter 97 - One Message

    The human fort of Airom Logat had seen better days. Their resources were burned with fire, and the champions were so enraged that a battle almost urred. There was also evidence scattered all throughout the base that gave the impression that it was an inside job.


    As such, each kingdom was heavily guarding itself against another, and the tension in the ce was great.


    Then a ragged, wounded, and demoralized group of soldiers walked towards the entrance of the fort.


    "I am Mezal Steele of the Steele n. I sent a request days ago to go here."


    "No. We are not allowing anyone to pass! This fort has been attacked, and there were human traitors! We will not ept any more vassals, troops for people of Viscount nobility and lower!" The guard roared.


    "Human traitors?" Mezal was shocked.


    "What happened?"


    And so the guards began to detail what had happened a few nights back and how they were attacked by ghouls led by a viscount and how a terrible fire urred and burned their stocks. But the soldier dared not tell the tale of how the Generals had their items stolen.


    "And then, during this entiremotion, some of the treacherous kingdoms began to steal from one another! So I cannot let any more soldiers pass by here!" The guards exined.


    Mezal was silent as he listened to the ount. But he knew the truth behind everything.


    "This may sound strange. But I believe I know who the culprit is." Mezal finally answered.


    "Do you really? Who is it? Who burned and ransacked the items here in this fort?" The soldier challenged.


    "You said that a lot was stolen. But I have information thatpletes everything you didn''t say. When I heard of this from our enemy, I never believed it. But hearing your story, I see now and understand what happened."


    The soldier was caught off guard with the logical question.


    "You said that a strange shadow figure moved in and disappeared into the forest, correct?"


    "Yes."


    "On our way here, we were attacked by... a certain group. It should be obvious with our current appearances we have fought a terrifying battle and have escaped with our lives and abandoned all our carts and carriages in desperation. But luckily, this young fellow was thought to be dead and fell on one of the burrows and heard our enemies boast. He said something that I couldn''t believe. He had stolen from over ten Earls and a few others who are General level! Am I right?"


    The guards froze at those words. Information about the exact number of level 40 individuals who had stolen stuff was unknown.


    "It looks like I''m right. I have more important and shocking information. But I will only talk to the Champion or Earl that is allied with my Katarax Kingdom!" Mezal dered.


    The guards listening all had their eyes wide opened. But even then, they hesitated. This pertained to a very sensitive secret.


    Mezal noticed their hesitation.


    "Fine. I''ll do it myself." Mezal took a deep breath.


    "I KNOW WHO STOLE THE PALADIN''S ARMOR OF CHAMPION VESTITUDE AND THE BLACK MASSACRE GREATSWORD OF CHAMPION EMBERWOOD!"


    The shout used a great amount of Force energy, and it echoed all over the fort.


    Several sonic booms were heard throughout the base, and everyone knew it was the Generals moving.


    The first person to arrive wore bright white armor.


    "You are Mezal Steele? Patriarch of the Steele Family? Come with me. Tell me everything. I will reward you. You are the one who attempts to imitate the path of a Pdin through Force Energy, correct? I can give you some rewards." A pdin asked as he zoomed in the sky.


    Mezal knew this pdin. And he could not help but smile as he heard the word ''reward.''


    "That grandson of mine really is amazing! Had he plotted this far ahead?" Mezal wondered.


    No one knew what items were stolen from these Champions. These items were their secondary armors and weapons. For the heavy sword-wielding Champion, Berserker Emberwood, his ck Massacre greatsword was a weapon he used during his level 30 days. But now, two items were urately described by one man.


    And such precise information was important for these angry Champions.


    "Too selfish." A beautiful woman arrived riding a strange long, funneled object that was enchanted with wind-sucking abilities.


    Mazel saw the beautiful woman and identified her as the very entric hurricane specialist. Unlike most mages that enchanted a broom, she enchanted a device she called a vacuum cleaner.


    "You should tell me." The beautiful mage gave a seductive smile.


    "Mezal, you belong to our Katarax Kingdom. You don''t have to listen to them. Whatever that stupid pdin offered, I can give a better inheritance." Another voice answered as his figure emerged.


    The knight wore a Champion''s armor. Unlike the pdin, this knight''s armor was bulkier and wielded arger sword. But most importantly, the crest on his armor bore the same crest that Mezal had on his.


    "Your Grace, Champion Ordeus!" Mezal bowed. This was a warrior of his own kingdom. As such, he was obliged to call this knight with a respectful title.


    One after the other, the Generals appeared. Many called for the nearby soldiers and demanded a report.


    Suddenly, another loud voice erupted and called Mezal.


    "I have heard his report. If I remember correctly, you are Mezal Steele! Tell me what you know, and my Lorem Ipsum Kingdom will reward you! I can give you gold and armor and marry you to one of our princesses. I know that your wife has long passed?" Another champion donning a Berserker''s gear arrived.


    "Stres. Your viscount, Ragion Querk Stonefist, has been proven to be an ally of the vampires. At most, we can prove that your traitorous kingdom is part of this scheme. Are you trying to cover up your crimes?!" The pdin called out.


    "Your kingdom has to pay for my Jericho Kingdom! If we can prove that you are allied with the vampires and these orcs, blood will be spilled!" Then, a Champion Spearmaster warrior arrived.


    Several other generals arrived and began to use one another. Each warrior was known throughout the Londs and has proven their worth in battle. Sometimes even against each other.


    "My lordships... Please allow this humble one to speak." Mezal finally spoke.


    The group turned towards him.


    "As you know, my sons have journeyed within the mountain to explore the region that has been opened up. My eldest, the famous Aron Steele, was the first to journey."


    "I know of young Aron. Is it true that he is dead?" Ordeus asked.


    "I do not know. His Life Talisman is still intact. But the rest of his men were dead. Due to... problems with another Viscount, I was unable to go here immediately personally. My other son, Branze, went and sought for him with a Life Compass that had locked on to Aron''s Life Talisman. You probably are aware of the results. But the reason why I''m bringing this up is not for me to quickly be able to climb this mountain but because my son Branze sent me a message through his message talisman. He brought three with him and only used the first before going silent. Here is the message that I received from him. I ask Sword Champion Ordeus to hear the shocking message."


    Mezal then offered a small rectangr jade stone with several inscriptions written around it to the Champion of the Katarax kingdom.


    "Offering it to your own kingdom?! How Selfish! y it for everyone! This concerns the Fate of all human kingdoms!" The Berserker demanded.


    "Yes. Why should the secret be kept to your kingdom when it involves this entire region?" Another added.


    "y it for everyone. Infuse your Force Energy to amplify the sounds. That way, everyone is informed." The pdin ordered.


    Ordeus turned to Mezal.


    "Is there something in this message that will put other human kingdoms in a bad light?" Ordeus knew there was a purpose that the famous Baron Mezal chose this route.


    "Yes." Mezal answered without hesitation.


    "You heard it. I will y this to all, but whoever will be implicated, you cannot charge my Baron for any crimes he did notmit. I trust that you have seen the state of his troop. And there are even no carriages. The Steele family is in dire circumstance with the unconfirmed status of his two sons. So his appearance here is not of trickery and deceit from my kingdom. This is a Message Talisman that could be used, and it requires mages who are at level 30 or so to charge with a new form of energy to send it. Since we can all confirm the entry and passage of Branze Steele, then we can say right here, right now, that this is the only message that Mezal received and is not some ploy against other kingdoms. " Ordeus dered.


    "Just hurry up and y it!" A Champion from one of the minor human alliances that had several towns shouted.


    "I am saying this because I know that if the implicated is an enemy kingdom, he will use Mezal of whatever crimes you can use to redirect and push the me to us! Am I being clear?"


    "We all know that if there is a kingdom at fault, it would be the Lorem Ipsum Kingdom where Querk Stonefist hailed!" The pdinughed.


    The Champion Berserker raged and shouted, but Ordeus pped with his Force energy and created a loud explosive sound.


    "Enough! I will y it now! Brace yourself." Ordeus channeled his Force Energy and was about to y the one message in the message talisman.


    Message Talismans are reusable tools that can send and receive one message. The message is saved in the talisman unless another message is received. Ordeus went to lengths to exin that it was impossible for Branze to send a message and resent another as they would need a mage to harness the energy for the Branze to send. And there were no mages in the mountain region who could do that aside from Champions and powerful mage Viscounts.


    The one message was yed.


    "We are being chased by Querk Stonefist, Gradier Conquistar, and Esmeralda Toro. They are worshipers of a Necromancer from the Dark Shine Kingdom." Branze''s shout could be heard. It was clear that he made this message while trying to fend off or flee from terrifying enemies.

 Chapter 98 - One Purpose

    The message echoed out that even some of the guards heard it.


    The expressions of some of the guards and the Champions all changed.


    "What?!" A tall mage shouted.


    "Lies!" A Champion Spearman also cried.


    The Champions of each respective kingdom to where Esmeralda and Gradier belonged to all shouted.


    "I see now that this is a ploy! Of course! Why else would my viscount team die without any reason in an unknown part of this mountain! Esmeralda was supposed to go up to the cave, yet her dead body was found at one of the furthest outposts! They were led there and ambushed by the Steele family! You are the Necromancer worshipers! Along with that Querk Stonefist!"


    "Of course! That exins it! Viscount Gradier doesn''t have any reason to go there! Yet there he was!"


    "Fools! They were supposed to go up with Querk! The fact that they together proved that they were all in it together! What ns do your three kingdoms have?" Ordeus shouted.


    "A well-nned lie! Querk had his mission and chose to ambush two viscounts! The Steele brothers were already vampires and had an increase in strength! So naturally, our two viscounts fell at their hands!"


    "Are you saying that my sons are liars?!" Mezal asked quietly, but the fierce glint in his eyes challenged the Spearmaster and the Mage.


    "What right does a mere Baron have to speak before me?! I would kill you for your usation!" The Champion Spearman roared.


    "Ordeus, I will not take this usation lightly! If your baron does not pay with his blood, I won''t be satisfied!"


    "This is why I gave all those warnings before ying the message! Mezal was very careful not to report it casually and did so because he knew that your kingdoms would act like this! What if Branze and Aron, the two Barons that could fight a Viscount as seen in the tournaments, managed to best Gradier and Esmeralda with only Querk left alive!"


    "Don''t tie my Viscounts with the traitorous actions of that Querk! He is the traitor, and Esmeralda was merely caught on route! Perhaps it was even Querk who killed them!"


    "Lorem Ipsum does not worship necromancers! How many times will I say this! I''ve already proven that Querk had been turned forcibly! He was already dead when he came and attacked the fortress!" The Berserker argued.


    "How can the dead talk?!" The Pdin challenged.


    "I don''t know! Perhaps someone was there near him who was shouting the words he said! We never saw him open his mouth with that strange mask he wore!"


    Several Championsughed at the insane excuse that the Berserker had.


    Mezal was quiet. He knew that was how Kyros did it.


    "We will deal with youter! But, for now, I turn to this stupid baron who dare uses my Viscounts of crime!"


    "I will not allow my sons to be treated as liars! I will showcase their honor even at my death!" Mezal bravely walked closer to the Spearmaster.


    "Ha! Then do it! Attack me you-"


    Suddenly, Mezal dashed off with an immense speed that he created sonic booms as he ran. He held Trinity and smashed it on the spear master.


    BOOM!


    The earth trembled, and the champions were stunned at the power that Mezal disyed.


    The Spearmaster was caught off guard. But Mezal''s speed gave him no chance to defend. If it had been any other level 30 warrior, the Champion Spearmaster could have evaded it.


    The Spearmaster flew more than twenty meters and crashed on the walls of the fort.


    "Level... 40?!" The Champion Mage to which Esmeralda belonged too was stunned.


    Everyone was surprised. They treated this lowly baron like dirt. But he had the power to hurt him.


    Everyone expected the Spearmaster to jump back, but his bodyid bloody and weakened.


    "All my life, I have hidden this secret! I am the remaining survivor of the nder n! But now, Fate has turned her cruel fangs on to me and has left me with little hope of finding my sons. I came here and followed protocol, but now you drag me into your politics! I have lost everything now and even lost all the more! My wealth, my servants, my weapons! Yet I gritted my teeth and stayed alive for the sake of my sons and because I have yet to report more pressing information for all human kingdoms! But now, I will not tell you but tell only my lord! As for you lot, you can grit your teeth when the cmitiese! I know who attacked this city! I know the full story of the vampires! I know of a surprising secret that will make you regret you ever used me!" Mezal roared.


    The power of a Force Pdin surged mightily.


    "Pdin?!" The beautiful mage riding a vacuum cleaner was amazed.


    "No. It has no Holy power. It is a new ss altogether. We all called his Knight ss a Pseudo-Pdin. But this is now a force that can challenge a real Pdin." The Pdin assessed.


    "That''s right! I am a Force Pdin!" Mezal dered as he stabbed his trinity on the ground.


    On their way here, Mezal had been reading the teachings of what a real Pdin is. Years of research together with his son Branze made them close to breaking the secrets. When Kyros found the book used by Pdins to train, he sent it to the temple. Branze and Aron studied it and pushed the limits of this divergent ss to a new level. With his two sons'' insights and Mezal''s lifelong experience, he managed to properly wield power in a way that was even superior to Aron''s form.


    The group of Champions was silent and shocked at this development. So this meant that Katarax had another Champion or Earl!


    "What secret do you have, Mezal?" While Ordeus was delighted at Mezal''s revtion, he was very careful with his words. This is because the nder ns sin were so many.


    "The secrets I have are enough to repay for the sins of my n."


    "Oh? Then tell me. Use your Force Transmission. With the two of usmunicating, these Champions may sense it but won''t have the power to breakthrough."


    "Your grace. You misunderstand. While I wield power to challenge a level 40 warrior, I am not level 40."


    "What?! Then this power... Is a level 30?!" Not only Ordeus but the few around them were stunned.


    Secretly, several Champions gave Mezal a strange re.


    Mezal was sensitive to it and knew that it was as Kyros predicted. So while he argued at Kyros not to reveal his true lineage, Kyros predicted what would happen. And the trap was also set.


    "How arrogant! The nder''s survivor dares to show himself before me? Your secret can repay for your sins?! Only your death is enough." Upon realizing that Mezal was only level 30, some of the Champions took courage. The deep hatred between their kingdom and the mighty and cruel nder n would give this champion a lot of rewards.


    "That Trinity sword ought to have belonged to my kingdom!" The Champion Barbarian used.


    "Ha Ha Ha. Then shall we fight? I am going to die anyway. This power came at such a great cost. I wanted to have the strength to protect my sons and hoped to see them off in a safe ce when I''m gone. That was the one purpose I stilled in myself!" Mezal roared.


    "But this one purpose is gone? Why not go all out? Why not leave a glorious mark for everyone to remember that the Steele family weren''t weak!" Mezal wielded his sword and assumed the famous Stance of the Trinity.


    "Without that one purpose, I am left in hopeless circumstances! Even now, their Life Compass showed no signs of detecting them! I better abandon such foolish pursuits and kill those who killed my family. Whether they are cruel or wicked is none of my concern. You spilled the blood of my n." Mezalughed as his powers began to increase.


    One of Kyros''s most dangerous abilities was a powerful Force eruption that brought their bodies to the maximum limit. It had so much power that it was fully unleashing it would kill him. It was the power that his family mastered and used in the future which became their deaths.


    And the inventor of this technique was none other than Mezal. He had learned this technique from his studies on the teachings that his shaman father-inw gave about Force energy.


    It was the power to erupt the body and create a powerful


    "[Death Stance]!"


    "This power!" The Barbarian was so horrified that he took a few steps backs.


    "He''s crazy! He''ll kill himself!" The beautiful mage riding the vacuum cleaner shouted.


    "Mezal! Stop! I''ll help you find your sons! Do not waste your life now! They could still be alive!" Ordeusmanded.


    "Mezal. It''s a waste for a Pdin like you to fall." The Pdin also stepped forward.


    "There will be a day of reckoning. But make sure that your sons are alive first!" The Pdin urged.


    Mezal was silent. He was so close to unleashing the Force in his body.


    But in reality, he was sneering. These were the secrets he never revealed in Kyros''s previous life. Kyroster learned that it must have been because his grandfather feared Fate. But now, Kyros assured Mezal that it would be safe as long as they continue to y the victim card and make a false pretense of such great desperation.


    In the eyes of those Champions who despise the nder n, they see a dying man with an unknown ailment and no sons or possessions.


    To the eyes of the other groups, they saw Mazel as a rich treasure trove.


    Champion Pdin Drake Vestitude marveled at the skill known as [Death Stance]. And he desired it. This was an incredible weapon that can be used to teach non-pdins in his kingdom to now waste their deaths but use it as a means to cut down great enemies.


    Champion Swordsman Watt Ordeus ced the great value at Mazel. A Force Pdin that was just as powerful as actual Pdins would be of great use to the kingdom.


    Revealing these secrets would have painted a target behind his back. But Mezal''s desperation made the other Champions cower in fear. Mezal attacked a Champion without worry and even wanted to use a secret and deadly technique to force his power up to kill another.


    Mezal finally fell on his knees. While he didn''t fully activate the skill, the bacsh of the Force that he allowed to erupt within him greatly weakened and exhausted him.


    While this would have been the perfect opportunity for Fate to kill Mezal, Kyros assured him that it would attack.


    Champion Watt Ordeus and Champion Drake Vestitude stood in front of him. Surprisingly, the Champion Grand Mystic, Casty Hollow also stood to the front.


    "Champion Barbarian. Count this as our actions that we saved your life. If this man were to attack, you''d have died and suffered much worse than that Champion Spearmaster. He has shown great courage and might be telling the truth. I vote for all Champions to give ear to his tale. If he has the answers of who stole this kingdom, we ought to listen." Drake Vestitude warned.


    "The message that Branze also sent was that those family, the Toro, the Stonefist, and the Conquistar ns were Necromancer worshipers. He didn''t say kingdom. All kingdoms have their bad families, right? Isn''t he doing your kingdom a favor? The more you reject the suggestion of investigating these families, the more you act suspiciously." Watt Ordeus spoke.

 Chapter 99 - One Goal

    Kyros continued their movements and had finally crossed through the small winding cave leading to the top of the mountain. The secret passaged amazed many. Even the orc Grugnyr was shocked that there was such a way into the mountain.


    "Only one Orc Kingdom know of this path. This is their escape route. They secretly searched for a way outside of the mountain and found this passage. It led nowhere, but the orcs were excellent miners and used their advantages in mining to create this. No one suspected it."


    "Then that Kingdom is the Underhill kingdom of the orcs. But that doesn''t make sense! They are allied to Foreshire!" Grugnyr asked.


    "As they say, keep your friends close, your enemies closer."


    "As they say? I don''t think I''ve heard of that saying, son."


    "Erm... Right. It was something my master Cmidy taught me. But anyway, the Underhill kingdom never trusted the Foreshire to begin with. But since they are the experts in mining, Foreshire had no choice but to give the Underhill freedom to move about. And they used this advantage to create a secret escape route. And only a few of their merchants know of this. Unless necessary or for items of great value discovered here, the Underhill never uses this route to hide any tracks or scent leading to this ce."


    "Is this what that herb mix was for?" Diana asked. Kyros had made a strange mix using the leaves, herbs, and some of the things in the Temple and created a strange type of lotion that masked her scent. Kyros also applied this to himself.


    "Yes, mother. The rest are technically undead, so they don''t have much scent around them. It''s a long story. Don''t ask why I still have a scent. We only have a few days to explore this mountain. With the information we learned from Grugnyr, we can roughly gaze where the location of where the Blood Cmity began. This is a scouting expedition. After five days, you guys go ahead and get back to the Temple."


    "What about you, Lord Kyros?"


    "The Temple gave me a way to store items in and pull items out of it at the cost of magic points. You''ve seen me do this. But I can also send my entire body inside the Temple directly."


    "That''s amazing!" Diana was amazed.


    "Yes. But I can only do it to myself. So don''t worry about me."


    "Oh, we''re not worried about you, Lord Kyros. We''re worried for the state of this mountain after you leave." Martha rified.


    "Two nights ago, I tried to let you guys send me a warning through tour links. And it worked, right? Grugnyr, you also now know how to do it, right?"


    "Yes."


    "What interesting abilities. You and your Coven don''t need Life Talismans!" Diana praised.


    "It''s not just that, mother. The more they explore the region, the more a map is formed in my mind. We can split up in exploring this region to minimize the time needed to find stuff with these things. And then, you guys will use that warning ability to warn me. If you use that ability while staying perfectly still, it means you guys are telling me to go there. If you use that ability while moving, it means that you are being attacked. Am I clear?"


    "Yes, Lord Kyros." The Coven answered.


    "Grugnyr, you go to the towns and viges that we talked about. Then, gather more information and do the same thing. I trust that you are confident of understanding my orders."


    "Yes, Lord Kyros. I can discern whether it''s your orders or not."


    "Good. We will be splitting up after we reach the summit of this cave. Mother will go with me. Any questions?"


    "Lord Kyros... What exactly will we face here?"


    "I don''t know. But since this is a scouting expedition, we won''t be fighting anything too extraordinary. We''ll just be fighting reasonable enemies that we can manage."


    "Lord Kyros, what exactly do you mean by reasonable enemies that we can manage? Could you be more specific?" Martha frowned.


    "Eh? I don''t know. Do I have to exin what that means? It''s a broad statement."


    "Because the previous enemies that we somehow managed to defeat aren''t reasonable. What is reasonable in your definition? Do you mean the army ofrge lizards that your original Coven fought? Or do you mean three toons of Viscounts? Or what about that master swordsman that is practically as strong as level 40 champions? Maybe you mean the hundred squad orc where we kidnapped Grugnyr or the two hundred orc patrol? Which of these are reasonable for us?" Martha asked curiously.


    "Now that you mentioned it... We rule..." Hunter realized.


    "And I''m just thirteen... That''s got to be something, right?" Avary asked Scarlet.


    "Erm... Ri-right. Sorry about that. Let''s see... How do I exin it? If I''m not mistaken... We could be up against Vampire Ancients."


    "Vampire Ancient? How strong are they exactly?"


    "Well, this Vampire Ancient should have been recently unsealed or awakened. So they could be weak. So I''m guessing... We are going to face something like us."


    Everyone was surprised at that assessment.


    "We are after the Blood Cmity. And from the name, it definitely sounds like a vampire. We don''t know what to expect. But keep that in mind, guys... We have one goal here. And it weakens this Blood Cmity. Stealing its stuff is just one of the many things we can do and whatever happens here, keep that goal in mind. It has to be weakened so that we could catch to its strength when we go back here. We need perfect silence and stealth as we move. Remember what I taught you a few days back. If anything, I''llmand you."


    "Yes, Lord Kyros."


    As they continued to climb, Kyros brought out his stats and observed the many descriptions about his ability.


    "What are you looking for?" Cminus asked.


    "A detailed description of [Carrier has Arrived!]. When I attempted to transport the cart, or even when I tried to send that object we found in the Golem City, it both failed. So I need to know what I can store in and out of the Temple and all the exact limitation of this power. Especially with my ns in dealing with this Blood Cmity." Kyros answered as he kept searching.


    Kyros soon found the expanded description of the Temple Storage Space.


    ---


    Temple Storage Space (Lvl. 3)


    A fifty cubic meter storage space that resides in the dimensional space of the Nephilim Sealing Temple. Kyros can store and retrieve unmarked items at the cost of 3 magic points per cubic meter of the item to be stored/retrieved. If items are physically carried inside the grounds of the Nephilim Sealing Temple, transferring the item into the Temple Storage Space can be done without expending magic. However, retrieving the item to move anywhere within the Temple still requires magic.


    ---


    Storage Space Features-


    1. Premium Organizer


    Ever wonder how cultivators with storage items arrange the items they store and steal from their enemies? Well, wonder no more! Temple Storage Spacees with the innovative Premium Organizer feature that immediately ces things inside and neatly organizing all items! As long as the Temple can detect avable space, Premium Organizer can immediately sort items to put items inside. It alsoes with the Ejector ability, which expels the items for 10 mana points!


    2. Perfect Preserver


    The Temple Storage Spacees with an intelligent air filter and bacteria detection system, which will remove 100% bacteria upon entry! Yes! 100%! Not that 99.99% crap that leaves Sasuke alive!


    This air filter is the breath of the Wind God herself and has time properties that preserve items as they were when they are ced inside the storage space. Perfect for storing medicinal herbs, fruits, nts as they will be locked in a state of perfect preservation!


    With the power of wind and time, items remain in a state of paused time, and they never rust, degrade, spoil or dpose.


    Note: Items that have already been poisoned, cursed, or has spoilt or dposed retains the state they were in when stored. The Temple only cleans and prohibits bacterial growth. Further upgrade improves this feature.


    3. But wait! There''s more!


    Upgrade the Temple Storage Space through Quest items to increase the level and unlock better features!


    ---


    Storage Space Limitations-


    The temple store the following items or cannot store items in the following conditions:


    1. Cannot store water, air, and other intangible objects and elements such as fire, lightning, energy, your hopes, and dreams.


    2. Cannot store unmarked items within contact, directly or indirectly, with another person. Items also being held by allies in the Temple cannot be retrieved.


    3. Cannot store or retrieve items with Life or Unlife. (Living creatures or undead and animated items.) However, sentient weapons created with soul power, magic, and the like may be stored as long as it is within the Temple''s magical or soul limit.


    4. Cannot store or retrieve objects that exceed a certain physical, magical, or soul limit set by the Temple ording to the level of [Carrier has Arrived!]. This includes the following:


    - Objects that are physically wider or taller than the Temple Storage Space


    - Objects that have over 500 worth of magic or soul points


    -If the environment where Kyros is has dense magical or soul energy that affects the time/space capabilities of the Temple or disrupts the magic, storage and retrieval are not allowed.


    - The Temple Storage Space cannot store or contain the Reader''s Mom. (Cuz she''s so fat)


    ---


    Disregarding the odd statements, Kyros finally had what he needed.


    "So that''s it... I guess I should be careful. This should also mean that I have to give the Dragon egg to someone since I might not be able to take that item with me to the Temple." Kyros mentally noted.


    "So you need to disarm this Blood Cmity for any items that are in this person''s body to send it to the Temple."


    "Right. If it has magic points or whatever, I won''t attempt it and just try to steal it and run away."


    "Good call."


    "Son..." Diana finally asked.


    "Yes, Mother."


    "It''s about the instructions you gave to your grandfather. Are you sure that he will be in a position of power or influence that the entire Airom Vagat Fort will let me and your coven pass by? We have an orc with us after all..."


    "Don''t worry, mother. I''m confident that those instructions will work."


    "I understood the logic behind your words and think that many will indeed believe your grandfather. But were those other things necessary?"


    "Honestly, no. But myte master would rise from the grave and annoy me..." Kyros sighed. He could not concentrate from the great rants of Cminus as he was instructing his grandfather.


    "Then why?"


    "Let me put it this way... Grandfather will be channeling the power of a person myte master, Cmidy, admired. I never met this person, but I assume that he is a powerful cultivator who can persuade and convince others."


    "Oh? What was this cultivator''s name?"


    "He is known as... the Highschool Detective!"


    Meanwhile... back in the Airom Vagat Fort.


    The many Champions have agreed to meet with Mezal formally, and they were within the grand hall of the fort.


    They all challenged Mezal with questions to prove his innocence and back up his ims regarding the attacks and thefts.


    They were all silenced.


    Mezal stood in the middle of the hall and had just finished answering everyone with superb deduction skills.


    "There is always only..." Mezal said as he slowly held up his index finger.


    "One truth!"

 Chapter 100 - One Truth Prevails!

    Going back several minutes in time, right before Mezal made his amazing conclusion...


    Mezal followed the Champions and many Viscounts gave way to them. Never before was the Steele family honored in this Parade of Champions.


    The Viscounts who have heard of Mezal and his Steele family had stunned gazed. Others hated it. Those who belonged to the kingdoms to whom the usations were had foul expressions. There were even Viscounts who red at Mezal as the hatred that was buried to them due to the crimes of the nder n.


    The ims that Mezal made were severe.


    Ordeus managed to calm the crowd, but Mezal''s strong power made everyone fear his crazy actions. And the weakened Mezal was immediately gifted by some Champions with herbs and many Force recovering High-Tiered medicines that allowed Mezal to recover.


    Along these gifts were offers of a goodwill alliance and even an invitation to wee them into their kingdoms.


    "Kyros is right. Fate is not making it too difficult for me." So Mezal thought as he was escorted towards therge audience hall. He had gained much, and the negative effects of his revtion did not appear.


    Finally, he was brought into the hall. The Champions all took their seat with the Pdin presiding over the meeting and Ordeus standing next to Mezal.


    "Let''s get straight to the heart of this matter. Mezal. You im three Viscounts have been worshiping a Necromancer and have the powers of Darkness?" Drake Vestitude immediately asked.


    "Champion Vestitude, I regret to inform you that that is not our biggest concern." Mezal shook his head.


    "A few nights ago, I have heard that Querk Stonefist attacked you with an undead group. And it''s normal to assume that the Lorem Ipsum is behind this. However, some items were stolen from champions and other powerful warriors! And you wish to go through the bottom of this mystery. I know who stole your items! I met them!" Mezal dered.


    Everyone was startled at the news.


    "The first thing that I want to tell you is that the attack of Querk, the mysterious deaths of Viscount Conquistar and Toro, was all part of the n. I understand it since I met enemies who assaulted us and forced us to flee with our lives!"


    "You know who it was that was responsible for the attack and the theft in this fort? Ha! Like we''d believe you and your conspiracy theories!" One of the Championsughed.


    "If you don''t believe me... Then I''ll prove it. I know the names of some of the Champions whose rooms were raided. I know that your special chests were not enough to protect it!"


    "Is that your proof? News of that would have reached my kingdom by now!" The championughed.


    "I already said that I know among the items that were stolen was the Pdin Armor of Champion Vestitude and the Greatsword of Champion Emberwood. Was the information of the exact weapons they lost leaked as well?" Mezal challenged.


    "This is a conspiracy. It''s as simple as that. He''s just twisting these small truths to his liking." The wounded Champion Spearmaster answered.


    "Champion Peridot. Have you found your missing Purplence as well as the Elemental Jewel collection that you use to socket your spears for added elemental weapons?" Mezal smirked.


    "Wha-What did you say?! You thief!" The Champion Spearmaster roared.


    "Oh? It was you that he was talking about! And he wasn''t lying!" Mezal cheered.


    "Give it back!" The Spearmaster roared.


    "Are you an idiot? Have I not said that from the lips of the thief, his boasts revealed it? He told of a book for Pdins, an alchemy pot beautifully embroidered with gold and socketed with several fire elemental jewels. He spoke of an amber ne and took an interest in a strange book which he stole thinking it to be the spellbook, but it turns out it was a diary! He even read the diary for fun!"


    The more he listed the items, the more some of the Champions reacted.


    "What?!"


    "That''s mine!" Another eximed.


    "Who stole my stuff? Who is it?!"


    "A-a diary?" The woman mage who had the magical vacuum cleaner asked.


    Ordeus took center stage.


    "Champions. The knowledge of Mezal should prove the truth of his ims. He met the thief."


    "I also know that the thief did something to confuse everyone. He left hidden messages! You found a few, haven''t you?" Mezal smiled.


    "Those information has also spread throughout the castle! It''s possible..."


    "A knight was found with a dying message. Written on the floor using his own blood was the letter S. An archer with a terrifying bite mark was also found. His dead body, when lifted up, would reveal the name of his killer. I''m guessing that name was the name of the Viscount. A knight was dead near the drapes of the castle window. Looking at this room, this should be the ce where that person imed he left it. If you lift up his body and pull the sheets, you would find another hidden message written behind the curtain." Mezal listed down a few. These were the things that Kyros and his team prepared on their first raid.


    "That''s right!"


    "Amazing! He knew the details of that man!" The champion who discovered the archer was amazed.


    "There were more hidden messages?!" Another Champion eximed. He only knew of the first one who drew the letter S.


    Peridot, the Champion Spearman, had an ugly expression on his face. He knew of the one in the hall and knew the secret behind it. This was what caused him to suspect Watt Ordeus''s betrayal. The archer was one of his. How could this man have known?


    "The real culprit that we met boasted of eight people to which he killed and nted these things. His n was to create chaos in this ce, and so, he made vague dying messages from our own knights. All except for one dead warrior. He said that one warrior would right two names from two kingdoms in order to create turmoil in the human kingdom alliance. Champion Watt Ordeus and Champion Drake Vestitude. Those are the names he wrote behind the curtains. It was written using a small arrowhead. Can the champion who discovered it please reveal yourself? I am sure that the messages this person left must have caused you to mistrust others."


    There was silence. Peridot didn''t want to admit it.


    "Wait. You said that it was in this room?" Ordeus asked.


    "He said he left it in arge hall. This seemed to fit the description."


    "Then it should be here. Where was the dead body found? I recalled there was a report of this." Vestitude demanded. He and Ordeus were the names this conniving person used. Both were part of the Alliance of the Light, an organization with its roots in the Hignds.


    "Over there. I recall that it was Peridot''s archer who died." The mage with the vacuum cleaner pointed.


    Peridot''s expression turned ugly.


    "Oh? It was you? Then my report should have convinced you. Are you so petty that your grudge against me takes priority over the kingdom itself?" Mezal sneered. Secretly, he was delighted. It turned out that the archer was Peridot''s man.


    "Kyros is really amazing! He even thought this far ahead when he raided this ce back then! He already nned their way back here. What great intelligence!" Mezal thought to himself as he saw things going ording to n.


    "I must follow all his instructions carefully. Even that odd order should have a purpose!" Mezal thought and decided to look for the perfect moment to deliver that ''line.''


    Ordeus reached the area and removed the curtains. Right there, written were the names Ordeus and Drake. It even had the words, ''they killed me.''


    When Ordeus pulled back the curtains, the Champions were all amazed at the urate information.


    "What''s going on?" Drake then asked Mezal immediately.


    "It was a plot. The purpose of the attack is something nefarious. The theft was also part of the n. And that n was to break the alliance of the humans!"


    "This theft was a plot to break the human alliance? I can''t believe it!" Ordeus was shocked.


    "Yes! This ce is an important ce. It not only holds the alliance of several human kingdoms, but it shows our extent of unity. And so, the attack that happened had several purposes. And one was to distort the truth of what really happened here in the fort! Am I not correct in assuming your panic and confusion?"


    The Champions nodded.


    "The chaos affected you and made you doubt each other! They were distorting one truth and made it look like there were many! But!" Mezal paused for dramatic effect.


    "There is always only... one truth!" Mezal held one finger up.


    "Only one truth prevails! You were searching for the items in the wrong ce! You believed that your fellow brothers betrayed you during the attack and stole items! These were caused by those dying messages! But that is not possible! Even if it were true, where would these items? Where are they now? Did you all not search the fort and even raided each other''s room to find nothing? There was no time to do that! But because you harbored doubts, you rejected this truth. In truth, it was impossible to steal at that circumstance! You were under attack!" Mezal pointed out.


    "Then what is the truth?" Vestitude asked.


    "By logically rejecting that which is impossible, whatever remains, even if it is highly improbable, is the truth! What is the truth of the theft in this fort? Did humans did it? No! By some will of Fate, I found the truth." Mezal spoke grandly.


    "The items that were missing were thrown outside! The thieves could have found an opening and threw the items down the high walls. With a battle going on at the other side, you couldn''t hear the sounds of these falling items! And that theft and those murders were not made by humans or vampires! It was made by another unexpected party! The thieves were orcs!"


    "Orcs?!"


    "Yes. Those were the enemies we fought on our way here! They are working alongside vampires of great power. That''s why they nned to weaken our alliance first by making us doubt each other. The things they stole were valuable but not irreceable because that was not the purpose! More important than the items themselves, is the shattering of trust between the bonds of men!"


    "What insidious n!" Drake Vestitude burned with rage.


    "They might attack us soon. You have to hurry and warn all your kingdoms and scouts! The orcs might be on the move! They might even make lies and pretend that some of our kingdoms would attack their toons and transports!"


    "Hmph! Shameless!" Ordeus also cursed.


    "It seems that the orcs are smarter than what we think them to be." The mage with the vacuum cleaner frowned.


    "There it is..." Mezal finally saw the opportunity. He could deliver that one line! This was one of Kyros''s most important instructions. He took out a pair of sses he prepared which had been dipped in dark ink.


    "Yes. This entire plot... " Mezal paused once more.


    All the Champions turned to him again to hear what he had to say.


    "You could say... that this was..." Mezal cooly stated as he wore the shades.


    "A well Orc-estrated plot."


    "YEAAAAAAHHHH!" Jules suddenly shouted as per Kyros''s orders.

 Chapter 101 - Truth Of The Orc Attacks

    The Champions watched as Mezal stood with the strange but ingenious and cool invention of shaded sses. The man who stood next to him was one of Mezal''s warriors who he always kept to the side. No one knew why this man shouted.


    Many wanted tough at Mezal. But his arguments were wless, and he was a suicidal Champion-level foe. So many kept quiet.


    The mage with the vacuum cleaner couldn''t help but chuckle at Mezal''s words.


    "A well Orc-restated event indeed... To think that this would be the plot of the orcs!"


    "That''s because it''s not just the orcs. The orc that attacked us had vampires alongside them. But these vampires were just subordinates. This man beside me is Jules Steele. He is one of our many retainers and is the one who reported to me all that he heard. He is the very servant that was captured by the orcs. And I will let you hear things from his own lips."


    The Champions turned to the servant, who suddenly shouted for no apparent reason.


    Many looked at him with a strange and curious look.


    Mezal watched from the sidelines as Jules became the center of attention.


    "I see... Kyros wanted him to shout the yeah to make everyone turn to him? Or is there more to the mystery of Kyros''s instructions in making him scream?" Mezal began to think. His grandson was a genius! Why did he make this servant scream? There had to be a reason! Kyros couldn''t have wanted this man to shout just for cheapughs, right?


    "Jules Steele. Tell us what you saw." Ordeus asked.


    "I thank you, Champions, for giving ear to this humble warrior, Jules." The servant bowed.


    "As for the exact reason as to how I escaped... I... honestly don''t know what happened. But it was something that the more powerful warriors of our squad did. I saw... Baroness Diana Steele fight. We managed to break free and escape. But they chased us, and we all went separate paths as Diana shouted that some of us have to escape and warn Mezal everything that we heard."


    "Diana Steele is the very same, Diana Redde, who is now married to Branze Steele. I''m sure many of your Barons and Viscounts have heard of her and may have ns to woo her. I even heard rumors that some Earls wanted her. " Ordeus chuckled as he said thest sentence.


    Surprisingly, some in the room actually frowned as they heard this.


    "Did she die?! How dare you fail to protect her?" A tall gant knight standing next to a Champion roared.


    "Viscount, know your ce! I will not have those who do not have the right to speak here to disrespect my servant! Especially one that has information to save the human kingdom!" Mezal shouted.


    The viscount could only grit his teeth and keep silent. But this viscount then had a familiar memory of saying something simr to a Baron who was pleading with the king to honor the contest rules and marry Baron Diana to Branze.


    Mezal felt immense satisfaction when he said that to the viscount who demanded from the king of another kingdom that Diana was his.


    "My daughter-inw is not someone so weak that she needs the assistance from a lowly Viscount of your standing! Unless you can challenge someone at level 40, keep quiet, stand by your lord and continue to dream!" Mezal shouted back to the viscount the same insults he shouted to the Aron.


    The viscount was red in anger. But he could only re at Mezal and not say anything or move since the Champion next to him had already warned him.


    "Is Lady Diana alive?" Ordeus asked.


    "She timed her escape when the vampires left. At an opportune time, she broke free from her binds and secretly freed most of us. I don''t know exactly how. But most of us were freed. The knights who were captured joined her inbat, but the rest of us fled and scattered at Lord Diana''s orders."


    "That''s when I found him. I led my surviving team to search for any trails of that army as we nned to save my daughter-inw. When I found Jules, I was believed that it would be futile to follow since the army would have either sped up since they lost the prisoners. So I came here immediately to warn you all and help me find my daughter-inw. She is a strong knight. She must have found a way to survive. In fact, I hoped that she sped here. Some of the servants were ordered by Diana to flee to the human kingdoms. This was one of her ways of warning the rest."


    "Warning the rest?"


    "We believe that the orcs are marching for war. At least, that''s what Diana discerned."


    "WHAT?!"


    "Did the orcs make such ims?!" Ordeus asked Mezal and the servant Jules.


    "They did not. But..." Mezal began.


    "The Lady Diana ordered it. She must have realized something. She said that there was no time to exin but asked everyone to warn the human kingdoms. Going to this fort was dangerous since the orcs would guard that pass. So she told us to run to a kingdom. I would have done so, but Lord Mezal found me."


    "I discerned from there that the orcs have something dangerous nned. Coming here and seeing the state of this fort allowed me to deduce the events on the perspective that the orcs were nning something great."


    "It''s true." The Mage with the vacuum cleaner had been closing her eyes.


    "My eagle had flown to the nearby regions of Foreshire Kingdom. Through my eagle eyes, I can see an army is moving out."


    "So it begins..." Drake Vestitude frowned.


    Mezal was trying his best to stop himself from smiling. He knew that the orc troop they attacked, which carried valuable ores, would have reported the events to the kingdom. Since the orcs witnessed Mezal, Kyros, and Diana create powerful attacks and the mysterious skilled archer that killed a troll with poison, they would assume that four levels 40 or high level 30 warriors attacked them. This was equal to a deration of war.


    "Why would the orcs do this?" One of the champions was confused.


    Although orcs and humans had always been at odds with each other, there was no reason for them to go on a full war against the human alliance.


    "The reason is far more terrifying than you think it is." Mezal sighed.


    "The great n that is happening is an attack from the Nether World itself! That''s why vampires are involved!"


    At the mention of the Nether World, the Champions began to have a weird expression. Some evenughed.


    "The Nether World? Such stupid usations." Peridotughed.


    "Orcs of the Foreshire Kingdom! They are in alliance with a distant empire called the Dark Shine Kingdom! Think. The vampire attacks that happened have caused my sons to fall in great peril. Did I not tie my lord to a promise to journey with me to the top of the mountain and find my son? We may be fighting Vampire Masters up there!" Mezal urged.


    "The Dark Shine Kingdom! I know of that kingdom!" One of the older Champions expressed.


    "Knowledge of that kingdom is scarce. After all, no normal human being would travel the Dark Seas. I''ve learned of it from the mouths of vampires I slew. They were vampires from other faraway kingdoms. But this Dark Shine Kingdom suddenly began to attack all the kingdoms. The vampires I killed were teleported here through great magic. They were the survivors of a kingdom that this Dark Shine Devoured. I heard of those tales but never believed it would reach the shores of the " The Champion exined.


    The room turned serious. Most of them did not know of the kingdoms on other regions. The Londs themselves were so huge that they would die before knowing of such a faraway kingdom. How did this Mezal know of that name that even Champions didn''t know?


    "Wait!" Peridot suddenly realized something.


    "How is it that your servant knows thenguage of orcs? He doesn''t seem like the schrly type!" Peridot challenged.


    "First of all, the orc was talking to a vampire from the Dark Shine Kingdom. And therefore, they were talking in english! And secondly..." Mezal turned to Jules and gave the signal.


    Jules began to speak in orc tongue.


    "Who is this uncouth hamster challenging me of my wisdom?" Jules answered.


    Mezal and Jules were smiling.


    Jules had said it with great confidence. However, the pair didn''t know the trantion of the phrase he said. Kyros told the two that Jules would be saying, ''I am rather skilled in Orc tongue, my lord.''


    "PFFT!" A Champion that was gulping water spat out and began tough at the man.


    Several other Champions who knew how to speak orc began tough as well.


    Peridot was so red. One could put the words MAGA on his face.


    Mezal felt something off with those words, but he dared not put it down since he already ced a smiling face.


    "What did Kyros make Jules say?"


    "Bravo! Such courage!" A Champion who had a poor rtionship with Peridot praised Jules.


    "That was amazing!" Another Championughed.


    "I see we have a future Earl in the making!" Another added.


    "My lords, it is not just that. The Dark Shine kingdom would not have the power to trample kingdom after kingdom in the Dark Sea if they were not supported by another. It was a coborative work! We have discovered that the Foreshire Kingdom is in league with the Dark Shine Kingdom serving a master of ancient origin! Jules, tell them what you heard!" Mezal ordered.


    "The orc spoke of a strange name. I thought he was just mispronouncing the word Elder Lich. But my lord Mezal said that it was not a mispronunciation but a real name. This orc was boasting to that vampire in english and wanted that vampire to pass on his deeds to the Eldrich."


    "Eldrich?!" Several champions eximed. That was a race long forgotten.


    "That is correct. You me Lorem Ipsum, Jericho, and the Mage Alliance for betraying us? Can you not see, that such a n to help these orcs and vampires steal from your fort is only possible if there were traitors and Necromancer worshipers among every kingdom?" Mezal warned.


    All the Champions began to frown.


    "Lies!" But one Champion shouted back. It was Peridot.

 Chapter 102 - Truth Of The Eldrich

    Kyros and his group finally reached the top kept looking around the area as they rose from the mountain cave. A thick stench of sulfur permeated the air.


    Kyros immediately made a time check.


    ---


    Nephilim Sealing Temple


    Status: Kyros Unleashed


    Nephilim Training Commencing!


    Shade Level: 2 Interim (10:12:37:53 remaining to start Level 2)


    Temple Level: 4 (1284/10000 points to Level 5)


    ---


    "Five days here... And five days to get back..." Kyros counted.


    "If my Coven doesn''t make it on time, I have father and uncle to help me. I hope theyplete their preparations..." Kyros began to think.


    "So this is to hide the scent for their secret trades..." Martha observed as she covered her nostrils from the strong stench. Airom Vagat also had areas with thick sulfur as many parts of the mountain ranges were active volcanoes.


    "Alright. From here on out, we part ways. Now for somest-second instructions before we go. As nned, you guys will scout the area. Grugnyr will head to any outpost, towns, or whatever to gather more information. Anytime you guys see an enemy, you try to run away. Our current outfits make it look like we''re also orcs. With that, as long as you don''t directly engage the enemy, you''re fine. If they see you or try to talk to you, you flee, and what do you shout?"


    The Coven then shouted in oguage.


    "There are vampires after me!"


    "There are menstruating people after me!"


    The Coven shouted and made Kyrosughed.


    "No, no, no! Hunter, It''s not Van kal. It''s Van kil! ''Van kil homen'' means blood-sucking people in orc, which is a vampire in our tongue. But you said Van kal, which roughly trantes to ''blood releasing people.'' So that should trante to menstruating people." Kyros pondered.


    "Erm... Right! Sorry, Lord Kyros."


    Cminus sighed.


    "The author shouldn''t make jokes like that. This would have been funny in 2010, but my girl J.K already got canceled for that stuff..."


    Kyros rolled his eyes.


    "Son, how good are you in orc? You seemed so schrly. I''ve met people who know other tongues... But you just seem to even the etymology of each word!" Diana was amazed.


    Kyros smiled and recalled the torturous tongue twisters Cminus had him say in the two years he was traveling across time and space. Then, Kyros was tasked to recount several books in Orcish, Elven, Serpentari, First Word, Arthropodian Cry, and othernguages.


    "Those were better days. Right, Kyros? Back then, since you did not have human vocal cords but were on soul form, you could perfectly speak thosenguages. But now, you can''t." Cminus sighed again.


    "My... master was a man of... interesting tastes and hobbies. So I am well-learned in various things, such as the etymology of words for variousnguages. In any case... Remember my orders, guys. Follow protocol, and you shouldn''t be attacked. Remember, don''t do anything without my permission or attack. Even if our goal is to weaken our enemies, I have to see it first. Otherwise, any attempts you try, even if you sincerely wish for it to help me, may not help me."


    "We understand."


    "Also, if you haven''t heard from me even after you sent a warning, or if you haven''t heard from me in five days, just go back and try to look for my mother. You guys should meet back here in five days if I haven''t sent any signal at all."


    "Why? Are you going to disappear?"


    "I hope not. But we don''t know what''s in this ce. We don''t know the full power of the Blood Cmity. Since Fate is totally neutral, it could be nothing, or it could be something totally bad. I But my worry is you guys. I have a way to escape, but you all will be left here. Not to mention, the worst case is you guys won''t be able to enter the fort again."


    "We can''t? But I thought Lord Mezal is dealing with that issue?" Martha asked.


    "He is. But we can''t always assume to be victorious. So in case my grandfather fails, you should be careful in entering."


    "But didn''t you say that Fate won''t be intervening?" Diana asked.


    "Oh, this has nothing to do with Fate. The issue that we have is that there could be Eldrich traitors in the fort already. The vampires we killed inside the fort, which were also the ones that sent those Viscounts, are useful, but ultimately, unhelpful in aplishing their grand purpose. To weaken the human kingdom, they need people from all levels. And that includes Earls and Dukes. Practically, the Eldrich should aim for an Earl to have reasonable control over this region. This is both for orcs and humans. Right now, the Dark Shine Kingdom and the Eldrich don''t really care, whether it''s human or orc. They will draw more minions from both parties and ultimately support one race to eliminate the other, depending on who is stronger."


    "Then you mean to say that when Mezal reveals the word Eldrich, this champion will act?"


    "Champion, or Champions. There could be several. It''s just a precaution. Don''t underestimate grandfather. He fought Fate. He should be smart enough to understand and gauge the scenario and take the right actions to reveal the Eldrich among them. He had a long trip there. So although I gave him that letter, he should be smart enough to take advantage of it."


    As Kyros and his team were splitting up, the scene in the human fortress of Airom Vagat became tense.


    Peridot had taken a surprising stance and became angrier and angrier at Mezal.


    The sudden reaction of Peridot stunned everyone.


    "This usation cannot be taken lightly! It still goes back to the fact that Viscount Gradier, who is one of my disciples, to be a worshiper of the Necromancer!"


    The Champions were startled at the news. They didn''t know that Peridot had taken a Viscount as a disciple!


    "Then can the great Champion Peridot refute the ims, both logically and with actual evidence that Mezal is lying?"


    "Ordeus is right, Champion Peridot. I am watching the Orc army move out as we speak. And the proof of the orcs moving is enough to support the nearly impossible ims of this man. Why else would the orcs wage war to us, humans?"


    "They have always been at war with us humans!" Peridot countered.


    "But they have never reached a point as simr as this! A war from the orcs here near the Airom would mean an all-out war against all races! This mountain is the only source of ores, and the magic of the mountain creates more and more ores by the day! If the orcs cut this off, this will force all human kingdoms to fight for resources! Why would they do that? Why would they be willing to risk losing their primary source of steel and weapons?"


    "It-It doesn''t matter! My concern lies not with this-this orc attack, but the mastermind behind it! The Dark Shine Kingdom? Eldrich? Aren''t those too far-fetched?! But casting all these lies aside, my main issue is and has always been, calling my disciple a Necromancer worshiper!"


    "I am not iming that you are a Necromancer worshiper, Peridot. I provided evidence that my son imed that your disciple is one! You may not have known! This has happened all over the nes World! But since you''re so defensive, why don''t your kingdom investigate you as well?" Mezalughed.


    "You''re the one suspicious! What if the orcs, the armies that marched, are you doing! Your family must have found something in that cave and is hiding it! And that prompted you to do this crazy plot! That''s why you sold all your belonging, haven''t you? Why do that?!"


    "I already told you! My sons are missing! Vampires attack this fort, there was a Viscount who attacked this ce, and it turns out he was undead. The boasts that the orc made pointed to a message that only your team knew. And from my analysis, you hid the information about those ims, correct? Let me guess. You showed it to some of your allies or to some who hated Drake Vestitude and my Lord Ordeus. If there is anyone suspicious here, it would be you! May I ask if there is anyone who can speak and read in orc here?" Mezal suddenly asked.


    "I can." The mage with the vacuum cleaner smiled.


    "Ah, Champion Faye Emberdon! Please retrieve a letter I gave to my lord Ordeus. Because of the terrifying enemies around me and the prospect of my life being handed over here, I wanted to make sure that my death wouldn''t be meaningless. So in that letter is the instruction. I know now that the fangs of the Eldrich have reached this ce. So now that I see this vile Peridot make-up lies and usations, I believe that my life won''t be mine for long. So, Lord Ordeus, please hand it over to Champion Emberdon."


    "Alright." Ordeus nodded and handed a parchment of paper to Faye.


    "Champion Emberdon, please feel free to read the first paragraph of that text. It is written in Orc letters, but it is read in english.


    Faye nodded and gave a courteous smile at Mezal.


    She flung the scroll opened with the tail of the scroll fluttering freely.


    She immediately began to read the words aloud.


    "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard! And they''re like, it''s better than yours! Damn right! It''s better than yours! I can teach-"


    "Ahhh! Champion Emberdon, please read the ones on the other side. I was erm... testing to see if I could write well. And I went with that phrase. The real one was at the bottom." Mezal recalled Kyros''s instructions. He was testing to see if he could write well, and after confirming it, he began to write the real message at the bottom.


    Back then, Kyros had a very frustrated expression, and it was as if he was arguing with someone else. Soon, he finally wrote something on the paper and then turned to Mezal with aplicated expression.


    "Grandpa, this top part of the message is a fake message. This is erm... to-to- hide the real message. That''s it! Right! So just erm... leave this, but when you meet someone who can read it, have this person read it. If there are servants of the Eldrich in that ce, they would speak against you. So choose a person who isn''t against your exnations." Kyros warned.


    Back in the present, Mezal felt so silly forgetting that instruction. Mezal forgot that part and sighed.


    Faye kept on reading the words and slowly began to nod her head.


    "This is sort of catchy..." She praised as she flipped it to the other side.


    "Anyway..." Instead of reading it immediately, she read it quietly first in case it was another mistake. But as she read, her eyes grew more and more serious.


    "What''s in that message?" Peridot frowned.


    "A more detailed report of what his servant heard. It also has a strange ount about a woman with milkshakes..." Faye began to mumble under her breath as she was immersed in her own thoughts.


    "Peridot..." Mezal suddenly called out in a soft voice.


    "What?" Peridot roared angrily.


    "You have some blood in your cor." Mezal smiled.


    Peridot nced at it.


    BOOM!


    "Force Cross!" Mezal smashed his de on Peridot in a swift and powerful attack.

 Chapter 103 - Truth Of The Traitors

    The sudden attack stunned almost everyone.


    Most of the Champions readied their weapons to attack.


    It was then that a powerful force attacked the Champion Peridot all the more. The power was one of the basic knight''s skills. It was created by condensing the Force Energy and hardening it to make a strong barrier that could block attacks.


    Knights were focused on spreading out their Force Energy. But this focus was not meant to deal destructive attacks or create wide-scale destruction. It was used to protect.


    "[Wall]!" Ordeus shouted as he released his famous wall that could withstand an entire barrage of Energy Catapults.


    The Champions could not attack with the [Wall] skill covering Mezal. Mezal kept pressing his sword down and crushing Peridot into not being able to move.


    "I will now reveal your Mark of Servitude!" Mezal shouted as heughed.


    "What?!" Peridot shouted in anger and began to move.


    Various shouts could be heard, and some even moved to attack the wall.


    DING! DING! DING!


    A Barbarian Champion rushed in and delivered massive blows on the Force Energy that surrounded Mezal.


    BOOM!


    A mage shot a lightning bolt to the wall.


    "Release him! This is an outrage!" The mage demanded.


    But then...


    "Scions of Light! Reveal the darkness of their hearts!" Faye released the magic that she had been chanting.


    A bright light shed and enveloped the room.


    Everyone was caught off guard, and many were toote in casting or using skills and spells that could protect them.


    The bright light vanished.


    No one was harmed, and many were confused at first.


    "My my... Three Champions within this room have served the Eldrich!" Mezalughed.


    The Mage, the Barbarian, and Peridot had a strange dark green light appearing over their foreheads. And it took a few seconds before those nearby raised their arms and pointed their weapons at the two.


    "Good call Mezal. No matter what, you are a hero to all the human kingdom! You have revealed a great n to conquer this world! Three proven Champions who serve the Eldrich!" Ordeus dered.


    "How dare you use us of lying! This tricks- AHHHH!"


    BOOM!


    A surge of Holy energy erupted.


    "[Purging Aura]!" Drake Vestitude roared.


    The Barbarian, the Mage, and Peridot suffered from strange burning energy.


    "No more lies! No more cheap tricks! You three are servants of the Eldrich! You! How dare you?!" Drake Vestitude roared.


    Mezal could not help but be amazed. Now, this was a true Pdin!


    "Purging Aura inflicts holy damage to all nearby as I release my Force and envelop this room. You are affected by this. This is because you have all this mark of darkness! How dare you!?" Drake roared angrily.


    Immediately, Mezal sent a secret message to his sons through the message talisman on his hand.


    "What?!" The other Champions watched as the three were groaning in pain.


    A Quick de charged and gave a powerful sh to the Barbarian.


    The Barbarian''s thick skin prevented the sword from cutting through, but it sent the Barbarian crashing down on the floor.


    The mage was attacked by Assassins and brought low.


    "It is true. This is an ungodly mark. Whatnguage is this?"


    "First Word. It is thenguage spoken by the most ancient of all beings. The Greater Gods and the Fallen!" Mezal revealed.


    "That was quite a gamble, Mezal. Offering to me the scroll which depicted the means of revealing the Mark of the Eldrich!" Faye smiled.


    "My Lord, thank you for trusting me."


    "Champions, I''m sure you''ve figured out the n, but Mezal discretely asked me earlier to attack the person he mentions if ever that scroll would be given to someone else. I merely followed his suggestions. Now, Mezal tell me what''s going on?" Ordeus asked.


    "My arrival here assumed the existence of someone who has been serving the Eldrich. The reason I did so was the fact that three Viscounts were able to enter this region so fast. Before Aron came here in this mountain, we did an investigation to figure out who would go. The Steele family and even my nder n have always had an abundance of enemies. And so I kept watching who is there. Suddenly, three Viscount groups went here and have been approved? And by the looks of things, it was a rush decision! One Baron team was missing, but that did not qualify the need to send three Viscounts, especially since the members of the Baron team sent more forces! And I was sure to publicize that my son was alive because his Life Talisman had not shattered!" Mezal revealed.


    "So you believed that several Champions were here on that alone?"


    "Yes! There were also some implied statements from the vampire and the orc that someone here was helping them. I purposely told my servant Jules not to reveal those conversations. I was hoping that there would arise a mage in this ce that I could trust. Then Champion Faye used her magic to prove my ims. I knew that she was someone who did not ally with the Eldrich. So I took a gamble. My actions and Lord Ordeus would draw out the remaining ones as I attacked Peridot and imed that I could reveal his mark. But the truth was, Faye, who has the instructions and the chant, and who has the magic power to do it, performed the chant secretly while these traitors tried to stop Ordeus and me."


    "Peridot, Eclipse, and Stronghold. You three have been secretly supporting orcs and have been trying to make our human kingdom fall?" Drake Vestitude charged.


    "That Mezal lies!" Peridot screamed.


    "Not one of us would help an orc! Why would we help the human kingdom fall?! Say we did, are we going to live with orcs?! Even as cultivators, that doesn''t make sense! Orcs have their methods of cultivation that aren''tpatible with us! This Mezal has made usations and marked us with this strange magic!" Peridot argued. He shouted and shouted, making various arguments that made sense. But all fell on deaf ears. The proof that two other Champions had the same seal as him was irrefutable.


    In truth, the three were as confused as the rest of the Champions. They were servants of the Eldrich, but they have not heard of any ns to make the Orc kingdoms sessful. Their job was to prepare ces and secretly prepare a transport to send more vampires while doing their best to look innocent. The appearance of the first vampires, Zid of the Bloodde n, was a joint work between them. This was also how a vampire troop was able to scale and bypass the outpost and enter the mountain without being detected.


    Mezal threaded carefully and was sure only to reveal the truth of the Eldrich after he convinced everyone that the orcs were behind this. This was done so that by the time he would reveal the Eldrich. The evidence would connect the invisible dots and make these Champions as people who have betrayed humanity.


    "Shut up! I move to execute these heretics here and now!" Drake dered.


    "Champions! I advise against that! There are many mysteries that we don''t know about them! So we have to interrogate them! I suggest that we don''t capture or bind them!" Mezal revealed.


    "What?! Why?" Ordeus asked.


    "Mufufufu. That''s a good n!" Faye had already realized what Mezal wanted.


    "I believe Champion Faye has already pierced through the shrouds of my n. We use these three to bring out more of these traitors who sold out not just their kingdom but their humanity as well!"


    "We are not servants of the Eldrich! We are framed!" The mage roared.


    "This Mezal lies! We are innocent! He has bewitched you all!" The Barbarian roared.


    "Do you three think we are idiots? An orc army is moving. We have been attacked by the undead. There is a mark in your body that does not fade! This is not just some spell or illusion! The fact that you have been affected by my holiness proves that you have given your hand to these vile scums! I would kill you three if not for Mezal''s suggestion!" Drake roared.


    "What do we do with them?" Ordeus asked Mezal.


    "For now, we bind and imprison them. I believe every kingdom wants to interrogate them. Just don''t kill these fools. But you all can all do as you please to gather whatever information you can from them." Mezalughed.


    Several champions red at the captured three. Others were licking their lips. These were their enemies, and they now had a chance to torture them!


    The three realized the terrifying gazes of the rest and shivered.


    "Champion Drake Vestitude. I hope that you can watch over them. Only you have the power to torture them and prevent them from escaping."


    "It will be my honor! Let us consider Mezal''s deeds! He has warned all of us of the approaching orc threat. He has dissolved the conflict that would have created political turmoils not only here but in the human kingdom. He has also revealed the existence of the Eldrich! But most importantly, Mezal also revealed the truth of the traitors within the human race that would have been our undoing! I dere that because of all these deeds, the sins of the nder n are wiped clean." Drake dered.


    "I agree."


    "As do I."


    Ordeus and Faye were the first to answer. The rest said the same thing, and even some gave Mezal hated looks but also agreed with the assessment of his great contribution.


    As all these things were happening, the secret message that Mezal sent to Branze was now written in the notebook of Dyne.


    Aron and Branze could not believe what they had just heard.


    "Is that real? I can''t believe it!" Aron was shocked.


    "To think it would also be him! It''s good that father was able to reveal it. Now we know who to point our swords at. The Steele family cannot continue if he exists." Branze assessed.


    In Airom Logat, Kyros was now running alongside his mother. He opened the notebook that now had Branze''s reports.


    "Your grandfather has confirmed the traitors. Three are captured. One is left alone. Drake Vestitude is confirmed to be in league with the Eldrich." Kyros read.


    "What?!" Diana was shocked.


    "Makes sense..." Kyros reflected.

 Chapter 104 - Truth Of The Vampire Bloodlines

    "Drake Vestitude, a traitor?!" Diana eximed.


    "Mom! We''re on a covert mission! Please don''t shout!" Kyros chastized.


    "I''m-I''m sorry. I just find it unbelievable that he did. How did he prove it?"


    "His n was a sess. It looks like it will be safe for you to go back and enter the fort in Airom Vagat. He managed to outsmart the traitors and revealed three Eldrich servants. But grandfather believes that Drake Vestitude is a traitor. Although, Drake Vestitude doesn''t have the seal. But I wouldn''t doubt grandfather. He probably assumed this from the start since he is so paranoid of Fate. He was only looking for an excuse to prove it. But his arguments make sense." Kyros noticed.


    Since Mezal was able to send the message talisman back to the Temple through Kyros, the message talisman was full of energy and could transmit a lengthier message. This was recorded in the diary passed on back and forth between Kyros and his father.


    "Grandpa detailed why he thinks so. I already exined to him what the bonding process between Eldrich and their servants has. And grandpa exined that the moment these seals were revealed, Drake Vestitude activated the one skill that inflicted great harm on these Eldrich servants!"


    "He''s a Pdin! Shouldn''t any Holy Spell harm them?"


    "They are champions! Mother, If I were to put a torch on your face, it wouldn''t burn you, would it? Your defense and level are just too high for any normal fire to hurt you. And a Pdin''s aura can hurt those who are low-leveled, but the higher leveled ones would only feel difort which would reduce their power by a very small margin. But these are Champions we are talking about! And these Champions are humans and only have death energy on that seal. And think, mother, how did Drake Vestitude know how to attack the seal? And the attack was precise that it paralyzed the three immediately?"


    "He trained for it..."


    "Right. Practice makes perfect! But then again, no one is perfect. So there is really no real sense in practicing..."


    There was an awkward pause.


    "Anyway, if Drake trained for it, he must have learned of it, which is practically impossible since all heritage and knowledge on how to fight the Eldrich is locked up in the Higher nes. So since we are so far away from that ce, the more logical conclusion is that it was taught to him. So I believe Drake has probably met an Eldrich."


    "But that doesn''t make sense! How can he met one when Patriarch said that he has no seal! And did Patriarch also assume that Drake Vestitude is a traitor since this Champion showed no seal? What if he just happened to use that one skill and wielded the holy aura to attack them?"


    "No. That spell that paralyzed the Champions was just too strong." Kyros rejected Diana''s suggestion. He had lived and fought the Eldrich but didn''t know of its power that could attack the Eldrich. The only time he learned of the spells and skills was when Cminus told him that such spells to attack the Eldrich existed!"


    "If that spell can paralyze Champion servants, it''s most likely a secret spell. And as for why he doesn''t have a mark is because he is not a servant. Does Drake Vestitude have some sad past with people he loved dead?"


    "Yes. His wife."


    "Ah. Then that exins it. The Eldrich probably offered him the chance of resurrecting his wife or something along that line." Kyros deduced.


    "That''s possible?!"


    "The dark side of the force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be... unnatural. Erm- I mean... well, you know the thing." Kyros brushed off the weird thoughts he had.


    "In any case, this means we still have a shot in bringing him back to the light. We have first to figure out what that Eldrich offered to help him. Grandfather did the right call and made Drake Vestitude watch over the traitors. Drake may have secretly wanted to kill the traitors immediately to hide any other leaked information, but grandfather made Drake their guardian and protector. It would seem suspicious now for those three to die."


    "I understand. Patriarch did that to throw off any possible suspicions of Drake''s involvement, and at the same time, it makes Drake think that he can somehow keep the matter from escting."


    "That''s right. We should allow them certain victories. With this, we have a spy that can unknowingly give us or lead us to the people acting on the Eldrich''s behalf on the Londs. This should give us more time to prepare. I just hope that it will give us enough time to have the means of convincing him to return to the light since we know that his allegiance is something that can be easily be changed."


    "Son... How is this something that can easily be changed? His wife is dead!"


    "Yeah. And all we have to do is resurrect it. The Eldrich should promise some sort of false life. Or they have his wife''s soul as ransom. The fact that he has a powerful ability to attack the Eldrich servants with an aura attack could only mean one thing... He probably forced the Eldrich to teach him a spell. He doesn''t trust the Eldrich and probably decided to follow their orders if he has some ways of defending himself against them."


    Diana was amazed at Kyros''s deduction.


    "We can''t really be certain. But it doesn''t make sense how Drake can harm Champions easily. I bet those traitors are also thinking the same thing. Drake used that spell not only to restrain these Eldrich servants but to inform them that he has things under control.


    "It''s good that he''s not bounded then."


    "Well, that is the most probable cause. There may be a way for him to hide that mark and hid it when my grandfather sprung the trap. We will have to assume that he is a traitor and only hope that my guess is right. If he can hide the Servant''s Mark, then the only way for us to find out if is by forcing him or trapping him in a circumstance where he would betray the vows and possible restrictions."


    "Are these simr to the restriction you ced on your Coven? That orc seemed rather obedient."


    "It''s simr to what Vampires have. But their constrictions should be something that allows them to maintain most of their personalities. While vampire bindings, such as mine, can put a great restriction and alter a person''s personality, I believe that these humans with whom the Eldrich made contracts have a rather free or limited link. These humans would still act and even harm an Eldrich or other servants so as to make them perfect spies."


    "How do you know about the Eldrich? And now that we''re alone tell me the truth. What kind of a vampire are you? Those Coven of yours gives a rather fearful aura. Stronger than most Dhampirs."


    "They are not Dhampirs, mother. They are Vampire Bloodlines."


    "A Bloodline? I haven''t heard of that kind of Vampire."


    "In the Vampire world, there are several types of vampires depending on the purity of the blood or the strength of the vampire that turned them. There are Turned Vampires, which are vampires who were of another race and were turned into Vampires, and there are the Borne Vampires." Kyros exined.


    "Avary, Scarlet, and Gregory told you of their past, right? At that time, they belonged to the weakest kind of turned vampires. The Dhampir Ghoul."


    "Then are they the stronger forms? Dhampir Primes?"


    "Dhampirs can increase their power by killing, or drinking lots of blood from a vampire with a stronger purity or bloodline. If a Ghoul does that, they can be a Dhampir Prime. From a Prime, killing and drinking more stronger vampires allows you to increase it to Vampire Fledgling. They are the highest forms of turned vampires. But again, my Coven is none of those. They don''t belong to the Turned group or the Borne group."


    "Then what are they? They have a strange aura simr to the usual strong vampires I fought. I recall those vampires called themselves Blood Borne Vampires."


    "That''s from the Borne group. As the name states, they are Vampires borne by other vampires. Unless the vampire mixes with another race, two vampires will always give birth to Blood Borne. Vampires born through a vampire and another race, whether they are turned or not, will give birth to the regr vampire, which is generally weaker. So in vampire kingdoms, vampires usually only mate with other vampires of pure blood. The purer the blood, the greater the potential. Zid Blood de, the former master of Avary, Scarlet, and Gregory, is a rank higher than the Blood Borne. Zid belonged to a vampire ss higher than Blood Bornes. He was a Vampire Master."


    "Then what are Vampire Bloodlines? Are they above Vampire masters?"


    "No. They are actually equal to Blood Borne vampire level but belong to another group. They are not Turned or Borne, but they belong to the Bestowed group. The Bestowed Group is a ss higher as they have been bestowed this bloodline. If Blood Borne is the lowest stage in the Borne group, Bloodlines is the lowest stage in the Bestowed group.


    Diana was shocked at Kyros''s exnation.


    If the Coven were in this special group called the Bestowed, wouldn''t it mean that the bestower was Kyros?


    "That''s what I think the Blood Cmity is. He should be a Bestower. Of course, as you probably noticed, I am also like that."


    "What are the stages? I''ve heard of Vampire blood Bornes and Masters. Are there stages above it? And what would be the equal of your Coven?"


    "Vampire Blood Borne can grow stronger through some rituals, consuming other stronger vampires and rise in rank from Blood Borne to Master and finally, Vampire Royals. They go from Bloodlines to Lords, which is the equal of Masters, and then from Lords to Emperors or Empresses, which is the equal of Royal Vampires."


    "I''ve never heard of a Vampire Lords or Vampire Emperors." Diana answered.


    "There are none here. In fact, it should be rare, even in the Dark Sea. Perhaps only the Nether regions would have these powerful bloodlines. You see, even if a Vampire Emperor and a Vampire Empress were to get married, their offspring would be Vampire Blood Bornes. The Bloodlines only appear when a person has bestowed a bloodline power onto them. This is why it''s called Bloodlines. And only the Vampire Ancients that are mentioned in legends do this. They are the Ancients that formed most of the Vampire families now."


    "Then your Coven could grow to be Vampire Emperors? This means... you are an Ancient?"


    "Well..." Kyros began to think. He knew that everyone, excluding Martha and Grugnyr, could be Vampire Ancients since the original six had drunk nearly three times the amount of blood from him.


    "I guess... they could reach a stage higher?"


    "What''s higher than an Emperor?"


    Kyros shrugged his shoulders. He already told so much to his mother. But he didn''t want his mother to know too much.


    Diana frowned as she saw Kyros suddenly bing secretive.


    "Is that why you are alive? Are you a Vampire Ancient?" Diana decided to ask.


    "I''m something better, I guess." Kyros smiled.


    It was then that Kyros sensed Grugnyr''s link.


    "Oh? Grugnyr found something in the vige. Let''s meet up with him." Kyros then turned and rushed in another direction.


    Diana was now silent. But her head kept thinking about the implications of what Kyros said.


    "Aron Steele. Just what did you make my husband adopt?" Diana could not help but mutter quietly.

 Chapter 105 - Truth Of The Vampires In Logat

    Kyros and Diana sprinted through the mountain region and finally reached could see Grugnyr running towards them.


    "My Lord!"


    "What did you find?"


    "Strange things happened. I reached the vige and began to ask around. But everyone said that they have no memory of hearing such events. And this is weird, considering I know that that region was the first to have made that report. But now, they are iming that whoever sent the report could probably be doing some prank!"


    "They have no memory of this ce? Woo boy. That''s some advanced magic. Vampire Masters and above can train in the magic of illusion, hypnotization, and nting false memories. It could be that they moved here."


    "What if everyone in that vige has already been turned into vampires!"


    "Not possible. Even I can only have eight coven members. Maybe if I get stronger, I can add more. But if I can''t, then other vampires shouldn''t be capable of creating an army of familiars. If they could, they would have conquered the Londs long ago. I doubt this Blood Cmity has the power to turn an entire vige into vampires. Unless there are so many of them. But if they did that, Grugnyr could smell them. He is a Vampire Bloodline. His scent now is amplified."


    "That is true. I can smell around two or three times stronger than when I was an orc."


    "This means that the vampire is trying to reverse the damage of the unwanted attention and went into hiding..."


    "Then we can''t find out the truth of what the vampires have been doing here in Logat."


    "The truth of whatever is going on here will definitely be revealed when we find some actual vampires. And what we need to look for is the members of this vampire''s Coven. Grugnyr, move into the outposts and other viges. If they lost their memory, get out and move to another vige. It''s highly likely that they have vampire masters in that ce. If not, then warn them of what has been happening to the other. We need to keep this ce on full alert. And let''s throw in a bit of chaos. Tell them that you found humans appearing on the eastern part of the mountain."


    "Humans?" Diana asked.


    "We need chaos. Grandpa already did his part in making the humans prep for war. This site also has to do that. With grandfather''s information, we can actually force the kingdom where the traitorous champions belong. So Grugnyr, tell them you found the crests of the Lorem Ipsum Kingdom, the Jericho Kingdom, and the Mage Alliance. That way, the orcs will focus their hatred on those ces. Since the Blood Cmity is hiding the truth of what''s going on here, it''ll be easier for us to spread more lies to force this region to war against each other." Kyros exined.


    "As you wish, my lord."


    "Oh. And now that we''re alone. Grugnyr... You mentioned you belong to the kingdom that the Foreshire took over. But are you a royal member or perhaps one of the loyal knights in one of the kingdoms that the Foreshire Kingdom conquered?" Kyros asked.


    "I am true," Grugnyr answered after a bit of pondering.


    "Is the king, queen, or any of their descendants alive?"


    "...This pertains to a secret that only we know. The Prince is alive. Foreshire usually kills all of the rulers of the kingdoms they conquer, but those like us have scattered and worked to send support back to rebuild our kingdom."


    "Nice. Let''s help them then. Once we establish ourselves in the Temple, we can gift some of the spoils to help rebuild your kingdom. We should rebuild a kingdom that has gratitude to humans to stand with the future war between these Eldrich and us."


    Grugnyr was stunned.


    "That... that would be amazing, my lord! Having you as a pir to support my kingdom will ensure its rise."


    "Don''t count on it yet. Remember, Grugnyr. The moment I help your kingdom, or if you start sending help to your kingdom, Fate will act for it will sense its ties and bonds with me." Kyros warned.


    "If we are to help them, it has to be grand and will be followed with great power. Otherwise, any small support we send will make life worse for them. So resist any urge to help them now."


    "I understand, Lord Kyros."


    "Go now, and perform your mission. Mother, let''s see if we can find the vampires in this mountain region." Kyros turned to his mother.


    The group split up once more.


    A few hourster, Avary contacted Kyros through his link.


    Another hour passed, and Kyros finally reached the location where Avary was.


    "Avary...? What''s up with your attire?"


    Avary had taken off his orc armor and had the appearance of a sick child.


    "Lord Kyros, a group of vampires attacked a caravan earlier. The guards were all defeated as arge monster that looked twice the size of an orc fought them. The orcs were all killed, and the vampires drank their blood. I was able to move closer without being detected since I had no scent."


    "That was reckless!" Scarlet chastised.


    "Not really. You guys are vampires, and your scent and the call of your blood are hidden from other Undead. Thest thing they would expect is another vampire team stalking them. Anyway, let''s move on. What happened?" Kyros asked.


    "The caravan carried several human ves. I noticed that they weren''t trying to attack or kill the humans in the middle of the battle. And one of the orc vampires even rejoiced when they found what was inside the caravan. So as they continued to fight and kill, I decided to sneak in to see what was inside. Martha. I believe I found your sister."


    "My sister?!"


    "Yes. The humans were shocked to see another human in. I had already retracted my fangs to make myself look like a human and talked with everyone and assured them that I would save them and ask them to pretend that I was with them all along. By the time the battle ended and checked on us, I pretended to be sick so that the little life they detected from me was the proof of my humanity."


    "Did you talk to my sister?"


    "I never had the chance. But she looked a bit like you, and the rest was calling her Myas."


    "Red-haired petite girl with a dimpled smile?" Gregory asked.


    "She had red hair! I didn''t notice the dimple. So it really was her!"


    Kyros, however, gave Gregory a strange look.


    "You have a crush on her, don''t you?" Kyros asked.


    "No-No I don''t! YOU have a crush on her, Lord Kyros!" Gregory blushed.


    "Lord Kyros...!"


    "Rx, Martha. I already promised to save your sister. But we may have to change our ns." Kyros sighed.


    "Change our ns?"


    "I''ll exin after Avary finishes his report."


    "Right! We were being brought in a nearby mine. It was rtively small and looked like it hasn''t been used for years. There were numerous corpses of orcs inside. I heard that all the humans were being reserved for when their master woulde. Unfortunately, there were a few more orcs inside as well. I pretended to be chained up, but I immediately snuck out as soon as I could when the vampires weren''t looking. I promised the prisoners that I would save everyone. Sorry, lord Kyros. I have endangered our mission."


    "Nonsense! What are we? We are bad guys, but that doesn''t mean that we are bad guys. You guys are free to do anything other than that. And besides, saving them will add more realism once we retreat and go back to the fort in Airom Vagat. If more people and kids kidnapped appear, it would give us more proof for our lies to urge the human kingdoms to fight. So how strong were the vampires?"


    "The main enemy was thatrge monstrous being. He was so strong and had this strange ability that some of the orc soldiers and even the wolves that the orc riders had would be confused. They ended up running into each other when they charged while others fell into a nk and dazed state. He looked like an orc but didn''t have the same scent and had a body nearly three times the size of an orc. He fought several levels twenty orcs and killed them! He was immune to their attacks."


    "That sounds like a Soul Attack. Only Vampire Masters or Lords can do this. But this creature ought to be a Vampire Lords. He is storing all those blood and is slowly consuming them. This proves my hypothesis. The Blood Cmity, who recently awakened, bestowed the power to be a Vampire Royal on this orc. But that creature couldn''t contain his gluttony and kept drinking and drinking blood, turning him into that grotesque figure that you saw. He can''t control his urges and kept drinking and drinking. Which is normal considering this orc jumped from being a regr orc all the way to bing a Vampire Royal or Emperor."


    "Is it strong?" Diana asked.


    "Very. Unlike humans, who can only get ess to a new ss change when they reach a certain level, vampires can prematurely undergo some form of evolution as long as they manage to purify their bloodline. While their level remains the same, their power increases with the increase in the bloodline. This orc ought to be at level twenty at most when he was alive. And then was forcibly turned into a vampire that normally could only be achieved at level 40."


    "So he''s as strong as Patriarch?" Hunter asked in curiosity.


    "Not really. His power should be somewhere stronger than level 30, though. But this is a rather unstable form. It will take time for him to get used to his new power. His uncontroble urge is proof of that. What about the rest of the vampires?"


    "There were about Seven other orc vampires. They gave off the same power as Zid Blood de."


    "Interesting. This Blood Cmity is able to make such vampires already? Well, it''s good. The power in creating Vampire Masters or Vampire Lords is quite huge. So if we kill them, it would weaken the Blood Cmity. Not to mention, we can destroy one of their secret bases." Kyros smiled.


    "But of course... The best thing is that with so many powerful vampires that have drunk a portion of this Blood Cmity if we drink their blood, our Coven Level would definitely increase!"

 Chapter 106 - Truth Of The Authority Martha Has

    Inside the mines...


    A group of humans was being locked in arge cell.


    In that group were young kids and teenagers.


    One of which was a young servant girl who was the love child born in the Bowheart n.


    The young girl never called herself a Bowheart, but her half-sister had always been there to defend her honor.


    Myas sat down along with the other prisoners.


    "Who was that child?" She couldn''t help but ask.


    "Is it really important?" One of the teenagers next to her asked. The teen had a ratherrge build that made him look as old as eighteen-year-old warriors.


    "Can''t I hope? When I was with the orcs, at least, there was hope that my sister or family will save me. But now, we are with these vampires who are stocking up for food for their master! And that boy said he would save us!" Myas answered.


    "What can a child do?" An old manugh.


    "Don''t hope, little one. I didn''t want to say it earlier. But that boy that jumped in? Do you know how he was able to hide in our caravan without getting detected? Don''t you know vampires have a superb sense of smell that surpasses orcs? And what those were, are orc vampires! We cannot even imagine the precise power of their sense of smell!" An old woman spoke on the side.


    Everyone turned to her.


    "That''s right! Vampires have great noses! How did that boy move in without being noticed?" Another prisoner realized it.


    "That boy tried to hide it. But I lived in a town where there were plenty of vampires. That kid was a vampire too! I think that these orcs are toying with our emotions." The old woman sighed.


    "The vampires I lived with were kind and generally had found a way to live among us. They were good lords who only asked a small portion of our blood every month or so and would hunt monsters. But they always warned us that there are twisted vampires who allow their hunger and gluttony to satiate them. Some even would want to torture humans..." The old woman sighed.


    Myas felt her world crumbled.


    "And these vampires are actually stronger than the lords I served in that town. No Viscount can save us. The earlier we ept our deaths, the better." She gave her grim report.


    "So there is no hope for us?"


    "One of the worst things in life is to hope and not see it. The moments where you see all your hopes die in pieces are the most painful thing. You fall into the opposite of hope, and that is despair. I have seen despair, child, and I have wished to die ever since. Forgive me for being rude. But don''t hope."


    "Don''t hope? What will I do? Cry? I am of noble-born!" Myas wept.


    "Then weep, young one. Weep for the man you will never love. Weep for the life you will never live. Weep for your family, who will never find you. I shall weep with you."


    "Erm. Right. I cane back some other time if you guys feel like crying. But for those who want to be saved, I got the keys. We''re getting you guys out of here." Kyros gave an awkward introduction.


    "Who?!"


    "Who are you?! How did you enter this cave! There are vampire orcs in here! They can smell you!"


    An orc walked by and kept on drinking the blood out of the top half of a dead vampire.


    "BURP!"


    "Child! Run!" The old woman shouted.


    "Lord Kyros. Please don''t kill in that manner. We can''t bite the enemies if you slice them in that way.


    "What?"


    "Not mentioning the blood that fell on the ground, none of us isfortable with bitting the lower parts of a dead orc," Grugnyrined.


    "Oh, for the love of Fate! You guys are vampires! What''s the problem with bitting the lower half of a person?"


    "Lord Kyros, these are orcs. Their bottom halves are just nasty!" Hemseyined.


    "Yeah, Lord Kyros. You stab them in the heart." Hems added.


    "These are orcs! They have greater vitality! Stabbing the heart isn''t as critical as it is for humans!"


    "In the head then! But please just don''t slice them like that! Look at all the blood that spilled!" Grugnyr pointed to the mess behind him.


    "Drink it off the floor then!" Kyros cursed.


    "Lord Kyros, even though we are vampires, but we still have standards!" Hunter alsoined.


    "What... What''s going on?" The old woman was confused at what she saw. An orc and several humans were there, and they all referred to this boy as ''lord.''


    "Just concentrate on saving these people! If those other orcs are not busy inside, we won''t have this chance."


    "You... you guys are saving us?" One of the prisoners asked.


    "Yes. One of my Coven found you and asked me to save you." Kyros exined.


    "Was it that boy?" Myas trembled.


    "Yup. Avary."


    "Wait! Everyone! Wait! You''ve seen it. They are vampires! They could be attempting to steal us from the orc vampires here! If that''s the case, wouldn''t it be better for these human vampires to fight with the orcs and have them kill each other? I say we scream and alert the orc vampires!" One of the prisoners suggested. He kept in mind the tale of the old woman.


    "That''s right! What is your purpose? Why are you saving us?" Another prisoner asked.


    The others took courage. If they all shouted, it would cause amotion, and they could escape. However, Kyros had already thrown the keys, and many were already unchained.


    "We won''t eat you guys. If that''s what you''re asking."


    "Yeah! We are good vampires!"


    "Hmp! Then if you are good vampires, how many lives have your group imed these past weeks?"


    Hunter turned to Hemsey.


    "I''d say about a hundred or so...?"


    "Do we count those guys we killed in the Nephilim Sealing Mountain?"


    "Right. It would reach two hundred if we did!"


    "I think they are asking about humans. So let''s see, those thirty from the Viscount team, the twenty or so from the viges we raided..."


    "What about the ones we turned into undead ghouls? Do they count as killed?"


    "Logically, yes."


    Kyros facepalmed as he was toote to stop the three H from talking.


    "Do orcs also count? We killed quite a lot before going here. It''s actually quite a record. I''ve never killed such many in my entire life before bing a vampire." Grugnyr began to bask on the glory that he now had. He had in warriors stronger than him. As a warrior orc, he could not help but feel impressed at what he did.


    "Stop it! Everyone shut up!" Kyros cursed. The looks of the prisoners were horrified at what they heard. These vampires were arrogantly bragging of their kill count!


    Kyros then recalled Martha and her sister, Myas.


    "You!" Kyros pointed at a random prisoner.


    "Where is Myas?" Kyros asked.


    Myas was petrified. Was she the target of these crazy vampires? She kept quiet. Thankfully, she never revealed her name. She was despised by her own family just as her half-sister was. If she revealed who she was, the name of the Bowheart would only be dragged in the dirt and would only anger her family and do more harm to her sister.


    Orcs had been demanding ransom from the more reputable families and would shame them. As such, Myas kept quiet about her lineage.


    The prisoner was shocked. He was petrified at the discussion of Kyros''s Coven. Not to mention the fact that the orc and the tall knight vampire were sharing the dead vampire by bitting on the left wrist and the right wrist.


    "Hello? I''m talking to you!" Kyros demanded. Who knew when the orcs at the bottom would sense themotion?


    "Wha-? What did you ask?" The man panicked at the odd question.


    "Where is Myas?!" Kyros demanded.


    "Isn''t... isn''t it... behind you? Isn''t that it?" The man asked.


    Kyros facepalmed again.


    The other Coven membersughed.


    "Lord Kyros. Have you found my sister?" Martha finally arrived.


    "We killed that other orc vampire using the poison arrow." She then noticed the room and found her.


    "Myas!" Martha ran and hugged her sister.


    "Sis-Sister?! It''s you?!" Myas was amazed.


    "Yes! I came here as promised!"


    "Then... then... are you...?" Myas realized what this meant. She clearly heard her sister address the vampire boy as ''Lord Kyros.''


    "What''s with the scared expression?" Martha frowned.


    "Did you say something weird that they misinterpreted it in believing that your a genocidal, diabolical, mass-murdering, blood-drinking vampire?!" Martha asked Kyros in anger.


    "It-It wasn''t my fault! That''s unfair! It was these guys!"


    "Everyone, I Martha Bowheart of the Bowheart n. This is Lord Kyros Steele. Son of Aron Steele. For some mysterious reason, he is a vampire, and we are his Coven. But he has not forgotten his vows and love for life. We assure you, we do not kill innocent men but only wicked ones. We are bad guys, but it doesn''t mean that we are bad guys! As proof of our sincerity, you are all hereby being taken in by the Steele family!"


    "Excuse me...? On whose authority?" Kyros challenged. While he wanted to save these people, he didn''t want to add more servants to the Steele Family. So he had already plotted what to do with all things that they acquire, be it material, or in-person, to minimize their sess.


    "Lord Kyros is right, Martha. Although the lord is someone we can push around or joke around with-"


    "Hey!"


    "It doesn''t mean that we can just disrespect him or subvert his authority! And besides, you have no authority to do that as only the legitimate members of the Steele family can do that!"


    "We are doing this on my authority. I am the future wife of Aron Steele. And because I am part of the Coven, I am bound to this family forever. Lord Kyros has to uphold his promise and give me over to Aron. This marriage is final. I am, therefore, Kyros''s aunt! That is the truth! Which means I hold the same position Lady Diana holds. Am I right, lord Kyros?" Martha turned to Kyros.


    "........Drats." Kyros sighed.


    "The Steele family?!" The prisoner''s eyes lit up.


    "That''s right. We have to get out of here! Please follow me!" Martha urged.


    "Hunter, Hems, Hemsey. Move on mymand."


    "Erm... Yes, my Lady." The three followed.


    "Is... this alright, Lord Kyros?" Grugnyr asked.


    "What can we do? She didn''t vite any of the restrictions I ced on the Coven. And she''s right. Let''s go. I still have to exin what''s going on." Kyros added as they left.

 Chapter 107 - Truth Of The Orc Vampire

    The group continued to sneak out of the cave.


    "The two vampires that guarded the outside of the mine had been killed. Lord Kyros used his attack to kill one, and the other was killed by me with a poison arrow." Martha exined to Myas. The other prisoners were crowding over to hear Martha''s whispers.


    "The rest of the Coven is on the other end, guarding against making sure no one passes here. Lady Diana Steele is waiting outside. Lord Kyros was afraid that the orcs heightened senses would alert them if Lady Diana moved inside."


    Myas listened, but she couldn''t believe what was happening. She was about to give up hope when things suddenly changed for the good.


    "So you''re really a vampire?" Myas finally asked.


    "Yes. People wereing to kill me. I needed allies. Lord Kyros is rather entric, but he is strong and kind. At the very least, he''s kind to the people close to him. And as I dered earlier, I am his aunt. Although he''s my lord, he won''t make things difficult for me. Now hurry."


    "What about those other vampires?"


    "Something is strange. Kyros ran ahead and tossed the key to you, but the other vampires down the mines haven''te up yet."


    "Should they?" Myas asked.


    "They should. We killed the vampire. We don''t know who is the Prime Bonder of these vampires or who''s Coven they belong to. Lord Kyros said that the moment we killed them, the Coven should have learned of their deaths."


    "It could be that they are busy. I can smell great blood down the caves. It looks like this is the feeding grounds. The stench would overpower the smell of the humans leaving. Avary did say that they carried the dead orcs to feat for them here..." Grugnyr recalled.


    "That''s true. They simply killed and even kept a few orcs alive. They said that we would be reserved for their queen."


    "Queen, huh?" Kyros frowned as he moved on the front of the group.


    "It seems that this Blood Cmity would be a more ancient being. She could be a Subus!" Kyros frowned. Recalling the lessons of Cminus, Subus was a dangerous and powerful being that surpassed the Eldrich itself! The reason being, these beings were at the level of Saints.


    "A subus?" Martha asked.


    "I''m just thinking worst-case scenario. But, since the thick stench is masking what''s going on down there, send everyone out. I have new instructions for everyone." Kyros ordered.


    The group left the mine and soon met with the other Coven guarding the other part.


    A total of twenty-two humans were brought out of the cave.


    Diana also revealed herself as they went out.


    "That''s...!" Some of the prisoners recognized the familiar form of Baron Diana Redde with Scarlet.


    "It''s really her!" One of the ves was amazed.


    "Have you killed all of them?" Diana frowned. She was waiting for the signal to charge in.


    "Not yet. The fact that the vampires didn''t move after we killed the first two gives us several probabilities. The first is that these vampires are not directly bonded to the Blood Cmity and that therge orc inside is the only one bonded to the Blood Cmity and made familiars of his own. There are other scenarios, but basically, the point is that the vampire orc inside and the Blood Cmity could not sense their deaths. Which is strange."


    "Right. When our ghouls would die, we would sense their deaths." Gregory spoke fast and somehow did it in a way that took the attention of the entire crowd.


    Kyros noticed this and gave Gregory a nce, who was secretly peeking at the reaction of Myas.


    "The other possibility is that it did sense their deaths and is waiting for us toe to him. After all, he might think that a group of orcs is raiding this ce since our ambush on those two orcs was perfect that the Prime Bonder wouldn''t be able to guess what''sing."


    "How many levels did you guys increase?"


    "One level," Gregory answered as fast as he could.


    "Just one?" Kyros frowned.


    "A level for drinking the blood of one monster is quite amazing already, Lord Kyros. Especially since it was divided between us." Scarlet answered.


    "Nope. This shows that those two aren''t directly bonded to the Blood Cmity. These vampires are probably the familiars of therge orc vampire. If they were linked to the Blood Cmity, not only could our Coven level increase, but you should have gained at least five levels or so." Kyros exined.


    "Then this also means that those vampires were true, Vampire Lords? After all, we did level up!" Martha eximed.


    "Ex-Exactly!'' Gregory shouted as well.


    Kyros was now giving Gregory a strange look.


    "So-sorry."


    "Anyway, this confirms that the Blood Cmity is just like me. His first bonded vampire can already breachmonly turned vampires and not be a Dhampir. Even if Vampire Royals were to turn a human, it would just be a regr Vampire. But this Blood Cmity is stronger in the sense that he immediately created a Vampire Lord or a Vampire Master. This could only mean thatrge orc should be a Vampire Emperor."


    "Can we handle a vampire-like that?" Avary asked.


    "Not sure. I guess?"


    "You guess?" The Coven chorused.


    "We can''t always be a hundred percent sure, can we? That orc will look powerful, but it is a newly born Vampire Emperor. In terms ofbat, it wouldn''t be capable of defeating experienced Vampire Masters of Lords. Anyway, this new revtion means we cannot leave this region vulnerable to the Blood Cmity. She is THAT strong. If the Blood Cmity kills and absorbs more, it would be problematic not only for us but for the entirend."


    "Right. One freaky vampire is enough." Martha answered.


    "We''ll kill therge Vampire orc, and Grugnyr will have to bring its head or, if the Vampire Emperor is too strong, you bring the head of another vampire orc to the nearby towns as proof of the existence of the Blood Cmity. We need to get the orcs in this region to be on full alert. That will limit the actions of the Blood Cmity, and she wouldn''t be able to attack and drink more blood."


    "I see. It''s going to dy her growth."


    "Exactly. This is the perfect time to strike. That Vampire''s Coven level is still too weak to make the connection. But, since there will be chaos if we defeat or kill that Vampire Emperor, I decided to have some of you retreat back. Mother, you have to go with them. We can''t bring all of these ves along and have to hasten to bring them to the fort in Airom Logat."


    "No. I will join you in this battle. Send someone else who will apany the group. They can hide in the secret passage until I go there."


    "Hmm... I guess that will work. But we need to send these ves now. Gregory, Hunter Hems, Hemsey. Are you up for it?"


    "Yes! I will protect them with my life!" Gregory shouted before anyone else could.


    "Myas, if he starts flirting with you, tell your sister." Kyros warned.


    "Wha-what?"


    "LORD KYROS!" Gregory shouted.


    "Andstly... be careful. Somethings off. While Fate isn''t active... finding Myas was just way too easy." Kyros frowned.


    Every one of the Coven suddenly had their expressions changed.


    "What could it mean, Lord Kyros?"


    "I hope nothing. But just in case, everyone is to flee back to the Temple. Mother, I understand your concern. But as I said, I have a way to send my body into the Temple. So if I ask you again to run with them, please do it. Protect my Coven." Kyros asked seriously.


    "I understand." Diana nodded.


    "Good. Gregory and the team bring them to that secret passage. Be sure to avoid any orcs. Use your scent to avoid any. Use the caravan they brought here and disguise yourself as orcs. Don''t talk to anyone on the road and rush. If someone shouts at you, you say that phrase I taught you. If anythinges up, contact me to the link."


    "Yes!" The group immediately made preparations and sent group to the caravan.


    The rest journeyed back to the mine.


    "I''ll lead the way," Kyros ordered as the group began to run down the mine.


    As they move deeper into the mines, the dead bodies of orcs and humans filled the path. The entrails and organs of these dead orcs and humans were scattered on the floor.


    "How gruesome." Grugnyr felt sick at the sight.


    "This is a sign of their vampiric power being unstable. The Blood Cmity has so much death energy on her that her blood gave her Coven great madness. It''s as if these orcs suddenly had a new desire, a new emotion, and a new feeling that they never had before. This desire and great thirst lead them to do this." Kyros exined.


    As they moved, Diana suddenly nearly tripped.


    "Are you alright,dy Diana?"


    Diana''s expression turned grim.


    "So that''s it..." A deep, hoarse, and loud voice echoed.


    "A Coven of Vampires are here! This is perfect! Human vampire coven! The perfect dessert for me!" Arge orc more than nine feet tall and with a massive body emerged from the darkness.


    "How?!" Martha was shocked. She had not detected them.


    "No wonder my powers did not affect you. That woman is level thirty. And the rest are vampires!"


    Five figures emerged in the darkness. The orcs wererger than normal. Although they were smaller than the nine feet monster, they were stillrger than normal orcs. Behind Kyros, the bodies of the men and orcs that were killed slowly began to rise.


    Each of them was covered in a thick amount of blood.


    Kyros''s expression became angry.


    "So this is the truth about you. The truth was that you sensed us a while back but decided to trap us. The two orcs were allowed to die to lower our guard." Kyros deduced.


    "You don''t seem like someone who lost himself to this power. You mastered it, haven''t you?" Kyros gazed directly to the eyes of the hulking orc.


    "Hahaha! You''re so smart for a boy! But this is good! Your blood is very strange. Its the blood of a powerful vampire! This will do well for my Queen''s awakening! This is your Destiny. You will all be food for my master!" The orcughed.


    "I don''t quite like the arrangement of Destiny. So I''m going to have to pass on your offer." Kyros answered coldly as the Bloodied Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges appeared.


    The moment the orc first spoke, a notification had appeared in Kyros''s vision.


    The first part of the notification was written normally. It followed the same text and font format that Cminus created ages ago. But the second part was written in a strange manner. It was distorted and even flickered in Kyros''s console. Kyros could feel something trying to force something in his soul with such power that it manifested itself in Kyros''s screen.


    Written in what appeared to be a messy text of bloodied ink was a spine-chilling notification.


    ---


    Curse of Destiny activated.


    Yo U''re A1l g0 iNg 2 DIE t0dAy.

 Chapter 108 - Truth Of The Destiny Of Diana

    There was a group of vampires in front of them. And a great number of zombies were rising from the ground and slowly marching towards them at the back.


    And together with the vampires was the hulking figure of therge, reddish orc vampire with powers that equaled his grandfather. But unlike his grandfather, this being was attacking them.


    The power of the vampire orc surged as the blood covering his body began to move as if it were individual scales that suddenly tensed up.


    Only then Kyros and the Coven could notice a strange faint, dark ripple emerging from him.


    "A dark aura...!" Scarlet could see it.


    "You don''t seem like ordinary vampires since you can see the power of decay. But no matter. The power of my Queen''s Blood is not easily defeated!" Therge vampireughed.


    "Mother, what''s wrong?" Kyros asked her mother.


    "I''m... alright. I was just caught off guard. It''s like [Decay] that those vampire masters casts!"


    "[Decay]? You therepare this power to that weak spell? Behold the power of my queen! By her blood, it terrorizes your very souls and grants you pain!" The vampire orcughed.


    "Bloodline Superiority!" The Vampire orcughed.


    A strange power began to fall on them as his eyes grew ck. The death energy that was being sent out grew stronger. Everyone could feel their blood boil, and a strange power was being created.


    Everyone began to fall on their knees at the immense pain in their head that they felt. Everyone could see a vision of a strange tall woman with ck wings. She had immense beauty that was brought about by her deathly appearance. The sight of her gave everyone pain.


    Scarlet, Avary, and Grugnyr were screaming as they felt the pain shock them.


    "AHH!"


    "My head!"


    It was as if a strange pain was digging into their head and their very bodies.


    Kyros nearly copsed.


    "Do you like it? Do you see her? My queen? The mere sight of her beauty will kill you!" The orcughed.


    Only Diana and Martha could somehow resist the pain with the high level. Yet even the two could only barely standing up.


    "Kill them! I wish not to dirty my hands for these lesser vampires!" The orcughed.


    The vampires began to move and attack.


    Kyros was trembling but brought out his sword and began to attack. But his speed was slow, and he could only defend himself from the attacks of the enemy. He was wielding the Bloodied sword and the Earth Sword with


    "Retreat! Everyone retreat!" Kyros shouted as he tried to deter some of the vampires that were rushing at them.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    Diana and Martha immediately moved.


    Kyros went for the kill. However, with the assistance of Diana and Martha, who was shooting, Kyros took advantage of the attack and was about to stab the first vampire that approached.


    But then, a red blur appeared, and the sight of arge ax was hacking towards Kyros. Therge orc moved with great speed and went for the kill as well.


    "[Force Armor]!" Diana used her skill to encase Kyros with ayer of her force energy.


    Kyros failed to move fast enough and had to block arge ax falling down on him. Kyros took ast-second jump to throw him backward.


    BANG!


    Kyros flew backward and crashed to the wall.


    Diana took his ce and began to attack the Vampires with a powerful shield charge.


    "[Knights Charge]!" Diana roared as she ran and crashed on the orcs.


    BANG!


    The orcs were thrown backward as Diana harnessed her force to widen her shield and managed to push all the rushing orcs backward.


    "Get out of here!" She ordered.


    Kyros could see that the Coven was struggling to move.


    Therge orcughed as he saw Kyros evade.


    "Very good! A vampire of such skill! And a powerful knight! Your blood will definitely please the queen!" Therge vampire orcughed as he approached to challenge Diana.


    "Retreat! We can''t fight like this!" Kyros urged once more.


    But the Coven could not move properly. Grugnyr and Scarlet couldn''t even take a step as it was already taking all the strength they had to keep themselves from falling down on the ground.


    "Lord Kyros! Get everyone out!'' Martha also moved.


    Using the same strategy the pair employed on the battle against the orcs, Diana and Martha used their skills and teamwork to attack therge orc.


    The arrows flew, and Diana stood in front and carried her shield and sword to execute melee attacks. The shield expanded with a clicking sound and became arge diamond-shaped shield that epassed her full height.


    She used her Defender form and stood at the forefront to take the heavy blows of therge orc.


    BANG!


    Diana took the massive attack and took a few steps back.


    "What are you waiting for? Get out!" Diana shouted.


    Kyros red and raged as he turned back to order the Coven to retreat.


    Martha stayed behind and tried to snipe the other orcs who were still recovering from their crash.


    But therge orc used herrge ax to block the arrows.


    Martha cursed. It wouldn''t have been possible for this orc to block her attacks, but the pain caused her to lose concentration, and she couldn''t kill the rushing vampires.


    Kyros was slowly trying to stand up. He even shouted in anger.


    "Hurry!" Martha shouted.


    Awakened by Martha''sst call, Kyros ran and stumbled towards the Coven as he ced something in his mouth.


    As he reached the Coven, Kyros fed something to their mouths. These were among the medicines that he had acquired from the many items he sent to the Temple. The medicine was used to soothe the mind and prevent dark illusions from working.


    The three stopped screaming.


    "Hurry and stand! We need to get out of here!


    Scarlet, Avary, and Grugnyr swallowed the medicine, and their eyes suddenly had some rity.


    "The medicine will onlyst a few minutes! We have to move away from therge orc! Hurry!" Kyros ordered.


    The trio slowly tried to find their footing.


    Kyros retrieved the bow and arrow and began to busy shoot arrows to help Martha and Diana.


    "Rush out of here. The zombies are plenty, but they are slow! You two fought against lizards that are faster! You can do it! Grugnyr, follow behind them! Go!" Kyros ordered as the three finally managed to stand.


    Gritting their teeth at their own weakness, the three retreated back and ran towards the clumsy movements of the ghouls.


    With their speed, the three were confident in evading, but as they approached the first zombie, the zombie suddenly ran with incredible speed.


    The three were stunned and drew their swords to attack.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    The zombies were blown back, but they were not sliced off from the attack!


    "What?!" Scarlet was shocked at the result of her attack.


    One of the zombies managed to catch them off guard and delivered a whip-like p.


    SLAP!


    Scarlet was sent flying back from the tremendous force of the zombie.


    "They''re strong!" Grugnyr cursed. Only Grugnyr managed to resist that attacks and fought back.


    Kyros was just about to pass Martha when he saw Scarlet flying.


    "Scarlet!" Kyros shouted.


    But right before he moved, Kyros trembled and stood in ce.


    "Martha, help them move forward. Use your arrows to aid their escape. I''ll stay behind and fight with my mother."


    "I won''t let my neph-"


    "Martha! This is an order from your lord!" Kyros shouted.


    "...Yes, my lord." Martha reluctantly retreated and began to attack the zombies at the back.


    With theck of arrows, the vampires could now rush in without fear.


    "Kill that damned archer!" One of the orc vampires had been frustrated as her presence was preventing them from murdering the knight in front of them.


    The orcs rushed to the side to bypass Diana, who stood on the gap.


    But right before they can pass...


    "[Force Wall]!" Diana activated her knight skill and created arge barrier that covered her and created a wall of Force energy behind her.


    Smash! Smash!


    The orcs run smashed on the invisible wall.


    "[Force Reject]!" Diana immediately caused the Force Wall to release an explosion of force which caused the orcs to be thrown back.


    The attack of therge orc reached Diana.


    BOOM!


    Diana was blown back from the massive attacks, and the Force Wall shattered.


    Diana crashed down, and Kyros ran towards her.


    "Son! What are you doing here?! Get out!" She cursed as blood leaked out of her mouth.


    Kyros fed her some medicine and stood up and took his stand.


    "AHHH!" Scarlet''s voice could be heard at the back.


    "Your friend''s arm is getting torn off." The orcughed.


    Kyros kept silent. Scarlet''s screams grew louder, and Avary and Grugnyr''s shouts could also be heard.


    Martha had already focused on helping them. But her bows seemed to have no effect against this undead, who acted as if the arrows did no damage at them at all.


    Avary and Grugnyr were now also shouting.


    Diana also forced herself up and piked herrge shield to the ground. Unfortunately, her shield had arge dent, and cracks could be seen on the side of the shield.


    Suddenly, she threw the Vermillion Earth Sword to Kyros.


    "Mother?" Kyros was stunned.


    "Get out. Leave me here and help your friends!" Diana said as he grabbed the Earth Sword on Kyros''s hand.


    "I can promise to buy you twenty seconds." She said as she readied that spell.


    "No! I''m not losing my mother again! Don''t use it!" Kyros cursed. Things were happening just like it was.


    "And my son will not die before me!" Diana shouted.


    ---


    Curse of Destiny activated.


    Diana Redde will die after saying her farewells to Kyros Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos.


    ---


    A notification appeared, which made Kyros curse all the more. Destiny decided to reveal the truth of what was in store for Kyros''s mother.


    Kyros suddenly walked forward with the two swords and red at therge orc.


    [Taunt activated.]


    "Oh? What''s with that look? Such defiance. Fine then. It seems I have shamed my Queen for making poor use of her power. Then prepare to die. The sight of her could kill you! By the power of my Queen''s Blood, I call forth the power of my Queen! Show us your face! Show us the beauty of Death! Show us the seduction of Darkness!" The orc vampire roared.


    The blood that was surrounding the orc began to rise and float on top of him. It slowly began to take form. A beautiful figure of a woman with strange wings was taking shape from the blood.


    "Cminus. Get ready." Kyros ordered.


    "I know..." Cminus answered again.


    "Is Destiny... stupid? Doesn''t it know about your abilities?" Cminus couldn''t help but wonder.


    "I''ll exinter. Let''s go."

 Chapter 109 - The Truth Of The Will Of Fate

    Kyros stood up and gathered the energy in his hands as he slowly walked towards the orc.


    Each step he took became slower and slower as pain appeared on his face.


    "Kyros!" Diana shouted.


    There was no one else there to save them.


    Avary, Scarlet, and Grugnyr were as close to death as they ever were. Martha was also frantically expending her Force energy by using explosive force attacks.


    But Diana could not take another step. This was her limit. The power and malevolent energy that assailed her mind were too much.


    Soon, the form of the woman wasplete. She was blood red, but her figure looked so life-like.


    "It''s not her. Good." Kyros noted as he took a closer look at the form of the subus.


    The orcughed as he watched Kyros''s pale expressions and took several steps closer.


    "Do you see the majesty of my queen?"


    "She''s not that cute." Kyros answered as he began to tremble and even wobbled as he gazed defiantly at the orc.


    "Such foul mouth. The moment my Queen''s avatar opens her eyes, you would die. You can''t even move now from the pain, can you?" The orcughed as he brandished his ax.


    "Anyst words?"


    "Friend at the back... Attack now!"


    [Oration activated.]


    [Cminus used Ssh!]


    The soul tap of Cminus happened. It took a lot for Cminus to move behind the vampire. Apart from the pain that Cminus felt, there was the problem of moving unnoticed. A Vampire Emperor would naturally be able to sense him. But thankfully, his very weak soul wisp form and Kyros''s [Taunt] allowed him to aplish it.


    The sudden tap surprised therge orc, who turned around swiftly.


    And that was when Kyros dropped his tremendous facade.


    Kyros taunted the orc vampire to make it boast and use this attack. But it also gave Kyros time to harness the energy on the Vermillion Earth Sword. The attack he did roughly reached the same amount of attack as Kyros poured a massive amount of Dark Energy on the Vermillion Earth Sword by coating it with the blood in the Bloodied Sword.


    In doing so, the base attack of the Bloodied Sword weakened and increased the strength of the Vermillion Earth Sword.


    Kyros moved with incredible speed and shed the arm of the orc that wielded therge ax.


    The attack drained Kyros of all the strength he had, but he seeded. The arm fell down, and the orc squealed in pain, and the blood ritual forming on top of him disappeared.


    All the blood that was above the orc came sshing down.


    The angered orc swiped at Kyros with his remaining arm. But before his attack reached Kyros...


    "[Knights Charge]!"


    SMASH!


    Diana smashed her shield with a tremendous speed that sent the orc flying back.


    Kyros was already busy drinking the blood that was on the floor.


    Martha was already next to him. Since he made his attack, he ordered the Coven to get near him. Martha took the arm, drank a mouthful of the blood, and threw it towards the retreating Coven.


    The zombies had fallen on the ground and were no longer moving.


    Scarlet, Avary, and Grugnyr had terrible appearances. Scarlet was clutching her arm as she ran towards the arm of the orc.


    The three feasted on the arm of the orc while Diana and Martha fought the Vampire orcs.


    "My patience paid off." Kyros smiled as he stood up. The potent blood that was used to summon the avatar of the Queen''s blood was strong. It was even stronger than the blood in the orc''s body!


    Kyros was extremely patient all this time. He had even ordered his Coven to bear the pain and try their best to stay alive. Finally, to defeat Destiny, Kyros decided to perform a surprise attack that would cause Destiny to be incapable of acting. With his victory and experience facing Fate, Kyros knew that he had to outsmart Destiny and act when Destiny has already revealed all of its cards.


    Kyros, was in fact, aiming for something better. He wanted to kill the stupid orc and absorb all of its blood for him and his Coven. He knew that such potent blood given directly from the Blood Cmity would help his Coven recover. Kyros could see that Destiny was very arrogant and would brag when it got the chance.


    And so, Kyros waited. He waited for the battle to reach a critical state until Destiny prodded the orc vampire to show the most powerful spell he could do and expended a lot of the blood it had to summon the avatar of the subus. And things yed perfectly ording to his n.


    The truth was, Kyros was not affected by the attacks of this orc vampire.


    Ever since the orc vampire appeared and used its powers, Cminus was confused.


    Why?


    Why?


    Why?


    But knowing that he had this ace over the orc vampire, Kyros was very careful in taking advantage of this power.


    The power of the subus was a type of soul attack. It was hard to defend against as long as they were within the range of the orc vampire. But Kyros had been trained and had a Soul resistance of such power that this type of soul attack didn''t do anything to him.


    [Greater Soul Resistance] was a passive ability that Kyros acquired from the torturous experiences both from his time-traveling journey, the lessons of Cminus, and the attacks he received from the Temple.


    Compared to the Temple''s attacks, these soul attacks were but small tickles.


    But Kyros knew that if he revealed that, Destiny would learn from it and would find a way to counter it. So he devised this multiyered plot to ensure that the orc would be wounded and that this blood would be used to create a woman.


    Kyros kept drinking the blood that was now on the ground. But this time, he had the strength, and so he used his sword to keep drinking. He could not help but chuckle as he recalled how one of his Coven''s imed that there were standards among vampires.


    ---


    Level up!


    Strength- 60-> 63 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 80-> 85 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 275-> 281 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 59-> 62 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- Bruh...-> Maybe I should just remove this stat? It''s hurting my feelings. ( Sealed)


    Soul Force- 33-> 39 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 119-> 126 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 121-> 132 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    Dark Resistance skill level increase!


    Dark Maniptor skill level increase!


    Greater Soul Resistance skill level increase!


    Deviant Soul skill level increase!


    Time Surge skill level increase!


    Time Resistance skill level increase!


    Micro-management skill level increase!


    Nephilim Inventory mark items limit increased to 12!


    Pronto skill level increased!


    ---


    Continuum Soul Wisp Level increased!


    Cminus learned Time Keeper!


    ---


    [The power of the Charmed Fallen awakened.]


    [All Devil curses slightly weakened.]


    [Shackling Darkness weakened to Binding Darkness.]


    ---


    Soul Console updating...


    Time Haste skill level increased.


    Dy ability learned.


    Soul Devour ability learned.


    ---


    "Quite an increase..." Kyros smiled at the things he gained.


    "I''ll save my sword and cloak level forter." Kyros absorbed all the blood and nced at the orc that was sent flying back.


    It grabbed one of the vampire orcs, and the blood in therge orc''s body became tentacles and dug its way to the body of the orc it grabbed. The poor orc squealed as its body began to wither. Therge orc''s arm began to grow back.


    "Let''s attack it now!" Diana urged.


    "Not yet, mother. This is the perfect time for my Coven to gain experience. Let''s finish our preparations first before we fight."


    Diana was surprised. A few moments ago, they were on the brink of death. But now, Kyros looked so refreshed. She turned to the others and found that the other Coven had also begun to heal from their wounds.


    "Are you going to tell me now?" Cminus asked Kyros.


    "Remember what you said to me when you met me?"


    "Vampires suck? And mosquitos?"


    "Not that one! I''m talking about when you looked into my past. Didn''t you say that you couldn''t find any traces of my memory? Didn''t you find it strange? How can the Ancient God of Time be unable to trace back what had happened to me in the Temple? Was it really just because my memories were nk in my animal-like state? Wouldn''t you be able to see it?"


    "Erm... Right. That was weird."


    "That means that the Temple has some power of protecting me from being seen by stranger powers. An Ancient God couldn''t see it. It hid me from the eyes of all. Only Fate could see me, but it''s obvious Fate had her hand in building the Temple and sealing me in there. In short, Destiny didn''t see what was happening when I was sealed inside the Temple. He didn''t know what I gained. And so, Destiny assessed the best way to kill me. He had seen my other exploits and concluded to use Soul attacks!"


    "But didn''t the Curse of Destiny appeared when you made contact with your father?"


    "Right. It probably began to sense me when I broke out of the Seal. But it could not sense everything I had earned or gained either before or during. It''s even possible that all the events inside the Temple and the Nephilim Sealing Mountain are out of its eyes!"


    "Because of Fate! This is the will of Fate!" Cminus realized it.


    "This is so strange. We thought Fate is trying to kill you, but its also protecting you. It seems Ancient Fate really has hidden so many things from us Ancient Gods!"


    "Ancient Fate is training me to help fight Destiny. And since Destiny is quite a foe, she is ruthless to me. You could even say that Ancient Fate is trying to conceal things from Destiny. Perhaps the stronger the Temple or I grow, the more ruthless Fate will be to me, but that would also mean that Destiny wouldn''t be able to see what I can gain." Kyros concluded.


    "What a strange mystery."


    "I thought Fate and Destiny were two powers of the same source. But it seems that it''s not the case. This should be rted to the mystery of Beginning and End."


    "I will kill you!" Therge vampire orc roared as he brandished his ax. His vampire followers followed.


    "You''ve weakened! You can''t even control the zombies now. In any case, thanks for the meal."


    "I will kill you and take back the blood of my Queen! How dare a creature like you taint my Queens blood! I will feast on your flesh!" Therge orc took out a strange red pill and bit at it.


    Powerful energy erupted as the blood around the orc began to grow stronger.


    "It''s growing stronger again!" Diana frowned.


    "Don''t worry, mother. It took him a long time to contain that energy. That must be the blood of the Blood Cmity. It seems he was given two blood pills. This should be fun. We had the appetizer. Now it''s time for the main course!" Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 110 - The Truth Of The Strategy

    The orc vampire continued to harness the energy that was now running all over his body. The small blood pill erupted in his mouth and became what seemed like a river of blood.


    The red power continued to course around it''s body and brought out a change on the blood it had on it''s body. The blood pill began to create a chain reaction on the blood it had.


    But Kyros only watched with a big smirk on his face. This was because the orc was not the only one that was undergoing a power-up. He could feel it. The surge of power happening. The Coven''s power was transforming.


    ---


    Coven Level increase!


    Coven: Coven of the Nephilim Level 3


    Coven Blessing: 3 -> 4 Added stat points


    ---


    Abilities:


    Dark Link Level 2->3


    Minor Life Vampiric Trait 1 -> 2


    Ghoul Commander Skill 1 -> 2


    Dark Consumer Level 2-> 3


    Dark Sensitive Level 1->2.


    Blood Devourer Level 1->2


    Dark Resistance Level 1->2


    Micro Managed Level 2->3


    ---


    Blood Bond skill bestowed.


    Decay skill bestowed on all Coven members.


    Death Ripple skill bestowed on all Coven members.


    Minor Vampiric Healing bestowed on all Coven members.


    Minor Soul Resistance bestowed on all Coven members.


    Blood Weapon skill bestowed on all Coven members.


    ---


    "Wow. That''s one hell of an upgrade."


    "Of course it is. The concept still applies. I drank this vampires blood which had been transformed by the Blood Cmity. Each of my Coven should be increasing by about five levels! What''s interesting is that the Dark Consumer, Dark Sensitive and the Dark Resistance skills which was an ability that my vampires individually have has now be a general skill for all my Coven."


    "Blood Bond... That''s the skill of the Fanged Fallen. As he grows, all of his minions grow stronger. Its passing on the abilities you have to them! In fact, if they can learn a new ability, its like they can pass it back to you! But I think it got passed on because your Coven learned it. Blood Bond allows them to share experience and knowledge. This is the power of that Fallen! It is said that she was the first to have created a Coven. And her warriors all shared her power. I once fought her and those minions of hers. She''s really strong."


    "I see. So since most of my Coven had learned those three Dark skills, it has now be an ability that everyone can use... What a terrifying ability!" Kyros smiled.


    The Coven approached Kyros. They could see the form of therge orc standing with his four vampires by his side. The zombies at the back had lost their unlife and didn''t move any more.


    "Lord Kyros... We are a bit wounded... But we can fight." Scarlet had an angry look at therge orc. Her arm was reattached but it was still dangling.


    "I can fix that." Kyros smiled. All the blood on the floor had already been taken by his sword. And Kyros sacrificed it.


    "Blood Heal."


    ---


    Blood Heal Skill acquired.


    ---


    A bright red sh appeared and all the Coven and even Diana felt a refreshing power mix within them.


    The Coven''s wounds were healed and only a few wounds remained.


    Scarlet''s arm was now back to a condition which she could use it to fight.


    "My regeneration ability increased!" Diana realized what happened. Although her wounds were not immediately healed, she could feel her body gradually recovering.


    "You! I will kill you all!"


    "Coven. Let''s test our new Dark Link. It should be capable of giving more precise orders." Kyros smiled.


    Kyros the essed his Soul Console and began to link it to his Dark Link.


    The Coven felt a strange line forming.


    "Lord Kyros?!" Gregory and the Three H all called out.


    "We''ll talkter boys. We''re busy. The rest, get ready. Follow mymands."


    [Oration activated.]


    "Everyone, summon your blood sword. Martha, you should be able to produce a Blood Bow and even arrows. There should be plenty to form it." Kyros ordered.


    And the Coven did. The three raised the other arm and a sword appeared.


    Martha surprisingly formed a sword.


    "Oh? You want a sword?" Kyrosughed.


    "I''m done shooting arrows for today. I want to get closer and stab that little prick in the face!" Martha red at the orc.


    This insult was the tipping point and all the orcs ran with great speed.


    "Mother get back! You are too wounded to fight, especially with your broken arm! Stay at the back and don''t rush and attack like mad to any of those small vampires! Allow us!" Kyros ordered.


    Diana was stunned at Kyros''s words.


    "Scarlet, Grugnyr, Avary, Martha. Fight one vampire each! Leave the big ugly one to me!" Kyros shouted.


    [Taunt activated.]


    [Oration activated.]


    [Deception skill acquired.]


    The angry orcs raged and moved to attack the group. Therge orc aimed for Kyros as the rest of the vampires rushed towards Scarlet and the group. For some strange reason, the vampire orcs followed the same arrangement that Kyros ordered.


    The first to attack...


    "[Knights Charge]!"


    SMASH!


    Diana rushed with incredible speed and smashed one of the vampire orcs with her shield. She was not injured. So when Kyros said that she had a broken arm, she realized it was a trick!


    When the orcs moved, Diana noticed that the Coven gave a small path which she could use. Martha had intentionally moved to the side. And seeing this, Diana decided to do the exact opposite. She rushed like mad and smashed her shield to one of the vampires.


    The vampire orc was thrown back from the sheer power of the charge. The attack was sudden and the Vampire Orc didn''t notice her and was unable to defend.


    The sudden appearance of Diana caused the other orcs to be stunned. They failed to notice, that the three Coven had dashed with their bodies as low as possible.


    At the back, was Martha. Three blood arrows were shot and aimed for their eyes.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Three arrows flew and stabbed their eyes and exploded with great force.


    The orcs were screaming in pain from the surprised attack and this allowed the Coven to attack and stab them with their swords. The sword stabbed on the heads of the orcs creating another wound and blinding the orcs.


    Therge orc was at the back of the group and was stunned at the attacks that the Coven made.


    He grew angry and his entire body grew red as a powerful energy gathered around them.


    "This is my queens power! Blood Force! I''ll kill you all with one strike!"


    "Then let''s see who''s stronger! You''re axe or my de!" Kyrosughed as he ran and jumped.


    Therge orc raised therge ax and a strange power gathered on his arms and aimed for Kyros.


    But while Kyros was still several meters away...


    "Caravan Crash!"


    This time, it was not just a caravan. Since Kyros found this attack quite interesting, he made several instructions to the group who filled some caravans with stones and some of the carts with dirt. And these carts and caravans was summoned directly from the Nephilim Sealing Mountain.


    The sudden appearance of three caravans and carts copsing their load startled the orc. His arm was still holding the ax at full arc as his estimate of Kyros made him prepare for a wide swing.


    The orc swiftly sent the attack down and released the red energy which exploded outwards.


    BOOM!


    The caravan was wrecked and the stones and dust exploded outwards.


    The dust from the shattered rocks and dirt was causing the already darkened mines to grow even darker. His vampiric sight could not see through the dust that kicked up from his attack.


    The orc had many wounds. The impact and explosion of his own attack struck him. There were just too many dirt and stones in those caravan and he was nearly crushed by it. Somehow, the orc found the strength to stand. There were rocks and dirt covering his feet up to his knee.


    "You allies are dead." Kyros could be heard chuckling behind the thick dust.


    The screams of the three orcs were now silent. The Coven had already blinded them and with Diana and Martha crowding on them, they died as expected.


    The orc turned to thest remaining orc that Diana used Knights Charge on and realized that orc was in critical condition. Although Diana''s [Knight Charge] sent him flying behind therge orc, there was now a thickyer of entropy had already corroded him. And on his body was an arrow that had a strange green energy. The arrow had already decayed and corroded from the poison.


    "When did this..?" The orc''s expression turned grim. He could sense the evil power that waspressed within. If he was given a few seconds earlier, it was possible to save this man. But now... there was nothing left to be saved and the regeneration would not heal the vampire.


    "Ma-master..."


    "What poison is this?!" The vampires were all equal to level 20 knights! They should have been capable of dealing with a group of vampires who have not even undergone a ss change or even took up a job!


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Several arrows flew and the orc immediately stabbed the axe on the ground and it released the blood energy that was covering it.


    A red dome appeared and covered him.


    TING! TING! TING!


    It was as if the arrowheads struck metal. The force energy that apanied it could not breach the red dome that suddenly appeared. The orc stood on the center and the shield roughly covered two meters from where he was standing.


    "[Blood Wall], eh? If we drink everyst drop, we should gain that ability." Kyros''s voice could be heard.


    As he kept evading, several figures ran through the thick dusty cave and surrounded the orc.


    But surprisingly... there were several more figures could be seen moving within the falling dust.


    "When the dust clears... we all attack! Good job Coven!" Kyrosughed.


    "You liar! You cheat!"


    "Why should I follow the ns I announced to you? Isn''t that stupid? The truth of the strategy I told you was that it wasn''t the truth!" Kyros chuckled.


    "And you fell for all of it! What an idiot!" Kyrosughed.


    "I''ll kill you!" The orc raged and he swallowed another blood pill.


    "He still has one more, eh? I was expecting you to have more and swallow all of it." Kyros was not in anyway afraid.


    "You fool! This isn''t a drop of blood like the previous pills! This has the soul of my Queen!" The orc gave a madugh.


    BOOM!


    The power of the pill disyed itself. A strange force was covering the orc.


    "So he does have something like this. As expected." Kyros observed.


    "Thats...!" Martha could not help but cry in shock. The power that was appearing was something that gave her fear.


    "Lord Kyros... Don''t you have this power?" She asked.


    "Not that many. Fallen Source. What a gift. It looks like Destiny really gambled a lot."


    "His strength is going to go over level 50!" Diana shouted.


    "We attack him now! Prepare to attack! We''re breaking this shield before he finishes absorbing that blood!" Kyros ordered.


    A green and orange glow erupted revealing the figure of Kyros.


    Kyros was standing with two orbs on one hand and the Bloodied Sword on his other hand.


    The Darkness contained the two elements that were being pumped into the sword.


    "Prepare yourself orc! You shall taste my strongest attack! Two dragons shall rise and break the sun! Your life force will be drained! This is my strongest attack! Twin Dragons Strikes the Sun!" Kyros called out the dominating name of his attack.

 Chapter 111 - What A Horrifying Monster

    The powers Kyros summoned and imbued on his sword were even greater than those he had revealed back when he fought his grandfather.


    The level up increased his strength, and the curses that bound his control in darkness have weakened. As a result, it was easier for him to control the darkness, and now he could channel a more potent energy. His mastery and the power of darkness that he had now far surpassed the control and power that any Vampire Emperor could ever control.


    Kyros wielded the darkness to contain and control the elements from the two elemental cores.


    The orbs suddenly disappeared, and the Vermillion Earth Sword appeared on Kyros''s hands.


    The orc saw it and sneered.


    "Ha Ha Ha! That power is not enough to breach this Blood Wall!" The orc had experienced Kyros''s first attack, which sliced off his arm. He knew that the Kyros now had the strength to breach his bodily defenses. But the Blood Wall was another story.


    The orc continued to increase the wall''s power as he held on to the ax stabbed on the ground with one hand to send more of the blood he acquired there.


    The wall became thicker. At first, it was like a semi-transparent red ss that kept on spinning. But now, it has be more formidable and became a wall.


    Kyrospleted his charge.


    "The Green Dragon and the Bronze Dragon shall rise, and the sun shall be broken!" Kyros vowed, and he began to move.


    The power that reached level forty was moving and began to approach the wall.


    The orc concentrated and braced for the impact, focusing every fiber of his concentration into the wall.


    Then the attack began...


    "Twin Dragons Strike the Sun!" Kyros shouted.


    RUBBLE... RUBBLE...RUBBLE...


    Two fists rose and broke through the dirt from the knee-deep dirt mound surrounding the orc.


    A green fist and an orange-like earthen fist punched out as the bodies of two golems surfaced and delivered a terrifying uppercut.


    These two fists rose, and therge orc that was fixated on channeling the Blood Energy into the ax, which was the medium for creating a Blood Totem. As such, he did not see these two fist strikes headed for his groin.


    POW! POW!


    Smashing.


    "HLLLKKKKK!!!"


    The unprepared and undefended groin suffered a tremendous trauma as Mardock channeled all the Entropy magic he had into that fist. The golem pair aimed for the part of the orc that was most undefended. The orcs, who shared a simr anatomical cement of their organs and the reproductive system, would naturally feel the pain even if they were undead.


    He could not even scream from the castrating punch but quietly bent down to search for his life jewels but realized that his son was gone.


    RUBBLE...RUBBLE...RUBBLE...


    Another figure emerged from the dirt mound, grabbed the ax on the ground, and pulled it out.


    The red energy attacked the golem, but the golem did not mind the deterioration caused by holding the ax and continued on pulling it out.


    Another Golem appeared and pulled it out, and the pair was able to remove the ax.


    As the two did, they began to crumble from the blood energy that attacked them. But in their final moments, the Blood Wall copsed.


    The Coven and Diana saw how the golems were already inside.


    "You summoned them during the Caravan Crash?" Martha guessed.


    "You got it! Genius right? He was so fixated on my attack that he didn''t see the two dragons breaking his twin suns."


    Kyros casually walked inside the perimeter and touched the ax.


    "I''ll admit... the taste of your queen''s blood is quite something! The power of the Subus has awakened my dormant powers..." Kyrosughed as he rushed and attacked the red ax with the sword.


    BOOM!


    A distant cry of a pained woman echoed out as Kyros struck the ax. The red blood rebelled and tried to fight back.


    The orc also howled in pain as it felt a strange connection to the attack on the ax but then could sense the call of the blood to attack Kyros.


    "I''ll... Kill..."


    POW!


    The golems began to pound the orc.


    Kyros was panting after the attack. The blood on the ax kept on trembling and raging.


    "Too bad you are just a Totem. This ax will be a powerful weapon once I remove your spirit. I should have weakened you enough!" Kyros raised his hands and gathered the darkness.


    "[Devour]!" Kyros activated that ability.


    Darkness appeared and began to consume the blood that was on the ax. The Blood tried to flee and began to move out of the ax, but the strange darkness wouldn''t let it go.


    "AHHHH!" Therge orc felt a painful sensation as if a part of his flesh was being peeled off.


    "This is a neat power. But not as cool as Deception." Kyrosughed.


    With Oration and Taunt and the awakening of the charm and alluring call of a subus, Kyros learned a powerful skill.


    [Deception] was not just an average lie. It was the utilization of his powers from the Charmed Fallen.


    All that Kyros said deceived the enemy. From the strategy he announced the Coven should do, Diana''s injury, the announcement of his powerful attack, all of it led the orc into falling into various traps.


    Therge orc expected a melee of four-on-four, excluding the level 30 knight. But he got a [Knight''s Charge] an archer ambush from the powerful bows of Martha who didn''t use the Blood sword she made but stuck in using her original bow. That same archer used a strange arrow coated in poisonous material that sniped the orc that was sent flying from Diana''s charge.


    And just when he thought he would sh with Kyros, somehow a caravan and some carts full of dirt and stones appeared and absorbed all the attack. He received countless wounds, and his bones were even fractured from trying to blow away several tons'' worth of dirt and stone.


    There were two golems, one earthen-orange and a green orange, that kept on punching and attacking the orc. As the orc was too weakened from the constant pain that was assailing his soul, he couldn''t even dodge or block the attacks. The strength in his arms had been growing weaker and weaker.


    But after several punches, the earthen golem copsed as its fist gave in to the wild red blood on its fist corroded it.


    Only Mardock remained as the blood sttered on Mardock''s fist would get eaten up by the entropy.


    The Coven and Diana surrounded therge orc and observed.


    "Can anyone tell me what''s happening now?" Diana asked.


    "The blood is losing all vitality and is now eating the flesh of the orc. This is why the orc is too weak to fight. This is the weakness of this blood art." Kyros exined.


    "Not that! I thought we were doomed! But it seems your Coven knew that you could fight back! What happened?"


    "Sorry about that, mom!" Kyros chuckled.


    "You don''t have the Dark Link, so I was unable to inform you.


    "Ever since the start of the battle, Lord Kyros had already told us to trust him. Of course, we were trying to run away for real and were being nearly killed. But we''ve always had the impression that this was part of his n. He even told us to give a few of our limbs." Avary answered.


    "That wasn''t hard. Those zombies could''ve really killed us!" Scarlet sighed.


    "That was all part of the n to make it look like we were losing. Thank you for your bravery, guys." Kyros thanked the three who gave up their limbs in that fight.


    "You trust your lord so much that you kept fighting! Even when they took away your arm!"


    "And my leg." Avary pointed.


    "And my ax!" Grugnyr raised his wrecked ax.


    "This was all part of Lord Kyros''s n. Since the start, he had it all under control." Martha assured Diana.


    "You guys are making me blush." Kyrosughed as he extended his arm to the orc.


    "Your mistake was creating a Blood Totem which kept releasing that wall. Without it, I wouldn''t have been able to directly eat on your Queens blood due to the ferocity of the blood. But now... [Devour]!" Kyros began the attack on the orc as the blood on the ax had already been drained.


    The orc began to shout in pain.


    "Huh? I leveled up twice already!" Martha noticed it.


    "Me too!" Scarlet was delighted.


    "Its Blood Bond. Not just you. But even Gregory and the rest should be experiencing this. As long as there is a powerful contribution that will affect our bloodline, it will be shared among everyone."


    "Amazing!" Martha began to close her eyes. Using her link with Kyros, she pulled up the stats.


    "Lord Kyros... I feel another portion of energy growing in me..." Martha was confused.


    "That should be Fallen Source. Amazing. You guys are developing it. Your bloodline should undergo an evolution once it''s finishing digesting it. You would be Vampire Lord''s soon." Kyros was pleased.


    The orc kept shouting in pain. But as his groin was destroyed and the thick earth held his feet, he could not even harness the energy to lift it up. It was as if he was being drained with his strength.


    "This is the Blood Cmity, guys. As you can see, the life force and strength of the Blood Cmity are contained in their blood. Her body is her blood. Whatever form you see as their body is but a manifestation. In short, if even a drop of blood remains from this Blood Cmity, she is alive." Kyros exined.


    "What a horrifying monster." Diana was amazed.


    "Well, the Blood Cmity is a Subus. So it is a monster."


    "I''m not talking about the Blood Cmity. I''m talking about you! That power is too wicked and evil! And you just ate it with that spell, Devour! How can you not be affected by it? That orc became a ve to the blood of her master! Hisst stand was a death stance! He wouldn''t be able to contain that power unless he drinks massive amounts of blood! Just what are you?!" Diana asked.

 Chapter 112 - What An Amazing Son!

    It was just too weird for Diana.


    She had epted her death. However, the strange ripple that created such pain in her head was unlike any attacks she''s experienced or even heard about! If such a power were to appear in the Londs, it would have made the wielder the ultimate ruler!


    And that was somehow resolved with Kyros making a strange surprise attack. What prodded that orc to turn around? What the freakin'' fragment was up with his Coven? How did they all receive a healing spell? And how could they pull off such a dangerous routine! The arrows that Martha shot were just inches away from the head of the Coven!


    But most importantly, what is up with his son? How was it that he could devour the blood of the Blood Cmity and seem unaffected?


    "I''m your friendly neighborhood, vampire!" Kyros answered the questions of his mother.


    "Like hell you are?! How is everything you did possible? Why aren''t you driven mad by the blood you drank? Why don''t you desire blood?"


    "Oh right! As a Pdin-in-training, you were taught the magic that binds vampires and their ilk."


    "What do you mean, Lady Diana?" Scarlet respectfully asked curiously.


    "And what''s with your Coven?! They seemed so... so... human! Listen up, little girl! And you two, orc and boy! Vampire blood makes others hungry as they would be in a constant need to devour other blood. The blood you have in you that made you vampires demands more food! That''s why you grow hungry for blood! This orc had the blood of a Subus. And while I don''t know what exactly that is, I am sure that it surpasses a Vampire Ancient! This was also why he kept drinking lots and lots of blood and killed so many! He needed to satiate the craving of her queen. Otherwise, the blood within him will kill him!"


    "That''s the side-effect of the vampire''s blood?" Avary was stunned.


    "Yes! You''re not Turned Vampires! I know you are Bloodlines! If you were Turned, you would have been able to withhold the thirst as the blood that the vampire bonder bestows is too little! But the higher you get on the vampiredder, or the more blood you drink, the craving begins!"


    "But we didn''t have that thirst..." Scarlet frowned.


    "Exactly! That''s why this is all so strange! I believed that whatever bloodline my son has, it wasn''t stronger than the Blood Cmity''s blood! Look at this orc! If we didn''t fight him and run away, he would have died within a few minutes! The blood of her queen demanded so much life! This orc probably believed that if he could just drink my blood, it would satiate the hunger of her queen''s blood that was eating the orcs body."


    "That orc wanted to drink Lord Kyros''s blood? What an idiot." Marthaughed.


    "If he seeds in drinking your blood, his queen''s blood would be devoured! Lady Diana. As you have said, we are all vampires, but none of us have lost control over the blood of humans. We have been drinking the blood of enemies, yes. But no madness could be seen in the eyes of Scarlet, Avary, Grugnyr, or myself. This proves that Lord Kyros has blood stronger than normal."


    "That''s why I don''t get it! How can such a vampire exist? Kyros. I want answers. Now." Diana demanded like a mother.


    The orc finally fell. Although his body had blood and he was still alive, the power that raged earlier was gone.


    "Dinner''s ready!" Kyros called out and motioned for his Coven to move.


    "Drink up!" Kyros ignored his mother.


    Martha chuckled and was the first to bite the orc. She pitied Diana. She had been trying to find her answers at Kyros when she had the time, but Kyros kept ignoring her.


    "Kyros! Answer me! As you''re a mother! Answer me! If you don''t... I''ll...! I''ll...! I won''t give you money if you need it! No allowances."


    "...I''m probably richer than you, mom."


    Martha chuckled at this sight. She had been trying to gather more information about her bloodline as she had learned simr things as a noble and a warrior. But he got no answer from Kyros and eventually decided to go along with the Coven and expected to see strange things. Now Diana was asking.


    "You should answer the question your mom is asking, my Lord." Martha chuckled.


    "Alright, fine... Let''s me exin something first. If this orc drank my blood, actually no! My bloodline won''t devour the Blood Cmity''s blood. In fact, it will make the orc and the Blood Cmity stronger."


    "Her bloodline is stronger than yours?!" Scarlet was stunned.


    "No. My bloodline is slightly stronger, I guess?"


    Cminus rolled his eyes.


    "Slightly stronger? Only Chuck Noris''s blood surpasses yours!" Cminusined.


    "My bloodline has been sealed. So it won''t be able to fight back. This was why I weakened the blood first. It was not just like the other blood that we can drink. It will attack you as it is alive. So I used to devour and absorbed the blood directly. But what I want you guys to understand is that I''m not like this Blood Cmity. My power does not lie in my blood alone." Kyros answered.


    "Where does it lie?"


    Kyros shrugged his shoulders, refusing to answer any further.


    "Then your blood is more powerful. But how is it that the death energy of your Coven has decreased even more! If Pdin''s looked at them, they would think that these people are just sickly and wouldn''t guess that they are vampires! You are a vampire that not only grants a powerful bloodline, but it breaks thews! They are not undead! What powerful freakin'' bloodline did Aron adapt?! You''re grandpa''s right! Will he adopt a pet god soon?!"


    "Regarding their state, it''s actually a hypostatic form thatbines both life and death. But who knows if this will keep up. But for now, it''s beneficial. They can openly appear in public and not be thought of as vampires." Kyros answered.


    "Now, please excuse me, mother. I need to check my stats." Kyros smiled and closed his eyes. He could feel that the Coven was growing stronger once more as the four drank the remaining blood in the orc.


    ---


    Divinity of the Mysterion awakened.


    Skotos Eis Phos skill acquired.


    Light Resistance skill acquired.


    ---


    Level up!


    Strength- 63-> 65 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 85-> 88 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 281-> 283 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 62-> 63 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- Bruh...-> LA LA LA LA! I''m not talking to you! ( Sealed)


    Soul Force- 39-> 44 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 126-> 138 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 132-> 136 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    Dark Resistance skill level increase!


    Dark Maniptor skill level increase!


    Eyes of the Supreme Commander skill level increase!


    Micro-Management sub-skill skill level increased several times!


    Nephilim Inventory mark items limit increased to 13!


    Pronto skill level increased!


    ---


    Dark Core formed.


    ---


    Origin Absorption Level increased!


    Soul Unsealing Level increased!


    God Unsealing Level increased!


    Devil Unsealing Level increased!


    Celestial De-Code Level increased!


    Fate Comprehension Level increased!


    ---


    [Dark Artificer Level 4 reached!]


    [Heretic Teacher Level 3 reached!]


    [Fate Challenger Level 3 reached!]


    [Heretic Fighter Job acquired!]


    [Silvertongue Job acquired!]


    ---


    Continuum Soul Wisp Level increased!


    ---


    Kyros has sessfully thoroughly subverted Destiny''s attack!


    Rewards:


    10,000 Temple points.


    Bloodline Sess Limiter has been halted for twenty days.


    Bloodline Apathy of Fate has been halted for twenty days.


    Kyros''s Fate Curses halted for twenty days.


    Okto-Kefali Whelpling Eugene seal halted for twenty days.


    ---


    [Temple Level increased!]


    [Holy Beam unlocked.]


    [Shade Level 2 Interim period reset to thirty days. Kyros may initiate Shade Tribtion.]


    ---


    Coven Level increase!


    Coven: Coven of the Nephilim Level 4


    Coven Blessing: 4 -> 5 Added stat points


    ---


    Abilities:


    Dark Link Level 3->4


    Minor Life Vampiric Trait 2 -> 3


    Ghoul Commander Skill 2 -> 3


    Dark Consumer Level 3-> 4


    Dark Sensitive Level 2-> 5


    Blood Devourer Level 2-> 8


    Dark Resistance Level 2-> 3


    Micro Managed Level 3 ->4


    Blood Bond Level 1-> 2


    Minor Vampiric Healing Level 1-> 5


    Minor Soul Resistance Level 1 -> 3


    Blood Weapon Level 1 -> 3


    ---


    "Damn, son! What a haul!" Cminus praised.


    "That was quite a shocker. My Divinity is unlocked? What''s a Divinity?" Kyros turned to the most important ability that has been revealed.


    "Divinity is what makes a God a God. Greater God Dardiel''s Divinity is the Celestial Code which allows him to be the master and wielder of several elements. Ancient God''s have stronger Divinity. Fate''s Divinity is her power known as the Grand Weaver. My Divinity is the Continuum. I don''t have a clue what Mysterion is. But we can take hints. I''m talking about your ability, Skotos Eis Phos."


    "Darkness to Light." Kyros recalled that skill and immediately closed his eyes.


    As Kyros was checking his stats, his mother went on a continuous rant.


    "You can''t just brush off my questions like that! First, I had to tolerate the fact that me, a Pdin in Training, and your family, which walks the path of a Pseudo-Pdin had to adopt a vampire! But now, its not just a vampire but someone with the bloodline that is stronger than the most ancient of vampire!?" Diana roared. Martha and the Coven were actually holding her back as she could see that she was raging and trying to pounce on Kyros.


    Kyros was not making it easier for his Coven.


    Using the magic within him, Kyros began to summon darkness slowly. With two Fallen''s awakened and the blood of a powerful being of darkness absorbed, the Dark Core was formed. Unlike the other Elemental Core, this core was something that formed within Kyros''s body. This was the process that mages usually follow in creating an Elemental Core. As a result, Kyros wouldn''t have to rely on his sword and cloak to create more darkness.


    "Interesting... It seems that with this, I can improve on the spells saved within my Sword and Cloak. Hmm... With enough time, I should be able to do the same spells..." Kyros nodded in delight.


    The darkness that seeped out of Kyros was terrifying. It was as if the light was being absorbed.


    The Coven was surprised, as was Diana.


    The eyes of vampires could see through the dark. But this darkness was something their gaze could not see through.


    Diana''s eyes have been honed as a Pdin and would change in the dark as it fills their eyes with light. This allows her to use that light to see in the dark.


    One could see in the dark, and the other had the power to make light. But neither could see the darkness that manifested around Kyros.


    "This is what I''m talking about! Look! Aren''t you guys worried? You lord wields darkness that will make Nether Beings sigh in envy! How can I proudly call that being my son? Shouldn''t a Pdin like me die in shame for having a son like him?! How can you willingly serve such a-"


    BOOM!


    A powerful zing light urred. The thick darkness was turned into a powerful bright light.


    Kyros shone like the sun.


    His two dark objects, the Sword and the Cloak, had mysteriously transformed into a light-based item.


    [Divine Pdin job acquired.]


    "What... the?!" Even Martha, who believed herself to be immune from Kyros''s miracles, was still startled.


    "What an amazing son! My son! My son on whom I am well-pleased!" Diana wept in joy.

 Chapter 113 - What Happened To The Temple

    Kyros''s form of light had stunned Diana.


    The purity and form of Kyros were so strong and pure that it caused a Pdin-in-training to marvel as if she had found the highest goal and dream that she would strive for.


    Kyros was curious at his sword and cloak. Using Skotos is Phos, the entire power that appeared on his sword and cloak had transformed into that of light.


    The darkness had be light, and the blood that sword was covered with had somehow turned into a white-like me.


    Kyros was amazed.


    "I guess I''m a Pdin now?" Kyros shrugged his shoulder and opened his console to check his weapons.


    ---


    Purifying Sword of Ten Thousand Justices


    Attack: 31


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Light Energy and Fire


    Ethereal Angel Summon (1)


    Soul Purging


    Dark Purging


    me de


    Heart of Ascension (1)


    ---


    Raiment of White


    Defense: 60


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Light Energy.


    Light Resistance: +33


    Light sh


    Light Barrier


    Heart of Ascension (1)


    ---


    "Wow." Kyros couldn''t help but praise. The Heart of the Fallen had changed with his power.


    "So this is the power of Mysterion?"


    "It opens up a lot of possibilities! Remember what I told you about the two Elemental opposites? Light and Darkness allows you to wield certain elements within your range. I thought whoever made the Temple left you those Elemental Cores so that you can have more power. But it seems I was mistaken! You always had the power to wield all elements! With this power, and with Greater God Daradiel''s Code, you could be the first being to wield all elements!" Cminus eximed.


    "I remember. It''s quite interesting what powers I will soon be capable of wielding. For example, if I get the Celestial Code, will I have all Elemental Cores? Is that even possible?"


    "You already have Earth, Entropy, and Dark. If you add me, then you have Time!" Cminus exined.


    As Kyros was lost in his own thoughts, the Coven and Diana kept gazing and even slowly approached the strange figure of a Pdin which such holiness that it surpassed the disy of power that the Pdins of the Vaux Imperial Kingdom disyed.


    The Vaux Imperial Kingdom had long sent their strong Pdins to showcase the Holiness and power of their Pdins to all neighboring kingdoms and as a means to evangelize them. As such, most warriors and nobles have seen the power of Pdins.


    "If Lord Kyros were to showcase his power as a Pdin, wouldn''t more people rush to join our family?" Martha asked Diana.


    Diana could only nce and admire the power.


    Suddenly, the powers switched back to the detestable darkness.


    "What happened? Why did you stop? Bring it back!" Diana wept.


    "Erm... Sorry, mother. But that form consumes magic."


    "And that Darkness you are summoning doesn''t?"


    "Well... No. I have a Dark Core now. It''s simr to the Entropy Core, but this one is within me. So I was using the stored mana of that core. Of course, it grows as I level up too! Neat, huh?"


    "Why does a Pdin of great power have a Darkcore in him?!" Diana went back to her angry form.


    "Let''s just say I am both." Kyrosughed.


    "We have to move now. We don''t know what the Blood Cmity would do. But by the looks of it, she won''t be able to move immediately. Still, staying here won''t do any good. So, let''s take a quick look at what else we can get in this mines and get out."


    "Lord Kyros? What about Fate?" Avary asked.


    "Erm... Fate... has acted strange. I think... it''s favoring us for now." Scarlet answered.


    "Oh? Why do you think that?"


    "I don''t know." Scarlet sighed.


    "This sounds suspicious..." Martha answered.


    "It''s not. It''s the real deal. Scarlet is right. What a trickster this Fate is. She seemed to have blessed you guys because of our act of defeating this guy."


    "Why would Fate do that?"


    "It''splicated. But to make the long story short, Fate is helping us grow strong enough to fight a force more powerful than herself. And this enemy, the Blood Cmity, belongs to that enemy. Think about it. If I couldn''t deflect his soul attack, we would have died for real!"


    "That''s true..." Scarlet could not help but look at her arm and recall the painful event.


    "Then we won because we outsmarted it." Martha understood what had happened.


    "Correct. That was a close call, honestly. If our enemy were not made aware of what I gained from Fate, we would have died. However, this enemy is more nefarious. It doesn''t y any rules and wants to kill us. The more trials of Fate weplete, the more this enemy can attack us."


    "Who is this enemy?"


    "We have earned our power from Fate, and as to why we have it, is to challenge this unknown enemy. Remember the strange rock we found that the Golem City was guarding? It talked about strange powers called End and Beginning. We are somehow caught up in that ce. Not to mention, there are the lurking monsters beyond the Golem City."


    "I haven''t seen that Temple or the monsters in it. But it feels that we have a lot of things to fight." Martha sighed.


    "Which is why I n to take away the other distracting things. We have to keep the Blood Cmity weakened. Grugnyr, take the heads of these vampires and show them to the towns you go to. But take therge one along as proof. But your goal is to bring those heads back to the main fort. If you fail, then more orcs will die here. If the Blood Cmity awakens in its full power too fast, we will have problems. Convince the group and make them check this ce to see all the deaths that have been caused. Whatever you do, make this ce full of powerful warriors with intense security." Kyros reminded.


    "I will not fail!" Grugnyr vowed.


    "The rest of us will begin our attacks to some of the towns and outpost."


    "Attack outposts? Why?" Martha was confused.


    "Remember our n. We are to stir the entire Londs to war. When we attack that outpost, the orcs assume that a powerful human patrol is attacking and trying to infiltrate thisnd. This will aplish several things. If war happens, we will have very few enemies orpanions scouting the Temple area. In doing so, the orcs will fortify each outpost, and even their scouts will be careful. This will make it harder for the Blood Cmity to attack. Mom, you have to show your power once more. I will join you, of course, to make it look real."


    "Won''t my appearance here spark suspicion to the orc kingdoms? By now, our previous attack should have been made known. Won''t me appearing again be reckless? The Steele Family could take the me from it."


    "Our initial n was to go back to the Airom Vagat under the guise that you fought and freed us. We can use that excuse. We deny our involvement in raiding that orc patrol, but we can just admit it as for our outpost raids. We will im that the attacks they made on the Steele family led you up here and that those assaults were your attempts to free those ves we found."


    "That would work." Diana nodded.


    "I''ll instruct Gregory and the three H''s to teach the ves things about the Steele Family so that they would not look as if they were in our service for a long time," Kyros added.


    "Alright, gang. Let''s see what we can find in this mine... I''ll be bringing in more things to the Temple." Kyros smiled as he took out the notebook and wrote more instructions as to what to do. The notebook had been in his pocket all the time. In case things would turn bad, Kyros could write some instructions and send them back to warn Branze and Aron.


    But now, Kyros made orders to ensure that the room will always be cleared. Kyros had seen precious stones of all sorts and is confident that many of the Temple''s Quest would bepleted.


    Kyros sent it notebook and began to order his group to move. Grugnyr began his quest and headed out to go to the nearby towns.


    But as the group moved...


    Aron and Branze were amazed at what happened to the Temple.


    When Kyros killed therge orc who had the soul blood of the Blood Cmity, he was awarded 10,000 points which made the Temple reach the next level. And all the Temple''s skills also increased.


    Hallowed Grounds, which Kyros had against the low-leveled Shades and links the Kyros to the Temple Core, became Holy Grounds.


    Greater Holy Healing had be True Holy Healing and increased the capability and speed of the Temple to heal and mend wounds.


    But these two things were only made possible because the next locked skill was enabled.


    Holy Beam had been unlocked.


    The beams of the Temple now had pure Holy Energy.


    Kyros didn''t know that these changes happened as he didn''t attempt to go through all the details of the Temple. Kyros assumed that Holy Beam meant that he could shoot holy beams and didn''t know it was talking about the structural element that primarily resists loads of stone and marble within the Temple!


    The massive changes made the two brothers fall into a fanatical and crazed state.


    They could now train and harness Holy energy.


    "Brother! Father ising! Let''s achieve full-pdin mode before he arrives!" Aronughed.


    "Three steps ahead of you. With this much holy energy, I can finally do more experiments! Knights! You won''t just be knights! You will be Holy Knights!"


    The knights cheered as they heard the arrogant conclusion that Branze dered. When a knight begins to pursue a Pdin path and begins the foundational transformation through the different ways in instilling the Holy in them, they be Holy Knights. Only the rich Viscounts can pursue this. The Steele Family didn''t have the resources to make Branze and Aron into Holy Knights. And the cost of creating Pdins, which is the peak of this path, was astronomical!


    But now, the conservative and pessimistic Branze Steele said that the knights would all walk this path. And that created an uproar as the knights of the Steele Family saw great hope.

 Chapter 114 - What Diana Shouldn鈥檛 Know

    Kyros sent his Coven to go around the ce.


    The Dark Link allowed Kyros to use his powers to see what his Coven could see in real-time. They also now could send messages to each other. But the line got so loud because it was all being broadcasted with each other.


    Kyros got so annoyed that he paused and fiddled in his Soul Console for a few minutes.


    Once more, Kyros amazed Cminus with his impressive programming skills.


    Kyros programmed and altered the means of how the Dark Link allowedmunication.


    "Coven of the Nephilim Chat Group...?" Martha read the notification that appeared on her mind.


    She selected yes, and a screen opened up.


    "Hi... This is Lord Kyros. Please follow the instation wizard and key in your username." A message appeared. The avatar of the messenger was a picture of Kyros doing a simple pose.


    "I selected a few images of your faces from my memory. Please select the one you like. You can change the profile picture of your ount anytime. If you do not like any of the pictures, you may choose to leave it nk." Kyros messaged once more.


    "Lord Kyros... I had such a look?" Scarlet sent a message. For some strange reason, Scarlet was able to use a blushing expression. Her picture had a rather charming facial expression.


    "I thought it was cute," Kyros answered.


    "..." Scarlet replied with several blushing and hugging emojis.


    "I look awesome here." Avary sent a message. His avatar was quite heroic as he fought and attacked the lizards.


    "Hey! Lord Kyros! We got stronger for some strange reason!" Gregory sent a message.


    "Gregory... Triple H. I sent you guys a direct message. Let''s call it DM for short. Please check my DM."


    "Already did," Hunter replied with an emoji of a hand doing a thumbs up. Hunter had a ratheredic look. It was his nearly dead appearance before Kyros turned him.


    "Alright. Is everyone set?" Kyros asked. He could see that Martha, Grugnyr, Hems, and Hemsey aren''t online.


    "Woah. This is amazing! You coded an impressive messaging application! They can send pictures!"


    "Easier than asking me to see what they see with that vision link think. Anyway, I can use the traditional link mode, which follows the current Dark Link level. I n to use the normal mode during battles for faster links. But for none urgent or fast-paced moments like this, this is more convenient."


    "This is cool. Now you can do your own memes. Instead of random meme creators making fictional chat groups about us, there is an actual chat group that exists!"


    Kyros ignored Cminus''s odd rants of how he would secretly log in using the username Roronoa Zoro and chat as if he got lost.


    The group continued to alert Kyros and marked the location where they found stones and ores that fit the Temple''s requirements.


    And once everyone was able to mark the items, Kyros followed the shortest path in his map by calcting the most efficient route to go there. And he started collecting the mines and the mining cart that was full of ores. The orcs and human ves were unprepared for the vampire''s attack, and this caused the carts to be left full of items.


    Kyros didn''t take all but took three-fourths of each mining cart.


    [Quest Items:


    Iron Ore- Complete


    Silver Ore- Complete


    Various Metals- Complete


    im minor rewards?]


    The notification appeared, but just like all the other rewards, Kyros simply minimized the window.


    "I guess with Fate''s refreshed timeline. I could im them all once I get back..." Kyros pondered.


    "I wonder what you will get. I mean... your mercenary group could soon be equipped with top-of-the-line weapons!" Cminus was excited.


    "I am more excited on getting the Library in the Templepleted. Father and Uncle should be mining all the nearby stones and lumber toplete the quest." Kyros smiled and brought up the Library''s requirements.


    ---


    Library of the Nephilim Level 1


    Grook Brown Lumber- Complete


    Graphite Char Dread Stone-Complete


    Silver Ore- Complete


    Skin Mending Herbs- Complete


    Blood Berries- (1 Bushel)


    Green Poison Five-leaf nt- (1 Bushel)


    ---


    "Looks like father and uncle managed to find some of those lumber in the lizard''s home. It''s good that Fate had stopped. And it looks like Skin Mending Herbs is alsopleted! I''m sure they already sent a message to grandfather toplete the Blood Berries and the Green Poison Five-Leaf nt."


    Kyros then continued and kept bringing in the ores even though the quest wasplete. Kyros knew that these items would still be useful soon. Finally, Kyros reached another area where the Coven found the Selenite stones. These were stones that were part of his level one Temple quests.


    [Temple storage space exceeded. Various lifeforms are within the storage space, and the selected items cannot be sent.]


    "Hrm? That''s odd? Did they not get my message? So they just started moving things out?"


    Kyros frowned and decided to take out the notebook.


    [Item being modified by Branze Steele.]


    The notification appeared.


    Kyros waited for a few minutes and tried again. This time the notebook was sessfully transferred.


    Kyros read it and was stunned.


    "Woah. The Temple changed?! This is amazing! They can be full-fledged Pdins at this rate! With dad''s wisdom and that energy, they could be Pdins in two days!" Kyros was amazed. Kyros read the first part of the note and already understood what it meant. But what Kyros didn''t know, that his casual deduction had already awakened Diana''s desire. After all, she just saw Kyros''s powerful Pdin form.


    "Pdins? What happened?!" Diana grabbed the notebook and read Branze''s report.


    Diana read the portion which Branze had just added.


    "Son. The Temple had undergone a strange metamorphosis. It grew more powerful, and the healing energy was something that we could all feel and even cultivate. The beams of the Temple had also grown white with such power. We found that cultivating in the Temple can allow us to harness the Holy Power. But more importantly, the holy aura of the Temple makes it the best meditation tform. I haven''t tried what the Minds or Higher nes have to offer, but the meditation tform of the Temple should break allmon sense, just like how the Temple can heal, restore and convert energy. Because of this, the path of a Pdin is open to all of us. Although the strength we can create is not something that can equal those real Pdins who have Light Cores, we could be stronger in time! Pdins need to have a source of Holy energy or must constantly be exposed to Holy. Although we don''t have Cores, the vast amount of Holy energy could allow all our mercenaries and knights to walk on the power of light. Healing spells, buffs, and protective barriers could be possible. Your mother should also benefit from this. Whatever you do, DO NOT tell your mother! She should not learn of this now! I have seen her crazy fanatic expression when ites to anything about Pdins. It''s also why she agreed to marry me in the first ce, as the Pseudo-Pdin was something that she wished to learn! I know you have more missions to do with her, so she might leave you to go here, especially since she already has a core in her made ready to store Holy energy!"


    Although Branze''s message went on, Diana had thrown the notebook back at Kyros and made a sprint.


    "See you in the Temple, son!"


    "Mom!? Wait! We have other missions to do!"


    "So? You''re very smart! You outsmarted and defeated a Saint-level creature. You can figure this out! I''m going now!" Diana made haste.


    "Wait! Mom! Stop! You will ruin the n!"


    Diana paid no heed and readied her charge.


    Kyros was starting to panic. Her presence was an important key in their ns.


    "Mom!" Kyros shouted.


    "I trust you! See youter! I''m going to be a Pdin!" Diana shouted.


    Kyros cursed. Then he realized the one thing that could stop his mother.


    "Dad! Of course!"


    Kyros took a deep breath and shouted.


    "Dad''s going to confess to you!" Kyros dered.


    Diana''s sprint halted, and she froze in ce.


    "What? Confess?" She turned around.


    "Yes. He will confess his love to you. In fact, when you meet him in the Temple, he will hold the marriage ceremony that you two avoided. He even asked me to dy for a few days so that he can prepare for the huge event!" Kyros revealed. He knew that the only thing that could stop her mother from aplishing her passion was a force that was as equally formidable as being able to reach her nearly impossible dream.


    And that was the power of Tsundere.


    "What?! That''s insane! Your father hates me!"


    "How do you know? And you sound so irritated when saying that. It''s as if you like him."


    "What?! N-No! It''s-it''s because I am married to him! It''s annoying that he-he doesn''t have feelings for me. That''s-that''s shameful for my family! That''s why I sound irritated! It''s not like I li-like him or anything..."


    Kyros paused and kept looking at Diana with a curious look.


    "Wow. That was a textbook Tsundere response!" Cminus was amazed.


    "Father loves you! Think, Mother! He even knows your favorite stone! That is what father really thinks about you!"


    "D-Don''t patronize me!"


    "When we were in the Temple, he fought the Golem Mardock. The Green Golem that I can summon was once a creature that could fight Pdins. But father mercilessly fought and delivered a powerful attack. The Golem died, and I took his core. But in that battle... Father nearly died. We had to rush him back to the Temple to save him. At that moment, he didn''t know the Temple could heal him. So he told me of how he met you."


    "..." Kyros then became silent.


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "And...?"


    "And what?" Kyros asked.


    "What did he say? Why did you stop?!" Diana asked frantically.


    "He said that he was amazed at how beautiful you are." Kyros answered.


    "Hmp! It''s good that he knows that. At least he''s not blind!" Diana answered coldly and turned around.


    "Fine. If that idiot ns to confess, then it will be awkward. You have to tell him to stop and avoid embarrassing me any further. We are already married anyway." Diana calmed down and returned to her cold and silent nature. But Kyros could clearly see how hard she was trying to hide her smile.


    ---


    The Fate of Diana Steele and Branze Steele has changed.


    Sess Limit range breached.


    Kyros cursed with Life Limiter.


    All members of the Steele Family are now cursed with Bloodline Life Limiter.

 Chapter 115 - What Love Can Do

    There was a weird sensation around the air that Kyros could feel.


    In Airom Vagat, the first one to sense it was Mezal Steele. He was already headed up the mountain along with some of the warriors that Ordeus sent with him.


    "It''s back? Somethings different. It''s stronger... but why don''t I feel Fate''s hatred?" Mezal wandered.


    Branze and Aron Steele felt it next.


    "Oh...? Is this Fate?" Aron asked.


    Branze kept his eyes closed, and his expression turned sour.


    "This feels... quite different."


    "Indeed. It feels that we''re unlucky. But it doesn''t feel that Fate hates us! How odd."


    In Airom Logat, Scarlet was the first to react.


    "Master Kyros. Fate''s back. But it feels weird." She sent her message.


    The moment Kyros saw the notifications, he gave a sad sigh, ordered everyone to stop searching, and instructed them to head towards the exit. As the knights in the Temple had already sent many items out, Kyros began to bring more things inside the Temple. Therge pile of Snite Stones that the Coven found were sent into the Temple, and Kyros couldplete the Temple Quest.


    "That sucks. And here I thought we would be free from Fate and have a bit of leisure." Cminus sighed.


    "I think it''s not as bad as it seems. I don''t understand why this happens. Will mom and dad grow stronger? I just helped them get their rtionship, so that brought about a change in Fate?"


    "It''s weird. But it does make sense. In your past life, the Steele family managed to reach the rank of Duke even without Mezal Steele!"


    "Right. The only way to exin it was that the love that birthed between my father and mother somehow made them so strong that the curse of Fate was overpowered."


    "Love conquers all." Cminus joked.


    "Then since we''ve started it... I must as wellplete their love. Although I had this inkling, I never knew that it would be this powerful... Time to call him." Kyros then focused. He needed a way to talk to his father without making her mother noticed. He didn''t want to use this as it would deplete the energy in the Sealing Mountain, but he had no choice.


    Kyros had felt that the further he went, the harder it was to connect with that person. But now, with another Fallen awakened, Kyros knew he could reach him.


    Deep inside the Nephilim Sealing Mountain...


    With the help of Branze and Aron Steele, the Golems had already aplished shocking things. An entire tribe of Lizards was in.


    Aron and Branze had shown up the other day and were running and frantic about killing more lizards as they imed Fate wouldn''t attack them. The Golem King agreed and sent Stoph to aid them. The strategy of Branze and the skill of Aron amazed the Golems. The pair challenged lizards that would have required Stoph to use arge amount of energy to fight. But the power the two disyed and their teamwork were so strong that the two of them who were in the mid-twenty levels could challenge and kill level 30 lizards!


    The knights were also amazing! After just a few days of training, they could easily fight and challenge level 20 lizards.


    As the defenses of the lizard tribe''s nest fell, a level forty lizard finally took action and fight, But even that battle was simple. Branze and Aron fought for the most part and relied on Stoph tond the finishing blow. That was the only time Stoph used up his life magic.


    The gains they had were so much that not only was Stoph able to recover a great deal despite him taking action, another of the Jewelled Golems was awakened as it had more than 10% of its energy once more.


    The Golem King continued to process the upgrades of the Golems with contributions. The Rock Golems began to hunt on the areas around the City as some of the lizards were fleeing and hiding.


    "Hmm?" The Golem King felt the call.


    "It''s Cornerstone! He''s finally able to sense me?" Petra smiled.


    Kyros gave Petra certain instructions.


    "Understood." Petra immediately acted.


    He had received much from Cornerstone and didn''t mind wasting such energy to move.


    BOOM!


    The tall form of Petra moved and left the building.


    Kyros told him that if he followed the following, he would strengthen Branze and would ultimately make them stronger. But it had to be done now!


    Petra moved into the Temple and gave the password, and finally reached the inside.


    "Golem King?!" Branze was surprised.


    "Master Branze. Master Aron. You two appear to be stronger than ever!" Petra praised.


    "It should be thanks to my son. Why are you here?"


    "A message from Cornerstone. He says that you must have felt it too. The change of Fate."


    "Yes. Was it the Temple? Because the Holy power emerged?" Petra asked.


    "He says no. That wasn''t the event that caused Fate to move. Supposedly, it should happen several days from now, but something happened that made Fate act now. It sensed that the Steele family was bound to rise and that Sess Limiter would no longer be enough to hinder you. Or so, Cornerstone says."


    "Then what triggered our fated meteoric rise?" Aron asked.


    "Cornerstone lied to her mother. He said that you have always been in love with her." Petra pointed to Branze.


    "That''s obvious." Aron nodded.


    "N-No it isn''t! I don''t love her!"


    "After saying that, his mother''s eyes grew soft, and she said that she always loved you too."


    "Wha...? Really? She said that?!" Branze was not able to hide his smile.


    "No, not really." Petra rejected.


    "Fragmenting son!" Branze cursed while Aronughed.


    "But although she didn''t say it, she did show signs that the feeling was mutual. And her eptance of your love triggered the rise of Fate. In short, Cornerstone believes that your love for each other was the trigger that forced Fate to act. He said that the curse is quite strange. Only the Bloodline Curse for Life Limiter was activated. But the curse for Apathy of Fate was not triggered."


    Branze was stunned silent.


    "Yeah. That sounds about right. Just as father predicted." Aron nodded.


    "What? What do you mean?"


    "Well... I sort of thought of it even before. I know that our problems were endless and that our old man had been fighting against the heavens since the start. Every sess we had would be countered with numerous trials. But our old man kept at it. So all my life, I tried to look for instances to help him. I wanted to grow strong. But of course, you know all those times I failed our family in my fight. Strength wasn''t enough. The truth is, me and dad I had been pinning our hopes on you. You brokemon sense that even scared father and me. We sort of became used to it. So when I found the chance, I aimed not only the most beautiful girl but the most talented one."


    "Diana Redde. Why?"


    "You don''t know? Brother, I keep beating you in a fight. But I know that your intelligence will soon get the better of me. Our father used that as a factor to motivate me. I was supposed to be the unreachable ceiling that you sought. And honestly, I would have lost long ago had you not shared your secrets with us all. That''s the only reason why I could beat you. Because you never held out on us both as to your knowledge."


    "What does that have to do with Diana?"


    "Are you really that lovestruck? You can''t think straight with her. Let''s put it this way. She managed to fight you to a draw! I thought at first that you were too love-struck to fight her. But then I realized you were fighting seriously. That''s the only way you could ever get her attention, right?" Aron chuckled.


    Branze was silent.


    "I have been sending back to Cornerstone your discussion. It seems Lord Kyros was right. In the few time he spent with his mother, he noticed that her mother was strong. She was able to repel the attack of a level forty vampire who had the blood from a powerful being."


    "What?! They fought a level forty vampire? Are they safe? Did they escape?"


    "Oh. Don''t worry. They already killed the vampire. It was by killing this vampire that the Temple gave the rewards of that light."


    "They killed a level forty vampire?!" Branze and Kyros fought.


    "Yes. Lord Kyros killed him. He said he now has the power to increase his strength and prate this vampire''s attacks. With one stroke, he managed to wound the enemy and attack again critically. As to how strong his attacks are... Cornerstone said that he used it on his grandfather and defeated him. It was only then that Cornerstone''s Grandfather allowed Kyros to go on his little adventure."


    "Little adventure? Killing a level forty vampire is a little adventure? And are you implying that my son managed to one-shot my father and defeat him? We had to make Stophnd the killing blow to defeat those lizards, and my less-than-level-ten son managed to wound one in one strike?!"


    "I am simply repeating Cornerstone''s words. Even I find it unbelievable! Now back to the topic about your monstrously talented wife."


    "Don''t he dare call his mother monstrous! Diana would spit out blood if he hears Kyros''s words!"


    "Agreed." Aron nodded.


    "So... about your wife. She is powerful. There is something that might awaken if the two of you be more open to your love for each other."


    "What? That''s crazy."


    "Hmm... No. I think I get it..." Aron smirked.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Remember a few days ago? When I decided to fight those lizards?"


    "Yes. You were very heroic, strong, and mighty. I grow tired of those praises our knights give."


    "Do you know what caused it?"


    "The Force Pdin theories I made?"


    "Not just that. It was Kyros. The fact that he is sending her here." Aron brought out the ne, which he treasured. It was the ne that had Martha Bowheart''s picture.


    "Martha Bowheart?" Branze was confused.


    "Brother... All our life, we''ve been fighting to survive. We never had the luxury to dream of such extravagant matters as having a beautiful wife. We didn''t have any motivation to do so. If you and Diana fall in love and finally find something to treasure and protect, your drive to fight and get stronger only increases. That''s what love can do!" Aronughed.


    "Master Branze. The reason why Cornerstone sent me here, at the expense of my life energy, is to ask you this. Are you truly, madly, deeply, in love with your wife?" Petra asked.


    Branze was stunned at the sudden question.


    He was silent for a few seconds before finally nodding his head.

 Chapter 116 - What A Song Can Do

    The past life of Kyros was full of tribtions. Even when his family was a Duke, they were still being attacked not only by other Dukes and Earls, but even Barons and Viscounts had evil intentions towards them. Normally, such a situation should not be possible. Barons and Viscounts would never have risen to attack or do harm to a powerful Duke, but Fate was leading the nobles to harm them by coincidence, grudges, and even being used as scapegoats.


    Yet even in that scenario, where the kingdom itself was against them, Branze Steele, together with Diana Steele, could lead and protect his family.


    The only mistake was that Branze never expected a secret alliance with orcs which caused their kingdom to fall.


    Kyros thought of several ways to hasten it. But he never thought that it would have been love that will send his family to that stage.


    "So Fate activated this new Limiter because my family still has Aron and Mezal. Think about it! My father and mother reach that same level of power now! But the difference is my grandfather, who has Fate Challenger, is alive! Not to mention my uncle is also here. And most of our men are following us loyally." Kyros exined to Cminus.


    "I get it. So you n to make the most out of it? To push them to love each other?"


    "Right. Dad has been very awkward even when they got married. I think the problem was mom was far too cold and prideful to ever admit it. She loved dad but reallymunicate it. And my father had the same problem. So I have to fix it."


    "Gotcha."


    "I need your help."


    Oh? You need my help?"


    "Use whatever you know to help me create a poem or song or something. Use whatever your other incarnation knows!"


    "Ah... Of course!"


    Kyros continued to interrogate his father.


    Back in Airom Vagat, Petra kept rying Kyros''s question.


    "When did you first met her?"


    "Why is this important?" Branze couldn''t help but ask with an embarrassed expression.


    "Cornerstone believes that you are very awkward in expressing your emotions. The fact that you know her favorite stone is a diamond proved long ago to him that you paid great attention to your wife. He ns to help you."


    "Help me?! I don''t think I need help from a young boy for matters that adults need!"


    "Cornerstone says that Martha Bowheart has agreed to be Master Aron''s wife and has even imed her right as an Aunt before Kyros. She is also quite excited to meet Aron, whom Cornerstone has always portrayed as a gant figure of justice. Cornerstone also adds that Martha ought to be more aggressive in trying to win Master Aron''s heart."


    "My story with Diana began when we were very young." Branze immediately began his tale.


    Aron and Petra rolled their eyes at how Branze changed tone.


    "I''m not sure if she remembers or if she chooses to disregard the time when we first met. I believe that it was thetter. Due to the circumstances of our first meeting, I never revealed myself as a Steele. Father was not a Baron yet. And since our first meeting, I was already in love with her." Branze finally admitted it.


    Aron smiled and pped his brother''s back.


    "I never thought you were the dramatic type. So Diana''s actually your long-awaited sweetheart?"


    Branze reluctantly nodded.


    Petra then turned to Branze.


    "What are the details of your first meeting?"


    "Several men were chasing me. At that time, father made me serve as a Knight''s Shadow."


    "Oh! Right! That''s why we had to go into hiding back then! You were a little boy at that time. I was already a Knight-in-Training, and you still were a knight''s errand boy, shadowing that knight on whatever he was tasked to do. Didn''t that knight that you shadowed get assassinated, and you were the witness? That brought a lot of pain and trouble to our family!" Aronughed.


    "Yes. He was killed, and I was supposed to die with him as it would uncover a terrifying conspiracy. I ran and ran as those people chased me. I hid in one of thergest manors in the kingdom. There was a party, and all the Baron nobles and their sons and daughters were in attendance. I attacked some random noble and his clothes. I blended around the crowd and pretended to be a noble as well. Of course, I couldn''t fit in, so I pretended to be this cold and arrogant noble and went outside a balcony and spent my time throwing pebbles and making them skip in the fountain below." Branze sighed.


    On the other side of the connection... Kyros and Diana were still running on thest part that the Coven marked to take away thest sets of Snite stone that was found. Of course, most of the Coven except Martha was asked to move on and fulfill other specific missions where they were to reveal themselves in nearby viges.


    Cminus was now in his old man form, floating right in front of Kyros.


    But as they moved, he had a peculiar expression.


    "So... they were both young when they first saw each other in the middle of a party... And he was at the balcony throwing pebbles? Was it summertimes? Why does this sound like a Taylor Swift song?" Cminus scratched his head.


    "N-no it''s not. I''m sure it''s not..." Kyros denied.


    Branze continued to tell his tale.


    "She came out to meet me. Perhaps curious at the odd noble throwing stones like some ruffian. She was still a Shieldlet then."


    "A shieldlet?" Petra asked.


    "Only the richest Barons and Viscounts could afford this. That refers to the honor given to young nobles to train as a Holy Knight at a very young age. Diana had already wanted to be a Pdin then, and the Shieldlet path was one that assured her rise to Holy Knight ss. I tried to pretend to be a noble... But father never really had instilled to us how nobles should act yet. She immediately caught me on my act, and I asked her not to rat me out."


    "She ratted you out, right?"


    "No. Back then, she used to smile a lot. She didn''t and began to talk to me, disregarding her call. Call me delusional, but in those few moments, we quickly became friends. I was at ease, and she finally had the chance to cast off her noble facade and talked to me without worrying about dignity, honor, and those crappy things we had to put up when we became nobles. I guess she had so much fun that she said she wanted to run off with me and abandon the noble prestige to live freely. I joked that I would take her once I became a noble. I was really pushing my luck, but she smiled and said dared me to try."


    Aron''s former cringing expressions had turned to interest as he realized something.


    "Wait! I know! That was the time you began sneaking out every day! Dad and I thought you were feeling guilty for implicating our family and was going out to resolve it!"


    "I was. But those attempts would always end up with me meeting her near the outskirts of town." Branze sighed.


    "Dad was so mad at you. He knew Fate was moving and was using that instance to harm our family! And you risked both your life and even our family!"


    "Yes. I will admit it. I kept sneaking out to meet her. What can I say? I was in love..." Branze sighed.


    "But wait... That''s a rather poetic meeting. Why didn''t she recognized you the next time you met?" Aron asked.


    "You know what happened next. Our family got implicated and med as those trying to kill us pushed the me of that knight''s death to us. Dad was very paranoid and tried his best to hide how I became a knight''s shadow and you a knight-in-training. But even those concealed connections that father left were revealed, and they found who we were. We had to leave abruptly, and that boy that Diana waited for never appeared outside of town to meet her. We were even forced to fake our deaths. It was lucky that we weren''t known as the Steele family yet since we had no nobility then."


    "Why didn''t you tell her?"


    "I could have sworn that she recognized me when we met at that time in thatpetition. But I didn''t dare to do so. Our name was very much a stench to the kingdom, even as Barons. Fate had once more acted to make us look like evil swindlers. So when I saw her angry eyes, I couldn''t help but retreat."


    "Do you think she liked you?" Petra asked.


    "I''d say... that she probably liked me too." Branze couldn''t help but blush.


    "Cornerstone is worried that you were just delusional and just kept thinking that she liked you. Do you have proof that she liked you?" Petra asked immediately.


    Branze nearly coughed up blood.


    "Oh. Sorry. Cornerstone said that I was a bit too brutal with my words. He meant to say if there were instances which proved that she felt that way towards you."


    "She met me every night! In fact, her father was the one who might have made our family known because he caught me meeting with her daughter! He realized I was a knight''s shadow and told me to stay away from his precious Shieldlet!" Branze exined with passion.


    "Despite what her father said, we kept meeting and even used that balcony where we first met as a new spot! And that was despite being unable to tell each other where to meet. I headed there hoping to find her, and I did! We spent many nights meeting there. And I vowed to be the prince that will save her from this chained life." Branze exined.


    As Branze kept exining, Kyros and Cminus had a strange expression.


    "Your father was knight''s shadow. He was throwing pebbles. Mom''s father said, ''stay away from my Shieldlet.'' Was your mother crying on the staircase, begging your father not to go? Did she sang, Knight''s Shadow take me somewhere we can be alone?"


    "N-no. Probably not."


    "Well... I mean... Your dad did vow to be the prince and your mother would be the princess. It''s their love story, Kyros. Just say yes."


    Kyros turned to his mother.


    "Mother. Did you love someone else other than dad?" Kyros asked.


    Diana was startled at the question.


    "Why?"


    "Erm... No reason. I just want to believe that you and dad are each other''s first true love." Kyros chuckled.


    "...No. First true love is a fantasy." Diana gave her harsh answer.


    "I did have someone you could say I loved. A young knight''s shadow who..." Diana spoke no more.


    Kyros was silent but Cminus was rejoicing.


    "Ermmmaggggahhhd! It''s really him! This is like... those typical shojo romances with that cliche childhood friend, long-time-crush, true love thing! Kyros! Your dad has to sing that song!"


    "No way."


    "What do you mean no way! Are you looking for more signs to make your father sing that song?!"


    Kyros ignored Cminus.


    "Who... who is he? And what happened to him?"


    "He... was gone for a long, long time. I got tired of waiting. I do wonder if he ever would see me on the outskirts of town one day. But eventually... my faith in his promises faded like the memories that we had." Diana could not help but smile. But it was a smile full of regret. She maintained her silence as the Coven finally met outside the mines.


    "...Well???" Cminus pestered Kyros.


    "Fine... I''ll make my dad sing that song..." Kyros grumbled. He would be an idiot if he didn''t use that song to tie up the mncholy and pain of her parents. Kyros didn''t underestimate what a song could do to awaken love.


    And so, Kyros sent a series of instructions to Petra.

 Chapter 117 - What Mezal Can Do

    Back in the fortress of Airom Vagat...


    Mezal felt the changes in the air and had been very wary of things that woulde.


    "I don''t think Kyros has any reason to lie to me. Something must have happened. I have to wait for Aron or Branze''s update." Mezal stood and began to see the bushel of herbs being delivered to him to support his family.


    As thanks to his astounding contribution, various kingdoms and towns offered the dying family some support. But Mezal turned down any financial aid and told them what he needed. With his family on the brink of death, he needed some medicines that would be useful for the uing battles.


    "Mezal...You won''t even tell me why this is useful?" Champion Ordeus asked as he stood to the side. He said it quietly.


    Mezal shook his head and then answered.


    "Lord Ordeus, while I am loyal to the kingdom and to the king, you, yourself should know how hard-pressed and troubled my family is. It should not have escaped your notice, the numerous enemies ranging from frustrated Barons to angry Viscounts and even displeased Earls who have been using tricks and underhanded means to attack and harm us. I have given my best service not only to our kingdom but to the entire human alliance. If I were to tell you all everything at once, I would lose my worth to many of you, and you would plot to kill me! But rest assured! Our kingdom will have the solution when that problem reveals itself!"


    Ordeus was stunned at Mezal''s sudden loud voice.


    "Hmm. Even now, there are people here that want to kill me." His words then turned to a loudness that only the two of them could hear.


    Ordeus could now see some dangerous expressions from certain Earl''s and Viscount''s change at Mezal''s words.


    "What is the meaning of this?" One of the Champions suddenly erupted.


    "Champion Mezal. I have treated you with respect and dignity for the truth you have brought to our alliance. But your words earlier imply that you know something more!"


    "Of course I do! Don''t think I am not made aware of your hatred for my Steele family! I will tell you this. I was not involved in that incident. Aron was wrongfully used. My family has been the subject for those ounts for several years! Many of you know of it, and many of you should now have known that it was, in fact, ploys and tricks that your Viscounts did and used a weak and dying family to take the me! Yet you never fixed the bridge that was burned because there was no need to! Do you now see why I didn''t ept the vast financial offerings you gave? Do you now see why I never took anything of great value but instead asked for every family to offer up some herbs, pills, and magical nts that are not that expensive?" Mezalughed.


    "I will tell you a secret! That vampire told the orc to prepare some ingredients. They would give it to the orcs to cure them when a powerful dark gue attacks thisnd!"


    "A dark gue?! And you dare not tell us?!"


    "What''s to tell? Do you think I don''t know how many of you of your Viscounts and Barons wish to kill me? Even now, is not your hand itching to kill me off? Especially now that I have revealed myself to be a Champion! You listened to me to see if I can resolve the mystery in the castle. But I know Fate will lead my enemies to my doorsteps! I have lived my life like this! Why else would I hide despite having this power? Because I know my enemies will gather up and ask for help by tricking them, spreading lies and false reports about my family to kill me! I cannot contend the power of Dukes! And so I hid my power and hoped that either me or my sons would soon have it! But pressed with this hard decision, this is the best I cane up with to save my family from the hands of some of you!"


    "But Champion Mezal..." It was Champion Drake Vestitude who spoke.


    "A dark gue will cause the death of millions! Such information-"


    "I do have the means to fix it. And it isn''t so expensive. Most man can afford the medicine that I will brew. Among the herbs, pills, and other alchemy tools that I asked for, only three of them are the real materials!" Mezalughed.


    "I see. By making this action, none of the others can identify the recipe. So that''s why you asked so many odd things and requested them to be of a great amount!" Ordeus was amazed at Mezal''s decision.


    "I requested a lot of cheap items from all of you. Since you were all so adamant about giving me a gift, I turned down the great gift you wanted to give to limit the sense of honor and gratitude I have towards you. When the guees, you all won''t be able to take credit for being a part of this. For none of you really know who gave me the right materials! Of course, your gifts will make me rich. Very rich!" Mezalughed,


    "This is a gue! You cannot act selfishly-"


    "Act selfishly? When my family was being chased and killed by barons who were covering up a dark scheme which involved a secret trade between the Vaux Imperial Kingdom and the Lorem Ipsum kingdom involving secret spells and Pdin tools, with Brute and Berserker arts in an attempt to create a heretical ss led by the Challice family and the Prendawn brutes and med us for allegedly stealing the pdin tools to make our Force Pdin ss better, who was acting selfishly?"


    Various viscounts under Drake Vestitude and even some Barbarians had their expressions changed at the usation.


    "Lies!"


    "Whatever. When one of my Kattarax Kingdom''s prominent and promising sons of the Earl befriended Aron Steele because he was impressed with Aron''s might, but was then assassinated by a Jericho Viscount over some girl and med the poor Aron Steele, who was acting selfishly? I''m not familiar with Jericho Viscount crests, but the killer bore the crest of what appeared to be three swords and three arrows! Who was acting selfishly?"


    "How dare you-!"


    Mezal went on and on and revealed various plots that have pressed their family into hardship. He told of the many plots that his family faced throughout the years. He did not do so before because he acted to make the Earls issue and send the gifts. But now that he has received most of what he needed from Kyros''s long list, he now began his nned assault. He revealed various plots that they have encountered. He listed even Barons!


    The Earls of some kingdoms involved took note of those they could afford to kill or offer up to Mezal but had resolved not to touch any of their Viscounts involved. But they kept listening. Some of those belonging to the viscount families mentioned began to deny out loudly, but Mezal''s voice grew louder, and since his Force was greater than those, the Viscounts were silenced by their lords.


    "And I will tell of tale that urred even before I became a Baron! The Erebus Viscount family plotted to assassinate a certain knight who had uncovered the truth of the Ererus''s secret of leaking information from the Vaux Imperial Kingdom to the Foreshire Orc kingdom of caravans that they guarded. They killed the knight, and my son, who was that knight''s shadow, was implicated. We had to leave the Vaux Imperial kingdom! Had it not been for him, I was confident that I would be a Pdin and my sons! Vaux Imperial would have had another level, forty warriors! Wasn''t this Viscount family acting selfishly? I''m tired of being generous!" Mezal roared.


    Drake Vestitude''s expression changed. In fact, many of the other Earl''s had strange expressions. The details that Mezal revealed were things that could have been possible!


    "Erebus? That makes sense. We were wary as to who the traitors are..."


    One of the Erebus family members rushed to the front, but before he could talk to Drake Vestitude...


    SLASH!


    "AHHHH!"


    Mezal shed off the young viscount''s arm and punched him.


    "If you want to see if that is true, give this family information about a secret caravan trade that carries important information. If there are no orcs that will rush to ambush the route of this caravan, then I will pay the Vaux Imperial Kingdom a hundred vials of the cure for theing gue that that vampire spoke of."


    Drake looked at the grimacing young viscount.


    "You cut off his hand and bound him so that he can''t send a message to his family. If you are right, then Vaux Imperial will have solved one of its mysteries. If you are wrong... I lose a Viscount''s arm and gain assurance that a hundred people will live. Quite an obvious offer." Drake nodded.


    "Heh! That''s not all. I have a proposal. You can choose to agree or disagree. But my condition is, I get a small portion, ten percent of everything you can earn from my n. And of course, because this n will involve my family directly, you have to protect me."


    "What''s the n?"


    "I am confident in their connections. Ever since we were driven out of that kingdom, I have been keeping track of their movements and have confirmed they are still in the business of selling out some of the caravan trades for quick cash. This is how they became a Viscount and are on the road to bing an Earl. So now, let''s take back what we''ve lost. Instead of selling them out, let''s use their connection. As you can see, not only me, but my family can easily speak orc. In fact, we have orc followers! One of the Steele family members belonged to one of the kingdoms the Foreshire Kingdom conquered. I can recruit him and the fallen kingdom he serves to act as spies. More could be said of this matter, but I require your assurance of protection and the assurance of the percentage that I earn. I trust your honor." Mezal smiled.


    Drake thought for a bit and finally nodded.


    "I agree."


    Mezal smiled. He then turned and warned the other kingdoms...


    "See for yourself if my ims are true or false. But to many of you, I can offer power. There was so much more about the specific ns we''ve learned, and I only gave you the basic facts. The orcs had their own discussion of the route of their attacks and many more. But I won''t offer it all. I''ve done my duty. Now I need to focus on preservation considering the vast amount of enemies I have." Mezalughed.


    "Champion Drake... if I could have a few moments of your time..." Mezal asked. Drake followed. The rest could only watch as Mezal walked.

 Chapter 118 - What It Means To Be A Fate Challenger

    Drake Vesititude followed Mezal, as did Ordeus. The screaming viscount was also arrested and was treated as a criminal. He was being dragged by the soldiers who followed Drake and Mezal.


    Ordeus wanted to speak and stop Mezal to offer more benefits to Mezal, but he couldn''t find the words.


    As a Champion of the same kingdom where Mezal served, he had already heard of the story of Mezal and was stunned at the reports.


    Mezal Steele and his Steele family had served under the service of several human kingdoms. And just as he had exined, there were countless rumors, conspiracies, and bad reports concerning this family. Yet the intel that Ordeus had supported Mezal''s ims. And even the Katarax Kingdom had not given Mezal any justice for the manyints he had.


    Ordeus used powerful message talismans to confirm the truth about Mezal. He wanted to see if the ims Mezal made regarding Aron Steele''s friendship with one of the Earl''s sons were real. Ordeus had known of the trouble that was following the Steele family. Because of the usation of murder, their reputation was tarnished. And although they were never really convicted of murder, the Earl and many of those who hated the Steele family were using various means to attack them. This is what made the Steele''s family standing within the Katarax Kingdom plummet as the family faced more and more oppression. So Ordeus sent word to investigate the usation and ask if that Earl family had dealings with a noble family in the Jericho Kingdom.


    Ordeus had to act fast. Mezal now has revealed his true power! And while allying with this family would bring so much trouble, their knowledge of a gue made them very important! The Steele family now outweighed the importance of other Earl families in the Kattarax kingdom.


    And by the looks of it, Mezal is trying to return to Vaux Imperial! Of course, as a Force Pdin, the most obvious thing to do is serve the Vaux Imperial Kingdom as it was the most prominent kingdom that had the path of the Pdin. And since Mezal''s son is even married to one of the Baron families in Vaux Imperial, the transition wouldn''t be so hard.


    Seeing the two move and discuss to find a more private location to discuss their ns only pained Ordeus.


    "Champion Mezal!" He finally called out.


    "Lord Ordeus. I have another transaction with you. Rest assured, I will not betray our kingdom despite its maltreatment towards me. As you probably know, many Barons and Viscounts want my sons and my head. They should be rejoicing at my demise. No matter. I won''t sell them the cure for the gue." Mezal shook his head and walked with Drake Vestitude into therge hall, which was the Vaux Imperial Kingdom''s main hall in the fortress.


    Drake ordered the doors to be shut, and Ordeus could only watch from the outside.


    Ordeus sighed and sent another message. As it stands, Mezal and the Steele family''s worth exceeded even some of the weaker Earl factions. Especially those Earl groups that only reached that level throughpleting the number of Viscount level warriors in their family and could not produce a warrior of level forty might.


    "I have to act decisively." Ordeus decided.


    Mezal was now a powerful and feared name in Kattarax and Vaux Imperial kingdom. The other human kingdoms would also put Mezal in a prominent position if they had the chance to do so.


    But the truth was, there was no gue. It wasn''t even among the things Kyros told Mezal.


    Mezal decided to invent such a cataclysmic event when he saw how everyone believed his ims about orc wars. Not to mention how Mezal revealed that the enigmatic and long-forgotten race of the Eldrich were involved. As such, a dark gue was a nice addition he created and used to gather resources. Kyros only told him what resource to gather and left it up to him to think it true.


    When Mezal felt the call of Fate, his experience as a Fate Challenger and the inspiration he got from the stories of how Kyros defeated Fate twice allowed him to understand more of Fate''s limitations. He took inspiration from what Kyros did. He kept listening to the reports that Branze and Aron were sending through another message, talisman. The original one had Branze''s message, while the other kept receiving all the updates from their party.


    Branze and Aron sent lengthy messages detailing everything they achieved and what Kyros has told them in his adventures. Aside from the reports of how Branze and Diana''s love story could be foundational to their family''s strength, Mezal was well informed of everything else.


    With this knowledge, Mezal decided to act and try to fight Fate by attacking the possible enemies before Fate could call them. He believed that Fate went dormant and had now started to work all around the Londs to prepare a snare for him.


    And so, Mezal manipted the kingdoms and went ahead to reveal the many usations his family encountered all their life. He knew that Fate would somehow use all those past records and make it look like Mezal''s family was quite corrupt, causing trouble everywhere. So Mezal went ahead and revealed many of those. Most of his ims could not be confirmed, and in fact, many of those had an extremely low chance of proving the truth since those in power were in opposition to the truth and would hide it.


    But Mezal didn''t care. The revtions he made would be his shield. Some of the kingdoms could confirm the truth of his ims, and the Vaux Imperial kingdom was one of them. And right now, Mezal decided to add more levels of protection for his family and decided to use Drake Vestitude. He had received Branze''s report as to the theories of Kyros of why a Pdin like Drake would choose to serve him.


    "So tell me the ns." Drake finally asked as he brought Mezal into the room where negotiations and trades would be made. The room was secured and was made with special materials that limited Force and Magic from spying on that room.


    "My family ns to bring back the Underhill kingdom of the orcs. One of the servants that loyally follow us is Grugnyr. This orc is a former noble and knight of that kingdom. He hates the Foreshire Kingdom but is serving in Airom Logat under my orders. He is our spy to that ce and even helps us acquire ores through a secret passage in that region." Mezal exined.


    "That... is quite interesting. A secret path?"


    "It''s a long story. But his loyalty lies in our promise. And I like that orc. He cooks us good bacon."


    "He... knows the recipe of Airom Bacon?" Drake was amazed.


    "Of course! He is an orc, after all. Other than that, he also has their own Underhill version, which is juicier than Airom Bacon." Mezal recalled how he made Grugnyr cook a bit before leaving.


    "Where is this orc?"


    "He was captured. My subordinate said he should have escaped. He''s strong and is an orc. It might have been through him that Diana was able to escape. I trust that Diana''s return would be met with a warm wee?" Mezal asked.


    "Of course. Although they are just at Baron level, she is still a talented knight born in our kingdom."


    "The n will involve those two. You can capture the Erebus family and torture them to make them give false information for certain caravans. You can have your men transport fake or useless materials in the caravan and when the ambush begins, have your men retreat. My orcs can then attack the Foreshire caravan attackers and kill them. That way, if any survivors can flee, the report will not involve your kingdom or make the orcs think that the Erebus family has betrayed them."


    "You will make your orcs attack them?"


    "Yes. Under the guise of reconstructing the Underhill kingdom. I don''t know how you see orcs, but we have a rather friendly connection with them. If an Eldrich appears, we need all the help we can get. Many orcs have sided with them, but I doubt everyone knows who they are serving. I will be honest in telling you this. The Eldrich has powers that can tempt all races to bend at their will. One of their spies has long known of my power from one of the battles I unknowingly fought with them. They offered me a lie. A very tempting lie, I might add."


    "They offered you a lie?"


    "They imed to have the power to resurrect my wife. I have seen their powers that transcend necromancy... But if it were not for my meeting with the shamans who helped me achieve my current power, I would have agreed."


    "They... offered to resurrect your wife?!" Drake shouted in shock.


    "Yes. But they lie. It''s not possible."


    "What? How can you say that?" Drake reacted.


    Mezal acted as if he was taken aback by Drake''s reaction.


    "I mean... It''s your wife. How could you quickly confirm that it''s not possible? Wouldn''t you hope for it to be true?" Drake added immediately.


    "What are Eldrich? What powers do they hold? The power of life, death, and that involving our soul areplex. I know this because my wife was a shaman. She was the priestess of her tribe. They followed an ancient religion and served a forgotten god that seemed to be more powerful than the gods that rule today. They told me life is not easily brought back. Even with the purest of light, true resurrection is very hard to attain. But this is even more so for the Eldrich."


    "Why do you believe that?" Drake asked.


    "Simple. My wife''s soul is not in the dark. She ascended to the light above. Why should the Eldrich have the power to bring her back when they serve the dark? Maybe if my wife was wicked and her soul went to the Nether Regions, it''s possible. But my wife is pure. They wanted me to betray humanity for my wife. What nonsense! What are Eldrich but dark dependent beings! To im that they can resurrect a soul adored by the light is insulting my intelligence!" Mezalughed.


    Drake Vestitude unknowingly clenched his fist.


    Mezal noticed the subtle movements and smiled.


    "This is what it means to be a Fate Challenger!" Mezal thought to himself.


    Back in Airom Logat...


    Kyros finally reached the exit of the tunnel after taking the Snite Stones that his Coven found. Martha greeted him as he and Diana exited the cave.


    "Alright, everyone. Take a breather from your sprints. I will now exin to you the next set of ns. Remember, We might soon face a Life Purging Trial! We have to be careful!" Kyros instructed.


    But then...


    ---


    Life Purging Trial Passed!


    Mezal Steele has sessfully subverted Fate!


    ---


    A notification appeared.


    "..." Kyros read it with a stupefied expression.


    "Lord Kyros! Fate is changing again!" Scarlet reacted as well.

 Chapter 119 - What It Means To Challenge Beginning

    "What the fragment?!" Kyros finally cursed as he confirmed that the notifications that appeared were true.


    The powers of Fate were changing, and the sinister arm that felt was pushing them down disappeared.


    "What did grandfather do?!" Kyros cursed out loud and drew the curiosity of Diana and Martha.


    It was then that they could feel it.


    "What''s that?"


    "Is that... Fate?" Martha asked. She had been talking about it to Scarlet and had learned of the various experiences and subtle sensations that Fate gave off. Although Martha never experienced these sensations no matter how she tried, now it felt quite strong.


    ---


    Life Purging Trial Passed!


    Mezal Steele has sessfully subverted Fate!


    Rewards:


    Bloodline Life Limiter has been halted for twenty days.


    Fate Challenger Level increased!


    ---


    Fate Bloodline Blessing


    Fate Challenger bestowed to all members of the Steele Family.


    Fate Challenger sub-jobs avable!


    ---


    Kyros was amazed.


    "Fate has sub-jobs?" Kyros was confused.


    Kyros decided to open up the details of Fate Bloodline Blessing.


    ---


    Fate Bloodline Blessing


    Nothing is stronger than family. Harnessing the sheer will of Dominic Toretto, the Steele n, and all who pledge loyalty through the Temple are bestowed with the powers to grow and sense Fate''s will.


    Fate Challenger Job Progression tab, Fate Challenger Job Prerequisites unlocked!


    ---


    "Wow. Your family is going to be so strong soon!"


    "This makes sense. If I am to fight to the End, I''ll need more than just a few allies! The goal of this Temple is to help me build a kingdom! Perhaps a world even!"


    "All to challenge this being called Beginning and End... I know that the Ancient Gods, the Greater Gods, and even the Fallen are all following the powers of Fate and Destiny. That''s why the traitors targeted Fate and coborated in such secrecy that her powers were subverted. Or so they thought..."


    "Right. Fate clearly knew that she would die and allowed it to happen. This Temple is proof of it. In short, Fate was preparing beyond the petty war of the Ancient Gods and the Fallen."


    "Then I have to build up my team! The Coven, my family, everyone else should be Fate Challengers!" Kyros then willed his controls to ess the newly essible tab that appeared on his screen.


    ---


    Kyros Fate Challenger Level 4


    Path of Foresight


    irvoyant Level 2


    Path of Molding


    Empowerer Level 3


    Path of Combat


    Protester Level 8


    ---


    Fate Abilities-


    Nephilim Temple Shroud


    Heart Shroud


    Mind Shroud


    ---


    "Foresight, Combat, and Molding. The three paths of Fate? Do you know what the paths of Fate are?" Kyros read.


    "Nope. I only know of the Nine Paths of Pain."


    "Weeb." Kyros shook his head.


    "Thanks!"


    "I thought that''s an insult?"


    "It is. But I''m into that stuff."


    Kyros expression grew sour.


    "Kyros?" Diana approached.


    "Are you alright?" Diana asked.


    "Oh. He is. He does that quite so often. The Coven thinks it''s cute." Martha added.


    "Erm... Sorry mom. But you see... my connection with the Temple shows me quite a lot of stuff. So please ignore my odd expressions when I''m synched to it."


    "But you do that during odd times. When we''re running, killing, and sometimes while you''re watching us drink blood." Martha frowned.


    "Just ignore my strange expressions." Kyros frowned and dove back to his thoughts.


    "That was awkward." Cminus shook his head.


    "You!!!" Kyros wanted to strangle Cminus.


    "So what exactly are these Paths?" Cminus asked.


    "If an Ancient God doesn''t know about it, how should I?"


    "INT stat. I''m sure you can figure this stuff out. Since the start, I think you have always exceeded Ancient Fate''s expectations. A being like you can''t be gauged, after all. I''m sure that the current rewards and blessings you are enjoying have been a step ahead. So tell me what I don''t know."


    "I do have an impression. Path of Foresight should be the power within Fate Challenger to help me foresee the future. It makes me have the ability to guess what Fate will do. I''m sure my Grandfather has a high level of this. Show Path of Foresight description." Kyros then ordered.


    [ess prohibited. Information stored within the Library of the Nephilim level 1.]


    "Oh. It seems you''re right. Anyway, I can already understand what it entails. If Grandpa managed to defeat Fate, it means he has a high level in the Path of Understanding. I have irvoyant level 2. Which could mean that Grandpa either has the same level or should be around three to four levels lower."


    "That''s quick maths, yo. Two minus three or four would be negative."


    "Not unless two is actually twelve."


    "Bruh. That''s some smart math."


    "I meant that irvoyant is the next stage! There should be a weaker version that maxes out to level ten." Kyros cursed.


    "Oh. I get it! Like those Resistance Skills. Lesser Resistance maxes to level ten, and then bes Greater, and then when it maxes out again, it can be Superior."


    "Exactly. So Grandpa''s level should range somewhere between the ninth level of the weaker version of irvoyant to my current level."


    "What about Molding?"


    "It should be what my father has. He has the ability that breaks Fate''s limitations in bing a researcher or teacher. He built the Steele family all the way to Duke level in my past life. And Uncle Aron should have a high level of Path of Fighter. Grandpa should have a little bit of Building and should have an equal amount between Foresight and Fighting."


    "And you have high fighting? That doesn''t sound right."


    "Correct. My abilities as a Heretic Teacher and Charm should make me a strong Builder. I assume that Builder and Foresight are on the second stage of these Paths. While I am on the eighth level of the first stage in fighting."


    "What about those interesting abilities? I only know Heart Shroud and Mind Shroud. Those are powerful magic that allows even the gods and fallens to fail and discern what is in your heart and mind. But, of course, in this case, it also blinds Fate and possibly Destiny."


    "It definitely affects Destiny. Defeating the Blood Cmity''s chosen carrier of her blood proves that Destiny couldn''t read my mind. Otherwise, it would have known my abilities to resist Soul attacks. I guess that the Temple Shroud means that Fate can''t see what I''m doing inside the Temple."


    "But wouldn''t it have seen you being attacked by the Temple''s Seal? You only achieved Fate Challenger when you defeated the trial inside the mountain. Then if Temple Shroud wasn''t active, it would have known that several Spirit sts were torturing you!"


    "That''s different. I was sealed then, remember? Even you couldn''t see it with your power. So what''s the earlier memory you drew from mine."


    "It was already in a forest. I didn''t get a glimpse of this Temple. I assumed that it was because you were still too feral to remember anything."


    "Have a little more confidence in yourself. You probably remembered the exact time I was out."


    "Probably. But when I saw you, I was already cursed. So I thought my power was just weak."


    "No. The Temple must have had a failsafe protocol. If I couldn''t break out of that Seal by my own strength at a certain time, it would shoot me up to this mountain region. The Blood Cmity wouldn''t also be released. Since the Temple has powers that involve spatial storing, it would have moved the entire mountain when it kicked me out."


    "I see. If those monsters finally defeat the golems, the Temple would teleport itself to a far-off space with most of your powers. And since you would be disconnected from the Temple, you wouldn''t have a chance to unlock a huge of your god-like powers."


    "Exactly. I have to train my Coven now! And I have to inform my father and uncle! They need to use this period of being outside to train in Fate!"


    "How? Fate has removed its Life Limiter and Apathy of Fate! How can you train in it?"


    "Foresight can''t be trained right now as it requires my team to understand and sense what Fate is doing. But the Molding and Combat Paths should be possible."


    "What are you nning?"


    "Mother... Aunt Martha." Kyros suddenly stood up.


    "Erm... I know I''m your aunt, but it sounds strange. Especially since I''m used to addressing you as Lord Kyros." Martha cringed.


    "Coven. Can you hear me?" Kyros called out as he ignored Martha''s reaction.


    Kyros''s voice was heard all over the ce.


    "Lord Kyros! You''re there! I feel something. I thought it was constipation, but I think... I sense Fate." Hemseymunicated.


    "Me too!" Hunter added.


    "Lord Kyros. I feel the workings of Fate. The town that I have entered feels... lucky." Grugnyr sent his message.


    "Lord Kyros, what''s happening? Why all of us all of a sudden? I thought this was Scarlet''s special power?"


    "I''ll exin itter. But for now, I have somemands for all of you. I need you guys to raid an orc outpost. Preferably, you are to attack one that belongs to the Foreshire Kingdom. Grugnyr, as for you, I need you to look for people who can be our allies." Kyros exined.


    "Attack an outpost? Lord Kyros, I thought the n was just to harass some orc to make them see humans."


    "Yes. But now, Fate has bestowed us the power of Fate. And you have to build it! My mother and Martha should have a high level in Fate Combat. You all, except Grugnyr, will fight the outpost to train in that. Mother and Martha will use that opportunity to grow in another ability called Fate Molding. Mother, Martha. You two should train the Coven and help them reach their limits and awaken the dormant power of Fate in them. Grugnyr, you will be focused on Fate Molding. I''ll tell you the details separately."


    "Lord Kyros. Attacking an outpost... that would force us to fight people that are on the level of Lady Martha!" Hunter cried out.


    "Exactly. Since Fate won''t bring life-threatening problems to us, we are going to make life-threatening problems for ourselves!" Kyros dered.


    Meanwhile, in a realm too far to be measured by distance...


    Arge orb continued to give out a strange purple color that filled the entire chamber with its light.


    A tall man stood in front of therge orb.


    "I end my turn." He muttered in discontent.


    The orb shed, and the power it emitted grew dim.


    Still, the man could see Kyros moving about.


    "Strange... How did he do that? And here I thought his death was certain!" The manined.


    "And that Mezal. My powers didn''t have time to build its traps, and it was immediately shut down. Now I can''t hear his voice too! By the time Fate ends her turn, I won''t be able to hear most of them!" The man shook his head.


    "Are there problems, Destiny?" A strange figure made of air and dark matter floated nearby.


    "Of course there are. Is Beginning so easy to defeat?"


    "You failed to kill him? You were too impatient! You should have probed more of his powers before making a killing move." The dark being scoffed.


    "I was. That''s why I didn''t involve the gods and fallen yet. Rx. Destiny is certain. It will happen! Just wait and see. Let me enjoy this chess game. This is what it means to fight Beginning after all."

 Chapter 120 - What It Means To Challenge Fate

    The information was crucial. Kyros took the time to exin everything that he had learned and given detailed descriptions. Martha and Diana saw the fast sprint of Kyros while he was writing something on his notebook.


    What was strange was that Kyros could retain his acrobatic skills in leaping from one rock and would easily scale or leap through obstacles while immersed in writing stuff in the notebook.


    "Erm... Is he always like this?" Diana asked Martha.


    "Lady Diana. I met him just a few days before you did. And this is the first time I see him do that."


    "I-I see. Anyway, what did Kyros meant by calling you ''aunt''?"


    "Oh right! I haven''t had the chance to tell you. But Kyros is going to give me as a wife to your brother-inw Aron."


    "He did what?!" Diana was shocked.


    "It was part of the deal. I serve him as part of his Coven and marry Branze Steele, and he spares my life."


    "He was going to kill you?!"


    "He''s... very cruel and has terrifying darkness. You''ve seen his power and strength. He''s definitely not normal."


    "I can hear you, you know." Kyros sighed as he kept running.


    "I didn''t lie, Lord Kyros." Martha chuckled.


    Kyros immersed himself in writing on his notebook as he spun and leaped over the edge of a cliff.


    The two shook their head and followed.


    Martha and Diana continued to discuss how they met and what circumstances Kyros made Martha join the Coven.


    Back in the Temple, Branze and Aron continued to meditate on the Temple grounds.


    Petra had already returned to the Golem City after rying everything to them. However, before he did, he was able to restore two percent of his life energy which brought tremendous joy to Petra. Branzeter exined that Kyros had seen the notification when he was healed, and it would take him another 3 years before he can have another 2 percent restored.


    Yet despite that, Petra had hope. If things continued, he would be back at his one hundred, especially since Branze and Aron''s group were very strong and cunning in the battlefield.


    Branze had spent the next few minutes trying to concentrate, but Aron kept singing the song that Petra taught Branze to sing to Diana when she returns.


    "It''s a love story, baby just say yeah!" Aron sang.


    "I wish Kyros will also teach me a song to romance Martha Bowheart. I can''t wait to meet her! I''ve always had a thing for girls with deep eyes..." Aron smiled with a dreamy expression,


    Branze was cursing. He was used to his brother''s antics and have perfected the ways of diving himself to his studies while Aron would rant off or make fun of Branze. But now, hisments were fresh and new.


    One of the knights rushed up and brought in the notebook.


    "My Lords! An important note from Lord Kyros!" The knight reported.


    "It should be regarding that..." Branze stood up, recalling the odd event that urred.


    "Its so strange to have this sensation. I feel like my Warriors Instincts have evolved many folds!" Aronughed.


    The two looked at the words that Kyros wrote.


    "Father, Uncle. Grandfather has grown stronger in his mastery over the ability called Fate Challenger. His improvements was so vast that he managed to subvert the ns that Fate had for us. Things have changed because of that. The Temple seemed to have detected it and has now granted the ability to everyone who are members of out Steele family. Originally, portions of that power have been passed on to the two of you. I just learned through the Temple that there are several Paths in being a Fate Challenger. To be one, you need to walk in the Path of Combat, the Path of Foresight and the Path of Molding. I have detailed each Path below."


    "Combat, Foresight and Molding..." Branze read.


    "So dad has all three of those Paths?" Aron asked.


    "Yes. It makes sense. Both Kyros and dad have the full power of Fate Challenger. They have gained the ability of foresight. Looking back at how our old man would make his ns, he was always on the defensive."


    "Right. And Kyros was on the offense. I guess since our dad met your freak of a son, he learned a thing or two from him." Aron nodded.


    The pair continued to read Kyros''s words.


    "I''ve exined the details of each Path below. I''ve added my own insights as well. I''m sure each of you know where you have specialized. A portion of grandfather''s power is in you. In fact, you could even have greater potential in Fate."


    ---


    Path of Foresight


    The ability to understand the mysteries of Fate. At the low level, the Path of Foresight allows the person to sense and discern the possible means how Fate will moves. The stronger the energy required to move Fate, the greater the impression of Fate''s movement is. At higher levels, the Path of Foresight allows the person to take a glimpse at the Fate of cities, towns and kingdoms. There should be several stages or ''job sses'' in this Path alone. My current stage is called ''irvoyant''.


    Path of Molding


    The ability to exceed the limits of Fate in terms of growth and potential. Those who walk on the Path of Molding are able to exceed the limits of their skill, knowledge, and wisdom that the Gods and Fallen has destined the world to have. Like Foresight, there should be several stages or ''job sses'' in this Path alone. My current stage is called ''Empowerer''.


    Path of Combat


    The ability to suppress those who are more favored by Fate in the act ofbat. When two people fight to kill each other, Fate''s power works in that those who are more favored would usually win. This grants onebatant more ''luck'' in the fight. The Path of Combat allows the challenger to decrease the level of luck. At higher levels, the Path of Combat allows the user to exceed the bodily limits that the Gods and Fallen has destined the world to have. My current stage is Protester.


    Fate can see through our hearts and mind. This is how it can take a few steps ahead of us. Each time you reach a certain level in Fate Challenger, you gain more abilities. Right now, the active abilities I have are Temple Shroud, Mind Shroud and Heart Shroud. Make sure to have future conversations within the Temple to be protected from Fate''s reach. Once you increase your levels in Fate Challenger, you should gain Heart Shroud and Mind Shroud. Grandfather ought to have both.


    ---


    The pair read the description and was stunned.


    "Why do I feel like we''re getting more than what we can handle by using the Temple." Aron immediatelymented.


    "Gods and Fallens have cursed the nes World... Or to be precise, it limited us?"


    "Well, it does make sense. They have to control the rise of power one way or the other. But that is too far off. We''d need to be at the level of those in the Higher nes to even have such discussion." Branze shook his head.


    "I guess your right. In any case... I''m pretty sure that I have a form of Foresight and Combat. And you should have a massive amount of potential in Molding." Aron answered.


    "Warriors instinct should be an ability from that. From what I gather, we already have three more potential Fate Challengers. Martha should have Foresight and Combat just like you. Diana ought to have Molding like me. Then there is that girl who was already able to sense the movement of Fate. She should be someone extremely skilled in Foresight. Do you know what that means for our future brother?"


    "No."


    "It means, we can soon be kings of our own right. Father has already brought us so far. And now, we have a freak who can do so much more than what our father did. And right now, we are slowly building a small team of Fate Challengers. Since this power is granted to the Steele Family, its bound to cause our family to rise."


    "So I guess we can rule over the nesworld soon?" Aron joked.


    "No. I doubt it. Kyros didn''t exin it. Maybe because I surpass him in Molding. But I feel that the kingdoms in the Minds and on the Higher nes have a form of Molding of their own. Fate favors them. This is why no Lond kingdom has ever won over a Mind and no Mind has ever won in their challenges on the Higher nes."


    "What about the Dark Sea and the Nether regions?"


    "I don''t know. But I feel like they are cheating."


    "Cheating? Or it could be devouring..." Aron thought for a bit.


    Aron''s answer made Branze raise an eyebrow.


    "You are very insightful at times, dear brother." Branze smiled.


    "It''s just a feeling. When Kyros and I killed Zid Blood de, I could have sworn I felt this simr sensation. It was as if Fate was escaping him."


    "I reallyck Foresight if something as simple as that confounded me."


    "Those things are mysteries that not even the schrs of the Londs can answer. It''s not simple."


    "It is now that we have a path to sess. We should not settle for any less other than constantly defeating Fate on every step we take. Father is clearly setting an example for us older folks. We shouldn''t let my son do all the dirty work."


    "Agreed."


    "Since youck Molding, I suggest you take a trip to the lizard''s den again. There is nothing you can gain here in analyzing the way of the Pdin. Go and fight. My son''s Fate power is Empowerer. This means the Path of Molding can affect others. You have to train in learning how to be what I have been to you and father."


    "Ugh. You know teaching is my weakness. But I do need Fate Challenger. Alright. I''ll do it." Aron nodded.


    "Your Path inbat should protect you. But still, be careful. Keep in mind that our knights should now have a stronger sense of Fate. Help them improve that. This will be our challenge."


    "What an interesting challenge. It seems that our rise as a family is near."


    "It''s not near. It''s already here." Branze smiled as he held on to the message talisman and began to send his message to his grandfather.


    In the fortress of Airom Vagt...


    Mezal was now listening to the befriending gestures from various Viscounts and Barons.


    Mezal offered a rtively easy solution to resolve his many conflicts with those who hated him. As the Viscounts and Barons that hated him were from different Kingdoms, Mezal offered friendly rtions to the enemies of these Viscounts and Barons. That way, Mezal would still have a connection towards all Kingdoms but will only empower the groups that were enemies of his enemies.


    The message reached Mezal, and Mezal secretly yed it.


    "Oh? So this is called Molding? Interesting. I was doing this as a precaution, but I can actually change their Fate? Then let me push Fate to favor these Viscounts!" Mezal couldn''t help but reveal a bright smile as he looked on the several Viscount and Baron groups before him.


    "I''m feeling generous today. What if... I offer to teach some of your young lords the path of a Force Pdin?" He smiled.


    An eruption of cheers and requests filled the room.


    Mezal could feel it. The Fate of these Viscounts and Barons was changing.

 Chapter 121 - Power Of The Dark Core

    With the alliances made, the shifting of power in the Londs was changing. It was the first time that Mezal could feel it.


    "So this is Molding...?" He couldn''t help but smile. The Favor of Fate was changing.


    The rewards that Mezal received caused him to level up in his Fate challenger. The mysterious power was enhancing his ability to sense it. At that time, he could sense that the Fate of those Viscounts in front of him was changing. The Fate of some was changing for the better, while others for the worst.


    "So my offer will cause a few to fall into deep strife, eh? It seems my sons and the Coven will be busy saving these Viscounts." Mezal was growing excited. He had been living his life guessing and plotting. He even kept to himself and wouldn''t tell his family members what the ns were. But now, it was clear. It was as if he was standing in front of a great chessboard, and all the people before him were pawns and pieces in his goal to turn the Steele family into a powerful force.


    "It seems that our destiny does not lie in the Londs." Mezal softly muttered amidst the moring crowd who wanted to secure a slot for the Force Pdin training.


    Ordeus watched from afar and was starting to grow wary of Mezal.


    "If you don''t want him, give him to me." Drake approached the side.


    "You really think that he''s telling the truth about everything?"


    "You chose to believe him when he was an ally, but now that his power has grown to a point where you can''t control him, you use him of betrayal?"


    "..." Ordeus couldn''t answer.


    "He is telling the truth. I know because the Eldrich approached me." Drake moved along.


    Ordeus was startled at wanted to call out but saw that Drake was headed towards Mezal.


    "Was that... why he talked to him...?" Ordeus pondered.


    "Regardless... Mezal''s importance just keeps on rising by the minute. If Kattarax wants to grow stronger, they must favor the Steele family if they are alive!" Ordeus decided.


    As Mezal continued to wield the will of the Londs, Kyros had already reached the town. He had separated the Coven and made them move.


    Myas waited in the dark cave.


    "What was that?" She cried.


    "Don''t worry. There''s no one who knows of this Path. With what''s been going on, no orcs would venture this far, much less use this secret route." Gregory assured.


    "But the sound!"


    "Child, you heard nothing. You''re just tired." One of the ves assured.


    "He''s right." Gregory added.


    "I''m a vampire, so my senses are much stronger. If there was an orc or a beast nearby, I''d be able to smell it. Ever since Lord Kyros defeated thatrge orc, my ability to detect blood has gotten stronger." Gregory smiled.


    "That''s true. The vampire town I served in could not be raided or stolen since the vampires could sense them. They, of course, pretended not to be vampires to draw more bandits and thieves. It was their way of feeding themselves." The old woman chuckled.


    "But your master is rather strong. To think that they could kill that beast." The old woman praised.


    "You''ve seen nothing yet. The Steele family will be a major power in the Londs. I assure you."


    "And we will be servants to this family. How exciting!" The old woman smiled.


    It was then that Gregory received a message.


    "Gregory, we''ve scouted the area and confirmed that there are no orcs nearby. Go with the team and get some food from the abandoned town nearby." Kyros ordered.


    "Everyone. I''ll be going. I''ll get us some food to eat. It seems we have more missions in Airom Logat." Gregory exined as he dashed heroically outside the cave.


    "See youter." Gregory gave a gant wave and rushed outside.


    Hours passed, and the night approached. The bright moon illuminated the mountain to the delight of the orcs. The light would be their ally against the darkness.


    The news that Grugnyr delivered had already reached the major towns in the region, and everyone was warned. The smaller viges evacuated the area to move to other viges.


    The Coven had already taken food from the empty viges, and anything of value was also taken. Then, after getting what they needed, the Coven brought all the food back to the ves.


    Kyros stood out on the outskirts of a well-defended town. The sweat in his back kept dripping as he ran for hours to get here.


    The orc town was busier than the human town in Airom Logat. More guards surrounded the area, and even the orc vigers took arms and had weapons nearby.


    "So what are we going to do? You''re going to have your Coven attack the outpost tomorrow morning, but you will deal with the night?"


    "Yup. I need to make the name of Cracky Batcheeks resound in this region. After we attack this ce, we make it look like Cracky Batcheeks is the source of the Blood Cmity. It has to be a hugemotion. So I n on killing and drinking in this town until level up."


    "So this is why you asked Grugnyr which town you could level."


    "Right. I don''t want to hurt his feelings. He is going to be an important figure in the soon-to-rise orc kingdom that we will support."


    "But wouldn''t a massacre of this level draw the attention of the Greater Gods or the Fallen?"


    "Exactly. I feel that destiny will not take me for granted and will send Fallen and God''s to our midst. So instead of waiting for Fate or Destiny to send Saints or Gods towards us, I''ll be leaving a fake trail to keep them distracted."


    "But this ce is too close to the Temple!"


    "The trail won''t just end here. Cracky Batcheeks will appear on many ces. After we finish everything here at the Temple, I will go back and settle my upgrades and level-ups. But after that, I n to go on a trip. With my family now capable of Fate Challenger, me being with them will stunt their growth. If I am with them, they won''t face any problems. They have Fate Challenger as well. The more of that in one area, the easier it will be to ovee Fate. They have to go through immense hardships without me."


    "Bruh. This is like the ssic cliche in most novels where the main character goes on a long trip and returns just in time to save the family which is on the brink of trouble."


    "My family is not that weak that requires me to save them. And besides, if they do face something more than they can handle, I can teleport directly to the Temple."


    "But Destiny''s curse! If you''re gone, your father and mother might..."


    "I am luring Destiny to make his move, Cminus. That''s my n. I''ll discuss this with my family once we get back. They have to ovee Destiny on their own. They are all going to be together soon. And in the Temple, I''ll tell them all about their future."


    "You''re bing as cruel as Fate."


    "It''s for our own good. Now, what''s the best way to attack this town? How do I leave the mark of Cracky Batcheeks?" Kyros spied on the entire orc town and counted the number of orcs.


    "You should fight naked."


    "What the fragment?!"


    "I mean, you ARE the Naked Offender!"


    "I am not fighting naked!"


    "Why not? If things get a little dicey, you could equip the Cloak of Shadow and the Vermillion armor by marking it."


    "No way!"


    "But how will you be known as the Naked Offender if you won''t fight naked?"


    "I''ll shout it, dere it and announce it at every kill!"


    "Really? That won''t work. If Batman were to appear and deliver his line, ''I''m Batman,'' but he''s wearing a red iron costume, people won''t remember him as Batman but call him Iron Man. And that''s a very confusing hero. The clothes make the name, Kyros! In this case, having no clothes makes you the Naked Offender."


    "No way am I fighting naked!"


    "But you have to admit there is logic in my words."


    "There is nothing but perversion and insanity in your words! If I want to be known as the Naked Offender, I can strip my enemies after killing them!"


    "Now that''s ridiculous. You''d be known as Cracky Batcheeks the Disrober!" Cminus insisted.


    "Shut up! I don''t have to listen to you!"


    Kyros finally ran towards the town and activated his Dark Cloak.


    Kyros brought out the stats of his Dark Core.


    ---


    Nephilim Dark Core


    Hello Darkness, my old friend.


    Through the awakening of several Fallen inheritances and the powers of Mysterion, the Primordial Darkness is birthed in this Nephilim Core.


    Magic Points- 30 (Increases at every level increase of Kyros)


    May recover mana by absorbing dark or death energy.


    ---


    Kyros smiled and loved his new weapon. The darkness that covered him flowed to his dark cloak.


    [Synch Dark Cloak and Bloodied Sword with Nephilim Dark Core?]


    A prompt appeared.


    Kyros selected yes.


    At the front of the orc town, archers and orc magi stood and watched.


    Their expressions were all serious. The appearance of the orc that survived the vampire cmity brought in a repulsive head of an outrageous monster. Its form, and the dark powers leaking from it caused the town to panic. Request were made to send more orcs to the region to guard against this Blood Cmity.


    "You think it will attack this town?" An orc asked his captain.


    The level twenty-three orc wielding arge bone de nodded.


    "Vampires like that orc are given to their mad thirst. Our ns of evacuating will force these vampires to attack towns. And this is the town where a lot of blood is gathered. Those creatures will emerge here."


    "I see. Captain, how strong is this vampire?"


    "We don''t know. But no matter how strong they are, we are prepared, and we are more!"


    At that moment, a strange void, as if a ck rock was floating towards them. The moon was bright that night and caused all of the orcs to see it.


    A dark being coated in darkness with long horns and wings stepped out of the void as the ck energy dispersed.


    "You dare... resist?" Kyrosughed.

 Chapter 122 - Power Of The Archer

    The appearance of Kyros was shocking, to say the least.


    A powerful dark energy that they could not understand followed him, and the figure of a strange horned dark being emerged.


    "A pitiful defense." Kyrosughed. He had manipted the darkness and used the synchronized power of his Dark Core and the Cloak to create the horns and wings. Then, as he emerged, he activated Taunt and used the power of the Charmed Fallen.


    The power of Taunt and the charm caused the orcs to fear the being that appeared.


    "Blood Cmity! You will die!" The Orc captain roared.


    "Blood Cmity? That pitiful queen? I have killed her! How did you think that orc managed to escape? If I had not attacked the Blood Cmity, that orc would have died. Now I grow hungry. Who shall be the food of me, Cracky Batcheeks the Naked Offender?" Kyrosughed. ck tentacle-like vines began to squirm about.


    "That was just too forced..." Cminus sighed.


    "Shut up! I''m busy here!"


    "Servants of the Eldrich! You may have killed me in my past life, but now... The Blood Cmity, the Okto-Khefali in the Minds, and the Fallen Scourge will all fall!" Kyrosughed.


    Kyros reached out as if to pull something as the ck vines moved in front of Kyros. As Kyros touched the ck tentacle and pulled it, several long, thin objects resembling arrows appeared.


    But suddenly, several dark creatures ran out of side. Two winged humans jumped out and began to fly and zoomed into the sky.


    The orcs were stunned at the sudden creatures, but then, the arrows reached some.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Kyros retrieved the bow and arrows inside the darkness and made it look like Kyros was crafting a magic bow out of his darkness. But when the winged creatures emerged, it drew their attention, and then the swift and silent arrows reached them.


    Three orcs died as it struck them in the throat.


    "Enemy attack!" The orc shouted.


    They gazed at the strange dark creature with tentacles in the middle


    "It''s him! Shoot him!" The orcs ordered.


    The orcs began to shoot arrows, and the mages charged for attacking.


    But then the dark-winged creatures flying in the air also began to shoot ck arrows from the skies.


    "ACK!" A pained cry from one of the orc magi was heard.


    "Magic attack! Those winged summonses can also do what their master can! Shoot them down!" An orc cried.


    Kyros''s figure disappeared as a thick ball of darkness covered him and created what looked like a ball of darkness with sharp fangs and ws. It looked like several thin, strange dark creatures tangled up into a ball.


    The ball moved and began to give a strange cry as it went.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Several arrows shot out once more, and another orc got wounded.


    The ball moved so fast and changed its form. It would even break apart and reveal several thin creatures and would merge back again. The attacks of mages would miss because of this.


    "We might need to fight with it in close range..." One of the Orc captains reported.


    "This is bad. We don''t have many means to fight aerial enemies!" The orc cursed. As the town was deep in the middle of Airom Logat, there was no need to assign archers, mages, and other Force users to attack aerial enemies.


    The battle continued to rage, and arrows would strike several more soldiers.


    Meanwhile, Kyros was hiding in a thick shrub near the area he first appeared.


    "Ah... The basic principles of performing magic! You could write a magician''s guide with those tricks!" Cminus praised.


    "You made a dramatic entrance and revealed your form, created that scene where it looked like you could create arrows from your darkness to attack. But then you simultaneously released the aerial forms of your familiar, which can now, surprisingly fly thanks to your powers of darkness. Everyone is focused on the flying object, and when they were, you shot the arrows to bring back the attention just in time as your Shadow Ghouls have already taken the ce of your dark aura. And during that misdirection of attention, you already escaped back to a small shrub where you can keep on sniping the enemies with arrows as your dark minion''s attack. Not to mention you are releasing a weak form of darkness to hide from this shrub. Very smart."


    "It''s all to keep them busy. I need to kill as much as I can and find an opening to get behind enemy lines. Hmp! I missed again! Things would have been easier if I was an archer. I have Martha''s blood. Shouldn''t I have the power to acquire an archer''s job?" Kyros frowned.


    "Well, in theory, you should. I mean, you are a god. Those job sses were something the Greater Gods bestowed to humans. So you should have the ability to activate them. But maybe you need the Temple to bestow it on you?"


    "That doesn''t make sense. I didn''t need the Temple to bestow the Dark Artificer and the Earth Artificer jobs. The Heretic jobs could be understandable since it''s something my bloodline created. But in theory, I should be capable of assuming a job!" Kyrosined.


    "True. I wonder why it hasn''t surfaced? It would make things easier if you have the job of the archer."


    "I really wish I have it..."


    [Archer job acquired.]


    "..."


    "..."


    "Why?"


    "I don''t know why. You did wish for it." Cminus shrugged.


    "Hmm... I wish I have a huge D."


    "A what?"


    "Dragon. I was hoping this dragon egg would hatch and give me a huge dragon."


    "Oh... I thought you wished for something else."


    "But this doesn''t make sense. It feels like this ability was in me. But if I try to awaken any random job, it won''t work."


    "Try using it. You might gain some more understanding if you use it."


    "Right."


    Kyros took aim once more in the dark bush. His eyes watched for the enemies at the distant area and could feel the power of the archer job coursing in through him. The ability that he could see was Martha''s skill. Her memories and training were shown, and it created a faint pulse of energy around his blood.


    "It''s Martha!" Kyros realized the source of the power he was sensing.


    Meanwhile, on the north side of Airom Logat, in a region near thest outpost overlooking the mountain...


    Martha was with Hunter, Helms, and Hemsey and continued to discuss their ns.


    It was then. She felt the strange call of power.


    "It''s lord Kyros!" Martha could sense his power. She closed her eyes and allowed a bond to begin. She felt a strange power and realized that she could now create dark energy.


    "What happened?" Hunter asked.


    "Lord Kyros called out to me. He wanted to gain the powers of the archer. It''s like he was using the blood in me to help him understand more about archery." Martha exined.


    "But somethings strange... I could feel it too." Martha realized that the power of Kyros''s blood had more secrets, and she began to summon the power in her blood.


    Back in Kyros''s location...


    ---


    Martha Steele gained Heretic Archer Job!


    Martha Steele gained the Dark Arrow ability!


    ---


    "Oh, that''s why. It''s because of the Coven." Cminus nodded with understanding.


    "So the Archer job was something that I managed to learn from Martha. Martha is already on her second archer ss. It seems that because of that, I managed to awaken the basic job ss."


    "That''s very helpful. You can cultivate your Path and have these guys try out whatever sses they want, and you can still level up!"


    "Right."


    "Lord Kyros!" Martha called out.


    "I know Martha. Just enjoy it. Yeah. Give me a sec." Kyros focused once more.


    [Swordsman job acquired.]


    "I knew it." Kyros smiled.


    "Wow. You''re the only person to have acquired a job without all those rituals and blessings from gods and stuff. Not to mention the Archer God and the Sword God are two totally different Codes."


    "Tell Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey to meditate just like you did," Kyros ordered as he turned his attention back to fighting.


    "So this is the Archer ss! Although I trained in this, I never used the resource to actually learn the ss since I thought I already trained it in my previous life. But now... Even pulling the bowstring seems easier and lighter, and I feel the bow as an extension of my body!" Kyros was amazed.


    Kyros then used Force energy to fill his eyes.


    "Kyros... What do your elf eye see?"


    "Very funny." Kyros ignored Cminus and shot several arrows.


    His speed in shooting arrows was faster. It was as if shooting no longer needed conscious thought, and he could do it without putting an effort.


    "I can even tell where the wind blows... Amazing."


    "You can what? I''m pretty sure normal archers can''t do that." Cminus shoot his head.


    With Kyros''s dexterity, he began to shoot all of the remaining arrows in his quiver.


    The arrows were more precise, and Kyros imbued each arrow with a small bit of darkness, and as he shot, Kyros could somehow sense the dark energy he released.


    [Dark Maniptor max level reached.]


    [Dark Controller skill acquired.]


    The arrows moved, and with the darkness guiding it, it aimed and struck for the vital organs of the orcs.


    "AHH!" The screams of the orcs were heard as Kyros''s arrows struck some right in the eye.


    "Perfect. Now''s my chance." Kyros smiled and began to move out.


    The Shadow Ghouls and the flying shadow familiars fought on the other side of the battlefield while Kyros raced towards the gap where the orcs were wounded from his attacks.


    "Hm? Kyros?" Cminus sensed a strange urge.


    "I know. I''m getting thirsty. Rx. I won''t give in to the darkness. This is probably just me getting excited about a meal." Kyros answered as he brought out the Bloodied Sword.


    "You really need to up your Light side, Nephilim." Cminus shook his head.


    "I know." Kyros answered as he flung his sword towards an Orc.


    The orc was the first to notice Kyros''s approach. As Kyros drew closer, his darkness could no longer fully hide his form. But before he could scream, the sword stabbed him in the mouth.

 Chapter 123 - Power Of The Swordsman

    The sword stabbed and began to push itself. ck vine-like tentacles emerged and began to wrap around the head of the orc and used it to pull the sword deeper into the orc.


    The orc was defenseless, and while it tried to use its remaining strength to pull the sword out, his arms began to grow weak as the sword began to drink up its blood.


    By the time the nearby orc realized what had happened to his friend Kyros had already reached him.


    Kyros jumped up and bypassed the many obstacles and primitive defenses that were erected not too long ago.


    His speed and power allowed Kyros to maneuver through the wooded fences and barricades and reached the other orc. He then summoned the massive weapon which therge orc carried.


    The ax appeared out of thin air, and Kyros shed down.


    SLASH!


    The powerful cut halved the orc into two parts.


    The ax disappeared, and the Bloodied Sword appeared on Kyros''s hands again as the first orc that was stabbed had already died.


    "Time to see if my strength is better." Kyros smiled and wielded the sword on his hand.


    Jobs and job sses weren''t things that could be acquired through training. Although a person can wield the sword, the blessing of various Gods and Fallen were necessary to provide a boosted strength.


    Cultivators have to save up a lot of money to purchase ess to the blessing of a path.


    The first foundational blessings were Archery, Swordsman, Axe Wielder, Barehanded, Magic wielder, and many more codes.


    Many jobs that require Force have their own blessings. This includes cksmith, alchemy, artificer, and other jobs. Each has its corresponding Code, which has been passed on. The blessings were stored into an Idol or a Totem, which would then be housed in Temples, Guilds, Orders, Brotherhood, and whatever groups specialized in certain codes.


    There were other blessings that cultivators needed to purchase if they want to achieve the next rank up. Reaching a certain level was not the only requirement, but the cultivator needs to acquire several blessings to perform a ss Up.


    Martha not only received the essential blessing of Archery from the Bow God, but she had already purchased additional blessings. In fact, she took the blessings of two different paths as she could not afford the skyrocketing prices of a ss Up.


    The Code of the Archer had numerous branching paths depending on the blessings you purchase and the ss of archer the person selects. Some archers focus on uracy, others on speed, while others merge their powers with magic.


    Martha Bowheart was so talented that with the two blessings she received, she could already reach the skill that many True Aim and Quick Bow archers could do! Many believed that she already took a ss Up. The Bowheart questioned her skill that she was even suspected of stealing and embezzling the n''s money to purchase these ss Ups and deny having done so.


    But the truth was Martha saved up all her money to have two different blessings. A small portion of those blessings was transferred over to Kyros. But now, Kyros was concentrating on harnessing the blessings that the three H''s received from their basic Swordsman ss.


    Kyros also received the Swordsman blessing to awaken two jobs in the Swordsman tree on his previous life. Kyros was both a Quick de and a Defender Knight. Of course, with his family''s specific training in applying Force Power, they were able to breakmon sense and build a path that did not require the blessings of the Pdin''s Code.


    Everyone who has met Kyros in this life believed that he already received the blessings for the Quick de''s path, but they were wrong.


    Kyros had no blessings yet. And now, he finally had.


    Kyros felt that the sword in his hand became something connected to him. It felt lighter, and he could easily control his sword and feel the smallest details of the sword. Then, for a very brief moment, Kyros saw a towering figure.


    Once more, Kyros and Cminus found themselves standing in a strange world.


    "This ce again? But how? What triggered it?" Kyros was amazed. This was the same ce where he saw the beings look at him and where he learned of the Alpha and the Omega and the struggle of the Beginning to fight the End.


    "West Virginia again!" Cminus was amazed. And then, the pair saw it.


    A divine being of great power peered through time and space. The towering figure stood asrge as a. It was as if Kyros was gazing at the night sky, but he could only see the torso of this gigantic figure.


    "Hmm? Oh, Cminus! Wow. You''re so weak! I want to bully you, but it''s been quite a long time. Well... although time really doesn''t work like how you must experience it now as you lost your manhood." The towering beingughed.


    "Manhood? Cminus...? Don''t tell me?" Kyros was horrified.


    "N-no! He means my godhood!" Cminus defended.


    "So that''s the boy!" The divine beingughed as he looked at Kyros.


    Kyros felt a strange familiarity with the being before him.


    "Who are you? Why do you feel so familiar?" Kyros wondered.


    "Ah, right. This is my god form. It might be too daunting for you, who can only see in the physical realm. Here. Let me assume a more familiar form." The gigantic being shrunk and began a strange sword. It was standing on a strange throne that had sixteen wings.


    "Ancient Sword God! Hyperion Steel! You''re alive?!" Cminus recognized the long fallen Ancient God.


    "Wow. Being mortal really corrupts your senses. You can''t even grasp what I am now. I am dead, but I am not. Death and life can''t really define us. You met me too early, Cminus! I originally thought we would meet muchter when you could at least recall what it''s like to be a god. But it looks like her son is quite awesome. So he''s the one who will bring my lost family to power?" The beingughed and gazed at Kyros.


    "Lost family?"


    "Yes. This exins how you feel quite ''familiar'' with me." The sword chuckled.


    "Awaken your powers quickly, young one. Be the spark that will lift my descendants from the dust and mire. I sense that he is already born. And it seems that Fate did as promised and tied their destiny with yours. Another power lies dormant within the Steele Family. I see that you already received the blessings of As and found his Gigantes. Give that little Gigantes my regards once he wakes up. Oh, and I don''t need to say this, but don''t get too rxed... Our help is only to give you a chance of fighting the End. With the tangles of Destiny you have on you, chances are, you might not even beat their weakest soldier. And you have an entire gxy to fight!" Hyperion chuckled.


    "Anyway, that''s about all the ''time'' I have for you. Cultivate more, and you''ll find the truth behind everything. For now, I shall grant you the First Blessing of Steel. Hmm... I''m guessing 0.00001 percent should do it. We don''t want you to get too strong now, would we? I heard you suppose to be very smart. So I''ll give you a drop, alright?"


    "Erm... What''s smaller than a drop? This guy is not just smart, Hyperion. He''s like the aspect of intelligence himself!"


    "Nonsense! My Code is not so simple that your puny brains canprehend. Have this drop kid. And be a sword god better than me!" Hyperionughed as a bright light shone.


    Kyros found himself back on the orc town with his sword on hand.


    [Wielder of Sword job acquired!]


    Kyros clutched the sword tight.


    And it felt like the entire world stopped.


    "I told you, Hyperion. Great! Just great!" Cminus cursed.


    Up high in the Heavenly nes, the king of the nes World suddenly stood up.


    "What was that?!" He was amazed.


    Champion Supreme Pyrekaiser Fafnir, who was attending to the king, also turned and gazed at Kyros''s distant ce.


    "A warrior of great power is born. One who specializes in the sword. It is as if a new Path has opened. A Sword Path!"


    "Gandor! Are you here?!" The king shouted.


    Magistrate Supreme Gandor Ellisium suddenly appeared as he ripped through the void.


    "Your Majesty!"


    "The Greater God! Is she still here?"


    "No, your majesty. Her search for Cracky Batcheeks led her to other distants."


    "Seal all traces of that power! If a New Path is born, someone in the nes World will have the chance to be a god! Call for my daughter!"


    "I''m here, your Grace." A beautiful woman wearing the armor of bright white sat down.


    "The Supremes are quite busy with our chores, and I have to keep watch of the mess here. So go down and search for traces of that power. We need that path!"


    "As you will, your Grace." A bright light enveloped the woman, and she disappeared.


    Meanwhile... Down in the ckest darkness of the Nethends.


    A figure emerged from a pool of ck-red blood.


    It had a long serpent-like tail andrge red horns. His body looked as if it was made of bronze, and he had a face that looked like that of a man.


    "A Path is born!" The man eximed.


    "My liege, your orders." A tall figure that had the appearance of a bull asked.


    "Send my daughter. That Path must be ours to devour!" The man roared.


    In the realm where Hyperion was, Hyperion Steel stood there horrified.


    "What the fragment?!" He cursed.

 Chapter 124 - Power Of An Expert

    Back in the Ancient Era, when the gods and fallen dwelled openly among men and waged wars against each other, both sides began to harness their specific codes and granted them to the races.


    The Code of the Gods and the Code of the Fallen were both gifted to creation so that creation could grow strong and aid them in their conquest.??


    Those bestowed with the Codes and received several blessings soon understood what it meant to be gods. As Gods and Fallen were not limited by time, space, and energy, they could perform things and see things vastly different from what humans could.


    Just as a dog will only have the instinct of a dog and bark, bite, chase, and sniff, so were creation limited to their biological constraints. In fact, no race in all creation had true freedom. They were limited in their thinking, craving, and their cultivation.


    But the Codes offered these races a chance to see beyond what they could see. By granting them a new set of eyes to see, a new set of senses to feel, many cultivated to the point that they surpassed their mortal being.


    And so the first Saint was born. Belonging to the Dragonic Races, the Dragon Sovereign became the first mortal to be like gods.


    But just as that happened, the dark Codes of the Fallen gave birth to the first devil level Okto-Khefali. Thus, the Okto-Khefali Bob became a name that brought terror to all those who sided with the Gods.


    Dragon Sovereign Kaiser Prime soon reached godhood as the gods bestowed more of their Codes on him. And in a show of power, Kaiser Prime slew the Celestial Fallen. But just as the Code of the Celestial Fallen was captured, Bob appeared and devoured half of it.


    Kaiser managed to wrestle it back but failed to y Bob, bing the first mortal to reach the power levels that equal the Fallen.


    The remnant Code from the Celestial Fallen would be granted to a human mortal who reached sainthood and became known as Greater God Daradiel.


    But during that era, granting numerous Codes, be it Fallen or from Gods, led to strange events.


    A mortal had found a means to create a different Code. It was different than the Codes that the gods and fallen left on the mortal nes. It was unlike the Codes that defined the power of the Gods and Fallen. And both sides feared it. They called the power a ''Path'' for it opened up a Path to a new power.


    Both sidesbeled the woman a heretic, but as she grew in power, the gods were forced to bring her to their side as the Fallen would devour and share her.


    Soon, the age of Heretics came. More and more Greater Gods and Fallen emerged, each with their Path, until the great war between the gods and fallen reached its conclusion with the gods winning.


    The Codes that they have left behind were too many, and the original gods and fallen knew that they would face immense bacsh from the saints, devils, gods, and fallen. To do that, they caused a massive curse to affect the entire universe that limited the power of the Codes to limit the potential of mortal beings.


    From then on, the number of people that reached sainthood dramatically decreased. And the number of times when a Path would open in the hundreds of billions of years that passed could only be counted in one hand.


    And now, a Path was born.


    A Path of unimaginable possibilities exited within the nes world.


    The Saint King in the Heavenly nes and the Devil King in the Nethends both used their power to hide the surging energy that erupted from that Path.


    They knew that a Greater God was nearby searching for a certain being, and both stopped it. This was the chance for a God or Fallen of such great power to rise from the nes World.


    Kyros held his sword and felt as if he understood it.


    ---


    De-Might curse weakened.


    Force Lock curse weakened.


    ---


    A bright light covered Kyros.


    Kyros cursed and summoned up the armor he marked before getting here.


    He was wearing a set of armor that hid his features. He had theplete set. Kyros wore a shield, a pair of gauntlets, a helmet covering his face, and greaves concealing his shins. These were some of the basic armor he found in his many raids. The Vermillion armor increased Kyros''s bulkiness and allowed him to fit the steel armor, and the Cloak of Darkness was released a bit of darkness to fill in the space. To the eyes of anyone, Kyros would look like a man in histe twenties with his tall build. But in reality, the darkness from the Cloak and his Core was the only one making him look big.


    But even though the enemy could now see Kyros, the orcs did not move.


    They watched in amazement.


    Kyros held the sword.


    "I see... Hyperion Steel''s Code is Force itself. If not for the powerful curses, I would have reached sainthood almost instantly in terms of skill." Kyros closed his eyes and immersed himself in the brand new power.


    The orcs watched and unconsciously retreated.


    "Ca-Captain! That human! What power is this?"


    "I don''t know. I''ve served in the front line and fought Pdins and other General level warriors. Yet nothing canpare to that power!"


    "Kyros. The power you have is..."


    "I know. I''m minimizing it. If I do a single sh with my current form, it will kill me as my body would be depleted of Force energy. What kind of blessing did that Ancient God give me? This is too much trouble! That awakening ruined my n! I was supposed to be a shadow fighting here, but now, with this bright light, everyone could see me!" Kyros cursed.


    "I know, right? I told him to give you less than a drop! Now all of nes World will be headed here to kill you!"


    Kyros thenmanded the dark beings to move and attack.


    The ck ball of Shadow Ghouls exploded out, and the Shadow Ghouls raced towards the front lines.


    The shadow familiars also dove down.


    The attacks drew the attention of the orcs, and they began to bombard the strange beings with attacks.


    As Kyros was already within the walls, he was not in a position where the mages could immediately attack. But Kyros made the group attack the mages first to distract them.


    Kyros kept on concentrating.


    "My main concern is those archers. All that''s left is the archers. Cminus. Prepare to use Ssh to any archers that will fire. With your current force, you should be able to redirect their shots. You know what to do, right?." Kyros ordered.


    "Of course! I''m still a god, you know?" Cminus shook his head as he moved out.


    Cminus immediately flew. With his level increased, he could now stay within two hundred meters of where Kyros was.


    "Who are you?! Put down your sword, human!" One of the orc captains nearest to where Kyos was shouted. The power that Kyros released made everyone wary. But the power was so pure that many of the stronger orcs knew that this was a soldier of the light.


    "I am here to kill Cracky Batcheeks!" Kyros dered.


    [Oration activated.]


    The group was startled.


    "How did a human enter this ce?"


    "I came from the scent of blood. I met an orc who was escaping from this ce. He found a secret path leading to a tunnel that moved out of Airom Logat. His family had been killed, and I am a vampire hunter from the Minds chasing Cracky Batcheeks. I am not your enemy!" Kyros exined. While he kept talking, his Soul Console was working as hard as it could topress the energy.


    Kyros willed it, and one of the Shadow Familiars zoomed down to attack him.


    Kyros was very careful and controlled his movements. However, in his current form, the vast power that his body was releasing was creating a conflict in his body. A surge of Force Energy was trying to break free from the curse, but the curse contained it. But still, his body was currently full of Force energy, and the slightest stimtion would cause his body to explode.


    As the dark creature approached, Kyros slowly raised his fist as if he was doing something so casual. Then, the power of Skotos Eis Phos was activated.


    FLASH!


    A powerful bright light emerged, and the Shadow Familiar disappeared.


    "SCREEEE!" The Shadow familiar and the various ghouls suddenly retreated at a distance to reform and red and hiss at Kyros.


    "He made the darkness retreat!" One of the orcs was amazed.


    "An expert!" The orc captain was amazed. That simple movement was time so precisely that the attack immediately killed the dark creature.


    "Where is the path that you speak of?" A certain orc magi asked.


    "I believe it is to my benefit that I don''t say exactly where. But I can describe it to you if your purpose is to ascertain its existence. It is a long winding passage in a cave. The rocks inside the path are full of coarse stones, and curiously, it has stairs on certain dangerous parts of it." Kyros described.


    "Lies!" An orc eximed.


    "He speaks the truth." Another orc sighed.


    "What?"


    "I''ve been to such a path. Then Mind warrior. If you can kill Cracky Batcheeks, we will pay you!" One of the Orc captains offered.


    "I just want passage of this ce. My job is to exact vengeance for my family that Cracky killed in the Minds. I need not your money." Kyros answered.


    "Why did you kill our orcs?!" One of the orcs suddenly challenged as it noticed two orcs killed.


    "Take a closer look. The darkness was infecting him! If I had not acted quickly, these orcs would be vampires! Their bites will infect you! You either die from the poison or be a vampire to aid them!" Kyros rebuked.


    The orcs were startled.


    "If you do not believe me, find. But allow me to challenge that creature alone! Do not interfere!" Kyros shouted.


    "Then go! See if you can kill that monster." One of the orcs answered.


    "Chazrak! We cannot trust him!" Another orc captain howled.


    "To what disadvantage if he kills that monster? Since he demands no payment, we can all take credit for killing it!"


    "I have no concern as to who gets the glory for killing Cracky." Kyros answered.


    The orc captain continued to contemte.


    "Fine. Go and fight that monster, expert. Show us the strength of the Minds!" The orc finally agreed.


    At that moment, Kyros had already managed to contain the power in him. There was still a huge amount of Force energy that was bursting out of him.


    "Then allow me to face that monster." Kyros began his slow march.


    Every step of Kyros released a faint pulse of Force energy that made the orcs amazed.


    "This is the power of an expert." An orc praised.


    "Die!" Kyros charged towards the bundle of darkness that was his summons, and his sword shed at it.


    BOOM!


    A powerful light exploded out as Kyros channeled the excess Force energy in his body and stabbed on the floor.


    "Is it over?" An orc asked.


    And then they heard it.


    "AHHHHH! I''m dying! Ugh! I''m dead! No! Curse you, Cracky Batcheeks! The Naked Offender!"


    The light disappeared, and a terrifying dark creature stood with raging darkness that reced the light.


    "WHAT?!" The orcs were shocked and cursed.


    "That was still too forced! What kind of lousy acting skills do you possess? You were dying, and you still had the time to say, ''the Naked Offender? And what is even more idiotic is that you said that right after you said you are dead." Cminus was unimpressed.


    "Oh, shut up! I have never been in such a conflicting state before! Even my Soul Console was having a hard time maintaining the energy! So forgive me if my acting skills are not up to par! At least I fixe?d the problems that idiot Sword God gave me!"

 Chapter 125 - Power Overwhelming

    The orcs were horrified at what they witnessed.


    It was so anticlimactic!??


    That knight was an expert! He was a strong and powerful knight that had enough pressure to make a level thirty warrior step back!


    But he rushed and was easily devoured by the dark creature.


    No bright lights were remaining as the darkness consumed it. The form of the horned demon emerged once more.


    "How futile! You might have defeated me before, but I ate the Blood Cmity and had resistance to your Holy power! Me! Cracky Batcheeks! The Naked Offender!" Kyrosughed.


    "Really? You''re ovepensating by repeating the Naked Offender." Cminus shook his head. He was near a certain mage, a hundred meters from where Kyros was standing.


    "As long as this works, I don''t care." Kyros was slowly allowing the darkness to heal him. Then, with thest sh, he released the Force that was trying to breach the curse.


    The explosion of Force energy that broke out of his body had created hugecerations all over his body. In fact, Kyros was using the darkness to help him stand and heal him. Kyros began to use the blood from his sword to begin healing him.


    But despite these terrifying wounds, Kyros was not worried, but rather he was excited.


    Kyros could sense that the Soul Force in his body had greatly increased and that he could finally release it.


    The Soul Force in his body only had little use before. Due to the powerful curse, Kyros could not manipte it to make Force attacks and only use it to empower his body to increase his Vitality and Strength stat. But now, he could see that the Force Energy in his body could release to some extent.


    "Finally. Although it''s very constrained, I can do Force attacks." Kyros smiled.


    [Force Pdin job acquired.]


    [Force Wielding skill acquired.]


    ---


    "Force Wielding? Sounds so nostalgic. In my past life, I had to use the Celestial Code to aid me in Force Maniption."


    "You should be capable of Force Maniption at higher levels. I think, just like your magic stat, you should be able to unlock more of it as you increase in your level. It''s like your poking holes in a dam. Every level up is making a poke."


    "I wonder how many pokes it will take for this curse to finally give way?" Kyros smiled.


    "Wonder about that some other time. They''re going all out." Cminus replied as the mages in front of them began to harness magic attacks.


    "Magis! Burn that monster!" The leader of the orcs shouted.


    The magis channeled their energy, and several bright lights lit up the defense line of the orcs.


    "Not good! Magic Missiles! This one would chase the marked target of the caster!" Cminus realized the power of this magic.


    "Fire!" The order rang out, and several fireballs were shot towards Kyros.


    Kyros consumed a lot of his mana points and released a dark wall. Even with his dexterity, the numerous magic attacks would be impossible to evade.


    "[Devour]!" Kyros shouted.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The power of devouring began to absorb the fireballs. But due to the skill level being so low, the magic was not being devoured.


    The dark wall was on the verge of breaking, and Kyros had to expend all his mana and even began to use his Ancient and Fallen Source to keep the standing.


    As thest fireball approached, Kyros concentrated and made the Dark wall swallow up the fireball. Unfortunately, this nearly drained all the mana he had.


    The first attacks created several explosions, and Kyros could barely maintain the wall, but he then used thest seconds to make it look like the wall devoured the attack.


    "Hahahaha! More! Feed me more fire! I am growing stronger!" Kyros activated his Silver Tongue job ss to taunt and deceive the orcs.


    "Stop firing!" The orc leader shouted immediately.


    Behind the wall, Kyros was gasping for breath as his mana was nearly drained.


    "How pitiful. If Mechiel were here, she''dugh at my amateur use of Soul Devour." Kyros coughed up blood from the release of so much mana. He could only hold the wall for a little while longer if the orcs stopped shooting fireballs at him.


    "Fools! I ate the holy power of that knight! What are your pitiful attacks? Compared to that!" Kyros shouted once more.


    The magis stopped their attacks.


    "Then try this on for size!" One of the orc magis shouted as he revealed a strange red orb glowing with bright energy. He was standing on a wooden tower overlooking the wall.


    "Fire Smanders Core!" Cminus recognized the item. This was the monster''s magic core which contained the fire energy. Many mages would often hunt for Cores to imnt in on their body and create a Core. This mage was clearly one who was close to ranking up to his third level and had already found a suitable core for him. Although it wasn''t imnted, he could still summon the stored fire energy within.


    The magi drained the thick fire energy in the core and gathered it towards his scepter. A bright and strong heat could be felt that many orcs who did not have fire-resistant abilities moved to the side.


    "I have never tried the full extent of this attack! The Fire Smanders are rumored to have an attack akin to a volcano! Watch my power! My overwhelming power!" The magiughed.


    "If those small attacks are devoured, try eating this monster!" The orc magi pointed his staff and aimed at Kyros.


    "I wouldn''t do that if I were you." Kyros chuckled.


    "Tonight, we eat roasted vampire!" The orc shouted.


    "Die!"


    "Cminus, use tackle!" Kyros ordered.


    [Cminus used Tackle!]


    With the level increases of his Soul Wisp, Cminus could now perform stronger taps. With his body synched to Kyros, his taps became more powerful as the Force Energy in Kyros could now empower his soul. Harnessing that energy, Cminus''s made a strong tackle.


    The position of the orc magi was critical to release the magic. The gathering of fire energy on the tip of his scepter made it ''heavier to wield. And because of that, the sudden increase due to Cminus''s Tackle caused the scepter to point downwards.


    "NOOOO!"


    The firebolt shot down and struck the wall where many of the orcs were standing guard.


    BOOM!


    Arge eruption urred right on the front lines. The town didn''t have strong walls, to begin with. The explosion was also unguarded that the orcs with strong Force energy or magic could not defend themselves from the attack.


    "AHHH!"


    The shouts of the orcs being burned resounded, and the angry roars could be heard.


    The orc magi watched in horror at what was happening. He trembled in fear and could not understand how that sudden force appeared.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Three arrows struck him in the head before he could say anything.


    Kyros took advantage of that moment and charged towards the base, again firing arrows at several individuals he deemed dangerous. The Shadow ghouls and the shadow familiar emerged once more. Unlike before, the Shadow Familiars didn''t have wings as Kyros no longer had mana left to manipte the dark energy.


    Kyros now only had the Vermillion Scale Armor and the Dark Cloak, which covered him in darkness. Nevertheless, he ran with great speed and utilized Force Energy to increase the power and speed of his dashes.


    "How pitiful." Kyrosughed at the speed he could do and recalled the bluing speed he could perform in his past life.


    Everyone was still shaken from the sudden explosion. The explosion had rocked everyone and caused them to lose bnce and stumble down. Kyros also moved fast that when they turned to search for Kyros, they could no longer see him as the ghouls and familiars were moving everywhere.


    The archers began to shoot as they recovered. There was no time to ponder what happened. But their attacks were aimed at the Shadow Familiars, who were intentionally revealing themselves near the fire.


    [Cminus used Tackle!]


    [Cminus used Tackle!]


    [Cminus used Tackle!]


    Like a man who found a new obsession, Cminus was like the ball in a pinball machine giving light tackles to archers and mages who were shooting. Because of that, a more friendly fire urred.


    "Somethings in here!" An archer shouted as he felt the tackle. He watched and found that hispanions were also being pushed.


    "Cminus. Make a biggermotion and distract them! I''ll assassinate as many as I can. I need to recover a lot of blood. Try to use the force energy that your sifting from my soul to make a shout." Kyros suggested.


    "Oh! Right!" Cminus realized it.


    "There is something here!" An archer kept shouting as he could see his peers suddenly being pushed or moved right before they would release an arrow. The orc archer gritted his teeth as his shouts were useless. Everyone was panicking, and everything was disorganized.


    He saw his captain recovering from the st. He was thrown off and was still forcing himself to stand up.


    The orc ran towards his captain to report the anomaly he witnessed.


    "Captain! I-" The orc began.


    "I LOVE YOU! I ALWAYS HAVE!" Cminus interrupted, imitating the voice of the orc.


    "What?" The orc archer was shocked and confused. Something shouted right in front of him and hit caused him to pause and look around.


    The orc captain red at the orc archer.


    "I knew it..." Another voice echoed from the side, and when the captain turned, he saw several orcs looking at them. Cminus was, of course, the source of thisment who passed by and made more unnecessary remarks.


    "So that''s why there are those te night'' reports!"


    POW!


    The orc captain smashed his fist on the archer and howled at the observing group to man their positions and fight the enemy.


    Kyros had just reached the wall safely due to the increase ofmotion. He was recovering and using the Bloodied Sword to drain the blood of a fainted orc nearby. Kyros continued to crouch on the wall to recover his wounds. He still had a shocked expression at what he just heard. The confession that just happened was the first of many.


    "My friend... If we die... I... I truly..." A heartfelt voice spoke near a certain orc. The orc turned and saw hispanion standing with an amazed expression. He just heard his voice spoke and couldn''t understand what was happening.


    Stunning and brave confessions that would make the LGBTmunity proud resounded around the base that night.


    Some of those confessions ended up with punches and attacks, while others were reciprocated.


    "I guess... that''s one way to use it." Kyros was amazed.

 Chapter 126 - Power To Kill You

    The ongoing attacks and taunts of the shadow ghouls and familiars and apanied by the tackles and confession that Cminus made, allowed Kyros to sneak in and join the battlefield.


    Just as he did before, Kyros attacked the area directly opposite to where the shadow ghouls and familiar were. Cminus''s strange activities were also happening there.??


    Kyros impaled an unwary mage and dragged him out of sight to continue his blood-absorbing abilities. His darkness also appeared and devoured more.


    "The vitality in his blood is too weak to heal my wounds. But his magic restored a small portion of my mana." Kyros then turned and sought those who were stronger.


    He could see an orc who was injured from the explosion. Kyros sneaked in closer and then made a sprint to attack.


    The wounded orc noticed Kyros. He reacted in time and took a step back as he saw Kyros sh his sword.


    The sword shed out, barely missing the nape of the orc by a few inches.


    But even though the sword didn''t connect, blood gushed out of the neck of the orc.


    The wound had damaged his vocal cords. The orc couldn''t even scream and warn the rest who was busy helping the wounded or shooting at the shadow ghouls and familiar.


    Kyros drove the sword stabbed towards his neck and dug down to his heart.


    Several Force attacks urred inside his body as small knives were shing.


    The orc died immediately.


    [Force de skill acquired.]


    Harnessing his Force Energy, Kyros had created an extended de that shed the neck of the orc. And through careful maniption, Kyros made the force energy spin and shed inside the orc.


    "Still too pitiful. I probably can''t do Piercing sh yet." Kyros sighed as he dragged the orc to the side and hid from the battle.


    The wounds that Kyros felt were so terrible that it was only through his experienced will that he managed even to move. It was only now that his fighting capabilities were slowly returning.


    "The most dangerous ones are those peak captains," Kyros observed.


    Boom!


    An explosion urred, and it caused one of the shadow ghouls to be extinguished.


    Kyros cursed and knew that it was Balefire. An evil form of fire that had the ability to fight even darkness.


    "So an expert is here!" Kyros turned his attention to the source of the Bale Fire.


    It was the same orc leader that was giving the orders earlier. His two axes were burning with green mes.


    "I have to act fast!" Kyros moved and plotted his actions in synch with his summons.


    With the Micro-management skill, he could see the entire battle in a birds-eye-view perspective. Kyros moved and ambushed an opponent.


    Cminus turned his attention and noticed that Kyros had added a new feature where Kyros could see the line-of-sight of the orcs as he moved.


    "Bruh. When did you do that?" Cminus was impressed.


    The first shadow familiar was also defeated.


    The archer responsible for finally shooting it down stumbled down and began to drink mana.


    "Holy bow. How can such a rare ability appear here? Was it Fate or Destiny trying to limit me before grandpa conquered it? It seems these orcs are not ordinary." Kyros pondered as hepletely devoured all the blood of another in warrior.


    "Time to go for another Captain." Kyros turned his attention to one of the orcs that were simr to a knight. The orc had arge sword and a huge shield. One of the Shadow Ghouls was harassing it.


    "A Shield Orc ought to have the vitality I need to recover." Kyros estimated.


    Kyros controlled his remaining summons to focus their attention on the dual-wielding orc, which caused the various orc warriors to focus and assist him. The shadow ghoul that was wing the Shield Orc moved in haste and raced towards the orc leader.


    Simr scenes yed out and made the orcs realize the intention and chased after the shadows that changed target.


    Cminus made a mighty shriek which caused everyone to turn towards their leader and chased after them.


    As the Shield Orc gave chase, Kyros made a blurring sprint as his Force energy exploded at each step.


    The Shield Orc noticed it and turned and raised his shield.


    He caught sight of Kyros''s dark form and readied his shield. His shield was now full of Force energy.


    Kyros ran and jumped up high with his sword made ready. But suddenly...


    Arge boulder nearly four times the size of the Shield orc appeared directly above him!


    His stance was set to defend the impact, and the orc couldn''t quickly jump out to avoid therge falling rock.


    SMASH!


    The shield orc chose to use all of his force and mmed his shield towards the rock.


    His bones were breaking, but the shield orc managed to bear the weight of the rock.


    "HAAAAA!" The orc shouted as he repelled the rock.


    SLASH!


    Kyros was already behind him and shed at the gaps of the armor and severed the neck.


    Losing the power to resist the rock, the orc gave in and was crushed by the rock. However, because the Shield Orc caught the rock, the sound of the rock crushing down was muffled, and no one noticed it.


    The head of the orc went rolling to the side.


    On his way here, Kyros began to search forrge, strong rocks which he could use and transported them into the Temple. Since he was out of usable caravans, Kyros decided to userge rocks which were found randomly on the mountains of Airom Logat.


    Kyros stabbed the sword inside the orc and waited for the blood to absorb it. Kyros took therge shield and wore it.


    "Impressive. It faced that boulder and only suffered minor damages." Kyros praised. The shield was nearly as huge as Kyros''s small body. But even then, Kyros took a liking to this shield. As a Force Pdin, he was even trained to carry shields that were taller than him.


    The shadow ghouls and familiars were all destroyed, and Kyros could feel their souls returning to his cloak and sword.


    Cminus began to move away as the souls perished and continued his screeches to draw attention away from Kyros.


    Kyros kept drinking the blood through his sword and was recovering thest remaining wounds caused.


    "That stupid Sword God really made thingsplicated here." Kyros sighed as he stood up and sent the boulder back to the Temple.


    "Who are you?!" An archer turned around and finally noticed.


    "No! Captain!" One of the soldiers cried out.


    "He''s dead! How?" Another eximed.


    "There''s no scent of his blood!" One of the orcs realized it.


    "He drank it all." The orc leader stepped forward.


    "We orcs prided ourselves with our scents that we can tell when one of our dies. But this creature... has drunk the blood of our men. I thought it was being masked by the stench of fire and the burnt corpses of our allies... But it seems he drank it all." The leader approached.


    "You must be at the peak of level thirty. Quite impressive. You''ve in my minions. It''s been a while since I had to take action. My cloak would normally be enough." Kyrosughed.


    "You seemed weaker. I was right. That knight did do a number on you! The fire attacks were also effective. You''re out of mana, aren''t you?" The orc leader taunted.


    "Please, taunts of that level won''t work against me." Kyros sneered.


    "If you want to taunt me properly, you should learn to be at more personal. Let''s say use family as a means to make someone angry. Like when I killed that captain on the east wall. His blood seemed simr to yours. Your brother, perhaps? I drove my sword to his neck. He couldn''t even scream. I dug my sword deep and absorbed his blood. You might recognize his blood, though. I still have a few drops remaining." Kyrosughed as he caused a few drops to drop out of the tip of his sword.


    The orc leader froze when he saw it.


    "Ca-captain!" An orc cried as he found the dead body of the orc that Kyros killed.


    The orc leader turned back to Kyros as a powerful reddish force energy covered his entire body.


    "An Orc Berserker! Quite a rare ss." Kyros smiled.


    "You were right about one thing. I am out of mana. That''s why I had to drink the blood of your kinsmen to fuel me. But it''s not like I need it. Anyway, they taste disgusting."


    [Taunt activated.]


    "DIE!" An archer serving under the orc shot an arrow. But right when he shot, Cminus used tackle.


    FWIP!


    The arrow flew towards the orc leader.


    CLANG!


    Without even turning his back, the Orc leader swung his ax and blocked the arrow.


    "I will fight him! Mages and archers, hold your fire. Dereri didn''t identally shoot his powerful spell on us. It''s his power!" The orc exined.


    "Correct! I have psychokic powers." Kyrosughed.


    Cminus made a tackle and pushed one the same archer and caused him to be shocked.


    "That was you! All those idents?!" Another orc shouted.


    "Yes! That was me!" Kyrosughed evilly.


    "And those weird things our soldiers said, it was you?!" Another orc challenged.


    "No. Of course not! Even I was shocked at the sudden confessions. At first, I found it ufortable. Not that I''m against such a union. I mean... who am I to judge who you orcs live? You do you, guys. Whatever makes you happy. But doing it right in the middle of my attack? That was just disrespectful." Kyrosined.


    "Enough!" The orc leader shouted.


    "Orcs. I fight alone. If others join me, we might kill each other at critical moments."


    "No!" One of the orcs rejected their leader''s wish.


    "Obey mymands! The knight died and used a powerful holy attack. How could this being resist such power! That knight was an expert! He is on hisst legs! He has no mana, no summons, and not even the dark form he had earlier!" The orc leader took out his ax, and a green me lit it once more.


    "Prepare to die, dark one!" The peak captain charged at Kyros.


    Unlike his previous battles, Kyros was worn out and out of magic.


    "True. I may not be at my peak. But even now, I still have the power to kill you. I think I know your name... You don''t happen to be the Balefire Butcher, Drysh?"


    "The dark one knows me?" The orc raised his eyebrows.


    "From the memories of my prey." Kyros lied. He had in this butcher on a previous life. The sins of this orc were plenty.


    "My revenge for the orcs sins in that life... begins today." Kyros drew his sword and therge shield and prepared forbat.

 Chapter 127 - Power Of A Stab

    The Balefire Butcher, Drysh, was famous in Kyros''s former life. It was this orc that became one of the Champions of the orcs that were responsible for the deaths of two Champions of the human alliance. His strength was marvelous, and his followers were numerous.


    Orcs had a different ss set from humans due to their tremendous advantage over humans. A regr orc wasrger and was not suited for some human sses. They could wear more armor and wieldrger weapons. While humans devised more tactics and magic to defend themselves, orcs mostly focused on brute force. ??


    The Barbarian ss was one of the few jobs that the orcs adopted. Most of those under the Barbarian ss tree was avable for orcs. This includes the Berserker ss and the more formidable Ragion ss. But the more privileged kingdoms in the Minds had a Berserker ss that was specially made for Orcs. It was a stronger version of themon Ragion as it emphasized the strength, size, and natural release of rage that orcs naturally had.


    The Orc Berserker was considered the peak ss among the Berserker route in the Barbarian tree among all sses.


    Drysh''s power was horrifying, and the more his rage builds, the stronger his attacks and defenses were.


    Unlike the other orc captains who had various means to add defenses to their bodies, Drysh didn''t need it. He would abandon all armor to increase mobility and speed. This was what an Orc Berserker was. Like the Ragion ss that the in Viscount Querk Stonefist had, their body that was so hard, his very skin would be as hard as the shields of Shield Orcs!


    Kyros had to use various means to bypass the defenses of the warriors he attacked, and so he aimed for the neck. But this one would have such a hard defense since Kyros not only taunted the man but killed his brother!


    Berserker relied on their emotions to enhance the quality of their Force power. And this time, he didn''t need to do much as the rage he had in his heart was great.


    But aside from these disadvantages, Kyros could feel another force at work.


    Kyros stood and watched as this unripe Champion move towards him. He could feel the contest of Fate between them. It was as if the factors that made up their fight was fighting for dominance. Kyros could feel that the Fate of this orc was clearly overpowering him.


    Kyros retreated and evaded the powerful attacks of the orc.


    Each sh from the Berserker created a powerful gust as if the wind exploded on the areas he would sh.


    Kyros was using the darkness to stick to the ground on each of his steps and keep his footing. He already knew what elements this man wielded and began to act to defend against the attacks.


    Kyros dodged and evaded each sh, being very careful not to be within the direction of where the shes were made.


    Drysh expected that the dark one would have such skills and kept on rushing. His force energy leaked out and would create a whip of force energy that acted like the wind.


    Impressive force control!" Kyros praised as he kept circling around the orc to avoid the attacks.


    Suddenly, the orc whirled and spun, creating a force explosion that was like a strong gust.


    Kyros expected the attack and allowed the wind to throw him away. The darkness transformed into some form of wings that allowed Kyros to glide towards the roof of a nearby house.


    "Archers! Magis! Get ready! Focus strength on your arms! His telekinesis should be weak now! His skills are limited! I dove close, and he can''t do the dark energy he released earlier!"


    The archers and the mages got ready.


    "Don''t get distracted either! I don''t believe his lies! He might have some telepathic powers that can make us hear things! No matter what happens, if there are shouts or cries near you, focus on shooting him!" The orc ordered.


    Kyros was rather impressed with the orcs n. He knew that the orc was forcing Kyros to fight the orc on a melee.


    "This guy is definitely favored by Fate. As early as now, he already has mastered using his Force to make it like the wind. And he has an interesting ax imbued with Balefire. I''m guessing only a Berserker like I have Apathy, and this orc should have a minor favor blessing. Unfortunately, my luck is diminishing." Kyros assessed.


    "Why are you even fighting him head-on?" Cminus asked with a worried expression.


    "In my past life, I''ve fought countless Fate favored enemies and in them. What''s the big deal?"


    "They were always within your range of strength! This one isn''t! You barely have enough mana to make that powerful attack that enhances your strength. The Force energy in your body is not enough to break through his defenses! Look! He''s already using his Berserker ability to increase his vitality! His anger is at its peak! You won''t be able to do cheap shots anymore! And since you don''t have the Source energy to help you increase your attacks, you''re at a disadvantage!"


    "It''s perfect for trying it out. I don''t know what powers I''ve gained from Hyperion Steele."


    "He is the source of Sword Force. You must have felt it. He is the reason why the many sword gods managed to draw a sword. The concept of wielding a sword began with him. That''s why he''s an Ancient God."


    "Interesting. So just like Fate and Time, wielding a sword is also a concept of creation? Does that mean that the simplest things like picking up an item, carrying a hammer, is also a concept?"


    "No. What I mean is, anyone can carry a sword, but not everyone can be a swordsman without the Ancient God. A sword can be trained to do various things. There is a Greater God for Sword Magic. There is a Greater God for Force Maniption, Martial arts, Speed, Power, and other forms."


    "Oh. And I have the granddaddy of them all? So this means... Everything is possible?"


    "Yes. If you can learn it, I can feel the God curses still in effect. Your understanding and application will be hindered."


    "I noticed. But still... Experimenting on ways to harness sword force is quite interesting." Kyros smiled as the darkness fell to the ground. Kyros backed a bit, and the darkness began to stretch.


    Kyros jumped, and like a slingshot, Kyros flew towards the orc.


    The archers and mages shot their attacks, but Kyros flew faster.


    Drysh hooked one of his ax to a strange mechanism on his back and flung his ax. The ax was hooked to a chain, and with a simple flick of his wrist and the force energy that directed it, the ax began to spin dangerously.


    Kyros glided straight on and used his dexterity to evade the whirling chain ax by only a few inches.


    Drysh raised his other ax and shed towards Kyros, who was approaching him.


    Suddenly, the dark wings of Kyros became a parachute that decreased his speed dramatically.


    The sh missed as Kyros stopped another few inches away from the reach of therge ax that shed out.


    The force wind howled, but Kyros was not moved as the darkness had rooted itself on the ground.


    With one ax still returning to Drysh and another which had been shed out, there were no weapons to block Kyros''s attack.


    "[Force sh]!" Kyros struck with all his might.


    BANG!


    The strike resounded like an explosion and caused Drysh to be thrown back a few steps.


    "Hahaha! Where is your strength, dark one?!" The orcughed.


    Kyros evaded the ax that was whipping back thanks to the chain, and then Drysh caught his ax.


    BOOM!


    The ground shook as Drysh jumped forward with the force of energy erupting on his feet and shed down as he approached Kyros.


    Kyros dodged the attack by making a small step backward.


    BOOM!


    The ground exploded as the ax stabbed deep into it.


    But as Drysh''s rushing sh missed, he held on the to ax that was deeply embedded on the ground, and a mechanism allowed him to use the ax to make his forward charge into a quick turn as the piece that connected the handle to the ax de had a round contraption that allowed Drysh to spin in an axis.


    The turn allowed Drysh to execute a quick spin and attack the enemy who would expect him to push further forward and not make aplete turn.


    But as he spun and readied his other ax to attack, Kyros was already rushing forward with his sword shing upwards.


    SLASH!


    A rising sh sliced Drysh from the chin up to the forehead.


    But it was as if Kyros struck steel. The sh only left a small wound on Drysh''s face.


    Drysh swung his other hand, and his ax was fueled with Balefire.


    SWISH!


    But his attack struck empty air as Kyros used his upwards sh, which struck the hard face of Drysh to push himself backward.


    Suddenly, arge boulder came falling down on Drysh.


    With one ax on the ground and another hand spent on doing a wide sh, Drysh had no weapon to block or strike therge boulder. And so, Drysh used his powerful force energy to erupt and explode upwards on his head, which he used to resist the boulder.


    BANG!


    The headbutt smashed on the rock, and it created a force that threw the boulder forward. The force of the headbutt was so strong that the rock broke into two pieces.


    But that was the moment that Kyros was waiting for. The Force energy in the head was used up, and only a few remnant force energy was left for defense.


    STAB!


    The Bloodied Sword stabbed right at the head of Drysh, and it pierced through.


    [Force Pierce skill acquired.]


    BOOM!


    The broken boulders crashed down on the ground right after the attack urred.


    It all happened so fast. The strong strikes of Drysh caused the dust to kick up.


    By the time the dust settled and therge boulder was down on the ground, the orcs saw their leader dead with a sword stabbing right through his head.


    "shing is not the only thing I can do, Drysh." Kyrosughed as his de began to devour the blood.

 Chapter 128 - Power To Scare

    The battle ended with a simple stab. A powerful pea Orc Berserker who was a step away from bing a real champion died from a simple stab. The pair did not engage in a bloody battle of expending each other Force energy, but it ended so fast that even the other orcs couldn''t believe it.


    Cminus was worried because he could not think of a way to hurt the powerful Orc Berserker. Unless the Force energy runs out, Kyros would not be able to inflict any critical damage to win the match. And Orc Berserkers had force energy that was usually double in terms of the amount due to the powerful life force that orcs naturally hadpared to humans.??


    The main issue is the disparaging difference of defense that Drysh had. Despite being at the peak levels of level twenty, his Vitality was at 123. Orc Berserkers train their strength for power and usually sacrifice their own defense. But to counter that, Orc Berserkers train to use their Force energy to coat their skins. Drysh had an impressive 115 Force Energy, which would raise his vitality to 180. That vitality point was something that even surpassed the defenses that average Champions have! Even Mezal was several points weaker to this level of defense despite being a Force Pdin!


    With theck of Mana, Kyros could not empower his strength through his magic, and Sources which were low. Aside from that, the Earth Core was given to Diana, and the True Entropy Core was with Martha for their corresponding missions.


    Although the weakening of the De-Might curse allowed Kyros to increase his strength to 74, it still was not enough for him to hit it. The Force Lock was also removed, and Kyros gained the ability to harness his full Force. His Soul Force has reached 88. But with that attack, it wouldn''t still be enough since his weapon only has an attack of 28.


    But with all of that, the math would still fail. Kyros''s maximum attack would only be at 146. The gap of over thirty points was a powerful gap.


    But Kyros surpassed it easily.


    Instead of fighting in a battle of attrition, Kyros strategized in deception and led Drysh into false assumptions.


    Throughout the battle, Kyros kept pushing the limit of his Force energy, trying to better mastery of it. He still had to test it on a strong opponent. But aside from that, the shes were made on critical ces so that Drysh would lower his guard. The shes were performed on rather a critical period that would have otherwise killed him if the attack force was any higher.


    The first sh was done right after Drysh made a strong attack and had no weapons to defend himself. But the attack blew Drysh back, but it wasn''t enough to wound him.


    The second attack was made right on the face. And that only left a wound that probably wouldn''t even scar.


    It was there that Kyros summoned therge boulder.


    The sudden appearance made Drysh react. He didn''t have the high dexterity of Kyros. When he saw the boulder, he immediately channeled as much Force Energy on his head to fight it head-on.


    But as the block urred, most of the Force energy was dispersed. But Drysh, being a genius of the battlefield, knew that his attack would leave a momentary weakness to his defenses. Knights, Shield Warriors, and Barbarians all knew that an explosion of Force Energy like what Drysh did would leave them in a weakened state where they can only gather up to fifty percent of their original Force energy.


    Drysh knew this but believed that even then, another sh would do little harm on him. But he was wrong.


    Kyros''s total strength and attack point would only be 146 if he poured all his Force Energy to his sword. Drysh still had 162 points for his vitality.


    In his past life, Kyros was known for his fast shes. But what most didn''t know was that Kyros''s stabs were far more terrifying. When Kyros performs a sh, he imbues the Force Energy to cover his entire sword and use it to strike. But instead of imbuing the attack on his sword, Kyros focused the energy on a single point.


    Despite the difference between the two, Kyros was able to increase his attack by yet another twenty points as he focused all his energy on that single point. Very few masters had such control over their Force Energy, and Kyros mastered it as it was necessary to use the Celestial Code.


    The Bloodied Sword began to devour all of the blood and life force of the orc. The orcs nearby were still stunned at what they saw. Their leader received two shes and was unharmed. They were refusing to believe what they saw.


    Kyros made his darkness emerge and hasten the devouring process. ck tentacles struck in and drilled on the orifices of the orc.


    It was then that the orcs realized that their leader lost. The darkness began to consume his body.


    ---


    Level up!


    Strength- 74 -> 79 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 88-> 93


    Dexterity- 283-> 285 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 63 -> 66 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- Bruh...-> ... (Sealed)


    Soul Force- 88 -> 93 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 138 -> 142 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 136 -> 145 ( Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    Fate Path of Combat level increased!


    Protester Level 8->9!


    ----


    Defeated Warrior of Destiny Drysh the Balefire Butcher.


    Rewards:


    1500 Temple Points


    1% Gigantes Earth Core Energy restored


    ---


    Continuum Soul Wisp Level increased!


    Cminus learned Tackle!


    Cminus learned Leer!


    Cminus learned Taunt!


    Cminus learned Scratch!


    ---


    "Wow! I''m so awesome! I can even learn more than four moves! It''s nice to see how my other abilities are now being disyed in this system! Why didn''t Tackle appear when I first used them?"


    "It was only possible since I used the Soul Console to give you Force Energy. But now, you don''t need me to do that." Kyros exined. The outfit that Drysh wore, which to carried the chains he used for his whipping attacks, was marked, and Kyros wore it through his Inventory skill.


    "You''re taking it?" Cminus wondered.


    "Just the chain. I don''t need the ax. With my Dark power, it''s possible to use it to hook on things like a grappling hook or use it like a whip. My Force energy is at 88. With it being imbued to the chain and my strength, it could do quite a damage." Kyros exined.


    "That was delicious! I''m back to my peak! Now... for some dessert!"


    A dark explosion urred, and Kyros sent out a few Shadow Ghouls. Although all his ghouls were killed and needed time to restore it, Kyros expended mana from his Dark Core to fuel the energy of the Sword to create the ghouls.


    Four ghouls shot out of the dark explosion, and the orcs were awakened from their shock and began to attack.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Kyros was still inside the cover of darkness and shot several arrows as everyone''s attention was on the ghouls.


    Three more archers were in from the sudden attacks, and it was only then that they realized that Kyros had a ranged attack.


    Archers! Magis! Focus on Cracky! Shield Orcs, stop those dark things!" The remaining captain ordered.


    But it was only then that the captain realized, many had already abandoned their post and were running away. The mighty Drysh was dead. The champion Pdin was also killed. And the dark being that slew their strongest captain had just recovered his strength.


    As such, the orcs began to flee.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Kyros kept shooting arrows while in the shroud of darkness. He kept shooting on different parts of the battlefield. Kyros was also not aiming to kill the orcs he shot but inflict a painful wound.


    The shouts were heard, which further scared those nearby and began to follow the fearful escape.


    The surviving orc captains saw that it was useless to fight and began to flee as well.


    Kyros took the time to absorb the blood of those already killed and summoned more and more ghouls and even the familiar to make it look like they were piging the town.


    Kyros chased after a few orcs and began to use the chain attached to his gear and used it like a whip. With his force, energy, and higher-than-normal strength, he was able to wound and kill a few more.


    Kyros even used the town buildings totch on and pull himself.


    Another captain fell as he was caught by Kyros and waster killed. This was the archer that used a holy attack to attack the Shadow ghoul earlier.


    Soon, Kyros could confirm that the town was empty as he could no longer detect any life in it.


    "Quite an impressive raid. Three viscount patrols couldn''t raid this town!"


    "We had a lot of luck. The moment that mage shot his magic on his allies, I was already sure I''d win. And now that I killed the strongest, I easily have the power to scare the rest." Kyros chuckled.


    "You also learned strange tricks." Kyros didn''t know whether to get mad at Cminus or praise him for his weird antics.


    "Whatever works, right?"


    "Yeah. But now, those orcs will talk about how I was able to make orcs utter confessions!"


    "I think a lot of new orc couples were formed. Did you see how some of those orcs fled? They went with their partners."


    "You take notice of the strangest things, Cminus. More important than the budding romance of taboo orc rtions is that the enemy was a Warrior of Destiny! I bet Petra is thrilled with that report."


    "I did notice that. But what are myments going toe to? I tell you my opinion, yet your answer is three times better than mine! Give me a break! As I said, I''ll be the funny guy. But it''s interesting that you can actually devour the Fate of others... I wonder if your Coven can do this? Too bad your parents and other members of your family can''t have this."


    "Not unless we offer them up to the Temple. I have toplete my n and send all those future human traitors to the Temple. Then, we can kill them and offer them to the Temple to increase the Fate capabilities of my team." Kyros calcted.


    "You better hurry. You need to ransack whatever you can find here. We don''t know when the Blood Cmity will appear here."


    "Actually... I n to search for her hideout. This little item here allows me to navigate through the forest much faster. I can also use my swings and glide with my dark wings. I n to double back and look for where the Blood Cmity is. I still need to confirm my suspicion."


    "You think that the Blood Cmity is Mechiel?"


    "Yes. Although the evidence points against it, and that figure of the woman was not her, Fate and Destiny might be ying a cruel trick on me."

 Chapter 129 - Power To Mold

    After their Coven had searched for food that could feed all the freed ves, Kyros had the Coven split up into two groups. Martha and Diana both led their groups to attack certain outposts or wandering patrol groups.


    All outpost had just gotten word from the main fort as the threat of the Blood Cmity was raised to another alert level. As such, many of the outposts in the fringe areas overlooking the Great Airom Red River was ordered to have all personnel transfer to an outpost closer to the main fort guarding the entrance.??


    Diana, Scarlet, Avary, and Gregory had reached a certain outpost.


    "This is the outpost?" Diana asked Scarlet.


    "I''m... not sure." Scarlet was hesitant. Despite what Kyros had guessed what the orcs would do, Diana asked Scarlet which area they were supposed to go to and select the outpost.


    For some strange reason, Scarlet was led to choose an outpost facing the Great Airom Red River despite Kyros''s exnation that these forts would be empty.


    "I... I might have made a mistake!"


    "Scarlet. Rx. I asked you because going with Kyros''s exnation. You might have the Path of Foresight. You have been the one who has sensed Fate clearer. Even Martha and I failed, and you often sensed it together with Kyros."


    "But Lord Kyros said that this area was..."


    "He did. But that''s because he isn''t. The more we moved, the more you felt Fate leading you here. I''m sure this is something rted to your sensing of Fate."


    "But Lady Diana... What if I''m wrong? What if there is something in there that can harm us? What if it''s simr to that orc that served the Blood Cmity?"


    "Fate can''t do that. At least, not right now! Remember what you felt! This is why it''s the perfect time to train in Fate! Fate is not after us right now! So your power right now can be used as an offensive tool. Go on. See what you can find. We are so close to the outpost. What can you sense?" Diana urged.


    "I... It''s not very clear! And Lady Diana. I''m... I''m scared. What if these things that I feel are just my thoughts? What if what I sensed was that there are many orcs here with high favor of Fate?"


    "Scarlet, I''m not so weak as to die from such orcs. Fate favors, but it isn''t final. This is what it means to be a Fate Challenger. If you''re wrong, then get better! It''s that simple. Either way, the one at fault will not be you, but me for ordering you. But I won''t ever me you. In fact, I am confident that you three will only surprise yourself when you find out more of your power. Then, I think, you are Fate to rise!" Diana smiled.


    "You really believe that, Lady Diana?" Avary asked.


    "You are all high-born caught in such sad tragedy. Fate allowed you to meet Kyros. That was her blessing. We know now that every trial Fate throws at us is meant to strengthen our family and us. So you, who lost everything, will have the chance to rise and regain it all. The honor you lost will be reced with glory. The family you lost was reced with another who is quite kind. Fate is giving you this chance to rise. And you should have confidence in yourself!"


    The three youths felt as if they realized something amazing. It was true! Maybe Fate allowed them to meet Kyros as a means to enact revenge and bring bnce to the cmity of their family.


    "My son is not that strict. Lady Martha has told me that thews that bind your Coven aren''t that strict. Kyros will allow you each to pursue your legacy. What are your dreams?"


    "Lady Diana. We are of the Steele family. How can we have our legacy?"


    "Kyros is not nning to make the Steele family a normal family. He is nning to build a kingdom. And a Kingdom needs Dukes and Earls to serve under him. Each of you may be the first nobles of a powerful line of Dukes. Do you believe that bing King is something that the Steele family cannot do?"


    "No. I believe that the Steele Family will even challenge the Hignds!" Avary made a daring statement.


    Scarlet and Gregory also nodded.


    "Then that can only be possible if he has loyal families serving under him. Gregory. You and that noblewoman, Myas. If you grow strong enough and be a powerful champion, you can ask Myas''s hand, and I assure you, the Bowheart n will put Myas in a position equal to their firstborn children!" Diana smiled.


    Gregory was stunned.


    "Scarlet. I know that you seemed rather attracted to Lord Kyros. But it won''t be hard to win his heart. In truth, I estimate that soon, Champions will fawn after him! In the Minds, it is not shocking for someone who is a hundred years of age to wait and marry a young person of eighteen. The same could be said in the Higher nes, where the sun basks its full glory. I will not interfere where my son sets his heart. He is far more powerful than me. And with his power, he can make choices, and the world will simply follow."


    "Lady Diana. I do... like Lord Kyros. But I never harbored any intention of pursuing that. I believe Lord Kyros is Fated to be with someone of the same outstanding powers he possesses."


    "Then conquer that Fate! That''s what it means to be a Fate Challenger!" Diana urged her.


    "Fate Challenger...? It can do that?"


    "It can challenge and change Fate." Diana smiled.


    As Scarlet was lost in thoughts, Diana then turned towards Avary.


    "Avary. What are your dreams? Dream it and will it!"


    "My Lady. I have always wanted to im the heart of Princess Sophie of the Saint Brime Kingdom."


    "The holynd of Pdins?" Scarlet and Gregory chorused together.


    "Yes. I''m sure Lord Kyros won''t care for a Princess like that."


    "She''s... like twenty-four now!" Gregory argued.


    "But Lady Diana said that age isn''t much of a concern. What? Do you think you''ll live mortal lives? I''m sure I''ll reach level forty by sticking around Lord Kyros. And I''m being very, very conservative with that estimate." Avary gave Gregory an almost disgusted look.


    Dianaughed at Avary''s bold dream.


    "This is interesting. Why not?"


    "And I''m only setting her as the goal as I heard of her great beauty. Once we get to the Minds, I could check if there are any avable Princesses in the Hignds. Oh. You know what... I guess I can go ahead and pick beauties who are married. I''m a vampire anyway... so."


    "Le-let''s not get a little too carried away!" Diana gave a worried answer.


    "But anyway, that''s the spirit, Avary! Aim for the heavens! So let''s get on with your growth and fight. Scarlet. Those Princesses that Avary mentioned will be fawning after Lord Kyros. If you show them such great power, they will be intimidated."


    "I understand, Lady Diana. I am also certain now that there is something within this outpost that will change our Fate for the better."


    "Good." Diana smiled.


    "Avary, Gregory. Scarlet''s power has awakened. But you also have the same blood in you. So don''t fail your lord. Awaken your Path of Combat!'' Diana smiled.


    "Yes, my Lady!"


    "Now! How do we conquer this outpost? What are your abilities? I need to know what they are."


    "We only have basic fightings skills. Truth is, we haven''t yet been trained in any arts other than the ones we were trained to do."


    "Lady Martha gave us a bow. But I only used it a few times before. I could shoot, but I am not skilled enough to kill anyone in Captain''s level." Scarlet exined.


    "Alright. Scarlet will be our archer then. Boys, you two follow my lead as we charge. The main issue is the wooden gate. I think I can break through it with the Vermillion Sword harnessed with the Earth Core. But I need to move closer."


    "We can use the orc phrase that Lord Kyros gave us!" Gregory suggested.


    "Good! We can approach that outpost pretending to be orcs, and I can deliver the attack. It''s a good thing we brought those orc armors." Diana loved the n.


    "I break down the door, and you two move inside and deal with any archers. As long as the archer doesn''t aim for your head, you boys should be able to take arrows through the body. Learn to use your vampiric powers to your advantage. If you think you can kill them by allowing an attack to hit you, then allow it. This will be a life-threatening battle, but it''s only this way that you can grow." Diana exined.


    "We understand,dy Diana."


    "Scarlet, you join the fight only when they are distracted. Can you shoot those archers at the towers?"


    "Yes. I can shoot a target as long as they are stationary." Scarlet answered confidently.


    "Then that''s the n. Once you shoot down those who you can shoot, dive right in and join the fight. I''ll be the bait. You three will kill who you can. Is that clear?"


    "Yes! Lady Diana!" The three chorused.


    Diana began her training to mold the three young nobles into being Fate Challengers.


    On the other side of the Airom Logat...


    A group numbering over fifty orcs was moving. They were guards of an outpost that was so high out in the cliff that guarding it seems unnecessary. And so, these orcs were retreating to another outpost.


    Martha led the three H''s to this and was about to begin her training program to mold these three into Fate Challenger.


    "I''m sorry, Lady Martha. You want us to what?"


    "Go down and kill forty. Once you do, I will help you three."


    "You will help us only when we kill forty?"


    "That''s right. Any less, and I won''t move."


    "But... but... How can we kill those orcs?"


    "Use your swords. What else?" Martha frowned and gave Helms a look as if she was looking at an idiot.


    "But... but...dy Martha. What if we die?"


    "Oh? Aren''t we vampires? Are vampires still of the living?"


    "N-no..."


    "Right. We are undead. So you three... You are already dead!"


    "Nani?!" Hunter eximed.


    Martha gave Hunter a peculiar look.


    "Strange. Why does your answer sound so perfect?" Martha didn''t understand.


    "Could it be? The blood of Lord Kyros?" Martha frowned.


    "But Lady Martha! Fighting fifty orcs and killing forty with just the three of us? Do you have a n in mind?"


    "Yes. In fact, I do have a n in mind!" Martha nodded.


    The three sighed in relief. They thought they were to charge blindly into battle.


    "The n is this. You go down and kill. If you get wounded, bite, drink and recover and kill again." Martha red back.


    "Wha-what?"


    "Did I stutter? You heard me. Go down and kill. If you die, it means you don''t have the potential to awaken the Path of Combat. If you don''t have the potential, why are you taking up the precious space of being one of Lord Kyros''s Coven? It''s better if you die and give that position to someone worthy. So go and either be a Fate Challenger or die. I already have the Path of Combat, so I''ll live."


    The Three H''s drew their sword and slowly went down the mountain weeping.

 Chapter 130 - Power Of The Coven

    The orc captain continued to read out loud more and more of the reports about the activity within the mountain. Airom Logat was in a state of emergency. One of the first towns which became a fort had fallen. It was said that only one vampire, Cracky Batcheeks attacked the town and demolished the orc forces there.


    Of the many surprises, the defeat of the favored Drysh, the Balefire Butcher, stunned many. That was a Captain that could contend with a Champion Orc! And yet, he was defeated! The details of the fight also revealed who the vampire was able to kill Drysh in a quick fight easily. ??


    Drysh managed to fight back but died on the third strike of this vampire.


    Third!


    Only three strikes were needed to down a Captain, which had the defenses akin to a Champion!


    The defeat made the orders to defend the main Fort increase. More and more outposts received the orders to pull back.


    But this one didn''t.


    The orcs in this outpost remained wary and made double efforts to defend the ce.


    Suddenly, three rustling sounds could be heard.


    Dawn had just arrived, and the first light from the sun was reaching the Lond nes.


    The orcs stood at the top and readied their bows.


    "Don''t shoot! We''re orcs! Urruk, Gryos! We''re saved! This outpost has orcs!" The sound of a female cry was heard.


    The archers were stunned at what they heard as they tried to see the figures of the orcs that wereing.


    Of the three, one of them was limping, and the two were carrying them.


    "I wish to speak to your captain! Ie from the outpost north of here. We were attacked! Cracky Batcheeks attacked us when we left the outpost! He nowmands nearly a dozen vampire orcs!" The orc kept shouting as they dragged their woundedpanion towards the fort entrance.


    The orcs began to talk with one another.


    "Let them in." The orc captain ordered.


    Slowly the gates of the fort began to slowly open. Just like any outpost, this outpost had a simple wooden wall and several towers on the top.


    As the gates were opening, the three who were moving became excited.


    "Worked better than we nned!" Diana chuckled.


    Right before the attack, the Coven called out to Kyros and asked for simple orc phrases which they could speak. Kyros made the group remember these words, and Diana was informed of the words she had to say to the orc.


    The n was to reach the wall, and Diana would break it down with thebination of her sword and the Earth Energy.


    But now, the gates were being opened wide, which meant that her attack could be used in other instances.


    As the three reached the entrance, a terrifying screech was heard deep within the forest.


    The orcs were surprised as they heard the cry and looked to the distance.


    Suddenly, the ground near the entrance began to move.


    The earth moved, and several human-like creatures emerged from the ground.


    "It''s him! It''s that ability! He''s here! Oh Adroanth, God of Might help us!" Diana shouted as she began to move faster along with the rest.


    "What''s going on?!" The Orc captain appeared and questioned.


    "It''s Cracky Batcheeks! Close the gates!" Diana shouted.


    The gates were being closed, but then, the strange rocky creatures blocked the gates and began to push to keep them open. The orc captain and the team immediately set out to push the gate close and to keep the golem creatures out, and the archers began to shoot the rocky creatures from their area.


    The orc magis harnessed their energy. These rocky creatures appeared to close from the gate, and shooting them down would be dangerous as the st would explode and damage the wall. The magi stood up the tower and prepared to shoot down anything that woulde out of the woods.


    It became a battle of keeping the doors locked. The orc captain started to sh and hack the golems through the gap of the opened gate.


    "[Force Cross]!" Diana shouted as she leaped and shed her sword towards the group of orcs, trying to keep the entrance closed.


    BOOM!


    The explosive force that caused the Earth to erupt knocked down the nearby orcs.


    The orc captain was dead. Diana had aimed her sh to strike him, and his body was halved from the heavy weight of the de.


    Gregory and Avary also moved and struck the unprepared orcs nearby.


    "It''s a trap! Kill those orcs!" One of the orcs shouted as he realized what had happened but almost instantly, Diana''s sword shed out and cut through his armor and thick body easily after saying those words.


    The Golems broke inside.


    As the people had now seen its form, they were shocked to see its form.


    The three Soil Golem punched one of the downed Orcs, and the face of the orc caved in.


    The magi saw in and quickly decided to shoot down on them even though there were still some orcs there.


    But as he was about to shoot the powerful fireball...


    FWIP!


    A single arrow struck him on the shoulder and caused him to stumble back. The staff was pointed on a certain location where a few orcs were.


    BOOM!


    The fiery st burned all the orcs and caused the few orcs to pause and gaze up. Why had their own men betray them?


    They saw how an arrow pierced right through the magi''s head at that moment.


    Gregory and Avary were using speed to overpower their foes. When Diana made her devastating attack, they detached the heave armor on their arms and legs and only felt the front te as their armor. They even abandoned their helmet.


    Their swords moved quickly and shed out using their superior swords to kill the enemy.


    Avary used onerge magic sword that he had acquired from their previous exploits. His previous training in wielding greatswords and the speed he inherited as a vampire became a horrifyingbination that allowed him to wield the great sword longer and perform deadly attacks using the speed that would have previously been to much for him.


    Three orcs fell from the charging sh that Avary did. The fourth one managed to stop Avary and began to fight with him.


    "Ravager!" The orc cursed as he fought back.


    "Not quite yet! But I am a ssed Swordsman training as a Ravager. I just saw the notification." Avary chuckled. He saw strange words appearing in his vision.


    ---


    [Swordsman job acquired.]


    ---


    With his swift speed carrying therge sword, he broke through the defenses of the Shield Orc that stood on his way and killed him.


    On the other side, Gregory wielded a sword and a shield as he fought the orcs.


    He kept blocking and deflecting the arrows of some of the orcs and parried the attacks of the few orcs attacking him.


    The orcs kept harassing him, and he was fighting three at once. More wereing. While these orcs could not keep up with the fast speed of Avary, Gregory was rooted on the ground and standing in defense.


    One of the orcs approached and shed his ax towards Gregory''s small frame. Gregory smirked. He had noticed what had happened to the archers.


    Gregory didn''t retreat but used his round shield to smash the iing ax sideways.


    The orc before him was at level 18. And Gregory was at the same level due to the massive level-ups he received from all the enemies they had drunk. Adding the blessing of the Coven, his strength and dexterity easily surpassed this trained orc.


    SMASH! SLASH!


    After knocking on the ax, Gregory shed down and struck the orc. The sword dug deep into the mind of the orc''s body.


    "AHHH!" The orc shouted.


    "I used too much strength!" Gregory cursed and tackled the orc to throw him backward and dislodge the stuck sword off the body of the orc.


    Without missing a beat, Gregory parried by ducking as arge steel spiked metal ball swooped by. Gregory''s helmet was knocked off, and his face was finally revealed to the orcs.


    "A knight?! A human knight?"


    "A ss Knight in Training. I guess I''m a Shieldlet!" Gregory smirked. Just like Avary, he too saw a notification.


    ---


    [Knight job acquired.]


    ---


    The archers that were shooting at Diana and Gregory were dead, and thest one was shooting at the figure that killed the other archers.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The orc kept shooting, but Scarlet had hidden behind the golems.


    "Was I mistaken? Why did I feel that he would die when I missed?" Scarlet was confused. Her bow and aim had suddenly improved greatly. She realized that this was because of Martha. But she still missed as her control was less than that of those with archer jobs. But though she missed, she sensed that the Fate of the orc would definitely die.


    The orc used the small rope bridge that connected several towers and headed for another.


    At that moment, Diana used her strong charge to draw the attention of the many orcs.


    "[Knights Charge]!"


    Diana''s force exploded and sent her rushing towards the group of orcs.


    BOOM!


    The hulking orc was thrown back from the charge. The full power of Diana was released, and the hulking orc flew towards one of the wooden towers.


    SMASH!


    The impact of therge orc broke several parts of the tower''s foundation, and it began to fall.


    The orc archer that was transferred to the very tower was thrown off as the rope bridge swayed.


    Down below, one of the orcs was rushing for Gregory and was about to perform a strong sh.


    Gregory readied to block, but the archer fell right on top of this orc as the sh happened.


    The archer became a meat shield, and Gregory took a step to the side and stabbed the distracted orc.


    "...Oh..." Scarlet finally understood what had happened.


    "So my Path of Foresight is indeed growing..." Scarlet is finally confirmed. Her attack caused the orc to transfer to another tower. But that''s when the tower fell, and the archer fell on his death.


    "What a powerful team." Diana smiled.


    "Coven! Let''s fight! Show them the power of the Coven of Cracky Batcheeks!"


    "Let''s kill them all!" Diana cheered as she was happy to see how strong herpanions were.


    Meanwhile... on the other side of the Airom Logat.


    The march of the fifty-man orc continued.


    "Any oddities?" An orc captain asked.


    "None at the moment, Captain." An orc replied.


    "Good. But let''s not be too rxed. We are fighting vampires. They have no scents. Any ambush could easily kill us. So have our scouts be more careful and constantly check where they have passed."


    "Yes, Captain!" The orc soldier saluted.


    "COVEN ON CRACK!" An angry shout could be heard. It contained tremendous Force Energy.


    All the orcs were startled and drew their weapons.


    "I SAID TO FIGHT THEM! NOT AMBUSH THEM! GET OUT OF YOUR HIDING PLACE, OR I WILL SHOOT YOU PERSONALLY! KILL THESE ORCS AND FEAST ON THEM!" The angry shout continued.


    The orcs were surprised.


    "A vampire coven?!" An orc captain eximed.


    "Coven on Crack? Cracky Batcheeks! It''s him!" Another orc managed to connect the unlikely dots.


    Three men emerged from certain hiding spots.


    All of them were crying.


    "Lady Martha... Why?" One couldn''t help but ask.


    "Kill them!" The orcs ran and attacked.

 Chapter 131 - Understanding The Path Of Combat

    The orcs attacked the weeping trio.


    Each of them were hiding on different spots and there some distance between them. The three could do nothing but raise their weapons and charged towards the orcs. In desperation, the three ran forward to meet the rushing group of orcs heading towards them.??


    Martha watched from afar and kept waiting. In her hands were her arrows as she watched for the battle to begin.


    All of the three H had a sword in one hand and a shield on the other. The first thing they did was charge to a ce where all three of them would be together.


    They dove right in the charging orcs using their shields to ram those in front and use their swords to make wide swings that will force the others to take a step back.


    Hunter raced forward in desperation and faced arge shield orc who blocked the way.


    His n was to bump the orc and run to the side to reach and make a desperate dash to reach hispanions.


    He harnessed his entire power into his arm and legs as he rammed the shield orc.


    The shield orcughed and held his massive shield. The orc itself was a rather humungous one for its race and looked down on Hunter.


    BANG!


    The shield orc was thrown upwards from the sever bump that he began to whirl over the charging figure of Hunter.


    Hunter was surprised and his charge continued forward with tremendous power and met a stunned light orc magi. The orc magi was casting a buffing spell to fortify the defenses of the shield orc in front of him.The surprise caught the magi unprepared and Hunter''s shield smashed right in front of the orcs face.


    BANG!


    The orc magi flew a few distance and struck those behind him.


    Hunter was stunned. That was the same skill that Diana revealed. [Knights Charge]!


    A simr scene urred on Hems and Hemsey''s fights. Their desperate charge were surprisingly effective.


    Martha watched in expectation. The three didn''t know exactly how many levels they grew. They only felt a surge of power. But what they did not know was that Martha already gauged that their levels was at the maximum. They were level twenty and even has so much energy that if they do a ss change, Martha gauged that they would hit level twenty two or three at the very least.


    They were no longer normal knights but could even apply to be a Baron of their own!


    The strength they wielded had officially stepped in to the level of strength that Captains had even without the Rank up.


    Martha noticed this but didn''t tell them. She had a n to bring out the best in them in the only way she knew.


    The three were stupefied for a split second but began to move faster to fight.


    The teaching and training they had with their Lord Kyros, Aron and Branze were finally taking root.


    Unlike the three noble sons, these three were vassals and had been trained in the ways ofbat since they were young. Even before bing vampires, their adventures in the Temple had already given them a few level up. They were at level 18 after all that they had gained in the Temple. They should have turned level twenty-three after Kyros killed the servant of the Blood Cmity. But the requirements of ss up stopped them.


    But because they had Kyros''s blood, a portion of this excess power managed to make them grow stronger. The power of the captain smashed against theirrge enemies. But they not only had the higher stats that those reaching level twenty had, they also had the blessing of the Coven which increased their stats by a few points.


    Their battle n changed once they realized what they could do and began to attack more aggressively.


    The powerful moves made the orcs all the more weary. These vampires were audibly crying and the orcs thought them to be the enved pawns of Cracky. But then, they killed a few orcs easily.


    "Be careful!" The orcs began to rush and crowd to attack the three in a coordinated manner.


    But even the, the three continued to fight and push through to reach the area where all three of them could gather and fight with each others back against each other.


    The orc captains finally took action.


    "Those are captains! Let us deal with them!" A shield orc shouted and made his way towards them.


    Martha watched and readied herself.


    Along the way she had been collecting small rocks which she kept in her pouch, unseen to these three. She stood up and brought out her bow.


    In truth, she was just as nervous as the Three H. While the three H were giving themselves into battle, Martha was also putting the lives of these three in the line.


    "If any of them die, I would also face the bacsh of the vow I made to Lord Kyros and could probably die." She told herself as she held the rocks and took aim.


    Kyros had told her of the new abilities he gained as an archer and had thanked her for her amazing skill.


    But Martha was the one who was amazed.


    Kyros had detailed how he could easilymand the arrows to move and make adjustments while on air. Kyros also told her how he could tell where the wind blew.


    Martha was confused and began to ask questions and Kyros simply answered, that he may have learned much since his bloodline was something that could draw power from the actual gods that made bows and taught the various Codes that they acquire through ss ups or receiving blessings from Totems and Idols.


    Martha was obsessed with something. She knew that Kyros''s blood was something that brokemon sense.


    "I have the blood of Lord Kyros, the Nephilim. I should have a small chance of acquiring his potential." Martha hoped.


    She looked at the ongoing battle. Despite the abilities of the three H, Martha knew that they would eventually die. She however, ordered them to fight so to train them in the only way she knew how.


    She knew she had the Path of Combat and also knew that she had awakened it earlier on. But now, she needed to work on the Path of Molding and the Path of Foresight. Diana had her way. She brought them all tobat to mold them as a nurturing hen would over her chicks. But Martha didn''t have Molding to begin with. So she only used her experience in the Path of Combat as the source of inspiration.


    She reflected and realized that her Path of Combat appeared on various life-threatening experiences. At the brink of death, when she found powerful strength within her to ovee her adversary. And with that, she led the three H to fight in bloodybat with the hopes of letting these three experience the same awakening she did.


    For her part, she also needed to awaken her Path of Foresight which she concluded was necessary to mold. By understanding the ways of Fate, she could understand how to change it. And when it reaches a certain level, she could cultivate it in a way that would affect the Fate of others.


    The problem was she didn''t know how to activate it. And so she relied in a primitive method.


    "My Path of Combat awakened when I was pressed in dire situations. My choice is to press myself even harder. With the lives of these three linked to mine, I won''t be fighting so my Path of Combat won''t be the one that is tested, right? But how do I help them awaken it? What is the Path of Combat?" She began to think.


    She looked at the battle and couldn''t see the Path of Combat working. Her powers didn''t work.


    "I have always known how to respond inbat. That should be my Path of Combat. But what about for others? How do I teach them? I eed to understand how Fate works! The victories of Lord Kyros was never because of his ability in the Path of Combat, but in the Path of Foresight! If I want to stand by my Lord, be it as his aunt, or his Coven, I need to understand and see Fate not just for myself, but for others!" She gritted her teeth and tried to see what shot these rocks could do in helping his team survive.


    The three H''s were losing. They were being surrounded and they had received wounds. The armor they wore had many dents and opening as their blood was leaking out. Several times they nearly died and would make a desperate move or would sacrifice a lesser wound to stay alive.


    But even then, the three H managed to fight back and killed a few.


    "Surround them with Shield Orcs! They are bleeding and desperate. Instead of fighting them, let them die on their own!" One of the Orc Captains ordered.


    And so each of the group were surrounded by shield orcs that encircled them.


    The archers and magis didn''t fight as they tight spaces could cause friendly fire.


    "Where is your leader?" The orc demanded. As they were looking for the undead, they knew that the can''t track vampires through scent.


    Hunter, Hems and Hemsey didn''t answer but could only stand their ground. They cursed at themselves. Martha had shown them the bitter truth. They were truly not worthy of Lord Kyros''s gifts. They had fought so hard but could not even awaken the Path of Combat.


    The shield orcs would suddenly give way and one of the orcs would attack with spears, maces, swords and axes.


    The three were soon bing more and more worn out as they received more wounds.


    As their shouts of pain could be heard, Martha''s heart was in pain for seeing what her ns was leading too. But instead of panicking, Martha grew calm. She gazed at the flow of the battle and kept holding on the rock and her bow bent as she tried to pierce through the shroud of Fate.


    More critical moments was shown and the three H were closer to death than they ever was. As their screams grew worse and moments of near-death appeared, Martha had no choice but to save them. Her n had failed.


    In desperation, Martha harnessed her own Path of Combat and decided to save the three H.


    She opened her eyes and was about to deliver her rock attack but then she realized she could see the flow of the battle. It was then she realized what she had failed tomunicate to them.


    "I see it! The flow of their battle!" Martha rejoiced.

 Chapter 132 - Understanding The Flow Of Battle

    Martha was a prodigy in battle. Whenever the fight starts, she just happens to know what to do and how to do it. That gave her the ability to fight and entrap enemies as she could somehow sense what would happen next inbat.


    But she never really took the time to understand what it was and what the specifics were. She was just a prodigy fighting without thought. Her arrows wereunched without any consideration as to why she needed to shoot at that specific angle.??


    She never took the time to think or exin to herself how she could win those many deadly encounters. But now she did. It was staring her right in the face, but she never really could voice it out.


    What she never realized was that she could see the direction and turn off the battle. But now, it was more evident than ever. She finally understood the flow of the battle and the feeling of what would happen next.


    The individual orcs all had their flow, and Martha was beginning to see how they would move and the possible movements they will make.


    ---


    Path of Foresight acquired.


    ---


    As Martha saw the notification, she knew she could do it. She could tell which orc would step forward and could somehow guess the next actions of the group.


    "Hunter, Hems, Hemsey. Listen up." Martha sent a message as she prepared to shoot the rocks.


    Three rocks flung out with incredible speed. Each was covered with Force energy, and while it was weaker than her bows, it was enough to change the tide.


    Hunter had just pushed back the shield orc that was dominating him and restraining his wild charges. As he pushed back one of the shield orcs, arge orc captain ran towards him and brought down arge ax chomping down. Two more shield orcs approached as theyughed and held their shields high. They weren''t captains, but they closed the path of the attack.


    Hunter''s sword arm was too damaged to raise and defend that attack. But Hunter never gave up. Instead, he charged forward and wanted to bite the orc. But even as he charged, he knew that the ax would fall first.


    But then... the rock struck the neck of the ax-shing orc.


    The rock didn''t prate through the orc, but it was clear that the rock was lodged deeply within the orc''s neck. The sudden attack made the orc lose concentration on his attack, veering slightly to the right.


    Hunter acted immediately. Martha didn''t tell them what exactly to do. But she told them they had to find the right momentum to turn the flow of battle to their favor. Her attacks weren''t made to save them but only to help them.


    Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey were all in a critical juncture that could end in their life or death. But with one stroke of the bow, the rocks struck and gave the three the time to execute their counterattack.


    Hunter''s senses were the most honed of the group. He knew what to do. He took a step to the side and used his shield to hit the arm of the orc to change the direction of the falling ax.


    The ax veered further to the right and fell on the head of aughing shield orc.


    SPLAT!


    The shield orc copsed as the blow had killed him. He was guarding against Hunter and had little time to react to the attack.


    Hunter moved quickly and bit down on the orc''s neck as he pulled the orc closer and made him his shield.


    The sudden attack surprised one as they tried to help their fellow orc, which the ax had struck. Others tried to pull their captain away from Hunter, but Hunter kept turning and even threatened to kill their captain by smashing the head with the shield.


    On the other side, a simr incident urred, allowing Hems and Hemsey to bite their enemies. Again, the attack of Martha helped themnd blows to kill their supposed killer and bite them.


    Martha didn''t use arrows for this reason. Instead, she needed to use a rock so that her attacks would be unnoticed by many as they won''t see an arrow sticking out of their head.


    The desperation and hunger that the three H''s had allowed them to spur their blood as they absorbed the vitality of the corresponding captains that they fought.


    The absorbed vitality quickly allowed them to recover. Hunter was able to lift his wounded sword arm and took advantage of the panic to kill another orc.


    Several orcs began to move in as the shield orcs retreated at themand of some warriors who moved in to kill the three.


    Marthaunched another volley of sharp stones with his bow. Because she could now tell the flow of battle, she began to shoot to disrupt the flow for the benefit of three H''s.


    Hemsey carried his sword and shield but ignored the spearman rushing in to stab him. A rock struck the spearman and allowed Hemsey to parry the stab easily, and Hemsey went to stab another orc.


    Slowly, the three became ustomed to fighting. Finally, they could tell which of the orcs they needed to ignore for a time and which to focus on. They managed to bite more and more orcs, and it eventually reached a point where Martha no longer shot her attacks.


    The fight urged the orcs to retreat as they realized they could not overpower the three H''s.


    At their retreat, the three H finally managed to gather together.


    "Hrm? We''re supposed to split up?" Hems asked.


    "Right. I feel it too." Hunter sighed.


    But now, they faced a brigade of orcs with archers and magis.


    "Archers! Magis!" The Orc captain ordered.


    The archers took their stance.


    The three H looked at them.


    "You guys know what to do, right?" Hunter asked.


    "I''ll take the left." Hems answered.


    "I''ll go right then." Hemsey voiced out.


    "Good... Now!" Hunter roared.


    ---


    Path of Combat acquired.


    ---


    At that moment, Martha''s attack arrived.


    Without saying a word, they could somehow tell the next attacks that Martha made.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Several green explosions attacked the area where the magis were.


    The explosion released a green mist that caused many orcs to scream.


    "Poison!" The orc captain cursed as he turned to look back. But as he turned back, he felt a strange chill and turned to the front and swung his sword.


    Hunter evaded by moving the side and swung his shield towards the leg of the orc.


    SMASH!


    The shield broke the leg of the orc, causing him to stumble.


    "You have the Path of Combat too? Or is it just the favor of Fate? Whatever, It''s mine now anyway." Hunter stabbed his sword on the orc.


    Hunter moved and attacked the nearby enemies with one sword in, using the sword he got from the orc.


    Hems and Hemsey did the same thing. They caused the sword to be remained stabbed within the orcs. These orcs were thest surviving Captains in this fifty-strong toon.


    The sword they stabbed was slowly absorbing the blood of the orcs. When they fought, the blood of the three H had dripped onto their respective swords. One of the things they realized they needed was a means to drink more blood without biting. And then they remembered the form of the Blood de.


    Their desperate situation forced them to take drastic measures and finally realized that they needed their blood, and they had to sacrifice a lot of blood to form it. The orc captains were the perfect sacrifice, and so they were the warriors that each fought.


    ---


    Blood de formed.


    ---


    At the notification, the three cheered and abandoned the sword they were carrying and went back to grab their sword.


    The sword they had was coated with a huge amount of blood, and it was as if the blood was alive.


    "It''s not as good as Lord Kyros''s sword, but this will do!" Hemsughed as he charged to fight.


    The battle began to turn to their advantage. Martha had begun to use arrows in her attacks. She could tell that victory was near.


    "So this is the Path of Combat!" Hunter dove towards the ranks of orcs and began to fight five at a time.


    Martha observed from afar and stopped shooting.


    "I''ll leave the rest to you three. As of now, you three will still be defeated and overwhelmed. You all have to increase your understanding of the Path of Combat to win this. Knowing my attacks were easy. We are one Coven, and the Path of Combat seemed to be linked to groups. As Fate bounds our Coven through our vows, it also affects all the other Paths of Fates. So now, you have to fight without my help and understand more about it. Am I clear?" Martha asked.


    "Yes,dy Martha! We understand!" The three chorused.


    Martha closed her eyes and sat down. She paid no attention to the fight below. The three had to grow through a bloody trial to grow stronger.


    ---


    Path of Molding acquired.


    Fate Challenger Job acquired.


    ---


    Martha saw the notification and began to immerse herself in the sensation of Fate.


    In a certain orc outpost...


    ---


    Path of Combat acquired.


    Fate Challenger Job acquired.


    ---


    Diana was pretty pleased with herself as she saw the notification. It was a strange feeling since this was the first.


    "I guess because Fate is now affecting the Steele family, I should get used to seeing these odd things." Diana chuckled.


    "Lady Diana? What happened?" Avary kept using his sword for drinking the blood of a certain orc.


    "It''s good to see that my suggestion worked. Since you are like my son, you should have such abilities. Scarlet, any luck?" Diana turned to Scarlet.


    "I''m sorry,dy Diana. I can''t seem to create a blood bow. And coating these arrows won''t work either."


    "It''s alright. When we get back, you may need to switch it up. You shall join Lady Martha as she trains you." Diana decided.


    "Anyway, I just received a notification stating that I now have Path of Combat. It''s all thanks to you. By watching your fight, I was able to see how Fate flows in a fight." Diana smiled.


    "Lady Diana!" Avary shouted.


    "What did you find?"


    "Nothing much. But I did find a ve girl." Avary carried an unconscious young girl with such fair white skin and a beautiful face.


    "A girl?!" Gregory was stunned. Why was there a girl in this outpost?


    "Lady Diana! That girl! She''s the reason why Fate led me here!" Scarlet eximed.


    Diana approached and noticed something.


    "Wait! Avary! That''s a vampire!" Diana was amazed.

 Chapter 133 - Understanding Nobility

    The appearance of a human-vampire girl inside an orc outpost was strange. While it would have been possible for a human to appear, one that is a vampire is rare.


    "A vampire?!" Gregory and Scarlet eximed.??


    "Yes! It''s definitely a vampire! What could she be doing in this orc fortress?"


    "She''s very weak as a vampire..." Scarlet observed.


    "Oh? A human Vampire? That''s quite rare. My... my Avary... Quite naughty!" Dianaughed.


    "La-Lady Diana! I am still the son of a noble! I would never..."


    "I''m just joking, Avary. Check her bloodline. Wait. I think it''s better if the three of you try. Scarlet, try to find if she is the reason why Fate brought us here." Diana instructed.


    The three nodded, and Avary used his sword to make a small cut on her arm.


    Each of the three took a drop of blood and consumed it.


    The three gazed at each other, and Diana watched expectantly with her arm on her sword.


    "Anything?" Diana asked.


    "No. Her bloodline is very, very weak." Avary concluded.


    "This should be a Dhampir." Scarlet confirmed.


    "Right. I can''t sense any power at all from her." Gregory added after taking another drop of blood from the small wound.


    "Her bloodline seemed even weaker than Zid Blood de."


    "That exins her very faint power of darkness. You three have a very potent form."


    "Lady Diana! You can detect darkness?! Isn''t that what only Pdin''s can do?"


    "When your master, my disgusting son, showed his full power, I could sense the properties of Darkness. You then became the next ones that I kept observing. From you two, I could roughly gaze at the darkness. I had been thinking of this ever since Kyros showed his true dark powers. If I can''t sense when a being of such darkness was standing before me iming to be my son, how can I call myself a Pdin?"


    "I... I see..." Avary didn''t know what to reply.


    "Scarlet. What of Fate?"


    "I don''t know. The whispers seemed less clear now..." Scarlet sighed.


    "Let''s see what we can do. Leave the vampire to me." Diana answered.


    "As for you, see what you can find in this outpost. Why did Fate lead us here? Why did it whisper that we should not leave any survivors despite Kyros''s n? Try to see what you can find." Diana ordered.


    The group nodded and began their search.


    Diana brought the vampire and ced her on a pile of hay made into some form of bed and observed the little girl''s wounds.


    "This girl should be a year or two younger than Scarlet. No ve marks, tattoos, or any signs of manualbor. This girl also had fair and wless skin. This human should be another high-born human. But where?" Diana thought.


    Diana noticed how untouched the young girl was, and all the wounds she had were recent.


    "Was this girl captured?" Diana considered another possibility.


    The Coven continued to look all over the base. They found a lot of odd ores of which they had never seen before. But the group continued to look for more objects. What was odd was that the belongings of the orcs had been packed.


    Soon, they found a group of dead bodies deep inside the jail cell, and it was as if they were burned.


    A few human objects and a few dwarven materials were found.


    The threeter reported to Diana.


    "It seems they burned all the humans and dwarves they captured since they could not afford to kill. Otherwise, they would be food for the Blood Cmity. So this outpost must be a unique outpost that made the orcs dy in abandoning it. This also exins the mystery of why this outpost should have more orcs, but we don''t see any signs of any troops moving outwards of this ce."


    "That''s right! Where did they go?"


    "The answer should be down the mountain. There must be a secret passage for this outpost. We''ve long believed that there was another secret path leading in and out of this mountain. Unlike the path that we used, this path is known to all orcs. Or at least to any orc of repute."


    "What do you mean, Lady Diana?" Avary frowned.


    "How was Myas captured? How have orcs managed to sneak into Airom Vagat without being noticed? Those ves too! Our armies are constantly watching the entrance to Airom Logat and would notice any troops moving in and out. And yet, we still have raids, ambushes, and the like. This outpost is the answer. They sneak out of this ce, enter Airom Vagat by scaling the mountain with a small team. After whatever raid, they return to this ce and hide the ves they capture." Diana exined.


    "So this is why Fate led us here!"


    "Yes." Diana confirmed.


    "Then this Vampire?"


    "She must be someone they captured. Does this girl bear any resemnce to any nobles in Airom Vagat towns?"


    "No."


    "Well, that''s understandable. This entrance allows them to raid not only Airom Vagat, but also the caravans headed towards the entrance of Airom Vagat."


    "But that''s wrong! Isn''t there an agreement that no forces are to attack or raid any mercantile groups moving in and out of these ces?" Avary asked.


    "For certain standards, yes. But you''ve seen how it is in reality. Wasn''t Lady Martha attacked and killed by fellow human beings? If those Viscounts can make some illegal trade within the mountain and abuse their fellow human beings, what more for orcs? When we attacked that army, we were crossing the line. The rules were simple. We cannot marshal an army to attack the orcs. So, if there are any trade materials that they cannot afford to lose, they send an army. Hence, when we attacked those orcs, the orcs were angered and will attack Airom Vagat to break that agreement. But nowhere in the rules does it state that orcs or humans can''t send smaller forces to raid and fight each other. In fact, the military of both races probably allows and encourages it!" Diana exined.


    "Is that why... Martha asked us to save Myas?"


    "Exactly. The human kingdom and even the noble family of the Bowheart would not attack the orcs. The costs far outweigh the gains. Especially since Myas is not even the legal child."


    "So even if we report all these things that we saw and prove, the human kingdom won''t me or attack the orc for their atrocities?" Scarlet asked.


    "The orcs are not the only ones doing this. In fact, humans are even more abusive. The dwarves dare not work for the orcs for their conflicting beliefs in cksmithing and their many arts. But any dwarf here in the Londs are treated as ves and expendable beings. Only those in the Mind kingdoms are treated with respect. Didn''t you see it in Airom Vagat? I''m sure you''ve seen the Dwarven ves."


    Avary and the three could not help but fall silent at Diana''s exnation.


    "The earlier you see through these moral issues and understand that the world of nobles isn''t so noble, the better. You three have to be wise nobles to aid my son. And this is the first lesson. Nobility is wickedness. The higher you are on thatdder, the more tainted your walk bes. Along with poweres responsibility. The responsibility to be righteous, and the responsibility to be corrupt."


    "Lady Diana. I thought the path of a Pdin is to bring justice..." Scarlet asked.


    "Yes. And that entails murder, war, and death. If you want righteousness and justice, you have to learn how to kill. Kyros has learned this. He even added in your rules, remember?"


    "We are bad guys... But it doesn''t mean we are bad guys...?" Gregory repeated.


    "Kyros is telling you all that you will be soaked in the blood of many enemies to bring forth peace."


    The three were silent and began to reflect on their paths.


    "In any case... It seems that these orcs were nning to leave. I am guessing that they brought out things that they needed to bring out. But it took time. We found many of their belongings already packed as this team was about to leave. I''m guessing that this poor dhampir was original to be burned but was spared for some reason." Diana exined.


    "So what''s next, Lady Diana?"


    "We need to find that path. And that means awakening this unconscious girl. She''s too weak. She seems to be dying from starvation. Alright, the three of you, feed her a few drops of your blood."


    The three were startled.


    "But Lady Diana. She could be the Blood Cmity!"


    "If she is, a single drop won''t make her too strong. Besides, my son has already exined the levels of vampires to me. You should be Ancient Vampires. Your bloodline is strong, but it can never awaken or give a massive boost in strength, even if this little girl is the Blood Cmity. And remember the rule, the stronger the vampire, the more blood they''d need."


    The three gave each other a worried stare.


    "That is except for your Coven. Kyros has not shown any signs of madness from drinking blood. I''m sure that it''s the same with you. That''s why you have some life in you." Diana chuckled.


    "So let''s get started. Give her few drops to wake her up."


    "Yes, my Lady!" Scarlet moved and squeezed out a drop of blood on her mouth.


    The young girl felt something and unconsciously began to drink the blood.


    "It''s working. Boys. Your turn."


    The two also allowed a few drops of blood to enter the girl''s mouth.


    As the drop of blood vanished on her mouth, the young girl was jolted awake and panicked as she saw the faces of the group.


    She rolled over to flee from the figures.


    "Little one, rx. We''re not orcs." Diana''s gentle voice echoed.


    The girl was awakened from Diana''s call and turned to her.


    "Humans!" The girl was amazed.


    "I am. These three are vampires just like you. But more far more powerful." Diana chuckled.


    The young girl turned to the three and was amazed. She began to tremble.


    "My Lords!" The young girl called out.


    "Lords?" The three echoed out in surprise.


    "A dhampir stands before three Bloodlines. Of course, she''d call you lords. We are not here to harm you, child. Can you tell us your name? Or does your bond with your Master disallow you from saying your name?"


    "N-No. My master was... a kind vampire. He freed me from the bond before his death..."


    "Such tragedy. What is your name?"


    "I am Mechiel." The girl answered.

 Chapter 134 - Understanding Their Fate Potential

    KACHINK! KACHINK!


    Two ck chains struck the tall part of the tree, and a figure swooped down from the great heights.??


    The chains utched themselves from the tree at the highest point of the fulcrum swing right before it would pull the figure upwards. The effect was that the figure began to fly and summersault in midair.


    The chains whirled, but it did not coil or tangle the figure or strike any nearby branches as if it was alive.


    Kyrosnded on another tree branch and ran, jumping from one part of the tree to the other. Soon, he approached a high cliff, and Kyros allowed himself to fall the great distance as he prepared to whip his chain to catch him and swing him around.


    The speed, height, and taking advantage of these swings allowed Kyros to move nearly three times faster and had very little consumption on his stamina.


    Kyros kept using his swings with such precise and detailed movement as he would wall-run on the side of rocks while swinging, jumping through obstacles, and using the dark energy in his chains to cause the chains to coil up, pulling him closer.


    "This is so amazing!" Kyrosughed as his body did a 360-degree flip right before whipping his chain to another tree.


    Kyros had gotten used to using the chain mechanism that he acquired from Drysh. Drysh used it as a whip weapon that could resist his Balefire strikes. As such, the chains were made from one of the hardest orc steel. And this steel was strong enough to be used for such extreme actions.


    Kyros even harnessed the dark energy of his Dark Cloak to coat his entire arms and legs, which were now sticking to the trees and helping him keep his bnce.


    With that traveling style, Kyros reached the higher parts of the mountain. He was headed to the inverse location of where the Temple would have been if it was in the Airom Logat.


    "Are we there yet?" Cminus asked.


    "No, Cminus. Go back to sleep." Kyros shook his head as he heard Cminus ask him again.


    It was then that Kyros received several notifications.


    ---


    Martha Steele has acquired the Path of Molding.


    Martha Steele has acquired the Path of Foresight.


    Fate Challenger job acquired.


    ---


    Diana Steele has acquired the Path of Combat.


    Diana Steele has acquired Fate Challenger job.


    ---


    Hunter Steele has acquired the Path of Combat.


    Hunter Steele Path of Combat has increased by two levels!


    Hems Steele has acquired the Path of Combat.


    Hems Steele Path of Combat has increased by two levels!


    Hemsey Steele has acquired the Path of Combat.


    Hemsey Path of Combat has increased by two levels!


    Scarlet Steele Path of Foresight level increased by two levels!


    Avary Steele has acquired the Path of Combat.


    Gregory Steele has acquired the Path of Combat.


    ---


    "As expected." Kyros smiled as he read the notifications.


    "Looks like Martha is the better teacher. Avary and Gregory only increased by one level."


    "No. Aunt Martha''s the one losing out here. Mom has the Path of Molding. She knows what she''s doing."


    "But Martha awakened the Path of Combat and Foresight together. Doesn''t that mean she''s more of a genius?"


    "No. If that were the case, the Steele family would have had my uncle leading and not my dad. Of all the three, the most important is Foresight. But the most useful is Molding. Combat is individual strength. Molding is what saved and sustained the Steele family all those years in my past life. It was what helped me get over my wildness and made me the filial kid that is hell-bent on saving them in this life."


    "You mean your mom is still in the lead in terms of potential?"


    "Yes. I have an understanding of their potential in achieving Fate Challenger.My mom is still trying to understand the Path of Combat. My aunt took a very primitive route. But whatever mom learns will be something that the family canter practice. Just watch. I am sure that Scarlet, Avary, and Gregory will be the first to be Fate Challengers. The three H will be stagnant in their growth in the Path of Combat and will even have a harder time learning Foresight and Molding. But those three kids will have them soon."


    Kyrostched onto a tree and could see arge number of dead orcs.


    All their bodies were dried up.


    "Looks like I''m on the right path..." Kyros smirked as he saw it.


    Kyros then began to follow the path of the dead.


    Meanwhile, the orcs that fought against Martha and the group were starting to retreat.


    The fight was shocking, that the orcs had no choice. If they stayed, they could face elimination.


    The three knights were wounded and stabbed, but they kept recovering! With an archer as support and the poisonous attack that killed the skilled magis, the line of defense copsed, prompting the leaderless orc to flee. They move away on all directions.


    The three H stood amidst the many bodies of orcs that they had killed. They were stabbed, smashed, and beaten. But despite their horrifying appearance that would have surely led to their death, the three warriors kept their sword stuck on certain orcs and was slowly being fed. When they found the strength, they began to bite as it was faster and more efficient to drain the blood of the dead orcs.


    Martha casually walked in the middle of the battlefield and carefully observed the battle.


    "There were several opportunities that you guys failed to took. If you did, this battle would have ended twelve minutes earlier." Martha began.


    "I wouldn''t have the need to shoot twenty or so arrows if you did that. But of course, your Path of Combat has just awakened. How was it?"


    "I could see where my luck was in the battle. If I went this part, I felt like... I could win." Hems began.


    "Same. I had a feeling of what I should be doing to fight. In fact, there were times when I could see different paths to survive." Hunter answered.


    "Really? For me, it was different. I know which of the orcs could die. So I went to attack those who it thinks would die." Hemsey answered.


    "So that''s why you kept attacking those I attacked... You were the most out of synch, but it seems that you awakened another part of the Path of Combat."


    "Sorry, my Lady." Hemsey chuckled.


    "No. It''s my fault. I am too weak that I could only think of this way to awaken it." Martha sighed.


    "Lady Martha... I am so sorry."


    "For what?" Martha asked.


    "I realized now that you had this when you fought. It seems... You lived quite a painful life..."


    Martha was stunned. But then she chuckled.


    "I guess you guys can somehow understand what I''ve been through." Marthaughed as he stabbed a Blood Sword down on a Captain to absorb their blood.


    "Hmm... Lady Diana should also be making a killing now. But none of us have increased in our levels after killing all of this. It seems that leveling up will be more difficult from now on. And here I thought my problems with money would be over." Marthaughed.


    "Lord Kyros told us to increase our strength without leveling up. Now I know what he meant. No wonder Lord Aron is so strong. His power in the Path of Combat should be so high..." Hunter recalled.


    "Indeed. How many of those Lizards did he defeat back then? He was also the one who helped us maintain the defensive line despite being under-leveledpared to those monsters." Hems pointed out.


    "How strong is my husbandpared to me?" Martha couldn''t help but ask.


    "I would not know, my Lady. You are part of the Coven now. You also leveled up. So I can''t say for certain which would win if the two of you fought."


    "I see. I guess, for now, mypetition and rival will be Lady Diana." Marthaughed.


    Suddenly, Martha received a DM from Scarlet.


    "Lady Martha. Do you know the Swordcrest family of the Addorant kingdom?" Scarlet asked.


    "Of course. The Swordcrest is very much associated with my Bowheart family." Martha answered.


    "Do you know of a young noble in that family that goes by Mechiel?"


    "Mechiel Swordcrest? I have met her. She is the dotted daughter of the disowned knight-turned merchant, Vallen Swordcrest."


    "Thank you, Lady Martha. We found her here. We will send an update on the GC in a bit." Scarlet replied.


    Martha was stunned at Scarlet''s reply.


    Her expression turned sad as she sat down.


    "Lady Martha?" Hems asked.


    "If Mechiel is here... Then that means! Lord Vallen! You''re gone..." Martha sighed.


    "I vow to protect Mechiel for your kindness to me. Your memory will not fade, Lord Vallen." Martha vowed.


    In the outpost...


    Diana continued to ask Mechiel about the details of who she was.


    "And what''s the name of your father?"


    "Vallen Swordcrest. But he''s..." Mechiel could not continue. Her eyes began to tear up. She was trembling, and her body could not help but shiver as it tried to turn back.


    Diana and the three nobles were silent. They knew that her father could be among the burned corpse they found. When they were talking, they noticed how Mechiel sat in a position that avoided the direction of where the burnt corpses were.


    "I see. Scarlet? Have you confirmed with Lady Martha?" Diana asked.


    Scarlet nodded.


    "Lady Martha knows her."


    Diana finally smiled and sat down.


    "I see. Thank you for telling me all this, Mechiel. I am relieved." Diana smiled.


    "Relieved?" The young girl called Mechiel asked.


    "Relieved that I won''t have to kill you." Diana smiled.


    "Kill?!" Scarlet, Avary, and Gregory eximed.

 Chapter 135 - Understanding Mechiel鈥檚 Past

    The shocking statement of Diana startled the three. Who would have thought that the calm, kind and righteous Diana Redde would harbor such thoughts and kill an innocent girl.


    "Of course. The Blood Cmity is something that I won''t ever underestimate. Her powers is unimaginable. Taking the appearance of a little girl like her is possible. It''s also possible to fool you since this Blood Cmity is stronger than you as vampires. But tasting her blood helped me confirm her identity. After all, I don''t underestimate the heritage you have from my son."??


    "Heritage? Blood Cmity?" The girl asked.


    "Right. She doesn''t speak orc! She wouldn''t know..." Scarlet realized it.


    "This entire ce is being attacked by a powerful Vampire called the Blood Cmity."


    "A powerful vampire?"


    "Yes. It has killed a lot of orcs and consumed towns and outposts here. Small squads of orcs have been massacred. Forgive Lady Diana''s words. The vampire is quite powerful and could threaten all life in the Londs."


    "She''s not out of the clear yet. I haven''t totally confirmed that she is not allied to the Blood Cmity."


    "What do you mean, Lady Diana?"


    "The reason why I will spare her is that her identity is not fake. We have not only heard her testimony by confirmed that her identity is real. This means she is a real girl, born of a real human family and who has been turned into a vampire due to her dying ailment by that generous and kind vampire. But this also means that the Blood Cmity could possess her. Remember that power she showed when we fought that clone? If my son couldn''t resist it, we would have died."


    "Of course! She could be using some mind-control power!" Avary eximed.


    "Yes. I won''t kill her because she''s human. But we may have to look for ways to prove her im further. Regardless, she bes our captive for now." Diana decided.


    "But Lady Diana!" Scarlet suddenly interjected.


    "Isn''t it safe to assume that she isn''t someone that the Blood Cmity attacked? The time when she was kidnapped is right after the Blood Cmity went wild! By the time she was brought here, the Blood Cmity must have fallen into some deep sleep after bestowing her blood to that orc. Lord Kyros said so!" Scarlet exined.


    "I understand your concern, Scarlet. You share simr experiences. But we have to put your Lord''s safety as a top priority. Although Kyros never made any strict rules for you, it doesn''t mean that your own emotions can act freely. What if this girl is a spy or somehow under the control of the Blood Cmity? Are you willing to let that happen? Kyros could die." Diana challenged.


    Scarlet was stunned. But she had no words to answer Diana''s challenge.


    Scarlet couldn''t help but nce back at Mechiel.


    For some strange reason, there was a strange calmness in her words even as she heard Diana''s deration.


    "You... You believe my story? But aren''t you... Lady Diana Redde? I thought that you were talking to me to get information and would have killed me regardless. Being a captive is better, of course." She smiled."


    "Why are you so calm, child?" Diana asked. She was surprised at the girl''s reaction.


    "Dying by the hands of the righteous Diana Redde is a far sweeter death. I first thought that I would die from orcs. Did you know that the reason I was spared was to be offered to one of the powerful orc merchants who control a vast merchant empire? And he has a taste for young human girls like me. Since I am a vampire, I would survive more punishment than other human girls. My father was burned right before my eyes." Mechiel tried to control her emotions. She shivered but dared not turn back to see the burnt corpses.


    She took a few deep breathes to calm herself.


    "The empire my father built was in chaos. I have no legacy to live in. I am happy to die through a sword. At least, only death will befall me and not shame and..." Mechiel trailed off as she couldn''t bring herself to speak what she would have experienced.


    Tears fell on her eyes, and the realization that she was alive finally dawned on her. It was then she also knew that she had to cry. Unlike before, she now won''t meet her father just yet.


    Mechiel broke down and finally started to cry.


    Diana listened and could not help but sigh. The group waited for Mechiel to calm herself.


    "I''m sorry... I... Lady Diana Redde. I would be happy to be taken captive.


    The three young nobles also sympathized with Mechiel.


    "I go by Steele now." Diana smiled.


    "Steele?" Mechiel asked in between her attempts to contain her sobs.


    "The Steele family are more notorious than famous. That''s why you wouldn''t know the details about them. But I married into this family. In any case, your testimony proves that you are not any bonded familiar with the Blood Cmity. And since my sons Coven has tasted your Blood, I guess it''s safe to bring you along."


    "Coven? You are vampires?"


    "No. They are. And my son. It''splicated."


    "...I can imagine." Mechiel looked around and finally noticed the powerful blood swords that each had.


    "You still look suspicious, though. So we might have to bind you in some way." Diana suddenly added.


    "I understand."


    "How are you so calm and intelligent? You seem to be more in control with your emotions for a girl of your age." Diana asked once more.


    "This is not the first time I faced troublesome circumstances. I was brought up by my dad to not weep when in times of danger."


    "Ah. So that''s what it is. I didn''t imagine it. You are also like us. Fate is attacking you." Diana realized it.


    "Is this why Fate led me here?" Scarlet asked.


    "I am not certain. The knowledge that this outpost holds an entrance that can allow more people to move in and out is already enough for you to be led here. My son will surely use this ce. The former exit was too risky. We might meet orc squads. But this ce will have none. The Human Kingdom can even use this to bring powerful squads inside and use that other path to make ambushes and traps. We still have to look for the Path. Mechiel. Can you tell us where it is?"


    "Yes. Lady Diana." Mechiel bowed.


    "Lady Diana... What now? Do we tell Lord Kyros?"


    "No. My guesses and suspicion shouldn''t distract him. The identity of Mechiel and her circumstance makes it very unlikely for her to be the Blood Cmity. And seeing as that my son is a bit of a demon, I fear he would end up doing unnecessary things to Mechiel. He can''t turn her into one of you since he''s at his maximum, correct?"


    "Yes. But we can turn her, Lady Diana!"


    "Too risky. If she is stronger than you, you would be deceived. She needs to be directly under Kyros as a Coven member. And I don''t think my dark, demonic son will allow it. You are his Coven, so you received his grace and kindness. But remember what else he did. He didn''t even spare humans, remember?"


    The Coven recalled their orders and how they killed humans in Airom Vagat and nodded.


    "We understand."


    "If I recall, there is nothing in your vows that urges you to hide secrets from Kyros, correct? He told me he respects your privacy, which is odd for a Coven leader. But please, in the name of Steele, hide this little secret for now. I want to spare this woman."


    "We understand." The three nodded.


    "It seems Lady Martha alsopleted her mission," Gregory spoke as he could see the notifications.


    "Right! We were so busy. I didn''t check!" Avary took a look.


    "Lady Martha seemed to have awakened the Path of Combat for everyone and even reached a higher level!" Avary sighed.


    "We need to work harder!" Avary suddenly frowned. His eyes red up with passion.


    "Rx. It''s expected that they would go ahead of you. Martha has the Path of Combat. I don''t." Diana chuckled.


    "I''m sorry, Lady Diana. I was just... I gotpetitive."


    "Oh, I, too, ampetitive. But I already have a path for you to grow. While Martha is strong, that man is a monster in the art of Combat. He will be the one to teach you. He owes me this much. So you can surely catch up with those three H''s."


    "That man?"Avary asked.


    "Oh? I thought you already saw him fight. Aron Branze."


    Deep inside the Nephilim Sealing Temple...


    Aron Branze had moved deep into the tunnels.


    Behind him, the group of Golems could only watch in amazement.


    "How... how did he be so strong in such a short time?" Stoph could not help but exim.


    Behind Aron were nearly a hundred dead Char Vermillion Lizard and Lizardmen.


    Several Lizard Captain was moving back and retreating. Each of these Lizardmen was simr in strength to the Lizard Captain that sliced off Kyros''s arm.


    And yet, these creatures that would roughly equal the might and potential of Drysh were retreating before one human.


    The lizard captains were horrified at his power. The man was clearly weaker than them, and their numbers should have easily been enough to kill him.


    They also couldn''t understand the specific ss that the man had.


    A few of the knights watched from the back.


    "When did... Lord Branze be a Quick de?" One of the Knights asked.


    At one point, Aron dropped his shield and charged forward towards the group, and used his sword to sh out with incredibly fast speed.


    The stance and the use of force were simr to the power of that Swordsman ss.


    "Quick de? Didn''t you see it at the end? His powers could slice a Char Vermillion Lizard! Only Blitzers have that speed and power!" Another argued. This knight was someone who yearned to be a Blitzer, just like Avary dreamed.


    Blitzers relied on the decent speed with might that surpass themon knight. And Aron was able to harness both.


    "No! That was too fast for a Blitzer! It was definitely a Quick de!" The first knight insisted.


    "That power was not a Blitzer! I don''t understand. That was the strongest hitting Swordsman ss! He had the power of a Ravager!"


    "He used one hand! How can he be a Ravager?" The first knight insisted.


    "He''s all of them." A voice spoke.


    "Looks like Aron made progress." Branze nodded as he saw it.


    "Lo-Lord Branze!"


    "This is the Path of Combat. It goes beyond understanding the battle''s flow or seeing what your enemies might do. I thought that was what it was. But seeing Aron, I knew it was so much more. The true Path of Combat is harnessing and challenging Fate by breaking the limitations set on humans. He doesn''t need the blessings of idols or totems or any gods for that matter. Because when ites to battle, he will challenge Fate itself!" Branze exined.


    Aron stood before the several Lizard Captains.


    "Fighting demi-humans sure are tough. You guys are Captains, but you could already challenge human Champions, can you?" Aronughed.


    The lizards all hissed in anger.


    "Right. You can''t understand me. Oh well... I''ll just kill you all." Aronughed as he charged forward.

 Chapter 136 - Understanding The Sword Classes

    Aron revealed various sword sses in his attack. The scene was so shocking that the knights who had seen their lord show great miracles in his fights had now shown them a miracle they couldn''t believe.


    The jobs for those who wielded the sword were known as Sword sses. And there were two types. Sword sses could be ssified as either a Knight or a Swordsman.??


    Those that pursue the Knights ss focus their blessings and training on defense. In the human kingdoms, the knight is the mostmonly pursued job due to its poprity, an abundance of blessings, and how this job is easily essed to most human Kingdoms in the Londs. Even human kingdoms that do not focus on the Knight job ss have Idols and Totems that aid in the path of being a knight.


    Aside from this, the knight''s job is also popr considering that themon enemy humans have in the Londs are orcs, which are generally stronger in terms of strength and vitality. Because of this, humans need a strong set of armor to survive the cruel conflicting world of the Londs.


    Knights also happen to be the easiest path to pursue, considering the alliance that men and dwarves have tobat orc steel.


    On the other side of this spectrum is the Swordsman job ss. The job has a higher mortality ratepared to the Knight path. Only one in three people who train in this path ever reach the level of Captains. In favor of mobility, offense, and speed, the Swordsman ss abandons the heavy armor of knights and focuses on harnessing and developing skills.


    As humans don''t have the same vitality and power that orcs have, swordsmen hone their ability to wield the de and acquire even more expensive blessings than those of themon and popr knight ss.


    The two paths have many intersecting blessings that both tend to train simrly on the earlier stage and only separate when the person seeks out specific blessings on the higher stages.


    The basic blessings of these two jobs begin with four blessings. This includes any Sword Wielding and Sword Combat blessings from any Idols or Totems belonging to any Sword God, the Knights Stance blessing, and the Valor Blessing.


    When a personpletes all these basic blessings, they are called either knights or swordsmen, depending on the path they set out to be. If they take at least three blessings specific to a certain path, they are called ssed Swordsman or ssed Knights.


    This also bes a requirement in determining the nobility of a family. A person aiming to be a Baron or a Baron aiming to retain the nobility status of their family should have at least ten retainers to be ssed Knights. The number bes higher on Viscounts, Earls, and Dukes.


    A ssed Knight has several paths to take.


    The standard and mostmon was known as the Defender Knights. These are also what the Lond residents refer to when calling a Knight. Champion Ordeus was one of these knights. Another branch was the mixture of powerful Holy Element used for various buffs and gave birth to the sturdiest sses among Knights. The Pdins was considered to be the peak of all knight sses but is the most expensive.


    The Swordsman ss has many diverse sses as well.


    The most bnced job is the Sword Master. This is also the mostmon Champion among swordsmen. Another ss within this job type was a swordsman that focused on speed. The Quick des are the trained scouts and assassins among the swordsman job.


    The Blitzer was a two-handed sword-wielding Champion that has speed only outssed by Quick des. This ss emphasizes speed and power.


    The Ravager was yet another two-handed sword-wielding Champion that sacrificed speed for pure power.


    There were other sses of knights that only are present in the Minds and the Hignds.


    As he was growing up, Mezal had long noticed the talent of Aron in the areas ofbat. Since their family could not afford a Champion upgrade, he decided to spend their resources to bless Aron with various blessings that were both given to ssed Swordsman and ssed Knights. Although Aron had never revealed his capacity as a Swordsman, the truth was he had the necessary requirements to turn into the Swordsman Champion.


    As he ran ahead, Aron used his force energy in ways that would equal the usage of ssed Swordsman.


    Branze watched from afar and began to take notes.


    His eyes never left Aron, and he could see the form that Aron was trying to perfect.


    The sudden sprint caused all the Lizardman Captains to rush forward.


    A Lizard Guard dove in and was about to tackle Aron with a force simr to a Knights Charge.


    Aron smiled and did not retreat. Instead, he used his incredible speed to rush in, and he harnessed his Force Energy onto his arm and sword.


    STAB!


    The stab pierced through the shield, and the lizard howled. He quickly retreated and stumbled back before several Lizard Captains arrived and began to attack Aron.


    Their shes were easily dodged as Aron used his Force to move his legs and swiftly evade the attack.


    Several red arrows flew, and fireballs erupted as they reached the ground where Aron was standing.


    "Oh? The mages are here." Aronughed.


    "Of course they would. The Golems never did focus on conquering this area, so these lizards were probably sending most of their strong warriors to make other crusades and establish themselves as the dominant race within thisnd. They only left a few of the lizard races to observe the movements of the Golems. But now that we are making strides in attacking thesends, they now sent a formal army." Branze replied as he kept scribbling on his notes.


    "Why are you here anyway?"


    "I needed to understand more about the Path of Combat. I see that you''ve been copying the movements of all the champions you saw and fought against."


    "Yeah. I feel that If I limit myself to being a Force Pdin, I won''t be able to understand the Path of Combat. After all, it''s the Path of Combat and not Pdin."


    "It seems your Foresight is also improving. Do this instead. Don''t copy others. You can already imitate the power of those sses. But try to allow yourself to explore more than that. What can Force energy do? Try to understand what that is, and you should be capable of reaching greater heights."


    "What an interesting theory..." Aron nodded.


    "I have noted all the directions and force of how you imitated that. You used Force energy that Quick des use for their hands. You used the Ravager on your sword arm. You don''t need the Blitzer since you are already faster and stronger than an average Blitzer. Then what you need to try is how you can incorporate the usage of these without form. Be like water, my brother." Branze handed Aron the notebook.


    Aron began to look at the many sketches of Branze and was immersed in them.


    The Lizard Captains reformed their men as they could see the Golems watching from afar.


    Aron was amazed at how detailed his brother was and was even able to draft out possible more effective means that a Ravager and a Quick de could use their Force energy.


    Branze talked with Stoph and gave him a detailed description of how to deal with the lizardman and their various lizard races.


    "Brother? Why is there are three pages worth of ''I love Diana Redde'' over and over again?" Aron was confused.


    "WHAT!?" Branze bolted back to Aron faster than a Quick de on steroids.


    "Just joking. Of course, there aren''t such pages. How can someone so smart like you fall for that one?" Aron chuckled.


    "You!"


    "Anyway, brother. I have a question. All your sketches seemed to have assumed that this is how Quick des and Ravagers use their Force. It isn''t like me who can freely control it, but as if this was the only way those two sses could release their Force. Why?"


    "Fate and destiny. It limits the future of all mortals. The Totems and Idols are blessings from gods. But what are they really? Are they really blessings? Or are they tools that slowly release the bindings of what we mortals are capable of? Those who cultivate towards godhood must break these things. This is why we only have heard of such people in legends here in the nes World. So I went ahead and assumed something else. This is also why I''m curious what the result would be if you break away from these chains and try to wield Force energy as you could freely can."


    "Oh. I see. What an interesting theory. Let me try it out." Aron closed his eyes.


    Little did he know that this action would create a resounding effect all over the gxies and universe beyond.

 Chapter 137 - Understanding Hyperions Legacy

    It was a simple act of meditation. But little did Aron knew, that his meditation in the Force Energy within his body and as he tried to awaken it, created a faint tremor that rippled all throughout the dimensions.


    When Kyros acquired the Wielder of Sword Job, it created a new path. A new god or a fallen with a new code had appeared. And while what Aron finally achieved was less impressive, the effects were more potent. This was because a long lost Path that no one has threaded on has returned.??


    The workings of Fate and Destiny ravaged across the heavens. The upheaval made all who were Gods and Fallen react in shock.


    The remaining Greater Gods who aided the Ancient Gods had felt it as well.


    The Greater God that sought to kill the Ancient Gods were horrified.


    And all the Fallen became scared.


    The Code that had in countless fallens in that war had returned.


    The ripple of power was different than when Kyros found a new Path. None within the nesworld felt it. For this fluctuation was only unique to Gods and Fallen who have seen this power firsthand.


    In a far off gxy, Rhykestorn Ever stood up in shock.


    Several vortex and ckholes opened up as Greater Gods and Fallen returned to this ce.


    "He''s back!"


    "Hyperion Steel! The Ancient Sword God is back!"


    "Calm down!" Rhykestorn Ever roared to silence everyone.


    "The Ancient Sword God is dead. Have you all forgotten this? This power we sensed only means that someone has managed to understand his Code! He is not back. This could even be to our benefit! If we manage to capture the god or fallen that has discovered this, we could acquire that lost Code!"


    The Greater Gods and the Fallen was stunned.


    "Could it be... Rted to Cminus?" One of the Fallen suggested.


    "Impossible. Cminus doe not wield any Code of the Sword. It would be impossible for him to have it!" One of the Greater Gods rejected this.


    "That is correct. The only people possible are among the disciples of the Ancient Gods. Or it could be in those worlds were mortals can study and im all Sword Paths. This poses a change in our ns. We cannot have the Ancient God''s power return! Focus all our attention to raiding the Sword Realms under Greater God Chereb. Whoever found the Ancient God''s code must have found it through the minor blessings that we don''t have."


    "You believe a mortal awakened this Code?"


    "It is harder for Gods and even Saints to find a new Code for themselves. It''s definitely a mortal." Rhykestorn exined.


    "Rhykestorn is right." A voice was heard as a portal from the deepest parts of the Fallen Realm appeared


    Everyone knelt down. The Greater Gods and the Fallen all knelt down.


    "First Fallen Thanatos Kyriachos!" The crowd saluted.


    "This war... will change if Hyperion Steel''s Code resurfaces. If we acquire it, it will assure our victory. Our priority for Hyperion''s disciple take precedence over that idiot Cminus. Rhykstorn. Who have you assigned to seek the Continuum soul of Cminus?"


    "Greater God Sheolrah leads the search. She is also searching for Greater God Daradiel who has fled on the Garden Gxy. Since Cminus has acquired more curses of Fate, we decided to seal all possible support within that Gxy. Searching for his soul would prove difficult considering his... entric being. We also don''t know the extent of his powers. We could get easily tricked." Rhykestorn exined.


    "The Garden Gxy? That is quite a distance from the Greater God allies. How has Daradiel reached that far?"


    "It was a desperate move. Daradiel is also dying. Sheolrah is simply searching for his code."


    "I see. Then I leave this to you. I want the identity of whoever acquired Hyperion''s Code to be found as soon as possible. We have to find it within a hundred years!"


    "Yes, Lord Kyriachos!" The gods and fallen bowed.


    Ryhkestorn stood up.


    "You heard Lord Kyriachos. Let''s get to work." Rhykestorn opened a portal. For the first time in a millennium, Rhykestorn would finally fight.


    As the gods and fallen all made their moves to search and find who inherited the legacy of Hyperion, Kyros was standing right in the middle of various hungry tigers with a bewildered expression.


    ---


    Aron Steele has awakened the Divinity of Steel.


    ---


    "Bruh... What the fragment?!" Cminus cursed out.


    "Wow. Uncle sure is talented."


    "Talented?! Talented? What the fragment is wrong with your family?! How can he awaken Hyperion''s Code?"


    "What''s so surprising? Wasn''t it already implied that Hyperion''s descendants is the Steele Family? I mean, it''s in the name! Steel, Steele? See?"


    "It''s not that simple! How many Greater Gods are the sons of Ancient Gods and yet only three Greater Gods has reached the same power of their parents! As for the First Fallen, their Codes were only passed on because their sons devoured it! And that uncle of yours just managed to awaken it so easily? How can he do that?"


    "Maybe his INT stat is higher than yours."


    "Mother fragments! Not everything is solved by Int stat!"


    "Fate?"


    "... Yeah... That''s probably it..." Cminus sighed as he realized the possibility of Fate arranging it.


    "My real parents could also be involved as to how the Steele Family has all these advantages. Cminus. This battle of Beginning and End may have very shocking possibilities. We''ve seen bits and pieces of this. And we will see more. Remember what Hyperion said. He implied that whatever End is, I could not even beat their weakest soldier. A family of those who walk in Hyperion Steel''s Codes may seem the bare minimum for us to fight back."


    "Right... Still... I wonder how your uncle did it?"


    "It''s definitely thanks to my father. He must have realized something about the nature of Codes and the blessings that mortals follow. With this, I can be more at ease. I do hope that my family will have their own means tobat destiny."


    "Oh well. I guess we can learn more by asking your dad. Best get to it and kill those monsters. These tigers look hungry. Their quite tough too! I can''t believe that such monsters hide here where there are a lot of orcs. You''d think these orcs would wipe out all monsters before taking residence here." Cminus shook his head.


    "These Tigers could be from the same inner parts of the mountain like it was in the Nephilim Sealing Mountain. They must have broken out when the Blood Cmity''s seal weakened. Each of these tiger should equal to a mid-level Captain. And these tigers must have devoured a drop from the Blood Cmity." Kyros smiled.


    Kyros gazed at the howling tigers. Despite their maddened and hungry state, the tigers hesitated to fight Kyros. It was as if they saw Kyros to be monstrous than themselves.


    "She''s trying to dy me." Kyros shook his head.


    "I really should catch up to her and kill her. Her desperation shows that she is weak. "


    "I wouldn''t think that! You haven''t noticed? Look!" Cminus eximed.


    "What? Look at what?"


    "Look at the eye of that tiger!" Cminus pointed out.


    "I don''t see anything! What do you see?"


    "The thrill of the fight. Rising up to the challenge of your rival. And thest known survivor stalks her prey in the night, and she''s watching us all with the eye.... wait for it... of the tiger."


    "You''re an idiot." Kyros cursed as he attacked the tigers.

 Chapter 138 - Understanding The Lizards World

    The Dark Fanged Tiger was a monstrous beast that was aligned with the powers of the Dark. The more they consumed, the stronger they would be.


    Only cultivators that are over twenty or are Captains in terms of rank could contend with this monstrous beast one-on-one.??


    The tigers revealed their powerful abilities. They could leap and jump on top of trees. With their nearly aerialbat ability, Kyros could not simply ignore and flee as these beasts could chase and attack him even with his use of his chains.


    Kyros leaped and rushed towards one of the tigers who jumped at the moment he charged. The tiger roared and opened its maw to bite on Kyros''s sword.


    The moment Kyros saw it, he whipped a chain to the side to chain the direction of the flight and struck the tiger on the foot with the sword.


    SLASH!


    The sh didn''t leave a huge cut on the legs, but it met a strange resistance. The strike caused the leaping tiger to fall headfirst on the ground.


    SMASH!


    Kyros retreated with his chains and cursed.


    "Dark Devourer. What''s an OP ability like that doing on some random tigers!?" Kyros cursed.


    The tiger that was shed on his legs stood up, howling angrily at Kyros. Not a single wound could be found on his leg.


    "Great. A Force sh didn''t even cut his legs. Not only are they strong, but they are resistant to dark energy. My Bloodied Sword won''t be able to hurt them."


    "This may not just be some random tiger that the Blood Cmity turned into her minions but could be her actual pet that was sealed together with her." Cminus guessed.


    Eight tigers encircled Kyros once more.


    "They have some intelligence. Their formation is changing. It''s adapting to my movements. Man! I want a smart tiger too!" Kyros sighed as he ran forward.


    "Just one-shot these tigers with light."


    "No way. That''s my ace! I could surprise the Blood Cmity with that and deal a lethal blow. I gotta keep some of my aces. I''m sure that the Blood Cmity couldn''t have seen me when I attacked that town and won''t know about Skotos Eis Phos." Kyros answered as he observed the movements of the tiger.


    The tigers formed their formation, and all began to jump. Some began to jump on top of the trees and used the force of their jump tond and use the rebounding force to attack Kyros.


    Kyros changed the weapon he was carrying. The ax appeared on his arms, and he immediately channeled the Magic on it.


    The core of the two axes brightened as it received the magical energy of Kyros. It began to burn, and the heat of Fire and Entropy appeared on the des of the ax.


    With a quick flick, the darkness of his chains made the chains connect with the ax, and Kyros began his chain and ax whipping attacks.


    The whip was so fast that the tigers could only turn their heads to avoid a critical strike.


    The two axes smashed on the shoulders of two different tigers who howled in pain.


    Kyros harnessed the darkness and used the charge of the tigers he struck and redirected them to smash on another.


    SMASH! SMASH!


    The ferocious tackle of two more tigers hit each other.


    Thest four tigers roared and attacked Kyros on the side and on the back, sealing his escape.


    But right before they struck Kyros, arge boulder appeared out of nowhere.


    SMASH! SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!


    The four leaping tigers found themselves smashing on the rock.


    The impact of their charge was so strong that the boulder actually broke to pieces.


    The four tigers were rolling in pain, and Kyros summoned the Blood Golems through his Bloodied Sword and made the two golems attack one of the dizzy tigers.


    "Huh... The Blood Cmity is weaker than I thought. She doesn''t know of my ability to retrieve objects from my Storage Space? Strange. Was she unable to see my fight with her orc minion?"


    Kyros turned his attention and sprinted to attack one of the tigers he wounded with the ax.


    Using the marked power of the objects, Kyros was able to store the axes directly to his inventory even though they were connected on the tiger''s shoulders.


    The tigers were howling as the darkness surrounding their body couldn''t resist the fire.


    "Painful, right? Even my familiars, which are made of high-quality darkness, were burned by this fire."


    Kyros brought out the Bloodied Sword and aimed for the wound.


    "[Force Pierce]!"


    The Bloodied Sword managed to prate through the wounded carapace of the Dark Fanged Tiger.


    The tiger howled in pain as it felt the sword eat it from the inside.


    The ax appeared once more on his hand, and he gazed at the remaining tigers.


    "The Blood Cmity sure is underestimating me. It''s good that Destiny lost that round. Now he''ll surely lose this piece." Kyros smiled as he attacked the tigers, who also pounced towards him.


    Back in the Nephilim Sealing Mountain, the lizardmen captains were retreating. It was a massacre on their side. The Char Vermillion Lizards, which they sent to attack Aron was all massacred.


    Soon, it was the Man-Gators and the Lizardmen who began to fight Aron. But even then, Aron had bested them to the point that the Lizard Captains had to block Aron.


    The Lizard Captains stalled until the Lizard mages and the more powerful squadrons arrived.


    "Report." One Lizard Champion asked.


    "The Golems made another attack. We had to investigate and found that humans are helping them."


    "Humans? So that''s why they began to move out of their city! This must be because of those damned humans! Those Golems wouldn''t even lift a finger to kill one of our Captains before!" The lizard champion turned and observed the battlefield.


    "The Golems did all this?" The champion asked in confusion. The dead bodies that were all over the battlefield did not have even one golem or human body.


    "No, lord Champion... It was that man." The lizard captain pointed towards the spot where Aron was now seated in a crossed-legged position.


    "A single man killed all of those lizards and man-gators?" The Lizard champion was shocked.


    He took a more curious nce at Aron and frowned. The fluctuation of force Energy was rather in.


    "s he a Champion level?" He finally asked.


    "No. He''s definitely a Captain! But... his powers are Champion level. Even those captains that have reached level 30 and are awaiting Evolution died at his hands!" The Lizard Captain replied.


    The Lizard Champion harnessed his force energy to sense Aron, but suddenly, a strange power shielded him.


    Branze had noticed it and appeared in front of Aron.


    "Hmp... So there was another one. That other man ought to behave the power to fight Champions. They must be exceptional humans from greaternds. Our lizard captains, especially those level 30 who only needed more food to evolve, should have easily suppressed men. But these two freaks must be of an exceptional kingdom. The Golems have a troublesome ally. We may need to wipe out their forces and initiate the war earlier. If all these lizards died without a single golem expending their life energy, then we would soon be finished!" The Champion suddenly howled a strange cry that resounded all over the cave.


    Branze stood in front of Aron and used his force energy to repel the sound so it would not disturb Aron.


    "What''s he saying?" Branze asked Stoph.


    "He''s calling for more allies. He''s calling for war." Stoph had a serious expression on his face.


    "And we''ll give it to him. It was only a matter of time that they would organize an army to attack us. We have to defeat this entire army so they would send a stronger force."


    "Defeat an army?!" Stoph was stunned.


    "Yes. It''s all part of the n. My father has alreadypleted his negotiations and is on his way here as we speak. The army that will being will beposed of several human champions. Aren''t they the best group to help us restore your diminishing life energy?" Branze asked.


    "..." Stoph remained silent as he gazed at the strange knight.


    "You have no... qualms of sacrificing your own race?"


    "Unlike you golems, most races live to betray and abuse one another. It''s not that of a big deal. We are fighting a mysterious enemy. Our goal isn''t just your survival but the revival of that creature known as the Gigantes. And so, we have to take of this force and capture more lizards to understand more of their world and ranking. What is the situation beyond the city? These Lizards ought to know."


    Stoph pondered and finally nodded his head. It had been too long since they sent a full force to scout the area. Apart from the rogue creatures they find appearing out of the empty ce, they knew nothing of the world beyond the city.


    "Have you seen creatures as strong as that one before?" Branze pointed to the lizard champion.


    "A few in our crusades of long ago. The orcs had some warriors as strong as that."


    "Then think about it. They sent one here. In short, their supply of this is much moremon."


    "Wouldn''t that be logical?"


    "No. Considering they understand how you live. They know you won''t attack. So that Champion must be the only Champion assigned in this area. We kill that. We force the lizards to send more. And that''s when my human friends will arrive."


    "I understand. I shall make haste and request more golem from my king."


    "Hm... No. We won''t need it. The passage of this tunnel is quite small. As long as we can reach the front lines of the lizard, we should win." Branze smiled as he nced at his brother.


    "What power have you awakened, brother? It''s even causing my blood to boil..." Branze wondered.

 Chapter 139 - Understanding Hyperion鈥檚 Code

    Aron was immersed in a strange world.


    A strange figure stood before a gigantic object. The object hovered alone in space, and this figure was even smaller than the smallest speck whenpared to this gigantic object.??


    Aron perceived that the object was a. But it was strange. It was as if stars,s, various Yggrassils, other worlds divided into realms, and all forms of heavenly and unheavenly bodies werepressed into onerge object.


    The figure stood and raised his arm.


    "Let there be Sword force." The man dered.


    All of a sudden, strange energy formed in his hands, and it became a sword.


    "Let the concept of Cut be created. Let all of creation be disconnected from each other. Let that which is one be many and let life form separately." The man spoke and swung his sword.


    As the sword was shed, the entire universe trembled.


    The massive object exploded, and many more powerful and strange gigantic beings emerged, and each began to use their powers to shape the universe further.


    It was only then that Aron realized that the man who stood over the massive object was not so small but was asrge as an entire Yggdrasil!


    The giant figured gazed as looking directly to Aron.


    "I am Hyperion Steel. The First One Severed. Arise, my descendant. Arise and fight! For the Battle against End draws near!"


    Aron marveled at what he saw and found himself suddenly seated on the ground.


    "What...? Where am I?"


    "You are in the middle of a sh between a golem squad and a lizard army. What happened? You fell into some sort of trance." Branze asked.


    "I... don''t remember." Aron frowned. He knew he saw something amazing and that his body was still trembling. But apart from flickering visions, he could not remember the details of what he saw.


    Aron turned to the front and gazed towards the front and could now see it clearly.


    Stoph releasing a bright light through his ming powers somehow caused the winding tunnel to reveal the creatures on the other end.


    "Wow. There are now so many of them! Even Stoph''s little light can''t see through the end of their toon."


    "It''s not a toon. It''s a small army." Branze corrected.


    "A small army?"


    "Probably some three to four hundred men. May I remind you that this is the first major skirmish between the Golems and the Lizards since the Golems''st crusade? So these lizards have brought a lot."


    "And I thought those two hundred lizard tribe we attacked was plenty."


    "Can you fight them?"


    "I think... I''ve learned something." Aron stood up and held his sword. For some strange reason, there was an odd familiarity in it.


    "Sword Force..." Aron whispered as he somehow recalled a certain term that he heard in the jumbled up and strange vision that he saw.


    "We need to kill an army of lizardmen and their lizard horde with about seventy golems. I can bring us to the front line, but can you break the front line? They have a Lizard Champion now. It looks like these creatures also can do a ss up." Branze asked.


    Aron was still in a daze.


    "They have a champion?" He finally asked.


    "Masters. The process is called Evolution. These monsters grow into a stronger form when they reach certain forms of power. Reaching level thirty is the bare minimum requirement. It seems their race has some form of devices that can cause them to transform their bodies." Stoph exined.


    "Evolution, huh? That''s new."


    "You are unaware of Evolutions?"


    "No. The kingdom and the world we fight in above are too inexperienced. We only have dwarven allies, vampires, and orcs. But only a few of these Demi-tribes or demi-human races." Branze sighed.


    "You sure you can defend against their attacks, Brother? They have mages now." Aron asked.


    "You''re not the only one who improved, brother." Branze sneered.


    "Fine. Get me to the front line, and I''ll break it."


    "Good! Stoph, charge right in but maintain more than fifty steps from my location. I will draw the attention of the mages and the arches of those lizards. Brother, I leave the Champion and the Captains to you. I will need time to recover from my force and magic expenditure." Branze exined the n.


    "What? Masters, you will charge ahead?" Stoph was amazed at what he heard.


    "Rx. Our advantage is that we are fighting in a cave. As long as you can keep on releasing that light through your ruby, we should be sessful. It isn''t too much to ask, is it?" Branze asked.


    "I will only need two or three lizards to consume to restore the light I release."


    "Good. We''re going to pull that trick Kyros did. For now, cancel your light." Branze ordered.


    "But masters... We''ve seen that in ourst battle that the lizards had already adopted to that! The light won''t blind them anymore!"


    "It''s not your light that will blind them, Stoph. Just cancel your light now."


    Stoph nodded, and the red light that was used as a source of light for Aron''s fight disappeared.


    "It''s that trick again! Fools! That trick won''t work anymore!" The Lizard captain cursed and ordered to attack.


    But then, a faint bright light appeared. The light took the form of a man.


    "Do keep up, brother," Branze called out as he began to harness the energy and surround him with a faint white light.


    A strange force of such purity appeared in the depths of the dark-infested world of the Nephilim Sealing Mountain, and all the lizards felt it.


    "What is that?" One of the lizard captains eximed.


    "Holy!" The lizard champion was amazed.


    Many lizardmen lived in the mountain and have only heard of this element from the older lizards who passed away.


    "That force... I can feel it! My own body hates it!" The lizard captain felt the strange stinging sensation.


    The Nephilim Sealing Mountain was a ce for dark-dependent beings. As such, the appearance of Holy was startling to them.


    "Kill him! Archers! Mages! Kill that man!" The Lizard Champion ordered.


    "[Pdin''s Charge]!" Branze shouted as powerful Holy energy erupted around him, and he began to dash with extreme speed.


    Aron smiled and chased after his brother.


    The archers and mages began their attacks.


    Various magic powers and arrows were fired. Some of the arrows even had force energy!


    "Let me show you the light!" Branze released the powerful holy light that he had harnessed from the Temple.


    The powerful Holy light blinded the lizards and allowed Branze to evade the iing attacks as he dashed to the sides.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The magic attacks missed Branze and struck the ground nearby.


    At that time, Stoph also made his team charge.


    The golems ran with incredible speed as Branze was more than fifty steps away from him.


    "Golems! Do as Branze instructed earlier!" Stoph reminded as they charged.


    The more experienced members of the army managed to shoot and resist the painful bright lights.


    But when their attacks reached Branze, a powerful bright ethereal shield appeared and blocked the ranged attacks.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The shield resisted most attacks, and even the arrows could not break it.


    "It''s all yours, brother!" Branze shouted as the shield grew smaller and smaller.


    "My pleasure." Aron smiled, and he brandished his sword.


    The power he used was that of a quick de, but the manner in which his force energy was circting the body was different.


    Aron could see the Lizard Champion reacting and breaking ranks to sh with him.


    And while Aron was still a few meters away, he shed out.


    The act seemed rather stupid in the eyes of Branze, who had lived most of his life within the Londs.


    But with a strange form of intuition, Aron somehow knew that this would work. And so, Aron managed to perform an attack that Kyros only mastered after acquiring the Celestial Code.


    "[Force sh]!"

 Chapter 140 - Understanding Hyperion鈥檚 Code Again

    The sh that Aron made created a powerful cutting force. But the sword itself was not imbued with in Force Energy. Aron had released something else.


    The Lizard Champion sensed it immediately. On the that he lived in, he heard tales of this marvelous power and feared it.??


    "Captains! Dodge it!" The Champion roared as he harnessed all the Beastial Energy that his Evolution provided.


    The captains were confused at his sudden exmation.


    SLICE!


    The powerful energy that the sh of Aron threw finally reached them.


    The Champion has blocked the energy with a sh full of his Beastial Energy.


    BOOM!


    The Champion stood his ground, but the size of the slice was too wide for him to block.


    "AAAHHHH!" One of the captains near the Champion screamed. Standing near the Lizard Champion protected him from one part of the slice, but the area which the Lizard Champion could not cover was cut in half.


    The lizardman felt his arm drop and could see a deep cut from his ribs and reached deep towards the lizardman''s heart.


    The Champion could not even turn around to observe the rest of the lizards as his eyes kept locked on the


    Apart from those near the Champion, the first two rows of lizards were struck with a terrifying shing force.


    Only a few of the Captains managed to heed the Champion''s warning and evaded at the right time.


    The blood of many lizardmen spilled forth on the floor, and no cries of pain were heard from them, for they already died.


    The lizardmen at the back also shouted as they felt a painful sensation that hacked onto them.


    Aron smiled and drew his sword, and charged towards the Champion.


    "Pretty strong of you to resist my attacks!" Aronughed.


    "Deal with the other warrior! I''ll handle this!" The Championmanded as he broke rank to attack Aron.


    The swords of the two shed and created another powerful shockwave.


    Aron was thrown back at the sh. The Beastial Energy of the Lizard overpowered him.


    "Sword Expert! Why do you aid the Golems?" The Lizard Champion spoke in human tongue.


    "Oh? You can speak ournguage? This is even better! Hey brother, this one can speak human!" Aronughed as he dove forward to attack.


    The Lizard raced forward, and the two fought.


    As Aron fought with the Lizard Champion, Branze continued his charge and was immersed in his concentration. He couldn''t even hear Aron''s shout as he held his shied up during his charge. However, his concentration was on his other hand. Force energy was covering the sword of Branze.


    "That was a different Force Energy altogether. The very nature of it..." Branze closed his eyes, and his charge rampaged onwards.


    All of the first rows allowed Branze to dive deep as even the surviving Captains had to evade the flickering lights of the shield. It was as if arge wall was racing towards them.


    "Form ranks! Block his charge!" One of the surviving Captains ordered.


    Several Man-Gators moved to block the attack.


    But as Branze approached, the lights vanished, and his sword grew bright.


    "[Holy Cross]!" Branze stabbed the sword on the ground.


    BOOM!


    An eruption of Holy energy exploded out and sent many on the front lines flying. Even therge Man-gators crashed on the stctites above as the explosion hurled him so high up.


    "Not good enough!" Branze cursed. Comparing the harnessing of energy to what his brother disyed, Branze felt it was a bit dull.


    "How do I sharpen my Force Energy?" Branze pondered.


    The lizards around Branze were recovering and felt the painful sting of the Holy energy that attacked them. Many died from the attack. The mages and archers at the back also were in disarray. Most of those at the front were dead. Their defenses could not resist the explosive Holy energy.


    Several angry roars were heard, and the lizards charged and attacked the lone Pdin.


    But Branze didn''t move. Hew even closed his eyes and kept channeling the bright Holy energy meditating on how he used the attack.


    The three surviving Lizard captains angrily charged at Branze.


    But even then, Branze kept on concentrating. This was because he was alone anymore.


    SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!


    The Golems arrived. The bright light of Branze''s Holy light had blinded the Dark dependent lizards. And since Golems don''t have sight simr to humans or the nocturnal eyes of lizards, they saw past the holy energy and weren''t blinded by it but managed to attack the lizards.


    Iron Golems and Rock golems led the way. Unfortunately, their fist punched through the faces of the lizards and may be instantly killed.


    Stoph took center stage and attacked. He could see that Branze was in a deep state of meditation and ordered the Golems not to disturb.


    "Cornerstone''s family has done so much! Let''s not waste this!" Stoph ordered as the golems, and the other knights of the Steele family began their attack.


    The golems and knights avoided the battle in the center.


    The Lizard Champion saw how the frontlines copsed and raged. But Aron kept putting pressure and attacking him that he could not afford to run back.


    The golems plowed through the armies that Branze could be seen standing from the Lizard Champion''s perspective. This was also one of the reasons why the Lizard Champion hesitated to attack. He knew that fighting the Pdin and the Sword Expert would be his demise.


    The tactics the golems followed began to work. After a few fights, the golems got the flow of their battle. Man-Gators we used as shields and used as human hammers that smashed on the lines that were forming at the front. Stoph was also moving and was more generous in using his attacks. He knew that he would recover more after this battle.


    "Oh, my gods... I know that look. Don''t tell me he''s trying to understand how I dd that?" Aron frowned as he saw his brothers state.


    Branze was immersed in his mind as he experimented and tried to create that energy that he witnessed. He kept recalling how his brother did it and tried various theories to do that.


    On the various theories that Branze pondered upon, he finally saw it.


    He saw himself standing in the vast emptiness of space. The vision that Aron just saw appeared before him.


    A strange figure stood before a gigantic object. The object hovered alone in space, and this figure was even smaller than the smallest speckpared to this gigantic object. But unlike Aron''s vision, the figure had a very confused, frustrated, and even annoyed expression.


    Branze looked at the dust and was amazed.


    "That''s...! Is that a?!"


    Unlike Aron, Branze had some sense of responsibility for the vision he saw.


    The figure stood and raised his arm.


    "Let there be Sword force." The man dered as he looked in Branze''s direction.


    "Seriously though... That other guy just came here. And it hasn''t been what? Twenty minutes since he saw this?"


    All of a sudden, strange energy formed in his hands, and it became a sword.


    "Let the concept of Cut be created. Let all of creation be disconnected from each other. Let that which is one be many and let life form separately." The man spoke and swung his sword.


    "I mean... I''ve had seven Greater Gods as sons and daughters. And none of them got this. What''s going on? Who are you?" Hyperionined.


    As the sword was shed, the entire universe trembled.


    The massive object exploded, and many more powerful and strange gigantic beings emerged, and each began to use their powers to shape the universe further.


    It was only then that Branze realized that the man who stood over the massive object was not so small but was asrge as an entire Yggdrasil!


    The giant figured gazed as looking directly to Branze.


    "I am Hyperion Steel. The First One Severed. Arise, my descendant. Arise and fight! For the Battle against End draws near! But why did you arise so quickly? I get that the first guy must have been a genius, but who are you, and how did you get here so fast? Have you been training together or something? But you don''t even have the aura of a Sword Expert around you! You''re a Shield Expert, for crying out loud! Anyway, arise. Whatever. There''s still one more of my descendants, right? I do hope he will arise, but tell him to take his time. Maybe go on a vacation or something. I hear fishing is good in the northern Lond shores."


    Branze marveled at what he saw and found himself standing up in the same ce he was.


    "So that''s it!" Branze smiled as he shed out his sword.


    "[Force sh]!" Aron was shocked at what he saw. Branze just did what he had done. It was weaker and had very little force, but Branze clearly grasped the concept of what he did.


    "Seriously? He just saw my attack for the first time?!" Aron suddenly cursed as he saw what his brother was doing.


    "Another Sword Expert?!" The Lizard Champion eximed in shock.


    "What''s a Sword Expert?" Aron asked the Lizard.


    "... You don''t know what a Sword Expert is?"


    "No. I know what Sword and Expert means, but I''m sure you were using Sword Expert as a proper noun."


    "What''s a noun?" The Lizard Champion asked. While he was learned how to speak in the human tongue, his knowledge was only basic, and he hadn''t heard of the word ''noun'' and therefore felt fear when he heard of the Titled Noun, called ''Proper Noun''.


    "... This conversation might take a while. Erm... Listen, your army is being massacred, why not surrender?"


    "Surrender?" The lizard champion grew angry.


    "You think that I, a Lizard Champion, would surrender because of two Sword Experts? You make meugh!" The Lizard Champion roared.


    "What''s going on? Why did I feel a sense of Divinity here? And I felt it twice!" Petra arrived and asked.


    The two knights and the Lizard Champion watched as the Golem King, who now had a new core on his side, arrived. He had a new core on his right shoulder. It was the core that Kyros acquired from killing the Orc magi he had killed in the town he attacked. The core was brought to the Temple and given to Petra to boosts his power. The hot energy continued to meld with Petra''s body and released the level ny Petra''s full force and energy.


    "So, about that surrender... Do you provide food to your prisoners of war?" The Lizard Champion began.


    "And what is this so-called ''proper noun''?"

 Chapter 141 - An Ephiphany

    The battle between Kyros and the Dark Fanged Tigers continued.


    With the ax of Balefire, Kyros managed to kill two of the eight tigers.??


    The ax would create a wound and corrode the dark carapace that covered these tigers, and Kyros would drive the Bloodied sword inside to kill him.


    The Blood Golems managed to kill one of the dizzy tigers who smashed their heads on the boulder Kyros summoned before sumbing to the attacks of the rest.


    He had kept evading the reckless and angry charges of the group. The fast movements coupled with caution made it difficult for Kyros to attack. He had focused on using his chains to evade the aerial attacks of each tiger.


    Kyros could no longer make any surprise attacks with the skills he has revealed and refused to reveal more abilities.


    "Why not?" Cminus kept asking.


    "I need to maximize all my abilities! I don''t have to show the Blood Cmity everything! Even if it''s Taunt or Oration, I have to time it all and preserve them all! Much more my stronger attacks. I could one-hit these guys with my various strength-increasing techniques, but I''d rather save them forter."


    "Well, how do you n to kill these guys?"


    "Hmmm... Let me think." Kyros sighed as he used the chains to throw him high on the threes to which the tigers began to race up higher and jumping from one tree to the next and kept on trying to maw Kyros as they zipped through and back.


    Kyros could not even wield his ax as he was busy manipting the chains to avoid the great maw attacks.


    "I can''t even attack them!" Kyros cursed.


    "Too bad you don''t have the Kyros Tingle. If you had some, you could easily escape their attacks. When will you reach the Path of Combat like your uncle to get that ability?"


    "Kyros Tingle?"


    "I''m changing the name to avoid copyright. That should have been obvious. In any case, you could try flying up in the air and hit those tigers on the nape to kill them. I mean, right now, you''re just like Mikasa or Levi. On the other hand, if you have a red cape and you could be Spawn. I mean, you are already a fallen. You got the chain thing going on, too."


    "Very nice, Cminus. Avoid one copyright and make two others." Kyros shook his head.


    "One could sue us. The others don''t really mind. Rx."


    "Whatever. In any case, I need to get more Blood Golems. I wonder if the sword I stuck in that other Tiger has done absorbing?"


    Kyros focused on evading and hoped that the Dark Fanged Tigers would not notice that while he had in two of the Dark Fanged Tigers, the Bloodied Sword had actually drilled itself inside the body and was greedily absorbing the blood of the first tiger. After fully draining the blood, Kyros began to evade to get closer to the first and withdrew the sword through his Inventory. Then, he began to move and stabbed the sword deep inside another in an inconspicuous manner as if he was just evading and using the second dead tiger as a means to hinder their charges.


    Kyros kept evading and used the same method to stab the sword in thest tiger that the Blood Golems managed to kill.


    Kyros could sense it. The Sword and the Cloak were on the verge of leveling up.


    "Is it finally leveling up? It''s quite surprising that our two weapons didn''t level up on thest enemy."


    "Because the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges has merged with my Blood de, it was natural for it to require that both should level up for the sword to level up. But since none of my items leveled up on our previous battle, it seems that the sword and the cloak are linked now. Therefore, I need to level up all three items."


    "Oh? Then the future weapons that have the Heart of the Fallen will make leveling up your equipment much harder!"


    As the sword began to devour the blood of the dead tiger killed by the Blood Golems, Kyros received the notifications.


    ---


    Bloodied Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges (Lvl. 3->4)


    Attack: 28-> 31


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy and Blood


    Shadow Ghoul Familiar (7->8) / Blood Golem (2)


    Soul Trapper


    Dark Trapper


    Blood de


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    Cloak of Darkness (Lvl. 3->4)


    Defense: 60-> 62


    Durability: 30


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy.


    Dark Resistance: +33->+35


    Dark cloak -> Dark Shroud


    Shadow Familiar (3)


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    Golem: Form of the Tiger skill acquired.


    ---


    Kyros was amazed at thest notification and immediately tested it out. He had just drained and stored the blood and soul of the two tigers, and seeing the notification, Kyros was curious as to what the effects were.


    The Blood Golem emerged from his sword, and it took the same form as the Dark Fang Tiger.


    "Woah. It looks like this level up along with soul trapper allows you to create blood forms of the souls you store."


    "Not all. I guess only those with a more potent bloodline. Let''s test this Blood Tiger Golem." Kyros sent orders, and the two golems suddenly charged and leaped out. The wary tigers charged back and jumped as if it was insulted at the form that these golems had. Two tigers leaped and roared loudly as they readied its deadly maw.


    SMASH!


    The two pounced at each other, and while the Blood Tiger Golem''s pounce was not as fast as the Dark Fang Tiger, the power and durability of the Blood Tiger Golem were quite strong. The maw of the tiger could not prate through the head of the Blood Tiger Golem, and it resulted in the two tigers being smacked back from the impact.


    The Blood Golems were roughly the same durability as Soil Golems. But the surprising power and attack of these Blood Golems were simr to that of a y Golem.


    "The power of the golems attack two times stronger in that pounce!" Kyros was stunned.


    "Instead of having the force of a punch with the thickness and strength of a Golem arm, these tiger golems used their entire body weight in that attack. So it has more power! Though they might end up breaking their body if the target is harder, that form is still useful!"


    "Right! And now, I have amount!" Kyrosughed as he jumped on one of the Tigers.


    Kyros harnessed the energy of blood in his sword.


    "I want more speed and less power." Kyros closed his eyes, and the Bloodied Sword began to morph the particr tiger that Kyros was riding on and made him a more slender Tiger.


    Kyros suddenly began to swing the Blood Sword to shift the amount of blood that made up the Golem Tiger. The blood reformed, and instead of a Dark Fanged Tiger, the result was a rather slimmer tiger with bulkier paws. The seat also reformed, and Kyros got afortable seat.


    The blood on the tiger''s head also got thicker, as if it was wearing a helmet.


    "By the Power of Grey-! Damn it! I got carried away." Kyros cursed as he refocused his powers and stopped the unnecessary urge to transform and use his powers to bring out light to make the effects he desired.


    "... You couldn''t help it could you?"


    "Yeah..." Kyros sighed.


    "Understandable." Cminusughed.


    Kyros ordered the Tiger to charge. With the darkness and blood in his control, Kyros was able to properly mount the beast and charge off towards the Dark Fanged Tiger.


    Although Kyros had great speed with his chains, he could not make fast charging movements, and his movements usually required him to be above the air.


    The force of the Blood Golem was put to used and created tremendous velocity. In fact, these movements exceeded the speed that Kyros could make with his two feet.


    With the chains free to use for offense and not to escape, Kyros finally began to attack as he navigated the Blood Tiger Golem to leap and move.


    Kyros spun the chains with the a and smashed it on one of the tigers.


    "ROAR!" The tiger was struck head-on. The sword dug on its face, and it began to drop from the height of its pounce.


    "On the other hand, that chain, fire, and ax thing makes you look like the God of War, Kra-"


    MEANWHILE!!! Inside the Nephilim Sealing Mountain...


    The enclosed path of the tunneling caves proved to be a disadvantage for the retreating lizards.


    At the fall of the front lines, the Golems did little fighting, with Stoph leading the way. The Lizardmen were without a Champion or Captains. And the Golems still had Iron Golems and Rock Golems. The lizards were also unacquainted with the new fighting strategy of the Golems.


    The Iron and Rock Golems would be as strong as Lizard Captains. But due to the need to preserve their energy, these Golems would rarely fight with excessive movements.


    But now they did.


    And so, the unrestrained use of power allowed the golems to plow through the front line.


    The lizard mages near the front could not channel any more magic. The Holy Cross of Branze created a holy field that made it difficult for these dark dependent cultivators to channel power.


    Seeing the sure destruction of his army, the Lizard Champion could only sigh. He gazed at the Golem King and wondered what future life he had. But what was insulting was that the Golem King was ignoring him.


    "Master Aron! What happened? It''s faint, but you have a trace of divinity!"


    Aron, however, was looking at his brother. His brother wasughing andughing.


    "Is that... an epiphany?" Aron realized what Branze was going through. On the several instances that Branze had this, the strength of their family grew leaps and bounds. It was because of this that Mezal had reached the strength of a Champion. Because of this, Aron could also use his Force energy to imitate the Pdin''s attack despite being under level 30.


    Branze was able to reduce the Force consumption of all Force Pdin attacks by nearly forty percent, making it something economical for Aron to use.


    The epiphanies of Branze were so important to the family that even the knights that followed Branze had a protocol to follow whenever this happens.


    The fighting knights of Branze heard theughter.


    "Knights! Master Branze is in a trance! Hurry!" On of the knight jolted back and ran towards Branze. He took from his backpack a strange wooden object.


    Two more knights did the same.


    They ran with great haste and ced in front of the insane Branze. The first knight ced a folded chair, and the two other knightsbined their two pieces to form a table.


    Branze sat down just in time for the table and chair to be ced. Branze began to write and write.


    "What''s going on?" Petra asked.


    "The Rise of the Steele Family. That''s what." Aron smiled.

 Chapter 142 - An Exciting Future

    Branze was obsessed. He kept muttering strange things and continued to write and write.


    The Lizard Champion was confused at the sudden strangeness. But the more Branze more, the more powerful the sense of Divinity was.??


    "This...! Ancient God Hyperion Steel''s divinity!" Petra was startled and shocked. He turned towards Aron and could not help but step back.


    Aron had not heard what Petra mumbled and was just looking at Branze.


    The knights who served Branze were panicking.


    They were caught off guard at the precise moment that Branze found his epiphany. This was in the middle of a war! But their priorities were set.


    "We don''t have hot water!"


    "Where is Stoph?! We can''t heat up anything!"


    "Wait! Look! The Golem King! Doesn''t he have a fire core now?"


    "Right!" The knight brought out the water he had and ced it in a metal cup.


    The knight sprinted towards the Golem King.


    "Golem King Petra, can you heat this metal cup, please? Just hot enough for it to boil?" A knight respectfully asked.


    Petra was confused but did so. With a touch of his finger into the water, the terrifying heat was transferred and turned the water hot.


    The knight quickly poured in the beans into the cup. The rich aroma of coffee filled the area.


    Another knight had brought out arge extendable wooded fan and kept fanning Branze.


    Sweat began to fall down as the insae Branzeughed andughed. He kept writing and even reached out for the cup that was ced right on time for Branze to drink.


    He drank the cup and went back to writing. All his actions were done without even looking around. Branze fell into the zone of great writing and felt that the things around him had changed.


    "Is he alright?" The Lizard Champion asked.


    "Yeah. That''s pretty normal. He falls into a strange state that he somehow thinks he''s back in his study. The few times he got into this state, he was at our home. But there was a time he had an inspiration right in the middle of traveling that he broke out of his trance because there were no tables, chairs, and coffee. My dad coughed up blood that day. And that event happened two more times before we arranged this."


    "So that''s why those knights carry such items." Petra marveled.


    "Yeah. What''s also annoying is that when he thinks and immerses himself in that trance, his body is actually exerting a lot of effort. It''s a strange form of training that I don''t understand. But basically, if he undergoes this mode, it''s equal to me training for three days nonstop. He always grows stronger after that." Aron exined.


    "Weird. Too weird!" The Lizard Captain thought as he heard Aron answer. But he could see the Force Energy erupting.


    "Master Aron. What exactly is that? The Divinity Power of Hyperion Steel is leaking out. The Gigantes core is even rejoicing at sensing it!"


    "Divinity Power? Isn''t that the power we call that the Blessings of Totems and Idols do?"


    "Masters are unaware of Divinity Power? Cornerstone seemed to have known that."


    "We never got the time to talk. Besides, there was no point in talking about it. I guess now is a good time to learn. Could you exin it to us?"


    "Masters... I am but a Golem. I do not know orprehend how most cultivators use Divinity Powers. We, Golems, have a set Path and a single Code to pursue. Of course, our bodies are naturally entuned to that, which makes it easier, but it also limits our potential."


    "...What?" Aron frowned.


    "We have a set direction in our cultivation. We are unlike most creatures that can tread on different paths to pursue a Code. We can only grow and acquire the powers ording to the Divinity granted to the Gigantes and to us."


    "Ugh. I don''t understand anything that you say. It''s best that I keep quiet for now, and you talk with my brother. He''s the smart one." Aron brushed off the discussion as it gave him allergies.


    "I lost to creatures who are even unaware of Divinity Power?!" The Lizard champion cursed at the side. He spoke in Serpentari, so only Petra understood.


    "Oh? It seems this Lizard Champion is more learned of it."


    "Really now? Then that''s great. He can educate my brother and me about this whole Divinity Power." Aronughed.


    The Lizard Champion was weeping. He was so annoyed at how unfair life was. He did not show any signs, but what he heard startled him. The Divinity Power of Hyperion Steel was the power of legends!


    If the Golem King sensed specific traces of it, the Lizard Champion who perceived that the Golem King was a level ny being would not have any reason to lie.


    At that point, the Lizard Champion knew that he had to y his cards right. The human pair didn''t seem so cruel. He knew that his armies would only be used as food for the Golem City. But could they afford to kill a Champion easily?


    "I must ally with these people!" The Lizard Champion plotted.


    "I found it! I finally found it! The path to bing a Commander is open! The path to bing a Commander is open for the Steele Family! Finally, we can be Dukes!"


    "Commander?!" Aron was excited as he heard it. He had expected that he would have the power to challenge any level 30 Champions by his own understanding. But now...


    "Could it be that the strength of level 40 Commanders are finally within reach? Then, we would be a step closer to our goal! The Steele Family has an exciting future from now on!" Aron cheered.


    Branze finallypleted his masterpiece.


    He looked at the notebook and smiled before copsing.


    "Get him back to the Temple! Who knows what he learned!" Aron immediately ordered.


    "Father... I must tell father!" Branze was so weak, but he forced himself to pick up the Message Talisman.


    His epiphany had just been written. At that point, he was wielding the highest point of understanding regarding the power that he found. And with it, he sent the organized message, which was now written on the notebook as a worded message to his father. This was too precious to dy!


    Branze focused all the remaining strength he had to send a clear message and finally fell asleep.


    Mezal was near the town where the cave leading to the Nephilim Sealing Mountain was.


    He was seated alone in a carriage that was provided for him.


    Mezal kept gazing at the scenes of the mountain and noticed that only dwarves remained as most humans had fled back to the core towns due to the many vampire sightings.


    These dwarves were ves who were forced to keep working as long as they could before they died.


    Mezal looked around and could not help but sigh. He had a great debt to dwarves, and this sight pained him.


    Suddenly, he felt a strange vibration from his message talisman.


    "This message seems rather long for it to create quite a reaction." Mezal frowned.


    "What''s so urgent that he would nearly deplete the energy in the message talisman when I am so near?" Mezal wondered as he listened to the message.


    "Wha... what?! Commander?!" Mezal was shocked to hear Branze''s introduction.

 Chapter 143 - An Exhausted Hyperion

    Mezal was shocked as he continued to listen to words that Branze began to exin.


    "Our true power has been limited."


    That was the first exnation that Branze told Mezal.


    "We believed that the Blessings that we have all tried to acquire from those Idols and Totems granted us new power. But Aron has proven that it wasn''t that these blessings added or gave us newer powers, but it unsealed whatever powers we could have achieved! The Path of Combat is something that helps us release these seals and gain the powers that have been hidden from us! In short, Fate Challenger is the key to cultivating godhood! This entire nes World might have been in some form of a seal. I have long noticed and pondered why each Blessing allowed one to use and move their Force energy in a way that is not possible before. But now I get it! The reality is, with Fate Challenger, we can achieve any job without getting those blessings! But father, this is only very specific to our family! The others can''t do this! I have confirmed it!"


    Mezal was amazed at the deduction. Was he, a Fate Challenger, unsealed from his true limits? The truth was, he had heard of this concept of mortals being sealed from his shaman father-inw. He knew that the powerful gods and fallen had set this seal because there were simply too many mortals ascending. And since the mortals had no allegiance, whether, for Gods or Fallen, they slowly became a growing faction which formed a third party. And this drew the ire of the gods and fallen from long ago and attacked and killed all gods.


    "But why are we unsealed?" Mezal pondered.


    "Father-inw said that the gods have set that so that those who rise and be gods or fallen will be aligned to one party and the other. The entire universe is shaped by thebined efforts of all the gods and fallen to limit all of the mortals. But why did my son conclude that this doe not apply to my family." Mezal was so confused that he had paused the message of Branze. And so, Mezal began to rey the message.


    "The proof of this is to try to move your Force Energy in a way that is not that of a Pdin. Father, you are more experienced than Aron and me. Ourbined experiences pale inparison to yours. You have seen how mages, warriors, and hybrid cultivators fight. Attempt to follow it. You can do it!"


    Mezal was amazed. He stopped and closed his eyes, and tried to harness the force energy. His many fights against the various captains and even the champions came to his recollection. There were even Champions within Airom Logat that he had fought with through another identity in his years of running away.


    "I will definitely fight them again. I need to be stronger." So Mezal thought and kept harnessing the power.


    The Force energy kept moving, and Mezal began to assume the form of various jobs within the Knight and the Swordsman sses.


    Ravager. Quick de. Blitzer. Defender Knight. Fighter Knight.


    "So it is possible! It''s very ufortable. I thought that this was inefficient and that these Force movements are the limitations that were set. So it seems that I just needed to train in it!"


    Mezal had believed the words of his father-inw and didn''t bother to train in the Force to imitate other job sses. And the world around him also did this. But the realization that he can do anything made him realize that it was ufortable because he hadn''t trained in this. It also dawned on him that he has never seen another knight attempt to harness the force energy like an archer,ncer, or other jobs. But Mezal could do this!


    The Force energy began to move and reinforce Mezal in a way that it and followed other sses.


    The jobs of the archers appeared.


    True Aim. Quick Bow. Master Archer. Ninja.


    "It''s true! I can do it! I can move the Force energy like theirs. Although it''s weak and very messy, I just need to train in it! But why? Why are we different?" Mezal pondered. Whenever he would study the findings of his son, he goes through this process of testing it to see if it is true.


    Mezal had confirmed Branze''s deduction and continued to listen to the message.


    "We have our own Blessing. I don''t understand it. But our family''s previous madness and arrogance were with reason. In fact, our family may not be as mad as we thought! We had something that others don''t. This could be why our families were targeted. Our family may not have been so evil as we were led to believe. Father, you know the answer to our family''s atrocities. But I believe while we didmit many things, it was not worth the massacres we faced. The strange desire for the remaining families and kingdoms that want our head may not be because of our sins, but because they feared us!" Branze exined.


    Mezal trembled.


    It was true. Branze had dared to say the one thing that Mezal never exined. Yes, his family was cruel. But some of their alleged crimes didn''t make sense! Mezal believed that they were framed for many of it. And Mezal''s heart became lighter.


    "Vindication." Mezal sighed as if the great burdens of guilt and pity were lifted up.


    Mezal wept but continued to y the message.


    "Father. Listen carefully. Try to imagine our force energy and wield it like a sword. Imagine sharpness. Imagine division. Imagine cutting things that cannot be cut. Our sword can do that! The Sword of the Steele can cut anything! Aron has awakened it. I have understood it. You can too, Father! I will now exin the Force Energy that Aron wielded." Branze began to exin what he saw.


    Mezal closed his eyes and followed the steps.


    Mezal was immersed in a strange world.


    A strange figure stood before a gigantic object. The object hovered alone in space, and this figure was even smaller than the tiniest speck whenpared to this gigantic object. Mezal realized that therge object was actually everything in creation! It was all piled up as one.


    Suddenly, the strange figure bolted towards where Mezal was and grew a million times smaller until it took the form as big as Mezal.


    "FRAGMENT! YOU MOTHER FRAGMENT! I TOLD YOU TO TAKE YOUR TIME!" The figure cursed.


    Mezal was stunned at the strange figure that appeared before him. The figure grabbed Mezal by the neck and began to shake Mezal.


    "Do you not know that entering this ce takes a huge toll on my soul? I''m already dead, and you three idiots are killing me! What''s your problem with me?!"


    "I... I don''t even know who you are..." Mezal wept.


    Why was this powerful sovereign cursing at him and shaking him like a magic 8 ball?


    "You don''t know? I am your ancestor! And you, unfilial trio, are really hurting me! My liver hurts! And I don''t even have a liver!" Hyperion raged.


    "Wha-what happened?!"


    "What happened?! You came here not knowing what those two idiots saw?!" Hyperion cursed.


    "N-no. My sons didn''t tell me."


    "Oh, your son didn''t tell you?! Well, my great great great greatest grandsons are killing me! FRAGMENT!" Hyperion cursed in his frustration.


    "Calm down. What''s going on." Mezal tried to appease this creature iming to be his ancestor.


    "I am Ancient Sword God Hyperion Steel. And you three unfilial imbeciles are my three descendants! Through Fate and the other Ancient Gods, we have set this time to happen so as to aid Beginning''s champion. And you three were fated to awaken my powers. But you fragmenting idiots didn''t even give me time to recover! I was hoping for months or years of gaps until another one will awaken my Divinity! But no! You idiots took minutes! MOTHER FRAGMENTING MINUTES!"


    "What do you mean recover?" Mezal asked.


    "Your souls will trigger awakening and cause my departed soul to react and allow you to see this vision. But a single vision causes me to expend great soul energy. And again, I cannot emphasize this enough. I am already dead! Despite me being dead, I have to suffer you three!"


    "Ca-can''t you expend a little less energy now? My-my sons have seen this vision, right? They can tell me?"


    "CaN''t YoU eXpEnd A lItTle LeSs EnErGy? Are you an idiot? This isn''t something that can be taught!" Hyperion howled.


    "This is my Code! You need to experience it! And look! See that object! That is all of creation! With Sword Force, I managed to create the concept and truth of cutting. That is why I am called the First One Severed! Do you know how much energy it takes to cut all of creation and divide it?!" Hyperion shouted.


    "... Can''t you just like... get a small rock and cut it? Does it have to be all of creation?" Mezal asked.


    "YOU STUPID...!" Hyperion shouted.


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "Son of a Fallen! That could actually work!" Hyperion Steel realized it.


    "I mean... as you said, your sons saw it. You need to experience it. I designed this grand vision so you could fully understand it. But since your freaky sons and you yourself took minutes to grasps this concept, it should work. You do have my bloodline. So you don''t need to experience the full power of this." Hyperion realized it and waved his hand.


    The entire vision of Mezal changed.


    The two were standing in the vast empty region of space, and Hyperion brought out three strange boulders that oddly looked like Mezal, Aron, and Branze.


    Scribbled all over these stones were various curses and phrases like ''DIE! DIE! DIE!''


    "Umm... Ancient God... Wha-why-"


    "Is there a problem?" Hyperion red.


    "N-no, sir. God, sir. Magnificent one, sir." Mezal bowed.


    "Let''s get this over with. Let the concept of Cut be created. Yada yada yada." Hyperion quickly swung his sword.


    The three statues exploded.


    "I am Hyperion Steel. The First One Severed. Arise, my descendant. Arise and fight! For the Battle against End draws near! Now get out of here, you idiot. Good riddance!"


    The vision ended.

 Chapter 144 - An Excruciating Method

    Mezal was awakened from his daze.


    He felt incredible horror and pain as if something was peeled off his skin.


    Upon severing the rocks, Mezal felt a great pain that assailed him. It was as if every cell in his body was attacked and was undergoing a form of splitting.


    Several wounds shed out, and Mezal bled with great pain.


    "AHHH!" The great pain caused Mezal to scream in pain.


    The surrounding Champions who apanied the trip immediately reacted and ran towards the carriage where Mezal was.


    "Mezal!" Ordeus shouted as he opened the carriage door.


    When he saw him, great rage urred.


    "Who did this?!" Ordeus shouted.


    Mezal was in a very pitiful state. He was bleeding all over and even fell down from his seat.


    Mezal didn''t have the strength even to lift himself up.


    "That.... darned God!" Mezal cursed. The cutting of those stones wasn''t just symbolic. Something happened in his body.


    In the Nephilim Sealing Mountain, Branze and Aron also felt great pain.


    The already fainted Branze convulsed and shouted with great pain.


    Aron fell and cried as well.


    Petra was shocked at what happened.


    "Bring them into the Temple! Quick! You, Lizard Champion! Carry them!" Petra reached out at the Lizard and grasped his head.


    The Lizard taught he would die, but suddenly, a strange fire was ced in him.


    "If these two die, Cornerstone will know. And once he tells me, I will explode that energy! But serve as well, and that power can be absorbed and help you level up!" Petra exined.


    The Lizard Champion was stunned.


    "The Temple can heal them?" The Lizard Champion asked.


    "Yes! Go now. Ask one of the knights where the Temple is!"


    The Lizard Champion nodded. He moved with great speed and took Branze and Aron and was about to nab a nearby knight.


    "Don''t. I can tell you where the Temple is. Just bring us there..." Aron spoke.


    The Lizard Champion was surprised how Aron was still awake and nodded.


    He sprinted out and ran fast.


    "Damn it! What happened? Branze!" Aron called out as the Lizard carried him.


    "I... don''t know... Father must not have listened to my warning. Do you remember... the vision?" Branze asked.


    "... I think I do. But I don''t."


    "It must be... the Path of Foresight. You have a lower level of thispared to me. So you may not remember the vision. You must have seen... Ancient Sword God Hyperion Steel. He ims that we are... his descendants."


    The moment Branze exined this, it was as if Aron recalled everything, and the full vision came to sight.


    "That- That''s right! I remember now! The battle against End!"


    "I think... you saw a different vision than what I saw... We were too hasty... The Ancient God must expend huge energy... that takes a lot of damage to his soul or whatever he has... Heined that I was too fast... And that the next person must take his time to go there..."


    "The next person?"


    "Thest of the Steele. Our father..."


    "... What are you talking about?"


    "This attack... It feels simr to the attack that God made when he divided all of creation."


    "Oh right! Your right! These cuts are something that transcends the physical!"


    "Father... must have seen that vision and prompted that God to expend his powers again. He must have been... pissed off!"


    "You should have warned father!"


    "I did!" Branze frowned.


    "How many times did I tell you, but the warning at the first part of the message! You must have included the warning on thest part, didn''t you? You were so excited you exined the process of harnessing the force energy that got us into that vision in the first part of the message, didn''t you?!"


    "We-well... that''s because...!"


    "You idiot brother! Because of that, father followed whatever you taught him, and of course, he''d awaken that power! We must have pissed off that God that he attacked us!"


    "N-not necessarily! He-He... He must have used this means to show father severing and attacked us so we can understand what True Cut is!"


    "True cut?"


    "True Cut with a capital T and C. As in a proper noun! That''s what I named that attack!"


    "Proper noun?" The Lizard champion murmured as he continued to think about the proper noun. He hadn''t heard of this all of his life, and now he heard of it twice in one day.


    "In any case... I hope dad''s alright." Branze sighed with a worried expression.


    "He''ll be alright. Fate''s not after us anyway. Knowing our old man, he will use these wounds to his advantage."


    "Master Sword Experts. We are approaching Golem City. Will they...?"


    "Rx. They listen to our orders."


    "Good." The Lizard Champion nodded.


    As he approached, he was stunned.


    Rock Golems littered the entire ce. There were roughly the same amount of y Golems in the area.


    "The Golems! There are more Rocks and Iron Golems now!" The Lizard Champion eximed. He knew the power of Golems.


    "The lizard race vastly underestimates them! They are focusing on improving the quality of their golems and not caring about their lifespan?"


    "Oh, their lifespan has already improved. The Temple helped refill roughly 20 to 30 percent of all the lifespans if webine the lifespans of all golems. This is why they are focusing on improving the quality of each Golem." Branze answered.


    It was also intriguing that the Golem city had training programs where all Golems drilled their specific battle tactics. The Golems had also mined severalrge stones that were being hauled.


    Caravans were also present that made the hauling easier.


    "The Golems are going to war?" The Lizard Champion asked.


    "Sort of. The Challenge of the Lizard Lord has already begun, hasn''t it?" Branze smiled.


    "Starting to feel a little scared for your race?"


    "A little. The Golem King seems stronger than ever. And it looks like the other Jeweled Golems have awakened too. I want to ally with you!" The Lizard Champion dered.


    "Oh? So willingly? I thought Lizard Champions have better pride than this?" Aronughed.


    "I am thest of my tribe here. The ways of Lizard is a path of devouring and killing. No one aimed to ally with the Golems because they can''t be reasoned with. But now, it''s different."


    "I see. Well, we''re a pretty tolerating family. My son is a vampire after all."


    "A vampire?"


    "Yeah. He has a Coven of vampires. And he''s stronger than us." Aron sighed.


    The Lizard champion was silent. He kept carrying the two and pondered. One of the bigger reasons why he wanted to ally with them, was not because of the Golems, but because of the Sword Experts. And as they were casually talking, the Lizard Champion believed their crazy ims. These two were descendants of a god! That alone convinced him to join them. And yet, they had vampires that were stronger than these Sword Experts?


    The golems watched with curiosity at the passing lizard. Some would give friendly waves at Aron or Branze, while others asked if they were alright.


    Branze and Aron kept answering their fans to the bewilderment of the Lizard Champion. He wasrgely ignored.


    "Perhaps these golems think it''s normal because of the vampires?" The Lizard champion guessed as he passed through the Golem City.


    Back in the peak of Airom Vagat...


    The sensation of what true cutting was amazed Mezal. The Sword Force used on that attack was profoundly different than how he used it.


    Several priests and healers were around him.


    The group was horrified at the state of Mezal. Who could have done this?


    "That power... It felt as if... it could even sever and cut Fate!" Mezal mumbled.


    "Mezal?!"


    The faint mumbling of Mezal made Ordeus react.


    "It seems that God gave me hisst gift in a very... painful way." Mezal thought. As his vision returned, he saw the people around him.


    Various healing spells were cast, but they could not immediately close the wounds. The priest and mages were worried at this sight.


    "This looks problematic. But I probably can use my wounds to an advantage! That''s right! I''ll do just that!" Mezal decided as he slowly forced himself to sit up.


    "It seems that... I have worried everyone." Mezalughed.


    "What happened? Who attacked you?"


    "Attack? No. This is... an excruciating method to acquire more power." Mezalughed.


    "Acquire more power?"


    "As I said... my lifespan is nearing its end. The power of the Force Pdin has reached its peak. But apart from the holy energy and the defense, I need power. Striking power. Especially since we don''t know what enemies m sons have, I need power to charge in the front lines and fight."


    "What did you do?"


    "Does anyone have the gauge spell? Please check for yourself what Blessings I''ve received or what job ss I have." Mezal asked.


    "I already did. You are simply a ssed Knight without any ss. But you managed to create a special job, the Force Pdin, through your own forceful means." One of the Champions stated.


    "Good. Then why can I wield power... of a Ravager?" Mezalughed as he revealed the thick Force Energy.


    The group was stunned.


    "Impossible...! How could you do that without the blessings exclusive to Ravagers?!" One Champion eximed.


    "Or how about... a Quick de?" Mezalughed again, and the Force cirction changed.


    "It''s weak and clearlycks training... But it''s definitely there! He is a Quick de!" A Quick de marveled.


    "For my next trick, ho about an Archer? Which do you want to see? A True Aim? Or A Quick Bow? Oops. I did both." Mezalughed.


    The Champions trembled as the power of a True Aim and a Quick Bow archer appeared.


    "But don''t be too impressed. I believe that If I survive whatever is down that mountain, I will only have one month to live. But the Champions that aid me in rescuing my son the most... I will grant the secret of how I achieved this unblessed ability to diverge on those paths. It''s cruel and will probably kill most who try. But it is an interesting power. I assure you the wisdom of Branze Steele is greater than mine. Once I pass this to him, in three years, no! Two years. He can improve this and make it more efficient. He did so with the Force Pdin. He can do so with this!" Mezal vowed.


    The Champions watched in amazement. Some scuffled to take another Message Talisman to send to their corresponding kingdoms.


    Mezal and the Steele family''s value has once more skyrocketed. All Champions regardless of their previous hatred or apathy towards Mezal, gave the reports that he must be recruited.

 Chapter 145 - An Unravelable Plan

    Back in Airom Logat...


    With the mount, Kyros was able to switch from defense to offense. The blood golem tiger that Kyros rode was slightly faster than the Dark Fanged Tigers. The other tiger was slow that it could barely catch up to the racing speed of the Dark Fanged Tigers aiming to maw Kyros.


    But thanks to Kyros''s fast whirling attacks, the tigers were on the losing end of the exchange as they would receive more and more wounds.


    The tigers tried to pounce at Kyros at the same time, but Kyros leaped up and abandoned his tiger mount.


    The blood tiger didn''t evade but rush towards one of the tigers to attack it.


    CRASH!


    The Dark Fanged Tigers bit and began to maul the Blood Golem Tiger as Kyros attacked from the top.


    "That''s cruel. You''re like the mustached man abandoning his mount to jump himself to safety."


    "These are Blood golems! The reform anyway!" Kyrosined as he set his ax smashing on the shoulders of two tigers.


    The roar of the tigers echoed out, and Kyros pulled the chain with great force to throw himself closer and delivered a smashing stomp on another Tiger.


    The force energy on his foot attacked the confused tiger burying the tiger''s face down to the ground.


    Before one of the tigers could attack Kyros, the other Blood Golem Tiger pounced on this tiger and gave a hard bite on the neck.


    CRUNCH!


    The sound echoed out, and the Dark Fanged Tiger was whimpering in pain.


    Kyros had used the impact of his stomp to eject him back up with a little help of Force energy. Kyros had managed to store the ax back, and his chains were free.


    With a quick hook, another attack was sent. One of the chains didn''t have the ax but had the Bloodied Sword.


    The sword stabbed on the opened wound, and with the increase in sharpness and the familiarity of the blood of the Dark Fanged Tiger, the sword was able to stab deeper as the tiger fled.


    At that point, the wounded tigers realized they were no match and began to flee.


    "They''re escaping?" Kyros frowned.


    Kyros mounted the wounded Blood Tiger Golem and began to chase the tigers. Kyros had caused the blood to focus on the legs so to restore its speed.


    "They''re splitting up!" Kyros cursed.


    He began to pull the chains to limit the speed of the tigers.


    "I need more speed!" Kyros ordered his tigers to focus on the one that was the slowest. It was the tiger that Kyros stabbed with the sword. The tiger dropped from its sprint as it lost its strength to move.


    Kyros passed by and sent the tiger to the Temple as it just had died while retrieving his sword.


    The other tiger had managed to break free and dislodge the ax stabbing his shoulder, and began to escape.


    "Let''s see if I can still use the new blood to strengthen this tiger." Kyros was curious and allowed the other Blood Tiger Golem to run nearby.


    The blood that he acquired was being harnessed into the two tigers.


    Kyros focused and began to manipte the blood that was fueling these tigers forcibly.


    The blood of thest tiger Kyros in wasn''t absorbed into the sword, but it was used to add over the two tigers.


    Both Blood Golem Tigers were getting bigger and bigger. Their paws and fangs grewrger, and even their arms became twice asrge.


    The speed of the two tigers increased as well.


    With the new speed, Kyros chased after the remaining tiger that was trying


    The first one began to attack to the side, while Kyros kept chasing those that were in his view.


    With the added speed, the remaining wounded tigers were soon killed. The balefire burns that the tigers received from their battle were already hindering their speed. And with Kyros using the absorbed blood to strengthen his tigers, he was soon able to kill all but one.


    The surviving tiger was already quite a distance from Kyros, and even though Kyros had killed all and maximized the form of the tiger he was riding, he still couldn''t catch up.


    Kyrosbined the tiger he was riding and the other Blood tiger to make an even stronger tiger that can close the distance.


    "All those Tiger... and it only gave me an increase of two more Blood Tiger Golems to summon. How sad." Kyros sighed.


    "Your Blood de must have leveled up more. But since you are using abined form, it seems that you have to level up the Cloak and the Grudge Sword. You still have the same amount of Shadow Ghouls, but you can summon more Golems."


    "Why do you keep narrating the obvious?"


    "It''s called smooth transitioning. It seems forced if the author exins all of it, so he makes me exin some bits to try to make things casual."


    "Whatever. It looks like we''re here."


    "What makes you say that?"


    "Well... one this is the ce that is the inverse location of the Temple in Airom Vagat. Two, the scent of blood seems to end here, and three, that tiger fled here."


    "Ah... So you don''t think that that twenty-foot golem guarding the cave entrance has nothing to do with this?"


    "No. The Blood Cmity could have nted it here to buy her more time." Kyros smiled as hemanded hisrge tiger to charge and face the hulking y Golem that stood and blocked the path.


    The twenty-foot golem had the features of a man. But its fangs made it clear that this was a vampire. It moved slowly and suddenly charged towards Kyros.


    Kyros stood on the tiger and readied his chains.


    "This looks so cool! Spawn Spider-Kratos Attack on y Titan. With Tigers." Cminus eximed with excitement.


    Kyros''s felt a migraineing at the audacious statements of Cminus.


    The y Golem charged and delivered a powerful punch towards Kyros.


    BOOM!


    Kyros leaped to the side as therge tiger evaded to the other and then used his chains to swing out of the way and draw the attention of the golem.


    The Tiger suddenly exploded with great speed and bolted inside as the golem was trying to attack Kyros.


    Kyros knew that killing him would be a priority and that this golem would focus on attacking Kyros. The logical choice was to make the tiger aid Kyros, but Kyros sent the tiger inside.


    "I''m not that dumb. This golem is something that is meant to dy me. You must be too weak that you even need the blood of your little pet to escape." Kyrosughed.


    As expected, therge golem moved and chased after the tiger and somehow began to shrink to fit in the cave.


    But Kyros took that time to attack.


    Out of the inventory, Kyros brought out therge ax. This was the same ax that the powerful orc who had the blood of the Blood Cmity wielded.


    The immense power of Force Energy enveloped the heavy ax.


    "[Force sh]!" Kyros shouted and harnessed every bit of energy to attack the y Golem.


    The y Golem was big, but it was still a y Golem. Whatever powers it had were not stable. It was like a ss cannon. And this ss canon had turned its back on Kyros to chase after the Tiger.


    SLASH


    Therge sh struck and destroyed the core of the golem, causing it to crumble.


    As Kyros had interacted with Golems, he knew where the core that gave life to these golems was.


    Kyros brought therge ax in and didn''t even spare a nce at the crumbling y golem as he moved inside.


    The tiger was there waiting, and Kyros jumped over it, and the two sprinted inside.


    The entrance to the cave led to a strange chamber as stones with intricate designs were made.


    The designs looked familiar as it became more and more clear that the ce was arge seal.


    "Well, it''s not like the Temple. But this ce is indeed a seal. It sealed a Fallen. It seems that this Blood Cmity is not an ordinary vampire or subus. It''s a weakened Fallen that all we saw was its weakest version." Cminus observed.


    Several pirs were ced on several intervals, and it was clear that something struck these pirs and damaged them.


    The tiger could finally be seen from afar.


    Kyros took out his bow and took aim.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows struck the legs and paws of the tiger, causing it to lose its bnce, and it stumbled.


    CRASH!


    The tiger crashed on the ground and even began to roll, and Kyros revealed his sword to attack thest tiger.


    But then suddenly...


    ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!


    A red bolt of lightning began to shoot around the pirs and created a chain lighting that kept moving on and on to the first pir that Kyros passed.


    A strange field was happening.


    "This is... a seal!" Cminus shouted.


    "Time and Space are affected. I can''t teleport out." Kyros cursed. He hesitated, but he then turned towards the location where he could sense movement.


    A beautiful woman appeared andughed at Kyros. She had dark wings, bright red lips, a shocking figure, and long red hair was floating over the body of the Dark Fanged Tiger, and it was as if the blood of the tiger leaped out and was drained by this woman.


    "Hello, little Nephilim! Care to keep mepany."


    The moment Kyros heard this voice, he shivered. The allure and power of her voice caused Kyros to tremble. Even with his high soul resistance, those words somehow pierced through Kyros and caused him to yearn for the embrace of the woman.


    "The Blood Cmity, I assume?" Kyros frowned.


    "How do you like my trap? I prepared everything to make you think I was dying. I love the game Nephilim. I like how I can twist and manipte the hearts of men to get what I want. How does it feel to think that you were winning, but in truth, you were falling for my unravble n?" Sheughed.


    Kyros stood his ground and closed his eyes as he took out his weapons.


    Cminus, who was deathly silent from the sprung trap''s shock and fear, saw what Kyros did. The trap itself was shocking, and Cminus was panicking. Who would have thought that the defeated Destiny was able to pull this off? Cminus even began to consider that maybe feigning defeat the first time was part of Destiny''s n.


    The power of the Subus was starting to show its true strength.


    Even Cminus could feel his Wisps Soul being drawn to the Subus. A feat that was shocking considering that soul attacks of the orcs never reached him.


    But now, the sensations meant that Kyros was not so strong to resist the soul attacks.


    Cminus turned to Kyros and was about to call him out when he noticed Kyros''s expression.


    "He''s doing it! The most powerful ability of all!"

 Chapter 146 - An Anime-Inspired Strengthening

    The appearance of the Blood Cmity had truly surprised Kyros. Once more, Destiny had made an ingenious move.


    While Destiny couldn''t work and Fate was no longer making it hard for Kyros and his family. But what Kyros failed to assess was the Blood Cmity herself.


    They had the advantage of having no interference or secret workings between Fate and Destiny. It also meant that the callings and directions of both Fate and Destiny would not be sensed or seen through Fate Challenger.


    In effect, Kyros''s advantage in sensing and knowing what Fate and Destiny may or may not n became his disadvantage.


    Kyros realized that he was relying too much on Fate Challenger. Little did he realize that this Blood Cmity had used her own wisdom and crafted her own n to trap Kyros.


    Her alluring power was simply too much. Kyros had only acquired a small portion of the Charmed Fallen, and it wasn''t enough tobat the powerful energy that the Blood Cmity had.


    Kyros''s mind was falling into the allure of the Blood Cmity. He was slowly falling into a monstrous lust. The faint whispers of desires were growing stronger and stronger. It was then that Kyros used his Soul Console tobat his desires.


    Kyros also began to harness the energy of his body to activate the fastest Pronto possible.


    As Kyros kept increasing in his levels, he was slowly able to merge the speed of his mind and move it in synch with his growing bodily dexterity. It came to the point that Kyros no longer needed to use Pronto as his body could already catch up to fast thinking. But now, Kyros was focusing on using the full power of Pronto on his thoughts alone.


    He needed tobat the attack of the Blood Cmity, and he needed to resolve it fast.


    And so, Kyros was harnessing his memories and reying it all at an incredible speed.


    Cminus sensed it and realized that Kyros was doing it. This fabled ability allowed various fighters and warriors to break through their limits and find strength against impossible odds.


    The Pronto ability was being pushed to the limits. Even Cminus was caught in Kyros''s own time. It was as if time had stopped, but Cminus knew that this was actually because Kyros was thinking so fast.


    "This is it! This is the powerful ability that a vast number of mighty warriors have! Ninja leaders, pirates, golden warriors, samurais, mages, and so many more! The illogical and untimely shbacks that make no sense, because you normally wouldn''t think about the past and have a trip down memoryne when facing an enemy that could kill you and destroy the world, is actually happening to Kyros!" Cminus eximed.


    The power of Pronto was breaking through its limits. The power of the Mysterion, the Fanged Fallen, and the Charmed Fallen was all gathering to breach the De-Spacito seal.


    "Hmm? This looks prepared. Has Kyros been constantly saving new powers in case something like this happens?" Cminus realized it. The power of the three divinities was attacking the seal.


    "I see! Kyros assumed that Destiny can still figure out some of his ability. And so, Kyros is actually holding back and not allowing himself to get stronger, so Destiny can''t find out about it! Destiny can''t know something that Kyros doesn''t have. And Kyros is now breaching the seal. But how? Those three divinities can''t take down a curse caused by those god and devil seals..." Cminus thought.


    And then, the force energy that Kyros had appeared.


    Cminus realized what it was.


    "Of course! Hyperion''s Code! He will use that to breach the seal!" Cminus eximed.


    As Cminus guessed, Kyros was gathering all that power and attacking the speed disrupting curse guing Kyros.


    BOOM!


    Kyros''s soul trembled as the power of the three divinity and the power of True Cut appeared.


    The curse mark of De-Spacito shattered within Kyros''s soul.


    ---


    De-Spacito curse removed.


    Time/Space Mage Job acquired.


    Divinity of the Amazing Cminus Time Continuum Warlock of the Infinite Worlds Randy Orton Ice Cold 3000 awakened.


    ---


    "..." Cminus''s soul turned red in embarrassment.


    "Oh right. One of my incarnations was still young and had the bad habit of mashing the cool things he liked as his user name. Ugh. I forgot to change my Divinity title. I have to change it!" Cminus hurried.


    Cminus essed the Soul Console of Kyros and changed the name before Kyros could notice the embarrassing Divinity Title.


    Kyros kept on looking at the many memories in his past life.


    He countered the rising desires with the many heart-wrenching memories of his past and recalled thest moments of the people he loved.


    Mechiel''s beautiful face emerged as she was dying.


    "Kyros. The reason I saved you... it actually has a very simple... truth behind it. I love you." Mechiel smiled.


    That simple smiled was engraved in Kyros''s heart.


    He remembered the first memories of his past interactions with Mechiel. At that time, he didn''t know who she was.


    Kyros cared deeply for this ve, but circumstances had prevented him from looking for the young ve.


    "Young Maser Kyros. I''m sorry..." The young maid knelt down in fear. She had seen how impatient and wild this young master was. She was about to set the drinks for Kyros but stumbled down and spilled the drink.


    Kyros red at her.


    But Kyros recalled the words of her mother and took deep breathes.


    "You are too nervous when you enter this room because I am a wild beast. It''s alright." Kyros answered as he controlled the building rage in his heart.


    The young Mechiel was stunned.


    "Tha-Thank you, Lord Kyros." Mechiel bowed.


    Many other memories shed on.


    Kyros stood and watched the open fields as he held the sword down. He rested upon the shade of the tree to avoid the heat of the sun.


    No one approached Kyros. Even the knights and other servants dared not apany the wild man as he held the sword.


    The young ve approached anyway.


    "Lord Kyros. Yo-your drinks." She offered as she trembled.


    "The other ves and knights told you not to approach. Why did you?" Kyros asked.


    "... It is my duty."


    "I have told everyone to leave me alone. Yet you did so. Your duty would have been fulfilled by staying there with them. Yet you prepared this by your own to give it to me. Why?" Kyros asked again.


    The young Mechiel was surprised.


    "It seems Lord Kyros''s ears are quite... strong. Was that why you attacked some of the knights and servants? You heard their words."


    "..." Kyros was silent.


    "I am not obliged to answer your question. But you haven''t answered mine."


    "... I was worried, Lord Kyros. You have been training in the heat of the sun and have no cool drink nearby." Mechiel bowed.


    Kyros remained silent.


    The young Mechiel ced the tray she held down next to Kyros and began to walk away.


    "Wait." Kyros called out.


    "Ye-yes Lord Kyros?"


    "Stay here. Your presence seems to calm me down." Kyros ordered and closed his eyes to meditate on what he learned.


    Mechiel was amazed and could not help but blush. She sat down nearby.


    "Move closer. Sit where the shade covers you." Kyros spoke without opening his eyes.


    Mechiel nodded and hurriedly sat closer to Kyros.


    The memories made Kyros smile.


    "Even then, it was you that always brought me to peace. And now in this life, it''s still you." Kyros sighed as he could feel the lustful desires disappeared.


    "He did it! The crazy son of a Fallen, did it!" Cminus rejoiced as he could see Kyros resisting the magic of the Subus.


    rity returned, and Kyros nced at the Blood Cmity.


    "Quit bluffing. Let''s fight." Kyros drew his weapons, and the seductive smile of the Blood Cmity vanished.

 Chapter 147 - An Impossible Chess Game

    The first thing Kyros did was sh out on the area around him. He used his force energy to attack the area around him.


    "Oh? How can your energy dispel my charms? What a curious power you possess. I wonder which Code that is?"


    "Is this a beguiling spell? Too bad it didn''t work."


    "Hmp. And here I thought you''d be so start struck with my beauty that I could kill you quickly." The Subusughed.


    "Nah. Even in those few seconds that I was hypnotized, this Blood Tiger Golem would have either fought back or sacrificed himself for me. You were hoping to bring me under your total control since attacking me might break this hypnotic spell, correct? You think that if I initiated my approach out of lust, you could easily kill me without this tiger fighting or running away."


    "It seems Beginning''s champion is quite formidable. To be able to resist my charms..."


    "You''re Charms? Quit bluffing. You stopped using it, meaning that that was the best of your attacks. Your attacks are limited. These seals look familiar. It should be simr to the seals that I received. You act as if you''re strong, but the truth is you''re in a dangerous position, aren''t you?" Kyros smirked.


    "Oh? You think that just because you killed one of my orcs, that I am weak?" The Subusughed.


    "I know you are. You act as if this was all an borate plot. You even instilled thoughts in my head. You indeed plotted to get me here, but you are not as strong as you present yourself to be. Why else do you need to seal me in this ce and not go out to challenge me?"


    "To tamper with Time and Space, of course. That nifty trick you have of having a dimensional storage space without an actual artifact proves that you should have an item or ability that allows you to ess Time and Space magic. But this seal should stop you. You can also try escaping outside of this seal to use your Inventory magic. But I''m sure someone of your intelligence can tell that this seal is quite powerful."


    "It''s a good thing that I had these axes, and my sword equipped. Otherwise, I''d have fought you barehanded. But even then, I think I could win. With such borate preparations made with this seal, it seems you fear my Inventory skill. If you are scared of that, I wonder how much power you have left?"


    The Subus gave a dangerous smile.


    "Oh, I didn''t do that to tamper with your ability in that Inventory of yours. I did it in case you had a way of sending yourself back to whatever space that is. As for how strong I am, why don''t youe here and find out?" The Subusughed as she touched the wounded tiger next to her and began to heal the wounds and even turn the tiger into a grotesque form.


    The tiger grew wings and additional heads. One of its heads was that of a lizard, and the other was a serpent of some sort. Its tail became that of a rattlesnake''s tail that kept rattling with a sting at the very end.


    "Two divinities. The Fanged Fallen and the Charmed Fallen. You''re a devil hybrid between two Fallens." Kyros observed.


    "And Beginning''s Champion has a God''s Code and the Fanged Fallen, I see. And drinking my own blood offered some resistance to my charms. As expected of a freak like you." The Subus stretched her arms and began to crack the bones in her body.


    "I really hate to fight, you know? Someone as beautiful as me shouldn''t. I should only point at something, and all my ves and followers will act. But you really know how to hinder my ns." She raised her arms, and an ice-cold sword appeared on her hands.


    "Since you seem to have great Dark resistance, I hope this cold will do its job." She smiled.


    Kyros raised his ax weapons, and the Balefire appeared.


    "Shall we start this dance?"


    "Sure." Kyros answered as a glowing light appeared on his arms.


    "[Double Speed]!" Kyros activated a weaker version of one of the spells he was famous for in his past life. But instead of pure Force Energy, Kyros used magic.


    Kyros then moved with incredible speed that even surpassed the speed that his tiger had.


    "Time Mage!" The Subus was shocked as she raised her sword to attack, but Kyros''s movements were faster.


    The Ice Sword swung low, and Kyros evaded it as his chains had already clung to two pirs and gave Kyros the ability to change the direction and angle of his flight.


    Kyros dove deep into the reach of the Subus and shed out the two axes right at the torso of the Subus.


    But as the twin axes reached, the body exploded, and a strange red mist appeared.


    [Dream Parasite detected.]


    The warning appeared as Kyros could feel a strange power moving around his soul.


    "It was a droplet of her blood!" Kyros realized and moved away. He was quick enough not to breathe in any mist, but his vision was already changing.


    "Do you really think that by simply holding your breath, you can escape my attacks?" Theugh of the Subus echoed out.


    Kyros retreated and could see several figures of the Subus rushing towards him with the same blue sword.


    Kyros held his ground and did not panic but closed his eyes.


    The moment he did, Kyros saw himself in the depths of a dark and gloomy region where dark waters and strange vegetation surrounded him.


    "Can''t open my eyes, and closing it makes it worse, eh?" Kyros concluded.


    He did not move, and even when those moving Subus should have attacked him by now, the attack never arrived.


    It was then that Kyros heard some movement and retreated with his ax at the ready. A faint strange light was enveloping the ax.


    The Chimera roared and charged at Kyros, and its tail lunged like a spear.


    The rattling sound arrived, and Kyros smashed his ax towards the tail attack.


    "[De-Spacito]!" Kyros activated the spell that had long gued him and struck the tail.


    SMASH!


    The moment the ax struck the tail, the movements of the Chimera turned weird. As the Balefire ax was a weapon that could channel magic, Kyros harnessed his Time Magic to cast De-Spacito whenever the Balefire ax would be in contact with an enemy.


    Kyros was able to retreat as the Chimera swiped and bit on the empty spaces due to his perception of time dy. In fact, the Chimera''s thinking was so slow that his attacks would be made half a second after its mindmanded it.


    Kyros ordered the Blood Tiger Golem to attack the Chimera. While the golem''s power was weaker than the Chimera, the slow mental response would give the golem a few attacks.


    The Blood Tiger Golem easily evaded the wide swings and pounced at the Chimera. The battle between the tworge feral cats began, and the initial advantage of the golem was diminishing as the Chimera was regaining more and more of its perception.


    Kyros was running out of time. He knew that facing the Chimera in his current state would be problematic. He had to look for the Subus andnd an attack. If Kyros could just acquire even a drop from the Blood Cmity, he was confident that the strange illusions would vanish.


    But as Kyros was running with his eyes opened, Kyros could see a significant amount of enemy rushing at him.


    In reality, Kyros could only sense one enemy, and that was the Chimera.


    The vision he saw suddenly had sound, and the many enemies were slowly rushing in with realistic sounds, making it very tempting for Kyros to evade.


    "Damn it! I revealed an ace and got no result!" Kyros cursed as he ignored the vision of enemies blocking his way. Instead, he kept pushing forward and would swipe his sword in the front in case he might run into a pir.


    Kyros was inflicted with the De-Spacito curse, and he has constantly been fighting it that he knew the concept of this curse. However, with his newly acquired power of Time Magic from Cminus''s awakened Divinity, Kyros was able to imitate the same effects that the curse brought him by casting a very selective slow magic aimed at the mind. It was much more efficient than the usual [Slow] spell that Cminus talked about during their two-year lecture time. Kyros intended to use it as a swift way to attack and kill the Subus, but he never expected that the Subus would use some strange magic to lure him into a trap.


    Kyros continued to run when he felt a scary sensation and tried to jump back and drew his sword to block something.


    BOOM!


    Something struck Kyros. Kyros was able to block it with his de, but the eruption of energy threw him back.


    Kyros cursed. He expected this. With the illusion he saw, cheap attacks such as these dark bolts would be very effective.


    "What''s the n? How can I help? Should I go out and help you?" Cminus asked.


    "No! She will sense you if you go out! Stay in my soul!"


    "Then how are we going to find the Subus and fight back! Don''t tell me you n to use this time to train your Path of Combat?!"


    "Of course not! But she''s just like me! She has a whole bunch of traps and cards ready to be activated! That''s why I need you to stay! I need to be sure that the moment I reveal my other aces, it will beat her hand!"


    "How can you fight her and find her body like this? You''d be out of stamina by the time this battle is over. But, if I go out, I may find her body as long as we n the time I leave your soul and search for the real body."


    "Don''t you get it? Her body may not even be here! I lied earlier when I asked her why she didn''t attack my body when I was in a daze. If she had a physical body, she would have made an attack! But she gave away the chance to attack me when I was in a daze. This probably means that she''s too weak to bring out her real body! So she set up a lot of traps so that her physical body wouldn''t take action! That thing we saw was probably her blood taking up form!"


    "So no matter what card you use, you may not have the ability to find her or even kill her?"


    "Yes. That''s why I''m reluctant to show more of my cards! I already revealed De-Spacito and got nothing for it! The way things are going, I might end up showing all my cards to this Subus! It''s like she''s ying chess with me! She has all her pieces in this board, and here I am, just a small piece being prepared for her trap."


    "Then how do you win this impossible board game?!"


    "We don''t try to win! We have to lose!" Kyros began to exin.

 Chapter 148 - An Interesting Scene

    The entire vision of Kyros was revealing a different templeyout.


    Hidden on one of the altars at the very center was the real body of the Subus.


    Her lifeless body was frozen inside a strange red crystal stone. Several cracks could be seen on the side, and a few droplets of blood were trickling outside.


    The truth was as Kyros deduced. The Blood Cmity was weak.


    She was not primarily a vampire or just a subus but a new creature known as the Blood Subus. The hybrid between the Fanged Fallen and the Charmed Fallen created a creature whose power depended on her blood.


    She had the qualities of a Subus and the power of a Vampire Ancient. But she was in a greatly weakened state. She only had very little blood left in her sealed state. So for her to regain more of her powers, she would need to consume more lives to grow more blood. But at her level of strength, it would take thousands of lives to be sacrificed for her to regain enough power to move her body.


    But Destiny churned that day when Kyros won over Fate. The mystery behind Destiny and Fate''s give and take took in the form of a lightning bolt.


    Greater God Daradiel and Sheolrah battled on the heavens above the nes World, and one of the attacks from Daradiel''s Celestial Code shot out and missed making this prating power fall within Airom Logat.


    The lightning bolt was made of strange properties that not many saw the lightning strike the ground. There were no sounds or tremors that shook the entire mountain region of Airom Logat. Instead, a single bolt fell and pierced the earth.


    To those nearby, the most they thought was that it was a regr lightning bolt.


    The bolt dug down the earth and struck through the secret chambers of the Blood Cmity and bypassed the defenses that would have needed beings of Saintly powers to destroy.


    The bolt coursed down the dark seal and struck the chrysalis that contained the body of the Blood Cmity.


    The bolt had already weakened and only managed to damage the chrysalis and create cracks to appear.


    Through those small cracks, the Blood Cmity harnessed a portion of her remaining blood, and this small blood was able to move out and weaken the many seals, eventually opening the path of the Blood Cmity to move out.


    The Blood Cmity corrupted the guardians of this seal that was intended to stop any intruders from ever entering this ce.


    The Dark Fanged Tigers became the Blood Cmity''s first mean. She enved the rest and made them guard but devoured what she needed to refuel her more and more.


    Therge y Golem was also corrupted by the blood drops, and this drop of blood began its journey.


    The small blood drops possessed and absorbed various animals and orcs it found. Soon, it grew strong and managed to multiply. As the blood grew stronger, the Blood Cmity divided her blood and began to hunt for more. Some blood drops were focused on creating minions, while others would go back and give more and more blood to the main body.


    Soon, the orc champion was finally created. Then, the orc itself began to follow the will of the Blood Cmity and drank more and more forcibly, raising its power to be close to Commanders.


    But then, Kyros and the Coven came into the picture.


    The loss of the orc was indeed a powerful blow as a huge chunk of the blood that contained the soul of the Blood Cmity had died. This blood had a portion of her soul and brought such great pain to her.


    The Blood Cmity gathered all her remaining blood to create another drop of blood that was simr to the orc. She could sense that Kyros was moving further away, and she used that opportunity to build up more of her team. But then, the faint senses she had allowed her to sense Kyros approaching.


    But as a being sent by End, the Blood Cmity did not panic but began to plot a way to kill Kyros.


    Kyros''s deduction was right. Her main body was hidden, and most of her blood drops took the form to create an illusion. The Blood Cmity had little means to make a physical attack. And so, she set traps after traps with the blood she had.


    "Let''s see if you can escape. Now that my blood is in you, how long can you hold off the maddening sensation?" The Subus watched Kyros run around aimlessly and managed to avoid mming into the stone pirs with his sword. She waited and timed the right instant for her Blood Clones to begin tounch magic attacks.


    Kyros''s vision was distorted. He was moving further and further away from the location.


    His body was bleeding as more and more attacks managed to strike him. Not even his experience and his knowledge could tell apart from the illusion.


    "Finding her body is impossible!" Kyros concluded.


    He stood up and began to extend his magic around to surround him. Kyros closed his eyes and sensed the magic energy he created.


    "You''ve seen what she did with the orc. Through the sacrifice of that orc, the orc was nning to summon an avatar of the Blood Cmity. Right now, I should be facing several of these avatars at most! And these creatures have ethereal forms. I already suffered from trying to attack that first avatar of hers. If I attack another, my Soul Console would probably be unable to defend against it!"


    "Yeah. Just that drop, and it''s even changing your perception! So how can losing help? I understand that if you try to fight more, you will die. But how can you turn a loss into a win?"


    "Her hypnotic powers have even changed the way I perceive the things that the two of us can''t tell, which are illusions which are real. This means that the parasite affecting is definitely her blood. I remembered seeing a mist of red after attacking that first avatar. So her blood is affecting me. This means it has her soul. So here''s the n. Cminus, you need to help me!"


    "Me?"


    "This Subus has the strength to alter my perception. She could probably invade and attack me through dreams! We can use this to our advantage!"


    "How do I help you?"


    "She will act economically. A single avatar causes her much energy. So If I make her think that she has an opening in diving into my soul to understand my memories, she will take it. But does she know that I have two souls? Does Destiny know that Ancient God Cminus resides in me as a Soul Wisp?"


    "Wait a minute... You want me to show her a fake vision!"


    "Exactly. I am in quite a desperate state. I need to deal a critical blow on her and take out these avatars of hers or devour another piece of blood. So I need her to think she won. I will disable the power of the Soul Console; she will invade my mind. I will allow her to see a glimpse of it while trying to defend myself wildly. Since you have your soul in me, it should be possible for you to direct your memories and through the Soul Console that you are linked with."


    "I get it. But what memory do I show? Won''t it be bad if I show her Mechiel? I mean, we can''t let Destiny know that you had a future life, right?"


    "Yeah. That''s the hard part!" Kyros answered. He then sensed some fluctuations on the magic power he was sending out and managed to evade the attacks right on time.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The magic attacks struck behind Kyros and scratching him.


    "I can''t keep doing this. Cminus, help me. The vision that we have to show her must be something that exins why I was able to resist her charms in the first ce! She thinks I''m a Nephilim sealed with my young age. So I''m thinking of using my past memories as a berserked child to be the reason as to why I can''t be charmed." Kyros exined.


    "Right! Use those murderous memories! It''ll exin why you are not affected by her lust!"


    "The goal is to make her use another vision. Her power to charm isn''t just using lust. Although her powers to tempt would-be her strongest power, she can use visions to make me see what I want. Do you know what memory to show her?"


    "How about a vision of seeing those beings we saw when you touched the Gigantes Core. If you are to look at your state, a Nephilim that is ten years old in terms of physique and mentality, the one thing you want to know is your purpose and meaning in this life." Cminus answered.


    Kyros was amazed at how useful, and insightful Cminus was.


    "Genius! Alright! Once her avatars approach, I will use my Force sh to attack her along with my Dark Devourer. That should not only weaken her, but if we y this right, I can recover more of my strength and be even more resistant to her charms! Let''s do it. I will try to gradually weaken my Soul Console and give her an opening to see through my mind!" Kyros decided and made the necessary changes.


    The Soul Console''s power weakened, and it caused the Dream Parasite managed to infiltrate Kyros''s soul.


    The tremendous desire of lust managed to attack Kyros.


    And the first thing that the Blood Cmity did when her Dream Parasite took in, saw Kyros''s memories.


    And there, she was horrified at what she saw. She was horrified and slightly amazed. She was stunned and even stopped doing anything for several seconds as she witnessed an interesting scene that even made her blush.


    Cminus had lied to Kyros.


    He had no intention of showing the Blood Cmity the vision of Kyros''s wildness in his past life. He was making insightfulments because he had wanted to show the Blood Cmity something else. There was an easier excuse to make the Blood Cmity understand why Kyros was not affected by her charms. And all it took was for Cminus to show the Blood Cmity the people hailing from a certain vige.


    "MACHO, MACHO FRIENDS! NEPHILIM WANTS SOME MACHO FRIENDS!"


    Several muscr man who had applied oil that made their muscles shine more apparent came to view.


    There was a cowboy, a soldier, an indian, and several other muscr men were jiving in an amazing dance routine as they posed and smiled.


    "MACHO, MACHO FRIENDS! I''VE GOTTA BE A MACHO!"


    "The Nephilim is gay?!" The Blood Cmity mumbled in shock.

 Chapter 149 - An Abomination For The Eyes

    It was just too shocking for the Blood Cmity.


    The dark and muscr man, the fair and tanned, and the blonde and handsome man all continued to make hard dance moves.


    "This is... his deepest desires? No wonder my charm didn''t work on him! That''s his secret! He was born this way!" It all started to make sense for the Blood Cmity.


    The Blood Cmity wondered how Kyros could resist such lustful calls. She knew her power was something that would breach age and race. Even the gods and fallen would be susceptible to her power!


    And yet, after facing the fullness of her power, Kyros was able to shrug it off in just a manner of seconds immediately. It was as if her power was just casually negated.


    And so, one of her soul incarnations gave up its form to be a parasite and constantly attack Kyros, but it took a while for her powers to seep into the soul and peer into his memories finally.


    "Is this why it was easy for him to disregard my powers? Was I showing him the wrong thing? Although my powers ought to be able to move even those who prefer other genders, it wasn''t enough to arouse him since he has a powerful soul resistance!" The Blood Cmity came to her conclusion.


    "Then I guess I have to change my form..." The Blood Cmity turned to the hulking macho men before her.


    "Tight-fitting clothes that reveal an oily skin... Why is their skin so oily anyway? Hmm... Yes. Bulging pants. Interesting. Oh my... That''s quite... majestic." The Blood Cmity somehow grew curious and enticed at the vision.


    "No! I must focus! I can y around and make more minions following these designster! It seems that his blood will not only be the gif that I can get from this Nephilim! I must concentrate and prepare the illusions and assault him when his guard is down!" The Blood Cmity finally decided.


    The power of her soul, which was infecting Kyros, continued to link on this memory to make her other avatars produce the scene.


    The Blood Cmity had a total of seven avatars that she crafted and guarded her main body. The weakest one was the one that assaulted Kyros. This avatar had used a portion of her powers to transform and cultivate that small drop of blood in the Dark Fanged Tiger and turned it into its monstrous chimera form.


    And now, two more powerful avatars approached. Although this would cost her more of her remaining Blood avatars, she wanted to make sure that Kyros would sumb to the terrifying power of her lust. And so she sent two. She was confident that by sacrificing the remaining energy in the Blood Avatar that became the Dream Parasite, this Nephilim of unique taste would sumb to her power.


    Cminus continued to release the vision from the memories of his other incarnations who innocently loved this group, not knowing who the target market of this group was.


    "I''m curious what would happen..." Cminus mused.


    "Would Kyros get angry? I wonder how he would feel after getting harassed by several burly men... Oh well... I haven''t seen him really angry." Cminus could see how the soul of the Blood Cmity was taking notes of this scene.


    Kyros remained guarded throughout the process. Finally, when the Blood Cmity had infiltrated his soul as his Soul Console stopped protecting him, he left it all to Cminus. At the same time, he continued to watch the surroundings with cautious eyes.


    He knew that the attack of the Blood Cmity could begin anytime soon, and he readied his attack.


    "Hyperion''s Code should do it. Cut mixed with a little of Dark and Blood Devour." Kyros calcted.


    When Hyperion bestowed to him the small drop of his knowledge in the sword, Kyros had already learned and understood the same concept of True Cut that his father, uncle, and grandfather were exploring. As a Nephilim, he even managed to understand far more as his own Divinities worked hand-in-hand with this power.


    The Fanged Fallen was a Code with a very powerful devouring ability. He was getting ready to make thisbined attack in order to weaken and absorb the powers of the Blood Cmity.


    "If Cminus showed the Blood Cmity of those vision of the beings that existed through time and space, the Blood Cmity will lure me with a vision where my identity, being, and worth would be revealed. Because Cminus showed that wild and berserked memory of mine, the Blood Cmity will think that there is very little lust in me in the first ce and would use other means of temptation to temp me and lower my guard." Kyros thought.


    And then he felt the presence of several powerful energies approached.


    Kyros could feel how his Path of Combat was bing warier and warier. But unlike his previous battles, his Path of Combat was somewhat limited in granting Kyros an understanding of how to fight.


    "It seems in a fight against other Fate Challengers, the one with the stronger Path of Combat will somehow grasp the flow of the battle better." Kyros clenched on his sword. His vision still appeared distorted, and he knew that the vision would start anytime soon.


    And it finally began.


    The entire appearance of the battlegrounds changed again. What appeared before Kyros was now a toon of hulking, muscr, and oiled-up men.


    "Hey, pretty boy." One of the burly man winked.


    "Hey, Macho Nephilim. Why are you so serious?" Another man asked.


    "You look so frail. Come here. I''ll teach you the proper way of doing squats."


    The strange calls of theserge men shocked Kyros so much that he felt as if his brain froze for a split second.


    And then the realization of what had happened dawned on him.


    "Cminus..." Kyros gritted his teeth as he waited for therge men to approach slowly.


    He had no choice. Kyros had to show a face of delight and amazement as the group of men approached.


    Kyros also unconsciously dropped his sword as if the sight of everything he saw was amazing.


    The Blood Cmity saw Kyros''s actions and became more confident.


    Her two avatars slowly approached. They dared not make any sudden movements but concentrated on showing him the vision.


    Her powers weren''t just creating an illusion. The Dream Parasite had been inflicting Kyros with a curse that made his lustful desires skyrocket to the point that it would have driven a normal human being mad.


    But upon seeing the sight of this man, Kyros was in no way aroused by what he saw.


    "Nope. This is crazy. I''m going to kill Cminus. My eyes hurt. This scene is an abomination to the eyes. Wha did Cminus show her? Why am I watching this?! Why did I trust that insane Time God? I''m going to kill him! I have never felt so disgusted in my entire life." Kyros cursed. He readied his haste spell, quickly retrieved the dropped sword with his inventory, and slowly took several steps forward.


    But he took the first step. The disgusting calls of this man turned more and more horrifying.


    "Sit on myp, little boy."


    "Hey, Nephilim. I have the looks of the gods and the sword of the Fallen. If you know what I mean."


    It was too much. Kyros stopped and paused as he made his first step and had a very pained expression.


    The Blood Cmity saw it and frowned.


    "He still has the will to fight back? His Soul resistance is stronger than I thought!" The Blood Cmity sought out the memories once more.


    The burly men were working out with intense training as sweat covered them. They continued to sing the same strange song expounding the beautiful delights of being a macho man.


    "I''ve never had m avatars do something like these even during the eons of old. It''s weird. But I''ll allow it..." Since she had no choice, all she could do was make these men do the same thing.


    The vision slowly changed and Kyros was now even more horrified.


    There was strange equipment that Kyros could see. He could tell that these were the ''gym equipments'' that Cminus talked about in one of his incarnations world. The muscr men were using that and were singing the same tune that Cminus showed the Blood Cmity.


    Kyros realized what had happened and that his disgust made the Blood Cmity assume that he was still able to resist her powers.


    Kyros did the unnatural thing and gave a smile of incredible delight as if what was in front of him was his heaven.


    ----


    Acting skill acquired.


    Heretic Actor Job Acquired.


    ----


    Disregarding the notifications, Kyros took a few more steps.


    The more disgusted he felt, the more anger in his heart grew.


    As he approached the many muscr men who began to abandon their respective gym equipment and gave Kyros looks that could only be described as ''Ricardo''.


    The anger in Kyros''s heart erupted and with quick retrieval of the sword urred and almost instantly, the sword was in Kyros''s hands.


    [Haste] was activated, and Kyros was able to move way past done his bodily limits.


    The power of True Cut appeared as well as a great hunger that devoured Dark and Blood.


    The Blood Cmity felt a great danger from those swords. But Kyros was already too close to her avatars and was still harnessing their power for the vision.


    The speed of Kyros was also too fast for them to react.


    "[Devouring Cut]!" Kyros shouted as he shed in a wide circr motion.

 Chapter 150 - An Unassailable Darkness

    The sword swiped in a wide motion and struck all the illusions of macho men.


    Haste had allowed Kyros to move beyond what his body can.


    This speed would definitely injure and strain his body, but he didn''t care. There was a delicious mean containing the soul of the Blood Cmity around him and another drop inside him. So whatever injury or strain he might get in his body-breaking attack would be healed when he devours the blood.


    Kyros shed out, and a loud sonic boom echoed as Kyros broke the sound barrier and moved with such haste.


    The swift sh contained the power to cut and devour. The soul form of the Blood Cmity was ethereal and wouldn''t be harmed by normal physical attacks.


    The true form of these avatars was a small drop of blood that floated around. This drop of blood produced the form of the Subus earlier, and it was this blood that invaded Kyros.


    Everything else was just a reflection of the soul of the Blood Cmity.


    But Kyros used True Cut. It was the concept of division that Ancient God Hyperion created to divide the whole Universe.


    From a Grand One, Hyperion severed himself and began to sever the Universe into many.


    The pitiful soul forms which had very little soul defenses could not resist this cutting power.


    "AHHHHHH!" The two souls screeched loudly as they felt the pain of getting cut. The unexpected power to cut them came as such a surprise.


    And the True Cut was not only power. The sword that Kyros used was the Bloodied Sword, and it began to devour the souls of the two avatars.


    The small blood drop was also suctioned into the sword and absorbed.


    The soul that became Dream Parasite also felt great pain. All their souls were connected, and since two souls were shed and devoured, this soul felt pain.


    Several shouts also echoed out, and Kyros took note of their corresponding locations.


    Kyros then used a quick release of Skotos Eis Phos to make his Dark Core release a bit of holiness.


    This was his one chance to hide his holy powers.


    The holy energy coursed through Kyros''s entire soul, causing the Dream Parasite to be burned in pain.


    "AHHH!" The cry of the Dream Parasite resounded within Kyros''s soul.


    "Found you!" Kyros sent more and more of the holy energy to the location of his soul, where the Dream Parasite''s cry was heard.


    Darkness returned as the quick Holy sh in his soul ended, and Kyros used his Devour ability to eat the dying soul.


    The pain of the soul being devoured made the other Avatars screech and retreat.


    Kyros turned his attention to the blood drops nearby. It had lost all power and fell to the ground from their previous levitating movements.


    The sword stabbed on the drops, and they too were devoured.


    ---


    Level up!


    Strength- 79-> 82 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 93-> 99 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 285-> 301 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 66-> 71 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- Bruh -> Ok. So you''re a rocket scientist... That don''t impress me much. (Sealed)


    Soul Force- 93 -> 99 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 142 -> 145 (Greatly Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 145-> 152 (Greatly Sealed)


    ---


    Dark Resistance skill level increase!


    Dark Maniptor skill level increase!


    Haste skill level increased!


    De-Spacito skill level increased.


    Deception skill level increased.


    Soul Projector skill acquired.


    Nephilim Inventory mark item limit increased to 14!


    ---


    Time/Space Mage level 2 reached!


    ---


    Dark Core improved.


    ---


    Continuum Soul Wisp Level increased!


    ---


    Kyros ignored the many notifications and focused his attention on the many painful howls.


    Even the chimera was trembling in pain as the Blood Tiger Golem took advantage of this time to attack it.


    The appearance of the sealed ce was finally brought to life.


    There were numerous pirs like it appeared, but it was more dim and brokenpared to what it was at first.


    "She lied to you! It seems that this ce doesn''t have the time and space distortion effect that she imed to have!" Cminus observed.


    "What the hell did you show her?!" Kyros shouted.


    "What you asked. I don''t know why she showed you that odd vision! I didn''t show her anything weird! I''m as shocked and disgusted as you are!" Cminus lied.


    Kyros was extremely angry and turned her rage on the Blood Cmity.


    "She must have believed that since my feral past was too much that it tampered with my reasoning. She probably decided not to show me a vision of those mighty beings because she probably cannot use her powers of lust to draw me to seek answers. And so she went on this path..." Kyros raged. The more he thought about it, the angrier he was.


    [Dark Maddening status acquired.]


    "Wait... What?!" Cminus was stunned.


    Why did that status appear? Kyros had never been affected with Dark Maddening since he ate so many dark creatures in the Temple.


    "Kyros? Are you alright?" Cminus asked, but it was no use.


    Kyros''s gazed upon the screaming and pained avatars of the Blood Cmity nearby.


    Kyros suddenly moved and ran towards another soul avatar.


    The Blood Cmity noticed it and began to gather all her blood into one ce.


    "Kyros! Stop! Your rushing in! Don''t you have a n!" Cminus tried to warn Kyros, but it was as if Kyros could no longer hear him.


    The remaining drops all rushed towards the location of the chimera andbined into one.


    Kyros gave chase and madly released his force energy and shes at the chimera.


    The surge of power from the chimera allowed it to bite the Blood Golem, and it fled from Kyros, who was wildly chasing it.


    "Kyros! Stop!" Cminus shouted. Kyros was acting out of character. He was never this reckless. He had always won due o his superior knowledge, and chasing the chimera and forcing the Blood Cmity to bond all their blood was just stupid.


    If their drops of blood came together, the Blood cmity could easily overpower Kyros in powers and might. Especially since Kyros didn''t have all his Cores with him, nor does their circumstance give Kyros the luxury of preparing and channeling his powers to make the previous attacks that could hurt level thirty warriors with high vitality stats.


    SLASH!


    Kyros sent another sh full of True Cut and was draining Kyros from his energy.


    The mad attacks contained all his Force Energy and his Source Energy as now being expanded.


    "No! It can''t be! Did Kyros drink too much blood that it allowed his Dark Maddening to take root?" Cminus realized.


    The three blood of the Blood Cmity might have been too much for Kyros. And since Kyros devoured the three blood drops with such haste, it would have been too much. Evenpared to the blood drop that therge orc had, the purity of this blood was just on another level.


    Most of what therge orc got was sent back here to cultivate the pureblood. So the two were on different levels. And Kyros just drank all three drops.


    Strange darkness was covering Cminus''s entire soul, and his vision grew dimmer and dimmer. No matter how much he shouted and tried to warn Kyros, and even when Cminus tried to use his abilities, it did not have any effect.


    But as the darkness covered him, Cminus now recognized the power of Darkness here.


    "This is... his unassable darkness! Kyriachos!"


    As Kyros continued to chase, a darkness began to shroud his body. His thoughts and vision vanished, and Kyros found himself falling into deep darkness.


    As Kyros fell, he saw onest notification before losing thest remnant control he had over his body.


    [Form of the Fallen Nephilim acquired.]

 Chapter 151 - Before The Lord Of Darkness

    Kyros saw himself fall in deep darkness. The endless darkness of an abyss that appeared made him curious.


    There was a strange familiarity and even love from the darkness that he could not understand.


    Soon, Kyros reached the bottom of the deep darkness. It was as if he was underwater. Kyros stood up and slowly walked towards the source of the darkness that was nearby.


    "Hello, Nephilim. Quite a predicament you are in." The dark voice called out.


    The darkness continued to beckon, and Kyros felt as if this call was something he had to answer.


    Kyros looked to the sound of this voice with a nk expression. And he didn''t say anything but stood up and walked.


    "Hmp. Lost in the Dark Maddening? How weak. You must be confused about where you are and who I am."


    Kyros kept walking.


    "There are many forms of darkness in this universe. There are many forms of the abyss. Ever since creation was made, I was there when Hyperion severed the universe and divided all of creation. The expanding universe needed something to fill the void. It needed something to hold all of creation in the emptiness of space. And I am the answer."


    A voice spoke as Kyros walked in the endless darkness. Despite having not a single sight to see, Kyros kept on moving.


    "Out of my darkness came fort all of the Darkness. The Night was made. And the Night brought in many terrors. Sleep, Dreams, Nightmares came next. But the Darkness never stopped there. It gave birth to Secrecy, and that led to the birth of the Unseen. Through Secrecy and the Unseen, there came fort Wickedness and Evil. And all my children came from them. Desires, Demons and even Death."


    Kyros was walking and gazed at the grand distance. At the very far out ne of darkness sat the source of the voice. Like Hyperion, this being stood as a giant. But while he was so huge, the strange dimensions of the ce made it so that Kyros was like several millions of kilometers away. The darkness was moving, and each step that Kyros took was throwing him thousands and thousands of kilometers at a time.


    "I am Kyriachos. Lord of the Fallen. The True Night. Come and stand before me." Kyriachos called out.


    Kyros looked at the giant of a man with a nk expression and continued his march towards the source of the voice.


    "Yes! Yes! Come to me! I could be considered your father. Your father and mother conceived you to battle End. And such things are too grand and vast even for Fallen like me. They were bound to lose. But they still tried anyway. They captured me and forced me to give them the truth of the darkness and harness it. Along with others, we gave our fill of power to forge a being that can fight the End. But it''s ironic to see that though they sealed me to be your power, I will be your downfall." Kyriachosughed as he watched Kyros approach.


    Back in reality, the Blood Cmity kept running away as she tried to reforge her body. The Chimera''s body and the tigers'' blood were barely enough for her to create a body. She needed time and kept evading the wild shes that contained True Cut as these attacks would harm her.


    "That was surprising! How did this Nephilim learn True Cut? No one in the times of long ago had managed to tread on Hyperion''s Code!" The Blood Cmity cursed. Her soul was still in great pain from the surprise attack, and she had no choice but to merge to kill the boy. She had concluded that her power of charming the Nephilim wouldn''t work.


    The shes rang out, and the Blood Cmity focused on her escape. Soon, the form of the tiger or the chimera disappeared, and her new form was now that of a woman. The tiger and the Chimera were now her new body.


    "What exactly is this Nephilim thinking? After fighting me with such precise and calcted means, he does this?" The Blood Cmity frowned. She had seen how Kyros was able to kill the orc who served her. She knew that this Nephilim was a man who conserved his aces until the right time. But now, he was reckless.


    "Using True Cut will expend his Force, Magic, and Source energy. But why is he doing this?" The Blood Cmity took a closer look at Kyros''s nk expression.


    "Is he...?" The Blood Cmity thought.


    "That''s it! He drank my blood! Dark Maddening!" All of a sudden, the Blood Cmity suddenly charged at Kyros.


    Kyros swung his sword downwards, but the Blood Cmity intentionally divided her body in half, and the sword sh struck nothing.


    The two halves of the Blood Cmity rushed and punched Kyros with their arms that had a sharp point.


    BANG!


    Kyros flew with great speed at the strike. The stab didn''t prate deep but threw Kyros far away.


    "Tsk. Too soft. It looks like he''s wearing some hard armor underneath that Cloak. And here I thought that attack could easily piece through Azerret''s Cloak." The Blood Cmitybined her body and had a right arm that looked like a sharp spike.


    Kyros stood up, and underneath the dark cloak was the Vermillion Scale Armor, which managed to withstand the full piercing power of the two attacks.


    This time, the Blood Cmity rushed forward to make her attacks.


    Kyros rushed forward, and the two began to fight.


    With Kyros madly making wide attacks and using his True Cut ability, the Blood Cmity could only wait for the right moment to lunge in and make her attack.


    All of a sudden, Kyros fell on the floor and began to pant.


    "He used it all!" The Blood Cmityughed and rushed forward and stabbed Kyros.


    The arm of the Blood Cmity dug deep in Kyros''s chest.


    Kyros fell unconscious at the attack.


    "What a treasure. Azarett''s Sword and Cloak are mine now!" The Blood Cmityughed.


    "Now to devour your soul, Nephilim. With this, End has won!"


    But as her blood started to rage within Kyros''s body, the Blood Cmity realized that terrifying darkness was protecting Kyros.


    The truth was, Kyros was using up all his Force energy, his Magic, and his Ancient Source. All that remained was his Fallen Source.


    The darkness began to pull the Blood Cmity''s arm inside.


    "What?! No?! This Darkness! Lord Kyriachos!" The Blood Cmity felt fear.


    Unaffected by therge wound in his chest, Kyros saw himself continuously walking towards the darkness until he finally stood before the giant creature that was chained by many strange things.


    Finally, he was standing before the massive being and was within reach of Kyriachos.


    "You stand before the Lord of Darkness. Kyriachos. First of my name. All who tread after me assume my name. Do not be worried, Nephilim. I hate End as much as your parents did. I will win this battle in your stead, Nephilim. Though I was never a loyal servant to your parents, I still want Beginning to win. Rx." Kyriachos began to reach out and take Kyros.


    "With this, and the sacrifice of the Blood Cmity, I will return, and I will begin my fight to the End!" Kyriachosughed as his massive fingers were about to reach Kyros.


    "Ugh. You didn''t give me anything, Kyriachos. While your monologue exined a lot, you didn''t tell me anything about my parents!" Kyrosined.


    Therge fingers froze, and Kyriachos was startled.


    "You...! You''re awake."


    "Always had been. When the Dark Maddening began, I sensed a new form of darkness. It took control over my body, and I immediately made my Soul Console protect the consciousness of my soul. I knew from the beginning that you had poor rtions with my real parents and might be less informative about who I am. But you never mentioned my parents."


    "Oh? You have your father''s bravery and your mother''s wisdom. I''ll give you that. It''s true. But why aren''t you scared?"


    "Why would I be?" Kyros asked.


    Kyriachos had a dumbfounded expression.


    "...Because a gigantic being of True Darkness stands before you? You stand before the Lord of the Darkness. I am about to take your soul?"


    "... Can you?" Kyros frowned.


    "... Of course I can! What makes you think that I can''t?"


    "Hello? Divinity of Mysterion?"


    "Isn''t he the 6-1-9 guy that Cminus talked about when he was young?"


    "Erm... I''m not sure. But I think I get it! You are imprisoned, so you don''t know what''s been going on in my soul or body!. No wonder you''re so arrogant. I have the Divinity of Mysterion. Although I don''t fully grasp what it is, I know that it''s enough to repel you."


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Youmended my mother for being smart. You never thought that she wouldn''t have ced in a dangerous Fallen in my soul without giving me some contingencies to fight back or possibly kill you?"


    "..." Kyriachos was silent. That did make sense.


    Kyriachos suddenly made some grabbing motions.


    "I''m gonna getcha!" Kyriachos charged his arms but withdrew it at thest second.


    "...What are you doing?"


    "Die!"


    "..."


    "Herees my hand!"


    Kyros realized that theserge Fallen was trying to lure Kyros into a feint attack and would grab him as soon as he made his move.


    "Why are all gods and fallen so entric?" Kyros shook his head.


    "I''m gonna getcha for real!"


    "You are so huge that I can easily tell if you n to do a feint swipe or not. See? I can see every twitch of your hand."


    "Liar. How can you see in the dark?"


    "I''m a Nephilim."


    "So? What exnations are there that grant the Nephilim the ability to see through True Darkness?" Kyriachos challenged.


    "Plot armor."


    "..." Kyriachos was silent for a few seconds.


    "You sound like Cminus. You keep talking of strange things. But can you really see me?"


    He made another swiping motion, but his first hand rushed close in this time, and another came sweeping from the far left.


    "..." Kyros turned his head to see the massive iing swipe.


    "I can still see your two hands, you know..."


    Kyriachos immediately retreated his arms and began to grumble.


    "Are you done?" Kyros frowned. He began to wonder if this massive creature really was the Lord of Darkness.

 Chapter 152 - Before Creation

    Kyros had met Cminus, Hyperion, and now the Lord of the Fallen, Kyriachos.


    Cminus was the oddest of them all. But that was his special power as a Time God. Then Hyperion was extremely poor in making estimates for an Ancient God. He gave Kyros a little too much power, and that nearly killed Kyros.


    And now, here was the strange Fallen making feint grasping motions in front of him. The attempt to force Kyros to use whatever trump card wasughable. But then, Kyros noticed that this gigantic being was also chained and sealed.


    "So this Fallen is vastly weakened. Is this why I have so many seals? Was it really them their sealing?" Kyros frowned.


    "Hmm... Is this guy in me? Or have I been brought somece else as it happened with Hyperion?" Kyros ignored the Fallen and turned his attention to his surrounding.


    The Lord of Darkness noticed Kyros''s actions and cursed.


    "Hmp! I get it! Your bluffing! What powers do you have that can challenge mine? You don''t have anything, do you?"


    Kyros ignored Kyriachos and observed the space.


    "No. This is not in me. It''s like that vision with Hyperion. I was brought away. Too bad Cminus is not here. He should be able to figure this ce out." Kyros sighed.


    "Hy-Hyperion? You met him? Isn''t he dead?"


    "That''s what he said. He said that only gods or fallen would understand his state, and we who are not gods couldn''t. Even Cminus. He said some rather strange things before bestowing to me the First Blessing of his Code."


    Kyriachos looked at him with great horror.


    "Wait! I mentioned his name earlier! That''s it! You''re bluffing!"


    "He looked like a Sword on a throne with several wings."


    "... No, he isn''t."


    "Yes, he is. He has sixteen wings, if I''m not mistaken."


    "..."


    "Can you stop trying to kill me now? It won''t end well for you."


    "But that doesn''t mean anything. It''s impossible to understand his power."


    "His power is what gave birth to Force energy, if I''m not mistaken. When I held the sword, I grasped the meaning of what cutting is. You mentioned something about Hyperion being there to sever the world. I think I get it. He was the one that divided all of creation. He separated one and made many. But he could not have done that without force. So he created Force energy to perform cut."


    "Mo-monster!" Kyriachos''s expression was turning uglier and uglier.


    "But- but so what? That little power you have can''t cut me! So what if you grasped Hyperion''s Code?"


    "My full name begins with Kyros Soter. You bragged about your darkness. But I know that Cardinals and Saintess in the mortal world would assume thest name of Soter if they reach purity in light. So I''m assuming that Soter is the Ancient God of Light, right? You were the darkness that filled the void, but Soter was practically your weakness. You talked about how strong darkness is, but didn''t it all fled away when the light came to existence?"


    "...No it didn''t!"


    "Yes, it did. Even in the nes World where I''m from, the Nether world hides from the light!" Kyros argued.


    "... No, it''s not."


    "Why do I feel like I''m talking to a five-year-old?" Kyrosined.


    "Shut up! If you truly have Soter''s powers, then why are you so unchanged? I don''t sense even a bit of holiness around you!"


    "That''s because I haven''t awakened Soter''s powers yet."


    "You haven''t?"


    "No."


    "So you don''t have the power of light?"


    "No."


    "..." Kyriachos looked at Kyros for a second.


    "You''re not lying?"


    "Can''t you tell?"


    Kyriachos decided and made a grabbing motion towards Kyros.


    The massive hands covered the speck, which is Kyros.


    "And you had me all worried."


    "Idiot." Kyros waited for Kyriachos''s hands to touch him.


    And when it was about too...


    "Skotos Eis Phos." Kyros muttered.


    A shing light exploded out, and Kyriachos screamed in great pain. His entire body became light, and he suffered so much in that microsecond and pulled his hand back as fast as he could.


    "Im-impossible! Not even The First UnDivine has done it! How can you have it?!"


    "First UnDivine? Is that Vasilius, or is that Tyrannos?" Kyros asked as the bright light around him vanished.


    "How did you know those names?!" Kyriachos trembled.


    "It''s in my full name."


    "Soter, Vasilius, Tyrannos, and Steel?! You have all of those in your name?"


    "Yes." Kyros pondered. While he didn''t exactly have Steel, he was Fated with Steele. It was only then that Kyros realized that there was something strange going on and that this arrangement was greater than he assumed.


    "Four Codes?! You have Two Divinities and Two Corruption?!"


    "Corruption? Is that what they call it for Fallen? Well, technically, I have Soter, Vasilius, Tyrannos, Cminus''s Divinity, Hyperion''s, and yours."


    "What?! You have my name?"


    "Didn''t you know? I mean, aren''t you sort of sealed in me? This isn''t a vision like the one I had with Hyperion, is it?"


    "You don''t smell like my son! I can only sense the Fanged Fallen and the Charmed Fallen in you!"


    "I have Kyriachos. What can I say?"


    "Damn it! Damn it! Your parents! This is all their fault! They didn''t just seal me in you, but they managed to make my Code yours! How dare they?! No wonder creation broke that day you were born!"


    "So it was me?" Kyros recalled the tale that Cminus told about the ancient era where three Nephilims were born.


    "What about my brothers or sisters? What happened to them?"


    "Brothers and sisters? If you have siblings, I would have raged against your father and mother to death! There was only you!"


    "Hrm? Then why did Cminus said that there were three Nephilims?"


    Kyriachos was startled. He realized that Cminus was not a god anymore.


    Kyros noticed Kyriachos''s expression.


    "Are you going to tell me?"


    "No..."


    "Look. I''m kind of busy. I know in the real world that Blood Cmity is trying to kill me. I fell into a Dark Maddening because I drank her blood. I''m guessing that doing so allowed me tomune with Darkness and triggered your sealed power in me. Like Hyperion, you pulled me in here, but this is probably within my own soul considering you mentioned that you could somehow surn or rece my soul. But honestly, you can''t. I have several Divinities in my Soul. So instead of that, why not help me out? With my Divinities, it would be possible for me to find you and even free you!" Kyros exined.


    Kyriachos was silent.


    "... Fine."


    "You''ll help me?" Kyros was surprised.


    "I can''t really do anything much, can I? It seems that going against you is stupid." Kyriachos sighed. He sat down in a much morefortable position as he gazed back at Kyros. His entire body was still in pain from transforming into light.


    "Divinity of Myterion. So that''s what those gods were cooking. To think I was one ingredient!" Kyriachos cursed.


    "This is great!" Kyros ignored kyriachos''s depression.


    "Hyperion chased me off the moment he bestowed his First Blessing on me. But since Time seems to stop here I have a few questions that I want to know."


    "Fine. Shoot your questions."


    "Alright. Let''s start with the birth of the Nephilims. Cminus said that three Nephilims were born. Where are the rest?"

 Chapter 153 - Before The First Being

    Kyros and Cminus had always wondered why he had three souls. But, unfortunately, Hyperion didn''t give him the chance to ask any questions and just bestowed the power and gave vague advice.


    But now, Kyros was talking to one of the Fallen whose name he bears! This was the chance.


    Kyriachos thought for a bit and decided to word his answer properly.


    "Cminus saw wrong. Or rather, he remembered wrong. He is no longer a God. So he couldn''t understand even if he looked back in his memory. There weren''t three beings born that day. There was one."


    "One? But why did he saw three?"


    "You are trying to understand eternity with your mortal understanding. You think this vision takes ce in your soul, right? The answer is that it is in your soul, but it is also somewhere else. You are witnessing something within your soul, but this ce is not in your soul. Thews of matter change for gods. You are both in two ces at the same time. When Cminus saw three, he actually saw one. A trinity."


    "Three souls. Cminus saw three souls! The three souls in me!" Kyros realized it.


    "Correct. And it makes sense. You were forcibly created. You have Corruption and Divinity in you." Kyriachos exined.


    The concept of Corruption and Divinity was already discussed by Cminus during his two-year lesson.


    The power that Gods of all sorts had were generally referred to as their ''Divinity.'' The Fallen would have ''Corruption.'' When a cultivator tries to pursue or learn either a Divinity or a Corruption, they tread on that God or Fallen''s Code.


    The Age of the Heretics had Greater Gods and Fallen that walked on both Divinity and Corruption, creating a great imbnce. Gods only had Divinities, and Fallen only had Corruption. But the mortal beings that the Gods created in their Divinity, such as the Sprite, the Elves, the Angels, soon intermingled with the monstrosities crafted from the Fallen in Corruption.


    Cminus exined how angels married devils and produced humans.


    He gave romantic shoujo-esq stories of how elves mingled with the Fanged races to produce the Vampires.


    There were even Greater Gods who fell in love with the sons of Corruption and birthed Dragons.


    He gave many other stories that epassed all cliche genres, from the harem to the reverse harem to the darker tails of stealing the girl or boy from their lovers.


    Cminus detailed how more and more races appeared as time passed. The sons and daughters born from these unions produced the numerous races that Kyros knew of.


    Each race was capable at treading on the Code of either Divinity or Corruption, depending on their heritage. And that led the Gods and Fallen to interfere and create a grand seal that ended the Age of Heretics.


    "Those three were my souls? It contained Divinity and Corruption. But what dies my third soul contain?" Kyros marveled at the implication of his three souls.


    "Don''t ask me. The Battle Against End is that horrifying. Right now, anything regarding that process is sealed. Cminus even took part in that process."


    "He took part in it?! He said that many gods tried to stop and kill the three Nephilims!"


    "He doesn''t remember. But he was part of the process of creating the Nephilim. How do you think you reached this time even though you were born back after the Age of Heretics?"


    Kyros was amazed at Kyriachos''s revtion. Cminus was actually involved in his birth and didn''t even know!


    "It''s not surprising. You''d think that Cminus, being the God of Time, would be among the first of the Ancient Gods, right? But he''s not actually that strong. Hyperion and I are ssified in the same category. Ancient Gods and Fallen like us are called Beings that Are. Cminus and many other Ancient Gods, including Ancient God Fate, belong to a ss called Beings that Has Come. But your parents and those that have the power to change the memory of beings on Cminus level and even distort mine are known as Beings that Were. These Beings were present even before the First Being came to be."


    "Before the first being? Talking to you feels like going on a psychedelic mind trip across time itself." Kyros scratched his head.


    "It''s a concept that you can''tprehend because it transcends all science and limitations you are born and live in. Time itself isn''t linear for us. We live across multiple points in time. And who knows, if you do survive, you may soon find your other selves in the past and in the future. So you need to be that much to fight End anyway."


    Kyros felt his head hurt. He was trying to understand it, but as these things exceeded whatmon knowledge can achieve, his attempts at figuring this out only led to a headache.


    "Don''t bother figuring these things out. The smarter you are, the more stupid you will be when trying to understand it."


    "Alright. Are there any existing Beings that Were now?" Kyros changed the subject. If there was anyone who could answer his questions about End and his Destiny, it would be these powerful beings.


    "None. They have moved on to a ce that even I cannot reach even if you free me."


    "What if there are two of your kind? What if you and Hyperion were to work together."


    "It''ll probably be a miracle if you find another living Being that Are that is as alive as I am. Soter, Vasilius, Tyranus, and Hyperion are already dead. Don''t put your hopes up even though you met Hyperion. They are really dead. As dead as humans can be when you cut off their heads. Whatever means you found to reach out to them are things prepared by the Beings that Were. Of course, meeting me was because I pulled you in when I sensed the darkness. I''m awesome, you know."


    Kyros rolled his eyes.


    "What about my parents? Who are they?"


    "It''s not that I won''t tell you. But I can''t. Your parents are Beings that Were. They sort distorted even my attempts in trying to retain that memory."


    "Then what do you know?"


    "I know that your father and mother exist. I know they sealed me here. I have certain guesses as to what they can achieve. But other than that, I don''t know anything about them. In fact, no one can. Not anymore. Ever since they began their plot to fight End, it''s impossible even to know them."


    "Why?"


    "I am not sure. Think about it this way. You have seen Cminus, who is Time itself. Yet, he is even weaker than me. You have met Hyperion, who cut creation and divided creation, and the great me, who is the cause of darkness. A Being that Were is much stronger than us. After all, they created us. And they have powers that define grander things. If they choose to hide something from us, we can''t really do anything."


    "I guess it was too much to ask. Then can you at least tell me who End is? And who is Beginning?"


    "Those two are even moreplicated! If I can''t say anything useful about your mom and dad. How much more those two!" Kyriachosined.

 Chapter 154 - Before Destiny Makes His Move

    Kyros wasn''t mad. He was just disappointed.


    "So in the end, even if I talk to being that was literally there when creation began, I still can''t get any clear answer?"


    "It''s not my fault! I''m just Darkness!"


    "But you said you could feel something!"


    "I''m a special case. I know of End because Darkness exists there. I can sense its will and its desire to enve all. So you could say, I could see theing tribtion because it moves in the Dark. But other than that, I can''t tell you anything more as to the who''s, whys, the whats, and the hows. I just feel it. My Code allows me to know of it, but I can''t exin it."


    "Can''t you tell me anything useful then?"


    "Well... As their name goes, I think one is the God of Beginning, and the other is the God of End. So they could be one god. A Duality."


    "???" Kyros was now even more confused.


    "A duality? Why would they fight then? That doesn''t make sense! End and Beginning are one?"


    "I''m just guessing! It fits their names. One cannot be without the other!"


    "How does that even work?"


    "Am I a dual god? Shouldn''t you know better?"


    "What does that mean? Why would I know?"


    "Jeez. Because you are a trinity! If there''s anyone that can tell me what that means, it should be you!"


    Kyros didn''t know how to respond to that question.


    "In-In any case. It sounds as if Beginning and End are Beings that were just like my parents." Kyros decided to ignore the statement. He couldn''t even understand what it meant for him to be a trinity.


    "I don''t know. Your parents were the ones who sealed me here, so this Darkness remembers. But it''s also possible that Beginning and End are chief Gods and Fallen who surpasses that level! As Beginning''s chosen champion, it''s really your job to figure that out. Your journey has just started, Nephilim. I can see why you are the chosen hero that this entity called Beginning will use. But... then again, you''re fighting something that shakes the darkness itself. Your current strength only seems adequate to fight it and give us all a chance."


    "This is just like Hyperion''s advice." Kyros sighed.


    "What I do know because of my Code is that I should do whatever it takes to stop End from winning. Because if not, it will truly be ''the end of life as we know it."


    Kyros could not help but sigh. Although he had some revtions, it wasn''t enough. The grand mystery of Beginning and End or his parents remained unsolved.


    "So it seems I have to figure this out more by awakening my other Divinities or Corruption as you called it."


    "The Divinity of Gods, and the Corruption of the Fallen. To fight End, you will need both. After all, the war between the Greater Gods and the Ancient Gods has shown you that you will be soon facing Gods who have turned their backs against their allies. This is definitely the work of End. Even my sons and daughters who wield my darkness have sumbed. I did all that I can to stop them, but perhaps it is in their nature to follow End." Kyriachos sighed as he gazed at the distant darkness with a mncholic expression.


    "I''ll see what I can do. But most Fallen will definitely be my enemy. Even this Blood Cmity is a sign that Destinymands some great dark forces. I''m not expecting much, but I might as well ask. Do you know about Fate and Destiny?"


    "Fate and Destiny, huh? I actually know a bit about them." Kyriachos smiled.


    "You do?"


    "Of course! They are Beings that Has Come! I''m far stronger than them. You should be fighting between the two of them, right? Let''s put it this way. Fate sides with Beginning, Destiny sides with End. Fate is the power to decide things from the Beginning, while Destiny is the power to decide what the End of this something is. It can be life,s, gods, fallens, anything. Both work hand-in-hand, but in this great conflict, these two ended up fighting against each other. The reason why I assumed Beginning and End is a duality is that Fate and Destiny are a Duality."


    "So they are one god?!"


    "No. They are two gods."


    "But... They are a Duality. Shouldn''t they be one?"


    "No. They are definitely two."


    "... I can see why Cminus went insane."


    "You are thinking in mortal logic again. You are a Nephilim! You should think beyond what you can see, touch and experience. What you are, is a pawn of Fate. And that Blood Cmity is one of the pawns of Destiny. And it''s as if these two forces are ying Chess against each other. I believe Fate and Destiny be one the Key yers that decide this battle. I recall that all the Gods and Fallen all helped Destiny and Fate in this grand wager."


    "But isn''t Ancient Fate dead?"


    "That doesn''t really stop the match. It only makes it harder for Fate to win. Think of it this way. I am Darkness. And I am sealed. Yet even though the Lord of the Fallen has been captured, Darkness continues in the universe."


    "Yeah. Why is that? If Cminus lost his Divinity, how can Time and Continuum continue?"


    "Because their Codes have been passed on. Right now, there are Gods and Fallen that hold on to Darkness, to Time, and so on. Of course, for Fate, who is dead, it bes a matter of trying to gain all of her power, just as how many are after Cminus''s power right now. You should be worried that Fate and Destiny are constantly fighting, and Fate is on the losing side. Their battle is like a chess match. One cannot immediately act while the other is moving. But because Fate''s powers are now being pulled by End, Destiny has more movespared to Fate. And frankly, I know that Beginning only has a few moves left if wepare it to the ongoing preparations that End can make. So you have to make the most of everything before Destiny makes his move!"


    "So these things are linked with each other, huh? It seems that I should stop pursuing those answers now. I still have the fight to finish." Kyros sighed.


    "You have no more questions?"


    "More or less. Any questions I have would only leave me with confusing answers, and I''ll get constant headaches in overthinking them. My high INT stat finally shows its weakness." Kyros closed his eyes and tried to search for his real body.


    "What exactly is your Code? It seems that it can only exist when I drain my other souls. And I seem to lose control of this power. I can''t even use Skotos Eis Phos! And that''s very confusing considering I managed to use it and hurt you in this realm." Kyros frowned.


    "Well... That''s the thing. If you leave this ce, you still won''t be in control of your body. The darkness that controls your body right now is separated from your mind and soul! I can send you back to your body, but you won''t be able to control it anyway! Even with your ability to turn Darkness into Light it won''t work. Because your current body is in a state of total separation. You also don''t have the Force, Magic or Ancient Source to cast that spell."


    "What are you saying?" Kyros frowned.


    "I''m saying you can''t get back to your body," Kyriachos exined with a serious expression.

 Chapter 155 - Before You Were Born, I Am!

    Kyriachos was in no means an evil being despite being the Lord of the Fallen. When he was born together with the many beings, he was a necessary ingredient to form the universe. And even though he could tell that the Divine and Corrupt parents of Kyros were the ones responsible for sealing him, he never really had bad intentions on Kyros.


    "Why do you think I wanted to supnt your soul back earlier? It wasn''t just me being cruel, but I expected that you wouldn''t be able to get out of here anyway." Kyriachos exined.


    Kyros closed his eyes once more and concentrated. He began to frown. It was as if his body was not even there!


    "Why is it like this? Dark Maddening shouldn''t be that bad. Cminus is also there! He should be able to help me!"


    "It''s not that simple! Nephilim. You underestimate my Darkness. It can never be tamed. You summoned my Darkness from the depths of your soul The Dark Maddening you suffered isn''t the usual kind. You drank the blood of a being that rules all Fanged and all creatures of charm!"


    "But I already drank their blood! The maddening should not be that terrifying! I have awakened the Corruption of Fanged Fallen and drank the powers of the Charmed Fallen!"


    "Exactly. Do you know why we call the Fallen''s power Corruption? Because of that. Although you are a Nephilim, it doesn''t mean you have mastered Divinity and Corruption. So I figured that''s why you had the third soul. One that can bnce between the two."


    "Bnce? You mean being of pure light is also bad?"


    "I am not of the light. You''d have to ask Soter about that. But in general, we who are sources of Light and Darkness are immune to our own madness. But you are just a young little mortal with no powers to contend against the Darkness. And worst of all, you awakened my Darkness! The one that is the source of Separation!"


    Kyros was silent. He felt as if his understanding and estimations of the powers that Gods and Fallen had been severely limited.


    "Tell me about your Code. Maybe I can figure something out."


    "Figure something out?" Kyriachosughed.


    "I am the Abyss itself, the Darkness that Separates. No one has wielded my darkness and maintained their mind and sanity. It will empty your mind and drain them! It''s probably possible for you to wield my Code and be in control, but right now, you are just too weak andck the power of other Divinities and Corruption to contain it! That was one reason why I intended to take over your soul and had been very calm in answering your questions. You and I already got off on the wrong foot, but if you are going to be trapped here for all eternity, might as well build rapport, right?"


    "There has to be away."


    "Well, the first one is by me. Because unless you are me, you won''t be able to pull yourself together in that darkness. Your other option is to awaken Soter''s power. Maybe awakening her Divinity will allow you to have a surge of Light that would give you some mana to cast spells. But then again, the issue is that your body has engulfed itself in darkness, and it''s even possible that if I send the soul back, you''d be rejected, and your soul will be in an out-of-body situation. Which is even more terrifying as that Blood Cmity can eat you."


    "What if I cast Skotos Eis Phos here? If I get the purest Dark, wouldn''t it be the purest light? Hyperion''s severed the universe. You created the gap to preserve the separation of entities and beings, so Light is attempting to unify that gap. Dark separates, but light unites! Of course, it bnces itself with Hyperion''s Severance and your Separation. It aims to restore a tie but not make entities and beings one again, but to unite them!" Kyros exined.


    "... What?" Kyriachos frowned.


    "Healing, hope, trust, love? Aren''t they all attributed to Light? You separated everything. Light brings people back together. They don''tbine and be one, but it links them! That''s what Light is. If I release that light as you bring me back to my soul, it should allow me to dissipate the darkness and help me link with my soul!"


    Kyriachos had a very confused expression.


    "That''s what Light is?" Kyriachos had a doubtful answer.


    "... You Fallens are very exhausting people to talk to. Just give me some Dark power."


    "No way I''m touching you. That feeling of having my darkness be light is too painful!"


    "Don''t touch me then. Direct dark energy to me."


    "You want me to shoot you with my dark energy? Can you even turn them into the light? I don''t think that you would be so skilled at doing those things to my attacks!" Kyriachos rified.


    "Don''t worry! Didn''t you wonder why I was able to turn your darkness into light when you touched me? It''s because you are a part of me! Wasn''t it your darkness that magnified my Dark maddening? So this power you have is theoretically under my control. I think that''s what those seals are. I don''t have the power to convert other external sources of darkness, but it should be possible if it''s anything within me. So anything from you can be converted as we have seen earlier. Skotos Eis Phos should work on an attacking from you."


    "But you do understand the risk. You are only a small wisp of conscious soul! This isn''t a vision. Your soul seeped into this ce where I am sealed. It''s one thing when I touched you earlier, but to shoot you with pure dark energy? It could kill you! And not only will your soul disappear, but I won''t even have the chance to leave this ce!"


    "Then it means End was fated to win." Kyrosughed.


    Kyriachos looked at the young man, who showed no fear. Instead, he sensed to form of hesitancy in Kyros''s eyes.


    "Alright. Let''s hope that your parents made enough preparation. But if this works, it means you will have the means to visit me. Promise to visit me here." Kyriachos sighed.


    "I promise, Grandpa."


    "... You think that I''d be offended, but I was one of the power sources that forged you, so... in terms of creation, I am your grandpa. Anyways, let''s hope this works. Pay attention, Grandson. I''ll show you the concept of Dark through this." Kyriachos raised his arm and gathered dark energy.


    Kyros could see the surge of power and finally saw the true power of Darkness.


    "Separation can only be achieved through distance. The Concept of True Cut severed the oneness of creation. Other Divinity and Corruption created the force and impact to send theses away from each other. The Darkness filled the gaps between the space. My darkness had another role after it filled the emptiness and became space itself. My darkness held the many gxies away from each other. And to keep them apart from each other, I harnessed the only spatial force that could pull and stop things from constant motion. I set the limits and created the circuits of theses. And that force to create motion was created. The powers of Devour that all Fallen have are derived from this. For to keep the heavens away from each other, I created this. Gravity."


    The majestic power of darkness was revealed.


    "Apart from True Night, this is my other Code. True Devour. Better survive this Nephilim. Let''s hope your Mysterion is something my darkness can''t swallow!" Kyriachos shot the dark energy to Kyros.


    A small ck hole was thrown towards Kyros.


    "Time to ride the wave." Kyros smiled as he watched the ck hole fall on him.


    Back in reality, not a second has passed since the Blood Cmity had stabbed Kyros in the chest. The darkness seeped out of Kyros''s body, and the Blood Cmity was trying to pull away from her arm as she sensed the Code of Kyriachos.


    "True Devour! What is this man?!" The Blood Cmity shouted as she severed her hand to abandon the point that was dug inside Kyros''s body.


    The darkness seeping out of therge hole in Kyros''s chest began to devour the severed arm. It wasn''t even a second, and the arm was gone, and the chest of Kyros returned. But this time, Kyros''s entire body was covered in a strange darkness.


    The mad Kyros red at the Blood Cmity.


    "You dare fight me in a contest of devour? You might have True Devour, but you are too weak Nephilim whelp! Before you were born, I was already a saint!" The Blood Cmity roared as she harnessed arge amount of her Soul Blood and revealed her monstrous form.


    Four carapace-like ck wings appeared behind her, and it grew hundreds of red teeth and had a strange muscle-like firmness as if it was the insides of arge mouth. It was like arge petal with the Blood Cmity standing in the middle like the center of a flower.


    At that exact moment, Kyros''s soul finally returned.


    The darkness still engulfed most of Kyros, but the darkness in Kyros''s eyes suddenly vanished and revealed his human eyes.


    The n worked. Kyros managed to link with his soul. And the small surge of light restored a lot of Kyros''s magic points.


    It was enough.


    The massive mouth began to bite at Kyros and covered all of Kyros''s retreat.


    "How arrogant. Little girl, Before you were born, I am." Kyrosughed.


    FLASH!


    A massive wave of bright light erupted and covered the entire area.


    The shrill cry of the Blood Cmity echoed out as Kyros''s entire body was releasing an intense light that he shone like the sun.

 Chapter 156 - Before The Main Body

    From the purest darkness that made up space that covered the entire universe, the brightest light shone.


    It only appeared for a split second as Kyros felt his entire body being drained of his magic pool. The Fallen Source of Kyros was also being drained.


    The Fallen Source that Kyros had was also used up. As a result, his 152 points dropped to 6 as the conversion ate up a huge amount of his darkness.


    Kyros was without Force energy, magic, Ancient Source, and his Fallen Source was almost spent. If he lost these six points, he would die from losing all energy in his body. With very little energy left, Kyros lost his bnce and fell.


    The first thing Kyros did was look at the form of Blood Cmity.


    "Still alive?!" Kyros cursed.


    "That woman took the Kyriacho''s dark-turned-light and still survived!" Kyros began to crawl towards the woman slowly.


    "Kyros! You''re back!" Cminus was relieved.


    "Yeah. I was too arrogant. I shouldn''t have drunk her blood. I met Kyriachos because of that, though."


    "Kyriachos?! The Lord of the Fallen?!"


    "Yes. Unlike Hyperion, that Fallen seems to be sealed in me!"


    "Sealed inside of you?"


    "Yes. He wanted to take over my body, but we ended up bing friends, I guess."


    "He was sealed in you, tried to devour you, and is now your friend. Did Kyriachos have... nine tails?"


    "Can you please be serious! We almost died there! Anyway, he helped me return here. We''ll talkter. I need to recover my strength!" Kyros exined as he kept crawling towards the burnt features of the Blood Cmity.


    "You... That power...!" The Blood Cmity regained her consciousness and was crawling back. Her wings were burned off as she used the wings to shield her from the st. But the power was still too much for her to resist, and it tore through her wings and began to purge her soul.


    "Just give up, girl. Be happy that you made me fall into such dire straits." Kyrosughed as he continued to worm his way towards the barely moving body of the Blood Cmity.


    "I should say the same thing to you." A cold and angry voice was heard behind Kyros.


    Kyros was startled at the sound and gathered all the remaining strength he had to push him upwards.


    A powerful force struck the ground where Kyros was lying down.


    BOOM!


    An explosion of darkness urred under Kyros and sent Kyros flying to the side and crashing on a nearby pir.


    Kyros spat out a lot of blood as he slid down into a seated position. In his view, he could see the attacker.


    It was the Blood Cmity. She had a simr form from her soul avatars. The only difference was that this subus looks frail and thinner, and she had two blood stomps near her shoulder as if the wings she had before were ripped off.


    "There was another blood drop?!" Kyros gritted his teeth. He had already sensed all the blood droplets of the Blood Cmity, and this one wasn''t among the counted. Kyros had explored a good part of the mountain through his Coven and the reports of Grugnyr. With their help, he believed that there were no other towns, viges, or toons that the Blood Cmity might have attacked. Kyros had constantly beenmunicating with Grugnyr, who was now in the main fortress and was invited to discuss with the orc leaders what he saw.


    The orcs discussed andid out all the troops they had and knew that there were no other areas that the Blood Cmity attacked.


    Kyros paid careful attention to this since the possibility of the Blood Cmity having another Avatar would lead to his death. And even when he attacked the Soul avatar and made the other scream in pain, Kyros was careful to count all of them.


    So the appearance of another was surprising. But as Kyros took a more careful look at the Blood Cmity, he realized what this was.


    "The main body!"


    The Blood Cmity absorbed the weak avatar before her and drank all of its blood.


    She nced at her hands and frowned.


    "How pitifully weak. I don''t have much blood remaining, thanks to you. I''m even weaker now than when I was sealed back then." The Blood Cmity cursed. She turned towards Kyros and began to walk slowly. As she approached, she began to reach out on the strange wounded stomps right over her back to seal the wound.


    "You nearly got my blood that I even had to sacrifice my wings to send that attack. And you''re quite dextrous to dodge that attack!" The Blood Cmity continued toin. The wound on her back was closed.


    "Growing cks wings take a lot of effort, you know. And yet, to save my self, I had to force my way out of that Chrysalis and ignored those chains that bounded my wings! But no matter. After I beat you, I''ll just connect those wings again."


    Kyros was silent. He had very little strength to move after exerting himself.


    "On mymand, Cminus." Kyros quietly ordered as he gazed defiantly towards the approaching Blood Cmity.


    "How did you get out of your seal?"


    "That was thanks to you. Unfortunately, your light attacked damaged the seals in this ce. These Pirs consonantly disrupt the flow of Fallen Source in my body by siphoning it. But these many pirs that seal me use spells of the Dark alignment to make sure that I cannot use my soul avatars to destroy the pirs. And while it is very resistant to other dark magics, the light you released easily destroyed those seals from the outside and allowed me to harness energy again." The Blood Cmityughed as she pointed towards the ce behind her where she was sealed.


    Because of the illusions, Kyros didn''t see the very location where the body of the Blood Cmity was.


    Threerge pirs were carrying arge ck metallic sea. In the middle of these three pirs were the shattered remains of arge crystal-like rock. This chrysalis contained the real body of the Blood Cmity.


    Kyros could see that two wings were hanging on the chains tied to a dark metallic seal.


    With one look, Kyros knew what had happened. The Blood Cmity immediately broke out of her seal as Kyros was so near her Avatar. She was so desperate that she charged forwards and shot the dark at Kyros. But as she forcibly pushed herself forward, she ignored the fact that she was still bound to the seal. This caused her dark wings to be yanked off as they remained attached to the chains.


    "I''m not sure If I should hate you or thank you. You did make me suffer great pains in my soul. I haven''t been so hurt for a long, long time. Even those who sealed me here did so without harming me. You sliced up my soul, ate a portion of it, and purged another portion. But on the other hand, your the reason why I managed to break the seal. It would have taken me a long time to get out." The Blood Cmity moved closer to observe Kyros''s body.


    "I wonder. Should I eat you now? You appear to be on death''s doors. You''ve run out of Force Energy, Magic, and Source Energy. But that light is quite powerful. I don''t want to taint my tongue with holy energy." The Blood Cmity mused.


    "On the other hand, you bear the power of Lord Kyriachos and can control it! If I eat you, I''ll be the second Fallen being that has drank of Lord Kyriachos''s Code and not turn into a raging monster of destruction." The Blood Cmity''s expression turned to that of anticipation and delight.


    "Looks like it''s game over for me. Can you at least tell me who I am? Who are End and Beginning? Or at least about Destiny and Fate!" Kyros sighed and closed his eyes.


    "At least let me die knowing the truth."


    "Why should I tell you? After all those painful attacks, I should torture you. But since I don''t have the luxury, I guess dying with so many questions and regrets is better." The Blood Cmity stood before Kyros.


    Kyros was on the floor and was only a few feet before the main body of the Blood Cmity.


    The Blood Cmity immediately reached down to pick Kyros up.


    "Now!" Kyros ordered.


    [Cminus used Tackle!]


    Cminus used his abilities to lift Kyros''s palm upwards.


    He intentionally dyed and talked to keep the Blood Cmity busy as he checked on the descriptions of that spell.


    After confirming its use, Kyros then ordered Cminus to prepare.


    Kyros was drained of all power. But this was not only the power he could muster.


    Deep in Airom Vagat, in the Nephilim Sealing Temple, the beams of the Temple that gave light and the Holy aura that allowed Branze to study more about being a Pdin was swiftly being drained. The beams grew dim as the Holy Energy was used up.


    The magic was being transferred and was using the link of Kyros to send the concentrated energy that was ready for attack.


    As Kyros''s palm faced towards the Blood Cmity, Kyros used that attack.


    "[Holy Beam]!"


    ZAP!


    A powerful beam of light shot out and attacked the Blood Cmity.


    The Blood Cmity swiftly pushed her two hands forward and harnessed powerful dark energy on her hands, and created arge dark shield to block the iingser.


    BOOM!


    The beam struck the dark shield and prated through it, and caused more and more explosions.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The body of the Blood Cmity was soon blown away from the beam, and she was sent flying off and mming through several pirs beforeing to a stop.


    Kyros looked at the drops of blood that spilled on the floor as he shot the Blood Cmity.


    "Cminus. I might fall into madness again. But I have to drink that blood!"

 Chapter 157 - Before We Finish This

    The power of Holy Beam was majestically strong. The attack had prated through the dark shield. The Blood Cmity instantly allowed them to let herself be thrown back when the attack was about to prate the shield.


    Her calcted loss of resistance sent her flying but allowed her to escape most parts of the attack.


    She was flying back and crashing on numerous things.


    The beam itself kept on shoot out, and as Kyros''s arm was only raised through Cminus''s tackle, the attack swayed to the side, hitting many pirs and even attacked the location where the Blood Cmity was sealed.


    Kyros saw that his attack wounded the Blood Cmity, causing her blood to be spilled on the floor when the shield was prated through. Her arm was even severed in the process of the attack.


    Byt Kyros was without any other aces. The Holy Beam used up all the Holy energy in the Temple, and Kyros didn''t have any other energy left.


    He moved with great desperation and threw himself to the blood of the Blood Cmity that was on the floor.


    "Kyros. If you go into a Dark Maddening state, you may not necessarily meet Kyriachos!"


    "I know! And even If I do, I probably will still die as getting back my consciousness drains a lot of mana. But I don''t have a choice! Cminus, get ready to detach your soul and escape!"


    "No! There is still away. When you came back, I sensed that you only focused your consciousness on a very small part of your body. I can do that! My ability Time Keeper can allow preserving the time flowing in a very small area!" Cminus exined.


    Kyros smiled when he heard this. All forms of hesitancy disappeared, and he moved faster towards the blood. There was no hope! There was a chance to fight back!


    With a final pull from his two wearied arms, Kyros was right over the blood drops that were left. Kyros drank it all from the ground.


    The Dark Maddening didn''t immediately appear, and Kyros was slowly regaining a portion of his strength. The rich soul energy from the blood drops allowed Kyros to recover it quickly.


    "So not all of her blood is like those blood drops that can produce Soul Avatars." Kyros noticed that the blood didn''t have the same soul energy as the other blood drops had.


    Kyros was now able to move better and managed to stand up. He quickly moved towards the trail of blood that was one a distant part.


    With the Bloodied Sword being dragged on the ground, Kyros could absorb more and more of the blood as he was walking. Finally, he caught sight of his main meal. The severed arm of the Blood Cmity was in sight!


    Kyros ran like mad as he could sense dark energy rising behind the numerous pirs. The hateful cries of the Blood Cmity could be heard.


    "Kyros. The Corruption is getting worse. Even your Soul Console can''t defend it all! Should I use it now?"


    "Not yet! Save it for when I feast on that arm!" Kyros shouted as he rushed for the arm.


    The Blood Cmity appeared as she hurled arge rock towards Kyros.


    "Die!" The Blood Cmity shouted.


    The weakened body of Kyros could not find the strength to evade the iing rock. Even with his dexterity, he was just too weak to move.


    But as the rock was about to hit Kyros...


    [Cminus used Tackle!]


    SMASH!


    Kyros was pushed forward with a swift force and allowed Kyros to evade the rock.


    "Damn you!" The Blood Cmity roared and began to charge forward. Her body was slowly repelling the light energy that had entered and affected her soul and was slowly gaining the strength to move.


    "Cminus! Keep doing that! She''s having trouble harnessing dark energy from that attack!" Kyros ordered.


    [Cminus used Tackle!]


    [Cminus used Tackle!]


    [Cminus used Tackle!]


    Kyros was being thrown forward from the tackle, and Kyros focused on keeping his body up and not falling down to the ground. He was so weak that he knew stumbling down would mean death. The Blood Cmity would catch up.


    "Hurry! It''s not enough! She''ll catch up!" Cminus kept urging.


    "You''d have to distract her!" Kyros shouted as he readied his sword and took aim to stab the severed arm.


    With thest tackle, Cminus moved towards another area.


    The Blood Cmity drew closer and finally was able to run. She sprinted and began screaming as her remaining arm was covered in a thickyer of blood-forming a sword. She ran and was about to leap at Kyros when...


    [Cminus used Taunt!]


    "Blood Cmity! Your death is here!" Cminus shouted and changed his voice into a domineering and god-like sounding man with echoes and reverberating powers.


    The Blood Cmity was startled and changed the direction of the leap instinctively out of fear.


    "Who?!" She shouted.


    "Hmp! Let me ask you this, Blood Cmity! Does your menstrual blood for Soul Avatars?" Cminus questioned with great dignity.


    "Wha-What?!" The Blood Cmity was confused.


    "I can''t believe I got saved by such a stupid question!" Kyros''s curse was heard to the side as the Bloodied Sword drained the arm that it withered.


    The Dark Maddening began to take over Kyros''s body, but Cminus zoomed back in and activated it.


    "[Time Keeper]!" Cminus harnessed the amount of time he had saved since he learned the ability and created True Dy for a split second.


    Kyros''s right eye was all that remained as the other parts of his soul fell into the darkness once more.


    But it was enough.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!" Kyros shouted.


    A quick sh of light appeared, and the emerging darkness began to fade.


    The Blood Cmity cursed as she jumped back to evade the sh.


    But unlike before, the explosion of light wasn''t massive. Instead, it was more of a flickering light that immediately disappeared.


    [Skotos Eis Phos Level 2 reached!]


    "Your mastery in using it increased!" Cminus rejoiced.


    Unlike before, Kyros drained all the darkness and allowed it to explode into light. But this time, Kyros was able to create a flicker of light that weakened the powers of the Dark Maddening.


    Kyros could still feel the raging effects and began to harness the light energy. When Kyros drank the blood in the arm, Kyros divided the gained energy into his body and the Dark Core.


    When Kyros awakened Kyriachos True Darkness, his Dark Core had received several level-ups.


    And so, Kyros ced more of the energy of the blood there so that it won''t add the Dark Maddening effect. Then, with his Dark Core now having a substantial amount of energy, Kyros used Skotos Eis Phos to continuously purge the effects of the Dark Maddening in his body.


    Kyros retrieved amon shield from the Temple. His ransacks gave him several shields, and although he gave most of the powerful shields to his men and family, he still kept a few shields and spare weapons for himself.


    The shield was glowing with holy energy as Kyros kept releasing a holy light.


    "Now, Blood Cmity. We fight with my full strength." Kyros smiled.


    [Taunt activated.]


    The Blood Cmity gritted her teeth. The blood moved out of her body, and her arm wasplete once more.


    "So only a few parts of your blood has that Soul powers of yours. It makes sense. It would be too illogical if all your blood were like that. You''d probably be a Fallen by then." Kyrosughed.


    "I must say... I am rather impressed with your resourcefulness. And to think you have a wisp of the soul of a God in you."


    "God? Don''t you mean Fallen? Your senses must be confused. Who do you think talked to you earlier? It was Lord Kyriachos breaching the dark seals in my soul to distract you. But he has a rather curious question. Does your menstrual blood create Soul Avatars? I must admit, even though he is an entric Fallen, he does have some good points."


    "So it really was Lord Kyriachos. Then this is even better. If I feast on you, I will have Lord Kyriachos''s Code in me!"


    "Don''t bite on something you can''t chew." Kyrosughed.


    "Let''s begin! [Knight''s Charge]!" Kyros harnessed the Force energy and erupted forward.


    "Fool!" The Blood Cmity spun and did a powerful roundhouse kick with dark energy harnessed on her leg.


    BANG!


    Kyros was sent flying, but suddenly, the chains were thrown out as Kyros abandoned the wrecked shield that took on the full might of the kick.


    Kyros used the chains to throw him towards the wrecked altar, and he stabbed on the wing.


    "Fooled you! I was after this! Your wings!"


    [Deception activated.]


    [Taunt activated.]


    "Hahaha!" The Blood Cmityughed.


    "Wasn''t it you who said these words? Don''t bite on something you can''t chew?" The Blood Cmity continued tough as if Kyros did the most stupid thing.


    Kyros turned his attention to the wings on the ground and could see that the wings had no blood in them! There wasn''t even a trace of darkness in it!


    "I took all the darkness and blood from those wings when I broke out of that seal!"


    "S-s-so? Thi-this was my n all along!" Kyros defiantly dered.


    [Acting activated.]


    "I now know that you aren''t as full of energy as you im to be. Anyst words before we finish this?"


    "NEWT!" Kyros called out in First Wordnguage.


    "...? What?" The Blood Cmity was confused as to why Kyros suddenly spoke in First Word.


    "Worth a shot." Kyros sighed.


    "Anyway, let''s get it on!" Kyros stored his sword and sped his hands together. Bright holy energy appeared.


    "Take this! Proton Cannon!" Kyros shouted, and the Blood Cmity quickly raised her shield.


    "Just kidding. I don''t have enough power to shoot a canon. But I will use my powers to bend the light waves to turn me and my surroundings invisible like that hot member of that fantastic family. So prepare to get assassinated by a Pdin Assassin!" Kyrosughed.


    [Deception activated.]


    The moment the Blood Cmity ced down her shield, Kyros was no longer visible!


    "Damn you!" The Blood Cmity cursed as she was tricked.

 Chapter 158 - Before The Severing Of The Universe

    To fully cloak one''s self was nearly impossible to achieve among cultivators that were below Saint level.


    And yet, the Nephilim was able to do it! It was practically perfect! All traces of the Nephilim vanished.


    "Pdin Assassin?! To think that someone as righteous as you would end up using sneak attacks!" The Blood Cmity cursed.


    She used all of her powers to detect.


    The scent of Kyros had vanished. The Blood Cmity had a tremendous sense of smell that allowed her to smell creatures that were even a kilometer away. And yet, she couldn''t even find a whiff of Kyros the moment he turned invisible.


    "Where is he? How did he mask his scent? Is it through his holy powers? Or is it the darkness?" The Blood Cmity''s expression grew sour by the second. Finally, she closed her eyes and tried to search for Kyros''s location through another means.


    She began to search for traces of divine energy that Kyros was releasing had also vanished. And this was even more peculiar. When Kyros released his Holy energy, the Blood Cmity could constantly sense it and feel a painful, stinging sensation.


    "It''s not here! How is this possible? He must have lied to me! He must have used another element! He must be using wind!" The Blood Cmity concluded. It would have been impossible for Kyros to cast Holy Light and have no traces. The Blood Cmity had powerful Soul powers and was quite talented in sensing via the energy being released by his energy.


    She channeled magic towards her eyes to see just like the Golems and could detect magic energy through her eyes.


    But when she did, there was no trace of any forms of elemental magic.


    "This is not magic?!" The Blood Cmity cursed. It was just too bizarre! Even the strongest types of cloak would be detected through this kind of sight. And even if she won''t be able to see Kyros''s movements, the ripple of magic that moves through the wind should be visible!


    She used her other senses and extended the blood in her body to create a mist nearby. This way, any movements happening within the radius of her powers would be detected.


    A faint red cloud covered her, And he was slowly expanding the blood. Seconds passed, and nothing happened. But the silence only caused the Blood Cmity to be more and more cautious.


    Se had suffered so much from Kyros.


    When she first attacked her thinking, her illusions finally took root, but she received a powerful attack that caused her to lose three Blood Drops with the concentrated energy of her very soul!


    Just when she thought she won from the Dark Maddening, Kyros suddenly erupted his holy energy and damaged her remaining Blood Drops.


    And when she was unsealed and thought that Kyros was drained of all energy, Kyros managed to summon the strength to shoot a terrifying holy attack that caused her an arm.


    She was so weak that she would be hard-pressed to defeat a level 40 warrior with her current strength.


    And with the surging strength of Kyros that allowed him to use more and more of his attacks, the Blood Cmity was wary that if she slips and makes a mistake, she could die.


    "If it''s a battle of attrition, you underestimate me! I might have lost so much blood, but you underestimate the core of a saint!" The Blood Cmity began to keep his blood mist up and made a circr motion that was slowly expanding it to epass the area.


    "I''ll kill you!" The Blood Cmity calmly waited as the blood mist motioned outwards to scan for Kyros.


    Meanwhile... In the Nephilim Sealing Temple...


    Kyros appeared almost instantly.


    He immediately fell down as the teleportation happened.


    "..." Cminus was amazed.


    "I thought you were turning invisible!"


    "What? Why would I do that? That Blood Cmity is still too strong, and even though I got her arm, my magic pool, force, and source energy wouldn''t be able to defeat her anyway! The moment she said that she was unsealed, I knew that teleporting was possible. So I skedaddled out of there." Kyros weakly answered.


    He was so exhausted. Once more, he was nearly out of energy.


    It was all nned. The moment he was able to devour the arm, Kyros knew that fighting the Blood Cmity would end in his defeat. He had enough strength barely and began to plot his escape.


    "So you were nning to leave from the moment you ate the arm?"


    "Of course. But I decided to take a little something with me. The truth was, the moment I saw her figure where she had stomps, I knew that she left her wings. Back when I made you use Tackle to raise my hand to shoot the Holy Beam, I already nned on destroying the remaining parts of the Seal in case I can have a shot at stealing those wings." Kyrosughed.


    "You mean, you already considered that possibility?! But how? You thought you were going to die and even told me to leave if things got dicey!"


    "I was desperate, but that doesn''t mean I have to make other preparations. Redirecting my arm after your tackle to hit that seal with Holy Beam didn''t cause me much anyway. Back then, I didn''t know you could use Time Keeper in that way and assumed that I would meet with Kyriachos again. I didn''t know the next steps I could take, but that doesn''t mean that I shouldn''t maximize the current steps avable to me."


    Cminus was amazed.


    "Bruh. That was some quick thinking! The Blood Cmity damaged the seal when she forcibly broke out, so you even thought about shooting it down at that critical moment for the future possibility of taking it?"


    "Yes. i brought out a shield and intentionally attacked the Blood Cmity in that direction where I could easily defend an attack while allowing myself to be sent flying towards it. However, there was a chance that the wings still had some power that could harm me, so I attacked it first and tried to absorb any remnant Dark or Blood energy."


    "Right! The Blood Cmity thought you were trying to increase your energy by drinking more of her blood! Even I believed that!"


    "Yup. But I was just ying it safe. I knew that it didn''t have any blood or dark energy. The Blood Cmity is a unique being. So if she abandoned her wings, it meant it was something unique and differentpared to her other body parts. But still, if she were to detach it, she would naturally take all her blood and dark energy out of these bones."


    "You nned to steal it before escaping! But why? Could it be your n to assimte with these bones?"


    "Yes. Isn''t that how some Dark-Dependent races grow powerful? Vampires drink blood, but you told me, some races eat each other to gain not only the power but the bones and organs of their enemies."


    "That''s true. Since you are a freak, the odds are, you could do that!"


    "Even if I can''t, I should be able to manipte it with m dark cloak. I just need to figure more things out.


    No wonder you used various skills like Taunt, Deception, and even Acting!"


    "It wasn''t just that. What do you think she''s doing right now?"


    "You said you turned invisible... And then you disappeared. You talked about assassinating her! She must be... looking for you!"


    "Right. And since I''m not there, she will try harder and expend more and more of her soul. She''ll realize what had happened eventually. But she would have expended a lot. That was my goal. She''s wingless, depleted of blood and energy. Hopefully, the orcs will be more guarded. I already sent the location to Grugnyr, who is reporting the location of the Blood Cmity. And my Coven will begin attacking orc patrols outside of Airom Logat to make the orcs even more careful. This should buy us some time before the Blood Cmity regains her strength."


    "Amazing! Your INT stat clearly isn''t just for show! You''re like the aspect of wisdom itself!"


    "Yeah, about that... I had a talk with Kyriachos. I have so many things to talk to you about... But, Cminus, is there a god of Wisdom?"


    "Hrm? No. There isn''t."


    "..." Kyros expected this answer.


    "Hyperion who severed the universe. Kyriachos created the space and the concept of separation between the severed objects. Every aspect in creation was formed by the Beings that Are. And when you guys came along, you brought other concepts of life. The Beings that Has Come gave various limitations or additions to the reality of this universe. You brought True Time, which is the real passage of time of all creation. Ancient Goddess Fate was also the incarnation of Fate. So why isn''t there a God of Wisdom? Before Hyperion severed the universe, shouldn''t the concept of wisdom form? If not, how could Hyperion have learned how to cut?" Kyros challenged.


    Cminus was about to answer... When something in his memories was jolted.


    "You''re... right! That should have happened! And not just wisdom! Thought! Memory! Consciousness! These should have all appeared before the severing of the Universe!"


    "Here is my theory... I know my intelligence and wisdom aren''t something normal. I found out from Kyriachos that I bear the names of numerous gods because they instilled their power and Code in me. Not in the way Hyperion did, but for Kyriachos''s state, he was sealed in me. That''s why I bear his name. But in that name, my real mother and father aren''t mentioned. Can it be that my real mother, the ones who birthed me, is the God of Wisdom? Is that why her name is not written? Is that why you forgot?"


    Cminus remained silent, and various strange visions began to surface.


    "Ugh. Thinking about this hurts my soul!"


    "In any case, this proves what Kyriachos told me. You and all the gods and fallen have forgotten about them. My mother could be one of those gods and fallen who are ssified as Beings that Were!"


    "Beings that Were! That''s right! There were stronger gods! Gods above Hyperion... Why did I forget?!"


    "Let''s talkter. I can see my dad and uncle approaching. And they''re... with a Lizard?" Kyros could see the trio approaching on his mini-map and was headed for the Temple''s entrance.

 Chapter 159 - Before The War Of Orcs And Human

    Through the Temple''s ability, Kyros could see the trio moving in.


    "Did dad manage to ally with a Lizard Champion? And what''s with those wounds?" Kyros frowned.


    "Your family seemed to have gotten busy. I wonder how they managed to ally with a Lizard Champion? The fact that they got the Champion to move beyond the Golem City is already amazing! Your dad and Uncle look to be in no condition to fight, yet this Champion is rushing in and is willingly bringing them in!"


    As the trio moved closer, Kyros could hear the group''s discussion as they reached the area of the Temple.


    "Hm? I can hear them now. Interesting. I can hear all conversations within the area of the Temple when it leveled up!" Kyros was amazed. He could hear his father talking with his uncle and the lizard, and they were immersed in a deep discussion.


    "I wonder what they are talking about?" As he had nothing else to do, Kyros decided to eavesdrop.


    "So... Let me get this straight..." The Lizard Champion spoke seriously.


    "Lizard, is a Common Noun. But if I say Lizard Champion, it''s a Proper noun?"


    "Yes. Because the Lizard Champion is a proper title, right? Well, technically, Lizard is a Singr Noun." Aron added.


    "A Singr Noun?" The Lizard Champion frowned.


    "Singr?" Branze gave Aron an annoyed look.


    "Yeah. He''s talking about one lizard, right?"


    "Yes. But don''t confuse him. Listen, Champion. The word ''lizard'' is actually a Common Singr Concrete Noun."


    "Wow. A single word can have multiple ssifications? But... but I thought Proper Nouns refers to name and title. So why can''t Lizard be a Proper noun? Would Lizard be a Common Singr Concrete Proper Noun?"


    "No! It cannot be a Proper Noun! Because it''s not a name!"


    "But lizard is a name! My name is Lizard!"


    ".... Your name... Is Lizard?" Branze and Aron somehow manage to chorus at the same time, with the same tone.


    "Yes. I know about a hundred Lizards who is named Lizard."


    Aron was scratching his head.


    "This might be another one of those cultural things. You see, to us humans, we don''t call other people ''man'' or ''human''. That''s not a name we give our children."


    "So there are no humans with the name ''Man'' or ''Human''?"


    "..." Branze couldn''t answer.


    "I mean... statistically... there are people with those as their first name or family name..." Aron turned to Branze.


    "So... why can''t it be a Proper noun?" The Lizard Champion asked.


    Cminus was perking up as he heard this discussion.


    "Oh! I know! I know! Kyros, call your dad. I can exin the confusion! It''s a cultural problem and cannot be resolved by trying to educate the lizard champion with the grammar rules of ournguage!"


    "Like hell, I''m entering that conversation! Besides, that rule only applies to this world. I feel that Lizard Champion isn''t a Proper Noun, and I know that''s wrong in this world!" Kyros argued.


    "Yeah. I guess mixing my other incarnation confuses you of the rules my incarnation uses and those rules. Hrm... Frankly, even I''m not sure. Oh well. I''m sure the Author expects some of the readers to correct him, and he''ll retcon the Proper Noun thing in the future chapters. I mean, you can''t expect the Author to brush up on the eight kinds of nouns when he''s already swamped writing three novels, can you? He''s not even a native English speaker! Anyway, I''m wondering what the Blood Cmity is doing now?"


    "Draining her energy, of course. The fear I instilled on her on my numerous surprise attacks will push her to the limits of cautiousness." Kyros chuckled.


    "That''s wishful thinking, though. She IS the Charmed Fallen. You think Deception will work on her?"


    "I''m confident it did. Deception will work because I harmed her several times. Those lies are backed up with history. She will use her powers, and the more energy she wastes, the more time we buy for Airom Logat. This is Grugnyr''s challenge. I can see his Path in Fate. He has to develop his Path of Molding in this trip."


    "He would be an idiot if he failed. You already listed the numerous orc brigades you found that the Blood Cmity killed. The Coven had already informed Grugnyr of the details of their attack. Once the orc leaders see the truth of Grugnyr''s ims, they will surely tighten up security in this ce!"


    "I just hope it buys me enough time."


    "Time for what?"


    "The chaos in the Londs that the war between the orcs and humans is something that I must take part in. But a more important matter is to finish the necessary problems in this Nephilim Sealing Mountain and find Greater God Daradiel. I have a feeling that Destiny will lead the Blood Cmity to find this God."


    "So that''s why you''re very serious in dying the Blood Cmity! I''m sure it will work. It''ll be tough for Destiny to give the Blood Cmity any advantage in this situation."


    Back in Airom Logat...


    The Blood Cmity continued to maintain the mist that guarded her.


    She watched with caution and then realized that Kyros might have used this chance to escape!


    She was about to rush, but then, a cold chill ran up her spine as she envisioned an invisible sh that would sever her head off.


    "No sounds... No magic movements... This could mean he is still standing perfectly still! But if Iunch an attack and he''s not standing there... He might attack me when I am distracted!" The Blood Cmity cursed.


    Her blood mist began to move towards that area where Kyros was standing. But as she was doing that, she kept a wary eye on the areas behind her and had her shield up.


    The blood mist reached the area, and the Blood Cmity confirmed that there was nothing there.


    "You are mocking me!" She cursed and began to think.


    "He cannot move while in his cloaked form. I raised my shield. He must have used that chain of his to fly elsewhere and is secretly hiding somewhere where he knows I won''t check... but where would it be..."


    The more she thought, the more she hated her situation. She prided herself in being able to prepare a trap where she was confident innding the checkmate. But now, she was in a position that any action would put her into that dreaded ''check'' status.


    Heeding the warning of Kyros, the Coven immediately began to retreat.


    Diana took various weapons, swords, and bows that were in the outpost. Due to the number of raids, weapons were abundant.


    "Are you sure you can carry all that?" Diana asked Mechiel.


    "I''m still a vampire,dy Diana."


    "Alright."


    "Um... I just want to ask... So your son, Lord Kyros, defeated the Blood Cmity?"


    "No. He said he just managed to hurt her and severely weakened her. He told us to flee while he buys us more time." Diana exined.


    Scarlet, Avary, and Gregory quietly began to pick up the weapons. The moment they received Kyros''s warning, they have been very careful and secretly ryed the information to Diana.


    Diana told them to keep it a secret to Mechiel.


    "Is Lady Diana really serious?" Scarlet asked the three through their link. The three of them had their own chat group. Kyros promised that whatever chat groups they create, he would not spy or listen on them like some Big Brother watching everything they do or say.


    "Scarlet, we can''t trust anyone, especially since it concerns Lord Kyros. Lady Diana is right in assuming that this girl is still the Blood Cmity. This is why Lady Diana lied to her and didn''t tell her that Lord Kyros has already teleported back to the Temple." Avary answered.


    "But isn''t this too much? Lady Diana ns to have Mechiel fight in a very dangerous fight where she could die!" Gregory eximed.

 Chapter 160 - Before Airom Was Halved

    When the three young noble vampires saw the message of Kyros, they knew that they had to inform Diana of it without telling Scarlet. They were already wary of her.


    And so, while Scarlet distracted her, Avary and Gregory ryed the information, and Diana gave her ns.


    The chat group continued to ring with messages as the three kept on chatting.


    "Kyros ordered us to attack orc squadrons headed here as a Coven. And Diana wants us to use our Fate Challenger power to push her towards death. This is for the best. If she is the Blood Cmity, that scenario will allow her to show more of her powers." Avary replied.


    "Scarlet?"


    "I''m actually more worried about the rest. Gregory, you''d have to forgive me. Myas is in an even more suspicious situation!"


    [Seen by Gregory.]


    But Gregory didn''t reply. He could not deny the fact that Myas was associated with the Blood Cmity.


    "Actually... Avary... I am still iffy with Mechiel. But I''m sure Myas isn''t."


    "How certain are you?"


    "Fate protected her. I think I could sense it now. Fate and Destiny are against each other. I think Lord Kyros must have learned something and it''s helping me grow. I have a feeling that the Bowheart n is a n which is tied to Fate." Scarlet answered.


    "That... is yet to be determined." Avary answered.


    "Avary. Lord Kyros allowed her to join anyway. He must have his reasons."


    "Wrong. Martha forced Lord Kyros." Avary countered.


    The group chat was suddenly quiet.


    Meanwhile... Martha led the three H''s down the mountain and went to the secret path that they used to scale the mountain.


    "I can''t believe that Lord Kyros managed to hurt the Blood Cmity!" Hunter was amazed.


    "Yeah. If the Blood Cmity is a weakened Saint-level being, that is something far beyond our imagination." Helms admitted.


    "Lady Martha? Why do you seem to be so worried?"


    Unlike the trio, Martha had been frowning since she read Kyros''s report.


    "Kyros said that he met the Blood Cmity and presumed that it is a weakened Saint-Level being. And you rejoice because of his power? But I see it differently! The fact that Lord Kyros was only able to severely weaken this vampire and fled for his life means that we have enemies that even Lord Kyros can''t kill!"


    "But,dy Martha... Lord Kyros is not even a level ten warrior!"


    "You shouldn''t limit Lord Kyros by his level. It''s inly obvious that he has secrets that will shock us. Frankly, I wouldn''t be surprised to find out that Kyros is a son of a god! His knowledge, wisdom, and his resourcefulness are unmatched. Not even those mighty beings beyond the Minds could match Lord Kyros in that area! And yet, he lost!"


    "But that doesn''t change the fact that he is not even a level ten warrior!" Hems argued.


    "So? Fate or Destiny won''t wait for Lord Kyros to grow. If he fought a Saint, it won''t be long until we would have to fight one too! Destiny will lead us to those troubles!"


    It was only then that the three H understood Martha''s worry.


    "Hunter, Hems, Hemsey. We can''t forever be a burden to Lord Kyros!"


    We have to get stronger. You should have the mindset that we will soon witness a saint or a god challenging us. So unless you could fight a Saint, the Coven, the Steele Family, and Lord Kyros is doomed."


    The three H became silent.


    "Forgive me. The future fights I will lead you will be more terrifying. Our timetable to grow has shrunk.


    "We understand..." Hunter took the lead and answered.


    It was then that they could hear voices. As the stench in the area was great, the group couldn''t smell the human ves.


    "Myas!" Martha ran.


    They had finally met the ves who they left behind.


    "Lady Martha!" The ves eximed as they heard the shout.


    The group finally saw each other, and both groups were moving towards each other.


    "Sister!" Myas rushed and gave her sister a hug.


    "Sorry for leaving you. But we have to go. Let''s move." Martha immediately ordered.


    The group was always ready to leave and escape. They were afraid that orcs would use the path and had been in a constant state of fear. They were also suffering from the stench of the ce that even though they received an ample supply of food, it was too nauseating to eat.


    "Where are we going?" One of the ves asked.


    "We have received our order to move to Airom Vagat. We will meet with Lady Diana''s group. She just sent us a message about her route. Have you all memorized the instructions that these three talked about?"


    "Yes. Sir Knights Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey have already told us about the Steele family. We tested each other to pass the time and are confident in knowing all the history of the Steele family as well as the observations that the three Sir Knights have about the Steele family."


    "Good. We have to move now. But we may need to arm you all and prepare you to fight some orcs."


    "Fight?! But we''re ves! And we''re too weak!"


    "We''ll figure something out. We don''t have a choice. You can stay here or fight for your lives. That''s what it means to be a Steele anyway."


    The ves were silent. But Myas was the first to move.


    "Let''s go." Myas called out.


    "We have hope now! I''m sure they won''t abandon us to our deaths."


    "Myas." Martha smiled.


    "Yes, Sister?"


    "If you do anything odd, I might have to bite you or knock you unconscious. I love you, but I must protect my Lord. You could be a traitor, and you may not even know it. You understand, right?"


    Myas was stunned.


    The three H were even more surprised. They had been talking about this, but then Martha just went out and said it.


    "Just don''t do anything weird, alright?" Martha smiled.


    "Those vampires haven''t bitten me." Myas defended.


    "Irrelevant. The power of the Blood Cmity is too strong. She could control you without bitting you."


    "I understand. I''ll warn you if I feel anything."


    "Same goes for the rest of you. I''m actually surprised why my Lord agreed to save you. I was honestly pushing my luck. But his mercies shouldn''t be the cause of his death. Follow my instructions, or I''ll shoot an arrow through you myself."


    "Why is Lady Martha starting to sound as crazy as Lord Kyros?" Hems sighed as he sent a message to the three H''s group chat entitled, ''Our Lady Boss will be the Death of Us''.


    "What''s going on?" Martha suddenly murmured.


    The Three H''s reacted as Martha murmured.


    But then, Hunter felt it too.


    "Erm... Lady Martha...?" Hunter began.


    "What?"


    "I feel there is something we have to do..."


    "Me too..."


    "Me three..."


    "What''s going on? Maybe Scarlet could easily feel this with her superior Path of Foresight. But how can all of us sense this?" Martha frowned. She knew that their Foresight should not have been enough to give them such warnings, especially since what they feel has nothing to do with battle.


    Martha began to think.


    "Wait! Hunter. Show me the dragon egg that Lord Kyros left to me!" Martha asked. After killing the orcs and assigning them new missions, Kyros handed the dragon egg to Martha for safekeeping.


    Martha made Hunter carry it as she performed her duties as a scout as they moved back to this ce.


    "You think it''s the dragon egg?" Hunter wondered. He took it out of a small bag.


    Martha took one look at it and immediately turned the small bag that held it inside-out.


    "Lady Martha?" Hunter was confused.


    "Lord Kyros asked me to put a few drops of blood in it every now and then. Lord Kyros also gave it a substantial amount before parting ways with the egg. I thought it was just wishful thinking for Kyros to do it, but it seems Lord Kyros knew what a dragon egg has. Look! None of the blood that Lord Kyros or I dropped on the egg left any marks on the egg or the bag that carried it! The egg absorbed all of it!"


    "But how did it absorb the energy in it?"


    "I don''t know. But we''ve seen Lord Kyros''s wisdom. He knows how to speak thenguage of orcs, golems, and lizards. It''s like he been lectured by an amazing schr."


    "He mentioned about a mighty schr called Blippi."


    "I have not heard of that man. But he must know something about Dragon Eggs. It''s possible that this sensation we feel is resonating from the egg itself!"


    "Dragon eggs? You said something about Dragon Eggs?" The old woman asked with great interest.


    "Yes." Martha held out the egg.


    "This is a Dragon Egg. Lord Kyros found it."


    "How sure are you that that''s a Dragon egg?" The old woman asked again.


    "I do not doubt my Lord." Martha answered firmly.


    "Then it must be true. My masters told of an ancient legend about the days before the Nether wars. It was during the time before Airom was halved by that god! At that time, this entire mountain was a nest of mighty dragons! I know this because my former vampire master was obsessed with searching for it. They came here to chase that, hoping that if they can devour a dragon, they would reach an even more incredible power."


    "This ce was a dragon''s nest? Then that means...!" Hemsey was the first to exim.


    "That''s right, Hemsey. This sensation we are feeling isn''t Fate. But the silent cries of the Dragon Egg. Or it could be that another Dragon is calling us because we have an egg." Martha continued what she believed Hemsey was about to say.


    "Erm... I was going to say that the stench in this area might have something to do with a dragon..." Hemsey answered with an embarrassed expression.


    But Martha''s eyes lit up.


    "Hemsey! You''re a genius!"

 Chapter 161 - Dragon Stronghold

    The statement of Hemsey connected a lot of dots for Martha.


    The entire passageway had a thick sulfuric stench permeating around it. This was why it was difficult for orcs with their tremendous sense of smell to find this passage and was the perfect hiding spot for the ves.


    But although Airom Logat was known to be a volcanic region, the specific ce where they have had no heat or any possible sources bes the source of the stench.


    "It might be calling out because it wants to absorb something!" Martha concluded.


    "So there is something in this passageway that could be rted to his race?"


    "A dragon corpse." Martha guessed.


    "A dragon corpse! If my former masters were here, they''d rejoice!" The old woman reacted.


    "We have to find it. This dragon has Lord Kyros''s blood. It may have gained certain properties that made it unique. Let''s look for the source. I''ll send Lord Kyros a message." Martha decided.


    "How do we find it?" Hems asked.


    "I guess we''ll have to listen to it. We may have to y a game of hot and cold."


    "But what if the corpse is buried deep inside the ground? Or what if it''s behind these walls?"


    Suddenly, a green Golem emerged.


    Martha had summoned Mardock.


    "We have this Golem. Mardock. Can you use your powers to dig?"


    "... Yes." Mardock replied with a pained expression. He was a powerful Jewel Golem, and now, he was only used to dig.


    "It might be a little slow, but I should be capable. But be sure to tell your Lord to refill my energy. He hasn''t been able to refuel my destion after all." Mardock frowned.


    "I''m sure that the Temple these three talked about can do it." Marthaughed.


    "Where do I mine?"


    "We''ll have to ask the Dragon Egg." Martha held the egg out and began to walk with the dragon egg held up in front.


    Meanwhile...


    "Kyros?!" The Steele brothers suddenly eximed as the door to the Temple was opened.


    "Hi, dad... Uncle. And erm... Lizard." Kyros greeted.


    "Before we talk... can you guys bring me to the Temple? I''m exhausted." Kyrosughed.


    The Lizard Champion hastily picked up Kyros at the orders of Branze and Aron. The pair of wings had already vanished as Kyros sent it to the Temple Storage Space.


    The group moved towards the Temple, and the Temple''s power suddenly began to heal Kyros.


    The sudden light shocked the Lizard, and he was even more surprised to see the three healed of all their wounds.


    "What happened?" Branze immediately asked.


    "I met the Blood Cmity. She is very strong. A little too strong, to be honest. I had no choice but to escape." Kyros sighed.


    "A trap of Destiny?" Branze frowned.


    "No. But this Blood Cmity is someone that Destiny sent. What happened to you, anyway?"


    "We didn''t have the time to exin. But we met a god. Hyperion Steel."


    "You met him?! And here I thought I was the only one." Kyrosughed.


    "You met him too? Are you...? His descendant?"


    "Oh. He revealed the Steel family''s lineage, huh? I am not his descendant. But you could say our Fate is pretty much tied up with each other. It looks like we have a lot of catching up to do." Kyros smiled.


    It was then he noticed the messages being sent by Martha.


    He read it and was intrigued.


    "Oh?"


    "What happened?"


    "It''s your wife. She just sent me an interesting message. We have developed an ability where we can send messages to one another at great distances." Kyros exined.


    Aron blushed.


    "WHAT?! You canmunicate at great distances without a message talisman?! Teach me!" Branze, on the other hand, shouted with passion.


    "Brother. Focus!" Aron chastised as Kyros began to instruct Martha on what to do. The chat room became rather active at Martha''s exnation as even Avary, and the group began to chat.


    "Father, Uncle. Do you know of the story of Aaron''s past? Is it true that Dragons used to stay here?"


    "We aren''t from this region, so we don''t know about the history of Airom''s past."


    "I see. Give me a sec. Something interesting just happened." Kyros continued to close his eyes to reply.


    "Cminus. Is this true? The only history that I know of this ce was that it was said that a God from the Hignds came and shed this mountain region because of Nether beast taking residence here. Or at least, that is what I was taught." Kyros then asked.


    "I''m not certain. If I was a Time God, I could look through time and confirm it. But there is something weird with the history that was passed on to you. While I can''t be certain, I do know that the nes World hasn''t given birth to a God in the past millennia. I didn''t bother correcting you when you mentioned that a while back. But now that it''s relevant, God that allegedly came down to attack Airom can''t have been someone from the nes World. But it makes sense. One of the beings that the Gods and Fallen couldn''t put a limitation on were the Dragon race!"


    "The dragons? Dragons are known for their amazing resistance towards magic. Could it be?"


    "Yes. There are several beings that even the many seals of the coboration of gods and fallen could notpletely seal. Dragons are among these beings. And so, instead of sealing them, the gods and fallen would either kill or recruit them. If the dragons settled here, I''m guessing that the gods must have arrived and killed them as they might have already allied with the fallen. Other than that, I don''t see any reason why a god that isn''t even from this ne to interfere and kill the beasts that resided here."


    "Hmm... This should be an interesting turn of events." Kyros smiled.


    "Father, Uncle. A lot of things need to be discussed. But how fairs the Challenge of the Lizard Lords?"


    "We were talking about that just now," Branze answered.


    "Just now? I received some power where I can hear any discussion happening in and around the Temple. You guys were talking about Proper Nouns and whatnot."


    "... Ignore what you heard. Anyway, there has been a new development. As you know, there are teleportation areas that lead from different worlds and go to this Temple. Originally, only creatures that equal Captain level could move into this ce. The distortion of time travel bes stronger, than most Champions don''t survive the storm. Of course, there are exceptions. This Lizard Champion... Hey, Lizard. Change your name." Branze suddenly ordered.


    "Change my name?"


    "Yes. It feels weird to call you Lizard."


    "What do you suggest? We don''t care about names. Just call me what you like."


    "Newt." Kyros suggested as he spoke in First Word.


    "That''s racist! And offensive! Although we don''t care about names, don''t call us something that is beneath our race." The Lizard frowned.


    "Er... Sorry. How about... Gojirrah?" Kyros suggested once more.


    "Gojirrah..." The Lizard Champion thought.


    "Yes. It means a mighty lizard in a certainnguage. But remember, double ''R,'' and it ends with the letter ''H''! Copyrightwsuit evaded!" Kyros suddenly realized what he said and shook his head.


    "That sounds eptable." Gojirrah nodded.


    "Alright. Now that that''s settled. Gojirrah here is a sacrificial soldier. Since this Mountain is full of different races that rage and kill each other, even warriors as strong as Gojirrah can only serve the ranks of lizards despite being a known enemy in his kingdom."


    "Yes. This is my prison. This could also be my death. My kingdom has found a means to send back some of the naturally growing resources in this ce. This entire underground world has a strangeposition. There are ores and objects here that feed and grow. And those ores are very important within the lizard. Every five years, portals are opened from our homeworld that leads here. And when that portal is open, some of our people can go back and bring the resource gathered here. But what these resources are, and how these ores are used, we don''t know. Only Commanders are given knowledge as to what ores they can find in this ce."


    "I know." Kyros suddenly answered.


    "This entire mountain used to be a Dragon''s nest. I think it''s even more urate to say that this ce is a stronghold of dragons." Kyros exined.


    "Dragons? Impossible. Dragons are extinct."


    "They are? Maybe in your world. In the nes World, there are still some dragons living and hiding. But this very mountain didn''t just have one or two. It had a lot. So much so that it threatened the gods. The abundance of dragons in this mountain region is so much that I already found an egg."


    "A Dragon egg?!"


    "I think I understand why your race invested so much in this ce. If what you said is true, then other races, like orcs from other worlds, have figured out what this ce is. The Golems tried to look for the portals but found none because it wasn''t time for those portals to remain open."


    "So Airom Vagat holds dragon remains... Who knew?"


    "No. Not Airom Vagat. Airom Logat has. But I don''t think this side of the mountain has any." Kyros answered. He was quite acquainted with Airom Vagat in his past life and could confirm no signs of dragon egg in this region. Information in Airom Logat was scarce. So Kyros didn''t know about the mines. Although he raided Airom Logat in his past life, most of the mines were already cleared. And Kyros didn''t bother investigating the mines that weren''t. But Kyros believed that the upper echelons of the strongest orc kingdoms in the Lond region must have known this and kept this a secret!


    "Why do you believe that this side of the mountain doesn''t have any dragon-rted ores, stones, and fossils?"


    "Because it was all absorbed or taken by this ce. The Nephilim Sealing Mountain." Kyros concluded.

 Chapter 162 - Dragon Trap

    Aron and Branze were stunned at what they heard.


    "This Temple is created by several Gods and Fallens. Airom Logat has the Blood Cmity''s sealed body. It''s clear that both regions have something about them that makes them special. We''ve seen the amazing things the Temple can do. And the Seal of the Blood Cmity was also formidable. But we have never understood what the power source of both seals was. Especially this Temple. What powers this Temple?"


    "Wouldn''t you know? You''re dad said you''re the one sealed in this Temple, right?" Aron asked.


    Branze and Kyros looked at him.


    "He''s the one sealed in this Temple?!" Gojirrha eximed.


    "Wha-what?" Aron asked at Kyros and Branze''s questioning look.


    "I mean... I know dad must have figured this out, given how smart he is. But there''s a reason why I haven''t been saying anything. You should have just respected my privacy and kept your mouth shut, uncle. It''s very rude. Even Grandfather didn''t pester me."


    "Seriously, brother." Branze shook his head.


    "What the fragment?! What''s the matter with that question?! So what if I''m rude!? I just found out I''m descended to a sword god! I''m sure that whatever secrets you have, it can''t be different than what we have, right?"


    Branze and Kyros continued to give Aron a discriminating look.


    "Brother, we weren''t sealed, were we?"


    "Well, no. But it can''t be that different, can it?"


    "I formed a dark core. It should be superior to the Earth Core or the True Entropy Core that you saw." Kyros harnessed dark energy on his hand.


    "Woah." Aron marveled. He had felt powerful darkness before him.


    "This darkness is too amazing! It''s like I''m standing in front of the dark abyss!" Aron added.


    "Whatever I am, I can convert this energy and turn to the opposite. You guys have Hyperion Steel''s Code, and while I also have it since he bestowed to me a part of his blessing, I can do other things like this. [Skotos Eis Phos]." The darkness became light.


    Kyros stood up with a powerful, potent light energy. The darkness was like a shadow, and it moved like fire around Kyros. But now that it was light, it made Kyros look like an angel.


    Aron, Branze, and Gojirrha had their mouths wide open.


    "I don''t want to talk about my secrets." Kyros sternly warned his uncle as he dispelled the light.


    "Anyway... I found a dragon egg in Airom Logat. They were among the rocks being mined. Most of the miners and even the Champions guarding the mountain must have no idea what those things were. But I''m sure some of the orcs know. The dragon egg was being guarded by a heavy escort. While they also carried a lot of precious ores, I believe that it was only a cover. The higher-ups of the orc kingdoms know what they found. And honestly, the humans should have figured it out soon. But Airom Vagat doesn''t have any of these dragon heritages. I believe this is because of this Temple. It must be absorbing the entire mountain region."


    "So the Lizard Lords are after this. Gojirrha, you said that many changes are happening within the Lizard empires in this ce?"


    "Yes. Several Champions have arrived. And by the looks of it, more ising. We don''t understand what''s going on, but these Champions are taking over the group. Rumors are that Commander level warriors are to appear here. And that was thought to be impossible."


    "Look''s like Fate''s Challenges areing. Fighting Commanders sound fun, too." Aronughed.


    "Although Fate is currently not attacking us, it seems that whatever traps it has set will still be sprung. This Lizard Lord challenge took a while to bear fruits, but it looks like it''s stilling despite Fate''s promise of not intervening and making our life difficult..." Branze started to ponder.


    Kyros was about to say something, but then his expression changed.


    He immediately read the chat group, read Martha''s team''s updates, and even started rereading the discussion.


    Hunter kept detailing what they were doing.


    Back in Airom Logat, the group was able to follow the call of the Dragon egg and found themselves facing the wall.


    The ves carried a few torches that allowed them to see, but Martha and the rest led the way with their vampiric eyesight.


    "It''s leading to this wall. This should be your time to shine, Mardock." Hems chuckled.


    Mardock nodded and began to approach the wall.


    "Please channel your mana into that Core to help me." Mardock requested.


    Hems poured all the magicMagic he had.


    "... That''s it?" Mardock frowned.


    "Erm... Yeah. Sorry. I only have sixteen magic points." Hemsughed.


    Hunter and Hemsey reached out and poured out their magic as well.


    "Since we don''t have any use of this yet, might as well..." The two chuckled.


    Mardock sighed but finally decided to move and harness his energy on the wall.


    "When we get back, let Cornerstone recharge me of more energy. These battles you all had me do have made me expend quite a bit of my power."


    The wall began to crumble as Mardock touched it.


    "Entering the wall." Hunter sent a message and took a picture of Mardock breaching the wall.


    Kyros was conflicted. He figured out something from what his father said. There were several peculiarities in the events that Martha reported.


    "Should I let them...?" Kyros frowned.


    Kyros began to hesitate and pondered on the best course of action.


    "I have to, sooner orter..." Kyros decided.


    "Lord Kyros. We have found a wide chamber leading deeper into this cave. Mardock had to break through a few meters worth of rock to reach it." Martha sent a message.


    Kyros sighed.


    "Alright. The Dragon Eggs are different from other eggs. I dropped a few drops of my blood, hoping that the egg would absorb it. These dragon eggs don''t hatch from being incubated or nested, but they must be exposed to anypatible energy source. Of course, it isn''t like just throwing the egg into the fire, but it must be ced into something that it can absorb. Try to find some dragon corpse and put the egg inside of it. Dragon graveyards are usually the birthce of many dragons as the energy of the dead dragon is left on the corpse and fossils of them."


    "Can we sense these energies? I can''t feel anything."


    "No. We can''t detect it or harness it. That''s why you guys have to be careful. Touching or stepping a dead dragon can be lethal if the dragon has cultivated to higher levels. The remnant energy can kill an average man. Being exposed to it can already harm people because of the radiation. Have the ves move cautiously. You guys probably won''t be affected, considering your current form. But be careful, nheless." Kyros detailed the information regarding dragon eggs.


    Martha confirmed and began to call out to herpanions.


    "ves. Stay back and remain in that spot. If this room has dragon remains, you could be killed by the radiation." Martha warned as she started to move deeper into the room.


    The three H also followed Martha and moved into the room.


    The dragon egg began to tremble slightly.


    "It''s here! It''s moving, and the call of this egg is starting to get stronger!" Hunter could feel it.


    The rest also began to search carefully. They could feel the strange premonition bing stronger and stronger.


    The group moved deeper and deeper into the path that they could not even see the ves or the light of their torches.


    Soon, the sensation that they were feeling was getting stronger and stronger.


    The group reached a dead end and found nothing. Suddenly, the call from the egg vanished.


    Martha motioned for Hunter to give her the egg. She held it and began to concentrate as she tried to use her Foresight to understand where the egg is leading her.


    And then she frowned.


    "Lord Kyros. May I call?" Martha sent a message.


    Suddenly Martha received notifications that Kyros was calling her.


    "Aunt Martha." Kyros spoke after Martha confirmed to answer.


    "Lord Kyros. It''s strange. I tried to use my Path of Foresight, but when I held on to the egg, I could sense that something is telling me not to hold on to the egg."


    "Ugh. I knew this would happen. I was hoping this wouldn''t be the case, but it looks like the worst-case scenario has happened. Be careful. The premonition you are getting isn''t a call of Fate. It''s a call of Destiny. That egg is leading you to a trap."


    "This is a trap of Destiny? But I thought that you said Destiny couldn''t act for a time."


    "No. What I meant was that whatever ns Destiny had, was hindered. But Destiny ought to haveid many traps. That Dragon egg is probably one of them. Despite how amazing a dragon is, a dragon egg should not and cannot have the powers to broadcast faint whispers and allow those who are on the path to bing Fate Challengers to hear it. The Blood Cmity can. We do know the origins of that egg. It must have been exposed to the Blood Cmity, or that egg is being used by Destiny as a medium to trick us. Destiny could have even used the blood I fed it to awaken a stronger."


    "I''ll retreat then."


    "It''s toote. If the call of the egg disappeared, it means that you are where the egg wants you to be. Aunt Martha, I knew this, and I purposely allowed you guys to be trapped. I sort of figured this out, and I was conflicted in sending you inside. But Aunt Martha, I won''t always be there to protect you. Since you bear the name Steele and is a member of my Coven, you have to ovee the trials of Destiny and Fate. If you do win this trial, then the rewards are also great. I''m sorry for doing this, but the Blood Cmity was too strong for me! You guys don''t have the luxury of time. You either get stronger now, or you will die in the future. I did this because I know you have a higher level in the Path of Combat. Fight the enemy. Defeat Destiny and get back here. All of you." Kyros suddenly ended the call.


    Martha was shocked as she read the words of Kyros. But she did not panic. She had done the same to the three H.


    "Lady Martha?" Hunter asked as he noticed Martha''s peculiar expression.


    "Be careful. We might die here today. Destiny... You must be watching. Hit me with your best shot!" Martha shouted, and the power of Fate Challenger rippled out.


    CRUMBLE! CRUMBLE! CRUMBLE!


    An intense vibration urred as the floor beneath them started to cave in.

 Chapter 163 - Dragon Hybrid

    It was as if Destiny weed Martha''s challenge.


    The moment she released the power of Fate Challenger, Destiny triggered the sudden copse of the floor.


    There were no earthquakes, but the entire floor just caved in, revealing deep darkness underneath.


    "Protect Lady Martha!" Hunter cried out as the three rushed to protect her.


    As the floor started, Martha immediately drew her bow andunched an arrow with a metallic wire attached. This was one of her prepared arrows in case she needed to make a quick escape.


    She used just enough force energy so that the arrow would pierce deep into the wall.


    The Three H''s was already near Martha when the entire ground beneath them opened up.


    "Grab on!" Martha called out, and the trio jumped and clung to Martha as the floor copsed.


    "Move your head away from my chest, you dimwit!" Martha cried as they fell.


    A dark abyss beneath and the status of the room they were in above revealed that their room had no support and that it was already close to breaking. Signs of cracks and damages that earthquakes may have caused could be seen all over the ce.


    Seeing the drop, Martha knew that the wire rope wouldn''t support the total weight of the four of them. So she immediately began to slide off the rope so that the arrow lodged in the wall would not break from their weight.


    Using a specialized gauntlet, Martha began to grab and twist the rope. But instead of clinging or putting an immediate break to the rope, Martha used it to slide down, in which the rope only provided a little friction.


    The knights were also helping as they kept using the legs and arms in an attempt to cling on the wall.


    Martha revealed the strength of a Captain as she kept on bearing the weight of everyone as they were falling. And like this, the group descended to the abyss.


    Mardock was standing near the ves at Marta''s orders. After opening the path, he remained to guard them. But then they all felt the tremor and the distant cries of the group.


    "Stay here!" Mardock instructed as he rushed inside the path he had opened.


    He rushed inside and finally reached the ce where Martha and the group fell. The entire chamber caved in and revealed a deeper area inside the cave.


    "Sister!" Myas appeared. She ignored Mardock''s instructions and rushed to see if her sister was safe.


    "Rx. That woman is strong. They are also vampires. But I guess we have to help them. Look over there." Mardock pointed at the other side of the cliff.


    "I can''t see anything."


    "I forgot that you are human. Your sister managed to shoot an arrow and to look at the tension of the arrow. It seems that they are using it to descend slowly.


    Several ves finally arrived as they followed and chased after Myas.


    "What do we do?" Myas asked.


    "My Core is not with me. So I can''t quickly use my destion to create a path. Besides, it would cost me too much energy. But we must find a way down there." Mardock instructed.


    The group agreed and began to look for a path and even started to check on whatever equipments they have which they could use for mining.


    Meanwhile, the area where Martha was was covered in total darkness. Normal humans won''t be able to see through it.


    Martha was running out of ropes, but the side of the cliff they were on was cleanly cut that there wasn''t even a rough patch to dig their arms on.


    "Try to kick more! We have to minimize the speed of our fall! We don''t know what''s down there!" Martha warned. And so, the group began to exert more effort in kicking and would even stab their swords. But the rock-hard cliff resisted each attack.


    They controlled their descent to go as slow as possible as Martha wanted to see if the ground beneath them was safe tond on and not some moltenve, spikes, or other dangerous objects.


    Soon, they hear the crashing of rocks, and while their eye-sight could see through the darkness, it had a limitation, and they could only see with rity for nearly a hundred meters in pitch-ck darkness.


    As Martha heard it, she immediately increased the speed of her descent.


    "The crashing sound proves that it is ground beneath. Prepare tond. My arrow won''t hold for long since I''m running out of rope."


    Martha increased the speed of their descent that it was almost close to them falling. But with their enhanced strength, thending won''t hurt as much.


    Soon, the ground beneath could be seen. It was as if there was a tunnel that spread out.


    As the group approached the ground, Martha could sense that the rope she had was running out.


    She harnessed her force and pulled with great force just as the rope was about to end.


    The force allowed them to lessen the force of their fall, and the arrow finally gave in, and the metallic rope was dislodged from the arrow.


    The group fell andnded safely on the ground.


    "Check for anything living beneath this rubble! We need to find and drink their blood!" Martha ordered, and the group began to search.


    The overpowering smell had masked their ability to smell, so the group had to search for any bodies buried under rubble.


    "What''s happening, Lady Martha?" Hunter finally asked.


    "Destiny. And here I thought that Lord Kyros was a kind-hearted boy. He allowed Destiny to trap us. Whatever''s down here... don''t underestimate it. Destiny must have caused an earthquake here while we weren''t here yet. It created that room that was so unstable that walking inside would trigger that fall. And even the cliff was so cleanly cut that we couldn''t even cling on to it!"


    "That''s right!" Hems realized the impossible scenario of their fall.


    "What about the dragon egg?" Hunter asked.


    "It should be somewhere down here. I had to drop it to fire the arrow. Don''t worry. That thing wouldn''t crack from a fall like this. The voices and premonitions we felt were not from the Egg or Fate. It was Destiny pretending to be Fate. This is one of Destiny''s traps that was just sprung now!" Martha exined as they continued to search.


    "There it is!" Hemsey pointed towards the Dragon Egg.


    The group looked at each other and then the egg. After that, they hesitated on what to do.


    "Should we...?" Hemsey asked.


    "Do it. The way Lord Kyros exined it is that Destiny must have used that egg as a medium to lead us on that trap. But I doubt that Destiny is still linked to that. I''m not sure right now and I''ve been trying to contact Lord Kyros but..."


    "Right. I lost my link to our chat group too." Hunter added.


    "In any case, the gains outweigh the cons. We could leave the egg here and lose it forever or we could beat Destiny and bring this egg back to lord Kyros as a souvenir. But I think we should bring it.


    "Mydy, you said that Lord Kyros sent us here intentionally?"


    "Yes. me him when we get out. But remember what I talked about earlier. Despite the power that Lord Kyros has, he was forced to retreat against the Blood Cmity! And that must have been his wake-up call. If I were in his position, I''d have also done the same thing. Knights. Are you willing to be his pawns? If we win this and survive this, the benefits that we could give the Coven would equal the rewards we reaped after killing that orc!"


    "Of course! For the Coven! For the Steele family!" The Knights shouted together with resolution.


    "Good! Keep your swords drawn! We''re moving out. Our primary goal is to secure a way out. Once we find one, we can focus on killing whatever is in here!" Martha ordered.


    Hemsey picked up the egg carefully and ced it in the sack that it was in the group moved.


    She led the way and tried to harness her Path of Foresight.


    "This way!" Martha sensed something and moved in a certain direction.


    Soon, they found a strange man-like creature with blood leaking out of its head.


    The copse caused some rocks to fall on him.


    "Thank goodness!" Martha sighed in relief. Her Path of Foresight allowed her to find a dying monster.


    Without hesitation, Martha ran and stabbed her dagger on the head of the creature.


    The first stab to the skull was met with resistance.


    "Tsk!" Martha cursed and wielded force energy to stab out again.


    The second attack prated and killed the strange creature, and dark liquid-like energy was leaking out.


    But Martha''s expression darkened.


    "A high Captain level vitality..." She cursed.


    "Quick, drink the blood of this thing!"


    The knights moved and began to stab the creature. But just like Martha, they had to stab twice for their Blood swords to prate deeper.


    "What is this creature?!" Hunter eximed.


    "Dracanae Ghoul. An undead humanoid Dragon hybrid. This ce must have been a graveyard before. The souls and bodies of the might dead warriors are rising with the vitality of the dragons imbued on them." Kyros''s voice could be heard in their mind.


    "Lord Kyros!" Everyone called out in surprise.


    "I linked with you to see what you''re seeing. But I can''t keep this up for long. Something''s happening in the nes World. I lost my connection with you and can''t contact the others, and I had to use the Temple to link with you. So you guys are on your own. Be careful. The darkness that is leaking out can be absorbed because of your Dark Consumer. But the potent darkness could make you lose your mind, so you have to be careful. Lastly... Give Destiny my regards by beating it!" The link abruptly disappeared, just as it did earlier.


    The group was startled at what they heard.


    "It seems we can''t drink to our heart''s content... As a result, we won''t have our advantage in quickly regenerating from our wounds." Hemsey frowned.


    "You''ve been a human all your life. Don''t rely on your vampiric powers too much! That will make you weak! This ce is the perfect training ground for us! For now, absorb what you can. We should gain something from their blood."


    "Grraaaaaahhhh!" Distant howls could be heard from where they were.


    "Let''s hurry. Carry the body, and let''s get moving!"

 Chapter 164 - Dragon Vitality

    The body of the dead creature was carried as the group fled. The creature''s body was surprisingly light to carry and didn''t hamper the speed of their escape by a bit.


    "Cut off the body parts of the creature into smaller pieces. Then, tear off its limbs and absorb what you can from the body!" Martha ordered.


    The knights began to do so but found that the dried-up and thin pieces of flesh were tough.


    "If Lord Kyros''s words are true, then this thing used to be human. But this ce has changed theposition and its body parts!"


    "Human? How can humans have such hard skin? It''s like the carapace of the Lizards!"


    "The dragon egg! It absorbed things that we ced outside the egg! It must be that the vitality and tenacity of dragons are so strong that they began to devour the fallen bodies of these humans and created something like this! Haven''t we all heard of the tales of how strong the vitality of dragons is! It could be this! Vampires are strong for their ability to devour blood. It might be that dragons absorb and feed on the body!"


    "So every monster down here is as hard as this creature?! Great! This is just great!"


    "Stop drinking the blood. It''s already starting to make you guys irritable." Martha frowned.


    "S-Sorry."


    "Keep a firm control on your emotions. We will be drinking more of those blood. And I don''t want you guys to fall into that Dark Maddening status that Kyros talked about... Ugh. It''s even affecting me!" Martha realized that her emotions were getting disturbed as she felt a rising resentment towards her lord.


    "We could face stronger dragons. Imagine if a Dracanae Ghoul has merged with the fallen body of any warriors with high vitality!"


    They could hear various movements in the darkness as they moved. The group soon came across arge hole on the wall, and it led deeper into the ground, but Martha suddenly stopped.


    "These tunnels... They are not formed naturally! Knights, it looks like whatever''s downs here is more than one." Martha assessed.


    Suddenly, Martha felt something and drew her bow and shot towards the darkness. Although she could not see in the deeper parts of the darkness, the arrow still managed to fly and hit something.


    "Grraaaaaahhhh!" A pained roar was heard.


    What followed was some trembling. It was as if a stampede was approaching them.


    "It''s like we''re back in that cave!" Hems cursed out.


    "Knights. Form a perimeter around me and maintain it. I will support you. Remember our previous battle. We fight while fleeing. Let''s move this way." Martha ordered as they ran towards a path that was leading upwards.


    As they reached a certain part, Martha could sense Fate calling.


    "Hold your ground here! We fight in this uphill terrain. Rip off the limbs now and carry one piece with you in case you need a quick mouthful of blood." Martha readied her bow.


    The knights began to stab their swords inside deeper as they moved and managed to rip off the creature''s limbs.


    The creature''s limbs would twitch now and then, but the group ced it in their backpack and stood their ground.


    "Lady Martha. Shouldn''t we be fleeing up?"


    "Try to sense Fate. If we move up there, we will see more enemies. And if we find more of them up there and have to deal with more from the back, we''d get caught in a pincer. And so we need to deal with this. Hold the line as long as you can. I have a n. And take note of how I am using Fate''s leading. At times it''s not telling us what exactly to do but what we can expect. And out of those expectations, we must take the necessary actions to push things to our advantage. Theiring."


    Several humanoid creatures emerged from the small hole they saw earlier, and Martha immediately fired her arrows.


    The arrow exploded as it struck the leg of one of the dracanae, and it stumbled down. But the surrounding dracanae suddenly humped and moved ordingly to avoid a stampede from urring.


    Martha cursed and fired more arrows.


    The dracanae suddenly began to spread out, and some were even clinging on the wall and made high jumps.


    "What kind of undead are they?! They''re so organized!"


    The more Martha fought, the more she began to understand how such mindless creatures could react. She then recalled the stories that glorified the dragonic cultivators in the Minds and Hignds. They had such terrifying battle instincts that some could even defeat warriors nearly five levels higher! And now, Martha understood why this was so.


    "Combat... This is Path of Combat!" Martha stopped shooting.


    "Knights, hold the line. This battle is different from our battle with the orc squadron. Each one of those monsters has the Path of Combat!" She exined.


    As the group was finally rushing closer, Martha started to shoot once more.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows that Martha shot would arch and move in an unexpected direction. The targets were the mid-air dracanae who were jumping or avoiding the fallen allies and those that were slowing down to avoid the fallen dracanae in front of them.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    The arrows exploded even before they struck the dracanae, and some of the dragons stumbled and struck each other, finally creating chaos on the back row.


    But the dracanae at the front of the rush continued on unhindered.


    "Follow my instructions perfectly. Do not question it." Martha concentrated on attacking as the three knights drew closer. Martha was a few steps higher than them and had the higher ground so she could snipe the approaching enemy.


    Five dracanae drew closer and began to scale the uphill climb. The dracanae bent down as low as possible and even ran on all fours to avoid the attacks of Martha.


    "Ready your attacks!" Martha ordered, and the knights harnessed force energy on their arms so that they could deliver a powerful blow.


    The dracanae began to howl and leaped to perform wing attacks.


    "Retreat and give way for my arrows! And then attack the dracanae at the back!" Martha ordered at thest possible point.


    All four of them began to run and climb uphill, and the three H''s opened the path leading to Martha.


    FWIP! FWIP!


    Martha''s shot two arrows even when the knights were still in the process of moving, and the arrows barely missed them and struck the closest dracanae.


    The attack forced the dracanae backward as the arrows had a powerful pushing force energy at the arrow''s tail end.


    The impaling force threw it backward and caused the dracanae at the back to adjust their charge to avoid the creature.


    Two of the dracanae stumbled and made the ones at the back lose their bnce. It was then that the knights acted.


    They shed at the three dracanae.


    SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!


    The thick carapace of these dracanae prevented them from being severed, but it caused them to be thrown back.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Martha kept shooting while jumping backward while Hunter smacked one of the dracanae that was shot with an arrow to cause it to fall. Hems and Hemsey were striking their swords to kill the other.


    With four dracanaes falling, Martha was using them to block the view of the approaching dracanae. The arrows swerved and spun, barely hitting the falling dracanaes and would onlye to view to the rest at thest possible second.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    More of the dracanae got struck with the arrows, but there were still more dracanae rushing uphill. Just like the first, these humanoid creatures would move on their fours.


    "On your formation! And get ready to move out when I tell you!" Martha ordered.


    The three knights moved closer once more as they continued retreating uphill.


    The dracanae was near them, and Martha issued the issue once more.


    "Now!"


    But as the group broke away and the arrows were shot, the dracanae also moved at thest possible moment and changed the direction of their attacks.


    Martha''s arrows missed, and Martha shot several more as she shouted in frustration.


    The knights all started to block and attack the dracanae that was leaping at them.


    Hunter managed to stab the leaping dracanae in the chest, but the dracanae was not blown back as the sword pierced through.


    Another dracanae met Hems''s sword with its bare hands, but the sword didn''t prate this time.


    Only Hemsey, who used an attempted Knights charge, managed to blow back the enemy and caused it to fall and roll downhill.


    Hunter abandoned his sword the moment it pierced and evaded backward from the wide swipes and bites of the dracanae.


    An arrow soon struck the opened mouth of the dracanae, and Hunter moved back to retrieved the stabbed sword and kicked the dracanae.


    The other dracanae matched Hems''s thrust strength with strength and proceeded to maw Hems, who was still forcing his sword forward. In the position and with the thrust he had exerted, he couldn''t evade backward, so he used the force and made a low tackle on the body of the dracanae.


    The dracanae wed the back of Hems to avoid being thrown back by the tackle.


    "Argh!" Hems cried as he tried to pull away from the dracanae.


    An arrow flew and struck the head of the dracanae.


    BANG!


    But even as the arrow blew the head off, the dracanae was still moving. With thest of its strength, it carried the Hems and threw it towards the bottom of the hill.


    "HEMS!" The knights cried and gave chase as their brother rolled downhill and headed towards the rushing dracanae.

 Chapter 165 - Dragon Mastermind

    Hems'' first instinct was to position the sword so he could easily stab it on the ground and keep himself safe. As he began to crash down the slope, he kept trying to stop his roll with his sword.


    Yet the floor was mysteriously giving way as more of the ground began to slide down that even his stabbed sword would slide down.


    Hunter and Hemsey began to rush down.


    Martha had no choice but to prematurely deploy the n she had been reserving to eliminate the dracanae threat.


    Her Path of Foresight allowed her to discern that the dracanae would surround them, and Martha immediately used the uphill slope not only in her attempt to create a stampede and hinder them but because Fate allowed her to notice a particr environmental factor that could help her.


    Marthaunched several explosive shots in haste. And she was aiming for the cliff right above where the dracanae was moving through.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The explosions caused the cliff to crumble, and andslide from the top urred.


    Martha nned to dy the dracanae until most of them would be buried in this attack. Then, she used her strategy to hold the line until many dracanae were staggering or pilling up.


    But Martha underestimated the skills of the dracanae and their terrifying instincts led by the Path of Combat. As a result, their strategies failed after pushing back only a few of them, and the next wave was already smart enough to counter their strategies.


    Because of this, Martha abandoned her ns and sprung the trap as she was now concerned for the survival of her knights.


    Thendslide fell and crashed on the path. But as expected, only several were caught up, and many evaded thendslide. Some were even able to move to pass the falling debris and rushed for Hems.


    Hems tried to regain his bnce as he was rolling down and finally stood upright in time for three dracanae to reach him.


    At that moment, Hems chose to move not ording to what was logical but allowed his body to move ahead of him.


    Hems didn''t fight or defend, but his first instinctive move was to roll to the right and pushed his body with great force to throw him all the more.


    The dracanae leaped and made an arm hammer attack on the ground, barely missing Hems.


    Hems were rolling to the side afternding and immediately crawled up with haste. The dracanae rushed, and one managed to pull Hems by the leg.


    Hems began to kick the dracanae off, but the dracanae caught the other arm.


    But Hems was expecting that and delivered a forward thrust with all the strength he had!


    SMASH!


    The strike struck the torso of the dracanae and left a shallow wound. The impact caused the dracanae to be thrown back. But as the dracanae was being pushed back, it clung to the Hems and dug its ws deep.


    "AHH!" Hems shouted, but he knew he needed to move.


    The dracanae pulled the leg to keep himself from being blown back. Hems used the pull of the dracanae to help him stand up as he stabbed again on the same spot.


    This time the sword prated through. Whatever force that was resisting disappeared, and it didn''t make the dracanae be pushed off.


    The dracanae held the sword arm of hems and wouldn''t let go. It was even trying to bite Hems in an attempt to keep Hems rooted on the ground. It was waiting for its allies to arrive and kill Hems.


    Martha was focused on shooting on the other dracanae with explosive bows. But, unlike her former state, she lost her calm and kept shooting and expending Force energy to keep the other dracanae from getting near Hems.


    "Hurry! Hems will die if he does not get out of there in the next three seconds!" Martha shouted and kept shooting. The dark warnings of Fate made her agitated and led her to shoot with reckless impatience.


    Hems also heard it and made his decision. He let go of the sword, and with his other arm, he pulled it out of the torso of dracanae and stabbed his arm right above the location where the dracanae was pulling.


    With a kick that contained all his strength, he lunged himself backward as his arm was ripped off.


    Hunter and Hemsey arrived right on time and delivered their respective sh that threw the dracanae back.


    The three began to run upwards.


    Martha kept shooting, but she knew her n had failed. The copse buried only a few dracanae, and the path wasn''t effectively barred due to her haste in shooting the wall. She kept shooting to dy the dracanae as the three H''s scaled uphill.


    "You alright?"


    "I''m ok. Lord Kyros did the same, remember?"


    Hunter grabbed the body of the in dracanae, who tossed Hems backward. Hems immediately stabbed his sword in the opening of the head and used his blood de to absorb the energy.


    "Keep it in your blood de, and don''t absorb it all immediately. Slowly drink one. Be careful not to fall into that dark Maddening state. I need you guys to focus!" Martha called out from the top as she kept shooting.


    Hems did so. Even without absorbing the blood of the dracanae, his wound had already stopped bleeding. The vampire''s power shows its vitality as Hems continues to move forward without even slowing down because of the wound.


    As the group approached, Martha began to jump backward while shooting until the three H''s were right next to her, and then they continued to run.


    "They can control the strength of their skin! Those bastards! They were strengthening their defenses and would abandon it all to entrap us!" Hems cursed as he clutched the bleeding hand.


    "We lost the first sh. We can''t afford to lose again." Hemsey also spoke.


    "These creatures are intelligent! They figured out our tactic on the first time and switched their strategy on the second!" Hunter frowned.


    "A little too intelligent if you ask me. It was my fault we got into this kind of mess. I underestimated them..." Martha kept looking around, observing the workings of Fate.


    "We can''t fight them head-on. There are just too many of them."


    "Then we find whoever is controlling them. A dragon must be masterminding the movements and strategies of these creatures! Such intelligence isn''t normal! The Path of Combat would have exined Evasion, timing, and technique. Butbat is the preservation of one''s self in fighting. Those creatures sacrificed themselves for the greater good. I believe that something down here is controlling all the dracanae. Otherwise, why wouldn''t the dracanae fight and kill each other? Dragons devour, right? They walk on the path of the Dark Dependent. So why are they so organized?''


    "Do you have a n, Lady Martha?"


    "Yes! Ghouls! We have to try to make Ghouls! We need to capture some and turn them!"


    "Is that possible?"


    "Yes. But we need time. I tried it earlier, but I realized that there was some resistance. I thought that it was because these things were already dead. And so I stopped doing so after we saw the first one. But now I realize that there was resistance because I was battling for control!"


    "Can we steal them? I haven''t heard of a vampire turning another dhampir ghoul into his own!"


    "If we were normal vampires, then no. It''s impossible. But I don''t think our leader is a normal vampire. The more I think about it, the more strange we are! Dark Consumer? How is that normal? It''s like saying a human can eat fire! Vampires do not feast on darkness but harness it through magical means. And yet, we can eat them and skip allmon sense. It''s just impossible! And I think our sess lies in this. What if we consume the darkness that binds and controls these dracanae ghouls?"


    "That''s right... Our Blood de can send a blood rush inside and devour the darkness! It will take some time, but if we hold down a dracanae, it should be possible!"


    "Yes. And since these are already undead, we can''t do what we did to those living humans and orcs, which we turned into ghouls! You have to turn them after dealing minimal damage! Otherwise, these ghouls would be too weak to fight!"


    "So our goal is to create a small team and rush in to find whatever is controlling this dracanae?" Hunter asked.


    "But how do we do that?"


    "There is a way. I''ll stay behind and fight the enemy. Here." Martha suddenly stopped.


    "This ce looks unstable. I have to fight them here and block off the ce by copsing the roof of this tunnel. You three have to work together. My Path of Foresight is telling me that there should be some dracanae wandering around the top somewhere. Find them and turn them. I will dy the many dracanae as long as I can."


    "Lady Martha, if it''s to dy them, then I can do it!" Hems answered.


    "No. You three can gang up on one. I think stealing a dracanae ghoul under the control of whatever beast is here will require more than one person! We need both times to dy these dracanae and overpower the dragon mastermind''s control on this dracanae through numbers. So of all of us, I am most suited to stop them, and you three can turn them! Go now. Do not fail me!" Martha ordered as she drew her dagger and sword.


    "Lady-"


    "Go now! They''re already here!" Martha ran the opposite direction, and the horde of dracanae was now visible in the dark-seeing sights of the Coven.


    Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey had no choice but to obey as they ran in the opposite direction.


    Martha ran and began to drink more and more of the dark blood she stored on her sword to recover her Force energy.


    The darkness was invading her mind, and she was given in to more anger.


    But as the darkness grew, a certain delightful and blissful thought came to memory, and it brought down the rising anger to the point that it disappeared.


    "Aron Steele. If I die, I hope you''d be proud to call me your wife." She sighed as she rushed forward.

 Chapter 166 - Dragon Slayer

    Kyros was covered in a deep sweat. The process of breaching and connecting with Martha made him so weak that even the Temple was affected.


    ---


    Warning! Temple Overload!


    Energy output exceeded. Nephilim Sealing Temple will be in a dormant state for three days.


    ---


    Kyros was seated and was being supported by Aron and Branze.


    "What happened?" Aron asked.


    "I don''t know. A God or Fallen is fighting somewhere near or on the nes World. And then a seal was made to iste the entire region from sending any messages! So even your Message Talismans shouldn''t work anymore! Not until this seal is broken!" Kyros exined.


    "What rotten luck! Or should I say, what rotten Destiny! It actually caused gods to fight for this?!" Branze cursed.


    Kyros was faint. He focused on healing himself and began to munch on some food that the knights quickly brought.


    "Daradiel. It must be him! The Greater Gods have found him and are locking up this region so that he can''t call for help."


    "Yes. It means he should be somewhere in the nes World by now. I wonder if it''s still in that ce or if the location changed. Your return must have made several changes on how the Greater Gods and the Fallens would act."


    "I''m more worried if that Fallen or God will look for you! You just breached their barrier!"


    "Not exactly. The distance between me and Aunt Martha isn''t too far from here. So to the enemy God, he''d probably assume that a more powerful Message Talisman was used, and it deteriorated halfway through. If that message did indeed cause some turbulence or notable fluctuations, the enemy would just assume that it''s Greater God Daradiel trying to send a message."


    Kyros continued to eat as he was mentally conversing with Cminus.


    "Should we go?" Aron asked.


    "No. It''s too risky..." Branze answered.


    "Branze. That''s my wife!"


    "You haven''t even met her!"


    "Uncle. Dad is right. I''m worried about aunt Martha too. But this could be a trap by Destiny. Besides, Grandfather ising here with an escort of humans. With the Temple incapable of healing, it will bring huge changes to our preparations and how we follow through without n. In short, we are needed here."


    "Then send me alone!"


    "Uncle! Aunt Martha has the Path of Combat too! I sent her there knowing that it was a trap by Destiny! This has to happen!"


    "What do you mean?" Aron frowned.


    "Kyros is right. He just told us what he faced. The Blood Cmity. Look at those wings he brought in! It was made with a bone that is so hard! Not even our True Cut could damage it! And although we''ve only begun to understand a minuscule percent of the real True Cut, it''s something that can wound Commanders if we use it at the right time! And yet, your attack didn''t leave any marks on it!"


    "What does that have anything to do with Martha?!"


    "Everything! It isn''t kind, but it has to happen. We have to know how terrifying Destiny''s traps are! How will it work? What level of danger will it give? And since you''ve experienced firsthand how Fate toys with your life, then we can conclude that Destiny will learn from his losses! If Kyros didn''t send Martha in and allowed her to fall into that trap, Destiny would be more careful, cruel, and cunning in the next traps! This was a very weak and poor trap! And Kyros allowed Martha to fall into it so that we can learn!" Branze exined.


    Aron was silent.


    "Couldn''t have said it better myself. Uncle. This has to happen. And I have my reasons. I''ve seen Aunt Martha and roughly can tell how strong she is." Kyros exined.


    "As an archer, she is considered far superior to her peers. She is a Force User like you! And that''s very rare within Captain level. But apart from that, remember her lineage! What are the Bowheart''s known for?"


    "The Bowheart family is known for their impressive agility that makes them extremely difficult to kill in close-rangebat," Aron answered.


    "Right. It was made famous by the current Patriarch of the Bowheart n, Faust Bowheart. He has performed legendary deeds and made them the most reliable archers. They are archers that can be deployed on a battlefield''s frontlines and have high survival rates. We all know that Viscount families pursue alliances with them. Faust Bowheart is known as the ''Close Combat Archer''. Are you saying that Martha has this potential?" Branze asked.


    "Yes." Kyros confidently answered. In Kyros''s past life, her title had be quite known. In this life, only a few who personally knew her called her the Genius Archer abandoned by Her Family. But soon, her name would be of such renown that she even eclipsed the name of Faust Bowheart.


    "But I thought you easily defeated her and her toon! She can''t face something like Destiny!"


    "Er... Uncle. I don''t usually like to brag. But I defeated and outsmarted enemies and monsters several times stronger than me. I even fought a saint-level creature. And although she was sealed, she was still quite strong. Could you confidently face a saint-level creature and escape with her wings?" Kyros challenged.


    "..." Aron couldn''t answer. He couldn''t even defeat Stoph! Much more a creature that is a Saint-level!


    "Too bad the Temple is dormant. How are we going to heal your uncle from that burn?" Branze shook his head.


    "I can confidently say that Aunt Martha is very strong. Well... Just don''tpare them to me. I mean... seriously, Uncle. You got Hyperion''s Code because you''re his descendant. I got it because I understood his powers without any help from his bloodline. Don''t make me point these things out to you. I''m already keeping it low-key and humble."


    "..."


    "Knights! Get me some burn heal herbs for Lord Aron." Branze ordered.


    "Anyway..." Aron was resisting the urge to smack some respect into Kyros.


    "You still forced her into a trap!"


    "Father already exined why. Besides. Given Aunt Martha''s potential, she has something now that will make her far stronger than whatever potential she already has!"


    "Your Coven? Your Blood?"


    "Well... Those things will already change her. But that''s not it. What she has was the embarrassing taste of defeat from me. I easily defeated her. I haven''t exined to you the details of how we met. I almost killed her. I thought it was Fate, but I believe the first time I met her, and when we were fighting, Destiny was tricking me into killing her. That''s how important she is to Fate as an ally. I even had to use one of my secret weapons to defeat her. That speaks miles of her ability."


    "That was me, wasn''t it?! You only defeated Martha after you made me use Ssh!" Cminus spoke proudly! Cminus recalled how Kyros used a secret weapon. And that secret weapon to defeat Martha was his Cminus''s very own Cminus''s Ssh attack, to distract Martha in a critical moment.


    "But is it enough?"


    "Aunt Martha was almost killed again as Fate allowed her to experience a battle against several Viscounts. These things are experiences that Aunt Martha has been keeping in her heart. We have faced many battles since then, but it never really brought us to a near-death situation in all of those. But now... Aunt Martha will finally bloom. Trust in that, Uncle. She is the perfect person to be challenge Destiny."


    "Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey are good knights. I..."


    "Uncle. We can only hope and pray for their survival. You have to understand. In this battle against Destiny... Sacrifices should be expected. This is also a good ce to start for our family. We haven''t lost anyone yet. But this won''t stay the same forever."


    "They will do their duties to the end. You thought them that, brother." Branze added.


    Aron was silent. Those three were among his original team of mercenaries. He already bade farewell to them once. He was relieved to see that Kyros managed to save them. And now, he felt a great sense of fear in his heart.


    "I just feel... that their fate... that their destiny... ends in this mission..." Aron finally revealed one of his deepest worries.


    "Then their choice is to awaken Fate Challenger. Just like Aunt Martha. Trust that aunt Martha already taught them that! And while the risks are high, the rewards are greater. I cannot imagine how strong Aunt Martha or those three will be after they be the first Dragon yer of the Steele family." Kyros smiled.


    Back in the cave of the dracanae...


    Martha ran fearlessly towards the approaching horde of dracanae.


    A dagger and a sword appeared on her hand. Martha had divided her blood weapon to envelop her best dagger and her best sword.


    Despite not having any formal blessings from any sword gods, Martha still charged without fear.


    The monstrous creatures before her that brought her knights to pitiful conditions did not faze her. On her free moments, she would rey and mentally rehearse a mock battle against a being that she never stood a chance of defeating. The more she saw the abilities of this enemy, the more she felt helpless, and the more she kept thinking of ways to improve her battle.


    Compared to fighting Lord Kyros, this dracanae seemed cute. Her knights were no longer in the way. She didn''t have to worry about protecting them. She just needed to keep the enemies busy.


    Three dracanae ran towards her and prepared wide, sweeping attacks.


    Since acquiring the power of the Heretic Archer, Martha had sensed that it was as if she received several blessings all at once. This gave her the ability to wield Force energy with frightening uracy paired with her great speed. Martha didn''t use her bow because, in her mind, she was going to use her body as the arrow itself.


    As Martha approached, force energy erupted on her foot and threw her quickly to the front. But unlike her previous ways of using this, she didn''t just move in one direction, but she moved in a zigzag.


    Of all the many things that Lord Kyros had, speed was the most formidable trait. And that was the first thing Martha chased after.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    Three heads of the three dracanae fell. The creatures didn''t have time to harness and strengthen their neck when Martha had already zoomed past them and left three shing attacks.


    "The arrow has left the bow." Martha smiled as she charged to the other dracanae.


    ---


    [Ninja Job Acquired.]

 Chapter 167 - Dragon Descendant

    Martha smiled as she saw the notification. She knew she had it in her.


    The power to scale and acquire blessings and receive the power to acquire Job sses was made possible to her, thanks to her Coven leader.


    Ninja''s was a job ss that was only present in the Minds. The resource of acquiring it was so great. Apart from the various blessings archers should have, Ninjas also need formidable sword skills and normally require the Quick de job.


    Yet for Martha, Fate Challenger became the key as she could break through the limitations that the grand seal the gods and fallen has set to limit mortal progression.


    Her dexterity was high, and with the added bonus of the Coven and her maniption of Force, she was able to achieve it finally.


    The dracanae all began to change their tactics at thest second. She was too fast, and many of the dracanae sensed that they would die through their Path of Combat.


    Some slowed down and waited for allies, others began to move at the furthest sides, and some got ready to jump.


    In the battle between the Path of Combats, the two opposing sides would search for the best means to acquire the momentum and flow of the battle. It was as if both were in arge chessboard, and it was a matter of outsmarting and positioning the right pieces.


    Martha''s solitary Path of Combat versus the Path of Combat driven dracanae shed.


    An explosive force pushed Martha faster once more. She dove deep within the ranks of the Dracanae and evaded several of the surrounding dracanae to target the one inside.


    But despite her burst of speed, the dracanae Martha was targeting was already ready. It used its arms to shield its head.


    Those that Martha has passed by began to shift their position and assumed an attacking position as they jumped in to make a reckless attack to kill Martha. Many were aiming to attack Martha from the back.


    But as Martha neared the dracanae, she didn''t attack with her sword, but she nted her foot on the arm-shield that the dracanae did to cover his head. Martha kicked back and used her Force to create an explosion, adding a fast spin to her movements.


    SLICE!


    The spin created a sharp slicing attack the decapitated the dracanae.


    Without missing a beat, Martha dove back deeper into the dracanae and began to fight more.


    The dracanae changed its tactics once more, and instead of tactics, they decided to forcibly rush at her and use the number to their advantage.


    Martha was shing and stabbing using Force to explode out whenever the dracanae would use their ability and weaken their body so that the stab would dig deep.


    But Martha was so fast, and the explosions allowed her to draw back her arm to make more attacks.


    Martha was able to stand her ground as the dracanae rushed at her.


    The skills the dracanae employed with their tactics and feints were nothing in front of Martha.


    Martha was using several of her archer-abilities to wield her sword and dagger.


    The speedy draws of a Quick Bow were used to make consecutive stabs on the monsters. The blessings of wielding a bow that is sturdy while exerting a constant force to keep the bow arched aided in her ability to carry the sword.


    A dracanae thrust its arm at Martha and reached out with open arms towards Martha''s shing sword. The timing of the dracanae was precise as it made its attack right after Martha had used her force explosion. It disregarded the wounds and tried to pull the sword away. But Martha''s grasps were strong, and when the dracanae exerted strength to pull, Martha jumped and stabbed the dagger in a motion as if she was preparing to draw a bow.


    The stab pierced through and exploded at the head of the dracanae, and Martha swiftly began to create force explosion on her legs and arms to make immediate evasive movements as the other dracanae rushed in.


    Martha suddenly threw her sword and dagger, which stabbed at the heads of the dracanae, and she took out two arrows from her quiver and continued to fight with kicks and spins followed by quick stabs with her arrows.


    Thebat became chaotic as more dracanae rushed and even made reckless tackles.


    The sword and dagger that was stabbed from the dying dracanae flew out as a burst of dark energy threw it out.


    Martha stabbed his two arrows and used the lodged arrows to throw herself towards her sword and dagger.


    Martha managed to grab the two and was just in time to block a dracanae''s kick.


    SMASH!


    Martha was sent flying back and fell on the ground rolling.


    The dracanae took advantage of the downed form and rushed madly at Martha. The dracanae leaped at Martha, not even minding their life. It didn''t matter if they were killed just as long as they could bury Martha and stop her.


    Martha''s figure gazed up and saw several dracanae jumping at her.


    But as they wed in, the figure of Martha had turned into darkness!


    Martha had actually rolled further ahead, but she left behind moved out of the circle by stomping on one tackle and use one of the basic Ninja abilities through her control of darkness.


    "[Form Clone]." Martha smirked as she was already pulling her bow at full crescent with four arrows loaded.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows flew and exploded, killing more and more dracanae.


    Martha began to run backward as she kept shooting.


    "My magic was immediately depleted!" Martha sighed. She had heard that ninjas in the Minds could create decoys of themselves using the elements they wielded. So, with her basic control of darkness, she created a magical form that had her shape. If it were with normal eyesight, her clone would have easily been identified. But this undead dracanae could see just like the golems did. And such form confused them.


    The dracanae began to rush in with a tighter formation. They didn''t care about the dracanae that stumbled in front of them and concentrated at rushing. Some of those behind would even catch and carry the stumbling dracanae and use them as shields from Martha''s arrow.


    "I see. Since fighting me is useless, you want to push a wall of dracanae at me? Whoever is controlling you is quite impatient!" Marthaughed as she kept kicking and jumping back with small force explosions.


    "Too immature! If you have kept fighting me, I would have eventually run out of Force energy.." Marthaughed as she shot several arrows upwards.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    Explosive arrowsnded on the ceiling above them. Martha had nned it since the start. There was another area that Fate has shown her.


    "Your weakness is you don''t have Foresight!" Martha kept shooting as more and more cracks appeared on the ceiling of the tunnel.


    The dracanae tried to stop, but then the rock that began to crumble and fall was in their area!


    CRASH! CRASH!


    Martha attacked an area which created a chain reaction of destruction which buried the group. She continued to run back to avoid the copsing ceiling above her.


    Martha smiled as she watched the result of her battle.


    "Foresight is this important. You guys were strong fighters. But there are more things to just the flow of battle." Martha smiled.


    "I agree."


    SLASH!


    Martha tried to dodge but the sharp sword-like weapon that attacked her sliced off her right arm.


    With great speed, Martha snatched her sliced arm and kicked back to send her flying back.


    "An archer with one arm is quite useless, no?" The figureughed as he bent down to wipe the blood on the floor and tasted it.


    The creature looked just like a dracanae. Except that bones and spikes were protruding out of its body. Its teeth were sharp and had a long tail with a sharp de on its end.


    "Still... I''m very impressed that you could dodge that." The creatureughed.


    "A Dracanae?"


    "A real one. Not like this undead forms born from the vitality of dragonic cells. I am a real thing. A Dragon Descendant!"

 Chapter 168 - Dragon Favored

    Martha had a calm expression.


    "Oh? You''re not a normal vampire, are you? I can''t wait to eat your flesh." The humanoid dragon licked his lips.


    "Path of Foresight... You were already above me since the start."


    "You were quite far from where I was. So I just got here."


    "I? Don''t treat me like a child. I know there are five of you."


    "Oh? She''s quite talented. No wonder those Dracanae ghouls couldn''t kill her." Another voice was heard. This voice was hidden in the darkness behind Martha. She was already surrounded.


    Several figures also emerged. Another one stood behind the dracanae Martha was talking to. Two more stood on the part of the ceiling that didn''t copse.


    "All five of you waited. You didn''t attack so that you can trap me like this."


    "Yes. All dragons are born with the same power you have. Dragons have the power called Fate Challenger. That''s what''s makes dragons more superior to other races. But we are different. We don''t have Fate Challenger. We have Destiny''s Favor."


    Martha was silent but expected this. If this were a trap of Destiny, then Destiny''s minions would be their enemies.


    "Dragon favored by Destiny, eh? I would be trembling in my boots. But you five aren''t real dragons. Right?" Marthaughed.


    "You chased after me and not those five who have the dragon egg. I think that by now, you have already eaten dragon eggs or absorbed the vitality from more potent sources. But it''s never enough. I''m a vampire, and I know. Even if I kill and absorb a vampire stronger than me, it''s no assurance that I will be as strong as that vampire. So you guys can drop the act of calling yourselves dragons. You''re not even a quarter dragon, are you? Ambitious group."


    The arrogant expressions of the five turned sour.


    "A little bat dares to mock us?"


    "Five wannabe-dragons are so flustered that they had to corner a little girl and use Destiny''s Foresight to make sure she can''t escape... You five make me sick. And you call me a little bat? Tell me why you aren''t attacking? Do you wish to learn more about my master?" She sneered.


    [Taunt skill acquired.]


    [Taunt skill activated.]


    "What a brave little bat. You don''t even know how to spread your wings, and you already dare to bare fangs at a dragon."


    "Oh, shut up! Give me a break. How many bloodlines of the Fallen have you awakened? You fancy yourself a dragon, but you guys are even less than a whelp."


    The group''s look turned uglier.


    "You arrogant-"


    "Fanged Fallen. Charmed Fallen. Two Fallen blessings are mine. What do you have?" Sheughed.


    "Brother... Let''s not waste our time. Tell us where your master is, and we''ll spare those five."


    "Spare them? They could have been eaten up by those dracanae ghouls by now. You think I''m so stupid to believe that!"


    "They haven''t. They are fighting one as we speak."


    "Hm? You know? You''re controlling them?"


    "Of course we are. Who do you think controls all those dracanae''s movements?"


    "No wonder they are so precise. It was like I''ve been fighting all five of you."


    "Hmp. Don''t be too cheeky. We can only give them specific order."


    Martha was wearing a serious expression. But her heart was relieved. The three were still alive. That was her biggest concern.


    "Are you happy now? We''ve didn''t attack as you intended. Have you healed enough from fighting my dracanae? You can''t hide the activation of Minor Vampiric Healing. We dragons still have our pride, after all. We''ll fight you and give you the chance to fight back." One of the dracanaeughed.


    Martha had been casting Minor vampiric healing and had been absorbing the darkness that her Blood Weapons had absorbed when she stabbed it to the dracanae. Her hand had been reattached thanks to how clean the cut was. But although it was connected, she knew she couldn''t use its full potential unless she drained all the dark energy she acquired.


    "Tell us where your Coven Master is, and we will make your death painless."


    "Busy fighting an Okto-Kefali. Whatever that is."


    "An Okto-Kefali?!" The group was stunned as they heard those words.


    "Lies."


    "I tell you the truth, and you don''t believe me anyway! It seems a painless death isn''t possible then." Martha chuckled.


    " If you don''t want to talk or speak the truth, we''ll just have to eat you and search for your master using your scent.." The group began to move.


    Martha sighed.


    Despite her arrogant front, she knew she was doomed to die. The fast speed of the dracanae immediately severed her hand. She knew that fighting all five of them would only lead to her death. Yet, she couldn''t afford to flee. If she tried to escape, those three would be their target.


    And so, she decided to die in hopes of saving them. But, there was one more thing that she could try.


    "Hunter! Hems! Hemsey! Run Away!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. Her cry contained force energy and echoed throughout the tunnel.


    The three H''s were fighting a dracanae and had managed to pin it down and had started to do the process of converting the dracanae after much effort. Just as Martha predicted, Hunter alone was not able to turn one sessfully. The three poured in their blood through the swords and had to battle the enemy.


    There, they began to make full use of the skills they acquired from their previous battle.


    With Dark Resistance and Minor Soul Resistance, they managed to fight back from the attacks of the mastermind controlling the dracanae.


    They then used Blood Devourer and Dark Consumer to attack the force controlling it. All the level increases they had acquired for their skills, including their Blood Weapon level, were used, and with thebined effort, they managed to break it and started turning the dracanae into their ghoul.


    Their magic point was dropping quickly.


    "I wonder if we can even capture a second one?"


    They heard the sudden shout of Martha in the distance.


    "Lady Martha!" Hunter eximed. The sound of Martha''s voice shocked his heart.


    "There are very strong enemies! Get out of here! Now!" The shout continued.


    The three trembled at those words that they froze for a second.


    "Lady Martha needs us!" Hems shouted as he rushed back!


    "Stop! No! We can''t! You heard her. We will die!" Hunter gave a surprising order and pulled Hems back to the ground.


    "What are you doing?! We have sworn loyalty to the Steele-"


    "To Lord Kyros. We are not just the Steele family anymore!" Hunter shouted and overpowered Hemsey''s shouts.


    "Then we abandon Lady Martha?!" Hems argued.


    "Think, you idiot! We can''t fight them now! Lady Martha is strong! We''ve been holding her back! If she fights alone, she is stronger! We are too weak to help her! I n to help her! The dracanae is the answer! We need to get more of these! That''s the only way to survive and be more helpful to her! Lady Martha is fighting whatever monsters to buy us more time. We have a choice. To either use the time we have to flee or to help her! And of course, the answer is to help her! But if we dive in there, we waste Lady Martha''s attempts! But with more dragon minions, we can go in there and save Lady Martha and escape!" Hunter shouted.


    The pair was struck with a realization.


    "We have to look for more dracanae! This one is not enough! It will be impossible to search for another lone dracanae or convert more with out remaining mana! And we can''t drink too much blood to fall into that Dark Maddening state... I don''t know it yet... But Fate is telling me that there is hope! Follow me!" Hunter urged his brothers.

 Chapter 169 - Dragon Damaging

    It was impossible for the three H to create more dracanae ghouls.


    Martha''s original n was to increase their power by a little bit by turning the dracanae ghoul into their own minions.


    Fate was even prodding her in that direction, and Martha followed despite it being the illogical option.


    She knew that the group could only convert one or two dracanae due to the limited amount of blood and dark energy they could absorb. She even assumed that they could only turn one as the worst-case scenario.


    But this was Fate''s prodding. She also found a means to dy the dracanae, but then those five appeared.


    But what she didn''t know was that her specific desire was alreadying true when she sent the three to search for dracanae.


    The pair was confused.


    "Trust you? Brother... You mean?"


    "I feel like I have some understanding of Fate. Please. We have no time!"


    Hems and Hemsey looked at each other first and then turned back to Hunter and nodded.


    The trio stood up, and the Dracanae also stood up with them.


    "Controlling it feels like controlling a regr ghoul. Let''s move!" Hunter said as he found that he could control the dracanae.


    Hunter positioned the dracanae ghoul in front of them as they searched, and Hunter exined the n.


    "Right when we moved in Airom Logat, Kyros made us create more orc ghouls, which we used to attack and harass orc outposts, right? We sent them to have them die. Kyros used those attacks to create more fear about the Blood Cmity in Logat. But do you remember when we felt that our ghouls died?"


    "We could only sense them at a distance and know if they are dead."


    "Right. The problem is, there are too many of them here! Can they sense it if one dies? What if another dracanae ghoul appears? Will the rest know that it''s not one of them?"


    "So you n to use this ghoul to ambush more?"


    "Yeah. We can make four ghouls each. Since all our previous orc ghouls are dead as we sent them to attack, we should be able to create four dracanae ghouls! Once we have two or more ghouls, attacking and capturing more will be easy!"


    "But our magic points! We don''t have enough magic points!"


    "I am starting to understand the Path of Foresight. I''ve been thinking about how Lord Kyros, Scarlet, and how Lady Martha developed then. Then I started to understand what it is. We can achieve Fate Challenger but have yet to grasps it. But When Lady Martha brought down the ceiling, I realized something. Fate doesn''t show us things we are not looking for. Lord Kyros is smart, and Scarlet is a natural at it. They must see things differently. But Lady Martha isn''t like them. I figured what it was she must have been concentrating on when we were escaping."


    "What else? She was thinking of how to get us out of here!" Hems argued.


    "No. You heard the copse of stones going in the direction of Lady Martha. I think she caused it. She did it twice now. I think that''s what she''s looking for! She is concentrating and using her Path of Foresight to reveal something very, very specific."


    "I see! She''s using Foresight to know which part of this cave is unstable!"


    "Right! For her, it''s not that Fate is telling her, but she is asking Fate! When I heard Lady Martha shout. That was the first thing I thought about. Where can we get more magic points! And I felt Fate''s whispers!"


    The pair was surprised.


    "I need you two to do the same thing. If we have the same impression, then I know I''m not crazy!" Hunter urged.


    "We still have enough magic points to turn another... Why don''t we test it first!" Hems asked.


    "Right. Focus on that question! Where can we find one dracanae!" Hunter ordered.


    The three began to concentrate. A few secondster, Hems and Hemsey pointed in the same direction. But even before they finished pointing, the dracanae was already moving.


    "It''s working!"


    The group began to move slower, and the dracanae was rushing forward.


    Soon, another dracanae was approaching. It saw the dracanae being controlled by the three H and continued to move normally.


    Knowing that the Path of Combat could be tricking them, Hunter was cautiously waiting to give the orders.


    As the two were drawing closer and closer, there was no change in the dracanae movement, and the two were side to side.


    Hunter immediately gave the orders, and their dracanae ghoul gave a swift kick that sent the dracanae to the wall.


    "Charge!" Hunter shouted as the three ran and pounced on the startled dracanae.


    "It worked!" Hems cheered.


    "Let''s hurry! Our Lady awaits!" Hunter urged.


    Going back in time a few minutes earlier...


    Martha delivered two loud shouts to warn the three H''s and surrendered herself to the trap of the five. Just as Hunter theorized, Martha had been unconsciously asking certain questions at times and didn''t know that it was through this that she had been sensing Fate''s prompt.


    She was a Level 3 Medium in the Path of Foresight and used the questions of which part of the cave is weak. But when she saw the five dracanae, she began to ask another question.


    "How can I buy my knight''s time?"


    Interestingly, the answer to this question was Dark Maddening.


    And so she did.


    Her de and dagger had so much dark energy from her attacks and stabs. And since she previously severed her right arm was still weak even after several rounds of Minor Vampiric Healing, she needed more magic points. And so she absorbed all the dark energy, not caring for Dark Maddening.


    She used the recovering magic point to cast three spells.


    "[Minor Vampiric Healing]. [Decay]. [Death Ripple]."


    Death Ripple was the soul-inflicting attack that attacked the enemies'' souls, directly creating mental stress and pain.


    The spells wouldn''t harm the undead. But those before her were living dracanae.


    The group felt a strange pain in their mind.


    "Argh!"


    "What?!" The dracanae cursed as the power affected their souls, and it caused them pain. Their physique was strong, that they had an extremely powerful tolerance to pain. But the soul attack was different. These dracanae''s hadn''t developed the soul of a dragon, and so, the shocking sensation of pain caused them a surprise.


    The Charmed Fallen developed Death Ripple to hinder the impressive instinctive abilities borne from the Path of Combat that dragons have. The Charmed Fallen''s Magic was designed to inflict damage to god or fallen tiered beings with great defense.


    And so, when Martha sought a means to buy her knights sometime, Fate prompted this as she had two skills that were used specifically tobat dragons during the Age of Heretics.


    "If that undead dracanae can fight well with the Path of Combat... I wonder if I can?" She hoped.


    As the effect of Death Ripple began, Martha''s consciousness faded. All that remained was an angry, maddened state.


    "What is this?!" One of the dracanae felt the decay.


    "Argh!" Another felt a piercing pain in his head.


    SMASH!


    The devastating kick instantly arrived as Martha used her force energy to erupt and send a kick to the face of the first dracanae. The unguarded dracanae was thrown to the side as Martha ran forward. She was running not towards the three H, but towards the copsed wreckage where several dracanae ghouls were buried in the rocks.


    The dracanae managed to recover their state as Martha was moving away.


    "She''s getting away!" The dracanae cursed, and they chased her.


    Each stomp had the power of Force Energy, throwing her swiftly. The sword and the dagger stabbed on the heads of two dracanae as she took out her bow and began to shoot.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Martha shot several arrows with great speed. Several arrows wereunched.


    The dracanae didn''t bother evading. Compared to the dracanae ghoul, the five have stronger defenses. The dracanae rushed angrily as they felt the rare sensation of pain. But they didn''t notice that they were disregarding the flow of the Path of Combat of Destiny due to Death Ripple at that moment.


    The arrowsnded...


    The first few arrows were knocked off and didn''t even leave a mark on the dracanae. It was as if the arrowheads struck steel.


    Some exploded and didn''t even leave wounds to the dracanae. But then...


    "GAH!"


    "Ahhh!"


    Thest set of arrows pierced inside and damaged the dracanae.


    The arrows began to dig deeper into the bodies of the dracanae, leaving shallow wounds.


    The power of Decay was taking effect.


    Dragons boasted great vitality and impressive regeneration. The Fanged Fallen developed the magic known as Decay tobat the dragons, which he could not sink his teeth on.


    Death Ripple and Decay were spells that Martha could barely cast with her magic points. But since she had absorbed an abundance of dark energy, she managed to cast both. This was why her Path of Foresight urged her to fall into the Dark Maddening state. It was only through this that she could afford to deal damage and distract the dracanae.


    The arrows that were shot had Decay and were leaving small and unnoticeable effects on the particr part of the dragon''s skin. Martha''s precise bow attacks all struck the same area repeatedly. Decay was leaving its mark bit by bit. Until finally, another arrow attacked which had an even more malicious attack.


    True Entropy.


    Martha''s maddened state was driven by the Path of Combat and the Path of Foresight. Her body began to utilize whatever was present to her to fight back.


    And so, the True Entropy Core that she carried was naturally used at the guidance of Path of Combat. Martha was not an undead being. She had the wisdom and intelligence that worked alongside her Path of Combat.


    The arrows sunk deeper that it didn''t even fall all but was sticking out of the tough carapace skin of the dracanae.


    More arrows of True Entropy were released, and it all continued to strike the areas near where the arrow had dug deeper, and it was too fast, and the aim was too urate that even though the five was thrashing about, the arrows stillnded on the intended location.


    The sword and the dagger exploded out again, and Martha caught it and began to absorb more of the dark energy.


    Without hesitating, Martha rushed forward and wielded her two weapons, now being imbued with the power of Decay.

 Chapter 170 - Dragon Soul

    At Martha''s skill level, Decay could not be used as an area-of-effect attack that will naturally weaken the body, just as the Vampire orc did. But wielding it and concentrating the attack into one area was still possible.


    The outstanding battle instincts of Martha believed that she could damage these creatures, and she did.


    But despite these amazing feats, her death was still sealed.


    Death Ripple was no longer active as Martha was running out of magic points.


    The pain that caused the dracanae to lose their concentration was no longer there, and they began to harness their force energy.


    At the very start, Martha allowed her Path of Combat to be guided with Foresight. Her will and focus remained on one question, and that was ''how can I buy my knight''s time?''


    The final arrows that contained True Entropy cost Martha a lot of energy that barely a fourth of the True Entropy remained. Yet even with the powers of Entropy assailing the insides of the dracanae, the terrifying vitality and recovery werebatting it that the Entropy could not easily corrode the dracanae''s body.


    "She has a True Entropy core!" One of the dracanae was startled at the attack, but a look of greed surfaced.


    Martha shot forward-moving several meters at each leap.


    "Hmp!"


    The tail of the dracanae at the front swung down, but Martha was able to evade it by a few centimeters.


    Her two weapons swung down and stabbed at the dracanae''s chest, but the dracanae simplyughed and released his Force Energy and the Second Source that dragons had.


    BANG!


    The sword strike of Martha also contained her Force energy, and the sh threw Martha back.


    The dracanae rushed in and used their long tales to swipe at Martha, who began to retreat.


    "She''s retreating?" The dracanae was confused. They realized that Martha had fallen into a Dark Maddening state. But how was a berserked person capable of retreating?


    "If she wanted to retreat, she could have done earlier. She''s clearly confused."


    "Hmp. Her attack contains a strange power the weakens my body. And that Entropy... it''s quite annoying to deal with!"


    "She is definitely being controlled by Path of Combat. And by the looks of it, her level should be high! But Foresight seems to be guiding her too! It determined that she would lose and urged her body to flee! Let''s move!" The dracanae rushed forward to chase Martha, who was escaping.


    Fate was guiding Martha''s Path of Combat. And since it desired to buy time for the knights, Martha was now doing what Fate directed her instincts to do.


    The attack she did was to deceive the enemy. Her Path of Foresight was stronger than the dracanae that it was meant for the dracanae to be blinded from her purpose. They believed that Martha was trying to survive and escape. And when that attack failed, Martha fled to give the impression that Foresight was forcing her to move.


    At that moment, her Path of Foresight was increasing its level because the mad and crazy power of dark maddening was fueling Martha''s usage of Foresight.


    The group began to chase her, and even though many of the dracanae ghouls were recovering from the crash, those that would attack Martha were all swiftly killed.


    The sword and dagger in Martha''s hand grew even darker as it absorbed more and more during her escape.


    But what the dracanae didn''t realize was that Martha was not just undergoing a normal Dark Maddening.


    She had fallen into the type of Dark Maddening that Kyros hoped wouldn''t be possible. Kyros knew how scary his Dark maddening was. It wasn''t like the usual curses where one falls into a berserked state, and they would wake up out of that trance. He fell into that Dark Maddening state that was supposed to be permanent.


    And since the Coven had taken Kyros''s blood, it was possible for them to fall into a simr kind of Dark Maddening.


    It took a miracle and the help of Kyriachos to break free. But not everyone has the same power that Kyros has. Kyros knew that this was possible. But something told him that there was something good at the end of the dark tunnel if he allowed Martha and the team to fall into this trap.


    Kyros was also curious. As cruel as it may seem, he wanted to know if the Dark Maddening was something that could be reverted.


    Martha suffered from a minuscule attack that Kyros experienced. But without the divinity of Mysterion, Martha was lost in darkness.


    She found herself moving in a long dark path.


    The world she came to was the Abyss that was hidden deep within the cave and caverns.


    She kept walking and walking, but there was no light anywhere.


    "Where am I?" She pondered as she walked.


    It was strange for her, a conscious and living being, to walk in the deep darkness.


    The Abyss, the great power that divides, has removed her soul from her mind.


    She was no Nephilim but a mere human. And so, the power of the dark that separated her was something her soul had no chance of resisting.


    She walked down the endless darkness, trying to remember who she was or what she was. She knew she existed, but other than that, she knew of nothing else.


    Her soul continued to walk in the darkness.


    "How odd..." A rough and strange voice echoed in the darkness.


    Despite the loud sound, Martha couldn''t hear it, for she was detached from all forms of senses inside the darkness.


    The source of the voice was arge red dragon who peered out of the darkness.


    "A human soul has wandered into this Abyss? Could it be? Humans have reached my grave?" The dragon frowned.


    "But how did she fall into such darkness and reach this realm? Has the Fallen taken residence of my grave and is battling humans?" The dragon wondered as he observed the soul.


    "At least I have someone to apany me in this eternity." The dragon smiled and continued to watch. It was then that the dragon felt something ufortable.


    "Hrm? That power! It''s the Charmed Fallen!" The dragon''s soul began to retreat as he was afraid of the pain that the power of one of the deadliest dragon yers could create. The dragon had seen it, and all of his brothers and sisters fell from the hands of this very Fallen.


    "Scary. Why does this human have the power of the Charmed Fallen?" The dragon frowned.


    "My soul falls into the Abyss, and just when I meet someone after a millennium, she has the power of the Charmed Fallen! What stupid luck. Even if this human dies, her soul will be lost forever in this darkness! I''d have to keep walking out of her way, and I can''t devour her!" The dragon cursed.


    He then began to think. The power of the Abyss in this ce was something he had grown ustomed to. But it took him many centuries to break free from the separation. His fear was that if he devoured this soul, the Darkness that Separates would affect him once more and throw him in a state of limbo for all eternity.


    "Strange. Now that I think about it... The Charmed Fallen''s darkness shouldn''t have cause one''s soul to fall down this Abyss! They would only go through a temporary state of Dark Maddening. Did this human try to eat the darkness of the descendants of Fallen Kyriachos?" The dragon scratched his head.


    "But then again, how can humans eat darkness?" The dragon took a closer look at her soul.


    He decided to draw closer and observe the form of Martha.


    As he approached, something he didn''t expect happened. Martha turned to him as she sensed a presence near her.


    "Who... are you?"


    "You can see me?!" The dragon was startled.


    At first, Martha stood silently. But then she took a closer look at the figure before her.


    "Are... Are you talking to me?" Martha asked.


    "She can also hear me!" The dragon was amazed.


    "Little girl! Can you hear me? Stop casting that Death Ripple spell! I''ll move closer if you can!" The dragon shouted.


    He did so, several times and finally, Martha nodded.


    The strange power in her soul disappeared.


    "Good! Now that I think about it, I just saved your life. You could die by constantly releasing Death Ripple." The dragonughed as he approached.


    "You...! You''re a dragon!" Martha could finally see the full form of the dragon''s soul. He was like the same dracanae he fought, but he hadrge wings and horns on his head.


    "Nice to meet you. It would be so nice to be a dragon again. But right now, I am just a dragon soul. I ate something I shouldn''t have, and the Darkness that Separates began to pull my soul out of my body and trapped me in here. I think that the same thing happened to you."


    Martha nced at the dragon with a confused expression. Martha was starting to feel a strange pain in her soul as some thoughts were starting toe to her. Although she couldn''t remember, many parts of Martha''s behavior were returning due to the dragon''s words and jolting her soul to seek memories naturally.


    "Urh... I''m alive! I know I am alive! But what does this mean?" She was so confused. She had a feeling that she didn''t belong in this darkness, and her soul was longing to return to her body.


    "You''re weird." The dragon frowned. The anomaly he saw before him was too strange. Normal humans can''t do this! How could she easily recall about herself in such a fast time when it took this dragon ages to do so!


    "Not the most polite thing to say to someone you just met... But I guess I can y along. You''re ugly." Martha countered.


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "Fair enough." The dragon sighed.

 Chapter 171 - Darkness That Separates

    The dragon continued to observe Martha. Martha kept trembling as she kept feeling great pain in her soul. This was also making her very irritable and sarcastic.


    "This girl is really human. How is this possible?" He wondered.


    "What are you?" The dragon asked.


    "A soul! What else!?" Martha gave an irritable nce.


    "Erm... Are you human? Your soul aura looks like one."


    "Hu-Human? I... I think I am. But I don''t remember."


    "This is why I said weird. You see, this form of your is not possible. You are an anomaly. If you are human, you shouldn''t be able to see me. You must have taken in the blood of a high-ss being that is descended to Fallen Kyriachos. But humans who have taken the blood or have mixed with any dark descended be Undead at most. But you''re clearly not! Are you a vampire? Do you belong to a Coven?"


    "A Coven? That''s right! A Coven! I think I know what that is, but..."


    "Hrm... Then again, I doubt you are a vampire. It would make our soul be undead. But yours is clearly alive. But your memory, though... That''s another anomaly. You''re already starting to remember! That shouldn''t be possible unless... Are you a Fallen? Not even Vampire Ancestors could resist the Darkness that Separates! Maybe your soul is a reincarnated Fallen? I heard it''s possible."


    "What is this Darkness that Separates that you keep talking about? What is this ce? I feel that if you tell me more, it will help me know who I am."


    "You''re right! Alright. Let me start from the beginning. Maybe telling you the history of this ce will allow you to remember how and what you got yourself into. Legend has it that when Fallen Kyriachos created the Darkness that Separates, it gave birth to all forms of darkness, even the space that separates worlds ands."


    "Who?"


    "Let me just continue. You might already know the answer to that since you probably killed or ate something with a Kyriachos bloodline. So the Darkness that Separates was born. But when all creation was separated, the Darkness that Separates created another world of its own as it found no way to separate itself from creation truly. At first, the gods called it Shadow Realm, but one weird Ancient God would suddenly pop up whenever someone said ''Shadow Realm'' and challenge them to a Duel with card games. Or as I heard him say it, ''it''s time to Du-Du-Du-Du-Du-Du-Du-Du-Duel.''"


    "What?"


    "A-Anyway. That''s not important. We call that reverse world the Separated Realm. This ce we are in is a small version of that. My family of Dragons made our home in a mountain on the ce your body is at. It was a secret, but somehow the gods found out about us and sent one of the strong Greater Gods to kill us all in a terrifying attack. I won''t go into the details, but we were betrayed by the guys we thought were helping us. We aided the Fallens because they promised to support us Heretic cultivators, but the truth was, they wanted to eat us."


    "Eat you?"


    "Yeah. It''s a Fallen thing. They used one of the only powerful Gods that could damage us, and when that sword god made his attack, the Fallen ambushed us. We killed a lot of them, and I was so mad that I ate one of the strongest Devils. Little did I know he was a son from a Fallen bearing the Kyriachos name. His death and along with the rest who bear the Kyriachos blood, created a reverse world here. And my soul was sent here. I probably was in here by a million or so years until I finally had consciousness once again. I cultivated for a millennia to finally remember everything. When you fell into the Dark Maddening, the blood of Kyriachos resonated and separated your soul. Does this sound familiar?"


    "No. I don''t understand anything you said!"


    The dragon scratched his head again.


    "Hmmm... Humans don''t fall into the Abyss. And you can''t regain your memories at such a fast pace. This ce would have eaten you up unless you are a being of darkness. But you are human!" The dragon pondered.


    "What if I am a mixed-race?"


    "Impossible. I would have sensed it. Erm... This might be rude, and we''ve only met. But can I... touch you?"


    "I''ve lost my memories and the basic being of who or what I am, but I know what you said sounded creepy and perverted."


    "Right... I-I''m sorry. What I meant was, can I feel your soul? So I can understand what you are."


    Martha gave the dragon a strange look.


    "Still sounds creepy."


    "Honestly... It is. But I can help you if you let me."


    "Alright. Do what you must. But keep your hands to yourself. I think a part of me is screaming that I have to reserve my body and soul for that someone."


    "Oh... Your married!"


    "Probably. I don''t remember. Just do what you must."


    "Alright. Stay still." the dragon reached out and ced hisrge w-like hand on top of Martha''s head.


    "She''s a vampire?! But how?! Her soul isn''t undead!" The dragon eximed.


    "I''m a Vampire? So is that why the word Coven seems familiar..."


    "But you''re not Undead! This is weird! Let me take a closer look. You seemed to have a strange resistance to the Darkness so let me use my powers to try to resonate and increase the darkness in your blood so I can see more things about your soul."


    "Will this hurt?"


    "Well... Normally, it would make your separated state worse... But you seem to have great resistance to it. Try to keep yourself focused. Think of something that will connect you to your body. Anything... erm... your passionate about. You said that you are married? Can you think of his name?"


    "No... I think it''s not even a guy."


    "Oh! It''s a her! Interesting..."


    "What''s with that look, dragon?"


    "Erm... No-nothing. Alright. Concentrate on that passionate feeling. Try to remember a name."


    "..." Martha had a very bizarre expression.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "I keep thinking of the phrase... My ass."


    "...What?" The dragon was confused.


    "I don''t know. But the phrase is definitely my ass."


    "You''re weird." The dragon repeated the adjective he assigned to Martha again.


    "...Yeah. You''re probably right." Martha had no counter.


    "Alright... I guess you''ll be thinking of your ass while I do this."


    "Wait! That was wrong! It''s not your ass. It has to be my ass!"


    "Since when did I say anything about MY ass!? We''ve been talking about yours!"


    "No! I meant, it''s... It''s Myas! A name! The girl''s name! It''s Myas!"


    "OHHHHH! Myas! Ok good. That would have been too weird for me, and I''m a dragon who devoured my father." The dragon chuckled.


    "I think she''s my sister!"


    "Oh... So you are not a lesbian! Bummer."


    "Can we just... I''m just... I just want to..."


    "I know. I know. This has been one heck of a conversation. Let''s start. Keep thinking of your ass. I mean my ass... I mean... Whatever. Let''s start."


    The dragon released the dark powers within him to draw out the power of Martha.

 Chapter 172 - Darkness Of Fate

    Back in the real world, Martha kept running and running and was constantly killing the dracanae ghouls she came across.


    STAB!


    The tail of the Dracana stabbed the leg of Martha, but Martha was quick to pull herself out and run despite have a hole on her leg. Then darkness began to cover it once more as several rounds of Minor Vampiric Healing was cast.


    "That''s the second time! Her body is quite tough! Even with those wounds, she isn''t slowing down!" One of the five Dracanae''s cursed.


    Her body had been stabbed twice but the wounds were now healing as Martha kept retreating.


    The dracanae was even controlling their ghouls to keep retreating to minimize Martha''s healing. But this only made Martha''s escape even faster.


    As the group continued to chase Martha, the three H''s had just spent their remaining magic point to convert another dracanae.


    "Follow me! I sense that we can recover up ahead!" Hunter led the group as they rushed forward with two dracanaes on the lead.


    "I think we can afford to absorb a round of blood from the dracanae ghouls and get one more creature." Hemsey concluded.


    "Speak for yourself! I can''t take in any more! I''m already felling a sense of anger and frustration!"


    "But you already wild killing that other dracanae! Wasn''t that enough?" Hemsey asked.


    "Why don''t I bring out my frustrations to you?!" Hems cursed.


    "I think you should fight one of the Dracanae alone to calm yourself down. There should be a several moreing up. Can you fight one like you did earlier?"


    "Yes! Do you think I''m weak?!"


    "Let''s go." Hunter ignored his brothers rages and ordered the two dracanae to rush ahead towards the area where he could hear a dracanae was grunting.


    As they got closer, the daracanae ghouls seemed to be fixated at something. They were trying to scale the walls. On a higher level were several humans humans shooting with bows and arrows and dropping stones. The ceiling of the cave rose several stories high that it looked like it was possible to reach the top of the underground chamber.


    "It''s the ves!" Hemsey eximed.


    "They followed us and looked for a path leading down here! As expected of Lady Myas."


    The three moved closer to observe but kept themselves hidden from the busy dracanae.


    The arrows and bows could harm the hard carapace of the dracanae ghouls. A few more dracanae arrived from another path and joined the group.


    The cliff was slippery and smooth that the dracanae couldn''t climb up. But through intelligent teamwork, the dracanae ghouls were focusing on grouping together to scale the high wall leading to a cliff where the ves were.


    "We have to help the ves!" Hems frowned.


    "Hunter... Is this where Fate led you?" Hemsey asked.


    "Yes!" Hunter smiled.


    "We left all those fragile vials of potion on their bags in case we would have to fight. With them in hand, it''s possible to restore our magic points!" Hunter cheered.


    "But how do we get pass these dracanaes? There too many of them!" Hems cursed.


    "We wait. Lady Myas had joined Lady Martha on some missions, right? She smart in this. Look, there are only a few among the ves there. Lady Myas and Mardock is also not among them! They must be nning something! This is why we faced so few dracanae ghouls! Most of them are being stopped here!"


    "They probably will drop arge boulder..." Hemsey guessed.


    "Right. We have to wait for that to happen and send our two ghouls to sabotage whatever actions these dracanae ghouls might do. With all of them here, it possible for them to attack or catch the boulders together." Hunter answered.


    "Perfect! We have to time it properly. With all those ghouls, they won''t get crushed but if we can pin them down with the boulder, we can easily convert more!"


    "Leave one of those dracanae to me. I need to release this anger. It''s really ticking me off!"


    "Don''t worry. We wait for Myas to make her appearance and that should be the sign that they are about to execute it." Hunter answered.


    "Do it!" One of the ves suddenly shouted.


    The Three H''s were startled and Hunter immediately sent his two ghouls to move closer.


    The three were also preparing their charge.


    Suddenly, rumbling sounds where heard several stories higher than were some of the ves were.


    Several of the ves suddenly appeared out of the corner of some rocks and out of some of the wider crevice on the wall and threwrge rocks.


    The rocks fell and made the dracanae start to evade.


    CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!


    Several rocks that wererger than a human head kept falling and made the dracanae evade by moving closer to the center. Some stumbled down as the impact of the rocks smashed on their heads.


    About a split second after the rocks were thrown, several humans and Mardock appeared and gave a powerful punch on a certain pir near the top.


    BANG!


    The destruction of the pir caused arge boulder to fall down.


    Hunter immediately ordered the two to prepare as the he and his brothers approach.


    Therge boulder fell with great speed, but at that moment, all the dracanae moved in synch to catch therge falling boulder.


    CRASH!


    The dracanae ghouls managed to catch the stone but their foot dug deeper into the earth from the force.


    "STOP THROWING! MARDOCK! JUMP ON TOP OF THAT ROCK!" Hunter shouted as loud as he could and gave the orders to charge.


    The ghouls he controlled rushed in and gave powerful kicks to some of those who were carrying therge boulder.


    SMASH! SMASH!


    Two of the dracanae were kicked that they were thrown towards other dracanaes trying to bear the weight of the rock.


    The three H''s also moved and attacked the footing of some of the dracanae ghouls.


    Mardock had immediately followed and jumped towards the boulder he had just pushed down.


    SMASH!


    Theck of support and the added force that struck the boulder caused the group to lose the strength and was ttened to the ground.


    The three H''s and the two controlled ghouls began to attack the downed dracanae and started the process of converting some of them.


    "Sess! Let''s hurry! Some of them are just under this rock but received little damage! Let''s hurry and go save ourdy!" Hemseyughed.


    "Throw us some magic potion, quick!" Hunter shouted out loud and Myas immediately acted.


    "Dracanae? Impossible!" Mardock observed the monsters beneath the rock and frowned.


    "Help us! These two are under our control! We are trying to convert more! We have to save Lady Martha!" Hems shouted as he caught one and drank.


    "My sister? What happened to my sister?!" Myas shouted with fear as she heard Hems''s report.


    "We''ll exinter!" Hems roared back as he took one sip from the magic potion he got. Hems immediately stabbed the heart of one of the dracanae that was pinned down by the rock. He fought the dark seal wildly.


    Hunter and Hemsey had to join forces to start one butughed at Hems anger.


    "Let''s do this!" Hunter smiled.


    "This should be a mistake." Hunter mumbled.


    "What?"


    "No. Nothing. Let''s hurry." Hunter concentrated.


    What Hunter didn''t say, was that his Foresight was pointing him to something else.


    "No. This is just probably the darkness of Fate. Is it testing me? What a crazy notion." Hunter thought secretly. But the whispers of Fate grew even more clear.


    "No! It shouldn''te to that!" Hunter concentrated and closed his eyes.


    Meanwhile... in the Separated Realm...


    "WHAT THE?!" The dragon soul was horrified at what he saw.


    "What kind of bloodline is this?! This darkness! It''s controlled by Fate!" The dragon watched as he saw visions of severalrge gods that made him shiver. All of those gods and fallen that he saw could end him almost instantly.


    Martha was quickly regaining her memories.

 Chapter 173 - Darkness Source

    Martha began to recall bits and pieces of her memory.


    "Martha. That''s my name!" She realized.


    "Who are you?! No! What are you?! This is not possible! You have the faint bloodline of several gods and fallen in you!"


    "I don''t know. All my life, I know that I''m human!"


    "Who is your master? How can you be alive and yet undead at the same time?!" The dragon questioned.


    "I... I don''t know! I can''t remember! But in my memory that I have right now, I haven''t met any vampires yet!" Martha frowned.


    "How can you not remember? Being turned into a vampire is something that is very traumatic and memorable!" The dragon cursed.


    "I don''t know! Maybe I turned into a vampire just recently! All I remember is my sister! I don''t remember being in Coven, but I think I am!"


    "Just recently? That''s impossible! If you are to have even a single bloodline from these fallen, you have to at least be at the level of a Vampire Ancient! And from human to that level, i will already take hundreds of years at the very least! So it''s even very difficult for a Vampire Ancient to acquire the blood of a Fallen!" The dragon exined.


    "Well, I don''t know what to say! All I remember now is that I have to save my sister who was kidnapped by the orcs and brought to Airom Logat!"


    "Airom? That''s where we were!" The dragon got confused. The impossible answer that Martha was just recently converted was something he could not ept. Thews of how dark-dependent creatures consume and grow stronger are fixed. Even when he ate his father, it took him decades to get the power his father had as he had to assimte the power and nourish the cells that he acquired.


    But the truth was, Martha, did turn into a vampire just recently. And because of that, her memory about Lord Kyros did not even consist of one percent of her entire life''s memory. So it was naturally difficult for her to regain memories of that.


    "You are in Airom, in your memories."


    "Yes. It''s slowlying back. My family assigned me to cast me out of the light, considering my sensitive identity. I was stationed in Airom Vagat and had been trying to figure out how to save my sister. I don''t have any memory of being a vampire..."


    "Your greatest bond is your sister, so you remembered that. This means that your bond with whoever your master is is still light... But that''s impossible. Vampires who create Coven bind the soul of those they turn with a very powerful curse in the soul. They be your greatest priority or bond!"


    "Maybe my master didn''t do that!"


    "Vampires do that! I''ve never heard of a vampire that gave such weak vows. They will value their life."


    "Maybe my master is entric."


    The dragon and Martha continued to argue.


    "Found you!" Aughing, happy voice echoed. But this voice brought shivers to Martha and the dragon.


    A hole tore up in the darkness. And arge head emerged.


    "Kyros! " Kyriachos appeared.


    Kyriachos, Lord of the Fallen, who was believed to have died in the long-forgotten era, appeared out of the darkness.


    The Separated Realm was a mysterious Realm. Kyros fell into the Separated Realm because there was a gateway of being separated deep inside his soul.


    The area where Martha was was a Separated Realm in Airom Logat. And since Kyros was only a certain distance from where Martha physically was, it allowed Kyriachos to easily use his powers and create a void tomunicate to the other side.


    When the dragon harnessed Martha''s soul and drew out the divinities, Kyriachos sensed the ripples and thought that Kyros had somehow fallen into this strange world again. But, what was strange, was the location where Kyros appeared. Kyros should appear near him as the gateway to the Separated Realm was within Kyros himself. But instead, he sensed Kyros appearing several millions of kilometers away. And there was an uncrossable gap that divided the two Separated Realms that his voice alone would not reach Kyros.


    Kyriachos peaked out of the small window.


    "Oh. Damn it! You''re not Kyros! You made me exert such power for nothing!" Kyriachos frowned.


    The dragon was shivering. This was the Lord of the Fallen! He was alive! And now, he was looking at them.


    "Lo-Lord Kyriachos!" The dragon trembled.


    "Kyros? That''s right! Kyros! My Master!" Martha, on the other hand, was jolted awake from Kyriachos''s words.


    "Hrm? Oh! So that''s why! You''re his Coven! No wonder I thought you were Kyros!"


    Martha didn''t hear his words but felt the sharp pain in her soul as thest bits of her memory returned.


    "Kyros... Lord Kyros! My Knights! They are in trouble! You! Great Fallen guy! Please help me get back to my body!"


    The dragon felt as if he had be a chameleon and felt his body change to yellow in fear. This was the Lord of the Fallen! And this girl addressed her as ''great fallen guy!''


    "I need to get back! Please! My Lord is quite strong! He should be able to give you anything of value soon!" Martha pleaded in desperation.


    "Who are you, anyway?" Kyriachos asked.


    "Lord Kyriachos! Please forgive this pitiful human! She is of curious origin! She must belong to one of the lowly fallen that follow your great name!" The dragon bowed.


    "Quiet! I am talking!" Kyriachos howled irritably.


    If souls could pee, this dragon would have. Kyriachos was one of the beings that everyone feared. If Kyriachos were alive during the Age of the Heretics, then it was believed that the great and prideful dragon race would not have risen to prominence. The Kyriachos power was one of their greatest weakness.


    "Tell me your name."


    "I am Martha Steele!" Martha dered.


    "Steel?" Kyriachos frowned.


    The dragon became even more afraid.


    "St-Steel?!" He thought he heard Steel, which was one of the known rivals that Kyriachos had during the ages long forgotten.


    "Are you rted to Hyperion Steel?" Kyriachos asked.


    "That... I''m not sure. Probably?" Martha guessed.


    "Hyperion Steel is one of my greatest enemies." Kyriachos dered.


    "I hate him!" The shout was full of hatred that Martha and the dragon felt as if they were being crushed.


    "Me-mercy!"


    "I''m sorry! But I don''t know Hyperion personally! I thought you were talking about a descendant of my family! But if he is your enemy, he shouldn''t be rted to us!" Martha panicked.


    "No! You definitely have it! I can feel it. That wretched creature, Kyros, has it, and you, his Coven, will naturally have the means to awaken it!" Kyriachos growled as his head peered out of the dimensional portal and moved closer.


    His size grew into a million size, more than made Martha and the dragon smaller than dust.


    The dragon sighed and awaited death.


    "It''s been... a hard life. My Fate... was just to be this?" The dragon reminisced. He looked back and saw that his life was full of regrets.


    "How dare you, a being of Darkness, walk in the same path of your stupid master! How dare you have Steel''s Code!"


    Martha felt that her death was alsoing. But as she regained her memory, her loyalty also returned.


    "I am a Martha Bowheart Steele. My bow can only bend and break! And even if I will break, I will not have you taint the honor of my master!" Martha shouted defiantly.


    "You know what I''m going to do to you?" Kyriachos sneered.


    "Hit me with your best shot!" Martha shouted.


    "Since both of you are rted to Kyros, I shall give you this..."


    "Lord Kyriachos! Wait! I am not rted to Kyros!"


    "Oh... You''re not?" Kyriachos frowned.


    "Ye-yes! I''m not!"


    "Oh. Alright. I thought Kyros has a dragon Coven member. But now that I think about it, I only sense a bit of my own power in you. You must have in a Saint who has taken my name, right?"


    "Ye-Yes!"


    "I see.... If that''s the case... I''ll just..." Kyriachos turned to Martha.


    Martha didn''t falter as she stared back at Kyriachos with defiance.


    "I''ll just bless you with my Code. How about that? I''ll give you my powers."


    "Then go ahead and kill- wait... what?" Martha was confused.


    "Since the dragon''s not rted, I''ll just give you my power. How''s that?"


    "..."


    "..."


    "Why?" Martha asked.


    "Because you lord Kyros''s Coven. Tell me. Did he manage to return normally?"


    "Return? Return from where?"


    "From here, of course. Or is he...? Is he still in a Dark Maddening state?" Kyriachos realized this possibility and urgently asked.


    The dragon was so confused. Why was Kyriachos worried about this man called Kyros, who has Hyperion''s Code?


    "Dark Maddening? Last I heard of him... He was alright. Did he fell into a Dark Maddening state? Was it during his battle with the Blood Cmity?"


    "Yes! That''s right! The Blood Cmity!"


    "Oh! If that''s the case, he''s alright. He managed to escape the Blood Cmity."


    "That''s a relief." Kyriachos sighed.


    "I was worried. I thought he came back here somehow, and that''s why I tore a way into this ce."


    "I''m confused... You''re worried about Kyros? I thought you hate Kyros."


    "Yeah, I do! That freak! I hate his parents too! But... I am bound to serve him. Besides, he''s my only hope in ever being free from my seal. So I''ll figure out a way to send you back. But of course, I won''t let Hyperion''s Code overtake me. That old bastard won''t have freaks with great potential as his disciples! Kyros''s Coven, huh? You even have greater potentialpared to a direct bloodline to Kyros since your blood is linked to him! So I will bestow to you, my Darkness Source!"


    "A Darkness Source?"


    "That''s what that brat, Cminus named it. When Kyros used his powers to leave this realm, he created such a powerful Light that the seal holding me was slightly weakened. Too bad he can''t do that again until he''s stronger. But with the seal weakened, I think I can bestow my Source to someone now. Since you bear his blood, you should be able to contain it. I thought the dragon was rted to Kyros too. But since he isn''t, I''ll just bestow it to you."


    "Wa-wait! Lord Kyriachos... you mentioned if I was rted to Lord Kyros... and I... misunderstood. I am indeed not rted to hm. But... I am associated with him!" The dragon interrupted.


    "..." Martha gave the dragon a curious stare.


    "It''s like this..." The dragon continued to exin.


    "I am... Kyros- I mean, Master Kyros''s... pet." The dragon smiled.

 Chapter 174 - Darkness Collapse

    The dragon was smiling and had a very peculiar expression.


    Martha turned to him with a rather annoyed expression.


    "No, you''re not."


    "Shut up, Martha. You''re memories not back. It''lle to you soon."


    "I''m pretty sure that your not. We only found a dragon egg."


    "Egg-Eggxactly! I''m the egg!"


    "You... are the egg?"


    "Yes. I hatched and ha been Master Kyros''s pet for a time now. Since he um... went and fought the Flood Cmity."


    "Blood Cmity." Martha corrected.


    "Uh... no! You have it all wrong. That''s why I said your memory hasn''t returned. The enemy was a- um... The Blood Cmity at first. But then he came back stronger in the future, which you still don''t remember because your memory hasn''t returned yet, and he-he was called the Flood Cmity. I, a dragon whelp, sacrificed my life, bit and ate that darkness and found myself thrown in here."


    "The Blood Cmity is a woman." Martha casually corrected..


    Kyriachos turned to the dragon with a confused expression.


    "Correction. He was... masquerading as a woman."


    "Really now? Why?"


    "Who knows what vampires think?"


    "The Blood Cmity is a Subus."


    "... No. He was, as-as I said... masquerading as a subus."


    "So a male vampire is masquerading as a female subus?" Martha gave the dragon a strange look.


    "Ha! Your foolish words reveal how misguided you are! Subus ARE females. So, you are redundant. See? Your memory hasn''t fully returned yet!"


    Martha was shocked at how shameless this dragon was.


    "Are you really a dragon? Where''s your pride?"


    "Pride? I am bound to serve Master Kyros!" The dragon shook his head.


    What was his pridepared to the possibility of acquiring one of the strongest Fallen power?


    "Then what does he look like?" Martha challenged.


    "Ha! You dare doubt my words? After all, I did to you and saved your life? Our master is a man of and great heroic strength! His strength can break the sky, and his very footsteps cause his enemies to tremble at his mighty form!" The dragon gave a broad answer.


    "He''s ten years old! What tremble at his footsteps?!"


    "I was describing the aura and power that he inflicts upon his foes! The darkness he controls is just amazing! At the appearance of the power he gained from Lord Kyriachos, all trembles before him!"


    "He''s a Pdin harnessing the strongest powers of light."


    "Ha! Such idiotic ims! You are clearly still being affected by the darkness!~" The dragonughed. He knew that this woman was trapping him.


    "No. It''s true. Kyros has the power of Ancient God Soter." Kyriachos confirmed.


    "ANCIENT GOD SOTER?!" The dragon eximed. This just didn''t make sense! How can someone who Kyriachos respected wield the light? Wasn''t Kyriachos implying that Martha can wield the darkness and regain her memory because of Kyros''s blood''s dark, potent power? How was he able to wield the power of Soter?


    The dragon had sensed several powerful gods and fallen energies hidden within Martha''s soul. But he didn''t know who they were specifically. But the most unlikely name would be Soter. Such power couldn''t exist within one body!


    "Quit acting and stop pretending to be part of our team!"


    "Hmp. You still harbor doubts? Soon, you will remember the many times I saved your life. You will soon remember that Master Kyros has not yete to a point where he needed to use the power of light since I met him. It''s only natural that I didn''t know! But now, my respect for my master has grown leaps and bound!" The dragon gazed to the empty void above as tears began to trickle down his eyes. How he managed to produce tears despite being a soul no one knew.


    Martha rolled her eyes and turned to Kyriachos and watched his expression at the very faulty and obviously messed up lies of the dragon.


    "So basically, the Blood Cmity or the Flood Cmity is a cross-species transvestite? Interesting." Kyriachos asked.


    "Yes."


    "Huh. Never expected that. Oh well. So what''s your name, Dragon-Pet of the Steel Family?"


    Martha''s mouth was wide open in her shock.


    "Lord Kyriachos. I am the son of a Heretic God, Orgen Pendragon! Since his death, I was the chosen one who devoured him to take the mantle of his might! I have in countless saints and devils and even fought against Sword Saints!" The dragon began to list his impressive and heroic deeds as part of their unique means of introducing himself. To dragons, bestowing or revealing a name was one of the dragon''s highest acts of respect. Not many would know the true name, and their introduction always meant revealing who they were, not just with their names but their deeds.


    "I remember now! Kyros''s pet dragon! Dorothy! It''s you! Oh, my little pony bear!" Martha jumped and hugged the dragon.


    The dragon froze at Martha''s sudden action.


    Martha''s eyes locked on the now froze dragon and gave a dangerous sneer.


    "Dorothy, huh? So you also are into the whole trans thing. Wow. Things must have changed since I disappeared..." Kyriachos mused.


    The dragon wanted to say something, but Kyriachos''s massive head suddenly changed and became a strange ck stone that somehow glowed and was seated on a massive throne.


    "I guess it''ll be easier for me to bestow you the power in this form." Kyriachos''s voice was heard.


    "I- I- my real..."


    "Aright Dorothy. Since you two servants of Kyros are here, you both must be in some bind, right? Is Kyros alright?" Kyriachos asked.


    "That''s right! The knights!" Martha suddenly remembered the specific scenario they were in. But, for some reason, her memories were lost and only returned as Kyriachos brought it up.


    "Fallen Kyriachos! Please help me leave this darkness! I have to go back urgently!" Martha pleaded.


    "Rx. There is still time. Time flows differently here. While True Time does pass here since you entered this Realm, the way you can leave this ce allows me to send you back to the real world in a way that you can travel up to several minutes into the past. Let''s say it''s been five minutes since you arrived in this realm. While five minutes have also passed in the real world, I can send you back on the first minute in the real world."


    "That''s possible?!"


    "Yes. But again, I can only turn back time up to several minutes since you entered this ce. True Time has still passed after all, and no one can revert the time of True Time. Only Cminus, the Time God can."


    "Right! That weird god..." Dorothy recalled.


    "How early can you send us in?"


    " I can bring you back several minutes right after your soul entered this ce. Shall I do it now? Or do you think your maddened body can survive a few more minutes? I still have to exin the power I will grant to you."


    "Several minutes after? Then I should be able to handle it!" Martha concluded. She needed to know what power she would have.


    "Alright. Then, let me exin. You guys are lucky that this Separated Realm is very weak. I''ll be using this entire Separated Realm and will copse this ce to give you Darkness Source. It will be simr to the Darkness Core that Kyros has. But unlike Kyros, you will be a being of Pure Darkness. The other possible powers from Kyros''s bloodline that you could have awakened cannot be awakened anymore. But I believe this is one of the ways Fate prepared for you, who are bound to Kyros. He needs allies. Strong allies. And since no being in this entire universe can wield contradicting powers and coexists, this should be the answer. Kyros''s Coven might be Fated to harness specific Codes of specific Gods."


    "How does Master Kyros wield it?" The dragon asked in curiosity.


    Martha frowned at the audacious dragon but decided to listen.


    "Kyros''s Divinity, the Divinity of Mysterion, allows that."


    "So Lord Kyros is a God!" Martha had already suspected this but hearing the confirmation of her lord''s identity still shocked her.


    "Ha! You didn''t know? I, Orgen Pendragon, knew of my master''s real identity!" The dragon took the chance to reveal his real name to Kyriachos.


    "Shut up, Dorothy!" Martha silenced the dragon.


    His identity is much more than that, as you might have noticed. The fewer people know about it, the better. I''ll be copsing this ce now. Martha. The Gods and Fallens will consider you to be my daughter. So never reveal the name Kyriachos until you are strong enough to kill gods and fallen."


    "I understand."


    "The Dark Core I will craft will be different than what Kyros has. Kyros has the Core of True Darkness element. Yours will be made from the power of a Separated Realm. The more you devour powerful and unique dark-dependent creatures, the more this core will increase its strength. It will give you the ability to distort and bend space. With this, you will have your own dimensional space. You can also use the Separated Realm to move through the darkness and even perform teleportation magic. This core is perfect for an Assassin like you!"

 Chapter 175 - Darkness Breaching

    With the assistance of Mardock, the traps that Myas had set to ambush the iing dracanae ghouls, the three H''s were finally able to fill up their quota of dracanae ghouls.


    Six dracanae ghouls were already converted. Some of the dracanae ghouls crushed on the rock were too wounded and weak to be used.


    Hunter''s ghoul quota was full, and they began to focus on defending the other paths. But even then, Hunter kept using the guidance of Fate through the specific questions he sought for.


    With his ability, he managed to send his ghouls on the right location to stop the entry of more dracanae ghouls.


    More and more were ambushed and killed. Hunter finally received the notification and acquired the Fate Challenger status as the battle continued.


    Mardock was tasked to close up the paths leading to the, and some of the ves were called down to block the other paths.


    Some were hesitant at first, but then the old woman immediately saw the hesitant men in the group and cursed as she went down.


    "You idiots! If they die, we have no chance of surviving! It''s nearly impossible to find such benevolent and strong masters, and you are hesitating?!" The old woman cursed.


    Myas also gave out several orders as to how to lower and easily enclose the gaps.


    Her previous image of a weeping, worried and helpless girl vanished. Myas was now showing the qualities of being a noble trained in tactics and as someone who has experienced the battlefield.


    With the ves assisting in keeping the stones pinned the rocks to keep the dracanae ghouls pinned down.


    Turning more and more ghouls became faster as each of the three Hs were converting one by themselves. Therge boulder was being rolled and turned slowly with the converted dracanae ghoul and some ves.


    Mardock was using his destion to weaken the frame of the path, and soon, the pathway copsed. Most of the tunneling paths were being closed, but more and more hisses, rattles, and sounds could be heard on the other end.


    The ves would then throw more rocks and fortify them to stop the dracanae from pushing through.


    Hems finally tamed hisst dracanae ghoul.


    "Hems! Rush in and ambush the dracanae from the back! You have to use Foresight!"


    "What aboutdy Martha?"


    "Prioritize our retreat!" Myas shouted.


    "My sister is skilled in dying, distracting, and surviving! If you want to save her, then secure her path of retreat!" Myas shouted.


    The three heard Myas''s words and looked at each other.


    "Well?" Hemsey asked.


    "She''s right. That''s why I told Hems to focus on stopping the dracanae from getting here and destroy the other paths leading to this opening. This area will be our escape path. But, unfortunately, fate seems to be leading us this way." Hunter nodded.


    "As expected of a noble. Let''s move!"


    "I''m on it!" Hems nodded. With the rage in his heart released through his mad and reckless means of converting the dracanae ghouls, he now had more focus.


    Hems started to chug down the magic restoring potion to recover from exerting the magic he used.


    The magic restoring potions they drank to aplish the conversion nearly depleted their stock. The group only had three magic restoring potions left.


    Hunter and Hems kept moving while Hemsey was now converting dracanae ghouls alone. He had helped Hunter, which helped Hunter fill his quota, and focused on taming the ghouls.


    Soon, he managed, and Hunter and Hems had enclosed the path and in several of the dracanae in the area.


    "It''s strange that the master controller didn''t notice the deaths of their dracanae. We''ve killed quite a lot now!" Hems sent a message.


    "It''sdy Martha! She must be giving them hell!" Hunterughed.


    The three met once more, and with Mardock and the ve''s help, they managed to block and burry the tunneling paths leading to where they were."


    "Prepare a way to pull us all up fast! We will be saving Lady Martha and running back to escape here!" Hunter gave the instructions as he led the way with all twelve dracanae ghouls rushing back to where Martha was.


    "Take this box!" Myas arrived down and carried a small crate that she brought down.


    "We made those while waiting so we would have the means to defend ourselves! Inside those sks are explosive liquid with some Fire ores. Shake those vials hard for three seconds and throw it! If the sk breaks after two seconds since you threw it, it should create a small pool of fire. If the sk hasn''t been broken in three or so seconds, that sk will create a small explosion." Myas instructed.


    "Thanks! This will definitely be useful!"


    "Allow me to go with you."


    "Listen, you are still-"


    "No. Hems. We need her." Hunter urged.


    "What? If anything, we need her to takemand here."


    "Leave it to me! I''ll keep everyone in line." The old woman shouted.


    "She can handle the guys. They''ll be waiting on the level above anyway and will be lowering some ropes once they see our return. Let me go with you."


    "...Alright." Hems finally agreed.


    "I won''t be a burden. Trust me." Myas had a bow in hand and a quiver full of arrows.


    "Let''s go." The team moved.


    "Get me my core back! If it''s with me, I can kill and absorb the energy from these creatures to increase my magic stock! We will need it! These creatures are strong! The only time our King ever made a move to attack was when creatures like these ones dominated a region in the mountain and forced us to make an attack!" Mardock warned.


    "We noticed! Something terrifying is fighting Martha. Even right now, Fate is still telling me that this is not enough..." Hunter sighed.


    "We need more Fate Challengers!" Hemsey spoke.


    "Hunter. You have that ability. And it''s only now that I can see how amazing it really is. Even in this great darkness, you managed to find a way to breach it and find the light. We need more of that. Within our blood and bond as a Steele or as a Coven, we have that power. We need more of that light. And it awakened in you because of this. Because we could die."


    "Hemsey''s right. We need to have that darkness breaching power! Me and Hemsey need to activate it now! Because if we don''t, we will die fighting those dracanaes."


    "Hunter, we''ll take our groups and try to circle and weaken the forces. But at the same time, we''ll try that thing with Foresight. We''ve already touched on it, but we need to be a Fate Challenger! But even if we can''t, we still need to split up. We have to minimize the dracanae ghouls nearby for our escapeter! Lady Myas?"


    "I''m for it. Hemsey is right."


    "This... if the High-Born thinks so, and since I think Fate is agreeing...Fine. Let''s do that. I''ll follow this original route. Mardock, follow me. We''ll be rushing ahead to see if we can help Lady Martha."


    "Alright. I need to get my Core back, anyway."


    "I''ll go with you then. Hems, Hemsey. some of these vials and use it ordingly." Myas raised the box full of vials. There were sixteen vials inside.


    "Will it explode if we run?" Hems asked.


    "No. The fire ore needs to be shaken hard for the heat to be generated. So if you are just running and are carrying that vial in your pockets, it shouldn''t explode. Just don''t get thrown and fall down a hill or something."


    "I will never fall down a hill again." Hems had a serious expression as he unconsciously looked at his severed arm.


    "Let''s hurry and save my sister."


    Meanwhile, on the far end of the tunnel...


    The five dracanae watched with a strange expression. Nearby was the severed arm and torn limb of Martha. Her body had several holes in it. But despite these horrifying wounds, Martha did not die.


    Spine-chilling darkness had begun to cover her. The five dracanae even paused as they observed her. She was bing simr to a Shadow creature.


    "What is she?" One of the five asked.


    "Food. Let''s attack all together again." Another mentioned.


    "I can''t wait to eat that! She looks tasty!"


    The five dracanae began to charge at Martha''s dark form.

 Chapter 176 - Darkness Of Dragons

    In the Separate Realm, where time and locality were distorted...


    Kyriachos began to harness the energy of the Separated Realm.


    "This entire Separated Realm is being moved in the real world. Wherever the original location of the source of the Darkness that Separates, it''s now settling in your real body. Your blood is the beacon that is leading the darkness." Kyriachos exined.


    "I n to use the copse of this realm and harness the energy the copse will generate to pass on the ability to bend space to your forming dark core. And you will be a step closer to bing what your Master is."


    "Bend space? Then it can do what Lord Kyros can? His ability to ess the Temple and store and retrieve objects will also be possible to me?"


    "Yes. It should be like the same storage space as Kyros. But the Separated Realm cannot carry living objects that cannot resist the Darkness that Separates. Of course, Dorothy here can. Since he doesn''t have a body, I have to bind your soul together to get you guys out of here. Are you ok, with that Dorothy? You have to let me gain full ess to your soul to do that."


    "Bind my soul? Won''t that mean... that my freedom and free will change?" Dorothy asked. He didn''t want to be bound to Martha.


    "Yes. That''s my n! When I make the copse, I will need to bind your soul together so that your soul can also leave this ce. The process will involve you two to pass through True Darkness. And a weak soul that passes therethrough that energy will either dissipate into nothingness or fall into a state of limbo."


    The dragon was silent. He had been in this limbo state for who knows how long, and it took him a thousand to get to his current state. He was afraid of going through that again.


    "But because I am, I bind your two souls. It will make you two stronger. And the Separation that urs will divide your two souls severing the bonds and freeing you."


    "I see. Thank you, Lord Kyriachos. I don''t want to change my rtionship with Master Kyros." Dorothy vowed righteously.


    Martha rolled her eyes again. This dragon was too shameless! She wanted to argue, but something strange was hindering her. She felt that she should just stay quiet.


    "As for what you can gain, Dorothy, the copse of this ce will trigger powerful gravitational force, which I will use to create another Dark core. The ce you are at feels like it''s a ce controlled by Destiny. But Ancient Fate is quite amazing that she managed to sneak you, a dragon of Fate, to be here."


    "Dragon of Fate? So that''s why I felt no form of hostility with this dragon!" Martha realized.


    "Not all dragons are beings of Destiny. Most are, but there are some that are borne by Fate." Kyriachos corrected.


    "What is Fate?" Martha then asked.


    "That I can''t answer. Your Master should exin to you soon. Anyway..."


    The space around them turned unstable, and the entire realm was copsing.


    "Right now, your body should be covered in utter darkness. The Path of Combat and Foresight will vanish, and you will be a wild creature. Thankfully, your enemies are strong. I am counting on their ability to weaken that darkness that is being born in your body.


    They should do their best to weaken your dark maddening so that you can regain your body. Sadly, there is a high chance that you could die. When you take over your body, the darkness may disappear. Although the darkness may consolidate in your Dark Core and reform your body and heal it, if you have too many wounds, you could still die."


    "..." Martha was silent. She had given the knights the orders to retreat.


    "I wonder if they followed those orders or is trying to rescue me... Whatever. I can only leave it to Fate! If I die, then it means that I was just Fated for it!"


    "Oh? You sound simr to your Master! Alright. Allow me to mold your souls. Martha''s soul will begin the process of devouring Dorothy''s soul. Dorothy. Do not resist. You won''t be devoured. Martha''s soul isn''t strong enough to devour you anyway. It''s just going to be the catalyst to merge your souls."


    Dorothy nodded as Kyriachos began to wield the energy.


    The entire Separated Realm began to shatter as more and more strange lights erupted on the far edges of the wide space.


    The souls of Martha and Dorothy were being merged. Then, with Kyriachos''s prompt, the soul of Martha started to awaken its devouring powers.


    Dorothy did not resist or fight back even with the great pain.


    But all of a sudden, a sudden sharp pain urred as the energy guiding Martha''s awakened a powerful power.


    "Tyrannos!" Dorothy shouted as he felt it. The power of the Undivine had awakened and turned the apparently weak soul of Martha stronger.


    "Dorothy." Kyriachos gave a sadisticugh.


    "The truth is, I know you were lying. You think I don''t know the true nature of dragons? I was there when I saw the first Dragons born. I know of the darkness of Dragons. Did you really think you could hide the truth with such stupid lies? You seek to be independent and take over a dracanae, right? I know a schemer when I see one! I am the Lord of the Fallen for a reason!"


    Martha was shocked. She had felt that this dragon was simply trying to go out. But now, the usations of Kyriachos revealed that this dragon actually had evil intentions.


    "Martha, the reason why Fate wasn''t warning you about the danger and even urged you to ignore this traitorous, lying dragon is because I told Fate that I would resolve it! You see, dragons used to be called by another name before. They were known as Serpents. And these Serpents were cunning creatures that deceived gods and fallen. They were even the secret spark that started the Age of Heretics. They are liars, schemers, and plotters. You will not hear of that because the Dragons created a facade to make them look like beasts of pride and power. This was to make them look stupid. Even when you met him, you didn''t suspect him of being a schemer, did you?" Kyriachos smiled.


    Martha nodded. Unlike Dorothy, Martha''s soul was rather unharmed.


    She watched as the soul of the dragon began to be bounded to her. She had the impression that the dragon was an innocent and kind creature. But now that she thought about it, it didn''t make sense! How can something that allied with the Fallens be kind and innocent?


    "This dragon tried to look gentle and a little naive. But it was nning to eat you up!"


    "What?!"


    "Anyway, Dorothy, you gave me quite a good show! I enjoyed your stupid lies. It''s like talking to that weird Time God. You may not be of Destiny, but I can tell a True Neutral when I see one! As punishment for lying to me, the moment you wake up, you will still be bound to Martha''s soul even after you Separate!"


    "How?!" Dorothy howled. He could feel that his soul was being bounded to Martha''s in a way that he had never seen before.


    "Oh? You don''t know why the Fallen Lord of Separation has the ability to make such bindings? Separation can be done through many things. When the Universe was made, and my Darkness covered the gap between each Separation, I had to create a new power to keep it constantly Separated. I created Gravity. But Gravity is attraction, right? Another way to separate one thing from another is to bind it to something else.s, stars, and celestial bodies are separated because they are bound to another celestial body with gravity. And that is how another Code of Separation works. Stealing, taking, or binding by force. Don''t worry. This gravity that I ced on your soul will really be your power. But you will be bounded to Martha." Kyriachosughed.


    Martha could feel the soul of the dragon merging with hers.


    "The speed, cunning, and uracy of an assassin, with the strength of dragon! This ought to cover your weak areas. Go now, my disciple and daughter. I name you Martha Kyriachos Steele! Arise! For the fight to the End is starting!"


    The entire Separated Realm finally copsed and imploded on itself.

 Chapter 177 - Darkness Descend

    Hunter, Mardock, and Myas soon found the copsing walls and saw the many unmoving bodies of various dracanae.


    "It looks like sister''s been doing awesome things! Look at all these dead monsters! While we''ve been hard pressed, she seems to have " Myas smiled as she saw it. Many dracanae ghouls were killed. Over thirty or so were dead. Many were buried in the stones, and the bow or the de killed others.


    "No. This looks bad!" Hunter, however, knew better.


    "These ghouls don''t have blood in them! Lady Martha drained it!" Hunter cursed.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Lady Myas. Regardless of what form you see Lady Martha. Do not panic. We are vampires, and our special bloodline can even allow us to regrow our limbs. So no matter what state you see Lady Martha in, do not worry. You''ve seen my brother''s state. His arm was sliced off, but he''s still able to fight without worry. Our blood clots easily, and we have Minor Vampiric Healing." Hunter gave his warnings.


    "It''s that bad? She might have lost an arm?!" Myas grew worried.


    "Yes. She''s probably in a Dark Maddening state. I''m guessing Lady Martha followed the strategy that this dracanae had. She''s allowing herself to be mad, but her Path of Combat might be guiding her battles. But it''s a desperate move!" Hunter''s sprint became faster, forcing Mardock and Myas also to speed up.


    There were some weakened and injured dracanae along the way.


    Myas drew her bow, but Hunter interrupted.


    "Don''t shoot! Let my ghouls deal with them!"


    The four ghouls suddenly rushed up ahead and began to stomp and break the arms and legs of the dracanae they encountered. But he didn''t kill them."


    "I might need them when we run back. We save Lady Martha, and you two may have to retreat with her."


    Myas nodded. But she didn''t ask any more questions as she knew the implication was that Hunter might stay behind to fight and drink the blood of these ghouls.


    In the depths of the cave, five dracanae continuously fought against Martha.


    She had a peculiar form that made her look like a dark half-breed spider monster.


    "A Tyrant Spider? That''s her real form?" One of the dracanae guessed.


    The dracanae bit down and devoured the dark spider-like appendage that struck him. He had the ability to devour the darkness and rip off the limbs of his enemy.


    The shadow figure it faced retreated almost instantly. Its attacks were too weak to harm the dracanae. Yet, in this fight, it was the dracanae that was growing angrier and angrier.


    Around the area were the corpses of more than ten dracanae ghouls. Originally, there were twenty. But some of them were devoured.


    Martha had regenerated all her arms and limbs back. She was covered in thick darkness, and even her face was monstrous. It was like her head had a smooth, ck helmet withrge fangs, and a dim yellow light reced her eyes.


    She had several strange spider-like appendages that grew on the sides of her legs and arm.


    These appendages had sharp points at the end and were Blood Weapons that she used to stab the dracanae ghouls. And through that, she not only absorbed the blood, but even the bones and skin, and every cell of the dracanae ghouls.


    The five dracanae were unable to control the dracanae ghouls properly, and some of the ghouls began to fight in instinct as they wanted to devour the dark creature before them.


    With the sluggish and slow movements of the Dracanae ghoul, the fast Martha was fast enough to chase and kill them.


    The five dracanae ghouls would feel the pain and a strange separating power that they feared.


    Theck of concentration and the fast movements of Martha caused the five to keep missing the mark.


    This was because the dark form of Martha kept on releasing Death Ripple. But there was something strange with the Death Ripple Magic. The closer the dracanae ghouls got to Martha, the more it lost the ability to move and fight.


    Eventually, the five dracanae used whatever power they had tomand the dracanae ghouls to retreat, but Martha instinctively chased them.


    And while they managed to cut and strike Martha, Martha recklessly pushed through, ignoring whatever attacks that dracanae''s did on her.


    She was stabbed, sliced, and punched. But Martha would always sacrifice the ambushes and corners that the dracanae made so that she could absorb more of the darkness. And whatever damages are done on her would vanish.


    More and more of the darkness made Martha more grotesque.


    She stood nearly a foot taller and had pitch-ck long shadowy hair. She had ck ws on her arms, and there were now two appendages on each of her arms and legs.


    "Damn this beast! Half of our warriors are gone because of her!" A dracanae cursed.


    "This power that she has. Isn''t it simr to the dark energy of the heart?"


    "Indeed. This creature must have linked with the heart somehow. But this can be to our advantage. The dark energy she has is weaker. So we might be able to devour it!" One of the dracanae watched with excitement.


    "Yes. This woman is getting tastier and tastier by the minute."


    "But how can we kill it? We''ve lost so many dracanae ghouls!"


    "Rx, brother. Their energy is not lost forever. Once we kill this woman, we will get it all back." The dracanae that managed to rip off one of the appendages began to munch on it.


    "We have her cornered, and she has no food supply. Haven''t you noticed? Her Path of Combat is slowly disappearing. She''s descending so far in the darkness that she''s is bing a real beast. She will soon turn into a mindless creature that is driven by wildness and death. Without dracanae ghouls, we would be her next target."


    "Correct. Even that nasty Death Ripple spell that she kept on using is weakening. All that is left is the same dark energy that can make us lose our minds. But even that is weakening."


    Martha kept growling as it devoured more and more of the dracanae ghouls. But the more it devoured, the wilder she grew.


    "Get ready to attack! She''s losing it!"


    "How shall we split this up?"


    "Split this up? That will depend on your skill!" One of the dracanaeughed.


    "Then it''s decided, we take and eat what we can. The weak only has himself to me." The dracanaes moved in position and prepared to charge in.


    Martha began to growl even louder as only her wildness remained.


    The dracanae all charged together as Martha howled and fell to her knees.


    Each of the five dracanae was racing as fast as they could towards Martha, and their hulking forms started to transform. Each of them had a different color, a different kind of scales, and a unique form.


    They were awakening the dragonic cells in their bodies to devour Martha.


    And as they did that, Kyriachos has sessfully triggered the copse of the Separated Realm.


    There were now two sources of Seperaed Realm. The first one was in the heart of the dragon deep underground. The second one was the forming realm within Martha''s soul.


    Kyriachos made Martha''s soul strong and triggered the power of a ck hole. Martha slowly ate up the Separated Realm and formed her own.


    As one Separated Realm copsed, a small one was forming within Martha''s soul.


    The copse and birth of a Separated Realm triggered a reaction in the real world. One would create a small ck hole that would cause the space to implode, while another would trigger an explosion.


    The dragon''s heart, which was the main source of food and sustenance for this dracanae, imploded and copsed in itself. It wasn''t just that the dragon''s heart disappeared, but the space around it also disappeared, forcing all of creation to ''push'' things to fill the sudden void. Like water rushing back to fill the gap from the missing water taken by a bucket, the area around the dragon''s heart moved closer as if the dragon heart and the space around it never existed.


    The implosion urred on the dragon''s heart, and an explosion urred to someone else.


    Copsing and birthing another Separated Realm didn''t create a Separated Realm of such tremendous space. Especially since the source of the new Separated Realm will be a Time-Space Dark core formed in Martha''s soul. Most of the energy would be to create a heaven-defying core that was only inferior to the Dark Core of Kyros.


    And so, even though the original realm was millions and millions of cubic kilometers wide, the new space was just barely 30 cubic meters in size. Kyriachos designed the size of this realm intentionally. The birth of the Separate Realm would juxtapose itself on the real world for a short amount of time.


    As a new ''space'' appeared on the realm, a tremendous shockwave erupted out.


    BOOM!


    The powerful pushing sensation smashed on the dracanae and sent it flying.


    It then created a weak pulling sensation that was so faint that it didn''t even make the flying dracanaes crash slower.


    CRASH! CRASH!


    "Argh! That damned beast!" One of the dracanae howled.


    "What happened?" Another cursed.


    All of them were wounded by the explosion.


    "She''s absorbing the darkness in this ce!" One of the dracanae noticed.


    "We have to kill her now!" Another cursed as he understood what had happened. His assessment was wrong. Martha did not descend into darkness. Darkness descended into Martha.

 Chapter 178 - Darkness Controller

    The addition of space created an explosion of pure shockwave as all forms of matter were temporarily pushed forward and how the invisible space shrank back.


    The entire underground area trembled from the sudden explosion, and the shockwave continued to ripple out within the underground region, causing instability and many of the rocks to copse.


    The teams of Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey heard the sounds and immediately took action to defend themselves from the explosion by jumping on the sides as the shockwave passed through.


    Everyone felt a strange shaking sensation around them.


    "What was that?!" Hunter was shocked.


    "Whatever that was, we have to hurry to save my sister!" Myas led the way as they moved.


    Martha was trying to open her eyes. She felt a strange heaviness in her mind as negative thoughts were trying to overpower her.


    Her entire body was weak and heavy. There were various wounds all over her body as if blood began to gush out of it.


    She managed to open her eyes and see the area around her.


    All of a sudden, a strange series of ringing sensations urred all over her body as she felt the heaviness disappear.


    "Master! We need to escape! Those dracanaes are strong! They are roughly equal to level thirty human cultivators!" A voice warned her.


    "Do-Dorothy?"


    "Yes, master! We have no time! We have to hurry!"


    "I can''t move my body!" She cursed as she tried to move.


    "I will try to use my soul to merge with your body and stimte forceful regeneration! You have to buy time to do that! I will focus the healing inside the body first so that they won''t notice!"


    "I understand. What happened? Why are you so helpful now?"


    "Lord Kyriachos did as he said. He bound my soul to yours and instilled a powerful curse in me. I cannot do anything to harm you, your master, or anyone you deem important."


    "Those dracanae are wounded! I estimated that nothing I did could injure them. What injured them?"


    "That attack can''t happen again! Master, I can sense that the remains of my physical body have been taken in by that dracanae. I can roughly guess what happened. But right now, we need time! Ask them about the dragon heart! It should be gone! When Kyriachos copsed the space, it should have taken it! Instead, that dragon heart is now in you! In your Time-Space core!"


    The five dracanae was slowly approaching her.


    The wounds that they received from the attack were still recovering. Their bone was being mended as they walked.


    "She has no more power left! Let''s go!"


    "Go ahead. You can take the first bite." Another dracanae sneered.


    The first one frowned and saw that no one was willing to risk attacking her.


    They were now more wary and careful. The attack forced them to use a great amount of dragonic energy to recover. And as Dark Dependent creatures, they were simr to golems who would constantly use up energy the more they move or use powerful attacks.


    Meanwhile, Martha noticed something that she could now do.


    "What happened? How is this possible?!"


    "Master! You must focus!"


    "I am focusing! Dorothy... Listen. I have a n!" Martha exined. Martha did her best to look strong and red fearlessly at the dracanaes.


    The five noticed no helplessness or fear in her eyes and made them even more cautious.


    "What was that power? I sensed that the darkness was forcibly expelled from her."


    "She must have used that ability to throw away the darkness. She physically removed the darkness from her body."


    "Hahaha! You still don''t get it? You lost the dragon heart! You can''t feel it anymore, can you? I triggered a force explosion and sent it to that realm! My knights were after your heart since the start! And now we have it!" Marthaughed.


    The five dracanae froze as they heard it.


    Martha was forcing herself up as sheughed.


    "Death Ripple made it hard for you to sense it! You didn''t notice that your dracanaes have been decreasing! And you didn''t even sense that your heart is sealed!"


    The five dracanae immediately called out to the heart and sensed it through their cells. But they couldn''t sense it anymore.


    "What did you do?!" The dracanaes shouted together as they wildly approached.


    "I sealed it! My knights have it and will soon destroy it! We demand safe passage out of this ce! We fell in here by ident! If not! Then I won''t tell you where I sealed it!"


    "Lies! We''ll kill you and search for it!"


    "Wait! She''s right! I can''t sense it! The heart is gone!"


    "But her lies! We''ve found all her knights and have found their location! They have headed the opposite direction!"


    "You think you guys have the Path of Foresight! I''m a irvoyant!" Marthaughed as she used the level that Kyros said he was in on the Path of Foresight. She was sure that these dracanae were only at the Medium level like she actually was.


    "Our battle is another game between Fate and Destiny! But because I am on the irvoyant stage of Foresight, I easily found a secret passage headed straight for the heart! And I ordered my knights to go there!" Marthaughed.


    "Send more ghouls to the heart!" One of the dracanae ordered.


    It was then that their expressions changed.


    "It can''t be! We''ve lost so many!"


    "It''s hard to control them! The loss of the heart weakened our link! I can''t tell where they are!"


    "Those knights! It was a trap!" A dracanae ran towards Martha.


    "STOP!" A booming voice echoed out.


    The voice came from Martha, who did her best to hold out a small rock.


    "I am Dragon Orgen Pendragon! You shall call me... Dorothy!" The angry voice of Dorothy echoed out.


    "Dorothy?" One of the five repeated.


    "This woman has sealed my heart in a secret dimension. She sent her knights and threw me to the Separated Realm!"


    The dracanaes were stunned at the sudden shout that they heard. Their cells quivered at the voice.


    "Stay where you are! This dragon can kill you! Dorothy! Tell them to help me escape!"


    "Follow her orders! If the heart dies, you all die too!"


    "Why should we listen to such a weak-named dragon?! We have been devouring your heart since the start! And yet you im that you can kill us?!"


    "I am the source! I am the heart! I am the Darkness Controller! I can kill you just as easily with a single thought. Behold!"


    Suddenly a dracanae ghoul ran inside and suddenly fell down.


    "It... it!"


    "It died!" The dracanaes were horrified at what they saw.


    "And now! More!"


    five dracanae ghouls were rushing from different tunnels, and they all suddenly stumbled down and died.


    "If you want to live, do as she says! I can help grow stronger and awaken my vitality in you! But it will be all useless if I die! So obey her words!" The loud-voiced boomed.


    The dracanae were slowly retreating.


    When Martha regained consciousness, she immediately noticed that she has been receiving messages!


    She realized that while it was impossible earlier, the destruction and creation of the Separated Realm somehow allowed her to send and receive messages from the three Hs. And because of that, she immediately gave these orders.


    And so, the strange scene urred and deceived the dracanaes.


    Following the orders of Martha, the three Hs sent their ghouls and ordered them to fall down as if they suddenly died.


    As this was happening, Myas was finding the right position with Hunter.


    "You sure you can do this?"


    "Yes. Me and my sister I trained to do this. Just make sure the time of your shaking and tossing is correct." Myas readied her bow.

 Chapter 179 - Darkness Of Destiny

    The mystery of the dracanae in this underground world had a shocking tale to it.


    When the Mighty Sword God worked together with the Fallen to eliminate the dragon heretics, the sword strike wounded all dragons, and then the Fallen attacked, and the battle began.


    Orgen Pendragon fought a valiant battle that day. He attacked one of Kyriachos''s Saint warriors, and the battle ended in a pyrrhic victory for the Fallen. In that battle that was supposed to be food for the many Fallen Princes aiming to be a god, all were in, and the mighty dragon they wanted to defeat fell into the Separate Realm.


    Many other Heretics arrived and tried to aid the dragons, which officially started the Heretic Wars. Airom became a battleground, and the body of the saint-level dragon, Orgen Pendragon, was thought to be lost.


    But the vitality of dragons was not to be underestimated.


    In the many years since the Orgen Pendragon''s soul fell into the Separated Real, his cells continued to grow. Aside from being a dragon, he was a Heretic cultivator that was close to Godhood.


    The heart began to absorb the earth itself, and with the much bloodshed that day, soon, the heart gave birth to live. The earth that was tainted with blood formed strange and small creatures.


    And as thousands of years passed, more of these creatures began to be born from that heart.


    After five thousand years, the first sentient life form was born. And soon, more came to be.


    The creatures that were born somehow managed to ''remember'' countless things about life. They learned to speak anguage naturally. They learned of many desires even though they hadn''t experienced them. They sought a clear sky. They sought to grow wings and conquer. And they knew that they were among the most powerful beings in this world.


    With these memories came identity and personalities. These creatures began to attack and devour each other. And as each began to devour, five powerful creatures dominated the region. More and more creatures were born, but these living creatures no longer grew strong, and no matter how much the five tried to devour, they couldn''t gain any more strength than what they already had.


    The five also tried to attack the heart, but as they did, they felt terrifying darkness that was severing their minds and thoughts. And the group never approached it again.


    And so, the five of them sought means to gain more strength to fight the rest and have the chance to devour them. They shed and shed but always would end up being unable to devour each other. No schemes could be hatched among each other, for everyone had a vague idea of what the other dracanae was thinking.


    It was then that they soon realized that they were connected to the minor lifeforms. Furthermore, they soon realized that they were all connected and were body parts of the heart.


    The battle changed as the group was now fighting to be the main controller of the body. Each group managed to control a growing number of creatures, and everyone focused on strengthening it. Unlike them, these creatures became the mindless dracanae ghouls.


    Attempts to move out of the region also failed as a strange carapace-like region covered them, which even their strength could not break.


    But suddenly, a strange thing urred. A powerful force began to drain the energy within the mountain. It was as if something was leeching off the entire region. The dracanae''s felt a strange, fearful premonition, and soon, a being appeared in their dreams.


    A beautiful woman charged them to break out of the region so that they could aid her. She revealed mysterious things, including Destiny and Fate, and urged them that their battle would soon happen.


    She told of a being that would arise, a Nephilim which would be a terror to them. To prove her words, she told them that the barrier that sealed them in that region would soon give way. She revealed that it was the dragon''s hide and that they were inside the corpse of a gigantic dragon.


    The power of the strange carapace slowly degraded, and they managed to break out of the ce they were in and explored the underground territory. Destiny was aiding them as earthquakes urred until they were so close to the surface.


    There were so many mysteries yet. But the one thing they guarded was the heart which they learned to be the source of everything.


    And this heart not only vanished, but the owner, Orgen Pendragon, has returned!


    A dracanae had died before their eyes. And several more also went alongside them.


    There was hope for Martha.


    The appearance of Orgen Pendragon revealed his dragonic soul, which caused the cells of the dracanae to tremble.


    With this, they could find their way out.


    The three Hs were also waiting for anymand. Martha was able to give them specific orders.


    The orders were made ready. They would secure a way out and attack the top of a certain area to cause it to fall. The explosion that urred weakened the tunnel they were in. Martha had learned of the bombs that Myas made. She was aware of its power. And with that, Martha prepared the attack.


    Myas had skill in shooting. The vials had a small hole that was normally used to hang the vial on a rack. But Myas could shoot through these small holes and send the vial to explode on certain parts urately.


    Marthaid out the possible ces where the rocks could fall.


    "Is this believable?" Martha asked Dorothy.


    "Yes. I think I understand what happened here. These things are my cells!" Dorothy smiled.


    "Your cells?"


    "I''ll exinter!" Dorothy answered.


    "If you do notply, I will send the dracanae ghouls that I can control to fight you! Obey them! Your life is linked to mine!" Dorothy threatened the dracanae once more.


    Four of the dracanae started to give way to Martha as they moved back slowly.


    One stayed on their ground.


    "You wish to rebel?" Orgen''s words echoed once more.


    "All my life, I wanted to be free from this dark world! I wanted to go out! That woman told us that we are but your body parts. We are cells that found life! But I want to break free! Now that you appeared can I really be truly free?! Bound in darkness, bound to that woman and Destiny, and now bound to you! Death will be my only freedom! So I''ll risk it! Is it possible for me to be free if you die?!" The dracanaeughed, and he began to move towards Martha.


    "Kill me if you can!" The dracanae began to take a step forward. He was afraid, but he wanted to release.


    He took a step forward and challenged his Fate.


    And at that moment, the bravery of this dracanae awakened the power of Destiny. Destiny Challenger started to work.


    The darkness of Destiny that coursed around the dracanae sent a simple whisper. And one of the dracanae heard it.


    "Do not force me! I don''t want to waste energy to kill you! But I won''t hesitate if you push me to my death! Obey me cell! You are me!"


    "That''s it! He can''t!" The dracanae suddenly shouted.


    "I cannot feel your emotions! I cannot sense your thoughts!" The dracanae pointed to his brothers and was bing more and more happier.


    "All that I can sense are the dracanae ghouls that I control! We are free, brothers! We are no longer connected to each other in thoughts! That heart was sealed, and his control over us also disappeared! He is lying! He can''t kill us!"


    Martha was shocked. Their ploy had been revealed. Her wounds haven''t even healed half of what she has to be capable of moving!

 Chapter 180 - Darkness Confused

    Fate and Destiny were moving against each other in a way that they could notprehend. This was a trap of Destiny, and while Destiny has ended his turn, those who walk with the path of Destiny Challenger can still draw in whispers and guidance.


    Kyriachos knew that Dorothy was of Destiny. And while Dorothy was still not sure what that fully meant, he was tricked. Kyriachos bound him to Martha and Fate. And so, while his soul belonged to Fate, his body was still bound to Destiny.


    The whispers of Destiny moved and allowed the dracanae to realized it. There was solidarity and separation from each other. They were not connected but had thoughts uninfluenced by another.


    "Could it be?!" Another dracanae shouted.


    It was then that the dracanae was finally able to sense it. When the heart imploded and became Martha''s Time-Space Core, it also destroyed the link it had. They were Orgen''s cell. But since Orgen finally died, so did the control of it over these dracanaes. Each of the dracanaes had unknowingly acquired what they had longed for.


    "It seems that that woman who appeared to us was indeed telling the truth! This is probably her doing! She broke the seal of the heart!" Another made a guess.


    "Then our cells...? Our cells should no longer have the limits!" Another eximed excitedly.


    "This is bad! We made a mistake!" Orgen secretly spoke to Martha.


    "We still have the n!"


    "That''s not it! They realized they now had an identity! These creatures used to be the cells in my blood! Because of that, they would always remain as cells. But now..."


    It was then that the dracanaes suddenly changed. They grew wings, and their heads grew longer. They were bing real dragons.


    Martha was trembling. The recovery and preparations of her and the three Hs, with which she was in constantmunication, had not yet ended. And now these creatures grew stronger!


    "We need more time!" Martha cursed. She could sense that whatever ns and tricks they would be ying, she needed to have the ability to move by herself. Otherwise, she and everyone else would die.


    "I am sorry, Master..." Orgen lost hope when he saw how the dracanae became Lesser Dragons.


    "No. It''s not your fault. I gain an advantage because of Fate, and then I fall into a trap as Destiny works and changes the flow of the battle. I thought meeting Kyriachos would be our victory! I thought the darkness that Fate prepared so I would descend into that Separated Realm would be my victory! But see now how Destiny used my means to leave the Separated Realm to sever these dracanaes and grant them a massive power-up! If Fate has her darkness, the darkness of Destiny is also formidable! We are but chess pieces in this battle between Fate and Destiny!"


    "Then... is it over? Are we going to lose? Destiny has checkmated Fate!"


    "We need the power of something that isn''t a chess piece of Fate or Destiny! Or at least yet! If Destiny is about to checkmate us, we need a new piece that can make us move! And I think I have it!"


    "What?"


    "My master''s bloodline! Dorothy! Say something to dy them for now!" Martha ordered.


    Martha closed her eyes. She could only use this time that the dracanae were discussing and confirming their freedom. Kyros spoke of this in their group chat. He had revealed that it''s best that they keep some of their abilities a secret and not use them. Otherwise, Destiny can expect their skills and prepare a counter.


    Destiny was able to counter everything that Fate helped Martha acquired. And now, she needed to acquire something that she did not have.


    And a few things came to mind that could help her!


    She had seen Kyros speak of weird and entric things. Many of Kyros''sments were not just weird but extremely confusing. Everyone in the Coven had just learned to live with his entricity. This was especially true when they experienced the power of the chat room. Kyros had mentioned that as their Coven''s power grew, they had his ability and developed his entricity. She and the rest of the Coven had also discussed a growing oddity in their minds as if they somehow knew of things that they shouldn''t know.


    Martha needed the weirdness to pair with an important power that she had to awaken.


    "Come on! Please! Lord Kyros was able to use Deception! I should too!" Martha tried to harness her Fate Challenger power.


    The dracanaes were moving faster and faster. They took one step after the other and kept on taunting Dorothy to y them. Dorothy kept mocking them for their foolishness and stated that they would regret their words and even began to give the order in which he would kill them.


    But the dracanaes kept on moving forward.


    At that exact moment, Cminus felt something.


    While Aron and his group were headed to the entrance to meet Mezal, Kyros and his group were headed towards the deeper regions of the Nephilim Sealing Mountain. He needed power and to level up quickly as he could feel the workings of Fate. With the Temple''s power dormant, Kyros decided he needed to hunt and devour creatures within the mountain.


    "Hm?" Cminus and Kyros felt it.


    "What is this feeling?"


    "It shouldn''t be a notification which requires me to approve their ghouls. I already approved them to make as many ghouls as they can..." Kyros frowned. He closed his eyes and began to activate his Soul Console.


    And there, Kyros understood what was happening.


    "It''s Martha! She''s trying too..."


    "She''s trying to awaken the 4th Wall Breacher? But why?"


    "Who knows? Can she even acquire it? I don''t see any prompts of approval on my end."


    "In concept, she should already have it. This isn''t an actual skill, after all. It''s a strange state of being rted to a Time God."


    "I must have passed 4th Wall Breacher to them as the Coven grew stronger. I know. I wonder why she needs it? Is she alright with being entric all her life?"


    Back in Airom Logat, the dracanaes didn''t immediately run. They were confident, but they were no fools. If the dragon''s soul was still alive, it could still pose a threat to them.


    "We''ve taken many steps, and you still haven''t used your attack!" One of the dracanae mocked.


    "And lose all of you? If I were to waste my energy, I want to kill you all! Go ahead and get closer! My attack works better the closer you are! That''s why I waited for the dracanae ghouls to get closer!" Dorothyughed. The truth was, Dorothy''s lies and taunts were slightly effective as they continuously made the group doubt.


    "You are the soul of the dragon. We are your cells. If the heart dies, then your body is dead! What link do you have to use that binds us! We have lived a long time and developed our sentience! We are no longer connected to you! These ghouls that you killed appear to be just a trick!" The dracanaeughed.


    Finally, Martha opened her eyes.


    "Dorothy! Follow mymand! Use Deception! Try to convince them that..." Martha ryed the very strange thing that she managed to think of, and she knew this was because of whatever ability or skill Kyros has which makes him entric. Otherwise, she would have never been able to think about this.


    The power of deception had a primary goal to achieve. The lies weren''t just nket lies, but they were given to receive a certain result. All of Kyros''s lies had this direction, and it always allowed him to receive had the direction of what lie to give.


    Dorothy was amazed at the sudden orders of Martha.


    "Do it now!"


    "You fools! It''s not a matter of bond! But superiority! You seemed to have met the Blood Cmity. You talk of a woman that appeared? Seeing as how this ce was locked, she must have appeared like an apparition. You must have felt it too! Her ability to terrorize you just with her presence! That ability is Bloodline Superiority. I have something else! Rtion Superiority! My body is still superior to yours and will always be because you are only sons! An I am not just your father! I am more!" Dorothy dered.


    "We share the same body! What sons? We are the same!" The dracanaeughed at Dorothy''s pitiful im.


    "Hmp. You were born from me. Of course, you are my sons. But my power to instantly kill you is because I am not only your father, But I am also your great grandfather! This is because I''m my own grandfather!" Dorothy released the most powerful soul pressure as he said this.


    At the orders of Martha, the three Hsmanded all the ghouls they controlled to howl from where they were.


    "GREAT GRANDFATHER!"


    Though the words the ghouls cried weren''t clear, the dracanae could still understand the word as Dorothy just said it. The five dracanae unconsciously took a step back as they felt the thick power of Dorothy''s soul.


    Martha then saw the notification that made her rejoice.


    [Deception skill acquired.]


    [Deception activated.]


    All five dracanaes stop in their march.


    They were affected by Deception and somehow believed this lie. Then there were the odd cries of the dracanae. They have never managed tomand a dracanae ghoul to say a word. But now, they just did.


    And then there was the content of the lie. They couldn''t make any sense of it!


    "Good! It worked! The lie was so strange and unexpected that even the darkness guided by Destiny is confused! Dorothy! Keep them busy for several minutes until your vitality has restored my legs! I will be sending more instructions to my team!" Martha ordered Dorothy as she began to send more messages to the three Hs.


    "But... But Master... How? What kind of a lie is I''m my own grandfather, anyway?!" The bizarre made-up and out-of-this-world lie was something that Dorothy couldn''tprehend.


    And Martha was expecting Dorothy to use this lie to keep the dracanae from attacking for several minutes.

 Chapter 181 - About Dorothy鈥檚 Family

    Martha was annoyed. She was close to death, and this Dorothy was so ipetent.


    "For a scheming dragon, you really arecking..." Martha sighed.


    "Alright. Repeat this to them. And I hope you can build up from this lie!'' Marthained.


    And so, Dorothy dered what Martha ryed to him.


    "I''m my own grandpa! Through Rtional Superiority, I have even killed those Dracanae ghouls in the tunnels! You are my great-grandsons, and those ghouls are your sons, so they are my great-great-grandson! And with the difference in rtions, they died! See? They were so far away from me that when I revealed my power, I didn''t need to assault them with my superiority, but vast difference caused them to die!"


    "Great Great Grandson?" One of the dracanaes was confused.


    But they were also curious. Why did the dracanae ghouls died and even managed to shout great grandfather?


    "You are... lying!" One of the dracanaes dered.


    "Am I really? Ha! Such pitiful dracanaes. Of course, you wouldn''t know! You''ve never met a real dragon, have you! You were born out of my cells but are you really just my cells? You might have gained sentience from the blood of the other Fallens that died here, But my will is superior! For, unlike normal dragons, I am my own grandfather! If you don''t believe me, then I''ll show you. Those other weak ones that are considered to be your children are triply further down the line, and I can kill them even if they are from a distance! Watch!"


    "GREAT GRANDFATHER!" Another set of howls was heard, and many sounds of growls and pained screams were heard.


    The shouts were terrifying as the dracanae had never heard their allies scream in such pain.


    "Talk!" Martha ordered.


    "You should be smart enough how to use this!"


    "Yes, Master. I know now what to do."


    "Dragons live by devouring!" Dorothy dered.


    "We always be what we devour! That was the means that allowed us to be Heretics! We fought and killed strong warriors and Saints and soon found our way to Godhood! But think! You know that our race is one of treachery, betrayals, and selfishness! How do you think the stronger dragons kept everyone in check?! What if the younger ones conspired to eat the older ones? To stop this, we created Rtional Superiority! The higher my ranking as an ancestor, the stronger I am, and the more I canmand my descendants to their deaths! It''s not just about you being my cells and finding your own identities. Do you think this is the first time that dragons have faced such circumstances? You weak whelps! You have not even grown your fangs, and you there im this!"


    The ims startled the group and caused them into silent.


    Dorothy thought that he did a good job.


    "Dorothy! Buy more time! Keep talking! I made you say this weird lie so that they can''t logically follow it. This confusion will buy us time. If we went with a conventional lie or exaggeration, you would soon end up with nothing to say! So keep talking with this absurd lie! It will keep them interested and confused at the same time! The more time you buy for me and my Coven, the better!"


    Martha trusted the deceptive nature of dragons, as was revealed by Kyriachos. If they were such scheming and lying beings, a saint-level dragon like Dorothy ought to have such a simple skill! Their soul was bound together. It was only logical that Dorothy and her would share the same skills at this moment since their souls are bonded to each other.


    "You pitiful creatures! You lived their entire lives here! Your weakness is your intelligence!" Dorothy called out.


    "The Power of Rtional Superiority is a power that we ced that depending on how you are rted to us. You will be unable to kill us. If we do sense your will to kill me, then I can use my Rtional Superiority to attack you! It is a Soul Attack that you whelps can''t defend!"


    "But you im to be your own grandfather! That''s stupid!"


    "Stupid?! Ha! It was a well thought off n!" Dorothy dered.


    "Erm... Master. How does one be his own grandpa?" Dorothy secretly asked Martha.


    "Right. About that... I needed Lord Kyros''s powers to figure that one out. Alright. Let me sing it to you."


    "Sing?"


    "Just repeat it back to them. But I''ll only say the first few verses. You have to confuse them by exining all the possible confusion in the rtionships of this twisted family tree." Martha then began to connect to Kyros''s power and somehow tapped on the many incarnations of Cminus.


    Dorothy turned to the dragons.


    "My father fell in love with a certain dragon. At that time, the dragons already feared me, Orgen Pendragon, but I could not devour my father! So I plotted a means to ovee Rtional Superiority! I searched for the mother of this dragon, and I killed and devoured the husband of this dragon. After doing so, I married the mother of my father''s wife!" Dorothy dered.


    "You... what?"


    "You heard me! Even among us dragons, what I did became things of great controversy! But I didn''t care! I sought power to kill my father! I hid the identity of my new wife from him and his wife, who was now my daughter-inw. Since her wife was my daughter-inw, that meant my father was also my son-inw! But that wasn''t enough to kill my father! So I waited and waited for the opportune time that I could kill him! I waited until my father gave birth to a boy!"


    "A boy?"


    "Yes! Because my daughter-inw had a son, what would that make me?"


    "A grandfather..." The five chorused.


    "Correct! My father became my son, for his son was my grandson. The conflicting nature of our rtionship caused the Rtional Superiority to fall into a conflicting circumstance. I was stronger in the Rtional Superiority when my father had a child because it sealed his rtionship to me like a grandfather, and that''s when I finally killed him and devoured him to be a Pendragon!" Dorothyughed.


    "Wait a minute! What has all that have to do with us?!"


    "Fools! Can''t you sense it?! I''ll tell you the details. I also gave birth to a son! And I''m sure you can figure it out from there!"


    "???" The five dracanae looked so confused. They began to look at each other to see if anyone among them could exin what that had to do with anything.


    "If he has a son, and his son is the son of his wife, which is the mother of his father''s wife, who is also her daughter... then..."


    "What?" Another dracanae just couldn''t follow the flow of thought.


    "Damn it! Now that we are not linked, I have to express my thoughts properly to an idiot like you!"


    "Are you even exining it right? Do it properly! Let''s start... His father''s wife bes his mother. But that means she is also his daughter. And this makes his wife, his own grandmother. So he is right in saying that he is his own grandfather since he is married to his own grandmother."


    "Ri-Right..."


    "I think... I understand."


    "And he just said that he has a son..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "I give up."


    "Me too."


    "Wait. That creates a strange loop! His son bes his own uncle because it will be the brother of his daughter, who is his mother... Right?"


    The dracanae began to argue at the confusing setup about Dorothy''s family.


    And while that was happening, Martha was finally healed and could move. The orders were sent out. And now was the time to execute the escape n.


    Martha was not confident. She watched at the arguing dracanae but knew that while she managed to buy herself time, it also meant time for the dracanae to consolidate their new power.


    "Begin.." Martha sent the order.

 Chapter 182 - About The Plan

    By the time they found Martha, the group had changed the ns. At first, they nned to attack and distract the group in order to flee. But when the dracanae transformed and now had a form closer to lesser dragons, Martha had to change it again.


    Martha had to increase the time to distract them while they fled. And to do that, she needed to have the capability to walk. There was also the issue of the nearby dracanae ghouls that were wandering around the area.


    Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey had repositioned themselves for this battle. There were many preparations that they had to do in those short minutes.


    The first one was killing all the ghouls nearby. They couldn''t afford any more distractions for the nned escape.


    With the group of ghouls they had, the team managed to kill the ghouls in the passageway. Then, with Martha''s prompting, the trio was able to learn how to harness the dark energy of the ghoul''s blood in their de but not to absorb it. They managed to have so much, but the team still crippled a few more and left them on the path in case they might need to absorb more blood.


    Hems and Hemsey took care of this and had been using their abilities to kill the wandering ghouls. They also started to gain an even deeper understanding of their Path of Combat.


    Hunter and Myas had been slowly sneaking up on the group. The howls and shouts of the dracanae ghouls were distractions that even when they appeared and pretended to die, the pair was moving closer and behind the boulders and rocks they could find.


    Mardock followed the group and waspressing his power to the bare minimum. But instead of following the two, Mardock positioned himself to a stone behind the dracanaes.


    When Dorothy revealed his soul, it was to mask the energy that Mardock was releasing to ensure that the dracanae wouldn''t sense him as they approached.


    With each of their distraction, lies, and redirection of attention allowing them to position their teams on the right ce, Myas could now perform one of their trick with her sister, which they called arrow delivery.


    Things such as life potions, small weapons, or whatever packages they have would be delivered through each other by attaching them and firing the arrow. To the untrained eye, it would seem that the two would be attacking each other due to the swift movements of catching the package. But for Martha to aplish the quick and almost hidden retrieval, she needed to be able to move.


    "We start now." Hunter ryed the instructions.


    Myas nodded and took a deep breath as she prepared to fire.


    Hunter began to shake the vial containing the fire ore.


    "Now!" Myas ordered.


    Hunter tossed the vial up, and Myas shot the arrow.


    The arrow passed through the small ring at the end of the vial and was pulled as the arrow''s fletching, which was too big to slip through the ring.


    The arrow flew and struck the ceiling where a cracked stctite was.


    BOOM!


    The explosion urred, and the stctite fell.


    On the dracanae''s end, they kept discussing Dorothy''s strange family line when the explosion urred.


    A terrifying roar followed as the rocks suddenly came crashing down.


    CRASH!


    The dracanae turned back, and as they did, they could see a green figure standing. From their perspective, this green being fell from the top.


    "Hmp! Dracanae Lesser Dragons?" Mardock taunted.


    "Prepare to die!" Mardock released a thick amount of True Entropy.


    The strange power that this unknown creature released made the group weary. Even though this stone man knew they were Lesser Dragons, he continued to mock them and was fixated on killing them.


    The dracanae nced at each other, nodded, and summoned all the remaining dracanae ghouls they had to fight that beast.


    The sounds of rumbling were heard as several footsteps could be heard nearby.


    At themotion, Hunter threw two vials towards Martha. But the throw wouldn''t reach. Part of the n was to restore Martha''s health and mana more. A magic restoring potion and a life-restoring potion were thrown, and Myas made the two arrow shots.


    The pair had to deliver it like this since shooting the arrows with the two potions would cause it to slow down and fail to reach Martha.


    The arrows slipped through the rings and flew further, and Martha expertly caught it and immediately drank.


    Mardock began to charge towards the dracanae, and the five prepared to fight it. Then, they began to slowly move back as they ned to make their ghouls attack it.


    But suddenly, Mardock stumbled, and the energy he was releasing vanished.


    The green golem began to roll on the floor as if some powerful energy was suppressing him.


    It was then the powerful soul of the Dragon Orgen Pendragon exploded out once more.


    "What?! A Great-Great-Grandfather is here?!" Mardock revealed a shocked expression as he weakly tried to stand.


    Mardock was on his knees, but even then, he couldn''t stand up.


    In the shocking scene, the group was confused. But despite how they couldn''t understand why this creature was affected by Rtional Superiority, It added to make Dorothy''s im be true.


    If this creature of pure entropy couldn''t even stand, then there was great power in being one''s own grandfather.


    "I must be my own grandpa!" Each dracanae vowed.


    Martha had finished her drinks and was feeling the surge of life and magic in her body.


    Dorothy was amazed at Martha''s body. It was the first time he had seen vampires that could heal using life-restoring potions.


    "I can''t believe this worked! In all my life as a deceiver, I''ve never seen such crazy lies!"


    "Trust me, Dorothy. Being my servant isn''t exactly a bad thing. Let''s go!"


    Martha ran as Myas and Hunter prepared to fire another volley of arrows.


    This time Hunter threw two vials of fire ore together after much shaking. He threw it towards the dracanae, and the three vials were tied up together.


    Myas shot it, and the arrow passed through the rings and caused it to fly further.


    One of the dracanea noticed it on his peripheral vision.


    He turned to see what it was.


    BOOM!


    Thebined power of three made a bigger explosion, and all five were stumbled a few steps backward.


    The immense strength of their body withstood the st, but they were startled and hurt nheless.


    "Roar!" The dracanae roared as he turned to see where the source of the st happened.


    The dracanae ghouls were near, but these were not their ghouls. They only believed it to be theirs, but all twelve were the ghouls of the Coven. These included the ghouls that pretended to be dead. They moved as if they were headed for Mardock, but suddenly, the ghouls rushed directly towards the five dracanae and focused their attacks on two dracanae.


    Six dracanae ghouls attacked one dracanae and delivered their strongest attacks immediately.


    SMASH!


    Punches and kicks sent the vulnerable parts happened. Cracking sounds urred as the fist and kicks sank deeply on the body of the two Dracanae.


    So far, all that Martha and the Coven discussed about the n were unfolding perfectly.

 Chapter 183 - About The True Darkness Time-Space Core

    The dracanae ghouls had great vitality and strength that surpassed even the three Hs. With six ghoulsunching a coordinated attack that struck the chest of a single dracanae, the impact caused their attacks to be buried deep, which then sent the dracanae flying back.


    The twelve ghouls immediately divided into groups of four, and by using the opposing force from their attack on the two dracanae, theyunched themselves towards the other three.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows of Myas reached the remaining three as she shot three arrows aiming for the head of the three.


    Although the attacks were weak, Myas was attacking from the side and caused the three dracanae to get distracted. The goal of these attacks, just like the previous explosive attack, was to take away the attention of the dracanae from the ghouls that were attacking.


    Martha never underestimated the Path of Combat and Foresight of the dracanae. Even if they were staggering or stunned, they would still have the ability to perform evasion. And so, Martha told Hunter to give Myas the important task of shooting and to aim for the eyes of these monsters.


    The attacks caused the dracanae to instinctively shift their heads to evade the arrow, causing the arrow tond on their forehead. The thick scale made the arrows simply fall off as they could not prate. But this priority allowed the dracanae ghouls tond their attack.


    SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!


    Each team of four ghouls was able tond an attack on the dracanae they were assigned. This time, the four were aiming for the head of the dracanae, and their punch and kicks knocked the dracanae back.


    Without wasting a second, the four ghouls retreated and ran for Martha''s location.


    "Idiots! What kind of dragons believe that lie! I, your grandmother, bid your farewell!" Marthaughed as she retreated.


    [Taunt activated.]


    Hems had met up with Martha and threw Martha a new quiver of arrows and a bow as her previous bow and arrows were lost in her wildbat when the Dark Maddening had urred. It was a good thing that Hunter and Myas found the bow on route to their current position. But since trying to meet up with this group still had too many dangers, Martha ordered Hems to provide another bow.


    All three of the Hs had prepared a set of bow and arrows before they charged in to rescue at the suggestion of Myas. With a bow in hand, Martha readied her attack.


    "It''s time to try them out..." Martha mumbled.


    In the momentary gap when she was giving orders to the group as Dorothy ranted about the bizarre family tree, she was able to read up on the many new notifications that had appeared on her screen just as it did with Kyros.


    Originally, Martha could only see very few notifications. But now, they were more detailed.


    And these detils were shocking!


    There was also the issue of her newly acquired jobs. Unknowingly, she received several specializations on her archer job ss. She had known from an early notification that she had acquired the Ninja job ss, but Martha was surprised to see a special variation to her ninja job.


    Other curious parts were being disyed in the stat screen that had somehow appeared. But as of the moment, her immediate interest was on on a certain segment of all her disyed stats.


    What took Martha''s interest was the skills listed in the portion of her stat window, that talked about the Time-Space Core. It was these abilities that made her instruct the knights to hand her one magic restoring potion.


    Martha activated one of the spells that her Time-Space Core had.


    [Haste activated.]


    Feeling an increase on her speed, Martha instantly shot several rounds of arrows to the now recovering dracanaes.


    [Explosive Arrows activated.]


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    The arrows struck the dracanae on the face, and they lightly groaned as their heads was slightly knocked back.


    "What?!" The dracanae cursed.


    A mysterious power enveloped the arrows that it flew faster than it should have. And so, the moment Martha shot the arrows, the Path of Combat was too slow in warning the dracanaes of evading.


    Martha was stunned as she released the arrows.


    "The Haste spell also affects my bows?" She was stunned.


    Aside from the spell, she could sense the vast improvements she had that even how she drew and pulled the bowstrings felt different. She was using a more inferior bowpared to the bow that she lost. But yet, she was still able to draw out the same strength from her attacks.


    "It must be those job sses!" Martha rejoiced as she recalled the detailed changes in her stats.


    The five roared angrily and chased after Martha.


    Martha then started to jump back and shoot at the same time. So while her leaps had more power in them that she was still able to keep up with the running pace of Hems and the Coven.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The attacks flew out and caused the dracanae to use their arms to shield themselves from the iing volley as it was too fast to evade.


    Martha didn''t use her Explosive arrows since the dracanae was using their hard dragons to form a small buckler-like on their forearms.


    Martha began to shoot the legs and toes of the dracanae in an attempt to slow them down.


    Soon, her haste spell wore off, and Martha focused on running.


    Even then, she was able to dy the rush of the dracanae slightly.


    The ghouls would pick up and carry any fallen ghouls in the path they were running. This was part of the n that they discussed, for Martha feared that this dracanae would devour the fallen ghouls and increase their strength as Lesser Dragons.


    "Hurry!" She ordered as she nced at the mini-map in her mind.


    These were among the things that she somehow received after she returned.


    "Is this how Kyros is able to position our team urately? He sees this strange map?" Martha quickly wondered as she watched and made preparations for the next part of the n.


    With Taunt, she drew the dracanae to chase her and Hems as they fled on the longest route leading back to the area where Hunter said their escape was being prepared.


    She did this so that Hunter and Myas could retreat as they had moved closer to spring the trap of making Mardock appear.


    In her map, she could see small blips and dots that she could identify as her allies. The group was performing as nned.


    Despite having to kill any of the crippled dracanae they left to disperse the dark energy and weaken whatever nourishment the dracanae lesser dragons may acquire from them, the team was still moving ahead of Martha.


    "It''s up ahead!" Hems suddenly exined. He was tasked to find a weakened spot suitable to make another rockslide back when Dorothy bought them time.


    "Good! It''ll work!" Martha confirmed as her Foresight allowed her to sense that it was possible to enclose the path.


    The group passed the area, and Hems began to shake the vial of fire rock and readied to throw it.


    "Now!" Martha ordered, and Hems threw the vial.


    FWIP!


    The arrow flew and zoomed towards the fragile part of the ceiling.


    BOOM!


    The explosion urred, and the rocks began to fall down.


    The dracanae lesser dragons roared as they charged faster. These falling rocks wouldn''t hurt them anyway.


    But at that moment, Martha activated one of the skills that she saw listed in her True Darkness Time-Space Core.


    [Gravity Field activated.]


    Martha harnessed the energy to one arrow and shot.


    FWIP!


    The arrow struck the ground underneath the copsing area, and gravity increased.


    CRASH! CRASH!


    The rocks and the sudden increase of gravity caused all five dracanae to stumble as they lost bnce from the falling stones.

 Chapter 184 - About To Escape

    With the copse of the rocks, the group continued to run.


    "How did those rocks copse like? And those dracanae shouldn''t be affected by such small rocks!"


    Hems had seen how the dracanae ghouls managed to carry arge boulder, and they had to take advantage of them by attacking and weakening the dracanae ghouls to bring them down.


    But how could such small rocks bring them down?


    "My arrow increased the gravity. I can''t exin it now, but I met one of the Fallen that is part of Lord Kyros''s Bloodline." Martha answered as they reached the intersection where Myas and the group were.


    "Sister!" Myas shouted.


    "Myas! Thanks for all your help!" Martha shouted as they met up.


    When the team met together, Mardock suddenly corroded as his soul went back to the True Entropy Core as they nned.


    "Lady Martha. Are they strong?"


    "We can''t hurt them the way we are. We would need to exert a lot of effort just to hurt one, and the wounds we inflict would just be healed in secondster." Martha exined.


    "So we''re escaping?"


    "Yes. We already have the ghouls and have practically wiped out their ghoul force and weakened them. The gains I have are also great. I have the dragon heart."


    "The dragon heart?!"


    "A Fallen called Kyriachos gave it to me as a gift. I also have the Soul of the dragon. That''s the voice you heard earlier."


    "Pleased to meet you all. I am Dorothy. But please call me Orgen Pendragon."


    "... Dorothy?" Hemsey was confused.


    "I''ll exinter. Is there another area that can be copsed?" Martha asked.


    "There is only one. But it''s not that strong. I saw it on my way here since I was looking for more ces if we needed to copse those on our escape. But the one I saw is weak."


    "It''s alright. It should work now." Martha smiled.


    "Myas. Do the ves have more of these vials?"


    "About ten more."


    "Then it''s enough. Let''s hurry." Martha then began to send magic energy to her core. Although her core had 50 magic points, Martha could store or absorb magic from it for her use. She also had enough magic to cast the next series of attacks for her n.


    As they moved, Martha began to send more of her magic towards her Core and began to absorb the bodies of the dead dracanae ghouls that were dead on the floor and sent it to her Separated Realm.


    "Lady Martha! That''s...!"


    "It''s not Lord Kyros''s ability. Just something simr. But this is all that we can do. We can''t kill those five, so instead, we take all these ghouls and increase our strength. With the Temple you keep talking about, we can either absorb the ability or turn these dracanae ghouls into ours, and we can have a formidable fighting force. There are more where the ves are at, right?"


    "Yes!"


    "Myas. Give me your vials."


    "Here." Myas gave all four of her vials."


    "Good! Send all the dracanae ghouls ahead. Make them run at maximum speed and carry Myas and get her to the ves. As for us, we decrease our speed. I have a n."


    The twelve immediately moved and picked up Myas before she could say anything.


    "Let me fight!" Myasined.


    "Start sending the ghouls up, Myas. Don''t you understand? We are about to escape! You go ahead and make preparations to quickly bring us up! By the time we get there, we keep rushing up, and we have to escape." Martha ordered.


    Myas wanted toin but decided to follow her sister''s orders.


    "They''re here!" Hunter sensed it.


    "ROAR!"


    The dracanae appeared and began to catch up quickly. Each of their steps was faster, and it was only a matter of time that they would catch up.


    "Just in time." Martha smiled.


    "On mymand, toss two vials to the area up ahead. That should be the ce you said you could copse. Right, Hunter?"


    "Yes."


    "Throw the rest of the vials on the floor on mymand. And give me one magic restoring potion. I will cast a spell to make everyone faster. We wait for them to make a wild attack, and then we blow up that area, and I''ll use more of my magic to increase the stability of the ceiling with my new power dramatically. We''re going to bury them! It won''t kill them, but it should buy us more time!" Martha exined.


    The second of thest three magic restoring potion was given to Martha immediately.


    The dracanae was approaching fast and began to make huge leaping attacks.


    "[Haste]!" Martha cast the spell.


    Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey felt the burst of speed.


    "Throw it now!" Martha ordered.


    Hunter tossed the two vials.


    FWIP!


    Martha shot an arrow, and with [Haste], the arrow carried the vials and was lodged on the ceiling. Because of the speed of the arrow, the vial didn''t explode yet.


    The four of them dashed with great speed, missing therge swipes of the dracanae.


    "Hm?! It''s a spell! It''s a time spell! It must be that dragon soul!" One of the dracanae lesser dragons cursed.


    "See youter, great-grandsons!" Marthaughed.


    [Taunt activated.]


    The dracanae got mad and chased faster.


    "Now!" Martha ordered.


    The three Hs dropped the vials they''ve been shaking as they ran as fast as they could.


    BOOM!


    The vial that was shot to the ceiling exploded, but only a few rocks fell and barely made it a rockslide.


    Martha and the three managed to slip through the falling rocks just in time to avoid the rocks.


    The dracanae saw that only a few rocks fell and charged faster.


    Martha shot another arrow imbued with [Gravity Field].


    And as she did, she stopped running and focused on shooting several Explosive arrows at the top of the rock.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The dracanae was already at the bottom. The timing of the falling rocks urred that the dracanae didn''t notice the sudden increase of weight but only thought that the rocks fell on them.


    The dracanae had forced their evolution into a Lesser Dragon. And so, it was difficult for them to sense the increase in weight.


    This time, the ceiling was too high, and the copsing rocks were too few. Despite the warnings of Destiny, the group still pursued forward due to Taunt.


    They were directly under the ceiling which Martha was attacking, and her attacks increased in speed and power.


    "Gotcha!" Marthaughed.


    Her rapid-fire blew more holes, and finally, therge stone finally gave out.


    The fall should not have reached the dracanae, and they were supposed to go through it easily. But the increase of gravity made the fall faster and the dracanae''s rush slower.


    CRASH!


    Once more, the dracanae was buried underrger rocks.


    Martha didn''t stop and kept shooting and fired another Gravity Field to widen the effect.


    More rocks continued to fall, but Martha didn''t stop and chugged down thest magic potion she had.

 Chapter 185 - About Martha鈥檚 Stats

    The two Gravity Field magic wasunched and not only did the area of effect widened, Martha felt that it actually increased the effects of the first spell.


    But Martha could tell that the effects only increased the gravity by two folds in addition to the ten folds that it originally was. Gravity was twelve times heavier, which made Martha fire more and more arrows as she began to expend her Dark Force energy.


    The dracanae began to roar angrily as more and more rocks fell.


    But Martha kept attacking and attacking, and finally, arge portion of the tunnel caved in and began to fall.


    "Let''s go!" Martha ordered, and the group ran as the stones even began to fall from where they stood.


    The entire tunnel was getting buried, and the group ran quickly.


    "That was amazing!" Hemsey cheered. With such copse, it was finally possible for them to escape.


    "Let''s hurry. I''m out of magic. We have to escape while we can. We don''t have any means to fight back."


    "What happened, Lady Martha? Who are those creatures?"


    "I nearly died. When I warned you three earlier, it was out of desperation. Those five were too strong, and I had no choice but to fall into the Dark Maddening. But this ce was cruel. I think Destiny was at work." Martha exined.


    "Destiny?"


    "Yes. There is a ce called the Separated Realm down here. The dark blood of these dragons has a form of darkness that can drive a person insane. When I drank so much, I was thrown into that realm. But Fate had her preparations too, and to make the long story short. I managed to return and acquire a lot of things." Martha smiled. She willed to check her stats once more.


    The details of her stats had shown so much more than the rather basic information that she had seen before. Now it was so detailed.


    ---


    Martha Kyriachos Bowheart Steele


    Race: Vampire Bloodline


    Age: 26


    Level: 25


    Coven: Coven of the Nephilim


    ---


    Awakened Fallen


    Fanged


    Charmed


    ---


    Awakened Divinity


    Kyriachos


    ---


    Strength- 107 (Coven Blessing active)


    Magic- 65 (Coven Blessing active)


    Dexterity- 143 (Coven Blessing active)


    Vitality- 98 (Coven Blessing active)


    Intelligence- 315


    Dark Force- 96


    ----


    Jobs:


    Fate Challenger Level 1


    Path of Foresight- Level 3 Medium


    Path of Combat- Level 6 Fighter


    Path of Molding- Level 2 Influencer


    ---


    Master Archer- Level 6


    /True Aim ¨C Level 7


    /Quick Bow- Level 5


    /Eagle Eye- Level 5


    /Magic Archer ¨C Level 1


    ---


    Swordsman- Level 2


    /Quick de ¨C Level 2


    ---


    Void Ninja- Level 1


    Job level is based on the True Dark Space-Time Core levels and the Archer and Swordsman Job Levels.


    ---


    Coven Abilities:


    Dark Link Level 4


    Minor Life Vampiric Trait 3


    Ghoul Commander Skill 3


    Dark Consumer Level 5 (+1 level from own skill level)


    Dark Sensitive Level 6 (+1 level from own skill level)


    Blood Devourer Level 8


    Dark Resistance Level 6 (+3 level from own skill level)


    Blood Bond Level 2


    Decay Level 1


    Death Ripple 3 (+2 level from own skill level)


    Minor Vampiric Healing Level 5


    Minor Soul Resistance Level 6 (+3 level from own skill level)


    Blood Weapon Level 3


    ---


    Passive Skills


    Dragon Soul


    ---


    Active Skills:


    Explosive Arrows- Level 4


    Taunt- Level 7


    Deception- Level 2


    ---


    True Dark Time-Space Core


    A crafted Prime Time-Space Core Core using the True Darkness of Kyriachos and the harnessed gravity of a copsed Separated Realm. Channeling of magic on this object grants Time/Space Magic to the wielder.


    Magic Points- 30


    Haste (5 Magic Points)- Grants Haste to the user for ten seconds.


    Gravity Field (20 points) - Increases the gravity within a twenty-meter radius by ten times. (Consecutive uses only increase the weight by two times.


    Heavy Weight (10 points) - Doubles the weight of an object.


    Dimensional Storage Space ¨C Grants ess to a twenty cubic meter storage space Separated Realm.


    ---


    "Amazing. The changes couldn''t have been this drastic. Perhaps the increase in my stats and how many of the Blessings turned into actual codes could be attributed to Lord Kyros..." Martha thought.


    The change in her strength, vitality, dexterity, magic, and intelligence was great. The greatest of all was the increase in her intelligence.


    "Is this because of the Path of Foresight? Or did that fifty-point increasee from Lord Kyros''s blood?" Martha finally had the luxury to think of such things.


    "And it seems Force Energy has be Dark Force for us Coven members..." Martha also noted.


    She secretly decided that she had to stay as a member of Kyros''s Coven if she wanted more power with all the Coven benefits.


    "If the knights say that Aron is a freak with his sword, I need to be a freak too! Otherwise, I''d be but a burden to my husband..." Martha thought. She recalled a certain memory and her thoughts about how she wanted Aron to remember her right before she fell into the Dark Maddening state.


    Then Martha shook her head and focused on some of the interesting key things about her stats.


    She noted how Fate Challenger was actually a job.


    "So this means improving in this Job will allow us to undergo a ss change?" Martha wondered. And then she turned her attention to her archer job.


    Martha was supposed only to have one job. She was technically a Quick Bow archer.


    She was not an Eagle Eye archer that specialized in long-range shooting. Nor was she a True Aim Archer, which was specialized inurate shooting within a limited range. Both Archer jobs could only be officially acquired if the cultivator purchases the higher-tiered Blessings and go through certain rituals depending on the job, the kingdom of the cultivator, and the race of the person.


    What Martha had was only a Sight Blessing that was a basic Blessings that was foundational for either a True Aim or an Eagle Eye. And on all human kingdoms, no kingdom offered the opportunity to receive blessings to be a Magic Archer. Only the Minds contained such costly archer specializations.


    But now, Martha had four specifications.


    When an Archer has one specification, the person would be considered to be an Archer.


    When the archer trains and achieves two Archer routes, the Archer is called a Dual Skill Archer. But when they achieve more than two, they be the coveted Master Archer.


    Martha couldn''t help but swell up in pride as she saw her Master Archer status.


    But what surprised her was that she received a job as a Quick Sword. She didn''t have any blessings for this, but it was clear, this was what allowed her to be a ninja.


    "So my handle of the sword has changed? Was it Lord Kyros?" Martha wondered.


    The team finally reached the area where the ves were. The dracanae had already been lifted up, and several ropes were already prepared for them to make their departure.


    The group held on to the ropes and were being pulled up.


    "The dracanae haven''t moved yet. It looks like copsing an entire mountain is the limit of their strength." Hunterughed. He felt really good. Fate was rejoicing, and the threat was gone.


    "We did it! This was one heck of an adventure." Hemsughed.


    "I can''t wait to get my hands back."


    "Let''s just seal this ce. Myas... Once we are higher, throw all the remaining vials and make them explode over there..." Martha flicked a rock that struck a certain location at the side.


    "That should make it hard to climb up here." Martha analyzed as she observed.


    Suddenly, it was as if Martha and the three Hs felt a sensation of certain death.


    "No! It can''t be!" Martha was horrified as she nced at the top.


    Fiverge figures with wide wings stood up.


    It was the five dracanae. But this time, their wings wererger.


    "This little game... is over!" One of the dracanae roared hatefully as he spread his wings.


    Martha lost color.


    "ves! Myas! Run away! We''ll distract them!" Martha kicked at the nearby wall and threw herself off as she drew her bow in mid-air to attack the five dracanae lesser dragons.

 Chapter 186 - About Fate鈥檚 Preparations

    The sight of the dracanae brought amazement to everyone. The moment they saw the dragonic scales and wings, they felt great fear, unlike before.


    Even the old woman who had seen powerful vampire cultivators realized just why her former masters were obsessed with dragons. What stood before them emitted the threatening power that made everyone tremble.


    Martha knew that they had messed up. The ns and preparations to bury them backfired. Because when she copsed the entire tunnel through her numerous ability, the dracanae somehow managed to break out of the rubble so fast, but they must have flown through a new opening that led to the current hole where they stood.


    There was something different in their eyes.


    The four were being carried by ropes and were barely ten meters high. The side of the cave was smooth that it made climbing difficult. Myas and the dracanae ghouls could only scale it through the help of ropes and the ves above.


    Martha took action, kicked the wall, somersaulted to the ground, and immediately let several loose bows.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows flew towards the dracanae, who didn''t even bother evading.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    The explosive arrows struck the faces of the dracanae, but it didn''t even make the five dragons move by a bit.


    The five continued to look at the group with a distant, uncaring expression. It was as if Martha and all the struggling humans were food that they had no choice but to eat.


    "It is such an embarrassment that these insects have harmed us again and again. Look at them! They even managed to take control of our ghouls."


    "Our ghouls? Our current forms are much more perfect than those ugly creatures. You can have them if you want."


    "We have to devour them. We also have to get the other corpses from that woman. Still, they managed to control the ghouls that took us a long time to control."


    "It must be that woman down there. She has a dragon soul. This should level the embarrassing defeats and how she outwitted us." Another of the fiveughed as they began to glow with red-hot me slowly.


    The bright red mes gave away their appearance.


    Their scales were harder and had a faint color of green. Their frame was even bigger than before.


    "Dorothy! Release your soul!" Martha ordered.


    Dorothyplied and released the power of his soul.


    She immediately drained a few bits of the dracanae ghoul''s blood that she had absorbed when they were collecting the bodies.


    The knights dropped down and immediately drew their swords.


    "Take as much blood as you can." Martha ordered as she brought out four dracanae ghoul corpses and stabbed them on the vulnerable part of the ghoul.


    "Come and kill me, halfbreeds!" Martha shouted at the dracanae while the knights also stabbed on the blood.


    [Taunt activated.]


    But the dracanae only looked at Martha without showing a hint of interest.


    "These are very bizarre vampires. From the distant memory of our cells, it feels as though we see something new." One of the dracanae frowned.


    "Perhaps eating them will awaken our memory. After that, I''ll have her for dessert. While she does have higher quality, I am quite starved." One of the dragonsughed.


    "If you want to eat something, then finish what you started!" Martha shouted again.


    [Taunt Activated.]


    "It''s no good, Master. Taunting them won''t work. Setting aside their immense confidence and pride, any mind-beguiling abilities will lose effects to these dragons as they have a greater resistance to it. But if you want to draw attention, then tell them what they are! I know what they are. Their memories are like yours in the Separated Realm!" Dorothy exined.


    Suddenly, one of the dracanae jumped down.


    CRASH!


    "I''ll deal with the woman. Kill the rest. I''ll share her with you equally." The Thane Dragon spoke.


    "Wait!" Martha shouted.


    "I know what you are from the memories of Orgen Pendragon! I know your honorable form! Spare the humans, and I''ll let Dorothy tell you! Your memories are vague. You can only learn of things when it is mentioned! Dorothy knows what his power and might are. It is your choice to live as what you are or know your true potential!" Martha shouted.


    "Why go through that? We''ll just kill you and ask that soul ourselves." So the dracanae moved but right before he could charge in and kill Marhta...


    "I am bound to this woman. You kill her, and my soul disperse. Why do you think I''m so sub-servant to her that I even made up that crazy grandfather story? Do as she says, and I can tell you more about who I am, and therefore, exin who we are. But she will only do this if you let those ves escape!"


    "How pathetic! A dragon soul turned into a ve!" One of the dracanaeughed.


    "Hmp. You dare insult me? You are a weaker version of me! Whatever, I was in my prime. You shouldn''t be able to reach half of it! But do as she says, and I will tell you. Or rather, she will allow me ato tell you." Dorothy gave his wager.


    You truly are a ve. But I, Firstborn Pendragon, will never be lesser than a dragon who calls himself Dorothy. I will dictate the terms, girl. I will give these humans a chance to live. And since you would try to dy anyway, I will wait. I will wait silently."


    "You will wait?" Martha found it suspicious.


    "I will set a time. I won''t be unreasonable. I will give those weaklings a chance to run. And while they do, I will wait. I am sure that if we let them escape first, you won''t probably reveal anything out of spite for us. And I''m sure you know that we are hungry. We wills till chase after them. So I will give you the chance to save them. While I wait, you can choose to dy and not say anything to give them more time to run. But if I decide to kill them and chase them, I will leave you, you wingless bat, and kill them."


    "A wise choice, brother!" One of the dracanae smiled.


    "Ultimately, it will be this bat that will give her friends the chance to live! I guess waiting a bit is good enough to know our lineage and true power. Anyway, you are all about to die." The dracanaeughed.


    "Your time starts now. I will wait. Go and give them a head-start. But anytime that I feel like you waited too long, I''ll go ahead and kill them, and you won''t be able to do anything..." The dracanae smiled.


    "Hunter! Go with them. Someone has to." Martha sighed.


    The knights nodded.


    "Get him up!" Myas shouted.


    "Sister..." She called out.


    "Get them out of here, Myas." Martha smiled.


    "Hurry!" She called out to the ves, and they were jolted awake.


    Hunter grabbed on the rope and was quickly being pulled up. The dracanae ghouls helped, and Hunter was quickly being dragged up.


    The dracanaes flew, and all stood around Martha, Hems, and Hemsey.

 Chapter 187 - About To Die

    The dracanae ignored the rising Hunter and watched with a mocking expression. Their power had significantly grownpared to their previous form. Yet, even at a nce, the dracanae was not worried about the ve. To them, it was sure that they would die.


    Four of the dracanae ghouls took Hunter, and the team began to leave.


    But the remaining eight dracanae ghouls made a leap andnded near Martha and the two.


    "Oh. And if Dorothy begins to talk and ramble as he did, I''ll go ahead and kill them." One of the Dracanae spoke.


    "I''m bored now. And I don''t want to make that promise. So unless there is nothing else here, I''ll go ahead and kill those humans."


    "Dorothy. Talk about the war and what this ce is." Martha secretly ordered.


    "I can tell you about the past. This ce is Airom. When I was alive, this was the home of the Fallen. A great gathering of races gathered together with the hopes of defeating the Greater Gods who were the real power in this universe." Dorothy began.


    The dracanae that was about to leave stopped on his tracks and turned to Martha..


    "If you go, I won''t tell the details. Go on, little whelp¡ªChase those humans. You should have sensed it, right? These creatures are so weak. There is nothing for you to gain. Other than these knights and this woman, you know that there is no power to gain in eating them." Dorothyughed.


    "Hmp." The dracanae sneered but no longer left.


    "I will asionally reveal this information. I think this would make you spend more time in letting these humans flee, correct?" Dorothyughed.


    "We shall see. Unlike the memories the appear when you say certain terms, we felt nothing from your words." One of the dracanae added.


    Martha and the two Hs focused on absorbing the blood.


    "Look at these fools. Still nning theirst stand."


    "Master... There is still hope. I''m not sure why they haven''t noticed it yet!" Dorothy began.


    "What? Hope?!" Martha was stunned.


    "It''s an impossible hope, but it''s hope nheless. As they were free from the bonds of my cells, they began to choose to evolve into further and stronger forms. But my body limited the power for a reason!"


    Martha realized it. It was one of the questions that naturally followed the Dark-Dependent creatures. What was the source of their energy and life?


    "Life span! Of course! Dragons are Dark-Dependent! They need to feed on something to constantly survive!" Martha guessed.


    "Yes! Exactly, master! They are borne from my cells. But what energy did my cell have? It created these to help my main body restore its vitality. But although my heart survived, it isn''t forever capable of surviving! The vitality, the energy, will eventually be used up! But why they did this is a mystery to me. They should have sensed the danger!"


    "It''s Destiny. I think I understand! Lord Kyros told us the basic workings of Fate and Destiny. They cannot freely alter and whisper. But it''s as if both sides are trying to gain an advantage against each other! Fate allowed me to copse the tunnel, and in order to counter that, Destiny forced them to undergo an evolution because it is doing anything it can to kill us. It nearly failed, so it risked it all and gambled it with thisst act! But I think Fate is stopping Destiny from learning their lifespan! What are they exactly? You can talk about it to them now. But leave them something interesting... I get the feeling that we can dy even more for me to n with my men this way." Martha ordered.


    "Understood. It seems your Master is indeed the Champion of Fate. Let''s hope that that which you gained from your Master and Lord Kyriachos is enough to survive these impossible odds."


    Dorothy suddenly appeared and began to address the Thane.


    "It seems that I can prolong you longer by revealing more than what you are. My master has finally permitted me to do what I can to dy you. While I am bound to her, I will tell you that I wish to win this battle." Dorothy began.


    As this was happening, Martha began to send her message to the three Hs.


    "You are no longer dracanae." Dorothy continued.


    "Your previous form was known as a Lesser Dragon. It is the weakest form, and most of us consider them to be a hybrid or an immature form of a dragon. In fact, we don''t consider them to be part of the dragon race itself. But you have the minimum strength to be considered real dragons. There are many types of dragons, but the one that you assume was an original form that I was born in! I was a warrior-type dragon. And just like me, you are called Thane Dragons."


    "Thane dragons? I see. That name does seem fitting." One of the Thane''s smirked narcissistically.


    "Do you want to know of the power that my heart maintained? It had a lot of mysteries in it, right? You feared it and couldn''t even devour it." Dorothy tempted.


    The five Thanes stood still and had a curious look in their eyes.


    "Oh? Since she already told us, you want to add another information about our strength?"


    "I told you. She ordered me to dy you and increase the time of her ve''s escape. Of course, I could have waited longer for the group to escape, but every secondter is a gamble for her. But in this manner, I can help you by a bit while giving my master satisfactory services." Dorothyughed.


    "Fine. We will make the same promise. We will wait for you. If I decided to chase them and kill them, it would be your fault for testing my patience."


    "I am still bound to her soul and cannot go against her will. So I have to dy this by some time and-"


    "I don''t care for your excuses, Dorothy. Just tell us what we need to know! You are clearly dying!" Another dracanae demanded.


    "As I said... I am bound to her soul! But she allowed this, knowing that my words could stall you. Can''t you see that I''m in a bind here! I have to serve her, but I want to help you!" Dorothy cursed.


    "Do you know how embarrassing it is for a great dragon, such as myself, to abandon my true name and assume the name, Dorothy?!" Dorothy cursed.


    The five dracanae were silent but found logic in his words.


    "Just don''t test my patience. You can tell us now and offer a new set of information..." One of the Thane suggested.


    "Then stay tuned in the next episode of my podcast.... Dragon Talk! Don''t forget to like, share and subscribe!" Dorothy answered as he chuckled, and his voice faded, leaving the Thanes with a confused expression.

 Chapter 188 - About The Horrifying Plan Of Fate

    The odd spiel confused even Dorothy.


    "Ma-Master. I said something weird!" Dorothy immediately called out to his master.


    "It might be because you are bound to my soul. Not to mention that power I had to draw if to make up those lies about the Rtional Superiority might be connected to it.


    "Is your Lord Kyros associated with the famously bizarre Time God, Cminus?"


    "... I don''t know. But if that weirdness is affecting you, then he should be somehow... Anyway! How long do these dragons have since they are about to die?" Martha asked. She was constantly discussing the ns with the three Hs.


    "Not too long. In fact, I don''t think they can survive after this battle at all! If turning into a lesser dragon gave them a few weeks of life unless they consumed and easy more, they would die. But now that they have assumed this form, they will definitely die."


    "Even if they eat us?"


    "Dragons are beings of great vitality. I was nearing my evolution to be a Heretic God. So this is why I was able to cling to life and even made a world down here absorbing the nutrients of earth. But these dragons are high-expense creatures. Do you know why dragons onlye out to raid and kill and fall into slumber in their homes and caves?"


    "I see. Their conserving energy."


    "Exactly. They cultivate their bodies by feeding, but they will need to shut down other parts of their body because they will live rather short lives if they don''t. Even if they do eat you, the power they need is just too little. A few humans won''t save them."


    "What if it''s orcs?"


    "Unless they can eat several level twenty orcs, they won''t survive. But even if there are, the energy they will waste to kill them is another issue."


    "Right. So it''s a good thing. Even if we die, Lord Kyros won''t be harmed since we made the orcs panic and gather their men. These dragons will die no matter what." Martha sighed in relief. At the very least, this battle will end up giving Kyros more advantage.


    "Knights! This is a battle against time! We still have hope!" Matha called out to the group, and she began to exin what she just learned from Dorothy.


    Dorothy soon also exined the power of the Lord of the Fallen, Kyriachos. The name sparked their memory, and all the Thane reacted at the name. Dorothy then offered another tempting offer.


    "I will reveal My masters'' power. You must be curious, right? How did she seal the heart and capture my soul and bind it? This is important since you might die if you try and eat her." Dorothy teased.


    The Thanes agreed once more.


    But what can we do? If we drink these blood, although it won''t be the same permanent Dark Maddening, we will still give in to the madness and be mindless beasts which these dragons can easily kill." Martha called the group chats with all three of the Hs.


    "Lady Martha. What if you had more magic points?"


    "The ves still have magic restoring potions? I thought you said that that vial was thest one?" Hems asked.


    "About that... When I met the ves, I was searching for a means to replenish our strength. And Fate led me to the ves."


    "And we drank all of their magic restoring potions! They do have a few potions to life-restoring potions, but it''s not fast enough if we are to fight these monsters that match a level, fifty cultivators!" Hemsey frowned.


    "Wait... You mean... It led you to the ves? Not their resource?" Martha then asked as a strange suspicion crept into her heart.


    "...Yes. Hems, Hemsey. I didn''t exin it properly thest time. But as Lady Martha guessed. The magic restoring potions was not the means to replenish us. What''s the best way for us to recover strength?"


    "The blood of the living...! You can''t mean...!" Hems shouted back.


    "That is what Fate did! It did its part! But it makes sense. Lady Martha, forgive me. I did not obey yourmand. The moment we left, I made Myas run ahead and escape. She is the only one here that is fast and strong enough to survive and deliver the message to Lord Kyros. But I asked the ves to remain. We can drink some of their blood. There are twenty of them here. They can offer some of their blood to you to fight! We don''t have any hopes of escaping a flying dragon anyway!" Hunter exined.


    "Hunter! You''ve be insane! Those ves are not our enemies! And they are to be part of the Steele family!" Hemsey chastised.


    "Regardless... I have made my choice. The fact that the vow I made to Lord Kyros and the Coven has not been broken, and my soul was not attacked is because I kept the Steele family and Lord Kyros''s best interest at heart! And besides, we don''t have to kill them! We can just drink some of their blood! Lady Martha! Can that help you restore magic?"


    "...Yes. But I forbid it. Send the ves out. The magic point I can acquire is too few to even do-"


    "I will be disobeying your orders, Lady Martha. I am a Coven first. My duty is clear. I will protect my Lord''s Aunt more than any ve who has yet to be formally epted in the Steele family. You don''t have a choice, Lady Martha. I am staying up here. The dragons probably know and should be sneering at my decision to stay and to try to save you. If you do not use the blood of these ves to regain more magic points, then we will simply die without being of use." Hunter threatened.


    Martha cursed as a frown appeared on her face.


    "The old woman urged these people. I may have lied to them about our chances..." Hunter''s tone suddenly grew quiet as he spoke in the call.


    Hunter was so disgusted at what he was doing. From the words of Lady Martha, surviving this was practically very small. All they had to do was fight and make these creatures waste the most of their energy to ascertain their death.


    Martha was in great conflict but made her choice.


    "My Blood des. I''ll shoot them through an arrow. I can currently tell your location due to one of my new skills. Ask them to wound themselves and ce their hand in the sword. I will try to devour their blood. This should help me restore my magic points without falling into the Dark Maddening. And then drop the sword immediately. Hems, Hemsey. Follow my instructions. I am still confident that my Path of Combat is stronger than these Thanes. I can direct the flow for several blows. But after that, you guys have to fight and prolong this battle!"


    "I will fight until I die!" Hems dered.


    "No! Fight to live. Lord Kyros trusted us to win this battle. How can the Coven of the Nephilim fall here and now? We fight until they die!" Martha dered.


    And as Dorothy began to continue his podcast, Martha and the three Hs began to sketch a n on how to fight these Thanes.

 Chapter 189 - About The Toughness Of Dragons

    Dorothy began to talk about the power of the True Darkness that Separates and talked about the ages long forgotten in order to exin the power of darkness that engulfed his heart.


    "And so I had no choice but to fight and devour that son of Kyriachos. He was a Saint-level warrior just like me. With my ability in Dark Consumer, I risked it all and ate his darkness. That power was the purest darkness that even I could not contain, and my soul was sent into the lost realm called the Separated Realm. And because me soul was sent, my body acted on instincts and continued to struggle to survive. But there, I managed to harness it!" Dorothy''s voice turned to that of great pride.


    "Behold the darkness that I wield! This was the power that Martha showed where she survived your attacks!"


    It was then that powerful darkness appeared and covered Martha.


    The potent energy of Dorothy was lost in the cold darkness that covered her.


    Martha looked at the reactions of the Thanes and saw the slight frowns and pained reactions they had.


    This was the moment Martha was waiting for. The moment the Thanes would react to the words of Dorothy, which would cause them an influx of memories.


    "Now." Martha sent themand.


    And Hunter followed.


    He ran and shook the box full of the fire-ore vials and hurled it down.


    When Hunter decided to keep the ves nearby and forced Martha to follow, the most crucial part was to give Martha the blood of the ves to refuel her magic points. And to do that, the easiest way was to send a Blood de up, which could quickly gather three people''s worth of blood.


    In order to send the Blood de to Hunter, Martha decided that shooting the sword like an arrow was the easiest way. Martha had the strength and control to do that.


    But the problem was thatunching it would be a deration of war.


    And so, the first issue was to create the opening. Martha knew that rushing in blindly towards them would only lead to their defeat. The dexterity of the Thanes far surpassed what the Coven had, when they were Lesser Dragons, the strength of each creature roughly equated to a mid-level 30 cultivator.


    On Martha''s previous activation of Haste, she timed it when the then Lesser Dragon made a lunging attack that allowed them to dash faster and caused them to miss quickly. But even then, the power of Haste, which increases the recipient''s speed by fifty percent, could not make them faster than the Lesser Dragons.


    Only Martha could match the Lesser Dragons dexterity as her 143 dexterity stat point would exceed the 200 stat points of the Lesser Dragons because of Haste. But now, the Thanes had over 300 stat points worth of dexterity.


    The Thanes also had previously revealed their speed when they flew down andnded almost instantly from the top of the cave. This show of power was meant to drive Martha and herpanions to great fear. However, when Hunter saw it, he was convinced that there would be no way for them to escape even if Martha tried to buy some time and went along with his n.


    And so, Martha created a n to make an opening for their many attacks through two things.


    The first was the natural result of Dorothy''s talks. Martha allowed Dorothy to talk of something that would definitely trigger the memory of these dragons. The surge of memories would decrease their focus by several levels due to the immense distraction.


    But even with thisck of concentration, there was the Path of Combat of these dragons. Even with the focus off, the Thanes may still react instinctively to block the sword that Martha would shoot up or would be able to escape the vials of fire ore.


    And so, to stop this from happening, Martha ordered Hems and Hemsey to immediately activated Death Ripple with her.


    The magic of Death Ripple appeared. The three attacks stacked on each other and made the Thanes suffer as a head-splitting pain attacked them.


    Martha immediately jumped forward towards the Thane as she used her bow to shoot her Blood de upwards.


    The Blood de stabbed and prated through the falling box full of fire-ore vials, and some of the vials were sliced opened and caused the gas to spill on the ground.


    The sword carried on further, and Hunter reached out for it to catch it.


    The Thanes knew something was off and roared, and a powerful tail swiped at Martha.


    SMASH!


    But as the tail attacked, it passed through Martha''s body!


    Martha''s real body was seen at the very back with her dagger stabbed on another dracanae ghoul.


    The two which she had been siphoning were standing up as they became her dracanae ghouls.


    And at that moment, the two halves of the boxes were just above the Thanes.


    BOOM!


    A strong explosion urred and created a thickyer of fire. But the strong st didn''t even cause the Thanes to be thrown back. They kept standing there amidst the me as the effects of Death Ripple lost its effect.


    "Insolent!" One of the Thanes remarked as he stepped forward. But it then, the five saw, the familiar green golem standing in the midst of them.


    "I hope that Kyros will appreciate this!" Mardock remarked as he channeled all the remaining energy that the True Entropy Core could provide him with.


    BOOM!


    Mardock exploded. His entire body didn''t even break into pieces but simply vanished as if it melted. A green light shot back to the True Entropy Core that Martha was carrying.


    Mardock directed the explosion of his suicide attack towards the Thane Dragons.


    This was Martha''s strongest attack on her arsenal.


    An Entropy explosion urred and created thick smoke, and even the figures of the dragons were knocked back from the attack. The former attack didn''t even make them stumble back, but this one apparently sent them flying back.


    The roars of the Thane Dragons echoed out.


    "That attack was far stronger than I thought! Would that have harmed the Thane dragons?" Martha asked Dorothy.


    "That attack was indeed strong. But one thing you must know, Master. When talking about the toughness of dragons, you should always overestimate! Otherwise, your dead."


    "Then let''s hope the next attacks will get them." Martha looked up.


    The four dracanae ghouls with Hunter had already picked up severalrge rocks as part of their preparation and dropped therge rocks down right after the vials exploded. Martha began to shoot it with arrows, and as the arrow struck, the magic of [Heavy Weight] affected the rocks and increased the weight of the stones.


    The stones fell faster.


    But in the midst of the green mist and the decay, several whipping sounds were heard and began to smash the rocks that fell.


    The tails of the Thanes whipped out to destroy the rocks.


    SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!


    The rocks burst apart, and even the green mist was blown away because of the attack.


    The figures of the dragons could be seen. Small wounds that were quickly closing up could be seen.


    Martha cursed at the sight of these dragons. They weren''t even damaged to the point that the rocks would fall on them.


    "Attack!" Martha ordered.


    Ten dracanae ghouls, eight from Hems and Hemsey, and the two that Martha stabbed her sword in charged forward to attack the Thanes.


    "Insolent! I''ll kill that wench!" One of the Thanes roared and charged.

 Chapter 190 - About The Secret Plan Of The Three H

    If Martha had the opportunity, he would have made Mardock make that attack when they were Lesser Dragons. But given the circumstance, there was no time for that.


    Kyros had told her of everything that Mardock was capable of and even assumed that a suicidal attack that exploded all his energy was possible as he had seen Stoph, the Ruby Golem make a burning attack.


    But now, the powerful attack that could have harmed Lesser Dragons didn''t do much to these dragons.


    Martha stood at the back as the dracanae ghouls rushed ahead with the knights.


    "Attack them now! Entropy has weakened them!" Martha activated Haste and began to let loose her arrows.


    Amazingly, more than ten arrows flew at once.


    Her bows had Form Clone, and it created several shadow attacks that moved alongside her arrows.


    Martha had coated the real arrows with powerful Force energy.


    But suddenly...


    CRASH!


    The dracanae ghouls and the knights were sent crashing back as one of the Thane Dragons made a tackling move.


    The speed was so fast that even the Path of Combat of the two knights and the ghouls could not react from the simple tackle.


    The Thane stood over Martha, and he sent a backhand stroke.


    SWISH!


    The figure of Martha vanished, and the real body of Martha had ducked and rolled just in time to avoid it, with the Form Clone acting as a distraction.


    She held her bow and shot several arrows.


    The first struck the ground, and [Gravity Field] was activated, and the rest flew towards the body of the Thane.


    CRASH!


    The tail of the Thane smashed down and struck the arrow negating the Force energy that was instilled in it.


    Martha suddenly sensed something and used a great amount of force energy to jump.


    Crash!


    Her jump was just in time, and she managed to evade the tackle of another Thane.


    "Futile." The Thane sneered as her tail whipped at Martha.


    Martha saw it and shot an arrow to the ground. She knew she would die from that attack and shot Gravity Field as ast resort with hopes that the weakened wings and the heavy gravity would stop them for a time while the Hunter and the ves made their escape.


    FWIP!


    A dracanae ghoul jumped towards Martha and was in front of the approaching tail of the Thane.


    SMASH!


    FWIP!


    The powerful swipe struck the ghoul and Martha, which sent the two flying to the other end of the cave.


    Gravity Field took effect as Martha was knocked out.


    But as that happened, two of the dracanae ghouls suddenly jumped up. They were outside of the range of the Gravity Field. Their jumped reached such heights as aided by the other dracanae ghouls, which threw them up.


    The two ghouls caught the crushed body of Martha and stabbed their ws on the side of the walls.


    The previous explosion and the entropy attack of Mardock had softened the stone, slippery walls allowing the two ghouls to scale it up.


    And as they reached a certain distance, a rope was there waiting.


    This was all because, while Martha had exined the n, Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey also made another secret n.


    The n of this was rooted on theirbined efforts to activate the Path of Foresight.


    Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey had one simple desire that they wanted Fate to help them achieve.


    ''How can they get Lady Martha up?''


    The Thane saw it and frowned.


    They were about to jump when the rest of the ghouls and the two knights rushed in and made reckless attacks.


    One of the ghouls held on the rope and was swiftly being pulled up by Hunter and his ghouls.


    The ves kept throwing more rocks at the group, and it fell with great speed.


    The Thane was frowning and evading the falling rocks.


    With the help of the jump, Martha was quickly pulled up.


    "Is this their n? To get that woman up?"


    "She''s dead anyway. Her bones are crushed. Unless she can devour arge amount of the dracanae blood, I doubt that she would regrow all those bones that were smashed."


    "Look at her allies. They even made a death stance." Another Thane observed Hems and Hemsey.


    The two had drunk all the blood in their swords. Martha focused only on two ghouls because while she absorbed enough magic points to regain energy, she was using Dorothy to stimte the ghouls so that they would be reanimated once more. Her blood had no power to reanimate a ghoul, but it was possible with Dorothy''s soul though it needed some time.


    But Hems and Hemsey moved from one ghoul to another and absorbed arge amount of dark energy they immediately drank.


    The ghouls were given thest order. And that was to kill the Thane Dragons.


    "Let''s eat these beasts here. You must have felt it. That powerful entropy is constantly hurting us. Even my wings seem to be having trouble flying because of this weakness."


    All nine rushed at them, and as the darkness consumed Hems and Hemsey, they also assumed a form simr to the Shadow Familiars of Kyros.


    "Careful. Hurting them will only decrease the nutrients we can eat from them." One of the Thane rushed in and reached for one of the dracanae ghouls


    Meanwhile, Hunter quickly handed the de over to Martha.


    "Lady Martha! You must live!" Hunter called out.


    Dorothy also used his powers to awaken Martha. She felt the de in her hand and absorbed it. The blood was regenerating Martha''s body, but her wound was just too severe.


    "It''s not enough," Dorothy spoke.


    "She won''t be able to run like this. This was your n, correct?"


    "Yes."


    "Do you Coven members have the ability to transfer life? If you give her all your vitality, she might have enough strength to run away. You, vampires, are simr to us. I can eat off the flesh of creature, but I eat so much that it ims the life of what I devour, I gain much greater strength."


    "Of course! I sensed that on our previous pray! Alright! I can try!"


    "No. We won''t allow that!" The old woman interrupted and smiled.


    "Order your Ghouls to keep throwing those rocks. If you die, we lose control over your ghouls, and we die. I''ll give my life." The old woman smiled.


    "It''s not enough. Your body is too weak."


    "I''ll give my life too." Another ve approached.


    And then another stepped forward without saying a word.


    Martha couldn''t say a word as her mouth and jaw were crushed. But tears fell from her eyes.


    "Thank you. I can help her devour not just your blood but use the absorbing properties to drain your very life. It will be excruciatingly painful." Dorothy answered.


    "Losing my former masters was more painful than this. Now that I have another more benevolent master, I won''t hesitate to use my life to lose them. Begin." The old woman smiled.


    "Stab the sword to her while letting Martha hold the de," Dorothy ordered.


    Hunter held Martha''s hand as she held the sword and stabbed the old woman.


    Martha looked at the eyes of the old woman as tears flooded hers.


    She couldn''t even say thanks or her goodbyes as Dorothy immediately began to devour the woman.


    The process was extremely quick.


    "Next." Dorothy coldly ordered, and Hunter quickly took control of Martha''s hand as the old woman''s body turned to dust.


    The sword stabbed towards the chest of another ve, and he screamed at the pain.


    The healing of Martha''s body was so fast that even her bones were growing back.


    "Next."


    Hunter tried to move Martha''s hand but met resistance.


    "I''ll do it myself..." Martha pulled and broke free from Hunter''s hand.


    But as she did, she paused as she looked at the next ve. The former was a tall man. This time, it was a young and beautiful woman.


    Martha trembled.


    "Lady Martha... Hems is dead. You have to hurry and retreat." Hunter reported the notification that just popped up.


    "....Go and dy the dragons." Martha slowly stood up, and Hunter followed.


    "Let''s go. We can still catch up with your sister." Dorothy spoke.


    "No. Now that I''m here. I can kill them. I''m sure of this."


    "How?"


    The next words that Martha spoke were the hardest and most painful thing she had to say.


    She turned to the remaining ves.


    "I need.... ten or so more volunteers."

 Chapter 191 - Certain Sacrifices

    When the ghouls and the two knights attacked, a strange miracle urred. They were not at all affected by the effects of [Gravity Field].


    And this aided them as they could move normally and how the Thane felt the heavy sensation in their bodies.


    But as the Thane Dragons were too focused on eating the dracanae ghouls, it did not even spare a thought to test how wide the area of effects was. Since the ghouls still moved fast, they concluded that the strange magic of the woman simply did not affect her allies.


    The five began to attack and devour the dracanae greedily.


    One of the Thanes actually thought about flying, and when he was about to attack, the berserked Hems jumped, and the surviving dracanae ghouls jumped and caught on him, making the Thane Dragon curse.


    With an angry grunt, the Thane smashed the ghouls that jumped on him, mmed Hems to the ground, and lunged down.


    "Stop! We agreed to divide everything equally! Two ghouls each, and we shall all have an equal share of that human!" A Thane angrily cursed.


    "He provoked me! I deserve this bite! I eat what I kill!"


    "Stop! We made an agreement!" Another Thane shouted as he revealed that Hemsey was in his hands.


    "If you haveints, go and kill the other one! Didn''t we agree before that we can eat whatever we kill, and it depends on skill?" The Thane instantly bit down.


    The other Thane sent his tail to attack, but the first Thane fought back and the two tails collided in mid-air.


    BANG!


    The attack of the two created a powerful shockwave that threw the nearby ghouls to stumble.


    Another fang lunged in and was not aiming for the Thane but Hems, who was in his hands.


    The Thane dragon pulled Hems up, and the first Thane missed.


    The group began to argue and fight. They would attack and block each other. But each attack would leave a tremendous impact.


    Soon the effects of the [Gravity Field] disappeared.


    In the middle of the scuffle, the Thane holding Hems pulled Hems close to his mouth, and he bit down.


    BITE!


    And just like that, Hems died.


    The Thane bit down and ripped off his upper torso. The dark powers that covered Hems disappeared, and his body reverted to his human form.


    "Delicious! This human is amazing! It''s even better than those ghouls!" The Thaneughed.


    The others shouted angrily, and they began to fight over Hemsey.


    Hemsey was now being fought over.


    Just like Hems, his attacks were meaningless, and the Dark Maddening only helped him increase his vitality so much so that he didn''t die from the being grappled and how the Thane Dragons were trying to rip him apart.


    The Thanes continued to pull and were slowly ripping apart during the scuffle. Even the Thane that killed Hems was fighting hard to acquire Hemsey.


    Martha stood and observed the scenes below. She drew her bow and was ready to let loose the arrows.


    But even though she took no action, Hunter didn''tin. He knew what Martha''s n was. He could even feel Fate''s whisper. They could finally win. But this would cost them...


    "I will not ask again. But are you all sure?" Martha asked.


    All eighteen surviving ves had agreed to do this.


    The younger ves were trembling, but they did not say a word.


    "My Lady. We''ll all die anyway. I might as well use my life to kill those beasts. In a way, I would be half a dragon yer, right?" One of the ves chuckled.


    "These three brave knights convinced us of the benevolence of this family. My only regret is not being able to join you in the joys. But I''m happy that such a powerful family is thest family that I will serve." Another added.


    "I... don''t even know your names." Martha tried to contain her trembling voice.


    "You can ask Myas after this. You should start now, mydy."


    Martha was silent, but she waited.


    "Not yet. You understand. Right, Hunter?" Martha believed Hunter knew but asked anyway so to ensure that Hunter did not get any wrong ideas.


    "Yes, My Lady. The dragons don''t know that they are expending more of their energy. You are maximizing it. Certain sacrifices must be made to win this battle. I just... don''t understand why Destiny hasn''t told them yet."


    "Destiny can''t. Whatever energy or force Destiny can expend have been wasted in teaching these dragons to undergo an evolution." Martha spoke as her arm trembled.


    "My Lady. Hems and Hemsey know their duties. The priority is keeping you alive. Besides... With Lord Kyros, who knows if he can resurrect the dead? We are his Coven, after all. Our ties shouldn''t be that weak that death can separate us." Hunter consoled. He could see that Martha was fighting the instinct to shoot the arrows.


    Hunter''s voice was stable, but the truth was, his heart was being ripped out just as Hemsey''s limbs were.


    The scuffle between the dragons had killed the nearby ghouls. However, none of the ghouls remained intact as others would get crushed or munched off as the dragons fought for Hemsey.


    "This is Fate''s doing..." Martha realized it.


    "You sought this circumstance from Fate?" Martha asked Hunter.


    "Yes. All of us were willing to bet our lives. The moment we did, we found the answer. If we can make certain sacrifices, we could achieve the previously impossible directions of Fate. When we were willing to throw our lives away, Fate imparted the impression to help us get the answer. And here it is. The sacrifices of Hems and Hemsey not only brought you to this favorable position, but it is maximizing the expenditure of the Thane dragons."


    "With Destiny silent, their Paths of Combat have even weakened. It should be anytime soon. Hunter. I leave you to retrieve and stab out the dagger and sword." Martha ordered.


    "Yes, Mydy." Hunter bowed and made preparations. He turned back to the ves and bowed in apology.


    The ves were silent, but some smiled back at him, trying to do what they could to console the pain in Hunter''s heart.


    Finally, Martha sensed it.


    "Hunter. Begin."


    Hunter immediately stabbed the sword on one ve and the dagger to another.


    The dracanae ghouls of Hunter kept throwing the rocks down, but these rocks didn''t make any marks or wounds.


    Hidden among the rocks where the arrows of Martha that were imbued with Heavy Weight and Decay.


    The rocks kept crashing on the dragons, who ignored it but focused on splitting the remaining half of Hemsey. Of all the limbs of Hemsey, only his right arm remained.


    The arrows struck the dragons, and it wasn''t just one or two, but each was struck several times.


    They suddenly felt the change in their weight and felt the light power of decay. With the entropy energy covering them, the power of Decay was heightened as two powers somehow stacked with each other.


    "What?! You''re alive?!"


    The dragons roared, but the arrows had already struck the ground.


    [Gravity Field] was activated.


    Another arrow arrived and it activated another [Gravity Field].


    Two of the Thane Dragons stumbled down the moment it was, while the other three managed to catch themselves and stabilize their bodies.


    Martha raised her hand, and Hunter tossed the sword and dagger towards Martha, who quickly absorbed the blood and life of the devoured ves.


    Without hesitation, the sword and dagger flew towards another pair of ves as she resumed shooting.


    The blood weapons began to devour the life of the ves.


    More [Gravity Field] and more [Heavy Weight] spells were activated.


    "You idiots! Do you know why Dorothy''s body limited your growth? It''s so that you won''t die! What are your cells living on? Destiny tricked you! We almost won, and it forced you to a death pact! Do you think you will survive today? Even if you eat all the remaining ves and me, you will all die!" Martha shouted as she kept shooting.


    The Thane Dragons roared angrily and began to p their wings. But Marhta would then shoot them with explosive arrows.


    Although it did no damage, the force that would have only poked them was strong enough to hinder them from flying. Their wings were so heavy, and their speed had drastically decreased.


    The Thane Dragons were angrily roaring and using their force to fly harder. Some even tried to make a stronger leap but would get struck down.


    "You think it was alright to stay there? My two knights have made it possible to kill you! That is True Entropy! The most powerful and potent magic! And you dared to stay in that area? Fools!" Martha shouted


    [Taunt activated.]


    "You will all die!"


    The Thane Dragons got even angrier and roared as they exerted more force in their flight.


    Martha cursed as she could see that the five would reach. She was running out of magic and force energy.


    Hunter rushed back and handed her the sword and dagger. Immediately, hemanded the remaining ghouls to suddenly jumped off the cliff.


    Martha''s magic recovered, and this time, she shot the dracanae ghouls with [Heavy Weight].


    The ghouls punched out and clung to the slow-rising dragons, and the added weight caused them to fall.


    Hunter also jumped off without saying a word.


    Martha saw it, and her hurt bled all the more. But she couldn''t stop. If even one of those dragons reached, they would die. So she shot [Heavy Weight] towards the leg of Hunter, and Hunter used all of his might to deliver the strongest sh he could do.


    SMASH!


    Thest Thane Dragon was sent down along with Hunter.


    Martha threw the sword and dagger, and it struck another.


    "I''m sorry. But can someone please..." She couldn''t say thest part.


    But one of the younger ves moved and retrieved the de and dagger as it fell down from draining and devouring every part of the ve.


    The ve was in tears and did his best not to throw up.


    The sword and dagger flew and killed another and the another ve moved to retrieve it. This time, it was a girl who did so.


    Martha kept shooting as she shouted madly.


    The Thane Dragons finally felt it. They could feel the immense hunger. On their previous ascent, they used the full power that they had. And when they exerted that force, it drained their vitality faster.


    Their wounds no longer healed, and soon, Martha''s arrows began to wound them.


    In desperation, the Thanes turned at each other. At this point, it was a fight for survival. Only by devouring another Thane could they survive.


    The young ve returned Martha''s weapons but this time, the two Blood weapons was not thrown out to killed more ves.


    Martha saw that her arrows were already leaving small wounds. And her desire to satisfy her revenged took over. She jumped down.


    "I''ll kill you with these hands!" She roared as she kept unloading arrows at the Thane Dragons.

 Chapter 192 - Certain Conscience

    Martha''s leap was a great shock to those nearby. Even the ves who had given themselves over to death did not expect that she would be so wild and enraged at something so insane.


    Arrows continued to rain down. And the arrows were already sinking inside of their body.


    Martha did not imbue an explosive force but one that would prate.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows dug deeply unto the dracanae ghouls and added more [Heavy Weight], and another arrowunched yet another [Gravity Field].


    "ROAR!" The Thane Dragons roared angrily, but the weakness brought about by entropy and the unchecked attempts of their bodies to keep regenerating was making them so weak.


    Martha cast three [Heavy Weight] on her and readied to stab. Her aim was the one dragon who she had shot several times and who fell t on his back.


    SMASH!


    Marthanded on the dragon and had stabbed her sword, which sank deep within her chest.


    "Do you feel this, dragon? The blood that makes this sword is not even your ilk. But it was the insects that you saw up there. The insects that bravely gave their lives so that this sword could kill you!" Martha roared as she harnessed the power of the dragonic devour.


    Unlike the devour of Kyros, which absorbed the essence through blood, the dragons devour every bit of flesh and meat from the target. Each tooth of a dragon had the mysterious power to absorb essence and vitality in eating these things. And this ability was added upon the Blood Weapon of Martha.


    The Thane Dragon tried to move, but Martha began to cast [Heavy Weight] and [Gravity Field] on the dragon.


    Hunter had survived his attack as the Thane Dragon was knocked down and the first thing that Hunter did was stab a dragon in an attempt to absorb his blood.


    SMASH!


    The tail whipped at Hunter, which he blocked with his sword. But even with the spells of weight, Hunter was still sent smashing to the sides. His entire body was bleeding, but he managed to take some blood. He rushed towards Hemsey''s wrangled body and was about to stab it when the notification of Hemsey''s death appeared.


    Hunter stumbled down as he neared Hemsey. The death of his brother caused a severe weakening on his knees. He lost strength for that quick second.


    He fell down but immediately struggled to stand. His Lady was still fighting. And so he had to fight for his honor and loyalty still bounded him to serve.


    Enraged, Hunter absorbed the blood and charged to fight.


    Martha was standing on top of the Thane Dragon and kept releasing bows at the four Thanes trying to charge towards her.


    Her constant use of Explosive Arrows drove the dragons back.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Martha was immersed in a trance as she allowed her Path of Combat to take over her.


    She aimed and dodged and would even throw her dagger. Hunter and his ghouls also attacked and would bite down at the sides of the dragon.


    Martha would also grab the sword stabbed deep in the dying Thane and absorb energy while casting Gravity Field and Heavy Weight.


    Martha''s skin was turning strange as small scales started to appear.


    Dorothy watched in amazement.


    "As expected. She haspatible blood from Lord Tyrannos, who became the Father of All Dragons. Herpatibility is merging. Just who is her master?" Dorothy pondered.


    The battle was turning in favor of Martha and Hunter. The Thane dragon they were on was close to death, and the rest were also weakening. They prioritized Martha as she was the source of the cursed Gravity Magic, but they could not kill her.


    Soon, Hunter''s sword was strong enough to wound the creatures, and the dracanae ghouls were overpowering them.


    Dorothy acted on his own. Martha had fallen into a semi-berserked state which made her a fighting monster.


    His soul appeared and began to attack the weakened soul of the Thane Dragons and was slowly eating them. The Thane Dragons were too wounded and beaten to resist, and their souls were devoured.


    "I never thought that I would have devoured such dragons. At least, in this state, I gained five times the amount of soul energy I wasted on this. I should be able to live for a time now..." Dorothy thought.


    His dark green soul was shining brighter and brighter as a lighter shade of green was being siphoned out of the soul of the Thane Dragons as the fight continued.


    The five roared as they felt their life reaching an end.


    The pitiful roar awakened Martha from her trance. This was because the rage was swelling up in her brought out her selfishness, pride, ego, and she could not control herself in giving in to her pettiness.


    "Stupid dragons! You fell for my trap!" Martha shouted.


    "You would have won had you not exerted an effort! The entropy will take time to kill you! And the magic and force energy I have would not have been enough to kill you if you simply stood by and allowed gravity to pull you down! You lose because you struggled! And because of that, you five mighty beings have fallen from creatures who shouldn''t be capable of wounding you with their weapons!" Martha shouted as she kept fighting.


    "Destiny!" Martha roared as the power of Fate Challenger echoed.


    "You failed! Your idiotic gamble to overpower me with brute strength failed! You had five dragons, and you used them to kill a little girl with weak ves, and you still lost! We have won! I have defeated you!" Martha shouted angrily.


    The dragons finally died, and their struggle ended. Dorothy had devoured all their souls.


    Martha was so angry that she continued to stab, sh and kick the bodies of the remaining dragons.


    Hunter was lying at the side and finally fell into a painful sadness as he watched over the bodies of his brother.


    STAB! STAB! STAB!


    Martha roared madly.


    "Lady Martha! Stop! It''s over! You have won! Please, Lady Martha!" A ve cried out.


    The surviving ves began to shout as well.


    "Get out of there! The entropy could kill you!"


    "Lady Martha! The rope! Please ascend! Sir Hunter, have your ghouls carry the bodies!" Another ve called out.


    Hearing the caring words of the ves, Martha lost strength. She stumbled down and nced to the top, and saw the surviving ves. Excluding Myas, the group had rescued twenty-one ves. But now, only twelve remained.


    Martha recalled her horrifying acts. It was hideous. She sued the lives of humans like magic restoring potion.


    She had killed the older ones and spared the younger ves. She didn''t even dare to look at the ves when he threw her blood weapons. But she mustered the courage to look at these ves. She had always fought and made all the sacrifices that she could to survive. She even had fallen into several moral dilemmas regarding the lives of her enemies and even those allies that she knew would betray her because of her standing in the Bowheart n.


    In most cases, she would fall into a state of doubtful conscience as she could argue or reason her way out to help her sleep. But her actions of absorbing and taking the lives of these ves just so that she could have more magic to spare just wrecked her heart. Her conscience believed with certainty that what she did was wrong and no reasoning of hers could unburden the pain that she felt.


    "I''m sorry!" Martha cried. Those were the only words that she could say to the surviving ves.


    Back in the Nephilim Sealing Mountain...


    Kyros dug his de deeper, one of the lizard captains that escorted the group.


    Aron and Branze were stunned at the sudden mad rush of Kyros.


    In their exploration, they found a small toon of lizards.


    Kyros wanted to find more creatures to increase his level. So while the Temple became dormant after Kyros used it to force a connection to Martha, he could still absorb more energy.


    And while the group agreed to give some to the Golems, Kyros suddenly rushed in and attacked the troop without care as he turned into a great rage.


    Pitch ck darkness appeared, and even Gojirrah was scared of Kyros.


    The several levels, twenty lizards were instantly massacred from the savage attacks of Kyros.


    Kyros expected deaths and had been keeping himself busy with things to bring out the stress somehow and worry he constantly faced. However, he felt that Martha would have a high chance of surviving and believed that even if some of his Coven died, he would still eventually find a way to resurrect them.


    In his past life, he had faced the hordes of the undead and knew that most of the powerful Skeletons and Liches had the ability to save their soul.


    The more powerful Vampires also had that, and Kyros even went to great lengths to kill the soul of the Eldrich that challenged him before his reincarnation.


    And because of this, he was somewhat at ease that his own power would soon allow him to resurrect the fallen ones. Even if the one who died would be Martha.


    But there was a certain notification that drove Kyros mad. He didn''t expect this to happen. In fact, it wasn''t logical that this even happened.


    The notification was short and simple. But when Kyros saw it, his heart froze, and the great anger surged up, forcing Kyros to run towards the lizards to fight them.


    ---


    Hems Steele''s True Soul has dispersed. Soul cannot be bound back to Kyros.


    ---


    "True Death.... But how?" Cminus murmured as the rage triggered Kyros to fall into a Dark Maddening.

 Chapter 193 - Certain Preparations

    The Dark Maddening that Kyros fell into was the typical kind and not the soul separating darkness which threw him towards the Separated Realm in his soul.


    Kyros rushed madly and employed a variety of attacks. It was the first time that Aron and Branze saw the true power of Kyros.


    More than ten Lizard Captains fell easily at the hands of Kyros. Each captain died through a different kind of attack.


    His chains whipped out wildly as if it was alive. His swords and Balefire weapons were masterfully wielded and juggled as they flew and struck those nearby.


    The power of Darkness also ragged wildly, and Kyros was so fast that not even Aron could catch up.


    "What is he doing? What happened?" Aron wondered.


    "That''s... Time Magic! Kyros is a Time mage?!" Branze was stunned at the blurring speed of Kyros.


    Even the Champion was horrified. This was a speed that even he could barely catch up with.


    "Monster..." Gojirrah muttered.


    "Brother! What do we do?!


    "We have to wait. That is Dark Maddening. We''ve known Kyros to be an envoy of Darkness for a time. And now we get to see it. I just hope that Lady Martha is alright."


    "You can''t mean! Kyros is mad because of...!"


    "Calm down! We don''t know what happened. But that action, that rage, it''s of a man angry at himself." Branze deduced.


    Aron had an almost irresistible urge to ask as he was worried about the lives of Martha and his former knights. He could see that something bad had happened, but he could not find a way to ask.


    Cminus silently waited as Kyros brought out all the pain and anger.


    The chains were now moving as if it was alive. It had be a Blood Weapon and began to devour the creatures nearby.


    Suddenly, another notification appeared.


    ---


    Martha has sessfully thoroughly subverted Destiny''s attack!


    ---


    "Kyros. It''s alright. They''re safe!" Cminus called out.


    Kyros continued to rage, and his Blood de was constantly absorbing one lizard captain alive.


    "No! Please save me!" The lizard captain called out to Gojirrah.


    "What exactly... is that?" Gojirrah asked Branze.


    "That darkness is just too crazy! It feels like that being will one day be a great cmity to this world! I have seen so many dark beings in this world, but nonepare to the darkness of that being!"


    Cminus''s words finally reached Kyros.


    Kyros saw the notification, and suddenly, a surge of Light appeared.


    A small faint light suddenly appeared on Kyros''s head. And it was slowly growing brighter and brighter and enveloped all of Kyros.


    The power of Mysterion was now stopping Kyros''s descent to anger.


    Kyros fell on his knees. The remaining lizardman and other lizards began to flee as the terrifyingly heavy pressure disappeared.


    An unbelievable calm emotion covered Kyros.


    He took a deep breath and began to read the notifications of the battle.


    ---


    Coven Member: Hems Steele has died.


    Coven Member: Hemsey Steele has died.


    ---


    Hems Steele''s True Soul has dispersed. Soul cannot be bound back to Kyros.


    Hemsey Steele''s True Soul has returned to the Coven Soul Pool.


    ---


    Martha has thoroughly subverted Destiny''s attack!


    Rewards:


    10,000 Temple points.


    Bloodline Sess Limiter has been halted for forty days.


    Bloodline Apathy of Fate has been halted for forty days.


    Kyros''s Fate Curses halted for forty days.


    ---


    "So Hems is truly dead... I lost one Coven member... But it''s good that aunt Martha and the rest are still alive. Still... I hoped that none who I call friend would die. But it seems that this battle against Destiny isn''t as easy as it seems."


    "You ask for the impossible. The earlier you learn that, the better. But since Martha is alive, she could help us understand what happened. And since the Temple states that Hemsey''s soul has returned to the Coven Soul Pool, then it''s possible to resurrect Hemsey. You know what you need to do. And that is to get stronger..."


    "How was it possible that Hems''s true soul has dispersed?"


    "I don''t know. You recall our lesson. There are very few beings in this universe that can attack and destroy the soul. And those Dracanae Ghouls aren''t among them. They shouldn''t be able to destroy the souls of some beings. Even Vampire Ancients could only seal a soul and not disperse it! And the stronger the soul, the harder it is. Hems'' soul has already changed and received your power since he became your Coven. It definitely has something to do with Destiny."


    "If it''s Destiny, then he used his powers to move beyond the ordinary to kill Hems. His aim was to decrease Fate''s forces. It seems that the battle between Fate and Destiny isn''t just focused on me. Although Hyperion and Kyriachos already told me, I really didn''t put the matter to heart. I will need an army and a Kingdom to fight Destiny! Certain preparations are necessary! It seems I cannot dy. I need to deal with Octo-Khefali, the Lizard Lords, the Shade Tribtion, and acquire Daradiel''s Code as fast as possible!" Kyros dered.


    "That''s a lot of quests in your quest log."


    "Certain preparations must be made. With the dy of the Bloodline curses, I can spend the next one month focusing on training everyone with the Library of the Nephilim''spletion." Kyros nced at the requirements of the Library. He knew that the only missing parts involved the items that his grandfather was bringing inside.


    Back in the deep cave of Airom Logat...


    Hunter had already recovered from his wounds. But the source of his recovery was not to his liking.


    It was his brothers.


    Hems had no torso, and his body was in pieces. Hemsey had a rather peaceful expression on his face despite the fact that he had no limbs.


    Hunter gazed at the remains of Hems.


    "We did it, brothers! We protected our Lady!" Hunter gave his report.


    "You fought honorably! I wish I was the one assigned to stay here. But I guess Lady Martha knew I had the best Foresight among us." Hunter chuckled.


    "Lady Martha told me that we can still revive you, Hemsey. Tough luck to you. Not even death is your released." Hunterughed as tears began to fall.


    "Hey, Hems. Be sure to greet those guys who have gone ahead. Tell them that their Lords, Aron, Branze, and Mezal remembers them. Tell them of our new Lord and his disgusting power. And be sure to brag about how you fought and helped kill a dragon!" Hunter smiled as he raised the sword and dagger of Martha.


    "Rest well, brothers. See you soon, Hemsey." Hunter stabbed the sword and dagger on the separate body as it began to devour it. Hunter absorbed the life that was moving into the dagger and sword.


    Behind Hunter was the pile of dragon and dracanae corpses. In the middle of it was the dragon egg.


    "Dorothy. You can start now." Martha ordered.


    "Yes, Master." The soul of Dorothy moved out and hovered over the egg.. Green light started to glow.

 Chapter 194 - Certain Temptations

    Martha had devoured three of the five Thane Dragons.


    Thest two were pilled up together with some of the dracanae ghouls. The Dragon Egg, which was left to the ves, was ced at the center of the dragon and dracanae ghoul corpse. Dorothy''s soulmuned with the egg and used the surrounding dragonic cells to merge with the egg.


    The ropes were prepared for Martha and Hunter to climb. At Martha''smand, the ves had already started to scale the cave. Martha and Hunter could easily chase after the group.


    Hunter approached Martha and gave the sword and dagger back to Martha.


    He had absorbed the bodies of the two entirely.


    "How was it? Did your strength increase?" Martha asked.


    "I''ve reached level 25, Lady Martha. I''ve also acquired the Blessings they received. In a way, they definitely live through me."


    "So you can finally undergo a ss change, huh? I got lucky and received a rank up in my job sses because of that Fallen Kyriachos. are considered to be a Master Swordsman now."


    "Yes..."


    "Don''t worry. We can resurrect Hemsey. And while it doesn''t seem possible now, perhaps someday we would be able to resurrect Hems."


    "I''m not sure he would like that." Hunter chuckled.


    "He was theziest among us. At least he can rest now. Hemsey is not so lucky, though. He''ll have to carry on with the fight." Hunter had believed that they were really dead. But with Martha''s confirmation that it was possible for Hemsey to be revived, he was slightly consoled.


    "So this is the birth of a dragon?" Hunter watched the process of how the egg was being churned to hatch.


    "Dorothy was a dragon who lived and died fighting gods and fallen. He seemed to be somewhat of a big shot. The Fallen Kyriachos knew that and tricked Dorothy into binding his soul with me. That dragon that''s being born will have his soul, potential and will slowly grow to have her power."


    "So that''s like some sort of Dragon God?"


    "Apparently, they were called Heretic Gods. This dragon''s birth will create amotion here. The chaos in the Londs will even grow greater. It''s possible that those in the Hignds will even move here."


    "So that''s why we are birthing the egg here!"


    "Yes. It''s better this way. The Blood Cmity will be forced to hide as this ce will be surrounded by Saints and Devils. This buys us more time. Looking at the result of this battle, Hems and Hemsey gave their life to help us acquire an incredible advantage. Our spoils include eighteen dracanae ghoul bodies. While some are very damaged, it''s possible for us to reanimate them, or maybe Kyros could give life to them somehow. Even as ghouls, that already gives us warriors equal to a Berserker Captain."


    "So Lord Kyros now has vampires and dragons! But you''re not stating thest advantage we gained! I''m talking about your newly gained job ss! The fabled ss of the strongest being in the nesworld. Champion Supreme Pyrekaiser Fafnir! The Dragon Knight!"


    Martha had many parts of her skin revealing scales. Her eyes were different, and she had some horns emerging out of her hand.


    "This form will only draw attention. Once Dorothypletes his rebirth, I will ask him if there is a way to hide this."


    At that moment, the dragon egg began to crack.


    A tremendous power began to leak out.


    When Kyros found his new path, the power that rippled out was contained. It only allowed the various entities and powers to know that it was in the Londs.


    But this one was different. The power of Dorothy''s soul was merging with the dragon, and as the dragon was being born, the power of Dorothy''s Path had returned.


    For a short instant, the Corruption that Dorothy acquired from his father had leaked out.


    When the nesworld was reformed after the Age of Heretics, the entire world was given only a specific set amount of Divinity and Corruption that was scattered as Blessings. A seal was also ced so that it would be almost impossible for someone to train a new Path.


    Kyros was the first to wield a new Path in the Sword. But now, the Corruption that Orgen Pendragon acquired from his father had resurfaced.


    The power of the return of a Corruption brought shockwaves throughout thend.


    Up in the peak of the nesworld...


    "AGAIN!? WHAT''S GOING ON!?" The King cursed out.


    "First Fate and Destiny, and then a new Path of Sword, and now... a freakin'' Heretic God?! Gandor! Heed my summon!" He lost all dignity as a king and mmed his fist on the armchair.


    "Be at ease, your majesty." The void opened, and Magistrate Supreme Gandor Ellisium appeared.


    "What is going on? What is happening, that is causing both Fate and Destiny to work? Is one of them, the work of Fate, and is the other from Destiny?"


    "We cannot know, Your Majesty. Fate and Destiny are only surges of power that we can sense as Saints. But to unravel its mystery? Impossible. Even Gods and Fallen do not know. They only rejoice if Fate or Destiny is working b their side. But while we do not know many things about Fate and Destiny, what we do know is that the power of these two mysterious forces ensures a rise in power that even the Gods and Fallen cannot stop. If you ask me, this could be a good thing."


    "How so?" The King frowned.


    "The nesworld have always been on equal standing with the nearbyary systems. But with the arising conflict urring in the Unreachable Gxies, our death is almost certain. A thousand? Two thousand? Who knows how long until another war echoes to this realm? But if it does, we will most surely die. We were lucky to survive thest time. And if not for Pyrekaiser and Molibus''s rise, we would have all been consumed when the Netherworld rose to challenge us!"


    "Are you saying that this is an opportunity that can save us from all our possible trials?"


    "Yes. It''s only a matter of time when the Eldrich reveals themselves. When the Path of Sword appeared, they wouldn''t take any drastic action. That path of Sword that appeared was, after all, a Divinity. The Fall of Daradiel and his certain death won''t spur those Devils to search and wage war in the Londs. Not all dark dependent are All-Consumers like those Eight-headed serpents. They won''t be able to do much with Daradiel''s Code. But a Dragon? That will definitely make the Eldrich act!"


    "Oh? You mean to say that it will prematurely force the Netherworld to act?"


    "Yes! Certain temptations are just too hard to resist! Even for beings of temptations!" Gandorughed.


    Down in the great darkness of the Nethends...


    A figure jumped up from a pool of ck-red blood.


    It had a long serpent-like tail andrge red horns. His body looked as if it was made of bronze, and he had a face that looked like that of a man.


    "A dragon! Oh my God!" The being was so surprised that he actually called on the name of the Gods.


    "Go to the Londs!"


    "But my Liege! The Law!" The assisting devil appeared as he knew it would drive his lord mad.


    "Send all our champions!"


    "My Liege! We have a vow! We cannot send devil ranks to the Londs unless thatnd is conquered by Dark Dependent! The Rules of Engagement wills it!"


    "Send our heroes! Send my wife! My uncle! Send all my rtives!"


    "My Liege! The LAW!" The devil serving his Dark Lord shouted and infused Force energy.


    "That''s right! Send my In-Laws too!" The crazed devil lord shouted back.

 Chapter 195 - Certain Rumor

    Somewhere in the Dark Seas...


    A massive flying octopus-like creature was peaking out of arge cloud that covered the entire skies.


    A priority meeting was being held by the coborative empire known as the Dark Shine Kingdom.


    All the mighty Undead, the Vampires, the Skeletons, and Liches gathered to meet the mighty envoy that had arrived.


    A beautiful woman sat at what used to be the throne of the nominated leader of the Dark Shine Kingdom.


    This human-like creature had a sharp sickle-like tail and wings with a strange silk-like carapace where you could see the bones that made up these wings. Her beauty was one that affected the soul. Even those who have long abandoned their fleshly bodies to abandon all desires could not help but feel emotions they had long forgotten..


    The only thing that stopped these creatures from giving in to their debase desires was the fact that they had great fear at this creature.


    The woman had one of the most terrifying race that all Dark-Dependent feared. This creature could do more than just devour the darkness, but she could eat the mysterious energies that would feed the great tree, Yggdrasil.


    Sin and Unholy Elements were food for these creatures. And such monsters could eat up the soul of all who was Dark-Dependent. Her race was one of the few races who were naturally born Heretics, just like dragons. The dark race is known as the Grendelor.


    "Our Queen... We greet you." The elite of the Dark Shine all bowed down.


    "I am Lea Olethros. Daughter of Necron Olethros. King of the Nethends." The woman revealed.


    Everyone trembled as they heard this name.


    Of all present, only one didn''t show fear but revealed a look of confusion.


    This man had pale-white skin and eyes that looked like fire burning.


    "I see that the Xenos is not pleased to see me." The woman nced towards the man.


    All who were near the pale-white man took a step back.


    "Mighty Princess of the Olethros... This humble one is Skerrov von Animo. I am just surprised that his Kingship Necron would send his very daughter here."


    "Theughable stranger of this ce dares to ask wisdom?" The woman mocked.


    Skerrov did not answer.


    "I wish to be enlightened. King Necron allowed us Eldrich to return to this world and fight so that the Rules of Engagement would not be overstepped."


    "An important task requires this great one to go to the Londs. Is that enough of a reason, Eldrich?"


    "Please bestow this mission on me, and I will pay great tribute through sess to the King of the Nethends."


    "King of the Nethends? Or of the Netherworld? Nethend, the capital city where my father resides, is not just the kingdom. This entire region, the Netherworld, is ours." The woman raised her eyebrows as she questioned the man.


    The Eldrich gave a low bow.


    "Forgive this insolent one. I used the name of long ago." Skerrov bowed.


    "You really are an Eldrich. Arrogant and delusional. You hold to your former glory. Your words subtly imply the true name of the Netherworlds. You called this entire region the Nethends, recalling the age when your kind ruled over and that there was only onend in the Nether nds''. But when the Light won, they destroyed this onend and even made the sea. And so the divided Nether nds'' was called Netherworlds and only the capital city further down this Yggdrasil is called the Nethends. Tell me, Eldrich, whose fault was it?" Lea mocked.


    Skerrov could not control his temper, and he frowned and at Lea.


    BANG!


    A powerful force crushed down on the Eldrich as the woman raised her arms.


    Skerrov was slowly sinking into the stone floor. The attack of Lea contained no special tricks or the usage of powerful magic. All the queen did was release her Force energy, and the heavy powers weighed down upon Skerrov.


    All of the elites were startled at the strength.


    "Level... Seventy! As expected of the daughter of Necron! At such a young age, she already possesses such power!" The nominal king of the Dark Shine Kingdom secretly assessed the power of Lea. This was a level that he could only dream of. He was only a level fifty powerhouse himself!


    "So disrespectful. Thank the agreement that my father had with you exiled Xenos. Otherwise, I would have killed you! Now... For the matter at hand..." Lea turned to the rest.


    "Elites of the Dark Shine Kingdom. I am here to ask for your assistance. You are the only Kingdom marshaling their force to invade the Londs. Is there a way to send me directly to that ce?" Lea asked.


    "My Queen, is there not a rule that limits certain races from ever entering thend?"


    "I have an ability to create a living incarnation of myself that is a human being in order to go in thatnd. As such, these stupid rules that have been imposed on us when the stupid Eldirch lost can be bypassed. Of course, this incarnation will only hold a very small amount of my power. It will be sealed and will require me to cultivate. I will start off with the strength of a level thirty warrior ording to the standards of the Londs. I believe that is already a position of great power there?"


    "Yes, my Queen." There are very few Commanders in the Londs. They can be counted in one hand."


    "That is good. I will ask your kingdom to send me in with your magic."


    "Bone Lord Stiggma has the magic to perform direct transference. His forces have created a secret portal to many locations of the Londs." The King of the Dark Shine called the attention of the powerful Lich in hismand.


    "Oh? You must be the famous Bone Lord. I only have heard good things about you." The woman smiled.


    The Bone Lord approached, and his bones were shaking noticeably.


    "What''s wrong with him?"


    "Erm... It''s his first time standing before your great form, my queen." The king gave an embarrassing answer.


    "I am ready to serve you, my queen." Bone Lord Stiggma spoke nervously.


    "Can you send a level thirty warrior?"


    "Ye-Yes... I will seed."


    "Good. Now, as you know, Greater God Sheolrah appeared before my father. She gave orders to find a certain someone. Have you found him?" The queen turned towards the King of Dark Shine.


    "No. We have heard of no rumors involving that man." The king answered.


    "Erm... Forgive me, your Greatnesses. But..." Arge, muscled, and good-looking human stood up.


    "And you are...?"


    "I am Necromancer Lorjdenheign, your Grace. And I have heard a certain rumor about that man..." Lorjdenheign spoke.


    The king frowned. The information regarding Cracky Batcheeks was not cascaded down to these Elites. Yet the Necromancer Lorjdenheign spoke as if he knew about it.


    Lea suddenly waved her hand, and powerful energy engulfed the entire room. But as the darkness spread, there was a strange area within the darkness, and only Lea, the King, and Lorjdenheign were present.


    "Speak." Lea ordered.


    "There have been reports that a powerful Vampire has appeared in the region of Airom. I was helping Vampire Zord Blood de. His son was killed by a vampire who goes by the name Cracky Batcheeks. And my worshipers tell me of a rumor spreading within the orc kingdoms about a powerful Coven, Called the Coven on Crack."


    "Interesting... What an odd name. But you say that it happened near the Airom region? What a coincidence!" Lea smiled as she recalled the details of the strange events her father sensed.


    "The New Sword Path, the birth of the dragon, and even the escape of that Greater God called Daradiel... All of them happened on the western region of the Londs. Airom is at the west region... Could it be?" She pondered.

 Chapter 196 - Certain Powers

    The birth of the dragon created great powerful energy. But only those who were Saints could roughly tell the exact location.


    For the rest, they felt a strange premonition and fear. A desire to worship or flee fell on many residents of the entire region.


    Martha watched as the egg finally opened up.


    A small reptilian creature, that was asrge as a dog, broke out of the egg. It had a lizard-like mouth, very small wings, and had a short tail.


    "Great..... I''m a Wyrm now." Dorothy sighed.


    "A wyrm?" Martha asked.


    "Flightless dragons. This is the true form of the dragon egg. It makes sense. Of all dragons, Wyrms had the hardest eggs that could survive a millennium without being exposed to nutrients." Dorothy began to sulk.


    "Let''s move. Since you can''t fly, hang on." Martha ordered.


    "Yes, Master."


    Hunter and Martha rushed towards the rope that was prepared for their escape and did the climb.


    "That power you revealed was quite strong. It reminded me of an earlier event I felt something simr when Lord Kyros separated from us." Martha exined.


    Dorothy was shocked.


    "Something simr?" Dorothy couldn''t believe it.


    "Yes. Just a vague sensation. Nothing serious." Martha brushed it off.


    "The Londs will be in chaos soon. Those Eldrich will surely exert more effort ining here." Martha sighed.


    "Too bad the link has disappeared once more. We can''tmunicate with Lord Kyros." Hunter sighed.


    "They must have seen the notification of us subduing Destiny. Lady Diana ought to be waiting for us in the previously discussed ce. We head there and head towards that Temple. Dorothy, teach me how to hide these scales."


    "Yes, Master! But Master... May I be bold to ask for a request?" Dorothy asked.


    "You wish to change your name?"


    "I don''t need to have my true name back. But please, change my name to that of a male dragon."


    "I see. What are your specialties?" Martha asked.


    "The Code that the Pendragon walked under was a path whichbined both physical power and magic. Among Thanes, we held great magic."


    "So you''re a magic dragon? Then you shall be called, Puff."


    "..." Puff wanted to cry. But he kept silent as it was way better than Dorothy.


    Meanwhile... Back in the Nephilim Sealing Mountain...


    Kyros had eliminated all the enemies. When he managed to regain his consciousness, he kept killing and absorbing the enemy and soon even began to use his sword to devour even the flesh of the beast. The reason he did this was because of the many notifications that followed.


    ---


    Acquired Flesh Devourer Level 1.


    ---


    The stunned Kyros, and he immediately used in on the dead lizards. His sword began to eat away the flesh, and it was being absorbed into Kyros.


    The scene frightened Gojirrah all the more. How could a vampire have a sword that could devour flesh as if it was water?


    Kyros, Branze, and Aron suddenly felt a strange power and made them turn towards a particr direction.


    "What is that?" Aron asked.


    Kyros smiled and sighed in relief.


    ---


    Martha Bowheart Steele has be the Eternal Master of Dragon Orgen Pendragon. (True Name: Puff)


    ---


    "It''s Aunt Martha. She''s alright. That is her new power." Kyros called out to Branze and Aron.


    The two turned to Kyros. They had remained quite a distance from Kyros even after the bright light shed and dispelled the darkness since Kyros began to devour the flesh of these creatures. They thought Kyros was still acting in anger.


    "Why did the name change from Dorothy to Puff?" Cminus wondered as he read the notification and witnessed the sudden change from Dorothy to Puff.


    But before Kyros could react, another notification popped up.


    ---


    Martha Bowheart Steele has awakened the Corruption of Kyriachos.


    Conflicting Divinities and Corruption cannot be awakened.


    Activate Corruption of Kyriachos on all Coven Members?


    ---


    "So it''s like this? They have the potential for all but will only walk on a certain branch of Corruption or Divinity?" Kyros noticed.


    "Not everyone has the Path of Mysterion. Maybe when your Divinity grows stronger, it will allow them to wield more."


    Kyros selected no at the prompt. He knew that the others might develop other divinities.


    ---


    Martha has acquired Dragonic Essence!


    Coven has gained the ability of Flesh Devourer level 1.


    ---


    "It looks like that Dragon Egg helped us gain a lot." Kyros smiled.


    "Kyros..." Aron immediately ran when he noticed that Kyros had regained consciousness.


    "Hems and Hemsey is dead. But Aunt Martha managed to subdue her battle against Destiny." Kyros spoke.


    Aron froze at those words.


    "I... can probably resurrect Hemsey soon. But for some reason, Hems is really gone." Kyros added softly.


    Aron paused.


    "I... see..."


    "I''m sorry, Uncle." Kyros apologized.


    "Was that why you lost control?" Branze asked.


    "Yes. Forgive me, father. You must have heard of what my uncle said about my past. And I''m sure that you think I was lying. But it was true. I lost my family, friends, and ally. I was hoping that... there would be no more deaths." Kyros apologized.


    "No deaths? We are Steele, Kyros. All our knights and mercenaries that stayed in service were expected to die. From what you said, Hems have done a great service. He will be remembered as one of the heroes in our Steele family. With your strength, you have faced many challenging trials and barely seeded. So I guess it''s necessary for you to taste the bitterness of regret. In this experience, you will begin to ask, What''s next? What can we learn from this, and how do we avoid it?"


    "I understand, father. I already have thought about it. We''ll have to wait for now. I just hope Aunt Martha has the strength toe back here quickly. As for our next n, please go back with the group and offer these things to the Golem City. Grandpa should be arriving soon with the armies."


    "What about drawing more lizards here? I thought you nned to use the human kingdoms as fodder for the uing battle. Isn''t that why we set out here? To attack and draw more lizards? Can you achieve that all by yourself?"


    "Yes. I''ll handle that. My little trip is to create chaos and increase my level. So I will go and harass the nearby lizards to force them to attack us. Gojirrah will go with me and guide me to explore the region."


    Gojirrah Was silent, but he was shaking. He didn''t want to be around the crazy Kyros. When Kyros spoke about increasing his level, a surge of great bloodlust was leaked. He knew Kyros wanted to kill more to satisfy the rage in his heart.


    "How? How do I flee from this boy?!" Gojirrah was silently thinking. He had to escape. This boy was too terrifying! He didn''t want to serve such a powerful and blood-crazed demon!


    "How can the two of you spur the lizard leaders to send a mighty army to the Golem City?


    "Yes. Instead of attacking several lizard tribes to force the Lizard Lords to act, we now have a certain power that we could use to tempt them." Kyros smiled.


    "A certain power?"


    "Yes. But to do that, I will need Gojirrah to drink my blood and be part of my vampire Coven."


    Gojirrah was stunned. He wanted to yell ''like hell I will'' but feared Kyros.


    "M-me?" Gojirrah asked.


    "I don''t think... that... that I can be of use to your Coven, mighty Kyros! Let someone else take my ce!"


    "What power do you have that you need Gojirrah to bring out a certain power?"


    "As we already talked about, the Lizards are probably after the legacy of dragons. And Aunt Marth somehow bonded with a powerful Dragon that was close to bing a god. And that power is now in me. In my blood. If Gojirrah drinks my blood and bes a member of my Coven, he will awaken the potential to be dragons!"


    "Let''s do it." Gojirrah knelt down almost automatically.

 Chapter 197 - Certain Horrors

    Martha and the ves were finally out of the cave as they managed to follow the path upwards.


    Martha was worried about her sister and feared that Destiny would once more draw its fangs and harm her. The group still wasn''t able to use their powers tomunicate at great distances. And so the group quickly moved with them.


    Puff had entered the dimensional space of Martha. The powers of darkness that Separate was more potent to which he could resist it, but it also became an important training ground. It was also through this that he could constantly sense and see what Martha was seeing and, at the same time, hid the enormous power of his soul.


    Martha managed to quickly use the instructions of Puff to hide her dragonic form.


    He was using the darkness of this small Separated Realm also to help him hide and contain the leaking power of his Code.


    The group soon officially reached out of the entrance and was met with Diana and her team.. With them was Myas.


    "Martha!" Scarlet was the first to shout and rushed at Martha as they came to view. She was even faster than Myas.


    She jumped and gave Martha a hug.


    "I... was so worried." Scarlet sobbed.


    "It''s good to see you guys." Martha smiled.


    "Sister...." Myas was crying, but she couldn''t even move as Avary and Gregory carried them.


    The rest of Diana''s team approached. Along with them were some orc ghouls, which the group turned, and Mechiel.


    "She rushed so fast that when she got here, she was so exhausted," Diana spoke as she approached Martha. She then gave a look at Hunter.


    "You must be proud of your brothers." Diana gave a warm smile.


    "Indeed, I am Lady Diana. It seems there are more troubles for Hemsey as we can resurrect him." Hunter smiled.


    "Is it true?!" Avary was stunned.


    "Yes. Let''s move. I''ll exin along the way. Lord Kyros managed to contact us when our lines got disconnected. A lot happened down there. And not just about Destiny, but also about Fate. But what I can tell you is that Fate only works for the brave."


    "The brave?" Scarlet asked again.


    "Yes. It only works if you are brave. That''s who it works. I understood more of it when I was down there. I will tell you of the bravery of the knights which allowed Fate to help us win that impossible battle. I will also tell you of the bravery of the mighty ves we have." Martha smiled.


    Diana gave the surviving ves a warm smile. She could not imagine what these ves had been through but knew that whatever it was, these surviving ves would be given great honor for their sacrifices.


    "Let''s hurry!" Martha called out. She then gave a bow to the new addition to Diana''s team.


    "Mechiel Swordcrest. I was acquainted with your father. We shall talk more about the life and legacy of your father and celebrate his rest when we have the chance. For now, we have to go back." Martha bowed.


    "I dly await that moment." Mechiel smiled.


    The group began to move.


    "What about Grugnyr?" Hunter asked.


    "We will be ambushing a patrol headed towards the Orc kingdoms. Grugnyr is among them."


    "How many soldiers?"


    "About a hundred." Diana answered without any change in her emotion.


    "Good." Martha answered.


    "I have to see how strong I am."


    "It''s good that you are excited. We''ll capture some horses for the ves to use. Scarlet. You stay behind and guard the ves. Find a nice hiding spot for them but constantly be on the move so that you won''t be a great distance from us." Diana ordered.


    "Yes, Lady Diana." Scarlet nodded, and she began to move towards the remaining ves to direct them.


    "For now, let''s talk about all that I have acquired, the mysteries that I found about Lord Kyros''s bloodline, and of Fate and Destiny."


    "Lady Martha. I don''t think its wise to talk about my son''s lineage even to the Coven."


    "It''s necessary. They have to know of this and what their bloodline is capable of. Lord Kyros might have hidden it, but with our recent sh with Destiny that cost the lives of two Coven, I''m sure Lord Kyros would want all of us to grow stronger." Martha exined.


    "Martha... Before you do..." Diana interrupted. She was slightly worried that Martha would say something in front of Mechiel, who had a questionable identity.


    "Rx. She''s not an enemy. I have a Saint-level Dragon soul. And he doesn''t sense anything from her. I already asked." Martha answered.


    Diana was surprised at Martha''s confirmation.


    "Then I guess that settles it." Diana sighed in relief.


    "Settles it?" Mechiel was confused. The pair were talking about her, which made her curious.


    "Lady Diana still held some suspicion regarding your real identity. I don''t me her. I was suspicious of you too and had to make the Dragon confirm." Martha answered.


    Diana sighed and kept quiet.


    The group continued to move.


    Mechiel quickly followed, still wearing a confused expression.


    She then blinked her eye, and her right eye had a subtle color change.


    "A Saint Dragon! I guess I have to be careful and not appear as often as I have to. But how did that girl hide the Dragon soul so well! Even I can''t detect it. I''ll have to wait for Destiny to guide me."


    Mechiel blinked again, and her eyes changed back as she continuously followed the group.


    Inside Martha''s Separated Realm...


    "Lady Martha. Why did you say that?" Puff was confused. He just confirmed that there is a strange soul parasite within Mechiel''s soul!


    "A trap, of course. The main concern is to make sure that that soul parasite doesn''t leave Mechiel''s body. If she senses that we are suspicious, she might leave. That''s why I brought up her father. This would make that soul parasite think that I am biased towards Mechiel. That will make the Soul Parasite stay long enough until we can meet with Lord Kyros. For now. We make her think she knows everything about us. Whatever I n to reveal should be already known to her, and I will only add a few details and will make up some more. Diana and the rest will notice it when I begin to share. But for now, I have to see her inbat and make it look like that I''m giving her the harshest trial to be among the Steele family. Such a test should make the soul parasite of that Blood Cmity lower her guard more."


    "I understand. You show her favor because of her father, but show your loyalty to Kyros and will give her a challenging trial. That would make the Blood Cmity see that this Mechiel has favor but at the same time is not given any preferential favor. It would be too suspicious if she became the center of attention. Who would have thought that you would be so cunning, Master!" Puffughed.


    "It''s because of your soul."


    "My soul? It made you cunning?"


    "It helped me acquire my Lord''s cunning."


    Martha began to tell all about her experiences inside Airom Logat.


    Meanwhile, back in the peak of Airom Vagat...


    A wounded Mezal was rushing fast as he entered the cave.


    "Champion Mezal. Please slow down! Allow us to protect you! You haven''t fully recovered yet!" Champion Ordeus chastised.


    "Then catch up! I''m worried! With the appearance of this magic that is so strange and powerful that it actually blocked everyone from using message talismans, who knows what dangers my son has encountered."


    "It shouldn''t be rted to whatever force attacking your children! That power is the power of Gods and Saints!"


    "Then it''s even more frightening!" Mezal didn''t listen and began to run faster.


    The rest of the Steele family followed quickly.


    The Viscounts and Barons following all began to rush faster to chase Mezal.


    But as they began to move...


    "Father!" A voice cried out.


    "Branze?!" Mezal eximed as he heard his son''s voice.


    Soon, several wounded knights appeared. The knights carried the body of Aron, who was covered in blood.


    "ARON!" Mezal shouted in great worry. He knew that Branze would intentionally wound themselves, but he needed to put on a show.


    "Father! He is alive! He just needs treatment and rest. He exhausted himself." Branze answered.


    "Quick! Heal him!" Mezal shouted at the nearby priest.


    "There seem to have various cuts that dug deep in his body. It isn''t critical, but it could pose a problemter. I''ll heal him." Champion Faye Emberdon approached as she rode her vacuum cleaner nearby.


    "I thank Champion Faye for healing him!"


    "What happened?" Mezal turned to Branze.


    "Grandfather! There are Necromancer worshipers, Eldrich spies, and other traitors among Barons and Viscounts! We were chased by Viscount Gradier Conquistar, the Spear Master of Jericho Kingdom! Aron fought against Querk Stonefist and Esmeralda Toro! All of them chased after us but failed. We survived by fleeing inside this mountain!"


    "Do not worry. We''ve already dealt with that." Mezal smiled.


    "But that isn''t the important thing. I am requesting all knights to send their forces inside this mountain. This mountain has strange magic! The more you walk inside, therger it bes! It''s like an entire continent is hidden within! And certain horrors lie within this mountain!"


    "Certain horrors?" Mezal asked.


    "Horrors and terrors that can threaten all of the Londs! Knights show them!" Branze ordered.


    The knights began to move in and dropped severalrge creatures.


    The champions were stunned. There were Char Vermillion Lizards, Man-Gators, and Lizardman. But what stunned them was thest creature that was dropped.


    Through various identifying magic, many of the Champions identified thest one.


    It was a Lizardman Captain.

 Chapter 198 - Certain Identity

    The Lizard race was present within the Londs. It was, however, a threat to the far western regions of the Londs. As such, the only time''s Lizard Men were seen near the Airom region were ves. And they would be top-quality ves.


    "A lizard captain?"


    "Grandfather. I believe that there could be a portal of some sort down this mountain. We saw armies of Lizards. We only brought these three for evidence.. But if you journey two days march down this cave, you would soon encounter those beasts! The lizardmen controlled theserge lizards and even organized them. They had weapons, bows, and ranks. The vampires that went after us were too strong. But they all were massacred by a Lizard Champion. That''s how we survived! We managed to kill this Captain as evidence. I hope you will all believe me!" Branze revealed.


    The words of Branze drew amotion.


    An army of lizards appearing within the mountain would be a huge problem. The mountain was one of the primary resources for ores and materials for all human kingdoms. Losing it would mean losing the supply in the future. The mountain region itself was connected to the livelihood, the businesses, and the economy of various human kingdoms.


    It was one thing to defend the fort of the mountain, it was another to fight an enemy that had bypassed all defenses.


    Mezal''s eyes grew cold.


    "A lizard army?!" Mezal shouted.


    "The vampires didn''t seem to understand or expect it. They came looking for something else. But as it was the lizards who killed them, we were unable to find any more about their intentions. I would request for all human kingdoms to send troops to protect the depths of the mountain!"


    At that moment, the expressions of the Champions grew ugly.


    "You do not know of the chaos that has been brewing in the Londs. The orcs are moving for war. Arge army is not stationed in Airom Logat. Our troops have yet to arrive. But war will soon break out. The news of the Eldrich that your grandfather has revealed has also been reported to some Mind kingdoms. The chaos in this region is only expected to grow. The kingdoms cannot afford to send soldiers here!"


    "We don''t need many! Inside of this mountain, there is a ruin of an ancient city. In that city was arge, powerful gem that released powerful magic! Knights! Show them!" Branze spoke again.


    The knights brought in another figure.


    It was a stone creature that had the shape of a man.


    Instead of cing it like a corpse, the knights positioned it as if they were erecting a statue.


    The group was confused why the group ced a lifeless statue of a poorly crafted man.


    "The gem had certain abilities that shocked us! With that, we managed to protect ourselves for a time from the lizard hordes that tried to kill us after killing those vampires. For some reason, the lizards were being attacked, and init allowed us to create this creature. A Rock Golem!"


    At once, the golem opened its eyes.


    The group was startled.


    The Rock Golem then moved and assumed a defensive pose.


    "I ask a Captain Shield warriors to defend against an attack from this!" Branze requested.


    "What?" The Champions were confused.


    "Do it. Time is of the essence." Drake Vestitude suddenly spoke. All throughout the trip, he decided to follow Mezal as the numerous changes on the past day urred.


    Drake Vestitude motioned, and one of the shield warriors that was a mid-level captain raised his shield.


    The Rock Golem then rushed in and delivered a powerful punch.


    BANG!


    The Shield warrior was surprised that even his Force energy caused him to move back.


    "This creature can be summoned in that ruin. This one was summoned by us and had been serving us for the entire time we stayed there! If we can summon more, we won''t need to spend most of our men! These golems can defend thatnd!" Branze dered.


    "Summoned?! This creature obeys you?!"


    "Yes. The reason why we had to bring it is that whatever is down there was sealed long ago. These Golems acted as thest line of defense. I was barely able to make out a strange inscription left behind. The golems are bound to serve those that summoned it. Whoever created this wanted us to protect ourselves from the iing horde of monsters that appear down there. The golems are bound to certain rules and cannot be ordered to fight or attack. But we found a workaround, and that''s why we carried it here!"


    Mezal listened and was impressed at Branze''s exnation. Back when he was still receiving the updates from Branze through the Message Talisman, Branze had already exined the truth and the vows that limited the Golems from moving. As such, they had to bring the golem up so that the Rock Golem that Petra summoned wouldn''t be guilty of breaking the vows that the golems followed.


    The eyes of all champions were full of greed as they saw this creature. Captains weren''t resources that they had plenty of. If a summoned creature has strength simr to captains, it will change the tide of the war.


    Amotion erupted as all the soldiers and knights began to discuss the power of these golems.


    "How strong is that?" Champion Ordeus asked.


    "This is a Stone Golem. It could roughly fight a low-level captain. Iron Golems, which are stronger than them, can fight high-level captains, and some of the more refined Iron Golems could even match the strength of a Champion!"


    "WAIT!" Champion Ordeus eximed.


    "But... Right now, it follows our orders! I will speak to you all! My family had long been treated unjustly. We''ve always been pursued and pressured. Seeing that my father is being treated respectfully, I can guess that he finally showed his true power. Then I will tell you this! The golems are under my control! And while these aren''t useful soldiers, they make amazing guards! I will offer this to you, kingdoms, but you must pay the price!'' Branze shouted.


    "You better not be lying, boy! And those golems don''t belong to you!"


    Branze frowned as he turned to one of the knights that belonged to a viscount family. It was one of the families that had hated the Steele n.


    Branze brought out a rock and handed it over to the golem.


    "Hit him."


    SMASH!


    The golem immediately threw the stone, and it struck the knight before it could raise its shields.


    The stone sank on his mouth, and his teeth were sent flying.


    "Does this prove my control over this golem?" Branzeughed.


    "I''ve hidden the inscription of this golem and how to control it! If you want to control it, you go through me. Either you can torture me so I can tell you the location and means of how to control these golems, or you pay tribute and offer trades that can help my family survive!"


    The Champion of who this family belongs to got angry and pped the Viscount before the Viscount could recover from the stone throw.


    "Forgive his presumptuous behavior, Brane Steele. I am willing to negotiate!" The Champion dered.


    "As do I."


    "Young Master Branze, we have a deal with your father. I will make it more beneficial as long as you can help us secure some of these Golems."


    "I can do that. Only I know how to control the stone. Of course, I shall bring you all there and see that stone for yourself and even make you ess it! I will prove to you that I am the sole controller! I will reveal this... These golems are born and improved by offering monsters as sacrifices. I believe that it has the same concept of leveling up. Through the offering of life, this kind of life is offered. This Rock Golem was formed from offering several Captain level!"


    "Young Master Branze. Although I understand your concern for your family, the chaos in the Londs demands attention. Please bring us to that ce first! We need to protect that city!" Champion Ordeus immediately ordered.


    "... I understand. I will allow negotiations as we move down there," Branze spoke.


    As the group began to move down the cave, several scouts were rushing back to the main fort with crazy speed. The revtion of the Golem City and because of the strange interference to send messages, everyone had to send back scouts to report to their respective kingdom.


    The power that these Golems wielded could give rise to the family that held it. As such, the report was so crucial that most Champions were willing to lose their forms ofmunication.


    As the scouts moved back...


    Martha and the group were hidden among the thick fauna on the side of the mountain. The group had discussed some of the Mystery of Fate. Hunter revealed how he managed to control it and how his brothers awakened before their deaths.


    The tale brought shock, sadness, and surprise to everyone. But as they were on the move, Martha only gave broad exnations to what she learned. Only Diana and Scarlet kept asking questions pertaining to Fate.


    "It''s here. The orc patrol is here." Martha smiled.


    "I can sense Grugnyr now. He should know we''re also near." Hunter also sensed it.


    "Lady Diana. Do you have any suggested ns on how to attack?"


    "Yes. I have already thought about it with our current resources and the orc ghouls that we have turned. There is also all those new powers that your strange job ss has given you and the dragon soul. And so, we make use of a certain identity to help our family! Your newfound power is perfect for this scenario." Diana smiled.


    "A certain identity?"


    "I am talking about the perfect scapegoat for this n. I want you to pretend to be the Blood Cmity by summoning those ghouls which you hid in your dimensional space."


    Martha was stunned at Diana''s suggestion.


    "Of course! We add fear to the name of the Blood Cmity!" Marthaughed as he realized Diana''s n.

 Chapter 199 - Certain Herbs

    Grugnyr was now treated as an essential informant and was guarded with several orcs because of what he had shown. In addition, the bodies of the vampire orcs, including the head of therge vampire orc, were being carried as evidence.


    The group was escorting him to give a first-hand ount of what had happened. The marching armies that were supposed to attack Airom Vagat had stopped as the threat of the Blood Cmity appeared. And when news that this Blood Cmity was defeated and that a being known as Cracky Batcheeks has appeared and raided the viges killing the Balefire Butcher, Drysh.


    And then, everyone felt the surge of power that could be linked to dragons. The power that erupted caused everyone to specte just what that source was. The mostmon spection was that it was rted to Cracky Batcheeks.


    Because of this terrifying shadow that had covered Airom, the army had stationed itself nearby and was cautious in every action. Crusades to take back the upper regions of Airom began.


    But together with this was the sending of scouts.. Each represented kingdom agreed to send all their scouts together and follow a certain route to head to only one kingdom. If their scouts could sessfully reach the nearest kingdom, these kingdoms could send their messengers to the nearby kingdoms. These were the preparations to ensure that the warriors sent out would not fall prey to the vampire attacks.


    Over a hundred powerful warriors followed Grugnyr. They were orcs either on Captain level or had shown great strength, power, or abilities that made them equal to Captains. As the group could not afford to deploy Champions, the group sent in a mighty troop of Captains.


    But while this troop would have brought ease to any escort, Grugnyr was somewhat anxious.


    He continued to observe his surroundings. He was worried. The chat system had disappeared, and when he received the notification of the deaths of Hems and Hemsey. Because of this, he could not help but constantly worry at the state of the Coven. And his biggest worry was the powerful energy that he felt earlier. Was that the cause of Hems and Hemsey''s death?


    The nearby Captains that surrounded him had long noticed his fear.


    "He really has lost it..." One of the Captains spoke.


    "The weak always does this. This orc is an embarrassment to our race. It''s no wonder he belongs to that fallen kingdom. Spineless cowards, all of them!" Another captainughed.


    The nearby orcs allughed.


    "When I attacked that pitiful orc kingdom, they did not have any warriors worthy of myrge ax! So I had to use my smaller weapons to mow them all down.


    Grugnyr was far away, but his renewed vampiric form allowed him to hear it. Grugnyr felt like stabbing the man but refrained from doing so.


    "Orc Captain Drought the Swift Axe. You will have your day..." Grugnyr vowed.


    It was then... that he felt it.


    "It''s them!" Grugnyr realized this sensation.


    The power of Micro Managed allowed him to see his allies through the mini-map finally. He could see Martha, Hunter, and the three young warriors with their respective ghouls. The group was spread out, and Grugnyr realized that there was an ambush being nned.


    "They n to ambush this troop?" Grugnyr was surprised. This was a powerful troop! All of the warriors here are experienced men!


    Grugnyr knew that Martha and Diana were formidable and intelligent warriors. They would not recklessly attack a troop without realizing the full extent of their powers.


    "Lord Kyros has been doing crazy things... I must not judge them with the level of power I remember them to possess. If Lady Martha is alive, she must have grown stronger. It could even be possible that the strange energy that brought panic in the orcs is from Lady Martha!"


    Grugnyr could see the positions of the Coven and was also prepared to act.


    "A fine meal for me!" A loud and seductiveughter was heard.


    A woman suddenly appeared atop the nearby trees. Her figure was hideous as she had strange scales on her hand. She held a sword and a dagger that looked to have been made of blood.


    "So many mighty warriors! This will be a fine source of food for my dragon army!" The womanughed.


    Grugnyr was stunned to see Lady Martha standing with a reptilian and lizard-like look. If he did not know what Martha sounded like, he wouldn''t have believed this creature to be Martha.


    "Oh? You are here too, Grugnyr? You made quite a daring escape, and your resourcefulness is impressive. But with my new powers, your death is certain! You better watch your back! For my powers will kill you from behind!" Marthaughed.


    Grugnyr maintained an ugly face as his expression. But he was also in deep thought. He knew that there was something peculiar behind Martha''s words.


    Martha raised her hand, and several dark portals opened up.


    The sight of this portal stunned the rest.


    "Dimensional magic!" One of the Orc magi identified the magic that Martha revealed.


    Several reptilian arms began to move out of the portal.


    Four dracanae ghouls emerged out of the portal.


    "Good work, Puff." Martha praised as he saw the renewed forms of the ghouls. Then, as his soul could bond with these dracanae ghouls born from his own cells, he started to mend and restore the bodies of the dracanae ghouls to improve the quality of summons.


    "Two of those captain-level orcs can allow me to heal one of these ghouls perfectly." Puff informed Martha.


    "Then let''s make the most of this. I hope Grugnry will y his part well..."


    Martha harnessed the dark energy and was able to form several dark bolts.


    "Grugnyr! Is that the Blood Cmity?" One of the captains asked Grugnyr.


    "Yes! That''s her!" Grugnyr yed along.


    "She''s gotten stronger! Her form was different back then! But now... those scales... that dark magic..."


    "We have to kill her now before she gets stronger!" One of the Captainsughed.


    "Allow me!" Drought, the Swift Axe, rushed forward.


    "Dracanae ghouls! Attack!"


    The dracanae ghouls began to charge.


    Suddenly, an arrow with a strange nt was shot down right in front of the rushing dracanae ghouls shouted and retreated in pain.


    Suddenly several orcs approached to the side. They wore thick armors that covered their face, but it was clear that these orcs were wounded.


    "Grugnyr!" One heavily armored orc appeared with a bow and arrow.


    "Avary-Avarungs! You''re alive!" Grugnyr shouted. He could see through his mini-map that the disguised orc archer was Avary. He changed the name to make it sound like an orc''s name.


    "Grugnyr!" Avary shouted once more as he rushed, and the nearby orcs raised their weapons.


    Grugnyr recalled that Avary had very few orc words.


    "Let him pass!" Grugnyr shouted, and it was just in time for the nearby captains to hold their attacks.


    "Who are they?" The nearest orc captain asked Grugnyr.


    "Survivors from thest attack! These are my countrymen who fought with me atop Logat!" Grugnyr called out as he rushed to Avary.


    As Avary reached him, he immediately whispered.


    "Tell them this n..." Avary spoke in the human tongue.


    Grugnyr listened and tried his best to stop smiling. The n was quite good!


    "Friend, Avarungs! Do not worry! There are no traitors among these soldiers!" Grugnyr spoke and shouted in orc to give a reason as to why the armored orc was whispering.


    "These orcs are from the joint army of all orc kingdoms! Orcs! These were my allies when we fought against this beast. I left them for dead as I thought they sacrificed their life for me! But as it turns out, they survived! They have been chasing this beast and saw her secret! She looks strong, but she just fought with the other Vampire, Cracky Batcheeks, and the Coven on Crack!"


    "The two fought?" The other orcs eximed.


    "Do not be fooled by her powers! Those dracanae ghouls can only move for a few minutes! They have powerful energy, but as long as they don''t eat anything, they will die! Quickly! Pass those herbs to the front lines! Certain herbs can affect the smelling abilities of those creatures! These herbs are the weakness of those monsters!"


    "You-! You were the ones who foiled my attack against those tigers!" Martha howled madly as she cried in english.


    "Everyone! Don''t get killed or eaten! She is on her final moment! Hold this herb up high once they approach! It will cause those creatures to retreat! Cover your vitals! My friends wore heavy armor to protect them from any bites! Let them support us! They have created a strange smoke bomb that can deter the creatures!" Grugnyr spoke in orc.


    "Smoke bombs? We won''t see!"


    "It''s a secret weapon that my allies created! Those small bombs emit the burned smell of those nts they shot! We use it the moment that woman draws near!"


    "You''ve been shouting the n!" One of the orcsined.


    She can''t understand orc! Rx!" Grugnyr answered back.


    "You! How dare interferes once more!" Martha shouted back in english.


    "You think those dragon bane herbs will help you?! I''ll kill you all! You orcs will be fuel for my battle with that wretched Cracky Batcheeks! I will rise to be a Vampire Ancient and be the first Dragon Vampire Empress!"


    "Dragon Bane herb?" One of the orc captains who understood english rushed to grab one of the herbs that were handed out. At first, he showed no interest. But with the words dragon bane thrown out, it made him rush to acquire it.


    Some of the orcs who also spoke english did the same.


    "Get ready! That vampire is about to attack!" Grugnyr instructed as he held a ball and moved forward.


    As he was bravely moving forward, his eyes were locked on the arrogant orc that slew his kinsmen.


    Drought, the Swift Axe stood at the very front and held on one of the Dragon Bane herbs.

 Chapter 200 - Certain Lies

    Grugnyr stood by and prepared a herb on the one hand, and his other hand held up a small round object.


    Martha and Myas were experienced fighters, and the Bowheart n was superior not just for skills and agility but the resources and usage of certain objects to help them escape.


    It was said that the forefather of the Bowheart n was a mighty ninja who was outcasted from the Hignds. And so, the n that could only acquire the lowest quality blessings among all as that was the only one in the Londs could acquire. And that was the way that gave the Bowheart n be one of the strongest archers in the Londs.


    The smoke bomb used various ingredients and herbs, which Myas and Martha had a supply of. Alongside the small grenades, they already created some of these smoke bombs and had them even during the battle with the dracanae and the Thane Dragons but didn''t use them since Myas had already tried using some of them and noticed that it was useless for those creatures.


    But now, these items would finally be useful against these orcs.


    The dracanae ghouls rushed towards the front lines.


    Some of the orcs refused to use the weird herbs and raised their swords and shields.


    The archers also began to shoot their bows, disregarding the orders.


    But as the ghouls suddenly retreated and jumped.


    BANG!


    With pure brute force, the dracanae ghouls lunged themselves towards the huge trees.


    The arrows and magic attacks all missed as the dracanae ghouls made an expert maneuver to evade it. The incredible thing was that they evaded on thest possible second causing the attacks of the orc magi and archers to miss.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The ground exploded as the dracanae ghouls were jumping from tree to tree.


    Grugnyr was amazed at the strength of these creatures.


    "None of us could fight that dracanae ghoul one on one. Their might is too strong for us." Avary whispered.


    "But thankfully, they are all under the control of Hunter and Lady Martha."


    "Then... there are four more?" Grugnyr asked.


    "There are enough bodies for all of us. But most of them need the bodies of orc captains to regain the ability of basic movements." Avary exined.


    The fast leaps of the dracanae ghouls allowed them to jump from one tree to the other.


    "What amazing dragons! Those legs..." Martha observed.


    "These dracanae ghouls are based on a specific ss of the dragon warrior types. They are known as the Brawler Dragons. They sacrifice their bodily defense by strengthening their arms and legs. Just as knights focus on defense and swordsmen focus on offense, dragons have various types and sses that emphasize on either offense or defense." Puff exined.


    "When my soul was separated from my body, my heart ached on instinct and created a body simr to my original from which led to those Thane Dragons. But with my soul in control, I can bend and turn the evolution of my cells to follow the other dragon types that I devoured."


    "Which dragons have you devoured?"


    "All of them." Puff smiled.


    "Then the dracanae ghouls that we have can all evolve into these dragons?"


    "They are of my cells, and I canmand it. But don''t underestimate the necessary food supply to make these dragons."


    "I know. With how those Thanes died, I understand just how many cells a single dragon needs." Martha answered. She thenmanded the dracanae ghouls to start.


    Smash!


    The first attack finally happened.


    One of the orcs held his shield to block the iing attack.


    But the force of the attack smashed the orcs on the ground, and his bones could be heard cracking.


    "Don''t challenge them relying on your strength! These aren''t humans who we can easily overpower! These are creatures that can easily break our bones!" Grugnyr shouted in anger.


    "Use the herbs!" Grugnyr reminded.


    The dracanae ghoul leaped after kicking the trunk of the trees to send them faster.


    Drought showed his ruthless experience as he suddenly held one of the nearby orcs carrying the herbs and hurled it at the dracanae ghouls.


    "AHHH!" The orc shouted in freight and shock as he was thrown at great speed. He unconsciously held out the nt, and right before the dracanae ghoul was about to punch the orc, it trembled and fell on the ground.


    Drought rushed forward and shed his huge ax, and the dracanae ghoul blocked it with its thick arms.


    BANG!


    The dracanae ghoul was sent flying back and smashed on the trees.


    The orcs were shocked as they had seen once more the proof of how these nts work.


    "Hey, Hill Orc!" Drought called out to Grugnyr and used a rather offensive term for those who lived in the Underhill Orc Kingdom.


    Grugnyr didn''t hide his frown.


    "Give me those smoke bombs, and I''ll kill those creatures!" Droughtughed.


    The orc that was thrown quickly retreated. Another dracanae ghoul pounced at him, but he held the nt up, causing the ghoul to retreat back.


    All the warriors were now holding the nt on one hand and finallypleted the preparations.


    Hunter and his four dracanae ghouls were now visible in Grugnyr''s mini-map.


    He could see the group approaching and could tell the n.


    Avary and Gregory had already sent all eight of their orcs covered in armor and were positioned in key ces on the battlefield.


    Martha watched and smiled.


    "Was the dracanae ghoul harmed from that attack?"


    "A little. That orc is quite strong for a Captain." Puff praised.


    "Still... I can''t believe that I had to make that weak orc hit my dracanae ghoul for this."


    "Certain lies need great preparation. I''m not like my Lord, who can just dive right in and make a fool of people."


    "He can really do that?"


    "He could have so easily killed me. It''s a good thing he''s my ally. In this fight against Destiny, he''s the one I need. Now... Time to attack." Martha smiled as darkness covered her, and she jumped down.


    The power of the Void Ninja appeared. Martha disappeared as she took a step forward.


    "The Blood Cmity is on the move! Be careful! Use the smoke bombs now!" Grugnyr ordered, and everyone immediately did so.


    The smoke covered the entire area. The vision of the orcs had been blocked as the thick smoke appeared and even made it hard for the orcs to breathe.


    And as they were blinded and hindered, the orc vampire ghouls, the dracanae ghouls, and all the members of the Coven began their attack.


    Some were even behind enemy lines.


    Their orcs had weakened their defenses as many of them held out a useless nt in front of them.


    With all the lies that prepared this scenario, the Coven could finally begin the orc massacre.

 Chapter 201 - For The Human Kingdom!

    Martha activated haste and jumped following the movements of the dracanae ghouls and was using her incredible strength and with the increased speed that [Haste] granted her.


    She was flying above and drew her bow and shot an arrow.


    [Gravity Field] was activated, and the orc archers and magis felt a sudden heaviness from the attack and panicked.


    The magi and the archers were panicking and were reshuffling their ranks as they were having a hard time shooting and aiming, and even before they could reform the ranks, Marthanded.


    The orcs tried to react, but the added gravity made them move a split second slower.


    [Death Ripple activated.]


    The powerful curse that attacked the soul of those nearby caused these experienced orcs to move much slower and made them lose their focus.


    Martha was standing amidst slow, vulnerable, and suffering orcs who could not concentrate..


    Her blood weapons, a sword, and a dagger appeared, and she began to move with great speed.


    "She''s here! The Blood Cmity is here!" An orc magi warned.


    SLASH!


    But the orcs head started to roll as Martha''s quick sh reached him. More blood began to spill out as Martha aimed for the strongest magis in the group.


    "Shields!" The orc magis cast their shield magic right on time to protect against Martha.


    Martha didn''t stop but rushed faster towards the shield. Ninjas emphasized speed and sharpness but had the disadvantage of being unable to make devastatingly powerful attacks. And for a ninja to rush blindly towards a magical shield that was created by a captain-level magi''s power was stupid.


    But Martha wasn''t an ordinary ninja,


    Their massive magic wall could block attacks with a strength of over 150 points. In most countries in the Londs, 120 was the basic strength that Champions could do with their basic attacks. And even if they have a powerful weapon that can increase their strength to 140, it still was enough to block a single attack.


    But Martha had a dragon''s body and the Coven''s blessing. When the Separated Realm copsed, it created a powerful Time/Space core that used the space and had all the cells of Puff''s heart. These cells were used to shape the Core and linked Martha with the terrifying power of the dragon. This was why the Thane Dragons that Martha devoured allowed her to change her body.


    Martha''s dragonic body that looked frail and thin, had such powerful might that can reach the attack level of over 160. Her Blood de and the energy of her strengthbined with the sword allowed her to cross the 170 point threshold.


    STAB!


    The de pierced through, and the magi were stabbed with the dagger.


    The shocking scene made some of the magis froze at sight.


    "Not a good timing for you to go all blue-screen." Marthaughed.


    [Taunt activated.]


    The archers began to move and shoot, and the magis cast their shields while others prepared their offensive and explosive magic. But Martha was just too quick for them.


    Some of the Force Users of the group activated their own spells tobat Martha''s and began to fight and use force attacks. Martha had recovered magic points from the magi she killed, and another round of [Gravity Field] was deployed.


    The fighting grew intense as was intended. Martha had taunted all range users so that the front lines could fight better.


    Because of the hugemotion of the Blood Cmity appearing before them, no one had time to take notice of the battle inside the deep smoking areas.


    When Martha had made her leap, the others also acted. The vampire orc ghouls began to attack as the smoke covered them and hid their attacks.


    SLASH! STAB!


    The attack was made from behind, within the thick smoke.


    But as the cries and shouts of those that survived the grievous attacks were made, the vampire ghoul orcs pretended to have been punched or attack and threw themselves back.


    Grugnyr and Avary continued to throw more of the smoke screens. The first was thrown at the vanguard of the formation. But now, because the vampire orc ghouls were being thrown back, giving the two reasons to throw the smokescreen.


    As the smokescreen grewrger, the vampire orc ghouls were more reckless in their attacks, and even some of the captains sensed it and managed to block the attacks.


    But there was so much chaos that they could not tell if these were traitors because dracanae ghouls also jumped in and attacked the orcs who used flowers to defend themselves.


    SMASH!


    POW!


    CRASH!


    The punches, stomps, and kicks of the dracanae ghouls killed the orcs they attacked.


    At that moment, Hunter and his dracanae ghouls also began their attacks.


    Unlike the thin frame of the ghouls Martha had, these dracanae ghouls were simr to the Thane Dragons in form even had a bulkier chest.


    These ghouls performed an attack simr to Knights Charge.


    CRASH! CRASH!


    The charge broke through the defenses of the orcs. There were screams and cries as the attacks happened all over the ce, but no one could clearly tell what was happening with the thick smoke.


    Drought realized what was happening and held his weapon up. The rest of the soldiers also began to take up defensive positions and abandoned the nts and herbs as they quickly realized that the dracanae ghouls were no longer immune.


    "Curse you, Blood Cmity!" Grugnyr shouted in anger as more and more captains and peak soldiers died.


    Drought grew angry. He was not fooled by the lies of Grugnyr and was about to kill him...


    But suddenly...


    "Force Cross!" A grand and powerful voice erupted as Diana shouted and activated the trademark Force attack of the Steele Family.


    BOOM!


    The sudden attack erupted somewhere and the cries of the orcs echoed out.


    "For the Human Kingdom Alliance! Men! Kill them all!" Diana cried again.


    At the far back, the ves that were hidden saw the signal and made the loudest cries they could.


    "DIE!"


    "KILL!"


    "ATTACK!"


    The ves shouted.


    Avary, Scarlet, and Gregory also made their shouts both within and outside the defensive formation of the orc troop.


    "Humans!" Drought realized that they were in a perilous situation.


    "Knights! The dracanae beast we hunted and that Blood Cmity is here! Kill this orc captain brigade as well!" Diana shouted as she mmed the Earth Vermillion sword that had harnessed the power of the Earth energy from the Earth Core that she had.


    BOOM!


    A massive explosion, greater than the first urred and caused another line of orcs to copse and fall.


    "Yes, Champion!" Everyone in the Coven shouted in english.


    This simple answer brought fear to the orcs. They weren''t ready to meet an army of humans that were led by a champion!


    "Humans! Humans with a Champion Pdin! We''re doomed! We''re all going to die!" Grugnyr shouted in fear and alerted everyone.

 Chapter 202 - For Fate And Destiny To Fight

    The appearance of human knights and the terrifying attack of the Champion was the final straw for these brave knights.


    The peculiar circumstance was not to their advantage. They could not see clearly, and the smoke and herbs that were supposed to save them didn''t seem to work. Moreover, they were being killed and attacked by powerful forces, and now an army of humans appeared.


    This was a Champion, after all! In the Londs, most Champions are Earls and controls a personal force of roughly five hundred men. If the army bestows more, then it could easily go over the thousands!


    Most of the orcs couldn''t understand English, but the word ''Champion'' was something they naturally were familiar with.


    Grugnyr also shouted that a Champion Pdin was among the enemies that attacked them!


    Gregory had charged in with his ghouls. And at the back, thest to move was Mechiel.


    She was given an armor that could fit her and a magic sword which was only slightly weaker than the Earth Swords were given to her..


    She charged in and shouted as ordered.


    The orc captains immediately decided to retreat, and instead of holding the line, the group began to flee as the ranks copsed.


    Within the chaos, the Coven and the Dracanae ghouls continued to y and kill the retreating warriors.


    "Stop! Stand your ground!" Drought shouted angrily!


    But Diana''s figure suddenly appeared as herrge shield rushed towards Drought''s face.


    "Hmph!" Drought carried hisrge ax and smashed hisrge ax.


    BOOM!


    "Champion! There''s a strong one here! Let me take care of it!" Diana changed her voice as she shouted.


    "A Captain Pdin?!" Drought was shocked.


    "Please. I am not like my Lady Champion. I am a Force Pdin. And I will be your death, orc!"


    "There is a powerful enemy here! You are making a big-"


    "A vampire. We know. And now there are two Vampire Ancients fighting. The Blood Cmity and Cracky Batcheeks! There are several Commander-level Pdin with us. One of their peers has fallen. And they believe that your kind killed them, for it was impossible for that Cracky Batcheeks to kill him. Tell me, orc. Was there a powerful Swordsman who went in to chase after Cracky?"


    Drought was stunned. He had heard of the reports of Cracky Batcheeks who killed Drysh, the Balefire Butcher. The survivors imed of a mighty Pdin who challenged Cracky but died.


    "Wait! We did not kill that Pdin!"


    "Oh? So there is. Then you are out of luck, Orc. These Pdins probably hail from the Hignds. And while we would look the same filthy, weak, and uncivilized brutes to them, you just had to kill their Pdin!"


    With Drought and the nearby orcs distracted by the ims of Diana, the battle continued elsewhere.


    Martha was now free to aid attack with her bows as the archers and magis went on full retreat. They prioritized bringing the carriage with the bodies of the in vampire orcs.


    But this retreat was very disorganized.


    The smoke around them was thick that none of those within the smoke could understand the battle. Everyone wanted to move out because of Martha''s Gravity Field, which she would cast when devouring some of the orcs.


    Martha started to snipe the powerful orcs from afar and selected those that would make great food, and prioritize killing them.


    She also kept an eye at Mechiel, who was now fighting orc captains behind Gregory''s group.


    Mechiel ran with all her might. She was slower than Gregory and the ghouls.


    "We''ll soften the enemies at front. Just move in and kill whatever we weaken. And remember Martha''s advice!" Gregory rushed in and disappeared in the thick smoke.


    Mechiel was unlike the Coven, who had various abilities that allowed them to sense and detect the presence of the orcs within the smog. She was a dhampir ghoul after all!


    She kept moving and then found herself facing arge orc who, in his desperation, used his berserk skill to rampage anyone and anything nearby. How Gregory missed this, she didn''t know.


    She could hear the shouts of Gregory telling her to retreat, but the orc was already leaping towards her.


    Mechiel trembled and lost strength at the sight of the orc rushing towards her.


    "Die! Puny human!" The orc noticed her and shed down using arge halberd.


    BANG!


    A small dark explosion exploded out and sent Mechiel stumbling to the right.


    CRASH!


    The wide sh struck empty air as Mechiel was jolted awake.


    "Don''t drag us down." A voice echoed out, and Mechiel knew it was from Martha. She chose to stand up and gripped the wounded right arm of hers from the dark bolt.


    The orc swung the halberd, and Mechiel threw herself to the ground to evade the wide swing.


    Mechiel then ran, but the orc took a small sword from his side and shed down.


    But Mechiel didn''t evade and ran into the sword.


    SLASH! STAB!


    Mechiel''s arm was severed off, but her sword managed to stab the head of the orc.


    She recalled what Martha said about the Temple and decided to surrender her arm to kill the orc.


    The stab struck the eye, but it didn''t prate through.


    The orc howled in pain, and Mechiel decided to put all her weight and jump at the orc.


    Slowly, the sword pushed through. The orc struggled and tried to pull Martha off as he stumbled back but Mechiel''s de.


    Mechiel struggled and bit down on the orc and was in tears. She was in great pain, and now she had to feed on her prey. But unlike the Coven, Mechiel was only a dhampir, and the restoring power from her feeding on the Captain was too weak. It didn''t even allow her to raise her levels.


    Martha watched Mechiel.


    "Tsk! That Blood Cmity is very careful. Could it be that she suspects that we know?" Martha wondered.


    "She might be harboring doubts. Send me outside. If you reveal me, we will trust her enough to show some of our cards. Also, I am quite hungry." Puff asked.


    "Your appearance won''t cause a disturbance, will it?"


    "No. Right now, I am just like a monstrous beast that you hunt. Of course, that Blood Cmity who heard you im to have a dragon will know of it."


    "Alright. Go." Martha agreed and moved towards Mechiel.


    "Is this your first kill?" Martha asked.


    "La-Lady Martha... It is..." Mechiel answered weekly. Her mouth was full of the orc''s blood.


    "The Steele family walk a path of blood and death. I could have saved you, but I didn''t. If you can''t sacrifice this much, you can''t be of use to us. While I am indebted to your father, I still have my lord to serve. Go on and fight. I''ll bring out Puff to help you."


    "Puff?" Mechiel asked.


    A portal opened, and a small creature the size of a dog emerged.


    "Puff. Aid Mechiel. Feel free to kill and feed. Get stronger. A lot of prey is here."


    "As you will, Master." Puff nodded.


    Mechiel was shocked. The creature had sentience.


    Martha and Puff immediately moved, leaving Mechiel standing.


    As Mechiel blinked, the eye color changed.


    "A dragon! They have a dragon! Damn it! Where in Airom did they find that dragon! Damn that Nephilim!" The Blood Cmity cursed.


    Meanwhile... Deep inside the Nephilim Sealing Mountain...


    Kyros and Gojirrah had moved out and soon arrived at the exit of a cave. The moment they walked out, Kyros watched and beheld an amazing scene. The underground region within the mountain revealed an extremely wide space. They were just inside the cave of one of the mountains! In this world, there were mountains, rivers, and valleys in the deep darkness. A strange sun was there, but it was a bright brownish sky instead of sky-blue heaven above.


    "I was right. We are in a world inside a different ce..." Kyros confirmed. The wide space that expanded out and the mountain ranges that Kyros could see established that the entire region wasrger than Airom itself.


    Even Gojirrah couldn''t still believe or make sense of what Kyros had said that the other exit that led to the Golem City or the Temple was a whole different world in itself.


    "No wonder the Golems said it took them a year to explore every part of this! It''s this huge! It''s like that Temple is a pathway towards two different worlds. And right now, there is a human armyposing of Champions arriving here. And it''s quite timely that this ce only holds Champions at most." Kyros observed.


    "Right. It''s also timely since I''ve seen more and more soldiers being deployed here. Even the Amphibian races are appearing."


    "You allied with Newts?"


    "Newts are among the stronger races of the Amphibians. And yes, we did."


    "Interesting. Aside from Lizardfolk, are there any Arthropodians or elves?"


    "I do not know of those races, Lord Kyros. I haven''t heard of them."


    "I see. It seems that wherever this ce is leading, it''s not connected to the nesworld. You guys also hail in a different world. If you were on the same as I am, you would have known of those races. Where do you hail? Do you live on a or some Yggdrasil like this nesword?"


    "This nesworld is a Yggdrasil? We don''t live in a Yggdrasil! We live in a World-bearing Ancient Turtle!"


    "A World-Bearing Ancient Turtle, huh? Haven''t heard of that." Kyros frowned.


    "He must be very far off." Cminus frowned.


    "The only habitable heavenly objects near the nesworld are several sr systems, a singr, and a t Earth. And that is all being limited by the Great Chasms that divide the gxies. So you schrs and astronomers would only know ofary bodies like the ones you can see. But World-bearing Ancient Turtle is quitemon in other gxies. But only Greater Gods can cross these Great Chasms like we did when we saw that vision. The world that these lizards are in is something that crosses gxies." Cminus exined.


    Kyros frowned.


    "It seems that this entire region... is a ce for Fate and Destiny to fight!"

 Chapter 203 - For An Army To Be Sent

    When Kyros confirmed that they were in a different realm, he began to think of the implication based on the many clues that they had of the ce. The fact that the entire mountain could be moved proved that the ce was a portal that connects. Who knows? It could be that the moment someone steps into the mouth of the cave on top of Airom, they had already begun the teleporting travel to this new world.


    "The Golem King said that this ce was explored for a year. Gojirrah, is this mountain leading to the Golem City in the middle of this entire region?"


    "Yes. It is as you have guessed, Lord Kyros. We are at the very center of this ce."


    What happens if you move to the edge of this ce?"


    "You reach the sky. That brown sky is actually a wall." Gojirrah pointed to the sky..


    "That sky covers the entire ce just like the dome of a t Earth. If you walk to the edge, you see that impassable sky like a wall. You can move through it, but none who journeyed inside to see ever lived. Those who touched it would soon be struck with a strange sickness and die."


    "A Life and Death Containing Field." Kyros identified it from the many things that Cminus exined.


    "You... know of it, my Lord?"


    "Every has one. Those fields contain the life and death energy to stay within Earth. Anything that is alive, be it by actually living or through any undead or animated practice, will die if they try to move out of it. Only those who are at Saint can resist and move through that space." Kyros exined.


    "But such things are not relevant now. Do you have a map of some sort as to howrge this ce is?"


    "I do not have the authority to gain ess to thoserge maps, Lord Kyros. But in general, this ce is divided into three ces. This region that leads to the Golem City is thergest and belongs to us lizards. We are the most powerful group as we have around eight kingdoms of lizardfolk. With the alliance with the amphibian races, we would soon see the rise of another scaled race in thisnd. We call this region the Scaled Kingdoms. To the far east that expands and covers the far north region is the kingdom of the Undying Humans."


    "Undying Humans? So it''s a kingdom of Necromancers and the magically animated?"


    "Yes, Lord Kyros. Its primarily led by human necromancers. The strongest is the Death Knight Nercon Sives."


    "A Necron? How interesting." Kyros smiled as he recalled some memories of fighting a Necron. It was the most brutal battle in his previous life.


    "The third region is at the other end. It''s on the West region and spreads out to the far South region. We call it the Wild Lands. There are some human and dwarven towns and even an orc kingdom there! But thatnd is dangerous because of the real ruler. It also has a deep underground world full of goblins."


    "So the goblins rule that region! In the nesworld, Goblins are generally weak. Although I know that if a fourth stage goblin appears, a kingdom of Goblin is possible because of the immense power and wisdom of this goblin. So I''m quite curious as to how strong it is. The only strong Goblin I know looks like a man who is about to ride a train to a ce called Busan."


    "What?"


    "Ignore my weirdness. Continue."


    "That goblin kingdom is led by a Goblin lord, a Goblin Grand Mage, and a Goblin Berserker. And they are the reason why we haven''t conquered that kingdom yet. The orcs, humans, and dwarves are but all necessary creatures that are allowed to live for the sake of strengthening the kingdom and for producing food through farming."


    "What a world this ce is. Alright. Let''s get down to business. I want several Lizard Kingdoms tounch an attack on the Golem city. I''ve thought about it, and I decided that the best way to draw an army''s attack is by two means. The first is to be something they can''t ignore. This means killing a lot of them."


    "How many?"


    "About ten percent of the poption of a lizard kingdom. That will draw their attention and force them to make an attack."


    Gojirrah listened patiently and was amazed at the daring ns. Such ns to kill a lot require great preparation! While he knew that the power of his lord was quite strong, they wouldn''t be able to attack an army!


    "That''s a lot!"


    "Yeah. I think I can do it in a week." Kyros estimated.


    "Wha-What?"


    "Poison. I never got my hands on any herbs or the right time to do that. But with kingdoms of lizards, I can sneak in, steal stuff from your alchemy storehouses, concoct their poisons, and kill people. Of course, I will be announcing that I''m from that ce."


    "You can make the poison?"


    "Yep. I''m a little bit of a poison expert myself."


    "In our world, Poison Experts are very rare. It is a unique job ss harder than mages and more expensive than potion masters. Not to mention the fact that they need to study a whole list of nts to create the right reaction!"


    "I know. There aren''t many even in the nesworld. They are only found in the Hignds."


    "And... you can do that, my Lord? You''re... like twelve years old."


    "Actually, I''m ten. I just look more mature because of my body build." Kyros chuckled.


    "But enough of that. The problem is, I want arge army to attack by tomorrow. So do you know of anything that is enough for an army to be sent out?"


    "Tomorrow?"


    "I gotta show something to these human kingdoms who areing here. They have to be on full alert. So I was thinking... Is there something within the nearest lizard kingdoms, like a weapon, a person, a resource, anything of great importance that would spark rage and war?"


    Gojirrah began to think.


    "If there are any important objects that could make the kingdom send an army, it would be something that the Commander owns. And I don''t know of any objects."


    "Hmmm... Oh... You, lizard folks, are generally monogamous, right?"


    "Monogamous?"


    "You only take one wife."


    "Yes. Generally, that''s the case. But it depends on the lineage and evolution. It''s not rare for some of the superior bloodlines to take those with lesser bloodlines."


    "I see. Then why don''t we kidnap the wife or wives of the Commanders?"


    "You want to do what?"


    "You heard me. Let''s kidnap their wives."


    "Kidnap their wives?! So you want us to kidnap the wife of several Commanders?!"


    "Yup. That should make them all mad and chase us to the Golem City, right?"


    "But Lord Kyros, how do we kidnap them?! We don''t have enough manpower to take them away!"


    "Right. About that. I think that they will marry you. It would be better if their wives could like a kiss or even do the nasty with you in front of everyone."


    "My lord, with all due respect... You''re insane."


    "Gojirrah... I have two words for you."


    "I hope it''s ''professional counseling.''"


    "No. It''s Turned Vampire." Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 204 - For The Kingdom

    "Turned Vampire?" Gojirrah was confused.


    "You think we can''t kidnap people? You are worried that we can''t get them out. Think carefully. If we sneak in sessfully and somehow capture or poison one of them, we can turn them into your turned vampire. A Dhampir! They''d be bound to you. We won''t have to kidnap them, but they will sneak out with us! They can even help us get out."


    "A Dhampir? You mean... Like I am to you?"


    "Yeah. None of my Coven ever used this ability. They created ghouls all the time.. But if we get someone, we can turn them. We could even go for some of the Champions you hate. Do you have anyone you wanted among those lizards? We can make them your wife."


    "What?! No! I don''t want to take some Champions-"


    It was then a great desire appeared over Gojirrah.


    "Wait... Is there a limit on who the person is? How strong does the other person have to be? Can turn another Champion into one of my turned vampires?"


    "Oh... You''re into guys! Interesting... But I don''t think their wives could lead the army... Although losing Champions could draw the out... I was hoping for the male testosterone jealousy thing."


    "That''s the best part! It will make all Lizard Champions attack with their forces!"


    "Wow. I guess I know what the L in the LGBTQ means now."


    "No! No! That''s not what I meant! We don''t need to get several wives. Within that kingdom is a great beauty, the Champion Dragoon, Princess Reptilia! Her beauty has been sought after. But no one could im her heart. Is it possible for her..."


    "Reptilia? You guys should really change your naming scheme. Anyway, how sure are you that taking her will draw an army of lizards?" Kyros asked suspiciously.


    "Yes. If we can do that, everyone would go the distance to save her! She''s incredibly beautiful. Right now, the pressure is immense. Several Commanders are trying to make her their bride. But of course, her lineage and her power won''t make it difficult for them."


    "An untouched beauty being taken away, huh? Is her beauty amazing?"


    "Yes! Even the humans and goblins lust after her."


    Kyros had a weird expression.


    "Hey, Cminus."


    "I know. It''s called Scalies. Basically, the equal of furries but for reptiles."


    "Gotcha. Just want to know."


    "So..." Kyros turned back to Gojirrah.


    "That beautiful, huh?"


    "She is! Look, she''s not like most lizardfolk like me. Lizardkin has many mixtures. Some look closer to humanoids like elves and humans, right? But this one is the perfect mix. Most humanoid types don''t fall in love for those lizardkin that look closer to reptiles, but this one attracts both!"


    "Uh-uh. Scalies. I''m familiar. Hm... She a champion... So we need to subdue her to some extent."


    "Can you do that, my Lord?"


    "I''ll need some herbs. You said this entire area has a lot of rare herbs?"


    "Indeed. Some of the herbs here don''t even appear on our!"


    "Great! The Londs has a very low-quality amount of herbs. I always thought my path as a Poison master would happen when I reach the Minds, at least. Although I do know that there are a lot of Pungent Shackling Poison Fruit in the nearbynds, I will need a lot more potent herbs."


    "Why would you need Pungent Shackling Poison Fruits?" Gojirrah wondered.


    "You''ll see. Anyway... You said that there are human kingdoms nearby. So is it normal for lizards to have human ves?"


    "Yes."


    "Good! Then you run back and make that report! Pretend that you managed to free yourself. Take me up as a ve. You can make it sound like that I helped you. You guys do that, right?"


    "We''re not savages. Carnivores, yes. But we have standards."


    "Then let''s do it then!"


    Meanwhile...


    The human''s armies had finally reached the Golem City and were startled to see the gigantic orb at the center emitted a strange power.


    Several golems were standing stoically, and there several Iron Golems stood by.


    Around the floor were bodies of lizards and some golems that were on the ground, apparently dead.


    "Thank goodness! We came in time! The Lizards have not overrun this ce yet!" Branze eximed.


    The army began to move around the area and watched the golems.


    "This is... amazing!" Champion Ordeus eximed.


    "That''s not the best part. The more lizards we kill, the more golems we make." Branze motioned, and some of the men began to drag the dead lizards near the majestic orb.


    "What is that?" Champion Ordeus asked.


    Branze pointed at a strange inscription that was nearby.


    "I can''t read it." Champion Faye Emberdon asked.


    "It''s in an ancientnguage. My family studied it because it is said that great magic can be unlocked with it. Because of that, some rumors about us erupted and spread into malicious forms. I fear... that some of those families... wanted us dead because of it." Branze turned his attention to certain Viscounts.


    "You dare to use-"


    SMASH!


    A powerful golem moved with incredible speed and punched the viscount sending him flying.


    The golem that had appeared had a bright red form. At first, it was lying on the ground but moved with great speed that the viscount could not see.


    The viscountnded down, but his jaw was dislocated.


    "That is a more powerful Golem. The Jeweled Golem. It''s a golem that surpasses even Champions in might." Branzeughed.


    "Since I created it, it follows me and will protect me. But it''s a pity that the golem did not kill the viscount. I was hoping for more of my enemies to attack me." Branze sighed.


    The many knights nearby trembled.


    Even Champion Ordeus wouldn''t dare fight this new Golem.


    And they obey me. Behold."


    Branze began to make a strange chant, and the Golem that was on high alert, sat down.


    "Those who speak thenguage of whoever created thisrge orb and who offers the sacrifices to either recharge these creatures canmand it."


    "So... I canmand it?"


    "Of course. As long as you recharge it. It uses a corpse and automatically does it without the need for those mages to harness it. I dare say that it''s even better than mages!" Branze revealed.


    "What a god-tiered artifact!"


    "Yes. From what I read, that is the elemental core of a being of immense power. But right now, it''s just a core. But imagine if we can awaken it! Then, even the Hignds will tremble!" Branze dered.


    "It can be awakened?"


    "Every time you offer monsters or any other sources of energy to create golems or recharge the living ones, it takes a small portion of it. So I am offering this to the human alliance. But I demand rewards!"


    "Offer this? You don''t even own this!" One of the Champions argued.


    "Can any of you read First Word? Right now, this is mine. And I will prove it to you!" Branzeughed.


    He then started a strange chant of words that were difficult to say.


    But as Branze spoke it, the core began to release a dim light, and a terrifying pressure began to shake the entire city.


    Buried beneath the ground was Petra. He was listening followed everything ording to n.


    He released a small portion of his power, and it resonated with the Gigantes Core and created the trembling.


    The immense energy scared everyone. It was as if it would explode.


    But Branze stopped his chanting, and the tremors stopped.


    "I have read all, but thest sentence in the chant found on those inscriptions. If I said it all, this entire ce would explode and kill all of us! So tell me, do I own this, or not?!" Branze challenged.


    The Viscounts and Champions were all silent at the scene. They were still trembling.


    "For the Human Alliance, I offer this. But for my Family, I can take this away!" Branze dered.

 Chapter 205 - For My Next Trick

    Arge lizard with several deep wounds was running with great speed. The lizard carried a young boy.


    The kingdom walls of the lizard kingdom, Lizard Kingdom A was in full view.


    Disregarding the dumb naming scheme, Kyros was focused on looking at the current status of this kingdom. He could see that the kingdom roughly had over eight thousand residents. Gojirrah kept talking to Kyros about the lizard kingdom''s status and what the power structure was.


    "So you, a Champion, which is one of the powerhouses in that kingdom, can''t get ess to the alchemybs?"


    "Those that are sent here are divided into four groups. Those that came here by ident through whatever circumstance, those that were sent to go here, those that were exiled here, and those that fled here because they had no choice. I belong to the exiled group. Of the three, all Champions except for me belong to the sent group. I belong to the exile group.. I rebelled against my kingdom, and while I was granted a position of authority to guard the nearby towns and outpost inside thatrge cave, in this main kingdom, I am nothing."


    "So they used you for your strength. Keeping you in your real-world had no benefits. But here, you will be forced to ally with your kind and serve them as you have no choice."


    "Exactly. So I can''t go around to rooms of certain important characters since even though I have no allies here, these people aren''t exactly my friend."


    "What a pitiful circumstance you are in. Are there more of you here? Creating a lizard kingdom with you guys leading will be a win-win for the two of us."


    "A lizard kingdom here?"


    "Yeah. This ce has to be mine. And to do so, creating a kingdom is necessary given how big this ce is."


    "There are. You can tell the status of those lizards. All lizards that have been are sent here have an identity que. Those that are exiled have a brand on their arms or forehead like this." Gojirrah pointed to his forehead, and there was a rather simple ck bar on his face.


    "Cool. That even makes it easier! Then for my next trick, I have to make a poison that can subdue a champion lizard princess! To do that, you have to spread the news about what you found out about the dragons and this ce. And then plead to have me sent to the alchemy and be the servant and tell them that I am quite skilled in that. Tell him that together, the two of us managed to escape due to my knowledge in creating a Paralyzing Gas Bomb."


    "You know how to make a Paralyzing Gas Bomb?!"


    "Yeah. That should make me useful, and they won''t want to kill me."


    "But... Those are herbs of great potency! How can you handle those? No one in the current Lizard Kingdom A has the ability to make those!"


    "Oh, it''s not that hard. But if no one can make those, it makes it even easier for me to move inside! My importance will skyrocket!"


    "It will indeed. You''d be more important than me!"


    "Yeah. That is why we need to get your rank and ess in that kingdom a little higher. If we want to make them attack tomorrow, we only have little time to make the most here. So to get you to have a higher position in the kingdom, we use information about dragons that will work. Tell them of the basic things of what you know and tell them that there is a dragon graveyard nearby and that the human kingdoms already have a dragon''s egg. But you have to be clear that as to the location and some secrets about dragon flesh, you will keep to yourself; otherwise, they will toss you away. This will force them to mobilize their soldiers for a big attack. That way, when we steal that princess, they will already have some preparations."


    "I understand. How many humans are you expecting to be in that cave?"


    "There should only be a hundred or so. But let''s not forget that they have golems! Also, these hundred or so men are either Champions or Captains. That''s why I need a strong army, but one that isn''t too many to attack that ce. I don''t want the humans that will be there to be overrun. But once they get attacked, they will prioritize defending that ce and send more humans to guard it. And that''s when we threaten various kingdoms. With the humans fighting and the ns we''ve set, they will be creating more and more golems and restoring the lost energy of the golems. This way, the golem will recover a lot of energy."


    "What a brilliant n, my Lord!"


    "That''s nothing! I have more ns. How do you lizards test the purity and power of your bloodline?"


    "There are two ways, Lord Kyros. The Scale Test simply pits two lizards of the same power to fight and the Blood Test. The Blood test uses magic that forces the blood drops of two lizards to interact with each other, and both are exposed to some magic that tests their vitality and purity. Both tests are used to gauge the current strength and the future potential of a lizard."


    "And what was the result of your blood test?"


    "I am considered to be the least in our race. All Champions in this kingdom have potential that is greater than my own."


    "Oh yeah. It''s alling together." Kyros smiled as an evil plot began to grow.


    "Later, Do everything I am telling you. You can hear my telepathic messages, right?" Kyros asked.


    "Yes! It''s very amazing! It''s even faster than talking! So all the Coven has this?"


    "Yes. The truth is, there is an borate system that allows you tomunicate even at great distances. But right now... It''s not working. We can onlymunicate up to the distance we tested earlier."


    The pair had checked how far they couldmunicate telepathically. Anything more than twenty meters, and themunication is very distorted to the point that the pair cannot understand each other.


    "We''re approaching. Just listen to everything that I instruct you to do, and do it without hesitation."


    "I understand, Lord Kyros."


    Kyros then closed his eyes and pretended to be unconscious.


    The pair was now directly under the great walls of the lizard kingdom.


    "Is that... Champion Lizard?" One of the lizardman archers watched from afar.


    "Which Champion Lizard?" The lizardman archer asked.


    "The exiled one."


    "Oh right! It''s him! Rumor was that he got killed by the enemy in that cave!"


    "He must have found a way to escape. Why is he carrying a human?"


    "By the looks of it, that human seems to be a ve. If Champion Lizard is carrying it and seems to value that human, it must have helped him one way or the other." The archer concluded.


    "Archers! I wish to speak with all Champions! Another portal has appeared, and a human army has allied with the golems!" Gojirrah shouted.


    Gojirrah invoked his force energy in each word, and his shout echoed throughout the walls, and even some parts of the city heard the Champion''s cry.


    The shout startled and rmed many.


    "Open the gates." Another voice boomed.


    "It''s Champion Tail 1! Do as he says! Open the gates!" A lizard captain shouted.

 Chapter 206 - For A Drop Of Blood

    At the orders of the strongest Champion present, the lizardmen immediately began to open therge gate, which stood over fifty meters.


    As the gates opened, the insides of the highly-walled fortress were revealed. The architecture and buildings inside were surprisingly simr to the houses and buildings that humans had.


    "Quite extravagant. It looks like this ce holds a lot of strong ores and stones." Kyros observed. Some of the stones used to make the houses were so strong that not even a captain-level fighter could break them.


    "It seems that this ce has an abundance of resources from herbs, to rocks, to ores." Kyros was amazed at how abundant the rocks were.


    Several powerful forces and magic energy erupted as several Champions appeared flying in the sky while others were leaping from the low ground and reached the top of the wall..


    A total of seven Champions appeared.


    They watched as Gojirrah moved inside therge gates.


    As Gojirrah moved, he could not help but nce at the direction of a certain Champion.


    Kyros took a quick peek at the girl using his link with Gojirrah. The vision of Gojirrah became Kyros''s vision.


    "Woah! She is pretty!" Kyros eximed.


    The Champion Princess was among the champions present. She had a human-like face that had scales near her hair. Her hair was bright green, and she wore a bright green armor that seemed to have mixed with her scales. It was difficult to tell which was her scale and which was her armor. Her hair looked like long spikes that cascaded down to her back. Her entrancing figure was clearly seen, and despite her lizard-like features, even Kyros agreed that her beauty was on par with the most beautiful elven race he had seen in his past life.


    The Champion held a longnce, and Kyros could tell that she was ancer ss.


    "A Strike Lancer! What an interesting way to utilize her beauty." Kyros chuckled.


    "Exiled Lizard of disgraceful lineage. Report." A lizard that was a head taller than Gojirrah jumped down andnded near Gojirrah.


    Gojirrah was about to take a step forward when the lizard frowned.


    "Stay where you are, exile. I wish not to dirty my body with your lineage." The lizard was insulted.


    Gojirrah was about to speak... but then he heard the strangements of Kyros.


    "Hmm.... He will do. Tell me, Gojirrah, do you want to smack this guy in the face?"


    "Erm... What does..."


    "Yes or no."


    "Ye-yes."


    "Good. Let the hate flow in you..." Kyros had a malicious sneer. If his face were not hidden from the lizards, they would have noticed the odd expression of Kyros.


    Kyros then began to give the champion the instructions.


    "Erm... Champion... The- The report is very confidential and dangerous to be heard to other ears. It involves... dragons!"


    "Dragons!" The nearby lizards jumped or zoomed closer upon hearing the words.


    "Call Commander Longneck!" One of the Champion lizard spellcaster ordered.


    "Seriously... Commander Longneck?!" Kyros sighed at the stupid name.


    "There will be no need! I will report to Commander Longneck! You! Champion Lizard! Tell me!" The arrogant Champion ordered Gojirrah.


    "Alright. Do it." Kyros ordered.


    "But..."


    "Trust me. And it''s an order."


    "..." Gojirrah wanted to cry, but he could not refuse his lord.


    "Champion Tail 1! Look at my right arm!" Gojirrah raised his right arm as high as he could.


    "???" The nearby champions were confused.


    "I don''t understand."


    "Allow me to take a few steps closer to show you," Gojirrah added and moved closer, and he kept his arm raised.


    Tail 1 took a closer look and even moved closer to see any peculiarities in the arm of Gojirrah.


    Gojirrah began to open and close his w arms.


    Tail 1 gazed up and frowned.


    "I don''t see any-"


    SMASH!


    While the champion was busy looking up, Gojirrah''s tail whipped and smacked the groin area of Tail 1. The whipping tail struck the area where the lizardman''s reproductive organs were. Just like humans, the lizardmen had their organs in the groin area.


    Tail 1 howled as he bowed down from the pain at the nut-cracking attack. All of his descendants were lost at that surprise attack.


    But then, Gojirrah''s arms grappled the head of Tail 1, and consecutive knee strikes resounded.


    BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!


    Tail 1''s face smashed on Gojirrah''s relentless attack.


    "YOU TRAITOR! HOW DARE YOU SELL US OUT TO THE HUMANS!" Gojirrah screamed as he constantly mmed his face onto the face of the Champion.


    The pouting, serpentine mouth of Tail 1 was being crushed and deformed from the non-stop attacks.


    "THIS! IS! FOR! MY! MEN! THAT! YOU! SAC-! RI-! FICED!"


    Blood and the lizard teeth of Tail 1 could be seen flying off all over the ce.


    The sudden attack was so shocking that the nearby Champions didn''t know what to do.


    "Stop!" One of the Champions finally managed to voice out.


    STAB!


    But Gojirrah was faster. He had received the blessing of the Coven, and his stats were now faster. With great speed, he drew his sword and stabbed it on the quivering tail of Tail 1, and nailed it to the ground.


    Tail 1 had fallen unconscious from the continuous attack.


    "Lizardkin! Hear me! This Champion has betrayed us! The Golems have allied with humans! The allure of a dragonic lineage caused him to betray our kind! I am an exile! But regardless of my hatred for a lizard kingdom, I am still of the Lizard race, and I would never sacrifice my kind for personal gain!" Gojirrah dered as he drew out a smaller de and made a small wound on his arm.


    The Commander had arrived. It was arge lizard with strange wings that made him look simr to a dragon. He was flying with great speed and rushed to kill Gojirrah.


    But with Kyros''s instructions, Gojirrah had already moved to the next step. He dropped his blood towards the blood of Tail 1 that was dripping out from the wounded tail.


    The moment his blood touched Tail 1''s blood, a strange reaction began to ur.


    The flying Commander stopped and halted his slice. He was already above Gojirrah. A second sooner and Gojirrah would have been dead.


    His eyes as fixed on the pool of blood. A strange urrence was happening. Never before in all his witnessed Blood Test did he witness such an odd peculiarity.


    The drop of blood that Gojirrah allowed to fall was devouring the blood of Tail 1.


    It wasn''t only the Commander, but the nearby Champions noticed it too.


    "What...?" The beautiful princess also watched the strange reaction.


    "I risked my life to steal this. This was the agreed price that the humans were to pay Tail 1. For the lives of the lizard race, he would receive... a Blood of a Dragon!" Gojirrah revealed.


    "What?!"


    "See the proof! You all have seen my bloodline! But now, after devouring Tail 1''s supposed prize, my blood can devour the weaker lizard lineage! This Tail 1 sold us out! All our lives, for a drop of blood!" Gojirrah shouted with great hatred as he smashed his foot down on Tail 1.

 Chapter 207 - For My Words Are Gold And Wisdom

    The blood of Gojjirah had a brighter shade of red. It wasn''t polluted by the dirt but remained an untainted blood drop. But more and more of this brighter blood began to grow. The blood of Champion Tail 1 was boiling as it was getting mixed with the Gojirrah''s blood. Soon, the blood was being visibly absorbed by the blood of Gojirrah.


    Commander Longneck looked in amazement. It was as if Gojirrah''s blood was alive as it was moving.


    Despite the unique powers that the lizard bloodline held, no blood could easily devour or eat up another blood. It didn''t make sense how the blood drop was slowly eating and absorbing the blood of the Champion Tail 1.


    Even Gojirrah was amazed! He never knew his blood could do that.


    "Surprised?" Kyros chuckled as he conversed with Gojirrah telepathically..


    "You are a vampire with a powerful lineage. My blood isn''t just some ordinary blood. Right now, I''m using my power to make it move. It''s all thanks to the powers of the Fanged and Charmed Fallen. Even high-ranking vampires can''t pull that off. Regardless of how strong or powerful your world is, that scene will definitely spark curiosity. So follow my words, Gojirrah! For my words are gold and wisdom!" Kyros exined.


    And spark curiosity it did.


    The words of Gojirrah and his ims of acquiring dragon blood, with the unexinable scene of his drop of blood devouring spilled blood.


    "Absorb that blood now. And drink some of the blood from the champion too. About a quarter of his blood will do." Kyros ordered.


    The sword that Gojirrah had used to stab and pin the tail was not a normal sword, but it was his Blood Sword. Instead of creating a sword, he used his sword as a base and crafted it ording to Kyros''s orders. As a result, Gojirrah secretly siphoned the Champion''s blood.


    To the eyes of the onlookers, they thought that the blood spilled was ''moving'' into the Champion''s body!


    "What''s happening?!" Even the Lizard Commander was rmed.


    "What did you do?!" One of the nearby captains charged and angrily questioned Gojirrah and charged towards him and Champion Tail 1.


    "Kill him. Stab him with your Blood Weapon." Kyros ordered.


    Gojirrah instantly followed for Kyros''s words are gold and wisdom.


    The sword stabbed in the Champion''s tail was immediately removed, and Gojirrah stabbed it without hesitation.


    STAB!


    The sword stabbed deep into the body of the lizard Captain, who was so shocked at Gojirrah''s sudden attack. It was one thing to incapacitate another lizard, but this was murder!


    "Look at that captain with great disgust and follow what Champion Tail 1 said about you. Throw in the word ''newt'' for fun, too."


    Gojirrah''s expression suddenly turned into a cruel smile. He had always been mocked and looked down upon in this ce. Even the Captains called him a disgrace and a cheat.


    "Stay where you are, newt! I wish not to dirty my body with your lineage." Gojirrah ordered coldly. Gojirrah was trying his best to hide the exhrating emotion of finally extracting his long-withheld anger to these captains.


    "Now feed him some of your blood and absorb all of his blood through your Blood Weapon." Kyros ordered.


    "Y-you dare! Y-you exile! You will... die a cruel- ack!"


    Gojirrah choked the lizard captain.


    "You haven''t understood yet? My bloodline is a dragon. Here, I will show you the cruel difference between us. My blood is poison to you! Drink and die!" Gojirrah choked the man, and his tail swiped some of the blood from the wound he created. The tip of his tail had some small droplets of blood in it, and Gojirrah dropped it to the open mouth of the captain.


    After a few seconds, Gojirrah activated the absorbing power of his sword. The captain began to screech in pain at the ravaging sensation inside his body.


    "N-no! Mercy! Save me, champions!" The lizard cried for help, but the Champions stood without doing anything.


    Once more, Gojirrah had proven his worth and his bloodline. Not many were willing to attack him with the strange powers he possessed. And it was clear that there was more to the story.


    "I hope this proves my ims. This Tail 1 had deals made with the humans who found a dragon egg."


    "A dragon egg?!" The nearby champions eximed.


    "Commander... Shall I tell everyone here the reason why this ce is of great importance here? Or will you amodate my friend here and me?" Gojirrah asked as he pointed to the young man being carried on his shoulder."


    "You have no proof of Tail 1''s traitorous acts! I would even im that you are the traitor! You are simply framing Tail 1!" Themander approached and drew his sword as his power erupted out.


    But Gojirrah stood his ground. He was not in any way afraid of this man andpletely trusted that the instructions of Kyros would resolve whatever circumstance he was in. Gojirrah was now clinging to Kyros ims.


    "For his words are gold and wisdom." So Gojirrah reminded himself and listened to Kyros, who was now telling him what to say.


    And so, Gojirrah began his rebuttal.


    "Why did I go here to show you all this?! If I am the traitor, why would I inform you? Yet here I am telling you of the appearance of the most sought-after blood line! That Tail 1 hid it! I am revealing it because I am not a traitor! And I''ll prove to you how traitorous that bastard is! You have seen and witnessed the appearance of humans with the Golems, correct? How did those humans get there? In the middle of our kingdom, how have those humans reached the mountain cave of the Golem City? At first, these humans raid and kill all the lizard races we ced inside the mountain, and then when I finally made my move, they showed up with an army of Champions! Where did these humanse from?"


    The Commander could not answer. The Champion was right. The Golem City was inside a mountain at the very center of the Lizard Kingdoms in this realm. And that mountain was sorge that the lizardkin positioned various lizardmen tribes and lizard races in the mountain paths and on the exit of the mountain.


    They had explored the region and confirmed that there were no other entry points into that mountain.


    "The only way is to send humans inside is if there is another portal near the golem mountain! And that portal leads to another world where there are humans! But how can that happen, you ask? We have lizards watching guard all over the region, and the fluctuations would be noticed! Simple! They just need a traitor among the lizardmen! And that lizard has to be someone whomands respect and authority along with multiple lizard tribes! I can''t do that since I am an exile! But someone has been amodating the entry of these iing humans and kept it a secret from us!"


    The eyes of themander darkened.


    "A new portal?!"


    "I have seen it! I was kept there and was a prisoner among them! I heard of the ns. And Commander, I now know what you seek here. Do I have to say it? How could I have known all this if I was not in the belly of the enemy listening to their ims! The dragon blood was the gift that these humans prepared for Tail 1! And this Champion had long been so focused on his lineage. He wanted to be lord over us all! And so he agreed! That Golem City has what you seek! Thatrge orb is indeed what you think it is! It''s not just a core. It''s a heart!"


    The Commander trembled. One of their theories was that the Golem city was powered by a powerful core of a powerful being. But now, it was alling together. The humans had found dragon blood. And that core was also a heart! So it only means that the mysterious core that powered and created the feared Golem King Petra was a dragon''s heart!


    The sight of how Gojirrah''s blood, which was once one of the weakest bloodlines within the Champion ranks, could devour and kill another just by exposing his blood to another added more proof to the near-impossible ims!


    The Commander slowly believed the ims. But as for the Champions, they had already believed Gojirrah. Not because of facts and logic, but because of greed and ambition. They wanted to believe because they wanted the dragon''s blood to exists!


    "Meet me in my chambers. All Champions must be in attendance. That human you carry will be my ve. Is that arrangement alright?" Commander Longneck asked.


    Gojirrah felt a strange sense of anger. His lord was clearly a being of unimaginable power.


    "This little newt dares to make Lord Kyros his ve?!" Gojirrah raged in his thoughts. How could such a pitiful creature dare to make Kyros, whose words are gold and wisdom?


    "A ve? Commander, you will regret doing that! This human is the reason why I escaped! He is a genius! Unless you are willing to turn an alchemy grandmaster who can make Paralyzing Gas Bombs into a simple ve, then so be it!"


    "Paralyzing Gas Bombs?!" The Champions all cried in surprise.


    "What did you say?! This boy can make Paralyzing Gas Bombs?!"


    "How did I escape if not with that? Even those humans couldn''t resist it. Too bad those golems were immune to it. But through that, I was able to escape. Sadly, this boy inhaled some and is unconscious."


    "How did he make a Paralyzing Gas Bombs?!" The Commander demanded.


    "I farted, duh." Kyrosughed sarcastically at how stupid the question was. Making a Paralyzing Gas Bomb was something difficult to make! Even if Kyros went over the steps in front of them, it wouldn''t make any sense to them! And this Commander was asking how to make such bombs as if it was as easy as making breakfast! And so, Kyros was unable to contain his snidement and spoke telepathically to Gojirrah. He couldn''t resist but speak the punchline.


    "He farted, duh!" Gojirrah ryed Kyros''s words thinking it was another of the words he was supposed to ry. He spoke, imitating the same level of sarcasm in Kyros''s tone, and even looked at the Commander as if the Commander spoke a most idiotic question.


    "PFT!" The Champion Princess couldn''t help butugh.


    "WHAT DID YOU SAY?! YOU DARE MOCK MY INTELLIGENCE?!" The Commander raged.


    Kyros was shocked and panicked.


    "YOU IDIOT!" Kyros shouted in anger at Gojirrah. A split second after he said that, Kyros realized his mistake.


    "YOU IDIOT!" Gojirrah shouted at the Commander without fear, for his lord had said it. And Kyros''s words were gold and wisdom.


    "MOTHER FRAGMENT!" Kyros cursed again in frustration.


    "MOTHER FRAGMENT!" Gojirrah insulted the Commander.

 Chapter 208 - For My Own Good

    "You idiot! Mother Fragment!"


    Two curses resounded out and shocked everyone.


    The Commander began to move.


    "HOW DARE YOU?!" The Commander shouted in anger.


    Such disrespect towards him was intolerable. While killing Gojirrah wasn''t the option, wounding him was!


    Kyros was b.


    At that precise moment, Kyros used his most powerful ability.


    "Anime shback Time?" Cminus saw how the power of Pronto was activated to the maximum. Since Cminus is stronger than before, the power of Kyros''s quick thinking increased even more.


    "Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap!" Kyros began to chant as he was thinking hurriedly of what he could say or do to dispel the rage of the Commander. A wounded Gojirrah would ruin his ns! He needed him to have some power to fight the Champion and needed at least two champions to flee the kingdom.


    As time slowed down, Kyros could confirm that themander was attempting to reach for his weapon.


    Kyros could notmand Gojirrah to evade as he would be too slow! A Commander had an average dexterity point of 240 at the first level!


    Even if Kyros cast haste ib Gojirrah, it wouldn''t be enough! And if Gojirrah did manage to evade by some miracle, he would incur the wrath and added frustration of the Commander to make another attack.


    "Ugh. I guess I can only use that method."


    "What method?"


    Kyros began to read the description of a particr ability he gained from the Blood Cmity.


    ---


    Soul Projection


    By harnessing the power of the Charmed Fallen, Kyros can project ethereal visions by using his soul energy.


    ---


    "Soul projection. This should do the trick. Cminus make a roar like a dragon the moment I reveal the image of a dragon! You also need to use Tackle at him to make him feel some resistance." Kyros ordered quickly.


    "Got it! Let''s go!"


    "I''m not finished... If we use Soul Projection and do that, the enemy is still a Commander! He won''t be given in to fear! He might even do the opposite and attack!"


    "I get it! A warrior''s instinct to fight! So what''s the n?"


    "In case he will still attack, the startling scene will make him pause. So I want you to help me show him something that will cause him to stop and pause! Something that will disperse his anger!"


    "Like what?"


    "The one you showed the Blood Cmity! That will do! It''ll confuse him! And that will buy me enough time to correct this dumb Gojirrah!"


    "You must be truly desperate toe to me for help." Cminus sneered.


    "Just do it! I don''t want to get killed because of Gojirrah''s idiotic mistake! Damn that idiot! Nine champions, a Commander, and an army? How am I suppose to move out alive?!" Kyros cursed as the two began to act.


    Kyros used his Soul projection, and a strange illusory image of a dragon''s head appeared.


    [Cminus used Roar!]


    [Cminus learned Roar!]


    [Cminus used Tackle!]


    A dragon''s howl echoed out and stunned the Commander. Themander felt a strange resistance at the appearance of the vision.


    But just as predicted, the Commander''s reaction was to draw his de.


    Then, the image of the dragon changed.


    Several burly lizardkin men that were naked began to dance around Gojirrah in a rhythmic pattern.


    The Commander froze at the horrifying scene before him. He could not even unsheathe his weapon in his shock.


    "This is my bloodline!" Gojirrah finally roared.


    "It is a cursed bloodline... Forgive me. The Dragon blood that I acquired had such untamed desires. As such, my emotions are very... erratic." Gojirrah suddenly apologized. But as he was, Kyros kept chastising him.


    "We almost died, you idiot! Are you dumb?!"


    "But Lord Kyros... You said that your words are gold and wisdom!"


    "And your brain is non-existent!" Kyros cursed.


    "I didn''t want to do this because it might draw more enemies towards me! Revealing a soul of a dragon-like that will undoubtedly draw suspicion! And the word of that scene will reach your base! Unless we kill everyone here, that report will be sent! And I fear Destiny can use it to bring more enemies to my home. It''s ok if it was Fate, but a dragon''s soul projection will draw in more enemies!"


    "I..." Gojirrah was stunned.


    "What was that...?" The Commander asked.


    "It is the curse of this dragon! I have heard an interesting tale. The dragon that was sealed in that mountain is believed to have fought an enemy known as the Blood Cmity. The Blood Cmity is a descendant and servant of this, the Charm Fallen. These dragons managed to devour the Blood Cmity, but because of the great desires of the Charmed Fallen, the dragon has gotten insane. So while this power... is attractive... I will slowly lose my mind and be a beast that only wants to satisfy my sexual cravings." Gojirrah reported.


    Kyros could sense that the hatred and greedy desires of those nearby suddenly lessened.


    Kyros sighed in relief.


    "Originally, I was going to use the darkness of Kyriachos as a means to stop them from being too greedy and kill and devour you. But, even though you showed them how dangerous your blood is, they will try to take some from you. And if I''m not near, I can''t make the blood act as it did earlier. They may find out something. Kyriachos would have been the perfect excuse to stop them from making those attempts. But I guess... this will do."


    "A creature of the beast?"


    "Yes... Even now... I am restraining my will. What you saw earlier was the Charmed Fallen''s power. The dragon that I ate was originally ssified as a Thane Dragon. Which is a kind of Warrior dragon." Gojirrah exined.


    The Commander raised his eyebrows as a strange glint appeared.


    "But now... that dragon is no longer a Thane..." Gojirrah sighed.


    "What dragon is it?" The Commander asked curiously.


    "Cminus... Any ideas? What dragon could fit the bill?" Kyros secretly asked.


    "A sex-crazed dragon? I don''t know of any kind. Oh! I know! Let''s make a name! How about a horny dragon?"


    "... Next suggestion."


    "Hentai Dragon."


    "Nope. Try again."


    "Cosby Dragon?"


    "What the fragment?"


    The Commander waited as Gojirrah remained silent.


    "It''s... It''s..." Gojirrah was voicing vocally.


    "Master! What name!"


    Kyros and Cminus were going back and forth various names, and Kyros cursed and gave the more descent one among Cminus''s suggestions.


    "A Libido Dragon."


    "... What a horrifying name." The Commander was shocked.


    "I know. That is my curse. I came here... not to simply brag about my bloodline. But I want it purged, Commander." Gojirrah spoke.


    "I am telling the truth about everything. My emotions are very fragile. That''s why I attacked Tail One and killed that Captain of his. Please help me... I am... losing my mind!" Gojirrah begged.


    The Champions were startled, and they looked at the Commander.


    "We will talk about thatter. Move inside. And as for that boy, send him to the Lizard Spellcasters and Alchemist. We could use him." The Commander ordered.


    As the resolution was passed, Gojirrah sighed that his blunder only led to this.


    Kyros, however, remained nervous. The ident was stupid. But it was a little TOO stupid.


    "Was that Fate?" Kyros frowned, and he began to channel his Foresight.


    "Hrm? What? Fate made you say Libido?" Cminus asked.


    "No! I meant Gojirrah''s mistake! Fate caused his slip, but I fixed it. It seems Fate is nning something. And here I thought she would be helping me to the best of her powers now. It seems she is still in the path of making me go through problematic things."


    "But I thought her curses have been lifted! You still have a month of free time before her sess limiter and her other curses work!"


    "Exactly. But I think we misunderstood Fate''s rewards. Fate is doing this for my good. She is still training me to fight Destiny. Destiny is trying to kill me. Fate is teaching me how to fight Destiny. So while Sess Limiter and Apathy of Fate has been halted, I may have passed over the limit. This means that Fate will then send her tribtion not just to me but to my family once the month is over! Right now, it''s trying to stop me from getting stronger and gaining more advantages! Which is harsher than the previous trial! Before it acted and used the Temple to make sure I didn''t go over the limit. But right now, it created a sky-high limit and even allowed me to extend those days because of the harsh trial toe."


    "Then the Limit Breaching Trial will be easy? Last time it waited for you to breach and then trapped you."


    "No. It''ll be very, very difficult. Fate knows that I know how she works and will be throwing a different game. Let me put it this way. If my current overflowing limit is at B, Fate is already preparing a Tier S trial. It''s intentionally allowing me to breach the limit so her powers to limit me will act. But I''m guessing that since I defeated and outsmarted her, she is intentionally making the next challenge impossible toplete."


    "So to win, you have to find a way to get to S level. All while Fate is ying these small tricks on you."


    "Right. It seems that my mistake was allying with someone who doesn''t have Fate Challenger. If Gojirrah is to be with me, he must achieve Fate Challenger. And not just him. All my future allies should have it. Otherwise, Fate may use them even without them knowing! Stupid and dumb mistakes may happen in the future!" Kyros frowned.


    "So your friends might do dumb stuff in the future? Sounds fun." Cminus chuckled.

 Chapter 209 - For The Sake Of A Name

    The scene was bizarre for those who were not there at the gates. The once maltreated Champion exile was now treated like a king.


    The Captains who treated this Champion poorly were not only shocked. They were terrified. The lizards were as rowdy and ill-tempered as orcs in general. These Captains who found the opportunity to mock and insult a Champion without fearing the consequences of their actions made Gojirrah their stress reliever. Whenever they would get irritated or have a bad day, and this Champion was in the area, they would immediately seek out this man and begin to make his life a living hell.


    But now, Gojirrah was treated like a king among his peers. And for some strange reason, the Champion that many respected, Tail 1, was bounded and gagged.


    "A message talisman in his stomach?!" The Commander was amazed.


    "It''s ingenious.. That''s what those humans said they did to hide it from us. Tail 1 just needs to channel the energy in his stomach to warn the rest. It''s brilliant. He can send some five to ten messages depending on the length of the message, and he will only need to visit the region near the mountain to meet with those humans and recharge the message talisman. You know how frequently he goes to my region. As you know, I hate him and avoid meeting him if possible. So I don''t know if he was visiting my ce without my knowing."


    The Champions had very ugly expressions on their face.


    "By the looks of it, he seems to have frequent visits to the Golem City area."


    "He goes... at least three times a week!" The Commander frowned.


    Gojirrah was stunned. He had told Kyros that he would meet with this man at least once a month! But three times a week was an interesting result.


    "What?! I only meet him once a month!"


    "Once a month? His ever trip there is because he is afraid you''d betray our kind! And you only meet with him once a month?!"


    "If I count the times that he summoned me, but I refused because I know he was there just to mock me, I''d say twice a month."


    "He really is a traitor!" Another Champion realized.


    "Lord Kyros? Three times a week is too much! What pressing issues are there in my region that forces him to visit my location three times a week?"


    "It must be ''that'' call." Kyros answered.


    "That call? What call?"


    "The Booty call."


    "What ritual is this ''booty call''?"


    "Erm.. I mean, he is sleeping with someone in your region. Are there any captains guarding the region that is close to this Champion?"


    "Well... Yes. But all have weak bloodlines! That Champion would dare not mingle and copte with those with poor bloodlines!"


    "Normally, Yes. But this kingdom has that smokin'' hot lizard babe! He sees that princess every day and can only look. Every guy here must be so frustrated. Undoubtedly, some have already made advances to her, right?"


    "Yes. Two in fact."


    "See. It''s good that you are not here. Do you know how frustrating that is? And he can''t copte with those within the region if he wants to win the heart of that princess! So he goes out of his way and offers delusional promises to Captains in faraway regions. Those female Captains in your area should have poor standing. While they are not exiled, they must have entered here by ident and don''t have any firm standing that allows them to serve in higher positions in this ce, right?"


    Gojirrah was enlightened at Kyros''s words. After that, the actions of Champion Tail 1 began to make sense!


    "It all makes sense now!" Gojirrah was amazed. Kyros was easily able to analyze the situation.


    "Anyway, keep that a secret for now. This little misunderstanding makes our lies more believable.


    Soon, the group entered the main hall of this kingdom. The renovations for a ''throne'' were being made. There were no kings in this kingdom, but the recent arrival of a Commander changed things in the kingdom as he proimed himself asking.


    The wide hall shocked Gojirrah as he saw it.


    "Quite arrogant of this newt to make himself king." Kyros chuckled.


    "Still... This ce looks like a great ce for my Steele family to settle. I''ll give you a different kingdom, Gojirrah. I like the architecture of this ce. Is that alright, Gojirrah?"


    "Ye-Yes! Anything for my lord!"


    "Alright. Let''s continue with the n. I''ll be ''waking up'' now."


    "Yes, Lord Kyros."


    As the group moved, they began to hear some groaning sounds.


    "Uh.... My body..." Kyros voiced out weakly.


    "Young friend!" Gojirrah called out.


    "Gojirrah? Where are we?"


    "Gojirrah?" The Champions murmured at the title.


    "This young friend lives in a world where having ''lizard'' as a name is weird. So he asked if I could change my name to Gojirrah, which means mighty lizard in their tongue."


    The group had envious looks. Gojirrah had the name lizard, which was an average name, but now, it has changed into a mighty lizard. While many wanted toin and even take the name Gojirrah for themselves, they couldn''t, for they do not have dragon blood.


    "Young friend, we are in the Lizard Kingdom A."


    "Lizard Kingdom A? You lizards have a weird naming scheme. Why A? Can''t you even do Alpha? Why not call this kingdom the Alpha Draconis Kingdom? Since you are a dragon, we can name this kingdom, First Dragon Kingdom." Kyros suggested.


    The Champions was amazed at the very domineering name. The Commander felt his heartbeat with great desire.


    "I must kill this man and be the king of Alpha Draconis Kingdom!" The Commander plotted.


    "Henceforth, shall we call this ce Alpha Draconi Kingdom! Land of the First Dragon!" Commander Longneck dered.


    "You! Wise human... What is your name?"


    "Young friend, this is Commander Longneck!" Gojirrah introduced.


    "Longneck? But his neck isn''t even long!"


    "How dare this stupid human insult themander! I will-"


    SMASH!


    The Commander whipped his tail at the Champion, who shouted at Kyros.


    The Champion was sent flying and crashed on the pirs nearby.


    "What name can you bestow me, oh wise one?" The Commander asked and gave a respectful greeting.


    Gojirrah and Kyros were amazed.


    "Wow. I can already hold a good position in this kingdom without even showing off my skills as an alchemist and potion brewer! He even struck a Champion all for the sake of getting a cooler name!"


    Kyros watched the tall Commander.


    "I guess the least I can do is give him a cool name... Cminus?" Kyros thought.


    Cminus was named one of the famous lizards known in the world of his incarnation.


    "How about this then..." Kyros paused to maximize anticipation, excitement, and tension.


    "The Great Commander-King of Alpha Draconi, Komodo Dragon!"


    Longneck trembled with great satisfaction as he heard his new name.

 Chapter 210 - For A Poison Master

    Komodo Dragon.


    The name was so domineering. It even had the word dragon in it!


    "Tha-That is such an amazing name!" The Commander shouted.


    The Champions all had an amazed expression.


    "Lo-lord Kyros! You can do that?!"


    Kyros was stunned.


    "Do what?"


    "Make dragon as a name!"


    "Wait.... you guys... Don''t put ''dragon'' in your names? You put lizards, but not the dragon word?" Kyros was confused.


    "We don''t! It seems... strange to do so."


    "...This may sound racist... But you guys are idiots." Kyros shook his head. He couldn''t understand how the lizards never thought of such a thing.


    "Don''t bother. It''s part of the curse." Cminus exined.


    "Curse?"


    "They''re not dumb. They are just cursed. Remember what I told you about the Okto-Khefali?"


    "The eight-headed serpent?"


    "Yes. Do you know why the one we met was called Bob, and the whelping inside this ce is called Eugene?"


    "It can''t be! A name curse!?"


    "Yes. The heretics that were led by the dragon race all had mocking names that mocked the gods and fallen. And so, the coborative effort of the gods and fallen created a curse that attacked the most daring heretic races. So all of the scaled races, be it dragons, lizards, or serpents, are now cursed with this powerful curse."


    "How petty were you gods to do that? So immature. I don''t know much about your power, but I''m sure the effort to do that wasn''t easy! Why go through the trouble to do that."


    "There was a heretic god that learned a Time Code and named himself after my own name. He called himself Calm-my-anus."


    "Wow. No wonder you guys were pissed."


    "But this curse is so powerful. The lizards here have a much more potent bloodline and are closer to the true race that we cursed. Meaning they are more affected by this curse! Not unlike those in the neworld with such a diluted bloodline. Right now, even though you gave this Commander a name with the words dragon, the others can''t think of doing the same thing!"


    "They can''t?!"


    "Yes. It won''t ur to them to do the same thing! That''s the curse! They can''t even imitate other things or think of a good one. The funny thing is, the stronger ones in their race know that their names suck. And those that existed and had names prior to the curse are cursed that circumstance and situation will push them to change their name or have their name changed into something stupid as well."


    "Woah. So the dragon that Martha has must have a pitiful name."


    "I''m willing to bet he has."


    "I thank you, wise human, for such a name! I love it!" Commander Komodo Dragon thanked.


    "You are an alchemist?"


    "Yes, Lord Commander."


    "Is it true that you can make a Paralyzing Gas Bomb?"


    "Yes. It''s one of the things my master taught me. I can make a De-Magic Fog Bomb too! It''s one that I''m good at."


    "De-Magic Fog Bomb!?" Everyone, including Gojirrha, eximed.


    "Yes. Just give me the right items, and I can show you."


    "What do you need?" Champion Middle w asked excitedly.


    "Erm... I don''t know what herbs are avable here. I noticed that this ce isn''t the same ce with the number of herbs and nts they have."


    "Acolytes! Give me the list of everything we have in the storehouse!" Middle w shouted.


    "Prepare an alchemy table. I want to see this myself." Komodo told Middle w.


    "Yes, Commander."


    The De-Magic Fog Bomb was a powerful weapon that created a mist that devoured magic energy. It can be used either as an offensive weapon by deploying it right in the middle of the enemy mages or used as a shield. If thrown in front of an army, any magic attacks shot through the fog are slowly eaten up.


    This fog was very hard to disperse and would stay in the area where it was deployed for ten minutes and would gradually fade. In a battle, having mages lose the ability to attack or will be unable to attack a certain ce for a time could turn the tide of a battle.


    "This could work! If we have this, then the Goblin and that undead would be weakened! An undead army of animated creatures will copse if we have one of those!" A Champion eximed.


    The preparations were being made in haste.


    Kyros was now treated as a person of great importance.


    While the preparations were being made, the Commander met with Gojirrah and talked about what he heard in the Golem City.


    "It seems... that you know the secret..." Komodo began.


    "Yes. But the humans know better. They know that the Golem City is the center of this. And they know that that ce is a dragon graveyard. They even talked about eggs!"


    The Commander was silent at the report.


    "The truth is, we Commanders were sent here because of certain reports that reached us a week ago. There is a mighty being that was discovered on the Green Mountain range. Deep inside those mountains is a being as strong as the Celestial Golem inside the Golem City."


    "No... It''s not dragons. It''s a mighty serpent that is even stronger than regr dragons! That is why the golems agreed to ally with these humans because it has sensed that beast!" Gojirrah exined,


    "Yes. Those humans called it an Okto-Khefali."


    "So that is the name of that beast! It was huge! Its serpent body is even buried down! The stone surrounding it is also too strong, and it''s quite difficult for us to break through the rocks.


    Kyros was listening to the report, and he frowned. He was seated outside but positioned himself that he was close to the room where Gojirrah was.


    "Serpent body? They must have found only one of its heads. Gojirrah, don''t say anything. That information might hasten their search."


    "Because of that beast, we hope to grow strong enough to fight that monstrous golem. About eighty to ny percent of our forces are likely to be sacrificed once that old golem moves. But with this Okto-Khefali, it may be possible to fight that golem without making such sacrifices! It''s only a matter of time for it to awaken. Because of this, the Lizard Lords were sent here. And I am one of them."


    "Commander, how many Lizard Lords are here?"


    "More areing. Every Lizard kingdom in Lizard is preparing to send their forces in here. Our kingdom can only afford to send me, a Commander. But rumor has it that a Cardinal is trying to make an entry."


    Kyros raised his brow.


    "A Cardinal? I really have to level up if that''s the case. If any level fifty freaks arrive, my family will be in danger. And I''m sure more than one Cardinal will enter this ce." Kyros calcted.


    "Oh? You''re finally bing more serious in increasing your level?"


    "I need to reach level twenty. That''s the minimum level requirement for a poison master, right?

 Chapter 211 - Prepare A Poison Just For Her

    The alchemy room was finally prepared. A strange device created immense heat and arge cauldron at the center with arge crystal ball covering almost half of the room. Several pirs extended from the ground and went into the crystal. Several strange jewels, rocks, and even crystals were on top of each pir.


    Therge crystal ball enclosed everything, and the only hole was the one that led to the cauldron.


    The cauldron had another set of sses leading out of it and towards a table where all the magical ingredients were ced.


    "So this is your Alchemist Chamber?" Kyros was impressed. In all the kingdoms he was at, he had not once seen such an advanced alchemist chamber.


    "Does it impress you, alchemist?" The Champion Middle w asked.


    "Of course! The human kingdom my master served doesn''t have these extravagant devices to concoct his brew.. We did have a nice enchantment room, though." Kyros recalled the Omega Kingdom Creation rooms.


    "You... know enchantments?"


    "Just knowledgeable in those areas."


    "Which fields of Creation do you know?"


    "Alchemy, Enchantments, cksmithing, and Energy Conversion Circles."


    "...You know... all disciplines of Creation?"


    "A little."


    Cminus rolled his eyes. His knowledge had grown from his two-year lesson trip. His expertise in those areas was practically saint-level.


    "I wonder what world you live in..." The Champion was amazed.


    "I am a fallen prince, to be honest. I was trained by various masters and knew each of the Four Disciplines of Creation." Kyros exined.


    "It seems that Champion Gojirrah is quite a lucky star..." Middle w assessed as he watched Kyros make his way to the Operation Table.


    Kyros stood at the center of the table. He watched as the herbs, naturally formed magical objects, and ores were ced on the nearby table.


    "Here are the objects you requested, Alchemist!" The acolyte bowed.


    "Some of these would only be found in the Hignds in my world. Interesting." Kyros smiled.


    More and more strange materials were being ced on the table, and Kyros sat on the chair and began to light up the operation table.


    "When shall I start?" Kyros asked.


    "Now." A voice echoed at the back. Komodo and Gojirrah walked out of the room.


    "What shall I create?" Kyros asked.


    "A Paralyzing Gas Bomb will do." Komodo smiled.


    "If you do this, and seed boy, you will be the first human to be given a formal rank in our kingdom! No longer will you be a ve! But you will be a true alchemist!"


    "I will not fail, Commander Komodo Dragon!" Kyros dered confidently.


    "Champion Middle w! I''ll need you to harness the energy to keep that fire burning. I will also need someone to pour in tremendous force energy!" Kyros ordered.


    Another Champion stepped forward.


    "Erm... Can it be a woman? Champion Middle w''s magical energy has a potent, strong, and relentless death energy. I need force energy to counter it. I need life energy for this to work. This has too much Yang, and I need Yin." Kyros exined.


    Champion Middle w, the acolytes, and the fellow alchemist practitioners all had a confused expression.


    "Will it be of any help?" Middle w couldn''t help but ask.


    "Yes. The Energy Conversion Circle is used to convert Magic, and Force Energy uses Runes using First Word. It''s using the word that we would trante to ''Overflow'' in Lizard tongue. The word that was fashioned here used Steel, Fire, and Lightning elements. And the concept of this Energy Conversion Circle is to use the three Elements to resonate and create an overflow of energy. The problem is... this seems to have been used a lot of time and has filled this Circle with a lot of thick clumps of energy."


    "Thick clumps? There are no such clumps!" The alchemist in charge of maintaining the Energy Conversion Circle eximed.


    "It''s tough to detect if you are not learned in Energy Conversion Circles. We call the phenomenon of these clumps of energy forming within the circle the Death Clog Residual phenomenon. Verymon in ces where those who use the circle are men. It''s easy to prove my diagnosis." Kyros smiled.


    "The Death Clog Residual phenomenon in Energy Conversion Circles causes a sudden burst of energy. These bursts are so small and undetectable that most alchemists would think they incorrectly applied too much energy. Even if the alchemist were to try his best to control the energy, he should notice some energy outburst, forcing him to pour in less energy. Unless the clumps of energy are cleared out, it will keep happening again. But the problem is... there is no female alchemist here." Kyros nced around.


    "So the clumps of energy never get drained out as new ones will form. As a result, this particr Energy Conversion Circle is bound to cause the Alchemist to fail at least once in every six creation attempts." Kyros exined.


    The acolytes were all confused at Kyros''s words. They could not understand some of the words that he was saying.


    But Champion Middle w and the nearby alchemist were all amazed.


    "So... That''s it!" Champion Middle w eximed.


    "I''ve been failing some of the pills and energy core I try to create! And some of them is the explosive energy that disrupts the process even though I''ve been very careful!"


    "But why does this happen?" One of the alchemists asked. He also noticed this.


    "As I said... This First Word that is carved at the center means, Overflow. In short, this Energy Conversion Circle uses the magic or force that is stored in that word to convert energy. But for it to never run out or die out, that word has to have energy for its own to ignite the circle or kickstart it. And so, this circle is always designed to have energy for the word, and any energy that overflows from it bes the converter to convert force or magic into whatever form of element or power you need it to be."


    Many alchemists had their expressions changed.


    "I take it that this boy is speaking some sense?" Commander Komodo asked Middle w.


    "He is not speaking sense. He is enlightening us! Most of us here haven''t had the opportunity to study the discipline of Energy Conversion Circles! And he practically exined how this circle works!"


    Komodo nced at Kyros.


    "Alchemist... You speak First Word?"


    "Yes."


    "Now that I think about it... Your Mastery on Serpentari is quite impressive. Although you speak Serpentari A, the oldest of all Serpentari tongue." The Commander also realized another fact he had long taken for granted.


    "I only know that because one of my teachers was a Lizardman too. But my training in Energy Conversion Circle is based on First Word."


    "I wish to discuss more with you after this presentation, master alchemist!" One of the lizardmen alchemists requested.


    "As will I!" Another added.


    "Enough. Master Alchemist... Please grace us with your knowledge. Champion Reptilia. Please grace the presence of Master Alchemist and release your force energy."


    "Yes, Commander." The beautiful lizard princess bowed.


    "Wow! Champion Reptilia is so beautiful! Are you single, master Champion?" Kyros was curious and asked.


    Several Captains and Champions raised their eyebrows at thement that this youth made.


    The princess frowned at the audaciousment.


    "Master Alchemist. While I respect your knowledge, I would humbly request to keep that part of my life private."


    "Oh! I''m sorry if I offended you. But I have to ask this so I can know the pure life energy in you. If you are a virgin, it''s double the amount. So I need to know how much life energy goes in so I can clear up those clumps." Kyros gave an innocent smile.


    But everyone froze as they heard those words.


    "Someone as beautiful as you must have had countless partners here. You could easily pick any man and take him, right?" Kyros asked again, maintaining his innocent expression.


    The look on Gojirrah''s shocked face turned to horror.


    "What... did you say?" Reptilia asked.


    "I''m asking if you''ve been sleeping with any of these men. And I want to know how many. If you have a rather active lifestyle, it makes using you quite pointless, and I will need a less beautiful lizarddy to help me. You know... One that is isn''t a hot-blooded lizard." Kyros answered again.


    [Taunt activated.]


    Reptilia gritted her teeth.


    "Is... master alchemist making an unreasonable assumption?" She asked.


    "No. Now that I think about it... You do exude a lot of Yang energy. You must have a lot of things to do. Oh well. I''ll look for two captains that aren''t as adventurous as you are, if you know what I mean. As for you, Begone THOT!" Kyros chuckled.


    "DIE!" Reptilia roared angrily.


    The Commander moved with great speed and lunged to block the strike that he knew Repti would do to the child.


    BOOM!


    "Champion Reptilia! Calm down!" The Commander shouted.


    "She probably can''t. There is too much Yang energy, as I thought. The fact that mere words easily trigger her means she has been sleeping around with many men. I''d say three a day." Kyros sniggered.


    "You! I''ll kill you!" Reptilia shouted as she began to wield her powerful attacks.


    But the Commander continued to block the attacks.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "Entropy. I thought so. And Commander Komodo has Earth as I thought so." Kyros assessed the elemental affinity of the two.


    "My Lord... If I may ask..." Gojirrah sent a message.


    "I will be creating potent poison energy that can paralyze everyone here for a short time. The problem is that we have to run away with Reptilia. And so, I need to create a poison that can paralyze her. But with her strength, she could easily resist various poisons. But now, I know her power and affinity. So I just need to create an extremely potent poison for Reptilia. After this show of mine, we will be escaping."


    Gojirrah was stunned. He didn''t expect things to progress so fast that Kyros was already nning how to escape.


    "So your words against her..."


    "It''s all to let me gauge her strength and prepare a poison just for her."


    "Then is she a...?"


    "A what?"


    "Erm... Are your ims about her hobbies true?"


    "What? Of course not! I was taunting her! Man, you sure are a perverted lizard!"


    Gojirrah was shocked at Kyros''s shamelessness.


    "You''re the one who asked me to sleep with the wives of champions...'' Gojirrah grumbled.


    "Right now, I just have to weaken her." Kyros ignored Gojirrah and watched the battle. Finally, an opening appeared.


    Kyros mmed his arm on the Energy Conversion Circle and pretended to channel energy. But what he did was harness a bit of dark energy and activated the powers of Mysterion, and shot a beam of light towards Reptilia.


    The timing itself was perfect. Reptilia was just knocked back from an attack and could not harness any Force energy.


    BOOM!


    "Ahhhh!" Reptilia gave off a faint cry.


    "You insolent newt! I asked you innocently, and you dare disgrace this chamber of honor?!" Kyros exploded in anger.


    Everyone was stunned at the attack.


    Kyros continued to hold on to the circle as powerful light energy covered him,


    "Stand up, little girl, and offer your energy! I just purged the death energy out of you." Kyros shouted as he dispersed the energy.


    There was total silence. Even the Commander was amazed at the pure, holy power that Kyros revealed.

 Chapter 212 - Prepare The Bombs For The Escape

    The Champion next to Kyros watched as Kyros wielded power. The Energy Conversion Circle was used to pour in energy that could be used to activate the heat in the cauldron, send freezing energy to cool down an item or infuse elements in it.


    The Circle gave energy to several basic cores of Fire, Wind, Ice, Lightning, and Earth. Each Core was a core that the lizards have acquired from various monstrous beasts that could cultivate and has a core.


    Kyros was drawing energy from the Earth Core and was absorbing it. He didn''t need to but could have just shot a holy bolt attack, but he needed to put on a show and convince everyone that the power he wielded was from the Operating Table and not from his own body.


    The Champions were amazed as they had only seen an application like this in the frontlines whenever they would be called to battle a monstrous beast invasion. Some of the stronger kingdoms would deploy energy conversion circle experts, and various mages and force experts would use that circle to create massive attacks. But the application of that mysterious magic was something so distant to them that even the alchemist Champion had no dreams of doing that!


    And yet, that amazing scene appeared before him.


    "Amazing...." Champion Middle w was amazed at what he saw.


    "Expert..." Commander Komodo eximed at what he saw. This boy was not a priest or someone who had specific holy sses. The element that this boy naturally revealed was Dark Element. And yet, he managed to shoot a beam of pure, holy power!


    The nearby captains who observed the scene could not help but feel a trace of fear. That was an attack that actually damaged a Champion!


    Kyros timed the attack when Reptilia would expend all her powers in the wild and angry attack. There was a gap where Reptilia needed to recover and gather her force energy again, and this was the timing that Kyros chose.


    But even though Kyros made a sneak attack, the Captains and even the Commander did not question it. No low-leveled warrior could ever dream of harming a Champion!


    Kyros was not even a level fifteen cultivator, and he already made such a powerful attack! Everyone respected Kyros because of this.


    "Wow. That was amazing. You mixed Holy and Dark!" Cminus praised.


    "Yeah. I''m getting the hang of this Mysterion thing. That darkness is going to affect her soon. Her pride will not allow her to admit that there is something strange in her body. But since I''m going to make her drain all her force energy, she won''t have any strength left to struggle when we steal her." Kyros schemed.


    Reptilia was the one who was most shocked. That attack was so pure and created a strange stiffing sensation around her.


    "Get up here. I purged all Yang energy in you! Now your force energy will do." Kyros harrumphed. But the truth was, he was lying.


    The Energy Conversion Circle did have issues with clumps of energy forming. The only way to remove or corrode these clumps was through Holy energy. A thick light source would cause these clumps to weaken and be normal energy that won''t give those sudden surges. But Kyros made up a lie and used the concept of Yin-Yang as a cover. Of course, the real reason Kyros said this was to get Champion Reptilia to pour out her force energy and further weakening her.


    Reptilia still wore an ugly expression, but everyone was looking at her. Those who had honorable positions, whether in their cultivation or in their rank and expertise, had pleading eyes.


    Reptilia gritted her teeth. The young boy forced a Champion like her to plead and follow her words.


    She slowly made her way towards the Operating Table.


    "Hrm? Oh. What luck! She has the Warrior''s Instinct just like uncle Aron! But... hers feel very, very weak. I hope that improves when she bes a Dhampir." Kyros mused.


    Reptilia stood next to Kyros with a stoic expression.


    She ced her hand in the circle and channeled Force energy.


    Kyros pretended to concentrate and sent the energy to clear the clumps inside the Energy Conversion Circle.


    After that, Kyros smiled to reveal that the ''operation'' of fixing the circle was sessful.


    "Alright. Time to start! I want you two to start pouring energy in this thing. Let''s get it started!" Kyros cheered.


    "Yes, Master Alchemist!" Champion Middle w spoke.


    The two began to touch on the circle energy and channeled it.


    The numerous cores at the side began to light up.


    Kyros waited but could not help but sigh at how pitiful these mortals were. They needed an Energy Conversion Magic to refuel the energy of the monster cores.


    "So useless. Those cores can''t even be used in battle like the cores I have. And here I thought I could take them. I guess I''ll leave it there since they are more useful here..." Kyros sighed.


    "Your elemental cores are nothingpared to these monster cores that need a specific frequency of energy to be charged. Those cores you got and the Golem cores are both saint-level! Any cultivator that wants to be a god would sell their family for those! The cores that you have are much more powerful and have the ability to Convert any magic energy fed to them. But these need conversion circles..."


    "Well, at least with these items they gave me, I could take a few of them so I can create a glove with Energy Conversion Circles that will allow my team to feed Force Energy on those cores..." Kyros nned.


    "How are you going to take advantage of these items? Your Inventory and storage space isn''t working since the Temple became dormant. You still have two days for the Temple to awaken."


    "I already taught of it. I will be asking them if they want me to create pills and artifacts. That way, I can bring a lot of these amazing things."


    "How do you n to escape anyway?" Cminus wondered.


    "I''m preparing a Nerve Numbing Paralysis bomb, a Drain Magic Fog, and a Force Inhibiting Poison bomb using earth-type monster poison.." Kyros answered.


    "Nice. One is to make their bodies paralyze, another is to ensure no magic casters can do anything, and other targets force users. And you n to use elemental earth monsters so that the effects are more potent for Reptilia, which has Entropy elements. Brilliant! But let''s see if you can do it. You got all the theories from me, but the practical application of actually doing alchemy is different! You read how to swim. Let''s see you swim!"


    "Cminus... I have Foresight and Molding, remember?"


    "So? Does it help?"


    "Of course it does! Why do you think I was confident in making these items? Whatever I canck in skill, I can make up through instinct and timing. Molding isn''t just about building a team too! It refers to Creation! I am even convinced that I could brew powerful alchemy weapons than some masters of the trade." Kyros smiled and began to move his hands to get the needed ingredients to prepare the bombs for the escape.

 Chapter 213 - Prepare The Cauldron

    Kyros began to throw several ingredients inside through the ss tubes that connected to the table.


    The herbs that Kyros threw in moved with great speed as a suction force pulled it, and the items zoomed right in the cauldron.


    Kyros began to use the force energy that began to hold, cut, and crush the herbs as they fell into the cauldron.


    Some of the items would move towards the partition with the Fire Core, and it was being burned and melted into a liquid-like substance that began to fill therge cauldron.


    "This is... impossible! He''s doing it all the same time!" An alchemist eximed.


    "Oh? You guys do it one at a time?" Kyros was so carefree that he began to chat with Champion Middle w..


    "Ma-Master Alchemist! If you don''t focus-!"


    "Rx. I know what I''m doing. Still, you guys do the three M''s one at a time?"


    "Three M''s?"


    "Oh right. That''s what we call it in human tongue. The three M''s of Cauldron stage in alchemy. Merge, Melt, and Modify." Kyros began to point to different partitions where the cores were. Some items were being melted, some were being merged, and others passed through several of the cores and underwent changes as they were exposed to different elements.


    "Ye-yes! We have to do it one at a time. Otherwise, we would be in danger of burning, overexposing, or destroying an ingredient!"


    "Oh... That''s slow." Kyrosughed.


    Cminus shook his head in pity. Even saints had to do the stage of cauldron preparation one at a time.


    "So this is the power of Fate Challenger in Alchemy. Amazing. He doesn''t need to pay attention to them but rely on instinctive actions. Considering his high int stat, it even makes it easier! Kyros is slowly learning the process by making Fate lead the way. But soon... he can do it even without Fate!" Cminus was amazed.


    The item preparation process looked like an amazing show to those who practiced the art of alchemy. Some were weeping at the sheer amazement of what Kyros disyed.


    Kyros continued to look casually, but in truth, he was amazed by the alchemic process.


    "So it''s actually this fun. No wonder those old guys in my past life were so passionate about this..."


    The process known as the Cauldron Preparation stage had several sub-stages. The first was to prepare the materials that were needed for item creation.


    The next stage was stock preparation. In this process, the ''stock'' of the cauldron would be the primary means to melt and merge all the prepared items.


    And finally, was the heating stage. The heating stage was the general term used to describe the process of bestowing elements to a cauldron. In reality, the cauldron isn''t always heated. In some alchemy items, the cauldron needed to be exposed to freezing temperatures. Sometimes, the items needed to be electrocuted.


    In the particr process that Kyros was doing, he used the fire element to increase the temperature.


    But Kyros was not just doing one stage, but doing it all together. The entire Cauldron Preparation did not have substages but one huge stage where all items were being prepared, the stock was being made, and the cauldron was being heated.


    "Is he... any good?" Commander Komodo talked to the most respected alchemist. Champion Middle w was a champion, but the Master Alchemist Crooked Bite was superior in terms of alchemy.


    "Any good? Either his a Celestial, or I have wasted my life calling myself a Master alchemist!"


    "A Celestial Alchemist?!" The Commander was amazed.


    "He must at least be a Celestial Alchemist''s disciple! Those skills! Not even the Grand Master back in our world could do that!"


    "It seems that Gojirrah has brought us a lucky star!"


    "Indeed! Our Kingdom will be the strongest in this world!"


    The Cauldron Preparation stage was done, and Kyros paused for a bit.


    "Are both Champions alright? We will be starting the Brew Stage. I need you to have enough Force and Magic energy.


    "I am alright, Master Alchemist."


    "Don''t underestimate me." Reptilia answered coldly.


    "Alright. Be sure to keep up. And feel free to take any Force restoring potions! I did beam you with magic, after all. Still, it''s a first. You must be rather sub-par as a Champion since I managed to harm you." Kyros chuckled.


    [Taunt activated.]


    "In any case, since you are a level lower to other Champions, drink up a Force Restoring Potion to ease my worries." Kyros urged.


    "I willplete your brewing without drinking any!" The Champion Reptilia roared.


    "Alright! Alright! You don''t have to shout!" Kyros shook his head and immediately threw in more and more of the ingredients as the Brewing process began.


    "Heat the cauldron now! I will control the excess. Champion Reptilia, use your Force energy to stir the cauldron. It''s quite heavy so do it! And don''t be ashamed to drink any Force-Restoring potion. You girls are weaker after all..." Kyros added.


    [Taunt activated.]


    "Oh snap!" Even Cminus eximed at the very gender derogatoryment.


    Champion Reptilia was doing her best not to cough up blood in her excessive anger.


    "What are you doing?! Begin the stirring process!" Kyros erupted, and Reptilia had no choice but to stir the cauldron. She was using that cauldron to pour out all her anger as the cauldron shook as an immense whirlpool appeared from Reptilia''s force stirring.


    "Good! Good!" Not bad!" Kyros praised.


    "I''ll show you..." Reptilia vowed never to drink a single Force restoring potion in the entire process.


    Kyros finally saw how her n was working.


    Gojirrah could see how angry Reptilia was.


    "So that''s the n! Lord Kyros was afraid that this Princess Reptilia would drink Force Restoring potion. And since the goal was to exhaust all her force energy, Lord Kyros had to make those taunts!" Gojirrah was amazed.


    Kyros began to throw all the ingredients. But then another set of ingredients that was different from the first set appeared.


    "What... is that?" Reptilia asked.


    "I don''t want to waste time. This is the next set of items to make a De-Magic Fog." Kyros answered casually.


    "We...are going to make both?" Champion Middle w asked.


    "Yes. The De-Magic Fog just needs us to merge items and create heat. The heat from the cauldron will do. Champion Reptilia, I''ll be counting on you! You sure you won''t need to drink potions? It''s alright if you''re weak, you know? I''m used to Commander assistants after all."


    "No. Continue!" Reptilia answered as she gritted her teeth.


    How hard could it be for her to provide Force energy to cut, stir, andpress?


    "Good! Then let''s start. Keep stirring and begin to crush those ingredients at the Earth Core. Next, roll up the ingredients into a ball in the Ice Core. Start chopping those in the Lighting Core... Next..." Kyros began to list various steps. And what was even more daunting was that his hands were ready to drop in the next set of ingredients!

 Chapter 214 - Prepare The Escape Path

    The orders that Kyros listed grew more and moreplex. Along with the high demand was the speed of Kyros''s orders.


    Reptilia was barely keeping up, and Kyros would even add snidements like ''eptable'' or mumble ''oh well'' and other sighing remarks.


    This even made Reptilia want to prove herself all the more.


    Unbeknownst to many, Kyros was secretly harnessing his Force and Magic energy to create a strange resonance inside. His force showed a fraction of True Cut and would secretly send it in the areas where Reptilia''s attention was not focused.


    Kyros was also sent inside the dark powers from his core and even used Mysterion to send Holy energy.


    And so, the ingredients began to react outside of the expected reactions when it was exposed to the elements.


    "How? How did that happen? Why is the Vile Water Fungus seeping out with the dark energy it has?!" An alchemist didn''t understand what he was seeing.. One of the Ingredients was moved near the Earth Core, and as Reptilia began to crush it, the dark energy was leaking out.


    The lizard alchemist reached the nearby tables and crushed the same ingredient, but no dark energy leaked out.


    It wasn''t just him, but there were many who were also trying the strange anomalies that Kyros disyed on some of the ingredients that were being harnessed above.


    Even Master Alchemist Crooked Bite began to move and grab some of the ingredients.


    Commander Komodo was silent but knew that this young boy was showing more miracles.


    "Ma-Master Alchemist. Those miracles... How?"


    "I will give a lecture to exin all this soon. But right now, let''s concentrate, shall we?"


    The nearby alchemist cheered as they heard this.


    "Alright, Champion Middle w, here''s what you will do now. We''re already past the physical chopping, cutting, and crushing. I want you to create apressed energy bomb that would explode for about... seven centimeters."


    "Wha-What?"


    "Oh? Is it not doable here? Oh well. I am too used to having such powerful helpers whenever I craft. I don''t me you. Alchemy really isn''t one of the lizard''s strengths. And thankfully, Champion Reptilia here should be strong enough to contain magic that you can explode. Use your force energy to contain the explosions that Champion Middle w makes. I trust you can do that? Otherwise, the whole Operating Table will be destroyed. Feel free to drink that Force-Restoring Potion." Kyros spoke but tried to hide his sneer.


    Reptilia gritted her teeth. She was getting drained from the many requests of Kyros, but her anger grew all the more.


    "Just do your part, and I will do mine! This is nothing!" Reptilia shouted back.


    Kyros didn''t answer and continued to throw in more and more of the ingredients.


    And then, Kyros soon directed the two to begin harnessing their energies to create those small explosions.


    Sweat began to pour at the backs of the two Champions, and it was apparent that Champion Reptilia was being exhausted of all her Force energy. Yet despite the many desires of the nearby fighters to offer their ce, the cold re and eyes of Reptilia silenced them.


    Soon, the entire process of creating the alchemy weapon was now in thest process. And that was the sealing part.


    After creating the concoction, the alchemy item needed to be sealed. Alchemy drugs such as food pills, capsules, and the like would be contained through various items, and alchemy weapons would be sealed in a tight container. The sealing process was normally the hardest part as it was to contain andpress the powerful magic born from the alchemy process.


    Kyros concentrated and prepared the bomb seals for the weapons as he began to direct the two Champions into the process ofpressing the energy.


    The problem was, there were two items topress!


    Reptilia was pressed beyond her capability, and Kyros continued to tell her to drink and even asked someone else to take her ce.


    But no female captain dared to take the ce of Reptilia.


    "I... Can... Do... This!" Reptilia shouted as she poured out her Force energy and contained the wild energy.


    Kyros then immediately acted and sealed the two bombs through his own force. Since Reptilia contained the energy of both alchemy weapons, the sealing was easy for Kyros.


    A muffled noise could be heard as the seals closed on the energy, and the loud sounds of the roaring fire and the exposure of the ingredients to the elements suddenly died out.


    The room fell into pin-drop silence.


    All that everyone could hear was the deep breaths and pants of Champion Middle w and Reptilia.


    But no one paid any attention on them as their eyes were glued to the two alchemy weapons.


    They were two metallic balls quickly moved as Kyros directed Force energy to it. The two metal balls flew towards the alchemy retrieval bin of therge ss crystal. A part of the ss crystal opened up with the force energy of Kyros, and the two alchemy weapons flew out.


    "Champion Gojirrah." Kyros called out.


    Gojirrah was already waiting, and the two weaponsnded on his palm. Hisrge palm could barely hold the two alchemy weapons.


    "I''ve never seen such amazing alchemy before..." Master Alchemist Crooked Bite apuded as he rushed forward.


    "Grand Master Alchemist! You have opened my eyes! What alchemy weapons are these? They look different from the alchemy weapons you said you would create!"


    "It is different. I made a slightly stronger one. This isn''t a Paralyzing Gas Bomb, and the other isn''t a De-Magic Fog Bomb. The first is a Nerve Numbing Paralysis bomb, and the other is a Drain Magic Fog."


    The silent room became noisy. But it was because most alchemists were asking each other what those two bombs were.


    Only Master Alchemist Crooked Bite had a frozen expression.


    Commander Komodo frowned and approached Crooked Bite.


    "What are those?"


    "The Nerve Numbing Paralysis Bomb is much stronger than a Paralyzing Gas Bomb! It can paralyze Champions!"


    "What?!"


    "And the other bomb is much more powerful and useful! The Drain Magic Fog is not just a defensive bomb that is deployed. This fog absorbs magic energies! If deployed on the battlefield against mages, it will rob the mages of magic, and it will be all contained in the bomb! That Drain Magic Fog can then be an explosive weapon or a supportive magic-recovering tool!"


    "I guess it''s about time for me to reveal myself. I am not just an ordinary ve. I am the son of a king." Kyros began.


    "But my kingdom fell, and although I escaped, I was forced to throw myself in here. But who would have thought that my enemies would be here? And so I hid my identity and pretended to be some weak ve. Luckily, I met Gojirrah. This is the truth of my identity and how I have such knowledge as an alchemist. But enough about my past. All that I care about now is the future! I am crafting these things for free, for my revenge! Gojirrah and I found out that Golem City speaks of things that are enough to kill you all. But I will help you as long as you promise to kill my enemies, the humans in that city, and not mistreat me here. I want to be treated in equal standing to Commanders." Kyros boldly dered.


    The Captains and Champions were shocked.


    "It shall be as you say." Without hesitating Commander Komodo Dragon spoke.


    "But only if you make a Soul Binding Vow to serve our race."


    "Of course. I will dly do so. But before you do that, I have enough energy to create two more alchemy weapons. But to do that, I would need a much stronger Force user. As you can see, this Champion lost her bearing."


    "I... Did... not!"


    "Just drink the Force Restoring potion already! You look like you''re about to copse!"


    [Taunt activated.]


    "I can... go another round and create another bomb!" Champion Reptilia was so angry that she forcibly stood up.


    "Champion Reptilia. I wish to help him and experience the process of creating such weapon up front." Commander Komodo Dragon walked up ahead.


    "Give me this honor," Komodo asked.


    Although he wasn''t respectful like how others would talk to Reptilia, Komodo was careful not to say anything rude to enrage Reptilia.


    "Oh. so even this Commander likes her..." Kyros observed.


    "... If Commander wishes..." Reptilia slowly walked back. Some of the nearby soldiers offered Force-recovering potions, but then...


    WHACK!


    Reptilia''s tail smashed on these folk as she stood and watched.


    Kyros ignored her and was busy talking with Komodo.


    "Are you sure, Commander? This next item is quite taxing." Kyros warned.


    "I can manage." Komodo smiled.


    "The alchemy weapon that we will use could turn warriors into weak men. This is a Force Inhibiting Poison bomb."


    "Grand Master! You can make that alchemy weapon?!" Master Alchemist Crooked Bite eximed.


    Kyros nodded but turned to Komodo.


    "The process of creating this is quite dangerous. You must focus all your attention to create a powerful Force of energy that covers the entire cauldron so that the poison won''t leak. The ss crystal cannot contain this poison alone! The poison has properties that can seep and pass through almost anything. You cannot divert your attention. Otherwise, this bomb will explode and harm all of us."


    "Understood. You can be at ease, Grand Master Alchemist. Even if it drains every bit of my force, I will contain that bomb!" Komodo dered.


    Kyros gave Komodo a respectable smile and turned to Operating Table.


    "Gojirrah. Get ready." Kyros secretlymunicated.


    "Prepare our escape path. Once I drain the Force out of this Commander, I''ll deploy all the bombs. And then, we can begin our escape." Kyros snickered as he spoke to Gojirrah through their link.

 Chapter 215 - Prepare The Way

    The entire hall now had more people visiting. All Champions were present. Word of the amazing human alchemist had circted the kingdom. Earlier, no one dared to leave their position as they were afraid of missing out on anything. But now, the deration that Kyros would create two more alchemy weapons caused many to call their friends to witness the grand scene.


    The entire chamber had changed as more and more people wanted to view the scene.


    And at that point, Gojirrah began to initiate the n to prepare for their escape. And this was to take care of the Captains guarding the exit. If sessful, nearly half of the Captains would be incapacitated!


    Gojirrah whispered something to Komodo, and Komodo''s expression changed. Komodo turned to Kyros, and Kyros nodded.


    "Champions!" Komodo called, and the Champions approached..


    Komodo then gave a simple order. To send all Captains that were guarding the pce.


    Kyros smiled as he saw it. He had proven his worth, and it was enough to carry Gojirrah''s worth.


    The Captains were quickly brought inside. These were the Captians that stood guard at the castle.


    "Captains. ording to Gojirrah and Grand Master Alchemist, there could be traitors in our midsts. So some of you may be serving with Tail 1." Komodo red.


    Commander Komodo immediately took out a list that Gojirrah had written. Listed in the small parchment were several Captains to receive the Thirty-Nine Lashes Plus One punishment. Thirty-nineshes were given to criminals or soldiers thatmitted certain crimes.


    The eyes of the Captains turned dark. Almost all of them had done something or used Gojirrah as a scapegoat.


    Many Captian cried out in revolt, but Gojirrah reminded everyone that he was mistreated by another Champion and was using him as a scapegoat to hide his treachery. Because of that, Gojirrah imed that the Captains who he listed had been lying or using him as a scapegoat.


    "It''s time to separate the traitors from the taunts. If these traitors are able to confess their crimes and vindicate my honor, then they live. If not, they die." Gojirrah answered coldly.


    "How dare you! You are an exile! You are-"


    "And yet this exile has brought back critical information and an ally who can make this kingdom the number one kingdom in thisnd. You could be like Tail 1, who is an enemy of the kingdom! Everyone I mentioned on that list has cheated me at least once. All you have to do is admit to your crimes. But it''s interesting. I am a Champion that should be feared and respected. And yet, along with Tail 1, you all kept using me. Is it a personal vendetta? Or is it that you are traitors? This is simple. Receive theshes or admit your crimes." Gojirrah smiled.


    The Captains that were listed continued to shout in anger. Many of their crimes would get them in a lot of trouble!


    Kyros watched at the side.


    "How sneaky." Cminusughed.


    "Not only are you weakening the guards for when you break out of here, but Captains and if they start receiving the Thirty-Nine Lashes Plus One, they would be unable to fight. You made Gojirrah list out those that havemitted crimes that offended Champions. And since the Thirty-Nine Lashes is something any Captain can endure, they would rather take it than admit to their crimes!"


    "And it will be toote for them to recover even if they drank health-restoring potions. They''re not like us vampires that can instantly recover after all. It''s too much if all these Captains attack Golem City. We don''t want to make the human kingdoms lose a lot. After all, they are still sort of our allies." Kyrosughed.


    Komodo gave the orders despite the manyints, and the flogging urred in that room at Kyros''s request.


    "This Gojirrah is my savior. I would have died in that City if not for him. So I wish to see for my own eyes how mistreated he was." Kyros smiled.


    The flogging began, and the Captains kept denying their involvement.


    After all, some of the crimes of these Captains involved other Champions. Whenever theft, abuse, or murder urs, which causes a Champion to rage, Gojirrah is med. If not for Gojirrah''s position as a Champion, he would have long been killed.


    Gojirrah handed down the parchment of each captain''s crimes and quietly left the room, iming to prepare the evidence of each crime.


    Komodo nodded.


    As the flogging continued, the preparations for the next alchemy were ongoing.


    The cauldron was being reced, and the many ss tubes were being cleansed to remove all toxins and elements left behind.


    The alchemist also began to use the Energy Conversion Circle and was amazed that it provided a smoother flow of energy as Kyros promised it would after cleaning. But despite their desire to ask questions, they were silent. Kyros was recuperating after all.


    In recement of Champion Middle w, another Lizard Spellcaster took his ce. But this one was only an acolyte in the ways of Alchemy.


    But as the group was so excited to see more, there was mor, and many even urged to dy the process so that all the acolytes and alchemists and those of position who wanted to pursue the path of Creation.


    Everyone continued to discuss most things as Kyros was seated nearby and was given various precious ingredients ording to his requests.


    Various ores were being ced inside as Kyros stated that he would create a powerful alchemy weapon.


    "You''re trying to craft a basic core?" Cminus was curious. The ingredients that Kyros requested were one of the secret arts that Cminus taught on how to create a basic core.


    "Yes."


    "But what''s going to be the foundation? Are you going to use it to steal the cores in their Operating Table? If you do that, the quality of power will be a step-down. Or do you n to use that Basic core to house a new element from monstrous cultivators that you n to kill?" Cminus asked.


    "It''s not for monstrous cultivators. It''s for you."


    "For me?!"


    "Yeah. Right now, your power is rather scattered. But if we create a Core, it should help you grow. The basic core that you taught me is the one that can easily be upgraded into stronger forms. I noticed that the stages of your soul forms are Soul Wisp and then Soul Core. So I thought, let''s make you a Soul Core and an Elemental Core at the same time."


    "You''re going to seal me in that Core?"


    "Of course not! Are you kidding? You''re my secret weapon! It will house you and allow me to draw power easier from you. That way, the Time magic you have can be channeled easier."


    "So you n to make my soul wisp the power source. Hm... I never thought that I''d be an ingredient for alchemy one day."


    "I think it''s a step in renewing your body. I think with all the ingredients presented. We can increase your Soul Wisp level."


    "I get it. This is the best way to use the advantage of this entire chamber. And here I thought you nned to create some pills for your family."


    "I don''t have the time to make those. Not to mention it will seem suspicious. But this way, I can use the cauldron to create the Basic Core with you in it. After that, I''ll use the air cauldron to craft the real ingredient. But after I create the Basic Core, you have to take possession of it and pretend to possess me."


    "Oh? We''re not revealing ourselves to be traitorous beings yet? And here I thought you''d beughing and insulting everyone on our way out."


    "Well, you will be since you will pretend to possess me. I''m just being careful. I need to give Gojirrah and Reptilia a reason to get back here if the humans in Golem city are too racist to ept two Lizard Champions. Although my father, uncle, and grandfather already have a n set up to ept the Lizard Champions, still... It''s always better to stick to the side of caution. Especially since Destiny is trying to kill me, and that Fate is trying to make my life a living hell so that Destiny can''t kill me."


    "Ah. Good call. So I''ll pretend to possess this stone and possess you? What reason should I give about how a soul suddenly took possession of a basic core?"


    "Tell them that Tail 1 brought you in. Pretend to be a poltergeist."


    "Oh! I love that! It does make sense too! Poltergeists love to take possession of Cores so to give them more power. I kind of feel sorry for Tail 1, though. You used his secret sexual escapades as a reason to prove his alliance with the humans, and now this."


    "Wait till we get back the Temple. I''ll make all those human Champions voices out their respect and love for Tail 1!"


    "Wow. What did Tail 1 ever do to you?" Cminus frowned.


    "Not me. He made Gojirrah''s life a living hell here. He''s my subordinate now, and I''m doing this HR Employee Rtion thing you taught me."


    "HR means Human Resource. In this case, it''s VR since you are all vampires."


    Kyros continued to sit down and would asionally turn his attention to Reptilia, who was standing at the side. Even after everything, she refused to sit down, but it was clear that she was at her very limits.


    No one dared to ask her to drink Force-restoring potions while Kyros was treated with both Force-restoring and Magic-restoring potions.


    Kyros raised the potion at Reptilia as if the two were drinking alcohol.


    "Cheers!" Kyros smiled as he drank down.


    "Grand Master Alchemist. I am curious as to what item you n to craft?"


    "Two Alchemy Weapons. The first one is a weapon that inhibits Force energy just like this Magic Drain Fog." Kyros smiled.


    Everyone shouted in amazement.


    "The second is a powerful house for a Core! It should have three times the energy of these Monster Cores. And unlike them, they don''t need an Energy Conversion Circle. This means, if you find a suitable monster core, you can transfer it inside this Elemental Core, and everyone will be able to wield it! It will be as if you have an Elemental Core in you!" Kyros dered.


    Everyone was amazed, and amotion broke out.


    "This is my gift to Commander Komodo Dragon. With this core, he can contain a Fire monster''s core in it and can be a real dragon!" Kyros smiled.


    Komodo Dragon''s heart began to race in excitement as he heard the words of Kyros.


    Meanwhile...


    Gojirrah was outside and began to give several orders to the guards. All orders were rted to uncovering the crimes that the Captainsmitted. But as the soldiers moved out, Gojirrah gave a bright smile.


    "Now, no guards are present. Our escape will be very easy. Lord Kyros, I have prepared the way!"

 Chapter 216 - Prepare For Trouble

    WHIP! WHIP! WHIP!


    The sounds of whips echoed across the hall.


    A specialized whip that was designed to weaken the insides of the lizard''s tough scales was used.


    The Captains that were flogged all fell to the floor and coughed up blood.


    Yet despite the painful attacks and the promise of them receiving no whips if they admitted to the crimes, none of them did.


    The group endured the whips as Kyros predicted.


    "Didn''t even make up another lie, huh?" Cminusughed.


    "No use in doing that. Haven''t you noticed? Some Champions have left the room as fast as Gojirrah did.. They must be trying to fix and cover up whatever crimes linked to Gojirrah did."


    "Grand Master Alchemist. We are ready." The Champion spellcaster finally spoke. When it was agreed that he would help Kyors, he got nervous and asked help from Middle w to help him go over the steps that Kyros might ask him to do.


    The pair practiced while waiting.


    Kyros nodded and stood up. He turned towards Reptilia, who was still standing up. Her face was white as a sheet, but she adamantly ced a strong front.


    Kyros smiled and gave her onest look before moving up the Operating Table.


    As the group saw Kyros move, they all eximed and began to summon those still outside.


    "It''s starting!" An alchemist cried to call to his friends who were outside, discussing what they had just seen.


    Komodo Dragon was so excited that he ignored theints of the Captains and Champions.


    "Commander! As you can see, that Gojirrah is lying!" A Champion urged.


    But the Commander ignored him and went towards the Operating Table.


    "Begin," Kyros spoke and ced his palm on the Energy Conversion Circle.


    The entire room fell into silence as Kyros did that.


    Commander Komodo and the Champion Spellcaster followed suit.


    Kyros suddenly threw in a number of the ores and crystals that were on the table. Each of those ores was rare and valuable even within thend that they were.


    Some alchemists even felt pain as they saw Kyros toss it in and order Commander Komodo to slice it and crush it.


    But all kept silent as Kyros began to go through the three M''s of the Cauldron Preparation stage.


    What was amazing was the Kyros''s speed was faster as he began to toss more and more ingredients. Some were being bombarded by magic by the Spellcaster, while the other ingredients were being worked on by Komodo.


    The speed of each ingredient passed on from one elemental core to the next, and the speed of the cirction grew fast.


    Komodo and the Champion Spellcaster began to sweat as they followed Kyros. But though Kyros''s speed was getting faster and faster, they did not disturb him. Kyros had fallen into a strange trance state.


    Cminus saw it and smiled.


    "Now you''re an alchemist."


    Kyros had fallen into a state of great concentration. Nevertheless, his first attempt in alchemy and using his Path of Foresight and Path of Molding allowed him to solidify the theoretical discussions and practically apply them.


    On his first try, Kyros went with what he knew and went along with the step-by-step instructions he knew he should follow to create the alchemy weapon.


    But now, more of the things that Cminus talked about surfaced. Kyros was afraid to test out the concepts, and theories he was not confident of doing were finally being done now. And most of the basics that Kyros learned were being arranged and applied by his Soul Console.


    With the Soul Console taking care and prompting his body to give the basic orders, Kyros was able to immerse into the art of creation.


    The alchemist watching marveled at the scene.


    Those that saw the first alchemy grew even more amazing.


    "His... his style! It''s changing!"


    "What is this?! All of this is new! I''m too slow to keep up with his preparation!"


    "It must be because of Commander! Commander could keep up and produce more power that gives Grand Master Alchemist the freedom to move faster!"


    Reptilia was amazed at what she saw. However, she could not help but feel a sense of bitterness as she could see the great disparity of her limits as to what Kyros could actually achieve.


    It only took a few minutes, and the cauldron preparation stage was done.


    But this time, there was no brew being made. Instead, the ingredients inside the cauldron were divided into several partitions, each with a certain set of crushed ores and certain ingredients.


    The alchemist was growing more confused. It was the first time they had seen such a strange arrangement and that there was no stock present.


    The ingredients continued to be ced oneyer after the other.


    Floating above the cauldron were also several ingredients that were ced.


    The number of precious ingredients that Kyros were using was staggering, but many kept silent.


    Because if what Kyros said was true, a weapon that can hinder the Force energy of all cultivators could turn the tide of war. Hundreds of Captains and even those at the Champion level would instantly fall with a carefully nted alchemy weapon like this.


    And despite how extravagant Kyros was, none dared to question it.


    Soon, all the ingredients were ced inside, and the cauldron preparation stage had passed.


    Kyros had awoken from his trance and smiled at the preparations for his next brew.


    "Heat the cauldron!" Kyros ordered, and the Champion Spellcaster channeled the magic to heat the cauldron.


    Suddenly, a strange scene appeared right inside the cauldron. Several elemental powers exploded out, and each resonated to the nearest Elemental core nearby.


    Whirling energy suddenly urred, and a vortex of various elemental energy appeared.


    Even Komodo Dragon was shocked by what he saw. The power in front of him was so familiar.


    "That''s...!"


    "An Energy Conversion Circle?!" The Champion Spellcaster shouted in shock.


    Kyros had created an energy conversion circle through the arrangement of all materials.


    The whirling energy was spinning andpressing itself, and it was growing stronger and stronger than the ingredients that Komodo kept afloat through his force energy were being siphoned.


    "Commander. Keep it within the center of the vortex. And prepare to seal it! You have to have the strength that can resist the vortex of elements inside. Champion Spellcaster, use your magic to maintain the vortex and keep it from expanding to the point that it would attack the crystal surrounding the cauldron.


    The energies continued to spin and spin, and the Champion and Komodo did their best to follow Kyros''s orders.


    "Keep it steady, Commander. Champion, Please shrink the vortex through your magic force!" Kyros began to give more and more orders.


    Every time there was a change in the vortex, or if the vortex were ravaging the ingredients above, Kyros would immediately order the two to change.


    Soon, both the Champion and Komodo made a mistake, and the whirling vortex began to growrge.


    Komodo protected the ingredients by pouring in a massive amount of Force Energy.


    "It''s not enough! Champions! Help! I need more Force Energy!"


    "I need help as well!"


    Komodo and the Champion Spellcaster shouted, and several Champions moved as fast as they could and poured their power into the Energy Conversion Circle.


    "Seal it now!'' Kyros ordered as the vortex grewrger andrger, and the ingredients above were being torn apart.


    Komodo followed suit and focused their energy to seal the ingredients as they battled the vortex, spinning so fast that the seals for the alchemy weapon could not close in.


    The crystal surrounding the cauldron began to crack, and more champions and spell casters joined in.


    The Champions poured more in, and as everyone was busy trying to stop a Cauldron Explosion, Kyros poured in thest necessary elements toplete the creation.


    Cminus moved in as Kyros tapped the Circle and poured Dark and Light energy.


    "Contain it!" Kyros ordered, and everyone acted to seal the explosive power.


    Suddenly, a dark-bluish shine appeared in the center of the Cauldron, and the explosive power suddenly became a powerful vacuum that began to pull all the elements inside.


    BOOM!


    The champions could see the space inside copsing within itself, and all the force and magic energy that the Champions had were suddenly being drained. Then, an implosion urred in the center of the cauldron.


    "Ahh!" The Champions began to stumble down as they received a painful bacsh.


    Even Commander Komodo Dragon knelt down in exhaustion and was drenched in sweat.


    Everyone had a horrified expression as they saw the explosion, but then...


    "Sess! It''s a sess! Amazing! This is it! A mighty Alchemy weapon! A powerful Time Core!" Kyros shouted in glee.


    The weak expression of Komodo changed as he stood up to looked beyond the cracking crystal.


    The cauldron was destroyed as only the base remained. But right inside the remnants of therge cauldron were two strange objects.


    The first was a sealed alchemy weapon. Everyone immediately knew it was the bomb. But right next to the alchemy weapon was a dark blue crystal orb. The crystal orb started to glow a blue light, but it slowly turned into a purplish light.


    Kyros channeled his force energy on the circle, and the two objects flew up and zoomed towards his hand.


    "Behold! A Time Core! Its wielder can perform Time Magic by pouring in Magic or Force energy!" Kyrosughed as he showed it to everyone.


    "Time Core?!"


    The room exploded in shock.


    But Kyros''s smiling expression suddenly changed into horror.


    "What''s this?!" It''s alive!" Kyros shouted in pain.


    [Acting activated.]


    Dark energy erupted from Kyros'' hands. The darkness felt so evil and dark that it shocked everyone.


    Even Komodo didn''t charge forward at the appearance of such malevolent energy.


    "Help! Help!" Kyros shouted.


    Gojirrah leaped towards Kyros as he had just arrived in the room and reached for the orb.


    "A NEW HAND TOUCHES THE BEACON!" Cminus''s loud shout echoed through the hall as Gojirrah suddenly began to scream in pain as he touched the beacon. For some strange reason, Cminus spoke using a feminine voice.


    Gojirrah kept screaming in pain and was trying to remove the orb from his hand, but the orb was somehow creating a strange power preventing Gojirrah from releasing it.


    Komodo Dragon and the Champions moved and ran towards Kyros and Gojirrah. But then...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Three explosions urred as the Alchemy weapons were detonated.


    "NO!" Komodo shouted as the three weapons assailed his senses.


    Everyone in the room copsed.


    Only Gojirrah and Kyros remained standing.


    "Ha Ha Ha...." Kyros began tough, and Gojirrah echoed hisughter. As theyughed, the sadistic female voice of Cminus chorused with them.


    "Who... Who are you?!" Komodo asked weakly. He couldn''t move and could barely speak.


    Kyros was extremely angry. Cminus had already told him what to say. He didn''t want to say it, but Cminus said he would say it anyway, even if Kyros didn''t follow. And Kyros had to follow because if they acted out of synch, it would ruin the lie of them being possessed by a poltergeist.


    "Prepare... for trouble," Kyros grumbled reluctantly.


    "And make... it double!" Gojirrah shouted with passion."

 Chapter 217 - Prepare The Carriage

    No one understood what happened.


    They knew that Kyros and Gojirrah were possessed as they could see the Time Core lighting up and emitting energy. There were also the dark powers that appeared earlier.


    What many didn''t notice was that when Gojirrah rushed in to grab the Time Core, he discreetly handed Kyros the seed of a Pungent Shackling Poison Fruit, which he had taken secretly when he excused himself out. This was the same seed that Cminus revealed to be a remedy to many poisons if the seed itself would be removed.


    With the ability of that seed to disperse poison, Kyros and Gojirrah were immune to the poison of the Nerve Numbing Paralysis bomb and the Force Inhibiting Poison bomb.


    Cminus continued to give an awesome speech to which Kyros and Gojirrah had no choice but to follow the iconic speech of a certain violet and red-haired duo.


    Komodo Dragon was trying his best to harness his force energy, but even his nerves were paralyzed.


    "The three bombs that Master Alchemist created were used against us! That Poltergeist! What monster did Tail 1 bring into this kingdom?!" Komodo was so angry that he wanted to kill Tail 1 for bringing in the poltergeist..


    "What a fool this boy is!" Kyros spoke afterpleting his speech.


    "He created a Time Core! This is perfect for a Poltergeist like me! It''s a pity that I need to conserve all the energy I have to make this Champion send me back to those humans. You are all lucky that I can''t kill any of you! Tail 1 is useless. Go ahead and kill him. But, of course, what he knows may prove to be of value, so you can torture him to find out!" Cminus spoke as Kyros mirrored.


    "However... this Champion is to my liking. Even among other races, she would be considered beautiful."


    Gojirrah approached Reptilia.


    Reptilia''s eyes no longer had the angry and arrogant look but a look of despair.


    Kyros moved and grabbed a few herbs and restoring potions.


    "I''ll be back. And next time, this boy will create alchemy weapons to be used against you! Thank you, Alpha Draconis Kingdom, for showing us what great talent this boy is!" Kyros and Cminusughed.


    Gojirrah carried Reptilia and Kyros and began to sprint out of the room as Kyros and Cminus continued to rant about how evil he was and kept greeting some of the Captains as he made his escape.


    "Sorry, Captains... But the humans have long decided to abandon you. Did you really think we would give you that dragon blood? Idiot. We only used it to seduce you! Now that this idiot has it, we''ll just turn him into an ally! I bet this alchemist can concoct something useful. And this lizard princess too!"


    "Bye! See you! Good luck with your unrequited love to the Commander! Oh. And you. Tail 1 hated you for hiding information about the Okto-Khefali. So did I. I hope you die." Cminus and Kyros gave their goodbyes as they left the room.


    The captains and other people that have important positions were horrified as Kyros gave casualments. They would be branded as a traitor!


    The Commander''s eyes were fixed on the one Captain who Kyros greeted with having an unrequited love with him. His anger was exploding out.


    The room was silent as no one had the strength to talk. But all were enraged by what had happened. Many of them didn''t even know what a poltergeist was.


    But they were all scared at such a powerful being that managed to take possession of a Champion!


    Many even began to think if Tail 1 was being possessed by this creature!


    As the kingdom''s finest continued toy down, paralyzed and without any means to gather the strength to recover. They didn''t have the Force or Magic to fight the poison and could only allow it to pass so that they could slowly gather the energy themselves. Kyros and Gojirrah were walking out of the castle without any problems.


    There were no guards in the area, and they managed to move out of the guarded pce easily.


    The preparations of Gojirrah were not only that, but it was a means to spread the news of another shocking thing that urred.


    The gossips became wild rumors. The worse was how it was revealed that Champion Reptilia was involved in various sexually explicit activities with countless men and wasbeled as a THOT.


    The scene also followed that Reptilia met her match and could not keep up with the instructions and nearly lost consciousness as she was drained of energy.


    Apart from that, the news of the Captains getting flogged and how Champion Gojirrah was someone they should never cross also circted.


    The value of the Grand Master Alchemist also circted around the kingdom.


    Kyros and Gojirrah finally arrived at the popted area outside the main castle.


    "It wasn''t my fault! I''m telling you! She should have told me that she had no force energy!" Kyros eximed.


    "This is your fault, Grand Master Alchemist! While you did offer great services that have driven everyone mad that they are busy discussing the future of this kingdom and shouldn''t be disturbed, you still owe me your life! Champion Reptilia is someone that I admire, and if you can''t heal her, then I will no longer call you friend!"


    "Fine! Fine! I''ll heal her!" Kyrosined.


    Some of the people that Gojirrah ordered were present.


    "Champion!"


    "Report your findingster. The castle and all those Champions and Commander is in an important meeting. They are discussing the future of the kingdom and are finding out who the traitors are! It seems that Commander has found an interesting method thanks to Grand Master Alchemist''s Truth Serum."


    The nearby soldiers were surprised when they heard that.


    "Anyone who trespasses the castle grounds will be considered a traitor and will be executed on spot. The meeting is crucial as there will be a swift attack. Anyone who is found to be leaving this kingdom will be considered a traitor. Tonight, blood shall flow, and all those who are found to be traitors will be killed." Gojirrah warned.


    The nearby soldiers nodded.


    "Go and inform the others. I will be bringing Lady Champion to her abode." Gojirrah answered, and the trio left.


    Kyros and Gojirrah kept bickering and talked about more of the details of the n and how many will die tonight.


    "But a lot of innocent will be implicated! Those are your civilians! I don''t know how you do it in Lizardkin, but we humans don''t implicate the innocent! Most of your people don''t even know that they were dealing with those Captains!"


    "Commander is pretty strict. If he wants Alpha Draconi to rise, he must be this cruel!" Gojirrah answered.


    The loud and public discussion made everyone afraid. Everyone began to go back home, and most shops were being quickly abandoned and closed down. Everyone rushed back to their homes and family as they feared it. There were too many captains on that list! The list began of captains that were flogged had already circted to the lizardfolk, and almost all of the kingdom had dealings with one or two of these Captains!


    Kyros and Gojirrah easily arrived at the house of the Reptilia.


    Reptilia was doing her best to shout and speak and warn the townsfolk as he realized the lies and ploys that the poltergeist was making them do. But she was too weak and couldn''t even move her lips.


    Even as her ves and attendants saw the state of their master, they could only make way and prepare her room and give Gojirrah and Kyros privacy as they made their way out. They naturally knew of the happenings in the castle as the maids that saw and heard everything that transpired there had left early at Gojirrah''s orders.


    And so, while the scene of Gojirrah angrily forcing Kyros to heal her seemed a bit out-of-character, the maids who had just left managed to connect the dots from Kyros and Gojirrah''s orders.


    When they heard of the ns that were about to happen, the maids were horrified, and many asked if they could go back home to their families.


    Gojirrah allowed the maids to leave, and the very few ones remaining were assigned to guard the door.


    Reptilia was horrified as she could see her maids leave but have no power to do anything about it.


    "My Lord. How much time do we have?" Gojirrah finally asked as they were alone.


    "We have some thirty minutes remaining. Don''t underestimate the bombs I made. And the poison itself was powerful, and my darkness was added into that mix. It should give us enough time to escape. Now, let''s turn Reptilia into your ghoul. Unlike my Coven, both parties have to be willing to be part of it. But as for you, it''s a forceful curse. You bite her and inflict your vampiric poison and force her to drink your blood." Kyros exined.


    "Understood. How can we get out?"


    "Feed her the seed of the Pungent Shackling Poison Fruit after you turn her into your Dhampir. And then, we give her force-restoring and health-restoring potions to move out.


    Reptilia was shocked at what she heard. The two began to talk, and she could see that this wasn''t the work of a Poltergeist!


    Her body was too weak. She was drained of all force, and she was actually in a critical state. If left alone, those poisons could kill her!


    Gojirrah swiftly followed Kyros''s orders, and Reptilia felt the curse of the vampire coursing through her veins. As she drank the blood of Gojirrah, her body reacted, and a bond was created in her soul. She would have had the strength to resist it and forcibly attack this curse with her Force. But she was drained. She realized that she was tricked! The Grand Master Alchemist intentionally made her angry to make her weak.


    The bonds and constraints that Gojirrah set were much harsher than the Coven''s curse, and she could not even make a scene to warn the kingdom.


    "Master...." She stood up as she regained the strength to move and bowed towards Kyros.


    Gojirrah was too shy and made it that Kyros would be her master instead of him.


    "Good to have you onboard, Reptilia. Do you like your name? Or do you want me to change it?" Kyros asked.


    Reptilia was surprised at the offer.


    "Ah, we''ll settle thatter. The both of you! Use your influence and prepare to send us out of here. Prepare a carriage and get weapons and armor from the armory as we leave this ce. Reptilia. You are to leave something that these lizards can use to track your exact location. Something like a lifepass. Do you have any?"


    "Yes, Master."


    "Good! Leave a message on the lifepass. I''ll tell you when to drop it. Say something like save me and that whoever can save you, you will marry. Your letter must be short, but it must be believable to them that you wrote it. That way, it''ll make the guys mad, and even that Commander will work hard to save you." Kyros smiled.


    Reptilia was turning red, but she could not refuse her lord''s order.


    And so, the trio moved out to perform theirst tricks to leave the kingdom safely.

 Chapter 218 - Prepare Your Acting Skills

    "Get me that carriage! That damned Tail 1!" Reptilia shouted, and several blocks and neighboring houses heard the rage of Reptilia.


    Many were amazed to see Reptilia finally back on her feet as she charged out angrily.


    The nearby lizardfolk heard herints, and while it wasn''t clear, it was found out that Tail 1 had been using his influence to steal things of importance and that a carriage was running outside of the city.


    Gojirrah did his best to stop her and reminded her of the n of Commander Komodo Dragon, but Reptilia shouted angrily at him to the point that both Gojirrah and Kyros had no choice but to apany them.


    Kyros argued that he shouldn''t and reminded the two that he was a grand alchemist and shouldn''t be leaving the kingdom.


    But then Reptilia revealed that she had found a special garden hidden deep within a cave full of curious objects.


    "I can see that you are a poison expert and can craft antidotes for various poisons. Then you will find that ce a haven for herbs. There are strange nts in this ce that I found.."


    "Why didn''t you report it to the kingdom?" Gojirrah asked.


    Reptilia waited for Kyros to send the next part of their script, which the two had been reading.


    [Acting skill acquired.]


    [Dhampir Reptilia has acquired the Acting skill.]


    The two notifications rang out in Gojirrah''s head.


    Reptilia also saw a notification but was then prompted by Kyros to say her next scene.


    "You think I didn''t want to? The problem was... I was afraid that there were traitors!" Reptilia suddenly walked off a few steps away from them and turned her back with her face slightly facing them.


    Kyros was amazed at the sudden acting.


    "Traitors?! You... already sensed it?" Gojirrah shouted. This time his acting was more refined.


    Reptilia didn''t face Gojirrah but continued to tremble as if she remembered a painful experience.


    The nearby lizardfolk who had been listening and taking a peek at their discussions all could see Reptilia''s frustration.


    "... Did you guys receive the acting skill?" Kyros asked secretly.


    "Yes." Both answered.


    "Huh... No wonder. Alright. You guys already get the gist of the n. Let''s try to train that acting skill and see if we can get the Improv Skill if there is any. If there isn''t then, let''s just up your INT stats in this area."


    "Improv?" Gojirrah hadn''t heard of this term.


    "Yes. Acting is one thing. But we may be using our acting skills to lie our way out through whatever circumstances. What if unforeseen things happen and the lies that you have been saying are found out? Or let''s say Fate or Destiny has limited my link to you, and you can''t ask me what to say. How are you going to act? So you guys, and all my coven and event eh Steele family needs to learn how to improvise. So go ahead and keep acting. I''ll try to ruin your momentum in your acting. We use this as a way to prepare your acting skills. Now continue!"


    "Yes, my lord."


    "Yes, master."


    "You... knew that there were traitors? Why didn''t you report it?"


    "They were... my friends! Who can I report? I told myself that they weren''t betraying the kingdom, but they were just greedy. Several of the sites I discovered were reported to them, and they promised to inform the Commander. But I found outter that they didn''t. I thought they were selling it in secret and didn''t know they were sending it to the human kingdoms!" Reptilia closed her eyes, and tears were slowly falling.


    "Reptilia.... It takes great courage to admit that." Gojirrahforted.


    "Hmph! A likely story!" Kyros interjected.


    "You are a traitor! This is why you are urging everyone to get out! You n to escape now as the revtions will reveal your evil character! That''s why even after everything that Commander strictly instructed, you want to go out! And you want me and Gojirrah to go with you so you can kill Gojirrah and kidnap me and present me as a gift to humans!" Kyros challenged.


    Gojirrah was shocked. The usations of Kyros not only made sense, but it was also hard to counter!


    Reptilia was also startled at Kyros''s ims. But she knew that Kyros had to say this to make it believable.


    But unlike Gojirrah, who grew up as a nomad and lived off the streets, Reptilia had proper education before she agreed to move here.


    "I suspected the Commander was behind it! That''s why I didn''t say anything! The traitors were smart! They did their best to make it look like the Commander was behind it and increased their actions when the Commander arrived!" Reptilia answered.


    "If you don''t believe me, then bind me with your poison and take me. Then, I will show you the ce and have no power to do anything!"


    The surrounding soldiers were amazed. If Reptilia, known for her beauty and wisdom, suspected the Commander of being a traitor, they could only imagine how deep the traitorouswork ran down.


    Kyros locked eyes with Reptilia and kept on an expression of clear suspicion.


    "Fine. Gojirrah. Have her drink this. This is a potion that binds her force and robs her voice. You will only point what direction to go. Let''s move!" Kyros answered and approached the carriage that was prepared.


    Severalrge serpents were used as horses, and Kyros knew that these were Sprinting Serpents, the main transportation tool that the Lizard Kingdoms used.


    The carriage had various weapons that would be useful for Gojirrah and Reptilia.


    There were also various herbs and rations in the carriage.


    Gojirrah made Reptilia drink, and she suddenly fell as if robbed by her might.


    "Ugh..." Reptilia was trembling, and Gojirrah carried her and rode the carriage.


    "Open the gates!" The Captains guarding the gates ordered, and therge gates were opened.


    The carriage moved out with great haste, and it moved and moved. The strange night had fallen over this world, and only the strange glowing energies in the top heights of the dome would be the source of light.


    As lizards had great night-vision, the carriage didn''t even need torches as it moved and disappeared in the darkness.


    After several minutes since Kyros''s exit...


    The Commander finally managed to move. His body was trembling, and he was doing his best to move outside the room. He was walking as he leaned on the walls and walked towards the exit.


    A few Champions had also managed to recover and was slowly crawling towards the doors.


    They were all trying to shout, but the numbing sensation that paralyzed their vocal cords made it difficult for them. Several of the weaker cultivators who were closer to the explosion of the alchemy weapons had even died as they couldn''t breathe.


    Finally, Komodo Dragon managed to scream one word.


    "Gu-Guards!" The powerful shout echoed throughout the castle walls, and those at the bottom heard it.


    "It''s Commander!"


    "Shall we go?"


    "Is... is it safe?" Another soldier asked.


    "Erm... You go and find out."


    "No! You go!"


    The lizard guards began to argue who would go.

 Chapter 219 - Prepare For War

    The Human Kingdom Alliance had initiated an emergency meeting.


    All the Kings and the important members of their kingdom and their Commanders activated various teleportation channels and traveled towards the Boundary of the Great Divide.


    The Kings and Commanders arrived and all made haste towards the main hall.


    The Boundary of the Great Divide was home to the Vaux Imperial Kingdom, thergest and most powerful human kingdom of the Londs.


    The gap between the Londs and the Minds had arge mountain region in between. During the great war, Saints called to the Gods present and erected this mountain region to divide the twonds and provide only one area of entry into the Minds.


    The mountain region was a cursednd that was full of poison and miasma. It was said that the Gods and Fallen fought in the great cliffs of that mountain region. This mountain region was also responsible for covering the light of the cosmic object that provided light that should further darken the Londs..


    But the Vaux Imperial empire that was strategically positioned in the gap between the mountain regions had the most light in all of the Londs.


    Commander Stain Bloodless said to be among the top five strongest cultivator in the Londs, watched as the many human kingdoms arrived. But the human kingdoms were the first among many to arrive. All kingdoms were invited to attend the Summit of Kingdoms. Even the Orcs were called.


    "So these are the cultivators of the Londs." A beautiful woman watched as the human groups began to appear one after the other. She wore armor of great white that it appeared to be radiating. The woman was rather young. Commander Stain Bloodless guessed that this woman was barely on her twenties!


    And what was shocking was that even though this woman was a Champion, her power and purity were striking fear in the heart of Stain.


    "I knew there was a disparity... But some of the Minds captains can already challenge your Champions here. Of course, I do not say this to spite you but to pity you. After all, I know that this deste region can only give so much power to cultivators of the light." The woman sighed.


    "I receive your grace with thankfulness." Stain answered.


    "Truthfully, the best way to cultivate in this region is to walk the Path of the Dark Dependent. If I were here... I''d follow the path of Necromancers." The woman casually mentioned.


    "Pr-Princes!" One of the retainers to the Princess stepped forward.


    "Rx, Merik! I don''t have any ns. I''m just saying that''s the way to go here. The fruits of dark power and the nts here are only good for the Dark Dependent. I''m pretty sure that almost all mages in this ce practice dark magic. Since all monstrous cultivators and the beasts that can be found here are Dark Dependent, the mages and energy extractors can only siphon so much light energy. I''m sure that all are half-dark-dependent practitioners. Otherwise, it would be impossible for a Champion Mage to appear in this region."


    At those words, Stain''s eyes widened.


    "Yes. Even in this Vaux Imperial Kingdom. But don''t arrest them or anything. They are necessary if you want this kingdom to prosper. So unless they be insane and are guilty of any dark rituals, leave them be." The Princess noticed Stain''s expression.


    "Ye-yes, your Grace!"


    "Princess! Do not encourage them!"


    "Oh, boo-hoo, Merik. Your fanaticism towards the light is annoying! Light and Dark are both power sources. You think that even my father would not pursue dark powers if there is no conflict in gathering Light and Dark?" The Princess scoffed.


    "The Light must not be tarnished! You are the daughter of the nes World King! You must reveal the same light he has!"


    "I have to reveal the same power I have. I know how important the Lond is as it exists to warn the higher kingdoms of possible upheavals. And here we are in the Londs because of another upheaval. But if you want these kingdoms to exist, they must walk as a Neutral. And that means taking in both Light and Darkness." The Princess shouted.


    Merik was silenced


    Suddenly, the warp pads grew a darker color.


    "Oh? There are orc representatives? They areing here?" The Princess was intrigued.


    "There have been strange happenings in the Londs. The Airom region is strife, and we''re on the brink of full war. I believe these orcs will be asking for your Grace not to interfere as was agreed upon b the vows made long ago."


    "War? Both the Orcs and the human kingdoms are going to war?"


    "It pertains to the many things that we have yet to report. The inability for us to operate and use our message talismans forced us to use the message arrays. And those have been abandoned for hundreds of years. In some parts, the message arrays are already destroyed. So we don''t have the full details. We also invited the orc lords to tell us about what had happened and why they are moving to war."


    "It seems there is chaos urring in the Londs." The woman smiled.


    More and more orc delegates appeared.


    Dwarves also began to emerge. They were well-equipped with various armors that made them even bulkier than orcs.


    "Oh? There are still dwarves here?" The Princess was amazed.


    "I thought with such rich dark energy. They won''t be able to find a good forge." The Princess wondered.


    "Hmp. Human Commander, Stain..." One of the Elven retainers of the Princess called out.


    "Be wary. Those dwarves are quite powerful. Their equipment is strong."


    "How did they do that, Tathar?"


    "Dark me. It seems these orcs have found a way to forge without the light." Tathar added.


    The dwarven squad walked out. The power that they were resonating was very intimidating that the humans and orcs nearby were shocked.


    All of them had armors and weapons that the elites of other kingdoms would only wear. And all of them were outfitted with heavy armor and weapons that many had never seen before.


    "Dark me?" Commander Stain asked.


    "As you know, the Dwarves that are here are from families and kingdoms that had fallen or are exiled here. So they could never return to their kingdoms and would even get any form of support from the Minds. The reason why dwarves are powerful in the Minds and onwards is because they have light and can create powerful armors. But now, these people have found the secret of another legacy. They finally learned how to forge ording to the Dark Dependent ways." Tathar smiled.


    "So it looks like the chaos in the Londs is much more than we ounted it to be. Those dwarves areing here to show their stuff. They probably know about theing wars and presented themselves here to look for the bigger buyer. "


    "Prepare for war, Commander Stain. The Chaos in the Londs is about to explode." The Princess revealed.


    "Merik. My Sword." She suddenly ordered.


    "Princess?"


    "War ising. No... It''s already here." She smiled as she walked closer to the teleportation pad.

 Chapter 220 - Prepare An Answer

    As the Princess moved, she kept harnessing more and more holy power.


    "Princess!" Tathar shouted as he approached.


    The teleportation pads suddenly lit up with a darker color. Commander Stain knew that the lights meant that the kingdom that was arriving was using a darker energy source. The Orcs used darker energy, but the energy that erupted was so dark that it had clear malevolent energy that surpassed the orcs.


    Stain was shocked and noticed that his retainers were rushing towards the Princess, who was holding a Holy Sword full of energy.


    The warp pad exploded in darkness, and in the middle of the pad were several figures.


    Stain was stunned. The power of this warp pad was so strong. The energy that was used far exceeded the known limits within the Londs..


    "Which kingdom is that?!" Finally, one of the retainers realized the power and asked Stain.


    "We invited all kingdoms in the Londs! I don''t know." Stain answered.


    "Princess! You aren''t allowed to kill any Lond creatures without any reason!"


    "I don''t think I can kill this one. So this is just a greeting. Things just got interesting." The Princess suddenly jumped up as the Holy energy gathered in her sword, increasing the sword''s size.


    As the teleportation padpleted its teleportation, several Necromancers and Skeletons appeared, and a small, frail, and weak-looking girl stood among them.


    "Hello, Lea." The Princess delivered the mighty sh she prepared.


    The Necromancers, Vampires, and Skeletons were shocked and began to harness their power to block it.


    BOOM!


    The power of one of the Necromancers was a Commander, yet he was being forced back from the great power.


    The frail, looking girl had a disappointed expression.


    "And here I thought I wouldn''t be found out. Hello Princess Listrel." The young woman smiled as a strange power exploded out. The avatar of her true form was showing behind the group of Dark cultivators.


    "A Grendelor...!" Merik was stunned.


    "That''s the daughter of Necron Olethros!"


    "King of the Netherworld!" Stain recognized the name.


    The powers of Light and Darkness fought and shed until both energies pushed back against each other.


    The Princess called Listrelnded gracefully on the ground.


    "See, Merick? It''s not like I can kill her. Just like me, a severe limitation has been ced on our powers." Listrel smiled.


    "I was hoping to infiltrate thisnd, Listrel. But you immediately saw through my power. I wonder how? Where did I go wrong?" Lea frowned.


    "A human form, eh? You created an incarnation? It''s quite tricky. Were you nning to infiltrate this ce subtly? Well, it''s no use. Even without my hand, war is close to breaking out here. Thisnd is full of Fate and Destiny. Do you feel it, Lea? The call of the Mover? Every movement from that which Fate and Destiny are resounding to will change the destiny of thisnd."


    "I have. And you still haven''t answered my question, Listrel." The young girl frowned.


    "Wish."


    "You Wished to find me?"


    "Yes. A great power source of the Light was used for that wish to be granted. And it seems it was quite useless. I can''t kill you now. I never expected you to be so daring toe here. Especially with an Eldrich behind you." Listrel smiled and looked at an inconspicuous man behind Lea.


    Stain trembled at her words.


    "The report was true!" Stain recalled the news of how the orcs and Eldrich plotted to wage war in the Londs.


    "You wished for that as well?" Lea frowned.


    "I figured that either you or an Eldrich would appear. So I wished for either you or an Eldirch would be revealed. Hand me his head." Listrel smiled.


    The Eldirch''s expression turned sour.


    "Of course." Lea suddenly swiped her arm.


    The head of the Eldirch was quickly severed off.


    "This one ticked me off. So I brought him here hoping he would die." Lea exined as she tossed the head to Listrel.


    "Oh? Severing without any hesitation. You do know that any form of alliance between your race and the Eldrich will void all terms of the agreement."


    "We are not allying ourselves with them. You could say we are neutral. They offered us something which my father generally considered to be of value in exchange for a constrained and nomadic life here in the nesworld."


    "Ah... A mutual trade. And your merciless shows make it difficult for me to report an alliance..." Listrel smiled.


    "Your call, your majesty..." Leaughed as she called Listrel with a mocking tone.


    "It seems that this Summit isn''t just an emergency meeting to wee me. As you can see, the Princess of the Netherworld is here. Stain, change the discussion for all kingdoms. Announce that war is happening here! Set up the Rules of Engagement for the war."


    "Princess! Our mission is to find that source!" Merick eximed.


    "I am looking for the source. And since we have seen both Eldrich and Lea here, it shows that there is an upheaval in this ce that is going beyond what we have seen or know about this ce."


    "My Lords... Her Majesty is correct... We have reports that the Eldrich has formed an alliance with the orcs! A Champion reported that a few of his retainers were captured. But these retainers were skilled in speaking orcish tongue. They spoke of a plot between the orcs and the Eldrich. Thus, a dark alliance was formed. Several Vampires were sent into the Londs, and we have found evidence of Necromancer worshipers in several kingdoms that served this Eldrich. This is the reason why Airom is on the brink of war."


    Listrel smiled.


    "Perfect. It seems that I do have reason to detain you, Lea! Did you not hear the ims of this Commander! He ims you knowingly allowed the Eldirch to start a war in the Londs!" Listrel twisted the words of the Commander.


    Commander Stain was shocked at how Listrel was making him an excuse and a tossable scapegoat!


    "A likely story. You must have felt it! A Dragon was born in the Airom! Of course, war will appear there! If they im that an Eldrich alliance is formed, then they are lying through their teeth! Commander, tell me then, what nation from the Dark Sea is involved in this treason? The Eldrich that you see before you were with one kingdom among the hundreds of those. Do you have a name?" Leaughed and challenged the Commander.


    The Commander recalled that among the reports was the name of the dark-dependent kingdom. It was a kingdom that not even he of his power and upbringing knew of. Even their schrs and historians have only heard of its name and nothing more.


    "Well? Care to tell me the name? That Eldirch has only been with this kingdom. If you can tell me what this kingdom is, then I will concede that what you im to know is true. But you better prepare an answer." Lea smiled.


    "If your answer is incorrect, then your usation is false. And I will have your soul for that." Lea red.

 Chapter 221 - War In The Lowlands

    Commander Stain was frightened at the sudden predicament he was in.


    Listrel was clearly itching to fight this Lea that he even was pushing him to prove Lea''s treason.


    "I do not know of the nations in the Dark Sea, Lord Princess of the Dark. I fear that my words will be meaningless and useless. After all, who can confirm what nation that Eldrich serves?" Stain reasoned out.


    "Commander Stain. Have some backbone!" Listrel chastised.


    "No need to be subtle. Princess Lea, this Commander assumes that you will deny if the kingdom he names is, in fact, the kingdom where this Eldirch allied himself with! After all, even if he names the kingdom that you traveled with, you could deny it! Even I do not know what kingdom you are!"


    "We do, your highness." Tathar bowed.


    "Oh! Then it''s easier if you know. Lea... I''ll be frank. The most suspicious kingdom is the kingdom that you are with. After all, they did give a slot of their teleportation to send him here. And your allies are clearly not from the Londs. This Commander ims that they have evidence of an alliance with orcs. And since the Eldrich is with this kingdom, it''s possible that the kingdom you are with instigated this plot. If the Commander can tell me the name of that kingdom in two days, and it matches with the kingdom that you are with, then it''s true." Listrel smiled.


    "But of course, if he is lying and merely said that report hoping that I would lend aid to the human kingdom, then I shall let you kill him and eat up his soul."


    Commander Stain was tearing up in frustration.


    "Oh? Well...Your arrangement does make sense. I have not sensed that you secretlymunicated with each other as to the name of this kingdom that I am with." Lea smiled.


    She turned over to herpanions, and they all nodded. Confident that it was nearly impossible for this human to give the right name. Even their spies that they sent here were cursed that they could not say the name of the kingdom they served. And even if the humans managed to fish out the names of the Necromancers or of the vampire ns, it was still impossible to know which kingdom the necromancers and the vampires served.


    "Fine. I ept your premise. The Eldrich must have made a deal with the same kingdom that sent me these powerful escorts. I still retain that I have no alliance with him or any knowledge about it. But If Commander can name this kingdom, out of all the hundreds of kingdoms in the Dark Sea, then I will ept that as proof that the dead Eldrich coborated with the orc kingdoms. I''m sure someone as knowledgeable as you know of this kingdom?" Lea mocked.


    "Good! If my retainers hear the right answer, you''ll know what they do. Commander Stain, prepare your answer." Listrel turned to the Commander.


    "I have my answer now." Stain sighed.


    He has already read the reports and coborated with the many schrs and historians in their kingdom. The two days they will spend will only give off the same answer as to the kingdom he now knew. His only hope was to name the one who informed him of the name.


    "Pdin Champion Drake Vestitude informed me that the kingdom that the orcs and vampires allied with is... the Dark Shine Kingdom." Commander Stain answered as he prepared for his death.


    "Crap." Lea''s expression turned ugly.


    SLASH!


    FWIP!


    BOOM!


    A sword sh. A charged arrow and a fireball struck and killed the group of Champions that apanied Lea.


    "AHHH!"


    The Soul f the Skeleton fled with great speed as his animated body was obliterated. But another arrow flew and slew the soul.


    Merick had his sword drawn. Against his sword, the Champion Necromancer stood no chance.


    Tathar shot a charged arrow and somehow incinerated every bone of the Skeleton.


    The Vampire was attacked with a powerful holy fireball that burned him to nothingness even before the ming ball struck him. The attacker was thest retainer that served Princess Listrel.


    "That was surprising! Even I didn''t expect him to know the exact name of the kingdom you are with." Listrel chuckled.


    "All who are found to be allies of the Eldrich can be immediately in. The Dark Shine Kingdom will be reported to be in alliance. And since that we have evidence beyond reasonable doubt that the orcs have allied with the Eldrich, I decree that the Minds will aid the Lond Human Kingdoms for war against the orcs. Dwarven exiles. If you support the human kingdoms, I will gift you a legacy Forge from the Minds. I dere war against the orc kingdoms in Airom and will support the human Kingdoms to massacre them!" Listrel promised.


    The orcs nearby were trembling in fear at the deration.


    Lea still wore an ugly expression. The Dark Sea was too distant, and the Dark Shine Kingdom was so far off that all the humans and creatures in the Londs would only hear the name of these kingdoms but would have no knowledge of what these kingdoms were! After all, only the dark dependents would cooperate and trade with those in the Dark Sea!


    She wagered that out of all the names. The humans would me a kingdom that was close to their shores. But she didn''t expect the Commander to single out the Dark Shine Kingdom.


    "How did they know?! Are the Dark Shine Kingdom so ipetent?!" Lea gnashed her teeth. She even checked with the Dark Shine Kingdom.


    But there was another issue that made her loathe the Dark Shine Kingdom!


    "Why did those idiots not tell me they were manipting the orcs?!" She raged. The fact that humans singled out their kingdom in a plot with orcs convinced her that the Dark Shine Kingdom hid the fact that they were allied with the orcs!


    She had questioned and found out about the vampires that were sent to the Londs. She had asked every detail and even knew of how the vampire of the Bloodde n was killed. But the Dark Shine Kingdom never mentioned an Orc Alliance.


    Lea faced Listrel, who she knew would attack her.


    "Dark Princess Lea. You said that this Eldrich which I killed had dealings with the kingdom that escorted you. Your words condemned him and proved the reality of this plot. You have allowed the Eldirch to make these alliances that you know off. And with that, I thought I would just level the ying field and give the humans some support." Listrel smiled.


    "Hmp! Whatpensation must I pay to resolve this?" Lea said nothing and turned around to activate the teleportation pad.


    "Let''s see... You journeyed alongside an Eldirch who was working with the Dark Shine and had been sending vampires in the Londs to entice the orcs to war.... While you are allowed to make deals with the Eldrich, it''s clear you know that that Eldirch made ns to manipte the orc kingdoms. That''s breaching the lesser rules set." Listrel readied her de.


    "How about this quarter soul you brought before me?" Listrel shed out.

 Chapter 222 - War In The Nephilim Sealing Mountain

    Kyros was awakened from the notification that he had seen.


    It was still at the dead of the night, and the notifications appeared that jolted him awake.


    ---


    Warrior of Destiny Eldrich General Argos has been killed.


    Rewards:


    1% Gigantes Earth Core Energy restored.


    ---


    Warrior of Destiny Necromancer Xilen has been killed.


    Rewards:


    1% Gigantes Earth Core Energy restored..


    ---


    "What the...?!" Cminus was amazed at the sudden notification.


    Kyros saw it but was too groggy to care and went back to sleep.


    Gojirrah continued to exin everything that had transpired and what he knew about Kyros.


    Reptilia was amazed at the strange tale of Gojirrah.


    "His family are descendants of gods?!"


    "From their conversation, it seems that Lord Kyros isn''t the real son of that Shield Expert or the nephew of that Sword Expert. He is adopted. But from what I learned, he was sealed within a Temple deep inside that mountain. Past the City of Golems is a Path leading to another World. Lord Kyros is sealed in that Temple. He has powers that surpass our understanding. He ims to have fought and injured a Devil cultivator called the Blood Cmity."


    "You believe all this?"


    "I have seen a hint of his powers, and it is enough to convince me. Think about what we just achieved? We managed to steal you and escape with even a bit more! Lord Kyros now has a Time Core. And what''s amazing is that some Champions and Captains will die in the Kingdom just by his words. Trust me when I say this... If he moves for real, more will perish. And his family isn''t also ordinary! His father and uncle are those that are likely able to have the power to challenge Cardinal cultivators if they reach Champions!"


    "Cardinal? How can a level 30 cultivator challenge one at fifty!"


    "The two of them easily defeated me, even though they were at level 20s. You will see their power soon. I only hope that those other humans will ept us..." Gojirrah gazed at the darkness.


    Back in Alpha Draconi Kingdom, an army was being organized.


    Several Captains were killed. Because of what had happened, Commander Komodo Dragon issued the execution of all previously flogged Captains unless they confessed to the crimes written on the paper.


    Many crimes that involved using Gojirrah as the scapegoat came to light. But because of the revtions, several Champions who were cheated were so angry and demanded the executions of the Captains that were responsible for their crimes.


    The evidence that Gojirrah asked to prepare was also examined.


    But no one was able to find out who were the other traitors sold themselves to the humans.


    Komodo Dragon made the orders to march out. He realized that it would take forever to determine who the traitors were. The pressing issue to rescue Gojirrah, Grand Master Alchemist, and Champion Reptilia forced them to press on.


    "Commander! How can we attack if there are traitors in our midst?" A Champion asked.


    "Spoken like a traitor!" Another Champion mocked. The revtion of the Captain''s crimes forced several secret issues to the light. As such, the alliance between Champions became very fickle.


    "If being concerned that a hasty march that will allow the traitors to either backstab us in the battlefield or burn this kingdom as we leave is traitorous, then I am indeed a traitor tomon sense! Go to those humans, you newt!"


    "Enough!" The powerful shout of Komodo echoed out.


    "Among you are three Champions that I trust with my life. Two Champions will stay here, and one will remain in this castle to defend. I want all Champions and Captains to surrender their wives, husbands, sons, daughters, or the closest person they have. Champion w 3. You will be the Champion that will guard over them. Should any instance of betrayal ur from any Captain or Champion in this kingdom, kill them! The weakening of our Message Talismans has disappeared. I will send you a message of who or how many to kill if there are anyone who will betray the forces I lead out to war."


    The announcement shocked everyone.


    "Commander! That''s!"


    "That is not enough as the stakes are too high! But it will do! I will not tolerate traitorous activities from now on. I can easily send a message to turn all of those who are here into traitors if needed. You have kept the secret of a dragon from the kingdom! So be quiet and have your loved ones sent here, or you will die!" Komodo roared.


    "We march to war in ten minutes!"


    The orders caused everyone to scatter. The Champions and Captains hurriedly did as stated. The announcement caused the night to be full of action as the groups began to follow themand.


    Those that werete had someone among the people brought in to be killed. The fear against the Commander spread throughout the Kingdom, and the hasty preparations that seemed impossible finally happened.


    Komodo had learned of what transpired outside and understood why there was a dy. He cursed at how crafty the Poltergeist was and ordered the Champion that remained to rify and keep investigating the possible traitorous actions being done in the kingdom.


    Without dy, the march of the Lizards began.


    Komodo Dragon brought with him thirty Captains headed by three Champions. The danger of the traitors creating an insurrection forced Komodo Dragon to divide among Champions. As a result, the army was not united, and morale was low.


    The Commander led the way. He had already sent the message to his nation about the secrets of the dragon, and more lizards wereing.


    "And here I thought I would be the Lizard Lord in this region. But there''s no helping it. So I guess that Commander is the best for these situations. I need brains, and that Commander has it!" Komodo muttered as his army marched out.


    Back in Golem City...


    The humans had made barricades and barricades around the area. The scouts confirmed the existence of several lizard races.


    What was horrifying was that severalrge Char Vermillion Lizards were spotted.


    "Champion! Those Lizards suddenly became more organized!" One of the Captain gave his report.


    At first, the appearance of the Vermillion Lizards was scattered, but suddenly they had be organized.


    "We saw arge lizard leading them!" One of the scouts added.


    Champion Ordeus turned sour as he heard this.


    "Prepare for war. Steele family! Is it possible to create more Golems with the lizards we kill?"


    "Yes! But this strange artifact acts in randomness. Sometimes a golem is created, sometimes one of the existing golems are strengthened, on some asions, nothing happens." Branze reported.


    "We will create a corpse extracting team so that we can deploy more golems to the field." Ordeus nodded.


    "Forgive me, Champion. But I wish to talk to my son."


    "Champion Mezal. You need to rest with your sons. Leave this battle to us. You have already taught us how to operate. Rest well. You may rejoin the battle when you feel you have fully rested." Ordeus ordered.


    Mezal bowed, and he and his sons moved towards the back of the battlefield.


    "Alright... Tell me everything." Mezal finally spoke as they were an earshot away from everyone.

 Chapter 223 - War To Hide The Family

    Branze and Aron finally began to have the chance to talk to their father and discuss the many pressing matters.


    The three moved to the far end of the city, and they had their men guard the paths to inform them if anyone was approaching. And there, the three began to talk freely of things that had transpired.


    "So... the reason I got attacked was because of your carelessness, Branze?" Mezal red. The pain of going through the attack of a god still lingered.


    "Father. We were also attacked! You are not the only one who nearly died!"


    "Yes. And if it weren''t for my quick thinking, that god would have killed us for real! That god was angry when I met him that he choked me and shook me! Do you know how that feels?!".


    Branze looked down in shame.


    "Anyway, what happened? Why was there a strange force that blocked our message talisman? And where is my grandson? You said he was here in yourst message."


    "He went out to gather an army of lizards to attack this ce. A war will break out here soon. He''s in a hurry..." Aron trailed off.


    Mezal looked at Aron.


    "Someone died?"


    "Yes, Father. Hems and Hemsey gantly gave their lives to save Martha Bowheart."


    "Martha Steele. If those two are willing to die so much for someone, it''s a Steele. They died serving theirdy."


    "As a vampire, Kyros said that it could be possible to resurrect Hemsey. But it seems that Hems have died. The death is... impacting Kyros more than I thought it would be."


    Branze then began to detail what had happened when they were unable to send messages to each other.


    Mezal listened and sighed.


    "That grandson of mine carried a certain disposition. He was impatient and rather in a hurry to grow stronger. And it isn''t because of his youth. No. Whatever that thing you adopted is, it''s been through a lot. Fate has guided him to the Steele family for a reason. And with the recent discoveries about Fate, I''m sure he has his reasons. It seems we also have to put in more effort in our fights. Kyros''s strategies are great. But we also have to be able to act on our own."


    "We will be fighting once the lizardes. The Char Vermillion Lizard King has finally emerged. We thought it would attack already, but its withdrawal probably hints at a stronger armying that even that mighty lizard has no choice but to follow."


    "If the Vermillion Lizard King is out, then the Swamp Man-Gator Prime nearby ought to be moving."


    "So these are the feral lizard races that obey the lizardmen?"


    "Yes. Only a few among them have sentience and intelligence. But those that have intelligence are as smart as us. So we think that these Man Gators and the Vermillion lizards have some way to be monstrous cultivators with the help of the lizardmen. This is probably why they are so subversive."


    "Quite aplicated world this is. But we have to act fast. The appearance of that dragon energy will draw more chaos. I refuse to believe that the events andmotion that have happened here will go unnoticed. After all, when we acquired a portion of Hyperion Steel''s power, it might have created a ripple of energy that the saints and devils have detected. And my recent actions of how I managed to reveal an orc invasion is bound to escte and lead to war here. So we have to prepare and take advantage of these fights. And our goal is to get stronger as Fate Challengers. We should be a n that constantly challenges the curses that have befallen us. And this is where I think Kyros ns to hideous. Once all the Steele family gathers, we have to go into seclusion and try to find a way to hide from this world."


    "I see. Kyros intends to disappear inside this lizard world..." Branze deduced.


    "Exactly! The human kingdoms will do everything in their power to hide this ce. As a result, the world outside will grow chaotic. Kyros''s haste in sending an army here is to make things easier for us to disappear. I think he wants us to send all the items I gathered into the Temple discreetly. He can''t use his dimensional storage ability, right?"


    "Yes. It''s not essible now. We have to bring it inside the Temple manually." Branze confirmed.


    "Aron. You mentioned that you found those powerful scale armors the men are wearing inside the Temple, right?"


    "Yes."


    "And they looked new? Did they even umte dust?"


    "...Right! I never realized it! The Temple!"


    "Yes. The Temple can do much more than cause us to level up. Where would the other physical properties of this item go to once the Temple absorbs it?"


    "Woah! Branze! This is amazing!" Aron turned to his younger brother.


    "I already knew. I just kept my mouth shut and respected my son''s privacy. That Temple can craft powerful weapons and armors. Apart from those scale armors that were clearly made from the hide of the Char Vermillion Lizards, why else, did Kyros request all these herbs?"


    "... I feel so left out." Aron sighed.


    "He must be building something. I''m guessing that grandson intends to create chaos to make our family disappear. In this chaos, we can grow strong. But a dagger will no longer be aimed at the Steele family." Mezal smiled.


    "That''s his n? Things would have been so much easier if he had told us! At first, I''d understand since we wouldn''t believe him. But now he should have just told us!"


    "He thinks too highly of us." Branze answered.


    "He is intentionally keeping things to himself because he knows that if he talked, we would figure things out faster," Branze added.


    "Yes. I fear that his secrets could be a cmity if others knew. There is also Fate and Destiny and their battle. He probably has his reasons as to why he hides things. I''m sure his Coven knows more than us since he''s making them his elite team. You two shouldn''t drag him down. Aron, improve your Path of Molding. That is more helpful if you want the Steele family to rise."


    "Something doesn''t feel right. I feel that our Path to grow stronger isn''t in istion but in being deployed in conflict." Aron frowned.


    "Kyros probably has something that can help us grow. But it will be as you said. The Steele family will disappear in hiding and will be deployed all over this ce. After all, we do have to take care of the war outside." Mezal exined.


    "Spot on, Grandfather." Kyros suddenly appeared next to them as he undid the darkness that filled his body.


    "Kyros!" The trio eximed.


    Kyros had the two Balefire axes which he had used to through the roof of the cave.


    "You used the loud sounds those men are making in preparing for the barricade to move here." Mezal deduced.


    "Yes. Anyway, since you found out another secret of the Temple, I don''t have to exin more about it. An army of lizardmen consisting of a Commander, several Champions, and a lot of Captains are approaching. We take advantage of that and send anything that we can inside the Temple, including those herbs. After that, we fight with these humans and wait for mom and aunt Martha to arrive. After that... we disappear. I''ll take the Tempe and relocate it."


    "Relocate the Temple?!" Branze, Aron and Mezal chorused is surprise.


    "Yes. I can move the entire Temple and put it in a dimensional space, and ce it elsewhere. It''s another of the Temple''s abilities."


    "So we already have a perfect hiding spot!" Branze deduced.


    "We have a mobile secret hideout that you can deploy anywhere... That''s the perfect ce for us to grow." Mezal smiled.


    "Yes. The ce beyond this mountain is huge. It''s really another world beyond this Golem City! We can find some rocky or mountainous areas and ce the Temple there where we can safely train without fear of being attacked. And that will mark the Dawn of the Rise of the Steele family." Kyros smiled.


    "Dawn of the Rise? Sounds like a of the Apes prequel." Cminus couldn''t help but insert ament.


    Meanwhile... Down the mountain of Airom Logat...


    Diana and Martha finally reached the entrance to the fortress.


    Behind the two were the rest of the Coven, the ves, and Mechiel.


    The ves finally sighed in relief as some of them copsed to the ground.


    "Lady Diana." A Champion greeted as he bowed.


    "It is good that you are safe."


    "Lord Champion, may I request that you prepare a carriage. I have to meet my grandfather! We have so many things to report!" Diana eximed.

 Chapter 224 - War Across Time

    The human kingdoms watched in amazement as the two ''guests'' were brought in. Kyros had sneaked back after informing his family of the ns and what to say.


    With the Temple down, even their Message talismans could not be restored and were drained of power even though it could work when sending a message from the Golem City to thend of the lizard.


    Because of this, Kyros informed his family of their n and then sneaked back to Gojirrah and Reptilia.


    After this, the two Champions revealed themselves to the humans and called on their saviors, Branze and Aron Steele.


    The beauty of Reptilia was like a gateway drug into the Scalies world for most of these humans. The entrancing beauty amazed Mezal and the rest of the Steele family even though they were strictly instructed not to look stunned by her arrival since going by the nned narrative. This Steele family apanied Branze and Mezal.


    Gojirrah and Reptilia even showcased their Force that challenged and made the Captains retreat..


    "Son!" Branze ran and hugged Kyros, who was in between the group.


    "Sword Expert Branze Steele! We meet again! Your son is amazing! He is quite cunning and allowed us to escape the Commander!" Gojirrah spoke in the human tongue.


    "Commander?! There is a Commander here?!" Ordeus was horrified.


    "Just how big is this underground region?!" Ordeus asked. It was impossible to create a Commander without enough lifeforms and creatures to be food and the energy source to create such a powerhouse.


    Even in the Human Kingdoms of the Londs, very few have a Commander. And these Commanders received the greatest benefits.


    "Branze. I am here to tell you that this ce is changing. Has anything happened to your world? To the world outside?"


    "The world outside? Nothing much has changed."


    "Then I don''t understand! The worlds are colliding, but it seems like it hasbined into one! When you met us, we told you that we came from a portal, remember? Now that region is gone! What once was a portal was a connection to the previous world we were that I told you about!"


    "Father. I saw it too! It wasn''t just the caverns of the cave. The scenery changed. The underground cave became arge open sky!"


    "We saw that we were back to that world again." Reptilia exined.


    "That world?" Ordeus asked.


    "Champion Lizardkins. Please be clear with your exnation! Is there a Commander-level threat down here?!" Ordeus asked.


    "This underground region was originally a connected to a portal to another world. We came from a faraway world and were sent on a mission to retrieve resources from a small world that our spellcasters found. And it is in that world that we have lived in for several years. But then, a certain portal opened, and we were caught in the changes and was brought here several months back. We saw that several Necromancers were here. Thankfully, the underground region here was quite big that we managed to survive for several months, and then we met with you, Steele Family."


    "Right. We were chasing that vampire who was trying to get inside this ce for some odd reason. Unfortunately, there were human traitors in this part of the world that tried to kill us when we found out about those vampires, but luckily you were there to help us escape until we were forced to split up." Branze answered.


    "We nned to hide in our former hiding ce, but as we returned, we found that the cave that once continued endlessly in the dark suddenly opened, and we were in that world again!"


    "Wait! I don''t understand. You just found an exit, and it led to another world?" Ordeus asked again.


    "Yes! That''s why we asked if anything happened to the path that you imed led up this mountain."


    "Nothing changed. One of our messengers just arrived." Another Champion voiced up.


    "I can confirm this as well. I am using the sight of my eagle to observe." Champion Faye added.l


    "Then things just got strange. When we were escaping, we found ourselves back in that world, and Kyros was captured."


    "Kyros?!" Branze shouted.


    "I was. But I managed to escape. I was able to talk to a few of the prisoners there, and they also were from different worlds. They said that the portals here are being opened. It talked about how this ce was supposed to link worlds to aid in a war long ago. And the one that made the portals were beings known as Eldrich."


    "Eldrich!?" Mezal and Ordeus eximed.


    "Them again!?" Mezal cursed.


    "They want to reim their lost power! We have to report this!"


    "Champion Ordeus. Things are not looking good. My scouts have just arrived, and the report he gave was shocking." The other champion spoke to Ordeus.


    "A Message Array had been activated, and word arrived in our kingdom. We used our fastest eagles to send the message. But not... war is happening. The plot that we suspected is true. The Summit of Kingdoms revealed how and Eldrich has been working with the Dark Shine Kingdom kingdom. The Princess of the neworld was there, and she fought against the Princess of Darkness."


    "Princess Listrel fought with that Grendelor Lea?" Ordeus was amazed.


    Kyros and his family looked at each other in surprise.


    "What happened?" Cminus asked secretly. He had pestered Kyros of his deduction after seeing the report, but sleepy Kyros blocked him off. By the time Kyros woke up, he had to meet his parents.


    The champions began to discuss everything in the report, and Kyrosmunicated with Cminus as the rest talked.


    "I think it''s the rewards of Fate. Fate and Destiny are fighting against each other. They are trying to outwit and outmatch each other. So our actions have led to situations that allowed Fate to kill those warriors. So that is why even though we didn''t kill those two, we still received rewards from Fate." Kyros began.


    Kyros reviewed the notification.


    ---


    Warrior of Destiny Eldrich General Argos has been killed.


    Rewards:


    1% Gigantes Earth Core Energy restored.


    ---


    Warrior of Destiny Necromancer Xilen has been killed.


    Rewards:


    1% Gigantes Earth Core Energy restored.


    ---


    "Eldrich General... I never met him. But a General had died?" Kyros wondered.


    "I remember that name. He was one of the Generals I avoided when trying to meet you! He is an Eldrich Wizard that was a Time magic expert! He was one of the few mortals that could sense me. But that doesn''t make sense. That man only became a General before you died! Was he a general before who got demoted and promoted again? But that doesn''t make sense." Cminus frowned.


    "Wait... It means that Argos isn''t a General yet! but he will be!"


    "What?"


    "Fate is rewarding me for killing a future general! That''s it! The war between Fate is Destiny is a war across time!"

 Chapter 225 - War Is Not Won By Might Alone

    The Champions continued to discuss their ns, and scouts were sent to warn those at the bottom of the mountain. Mezal also began to ry certain instructions that Kyros had told him to suggest for the battle.


    Gojirrah also revealed the might and power of the Commander and Champions, as well as the Captain. He estimated that the army could arrive a few hours, which urged the Champions to make haste.


    "Yes. Right now, the Londs are preparing for war. Airom is the first battlefield. We cannot expect reinforcements very soon!" He gave the grim report.


    "Wait! Things are not as hopeless." Champion Faye spoke up as she held her vacuum cleaner and channeled magic to see things clearer. Finally, an image appeared before them for all to see..


    The projected vision revealed the eagle of Champion Faye flying with great speed, and it was closing in on several eagles that had gathered together.


    The Champions watched in envy. Mages had the advantage ofmunicating even without using the Message talisman as they had other means tomunicate.


    The eagles began to hover in the air without even pping their wings. It was as if strange magic held them in their ce.


    Faye closed her eyes and fell into some trance. After several minutes, she awoke.


    "Good news, Mezal family. Lady Diana has appeared. She was able to escape with the help of a certain Bowheart."


    "Bowheart? Here in Airom? Then it has to be that outcast. Martha Bowheart!" The other Champion recognized the name.


    "She goes by Martha Steele now. Erm... Congrattions, Sir Aron. The report states that she is your wife." Faye had a strange expression which Mezal and Branze noticed. They ignored it but shook their head.


    "What a waste." The two thought silently.


    "Oh..." Aron pretended to look shocked.


    "ept it, brother. Thatdy saved my wife. And you fancied Martha Bowheart, if I''m not mistaken." Branze interrupted.


    "I guess." Aron shrugged.


    Faye still wore a dissatisfied expression but continued with her report as the eagles began to screech at each other.


    "The report that Diana and Martha recounted is good for us. There is also chaos in Airom Vagat that is forcing the orc armies to send their forces there. Several orc groups had been attacked as a powerful vampire capable of killing squadrons of Captains has appeared. Drysh, the Balefire Butcher, is also dead."


    "That orc? He was expected to be Champion soon!" one of the Captains nearby eximed.


    "This powerful vampire is in opposition to another vampire. A vampire called Cracky Batcheeks. And the report that Lady Diana stated that this vampire was pursued by some Pdin that could be from the Minds or the Hignds! But even this pdin died and is feeding on the orcs in Airom Logat. And Diana said that dragons are wreaking havoc in thatnd as well. Whether they are allied to either vampire is unknown. In short, the Orcs are rather busy and cannot attack. This information has already been ryed to the various kingdoms. My Commander is even on his way here." Faye exined.


    "While Dragons and powerful vampires are concerning news, let''s focus on the immediate threats. The reports mean that it''s possible to send an army here!" Ordeus eximed.


    "Yes. Don''t worry, Ordeus. It seems Champion Drake Vestitude is already on his way here. The report that confirms the support of the Eldrich to these orcs has caused all human kingdoms to prioritize retrieving these Golems. Drake is on his way with an army with several energy stones."


    "Then, for now, we hold the line here. Tell your respective teams..." Ordeus then began to list the strategy that they would employ.


    As Ordeus kept talking, Kyros continued to think about the miracle that he discovered.


    "Necromancer Xilen was also one of the strongest Necromancers who led the Dark Shine Kingdom and was the reason why the key battles in the Minds ended in their victory. They are future threats of Fate!" Kyros realized it.


    "I didn''t give it much thought after killing Drysh. But now that I think about it, he was still a Captain. Why did Fate reward me in killing him when I have been fighting much worse? I killed so many that it should have surpassed the worth of Drysh, and yet no reward."


    "So Fate knew about that alternate timeline?"


    "Yes. It fought Destiny even in that timeline. Fate and Destiny''s battle seems to be far more than we''ve given it credit for."


    "What do we do with... those two Champions." The other champion pointed at the two lizard champions.


    "We wish to serve the Steele Family." Reptilia dered.


    The group was shocked.


    "Indeed. We have grown quite fond of Branze and his son. The schemes and tricks of this boy have saved us several times. It was good that we decided to save him. Otherwise, our journey back here would only end in death." Gojirrah added.


    "We wee both Lizards. Unfortunately, our family doesn''t really care for races."


    "Oh? That exins the orc that ims to be a spy from your family." Faye gave Mezal a meaningful nce.


    "Grugnyr is from a fallen kingdom of the Orcs. Do you remember the Underhill kingdom? Grugnyr is a noble in that kingdom. He fled to us, and we aided him in one period of the Steele family''s tribtion. He is not a spy but will join us in destroying the Foreshire orc kingdom." Mezal red back.


    "Please, don''t react that way, Mezal. I am merely doing what I am ordered to do. I shall ry that information to them to let him join the rest."


    "How long until my daughter-inw''s reach here?"


    "They are traveling with one of the mages and are using magic. With the waring, we can forget about the flight limitations set in this ce. They will be here within an hour." Faye answered.


    "Then allow us to meet with them. The Steele family has much to discuss, and we need to recover. We will retreat for now, if it is alright with you, Champions. After all, what more can our exhausted team do?"


    "We can fight here if needed." Reptilia offered.


    "No. These humans don''t trust you. Go with us for now. We will be focusing on healing and rejoin the battle as soon as we are able to." Mezal added.


    "Mezal. Can you stay behind? We need all the Champions we have. This war against lizards and men is the first in a long, long time. And I know you have experience fighting against Lizardkin." Ordeus asked.


    "I will go and formally wed my son to that Martha Bowheart. Champion Ordeus, this life is but a borrowed life. Allow me to fulfill myst tasks as a father." Mezal smiled.


    Branze and Aron turned silent as they heard Mezal''s im.


    "Grandpa..." Kyros voiced out.


    "Come, Kyros. I have yet to meet you. I''m quite surprised that Branze decided to adopt you. Let this old man talk and here the tail of Kyros the wise!" Mezalughed.


    "I trust that you don''t have any problems with this, Ordeus?"


    "... Of course. Go ahead and return. You won''t need an escort?"


    "And lessen the soldiers defending here? No need, Champion Ordeus."


    "That cart is quite interesting, Gojirrah. We can take away the herbs that were given to us with that carriage and mount of yours." Branze pointed out.


    "Men! Transfer the items and gifts of the Steele n to their cart!" Ordeus ordered.


    "Father. Your grandson has found a small cave back near the entrance. There is also an underground river nearby. We can rest there." Branze suggested.


    And so, the Steele family began to set out and return.


    Kyros was stopping his face from showing excitement. He was so close to finally building the Library Library of the Nephilim.


    "We can finally build that library!" Cminus was excited.


    "The hour that the Temple reactivates is near. Even mom and Aunt Martha are just on time! Now the Steele family can have the knowledge of gods and fallen. War is won not by might alone, after all."

 Chapter 226 - War Against The World

    The first thing the team did was wait at the pool that Kyros had discovered a while back.


    Kyros finally dove into the pool. Kyros began to rx and allowed his body to fall into a defenseless state. Then, almost instantly, Kyros fell asleep.


    Mezal and Branze were busy discussing things with Gojirrah about the world beyond them.


    The other members of the Steele Family continued to train as they had a tense environment, learning of a possible battle that would erupt soon.


    Aron watched Kyros, who was asleep, floating in the waters as he rested on a log he made.


    Reptilia stood guard near Kyros and waited.


    "I''m still shocked that Lizardfolks would have people as beautiful as you." Aronughed.


    "You are... Lord Kyros''s uncle, Master Aron?" Reptilia asked, but her heart was racing.


    "Oh? You don''t have to be scared. I''m just casuallymenting. I''m already engaged to someone else. Besides, you are a Champion. So it''s not as if I can force myself to you."


    "...I am bound to obey everything Lord Kyros wants."


    "I really doubt he''d order you to do something like that." Aron chuckled.


    "Besides. You should have noticed by now. Your chains aren''t that tight. Haven''t you noticed how Gojirrah is happily serving Kyros?"


    "He is an exile of ournd. He has no home here. I have my kingdom to serve. And I was forced to deceive many of them." Reptilia frowned.


    "Liar." Aronughed.


    "Can Master Aron please tell me when I have lied?"


    "I''ve lived a life of a disowned knight who has never found his home. Our Steele family has always been pursued and mistreated. It takes one to know one. I''m no genius, but I know someone as beautiful as you would not be assigned in lowly ces such as this world. So why would you be sent here? No. You weren''t sent here. You came here by your own free will. You fled from something or someone, right? Going here is very difficult for Champions in the first ce, yet you took the risk. You desire to grow strong, and the honor you live by forces you to serve this kingdom. But that''s it." Aronughed.


    Reptilia was silent.


    "And from what I understand, that Kingdom isn''t even a real kingdom but a gathering of lizardmen following the mighty."


    "If you are trying to ease my pain in being forced to serve Kyros, please save our words, master Aron." Reptilia spoke coldly.


    "You don''t know what it''s like to war against your own..."


    "Own kind? Own family? Oh, but we do. I doubt Gojirrah has told you of Destiny and Fate. But you see, the Steele family has been cursed. We always fought to survive, oveing the schemes of our neighbors and people we thought were friends. And you got caught up in this family. I''ll tell you right now. What we will be fighting will not just be lizards and humans or our kin. It''ll be the world itself. We are at war against the world itself!" Aron warned.


    "The motivation and loyalty that you have for Kyros and the Steele family should be more than just your bound vows because I''m sure that you are like us. You are cursed."


    "Cursed?"


    "At first, it was just the Steele family. We were a mighty n called the nder n. But we met betrayals, schemes, and attacks from all angles. All but the three of us survived. My father realized we were cursed with help from some shaman. But then the people we attracted, the knights you see before you, stuck with us because they never had anywhere else to go. When we lost most of our power, they continued to serve us. And even though they cannot be called knights, they decided to be mercenaries for hire serving us. I thought it was just a coincidence. I mean, as they say, birds of the same feather stick together. But then... Diana and the tragedy were approaching the Redde n. And then Martha Bowheart. And then that Orc called Grugnyr, who also seemed to have lived a cursed life. And after that, Gojirrah, who has clearly had a tough life. And now you." Aron smiled.


    Reptilia raised her head for the first time and nced at Aron.


    "It seems Destiny has always been against us, and Fate is bringing us together. It''s us against the world. If ever the dayes that you are freed from the chains that bind you to service, keep that in mind. Your family in Fate is with us. So what I''m trying to say is..." Aron locked his gaze at her.


    "Don''t betray this family. If you do, I won''t even bother to kill you. You''ll suffer more that way." Aron warned.


    The power of the Sword expert was released, and the water rippled out as if something was being shed on the waters.


    "Sword Expert..." Reptilia felt the power of Aron.


    Suddenly Aron turned around.


    "Hm? A dragon is approaching." Aron frowned.


    Mezal and Branze also stood up and stopped their discussion.


    Kyros suddenly opened his eyes.


    "What is this power?" Branze wondered.


    "It''s Aunt Martha. Interesting. So this is a dragon."


    "Dragon? There is a Dragon here?" Reptilia was shocked.


    "Gojirrah didn''t tell you?"


    "I thought it would be a nice way to improve her morale. So I decided to avoid telling her the details of what you were discussing and how we can receive the lineage of dragons." Gojirrahughed.


    Suddenly, the power of several Champions could be felt from the ce where Kyros and the group were.


    On the path outside, two power sources could be felt.


    One came from the direction of the Golem City, and the other came from the direction that led to the mountain''s exit.


    "That was fast..." Aron was amazed.


    "The advantage is that Faye joined us. It''s different from a Life Compass, but mages use an artifact known as the Path Finder. It released a unique frequency of energy, and not only can it tell the direction, but it can also even sense the closest way to move towards it provided with the least obstruction. So even though it''s their first time through the maze of this mountain, they can tell which path to take and avoid all dead ends." Mezal exined.


    Arge carpet could be seen hovering on the cave, and several people were there.


    The Coven, Diana, Mechiel, and the surviving ves sat down on therge flying carpet as it moved into the cave.


    "Almost there..." Diana sighed.


    "Finally... We''ll all be together again..." Scarlet sighed.


    Hunter was silent but kept smiling as he looked at hispanions.


    "Hems... Hemsey... We couldn''t have achieved this with you two."


    Mechiel watched in amazement at the scene. But deep in her consciousness, the aspect of the Blood Cmity felt it.


    "Destiny....? This girl is tied to that Nephilim!" The Blood Cmity sensed a strange connection between the two.

 Chapter 227 - War Of The Heart

    On the other end of the path Champion Faye approached, riding her vacuum cleaner.


    "Sister!" One of the Mage Champions greeted.


    "Brother. Sisters. The Steele family are over there." Faye greeted all the Champions driving the magic carpet. Faye''s gazed paused at Grugnyr and then to a weak girl.


    "An orc and a Dhampir?" She smiled.


    "Champion Faye. I''m sure my father-inw already proved their loyalty." Diana spoke up.


    "Indeed he did. And to think you now have Lizardman Champions as allies. So your family can no longer be bullied." Faye chuckled.


    "Lizardman Champions?" Diana and Martha asked in confusion.


    "And one of them is a beauty?" The male Champion asked.


    "Yes. See for yourself." Faye moved ahead.


    The carpet followed.


    Martha felt it.


    "What''s this pressure? Puff. Why are you so agitated?"


    "You never told me your master is not only a descendant of a Sword God, but he has already awakened a Code!" Puff was amazed.


    "It would be that Hyperion that the Fallen Kyriachos spoke off," Martha recalled.


    "But how is it possible? There are four of them! That''s why our bloodline is quivering so intensely! It''s afraid!"


    "Four? Could it be? Lord Kyros and then the three surviving members of the Steele Family? Is that what Kyriachos meant?" Martha realized it.


    "Can you do anything about this blood? I''m going to marry a Steele family after all."


    "It''s just reacting. It should die down soon..." Puff answered.


    As Martha was trying to calm her heart, Diana also contained her excitement.


    The Temple was a holy ground that could assure her rise to bing a Pdin!


    "It seems that marrying that idiot paid off after all." She sighed.


    Her mncholy made her remember that boy that she met long ago and the promise of that love.


    "Why am I remembering this now? I''m already married to Branze." She sighed.


    Soon the group found the opening where the underground river was, and there the members of the Steele family began to wave.


    The attention immediately fell on to the two Champion Lizards. Gojirrah stood and released his might, and so did Reptilia.


    "Amazing..." The male mage watched in amazement at the beauty of the lizardwoman.


    The mages kept the carpets flying and maintained their distance as they were stopped by the disy of power that the two lizard champions produced.


    Martha took one look at her and turned to find the appearance of Aron, who was looking directly at her.


    Martha couldn''t help but feel her heart skip. The memory that she had sealed long ago of their first meeting immediately surfaced, and she smiled for a quarter of a second before hiding it.


    "Martha. You like Aron, don''t you?" Diana smiled as she noticed Martha''s expression.


    "You saw that smile?" Martha blushed as she turned to the side.


    "I''ve long been suspicious. Whenever I talk about Aron, you have this expression that you try to hide. Have you met before?"


    "Yes. I never told Lord Kyros as I thought he was just a dark being using my own desires against me..." Martha still couldn''t believe it. Of the many things she believed Kyros, this was one that she didn''t believe because it was too good to be true.


    "Really? You never told us that, Lady Martha."


    "I met Aron four times in my life. Three of which, he didn''t know." Martha smiled as she revealed this secret to Diana.


    "It''s good that you win the cruel war of the heart. I... am not that lucky. Oh well... Where''s my stupid husband, anyway?" Sheughed and began to search for Branze.


    Suddenly, the melodic sounds of a stringed instrument resounded in the chamber.


    Aron watched as the Steele family musicians began to y the music they practiced a love back.


    Branze was never this nervous before.


    Mezal watched at the back. He had heard of this n and was curious what this presentation was.


    Branze finally moved out from arge rock he was hiding behind.


    "We were both young when I first saw you... I close my eyes, and the shbacks starts... I''m standing there..." Branze began.


    "On a balcony in summer air..." Branze paused.


    At that moment, the memory that Diana was trying to bury deep in her heart suddenly surfaced. She trembled as she looked at Branze. Why was it that he looked so familiar?


    Branze continued to sing about a party, and Diana remembered that very party that forced her to go to the balcony to escape the rigid life of a noble.


    "I''m a Knight''s Shadow, I was throwing pebbles, and your father said, ''Stay away from my Shieldlet.''"


    Diana suddenly lost strength. She stumbled down, and Martha hastened to catch her.


    Branze continued his song, and tears began to flow from Diana''s eyes.


    "What''s happening?" The male Champion mage asked his sisters.


    "SHHHH!" The Champion mages all shushed their brother as they began to cry at how romantic the scene was.


    "And you said... Knights shadow take me somewhere we can be alone..." Branze began to talk about the promise that was made that night.


    It was a childish promise. But it was a promise of hope and freedom for Diana. It was this hope that kept her living. She was forced to carry out a role and live as a knight, for it was the only path her family knew to survive. But Diana had always wanted a different life. And that fantasy promise was something that she had always dreamed of. And in her dreams, it was always with that boy.


    Together they would fight and live in happiness. Together they would elope and be alone and free.


    That promise that she made a young Knights''s Shadow say was her escape to the reality she had to face.


    "I''ll be your Prince, and you''ll be my Princess. It''s a love story. Diana, please say ''yes.''"


    Diana was trembling.


    The female Champions were shouting in glee.


    "Why can''t I find a man like that!?"


    "A Shieldlet and a Knights Shadow? It''s a taboo love story! Errmagaaahhhd!"


    "Isn''t that Branze the Sword Wise? Isn''t he a convicted murderer and rumored to be a traitor?" The male Champion frowned.


    "Are you stupid? How can someone like him be like that?!" One of his sisters mored.


    The short instrumental ended as Branze was now standing in the center of a circr rock formation with roses and flowers of sorts.


    "So I sneak out to the garden to see you. We keep quiet ''cause we''re dead if they knew..." Branze continued to sing.


    "Master Champion. I think it''s time that we lower the magic carpet so that they can get closer." Martha suggested.


    "Who are you, to order me-"


    "Shut up, brother! Do as she says! My gods! This is so romantic!" The girls chuckled and slowly brought the carpet down.


    Diana was still in shock. But slowly, the figure of that boy was ovepping with Branze''s figure.


    "It was you..." She couldn''t help but smile.


    "I am a Knight''s Shadow, and I didn''t matter. And your daddy said, ''Stay away from my Shieldlet,'' but you were everything to me. I was begging you, please don''t go! And you said..."


    Branze then delivered the melodious chorus to the song. Even Mezal was happily singing the song.


    Gojirrah and Reptilia''s tails were wagging happily as they were affected by the joyous song.


    "Ah... The power of Taylor Swift. I wonder what the author will do next?" Cminus praised.


    It was only then that Cminus realized Kyros had frozen up and didn''t move.


    "Champions of the Emberdon n.." Aron also approached.


    "It would be such an honor if you could join us at this wedding. The Bride and Groom will be renewing their vows."


    The female champions began to giggle and blush. One Champion was fanning her arm so that her tears wouldn''t ruin her makeup. Faye had a rather jealous look as he could see Aron eyeing Martha.


    "This would have been a fine, novel idea if we are not facing a lizard army!" The male Champion cursed.


    "Oh, shut up, brother! That''s why you''re single!" The eldest daughter cursed as they made their way to the side as attendees of the wedding.


    The instrumental slowly died out.


    "You got tired of waiting. Wondering if I was evering around. Your faith in me was fading... Cause I never met you on the outskirts of town..." Branze paused, and the music died out.


    "Diana. I was that boy you met. And I''m sorry I never had the courage to tell you. Although I believed you did recognize me, my reputation must have buried every connection that your heart could make to that young, foolishly dreaming boy. But I hope that you''d still take me." Branze approached as he began to strum his stringed instrument.


    "''Knight''s Shadow save me, I''ve been feeling so alone. I keep waiting for you, but you nevere.'' Is this in your head? I don''t know what your thinking, but I''m on the ground, and I''ll pull out this ring and say..." Branze knelt and took out a ring.


    "Marry me, Shieldlet. You''ll never have to be alone. I love you, and that''s all I truly know. I won''t make you sad, go pick out a white dress, it''s a love story. Diana, just say yes."


    The crowd went wild as they saw this, and there was much rejoicing.


    But Kyros remained frozen solid. Those performing the song were secretly surprised that Kyros didn''t do the parts he practiced. But thankfully, the show went on to be sessful as Diana burst into tears.


    Kyros had his eyes fixed on one particr girl who was enjoying the song.


    "Mechiel...?!"


    As Mechiel wasughing and dancing, the Blood Cmity saw Kyros''s expression.


    "So this is it! That Nephilim is somehow tied to this girl... Then let it be.. My war against the Nephilim will be a war of the heart!" The Blood Cmity sneered.

 Chapter 228 - War To Love

    Mechiel''s appearance was startling to Kyros. He was stunned that she had appeared and even so, as a part of Martha''s team.


    The moment he saw her, a lot of thoughts began to race in his head. He knew that Fate would lead her to him and even expected to see Mechiel in a way that he wouldn''t expect. But seeing her still made him so frozen and shocked that he forgot all about his father''s love song and his parts and special gestures.


    "Ground Control to Nephilim Kyros." Cminus called out again.


    Kyros was finally called out of his trance.


    "Boy, you really like her, huh." Cminus teased.


    "Hrm. This is problematic. I can''t believe I zoned out. The Blood Cmity must be in her somehow. My greatest worries have proven true."


    "What are you talking about?" Cminus asked in confusion.


    "Was my reaction logical?" Kyros asked.


    "Logical? You mean, how you nked out? She IS the one you love! She''s the one who became your obsession when she died and risked it all to save you. Aren''t you happy to have met her now? You won''t go into the process of looking for her now."


    "I never was. I knew that Fate would lead her to me one way or the other. But when I saw her, I felt being drawn out of my body. The power of Charm was maximized in her. When the Blood Cmity used it, despite her great beauty the many Divinities in me, like the power of Darkness allowed me to resist her. But now that she is in Mechiel''s body, its drawing out my emotions!" Kyros shook his head..


    "So that''s why you got lost even when the song began."


    "Right. I have to be careful. That power is too strong. She could kill me."


    "Then what are you going to do?"


    "Fight fire with fire, I guess."


    "What do you mean? You n to Charm her?"


    "A portion of the Blood Cmity''s soul is in the body of a weak dhampir. Fate knows that I like her and may be prodding for her to like me. I mean, think about it. Mechiel was one of the reason how I never lost myself into madness as a child. And even though we fought several times when we got older, she was always one of the things I hoped to meet in life. Especially after that time where we were forced to help each other through the Lond Bog. Looking back, that''s probably when she realized that I was the boy she served. She became rather kind to me."


    "Yeah. That was very romantic... Two sworn enemies, forced to help each other for survival in a strangend full of poisonous monstrous sons of heretics. You even saw her naked at that time. All that was missing was a blistering cold weather which you guys were forced to hug and share body heat."


    "She''s a vampire. She doesn''t get cold. And what do you mean sons of heretics? You mean those monsters there are descendants of heretic gods and fallen?! Ugh. Never mind. We''ll talk about thatter. The point is, Fate will work to make Mechiel fall in love with me or like me one way or the other. And there is something strange about that Charm ability that the Blood Cmity used. It''s as if the Blood Cmity''s soul is attached to Mechiel. If the Blood Cmity used her charm powers, it would never be this strong. But right now, it was as if Mechiel used it."


    "Right. Now that you mentioned it, there is a difference in the aura from when she used it on you back in that Temple. This one is more innocent."


    Mechiel gave an unconscious nce at Kyros.


    Kyros had already removed his stunned nce and gave a casual nce at Mechiel.


    But the power of Charm affected Kyros once more.


    "Kyros? Wow. It''s really strong." Cminus realized it.


    [Cminus used Tackle!]


    SMACK!


    It was as if a light p was performed on Kyros and jolted Kyros back to control.


    "Damn it! It''s really affecting me!" Kyros cursed.


    "That''s it! Two can y that game!" Kyros slowly walked forward and turned to Diana and Branze.


    Diana was still trembling but she was being embraced by Branze. She kept hammering Branze with her clenched fist.


    "Why didn''t you tell me?!" She cried.


    "I... I''m a coward." Branze apologized.


    "You sure are! I can''t believe I hated you! And... what''s with the song?!" Diana asked.


    "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, to witness the marriage of these two souls. Torn apart by Destiny, as their standings were heaven and earth. But Fate brought them together here. And while the irony of being married to someone you have loved long ago remains, the truth has finally freed them. Diana. You once took this vow, but your heart wasn''t in it. And that is why, though you were legally married to my son, I refused to make you state a vow to love him but only give honor to your family. I ask you now. Will you take this man, as your husband?" Mezal began.


    Diana nodded as she was in tears. She had been slowly falling for Branze. But she was always keeping those emotions in check and withholding it. But now that the reason why she restrained her emotions disappeared and this was the man she waited, she could not help but fall helplessly in the drunken emotion of love.


    All who were Fate Challengers could feel it in the air.


    Fate was rejoicing.


    "What''s up with Fate?" Kyros frowned.


    "I don''t know. Theres something in this wedding that is causing a ripple." Cminus noticed it too.


    Even Martha was amazed as she felt her heart shaking.


    "Puff. You should have felt it too."


    "Yes, Master Martha. I''m curious as well. Something about this marriage feels majestic. As if... the whole universe was waiting for this moment."


    In a strange realm, the mighty god Hyperion Steel opened his eyes and looked through the void.


    "Daughter-inw. Fate has fulfilled her promise. It took a while... But it finally happened. The forces that demands to rend you and my son asunder has been stopped. Live well with the Nephilim and Arise." Hyperion Steel smiled.


    "I, Hyperion Steele, departed and done, calls on my final decree. I severed the world, and now I will bind these two. Courage and the Cursed can now be one. Kyriachos! Form of the Gap, I call on you!"


    In the Seperated Realm where Kyriachos waited he finally heard the call.


    "Hm? The Courage and the Cursed are getting married?!" Kyriachos was shocked.


    But as Kyriachos felt more of Hyperion''s call, he realized it.


    "The Nephilim! Of course! The will of Curse will seek out the Nephilim! It''s the perfect time for Curse''s descendant to be born! She is using the shield of the Nephilim to take in all the curses and attacks of Destiny! Alright, Hyperion. I promised to help you after all. But your stupid son better take good care of my daughter!" Kyriachos couldn''t help but start to cry.


    "Daughter! I am sorry that you were born as the source of pain, as the source of despair. But thankfully, He Who Has Come in Bravery fought for you. He waged that war to love you! Katara Kyriachos. I separate your name from my own name! I bind you to Gannaios Steel!"


    In the other world, Hyperion sensed it and smiled.


    "Hmp! You''re an insolent and hateful man... But you''re a damn good father-inw to my son!" Hyperion raised his hand and swiped down.


    True Cut urred.


    Sheolrah watched in the great heavens above the nes World and kept the barrier that covered all of the nesworld.


    She kept her eyes closed and waited and waited for any signs of the Celestial Code to appear.


    Suddenly, she felt it.


    "Ancient God Hyperion?! H-how! No! No! Why?!"


    SLASH!


    The massive sh sliced through the barrier and demolished the barrier that was all over the nes World.


    The Cut that Hyperion Steel sent out wasn''t a physical cut, but a force that sliced through the strongest Codes that made up the entire universe. The power of Curse itself was the target. And naturally, the power of Sheolrah which interfered with the will of other gods and forced Greater God Daradiel into istion was also attacked.


    "ARGHHHH!" Shoelrah felt the attack rage through her soul.


    The barrier that she created was cut off.


    In the crater of a dead volcano, in a very dense jungle...


    A handsome, young man sat down and sighed.


    He nced to the heavens and was worried of the various changes that was happening.


    It was then that Greater God Daradiel sensed the power from the heavens.


    "Hyperion Steel''s Code!"


    He felt the strange shing power that broke allws and made a powerful cut on the barrier of Sheolrah.


    "Chance!" Daradiel knew that this was the chance of a lifetime.


    He sent a message out and it echoed throughout the heavens.


    "The message has been sent! I hope it reaches them on time. I can die, but the Celestial Code must not fall in their hands!"


    Back in the Airom mountain, Kyros felt a power resound as Diana spoke her vow and how Branze followed. It was strange. There was an indescribable happiness surging all around them.


    But then, Kyros saw a notification that horrified him.


    ---


    Sess and Fate Limit Breached!


    Fate Intervening...


    ---


    "FRAGMENT! THIS AGAIN?!" Kyros shouted.

 Chapter 229 - War Against Shadows

    The notification caused Kyros to shout and exim, alerting everyone.


    It was at that exact moment that the Temple finally left its dormant state. And as if led by Fate or Destiny, the marriage urred, and the power of Curse transferred.


    "Limit Breached!" Kyros shouted.


    "WHAT?!" Aron and Branze eximed in surprise.


    Mezal was also startled. He had heard of how Fate moved on the great trial that sent everyone.


    Kyros quickly read the various notifications to search for any vital information.


    ---


    Sess and Fate Limit Breached!


    Fate Intervening...


    Temple will be transported into the battleground.


    Steele Family and Coven members will be teleported...


    Shade Level 2-3 Tribtion activated.


    Destiny taking control...


    ---


    Kyros immediately ran.


    "Martha! Hold on to Mechiel!" Kyros ordered as he rushed towards the gathered crowd.


    Everyone was confused at Kyros''s sudden deration.


    Kyros activated Pronto and used his best speed to cross the distance, and rushed towards the most important object they acquired.


    There were several other caravans and carriages, but Kyros went for the carriage that contained all the herbs and items missing to create the Library was at the side.


    "Group hug!" Kyros suddenly shouted."


    "Group hug?" The male Champion asked in confusion.


    Mezal, Branze, Aron, and Diana, suddenly understood Kyros''s intention.


    "Group hug!" The remarried couple and the officiator suddenly moved and hugged the five confused Champions. Aron rushed and tackled the male champion who was standing some distance from the female champions.


    And then... it happened.


    KZZZZZTTTTT!


    A bright light suddenly shed, and everyone suddenly disappeared.


    In the very far north of the strange world, far past the Scaled Kingdoms of Alph Draconi, and further north up the Undead kingdoms, was a secret zone.


    This empty zone stood inside the boundary of the Life and Death Containing Field.


    In this zone, the Temple warped out. The Temple and the grounds around it floated in the dark nothingness of this zone. The plot ofnd was the entire area of the Temple Grounds, but it had no walls, and even the entrance that opened to the secret password was not brought along.


    Kyros was the first to arrive.


    He appeared right inside the Temple, under the same tform where he was once sealed.


    "Made it time...!" He rejoiced as hended. Right before he was teleported, he managed to touch the carriage and sent it into the Temple.


    He immediately went to his notifications and saw it.


    [All required items to build the Library of the Nephilim detected. Assimte to the Temple and build the room?]


    Kyros immediately selected yes, and a bright light enveloped the Temple.


    But Kyros had no time to wait for the Library, and he rushed out of the Temple. He had noticed that they were not in the same ce where the Temple was. He also checked the notification.


    [Shade Attack willmence in 00:59:57]


    "A Shade attack? So it really is a Shade Tribtion..." Kyros took note.


    KZZZZZTTTTT! KZZZZZTTTTT! KZZZZZTTTTT!


    The members of the Steele Family, the Coven, the ves that Martha brought, and even Mechiel appeared.


    Myas stood up and drew her bow faster than Martha.


    Hunter, Scarlet, Avary, and Gregory ran and encircled the ves near them.


    KZZZZTT!


    The newly remarried couple, Mezal, Aron, and the five Champions, appeared and stumbled down.


    The sudden rush to perform a group hug caused everyone to fall down, and the Champions wereining and cursing as they began to stand up.


    While everyone else was confused and distracted, Kyros continued to survey the surroundings.


    The back area of the Temple grew brighter, and this light expanded more and more, and as it died down, another chamber at the back of the Temple was created. Kyros was relieved that the many rocks and stones that the Steele family mined crafted and added on the main Temple areas defensive structures were not removed at the changing form of the Temple.


    Around the Temple were trenches and walls that the Steele family created.


    "At least the defenses were brought here. So the Temple carries the ground itself... At the very least, those things can still help us fight." Kyros looked around and realized that there was something strange. The entire Temple ground was floating in a dark abyss.


    "Or not. It seems that we will be fighting aerial creatures..." Kyros noticed the surroundings.


    "Fragment! Why are Fate and Destiny working together?" Kyros recalled the notification that was disyed.


    The group looked around and was horrified at what they saw.


    "Where are we?!" One of the Champions immediately noticed that they were in a different ce.


    "What happened?" Martha asked as she turned to Kyros.


    "I don''t know. That marriage somehow broke the Limitations of Fate!"


    "The marriage?!" Many voices chorused at Kyros''s answer.


    Diana and Branze nced at each other.


    "Are you two really that strong because you finally are honest with each other?" Aron wondered.


    "Champion Mezal! What happened here?"


    "A curse. The curse of the Steele family has destined us to die. Forgive us, Champions. But right now, you have no choice. We would have died in there, and so we recklessly involved you in this." Mezal exined.


    "What?! How dare you!" The male Champion grumbled.


    "Rx. This ce will reward you." Kyros stepped in and stopped the fight.


    "And who are you, boy, to intrude in the conversation among Champions?!" The mage shouted and invoked his Magic energy that rippled into a shockwave attack.


    "ROAR!" Gojirrah and Reptilia stood in front of Kyros.


    BANG!


    Their Force energy attacked the magic force, destroyed it, and continued to attack the Male Champion.


    The nearby female Champions, including Faye Emberdon, suddenlyunched a defensive spell to withstand the Force attack.


    BANG!


    "This boy is our lord. So speak respectfully to him, Champion." Gojirrah shouted.


    "Champions. Let me formally introduce you to Kyros Steele. My adopted son and kord of this Temple." Branze stepped forward and introduced.


    "I''d appreciate it if you don''t throw my nephew a magic shockwave attack." Aron also frowned.


    The Champion raged and harnessed powerful fire energy that sted out of his scepter.


    "Please." Aron shook his head and shed out.


    SLASH!


    Martha and Puff felt a tremendous fear in their heart as they saw the sh.


    The power of True Cut shed out and halved the fire energy.


    The force of the cut carried on, and the Champions made a defensive stance once more.


    BOOM!


    "Argh! I''ll kill you-"


    "Shut up, Brother! Are you blind?! That power required three Champions to block! That man is in equal power to those two Lizard Champions!"


    Kyros was shocked. His uncle performed an attack that took him years to master in his former life. But this version of Force sh was far stronger.


    "He harnessed the power of the Code of Hyperion and created an attack of great sharpness. What hecked in power, he made up in sharpness." Cminus was amazed.


    "That''s the Sword expert?" Reptilia asked Gojirrah.


    "Yes. He''s even stronger now. That doesn''t make sense! As expected of the uncle of Lord Kyros!"


    "Champions. Be at ease and don''t waste your energy. Look around you! This ce is not far from the original ce we have been. And an army of Shade will soone here."


    "An army of Shade?!"


    "Thest tribtion forced me to fight with these creatures." So Kyros summoned the Shadow Ghouls.


    "Wha-what?!"


    "I defeated it and gained this sword which allows me to summon some of them. I''m assuming that we will be facing creatures that can wield these artifacts in this area. But for you, five Champions, I recognize that you cannot trust us. So instead, we will hire you."


    "Hire us?" Faye asked.


    "For your service, we will allow you to read a book."


    "Read a book?! What nonsense is this?!"


    Suddenly, a book materialized in Kyros''s hand.


    "True Basic Magic Theories." Kyros read the title of the book.


    As he had created the Library of the Nephilim, he could sense and ess all the books and summon them at will. The power in his control over the library was so precise that he could even determine who would read the books and even the pages of the books!


    Kyros tossed the book to Champion Faye.


    Faye caught it and frowned.


    "Read it and get back to me. See for yourself if this value is important to you." Kyros then turned to Mezal and the gathering team. He frowned as he noticed that even the ves that apanied Martha were there.


    "So even the ves were sent here! I was hoping that they could stay there and avoid this tribtion, but it seems they are counted as part of our team." Kyros sighed.


    "With what we went through in that battle against those dragons, please consider all the ves here to be true, loyal, and worthy members of the Steele family, lord Kyros." Hunter spoke.


    "Hunter... There are thousands of words that I want to say to you guys. But war ising. We have an hour to prepare for a war against shadows. This trial is bizarre. It''s not being handled by Fate, but Destiny is controlling this!"


    "How can Destiny control this?"


    "I don''t know. But before we talk about that, let''s just focus on defending ourselves. It seems that the many renovations I made our knights do will do little to aid us. From the looks of it, we will be fighting flying creatures, and the Temple will only be our sanctuary." Kyros deduced.


    "Shadows? Like those things you summon that are immune to physical attacks?" Branze asked.


    "Yes. But these things will be much more powerful than the ones I can summon."


    "Bring it on. This is the first time that all of the Steele family will fight. Let''s make it an awesome battle!" Mezalughed.


    Martha stood at the back but could not help but worry. The orders of Kyros were strange, and she couldn''tprehend why Kyros ordered her to hold on to Mechiel. She was even surprised that Kyros knew her name.


    "Is it possible to send him a message directly?" Martha wondered and essed her Dark link.


    She then realized that her ability tomunicate with the Coven returned.


    "Lord Kyros. It''s about this young girl, Mechiel."


    "I know. The Blood Cmity is in her, isn''t she?" Kyros responded as he was talking with Mezal, Branze, and Aron.


    "Yes. How do you know her?"


    "It''s a long story. But if you''re curious why I brought her here. It''s safer to bring her here where she can''t do any harm rather than leave her back to where we were where she can kill and absorb Champions." Kyros answered.


    "Coven. Listen up...." Kyros then began to give them secret instructions.

 Chapter 230 - War Preparations

    "Sister!" The Champion shouted in fear.


    Ever since Faye got a hold of the book, she couldn''t put it down. Her eyes were glowing with excitement.


    Her brother and sisters were confused. In their view, Faye was holding on to a nk book, and so they believed that she fell into some form of trance or possession due to the book.


    The Steele family began to make preparations and sent all the ves who couldn''t fight inside.


    Luckily, all the weapons that were lying around the Temple were brought inside.


    Mezal and Branze took control and gave orders.


    "The Temple is floating in an emptynd. We will be fighting creatures that can fly. Since our enemies will be the Shadows that Kyros can summon, the best way to attack them would be to add elemental elements to our attacks. This means fire arrows and swords brandished in mes!" Branze exined, and the nearby knights knew what to do.


    The Steele Family had survived various cmities that sought to kill them. Branze had brought special oil, which they developed to add the mes to their weapons.


    "Too bad that most of our other equipment were left in that cave." Mezal sighed. Kyros was only to save the carriage that had the herbs andplete all the requirements of the Temple.


    "Erm... Lord Mezal. The carriage and everything are in here." One of the Knights reported as he took a look at the Storage space.


    "What?!" Mezal, Branze, and Aron bolted towards the ce.


    "Kyros! Look!" Branze immediately called out as the carriage that Mezal brought in, which consisted of all of what the Steele family valued, was in the Temple!


    "Oh. So it looked like Fate was rather kind. So I didn''t have to run and send the carriage."


    "But the herbs are missing. The carriage is here, but the lizards that carried it and the herbs are gone!"


    "It isn''t gone. It became this." Kyros answered as he brought out a certain book.


    "Basic Force Theory?" Branze moved with haste and grabbed the book before anyone else could.


    "Rx, father. The Temple has changed. At the back portion, a library has been created. It will contain knowledge about cultivation and other things. I haven''t checked it out yet, and now is not the time to check it. But it seems Fate is quite generous that it sent everything here. Although it''s a shame, those lizards weren''t sent in. I''m guessing Fate didn''t see them as part of the Coven or the Steele family." Kyros answered.


    "What?! You''re in love with her?!" Scarlet shouted out loud.


    Avary and Gregory suddenly rushed to cover her mouth and shut her up.


    Martha frowned but continued to lead the ves with Mechiel into the Temple.


    "Lady Martha...? Who is that boy? How did he know my name?" Mechiel asked.


    "An acquaintance of your father. Your father is one that likes to brag. He has seen your pictures that your father likes to carry and even offered to have you married to him to the Steele family." Martha made an exnation.


    "Oh..." Mechiel was stunned.


    "Scarlet, be quiet!" Gregory urged.


    Scarlet realized what had happened and quieted down.


    "The Blood Cmity is in that girl. And her power greatly affects me. It may be because I met the real Blood Cmity and received her full power. I have resisted it them, but the issues of lust grow day by day." Kyros exined. He could not exin how Mechiel was his love from a lifelong past and risk that secret leaking. As the Blood Cmity already knew that Kyros had feelings for Mechiel, it was dangerous if this information would be forced out from the Coven by the Blood Cmity.


    Scarlet was incensed.


    Martha could not help but sigh.


    "You guys will have to protect me. We don''t know what the Blood Cmity can do."


    "What if we chain her up?" Gojirrah asked.


    "We can''t do that. If we do, the Blood Cmity will know that we know she is inside Mechiel. She could then disperse her soul and escape. I managed to deal severe damage to the Blood Cmity and her soul. This small soul that took possession of Mechiel is probably thest of the soul that she has apart from the one controlling her main body. This makes her main body much weaker. Dividing a soul is not an easy thing."


    "Right. It''s like when that snake-man divided his soul using horror crosses and ended up cing a soul at his rival by ident. Then, his rival used that link against the snake man! That''s what Kyros is trying to do!" Martha realized.


    "What...?" Kyros was shocked.


    "???" The rest of the Coven was also confused at Martha''s statements.


    "Is... Martha making a reference to that series?" Cminus was shocked.


    "Damn you, Cminus! Look at what you did to Martha!"


    "Hey. Don''t me me. She asked for it. Asked, and you shall receive." Cminus defended.


    "An-Anyway... Martha understands... I think. The Blood Cmity''s soul is better kept inside Mechiel, and I n to use her power against her. I have acquired the power of Charm as well. And the Blood Cmity''s soul is bound to Mechiel. If I use Charm to Mechiel..."


    "It will affect the Blood Cmity, herself!" Martha guessed.


    "So... I will be seducing Mechiel." Kyros revealed.


    Scarlet was now angry.


    "Why didn''t the Blood Cmity choose me instead?!" Scarlet was secretly cursing.


    But her anger caused her to mutter softly, causing Gregory and Avary to hear it.


    "Myas. Keep watch of the ves. And don''t forget about Mechiel." Martha asked as she directed the ves and Myas in the Temple.


    She was observing the majesty of the Temple and could feel the Holiness of the Temple.


    Myas was stunned. Martha often used the phrase ''and don''t forget about'' as a means to highlight an enemy of great importance in their battles. It was these secret codes that allowed them to work effectively together.


    She nced at Martha, and Martha gave an affirmative nod to confirm that it was what Myas thought it meant.


    "Don''t worry, sister." Myas answered.


    "Mechiel. You don''t have an arm. Stick close to me." Myas instructed.


    As the Steele family and the Coven began to n their position, Kyros finally met with the Champion mages.


    "I am not possessed! This book is a marvelous treasure trove!" Faye argued with her brother and sisters.


    "The book is in my control. It will only show the text to the people I deem to show it. Faye. Have you considered my offer? If you fight alongside us, I will grant you ess to these books. There are more of them. So much more."


    Suddenly several books floated around Kyros.


    Faye''s eyes turned red in greed.


    "My... Precious!" She cried.


    "Our sister is possessed!"


    "Kill that boy!"


    "Stop! You idiots! Stop!" Faye was so angry she shot out several magic attacks on her siblings.

 Chapter 231 - The Champions Proposal

    Faye sent out several powerful binding wind magic that constrained her brother and sisters, who were about to attack Kyros.


    "Stop!" Faye shouted.


    "Argh!"


    "Sister!"


    The Championsined, but the binding attack had already wrapped around them that they could not move.


    "Show them the book! No! Allow Demerus to see one page! This one!" Faye urged.


    Kyros nodded.


    "Show it to him." Kyros allowed.


    Faye headed to Demerus, who was the male champion, and revealed the page.


    "What sorcery is this? I will not be swayed by your hypnosis! The magical theory of controlling Lightning?!" He then saw the title and was immediately immersed.


    "Sisters! A single page of these books will change your cultivation!" Faye dered.


    "We have been thought that wind is an element that is generated through the capturing of the wind around us and contains it so we can use it to attack. But this book can teach how to convert magic energy into the wind! And the effects are amazing! The standard measurement of our kingdom teaches that creating wind energy is costly. One standard dunamis of Wind energy is equal to two Magic points! But we are so wrong! If we follow the guide, we can create ten dunamis of wind energy! And what''s more, the book ims that the energy of wind is even stronger! As proof, look at the wind rope that I am using to bind you! Isn''t it stronger than your versions?" Faye pointed out.


    The rest of the Champions then noticed it. However, Demerus was still immersed in his reading.


    "This is how lightning is formed?! But I don''t understand! What is Elemental Alignment?"


    "It''s in this book." Kyros then revealed another set of books.


    "This book contains what Elemental Alignments are. The rest teaches basic knowledge of how to harness it. This lesson is what sets us apart from the people born in the Minds and the Hignds." Kyros disyed.


    "Great Sage Kyros, please show my sisters books pertaining to Fire, Earth, and Water," Faye asked.


    "Alright." Kyros then waved his hands, and three books floated towards them.


    Faye caught it and handed one book to one of his sisters.


    The moment they read it, they also fell into a trance.


    Faye had then unbound her magic on the group.


    "Where''s the rest of this?! Why can''t I see the next page?!" Demerus shouted.


    "As I said... I am the Lord of the Library. You can only read the pages I allow you to read. If you want more information, fight for it and help us. I will grant you ess to more pages depending on your contribution." Kyros answered.


    "Pages?! Just pages?! You are employing the works of Champions!" Demerus reacted.


    "Really? Not a very strong Champion, if you ask me. After all, my uncle''s attack forced you to get serious. And I''m sure you''ve noticed that he is but a Captain." Kyros chuckled.


    "Not to mention that my rough estimate of this book... can bring us all at least, to a Commander''s level. And if we follow the teachings of this book, we can match Commanders of the Minds." Branze interrupted as he kept reading the book.


    The Mages were driven out of their immersion as all the words in the books disappeared, and slowly, the books themselves disappeared.


    "Where is it?!" One of the mages cried out.


    "Serve me, and I''ll let you read it."


    "But... but... That man and that one are reading all the words of the book!" One of the mages used as she pointed to Branze and Mezal, who was immersed in reading.


    "That''s my grandfather and father. It''s only natural that they can read that book!"


    Martha and Myas approached Kyros.


    "Are there any books about archery?" They asked.


    Kyros willed it, and a book appeared.


    "Don''t get too caught up. We will be fighting in forty or so minutes."


    "Yes, Lord Kyros." Martha bowed.


    "Um... Hi Martha." Aron shyly introduced to the side.


    "Hey..." Martha blushed.


    "Jeez. Focus you too." Diana shook his head.


    "Son, are there any books about light cultivation? I went ahead and browsed the library at the back but found none."


    "Oh. For some reason, everything about basic cultivation except light cultivation is in those books." Kyros answered.


    "Why?"


    "The Temple seems to have a special Library for that called the Library of Light. But if weplete this tribtion, we may unlock it. But the theories in Force Energy can greatly help you." Kyros exined as he brought out two books. One was given to Martha, and another to Diana.


    The Champions watched in green envy. Their eyes were locked on the titles of that book.


    "I see. Then I guess we have to swiftly clear this trial. After that, I will be meditating in the Light." Diana added.


    "Diana..." Branze suddenly called out.


    "If- If you want... I can go over some of the notes I wrote about what I understood in the Light." Branze shylymented.


    "Why are you still calling me Diana? Am I not your wife?" Diana smiled and continued to move.


    "Let''s go, husband. I can''t wait to listen to your wisdom." Diana added.


    "Ye-yes!" Branze followed.


    Martha and Aron shook their heads at how Diana acted in hypocrisy.


    "It seems the Steele family is also cursed to have wives of strong and stubborn personality." Mezalughed.


    Kyros was silent, but he was smiling as he observed the interaction of his parents. The situation was not enough to dampen their hearts towards each other, but they were suddenly acting with public disys of affection.


    "They weren''t as open in their feelings to each other like it was in my timeline. It''s good that I broke the ice as early as now. Otherwise, the frost would have made it more difficult to thaw the ways they would treat and show their love for each other." Kyros thought to himself.


    "I still haven''t exined the strange anomaly that made all of the creation rejoice at their wedding. Not to mention how that marriage brought about this curse." Cminus added.


    "We''ll figure it out next time."


    "Grand Master of the Library... What if we be part of your Steele family?"


    "It''s not that simple." Kyros shook his head.


    "The Steele Family is bound by a great curse. All these ves and knights that you see before us are somehow bound to us in Fate. No one can easily im to be a Steele Family, and we can''t give it out. The recent ves that you brought along with Aunt Martha have officially be part of the Steele family, but the cost for them to enter is so high." Kyros had learned of the deaths of various ves that Martha had to devour for their survival.


    "In short, this tribtion can help us find out if you are indeed a Steele family as the battle can bind our Fates. But of course, I can perceive through a power called Foresight and Molding that it also depends in your heart and willingness to join us."


    "And apart from that... I get to decide whether someone is a Steele." Mezal joined in.


    "Yes. That too." Kyros smiled.


    "Then what if we force a bond?" Faye asked,


    "Force a Bond?"


    "Marry me!" Faye asked Kyros.


    "WHAT THE FRAGMENT?!" Scarlet erupted.


    Even Mezal was caught off guard.


    "Ma-Marry? Sister?! Are you mad?!" One of the female champions shouted.


    "Mad? Those books can throw me into a Commander level! And I would have the power that would be considered as a Cardinal in the Londs? So what if it''s madness! Lord Kyros Steele, I humbly ask for your hand in marriage!"


    "The fragment!" Kyros exined.


    "Listen,dy. I''m not into that kind of a... rtionship." Kyros gave a disgusted reply.


    The champion was as old as his father! Although Kyros lived a longer life, he was reborn, and the love of his life was listening.


    "Stupid sister! Can''t you see how inappropriate your request is?!" Demerus asked.


    "Lord Kyros, if you are not attracted to beauties like my sister, who has top ss and even a cmitous level of beauty, then perhaps I can satisfy you. Marry me!" Demerus dered.


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    A lot of horrified faces were revealed.


    "Gojirrah. Reptilia. Beat up that guy!" Kyros ordered.


    "Oh? Are you into that as well? So be it! We were meant to be! Come at me, lizards! Let us satisfy your master!" Demerus expressed.


    "As well?" Avary, Gregory, and Hunter echoed the odd statement of the Champion. What did he mean by ''as well?''


    "Lord Kyros. I don''t want to beat him up." Gojirrahined.


    "Me too," Reptilia added.

 Chapter 232 - The Champion鈥檚 Shock

    After clearing out the problematic scene, Mezal asked all the Champions what they wanted and negotiated a deal. With Kyros stepping up and offering the harsh requirement, the Champion''s desire to join the Steele Family had grown greater.


    "In short, I lied to Faye Emberdon. This power has no cost to my lifespan. I said that because of my many enemies. If my enemy found out about my true power, I could get in a lot of trouble, and I wouldn''t have lived to reach the peak of Airom Logat." Mezal exined.


    "As such, it''s clear that if you were to ally with us, our Steele Family would be considered the true powerhouse. You can decide to act and read books in payments to service in this fight, but in the end, our Steele family will grow even more powerful than your Emberdon n." Mezal smiled.


    "What? You want us to be vassals?!" A Champion erupted in anger.


    Kyrosughed and left the talk with his Grandfather.


    "Lord Kyros. Is it wise for them to join our Steele Family?" Scarlet asked. She was watching the beautiful mages who kept eyeing Kyros.


    "Yes." Kyros answered immediately.


    "It''s rted to Foresight. I can tell that they will be of great help to us." Kyros answered. The truth was that Kyros didn''t need Foresight.


    The Emeberdon family lived a noble life and fought against the undead armies, and stood alongside the side of Kyros. While they never made it to Omega Kingdom and died early on in the Londs, they were vital in their defense, allowing many of the fighters, including Kyros, to flee.


    "They can be loyal retainers to our family like Hunter and his peers. Besides, we need mages in our family. And if we want to create a kingdom, it''s not just mages. But we need all forms of jobs." Kyros added.


    "So the Bowheart n?" Gregory asked.


    "It''s possible. But of course, they have to make amends to Martha and Myas, who are members of the Steele family."


    "Lord Kyros. The preparations are all set. Our defenses have been ced, ording to your Grandfather''s instruction." A knight reported.


    "Good." Kyros watched.


    "It seems that Grandfather''s defensive strategy relies on a few offensive characters. How bold of Grandfather." Kyros observed and could tell the n that Mezal was initiating.


    "And my father could tell that what he needs is to harness his ability as shield expert. I can already tell the n. Most will stay and defend, but a few groups of men will be the ones leading the offensive. Once everyone is done, have them gather within the Temple. It''s finally time to disperse all the experience points and absorb all the corpses." Kyros smiled.


    The knights all perked up.


    Hidden from the view of the Temple was a mountain of corpses that was piled to the back.


    The corpses of orcs, lizardmen, and lizard creatures were there. Kyros had sent the corpses he found into the Temple, and the corpses were brought out and ced at the back, and various preservatives were applied so that they would not decay.


    What was strange was that the corpses did not decay at all after a few days.


    Branze concluded that something about the ground and the Temple purified the area of all forms of decay and even concluded that the power to preserve was so strong that it exined how the storage space could preserve items much better than other storage spaces.


    All of these corpses were not absorbed as Kyros was not around. And Kyros intentionally didn''t allow the Steele family to absorb it so that they wouldn''t breach the limits of their Sess. But now, that fate had already been breached. He was now going to absorb everything.


    "Shall we move all the corpses in the Temple?" A knight asked. While the task was gruesome to do, the knight was very excited.


    "No need. My control over the Temple has increased. I can transfer it directly." Kyros answered.


    "But we have to wait. I can feel Destiny''s gaze. So I n to absorb everything a several minutes until the attack. I''m not sure if Destiny knows the rewards that we can gain from them or if he can make an assessment. But I''ll do anything to make him miss the mark of his assessment." Kyros smiled as he watched on the several notifications that he had seen several times.


    This was the list of allpleted Temple Quests. Although some of the items were used to build the Library of the Nephilim,


    Monsters:


    ---


    Char Vermillion Lizard (80/80)


    Swamp Man-Gator (10/10)


    Stonic Creatures (50/50)


    Orcs (50/50)


    Lizard Captain (1/1)


    Lizardmen (50/50)


    ---


    nts:


    Skin Mending Herbs (20 Bushels/ 20 Bushels)


    Blood Berries (20/ 20 Bushels)


    ---


    Minerals:


    Grook Brown Lumber- (20 Trees)


    Graphite Char Dread Stone- (2 tons / 2 Tons)


    Iron Ore- (1 Ton/ 1 Ton)


    Silver ore - ( 1 Ton/ 1 Ton)


    ---


    At the end of this list was another list of all iplete items. But while the items were iplete, there were still minor rewards that could be bestowed.


    Wicked Men/Women (18/50)


    Green Poison Five-leaf nt (1.3 /5 Bushels)


    Red Poison Ivy- (1.2/ 5 Bushels)


    ---


    Minerals:


    Nara Red Lumber- (7/ 20 Trees)


    Grook Brown Lumber- (9/20 Trees)


    Snite Stone- (2.1/ 5 Tons)


    Graphite Char Dread Stone- (1.3 / 2 Tons)


    Various Metals- (321 Kilograms/ 1 Ton)


    Titerium Ore (121 Kilograms/ 1 Ton)


    The list detailed everything, and at the bottom of all this list was a simple question that was so tempting that Kyros had to control himself from confirming it.


    [im all rewards?]


    "I have to wait. I''m sure that whatever Fate has prepared in these rewards are things that Destiny cannot foresee clearly." Kyros told himself.


    "But won''t that be suspicious?" Cminus asked.


    "If I was Destiny, our actions might make me want to overestimate you. But, after all, you did outwit him several times now."


    "Don''t worry. I have considered that." Kyros smiled.


    "Are there any among you who have reached level twenty?" Kyros asked.


    A few hands were raised among the knights. Many had reached level 20 but could not advance as the Steele Family didn''t have enough money to perform it. Then, all of the Covens except Martha also raised their hand.


    "Good. Send them up the Temple." Kyros smiled.


    "Kyros. We''vee to an understanding. They have agreed to be for hire for now." Mezalughed.


    Despite Mezal''s attempts, the Champions were unwilling to be a vassal force for the Steele family. Even the more insane ones, such as Demerus and Faye, didn''t agree as they valued the honor of their family more. Marriage was one thing, but having the entire family line be vassals was too much.


    "Alright then. Champions, please join us up the Temple." Kyros smiled.


    The Champions followed and began to discuss with Kyros certainpromise to the offer.


    But Kyros ignored them and activated the one skill that the Temple could now do after his many victories against Destiny that made the Temple reach the next level.


    "Activate Job Bestowal!" Kyros shouted.


    And a bright light shed.


    "What?! Job Bestowal?!" Demerus eximed in amazement.


    The familiar power that Demerus have experienced several times erupted. But the power of this Job Bestowal was so much more powerful than the pitiful copies that he or his fellow mage siblings could perform.


    "This... This! This is too strong! Not even ourbined effort to bestow a job can do this!" One of the Champion siblings cried in shock.


    The light died out, and the several men who were standing were now revealing force energy.. Something that only those ssified as Captains can.

 Chapter 233 - The Champion鈥檚 Decision

    Of all the Job sses in the entire Lond, none was more expensive than the path of being a mage, a magi, or spell-casters. The ss itself was very hard.


    It required people to be doubly smarter than those who pursue the ss of being Knights, Lancers, Barbarian, or Archers. Magic was a field that demanded great study and was the wisest of all sses. The demand would attract mages of all sorts and kinds. It wasn''t unusual for these mages to also dabble in alchemy, herbology, and other fields.


    But there was a special privileged for these mages. And that was the amazing benefit when a mage reaches the higher stages of Captains. There was a chance that they could finally wield the ability to bestow ss changes.


    At the mid-Captain level, Mages are the primary people who are called to create experience points. Families would hunt monsters and other lifeforms or provide precious magical nts, energy stones, or crystals to increase their level.


    And so, mages who do reach the mid-level stages of the grueling and expensive path of mages are rewarded with certain wealth.


    The Emberdon family is blessed with five powerful mages of great intellect. And with all of them reaching the middle stages, soon, they all became Champions.


    But Faye Emberdon and her brother had the most potential in that while they were still level 27, they had the ability to perform Job Bestowal. The process of stepping from a typical knight to a Captain level required the finality of harnessing all the Blessings and adding a more vital Blessing called the Code.


    If a mage can withstand the coursing power of these Codes, they can pass it on.


    Soon, the other sisters learned how to perform Job Bestowal right before they became level 30. And with all of them working together, they became the most expensive and sought-after family in the Londs to bestow Job Bestowal.


    Yet now, they saw the familiar power of Job Bestowal. The Code and Blessing that appeared was powerful and potent. It was more than three times what they could deliver.


    This assured that those who received these blessings would step into the Captain level stronger than any of the previous warriors the Emberdon n blessed.


    Even more shocking, the bestowals did not involve one job, but several job bestowals were happening at once!


    The specific sses of the Knights and Swordsman appeared.


    Avary became an official Swordsman and even gained the Ravager Job specialization.


    Gregor became an official Knight. What was interesting was that he somehow inherited a Magic Defender ss despite not showing any magic.


    Scarlet became an Archer and was a Magic Bow specialist.


    Grugnyr gained the Orc Barbarian ss.


    The nearby knights also gained their respective jobs as Quick des, Defender, and two acquired the hybrid job ss thatbined two different jobs.


    A Scout and a Hunter were born among the other knights.


    But of all that appeared, nonepared to Hunter.


    The death of his brothers grew wearily into his heart. They were triplets, and when the two died, he could feel a strange disconnect at first. But now, it was as if the power of his brothers surged in him.


    He gained three jobs. Quick de, Ravager, and the Blitzer ss. And so, he received the demaster job ss.


    The powers of several Captains boomed out.


    Mezal was smiling.


    "My Steele family will rise!" Mezalughed.


    Myas was watching from the sides and was slightly jealous.


    "Rx." Martha shook her head.


    "I''m sure that you will be a Captain soon." Marthaughed.


    Unlike the rest, Martha, Aron, Diana, and Branze were not focused on that scene but kept immersing themselves in their study.


    Only Myas was affected.


    "Sooner than you think. Focus on studying. We nobles that have been trained need as much knowledge in this battle. Don''t be envious, and solidify what you know. That way, you''ll be a better Captain when it''s your time to receive the Bestowal." Aron smiled.


    Myas saw that Aron was unmoved and decided to trust his assessment.


    "Grandfather. I noticed that you nned to use these Champions to make an offensive?" Kyros asked.


    "As expected. You saw through my arrangements. Correct. Diana and Branze will stay here with the rest to defend this ce. Your two lizard friends will stay. And then, we follow these Champions with the gift of flight and make an offensive attack. Leading it will be Aron, Martha, myself, and you." Mezal exined.


    "I will need the Champions to assist me. I will be crafting something. As rewards, I will allow you to read ten pages of that book I showed you." Kyros smiled.


    "Ten pages?! Tell us what to do!" Demerus answered.


    "May I first know your names. Other than Sir Demerus and Lady Faye, I know not the names of the rest."


    "I am Ressi." A red-haired Champion answered. She looked very simr to Faye, and she wielded hot elemental artifacts and a strange broom behind her.


    "Call me Triona." The female Champion with light green hair smiled. She was the one who was furthest from the resemnce of her siblings. She had a small round object that she carried around.


    "Stellya, Grand Master Kyros." Thest Champion smiled as she gave a devilish wink at Kyros. She was second to beauty, only next to Faye, and had a rather petite and delicate body. It was obvious that she is the youngest among her siblings.


    "This young one is blessed to know the names of three beauties. I require assistance in crafting this." Kyros then summoned the wings of the Blood Cmity.


    The moment it appeared, Mechiel felt strange anger build up inside of her. She was tasked to aid the rest of the ves fortifying some of the defenses outside and couldn''t help but turn her head to observe what Kyros was doing.


    "Hm? Why do I feel... so agitated?" Mechiel wondered.


    The Blood Cmity inside her was raging in anger as she saw the wings.


    Kyros quickly detailed the task of each Champion and told them to harness the elemental energies they specialized on, and instructed them to do it.


    "This... The process, the exnation... These are top-tier theories of those who walk the path of Creation!" Faye was amazed.


    "It''s Enchantments! He is asking us to Enchant an object! And those instructions are extraordinary! But it made so much sense!"


    "The library..." Another female champion recalled. Could it be? That the library could teach them Creation?


    "That''s the best I can ask of you right now. These bones are rather difficult to control. But if you do that, I can fly. So I want you to enchant it for me to wear it and fly in the sky along with you. I have my reasons and confidence in my sess despite the very evil power that these wings can give. All I need is for you to perform the process I just exined.


    The Champions all looked at each other in disbelief. Was the Library this formidable?


    "Oh, you don''t believe me?" Kyrosughed.


    "We do! We do! It''s just... you are so young. Even with such a library, we are amazed that you can put the theories to action!"


    "He is beyond your imagination." Reptilia interrupted.


    "I believe I have a grasps as to what the ''Lond region'' has in terms of strength. My world has a simr region. So I will tell you this. Before he forcibly turned me into his ve... Lord Kyros was referred to as Grand Master Alchemist in the Lizard kingdom that I served. He crafted three alchemy weapons that weakened us all, including our Commander." Reptilia confirmed.


    "Indeed. That was an amazing sight." Gojirrah added.


    The Champions were shocked. Reptilia admitted that she was a ve. Why would such a Champion call herself that?


    "Grand Master Kyros... You are skilled in Alchemy as well?" Faye asked.


    "Not just Alchemy. I am skilled on all four paths of Creation." Kyros smiled.


    The Champions looked at each other with a meaningful nce, and all of them had the same thought in mind. They knew that Kyros was doing this to show the extent of his ability.


    "Lord Kyros..." Faye began.


    "We five dere to swear our undying fealty to the Steele family." Demerus dered.


    The Emberdon Champions finally made their decision.

 Chapter 234 - The Champion鈥檚 Help

    The path of Creation was something that was sorelycking in the Londs.


    There weren''t any Guilds or groups that could afford the extremely high and costly requirements to create the Operating Table and even the other basic necessary items to create one. Therefore, creating it required assistance from Enchanters and Energy Conversion Circle experts.


    But here was someone who had a library that could teach them all the basic concepts.


    The Steele Family was destined to rise and break out of the Londs. They had already reached the peak of what the Londs has to offer. But even with all their riches, they could not be worthy of the positions of any noteworthy cultivator in the Minds. But now, they could!


    "Alright. You are our vassal force. I dere this as the head of the Steele family." Mezal announced, but he then turned to Kyros.


    "Kyros, is there a way to confirm if the family curses are on them?" Mezal immediately asked.


    "Yes. And they don''t have it." Kyros shook his head as he could sense the curse flowing in them through his Foresight.


    "Right. I don''t sense the curses on them either. Alright. I recant my statements." Mezal suddenly dered.


    "What?!" The five Champions erupted.


    "What do you mean recant?!" Demerus asked.


    "We will confirm your joiningter. But, as already exined, joining us is not that simple. You have not yet seen the horrors that we face. If we show you these horrors, you might have a better picture and can make that decision yourself." Kyros smiled.


    "I don''t understand. Your grandfather does his best to convince us to join and be vassal forces to your family, and now that we do, you reject us?"


    "It''s because you don''t have those curses yet. We originally assumed that saying those vows would get you to be part of us officially. But s, Fate disagrees." Kyros shook his head.


    "What curses?"


    "The curses of Fate, of course. But there''s no time to exin. For now, I promise to let you read one book from my library. Not one for each of you, but one for all of you. Still, it''s better than flipping through some obscure pages. If, after this trial, Fate finally sees you as part of the Steele family, then let us make those vows. For now, start the process." Kyros sat down and touched the two wings.


    Strange dark energy suddenly appeared.


    Martha and Puff saw it.


    "Do you feel it, Puff? That power is more refined." Martha mentallymunicated to Puff.


    "Indeed. That is really the heir to Lord Kyriachos''s power."


    The Champion mages were almost horrified at what they saw that they took a step back.


    "Showing all our dark side, huh?" Mezalughed.


    "It makes sense. I guess Fate knows that we can trick people into joining our family."


    "Champions. What are you doing? Begin!" Kyros ordered.


    Faye had already taken a few steps back.


    "Faye. Start. Your element is needed to start it." Demerus called out.


    "But... Brother!"


    "He said it himself. We are in a strangend. You''ve seen the barriers that surround this ce. Our choice to survive is to fight with them. For now, we help them. We can decide whether to join them or to fight them after this whole ordeal that they im is a test for them." Demerus answered.


    "... Alright." Faye began and harnessed the wind.


    The magic began to appear. First, it was Faye, then Triona, then Demeerus, then Stellya, and finally, Ressi brought out her magic.


    The magic created a circle formation. It was as if the group was imitating the elemental formation that was used in alchemy.


    The mages could somehow perceive that this was an Enchantment circle. But what they did not realize, that this was a technique that was so advanced that it only existed in the Hignds.


    The Blood Cmity was secretly watching. She was curious at the crazy antics of Kyros. This was her bone wing! How would he achieve the power of flight with it?


    Kyros gathered the dark energy, and the power of Devour appeared. It started to draw in the various elements being released, and the pattern of release that the mages followed became clearer.


    "This... This is! An Energy Conversion Circle! Impossible!" Demerus saw it. At first, he thought Kyros was simply allowing them to create the energy needed to start Enchantments, but the way Kyros used it was so advanced. It incorporated another Path of Creation and harnessed the energy all the more.


    "Focus!" Kyros shouted.


    The Champions were all jolted out of their amazement. They felt as if they were mere acolytes serving before a Grand Master.


    "Groundless Enchantment...!" The Blood Cmity was horrified at what she saw. Only Saints were capable of doing this!


    Kyros was so excited. He had wanted to do this ever since he was reborn to this timeline. The knowledge he learned from Cminus was so amazing, but Kyros never had the necessary things or allies to do it. He even had to borrow an alchemy chamber from the Lizards to create weapons and test his knowledge. And now, with the Champion''s help, he could create the powerful teachings of Cminus to perform Artifact Merge.


    "But that''s impossible! He can''tbine my bones to his body!" The Blood Cmity saw it and wondered.


    It was then that Kyros brought out the Cloak of Darkness.


    It was only then that the Blood Cmity fully recognized the Cloak.


    "That''s Prince Azarret''s Cloak!" On their first fight, she could sense that Kyros was wearing a magic cloak. But she never thought it would be Azarret''s cloak! The Cloak of Darkness had disappeared after that war so long ago. And now, it resurfaced on the hand of Kyros.


    Kyros stabbed down the Bloodied Sword and took off his Dark Armguards and even the holster that held the chain Kyros used to fight along with the two balefire axes.


    Using the Bloodied Sword, the Cloak of Darkness, and the wings of the Blood Cmity as the base materials, Kyros was slowly causing the nearby armor and tool also to be harnessed into the darkness. As a result, it was now making it easier for the darkness to move in them.


    "With this, using your chains with your darkness would gradually reduce the cost of using magic points. And that will also allow you to harness magic into your Dark Armguards. If you didn''t have Kyriachos''s darkness, you wouldn''t be able to freely mod the Cloak of Darkness, you know." Cminusughed.


    [Artifact Enhancement of Fate Bound artifacts detected with Destiny artifacts, Wings of The Subus, and Chains of Balefire. Use the Temple''s power to aid in forge? ]


    A notification appeared.


    "I thought so!" Kyrosughed and selected yet.


    At that moment, Kyros added thest element needed. The power to unite and merge appeared. The Temple''s Holy Light brightened.


    The Blood Cmity cursed as she felt a strange suction drawing out of her.


    "No! It''s pulling me out!" The Blood Cmity panicked.


    "No choice! I have to fully merge with this soul so it won''t suction me out!" The Blood Cmity made her decision.

 Chapter 235 - The Champion Weapons Of Kyros

    The appearance of the suction power was so sudden that it scared the Blood Cmity.


    The Blood Cmity felt the Temple suddenly drawing out her soul as it was harnessing its power to draw out the inner powers of the wing.


    "Ahhhhh!" The Blood Cmity was a step too slow as the attack began.


    She swiftly dove into the soul of Mechiel and began her dark ritual to be one with her. Unfortunately, her soul was already weakened, that she would be unable to survive. But she had to remain near the Nephilim so that she could warn her allies and tell them everything about the Nephilim when they awaken.


    The merger was done in so much haste that Mechiel was the primary person controlling the soul. But as their soulsbined, the Temple stopped siphoning her soul and focused on extracting every bit of magic that made the Wings in the first ce.


    "Destiny Artifacts?" Cminus asked as the process kept urring. The Temple was quivering as both the chains and axes and the wing began to glow.


    Kyros could see what was happening, and his Path of Molding was telling him what to do. The whispers of the Temple resounded loudly in his soul, and Kyros began to move and harness the energy.


    "There are Destiny Artifacts! There is something about these items that make them great in the future! The Balefire Butcher Drysh is a warrior of Destiny, and he was equipped with such a weapon destined for heights! And now, Fate is remolding it!" Kyrosughed.


    The Temple reached its peak as bright lights shed it.


    As the Bright sh disappeared, the Dark Arm Guards and the chain device disappeared. All that remained was the Cloak and the Sword.


    ---


    Sessfully enhanced the following artifacts:


    ---


    Bloodied Balefire Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges (Lvl. 4->7)


    Attack: 31->39


    Durability: 30->40


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy and Blood


    Shadow Ghoul Familiar (7->8) / Blood Golem (2) -> Shadow Ghoul Familiar (12)/ Blood Golem (3) or Symbiot Blood Golem (3)


    Soul Trapper -> Soul Bind


    Dark Trapper


    Blood de


    Chaos Sword


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    Wings of Darkness (Lvl. 4->7)


    Defense: 62-> 74


    Durability: 30->40


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy.


    Dark Resistance: +35->+43


    Dark Shroud


    Dark Guard


    Dark Chains


    Shadow Familiar (3) -> Shadow Familiar (5) or Shadow Clone (1)


    Flight


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    The excess energy of Destiny will be used in the creation of the next set of items.


    ---


    Kyros stumbled down, and so did the Champions. They felt a strange surge as if the energy was being siphoned out of them.


    "A Champion''s Weapon!" the group saw how the sword had grown so strong that it was at the level of power that Champions had.


    Kyros wasughing in joy.


    "I was right! I was right!" Kyrosughed as the Cloak of Darkness slowly crept towards Kyros and moved like a strange living dark liquid.


    Kyros willed it, and the Temple began to heal him slowly.


    The Champions also felt the surge of power.


    "What''s this?!" Faye exined.


    "My energy! It''s returning!" Demerus shouted.


    Kyros stood up as the energy returned to him, and he held the sword. Then, a dark set of wings exploded out.


    The wing resembled the wings of dragons. It did not have feathers but had carapace-like flesh. The power of the Cloak suddenly began tobine with Kyros as he wore it.


    The Blood Cmity watched in great envy.


    "The Cloak of Darkness has finally epted Kyros as his master. Why him?!" The Blood Cmity secretly cursed.


    ---


    Failed to purge the soul of the Blood Cmity in Mechiel.


    ---


    A notification appeared after Kyros confirmed the previous set of notifications.


    "Oh? The Temple tried? Then the Blood Cmity must have been weakened. I guess this is the best time to do it."


    Kyros then took a stance and gazed at the Champions. He revealed his sword and power. Before the Champions, he didn''t give out any sense of being inferior.


    [Charmed Fallen activated.]


    Just like Skotos Eis Phos, Kyros activated the divinity of the Fallen.


    At the far side, Mechiel had a strange expression on her face. She saw Kyros wielding the darkness and taking a challenging stance against the Champions.


    "He''s... so..." Mechiel blushed as she fell into a daze. The horrified soul of the Blood Cmity also felt the same emotion.


    "No... It can''t be! Fate trapped me here!" The Bood Cmity realized it.


    Kyros could sense a strange weight being lifted, as did the rest who had the Path of Foresight.


    "Oh? What happened?" Aron wondered.


    "It''s the Blood Cmity. I feel that Mechiel is no longer a threat." Martha whispered.


    "The Blood Cmity is in her?" Aron was amazed.


    "You didn''t know? Grandfather, Diana, and Branze noticed it."


    "I felt something was off about her. But I didn''t feel so threatened!" Aron wondered.


    "Thank you, Champions. Please feel free to read this book. It speaks about Elemental Affinity." Kyros handed the book over.


    The knowledge in that book was already known to Kyros.


    "Everyone, report here in the next ten minutes." Kyros watched the time. He nned to save thest ten minutes before the fight to assimte all they had and disperse all the rewards.


    The Champions caught the book but was gazing at Kyros and his sword and cloak. They could feel a tremendous power that was moving in it.


    Kyros took out one book from the library and read it.


    The book was titled Basic Force Wielding and opened. But as he did, he was moving towards the direction of Mechiel.


    Mechiel was nervous as she saw Kyros.


    "Lo-Lord Kyros." She greeted respectfully as Kyros drew near.


    "You are Mechiel, correct? You are as beautiful as your father boasted. You were supposed to be bound to me in marriage." Kyros gave a smile as he approached.


    "I am ashamed at my father''s actions." Mechiel bowed in embarrassment.


    "Oh? Don''t be. When we get older, I will fulfill my vow. That is, of course, if we live to see tomorrow. Please standstill. I willmand the Temple to heal you." Kyros smiled and raised his hands.


    With the prompting, the Temple then bestowed a powerful bright light and healed Mechiel.


    The arm that was removed and the many wounds she had were being restored.


    Mechiel had a very haggard appearance. But now, her young beauty was revealed.


    Kyros trembled as he could feel the emotions that he was bottling up spill forth.


    "Forgive me. But I owe your father a great debt of gratitude." Kyros began to tear up as he stood in front of Mechiel. His arms wanted to reach out and hug her so bad.


    "Lord Kyros!" Scarlet somehow arrived in between them with great speed.


    [Scarlet has acquired Shadow Step.]


    "Scarlet?!" Kyros was surprised at the speed and the skill that Scarlet learned.


    "I am here to report of all our progress. Lady Martha has a dragon! Lady Martha! Quick! Bring it out!"


    Martha rolled her eyes andplied.


    At the side, Gregory and Avary were shaking their heads in pity. But who they pitied between the two, only they knew.


    "Lord Kyros. I greet you." Puff appeared as the portal awakened.


    "A dragon! So the egg did hatch!"


    "Lord Kyros. Since there is time, allow me to make my report." Martha drew closer.


    Myas also approached and escorted Mechiel out.


    Kyros smiled, and his eyes still followed Mechiel as he waved goodbye.


    "Lady Martha! Report now!'' Scarlet urged. Scarlet moved in between the two and began to call Avary, Gregory, and Hunter. Although that position was not a good ce to position herself to call the three, Scarlet continued to do so.


    Hunter and the other two shook their heads at Scarlet''s desperate actions.


    Martha sighed.


    "Lord Kyros. My report."


    "Erm... What if I unbind you from my Coven. It''s kind of awkward that you still call me Lord, Aunt Martha." Kyrosughed, but his eyes still followed Mechiel.


    "Eh? Don''t wanna. Why would I allow that? Change the vows you have for me if you want. But don''t put me out of your Coven!" Martha frowned. She would be insane if she agreed to that and lost all the benefits of being a member of the Coven.


    "Erm... alright." Kyros scratched his head.


    Diana, Branze, Aron, and Mezal also approached.


    The two Lizard Champions received the orders, and they too approached Kyros.


    "It''s about time you tell your Coven secrets. I need to know if we are to make an offensive.." Mezal smiled as he created a powerful Force energy simr to Pdins'' skill, which shielded them from all outside sounds.

 Chapter 236 - The Champions Of The Steele Family

    "What''s that?!" Faye eximed.


    The champions had been immersed in the book and were arguing and bickering. The book was about elemental affinity. And the elements being mentioned in the book were very bizarre, and the basic knowledge that they were already being strained.


    The introduction itself showed them that they were all not moving ording to their elemental affinity. And doing so would undoubtedly hinder their cultivation.


    Faye raised her head and turned to Kyros, hoping to rify something. But then she saw a peculiar creature standing next to them.


    Demerus had seen the entire act. Martha Steele summoned the creature from a strange portal. The fluctuations were clearly dimensional magic.


    "She-She has a dimensional space!?" Demerus was agitated.


    "That''s a dragon!" Triona identified the beast.


    "What kind of a family is this?!" Demerus asked again.


    The Steele family, however, weed the dragon-like any normal thing that they faced on Tuesday.


    Kyros was quickly recounting the abilities of the Coven and what they were capable of doing.


    "So your Coven has those abilities, huh? I wonder just what''s your limit, son..." Branze was amazed at the power of the Coven.


    "Shared growth and evolution at each snack! That very, very envious! It makes me want to join your little Coven, Kyros!" Aronughed.


    "Now for Martha''s report. You have something to share of what you learned about Fate?"


    "We learned it at the price of two knights and several brave ves." Martha began.


    Hunter had a pained expression as he heard this.


    "The Path of Foresight is quite different to the level of us humans. Granted that Lord Kyros is a freak and he cannot understand or even exin how or why Fate moves, Hunter, Hems, and Hemsey discovered how to use Foresight." Martha exined.


    The rest gave Kyros a strange look.


    "What? I''m still in the process of understanding it!"


    "But sister-inw is right. You are unable to exin how to use it clearly. Like a prodigy who doesn''t understand how or why his miraculous acts are difficult formon people, so do you thread in Fate not knowing that every single action of yours is naturally aligned in it." Branze exined.


    "The same can be said of you, Path of Molding." Aronughed.


    "Your such a genius that you can''t exin how or what to do to help others grow."


    Branze raised his eyebrows.


    "Aren''t you the same in your Path of Combat? How the fragment did you understand Force and meet Hyperion Steel?"


    "Anyway... You Steele freaks are so monstrous that''s it''s up to usmon folks to learn and exin how it works." Martha interrupted.


    "The Path of Foresight is grounded on the will and wish of the user. The bigger the wish, the harder it is to see through Fate. The truth was, I didn''t understand it until Hunter pointed it out to me. If the Fate Challenger focuses their thoughts on achieving a specific goal, Fate will help them. This is how Fate helped us in the battle against Puff dragon cells."


    Martha then quickly summarized the events of the battle.


    She pointed out how she could determine the precise locations of where the cave could copse through her attack. Finally, she exined how Hunter was able to find a source to restore their magic.


    "Through that simple goal, they were able to figure out how to get a magic restoring potion and led them to Myas''s group."


    "So it has to be a simple will or desire?" Aron mused.


    "It depends on what ''simple'' is. If Myas was not in that area, would Fate have led them to sources of dracanae ghouls and forced them to fight?"


    "I think Fate is smart, and it won''t act against a certain limitation. It takes into consideration what the Fate Challenger is willing to sacrifice. When they searched for a source of magic for the battle, they found that aside from the magic-restoring potions, those ves were another source."


    It was only then that Scarlet and some of the members of the Coven realized what had happened.


    "You drank the blood of the ves?" Kyros confirmed.


    "At first, we drank some of their blood to restore it. But Destiny forced the evolution of the dragon cells. In contrast, Destiny seems to have no concern about the user. If we had Fate Challenger, the dead cells of Puff might have been affected by the Blood Cmity and became people of Destiny. They didn''t know what they were doing when they evolved into stronger forms. From a dracanae ghoul, they became an actual dragon. A Thane Dragon!"


    "A Thane Dragon?!" Kyros was shocked.


    "Yes. Five Thane Dragons. Destiny forced their evolution somehow. But they were doomed the moment they stepped into that form."


    "Right. The energy of a Thane Dragon is likened to a Commander. The fact that you all survived is already miraculous." Kyros added.


    "Because of Fate. Hems and Hemsy were willing to sacrifice their life to save me. They used their life as a token to allow Fate to get me to safety. I fought and used the powers I gained from the dragon and with the help of the Fallen Kyriachos."


    "So that''s why I could sense his darkness in you." Kyros nodded.


    "Yes. He was the one who brought me back from a Separated Realm. Puff ate a descendant of Kyriachos, and that created a Separated Realm in that cave. My soul fell in there from drinking too much of the dracanae''s blood. He gave me this power." Martha revealed the power of the Space core.


    "A Space core? I see Kyriachos copsed the Separated Realm and used Puff''s original heart to create a Core." Kyros deduced.


    "Yes. But I was out of mana then. And that''s when I had no choice. But to feast on the ves to regain my magic points."


    Gregory froze up as he heard this. Avary covered his mouth in horror.


    "The ves gave their life willingly. I killed six of them and used their very life to restore my magic points. I couldn''t understand how that happened."


    "It was Tribute." Kyros recalled one of the many things he learned through Mechiel in his past life.


    "There is nothing more potent than life and soul willingly given. So it seems they did give their life willingly. It doesn''t make sense. But I''m sure Fate had something to do with why they became so willing." Kyros sighed.


    Gregory wanted to answer. But he couldn''t bring himself to say it.


    Hunter simply kept quiet.


    The two of them had spent some time with the ves for a time and had an idea why they were willing to give their lives so willingly.


    "This information is very important." Kyros turned to Hunter.


    "You should be proud that your brothers gave their life for this. We are all Fate Challengers or will be. And this will be our strongest weapon!" Kyros dered.


    "They will be remembered." Mezal began.


    "Now that we know that our family is caught in the conflict of Fate and Destiny, the reason why we can stand here today is because of these people. I hereby dere, not just these recent ones that died. But all who have served our Steele family and died will be among the people we will remember as the first Champions of the Steele Family. Before Mezal, Aron or Branze became Champions. We have them. The Champions of the Steele family. They are our foundation, and we are their legacy." Mezal decreed.


    "They are not ves or knights. They are heroes of the Steele family. We shall immortalize their names in the Temple, and thus shall they be remembered as.." Mezal smiled.

 Chapter 237 - The Champions And Captains Of The Steele Earldom

    The past of the Steele family, even in Kyros''s past life, was quite brutal. They were all massacred. If not for the Shaman whoter became Mezal''s father-inw and who managed to redirect the curse, the Steele family would have really died out.


    But even then, the slipping of Destiny''s subtle tricks moved.


    It was only then that Mezal remembered how the attacks against Branze and Aron were only stopped through the deaths of some of their vassal forces who loyally served them.


    "The Steele family has always had loyal men die. It''s as if Destiny was secretly cursing those who grew close to us."


    Branze remembered his friend, whose family now med him for his death.


    "This changes nothing, to be honest. Our family has always been built on the sacrifices of many. It is our job to fight to honor and remember these heroes who died. And who knows? By the looks of it, all of us have been tied by Fate to be rted or to find the power to another God. So it might just be possible for us to bring back the dead." Mezal smiled.


    "That''s right. Now that all of us are kept up to date, it''s about time for me to bring out thest rewards I''ve been saving up. All those corpses will now be used to boost our power." Kyros smiled. Ten minutes from now, the battle would begin.


    "I knew it! There are more rewards?!" Arons was excited.


    "Of course. Even I''m excited about what it would be. I decided to focus on building the Library because knowledge is what weck in terms of cultivation. And now that we have everyone here, it''s time to reap our rewards. The Vermillion Scale armor is considered at the level that Captains should wear in terms of its strengths. And frankly, with everything that we''ve experienced, we here either have a Champion''s power or have the might of Captains. But now, let''s make it official! We outfit everyone! We shall have Champions and Captains in the Steele family. We will be Viscounts!" Kyros dered.


    "So we will be getting armors like the Vermillion Scale armor?


    "That was the first of the weakest rewards. But, I''m sure with everything we have, it will surpass the Vermillion Scale Armor." Kyros smiled.


    "The Earth Core? You said you had it with you, but this is a reward, isn''t it?"


    "Yes."


    "Then more cores can appear?" Mezal asked excitedly.


    "Definitely. And the current Cores we have may grow stronger." Kyrosughed.


    "Do it! Stop teasing us!" Mezalughed.


    "It''s not that I''m teasing you, but I''m waiting for the least possible time. We know Destiny is preparing for an assault. I''m sure whatever Fate has to offer is something even Destiny cannot prepare for. So I''m waiting for thest few minutes, which will be just enough for us to equip our weapons." Kyrosughed.


    "We have less than ten minutes left. So you better do it now, in case we need to reorganize our teams."


    "I know. Let''s start. Grandfather, please diffuse the Force barrier."


    Mezal dispelled the force energy that was soundproofing them for their discussion.


    "Everyone, get ready. I will be using the power of the Temple to bestow armors, weapons, and other items for us. Get ready to remove and equip the armor." Kyros announced.


    The knights and servants of the Steele family heard it.


    Kyros went to his screen and confirmed a certain notification.


    But instead of the awaited bestowal, another confirmation was disyed.


    [Equip weapons and armors to suggested persons? All Captain to Champion grade weapons will be stored in the Temple Storage Space. Lower-grade weapons and armors will be absorbed into the Temple.]


    Kyros smiled.


    "Oh? How convenient. It looks like I was worried for nothing. But I should confirm it now. I''m sure whatever Destiny sent during this past hour can''t be changed with ten minutes left." Kyros muttered to himself and confirmed.


    [Due to the recent victories against Destiny, the rewards have been improved. All 87 allies of the Nephilim ounted for. Bestowing rewards ordingly.]


    And then the Temple trembled.


    A surge of powerful energy was appearing, and it began to cover the Temple.


    The rewards of the Temple were now being crafted and created.


    ---


    Bestowing all Completion Rewards...


    ---


    Rampart defense has been detected around the Temple.


    Upgrading rampart defense ording to the designedyout.


    ---


    Hyperion Steel Code detected among allies.


    Bestowing corresponding rewards based on attained level of mastery.


    ---


    Repairing all damaged bestowed armors and equipment...


    ---


    True Entropy Soul Core detected.


    Nephilim Dark Core detected.


    Fallen Space Core detected.


    Low-Grade Time Core detected.


    Harnessed Basic Earth Core detected


    Upgrading all Cores.


    Awakening Mardock...


    ---


    Temple Protocol: Archers Supply activated.


    ---


    Dispersing experience points...


    ---


    Deploying Light Golem Defenders.


    1 True Steel Legacy Sword acquired.


    1 True Steel Legacy Shield acquired.


    1 Katara''s Burden shield acquired.


    1 Branch of Bow bow acquired.


    1 Sword of the Steel acquired.


    1 Shield of the Steel acquired.


    2 Scale of the Lizard Sovereign armor acquired.


    1 w of the Lizard Sovereign spear acquired.


    1 Fang of the Lizard sovereign sword acquired.


    2 Basic Lightning Core acquired.


    2 Basic Fire Core acquired.


    1 Basic Earth Core acquired.


    5 Offender Dread Swords acquired.


    5 Defender Dread armor acquired.


    1 Heart of Reliance Bows acquired.


    5 Conviction of Reliance armor acquired.


    5 Scepter of the Elements acquired.


    10 Novice of Elirium scepter acquired.


    10 Offense of Avarice swords acquired.


    10 Vermilion Scale armor acquired.


    10 Captain''s Garb Armor acquired.


    10 Guards of Avarice armor acquired.


    10 Oath of the Orc yer armor acquired.


    30 Superior Steel Sword reacquired.


    30 Superior Nara Longbows acquired.


    40 Uniform of the Nephilim acquired.


    ---


    The notifications ran through, and a bright light covered the Temple.


    By the time the light disappeared, everyone had a new weapon or armor on them.


    "What?!"


    "My armor?!"


    "This sword...!"


    Everyone was eximing at the sudden changes. Aside from the gear, many wereter realizing that they had leveled up.


    "Magic! I can sense magic force!"


    "Force energy! I can feel it!"


    "I leveled up! I leveled up twice!"


    But it was the servant group that was the most amazed.


    All servants who were lower than level ten leveled up at least twice.


    Even the five champions of the Emberdon n were stunned as they saw a scepter hovering before them. It was clearly emitting the powers that were fitting for Champions. Andpared to their current gear, this equipment was far superior.


    "Peak Champion Weapon!"


    "Look! Everyone is wearing armors and weapons that are either Captain level or Champion level!" Demerus was shocked.


    "Somethings wrong! The force energy they release has gotten stronger! Those Captains leveled up!"


    "It''s not just the Captain. I used [Gauge] back when we saw them. Everyone has increased in level! Everyone! The weakest ones even increased by three levels!"


    "Oh?" Mezal nced at his sword and shield that he wore.


    "This... This is a Champion''s gear!" Avary was stunned at the armor that he now wore.


    "Impressive. All of the Coven is given Champion-level gear. The rest of the knights that arrived here first are geared with the strongest armor. And it seems everyone else is granted the Captain level. The Temple somehow could estimate the strengths of every member and bestowed the rewards ordingly." Kyros deduced. Unlike the rest, he did not have new gear. But he could feel a powerful change in his core.


    "It looks like the Temple has already ced inside the Time Core and upgraded it." Kyros smiled.


    Everyone was grabbed on certain attires, and weapons were on their hands.


    Knights noticed the powerful swords they had. Some of the other servants without any formal training were either equipped with a sword or a bow.


    But all members of the Steele family and the Coven had specific weapons and armors on them.


    Kyros looked around and was rather pleased.


    "Grand Master Kyros! What''s going on!?" Demerus asked.


    "You have just witnessed the rise of the Steele Family. Please give salutations to your peers.. And allow me to introduce the Champions and Captains of the Steele Earldom!" Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 238 - The Champion Ranked Legacy Weapons

    Earldom.


    The words that Kyros said were majestic music to the ears of everyone.


    "And I even haven''t told my family yet..." Diana chuckled.


    "I wonder how dad would feel now that we are already part of an Earldom?" Myasughed as she asked Martha.


    "This is just the beginning. We should aim to be dukes in the Hignds at the very least! Mezalughed


    The group was all admiring the powerful weapons and armor they had.


    The five champions would haveughed at this im. When Mezal revealed a Champion''s potential, he was still far from bing an Earl. Moving from Baron to Viscount was already hard. Unless one bes a hero or has the support of another Earl, the chances of that happening in the Lond in the past hundred years were so low.


    But now, the power of Mezal was alreadyparable to an actual Earl!


    "Do you like the gift? I control those items and will be lending it to you for now." Kyrosughed as he pointed to the five scepters.


    The Temple ced the five Scepter of the Elements in front before the Champions. It was as if Fate was telling them to use it. But, of course, Kyros could control the Temple to move and store these items at will.


    "What happened?! Every knights and servant of the Steele family have new weapons! And those weapons are- are..." Demerus pointed to the gear that Scarlet was toying with. Those were Champion-level weapons! And to make matters even more amazing, Scarlet was holding a scepter that only captain mages used.


    "Knights and Servants? Are you calling Scarlet a knight? Or are you calling her a servant? Please call them ording to their titles. She is a Captain."


    Scarlet smiled as she heard this.


    "It''s nice to be praised by Lord Kyros." She smiled and muttered to Mechiel, who was nearby.


    "I may be just dreaming... But I really like Lord Kyros." Scarlet sighed and confessed to Mechiel.


    "Oh... You-you do?" Mechiel was amazed.


    "Yes." Scarlet smiled.


    "You think... It''s possible?" She asked.


    "I... don''t know. I mean... you are a former noble..."


    "So... So you think it''s possible?!"


    "What is that girl doing?" Branze asked Diana as he noticed the strange talk.


    "That...! It''s a most ancient and powerful tactic that women employ to prevent potential love rivals. Whenever we have a potential rival who our crush likes, we approach this rival and manipte her to be our friend."


    "What?" Branze was amazed.


    "It''s a rather cruel tactic. But as my friends would say, all is fair in love and war. This rival who our crushes like would then be manipted to deflect or avoid our crush due to our bonds. An even crueler version of this is when the girl will ask her rival to vow or promise to help her."


    "That''s a thing?!" Branze was amazed.


    "It''s effective. Scarlet is already at a disadvantage since our son clearly likes Mechiel. I''m not sure who to support. I do respect the choices our son makes, but Scarlet is a good girl."


    "I noticed that too. But Kyros''s reaction... It''s like love at first sight?" Branze couldn''t help but blush.


    Diana blushed as well.


    While love and subterfuge were urring within the Temple, Mezal approached the Champions who Kyros talked to about the Earldom.


    "Fellow Earls, Good day." Mezalughed as he approached. He held a shield and a sword that was clearly a part of a set. Both weapons were Champion level. It was very, very extravagant for a Champion to have two weapons that were Champion ranked. Most Champions use their Captain ranked weapon and only use their Champion ranked weapons on a certain crisis.


    "Champions of the Emberdon n, allow me to introduce to you the current Champions and Captains of the Steele Family! Kyros, you underestimated. We now have the power of an Earl. We skipped the Viscount stage." Mezalughed.


    Kyrosughed as well.


    Everyone but the five Champions of the Emberdon n wereughing in joy at the amazing weapons and the increase of their level.


    The five Champions were starting to grow more and more shocked at the capabilities of the Temple.


    While there were envious talks as some received better equipment, everyone was happy that the Steele family was now equipped for whatever woulde.


    "Hey, Cminus. Fate is quite generous here. Those Champion weapons look strong." Kyros called out to Cminus.


    "THE FRAGMENT?!" Cminus eximed.


    "Cminus?"


    "Those rewards! Those five weapons! Those weapons that Mezal, Branze, Aron, Martha, and Diana have aren''t ordinary! Those are Champion Ranked Weapons of Legacy!"


    "Weapons of Legacy?"


    "Those weapons are like your Cloak of Darkness or the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges! They grow stronger and stronger! Right now, those weapons are just Champion ranked. But it even has a greater potential than your weapons! Because the Legacy of those weapons is from Gods!"


    "True Steel Legacy... The sword of Uncle and the shield that father has... Are they weapons made by Hyperion Steel?"


    "No. It''s his son who made it. The Ancient God created a weapon to contain his father''s ability. The inventor of the first Sword. The Great cksmith of the Heavens, Mettalon Steel! But he named those two weapons the True Steel Legacy because they contained all of his legacy! This was hisst work! The Sword of Steel and the Shield of Steel that your grandfather carried is a set. It was the second to thest artifact that he created. He bestowed it to his brother. But that weapon was lost during the Heretic Wars at the death of Gannaios Steel!"


    "What of the Bow? Branch of Bow doesn''t seem like a formidable name."


    "Bow Veiyos. An Ancient God was gifted with the power of travel. She was born to cross the gap and separation that Hyperion and Kyriachos created. At the beginning of creation, she took a branch from the Tree of Life and shot an arrow that crossed the void! That created the concept of travel."


    "That''s the bow?! It''s the branch?" Kyros was now shocked.


    "I don''t know! If it is, it would be too awesome! Besides, Bow Veiyos is still alive! She is one of the reasons that the Greater Gods and the Fallen have not prevailed yet! The moment any Fallen or Greater God reaches a certain distance from the final fortress of my allies, they die. Bow Vieyos can shoot you across several gxies!"


    "So, what is she using now?"


    "She was crafted a new bow which is stronger. We know that her current weapon is the bow called Distance which epasses the power of space itself! But the first weapon she used to shoot her power was long gone! Branch of Bow sounds like that very weapon!"


    Kyros was so amazed that he was actually afraid. Such powerful weapons in his hands would spell danger! What if these weapons were recognized?


    "And Katara''s Burden?" Kyros took a deep breath and asked about thest item.


    "I know that Katara is either a God or a Fallen... but my memories.... can''t seem to remember who she is!" Cminus revealed.

 Chapter 239 - The Champions Of Darkness

    Five weapons that were crafted or associated with very powerful beings made Kyros worry. And thest being that even Cminus couldn''t remember made Kyros worry all the more.


    The fact that a god or fallen has been removed from Cminus''s memory means that to hers was an even greater mystery. Even with Kyros''s wisdom, the current information is not enough for them to figure out who this god or fallen was.


    "Burden?" Kyros tried to consider what the Code of this being was based on the name of the shield.


    "Is she a god or fallen that is the aspect and source of weight and heaviness?"


    "Now that''s just rude." Cminus frowned.


    "Er... Sorry. That was wrong of me. It''s just that... Why is the shield named as this person''s burden? Is she sworn to carry our burdens?"


    "No. That''s Lydia."


    "... I guess I had that answering... Oh well. No use pondering about who this god or fallen is. What''s important is that it''s powerful. I''m sure they will protect those weapons anyway, considering they would know its worth." Kyros nced towards the outside of the Temple.


    "Those weapons are sealed. If I had not known of the name, I would have mistaken them for Champion ranked weapons made by mortals. So the Nephilim Sealing Temple must have kept it and prepared it for them."


    "All ording to Fate''s design, huh? At least this battle between Beginning and End is not something I will tackle recklessly. Fate and Beginning must have prepared it for me."


    "Right. I wonder just how many legacies this Temple has." Cminus wondered.


    "We''ll find out soon." Kyros then turned his attention to the concluding pleasantries that the Champions were giving Earl Mezal Steele."


    "Everyone, in five minutes, the enemies will arrive. Grandfather! Youmand the men. Emberdon Champions, please follow along with Grandfather''s instructions." Kyros spoke.


    "Alright, men! Get acquainted and position yourselves ordingly. The protection of the Temple has created an impressive walled defense. It was smart enough to build upon the designs we ced and even provided more protections on the trenches and the windows of the Temple. I have already received the reports of what the Temple looks like from the outside." Mezal began.


    "The currentyout of the Temple has improved. Originally, we ced a wall surrounding the entire Temple and created paths on the top of the wall for our archers. But now, it has drastically changed. Instead of the wooden wall that surrounds the Temple, the Temple now has a stone wall that surrounds the Temple. The walls have stone staircases that allow us to move up the top of the wall easily, and passages have been created for an easy retreat down and towards the Temple entrance. There are no gates that block the paths but four wide doorways on each side of the walls for some strange reason. Those doorways will be our chokepoints of defenses. The nned positions of archers are still the same. Those equipped granted by the Temple with bows, please take your positions now!"


    The soldiers and the servants immediately moved. The once nervous servants now had some courage as they had experienced a level up. Those with Mezal''s escort and who never experienced the danger of the Nephilim Sealing Mountain had already learned of the dangers. Yet despite that, morale was high.


    This was because they had seen how Mezal, Branze, and Aron had grown. And it was rumored that the adopted lord, Kyros was even more amazing. And now, having experienced the miracle of the Temple, the soldiers and even the servants who were trained only of the bow, was confident.


    The core members of the Steele family met with the Emberdon.


    "The advantages that we now have may indicate the hell that we will soon experience. I''m sure Destiny will throw something that will shock us. So for now, I think we should focus on defending." Mezal suggested.


    "I agree." Branze seconded.


    "We see what the enemy has to offer first. If we divide our forces and send out a strike team to attack the enemy at the start, we might put everyone in danger. So we observe first, and once we could gauge the limits, we then decide whether to send out a team." Mezal suggested.


    "I agree."


    The five champions didn''t voice out anyints.


    Mezal then gave the orders andmanded each of them to their positions.


    The five Emberdon Champions were to be the aerial defenders, and they hovered directly above the Temple, each using their own magical tool to fly. After learning that the Temple could help them recover their magic, they fearlessly agreed to the decision, took to the skies, and prepared powerful spells.


    Meanwhile, Kyros retrieved the True Entropy core and summoned a certain golem.


    Mardock appeared and bowed before Kyros.


    "It is good to see you again, Lord Kyros."


    "Mardock. I have been informed of your amazing service." Kyros praised.


    "I sensed that two of the knights under your service have fallen. They were very gant men. But, in all honesty, I''m quite surprised that they even survived." Mardock answered as he watched Martha and the group rushing towards their position.


    "I want you to take control of this." Kyros then summoned a certain artifact.


    "This...! This is...!"


    "Amazing, right? Too bad I can''t take it away from the Temple. It is a Pure Light Golem Core. Since my family and everyone else will do better defending the walls, I need someone who can control the golems. Since you have alwaysmanded Golems, I thought it would be easier for you to control them, given your experiences."


    "I will not fail."


    "Just try to avoid corroding your Entropy to this core." Kyrosughed as he handed the Core.


    "I doubt I can. The power in this core is too strong."


    "How many Golems can it deploy?"


    "It already has deployed them. So there are four light golems that will appear at the entrance. But it seems I can control it manually."


    "Can you control the four of them at once?"


    "Yes."


    "Good. Use your experience to fight it." Kyros smiled.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Several thunderous sounds could be heard.


    Kyros suddenly flew up high as the wings appeared. He hovered high above the Temple and watched the Steele family servants and knights in their position.


    At the furthest reaches of the Life and Death Containing Field, a portal appeared.


    And slowly, arge plot ofnd began to spread out from the portal.


    It was then an army of marching creatures came out. Unlike the Shadow ghouls, these figures looked like humans, orcs, lizardmen, and goblins. In the sky, severalrge winged beasts also emerged and began to fly over the spreading ground.


    The ground avoided the Life and Death Containing Field and was slowly creeping towards the floating plot ofnd that held the Nephilim Sealing Temple.


    "At least, it''s not an all aerial army." Kyros smiled as he observed.


    Suddenly, powerful Force and Magic energy could be felt as the portal brought out several figures. The darkness was creeping and covering it, and with the distance and the army of shadow creatures at the front, Kyros could not tell what creatures appeared.


    "Champions!" Demerus cried in shock as he sensed it.


    "There are Champions among them!" He called out to Mezal.


    "I know.. The Champions of Darkness has arrived.

 Chapter 240 - The Champion Mezal

    The dark army continued to emerge from the portal and march towards the ground connecting towards the Temple ground.


    At first, it was just the Coven who could see in the darkness as their sights allowed them. The Emberdon Champions also used their powers to pierce through and see the darkness.


    They were shocked at the scene of the army. The enemies outdid them by several folds. And it was their first time to see such strange shadow creatures.


    The army of Shadow creatures came to light as it neared the Temple. The light from the Temple was illuminating everything around the area. Although the light wasn''t very bright, it was somehow able to illuminate the area nearly half a kilometer from the Temple.


    "What foul beasts are they?! And there are Champions among them!" Demerus asked. The Champions had gifted Mezal and his family Message Orbs. They were like Message Talismans but could only work a short-range. The orbmunicated with all key members of the Steele family.


    The servants and knights who stood guard all began to tremble as they saw theing forces. They could hear the fearful cries of the Emberdon family.


    The knights and servants near the Steele family members turned their eyes to the reactions of their lords.


    "This is way below my expectations! This is too weak!" Branze noted as we watched. He was positioned at the very passage of the middle doorway.


    "Yeah. That''s it? That''s what we''re facing?" Aron frowned.


    "Champions? And here I thought I''d be facing Commanders..." Diana sighed.


    "Maybe after we kill them, the next challenge will appear," Martha suggested.


    "No. I''m pretty sure that the two trials are happening together. But it may be that whatever intelligent leader of this army ismanding the stronger ones to be situated at the back. After all, the portal has not yet sent in all of the forces." Kyros guessed.


    "Are you all mad?!" Demerus shouted at the top of his lungs.


    "We should be thinking about retreating!"


    The Steele family turned at him for a split second, and there was silence.


    "So anyway, if the enemy is reserving the stronger ones, the best way is to y the ones that are here as fast as possible."


    Demerus was about to shout again when Faye stopped him.


    "Brother. Rx. Don''t let the enemy''s numbers deceive you. Remember. We have a Temple that can restore us! If we keep bombarding them with powerful spells and recover, we might be able to stop them easily. Remember that child who lost her limbs? She was able to grow it back! Perhaps that is what they are counting on." Faye reminded Demerus.


    "Sister Faye is right, Brother. That should be why the Steele family isn''t nervous."


    "...Hm. So in the end, it''s going to be us who will do the dirty work?" Demerus frowned.


    "Can I go first?" Aron asked.


    "I want to try." Branze volunteered.


    "Please. A son will bury the father, not the other way around. I will go first!" Mezal volunteered.


    "No, me. I still need to feed Puff."


    "I wish to test the theories and might of a Pdin." Diana spoke.


    "Hey, hey, hey! This is my Temple! I should give it a go!" Kyrosined.


    The ranks of the shadow beasts were now organizing themselves an arrow-shot away from the Temple and began to growl and screech.


    "What are they talking about?" Demerus asked Faye.


    "I don''t understand what they mean by going first, dear brother." Faye scratched her head.


    "I think they are arguing over who of them will fight first," Triona answered.


    "Fight first? As in defending those open doorways? There are four doorways. And they are already positioned there. Although the one Branze is standing on would be the first to be attacked."


    "No. I meant, they are arguing over who will charge and attack that dark army first." Triona added.


    "Charge? No way. Don''t be stupid." The rest of Triona''s siblings chorused.


    The Steele family kept bickering.


    "Alright! How about this! We let the Champions decide! Which one? Champion Demerus, which one of us?" Kyros asked.


    "Erm... Mezal?" Demerus didn''t know what they were talking about and decided to go with Mezal.


    "Hahaha! Good choice!" Mezalughed.


    "Wait! He doesn''t know what we are talking about!" Aron argued.


    "Does it matter?" Mezalughed.


    "Kyros?" Branze asked his son.


    "Fine..." Kyros shrugged his shoulders.


    "I hope that the Emberdon Champions will consider me next time." Diana frowned.


    "Grandson, I will need your help. Can you throw me over there? The higher you are from, the better." Mezalughed.


    "Alright. Buckle up, grandpa!" Kyros dove down, and the chains wrapped around Mezal. Kyros raced towards the sky with a swift motion and began to spin around several times in the air. Mezal was spinning and spinning as he was still tied to the chain, and Kyros was moving higher and higher.


    KACHIN!


    The subtle sound of the chains disconnecting was heard, and the Emberdon Champions were horrified at the sight of Mezal being hurled like a stone that catapults throw.


    The shadow creatures saw the lone knight being tossed to them.


    "Are you insane?!" Demerus shouted to Kyros.


    "A little." Kyros smiled and watched his Grandfather''s figure.


    Mezal had always been at level 30. However, because of the high cost of the ss Change to be a Pdin, he never could afford it.


    But when the power of True Cut was realized, Mezal learned that among the powers that they all had, they had the ability to cut through anything.


    And this included the seals that the multitudes of gods and fallen have set. The truth of the Blessing was that it only ''unlocks'' the power that the gods have sealed or superseded the limitations that were ced on all mortals. But Mezal didn''t need that.


    In short, Mezal, Branze, and Aron didn''t need to undergo a ss Change.


    A powerful force erupted and applied the simples skill that Pdin''s had.


    A round wall covered Mezal. But suddenly, a shocking scene appeared.


    The force energy soon leaked out elemental energy.


    Pdin was a hard road to walk upon, for it requires warriors to be exposed to a massive amount of Holy energy. By constantmuning with Holy, the Force of the user slowly is reformed and bes Holy itself.


    But this form of practice was only possible with two elements. Holy and Dark. They are the only elements that can transform a person through exposure.


    And yet, Mezal''s force energy became Earth Energy. Mezal transformed into a meteor falling from the sky.


    "Impossible!" Three Emberdon Champions cried out together as they witnessed the impossible scene.


    "As expected of an old man who spent his entire life trying to change his Force energy into holy. With his foundations in Force-to-element, a little source of magic, and he can already do this. I wonder how strong he will be if he starts reading." Kyrosughed.


    Deep in the darkness, the shadows watched as the rock was falling andughed.


    "Destroy it." A cold voice echoed deep in the dark.


    Several shadows jumped high using their force energy. One had the form of a human wielding arge two-handed sword. Another had the form of an orc carrying a massive ax. And finally, a lizardman carrying arge spear jumped.


    All of them were peak Captain levels, and their form of darkness allowed them to perform a gliding form of flight that carried them to the high sky.


    "Foolishness. Earth cannot defeat the darkness. What is the neutral earth to us formless darkness?" The cold voiceughed as the three dark weapons of the captains struck the meteor.


    SPLAT!


    The three captains were pulverized from the falling meteor, and parts of their limbs and body parts could be seen being scattered.


    "WHAT?!" The cold and detached voice shouted in great horror.


    "Idiot." Kyrosughed.


    "Grandfather spent his life trying to turn his force into Holy to be a Pdin forcibly. Finally, when he officially became a Force Pdin he achieved it. But now, with that little core, he can create powerful earth energy imbued with holy."


    The meteor continued to fall. But this time, theughing shadows were scattering. But it was toote.


    BOOM!


    The meteornded and exploded out. What was amazing was that the meteor didn''t create a deep crater on the ground where itnded, but the earth moved as if alive and was like a wall pushing forward to the nearby creatures.


    "ROAR!"


    The shrieks of the dying shadows could be heard as the walls kept pushing.


    Several Captains acted immediately and attacked the approaching wall.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The consecutive attacks made from all sides caused the moving earth wall to copse.


    A shallow crater was present, and Mezal was standing with his sword and shield ready.


    The shadow creatures were enraged and charged at Mezal.


    But as they stepped forward, a strange force attacked them, and the shadows began to stumble and were dispersing.


    "AHHHH!"


    "ROAR!"


    The pained shouts of the Shadows could be heard the moment some of them moved in the ground under Mezal.


    The Captains who stepped forward felt the power rage, and they all jumped back.


    Many shadows that charged died, and some managed to retreat back but looked as if they were greatly injured.


    "Remove your dirty sandals. You are standing on [Hallowed Grounds]." Mezalughed.


    The Emberdon Champions were shocked at the scene.


    The knights and servants of the Steele family were all rejoicing and shouting in great joy.


    "Hmm. Show off." Aronughed.


    "Grandfather immediately grasped the best way to use the Basic Earth Cores. His skill in wielding elements and adding holy onto them is double my own." Branze smiled.


    "What a novel idea, Grandfather has. But I still think the Pdin''s Path is superior." Dianamented.


    "So this is the Patriarch of the Steele family. As expected of this family of freaks." Martha praised.


    Mechiel was apuding, but she couldn''t help but sense an immense sense of fear.


    "Strange. Why am I so afraid of him?" Mechiel wondered, but she could not help but desire to know one thing. She turned over and asked Hunter.


    "Um... Sir Hunter. How strong are Lord Aron and Lord Branzepared to Lord Mezal?"


    "Hmm... They all have their strengths. If we are talking purely ofbat, Lord Aron will win. But Lord Branze has always bested Aron given a little more time. Lord Aron is strong in offense, Lord Branze in defense, and Lord Mezal is in the middle of the two extremes." Hunter exined.


    The more Mechiel heard the more she could not help but feel a deep sense of fear.


    Champion Ressi approached Kyros, who was flying nearby.


    "Master Kyros... What was that?" She was also skilled on Earth magic and never heard of someone creating such a powerful and holy earth!"


    "Oh. Allow me to introduce to you the birth of a new job ss in the nes World.. We could call it an Earth Force Pdin."

 Chapter 241 - Strength Of A Giant

    The Shadow creatures began to retreat and were careful not to step on the ground that Mezalnded in.


    The Captain-ranked shadows raced to the front and carefully surrounded Mezal.


    "Attack together! Now!" One of the Captains roared.


    The three rushed forward to attack Mezal.


    Kyrosughed as he saw it.


    "The differences in strength are too great."


    Mezal harnessed his sword, and it grew with great energy, and he shed out.


    The force energy did not even contain the power of Holy, but when it struck the shadows, they were all severed into two.


    The sword sh even moved outwards, hitting more Shadow creatures at the back.


    "Ahhhh!" The shouts of the shadows creatures resounded.


    "Ho-how?!" A shadow creature had charged ahead, and when he was sliced, his upper torso reached Mezal. The shadow that looked like human but with long-pointed ears was clinging to Mezal.


    Mezal was curious at the dying shadow and began to try to touch him.


    But his hands would slip through.


    "Impressive! An intangible creature of pure darkness. It seems most of my men would not be able to hurt you unless they use fire arrows." Mezal observed andmunicated what he learned.


    Kyros sent a shadow familiar next to the Emberdon champions and sent his ghouls moved around the Temple.


    "Everyone. Observe. I captured and tamed these Shadow Ghouls and the Shadow familiar to the dark artifact I found. These creatures are weaker forms than those. But as you can see, these creatures are not susceptible to physical attack. These paper-thin ghouls have a small number of physical traits, so it''s still possible to kill them if you try hard enough. But those creatures that grandfather is fighting are made of dark energy that can condense at its choosing. So the best to attack it is right before it decides to attack you when they materialize the darkness to attack. As Grandfather points out, the fire element and some of the other intangible elements like lightning also work. Water can hurt them, but it''s weaker since water is slowly developing form. Ice only works if you freeze them." Kyros began to exin.


    The Champions began to swipe and hit the shadow familiar that was floating before them and were amazed.


    "I have read of these creatures in the library! They are known to be harbingers of destruction! When one is spotted, it''s assumed that a powerful cmity is nearby. Wait... Haven''t there been reports of dark shadow creatures attacking Airom?"


    "Yes. I saw some of these creatures attack the night that vampire-turned Stonefist attacked the base. So it seems that the army before us has something to do with the attacks we experienced before Mezal arrived!" Faye eximed.


    The Coven was secretly hiding their faces in embarrassment. They know that Kyros and they raided the main fortress of Airom Logat that night, but Faye seemed to have shifted the me to the army before them.


    SLASH!


    One of the Shadow ghouls died as Aron sliced it.


    "What the fragment?! Uncle! What the hell!?"


    "You said it can resist physical attacks! I was just testing it!"


    "Didn''t you see grandfather massacre Captain-level shadow creatures? You have True Cut! Of course, it will die on an attack with True Cut!"


    "Eh? But I just tried cutting them like normal!" Aron defended.


    Kyros was enraged. Even without trying, his uncle could perform True Cut as if it was just his normal slicing.


    "Is this uncle''s real monstrous talent?" Kyros wondered.


    "Aron. That didn''t consume Force energy?" Branze inquired.


    "What? Why would it consume Force energy?"


    "..." Branze frowned and began to grumble at the insane actions his brother did.


    "You killed a shadow ghoul! Those are souls locked in my sword! And you killed one soul! It''s like you killed one of my men!" Kyros shouted.


    "I''m sorry! I didn''t know!" Aron apologized.


    "Now I only have some nine thousand nine hundred something..." Kyrosined.


    "..." Aron wanted to argue, but he simply decided to shut up. Although Kyros did have nine thousand souls left, he still did kill one of Kyros''s ''men''.


    "Eh? Why is there ten thousand two hundred?" Kyros was amazed.


    "Oh right! Soul trapper! This sword can trap souls." Kyros then turned his attention back to his grandfather.


    The Champion of the Emberdon family was silent at the discussion. But then they felt a powerful fluctuation approaching Mezal.


    The nearby darkness that was the dead shadows that Mezal killed were all suddenly being drawn.


    "No! My liege! I yet live!" One of the Captains that managed to evade and only lost his two legs was being siphoned by approaching darkness.


    But the darkness did not stop and devoured every one. Some who survived the attack of Mezal were killed.


    "Pdin. It seems that you are strong enough for us to fight." A loud, deep, and reverberating voice spoke.


    A dark, towering shadow manifested outside of Mezal''s Hallowed Grounds.


    The earth below them began to tremble.


    Strange dark energy began to corrupt the Hallowed Grounds of Mezal, and small creeping darkness was pushing forward.


    Dark Force energy appeared and began to condense, making the shadow of the towering creature even more clear.


    The nearby shadows began to retreat and move away as their Champion appeared.


    "A giant? Oh my. These guys have had Commander potential since birth. His stats ought to be stronger than a regr champion. Not to mention he would have powers that could kill a Lond Commander." Kyros nodded.


    "Commander potential?" Triona asked curiously.


    "You guys probably haven''t heard about that. You know that the Minds and the Hignds produce Champions that are vastly superior to what we can produce in the Londs, right? And Potential is a way to calcte and gauge what a person can reach based on his stats and his level range. If we see a Champion with a stat that isrger than the stats of what most Champions should have, we can guess that this Champion''s training, knowledge, and even wealth can easily allow him to reach higher cultivation levels." Kyros exined. This was knowledge he had learned in the Minds. But he was certain that this calction is different for those in the Hignds.


    "Let''s use that Shadow Giant as an example. Can you perform [Gague] on it?"


    The Giant shadow was standing still and had fully formed. He was twelve meters high and carried arge club.


    Faye used [Gauge] to observe the stats.


    "Amazing..." Stellya flew closer to Kyros.


    "He should be around level 32. His stats are Strength- 192, Magic- 82, Dexterity- 155, and Vitality... 207!"


    "What?! That Vitality is too high!"


    "No. Giants naturally have high vitality. A bit stat of 207 is normal for them. It''s the strength and dexterity that show his potential. It reveals that he has a Cardinal''s potential."


    "A Cardinal!?!" The five echoed out. A Cardinal was someone who reached level fifty and performed a secondary ss change. The Londs have yet to birth one after the great war.


    "This is bad! Mezal is but a Captain and has the strength simr to a level 31 Champion!" Faye recalled the power that Mezal disyed.


    The Giant looked at Mezal with great intrigue. The darkness of the ground has destroyed the effects of Hallowed Ground, and the Giant took a step forward into the circle where many died.


    Mezal remained unmoved.


    "Attack him again." The Giant ordered.


    The shadow creatures hesitated, but then the Giant struck his club on the ground.


    BOOM!


    The fear that came from that movement caused the shadows to move out and attack Mezal.


    Another team of Captains rushed and led the attack.


    SLASH!


    Mezal made another shing motion.


    The force energy cut once more and sliced those who were in the circle.


    The Captains managed to evade, but the weaker ones were too slow, and many perished.


    BOOM!


    The Giant blocked the iing force sh with his club, and the Captains reached Mezal and were about to attack him.


    "[Hallowed Cross]!" Mezal shouted as he stabbed the ground with his sword.


    BOOM!


    A powerful Force of energy erupted on the ground in the shape of a cross.


    "AHHH!"


    The force erupted upwards and eradicated the Shadows that were within Mezal''s circle.


    "Impressive strength, human. Despite being a Champion, you possess the Force Energy simr to those that wouldter be Commanders in my country. My Captains will naturally stand no chance. But what is interesting is your Force attack. How can you cut us?"


    "With Love and Justice!" Mezal mocked.


    "Hmm. It seems the Gods have done well to prepare for the day we break the seal. It has prepared formidable Champions like you. But your arrogance ends here." The Giant lifted his club.


    "Goodbye, Pdin." The Giant smashed his club down.


    "Hmm. Wall!" Mezal raised the shield to meet the giant club.


    "No!" Faye shouted in fear.


    BOOM!


    The strike connected, and a loud, explosive sound was heard. The attack produced a powerful shockwave that blew the dust nearby.


    Faye rode her vacuum cleaner and flew ahead. But suddenly, a lightning cord wrapped her and prevented her from flying.


    "Brother!" Faye shouted in anger.


    "Sister! Look at the Steele family! Are they worried?!" Demerus pointed out.


    "What are you saying? Didn''t you see that attack! There was..." It was then Faye realized that his brother was right. None of the Steele family reacted.


    Faye turned and saw that Kyros and the rest had nonchnt reactions.

 Chapter 242 - Strength Of Mezal

    The dust continued to cover the ground that Mezal stood.


    Faye turned to Demerus.


    "Look, sister! Even when Master Kyros learned of the strength of the giant, he did not show fearful reactions!"


    The dust continued to hinder the sight of the humans. But the Steele knights and servants looked worried. The attack was unlike anything they had seen.


    "Rx, everyone. Grandpa has had a curse that makes his stats show inurate numbers during his tests, correct?"


    "He has?" Diana was amazed. Even she didn''t know of this.


    Aron and Branze remained quiet, which indicated they knew.


    "Anyway, I can reveal his true stats through the Temple. Show stats." Kyros ordered.


    Lights appeared at the top of the Temple. The champions flew lower so that they could read it as they were too close to it.


    ---


    Mezal Steele: ss: Force Earth Pdin


    Race: Human (Descendant of Steel)


    Age: 51


    Level: 36


    ---


    Strength- 203


    Magic- 159


    Dexterity-195


    Vitality- 213


    Intelligence- 481


    Soul Force- 163


    ---


    Demerus was shocked at the numbers that were disyed. The numbers that he saw were practically impossible to find among Champions of his level. Those stats could rival Commanders if Mezal increased his level! Of course, Mezal hadn''t reached level 40 and already had such stats. What was horrifying was his Intelligence. Even among the siblings, the smartest, Faye and himself, only had 395 and 398, respectively.


    "Oh? What an improvement. So that''s how strong Grandfather has be. He used to have a vitality that was somewhere between 150 and 160?" Kyros recalled the stats his grandfather had when he punched him before he journeyed to Airom.


    "What''s... going on? How did father get so strong?" Diana asked Branze.


    "True Cut. He had been the boundaries of his max level at 30. He just needed a ss to reach the next stages. The God Hyperion probably knew. He severed the limit. When we were severed, we also gained a qualitative leap in our strength. Ever since then, father must have been meditating. And among us, father excels in that. He was always in chains and would cultivate in that situation. Me and Aron need to fight or train in it. But father grew up being forced to train that way."


    The dust was suddenly kicked back as another force energy erupted and blew the dust-up.


    Mezal was standing in the ground, which had sunk by several meters.


    The shield he held revealed no dent or damage.


    "My Grandson''s punch hurt me more." Mezal chuckled.


    The giant grew angry and harnessed the Force once more, and began to attack again.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    A battle began as Mezal challenged the giant. It wasn''t just blocking. Mezal had already gauged the power of the giant and was confident in crossing blows with it.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Unknown to everyone Mezal and the Giant had been fighting all the while when the dust still covered them. The giant kept pushing his club to crush Mezal and exerted Dark force to try and corrupt Mezal as Entropy Element began to leak out.


    Mezal used his ability to fight back and harnessed the Earth''s energy to resist. The two were in a deadlock when suddenly Mezal''s Earth element evolved. And with a strong push, he repelled the energy.


    And now that the two were fighting, the fluctuations became clear that the Champions noticed the elements that were now being used.


    Cminus was amazed at Mezal''s ability.


    "Entropy and Steel. The two rival elements. Was the giant using this for a start? How can Mezal wield both Earth and Metal? Is it the weapons?" Demerus witnessed how Mezal repelled the attack.


    "No." Kyros rejected this.


    "His weapons have some interesting ability, but it''s not that. He has an Earth Core. But what you are seeing is his own ingeniousness." Kyros smiled. It wasn''t just the Champions that were amazed. Even Kyros was.


    "Amazing! That Mezal must have it bad in your previous life! This is his true capabilities! To think that you never saw or heard of him in your memories. He would make a marvelous mage! That Library will surely cause your grandfather to soar in the heavens!" Cminus marveled.


    "Indeed. It should be his first time holding on to Earth. But Steel is his Elemental affinity, after all. I guess it just felt natural to him!"


    "All those years of cultivating and trying to turn Force into an Elementid the foundation for this. Your father is, of course, the key in this. To think he managed to turn elemental magic of the Earth Core into Steel!"


    The scene of Mezal fighting and exchanging blows with the giants caused every Steele family to erupt in cheers.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Mezal''s heroic figure did not retreat from the attacks of the Giant, and Mezal was slowly moving on the offensive.


    A green light began to appear in the core of the Dark Giant.


    "How disgusting. Was that Fate? Or is it Destiny? That giant has an Entropy core!" Aronughed.


    "More food for Mardock. The stronger he bes, the more rxed I can be." Martha smiled.


    "That Mardock did well. His past arrogance nearly killed us, though." Aron recalled the battle.


    Mardock was nearby and heard the two but remained quiet.


    "He nearly killed us, but he saved you. I guess I can forgive him for doing that. "


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Mezal began to make his moves as he smashed the club sideways with his shield and charged forward.


    The giant took a few steps back and took a deep breath, and then roared.


    "ROAR!"


    A green st erupted from the mouth of the giant, forcing Mezal to raise his shield.


    "A Breath attack, huh?" Mezal harnessed his Force and activated [Wall].


    Arge metal shield appeared over him and defended him from the attack.


    The Champions was now more amazed than ever. They have had some subjugation missions. And the five of them faced several monsters. But the deadliest of them were races species with Breath attacks. The innate magic of these beasts was so powerful that it threatened them, and at least two of them had to defend a breath attack to escape injury.


    BOOM!


    Mezal defended against the attack.


    The Breath attack had Entropy, but Mezal''s Steel element resisted it.


    "He resisted it! A breath attack of a Champion Giant!" Demerus was amazed.


    "He''s single, right? I mean, your grandmother''s dead, right?" Ressi asked Kyros immediately.


    "You...!" Kyros erupted at the very insensitive question.


    Kyros was having a headache as he could see Ressi''s mad expression. And Triona also had a dreamy look on her face.


    "What''s with that dreamy look!?" Kyros asked.


    Stellya chuckled as she saw the odd actions of her sisters.


    "Sisters! Calm yourself!" Faye angrily chastised.


    "It''s good that Champion Faye still hasmon sense. The age gap between my Grandfather and Champion Triona is-"


    "Exactly, Master Kyros! I am the eldest among us sisters! It should be me!" She dered passionately.


    Kyros facepalmed.

 Chapter 243 - Strength Of Darkness

    Demerus had witnessed the expected reaction of Kyros and moved closer to exin.


    "Lord Kyros. I can see that despite your young age, you are well learned and that the wisdom of adults pale in front of you. So pardon the improper words of my sister. But you have to understand..."


    "Oh, I understand a thot when I see one."


    "N-no. That''s not what I meant. My sisters are born nobles. And frankly, they are prideful and only respect power. This is why they haven''t married yet. Even I, myself, am having a hard time looking for a wife. But, another reason why they never married is that..."


    "They like old men."


    "N-no! Remember that we were after you a while ago."


    "If you remind me again of what had happened earlier, I will let loose my shadows on you."


    "I-I meant to point out what we value and see. You see, we Emberdon''s value political marriage alliances more than anything else. Like your Steele family, we have had our struggles. We never told you about it, but we have also lived quite challenging lives. I cannot begin to list the horrors that we all had to do to survive. And while most of our enemies are dead and have been killed, you have to understand my sister''s perspective." Demerus exined.


    Kyros''s expression then changed.


    "You had your share of troubles?"


    "A lot. It''s only when we became Champions that we were able to fight off most problems. Most of it is because of luck. We have strong enemies, but they were mysteriously killed."


    "Hmmm.... You guys are starting to sound more and more likely to be our allies. It seems Destiny has been attacking your family too..."


    "Yes. They were just too.., passionate. And they are used to having men chase them. Right now, a marriage with the Steele family will definitely help. But, if they are too young, maybe my aunt?"


    BOOM!


    Mezal was suddenly knocked back, and he flew back to where he was positioned originally. His previous advantages in his charge were all knocked away. He was about tond an attack when he heard Demerus''s proposal. He was still listening to the Champions talk.


    "Damn that brat of Emberdon!" Mezal secretly cursed.


    "Stupid grandson! I was about to marry those young babes! Damn him too!" Mezal cursed.


    "That''s it! Fate Challenger!" Mezal recalled the talk they had earlier.


    "Foresight! I summon you! I want to marry those hot, young girls! Even just one! Preferably Faye!"


    At that moment, all who had the Path of Foresight frowned.


    "What the fragment?!" Branze cursed as he could feel something that made his hair stand.


    "What is this dark power?" Diana drew her sword in caution as Foresight was warning her.


    "Why do I feel the power of lecherousness?" Martha frowned.


    Hunter was silent but was secretly giving Mezal a thumbs up.


    "You can do it, Lord Mezal!" Hunter muttered under his breath.


    "And when you do... please teach me..."


    "Grandfather! Be serious!" Kyros shouted in anger.


    "You unfilial grandson!" Mezal shouted back.


    Everyone was confused at why Mezal and Kyros began shouting at each other.


    "Scayous! Now!" The Giant suddenly roared as heunched another breath attack.


    A dark shadow bolted from the sky and was racing towards Mezal.


    Mezal raised his shield but suddenly pointed his sword to the sky as the dark figure reached him.


    STAB! BOOM!


    The sword stabbed through as a spider-like figure appeared above.


    But before Mezal could identify the being he killed, a figure appeared at the side.


    A dark power with the power of another Captain raced forward to attack Mezal.


    Mezal was about to act when he heard a voice...


    SLASH!


    The approaching dark figure was sliced in half. While most physical weapons could not do much damage, a Blood de that has drunk and devoured dragons can.


    Martha suddenly appeared.


    A void had opened near where she was. She held the Branch of Bow on the one hand and her Blood de on the other.


    The shadow she sliced into two turned into a dark mist that scattered down her feet. Not a trace of the enemy could be seen.


    "That Captain had the power of a Champion. Is this the honor of a Giant? You rely on tricks to fight a human?" Martha asked harshly.


    "Another Champion?!" The Giant roared in anger.


    "TELEPORTATION!" Demerus, Faye, and Ressi saw what had happened as they could sense the fluctuations of space.


    "She''s a Champion?!" Gojirrah was stunned. He was near Martha but didn''t sense the changes. The first time he met her, he was sure that Martha was just a Captain.


    "Her powers weren''t revealed yet. So she must have crossed the boundary when that power Temple gave her the power. But how has she crossed it without a ss Change?" Reptilia wondered.


    Martha stood next to Mezal.


    "Since you ambushed my father, let me do you the same favor." Martha smiled.


    The Giant prepared to attack and raised his club.


    SLASH!


    A dark mist reformed into a human and shed out.


    "How arrogant. You whelp of a Champion is too green to fight against other Champions. She underestimated the strength of darkness." The Dark figure that looked like a slender Lizardman walked out. He held the head of Martha in his hands.


    "Aunt Martha!" Kyros howled.


    [Acting skill activated.]


    "No! My wife! My love! No! No! I''ll kill that lizard! I''ll kill that lizard! Newt!" Aron began to cry out in great pain.


    "Stop! Don''t move! We might fall into a trap! There are assassins among them!" Branze shouted andmanded everyone to stay where they were.


    Mezal looked, and an intense fury appeared in his eyes as a bright and powerful light surfaced.


    The Steel element reverted back to Earth. But Mezal needed to harness as much Force energy that would turn to Pseudo Holy.


    "Get ready, Dirgah! We''ll kill him swiftly!" The lizardman assassin called to the giant as he prepared to attack.


    SLASH!


    A powerful sh urred again. But this time, it was creating a dimensional copse in the space where it struck.


    The lizardman assassin howled in pain as the sudden vortex appeared. A strange dark blue light could be seen in the center, struggling to resist being absorbed into the torn space.


    "Arrrrggghh! I will not die like this!" The lizardman fought to resist it, but then a strange creature emerged out of this space.


    "A Lizardman Shadow with a ck Water core... Yummy!" Puff appeared out of the dimensional realm and bit down on the core.


    The moment Puff ate it, the lizardman''s body dispersed. This time, it was dead for real.


    The Giant was horrified at what he had seen. His Championpanion was immediately killed.


    "Father-inw. Please don''t toy with them. We have to fight this as soon as we can. We don''t know what Destiny has prepared for us." Martha''s voice could be heard on the other end of the battlefield.


    The giant turned over and saw that there was a gap in the ranks of the soldiers.


    Based on the size of the gap, Over two dozen shadow creatures had disappeared.


    Martha stood in the middle and kept using her sword to gather the dispersing energy. For some strange reason, the darkness was sucked into the sword just as it did when the giant first took action.


    The nearby soldiers retreated in fear as they didn''t even notice how those near them had died. All eyes were expecting the sh between Mezal, the giant, and the lizardman!


    The giant turned and saw that the decapitated head of Martha was turning to dark mist.


    "Dark Shadow Clone. A pity that the stupid assassin didn''t notice it. I guess he was too green for a fight among Champions. He also underestimated the strength of darkness." Marthaughed.


    "Ohhh! My wife is dead!" Aron kept shouting.


    "Brother. It''s over. And please! The next time this happens, leave the acting to us! You nearly gave it away!" Branzeined.


    The Coven nodded at Branze''s statement.


    Even Kyros was worried that Aron''s over-acting would make the lizardman assassin suspicious.

 Chapter 244 - Strength Of An Archer

    A Champion has fallen. The sneak attack of Martha quickly eliminated the shadow being.


    Martha used a more powerful version of her clone with the Core that she had. The power of Kyriachos''s darkness created her clone, creating a more realistic figure that even had a ''body'' that felt real.


    The Champion was overconfident. The pained cries of Kyros and the angry look of Mezal convinced him.


    There was also the power that Mezal was building that made the Lizardman Champion wary.


    Martha had sensed that Champion and had already informed Mezal of it secretly as his battle with Giant started. Martha had been nning how to kill that creature. But she couldn''t perform the attack at such a great distance. And so Martha used the power of the newly upgraded Space Core to teleport nearby. It was then she made her first attack. After attacking, Martha created a shadow and used Shadow Cloak.


    The power of Shadow cloak was even slightly stronger than Kyros''s Shadow Cloak, for it contained the power of Separated Realm.


    Hidden from their detection, the Lizard Assassin prepared to deal with Mezal, who he saw as a greater threat.


    With his attention focused on Mezal, he was struck with Martha''s [Separating sh], harnessing the Separated Realm as the source of power. With the help of Puff, the shadow had no means to escape and was quickly devoured.


    To recover from the great expenditure of the attacks, Martha began to devour some of the Shadows. Unlike Mezal, who had to fight conservatively, Martha quickly used powerful attacks without hesitation as she could recover them by devouring shadows.


    The army began to feel a strange type of fear as they saw Martha devour them like food.


    "Dark Consumer! It seems this will lead to massive losses." The Giant Dirgah immediately raised his hands and took out a dark orb.


    "Imand the army!Attack!" Dirgah shouted as powerful dark energy erupted, and all the dark forces lost their fearful expression and had a nk stare. They lost their fear and began to attack.


    Digrah carried his massive club, and dark energy was slowly covering it from the dark orb.


    "Father-inw, I''ll take care of this giant! I don''t have any skills that can attack this many." Martha flew ahead as the giant waved his massive club.


    Kyros watched and raised his eyebrows. It was reckless for Martha to attack straight on. Even though she had the Branch of Bow, it didn''t give her any boost in strength.


    But as she charged forward, the transformation urred.


    Martha''s body skin turned to scale. Dark wings that were made of Dark energy erupted from her back, and her features became more lizard-like as scales covered the edges of her face and turned her hair to a spike-like material. But unlike her previous transformation, that turned her closer to a lizard. Martha''s beauty only improved as she revealed her dragonic form.


    Her beauty stood on par with Reptilia.


    Martha charged onwards, and her Blood de appeared, and she struck the massive club of the Giant.


    BOOM!


    "Dracanae!" Digrah was shocked at Martha''s transformation.


    "You shall be a good meal for me!" Martha smiled as the two fought.


    Mezal could only sigh andin as he retreated.


    "Hmm. What a rude daughter-inw. They haven''t even been formally wedded yet, and she''s already stealing the fun from me!" Mezal grumbled as he began to retreat ahead of the charging shadows.


    "Father! To the right side! I''ll defend this path side with Diana. Brother. Take the other wing of the wall!" Branze ordered.


    If they defended only one side of the wall, the archers and Emberdon mages would have an easier time defending. So instead of giving away for the shadow armies to encircle the sides, Branze made his father and brother defend the two paths that led to the two walls.


    Kyros was still amazed at the show of strength that Martha revealed.


    "So this is the power of a dragon." Kyros was amazed.


    "My aunt is quite a monster..."


    Demerus gave Kyros a weird look.


    "Says the grandmaster of Creation that has evil wings and can summon dark shadows... Compared to you, that dragon seemed cute." Demerus shook his head. But he could not help but gaze at Martha, who had an amazing beauty.


    "Careful. Your staring at my aunt. Even if she is a monster, I can assure you one thing. My uncle is stronger."


    SLASH!


    Massive force energy shed out, and every shadow within 200 meters in front of where Branze stood was all incinerated.


    Aron had a cold look on his face and red at Demerus.


    Demerus nearly lost the power to keep himself flying.


    "I-I-I was just admiring Lady Champions might! Lo-Lord Kyros... What is her stats?" Demerus quickly changed the question even as the battle below began.


    "Men! Hold your attacks! Allow your lords to have some fun!" Branze ordered as he stood at the entrance with Diana next to him.


    SLASH! BOOM!


    A series of massive eruptions were urring as the Steele family fought.


    Mezal was enjoying his battle and created a massive Force Wall behind him, causing all those who bumped on it to retreat in pain.


    Diana and Branze were fighting like formal Pdins and were using several Holy attacks.


    Aron was simply shing around as if he was testing his sword.


    But the most eye-catching was the battle at the back. Martha and the giant continued to sh.


    "How can she match a champion in strength? Isn''t she just a recently ranked Champion?" Faye asked.


    Kyros obliged Demmerus and revealed Martha''s stats. He, himself, was curious at the stats.


    ---


    Martha Kyriachos Steele


    Race: Dracanae Vampire Lord


    Age: 26


    Level: 30


    Coven: Coven of the Nephilim


    ---


    Awakened Corruption:


    Fanged


    Charmed


    Kyriachos


    ---


    Strength- 165 (Coven Blessing active) // 185 (Dragonic Transformation +20)


    Magic- 154 (Coven Blessing active)


    Dexterity- 203 (Coven Blessing active) // 223 (Dragonic Transformation +20)


    Vitality- 148 (Coven Blessing active) // 168 (Dragonic Transformation +20)


    Intelligence- 378


    Dark Force- 156


    ----


    "Impressive." Kyrosmended.


    "Amazing! Her stats..." Triona was amazed.


    "Yes. That''s Cardinal Potential at her level."


    "But I don''t understand. Her strength stat is still weaker! The dark energy covering that club ought to have made it stronger."


    "Aunt''s using her small size to her advantage. She isn''t matching the attack but aiming for an area where not all full force of the swing is being made. Aunt''s grown a lot. She''s bing smarter with Fate..." Kyros assessed.


    "But how can she fight that? That energy she''s releasing is so strong. But thews of magic and energy state that such benefits don''te with a price!"


    "Indeed. She can probably maintain that form for a few more minutes before she starts eating herself. Thankfully, there are snacks everywhere to feed her. Besides, the battle is about to end."


    "What? How?"


    "My Aunt''s not a Ninja. She''s an archer. That''s just a convenient job for her to perform herst attack. Everything you see so far, in her direct shes, are all to make that Champion guarded. And then, she moves in for the kill." Kyros smiled.


    "Guarded? Move in for the kill? Those contradicting words don''t make any sense!"


    BANG!


    Martha was sent flying as she shed directly at the club. The giant felt as if the strike connected properly for the first time, and it sent Martha flying back.


    Blood began to leak as Martha held her trembling right arm.


    "Please. I''ve seen that trick before. Show yourself!" Digrah ignored the form of Martha and released a ripple of Entropy.


    Suddenly, he turned around and swung his club with all his might.


    Martha evaded the swing.


    BOOM!


    The club crashed down on the floor.


    Digrah was trembling.


    "How...?"


    Martha revealed her bow.


    "I''m an archer. That''s how." Martha smiled as she approached closer and ced her hand on Digrah.


    Digrah died, and his body disappeared as arge portal to the Separated Realm appeared.


    Martha took a step forward and disappeared, reappearing in the Temple grounds.


    "Husband. Please send me some of those Shadows you kill to me. I''ll need to eat them to recover." Martha sat down on the Temple steps and rested.


    "Eh? Why not just use the Temple to recover?"


    "You... don''t know?" Martha was amazed.


    SLASH!


    "Know what?" Aron asked as he kept killing.


    "Why does it feel that your brother has been slower than usual?" Diana frowned.


    "It''s Fate Challenger. He''s such a genius inbat that he doesn''t know he''s forcing more of his Path there. He needs to control it. Anyway, Brother! We need to save energy for the Temple. It just got out of a dormant state, remember? This means that the Temple does run out of energy. The Coven and Kyros be the great ones who can kill, and we can offer them to the Temple to help the Temple build up. We have to stockpile energy for it in case this war will be a long, drawn-out one." Branze exined.


    "You should have told me that earlier! I''ve been disintegrating shadows here, left and right!" Aron cursed.


    Kyrosughed as he saw the interaction of his family.


    "Master Kyros... What happened?" Stellya asked.


    "Martha fooled the giant into thinking she was a Ninja. Then, at thest moment, she made a clone after intentionally getting knocked back by that Giant and created a clone as she circled the giant. She knew the giant would be guarded with the attack that Martha showed earlier."


    "The slice that created a dimensional tear." Demerus recalled.


    "Yes. She shot an arrow into the hew Separated Realm and used her clone as the portal''s exit, and then she rushed in pretending to attack the Giant. The Giant was guarded for that attack and swung his club at Martha. But the arrow already reached the heart of the Giant and created a dimensional rip inside. Puff was already inside devouring the Giant and went for vital organs." Kyros exined.


    "It looks like... we are the weakest champions in this ce." Stellya chuckled.


    Demerus was trembling, but he could not refute the words of his youngest sibling.


    "Oh, don''t say that. You''ll be useful in a bit. It seems the real threat ising.." Kyros watched the darkness at a distance and could feel a terrifying emerging out of it.

 Chapter 245 - Strength Of A Shield Expert

    The endless armies had begun to rush forward with all their might.


    The army consisted of high-leveled creatures that even some were at the max of level 20 and only needed a ss change to breach the bottleneck of cultivation. But even then, these creatures that would bring down an army could not even advance at the defense of several humans.


    Mezal, Diana, Branze, and Aron stood their ground at the advancing creatures of all races.


    Yet, the front lines could not advance any further as the four held their ground and defended..


    "What if they run out of Force Energy?" Demerus asked.


    "They are primarily borrowing the Holy energy being emitted out by Holy Beam. So if they continue this pace, they could keep that up for twenty more minutes. This strategy that Grandfather ced is a show of strength that might force the enemy to reveal more of their aces. This is also why I am having you guys fly at the top. It is a disy that tells the enemy. I haven''t used all my aces yet. I''m sure that in terms of creating massive destruction, you can do better than my family."


    "... Yes. We will definitely lose against your grandfather in a one-on-one match. But based on their current disy, we still outmatch them in destructive capabilities."


    "Good. I am relieved. Then at least, my bluff has some truth in them." Kyros smiled.


    "Lord Kyros. I have to ask. How strong are you?" Stellya asked with a slightly shy expression.


    "That is a very vague question." Kyros deflected.


    "As a reference, he saved my life." Aronughed as he was fighting.


    "Mine as well." Diana and Martha answered together.


    "Oh, don''t listen to them. They are just proud of me." Kyrosughed.


    "In any case... It seems that we have tounch an attack. Grandfather, Uncle, Father. I''ll need your best men to join you as well. Coven, hear my words." Kyros ordered.


    "Yes, Lord Kyros." The Coven answered.


    "We are to initiate an attack. The attack is intended to break the front lines, but it also divides attention and focus. Several Champion Siege Cultivators are approaching."


    "Siege Cultivators?!" Faye shouted.


    "Where? I don''t sense any mages!" Demerus frowned.


    "It''s not mages. Only the Londs have such weak foundations that they can''t afford such job sses. In truth, Siege Cultivators are preferably Force users in most cases. The Minds have such. They have a specific job ss for that. In some countries, like the country of Reptilia, they Siege Beasts. But the ones that are approaching are Siege Beasts that became cultivators."


    Reptilia and Gojirrah was amazed.


    "How extravagant..." Reptilia was amazed.


    "Siege Beast that became cultivators? That takes a lot of resources! And a genius alchemist to give sentience to the beast!"


    "It''s not that difficult. These aren''t cultivators. These are Shadow beings. They are a cmity of darkness. Not even the Nethendsmands these creatures. These beings were born from Kyriachos and his descendants."


    "A Cmity of darkness? But we''ve encountered a few of these creatures in our journeys in the Londs." Mezal revealed.


    "Yes. That is because in the many wars long ago, a remnant of these forces may live on. Especially when a Fallen dies, and while they have scattered and have been tamed by vampires or necromancers, their true power lies if that there is a Fallen controlling them."


    "You mean to say we are fighting a Fallen?"


    "Not exactly. The sword I have used to belong to a Fallen called Azerret. So we might be fighting a remnant of their souls. But the point is still there. Whilemanding a few is already horrifying, controlling all these dark souls is even scarier. The more creatures they absorb, the stronger they be because they can form cultivators. Those champions that we killed we creatures they killed and have turned into their own."


    "So that''s why you agreed to have us fight in the front lines. Most of our men can''t harm them."


    "What? We can''t?" One of the soldiers eximed.


    "It''s not exactly that you can''t harm them, but unless you have powers and abilities like ours that can kill the soul, those souls will just return to their master and be summoned again," Branze revealed.


    "An endless horde..." Faye realized the implications of such a powerful army.


    "Yes. But don''t worry. Only a Fallenmands them. Not even the Eldrich can unless they have a Saint-level cultivator. But you can imagine what an army like this can do if it attacks the Londs. Can any kingdom handle them? What if they attack the world you were in, Reptilia? Can your kingdom fight back?" Kyros asked.


    The Emberdon Champions knew that what Kyros said was right. These shadow creatures would be the end of the Londs. There were too few cultivators that could harm and kill the souls. Most fighters would be useless fighting these shadow creatures.


    "The n is simple. We need to push forward and kill the Shadow Siege Cultivator. Since the Coven is the only one that can kill them through Dark Consumer, we will lead the way."


    "Can''t you just fly and attack it?" Mezal asked.


    "There is a Commander somewhere in there. Aunt Martha''s appearance might have attracted it. And it can fly. I don''t want to fight against it prematurely." Kyros exined.


    "A Commander among them? This is bad!" Ressi eximed. While the Champions performed marvelously, a Commander would mean that one or two among them would be likely to die even with their current strength.


    "A Commander with either a Cardinal or a Crown''s Potential. So flying directly over it will be a problem. Our hope is to ambush it. That''s where Aunt Martha and Ie into y. We lead the charge in divided groups, and we have to advance. If that Commander attacks, then me and Aunt Martha, I will ambush him. But we might be forced into a battle. Be ready to face Commanders."


    "Lord Kyros? You will ambush him?! That''s insane! What if we prepare an attack and shoot at that darkness? With our collective power, we can bring down those numbers and kill the Seige Cultivator!"


    "No. I''m sure they have something prepared to stop that. It''s too easy for Destiny. We save your attacks until we are sure they are effective.:


    "I have another proposal. Let me lead the charge. That way, all five of you could be grouped together. I think I can handle a Commander''s blow." Branze spoke.


    Everyone was surprised at Branze''s im.


    Mezal and Aron only smiled.


    "Oh? Dad is finally showing off?" Kyros teased.


    "I never got the chance to. Just tell everyone to prepare. Even if there is a Commander among them, they haven''t yet pushed us to the point that requires you to fight personally, son." Branze ordered.


    Kyros began to give out the orders, and everyone began to take their positions.


    Kyros stood behind Branze and Diana. The fighting continued to continue as the endless hordes began to employ the use of archers to shoot them down.


    It was finally the time for the Champion mages to attack by casting special magic barriers above, which blocked the volley of arrows. Suddenly, the charge stopped as the group waited from afar.


    "We have to move now. The Siege Cutlviators are getting ready." Kyros instructed.


    "Mardock. See if the current me could fight against the Prime you." Branze spoke with a confident expression.


    "My wife... Please follow behind me. I will show you the power of a Force Pdin. Father''s form is one that has focused on both offense and defense. But this one is an improvement of what a real Pdin could be." Branze revealed.


    Suddenly, a strange power appeared over Branze. It was unlike anything that Mezal and the Champions of experience have ever witnessed from a Knight ss.


    Kyros was stunned as he saw the application.


    "What is this? True Cut changed in form?!" Kyros was amazed.


    "This proves it. He really is the reincarnation of that man." Cminus saw it and finally concluded. He was now able to understand the many mysteries that brought them into this predicament.


    "I get it now! It''s him! The son of Hyperion! This is why the marriage caused this! I get it now!" Cminus eximed.


    "What? What are you talking about?" Kyros asked immediately.


    Branze began to walk, and each step brought about a massive ripple of power that kept on condensing the power of Force. Unlike the essence of True Cut, the force was gentler. It wasn''t like a sharp de pointing and slicing but a strange pushing force.


    The moment Branze released it, a Wall much stronger than what Mezal did appear.


    And what was shocking was that while the Wall had no elemental energy or even traces of Holiness, it could push the shadows.


    "Because Hyperion appeared before us, I remembered who he is and recalled the stories of his sons and daughters. The most prominent one was the most necessary. After Hyperion severed the universe, the power of cutting kept on urring. And because of that, all of creation was being sliced apart constantly. True Cut kept severing everything. There had to be a force that could withstand the power of Cut. And so, his son used that cut and refined it." Cminus began.


    "He used that power he refined to stop the Cut." Kyros guessed.


    "Yes! The power he created was the very force that stopped the constant ravaging of Cut. Hyperion helped him, but this son was quite a genius. He thickened and spread the force energy that severed and created Push. The very concept is forcibly moving things. If Bow was the God who gave birth to innate motion, this God created the power of moving. But Push was not enough. The harnessed power of Push became the birth of defenses. When harnessed not to push, but to obstruct, it gives birth to..."


    "Block." Kyros watched as his father drew out the power.


    Branze raised his shield.


    "What a powerful shield expert..." Reptilia was amazed. Even in her status, be it her current status or the previous nobility and sights that she saw, none couldpare to the form of this perfect defender.


    "Follow my lead. We will be crossing the distance almost immediately." Branze dered.


    "[Divine Pdin''s Charge]!" Branze shouted as he ran.


    The power of the shield created a strange force that repelled.. As Branze charged with great haste, the army in front of him was being repelled and thrown back.

 Chapter 246 - Strength Of Unity

    An incredible force was repelling the dark shadow creatures with great ease.


    With one charge, the shield pushed quickly, and the shouts of the shadow creatures could be heard echoing out.


    The greatest weakness of these dark creatures is that their natural shadow form meant they had very little weight and mass. Therefore, the wall would not have worked when fighting any other army as the force required to push away the front lines would be great.


    The shadows were being thrown aside, and many fell to the great abyss and fell into the dangerous Life and Death Containing field where they would all be forced to be trapped forever.


    "Keep pushing!" Kyros ordered and took advantage of their sess. The speed and power of the charge were causing the forces on the edges to be thrown out. Others situated in the center of this moving shield were being crushed by the power that they would be trampled and would disintegrate.


    A simple charge was permanently killing so many of these shadows either by crushing or sending them on the Life and Death Containing Field below and around thend that was formed.


    The charge continued, and finally, an angry voice echoed from the distant back.


    "Stop them!"


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Loud sounds of erupting force were heard.


    "More Champions!" Faye eximed as she could sense the power. But unlike before, several were moving out immediately.


    The energy came from the portal at a distance, and five figures could be seen flying through the gap either by flight or by making massive, fast jumps.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The sonic boom of their flights could be heard as these mighty Champions appeared.


    "Their strength! They all have stats that are Cardinal potential!" Ressi eximed as she used [Gauge] magic.


    The five were quickly crossing the gap.


    Kyros saw it and gave a simple order.


    "Hold! We have to defend that!"


    "Follow my lead. I''m already confident that I can use it." Branze exined as the energy on the shield became different.


    Diana was the first to understand Branze''s intention and began to add thick force energy with powerful holy light.


    "As expected of mother. She spent only an hour in the Temple and has already harnessed her Force energy..." Kyros could feel the mighty holy power that even surpassed Mezal!


    Diana harnessed her defense and tried to send her force energy to Branze, who would harness it as his own. The power of Pdins was amplified the more they were through a powerful skill among Light practitioners, which when used by Pdins bes the strongest defensive power known by the mortals of the nes World.


    This power has never appeared in the Londs as the war against the Vaux Imperial empire has never happened.


    The scope of the defense expanded out, and Mezal and Branze also contributed their energy to create the defense.


    "[United We Stand]! I can''t believe I''m seeing it being used here!" Faye was amazed.


    "Everyone! Follow!" Branze added.


    Mezal and Aron started it, and the nearby knights knew what it was. It was as if a massive wall was created, and they could pour in their power.


    The Coven including Grugnyr, and the two Champions, also poured their Force energy to aid the wall despite not being Knights ss or Pdins.


    The attacks of the five champions reached.


    The massive wall grew with immense energy, and at thest moment, right before the attack struck, Kyros activated [Skotos Eis Phos] and released Holy energy that helped solidify the defenses.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The consecutive attacks of the Champions reached, and therge wall trembled.


    The Steele family felt the massive weight of the attack and was pushed back as their charge was halted.


    The power of [United We Stand] stood the assault of the five champions.


    "They did it! I can''t believe they did it!" Triona shouted.


    Cracks were appearing at therge wall, but it still stood strong.


    But in the impact, all the Steele family felt it. The Path of Combat and Foresight allowed them to realize it.


    Cminus felt it andughed.


    "I knew it! It is her! Their power tried to make the universe forget forcibly! But I remember it! I have forgotten this promise, but now that I know their names, I remember the story too!"


    The five champions that appeared were all cultivators of different races. There was an insect-like creature with arms that were bulky and thick. He looked like a beetle, and his giant arms looked like a heavily armored knight.


    The other Champion is arge hulking creature with a massive club, thick red skin, and an ape-like feature.


    "Ogres, huh? It''s my first time seeing it." Mezal identified the creature that struck right in front of where Mezal stood.


    "What is this?" Aron frowned as he watched a grotesque creature with a very deformed arm that carried a massive metal ball tied to a chain. The chained metal ball was lodged deep into the [Wall] that Branze made.


    The five exerted great effort to attack it, but they didn''t expect the power of [United We Stand] to appear.


    They took several steps back as the power of the Holy power made them experience a bacsh.


    The remaining champion was an orc and a tall lizard with great spikes on its back.


    "[United We Stand]? How nostalgic. Therge grotesque creature sneered.


    "Keep attacking! It''s about to break! They can only defend!" The Ogre shouted as they harnessed more energy.


    "Retreat five steps!" Branze ordered, and the group took five steps as the wall began to repair slowly.


    "Quick! Attack!" The grotesque creature shouted and spun the metal ball to strike the wall.


    The wall''s form suddenly changed. Mezal retreated further, creating a curve.


    SMASH!


    The attack of the Ogre missed. Mezal took a few more steps andughed at the ogre.


    The other champions, like the beetle and the orc, also missed their attacks.


    The Champions began to attack wildly. But despite the deformed shape of the walls, it still managed to hold. The attacks of the Shadow champions were not united, and it allowed the wall to stand.


    "We can''t break it down!" The orc shadow cursed.


    "Retreat. You are not attacking together, causing it to be ineffective.! Siege creatures. Attack! Destroy that wall! All five of you, keep them busy!" The Commander''s voice could be heard once more.


    The Champions followed the order and retreated and waited for the Siege Creatures to make their attacks.


    "Stop the advance of the Pdins." The Commander''s voice gave another order.


    The Steele family had grim expressions on their faces as they heard this.


    Four bright lights appeared from the back appeared. Two were glowing red, another had a blue light, and another had a bright yellow color.


    "Two Fireballs, a Frost Orb, and a Lighting Hammer!" The Emberdon Champions identified the attacks.


    "Stay where you are! We have a n!" Kyros discretely ordered the Emberdon Champions.


    "Knights! Push forward!" Kyros shouted those that were charging all roared.


    "What?! That''s crazy! Those attacks are powerful!"


    "We know! We got it!" Kyros answered.


    "Men! Push forward!'' Kyros ordered.


    "Attack the wall! Don''t make them take another step closer!" The ogre shouted.


    The massive shield led by Branze charged forward once more as the Champions began to attack it to stop the charge.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The shield could not push forward and was thrown back as the Champion shadows would perform their attacks in unison.


    "What are they nning?!" Stellya asked.


    "I don''t know. But the Steele family acted as if them continuing that defense will work!"


    "Can you really handle it?" Mezal asked through the Message orb.


    The Emberdon''s heard it and listened.


    "Steele family! Those four are powerful piercing attacks! Theposition of the magical energy of those four isn''t meant to explode but to pierce through!" Faye exined.


    "Rx. I know what it is. And it''s not four. There are five. Thest one is made of Dark energy. You can''t sense it from where you are, but we can." Kyros exined.


    "Five?"


    "Yes. Father? Are you sure?" Kyros asked again.


    "Yes. Live it to us." Branze answered.


    "Alright." Mezalughed.


    "Prepare our counterattack. Martha, aim for those cultivators first! Gojirrah, Reptilia. It''s time to reveal your true power. We have to kill these champions as fast as we can." Kyros ordered. He sent the message through the Coven and even gave the instructions of what to do.


    At that moment, the Steele Family sensed it and could tell what the Coven was nning.


    "How convenient. The path of Combat is telling me the Coven''s n." Mezal secretlyughed.


    Aron was also preparing for his attack. He had greatly lessened the power he was pouring to the wall and preparing for an attack.


    At that moment, the four visible lights and the fifth dark lights were shot by the Siege Cultivators.


    Five energy bolted across the distance.


    The five dark champions that were attacking to stop therge wall from advancing started to retreat.


    But at that moment, the number of people defending dropped down to two. Everyone but Branze and Diana switched to make offensive attacks.


    "Awaken... Katara.... Bearer of Burdens!" Cminus found himself saying this as he saw the two destined for eternity defend against the attack.

 Chapter 247 - Strength Of The Pair

    The five elemental attacks shot through the distance. It came from near the portal that opened and reached the space almost instantly.


    Each energy contained the destructive might that could equal Champions. But Seige Cultivators were designed to create massive destruction during war times. And so, these five attacks were attacks that surpassed the usual power levels that Champions could do in the Londs.


    The five Shadow Champions hastily retreated to avoid the powerful attack and prepared to charge at the moment the Shield would disappear. They could picture how the wall would copse and how the magic would prate and who it might hit.


    The ogre nced at the old man standing in front of him and prepared a killing blow. He was weaker than the Giant, but he could temporarily increase his attacks by another fold with his bloodlust ability!


    The grotesque creature with a massive arm was already extending his arm to the back and was prepared to attack. But, while the ones at the back were Siege Cultivators, he was another form. He was a closed-ranged Siege Cultivator.


    All the time he fought, he had been releasing only a small amount of his energy. But now, the massive magical metal that he wielded was erupting with great power.


    The three others were also making calctions and decided on their targets. All that was there was to wait for impact.


    But then, their expressions changed at the veryst possible second. The Shadow champions noticed that the enemy that was in front of them stopped defending. Previously, they were all defending, but now, most abandoned their defenses right as the magic attacks were about to reach.


    Kyros was slightly worried that he activated Pronto to observe. Although he knew Fate was telling him it would work, he still did this as he couldn''t understand the nature of power between the two.


    Cminus watched and was evens starting to tear up. With his memories of this two returning, e recalled the sealed up and forbidden rtionship between the two.


    "The day of their Promise is fulfilled. Both will finally join hands and be together... And thisbat is their celebration!"


    "What exactly is happening here?" Kyros finally asked.


    "Watch and see.'' Cminus only smiled.


    Kyros could tell that this wasn''t an arrogant smile in which Cminus finally knew something which Kyros could not deduce, but it was because Cminus was so excited to show him!


    Kyro decided to stop and see for himself what this was.


    The five bolts and the attack of the grotesque shadow champion reached,


    BOOM!


    The attacks all urred at the same time that it resounded as one huge boom.


    But the strange thing was that the coborative attack of all those champions could not destroy the wall that stood strong.


    "[Us Against The World]!" Branze and Diana shouted together as a bizarre emotion overtook them. They were in great euphoria and said what their hearts told them to say.


    The power of Block was shown, and another power allowed the power of Branze to bear the weight of the attack somehow.


    The Shields of the two were glowing with amazing power.


    "WHAT?!" The shout of the mysterious Shadow Commander shouted as he saw how the wall endured. There was even a trace of fear that made him cower as he saw the Shield appear. It was a power so great that it surpassed the strongest attack he could muster!


    The other shadow champions had already thrown their strikes as they were anticipating the destruction of the wall.


    PENG! PENG! PENG!


    Their attacks struck the Shield and could not break through.


    All the champions felt an incredible repelling force that knocked them back. The power of Block was fueled by Push, which caused the champions to be thrown back from the attack.


    Diana and Branze lost power immediately, and the Shield disappeared.


    Mezal, Aron, Martha, and the Coven were all ready and took action.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Martha had already teleported the moment the magic attacksnded. She appeared high above and shot five magic attacks towards the Siege Cultivators at the far back.


    She utilized the power of the Branch of Bow, and the arrow flew so fast that it immediately struck the Siege Cultivators the moment Martha let loose her arrows.


    SLASH!


    Aron created a powerful sh that divided the grotesque being in half. The sh was so strong that it sliced down and divided the ground and sliced through, revealing the Life and Death Containing field under it!


    "[Prating Charge]!" Mezal charged off andbined the [Quick sh Sword Stab] and the [Knight''s Charge] and performed both.


    Sword had Shield struck the ogre. The charge was full of the holy earth energy he created. Mezal''s made a hard shield that struck and crushed the shadow body of the orc. The overall damage that this attack did was like the meteor attack he performed earlier. The dark energy that made up and formed the shadow ogre was still strong enough to resist it, but the stab had struck to the heart.


    "[Grand Cross]!" Mezal shouted.


    With the sword stabbed deep inside the creature, the Force energy that imitated Holy erupted out.


    BOOM!


    Reptilia and Gojirrah charged towards the two Champions in front of them. Reptilia challenged the beetle-like champion while Gojirrah attacked therge lizard.


    Hunter, Avary, and Gregory rushed together to challenge the orc champion. The orc was still staggering from the knockback, and the three bravely attacked andughed stabs and attacks.


    Hunter''s sword was glowing red with fire. He had received a Fire Core from the Temple and channeled the energy to his Blood Sword, and made the strongest sh he could make.


    Avary and Gregory attacked the arms and legs of the orc to keep it from recovering its bnce.


    Scarlet was at the back and wielded the Novice of Elirium scepter, which she received and used her Lightning Core to shoot out a powerful bolt.


    BOOM!


    The attacks allnded.


    The only champion that died was one that Aron and Mezal attacked. After killing them, the two continued to rush forward. They knew that Diana and Branze would lose consciousness from this.


    The surviving champions began to fight their corresponding foes, and a battlemenced.


    Kyros was still marveling at how the defense of his father and mother withstood the attack. He hadnded next to them and instructed the knights who apanied them to bring the two back.


    The knights that had followed them agreed and began to move.


    It was then that the shadow army began a charging assault.


    "Emberdon Champions. Pleaseunch one siege attack." Kyros suddenly ordered.


    Demerus immediately agreed and utilized one of his Charged Spells.


    Massive energy began to gather, and a single lightning bolt shot out and struck the middle of the shadow army.


    BOOM!


    A massive explosion urred. Unlike the former Siege attacks that emphasized prating power over wide-scale destruction, Demerus specialized in creating massive explosions, which paused and created disorder to the rushing shadow army.


    Kyros had his eyes on the Commander. But for some strange reason, despite the loss of the Siege cultivators and how the tide was against him, the Commander remained flying in his position and was carefully examining everyone.


    Kyros sighed and began to move forward.


    The Shadow champions were fighting the Coven, but Kyros ignored the fights and kept moving forward.


    Mezal and Aron also did the same. They walked forward and didn''t even turn their backs to the battle behind them. Kyros also began to position himself so that he and his uncle and Grandfather positioned themselves in the path. Each stood in a strategic location, which divided the path equally.


    "Why isn''t that Commander attacking?" Aron frowned.


    "He must be waiting for an ally or is maximizing our fights to gain more information about us," Mezal answered.


    The three readied for the charge of the shadow army, which was quickly reforming their ranks.


    "Alright, Cminus. What is up with my mom and dad?" Kyros asked as he had the opportunity.


    "You couldn''t guess what it was despite seeing it?"


    "I could guess so. That power should be rted to strength or vitality."


    "Close. It''s actually Burden. I remember everything. Your father isn''t just a descendant of Steele. He is the resurrection of one!"


    "My dad is the resurrection of an actual son of Hyperion?"


    "Yes! And your mother is the resurrection of a descendant of Kyriachos!"


    "She''s a Fallen?"


    "No. She''s human. She reincarnated as a human! Kyros, the two are called the First Curse and the First Vow. You see, when Kyriachos created the darkness, it created pain, sorrow, sadness, and all that. And all of these concepts of creation were created through your mother! She is Katara Kyriachos! The bearer of Burdens!"


    "Burden... She bears a heavy burden...?"


    "Yes! Think about it! Everything you experience in this life has to have its source. Emotions of all forms that havee to existence are formed somewhere. These gods reshaped reality. And your mother was the embodiment of pain and suffering. And so, she was destined to suffer and bear pain all her life. Her mere existence demanded her to fall into various forms of pain and bear such loneliness alone. And she did until your father came into the picture.." Cminus exined.

 Chapter 248 - Strength Of Curse

    Diana had lost consciousness. Her memories were returning. The vow made long ago has been fulfilled. And she was beginning to remember who she was.


    Branze also lost consciousness and was seeing the same thing.


    Both their souls were traveling in a strange ce.


    "Branze?" Diana called out.


    "Diana?" Branze answered.


    "Where are we?" She asked.


    "I don''t know."


    Suddenly, a strange world erupted before them.


    They saw the entire universe like a scroll that was whirling over them. They were so small, and yet, the massive visions about the scroll were clear to them. The scroll was a million timesrger than the nesworld, yet the sight of every detail in that whirling scroll was very clear!


    "Oh? The Promise is fulfilled?" A soft voice echoed.


    The pair turned to the side and saw an old man standing in the void. On his hands were scrolls that spread out. The old man held to the ends of these scrolls easily.


    When Branze and Diana saw it, they were terrified. The ancient power of the old man and the size that broke all forms ofmon sense naturally made the two feel so inferior.


    "Do not be afraid. I am Histerion. The God of History and Memory." The Old man introduced.


    "I have to be honest... This is quite a surprise. It looks like Agapaia won this one." The old man chuckled.


    "Agapaia?"


    "It''s a long story. Mortals like you can''t understand. Still, she sided with the right woman. Fate clearly was the woman for the job. And Fate was rather ingenious. She hid your Fate right in the center of the Meeting of History. The timing of your birth and how it interconnected with the meeting of Begining''s Champion."


    "Beginning''s Champion? Could it be our son?" Diana asked.


    "Yes. The one called Kyros. The Nephilim."


    "The Nephilim...?"


    "Nephilim Sealing Temple. It was there all along. Kyros was the Nephilim!"


    "Fate works in odd and mysterious ways." Histerionughed.


    "Who is Fate? Or rather, what is Fate and these powers that bind our lives to this painful struggle." Diana asked.


    "Take things one step at a time, daughter of Kyriachos. You already have learned much of it. I am Histerion. I can only reveal what is before you. But Fate is not before or after you. Time is quite different to us gods and fallen."


    "Then what can you tell us?" Branze asked.


    "I can tell you that Fate really timed it well. The First Vow and The First Curse are powers that would create massive ripples if either of you two makes the smallest of actions. So Fate, with a whole lot of help, smuggled you across time and reality to hide you in the biggest cataclysmic event of Creation. None of the Gods and Fallen knew of this event, after all. But somehow, she knew... What an interesting development. It must be ''his'' work..." Histerion smiled.


    "In any case, I will fulfill my part of this promise and show you your history!" Histerion waved his arm, and the scenery changed.


    Diana and Branze could see them traveling towards the very start of the scroll.


    Soon, they moved and entered the scroll.


    Diana and Branze saw the birth of creation.


    "This... This is when Hyperion, the God I met, severed the universe!" Branze exined.


    Diana marveled as she saw a singr and how the universe came to be. She saw the First One Severed who cut his way out of the First Being.


    The universe was torn apart and separated.


    It was then that darkness appeared.


    The concept of separation was born through Kyriachos, and the universe began to grow.


    Diana and Branze saw strange things that they couldn''t understand.


    They saw many concepts of creation, and soon, their vision warped up, and they saw the Age of Gods and Fallen.


    Creation was growing, and an explosion of life arose all over the universe. The birth of many concepts gave a chance for organisms to grow.


    Gods after gods and Fallen after Fallen was born into the universe. The Beings that Are were moving on as creation stabilized. Some strangely disappeared. But many remained until the many concepts andws of the world were starting to take shape.


    Soon, the Era of Creation stopped.


    The universe was finallyplete. From the physical and tangible objects that made up worlds,s to the ethereal and intangible powers that grew out, it was finished.


    The gods and fallen finally had physical forms. No longer did Creation live as one being, but began to live independently from each other.


    In that era, both Gods and Fallen shared the table of friendship and did not make war with each other.


    "What an amazing paradise..." Branze was held captive at the beauty of the world. It was perfection.


    "Something... is missing..." Diana, however, felt something amiss.


    "What? Missing?"


    "Ha Ha Ha... As expected of you, daughter of Kyriachos. The Strength of the Curse can pierce through this! Even though you have not awakened your memory, you still sense it! You are correct. It is imperfect. Son of Steele, perfection cannot beplete without the imperfect. Paradise can never be paradise without hell. One cannot be defined if the other does not exist. For paradise can never be known without the concept of hell being created, and hell cannot be known without paradise. For Creation to work, this has to happen. What is good if there is no bad? What is peace if there is no record of strife in this world? And that is where youe in, daughter of Kyriachos."


    Suddenly, Diana''s vision changed. Branze also began to see another vision.


    Diana saw life through the eyes of this majestic being.


    She was known as Katara. A daughter of the Lord of the Fallen, Kyriachos.


    Branze saw life through the eyes of another. He was known as Gannaios, son of Hyperion.


    Diana was happy. Life was peaceful, and she lived thousands of years of her life in paradise. But just as Diana had felt before she became Katara, Katara, felt an incredible emptiness. It was as if things weren''t the way they should be. It was then that she met the young man.


    Gannaios was well-respected among the sons of Hyperion. Soon, Katara found great friendship in Gannaios, and the two were together.


    But a strange thing befell Katara''s young heart. The friendship she felt towards Gannaios was changing.


    She couldn''t understand what she felt. She couldn''t understand why she longed to be with the god, but as those actions and desires were very unbing of her, she kept quiet about it.


    She took to the mortal worlds that were created.


    There was peace and prosperity within the mortal worlds. And every mortal had a strange form of life. The power of Ss was stronger towards these mortals. Although the mortals were separated, they could be one once more through Ss and the power of Ss''s daughter, Agapaia.


    Katara felt something strange. Although without understanding what was right and wrong, she knew that seeking Agapaia''s power to be applied towards Gannaios was wrong. And yet, she did what she felt was wrong.


    The beautiful goddess Agapaia met with Katara, and the two talked. But when Katara told Agapaia what she wanted, Ss heard of it.


    Suddenly, the visions that Branze and Diana saw through Katara and Gannaios turned strange.


    They saw themselves zooming through time.


    Gods met with Fallen, and many began to discuss strange things. Katara and Gannaios were too weak to understand what it was. But they were told that both should stop meeting with each other.


    At first, the gods and fallen merely talked to them, and the pair followed.


    But the years that followed created an incredible hollow emotion within Katara. She couldn''t understand what it was. But she was beginning to harbor different and previously inconceivable thoughts. She wanted to disobey the orders that were said of her.


    The desire grew stronger and stronger until one day, she decided to seek out Gannaios.


    What followed was utter confusion. Katara was caught and was being questioned and attacked by the gods. She was being med for the cause of many bizarre things happening all over the world.


    Gods and Fallen began to fight. The Fallens were showing strange thoughts and started to act in wickedness. But soon, the gods also did that. While the gods were primarily able to withstand it, the Fallens quickly allowed themselves to indulge in this strange desire.


    Through great effort, the Gods figured out the source. Katara''s act of disobedience gave birth to the concept of strife. But the concept didn''t erupt out of her, but rather, because of her existence, many imperfections were borne.


    Soon, the revtion was made. Katara was the Fallen of Curse. Her Code was known as Corruption. And soon, all Fallen were no longer referred to as having codes but Corruption.


    A great war in the heavens soon urred as more and more fallen developed their Corruption. The Gods wanted Katara dead, and the Fallen fought back.


    While all the strongest beings did not participate, Hyperion Steele and Kyriachos were forced to act.


    The birth of Undivine happened. Then, Tyrannos appeared and created an even more problematic scene within the heavens as the first murder urred.


    Soon, a truce was made, and all the Fallen and the Gods gathered in one ce.


    Ss stood at the center.


    "I speak to you all to address the grievances that were made. Tyrannos, the First Undivine, hasmitted a grave act of murder. A God has disappeared. And now, our war is now reaching a point that gods and fallens may vanish forever. I plead to you all. Hear me. The cause of all this is Katara Kyriachos. Who is the source of Curse? She has ''cursed'' Creation. So I have a proposal.. Let there be only one more murder. Let us kill the Fallen Katara Kyriachos!"

 Chapter 249 - Strength Of The Vow

    The decree of Ss shocked everyone.


    Branze and Mezal saw the handsome god Ss speak confidently and even smiled as if there was nothing wrong or mistaken in his statement.


    "Ss! You overstep your reach! Not even your father, Soter, would have been so arrogant to say that!" A dark, malevolent voice was heard.


    Total darkness took over the stage of the gods and fallen.


    "Kyriachos!" Ss shouted in anger and revealed his power of Holiness.


    BOOM!


    A massive eruption of bright light appeared around Ss.


    "Hmp. A borrowed light from the sun can''t harm me. Only the first light can breach my darkness!" Kyriachosughed as he lunged an attack at Ss.


    BOOM!


    But suddenly, the power of darkness met a powerful cutting force. The power of this cut was too marvelous that it severed the connection of darkness, rendering it powerless.


    Hyperion Steele stood in front of Kyriachos.


    "Kyriachos. Control yourself!" Hyperion boomed in anger.


    "Hyperion. You better keep your little nephew in check. If he says something like that, even if Soter would be here, I would not relent until that boy is dead!" Kyriachos shouted.


    "Kyriachos. His words are quite arrogant and disrespectful. But it does ring with certain truths! See your reaction! Would the former Kyriachos rush to kill this boy?" Hyperion asked.


    Kyriachos stood there, and his sons and daughters stayed at the side.


    "The truth is, your daughter has changed you and your family."


    "The truth is, my daughter has a portion of my power. If not her, it would have been anyone or even me!"


    "We can sever it! I can cut the ties of power!"


    "Lord Fallen Kyriachos! There was indeed some... misunderstanding in my word. But if we want all of this selfishness to end, we have to y your daughter. We cannot allow such power to divide the gods and fallen.


    "It already has! If you did not want to divide us, why did you give birth to Agapaia? Was it not her power that made me like this? Is it not because of love that I stand in front of my daughter?!"


    "And she corrupted the power my daughter bestowed! We know that the natural ways of things prohibit a god and a fallen to be together! Yet your daughter rebelled! And now, Tyrannos, who is nowhere to be found. And more gods and fallen may die!"


    "Naturally. Hyperion, you severed the universe. And this is what it means to be cut off from another. Perhaps it''s your power that cut us off, or my power that separates that is fueling this. But know for certain that the corruption of love was not born by mistake! My daughter is the result of all of our powers. This universe has just begun! Cminus, the Time God has just been born! We have just started! This is just the beginning!" Kyriachos roared.


    "I told you, uncle." Ss sighed.


    "Luckily... I came prepared. Kyriachos. You should understand. I am justice!" Ss shouted, and suddenly, a massive force of gods emerged at the back.


    A great battle in the heavens urred. It was known as the first conflict.


    The vision was too much for Diana and Branze that they felt themselves moving through the scroll.


    "Let me bring you further ahead. That battle fortified the universe as more definitions urred. Mortals wouldn''t survive even if they saw it. Even Saints will die from madness." The voice of Hysterion echoed out.


    "Let me bring you to the conclusion of it..."


    The scenes that Diana and Branze saw moved forward, and they found themselves standing in the same ce, where they gathered.


    It was as if the conflict and battle never happened. Ss stood at the very ce where he first dered the proposal to kill Katara.


    Everyone had a confused expression.


    "Guys! Guys! Stop the fight! You guys nearly wrecked the universe! What''s wrong with you people?" A fat, young boy hovered above Ss.


    "You...!" Ss was stunned.


    "Cminus?!" Hyperion shouted in surprise.


    "Yes, it''s me! Will you all cut it out! If not for my power, we would all be dead! You guys saw what happened!"


    "What happened?" Hyperion frowned. He knew that in that timeline where he fought to the death, it was his attack that must have killed Cminus.


    "What happened? You guys killed me! I had no choice but to revert time back to this point. But that battle and your attacks were too weird that it divided time and affected it! Time is now rtive! Now True Time exists differently. Time can speed up or slow down. Ugh... You guys don''t know what this feels like." Cminusined.


    "And right now, I am feeling strange things. As if the knowledge from universes far out whispers to me... What...?! Of course! That''s it! That''s the truth!"


    "What?! What''s the truth?!" Ss asked.


    "The universe is telling me... Epstein didn''t kill himself."


    ...


    ...


    "...What?"


    "Yeah. I don''t know. Whatever that means, it''s your fault, guys. You did this to me!" Cminus shouted back.


    "Enough of that. Kyriachos. You saw what happened. It would have all been over. We have to kill your daughter." Hyperion spoke once more.


    Kyriachos was silent. But he knew Hyperion was right. He had fought and seen the future. It would have ended.


    But in Kyriachos''s hesitation, Katara stepped forward.


    "Father. Brothers, Sisters... I guess I have to die." She smiled.


    "In the course of that battle, I understood what I am. I am Despair. I am the cause of pain and suffering. I am the fruit of Separation and the root of all curses. This is my burden. And I have been passing this on to everyone. I cannot pass on Despair to all. I have to die..." Katara answered.


    The Fallens were silent.


    Even Kyriachos wanted to say something. But he could not. While he loved Katara as her daughter, he saw a time when he lost almost all of his sons and daughters.


    "If only... I bound her to something before her Corruption of Despair spread to many..." Kyriachos cursed.


    "Father. It''s ok. Even if you tried, who will you bind Despair too? No one would be willing. And even now, it''s toote. Unless I am killed, the Corruption of Despair will spread. And in that timeline, I saw how it did. My brothers, my sisters, we''re all dying in front of me. I was left to bear the guilt and pain. I wish not to see that again. I wish to bear the guilt and pain and die now." She smiled.


    "And so it shall be. Gods and Fallen. I, Ss, son of Soter, present before you, Katara Kyriachos. First of the Curse. Within her is the power that has brought this universe to pain. The Gods and the Fallen have in and killed each other. That future that we saw will happen again as long as she lives! For her despair will affect us all! Killing her is the best option!" Ss dered.


    Katara moved closer.


    "Lord Hyperion. Please sever me and cut me off from this world. Lest my Despair affects more."


    "I thank you, Katara." Hyperion smiled as he raised his sword.


    "No!" A powerful force stood before Katara.


    Katara was shocked at his appearance.


    "No! Gannaios! This is my choice!"


    "Son! Stop this foolishness! You already warred against me before! Do not force my hand!" Hyperion shouted angrily.


    "Gannaios! Stop this foolishness! Her love for you is a curse! You do not need to fight for it!" Ss shouted.


    "I have to fight for it! If her love for me is the curse, I now realize that I did not war against you and my own kin because I pity her! It is because I love her!" Gannaios dered.


    Katara''s heart stopped as she heard this.


    "Wha... what? He actually loved her?" Cminus was brokenhearted at the revtion and began to cry.


    "Stupid son! Stop this!"


    "Don''t you see, father? I am bound to her. If you kill her, I would be better of dead."


    "You fool! You would put the entire universe at risk for her?"


    "No! I am not putting the entire universe at risk. As Kyriachos said... hers is a power that springs from him. One way or the other, our universe will face Separation. But while Separation exists, so that Unity. Is that not the power of Soter? But for that to happen, one must have the courage to push themselves forward."


    "Gods and Fallens will die if you defend her!"


    "Then kill her. But prepare to kill me, father!"


    "She is the Curse of this Universe! She will bring terrifying things to this world!" Hyperion shouted.


    "Then I will be the Courage of this Universe. If she is the Curse that brings destruction, then I shall be the Vow to restore things to order!"


    "Gannaios! Stop! I love you! This is my burden to bear!" Katara wept.


    "Then carry your burden! But let me be the shield to protect you and prevent more burdens from falling on you!" The power of Gannaios exploded out.


    Hyperion frowned, and then a strange voice erupted as a woman and a man began to speak.


    But the voices were too terrifying that Branze and Diana were thrown out of the scroll.


    "What?!" Diana was stunned.


    "What happened?" Branze was also confused. They were at a critical part of the story, and yet they were suddenly ejected out of the scroll.


    "This is as far as you go," Histerion spoke.


    "Thest two who spoke were Fate and Destiny. The invoking of Gannaios was so strong it created a new Code. And so, those two had no choice but to intervene. When those two speak, they be true. Hearing their words will kill you. This is the truth of your past. But as to how you two came to be again... it will remain a mystery."


    "What? God Histerion... Not even you know?" Diana asked.


    "The shroud of darkness covers what happens next. The power to Hide covered it. Only the one who has Mysterion can unveil it. For his power is the revtion of secrets hidden from long ago."


    "Mysterion? Is that a Code? Which God has it?"


    Histerion smiled.


    "Your son has it. Goodbye, Branze and Diana. May your vows ring true, and may the Curse and the Courage bear each other''s burdens."


    Darkness shrouded their sight, and nothing could be seen.


    And then, Diana and Branze woke up.

 Chapter 250 - Strength Of The Boy

    The moment Diana and Branze woke up, they found themselves in the Temple.


    "What happened?" Diana asked.


    "Lady Diana! You''re awake!"


    "Ugh..." Branze was touching his head as he slowly stood up.


    "Lord Branze!'' You''re alright too! We were worried!" The servant cried.


    It was then that they noticed the strange situation before them. A battle was going on outside of the walls of the Temple. The knights and servants were shooting their arrows.


    Above the Temple, only one mage champion flew out and began to shoot various fireballs with her scepter.


    "Where are they?!" Branze asked.


    At the front of the Temple, guarding the central doorway were Gojirrah and Reptilia. The Coven also guarded the sides to block the path leading to the other entrances of the Temple.


    "Fire!" A knight shouted, and the servants at the bottom shot several arrows once more.


    The knights who fought at the front continued to attack and shed their enemies. The attacks somehow did damage that even the knight''s shield could stagger the approaching creatures.


    The arrows that wereunched also did the same thing.


    "Amazing. The Temple is bestowing Holy energy on our weapons!" Diana realized.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Scarlet shot out another series of fireballs that blew away the ranks in front of them.


    At the gap that was formed from the attacks, the knights hurriedly captured the dying shadows that were wounded and brought them inside the Temple.


    The knights were able to hold them as the holy energy covered them.


    At the gap, Branze and Diana saw several tall golems that had a white glow.


    "Send more of those back inside!" Mardock was there at the center and continued to give out orders.


    There were several odd golems that had fire and lightning energy around, and they also assisted in carrying several wounded and amputated shadow creatures inside. The strengths of these golems allowed them to move in and easily resist the struggles of the shadows until the Temple absorbed them.


    "We''re replenishing the Temple. But this is too few! We may run out of energy soon." Branze concluded.


    "That''s why they moved ahead." Mechiel appeared next to the two of them.


    "Mechiel, correct? You were the one who took care of us?"


    Mechiel nodded.


    "Where are the rest?" Diana asked.


    "What happened after we fainted?" Branze asked.


    Mechiel began to recount what had happened after they lost consciousness.


    Nearly two hours ago, right after Branze and Diana fainted...


    Aron, Mezal, and Kyros stood at the forefront of the battle. With them at the front, the shadows that managed to slip down had been decreased.


    No one within the area in front of Aron could approach. His shes and attacks were so powerful that they began to incinerate everything.


    Yet the horde rushed crazily without fear of their life.


    "They are trying to make me waste my energy! What idiots!" Aronughed.


    "Easy for you to say..." Mezal grumbled.


    On the other side, Mezal kept using his wall to push back and had been shing and cutting the enemies in front of him. It was clear that Mezal was expending arger amount of Force energy to keep the wall up.


    "That''s a good idea! They have numbers. It''s best for that Commander to fight us when we are a little low on energy." Kyrosughed.


    Kyros was fighting in the center and used his sword. But around his fist, balefire me was emerging, and Kyros was using both of them to fight back.


    For some strange reason, the shadow creatures that moved closer would suddenly focus their attention on Kyros and charge madly.


    Martha was guarding the small gaps that allowed some of the shadows to slip through.


    She had appeared and captured several shadows and was constantly feeding on them while shooting dark arrows that maimed or disabled those that were charging through the gaps.


    The Commander flew high near the portal and watched the four powers who were holding the line and preventing more shadows from aiding the battle against the champions at the back.


    "Those fools. They have tainted the glory of Champions! They died without even killing a single one of them!" One of the Champions who emerged from the portal cursed. He was a human with bones as armor. Unlike the other creatures, this man was not a shadow.


    "They blocked the attacks of several Champions and Siege Cultivators. You try fighting them." An orc appeared. Just like the man, this one was a Champion that was alive.


    "A mysterious cutting energy. That sword expert on the right is quite strong. His attacks could even harm me. That old man to the right is also terrifying." The dragon Commander frowned.


    "Shall I go there and rip off his head?" A tall orc with insect-like appendages moving on his back appeared and offered his services.


    "Do not be overconfident, Rigsdurr. That old man is powerful. He is the bnce between the Pdin with the strong defense and the swordsman with the powerful attacks. But what isn''t obvious is that man is both a Sword Expert and a Shield Expert!" The Commander frowned.


    "While he doesn''t have an extremely powerful offensive power or the defensive energy, do not forget that those two have attacks and defenses that can challenge evenmanders! None of you Champions can beat him. Even in a two-to-one scenario." The dragon growled.


    "Forgive my blind eyes." The orc bowed.


    The human and the other orc both frowned.


    "And the one at the center, that boy, seems to be their leader. And yet, he has not shown us his powers yet. If you underestimate that being because he is a child, you will surely die. That armor he wears is even stronger than my Quarter Dragon Armor. It''s definitely a legacy armor, and my suit fears it!" The Commander revealed.


    The Champions were stunned and had revealed a cautious expression for the first time since they entered. Nevertheless, they were far stronger than the previous Champions that fought and died.


    "The reason why I did not send you to attack is that I want to see the full strength of that boy. Keep pressuring them and order more archers to attack. Have them fire even if there are some of our men fighting. We have a horde of shadows at ourmand, and we best use it to our advantage and keep sending out attacks of oppression. They are thest enemies that we will face to be free from this wretched ce. Have you contacted the other Commanders?"


    "They will be sending one Siege Cultivator each."


    "Good. Oh? It looks like those Champion mages are finally acting." The Dragonmander watched the distant figures that began to release magic energy.


    The attacks of the mages were directed to the area in front of Kyros and Mezal.


    The power of the five Champion Scepters they had was revealed as it could shoot out Magic energy that had elements just by pouring it in.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "This scepter is too amazing! So my Elemental affinity is actually lightning! Maybe I should have trained like brother Demerus after all!"


    "Entropy. Mine is actually entropy! We have to read more of that book! We''ve been missing the mark in our cultivation all this time!" Demerus frowned.


    "Mine is Ice! We don''t have any inheritance in the Londs that teach Ice!" Ressi cursed as ice magic erupted from her scepter.


    "The path, of course, is to ally with Kyros. The powers they have shown are far stronger than the Vaux Imperial. What they need is more military power!" Faye added.


    "If we survive, and if our family allies with them, we would be ced in these situations." Triona reminded.


    "Are you afraid, sister?" Stellya asked.


    "Not at all. Sister, you should aim for Grand Master Kyros."


    "Haven''t you seen how he looked at that dhampir? He''s clearly in love."


    "Aren''t they all?" Faye sighed as he nced at Branze and Aron.


    Back at the front lines, Mezal, Aron, and Kyros were now standing up as they killed thest shadow that tried to move in.


    The attacks of the Emberdon had stopped the charge.


    "Kyros? Why did you tell the Emberdon to shoot?" Mezal frowned


    "The Commander didn''t move and wants us to waste our energy. We can estimate that the numbers that they are sacrificing aren''t worth mentioning. And this includes the Champions that they send. And I think it''s possible that these armies have a Cardinal. If we keep fighting like this, we will be dead. Better rush in and kill the leader."


    "A Cardinal? Well, I guess if Destiny will try to kill us, that''s the very minimum." Aron chuckled.


    "Minimum, huh? I wonder what Destiny is in store. I feel that it''s almost certain that a Cardinal lies beyond those gates. So you n to go on the offensive?"


    "Yes. This is an endless army, and we will soon die, and the Temple won''t be able to handle it. So we have to move immediately. I''ll have to go a little all out before we do, though. I need to stock up food for the Temple. So I made the Emberdons shoot to prepare for our retreat. I''ll move in and go wild and swiftly retreat. Since I showed my ace, it should make the Commander order the group to attack. And there, right when they think we are on the defensive, we attack."


    "Who will go?" Aron asked.


    "The three of us, Martha, and four of the Emberdons. We need one to act one of them in case the attacks be critical. But before that, I need to make them believe that we are retreating so that more of the Champions will rush towards the Temple. We''ll take care of thisst set of Champions and that Commander before we charge onwards." Kyros exined.


    "Emberdon..." Kyros called out.


    "Prepare that Magic Carpet. It''s time for us to be on the offensive!"

 Chapter 251 - It Is Time...

    The bombardment to the front was causing the shadow armies to have a hard time breaking through.


    The Commander didn''t give other directives and allowed the shadow forces to keep on moving.


    "Let''s see how long those mages can keep this up." The Commander observed. His expressions grew sour as he could see that the surviving Champions were doomed to die as they faced the Coven.


    "They are... vampires?!" One of the Champions next to him eximed.


    "It seems that they are not a group of Holy practitioners. There is a darkness within them that does not only sping from the artifacts that that boy wields." The Commander frowned. Once more, his expectations were proven to be false. It wasn''t just Kyros''s bizarre suit that created the darkness. He then gave a closer inspection at Martha. He thought that Martha was just a special case as someone who cultivated in the assassin''s Path.


    At that moment, the enemy Champions behind Kyros were finally killed.


    "Impossible... The Lizard Sovereigns weapons and armor...!" The giant shadow lizard died as he saw both Reptilia and Gojirrahunch an attack together and kill therge lizards with spikes.


    Gojirrah and Reptilia both had curious expressions. They could tell that the weapons they received from the Temple weren''t normal. It had exceeded the gears of all Champions in their kingdom.


    "Lady Reptilia... Who is the Lizard Sovereign?" Gojirrah asked.


    Reptilia shook her head.


    "This weapon... is too overpowered..." Gojirrah nced at the sword he had.


    "I felt... my blood increase. It should be reacting to the small dragon blood that Lord Kyros made us take." Reptilia observed.


    On the other side, the rest of the Coven managed to defeat the Champion they fought.


    The coboration of their attacks improved. Hunter drew the enemy''s attention while the rest began to harass them. The weakest among their group was actually Grugnyr, who has yet to develop his Path of Combat.


    But even with that, the team managed to perform remarkably well. Their weapons were strong, and managed to stand against the might of the Champion. They all had a Dark sword and armor, which were called Dread Sword and Dread te Armor. The power of darkness was somehow magnified, and their Blood Swords merged well with the sword making it barely reach Champion level!


    Grugnyr and Avary had some of their limbs chopped off, but they managed to kill the Champion in that exchange.


    "You... are not humans...!" The Champion realized as he died. The group was reckless and didn''t mind losing a limb or two in that attack, and in the short seconds that passed, they managed to kill them.


    The Dread Swords were stabbed in, and finally, Scarlet rushed in and delivered thest stab. She had been at the back supporting the team with her magic.


    All of them began to devour the darkness. When Kyros absorbed all the creatures they had killed, the level of several Coven skills increased, and Dark Devourer had even grown by several levels.


    The dark body of the Champion could resist all the swords devouring his soul and sumbed.


    "We did it! We killed a Champion!" Avaryughed as he managed to make an attack. His sword was the attack that led to the Champion''s demise as his Blood Sword devoured the soul of the Champion.


    Only then that most of the Covens realize that their current power level was closer to Champions.


    "Everyone. Retreat. We''ve killed the Champions and the Siege Cultivators! Quickly!" Kyros shouted out loud.


    [Oration activated.]


    [Deception skill acquired.]


    The group began to retreat, but Kyros stayed behind and guarded the back as his allies retreated.


    The dragon Commander frowned as he saw the group retreat.


    "Why are they retreating? Did they attack just to kill the Siege cultivators?" One of the Champions next to him asked.


    "It seems so. I get it now. They were worried that their defenses would fall if they kept resisting. Lord Commander, shall we send our forces?"


    The dragonmander continued to contemte the possibility.


    "The Temple should have a way of defending itself. But they didn''t want to waste it. So they went in and used the power of those two Shield Experts. They may assume that what they see before them is the bulk of our army..." The Commander concluded.


    "Hmm. Fools! Shall we attack?"


    The Commander remained silent, but he was cautious. It seemed too easy. He prepared a certain artifact just in case but then issued themand.


    "Go."


    Themand to charge was issued, and the controlled dark shadows raced towards the Temple.


    The living Champions rushed as well. It was the first time that living beings that were not made of the darkness attacked.


    Kyros and his group were quickly moving to retreat. He saw the attacks of the enemy and smiled.


    "Martha, now!"


    A portal appeared, and Kyros jumped towards it.


    Kyros was teleported at the opposite side of the area and was in the middle of the army of darkness.


    "[Time Haste]!" Suddenly, Kyros channeled his time magic. It was more potent and controlledpared to his reckless usage. The time that moved faster was only limited to his body, and with great speed, he flew towards the armies and reached the deeper parts of it.


    At that moment, he released the fullness of his dark energy and turned it into holy energy.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!"


    It was as the sun was being born at the center of the battlefield.


    A powerful, terrifying, Holy light shed very quickly.


    "What?!" The Champions was startled.


    The Commander threw the artifact in front of him, and it zoomed right in front of some of the Champions.


    BOOM!


    The massive light exploded out, and the cries of many shadow creatures was heard once more.


    The living champions saw the light and began to use their defensive powers.


    "AHHH!" The one at the very front was a Lizardman champion, but even though he was alive, he was a Dark Dependent cultivator, and the purest light was lethal to him.


    "NOOOO!" Another champion saw his defenses breaking.


    BOOM!


    At that moment, a massive transparent avatar that took the form of a purple dragon appeared and blocked the light.


    The Commander could still see the figure of Kyros, who was releasing the energy.


    "Chase him before he teleports!" The Commander ordered at the Champions near Kyros, who was protected by the dragon avatar.


    The light ended, and Kyros retreated with a portal appearing.


    Two Champions, an orc, and a human necromancer, used their force and magic energy to cross the distance.


    Right before they could catch Kyros...


    "[Time Haste]!" Kyros activated his Time spell once more and made all the Champions move faster than the three of them entered through the portal.


    As the two Champions entered the portal, they found themselves in the Separated Realm.


    The two panicked as they realized what that world was.


    Kyros had Kyriacho''s power to resist the Separated Realm as he had already experienced its full power. But these two were not of Kyriachos''s power and felt their minds suffer grave attacks.


    Puff was in that realm and began to attack the two.


    The portal closed, and the Commander saw it all. Even the realm inside the portal. As the portal appeared closer, he was able to sense what was inside.


    "Quick!" I''m running out of energy!" Martha''s pained cry could be heard.


    [Acting activated.]


    [Deception activated.]


    The portal closed.


    The Commander realized that he was fooled. It was all part of the n to kill more Champions and the army! He then realized why Kyros was the leader with his massive powers of creating pure light.


    "It is time for us to use that magic! Everyone! Charge! They are weakened! Do not give them time to recover!" The Commander roared as he crushed a strange purple rock that summoned terrifying darkness from the portal and flooded the ground.


    "Champions! Follow me!" The Commander began to p his wings and move.


    Meanwhile, in the Temple...


    Kyros had appeared, and the two Champions that followed them were on the floor, dying.


    The swords of the Coven drank their blood.


    "This should give the Temple a lot of energy. We kill the Commander and offer it to the group. Then, coven, defend the Temple. We will be initiating our attacks. Oh. And Mechiel, drink from the blood of the necromancer. His blood will be of use to you and might just help you break through the Dhampir limit." Kyros also instructed.


    "Ye-Yes!" Mechiel ran and bit the necromancer.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The sounds of the mages shooting at the approaching army could be heard.


    "The Commander is on the move!" Demerus warned.


    "Alright, gang. Let''s move out!" Kyros smiled.


    Aron and Mezal rode the flying carpet, and Martha was flying on the small dragon.


    "Follow my lead, guys!" Kyros flew to the sky and could see the dragon Commander flying towards them with the Champions following closely. The army''s movement was so fast that it was actually moving at the same speed as the flying group.


    Darkness had enveloped the ground and made their charge several times faster.


    "What a skill!" Faye eximed.


    "Indeed! Master Kyros, you do have something to fight that, right?" Triona asked with a worried expression. The dark army used the strategy very effectively. If it was any other kingdom, the revtion that they could move this fast and use it at a critical moment could easily kill a kingdom that revealed all its aces.


    "Their speed is because of the creeping Darkness. This Temple has Holy Grounds. It won''t breakthrough. And as for the moving Commander, rx." Kyros smiled.


    "Everyone, strike a terrifying pose and make it look like you are about to make a powerful attack! It is time for us to finally make our attack!" Kyros gave the orders.

 Chapter 252 - Was He Really This Fast?

    The Commander with a simr dragonic form that Martha revealed was charging towards the Temple. Seven Champions flew alongside him and were wielding powerful force and magic.


    And to counter this threat, Kyros ordered everyone to strike a dangerous pose.


    "Am I doing this right?" Aron asked.


    "Hold that position. The goal is to make the Commander and Champion attack us. Continue to gather energy as if you are about to make a wild, massive attack!"


    "Alright!"


    While the main Steele Family and the Emberdon Champions made their dominating poses on top of a flying carpet or right above the sky, the rest of the forces all went to their positions.


    Hunter and Avary stood at the right side, blocking the path with several knights and archers at the back row. Two Light Golems stood near them at the front.


    Grugnyr, Gregory, and Scarlet positioned themselves on the left path with roughly the same knights, archers, and Light Golems.


    Hunter and Avary used the Basic Elemental Core and summoned a Lightning Golem and a Fire Golem from the ground. The golem looked like the Soil Golems but had fire and lightning energy around them each.


    Gojirrah and Reptilia stood on the center of the main pathway that led to the Temple. Knights stood at the back, and Mardock was also among the group.


    The archers stood on top of the wall, and there were archers positioned at the bottom of the wall.


    "Emberdons, get ready to shoot magics when they reach a range that you are confident they cannot evade! Aunt Martha, shoot some arrows as well! Archers, prepare to release your arrows! Knights, to your positions!" Kyros ordered.


    The Emberdon champions and Martha began to fire their attacks.


    Arrows and magical elements shot out, and the Champions began to evade. Any attack directed at the Commander was easily blocked, and he didn''t even bother evading.


    The armies moved with incredible speed as the seeping darkness raced forward. Soon,rge figures of Giants, ogres, and various beasts withrge frames became visible.


    The Steele knights and servants on top of the wall or who guarded the path held their breath as the creatures approached.


    "Rx knights. We may not have the wall, but we can throw our enemies on the abyss to our right. And remember, our lords are here!" Hunter called out.


    "Do not cower! These creatures are nothing to our lords! You have seen their power!" Gregory called out on the other side.


    "And we have the Temple! Those wounded can retreat there as nned. We now have walls and a fortress! We are at an advantage!" Scarlet added.


    As each party gave its encouraging speech to those nearby, the mages were worried. How can arrows damage the darkness?


    "How can arrows work against these creatures? Should I cast a spell to add mes on the tips?" Triona asked.


    "No need. Trust me. They''ll work. Just keep on harassing them and prepare for your attacks." Kyros smiled and set the Temple''s Arrow Supply Protocol.


    Suddenly, the arrows began to glow a strange light.


    "Arrows supply will aid our archers. And as for the knights, the Holy Beam that emits light is easily absorbed by your swords. You guys have to be careful as these creatures have a little physical form and cannot be attacked by punches and kicks! Everyone must get used to how to fight against this dark army!"


    The knights and archers nodded. They knew that the enemies might even use their shadowy forms to slip through each other, jump on each other and sacrifice each other.


    "Fire!" Kyros gave the order, and the archers released their arrows.


    The power of the Temple was activated. As the archers on the wallunched a volley of arrows, the Temple glowed a bright light, and the arrows that wereunched had the power of holy light.


    The arrows flew with incredible speed as the power of light covered it and attacked.


    Martha suddenly performed a powerful strafe, and the arrows she sent out suddenly were covered in great holy energy.


    The attacks that the Champions sent out were also fueled with Holy energy mixed in their element.


    "ARG!" A Champion blocked one of the lightning bolts but was forced back from the holy energy.


    "Evade!" The other champions cried as they evaded. The volley of arrows shot by the Steele servants looked dangerous as it created bright lights that covered the sky.


    The Commander frowned and evaded the attacks as he disdained the light energy. He flew higher, and as the Champions saw that a volley of arrows was approaching them, they flew higher with the Commander.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The light arrowsnded on the creeping darkness, and the two opposing elements shed, creating explosions. The creeping darkness looked as if it quivered in pain, and it stopped moving forward. Many of the shadows were struck and cried out in pain. Only the Captain levels were able to evade or block the arrows.


    "Oh? So they have the means to defend themselves. But such energy won''tst." The Commander observed as he flew higher.


    "It seems those Champions are awaiting us." A Champion pointed out.


    The Commander saw the domineering poses and how massive force energy was gathered around Mezal, Aron, Kyros, Martha, and the other Champions.


    "Indeed." The Commander stopped and waited. The appearance of arrows that could attack them made the Commander worry, so he waited for the forces to push ahead.


    The Steele family and the Emberdon Champions remained to do a formidable pose and prepared their attacks.


    Despite the attacks, the gap was still quickly crossed even when the light arrows destroyed the creeping darkness. As more arrows wereunched, the form of the Dragon Commander was now clearly shown. It had arger body frame, and its wings were just asrge.


    "What dragon is that?" Mezal asked.


    "A Drake. They are nearly as strong as Wyrms but not as fast as Wyverns. They haverge body frames with great wings. Unlike the Wyrm, these dragons can fly despite wielding immense power and strength. And that form that he has is even more powerful than Master Martha! That dragon has awakened more of its bloodline!" Puff''s expression grew sour.


    "So basically, a Commander with a Crown potential," Kyros exined.


    "How strong is that?" Mezal asked.


    "Grandfather should have a Strength and Vitality stat of around 200. At your current level, you are almost at the Cardinal level based on your base stat alone. With his dragonic bloodline, and assuming he''s at level 40, his current stats should be around 310. And that''s assuming he is the lowest among Crown Potential. He could easily reach 400 if he''s a Mid-ranking Crown Potential."


    "What...!" Demerus shivered.


    "I think we have to assume that we will find more of these guys inside. We have to grow stronger and raise our levels, which means killing those and absorbing their energy. Get ready. Draw the Champions attention." Kyros smiled.


    "What? You? How do you n to attack that?!"


    "You''ll see." Kyros smiled, and he then flew forward and brought out his sword. Bright energy appeared on the sword, and Kyros flew with great speed.


    "[Haste]!" Kyros activated as he rushed fast.


    "Oh? Is he rushing in? How reckless!" The Commander sneered, and his figure suddenly vanished.


    A sonic boom erupted as the Commander''s form dove down to fight.


    The speed shocked everyone, and even Mezal and Aron frowned.


    The Commander moved to the side and flew with great speed.


    "You underestimated my speed!" The Commanderughed.


    He punched out at Kyros but suddenly, the figure of Kyros turned to darkness.


    "Not really!" Kyrosughed as he appeared behind the Commander.


    Ever since his arrival, Kyros''s greatest strength was always his speed. His stats have been over 300 since the start, but his physical body was too weak to bear it. Even when he fought against the Shade the first time, it was this speed that allowed him to move in and out of the army of darkness.


    "[Force sh]!" The power of Force Wielder, which was the strongest discipline in harnessing force energy that even the Hignds desired appeared on its full power. Initially, only Crowns could create this form of attack, but Kyros had the Codes of Sword from Hyperion Steele himself! What hecked in power, he made up in the sharpness.


    SLASH!


    The sh struck the Commander''s thick arms, and the scales defended. Nevertheless, a small wound was made that surprised the Commander.


    The figure of the Commander vanished and moved in extreme speed, but Kyros moved as well.


    "Impossible! You''re not even a Captain!" The Commander raged.


    The two began to fight, and Kyros was showing a speed that overpowered the Commander!


    "Amazing! This is Lord Kyros''s true speed!" Reptilia was amazed. With such speed, he could have challenged the Lizard Commander Komodo Dragon!


    "Kyros''s speed was always his main power. But... Was he really this fast? His perception should already be at Commander level! But his body was just too weak to bear that speed!" Aron analyzed.


    The Blood Cmity watched in amazement as Kyros fought against the champion.


    "Was he really this fast? My illusions and my power must have been taxing him, hindering him from doing this speed! But now he is so... amazing." It was then that the Blood Cmity was horrified at her thoughts.


    Mechiel watched in amazement and was dreamily looking at the blurring figures.


    The dragon Commander fought and was growing angrier and angrier.


    "How can a whelp challenge me?!"


    "Welp.. I guess you''re just too slow!" Kyros chuckled.

 Chapter 253 - His Only Attack

    PUNCH!


    BITE!


    KICK!


    "Die!" The Commander howled as he tried to move faster and began to attack.


    But Kyros began to employ the powers of his cloak and even the chains, which aided in making his movements faster.


    Kyros rushed towards the Champions and used his chains on them.


    STAB!


    "Too weak..." Kyros sighed as he stabbed a Champion in the chest before fleeing back.


    The Champion managed to defend against the stab of Kyros even though Kyros used his Force energy.


    "I''ll need to consume my Ancient and Fallen Source to do some damage," Kyros concluded before retreating from the wild attacks of the Commander.


    "You coward!"


    "Why would I fight a Drake? I''m not stupid. Why not aim for your Champions instead? Your too slow to catch me anyway." Kyros asked.


    [Taunt activated.]


    "Arrrrgh! Kill him!" The Commander flew with immense speed.


    PUNCH!


    KICK!


    The attacks of the Commander could not reach Kyros. No matter how he tried to attack, Kyros was always a step ahead and retreated ordingly.


    The Champions revealed their Force energy to create a massive to stop Kyros, but then the attacks of the Emberdon Champions reached.


    KZZZT! BOOM!


    Mezal, Aron, and Martha also joined the fray to fight the group. While Martha could fly, Mezal and Aron stood at the front of the magic carpet piloted by Triona and Ressi.


    The Temple was left to the defenders. The Coven stood on the front as the armies of darkness reached the walls of the Temple.


    The appearance of Holy Ground revealed itself, and as Kyros predicted, the weapons of all knights had shown bright holy energy allowing them to attack the dark forms of these creatures.


    With the battle beginning, Kyros and the Commander continued to fight and race across the sky.


    PUNCH!


    BOOM!


    "So Balefire doesn''t work." Kyros sighed as he experimented on the attacks he had. But the attack of his sword, which harnessed Balefire, didn''t do much to the Commander.


    BITE!


    STAB!


    The Commander took a bite at Kyros, but his form had vanished with a clone remaining. Kyros appeared to the side and gave a mighty [Force Stab], but the attack did no damage.


    The Commander roared as Kyros took the time to give a disappointed expression at failed attack.


    [De-Spacito activated.]


    The tail whipped, the wings pped, and the Commander bit and punched at Kyros.


    BITE!


    FLAP! FLAP!


    SWISH!


    Kyros evaded the attacks and delivered a stab to the head as his sword grew bright.


    The dragonmander turned his head to evade.


    "Oh? You still can evade?" Kyros frowned.


    The dragon punched at Kyros.


    PUNCH!


    BANG!


    Finally, a punch connected, and the head of Kyros flew back.


    "A clone?" The dragonmander frowned and the dragon struck the remaining body of the strange dark being before him.


    SMASH!


    URINATE!


    "Damn, son!" Cminus was stunned at Kyros''s actions.


    The Commander was stunned to feel drips of water and was horrified as he gazed up.


    "That''s a Dark Golem Clone. I made it look like myself. Fooled you didn''t I?"


    The Commander instantly noticed that the falling fluid seemed to be traveling faster and then noticed that the battle around him was faster than usual. He gazed up in confusion, and finally, he realized what this water was.


    "Oh! I see. [De-Spacito] takes time to affect you. As expected of a dragon. But I guess I can''t make that attack now. Your Destiny Challenger ought to make you evade it." Kyros thenmunicated with Martha to change his ns. But he kept on unloading droplets at the Commander.


    "Oh my." Stellyaughed.


    "I''m embarrassed to call him my nephew and lord." Martha shook her head as she saw what Kyros did in the middle of a life-and-death battle.


    "I''m proud to call him grandson!" Mezalughed.


    "I think this should be a Steele family tradition." Aron nced at the Champions.


    The Champions grew angry and shouted as they saw the ambitious look of Aron.


    The Commander was confused. He heard everyone speak fast, and the battle moved faster. And even though he knew that Kyros marked his territory on him, the thought hadn''t somehow registered yet.


    "You got stuck with [De-Spacito] your arrogance into believing that no spells can prate through your resistant dragon body is your weakness. This is why things appear faster, and you be so slow in your thoughts that Team Rocket could harvest your tails. Too bad it''s about to end." Kyrosughed. He knew this would work as his special job ss stats that he managed to improve after absorbing and assimting everything to the Temple.


    ---


    Job:


    Continuum Time/Space Mage Level 2


    Wielding power and soul of Cminus, Kyros can harness aspects of True Time. Time magic prates through most magical defenses below God or Fallen level.


    ---


    De-Spacito was used on the Commander when Kyros stabbed him, and that allowed Kyros to retreat and make a swift clone switch after leaving a Golem crafted from his Dark Core and positioned himself at the top.


    The effects of De-Spacito faded, and the Commander exploded in rage.


    "You must be pissed. Oh right, you have been pissed." Kyrosughed as he kept his dragon after it spewed the insidious attack.


    [Taunt activated.]


    The Commander howled, and his entire body released a powerful force.


    Kyros retreated as the Force energy exploded like a bomb.


    BOOM!


    The entire battlefield was startled at the explosion.


    "Commander!" The Champions called out.


    The size of the Commander grewrger andrger, and he was transforming into a dragon.


    Instead of a tall, hulking creature, his body grewrger, and he grew until massive jaws formed.


    The Commander howled as he transformed.


    "Martha! Kill him!" Kyros panicked.


    [Deception activated.]


    Martha and the Champions panicked and began to shoot their attacks at the transforming dragon.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Martha shot several attacks, and the Embderdons also shot their magic.


    But all attacks could not prate the thick hide of the massive dragon.


    Its formnded from the air and howled angrily.


    It stood up and had arge form that towered over the walls.


    Kyros had already learned of the kinds of dragons through Cminus. He knew of the different kinds and the specialties.


    Puff was clearly a Wyrm. And by all ounts, he should be a flightless dragon. But Kyros had noticed how the Wyrm was using his power to forcibly add wings to his form.


    When arge, massive dragon has wings, they be the very form of the Commander. A Drake.


    The Warrior dragons to Puff''s original form, the Thane dragon, was a bnce between power and mobility. It had great wings but a smaller frame than the drake. But as warriors, their attacks were still strong.


    The Wyverns specialized in great mobility with their mighty wings, and they were the fastest among dragons. On the other hand, the Serpentine dragons were the dragons with the least vitality but were as mobile and fast as the Wyverns but had more power in their attacks.


    While the Commander was a Crown Potential, Kyros was confident that his Dexterity, added with haste, would be more than enough to escape the attack of the Crown, who would have a low average on his dexterity.


    Kyros had tested the extent of the vitality and hardness of the dragon and knew that only one of his attacks could break through the scale. The problem was that the drake was too fast for this attack of his. And so, Kyros taunted the drake to assume his strongest andrgest form.


    Martha didn''t just shoot regr arrows. She used the power of Kyriachos. And the quarter dragons magic resistance could not contend to this.


    [Gravity Field] and [Heavy Weight] were in the arrows that Martha shot out.


    The Dragonmander felt it and sensed great danger.


    "Perfect!" Kyros praised his family for fighting in a way that all the Champions were aligned.


    His only attack that could prate the dragon''srge, thick, and strong carapace was the Temple''s strongest attack.


    "[Holy Beam]!"


    The Temple grew bright, and a powerful beam shot out a terrifying st of Holy energy.


    "Argh!"


    "No!"


    The Champions were caught in the st as the Steele Family entrapped them through Foresight and Combat.


    The Beam struck the dragon on the chest, and the st pierced through.


    ROAR!


    The pained cry of the dragon echoed out.


    Beyond the portal, the other Commanders felt it.


    "What?! My husband died?!" A woman cried.


    "Our Master!" A swamp of darkness took the form of a strange hideous creature with arms and legs.


    "Go. It seems that Fate''s Champions are noughing matter. March your armies!" A handsome young man cloth in dark steel armor and long ears stood up.


    "Commanders! We are going for a full-on assault. Prepare your men!"


    "Yes, Master!"


    Back at the Temple, Kyros was lying down on the Temple.


    The bodies of the dying Champions were there, and the Coven was drinking their blood.


    "Lord Kyros." Martha gave Kyros his sword back. This sword had already stabbed on the champions and taken in some of their blood.


    "Aunt Martha." Kyros gave an exasperated answer but frowned at the title.


    "You''re still my lord, though. I''m already used to it. Besides, it doesn''t feel weird since you are stronger than me." Martha smiled.


    "You were just amazing, Lord Kyros!" Scarlet smiled and continued to nurse Kyors. She was the first to rush to Kyros among everyone.


    "Lord Kyros. Why is it that even Temple can''t heal your fatigue?" Scarlet asked with worry.


    "My brain can''t handle the stress of me using the full power. My body nearly broke in that battle, and while it was healed, the mental weight is just... too much. Hopefully, absorbing the dragon will help me grow stronger that I can keep that speed longer. I can''t even think straight now!" Kyros cursed as his thoughts were wildly erupting.


    "Master Kyros! That was amazing!" Mechiel broke through the great wall that is Scalet.


    Scarlet''s eyes grew dark as she saw Mechiel approach.


    "Thanks, Mechiel. I''m d you''re alright! The Temple seemed to have healed you, but that unaging curse you have is a bother. I know! Drink some of my blood. I can''t add you to my Coven as the slots are full. Normal vampires shouldn''t be able to use my blood, but you have the Blood Cmity in you. I''m sure she can do something about it."


    And then there was silence.


    Martha was horrified.


    Scarlet was shocked.


    Hunter froze on the side.


    It was only then that Kyros realized what he said.


    "I have what?" Mechiel was confused.


    "....Drats."

 Chapter 254 - Hat Of Separation

    Almost everyone who knew of Mechiel''s identity felt as if they were punched or kicked in the stomach.


    Kyros felt his mind clear as he did and said something stupid.


    "Why did you do that?!" Martha nearly cursed.


    "Should we just kill her?" Scarlet asked.


    SMACK!


    Avary and Gregory smacked Scarlet on the head together.


    Mechiel was confused.


    "What''s going on?" Mechiel asked.


    "I guess the cat''s out of the bag." Kyros sighed.


    "That was some crazy fighting you did back there! The Temple looks like it''s nearly drained, though." Aron arrived with therge head of the dragon. The Commander''s body was still twitching as it was clinging to thest of its life."


    "You gave Puff a huge chunk?" Kyros asked.


    "Already did. He''s eating it in that other realm. Your grandfather is also in charge of defending against the attack. The old man is fighting crazily out there. The two Champions of yours are fighting with Grugnyr. And now, that old man is teaching them how to awaken Fate Challenger. But I was amazed! That Gojirrah got so strong! Being your Coven looks very tempting. Hey, are you alright? You still look like you''re sick."


    "Yeah... I''m physically ok. But we stumbled into a little bit of a problem."


    "You call this a little problem? We''ve been hiding that fact from her! Are we going to kill her now as Scarlet suggested? Aron! Listen to what your nephew did."


    "Shouldn''t you call me hubby or something?" Aron asked.


    "Oh... I um..."


    "Oh, get a room, you two!" Kyros shouted.


    "You! Quiet! Aro- I mean... Hubby... Oh...!" Martha blushed.


    "I spilled the beans and revealed to Mechiel that she is the Blood Cmity." Kyros revealed as he was too annoyed at Martha''s reactions.


    "Oh! Nice. But why did Fate do that?" Aron asked.


    "Fate didn''t do that! Kyros- Wait... did Fate?" Martha felt it too.


    "What the?" Hunter felt it.


    "It''s Fate''s will?"


    "Why do I feel like Fate... is having fun?" Scarlet frowned.


    "Son of a Fallen... Fate did do that!" Kyros realized it.


    "Erm... May I ask what''s going on?"


    "You have a demon in you," Scarlet exined.


    "And not just any demon, a Subus! A mighty, blood-thirsty, evil-"


    "Let me handle it, Scarlet. Blood Cmity. Come out." Kyros ordered as he made a small cut on his finger and stuck it into Mechiel''s mouth.


    "How daring." Aron shook his head.


    "You guys should get a room." Martha rolled her eyes.


    Scarlet''s eyes grew red in anger, jealousy, and desire.


    Avary and Gregory quickly pulled her back.


    "Drink." Kyros told Mechiel as he gave her a gentle smile.


    Mechiel blushed and began to drink the blood.


    "I wish to talk to the soul that''s within you. She hid inside you sometime before you met my mother. Tell her, if she doesn''t I will purge her soul out and eat it." Kyros smiled.


    "You have quite a tasty blood." The tone and expression of Mechiel changed. Her face became very stunning. Every man around them suddenly felt the power of great seduction.


    "Move. Don''t get caught up in her power." Martha called to those nearby as she created dark magic that sealed around them.


    Scarlet rushed back in. Martha allowed her to join them inside.


    The four of them stood within the dark magic that covered them.


    "What a powerful magic!" The Blood Cmityughed as she looked around.


    "You want it? I can give it to you if you join us." Kyros offered.


    "Join you? As I thought, you can''t kill me." The Blood Cmity sneered.


    "I think I can, but I''d rather that your soul stays in her. There is something peculiar about Mechiel''s Fate that demands herself to be stronger." Kyros exined.


    "Fool. Have you gotten confident after winning a little skirmish with me? I am but the least of Destiny''s servants. And even this army you face isn''t even worthparing to our true forces!"


    "I can tell a lie when I hear it. You people of Destiny are weird. I already killed another, but you should be a different case. You don''t know much about Fate and Destiny''s sh, do you? If you did, you would know that Mechiel is the most dangerous person to link your soul to." Kyros chuckled.


    "What do you mean?" Martha asked.


    "Scarlet." Kyros called out.


    "I''m not that thick, and I know what you have been... feeling towards me. But I''m sorry. I don''t think I can reciprocate your feelings towards me." Kyros gave Scarlet an apologetic look.


    Scarlet was stunned.


    "You should have guessed by now that I am the one sealed in this Temple. I am the Nephilim. I won''t hide this from you as it''s better for me toy it out now. I can''t exin exactly how, but in a past life, this Mechiel and I are... Let''s just say we are meant to be together." Kyros exined firmly.


    Scarlet felt as if swords were stabbing through her heart.


    "I''m sorry."


    "I... understand, Lord Kyros." Scarlet did her best to stop her tears from falling.


    "Scarlet. Please wait outside." Martha smiled.


    Scarlet nodded and walked as she kept on trembling. Then, the dark walls of the barrier opened, and Scarlet rushed out.


    "You were a little too harsh on her, Kyros. But, with your words, you should remember that while you may be some old god or whatever, Scarlet is but a little girl. And she found her dream in you."


    "I know, Aunt. But I also know that love is harsh. It demands exclusivity. It demands determination. I cannot love Mechiel if I don''t take a stand on my love for her. Loving someone doesn''t always end with a happy ending for everyone. Those who are not loved will be hurt. But what can I do? I must stay true to my own heart. Besides, Scarlet is just attracted to me. She doesn''t know what real love is." Kyros smiled. He turned back to Mechiel and remembered the love that Mechiel gave to him, even going as far as sacrificing the mysterious positions and power she had back then.


    "Mechiel." Kyros turned back to Mechiel.


    "I lost you once. I won''t lose you again. Even if that Blood Cmity is in you, I will make sure that this time, we can be together." Kyros vowed.


    Mechiel''s expression turned back to the kind and simple girl. She blushed. But then her expression changed.


    "Is it her that you want? Or me?" The Blood Cmity harnessed her power.


    But immediately, Martha acted and did what Kyros told her through the [Dark Link] of the Coven.


    The power of Separation appeared on Martha''s hand, and she ced it over Kyros.


    "Wha-what?! That''s...!" Mechiel felt great fear as Martha revealed the true source of Darkness.


    Kyros stood there, unaffected by the Blood Cmity''s Charm.


    "Useless." Kyros smiled as he reached out towards Martha''s hand and harnessed the power of Separation.


    With Dark Artificer, Kyros bent the darkness and created a strange dark top hat and wore it on. His form also transformed as his Cloak of Darkness created a dark suit that matched perfectly with the hat.


    "What an amazing artifact!" Martha was amazed at how the Cloak of Darkness reshaped itself to a stunning attire for Kyros.


    Kyros stood like a young noble of Earls. Only High-born of such ranks were allowed to be this prestigious.


    "Well, I am an Earl''s son. We should start wearing clothes that match our rank." Kyrosughed.


    "That... hat!"


    "I know that my weakness is mind and soul attacks. This is the Hat of Separation. I don''t have perfect control over the Separated Realm, but now that Aunt Martha ignited it, I can keep my Dark Core to power it up. And this Hat acts as separating power that can protect me from your charms." Kyros smiled.


    The Blood Cmity''s gaze turned cold as she realized she was helpless before Kyros.


    "So, did you call me out to get more information? I won''t say anything."


    "Of course you won''t. And whatever information you know is probably useless to me since I doubt you know much."


    "How can you be so sure?" Martha asked Kyros.


    "She merged her soul to Mechiel, who is someone like us."


    "Someone like us?"


    "Fate''s Champions. Mechiel is one of Fate''s Champions. Do you understand, Aunt Martha? This could be one of the reasons why Fate made me act the fool and spill the beans."


    Mechiel''s expression turned sour. The Blood Cmity felt fear. She did not know that Mechiel was Fate''s Champion.


    "Can''t she just kill herself or something? I''ve always assumed that the soul in her is like half of her soul."


    "It is. Right now, the Blood Cmity is too weak, and she can''t even kill herself. She is able to take over Mechiel''s body because of my blood. But without it, she can''t even control Mechiel apart from influencing Mechiel''s emotions. And we are at an advantage because we have a portion of the Blood Cmity''s soul. This weakened soul is linked to the Blood Cmity. Whatever this soul will experience, the other will go through. And right now, she linked herself to Mechiel, who should have a bloodline that is far more shocking than we assume to be. Have not my family, including you, be involved with Ancient Gods? I''m sure, Mechiel has secrets that even she isn''t aware of!"


    "Wait. You mean to say... Fate led the Blood Cmity to Mechiel?"


    "Yes. It''s not Destiny working to send a spy. Destiny got dupped. Right now, we have an advantage. But, once Mechiel''s true powers awaken, we might have control over the Blood Cmity!" Kyros revealed.


    "So we keep her with us..."


    "Yes. We make the real Mechiel grow. The Blood Cmity''s true power is in her soul. With my help, we can make that soul stronger."


    "Won''t the Blood Cmity fall in love with you then? If Mechiel is destined to be yours, won''t she fall for you, and won''t that affect the Blood Cmity?"


    "Yeah. That''s part of the whole, get-the-Blood-Cmity-to-betray-Destiny n."


    "Toying with a subus heart... What irony." Martha pondered.


    "Alright. Now it''s time to get the Blood Cmity''s heart pounding." Kyros dered.


    "What?"


    "Cminus, what was that position again?" Kyros asked mentally.


    "Alright. Move closer to her with the force and approach that will force Mechiel to retreat and get her back against the dark wall." Cminus instructed.


    Kyros suddenly moved forward.


    "Wha-What are you doing?" The Blood Cmity cried as Mechiel retreated and reached the end. Her back was against the wall.


    Kyros leaned closer and mmed his two hands at the right and left side of Mechiel, trapping him.


    [Charmed Fallen activated.]


    "That''s... Kabe-don! The ssic shojo scene! How ruthless of Kyros to use that!" Martha was amazed.


    "Ya-Yamete!" Cminus mimicked the embarrassed cry of a trapped girl.


    "Quiet! I need to concentrate! And look how you have corrupted Aunt Martha! That needs to stop!" Kyros cursed at Cminus.


    Mechiel''s heart was racing.


    "Mechiel, I''m sorry if I look arrogant and daring, but I need you to fall in love with me. So please excuse my actions." Kyros apologized as he stared deep into Mechiel''s eyes and leaned closer.


    In a distant, far awaynd, beyond the Airom, the Blood Cmity''s heart was racing too.


    "What....? What''s happening to my other soul?" She cursed.

 Chapter 255 - Myster Experience System

    SLAP!


    A resounding sound could be heard from the outside of the dark wall.


    Kyros was pped so hard that he crashed on the dark wall.


    "Hmph! What arrogance!" Martha frowned as her hand was pulled back from a portal.


    "What gives?!" Kyros roared.


    "What do you think you are doing to Mechiel?" Martha asked.


    "I just exined what I was doing! I was trying to make the Blood Cmity like me!"


    "In front of Mechiel? Isn''t she the love of your life? Then why flirt with the Blood Cmity?" Martha challenged.


    Kyros opened his mouth, but he couldn''t find an answer to Martha''s challenge despite his superb wisdom. She was still right. It just seemed wrong, and Kyros felt guilty.


    "See? Even with your superb wisdom, you couldn''t answer that!"


    "Why is Fate leading her to us?" Kyros frowned.


    "If we think about that, we might not get the answer. Fate''s a woman, right? What if she''s just having fun and giving that Blood Cmity the worst kind of punishment by making her fall in love with you? Aside from the whole spying thing, she is making you do that to torture her? But regardless, you should stop. Earlier, you weren''t trying to kiss Mechiel, but the Blood Cmity!" Martha pointed.


    Mechiel was still pressed on the wall, and her heart was racing.


    "I wasn''t going to kiss the Blood Cmity! It was timed! Look! The Blood Cmity doesn''t have the strength to appear since she isn''t feeding on me! Sheesh! Just because I took away some of the rules of your vow doesn''t give you much of a right to p me like that! And you even used space magic!" Kyros cursed.


    The p came out of nowhere. Kyros was focused and was enjoying the eyes of Mechiel. That eye was such a delight to him. When they were forced to journey with each other, he took pleasure in looking at those eyes and enjoyed himself in the experience.


    But then, the p of Martha appeared as a portal was created a millimeter barely away from Kyros''s skin, and Martha sent her arm in the portal to p Kyros.


    "Excuses! You are still a kid! In no way am I going to allow you to corrupt a maiden''s heart! You are ten years old!"


    "I already told you about my past life! It''s pretty obvious that I am older than my age!"


    "Then that even makes it criminal! I wonder how high you would rate on the pedometer?"


    "I''m pretty sure that''s not what a pedometer is used to measure."


    "Shut up, pedo!"


    "Oof. A burn heal won''t work on that burn. Should I get you a Full Restore?" Cminus asked.


    "I already told you that she''s destined for me! Kyros exined.


    "Yes! But she hasn''t shown any signs to remember whatever crazy past life you guys lived in! So right now, she''s ten!"


    "She isn''t ten! She''s a dhampir who was given an unaging curse by a kind vampire. She''s been ten for like... seven years now!"


    "Really?" Martha was stunned and turned to Mechiel.


    Mechiel still had a flushed expression.


    "You''re seventeen years old?" Martha asked.


    "Ye-Yes, Lady Martha! I have a sickness, and the vampire that helped my father gave me a magical unaging curse to stop the growth of my body. But I am indeed older."


    "So that''s why you''re so mature." Martha noticed the strange things she noticed about the girl.


    "See?"


    "What see? Your so smart but, you can''t figure out that she''s seventeen! Still a minor! I can''t believe I serve a Pedo lord!"


    "Oof. Not even Max Revive can heal you from that burn..." Cminusughed.


    Kyros was cursing out.


    "In any case... Take it slow. You, youngsters, need to have a romantic journey. Stop using Charm! Hey, Mechiel. He''s using Charm on you, which is the same power of the Blood Cmity. Don''t fall for it! If you find yourself thinking of him, stop it. I know!" Martha then tapped on Mechiel''s head as the power of Separation appeared.


    "How do you feel? Is your heart still racing?" Martha asked.


    "N-no." Mechiel shook her head.


    "Hmm... Be more honest, alright."


    "N-no! Really!" Mechiel insisted.


    "Alright. I believe you. If ever you have problems with your emotions,e to me, and I''ll take it all away. Love should blossom without any spells. Otherwise, it would be fake." Martha red at Kyros.


    "... You''re right. I''m sorry. I got a little... distracted and excited. I should let this happen naturally." Kyros sighed. Kyros realized that he was being a bit too hasty and even abused his power.


    "A little horny is what you got, you Pedophile in a shotacon''s body!"


    "What the-even- what?!"


    "You heard me! Let''s go! We have a war to fight.


    The darkness that covered Kyros, Martha, and Mechiel opened up.


    Kyros had a great red hand-shaped imprint on his face.


    The Coven was shocked. It was impossible for Kyros to get pped so easily!


    "Lady Martha sure is amazing..."


    Kyros was grumbling but said nothing.


    "Is grandfather done? We have to go now." Kyros spoke.


    "He''s ready anytime. They are just pushing the enemies enough for the others to get acquainted with in battle." Aron answered.


    Kyros could see that the forces of darkness kept attacking, and the knights constantly battled.


    "Dad and mom should awaken soon. They''ll defend the Temple, and it will be up to them if they will push forward or stay to defend. But the rest of us will go." Kyros ordered. He willed it, and the bodies of the Champions and the Commander were absorbed by the Temple.


    The of the Temple had turned dim after using Holy Beam. But now, it increased.


    Kyros was still rubbing his face as he observed the several notifications that he got when the Temple absorbed the Commander and his Champions.


    ---


    Commander-level Champion of Destiny absorbed.


    Grave Digger protocol acquired.


    Myster Experience System acquired.


    ---


    Nephilim Sealing Temple


    Status: War with Darkness


    Nephilim Darkness Crusade has started.


    Shade Level: 4 (1:03:23:43 remaining to start Level 5)


    Temple Level: 5 (19843/100000 points to Level 6)


    Three more Commanders are required to level up.


    ----


    "Nephilim Darkness Crusade... It seems that the shade Tribtion is pitting me against some of Destiny''s armies. And I need to kill three more Commanders for the Temple to level up?" Kyros frowned.. Thest line wasn''t there when he first read through the notifications. But now, they needed to actually kill Commanders and not just umte points from the death of every shadow creature.


    "I grew stronger again!" Mezalughed. The power of the Dragon Commander was so strong that it allowed everyone to receive a level increase.


    Martha was silent as she observed her body. She could tell that the dragonic form she had had also gotten stronger.


    This time the Emberdon''s were also amazed as they all received a level increase.


    "Coven, please keep defending this ce. Go and take your positions. Mardock, I trust that you have grown stronger as well?"


    "The Entropy Core of that Giant has greatly strengthened me. I should be able to disy a strength of Iron Golems." Mardock reported.


    "Await the awakening of my parents."


    "What happened to them, anyway?" Mezal asked.


    "They might be seeing a vision, and by the looks of the faint power emerging from them, they could be seeing who they are. Actually, counting Fate''s weird prank on me, there are too many things that we can''t figure out how. But we have to go. It''s starting." Kyros nced towards the portal.


    More of the army recklessly attacked.


    "Let''s cut off that creeping fire first. Champions, family! Prepare to charge." Kyros''s wings spread out, and he flew to the skies.


    Mezal and Aron hoped on the magic carpet, which now had Faye piloting it.


    Three others flew on their respective flying devices and were bidding their goodbyes and leaving instructions to Stellya, who would remain.


    Arge lizard creature appeared out of the Void. It now hadrge wings and a thin body.


    "A Wyvern? You can assume that form now? I thought that that Commander was a Drake?" Kyros asked.


    "This is... a poor imitation to the cells of other wyverns I''ve devoured in the past, Lord Kyros. This can only imitate a third of the true speed a real Wyvern of this level can reveal."


    Martha sat behind it.


    "Can''t you take a bigger form? I want my husband would be able to ride with me." Martha asked. While Puff''s form wasrger, it still only could fit one.


    "I... would need to devour something again." Puff sighed.


    "I think we have to charge ahead and open the path and help the knights and servants retrieve the corpses. Many of that corpse that we failed to bring to the Temple have dispersed." Mezal added. He had fought and defended in the gap and gave his suggestion.


    "I don''t think they need to retrieve it. Absorbing the Commander unlocked two skills of the Temple." Kyros smiled as he read the description of the two acquired skills.


    "Didn''t you try to forcibly code that into the Temple a while back?" Cminus asked.


    "Yeah. I guess I can only abuse the Temple ording to certain limits. But I''m d those two protocols were granted. Myster Experience System is quite amazing..." Kyros smiled as he read the description.


    ---


    Myster Experience System


    Harnessing the powers of Mysterion, all acknowledged allies of the Nephilim is bestowed with the ability to gain experience and grow stronger as they kill the forces of Destiny.

 Chapter 256 - Crab Commander

    The two abilities of the Temple would significantly improve their survival in this battle.


    Kyros was adamant about trying it out!


    "Everyone! We will be charging ahead! I''ll use a weaker version of the attack I did earlier to make a gap. In the enemies charge. Knights, Servants. Use that time to reorganize your arrangement. Await my father and mother''s awakening, and they will lead your team. Destiny has determined that we should die. But we are all Challengers! Fate Challengers! Arise and challenge the destiny that we are supposed to face! We will survive this tribtion and be stronger!" Kyros ordered.


    "Yes!" Everyone roared.


    Seeing the high morale of the group, Kyros called out to his offensive team.


    "Let''s go!" Kyros flew ahead.


    The team followed as well.


    [Time Haste] was activated, and Kyros zoomed with great speed into the deepyers of the battle.


    The uncontrolled shadow army only had the desire to attack and kill. And as Kyros''s flight was low, many of the soldiers in that army made their attacks.


    Kyros flew deeper into the army of darkness and was evading the attacks that the archers and mages did. After reaching a certain distance, Kyros activated [Skotos Eis Phos].


    FLASH!


    The light exploded out. It wasn''t as thick as the attacks before, as Kyros was now able to estimate and attack the shadows that would not disintegrate their body.


    The howls of pain could be heard as the sh disappeared.


    Kyros felt a strange power source rushing in him. Nearly half of what he lost in terms of magic energy was recovered from that attack.


    "Oh? And here I thought it was able to heal mepletely." Kyros frowned.


    But then...


    "What? This power?" Aron felt it. It was small, but it allowed him to feel a simr sensation when the Temple would absorb and disperse a in foe''s life and death essence.


    "Oh? So it''s a group thing? Then this should work!" Kyros smiled.


    Suddenly, the Temple absorbed the dispersing shadows as the souls and shadow energy was being sucked back to the Temple.


    The knights were stunned at what they saw. The Temple immediately began to absorb the energy, and the Temple''s light was faintly growing brighter.


    "Amazing! That''s the skill of the Temple?! Now we don''t have to carry the corpses inside manually!" Mezal was amazed.


    "It only works in this ce where the Temple is. It was locked, and Fate only enabled it when we fought and killed a Commander. When we go beyond the portal, I doubt our kills will be immediately sent to the Temple. I''d have to rely on my Nephilim Storage Space. I also set the Temple to absorb the life of these shadows. A great percentage of the absorbed will be used to fuel the Holy powers of the Temple and will be slowly increasing the experience of everyone. The Temple will bnce the levels first."


    "Good. I approve of that arrangement. That way, everyone will grow stronger together and have an equal level. We can then identify if there are any notable fighters among them. What''s the second skill?" Mezal asked.


    "What was that strange power? I felt a small amount of my magic restored?" Demerus asked.


    "Let''s go and kill. You''ll find out. All of you." Kyros smiled as he dove immediately to the armies and began to fight.


    sh! sh!


    The simple attacks of Kyros that were pushing through the ranks of shadow creatures and began to sh and kill everyone as he zoomed by.


    But as Kyros killed, he could tell that the group couldn''t sense it as the energy he was absorbing felt greater.


    "Follow me!"


    Kyros used his sword, and the Balefire energy was able to cut through most of the shadow force. Once it was sliced through, the power of the Blood Sword began to quickly drain the energy of the shadows. With True Cut aiding a bit of it, the sword easily cut through.


    Seeing Kyros''s fast movements, the rest followed.


    The expense of Force and Magic was great, but Kyros intentionally did that for him to push through quickly and kill so that everyone could sense it.


    "I feel something strange..."


    "Everyone! Start killing as we push ahead! It''s ok if you go a little wild." Kyros instructed.


    The Champions didn''t use ranged magic but used their scepters to attack as it was able to emit an elemental attack with very little magic fueling it.


    SMASH! SLASH! FWIP!


    Everyone began to charge through the armies and fought as they flew aster. The group was killing whoever they could as they moved.


    And then, strange energy was fueling them.


    "What?! My magic? It''s recovering!" Demerus noticed it first.


    "Not just Magic, Force as well!" Aronughed.


    "It''s not only those two. The Myster Experience System... The Temple has bestowed on us to receive a very small amount of life and death energy. In short, although it''s slowerpared to offering it to the Temple, we can level up as we kill!" Kyrosughed.


    The name itself hinted that the Temple was finally harnessing the real power of Kyros. Mysterion was hidden in Myster, but since Kyros was someone who could turn Darkness to Light, it meant he was able to feel the power and life of the Dark Dependent and those who cultivate Light energy.


    "What?!" The Champions were startled at the deration.


    Immediately, they began to kill as fast as they could.


    "Hey! Focus! We are not supposed to wipe out this army! Save your strength! The gains are too slow! You guys have to be economical! We need to find that bnce where we all are fighting and advancing and that the expense is never above our gains! Think like Asians in an all-you-can-eat buffet! Our gains have to be more than the cost!" Kyros cursed as everyone began to fight wildly.


    The group continued to attack the armies. The Emberdon Champions revealed their skill in fighting at close-ranged asbat and were easily plowing through the army.


    The Champions and the Steele family would have been wasting stamina and energy as they pushed through the endless horde, but with the sharing effect of their power, the group was able to fight fast and cut through.


    The surviving shadows all raced towards the Temple in their wild state. But with a weakened, and disorganized rank, it was easy for the knights to fight.


    Mechiel continued to recount all that they had seen to Branze.


    "And it''s been an hour since they left?" Branze asked.


    "Yes." Mechiel nodded.


    "Still. It was quite careless of my son to spill the beans. But I guess there is more romance to him winning you if you could potentially be a backstabbing enemy. No offense."


    "Erm... Right." Mechiel nodded.


    Branze then moved to the front lines.


    "Everyone. Organize yourself! We will be preparing to charge through!" Branze suddenly ordered.


    "What?" The Coven was surprised at Branze''s deration.


    "But... Lord Branze. Lord Kyros told us to defend."


    "That''s not the case. Kyros left so that you all could grow. Hunter, have there been more people who have awakened our Fate Challenger?" Branze asked.


    Hunter was infighting in his position.


    "Yes! Gojirrah and Reptilia also awakened it."


    "Good. Kyros left us here so we could all level up. As proof of it, all the Champions and Commanders they sent here has been absorbed immediately, correct?"


    "Yes! That''s right!" Scarlet answered. She had noticed it for some time.


    "I understand now!" Diana finally realized.


    "That''s right. The purpose of our molding was to make us an offensive army that could push through these hordes. Therefore, from here on out, we will be forcing an offensive attack!" Branze issued a decree and began to take charge of the battle.


    Going back to the time when Kyros and his team finally emerged out of the portal...


    The moment they did, Kyros felt a powerful threat.


    "Defend!" Kyros shouted, and immediately, Kyros activated [Skotos Eis Phos].


    BOOM!


    A massive, rocky w smashed down on them.


    The strike was so fast, and only Kyros and Puff were able to act on time to defend and rose to attack the w that was falling on them.


    Despite thest-minute defenses of everyone, the massive attack still pushed down.


    Mezal coughed up blood as he dove forward to protect the Emberdons. But even his defenses failed, and the Wall he created was destroyed.


    The Emeberdons took the quick gap before Mezal''s wall fell and pulled Mezal out of the massive w until the massive w crashed down.


    SLASH!


    Only one person could move and pulled Martha out of harm''s way when the attack fell. He made a powerful sh as he knew another attack from the w would follow.


    The sh cut through but didn''t make a deep wound as it barely prated the shell of the w.


    "Kyros!" Martha cried in worry.


    "He''s ok. That''s one good dragon." Aron answered.


    Under the massive w was Puff, who did its best to bear the weight of the attack.


    Kyros was under him, but he had blood leaking out of his body.


    "Die." The loud and deep voice of the massive enemy echoed.


    BOOM!


    A Force Energy exploded out.


    After the explosion, the massive w took therge archway where the portal was. With great force, the w pulled the portal and threw it at the back.


    "What a genius." Kyros appeared. Before the boom, Martha opened the portal, and the Kyros and the dragon moved in to escape.


    The portal crashed in a far-off distance.


    The attack killed a lot of shadow creatures. But when the attack came, all of the shadow creatures retreated.


    The massive w suddenly shrunk, and soon, the figure of a tall man who stood like a human but had torge crab-like ws as hand stood up. His face was like a man, but his skin looked like the shell of a crab.


    "Greetings, Fate Champions. With your attack, I know that you can recover and heal by killing my shadows. A vampire, I presume?" The Crab Commander nced at Martha.


    "Regardless, it would be unwise to fight you with my Champions. So my Champions will go ahead and push through the Temple. After that, I will fight all of you, alone." The Crab Commanderughed.


    "Kyros..." Mezal frowned.


    "I know. This Commander is a powerful warrior. I can''t gauge it. But he''s a strong champion that has our Fate Challenger!"


    Imend the Sword Expert for that attack. I sense that you have the Path of Combat that is even above mine. You will be a delicious morsel for me.." The Crab Commander nced at Aron.

 Chapter 257 - He Who Plans Ahead Wins

    The tall creature had shrunken his form, yet the threat and danger of this being presented were still terrifying for the group. The creature was not only disgustingly strong, but it was also wise and did not dare underestimate them.


    The previous form of this man was a huge crab. It was as big as the Drake dragon that they just fought and killed. But unlike that dragon whom they never truly fought with all of their strength, this one performed an impressive ambush that even Kyros was unable to counter.


    The attack of the Crab Commander was timed in such a matter that it would have killed them as they exited the portal.


    "Is it Foresight?" Kyros wondered.


    Such an attack required amazing Foresight and Combat to know when to make the attack. And when he failed to kill everyone, he immediately took the massive doorway and tossed it afar.


    The armies had them surrounded from afar. But the armies were notprised of human shadows, orcs, and other of the previous races that attacked them. Instead, this army had massive and tall creatures. Every beast that surrounded Kyros and his team was over three meters tall.


    Some were shadows, while others were actual living beings.


    The world where they now stood was no longer like the one before.


    The ground of this new world was dark¡ªalmost pitch ck. The rocks and even the trees had different shades of this darkness.


    "This world... A Dark Dependent world!" Kyros realized recalling Cminus''s lessons.


    Above the sky, several moons and other massive cosmic structures glowed with borrowed light from another source.


    But around the team was a powerful Magic Dome that covered them.


    Kyros watched and was rather impressed at the detailed ns of the enemy.


    "Sometimes, I forget that Destiny really wants to kill us." Kyros chuckled.


    "That w was so hard. My sh didn''t even leave any notable damage." Aron frowned.


    "He tossed away the portal so that we couldn''t escape. That force explosion he created was to prevent us from moving in. If we died, it was just a plus. This guy us quite cunning for a crab." Kyros praised.


    "He who ns ahead, wins." The Crabmanderughed.


    "As you can see, I prepared all this before you. I initiated an attack to test your full might and defenses and a formation that is against you. And that attack was also made to pull away from your retreat path, which is the portal. Champion Mages! You saw that power that caused that man and the dragon to teleport. There is a Space Mage among them! Create an elemental distortion to lock everyone here! I don''t want them to teleport out of this ce, do we?" The Crab Commander ordered.


    Almost immediately, a strange spatial reinforcing urred.


    "How cruel. You sure are different from that Dragon. We never even got his name." Kyros smiled.


    "Hmph! Perhaps it is a little unfair that my ns outmatch yours. I''ll give you time to prep your team, Nephilim. You-"


    "Thank you. Everyone! This battle won''t be like the previous one where we managed to defeat the enemy through tricks and lies. We fight now, and we fight with all that we got. But be careful guys, he has an army of giant creatures beside him, and they can join this battle anytime. The mages that hemands create this massive barrier to trap us inside. This is to prevent us from flying and fleeing. We have to fight fast as the doorway is still functioning and is bringing in theserger monstrosities to the other side. Worst of all, this beast has somehow guessed that we would have the ability to grow stronger by devouring and by feeding. And as you can see, he sealed off our teleportation ability." Kyros began to speak with such speed and gave borate exnations.


    [Taunt activated.]


    [Deception activated.]


    "..." The Crab Commander red at Kyros.


    "Anything else?" The Crab Commander asked impatiently.


    "What?! They followed us? Those idiots!" Kyros shouted in shock as he looked towards the portal.


    The many Champions and Captains outside of the Force field all turned towards the direction that Kyros suddenly shouted at, but the Crab Commander had a very disappointed look.


    [Deception failed.]


    "You tried... to make me look using lies? Do I look stupid?"


    "You kind of do, to be honest."


    "Nephilim. Show me your power." The Crab Commander began to walk slowly towards Kyros.


    "Let''s take it easy and let me test if my speed alone can be matched.


    "Everyone! He''s lying! Remember the speed of his previous attack? That''s his full speed. He intended to kill us in that blow."


    "How perceptive." The Crabughed as heunched to attack.


    "Attack!" Kyros ordered.


    SLASH!


    FWIP! FWIP!


    A sword sh and several arrows attacked immediately. The Champions also shot several rounds of their attacks.


    "How pathetic. My Force wall alone will be enough."


    BOOM!


    An eruption of force energy exploded out and blocked all the attacks.


    But as that happened, Aron harnessed an even stronger attack.


    "[Force sh]!" Aron used the strongest skill he had in his arsenal.


    The powerful cut shed out and had the power even to cut the explosion itself.


    "Oh?" The Crab Commander was impressed and raised his two w hands to defend against the sh.


    SLASH!


    The attack didn''t cut through as strong force energy enveloped his ws.


    [Force Shield]!" The Commander summoned the attack.


    The sh cut through the force shield but did no damage to the shell-like arms of the Commander.


    "What?!" Aron cursed as he saw his strongest attack getting blocked. And the Commander didn''t even look like the attack actuallynded.


    But as the explosion and the force were being cut, Kyros had used Dark Shroud to cloak his form and activated Pronto and Time Haste. With the speed that could match Commanders, Kyros dove faster, and he tailed the [Force sh] attack his uncles sent out.


    "[Force Pierce]!" Kyros rushed forward and used the power of his newly improved sword to harness Balefire. Unfortunately, the cut of Aron had opened a small gap that had none of the Commander''s Force energy, and Kyros dove in to attack that area and stabbed out.


    With the path opened, Kyros''s stab reached the craggy arm of the Commander.


    TING!


    A loud sound that was like metal hitting metal echoed as the Commander took a step back from Kyros''s attack and was standing on the edge of the wall.


    Kyros frowned as he sensed that the [De-Spacito] did not connect with the enemy.


    "Impressive. But that strange magic that tried to curse me won''t reach. This shell of mine is just a shell. It''s not my real body!" The Commander revealed, and after mocking Kyros, the Crab Commander channeled massive Force Energy to explode out once more.


    Mezal had reached just in time.


    "[Knight''s Charge]!" Mezal charged with his shield, and as the impact of the charge struck, a Force Wall also followed to fill the gap.


    The Commander tried to create a Force Energy that would push back, but the Force Wall of Mezal was unmovable for some reason.


    Mezal and Kyros acted together and stabbed their sword to the ground.


    "[Grand Cross]!" The two shouted.


    BOOM!


    The power of Holy was channeled on a certain point, and the two attacks created a Holy pir that exploded outwards. It was a more concentrated attack as it was aimed only at one locationpared to the usual [Grand Cross] that made the Holy energy burst out wildly.


    "Impressive variation. But this is how you make a focused attack.


    The Crab Commander punched out, and the Force Energy took the form of arge w.


    The attack also contained magic energy, and a water w rushed out.


    Martha had already reached and pulled Kyros and Mezal and was flying back in her dragon form.


    The Emberdon Champions also shot out a series of explosive attacks.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    But the attack pushed through with such speed.


    "[Force Wall]!" Mezal activated his barrier as the attack was racing for Kyros.


    BANG!


    The w broke through the wall.


    "[Dark Shield]!" Kyros shouted and created a wall of darkness that formed right in front of Kyros right before the force explosion exploded out.


    SMASH!


    The w arm pushed right through the dark shield and punched Kyros.


    Kyros was thrown back and crashed on the Magic dome.


    "Kyros!" Faye and Triona flew to assist him.


    "Rx." The Crabughed.


    "That kid was smart. I never thought of using Dark Energy like that. He created a cushion. It was like I punched him with gloves." The Commander leered at Kyros, who was spitting out blood as he stood up.


    "[Force Pierce]!" Aron took advantage of the prideful reaction and stabbed out. After seeing Kyros use it, Aron immediately tested the usage and harnessed the power of Cut, and created a concentrated power that had True Cut in it.


    The Crabmander tilted his head as the piercing attack stabbed through.


    STAB!


    The stab created a small hole in the magic wall, and the wall was slowly closing up.


    "Now, that would have pricked me a little. But unless you are as fast as that kid, don''t ever think you can hit me." The Crabughed at Aron''s failed attack.


    BANG! BANG!


    Two dark bolts were shot out by Kyros. It went straight for the Commander, who tilted his head once more.


    The dark bolt slipped through the small hole where Aron stabbed.


    But the Dark bolt rushed forward and struck a Champion mage who blocked with a dark shield that he created.


    "Tsk. That Champion saw that, huh..." Kyrosughed.


    "Aiming for my Champions instead? They are more disciplined than that Drake''s army.


    "Your defense! You already have such a powerful, thick, and unbreakable body, yet you mask it with Force energy. Isn''t that a bit of an overkill?" Kyros cursed.


    "My enemies will make ns to try and break through my Force defenses only to find out that my actual defenses are stronger.. As I said, he who ns ahead, wins. You should have made ns for this, Nephilim!"

 Chapter 258 - Was It Not Your Words?

    The Crab Commander revealed great defenses that not even theirbined efforts could take. He nced at the defeated expressions of the Nephilim and hispanions.


    "This Crab! He''s stronger than that dragon!" Faye cursed.


    "Such a pitiful disy. Show me the ace that killed Commander Pyrestarter. I''m curious if you can break my defenses."


    Kyros stood up and prepared to attack.


    "If not... You''ll die. Champions! Activate that spell! And fortify the force field! That sword expert can still break through it!"


    The Champions began to harness certain power. A certain group began to enhance the force field while another group began to channel energy on the Champion.


    Kyros knew what those spells wore.


    "[Dark Empowerment]. [Haste]. [Earth Defender]. Powerful Channeling spells." Kyros noticed the powerful Champion level spells that enhanced the power of the Commander. While it could notpare to the powerful spells he wielded at his peak, these skills were very powerful among Champions.


    The mages of all races, some made of shadow, some alive, began to chant constantly.


    "This guy... What an overkill to deal with us." Mezal chuckled. He stood up and held his sword tight.


    The Crab Commander''s powers increased. In addition, the spells that were used were high level among Champions. And this gave a powerful boost of nearly twenty points on Vitality, Strength, and Dexterity.


    The stats of the Commander was already brutally high. And now it increased all the more.


    The Force energy covered the Commander, and it was as if anotheryer of shell appeared.


    "His crustacean shell is like a thick armor and is not connected to him. My power of time must strike his flesh for it to take effect. What a primitive yet effective means to protect himself from curses. Everyone. I''ll distract him." Kyros announced as the darkness covered him. Kyros''s wings drew out, and his sword released Balefire me on his sword.


    The power of darkness began to surge out of Kyros''s body.


    "We need to expend more and more of our attacks to kill this beast. As we stand, unless we use the more powerful attacks in our arsenal, we will die."


    "Everyone. Buy me time. I''ll be sure to stab through him this time!" Aron dered.


    "Then we all know our mission." Kyros held his two swords, and both began to be engulfed in darkness.


    "Foolish. Your darkness does not scare me! My element is Water! The effectiveness of your element is reduced when used against me! Did you not study the elemental wheel?" The Crab Commander mocked.


    Aron closed his eyes and held his sword up.


    The moment he did that, the lizardmen and lizard races outside, including those with tainted dragonic bloodlines, felt great fear.


    "Commander!" The Champions warned.


    "Bring it!" The Commanderughed as he rushed straight for Aron with incredible speed. A sonic boom exploded as he moved.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Several arrows were suddenlyunched. Martha was suddenly standing near Aron as her figure on the previous location turned into a shadow. The moment the arrows were fired, another source of pressure was felt.


    Martha''s eyes looked different as she held on to the bow. Pitch-ck darkness appeared, and somehow the Bow of Branch reacted as if it gained power from it. The arrows moved at such immense speed that the Commander was forced to block it.


    The massive Force Energy of the Crab Commander appeared again, and it erupted out.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Each arrow that struck the exploding force energy would explode on contact. But the arrows were strangely not knocked back but moved and continued to devour the wave of Force Energy.


    The arrows of Martha now had space element. And with Martha''s Branch of Bow, the arrow traveled and pierced through the eruption of Force. But as the arrow traveled deeper, it lost all its energy and was knocked off from the exploding Force. But the arrow behind it would arrive just on time to push deeper right when the previous one would be knocked back.


    "Not enough!" The Crab Commanderughed as the Force Energy became more condensed. Finally, the entire field revealed a dark bluish color, and the appearance became like water. The truth was that the Crab Commander had not yet revealed the true defenses of his Force Energy.


    The Force energy was no longer a hard and stable form but had the cushion of water. As a result, the speed of the arrows reaching deeper became slower as they entered therge bubble of Force energy that looked like water.


    Martha kept shooting, but each arrow was turning her expression paler and paler.


    Kyros zoomed around to gain velocity and charged directly on the left side of the Commander.


    Mezal rushed on the right of the Commander with his Knights Charge and harnessed the best Wall he created.


    The mobile wall charged straight for the torrent of Force Energy.


    BANG!


    Mezal crashed on the Force Wall and kept pushing.


    But the Crab Commander didn''t even nce at Mezal and raised his arm and pped it towards Kyros.


    The speed of his p became so fast. A bluish arm made of the Crab Commander''s Force energy pped out.


    But surprisingly, Kyros did not evade but charged forward.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!" Kyros shouted. But instead of the booming light, his entire Dark Armor turned into holy energy.


    The Bloodied Balefire Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges became the Lifeblood Holy Fire Sword of Ten Thousand Justice. The Wings of Darkness became Angel Wings of Light.


    BOOM!


    Kyros shed his two weapons down, and his armor exploded in light.


    As the Crab Commander was dividing his attention to three points, Kyros was not blown off, but the two attacks fell into a stand-off.


    The Emberdon Champions had already repositioned themselves in front of Aron and lifted their scepters, and channeled powerful energy into their scepters.


    Four beams of their elements shot towards the specific point where the arrows of Martha had dug deep into.


    BOOM!


    The four beams continued to slowly dig through and were slowly reaching the body.


    But even in this scenario, the Crab Commander was not worried. If they could not prate through his Force energy easily, then his craggy shell would even be darker to prate.


    "Good! What a great effort! But ytime is over. That stab of the sword expert is now reaching seventy percent of what it takes to damage my shell." The Crab Commanderughed.


    BOOM!


    The ball of water that surrounded the Crab Commander erupted sideways, throwing off Kyros and Mezal.


    "Aron!" Martha shouted in panic.


    With the two on the sides thrown off, the Crab Commander rushed forward, taking in the Emberdon''s beam''s damage.


    Martha shot several arrows, but it was clear that the arrows did not have the same mysterious power as they did before.


    "Die!" The Crab Commanderughed as he charged towards Aron.


    Aron was awakened from his concentration and had no choice but to rush forward with all the speed he could muster.


    The attack was perfect for the Crab Commander. Foresight and Combat had allowed him to guess the attack roughly. The enemy would try to make him divide his attention and therefore divide his body''s defenses and perform a lethal, concentrated attack on one point.


    Martha showed amazing powers that dug through the Force Energy, and the Crab Commander revealed how his control on his Force Energy was already something that took the form of Elements.


    Transforming Force to have a Form of Element is something not even seen in the Minds. But the Commander was not just familiar with it. He was a genius. He was even more skillful than the previous cultivators that Kyros fought in his past life!


    And so, the Commander nned to have them make their attacks in an attempt to divide his attention. He had previously revealed that he only could perform a powerful explosive release of his force energy, making it like a rushing wall. But as an expert user of his Force, he had grasped the essence of water better. The forced energy became like waves that suddenly moved. He tossed the force energy to the side to throw off the rest and immediately went for the kill.


    Aron was the one who had the ability to wound him. And with his superior dexterity, killing Aron would be easy. Not even the archer or the Champion mages could prevent him from killing him.


    His charge thundered, but suddenly, he noticed it. His entire body was heavy!


    The single-step he took should have been enough to bring him to Aron, but it slowed him down. With his high dexterity, he could think faster and was able to perceive the changes in his movements.


    He then noticed that Aron had some strange Gravity spell on him.


    The sword of Aron had also grown twice as long as it was before!


    Aron''s movements were faster than expected. And as his movements had strangely slowed down, he instinctively focused on hardening the defenses in his body. But at that moment, he noticed that his body no longer had the buffs that the Champions were casting on him.


    "What?! How?!" The Crabmander cursed as Aron''s attack reached.


    STAB!


    The might stab far exceeded his expectations. The sword attack of Aron had grown by another fold! The sword of Aron also increased in length.


    The sword pierced through the craggy shell and was about to hit his real body!


    Aron smiled.


    "Was it not your words? He who ns ahead, wins!" Aron shouted as he pushed the sword deeper.


    The Crab Commander harnessed his Force energy, and it became like a small orb in his chest as he used his ws to break the sword.


    CLANG! CLANG!


    But his two crab ws could not cut the sword!


    Aron roared as he did his best to push the sword deeper with all his might and the Crab Commander resisted with his two ws. The beams of the Emberdon Champions continued to attack his face and body, causing pain in him. But his force energy was being concentrated on his chest where the sword might stab. There was something peculiar with the sword that he knew he would have a hard time recovering from a wound from it.


    Suddenly a portal opened up behind Aron.


    On the other side of the Portal was a bright light.


    It was Kyros in his light form. He zoomed with all the speed he had and emerged out of the Portal and gave a mighty kick on the handle of Aron''s sword.


    BANG!


    The sword stabbed deeper, and it finally wounded the Crab Commander.


    "ARRGGGGHHHH!" He felt a great pain that he had never felt before as peculiar energy coursed through his body.

 Chapter 259 - Number Our Attacks

    Nearly an hour before, the group had moved into the portal. An important discussion was happening as the group fought through the armies.


    The team kept on adjusting their efforts and attacks to bnce out the battle. It was the first time that Kyros was very strict with his orders. It was precise and detailed. But as those who followed were experts and geniuses, Kyros didn''t hold back but increased the standard.


    Soon the group got used to the fighting, and Kyros was able to talk freely.


    "Our future enemies beyond the portal will be Commanders. What is vital is for us to defeat at least another Commander and decimate the armies and weaken it. But I''m sure our future enemies will be like us. We have Fate Challenger. They have Destiny Challenger. In short, they will be capable of creating ns that will counter our abilities. Fate and Destiny have powers beyond ourprehension. And for some reason, Destiny can the abilities that we disy, but Fate cannot. From my experience, Destiny can even listen to the words that we say! But now, in this trial, it seems Fate is offering her protection."


    "Yeah. I sense that too. It''s as if there''s a nket of protection over us."


    "I''m guessing Destiny can see us but cannot hear us now unless there are Champions of Destiny nearby. Then I think Destiny can figure things out." Kyros exined.


    "So basically, our enemies will have the perfect counters for our ability?"


    "It depends on the way they use it. Destiny cannot do beyond certain limits. During Aunt Martha''s struggle with the Thane Dragons, Destiny used the foolishness of those dragons, which made them unknowingly evolve to a very high level that forced them to their deaths. I believe not all of Destiny''s forces are like that."


    "So one weapon we have is to use the personality of the enemy against them..." Martha answered and immediately began to devour one shadow creature.


    "That''s one thing. But easily said than done, right?"


    "Then what do you propose we do, Kyros?" Mezal asked.


    "The reason why I plotted to kill that dragon using the Temple''s Holy Beam is to hide it from them. Destiny now knows the full power of Holy Beam. Back when I fought the Blood Cmity, I intentionally used a very weak amount of energy and revealed only a small percentage of it. But against that Dragon, I used its full power. Now Destiny knows how strong the Holy Beam is, and I doubt that using it in the future will work. Not unless the Temple grows stronger."


    "So, how are we going to fight if our enemies can keep track and counter all our attacks?" Demerus asked.


    "The first thing we have to do is to carefully number our attacks. We have to reveal the minimum amount of techniques, attacks, and abilities that we have. Whatever that we already revealed, we use as our basis. But when the critical momentes in, we reveal more of our techniques."


    "So meaning, since I revealed my basic sword abilities without even using my special sword jobs, I''ll just pretend to be a swordsman with True Cut?"


    "Yup. Don''t use your abilities as a Ravager, Blitzer, and all of those sword specifications. Just stick to what you showed and only reveal another if you are sure that you can kill the enemy. The same goes with you, grandfather. Stick with that Pdin form for now. Think of theing battle as a massive chess game with Destiny. Destiny will keep throwing pieces and pieces against us with what he currently has. That''s why I told those guys at the Temple to find a way to push forward and catch up with us. Our job, in the meantime, is to take as many pawns, bishops, knights, and rooks as we can. So number your attacks."


    The Emberdons then realized why Kyros didn''t ask them to reveal any more than the basic.


    "So meaning, with these basic attacks, and everything that we have revealed, we use it to the max? This is our only way to survive?" Ressi asked.


    "It''s not enough. The second thing that we have to do is always exceed Destiny''s estimation. Right now, Destiny must have very high expectations since I managed to sh and survive the Blood Cmity. I''m sure we will soon run out of aces. And this means that you all have to develop stronger attacks along the way." Kyros exined with a serious expression.


    "What?!" The Emberdon''s was shocked and all chorused together.


    "That''s a bit difficult. Only Aron can do that here. I need time. You and Martha can because of your Coven ability. The rest of us can only increase in our levels with the Myster Experience System." Mezal frowned.


    "Think of a way to ovee, grandfather. You and uncle Aron have something that can change the game. If you are sons of Steel, then it means you must have the same power that I have."


    "What power?"


    "A Second Source." Kyros exined.


    "A Second Source?!" Triona shouted in shock. Of the many things she researched, the mythical Second Source was one she spent her life to know about.


    "What''s a Second Source?" Martha asked.


    "You should have one too, Aunt Martha. A Second Source is practically a secondary source of power. Most cultivators use Magic and Force Energy. Some cultivators are even able tobine both and use Force as Magic and Magic as Force. But the stronger beings have another power source that can fuel both. This allows them to release stronger attacks than the thickness of Force or Magic that they can immediately release and wield is greater. The more energy one can store in their Second Source, the better."


    "What a miraculous thing! Aron, use the next fight and try to awaken that Second Source. You have the most potential of using it." Mezal called to his son.


    "Hmm.... I think I found it."


    SLASH!


    He made a simple sh, but it was as if it was one of Kyros''s [Force sh].


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "Was that it?"


    "...Yes." Kyros was secretly cursing. In his previous life, he needed the help of Greater God Daradiel to awaken that. Although he was not as smart as he was now, it still felt like a blow to his genius ego.


    "Anyway. Let''s do an ounting of what we have and what we haven''t shown to Destiny. We''ll need all of it!" Kyros ordered, and an intense discussion more intense than the fight they were doing happened as they traveled all the way to the portal.


    The group even discussed for nearly ten minutes in front of the portal and kept killing those that stepped inside.


    And then, the step out happened.


    Back to the current state of the battle, the stab of Aron contained the very Second Source he was able to bring out. And this Second Source was actually the bane of all who were of the Dark. The Second Source that Aron had was Ancient Source.


    The power of an Ancient God and the force spreading out on the Crab Commander were causing immense pain.


    The sword was too long and was as if it was indestructible than his brute force could not break it.


    Kyros''s who had teleported out of the portal, had delivered a powerful kick that caused the sword to sink in.


    And after the kick, Kyros immediately dove in and helped Aron push the de further inside. The dark, liquid-like power of his cloak began to move through the de and seep inside the Commander.


    And then, the Commander noticed that Mezal was already charging with great speed.


    The sword handle that was stabbing inside was in the right position. Aron was holding it and kept pushing, but there was space for Mezal to attack.


    "[Knight''s Charge]!" Mezal charged with booming speed, and his shield tackled on the sword handle.


    BANG!


    The sword prated and pierced through the Crab Commander.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!" Kyros activated his ability, and the dark liquid that was inside the Crab Commander blew up.


    "AHHHHH!" The Crab Commander was being burned from the inside. His weakened organs from the Ancient Source were attacked, and he lost the ability to wield his force energy.


    The sh of light purged him from the inside, and when it was weakened, the power of the Blood Sword was taking effect, and it was slowly draining the blood within.


    The attacks inside were unique. Kyros had wielded his Mysterion that both light and dark existed and did not sh. One part of the energy kept burning, and the other kept devouring the enemy from the inside.


    The Crab Commander fell down in his weakness. Kyros stabbed his sword as Aron pulled out his sword.


    "I''ll go help Puff and the Champions," Aron said and charged to fight the disorganized Champions.


    The Crab Commander finally noticed the state of his troops.


    He could see a massive dragon attacking his forces.


    "That''s the little dragon you attacked earlier," Kyros exined.


    "How...? That is a Wyrm! That former whelp... couldn''t have be like that even if it ate every inch of Commander Pyrestarter!" The Crab cursed.


    "Puff is a magic dragon. He lives by the sea." Kyros answered mysteriously.


    The Crab Commander made the right assumption about dragons. Such a scene should not be possible. It will take decades for dragons to awaken even an inkling of power. But Puff wasn''t a normal dragon. He was already on his way to bing a god-like being, and so, the Dragon Commander gave Puff the ability to reveal a Wyrm form for several seconds.


    Kyros had given the orders for Puff to take in a massive attack so that Destiny would think he was weakened. But in the Separated Realm, Martha had gathered hundreds of Shadow Creatures which Puff quickly devoured all. The power of Dark Consumer was already bestowed on Puff through his link with Martha, and it allowed Puff to regain a bit from the damage.


    And after recovering, it used the Dragon Commander Pyrestarter to transform into a Wyrm for several seconds.


    The army of giants became the perfect food for Puff. He appeared and attacked Champions and began to eat the huge creatures. When the force field disappeared, the Emebrdon Champions sent out a barrage of attacks.


    "Damn you! How? That portal shouldn''t have opened! What happened to my buffs?!" The Crab cursed out.


    "Your Champions had an enema. So they weren''t able to concentrate on helping you.." Kyros chuckled.

 Chapter 260 - One Way To Challenge Destiny

    Puff had immediately gone for the kill when he emerged from the Separated Realm.


    His appearance came at a critical juncture when the armies were distracted and saw their Commander being attacked.


    He emerged from the sky and assumed his Wyrm form, a form that had the power simr to Commanders.


    Unlike normal dragons, he had already tasted and devoured all forms of dragons and creatures in the past. And his training in the Separated Realm allowed him to meditate on his memories and somehow relearned the powers of all dragons.


    And this allowed him to easily reform and trigger the cells of his body to assume that form and revert it. All dragons that had reached a high level in their cultivation could forcibly adjust their cells but never needed to use it as their original form would still be faster. But Puff started back from zero as a newborn dragon and grew.


    Like a massive meteor, he fell and attacked the biggest and strongest Champions. However, the speed of his appearance was so fast that therge gigantic champion had already lost most of his upper torso when the bigger Wyrm fell from the sky.


    Two massive swipes, one from the arm and another from the tail, struck those nearby, and the chaos of battle began.


    Puff caused all forces to panic and fight and didn''t notice that the Champion mages'' spells were already gone.


    The Crab Commander lost the ability to speak as the fast devouring ability caused his body to crumble.


    "Hard on the outside, but weak on the inside. This is what most cultivators face as they can''t train and improve the defenses on the inside. And while cultivators can practice how to envelop our body with Force Energy, training to wrap around it on our organs is difficult. Unless you can feel and map out every inch of your body, you won''t be capable of doing that." Kyrosughed.


    "But to answer your question and rify what I meant that your Champions had an enema, remember that Dark Bolt I shot out? It wasn''t a Dark Bolt." Kyros then showed him the form of the Dark Bolt he sent out. Suddenly, several ws and arms moved out.


    It was a ball ofpressed Shadow Ghouls, which Kyros wielded with his Dark Wielder.


    "The ground is pitch ck, and dark energy was naturally seeping out of the ground. They didn''t notice that these creatures were crawling under them. I ordered these Shadow ghouls to distract those Champions channeling a buff on you and those reinforcing the space that prevented Martha from using her portals. All I needed was a split second where their spells failed to work."


    The defeat of the Crab Commander relied on the impable timing of the shadows. It distracted the three Champions who were focused on pouring the powerful buffs on him, and the rest must have attacked those creating the spatial distortion. Once weakened, Martha opened the portal that allowed the Wyrm to emerge.


    "My shadows might have performed an enema to your living Champions. I''m surprised you didn''t hear them squirm or yell in surprise when those thin ws entered the butts of those Champions. Of course, it didn''t harm them as their vitality was too high, but that was rather embarrassing, right?" Kyrosughed.


    "Anyway, be food for me and Aunt Martha. My time powers can''t hit you since this shell is like armor rather than your body. But Aunt Martha''s [Heavy Weight] skill works fine. She shot a lot of arrows on your charge and made you slow down." Kyros exined further as a pale Martha approached.


    "I''m hungry." Sheined.


    "I''m still cooking it, Aunt Martha. Have Puff help youter on. The tendons of this creature are hard for you to bite. Even in your dragon form, it should be difficult to chew this crab. But, for now, have a taste of his blood." Kyros answered.


    Martha held on to the sword and began to absorb more energy.


    As the two devoured the Commander, the rest felt the brimming energy in their body. It was as if they had killed several hundreds of enemies. Their stamina, force, and magic energy also began to slowly recover as the Myster Experience System divided the spoils among them.


    Aron continued to fight, and When he moved out, he harnessed the power of the Quick de. His previous lunging attack at the Crab Commander already used this job ss, so he decided to use it as Destiny already knows about this ability.


    He moved and made quick work of the Champion mages, who were distracted from the explosive attacks behind them. They used various spells on Puff, but Puff''s magic resistance was too high that Puff ignored the attacks of the Champion Mages. And with them, distracted Aron made quick work of these mages.


    By the time some had died, the rest noticed Aron. But they were mages who had low dexterity points even with their Commander Potential state.


    The Emberdon mages attacked thest few who were not yet killed.


    After clearing the Champions, Aron zoomed back and tossed several of the magic-restoring potions he found on the champions.


    The Emberdons all caught it. They had expended so much in the battle and needed to restore themselves.


    "Let''s get to work. Who knows how many of those Giants have already made their way into the other side. I''m sure Crab Commander already ordered to have his giants rushed in. He withheld them all earlier so that they wouldn''t die. What a calcting man."


    "It''s a miracle we defeated him..." Demerus sighed.


    "We defeated him because of his pride. His arrogant challenge of facing us and not allowing the Champions to interfere, his pride in his defenses, and his ns... If we fought someone less arrogant, he could have easily plotted our demise. So don''t get too smug." Mezalughed as he moved forward.


    "What do we do now? Do we defend the path to the portal?" Mezal asked.


    "No. We need our men to experience hell. Some may die. But this is the best scenario to make them experience Destiny''s cruelty. We already did everything to make it easier for them. But they can''t be Fate Challengers unless they face enemies that could kill them just like we did. And we have to act outside of Destiny''s expectations. Aunt Martha, I may have a dangerous mission-"


    "I know. You want me to assassinate a Commander all by myself. Rx. I''ve faced Destiny''s plots and lived. I bear weight and guilt of all those servants I ate and the death of Hems and Hemsey. I can manage."


    Aron''s eyebrows rose.


    "Uncle. I know that you are worried but-"


    "Please, Kyros. I''m not a child. My wife won''t die. But I want to kill one as well. I want to face a Commander by myself."


    Kyros was silent.


    Mezal was curious.


    "Why are you against this?"


    "Emberdons, wreck havoc. Puff''s time limit is ending." Kyros ordered first.


    As Kyros said, Puff was now on retreat after eating so much.


    Martha had been using her powers to send some of the bodies into the Separated Realm.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The Emberdon Champions flew to the high sky and began to make powerful attacks.


    "What is it?" Aron asked.


    "You were bound to sense it sooner orter. The truth is, I have known certain decrees that Destiny made. It involves every member of the Steele family. My connections with your family are still a mystery. But I know that both Branze and Diana were fated to be my father and mother. Both of them have decrees from Destiny, which is called Curse of Destiny. Destiny has decreed it, which means it wille true unless we grow to a certain level of might. The Curse of Destiny of my father is that he will die before I can save him. The curse of my Destiny of my mother is that she will die after bidding her farewell to me."


    "But if that''s the case, why did you leave them in the Temple?"


    "Because I can easily use the Temple''s power to teleport back there. Besides, we did move ahead, and no strong enemy has reached thatnd. I have been observing the fight in the Temple through my link with it. So even if Destiny finds a way to send his forces there, I can move. I am certain that Destiny won''t work to kill them. But..."


    "With me, it''s different? What''s the curse of Destiny for me?"


    Kyros recalled the scene in his memory. So he was running and wanted to save his mother that he ignored the room where his uncle fought. But when Kyros moved out, he wept over his beloved uncle as he proudly sat on the chair like a King who sat before the scores of dead orcs who all looked like they were bowing before him. No doubt, this was the very carefree humor of his uncle, who wanted a grand death and killed the orcs in that specific manner before he died.


    "Your Destiny is to be an invalid who can''t use your body and fight. And, of course, you will die in that state before I would have the chance to save you." Kyros revealed the notification he had seen a while back.


    ---


    Curse of Destiny activated.


    Aron Steele will be invalid and die before Kyros Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos can save him.


    ---


    "Oh? How cruel. Destiny knows of my ability as a fighter and decided to give me a rather embarrassing life." Aron chuckled.


    "I can''t save you if you fight here, uncle."


    "I don''t need you to worry about me, Kyros."


    "Uncle. This is Destiny we are talking about!"


    "Kyros... There is only one way to fight Destiny. And the only way to fight it is to challenge it head-on. You can''t live your life fearing my death. I forbid you to do it. Not for me or your mother and father. You have helped me be a Challenger. And that means we have to challenge Destiny. Better now, when Destiny has yet to know all of our abilities. Each time we foil Destiny''s n, Fate gets stronger. So then, let me challenge Destiny. I assure you, I will win, and I won''t be a paraplegic." Aron smiled.


    "..." Kyros turned to Mezal.


    "I won''t even bother to ask what my Destiny is. I just want to challenge that mother fragment and gain the strength to stare him right in his face and punch that God." Mezalughed.


    "Fine then. Grandfather, join the Emberdons. You have the strongest Path of Molding among us. Build them up to be strong. All three of you select a direction and move towards it. We have to explore as much on this anyway. I will be moving around and will be collecting your spoils for the Temple. Each of you.... you are to kill a Commander!"

 Chapter 261 - Fight Of The Steele Knights And Servants

    Back in the Temple...


    "Retreat!" Branze issued the order, and she and Diana created a massive wall that blocked the entire path and allowed the army to retreat.


    Ever since Branze and Diana began to lead the army into attacking, they had ventured and retreated three times.


    The first attempt was a disaster as the knights and servants were moving out. While the servants were required to train in archery and sword fighting, they had yet to experience a full battle. Previously, only the knights held the ground on the front lines, and so the first attempt to attack brought out many servants who were trembling.


    The Coven did most of the work and made their attacks.


    The tactics of Branze were also changing as Branze began to instruct archers on how to use Foresight to shoot the mages and archers to stop the ranged fighters from attacking first. Since the shadow army had no organized form, they were all just acting ording to their instincts and would when able.


    This scenario was both harder and easier. Easier because the attacks were not united and would shoot out one at a time from these ranged attackers. But it was also more challenging because the group had no means of aiming their attacks at the ranks of the mages as they were all over the battlefield.


    Stellya, the only Emberdon mage to say, didn''t use her magic to blow away everyone but kept shooting small beams of attacks to target the other mages within the army. She knew that if she failed, there would be deaths among their teams. So she began to harness the energy and shoot it out on two scepters. The first was her own, while the other one was the one bestowed by the Temple.


    The Coven also worked and used their ability, at times charging and braving the enemy''s ranks to kill someone. Slowly, the Fate Challenger skills improved as they kept asking, ''how do I protect my allies''?


    The second attempt was much better. They could step and push the forces out of the wall and hold their ground for nearly four minutes. But they had to retreat and rely on the Coven to save them. The third attempt had a simr effect, and the armies managed to push four steps further from their previous attack and hold the ground for a few more minutes than their previous charge.


    They were now on their fourth attempt and had reached twice the distance of their steps.


    Branze and Diana were both doing the most important roles and creating defenses when needed, and Branze would begin to instruct the person where he made a mistake.


    The orders continued to ring out, but those that Branze corrected felt as if they were instinctively learning.


    Diana marveled at the power of Branze.


    "If Branze is that very god who created the power of push... Then, is this one application?" Diana wondered.


    The powers of Branze''s clear orders were allowing the knight and servants to fight better.


    Suddenly, Branze felt it.


    "Retreat!" Branze ordered.


    The group made their retreat and moved into the Temple. Booms of magic and arrows suddenly fell, and the first volley would have struck them if not for Branze and Diana''s wall.


    "An organized shot?" Gojirrah was stunned.


    "Destiny! It''s making them smarter!" Gregory cursed.


    The wild rush of the mindless shadow creatures at the death of the Dragon Commander suddenly formed ranks.


    The servants were all being harassed, and the Coven had to move and save them as many were suddenly in great peril.


    "[Force Wall]!" Branze created a wall that bore the weight of an entire row of enemies.


    "Organize yourself!" Branzemanded.


    "Troublesome..." Avary cursed in frustration.


    "Avary! Be quiet! Everyone here doesn''t have our advantage or our training to fight!" Scarlet rebuked as she helped a servant nearby.


    "That''s not what I meant! I''m sure you''ve felt it. Lord Kyros and everyone else is facing grave threats! I meant that it''s hard that we can''t move now and save them!"


    "How do you want us to attack? Only a few of us can fight and kill those shadows?"


    Avary was silent. He couldn''t understand why Branze wanted to charge and fight in this scenario.


    Mechiel and Myas were among the team. Mechiel had nearly died several times in this battle and was frustrated as she couldn''t keep up with the fight.


    "Hey... Blood Cmity. If you are in me, better help me fight!" Mechiel thought to herself.


    But no reply was heard.


    "Don''t worry or be agitated. Fight and learn ording to your capacity. You are among monsters and geniuses." Myas spoke.


    "Thank you." Mechiel nodded.


    "From what I understand, you should be able to learn Fate Challenger. It''ll be harder since you have the Blood Cmity in you. But as a Fated ally, you should have the talent for it." Gregory encouraged.


    "Regroup!" Branze made the order.


    The group organized themselves.


    Reptilia gathered her force and made a mighty leap, and reached the skies.


    "[Dragon Pounce]!" She shouted as her spear gathered a massive amount of Force Energy. The Temple''s Holy energy merged with it.


    The Force energy of a Champion covered her, and she fell with the spear aiming at the ground.


    BOOM!


    More than thirty creatures died at the attack and gave the team the ability to rush forward. It was the first time Reptilia revealed her power.


    "Rx." Reptilia called out to the Coven.


    "I know you''re worried that our connection with Lord Kyros has disappeared. But that means that whatever is beyond that portal is far from this ce. It could even be a different! But do not underestimate the Shield Experts who are with us. I admired Lord Mezal for his teaching, but Lord Branze is two- no... three times more superior in that area. He knows what he''s doing. There are many things that he must know regarding the art of training and molding us into fighters."


    "Lady Reptilia is right. Once Lord Kyros drinks the blood of someone strong, we will get stronger. It''s true that Lord Kyros needs our help... Bute on. Let''s be reasonable. The truth is, Lord Kyros, will be the one who will help us help him." Grugnyr chuckled.


    "isn''t that right, mydy?" Grugnyr smiled at Reptilia.


    BOOM!


    A massive attack and a forcing figure of arge lizard appeared to the side.


    "Gojirrah. Don''t get reckless! Fall back in line." Diana ordered.


    "Yes, mydy." Gojirrah retreated but gave Grugnyr a dangerous nce.


    "Easy there, slick. We got a battle to fight." Hunter shook his head.


    "Oh? Scarlet? Do you feel it?" Hunter asked.


    "Yes." Scarlet nodded.


    "Lord Branze. We should retreat?" Hunter then realized it.


    "Very good, Hunter. Your Path of Foresight has be astounding. Indeed. Retreat!" Branze ordered.


    Diana charged forward and released a powerful Holy attack.


    "[Grand Cross]!"


    As the Holy light exploded, a strange power began to absorb the many scattering souls.


    Diana trembled as she felt it. She was distracted for a few seconds as the scenes of many sad, pitiful and painful sorrows appeared on her.


    "[Force Wall]!" Branze acted and created a wall to push the enemy back.


    The attack of Diana allowed the group to kill those nearby and retreat.


    The group ran quickly as the attack of Diana had attacked the creeping darkness that aided the charge of the enemies.


    "Are you alright?" Branze asked as they retreated.


    "It''s starting to appear. What a strange Code I have."


    "You just don''t understand it yet. Whatever burdens your forced to carry in this like, I will still be your shield."


    Diana smiled.


    "Thank you."


    The group was now in the Temple when the Temple lit up.


    Several massive-sized creatures suddenly appeared, and the Temple was absorbing them.


    Giants of all forms were appearing and suddenly disappearing as they were being absorbed.


    Hidden among them was the upper torso of a certain dead Crab creature.


    The Temple absorbed it, and everyone received a massive boost in strength.


    There were a few who were critically wounded were healed suddenly.


    "So this is why... Avary. I hope your fears are averted." Hunter observed.


    Avary sighed.


    "I..."


    "Rx. I''m scared that someone will die too. I know how you feel." Hunter smiled.


    "It won''t be the same."


    "Why?"


    "Because we''re stronger, and we can make others strong. So buckle up, and focus on building your Molding." Hunter smiled.


    With the energy-returning, Branze summoned a powerful wall and pushed it to the charging creeps.


    "Those creatures that were sent it. All of them are captain-level and have gigantic forms. And all of those will soon bemon enemies. But do not worry, they are notmon enemies that you will face! But each one of you will have the ability to fight and kill them as if they are weak,mon enemies that aren''t even special for your de, ax, dagger, and bow to kill!" Branze shouted.


    "Feel the flow of battle! You are all Steele! You are all Fate Challengers! You can do it! We''ll try this again! Assume formation!" Branze encouraged as he issued the attack and the group began to push back.


    The Steele servants and knights took their respective position.


    "Coven! Take charge of those next to you! I won''t be attacking this time so show me what you got!" Branze dered.


    "Is it alright?" Diana asked.


    "Rx. My eyes are on all of them." Branze closed his eyes when the Temple dispersed the energy, a certain skill awakened in Branze.


    [Eyes of the Supreme Commander skill acquired.]


    Just like Kyros, Branze now had the power to see the battlefield from a bird''s-eye view.

 Chapter 262 - Fight Of A Commander

    The Eye of the Supreme Commander was a powerful Force skill that only the best of Generals could acquire.


    Only a few in the entire world of cultivation could acquire this. In the nesworld, only certain generals in the Hignds had this. There was no direct Blessing from a Code or Corruption that could help a cultivator walk on this path. Even Kyros acquired a weaker form of this through experience.


    Kyros, who fought as a general in his previous life, already had a sense of the entire battle. But since no powers could formally help him make it a skill, it always acted as a pseudo-skill or a hidden trait that he carried. It was only after he received the empowerment of the Temple that it became a skill.


    And with his various links and summons, the Temple gave him Micro-management as a sub-skill for this.


    Not everyone could go through the experience and achieve this pseudo-skill. Most cultivators won''t have the chance to face situations that were necessary to birth this skill. Only those whomanded and fought wars as generals could.


    Most cultivators and fighters would only be concerned about what was in their direct location. They would fight to deal with the immediate threat and would rely on messengers, their Captains, Champions, and so on to direct the orders of the battle. They are usually blind to what is happening and cannot see the battlefield.


    Generals see the battlefield and are concerned with it. They try to read the battle as if their life depended on it. And so, this allows them to harness their senses in this. Those whose senses were so keen that they wanted to sense the entire battlefield would find themselves unconsciously releasing a faint Force energy that would spread out and sense things around the battlefield.


    Branz had led several terrifying battles that the Steele family fought. And the fights he faced were so critical to the family that Branze not only had to focus on the current fight but had to consider their escape routes, the terrain, the possible ambushes o the enemy, and so much more. Just like Kyros, who faced all these in his previous life, Branze had numerous experiences. But as his skill was small, he needed a little push to turn this hidden, pseudo skill and make it an actual skill.


    And Kyros gifted him something that could give him thatst push.


    The Crab Commander was a very meticulous General. Unlike the Dragon Commander, who was confident of his skills and fought head-on, this Crab Commander fought and waged war with his armies in mind. He hated losing men, and if there were a way to avoid losing men if he fought, he would take it. It wasn''t that he cared for his men, but rather, he disdained losing men.


    His experience and fighting style allowed him to evolve and use the darkness to help him create a skill to have a constant sense of the battlefield. Kyros expected this and plotted a counterattack against the Crabmander that required everything to ur within a split second. The stabbing of Aron and the anal annoyance of his shadows happened almost at the same time.


    And with this skill that the Crab Commander had, it was now converted by the Temple and became the missing ingredient that would allow the Temple to bestow the Eyes of the Supreme Commander to Branze finally.


    The vision of Branze was limited. But as the battle was happening within a limited path, he could easily see everyone.


    The Steele knights and servants were currently on the defensive.


    "Brian! Be more focused on your surroundings. Trust the men next to you and the archers behind you! Emylee! Your aim is urate! Release the arrows faster and aim for the next one! Wendy! Trust your instincts, and don''t worry about whether your target is someone else target! Everyone can adjust to you as you are faster! Get used to the whispers of Fate! Larrev! Your swing is too wide! In this tight formation, you are hindering those near you! Concentrate and get used to shing and stabbing! Jathras..."


    Branze gave out a series of orders as he watched the battle from his perspective. The power of Molding was being used, and it grew.


    Diana watched his man give out the orders, and almost immediately, several areas of the battlefield were moving forward and were gaining ground.


    Diana could not help but smile.


    "I never noticed it before... But you are... very amazing." Diana told herself as she saw Branze lead.


    Branze soon stopped giving orders and noticed that those hemanded were slowly adjusting to the pace of the battle.


    The Coven was amazed at what he did.


    "I''ve never seen such a skilled Commander!" Gojirrah was amazed.


    "None in my former kingdom canpare to him either. He alone can usher in our victory. So this is the power of a skilledmander!" Reptilia added.


    "The battlefield is no longer a ce for his soldiers to fight. It is his battleground. This is a truemander. He doesn''t lead an army to fight. The entire battle is his fight!"


    "Coven. Prepare to charge forward. You are to show everyone how to fight those giants. Giants are appearing. Diana. It seems we need to act as well." Branze added.


    "Reptilia, Gojirrah. Can your jump carry a few people there?"


    "Easily. I can bring four or five depending on their size and weight." Gojirrah answered.


    "That will not be a problem. I can manage the same people."


    "Alright. Diana, Scarlet, go to Reptilia. Myas, Mechiel Join them as well. Hunter, Avary, and Gregory go to Gojirrah. Jathras, Rocksteed to me." Branze gave the orders.


    The group assumed their position.


    "Am I... Suppose to be here?" Mechiel asked.


    "Mechiel..." Scarlet called out.


    "If you remain weak, I can get Lord Kyros from you." Scarlet smiled.


    "So you better strong quickly."


    Diana smiled as she heard Scarlet''s challenge and encouragement.


    "Men. Hold the line. We will be testing the strength of those gigantic creatures. Each ought to naturally have the strength of Captains. Some would even have the vitality and power of Champions. Be careful, everyone. Go!"


    Gojirrah and Reptilia began their force leap.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The two leaped and made their attacks as they fell and cleared the soldiers around the area. Theynded nearly thirty meters from the defensive lines.


    "What about us, Lord Branze?" The two knights that Branze handpicked asked.


    "Rx. I am the force of pushing itself. It''s time for me to do another experiment. And as always, you will apany me in this."


    The two knights smiled.


    "So the usual crazy attacks? Alright, Lord Branze. We''re ready."


    "Good. [Force Catapult]!" A massive force erupted from the group, and it was as if the group was standing on catapults. The group was vaulted and flew at the same trajectory that Reptilia and Gojirrah made their leap.


    BOOM!


    Branze created a massive wall the protected the team, and the trionded safely at the destruction and death of those nearby.


    The group was still within the Temple''s empowerment range and had Holy energy in their swords.


    They held their ground and fought, waiting for the arrival of the giants.


    Meanwhile, back on the other side of the portal...


    The death of Commander Shellcross brought and instability within the region. Shellcross and Pyrestarter were the main Commanders who were in charge of the immediate region. When they died, their forces grew wild. Unless a Commander made an effort to control them and bestow to them their consciousness, the creatures would remain wildly rampaging around.


    The remaining army of Shellcross and Pyrestarter continued to march into the portal. The portal was standing in a different location and was clearly moved and tossed to another ce. But as the portal continued to function, the armies of shadows continued to make their march. No living being could be found amidst the armies.


    A Commander had arrived and saw that the creatures were all moving towards the gate. The Commander had the wings of a bat. His appearance was that of a human, except that he was pale white, as white as the moon. He wore a ck cape and hovered over the region. Next to him were several men and women who also bore simr traits.


    "Such a pity. If I had more Commander Energy, I would control these things. Shellcross''s massive army would have done well as our mounts. It''s quite wasteful for these creatures to be sent to the other side."


    "Was it Lord Cardinal who ordered them to make an attack?" A Champion asked.


    "Yes. Since none of us canmand them as we are already at our Commander Limit, it''s best to have them attack the forces of the Nephilim. But it seems that the Nehpilim''s forces took the time to kill those who are living beings and are not Shadow Summons. But where are our enemies? Where did they go?"


    "Perhaps they retreated back to the portal and made their defense behind it."


    "That would be a problem... Who will go and scout if the enemy is defending behind the portal?" The Commander asked.


    "Allow me, my lord. My Vampiric Mist is the strongest among the vampire Champions youmand. Therefore, I can turn into the mist and escape."


    "Do not underestimate the enemy. Two Commanders have fallen from their hands. None of you and even all of you wouldn''tst a minute fighting Dragon Commander Pyrestarter or Crab Commander Shellcross."


    "I am still confident of my powers, Commander." The Vampire bowed.


    "Then go. Move through the portal and peek and quickly return to my side." The Vampire Commander ordered.


    The Vampire Champion immediately flew towards the portal.


    SLASH!


    As he approached, a [Force sh] shot out from the army of darkness.


    "Hmph!" The Champion sneered and transformed his body into Mist.


    The sh passed through his Mist body, and the body of the Vampire reformed. But as it did, it was sliced in half, and the body of the Vampire fell.


    SMASH!


    A dark-cloaked man struck the falling body of the vampire and threw it towards the portal.


    "Everon!" A female vampire shouted and was about to rush forward to catch the body of her beloved.


    "Stop! Hold your ground unless you want to die! That man is stronger than all of you." The Vampire Commander ordered as a powerful blood-red force field appeared.


    "Impressive sword. Your attack cut his soul."


    "It''s his fault he left it wide open." Aronughed as he jumped up and stood on a nearby hill.


    "Tat force field is strong. It should be twice stronger than the force field that that crab ordered his men to make. Now, this is troublesome..."


    Aron had a strange dark armor that made him look like one of the shadow beings marching around.


    "I see. The Nephilim hid his forces by giving them dark garments to wear."


    "Great disguise, right? It''s simple, and I actuallyughed when my father suggested it.. But who knew that these mindless soldiers couldn''t tell if I wore this suit!" Aronughed.

 Chapter 263 - Fight Of Aron

    Aron watched the twelve remaining Vampires hovering in the air. He had revealed a confident and carefree expression, but in truth, Aron was observing the enemy as he could feel the threat of death.


    Even Fate was agreeing that he would die.


    The Vampire Commander gave a cautious look around the army. He could not sense any life among the forces. He then gave a careful look at Aron. The dark suit that Aron wore also hid the life force.


    "[Detect Life] doesn''t work on you because of the armor. What aplex trick."


    "It isn''t thatplex. I''m just wearing a suit made of Shadow Ghouls!" Aronughed as he demonstrated. Then, a dark creature emerged out of Aron''s back.


    "A Shadow Ghoul?" One of the champions noticed the creature.


    "It''s sort of ufortable to wear them. But it gets the job done. So, the next Commander to fall on our hands is a Vampire Commandermanding a Coven? This should be interesting. A Commander vampire and eleven Champions. Three Vampire Mages, Three Vampire Knights, a Vampire Berserker, two swordsmen, and two assassin ss vampires. And, of course, the Commander! A hybrid ss, I presume? I believe Kyros called it a Battle Mage? One who has equal talent in Force and Magic?"


    "Impressive eyesight. It''s rare to see a Force user be able to see through my form." The Commander smiled.


    "You will make an excellent recement for that Vampire you just killed."


    "My Lord...? What do you mean?"


    "That attack of his destroyed the soul of Everon. If you die by his hands, your souls don''t go back to my soul pool."


    The nearby vampires were horrified as they heard this.


    "Do you see why I stopped you, Morticar? Had you recklessly charged forward, you would have died. My condolences to you. But let this be thest time I greet you." The Commander ordered.


    The anger in the vampire''s eyes could be seen as a bright red sh appeared on all of their eyes.


    "Scary. Red eyes. Those are signs of a Royal Vampire lineage!"


    "Oh? You know of our linage?"


    "Of course. We talked about all vampire blood. Only those that are Royal Vampire are capable of flight like yours. No magic fluctuations of force magic. This is Blood Magic. You are controlling your blood to levitate."


    "How knowledgeable. Are you a vampire hunter of some sort?" The Vampire Commander asked.


    "Haha! That would be ironic. No. My nephew is a vampire, and he has formed a powerful Coven. My wife included. And they have a certain Bloodline called Vampire Bloodlines. And I heard it''s stronger by some degree than your impure line."


    "Vampire Bloodlines?! Impossible!" A Champion shouted.


    "The Nephilim is a vampire?" Another asked.


    "Rx. He''s making you all agitated. If it is true, then it''s only to our benefit. We don''t know where his allies are. Follow your training. Assume that you are fighting a Commander."


    "Oh? Are you not going to step in? You Commanders sure are different. Each of you has your own tactics and styles on how to fight us. That dragon was probably the strongest in terms of might. But he recklessly attacked and treated every one of his Champions as props that only served to build up and glorify his power. Then there was that Crab Commander. That Crab was better, smarter, and very meticulous! I would have died if not for having an ally who''s smarter than him. And had it not been for the Crab Commander''s pride, he would have lost. You, on the other hand, seem to be something in the middle of those two. You hold your head up with such pride as a Royal Vampire and treat your Coven as trusted subordinates. I must have made you angry that I permanently killed that Champion. So who''s next? Are you all going toe at me at once? Be sure to have stronger defenses than that other guy had. He was so weak."


    "I''ll kill you!" The woman roared.


    "Stop. He is taunting you to attack. Our advantage is that we are in the sky. Avoid fighting him in close range and keep the skies to your advantage. Do not underestimate him. His sword attacks aren''t normal. Knights. Assume that his sword can cut through your shields. Now go!" The Vampire Commander ordered.


    The Champions all attacked together. Cold energy erupted in the sky as the Vampires harnessed the cold energy. Ice crystals were appearing around the two mages.


    The knights, swordsmen, and the berserker flew at the forefront and readied their attacks. The assassin vampires had vanished, and the mages were preparing massive attacks.


    The sky above grew colder as the Champions harnessed their power.


    "Kyros was right. Vampires, being dark dependent, prefer the cold as their elements." Aron watched as the vampires began to send out their attacks. Aron slowly allowed himself to fall into the horde of shadow armies below as the attacks reached the hill he was standing on.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    A burst of Force energy erupted and allowed Aron to dive into the armies quickly.


    "[Gravity Slow!]" The Vampire Commander activated strange magic that caused Aron''s fall to slow down.


    "Kill him! He''s trying to hide in the army!" The Commander ordered.


    The Berserker Vampire grewrge and bulky as he rushed forward.


    The two mage vampires created massive magic energy that covered the berserker creating a bulky ice armor that covered his entire body. The ice armor had several spikes and had terrifying thickness.


    The slow fall caused Aron to smirk.


    "What powerful magic. You guys aren''t normal. No one within the Minds has it!"


    He saw the Vampire Berserker charging like a bull, and the space around him was slow.


    Aron raised his arms and prepared to attack when he felt another strange magic.


    "[Slow Motion]!" The Vampire Commander summoned a powerful time-space magic that turned the air around Aron into a strange watery-form.


    It was as if Aron was underwater. Every move he made was restricted and moved with extreme slowness.


    With the possible movement of Aron weakened, the knights and swordsmen all rushed to kill Aron.


    Aron frowned as he felt it.


    "What use of your strength when you can''t achieve the velocity to perform the attack?" The Vampire Commanderughed.


    Aron saw it all and waited. He felt great crisis telling him of his death, but he did not panic.


    A few moments back, before the group separated and went their own way...


    Kyros gave the directive, and Martha, Mezal, and Aron made their preparations.


    "I''ll take the East. I sense strange darkness there. I should get stronger with that Commander." Martha said.


    "We''ll take the South. I feel that that ce is the ce to go if I want this young blood to live." Mezalughed.


    "Uncle?"


    "Eh? I''m toozy to think. I''ll just stay here."


    "What?" Kyros, Martha, and Mezal eximed.


    "Husband! Don''t make light of this!"


    "I''m not. I know that you want me to go West since that''s also the ce that gives me the highest chance to survive. Kyros, you nned to stay here to face whatever that''sing here, right? I want to fight it."


    "Are you sure?"


    "As I said, I have to challenge Destiny. If I go West, then I am fleeing from the battles that could kill me. Besides, I want to try something. We''ve in two Commander-level creatures. The Temple greatly bestowed the powers of the dragons to us. It gave the bulk of the energy to the main Steele family, and after killing that Crab, the Myster Experience System also gave me quite a lot. I''ve leveled up quite a few times and reached level 33. But there is so much that I have gained in my training. The research of Branze have pushed my abilities to a level that even I do not know. I want to know what my limit is so that I can break past it. I''ve always known my strength as a warrior who evolves in the midst of battle. The best way for me to grow stronger is to fight in a battle that could kill me. I haven''t had that for a time." Aron smiled.


    "Fine. I can tell that the Commandering here is a Vampire. The Corruption of the Fanged Fallen speaks of it. So let''s talk about their possible abilities..."


    Kyros began to list down the traits and possible abilities that vampires had.


    Aron had known that vampires had a tremendous ability in the areas of Ice and Water. The two are their elements. Kyros guessed that if a particrly powerful vampire with the ability of water appears, the vampire would have the ability to merge it with Dark and another element within the Waters elemental family. Time Magic was a very rare form of magic that only a few could grasp. But as Destiny was cruel and vicious, Kyros told Aron to prepare for the worst.


    With Water, Time, and Dark working together and creating a zone that slowed Aron, his death was certain. The approaching vampires were all Champions with impressive potential, and they were all charging at Aron.


    But this was all ording to Aron''s n.


    "Very good, Destiny.. Send them all! I can''t make several powerful shes! Soe at me together so that I''ll only use one sh!" Aron smiled as his schemes were working.

 Chapter 264 - Fight Of The Steele Army

    Aron waited for the enemies to approach him. He knew that even if he tried to flee with the best of his abilities, the enemy would still be able to chase him down and catch up with him. And he knew that the enemy would also crowd and exaggerate the attacks that they would do.


    And this was what Aron hoped for. He needed to be able to wipe out as many of them as he could.


    The biggest problem was that he couldn''t move freely. But that scenario pushed Aron to the very limits.


    "If I have awakened the power of Hyperion Steele, then can I cut things by applying force like a sword to cut, or do I wield power to cut itself? Is cut a result of force, or is it a concept that Hyperion Steele created?" Aron pondered.


    And so, at that moment, he harnessed the power that he had and produced a force like a de that cuts through the magic that was drowning him.


    The space and time that had an ocean of water around him suddenly lost its power with a power to cut urred. The cut created the opening that Aron needed as he made his Force energy explode out as the Crab Commander did.


    The Commander felt it and was horrified at the sudden loss of his spell.


    "That''s Shellcross''s ability!" The Commander realized it. But what he couldn''t understand was how his magic was forced out.


    "It''s a far, poorer imitation of my brother''s push, but it got the job done." Aron smiled. He realized that while he could recreate it, he could never reach the level of his brother.


    Aron pushed the Magic energy with a clumsy method and even created a pushing force to throw him forward.


    "Even though I feel slow, I''ll kill you!" Aron revealed his extremely dismal acting skills and charged forward.


    BOOM!


    With the hindering power gone, Aron made a swift shing motion. The power of the Quick de appeared as Aron harnessed the speed of a quick de. He shed out at the approaching Berserker and the knights nearby.


    "No Quick de has harmed me!" The Berserker Vampire roared and dove faster. Whether it was because Aron''s acting was so bad or that the Vampires had not known that the magic of his lord was removed, the front line of Berserker and Knights charged forward.


    At that moment, the assassin-type Champions that were so far behind were also enveloped with strange water that created a current towards Aron, and the pair moved faster than the knights and berserkers. Even though they were thest to attack, they actually became the first to arrive.


    "Everyone! Retreat!" The Commandermanded, but it was toote.


    The sideward sh was made.


    "[Force Severance]!"


    The power of True Cut was harnessed, and it urred. The power that Aron wielded was able to cut anything that had toughness equal to 350 vitality points. Be it ice, armor, or innate toughness, it was able to cut through it.


    And the power that Aron released was unlike a sharp sword in which speed and power would decrease as it met resistance. Instead, it was a constant force that severed everything in that area. And the force was consistent. Everything was being severed.


    SLASH!


    Skin and soul were severed as the sharp sword sliced through the several savage soldiers.


    The Commander felt their souls disperse in that instance and felt a painful sensation as his connection with all of them was severed. The strange attack that Aron used harnessed True Cut that even his mental connection with them was severed, leading to a mind attack.


    Two knights, the Berserker, one swordsman, and one assassin, were caught in the attack of Aron.


    The surviving vampires felt the pain, as well as their souls, felt a slicing pain as if a sword was stabbed on their forehead.


    After delivering the attack, Aron used his force energy to push him down to the army of shadows below.


    The shadow beings were still marching and moving towards the portal, and the constant movement allowed Aron to blend in.


    "That was nice. All the experience was given to me. Kyros was right. Since I''m the only one around, I get the whole pie." Aron smiled as he fell. He could feel the energy building up, and he was close to yet another level up.


    He began to move and would perform stabs and shes when he could. With his talent, these attacks didn''t consume a bit, and he was slowly using the shadows to regain his spent strength.


    "Now, I just hope Kyros''s theory will work." Aron secretly gazed and observed the Champions.


    "I need to kill at least a hundred of these shadows to regain the force energy I spent..." Aron thought.


    The angry mages shot their massive ice magic as they recovered.


    Two huge ice beams were shot down on the area where Aron disappeared too.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The ice beams exploded out and created a shockwave of blue energy.


    Aron managed to escape the attacks and stood at the very edge of the explosion.


    And then he felt it.


    "Interesting. It doesn''t require us to kill, but as long as deaths happen. Kyros was right. As long as we can cause the deaths of the forces of Destiny, Fate will reward us by directly gifting us with recovery and even the needed experience points to level up..." Aron smiled.


    "My lord!" The two mages turned to their Commander.


    The Commander had peered into the ground since the start and began to look at each of the shadows that moved.


    "No good. The disguise is too perfect. I can''t tell them apart. But that attack isn''t something a Champion can perform several times. Craft ice burgs or ice spikes with your magic. Your magic force can kill those shadows, but ice burgs and ice spikes can''t kill our forces." The Commander ordered.


    The mages began to shoot out their attacks on the ground.


    "That Commander is quite smart... Oh well... I''ve killed Champions through guerri warfare. Let''s see if I still got the moves..." Aron smiled as he disappeared. He didn''t just have Shadow Ghouls. But Kyros bestowed on him Dark Cloak with a portion of Wings of Darkness.


    Back in the Nephilim Temple...


    The armies of the Steele family continued their advances. Branze used [Eyes of the Supreme Commander] to ensure no one would die and focused his attention on instructing the Coven. Even with the ability, the massive creatures proved trouble that even the Coven was having a hard time. Only Gojirrah and Reptilia could y the beasts easily, but the rest were struggling.


    But with Branze''s teachings and strategies, the group was able to fight and challenge them.


    The first retreat urred when Gregory was critically wounded, and his legs were crushed.


    Branze, Diana, Gojirrah, and Reptilia held the line while the rest fled. And when everyone was in the Temple, they retreated.


    The servants took their positions as archers and began to attack. But the massive creatures had means of creating protective coverings forcing Branze to give instructions as to how to attack.


    The Coven had to make another attack as the massive creatures were reaching the walls, and this time, the Coven managed to push back even without Branze''s help.


    The army advanced, andter, the knights and servants joined the Coven''s struggle, and another strategy was being implemented.


    As the killings continued, more and more of the Steele family reached Captain-level strength. And with Branze molding them, they were acquiring more and more abilities.


    Soon, Branze didn''t allow the Coven to fight in the battle but only apanied the team to help them. Through Branze and Diana''s Molding, the army had yet to suffer any deaths. But those critically injured were many. So whenever that happens, Diana and Branze would create a strong wall to help bring back those wounded back to the Temple.


    But each time they made their attacks, it gave the knights and servants a great amount of experience and increased their confidence. On the first few attacks, many were trembling to the bones. And Branze and Diana had to summon their shields several times to hold the enemy. But soon, the team grew acquainted.


    Even against the monstrous beast, the Steele family no longer had fear in their eyes.


    "It''s time. Alright, everyone! We are at thest line of our training. We will be attempting to push beyond the limits of where the Temple can bestow its Holy energy! Coven, you will be the main group that will make the killing blows. The rest will only serve to distract and defend against it. The purpose of this is to mold you all to be Force users! And not just any force users, but Holy Force users!" Branze dered.


    Diana was stunned. But she realized that everyone believed the insane proposal that Branze had dered.


    "You have all fought and felt the power of Holy. Now it''s time to take off those training mechanisms and be a force user. Do you believe that we can do this? Do you believe that you giant yers can be Holy users?!" Branze asked.


    "Yes!" The army chorused.


    "Good! Charge and fight! Our first goal is to reach the distance where the Temple''s empowerment fails. That will be our training ground!" Branze shouted.


    No longer were the Steele servants and knights an immature group of weaklings. The moment they charged, they charged like a disciplined army.


    The Steele Family finally had an army.


    The Steele army roared and fought the army of giants.


    "Husband... You''ve changed. I can feel powerful energy in our words." Diana called to Branze.


    "I got a Job. Or rather, I awakened it. The power of Push isn''t just the movement of discement. Its advancement and moving forward.. Because of that, my very words can drive a man to move forward even in this situation.


    "What job did you awaken?"


    "It has a strange Title.. It''s called Motivational Speaker."

 Chapter 265 - Fight Of Our Lives

    On a dark region full of huge mountains...


    The Emberdon Champions, along with Mezal, flew in their magic carpet and watched the region.


    "It''s too quiet. There has not been one trace of an army marching. Are we headed in the right direction?" Demerus asked.


    "This is our enemy! Anywhere in the right direction. But it is worrisome that not even my magic can sense movements here. Where are they?" Triona frowned.


    "The most obvious answer is that it sensed us and have been preparing a trap..." Mezal thought for a bit.


    "A trap?" Faye had not yet gotten over the sinister plot to kill them when they moved out of the portal. The Commander they fought was too strong, and that she even thought that they would die.


    "Most likely."


    "Is there a n to escape the trap?" Triona asked again.


    "I''m not like my grandson. In fact, I''m trying to be. That kid managed to create a n that utilized all of our powers properly. Right now, we don''t have a n or the power to kill a Commander easily. So you guys have to think of a way to get stronger too."


    The Champions were silent.


    "I bet you guys are starting to regret this whole alliance thing?" Mezalughed.


    "We don''t have a choice in this, do we?" Faye sighed.


    "We are Champions of the weakest region in the nes World. All of a sudden, we are here fighting Champions and Commanders and possibly Cardinals! We know... that this might be ourst adventure." Demerus dered.


    "As Fate willed it," Mezal exined.


    "You have reached a mighty stage in your life. It seems that Fate had spared you for some reason. And now, you are being brought into this ce where you may not survive. But of course, we also have to face the horrors here."


    "Why? Why are we destined for such harsh trials?" Ressi asked.


    "I believe that as my family and me, you are Fate''s champions. We were selected to aid the Nephilim, my grandson, in to fight against Destiny. It''s just Cardinals. As we have the blood of some gods in us, this battle is between gods and fallen. It is something that we cannotprehend now." Mezal exined.


    "You said that you can turn us into Fate Challengers. What exactly is that?" Triona asked.


    "A power that I had all my life. From what I understand, Fate and Destiny are real. We are all Fated to go through and live our lives in certain limitations. We are also destined to live and walk a path to reach a certain destination. Fate Challenger is what we have, and our enemies have the opposite, Destiny Challengers. The two seem to be different. For some strange reason, we have to struggle to survive, while those of Destiny live a life of having everything being offered or given to them."


    "So we are like the underdogs that have to fight and struggle by the skin of our teeth, while our enemies have all the advantages?"


    "Exactly. It was obvious to our previous enemies. Champions who have Commander potential. Some even had Cardinal potentials. They are the elite who seem to have it all. While Destiny helps his Champions, Fate Challenges hers. Kyros and my family had to go through a lot to learn Fate Challenger. Fate always puts us in very dangerous situations that force us to grow. Of course, you have the advantage of fighting with experienced people like us who can guide you. But our current plight isn''t quite advantageous, isn''t it?" Mezal gave a sadugh.


    "Then we have to prepare for the fight of our lives. Sisters. Fate is binding us with the Steele family in blood." Demerus said boldly.


    "It''s good that you know that. Fate has a very cruel way of doing things. But I guess if we are to fight Destiny, this is the bare minimum. How else can we surpass the cruel limitations imposed on this world? How can the lowly Champions of the Londs surpass the monstrous beings that can y gods and fallen?"


    The four were silent as they heard it.


    "Sister Stellya will soon be facing those giants that Master Kyros allowed moving into the portal..." Ressi recalled.


    "Don''t think she has it easy. From the words of master Mezal, all of us will have our fair share of hardships."


    "But it seems... ours is a bit moreplicated. I''m sorry, guys. I''m not sure what happened. This could be Fate''s work... But it also could be that Destiny deceived me somehow."


    "Deceived you?!"


    "I was searching for a ce where we can train you. But, if Destiny deceived me, he may have taken advantage of my Foresight and made an insidious redirection."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Remember what I said about our discoveries of Foresight? If we have a question, Fate will try to guide us towards the answer. I have been looking for a ce to train you. So either Destiny got wind of that. Or Fate is just a damned masochist..." Mezal frowned.


    At that moment, everyone felt it.


    It was a cold fear that paralyzed them. Then, at the front was a darkness that hovered over the sky.


    "What is that...?!" Demerus shouted.


    "An army of wraiths. We are fighting a flying army." Mezal frowned.


    "What?!" Triona, Demerus, and Ressi shouted together in shock.


    "That feeling. I''ve faced wraiths before. I know the cold, shivering sensation they bring. And if we can feel it from here, then it must be that there are so many of them."


    Demerus suddenly turned around and shot a beam to the back.


    BOOM!


    Although it was in the air, it was as if it struck something.


    A magical wall had been erected.


    The Champions quicklyunched several attacks on it, but the attacks couldn''t break.


    "Impossible! What magic is this?"


    "Wraiths that can cast magic?" Mezal frowned.


    "No, wait.... That barrier! It''s not made of ordinary magic! It''s a magic formation of some sort! Someone created the barrier here! It allows entry but prevents people from leaving! This is a massive trap prepared for us!"


    Demerus and the Champions began to attack the outer area and were shocked by the size of the magic force field.


    "Impossible! Thisrge field is too huge! It will take several Champions to erect a force field of this size! It''s too big!" Triona continued to send attacks everywhere, including above them, and could see the great heights of the magic force field like a dome.


    "Our enemy created a massive force field to trap us. Since it couldn''t tell where we would pass, they created this massive to catch us!"


    "But how are they maintaining a force field of this size and power?! It would take dozens of Captains to stop an attack from a Champion! Even Commanders would require at least two or three!"


    "Either that... or they performed one of the darkest and strangest magic of all. This is the magic of a shaman! Our enemies probably sacrificed two or three Champions to erect such a force field. It will stay up for a time."


    "That is correct." A charming voice resounded around the area.


    The Champions and Mezal began to look around but could not find an enemy.


    "Greetings, Champions of Fate. Allies of the Nephilim. I congratte you in being able to y two Commanders." The beautiful voiceughed.


    "Did... Destiny ambush us?" Faye asked.


    "That''s probably it. It seems that Fate didn''t know of this chess piece of Destiny. And here I thought Fate was being cruel... Or could it be that Fate knew what was here and sent us?" Mezal pondered.


    The fact that this Commander had been watching their previous battle indicated that the mysterious woman who erected the massive force field had a strange power. Even Kyros was not able to detect the eyes of this woman.


    "Destiny masked the power of this enemy. That''s why I never felt Fate''s warning. I was a fool!" Mezal cursed.


    "It''s only now that I sense the great crisis before us." Mezal cursed.


    "What is that woman? How is she doing this?"


    "Since shemanded an army of wraiths and produced this massive trap, she must be a Shaman, and she is harnessing her powers to send an Apparition which is an invisible, intangible ghost that moves around. It can''t attack, but it''s the perfect spies. I''ve met a Shaman in my adventures, and it was through that power, Fate lost track of my family for a time. This is the same thing. So our enemy must be a Shaman." Mezal guessed.


    "Correct! And my Apparition has been following you since your fight with Commander Shellcross. I was confused why you began to split up. But now, I can see the wisdom of the Nephilim. Unfortunately, my Apparition can only follow one. Did your leader do that so that it would be difficult to track of you?" The voice answered.


    "It can hear us!" Demerus was horrified.


    "How can wemunicate in this situation?!" Faye cursed.


    "Just bid your goodbyes now." The charming voice chuckled.


    BOOM!


    Mezal released a powerful Force of energy.


    "Master Mezal?"


    "I don''t have much time, so listen up. This is a poor imitation of my son''s Push. But it should do well against the shaman''s ability to listen. I''ll exin to you her power and the n. Be ready to fight for our lives. Destiny has sent this Commander to kill us. It sent the strongest enemy that we can possibly face to kill you, the immature allies. We thought we would fight ground forces but directly met with the air support of the arm of Destiny. And not only that, they trapped us!" Mezal exined.


    "Sending an army to kill a dog?" Triona cursed.


    "Be a bit more confident. We aren''t dogs. We are the Champions of the Nephilim.. We are Fate Challengers."

 Chapter 266 - Fight Of Attrition

    The massive force field extended for more than two kilometers. It was a massive trap that was set and ensured that the group would pass through it.


    Mezal had used his powers to create a Force Wall, not only using the basic techniques that Knights have to sound-proof his immediate surroundings but even employed small parts of Push.


    "The good news is that this force field cannot be manipted and shrunk. The army of the wraiths ising as we speak. Yet, the force field has not shrunk. Destiny has trapped us, and the Commander has spared no grace for us to move. It wants to kill us immediately at whatever expense. The fact that she didn''t shrink the force field proves that she can''t do it!" Mezal exined.


    "What if that''s what she wants us to think?" Demerus asked.


    "No. Look. The wraiths have been hiding and only appeared when she was sure that we fell into this trap. And it''s already forming a formation to attack us on all sides. The logical thing to do is decrease the size of the force field to stop our movements. But no actions have been taken. We can use the space to our advantage. Those wraiths are undead creatures and are onlymanded mentally. But that means that the Shaman cannot make specificmands on those wraiths. She should have Champions among the wraiths who are sentient and are alive,manding some numbers of those wraiths."


    "What''s the n?"


    "The enemy doesn''t know our abilities. We have to outsmart them! We will fight a battle of attrition and stay on the defensive. If things get dicey, we all have to fly our separate ways. I trust you all are skilled in aerialbat."


    "Of course," Demerus answered.


    "Good. We have to maintain a formation, and since you have a lot of magic potions, go ahead and keep shooting. The force field that traps us can only be held for so long. So we wait until that time, and then we split up and escape."


    "Split up? But that will put us into more harm than good!"


    "I need you to pull away a massive amount of enemy to help me look for the body of the Shaman. Don''t worry. I can fly."


    "You can actually fly?!"


    "Yes. But I need to use more energy as I will be creating a Force Foothold in the air. As I''m running in the air in that form, I can quickly run out of Force Energy. But luckily, I have this!" Mezal revealed arge sword with three handles. This was the Champion weapon of the Steele family that Mezal carried and used against Kyros when he challenged him. Kyros gave it to him for his mission as an extra set of weapons."


    "This is Trinity. Three swords in one. As you know, this sword has been blessed by a Shaman and can absorb Force Energy on my kills."


    It was then that the Emberdon Champions realized something from Mezal''s words. They did their best to hide their expressions.


    "This will help me maintain my flight. During our defensive battle, I will try to make sneak attacks and dive into the army as if I am trying to clear open a path for us. But my real purpose is to seek where the body of the Shaman is. Once we find that Shaman, and once the force field loses power, we begin our counterattack. For now, focus everything on defense!" Mezal ordered.


    "Yes!" The Champions shouted.


    "Let''s begin!" Mezal undid the power of the wall, and the Emberdon Champions began to channel their power.


    "Impressive ability to push me away. But no matter what ns you make, it''s all futile against my wraith horde! Kill them!" The alluring voice ordered.


    The loud, screeching, high-pitched shrieks could be heard as the wraiths approached fast.


    The Shaman stood at the other end of the battlefield. It was a tall woman with dark blue skin color. She had strange markings and tattoos all over her body that was glowing.


    Suddenly, the eyes of the woman opened.


    "What a futile n. Such foolishness." She smiled. She had heard everything that Mezal talked about.


    "Send in the weaker wraiths first. Have a bulk of the wraiths attack their back so that they would be forced to retreat slowly from the Soul Wall. They n to beat us in a fight of attrition and escape once the Soul Wall fails."


    "The fools..." A Grimughed at the ns.


    "Let''s humor them! We keep attacking them with the weak wraiths for about five or so minutes. Position yourself nearby so that you canmand your wraiths to fight. And when they are weary and tired, I want you all to join the battle and dere, or shout at each other to make haste as the force field will give way. They will separate and flee. I wish to see their foolish bodies strike the walls of the force field. But, with a massive army of wraiths around them releasing the cold energy, I''m sure those Champion mages won''t be able to sense the magic of the Soul Wall wall as they once did." The Shaman Commanderughed.


    "As you wish, madam!" Several dark floating Grim chorused andughed at the sinister plot of their madam.


    Each of the wraith-like creatures was like a floating dark cloak with bones as bodies and feet. Each of them held a strange weapon that was also made of bones.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The series of eruptions marked the beginning of the battle.


    The Champion began to send out a series of attacks.


    "They have nice artifacts. Those scepters that those mages wield... It''s enough to make me envious... And soon, we will have all four of them." The Shaman Commanderughed.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The approaching wraiths created powerful cold energy, and all the Champions had to summon a strange fire to cover them.


    "[me Heart]!" Triona channeled a great fire that created a warming sensation all over their body to fight the cold.


    "It''s still too cold...!" Triona cursed as she could feel the cold hinder their abilities.


    "Grid your loins and


    With the fire that glowed, the team managed to resist the coldness and continued to attack.


    "Drink your potions! Don''t spare any! This could be ourst battle!" Mezal shouted.


    The group began to attack with explosive mes and lightning attacks as the other elements did not work well against the wraiths.


    Mezal kept creating [Force Wall] around them to prevent the wraiths from moving in closer.


    The Shaman Commander watched and smiled.


    "If it''s a battle of attrition you want, then it''s a battle of attrition that you get." The Commander smiled.


    The Emberdon Champions kept drinking potions and shooting while Mezal had a pained expression from maintaining the [Force Wall].


    A minute passed. Two minutes. Three minutes.


    The Shaman Commander waited as the group continued their harassment.


    More and more wraiths were dying as it was trying to w their way into therge sphere that protected the Champions.


    Three more minutes passed, and the nearby Grim Champions began to frown. Even the Shaman Commander was watching intently.


    "Are they not yet out of mana yet?" She frowned. The Emberdon Champions and Mezal had constantly been releasing Magic and Force energy, yet she could sense that they were not yet any close to running out.


    The Shaman Commander was about to issue an order to change tactics when...


    "I... can''t hold on! Shoot more explosive attacks to buy me some time while I drink Force Restoring Potion!"


    "But we are also nearly out of magic!" The Champions cursed.


    "Use your Elemental Conflux Bomb!" Mezal ordered.


    "No! It will kill us as well!" Faye ordered.


    "I''ll handle it! But I''ll be drained of magic energy!" Demerus volunteered to take out his scepter and held it with the scepter he got from the Temple. A great amount of fire and lightning energy was coursing through both.


    The Shaman Commander observed and smiled.


    "Do it." Shemanded her Champions.


    The Grim received the mental orders and began to perform their facade.


    "Not good! The Soul Wall is about to copse!" A Grim ordered.


    "Stop them and cover their retreat!" Another Grim ordered.


    "You heard that?! We have to make our retreat! We need more attacks that can stop the enemy''s advances!" Mezal warned.


    "I''ll deal with that!" Faye shouted as she harnessed powerful wind energy on her Scepter of Element and her scepter.


    Demerus aimed his two scepters to the sides, and Faye also did the same in another direction.


    The Grims were preparing for the powerful attack. They knew that the group would split up after this attack and act as distractions while Mezal would look for their Commander.


    "Hmph. Foolish wish. After Commander Shellcross''s defeat, we now than to be caught off guard." One of the Grim Champions secretly sneered at the futile ns of Mezal. He then announced the next part of the Commander''s scheme, and that was to fake the copse of the Soul Wall.


    At hismand, a strange light flickered in the distance where the wall stood.


    "The Soul Wall has copsed! Send more wraiths to cover their escape!" A Grim shouted.


    "Now!" Mezal ordered.


    BOOM! BOOM! VOOOSH!


    A fire and lightning attack erupted to the side, and a mighty gale erupted was not sent on the surrounding sides. But both Demerus and Faye focused their attack on one spot.


    All Grim Champions were at the ready, waiting for them to split up. They nned to focus the wraiths and make a quick chase at each Champion mage who would try to flee into the Soul Wall and smash into it.


    But as everyone ordered their wraiths to brace and set up a defensive magic shield, they became easy targets for the overpowering magic of Demerus, and Faye burned and banished the wraiths in front of them.


    ZOOM!


    The magic carpet zoomed with all its speed towards the direction.


    "Keep attacking this point! leave the defenses to me!" Mezal shouted.


    The figure of the flying carpet flew out of the smoke and flew to a ce without any Grim Champions standing guard.


    The massive differences between expectation and reality caused the waiting Champions to nk out and waste another precious second watching Mezal and the Champions flee.

 Chapter 267 - Fight Of Mezal

    In another realm, where time and space had no meaning...


    A tall, mysterious man watched as the fighting urred.


    "As expected... that Mezal has been corrupted by the Nephilim. To think that a son of Hyperion would resort to such tricks and mind games. Whatever. Mezal Steele''s death is still certain. Several Grim Champions for the son Hyperion is not a bad trade. On to the next show..." The man waved his hand and turned to another trap he set.


    "Activate Trap." The tall man waved his hand


    Back on the dark... A handsome young man wearing gigantic, dark steel armor was seated on a throne. He suddenly opened his eyes. He could feel it as thest sight of Commander Shellcross was finally sent to him. Dragon Commander Pyrestarter was in another world, so when he died, no vision was sent back. But this time, a vision was sent on his death.


    The vision had a familiar character. A few days ago, the young prince had been having visions of a majestic dragon. A beautiful woman with a vampiric power was devouring on a dragon. And the dragon that this woman was devouring was not an ordinary one, but a Thane Dragon!


    The sight of power and beauty aroused the young prince. He knew it was Destiny''s vision but didn''t understand it yet.


    "So that dragon is among the Nephilim''s allies. And it''s a beautiful as she appeared in that vision." The young man smirked.


    "Gemfire." The young man called out mentally.


    "Yes, Lord Cardinal."


    "A young dragon is headed towards you. Capture her. She will be my Chambermaid."


    "Yes, Lord Cardinal." The woman respectfully answered. But as the link between the two ended, a great rage surfaced in her heart.


    "First, the Nephilim takes my husband, and now, it seduces my lord?!" The woman who answered the call of the Cardinal was the very same woman who was the wife of Pyrestarter, the in Dragon Commander.


    Her wings grewrge, and so did her form. Finally, the form of a Wyvern appeared.


    BOOM!


    With a wave of her wings, she flew with an incredible speed, surprising her Champions.


    "Come out! I know you are here!" The loud roar of the dragon echoed as she raced towards the sky.


    She then smelled a familiar scent, and the rage built up.


    "You dare devour my husband?!" Another boom and the wyvern flew in a specific direction.


    "Master Martha..." Puff called out as he saw the approaching dragon.


    "I know. That woman saw us. Let''s go! We can''t fight her head on!" Martha began to retreat and opened a void, and dove into it.


    Back on the other battlefield...


    Even the Shaman Commander was caught off guard from the sudden movements of Mezal and the Emberdon Champions.


    "What are you doing!? Chase!" The Commander called out and awoke the Grims.


    The Grim Champions was not in a formation that was ready to tackle a sudden. Mezal and his group had already pushed outside of the circle and even chose a direction where they were furthest from the circle.


    "They must have changed ns andmunicated through Message Talismans in the middle of the battle." The Shaman Commander guessed.


    "They might have underestimated the wraiths and found that the n to push through in separate directions would not work and made this one. They can''t speak out as they know I am listening...." The Shaman Commander exined to the Grims, who was reorganizing their ranks and chasing the fleeing magic carpet.


    "Add pressure to their retreat to make them fly faster. Champions chase them so that they will move at an incredibly fast speed. Show me the scene of them smashing into the wall as nned." The Shaman Commander ordered the Champions.


    "Yes, Madam." One of the hovering Grims rushed out of his position and gave chase at the tail of the retreating flying carpets.


    Mezal and the Champions had no trouble pushing through with only a few wraiths in front of them.


    "Retreat at full speed on mymand! Activate the magic to make the carpet fly twice the speed! The Soul Wall has fallen! We can escape!" Mezal shouted, and the Grims pursued faster as they heard that that carpet had yet to reach maximum speed.


    "Fly faster!" The Commander ordered, and the Grim''s entire body began to emit a dark aura, and they flew faster.


    The group began to dive deeper and used more and more of their attacks. Finally, they were moving closer to the ce where the Soul Wall once was.


    "Now! Retreat!" Mezal ordered.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Two eruptive sounds boomed out.


    One of the sounds came from the Grims, who anticipated the speedy retreat and sped up with a power twice of their current speed, and another from Mezal leaping off the carpet and kicking a Force Wall that sent him flying towards the Champions!


    "Die!" Mezal shouted as his body flew towards the approaching Champion.


    As he did, a Shield appeared on his left hand, and thick Earth Energy enveloped Mezal. His actions were the opposite of the n. This was the same attack he performed with Kyros''s aid. But with the increase of his level and him learning the basics of Branze''s Force Push, he did the same technique and refined it.


    Mezal flew so fast, and the approaching Champions was caught off guard. All seven of the Champions were flying together in their facade to chase the Champions. But, in that split second, when Mezal did something beyond their expectations, all they could do was harness powerful magic energy to defend against Mezal.


    Their soul was being drawn out of their souls created a strong wall in front of them. Ice began to form as the soul magic had condensed into their Elemental Affinities.


    Mezal was blessed with two genius sons. One who made the theories and another who showed him how to do it. And like this, the attack that Kyros showed them when they finally reunited, [Force Stab], was easily passed on to him.


    Yet as instructed, Mezal didn''t reveal any of this. In his fight against the Crab Commander, he only showed his ability as a Force Pdin and hid his abilities to perform True Cut. And now, Mezal revealed another set of skills he already had even before they fought the Crab Commander.


    "[Piercing Meteor Charge]!" Mezal shouted.


    STAB!


    The Ice defense was broken through, and it shattered as the Mezal''s meteor struck it.


    BOOM!


    "No..." The Grim''s soul dissipated.


    "Ahhhh!"


    Four of the seven Champions were caught in the charge. Their soul body was affected by the Holy Earth of Mezal''s attack.


    The flying carpet was about to reach the Soul Wall in their retreat, but suddenly...


    "PIVOT!" Demerus shouted like a madman carrying argefortable chair, and the Emberdon''s made a swift and sharp turn and charged off to follow Mezal.


    Using the same concentrated beam attack, they shot aser to one of the Grim Champions.


    "Nooo!"


    BOOM!


    With no defenses to protect him, the Champion died immediately from the beam.


    The group caught Mezal and sped off fighting through the hordes of wraiths who were not being controlled and began to hover in the air in confusion.


    The Shaman was shocked at what happened. It all happened too fast, and she was some distance away from the battle.


    "What?!" The Shaman Commander erupted in anger.


    The execution of Mezal and the Champions was so urate and precise that the charging Champions had fallen for the trap.


    The energy that the Emberdon''s used up when they made their pivot was recovered at the death of the Champion. The Myster Experience System caused them to have a boost of power.


    "Just like we nned..." Mezal sneered and secretlyughed.


    The truth was, he and the Champions knew that the Shaman could still hear them. The tale of Mezal had small lies that only the Champions would know. Mezal couldn''t gain power from his Trinity Sword. When they were still on the other side of the portal, Kyros had already asked everyone to name all of their techniques and abilities.


    Mezal revealed that the Sword and Shield of Steele had an ability that allowed him to magically equip it. As long as it was within a few meters from him, he could instantly wear it. So although he was holding Trinity in his hands with the other hand holding the smaller de of Trinity, the shield was quickly equipped when he did his charge.


    And Trinity never had the ability to recover energy. Mezal could recover Force energy because of the Myster Experience System. Those words alone were hints that the Champions noticed and knew that there was a counter n. Mezal also sent a simple message through the Message Talismans that they all had and learned of the different details of the n.


    Their goal was to fool the enemy and kill as much as they could. They faked a battle of attrition where they were being drained of energy and prolonged it as long as they could so they could. In the minutes where they dealt with the endless swarm of wraiths, Faye actually leveled up again! Mezal used him [Force Wall] to protect them, but even though he wasn''t fighting, the deaths from the wraiths easily replenished his Force energy because of the Myster Experience System.


    And the final part of the n was to fake a retreat and attack at the least expected moment. But, as Kyros had told them, Mezal only revealed another set of his secret skills when he was sure that he could kill the enemy.


    Thest two Champions fled as they could see Mezal jumping around the area and the Emberdons moving towards them.


    The Shamanmander grew angry as she realized she had been fooled.


    The Shaman began to chant with a familiarnguage that Mezal recalled to be First Word.


    All the wraiths and the surviving Grim Champs began to reveal a dim bluish glow.


    "No! Commander!" The Grim shouted.


    "What''s happening?" Demerus asked as Mezal reached the flying carpet.


    "Soul Sacrifice. It''s the same power of my Family''s [Death Stance]. But as to how she ns to execute her next attack, I don''t know." Mezal watched cautiously.


    What Mezal didn''t say was that he felt a terrifying crisis in his heart. He then saw it in his vision.


    ---


    Curse of Destiny Activated.


    Mezal Steele will die after seeing all hispanions die before him.

 Chapter 268 - Fight Of Desperation

    Martha was moving at her fastest speed. She teleported several times, but the scent of the dragon she ate always gave her way out. Even with her impressive maneuvers, the Wyvern was still chasing.


    The speed was so fast that Martha had to capture several shadow beings that they found along the way and teleported into the Separated Realm.


    Martha was exhausted and began to devour the shadow beings that Puff managed to grab.


    "Can you attack her?" Martha asked Puff as she continued to eat.


    "No. By the time you open that portal and when I step out, she will sense me. Wyverns have high mobility and unbelievable dexterity. My fastest and strongest attacks as a Wyrm would definitely miss. The same goes for my drake form. And if I assume a hybrid form of a Wyvern or a Thane, the attack would be too weak!" Puff exined.


    "I thought as much. I already considered creating a portal in front of her to send her into the Separated Realm, but it seems her dexterity can allow her to move at such speeds that she can do an extreme stop..."


    "Yeah... Wyverns do those things..." Puff sighed.


    "... What was that?" Martha asked.


    "What was what?"


    "That sigh? Were you in love with a Wyvern or something?"


    "Master! Focus on the fight!"


    "I am focusing. It''s just that I don''t see a way to win. Even Fate is dead quiet!"


    "Master, are we... going to die here? Why did you choose this strategy that will put us in harm''s way? Even with Lord Kyros''s strategy of hiding and carefully using all of our abilities, I doubt that we can kill Commanders."


    "I''m guessing you think it smart to fortify ourselves in the temple and wait for themanders toe to us, right?"


    "Yes! Here, we are divided, lost, and can fall into the traps of the enemy! We could have waited and had the power of the Temple helping us!"


    "Because it would take too long. It''s clear that this tribtion is a challenge that is meant tost for a long time. If we cooked up the meat of the Dragon or Crab Commander and those other living creatures, we would have a source of food. But what about water? Most of those in the Temple aren''t vampires. They need water, unlike us Dark Dependent cultivators. The Temple can heal wounds and restore magic and force energy. But from what I''ve experienced, it can''t satiate hunger or thirst! The knights did well and kept a huge stock of water inside the Temple, but it won''t be enough. Father-inw, my husband, Diana, and Branze are humans! We can''t turn them into vampire ghouls as they are Light cultivators. Unless they became one of Lord Kyros''s Coven, turning them into vampires will only hinder their abilities! So while we still have water, we have to use them and fight!"


    "But we could have made a coborative attack or defense with everyone together!"


    "We did, and we barely defeated one. If all of us grouped together and attacked another Commander, the other Commanders, along with the Cardinal, would arrive and kill us. Or... they could move in and destroy the Temple directly. But in this way, we keep them divided. And in this, there might be a chance to win against them. Lord Kyros is out looking for the Cardinal, and we are distracting the enemy armies giving Branze and Diana time to get the rest of the Steele and the Coven to be strong enough to help us."


    "But even then, this n is suicide! That Wyvern alone is too fast! All of thesemanders can kill us with a simple punch. And that Commander has the advantage of dealing with us since her speed is the fastest! And honestly, that father-inw of yours shouldn''t have separated from one! He could have stayed with your husband, Master Aron!"


    "You''ve seen my previous tribtion against your cells. This is the fight of Fate Challengers. We always have to go against incredible odds. And


    Don''t underestimate my father-inw. He may not have the sharp sword of my husband or the defensive skills of Branze. He has a little bit of both and cunning that isparable to Lord Kyros."


    Suddenly, the Separated realm trembled.


    Martha stood up and used her power to peer into the outside.


    Outside of the Separated Realm, the Wyvern had coated itself in dark energy and was opening itsrgemouth as strange dark energy was being absorbed into its mouth.


    All the nearby dark energy was being absorbed into her.


    "How is the wyvern doing this?!" Martha asked.


    "She''s an Abyss dragon as well! This is dangerous! Master, that is wyverns that harnesses Time and Space magic! It''s such a rare dragon breed that even I hadn''t in and devoured an Abyss Dragon! It''s very rare that we''ve only heard of this form of dragons in stories! I thought myself to be the first Abyss Dragon through your power, but..."


    "This is expected. Destiny will help them find us. And that includes having us fight monstrous beasts that break the norm! It looks like we have to flee with everything we got. Get ready, Puff. I may need you to act. We''re moving out!" Martha called out, and a portal opened up.


    As soon as the portal opened, Martha rushed outside with the small figure of Puff, and both fled with all their might.


    The portal was several kilometers away from where the Wyvern was.


    Not even a second has passed since Martha left the Separated Realm. But the Wyvern immediately gave chase.


    BOOM!


    The p of her wings created a shockwave as the Wyvern flew. The dark energy around the area would manifest and be devoured as she flew.


    "Master!'' Puff cursed.


    "I know!" Martha opened another portal and teleported another great distance of several kilometers, and when she did, the pair would rush for several seconds before opening another portal.


    Yet even then, the Wyvern was gaining on them. The space and dimensions around the area grew erratic, making it more difficult and costly for Martha to open portals. Moreover, the portals she opened could now only make her teleport with several hundreds of meters as the Wyvern was getting close.


    "No choice. We have to fight!" Martha sighed.


    "Master..." Puff spoke once more.


    "I know. I''ve felt it too. To think that I would face another fight of desperation much more dangerous than the one against those Thane Dragons." Martha nced to her left and red at the approaching figure.


    Compared to the Wyvern, the energy that this figure released was so strong and so thick that it was iparable.


    The figure of the handsome prince was revealed, and the man gazed lustfully at Martha.


    Back on the other side of the battlefield...


    The magic that shamans had was not like the usual magics that most cultivators use. Most cultivators use Magic Force that springs out from their physical bodies and is harnessed and earned through training, magical fruits, cores, and certain magical enforcing processes that stronger magic practitioners perform on cultivators for a steep price.


    The path of magic itself was so expensive that the Steele Family held no hopes or desires to walk that path for its huge expenses.


    But even more mysterious and rare are Soul Magic Cultivators. They do not draw out magic from any items but from their very souls themselves.


    The magic of shamans invoked so much forbidden magic that had to do with souls. Mezal knew that his father-inw had great magics that even managed to hide him from Fate! And beyond Fate, Mezal believed that that magic hid his family for a time from Destiny.


    Mezal developed [Death Stance] from observing how the shamans, who were very weak physically, could draw out the magic that could match enemies several levels higher than themselves. The Vige Shaman Elder himself had powers that could challenge a Champion!


    And now, that mysterious magic was used to draw in a power that no Champion couldprehend.


    "Army of One!" The Shaman began as she started chanting.


    "She making the entire army her body!" Mezal concluded.


    "What?!"


    "Shoot her down! We cannot make herplete that form! She will have power and body that is may even surpass a Cardinal!" Mezal ordered.


    The wraith army was vanishing and, turning into a bright, bluish-white mist, moved towards the Shaman.


    "Quick! Let''s use the Emberbombs!" Demerus shouted.


    The Emberdons did not hesitate and brought out a small orang crystal and channeled energy into it, and ced it on the tip of their scepter. The crystal began to melt, and a bright orange me glowed on the scepter.


    "Fire!" Demerus shouted.


    Together with Demerus, Faye, Triona, and Ressi, all shouted out loud as they channeled andmanded the massive energy at the tip of their scepter to be fired out.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The explosion was so massive and strong that Mezal took to the front and activated his [Force Wall] to shield themselves from the fire. But even then, they were still blown back from the force of the explosion.


    "Quick! Retreat!" Mezal ordered as he knew that such an attack wouldn''t be enough to kill the Shaman.

 Chapter 269 - Fight Of Souls

    Aron Steele was no longer able to hide in the horde of shadows. In fact, he fell into a great disadvantage in the middle of the fight. He was able to kill some of the remaining Champions through the use of the environment and the minions of the darkness.


    But right as he was about to kill thest one, the Champion struck back, and the Commander suddenly rushed in.


    The blood of the Champions he slew had managed to stick on him and was used by the Vampire Commander as a means to find Aron.


    It all happened so fast, and Aron relied on his Path of Combat to evade and avoid the attacks of the Vampire Commander and keep himself alive.


    Aron could evade and kill the Champion, but his right arm and left arm were sliced off by the Commander.


    The battle turned into a chase as Aron fled and tried to hide within the shadows. The first thing Aron did was order the ghouls to move out of his body along with his attire. Instead, the dark creature moved and blended with the shadows and disappeared in it.


    The Shadow ghouls could now understand basicmands and followed, bringing a piece of the Wings of Darkness with them. Aron activated his Force energy and sliced all forms of parasites that were the cause of the enemy detecting him.


    The chase continued, and through various near evades and slips, Aron bumped into one of the monsters, and suddenly, his form became ck, and he fled to the numerous creatures of the darkness.


    The Vampire Commander didn''t sh out. He knew that Aron could evade, and killing more of the shadows was making Aron stronger and helping him recover Force Energy.


    "Your instincts are incredible. If it weren''t for the fact that I wanted to make you my Coven, I''d have killed you off so easily. But it''s hard when I''m trying to capture you. Still, you fell for my trap. I control the very blood of my Coven. So with those drops on your body, it was easy to find you. How did you know that it was those blood that gave away your location? Was it because of your Path of Combat? Amazing..."


    The disappearance of his dark armor forced the nearby shadow creatures to attack him. This caused the Vampire Commander to pause from his relentless attacks. But after some contemting, the Commander quickly made powerful attacks that utilized strange blood energy that acted as a sword.


    The sword shed out and slew the nearby shadow creatures revealing Aron, who evaded it by ducking.


    "[Blood Field]!" The Vampire Commander shouted as the Blood sword exploded and rained down on Aron.


    But Aron miraculously avoided all drops and jumped towards the uncontroble shadow creatures. He tackled one, and surprisingly, the darkness covered him and even gave him arms. Then, after moving deeper into the army, Aron vanished once more.


    The Vampire Commander flew up and had a very impressed look.


    "Amazing! If you be my Coven, I ought to be the strongest Commander among the forces of Cardinal Heralcus." The Vampire Commander was amazed.


    "You harnessed your sword energy and created concentrated sshes to counter the parts of the blood you couldn''t evade and evaded the rest. I''ve never seen someone evade the rain as you did. Your skills vastly surpass my former champions. Your Path of Combat is even greater than mine! And there is that mysterious ability of yours to recover at the deaths of those nearby." The Vampire Commander smiled.


    "And even when I sliced off your two hands, you managed to kick it and make it disappear into the shadow, ordering those shadow ghouls to keep it hidden... You were right in doing that. Had I drank a bit of your blood, I could easily find you." The Vampire Commanderughed.


    "The darkness of your shadow ghouls is also intriguing. It is a darkness that surpasses the quality that Cardinal Heralcus can summon and can easily blend among the force below. Is the Nephilim also among them? Is he a Necromancer?" The Vampire Commander wondered as he smiled.


    Aron was standing among the armies. He was doing his best to remain conscious. The shadow ghouls were clumsily sticking his arm in ce, but it never got attached. The massive blood loss was also being caught by the darkness and tried to plug the wound of Aron.


    "But since you wish to remain hidden, then I shall go ahead and attack your allies. My army has approached." The Vampire Commander smiled.


    A swarm of bats could be seen flying in the distance.


    "These vampires are very vulnerable in their bat form. So its aerial capabilities are nothingpared to the wraiths of the Shaman Commander. But its mobility and uses do well with Crab Commander''s ground forces. The giants have moved in, right? I wonder how your allies are dealing with them. Since you and the Nephilim love to y hide-and-seek, then I shall indulge myself in some fresh blood. I hope more of your allies are at least half as strong as you." The Vampireughed as the massive swarm of bats rushed towards the opening.


    The Vampire Commander turned into Mist as well, and the smoke could be seen moving towards the portal entrance.


    Aron sighed and began to move towards the portal''s entrance.


    As Aron made his death march towards the portal, another critical moment was happening on the other side of the battle.


    "This is too dangerous! We''re retreating!" Mezal gave the orders the moment the group had utilized the Emberbombs.


    Mezal cursed as he had to reveal the real power of his True Cut and shed out at the Soul Wall that hindered their retreat.


    SLASH!


    The Walls broke, and the group immediately broke out with great haste.


    As the Emberdons and Mezal retreated, Demerus gazed back to see the effect of their attack. Then, after retreating and breaking through the Soul wall that stopped them, Demerus hoped that this gave them some time to escape.


    "That wall became weaker." Mezal frowned as he felt it. The moment he shed on the wall, the Soul Bindings that kept it up had greatly weakened. Now that the Shaman revealed more of her aces, Mezal could understand what that soul wall was. It was a small portion of captains and possibly champions. But the energy dispersed and began to move.


    As the mes and smokes of the attack cleared out, the Emberdons could finally see it.


    Three times thicker than the one that entrapped them, a thick soul wall appeared and blocked the attacks. The Emberdons didn''t hold back andunched massive attacks at them and even used special bombs that their family had crafted. Each bomb required massive amounts of Magic, and it was no different than bestowing magic energy to create another Champion mage.


    "It didn''t even break that wall!" Demerus cursed.


    Behind the massively thick walls, the Emberdons could feel the massive energy being formed.


    "That power...!" Faye trembled as she felt it.


    "It''s too strong! I can''t evenpare the power of that beast to the former Commanders!"


    "What dark magic! She turned her entire army into her body!" Triona cursed.


    "Impressive attack. That attack forced me to sacrifice a massive amount of wraiths. Be proud that you actually forced me to use [Army of One]." The familiar alluring voice of the Shaman could be heard as the gigantic spirit avatar of the Shaman waspleted.


    The massive figure began topress itself and shrunk bit by bit.


    "Retreat with all your speed!" Mezal decided.


    "Where are we going?" Demerus asked.


    Mezal hesitated.


    "No-North East." Mezal gave his cowardly reply.


    "What? Towards Lady Martha? We should head north towards the Temple!" Demerus argued.


    Mezal gritted his teeth in anger. He feared the curse. If the Curse of Destiny was true, then Aron and Branze, who was north, would die before his eyes. He couldn''t bear to see it.


    "Master Mezal... Trust your sons..." Faye suddenly spoke.


    Mezal trembled.


    "Oh, this is taking too long. I''ll decide for you." The alluring voice of the Shaman resounded once more as the massive spiritual avatar disappeared and became massive bluish energy that shot towards Mezal and the Emberdons.


    "Rush out now!" Mezal ordered, and the Emberdons ced everything that they got to retreating.


    BOOM!


    The carpet began to fly three times faster than it did.


    "What?!" Triona was shocked.


    But even with their speed, Triona could see the movement of the massive energy that shed like lightning towards them.


    Mezal saw the approaching light and knew that they would die if hit by it. So Mezal leaped off the carpet.


    "[Death Stance]!" Mezal shouted as a thick soul power emerged out and added on theyers of his force energy.


    "Hmph! If that''s your curse, Destiny, then I shall simply die before I see anyone else die before me!" Mezal decided. He had made several ns on how to deal with the Shaman Commander. But in the face of raw, unsurmountable power, he could not perform any of the ns they had set. So his choice was to release his aces. Of all the Steele Family, Mezal was the strongest in using Shaman Arts.


    "[Purging Aura]!" Mighty holy energy erupted out of Mezal''s body. It was a Holy energy that only the purest of Pdins could release. In his time in the Temple, the Temple had been bestowing Mezal with pure energy. Following the holy aura that Drake Vestitude revealed when he attacked the Eldirch servants, Mezal was able to create an even purer power.


    A massive shield appeared in front of Mezal as the blue light approached.


    BOOM!


    The fight of souls began.

 Chapter 270 - Fight Of The Middle

    Martha watched as the Cardinal appeared. She assumed her dragonic form to rush out of the zone and fly as fast as she could.


    But as she tried to activate the portal, a strange power was affecting the space as the Wyvern was close. Faced with no choice, Martha raised her bow and pointed her arrows at the Cardinal. But then, it was as if space had somehow stopped.


    "I... can''t... move!" Martha felt it.


    The wind around her grew thick and turned into a strange force that stopped her. It was then that Martha could feel the power of the Cardinal. She saw the darkness and the power that brought in the massive wind blowing all around her that made her incapable of moving.


    "Ah... So Beautiful." The Cardinal approached as his face nced at Martha''s beauty.


    "My Lord... I apologize for taking too long to capture her." The Commander bowed.


    "No need. Her powers of Space are even stronger than yours. And here I thought you''d be the most special dragon. But it seems this one is better!" The Cardinalughed.


    The Commander bowed her head, but her heart was raging in anger.


    The moment the Cardinal revealed his power, Martha could tell the difference. The power between the Cardinal and the Wyvern was so vast.


    Puff''s Wyrm form allowed him to wield strength that almost reached the Crab Commander. In the Crab Commanders'' strongest form, the Crab Commanders'' strength reached 335 points. And that was twenty points weaker than the Dragon Commander.


    Puff''s strength was at 318, but he could only wield that form for a few minutes.


    The Wyvern had a strength that was clearly weaker than Puff. Martha estimated that the power of the Wyvern would be in a range of 300-310. But the Cardinal that appeared had might be so thick and strong that the difference between them was difficult to calcte.


    Martha recalled Kyros''s words.


    "I guess... I should be delighted to hear such praises from a Cardinal. That thick strength... If this Wyvern has a Crown''s potential, you should have a High Crown''s Potential.


    The Cardinal smiled.


    "Oh? We just met, and you already know how to make me blush? You will be a great Chamber Maid. I just need to destroy that binding of Coven and make you mine."


    "How can... human necromancer... wield such strength?" Martha wondered.


    "Ah... As expected of a dragon. Such prideful look upon your strength. Your dragonic blood is not the only thing that adds massive points to strength. Shellcross, that Crab you fought had his strength through his monstrous form. My other Commanders that your friends are fighting also have their means to match dragons. Shaman Commander Neteri can wield a strength that is only a hundred points lower than mine. That ally of yours must be really impressive to push Neteri to use [Army of One]."


    The Wyvern was shocked as she heard this.


    "Neteri used that ability?!"


    "More impressive is your other ally that is making my Vampire Commander use his blood clone. Of course, Eredus must be trying to make that friend of yours a Coven of his."


    "That... is my husband..."


    "Oh? This is interesting. I can''t wait to see the despair in his eyes when I take you."


    Martha grew angry as she fiercely stared at the Cardinal.


    SMASH!


    "Impudent!" The Wyvern whipped her tail at Martha''s face.


    The strength of the whip nearly made Martha fall unconscious.


    "Qara. Rx. Be kind to yourpanion. Since your husband is dead, I presume that you won''t have any concerns with joining this dragon?"


    "No, my Master! It will be a great honor!" The Wyvern bowed.


    "Like I''ll ever be a part of your harem. My Lord will kill you!" Martha dered.


    "Ah yes, the Nephilim. Where is this Nephilim?" The Cardinal asked.


    "Who knows? Just wash your necks, for his de is sharp!" Martha asked.


    "So loyal. Our two allies are bound to be defeated, and those at the Temple will face three Commander armies. Shellcross, Pyrestarter, and now Eredus''s vampire armies are moving in. Your allies will die. And we know the n your Nephilim intends. He will ambush one of us, correct? But who will he choose? Or is he running away now?" The Cardinalughed.


    On the other side of the, a massive sh was sent out and killed many iing bats. The gigantic creatures that were the remnants of the Crab Commanders army were also caught in the attack.


    Aron stood in front of the passageway towards the portal. He used his kick to create the power of the cut.


    His breathing was heavy, and his blood was no longer being blocked by the Shadow Ghouls that became his suit. Instead, the blood dripped from the two stomps on his arms. Aron''s vision was bing more and more blurred from the pain.


    The Vampire Commander watched from above and saw the readiness of Aron to die.


    "It''s no good if he''s dead. I need a reason for him to keep fighting alive." The Vampire pondered. He could feel a power simr to the Shaman Commander appearing over Aron.


    Suddenly, the Vampire Commander spat out a huge ball of blood, and it quickly took shape, and his figure emerged.


    The two vampires immediately raced towards the ce, and an army of bats followed.


    Aron could sense what the group was trying to do.


    "So you won''t even make me die in peace, huh? I have to keep standing for as long as I can if I want my brother and friends to survive?" Aronughed as he canceled the energy that he was preparing to activate [Death Stance].


    The movement of the bat army was encircling him and was following a curving line. If Aron focused his energy to attack a single ce with his puny legs, he would still allow most of these bats to attack. His [Death Stance] in his current weakened form could onlyst a few seconds, so Aron decided to fight and kill as many bats as he could until he died.


    Aron knew that the Vampire Commander was aiming at destroying his morale and was leading the armies to go through the portal.


    Massive blood-red attacks from the two vampires were shot out.


    "Brother. You can deal with the clone, right?" Aron sighed and jumped to evade the attack.


    BOOM!


    With Aron out of ce, the bats and the Blood Clone of the Vampire Commander managed to move inside the portal along with an army of bats.


    Aron made several kicks, and several [Force sh] attacked the approaching bats and began to fight the Vampire Commander.


    On another battlefield, the speed of the Shaman Commander was too fast for them.


    The Force Wall was barely able to hold the approach of the Shaman Commander. Her form appeared once more and had an irritated expression.


    "How annoying. [Purging Aura]? No. This is just an imitation. Still... it''s pretty impressive. But not strong enough." The Shaman Commander''srge figure began to ready a punch. Previously, she was just moving to chase them. But now, a real attack was being made.


    Demerus saw it and sighed.


    "[Over Mana]." He activated the energy source deep within his body and began to expend the elements that consumed his very body.


    The others saw it and sighed.


    "Big sister. You should stay and try to save Mezal Steele as you are the fastest among us."


    Triona and Ressi immediately followed and activated [Over Mana].


    Faye was quiet, but her heart grew heavy in pain as her siblings were now using life-expending techniques.


    Destiny watched as the events yed out andughed.


    "Your schemes and ns are defeated, Fate!" Destiny mocked.


    "Your arrangements are over. What shall your Nephilim choose? I know that he will n to make his move and ambush one of the Commanders and save them. But who shall he choose? His grandfather is destined to die. Martha will be held captive by the Cardinal and will be turned into a bride! Or is it his uncle? That unborn of Hyperion? Whoever dies now will weaken your forces! And with my preparations, more than one will die today!"


    Destiny had influenced the armies to take the necessary preparations. He overestimated the Nephilim and his Champions and made the Commanders who attacked make exaggerated preparations to kill them.


    "You think that you can kill all my forces and leave me with no move to attack you? Then we shall see! What can you do, oh Nephilim, when everyone is dead? Who shall you aid and rescue, and who shall you sacrifice?"


    In another time on another realm...


    A beautiful woman with beautiful faint pink skin and dark red hair stood and watched the projection with several Gods and Fallens that had been forgotten.


    "So the sons of Hyperion shall be no more? Only Gannaios Steel will remain! But what can that untrained Pdin do against Destiny''s forces?" One of the gods that watched asked.


    "Looks like Destiny won this round. But this also means we lose. Unlike Destiny, we cannot afford any setbacks. Even if your Nephilim survives, your champions that are already few will be decreased by one." Another God frowned.


    "It seemed that our defeat in this battle is sure if your champions shall fall as early as now in your first war against Destiny." The first God added.


    "Have you nned to use Cminus once more, Fate?" A Fallen asked.


    "Cminus has already been used with great preparations. His powers are not that convenient that we can turn back time once more." Fate smiled.


    "Destiny sees the end. His arrangements will be very precise. We can only aid our Champions to be fated to meet and fated to fight. With Destiny''s tremendous advantage, the Fight of the Middle seems all the more impossible to win. Lord Beginning, perhaps it''s best that we start the war now." Then God called out to the space.


    "We wait. I''m sure that your ns are not so easily defeated, am I correct, Fate? Who shall the Nephilim save?" A voice asked.


    Everyone turned to Fate. But Fate gave everyone a calm smile.


    Annoyed by Fate''s response, some turned to another woman standing near Fate.


    "Who will your son choose?" A Fallen asked.


    The woman smiled.


    "Who indeed? Husband?" The womanughed.


    "My wife. I can sense our son''s choice is... none of them."


    Fate and the woman smiled.


    "Indeed. He will choose to save none."


    "What?!" The Gods and Fallen eximed.

 Chapter 271 - Abandoning His Allies

    Mezal and the Champions were using their life-consuming techniques.


    Aron had failed to hold the line as bats, and the Blood Clone of the Vampire had moved, and more bats were also flying in. As the fight progressed, more and more of the bats would move inside.


    And Martha was captured.


    When the fight began, Destiny had decided what to do and how to find Kyros should the smallest counters of Fate begin.


    But none happened, whatsoever.


    "What is this, Fate? You hid the Nephilim from my eyes, and he does not intend to save them? How foolish. If he ns to ambush the Source of Darkness, it will do him no good! Will he really sacrifice those people he loved in that timeline?" Destiny frowned.


    Kyros was indeed far away from any of his loved ones in the realm of where the Fight of the Middle was happening.


    As the Beings that Were had deduced, Kyros had no ns to save any of them.


    Kyros was walking and had used his cloak to hide among the army of darkness. His heart was heavy as he could feel the call of Fate that was telling him that his allies would die.


    And yet, Kyros did not stop but moved along towards a small mountain. But the small mountain was not really a mountain, but a massive creature. It stood over forty meters tall, and while a form of a giant could be seen inside, the whole thing was covered in a thick slime. Lightning and thunder appeared as a ck orb, glowing with bright yellow light were at the center.


    It looked like a massive slime made of swamp waters, and it had tentacles and was constantly harnessing a strange power that constantly created dark clouds that continued to cover the entire region.


    Kyros continued to move, and as he drew closer, he began to concentrate on his power.


    The formation of the massive creatures army was ready. But the strange thing was that all of the warriors were Shadow Ghouls and the Shadow Fiends'' stronger form. There were even Shades in the army that acted as Champions.


    "A Shade Lord." Kyros identified the rare race that Cminus exined.


    These beasts were only found in the darkest of darkness across the Universe. In the nesworld, only the Netherworld would host these creatures. But to Kyros''s knowledge, such massive and powerful form would never find its way in the nesworld.


    These beings could harness and control the darkness of thend and wield it to do mysterious things.


    Kyros could tell that it was this was that created the strange creeping darkness that crept its way even into the ce where the Temple.


    Nearby were two powerful beings: a Skeleton and a familiar race that harnessed even more evil darkness. The creature had the form of a handsome man, but it had a long tail with a sharp de at the end.


    "A Grendelor, huh... But the main source of this creeping darkness is that Shade Lord. I stop it from doing this. The life of the darkness will stop..." Kyros began to think of a n on how to stop them while staying alive against all three Commanders.


    Looking at the size of the Shade Lord and its strange form, he knew that the strength and vitality of the Shade Lord would be simr to that of Cardinals who had Crown potential. And because of that, Kyros didn''t have any hopes of wounding the enemy with his current strength.


    "The most I can do with my strength, Ancient Source, Fallen Source, and Soul Force would be to reach around 200 attack power. If I harness all my light into my de with True Cut, then it would boost up to 230. But the vitality point of that creature should be over 400... The Skeleton ought to have the weakest defense, but he surely will have a magical defense equal to over 300 points." Kyros assessed and tried to ignore the crisis warning of the deaths of his allies. The feeling grew stronger as Fate''s warnings were bing more and more clear. But Kyros shut it all up. They had decided that he would not fight together but spread out to stop the many ns of Destiny.


    Despite the warnings, Kyros was determined to abandon his allies.


    "And that Grendelor should have attacks that could equal that Dragon or that Crab Commander..." Kyros paused and thought. His heart began to weigh heavily as the constant warnings of death for his allies rang out.


    "Please... everyone. Fulfill your promise and be victorious. Be the Challengers that you all im to be. Subvert the calls of Destiny..." Kyros pleaded as he harnessed Ancient, Fallen, and his Soul Force into one stat as he made his decision.


    As he did, the three Commanders felt it.


    "Is that the Nephilim? He''s here?" The Skeleton asked.


    "All Champions. Kill him!" The Grendelor frowned.


    All the Champions saw the source of the strange power and attacked.


    And at that moment, Kyros''s figure disappeared.


    It happened so fast that even the Commanders were unable to catch up.


    The Champions immediately raised up their defenses to attack. But then...


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    The slower ones who were unable had their heads sliced off.


    "He''s faster than Wyvern Commander Qara!" The Champions cursed.


    "[Destiny Gauge]." The skeleton cast the spell. A powerful ripple erupted and revealed the stats of Kyros, and the magic was quickly absorbed into the Skeleton.


    The Skeleton frowned.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "Strange. He has a power that is preventing me from seeing his true stats. He has masked certain details of his stats and reced them with odd statements. But from the strength and speed he disyed, I think that the stat points shown should be more or less urate." The Skeleton then revealed the stats of Kyros.


    ---


    Kyros Your Homeboy Steele


    Race: That''s Racist!


    Age: Is just a number.


    Level: Mario World 1-3


    Strength- 112


    Magic- 138


    Dexterity- 314 (412)


    Vitality- 100


    Intelligence- Ph.D in Memes


    First Source- AAA+ Battery


    Second Source- X= sinA(1-cosA)/tanA(a-b)


    Naked Offender Source - 116


    ---


    "Strange indeed. It has hidden many details. But what do you mean the stats are urate? His strength seems a bit low to kill those champions..." The Shade Lord''s voice boomed.


    "No. Look! He is attacking the Champions with the weakest Vitality. I think he has a skill that helps him cross the gap. The stats on his strength should be the base stat. Your [Gauge] was able to detect it minus the hidden additions. But since he is moving at that speed, his power to hide his stats cannot fool us with his Dexterity." The Grendelor Commander assessed.


    "Let''s put up a shield anyway. In a few minutes, the portal directly to that Nephilim''s Temple will be open. Let''s just focus on that. Have all the Champions assume a defensive formation." The Skeleton Commander decided.


    "Oh, it''s good that I''m already here then. [Skotos Eis Phos]!" Kyros suddenly appeared in between them.


    BOOM!


    A massive light exploded out and attacked the magic being channeled.


    Kyros immediately escaped as the attacks of the three Commanders reached.


    When he attacked, he began to use dark bolts that were shot out with shadow ghouls in the bolt.


    He attacked a few Champions but then rushed towards the ce where the Commanders were.


    The bolts and the shadow ghouls that moved out made it look like he was still attacking the Champions, but Kyros''s real intention was to stop the spell. After creating a wide attack right at the center of the Commanders. The spell that they were creating was destroyed as the light destroyed the darkness.


    But the power that Kyros disyed wasn''t enough to wound these three Commanders.


    With the dark shadow forming around him, Kyros activated Dark Shroud and zoomed towards the other end in escape. His body was breaking from the constant use of his dexterity.


    "Mom. Dad. I bought you enough time. Uncle, Aunt Martha, Grandfather... Please survive and win!" Kyros spoke as he rushed and escaped with several Champions and the Grendelor Commander giving chase to him.


    Deep inside the path leading to the Temple, the army of bats appeared, and the Vampire Commander hovered over thend.


    He was stunned to see how near the forces of the Nephilim were.


    They weren''t holed up in the Temple as was reported but had already advanced. The giant creatures of Shellcross''s armies were also dying at the hand of the army.


    The archers shot with precision and could harness Holy through Diana and Branze, who was now taking the ce of the Temple. Although the power they could create was less than half of the potency that the Temple used to create, the army now had three times the fighting skill and experience to kill the enemies before them.


    The Coven was the vanguards who now deal with the bats.


    "Impressive." The Vampire Commanderughed.


    "To think that I would have to use the full extent of my Blood Clone." The Vampire Commander harnessed the blood and made the clone''s body have the exact same powers as the original body.


    As his powers were revealed, Diana and Branze took notice of the Blood Commander.


    "You are better than that swordsman I killed outside. To think you would have the abilities to lead this army. Not one of them is useless! Amazing!"


    Mechiel saw it and frowned.


    Because Kyros was on the other side, the Coven could not hear Kyros and the rest.


    "Lies. You can''t kill my brother."


    "Your right. I''m still trying to make him my Coven. But it looks like there are more of you who will do well here. Perhaps it''s the distance that you Coven of the Nephilim haven''t sensed the death of your master yet" The Blood Commanderughed.


    "In any case... let''s fight. I wonder how your army will deal with my bat army... and me joining in!" The Vampire smiled and channeled massive magic and force energy as he prepared to forward.


    "You killed... Kyros?" Mechiel asked.


    "Yes, little fang. And I will kill all of you too!" The Vampire Commanderughed.


    But as the Vampire Commanderughed, the Blood Cmity inside of Mechiel was seething in hatred.

 Chapter 272 - Abandoning Allegiances

    The morale of the army was dropping. And it was without reason.


    Kyros, Mezal, Aron, Martha, and the Emberdon Champions had moved ahead. They were able to stop and halt the approaching enemies.


    When the giants and humungous creatures began their march, they were without any form of leadership but only had instincts. They even would stomp or crush and even eat the armies that the Dragon Commander led.


    The Steele Family army grew ustomed to this and took advantage of this making their victory easy.


    And while Destiny had worked and somehow restored order to the ranks, it was not enough to stop it. There was no camaraderie, concern, and support that the two armies offered to each other. They fought, they stood within their position, but that was it.


    The strength of the Steele family''s army was growing exponentially. The greatest advantage was the Temple. The knights and servants were gaining levels quickly that the servants had levels that only trained knights would have. And all of them were growing in the Path of Combat thanks to Branze and Diana.


    The army was that pushed way beyond their limits and as close as possible to the brink of death. And the Temple would heal them. The experience of nearly dying and fighting in such horrifying situations granted them the experience they needed. And their confidence was provided by the Motivational Speaker.


    But now, an organized army and a Commander appeared iming to have in Kyros''s army.


    And that powerful and unconquerable force was moving towards them.


    Even Branze and Diana had no time to offer encouragement to the rest as they focused on repelling the Commander and the army of bats.


    "Surrender now and allow yourselves to be bitten and be my Coven! Fighting will only make the inevitable result more painful for all of you! Your leader, the Nephilim, died under my hands. It died easily and had no strength to resist the power of my Lord Cardinal! While your team was able to take down another Commander, it died at the hands of ours! While it is worthy of apuding, you are all defeated! Submit to my power!"


    "Liar! Our master has defeated a Devil-level enemy! What is a mere Commanderpared to what we conquered?!" Scarlet shouted loudly.


    "A Devil level? You are saying that your leader. that dhampir, has managed to defeat a being that surpasses Cardinals, Crowns, and Conquerors? That it fought against a Celestial and won?!" The Vampire Commanderughed and taunted.


    "My son defeated a powerful Celestial! That I am certain of! He will not lie! If he said he bested a Celestial, it is true!" Branze finally shouted.


    "I ripped your leader''s head and drank his blood! All of us Commanders feasted on his body!" The vampire Commanderughed.


    "Which being did he defeat?! Where is the body of this Celestial that I may pay homage to it?! Show me! Is the Celestial a Celestial Worm who eats dung? Show it to me that I mightugh at its weakness!" The Vampireughed.


    Suddenly, the Vampire Commander froze.


    He could see a strange illusion of a beautiful and terrifying woman standing before him.


    "What...?!" The Vampire was shocked at the scene and how he couldn''t move. Yet, he was charmed by the vision. He, after all, was a vampire. And with such an impure lineage, he could not do anything but sumb to the power of another pure vampire. It was dominance. The vampire before him simply had to show a hint of herself and stunned the Vampire Commander.


    Branze and Diana smiled and immediately activated their strongest power that utilized the power of [Push].


    "Go all out! Wield the Temple''s Light and shoot it!" Branze shouted. Through his meditation, Branze had managed to push the power of the Light from the Holy Beams of the Temple and move it out. He wielded it, and now, he was harnessing that same Light and used it as Force.


    Hitting the Vampire Commander was impossible. They had heard the stories of the Coven and how they spoke of the speed and power of the Dragon Commander. They knew that they would not be capable of attacking the Commander with such high Dexterity.


    And so, the pair made a n.


    It was for just a second. The words of the Vampire Commander angered the Blood Cmity. It was already angry at its ims of killing Kyros. The power of the Charm spell was working against her. Mechiel''s concern became her concern. But while she was able to hold and control herself, the insults of the Vampire Commander were thest straw that broke the camel''s back.


    The anger manifested itself for just a second, and it stunned and left fear in the heart of the Vampire Commander.


    And that was just what Branze and Diana needed.


    BOOM!


    CRASH!


    The massive force smashed on the Vampire Commander''s unprepared form.


    Throughout the battle, they openly talked to Mechiel and talked about the Blood Cmity.


    Diana, in particr, would ask Mechiel if she could tap into the massive power of her soul. And while knowing that the soul inside was an enemy as it was of Destiny, it was also a weakened one. Diana was confident that everything they did in Airom Logat would ensure that it would take a long time for the Blood Cmity''s main body to recover. The orcs were just too cautious after everything they lost in that ce.


    And what Diana was trying to do, was harness his Code, the Code of Burdens, and tried toy it upon Mechiel. Branze had sensed that by sincerely molding Mechiel, they could soon be able to use her as a secret weapon to attack the rest.


    And while Diana and Branze held no hope in being able to force the Blood Cmity to act because of her affections for Kyros, they decided to use her pride.


    And those insults caused the Blood Cmity to abandon her allegiance to Destiny for a small second.


    When it happened, the Blood Cmity realized what she had done and stopped, but it was already toote. Branze and Diana were waiting for this moment.


    "[Force Push]!" Branze shouted as he released the Code in which he learned.


    Stellya also channeled her magic and shot a massive beam towards the Commander.


    Scarlet also used her newly acquired powers to create an elemental attack.


    Mardock harnessed the power of the Light Golem and shot a beam that also had his Entropy.


    Gojirrah and Reptilia also threw the weight of their attacks.


    "No!" The Blood Cmity appeared in Mechiel''s consciousness and shouted in anger as she realized what had happened. However, the Coven was not affected as they had the bloodline of another vampire who had a lineage more powerful than the Blood Cmity.


    "You used me?!" The Blood Cmity raged.


    "You have your pride to me!" Branzeughed as he charged forward and widened the Wall to push the swarm of bats back.


    Aron was lying down on the other end of the portal with no strength left. He had received several attacks that finally butchered his right leg and fell down. He used thest of his strength to try to jump to the other side of the portal, but the blood of the Vampire Commander that had invaded his body through his wounds stopped him.


    His visions were blurry.


    "Crap. I''m going to be a paraplegic!" Aronughed.


    He could see the future. The vampire would try to bite him, and he would use True Cut to wound the vampire, which would anger it.


    "I guess, annoying that Commander for a life of being a paraplegic will do. Strange. I was confident that if I just dyed, I would survive this... Oh well." Aron sighed as his heady down several inches from the portal.


    Numerous bats were charging into the portal now that Aron could not fight. He watched as the swarm of bats ignored him and moved directly to the Temple.


    "Brilliant!" The Vampire Commandernded and approached him.


    "You slew all those giants and monstrous creatures and somehow could recover strength at their deaths! What an interesting power. You will make an excellent Coven member!" The Vampireughed as he stood over Aron.


    Suddenly, Aron felt it andughed.


    "Ah, youugh in the face of death."


    "I just need to kill myself, and you won''t have me." Aronughed and began to activate [Death Stance].


    But suddenly, the Vampire appeared in front of him and had a blue light appearing on his palms.


    The energy of the soul was stopping Aron from activating it.


    "Now, now, now. I can''t have you die like that. I am also knowledgeable in the ways of Soul Force. We do have a Shaman Commander after all."


    Aronughed again.


    "Is this bravery that youugh, or is it foolishness?"


    "No. It''s because I''m not very good at acting, so I decided tough. Otherwise, I might give away how I sensed that my brother won.."


    "What? Your brother won?"


    BOOM!


    The distracted vampire was wielding Soul Force on his hands when massive Holy energy erupted out of the portal and struck him.


    His Blood Clone was at the center of it and tried to resist it. A swarm of bats also followed and was thrown out from the attack.


    Finally, Branze and Diana were the first to jump out of the portal with their almighty push.

 Chapter 273 - Abandoning Defenses

    The power of the Push that had Holy energy was like a giant''s push that mmed and purged the low-leveled vampires.


    As the [Force Wall] pushed out, the sounds of howls and pained cries as vampires emerged out of their vampire form and fell on the ground. Many of them looked badly burned.


    The Coven emerged from the portal.


    "Eat!" Hunter shouted as he ran and made quick work of the dying vampires.


    The Vampire Commander and his clone were pushing back the massive wall that was pushing against them. They managed to stop the powerful push that would have otherwise pushed them further.


    The vampiremander learned what was happening as his link with his Blood Clone allowed him to receive the memory of what transpired on the other side of the portal. Their swift reactions immediately stopped the massive wall. But the Coven had already entered to the sides, and more and more of the archers and knights emerged outside to fight.


    "You fools! You think this can stop me?!" The Vampire Commander roared and used his strength to fight back the already pushing force. He was at a disadvantage as Branze and Diana had the momentum and velocity in their attack, while the vampiremander was resisting without these two forces and used brute strength to slowly push back.


    "Thank goodness, you arrived in time, brother..." The relieved sigh of Aron was heard.


    The Vampire Commander heard it, and his heart quivered. His attention was focused on pushing the Force Wall that his back was wide open.


    SLASH!


    A powerful sh attacked them from behind.


    Aron''s armless and broken body fell down. He had stabbed his sword into his leg, and with his other feet securing the sword. It looked horrifying to look at as his sword stabbed through his already damaged leg.


    He made a strong kick that shed out and halved the two vampires. It was a gory and brutal scene that caused Diana and Branze to channel more force as they saw the state of Aron.


    The power of True Cut that shed out ambushed the Vampire and his blood clone.


    Gojirrah and Reptilia rushed towards the side and aimed for the Blood Clone at the sides.


    The Vampire Commander was in great pain. The defenseless state that he was in was the perfect time for Aron, who miraculously found strength. It was only after the Vampire Commander felt the pain of the sh that it realized Aron recovered a bit of his strength from the hundreds of bats that died from the Holy Force Wall that smashed on him.


    "N...No!" The Vampire did his best to recover. The powerful kicking slice that Aron made hacked them from the upper torso that severed their bat wings and arms. The Vampire Commander tried to reconnect his body with his blood, but the power of True Cut separated them that controlling their lower half to reconnect with the upper half was impossible.


    His vitality and defenses were never high in the first ce as his specialties were ced on his magic and regenerative abilities. With a Force Wall that hindered him and the quick attack of Aron that wasted no second, the fast, powerful, and magically capable vampire was critically wounded for the first time in his life.


    In a startling and urate execution, Branze and Diana stopped using their Force Wall that the push did not throw the body of the strengthless Vampire Commander. With no force and his body in half, the Vampiremander fell.


    His soul was in an upheaval, and the magic that could save him was not working due to the sh.


    Mechiel and a few knights rushed to retrieve the body of Aron and protect it while the rest of the Coven raced for the body of the Vampire Commander.


    STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB!


    Gregory, Hunter attacked the upper half of the Blood Clone while Scarlet and Avary went for the lower half.


    Gojirrah and Reptilia charged and attacked the main body. First, Reptilia skewered the lower body that her long spear drove all the way.


    Gojirrah stabbed his sword from the top of the Vampire Commander''s head and drove it all the way down to the bottom half of the Vampire Commander. The spear and sword slid by together and stabbed the two as if reconnecting the Vampire Commander''s halved body.


    The Vampire Commander rejoiced at the stupid acts of the two. Even though he was wounded, his body could recover if reattached. He harnessed the energy to reconnect his limbs, but to his surprise, it couldn''t connect!


    "What?!" The Vampire Commander cursed as he saw how his blood couldn''t connect.


    "It''s sliced asunder. It won''t connect easily. You idiot! If you had focused on repelling and attacking them, you would have lived! But they tricked you! And even know you are distracted by my words! Oh... I have the Taunt skill now! Great!" Aronughed weakly and then fainted. Mechiel was already grasping the body of Aron, and finally, Stellya flew with great speed and began to give Aron potions and pills.


    The Blood Clone was fighting back, creating magics that boomed and sent the Coven flying back. If not for Diana and Branze''s force wall, they would have died.


    But the main body couldn''t do it.


    "A split second. That''s what we needed for our powers to take effect. You focused on healing yourself and lost yourself critical time." Reptilia answered as the power of the spear she stabbed in began to tremble with great force.


    The sword of Gojirrah dug deep as well.


    "A...sword and spear expert...!" The Vampire Commander was shocked as the Force energy began to attack him from the inside and was actually wounding him despite his high vitality.


    Finally, another sword arrived. It was Branze. Diana and Branze both charged towards their respective targets. Branze aimed for the main body while Diana attacked the Blood Clone.


    Diana had charged through the explosions and stabbed her sword on the main body.


    "I taught them. How were they?" Branze gave a cold look at the Vampire Commander, who was losing power. Another terrifying energy could be sensed.


    "Ancient... Source!" The Vampire Commander cursed as the power raged within him.


    The upper half of his Blood Clone was trembling and screaming.


    "Fallen Source! Impossible!"


    Ancient Source was his bane, and Fallen Source was his master. How can his body and blood defend against the two?


    "The Coven grows stronger with your blood. The Blood Cmity was too advanced for the Coven to absorb. But you, a Vampire of high rank can help them grow and be the bridge they need. You wanted to turn us into your Coven, but now, you''ve be food for the Nephilim''s Coven." Branze harnessed more energy.


    The bat army began to swarm around them, but Stellya acted and channeled a great protective spell and only left a small hole where the bats could charge in. But The army behind her also took position and masterfully blocked the attack.


    The Vampire Commander watched and could tell that the army of the Steele Family was so strong. Almost everyone was disying skills and power that would be categorized as Captains. And those that were Captains had the might of Champions.


    "Impossible...! Every soldier has a Commander Potential?!" The Vampire Commander was shocked.


    The stats of the archers and knights that fought all had stats that were nearly 20 points higher than themon soldiers that hemanded. Only a small portion of his army had that potential, and they had long be the Champions.


    And these Champions employed strange tactics that covered closebat, ranged, and even how to fight against flying monsters. As the Vampire Commander''s control over the army lost, the full army of the Steele family emerged and took their position.


    "You..." The Vampire Commander turned to Mechiel.


    "Why...? Why did you betray us?!" The Vampire Commander shouted.


    "I didn''t! You insulted me!" The eyes of Mechiel changed quickly as she hatefully raged and bit the Vampire Commander.


    The Vampire Commander was defenseless, and his end was sealed.


    "How vain. You hated him so much that you expended your soul to show him your form. That killed him, and now you drink his blood to recover your soul." Branzeughed.


    "This is your fault! You tricked me!" The Blood Cmity cursed as she stopped drinking a mouthful.


    "No. We tricked him. And you reacted. And I''m sure his wild usations of killing my son didn''t help. You killed him because of that, didn''t you?" Dianaughed.


    The Vampire Commander died, and his blood was being drained. Gojirrah and Reptilia began to eat his body. Not a drop remained from the Blood Clone. Even when the Blood Clone lost the strength to maintain his form and became a bloody pool on the ground, the Coven used their swords to drink it.


    As the blood of the Vampire Commander was being absorbed by the Coven, a chain of events began to ur.


    In the other realms, Fate wasughing as to how the ns of Nephilim progressed.


    Destiny was shocked and angry at what he saw.


    The counter-attack of Kyros and the Steele family had begun.

 Chapter 274 - Abandoning The Temple

    The power of the Coven was working. Even before the Vampire Commander had died, the Coven was bing stronger thanks to the Coven Skill, Blood Bond. Their ability to pass on and improve as they drank created a surge of power that affected two people.


    The first one was Kyros.


    He had felt the changes and smiled.


    "So Uncle Aron is safe... It''s up to you, Aunt Martha. Save them." Kyros hoped for Martha to be saved, and he stopped running away from the Commanders chasing them.


    "Oh? You stopped running?" The Grendelor Commander caught up with Kyros. Next to him was the Skeleton Commander.


    "Oh? What made you stop? Did you figure that you can''t escape?" The Skeleton Commander asked.


    "Not exactly. It''s just that now it''s time for me to go on the offensive." Kyros smirked.


    "Hmm? Eredus is dead?" The Grendelor was stunned.


    "Next will be you guys!" Kyros taunted and charged at them.


    The sudden surge of power allowed Martha to recover from her deleted from at that exact moment.


    "Oh? Is this dragonic recovery? To think your pale expression would recover so fast. Come,dy dragon. I grow hard with desire." The Cardinal Necromancerughed with a lewd grin as he revealed a bulge on his pants.


    The vulgar act drove Martha angrier. But she kept quiet and allowed the energy to make her recover.


    The death of the Vampire Commander was very nutritious for the Coven. The power that they shared through the Coven Skill Blood Bond was one that has drastically increased at the death of the previous two Commanders.


    With the awakening of the Myster Experience System, it increased greatly. All members of the Coven could immediately evolve their blood and be empowered by the Myster Experience System through that. If the Coven were to drink the blood of a stronger being, it would pass on the power they absorb to the other members.


    Martha had not only grown stronger but her energy was being restored.


    "Master... Although the n is working... this is not enough for us to escape!" Puff cursed as he sensed it.


    "Rx. This enemy is most likely the enemy that my husband fought. This isn''t the Commanders that Lord Kyros aimed to kill. Trust Lord Kyros. His arrangements must have seen this. Just get ready to pour your power on that Core. Show me what it means to be a magical dragon!" Martha smiled.


    All of a sudden, a strange ripple was felt across the area. It was at that time that the Vampire Commander Eredus died.


    The Cardinal before her now had an angered expression, as did the Wyvern.


    "Vampire Commander Eredus has fallen!" The Wyvern Qara eximed.


    BOOM!


    A loud sound echoed out in the distance as if the sounds of a Commander were exerting the full force of their power.


    The ugly expressions of the Wyvern and the Cardinal turned even uglier. It was too fast!


    "What?! Grendelor Commander Lucas!"


    "Not just him. Skeleton Commander Faust is also dead." The Cardinal frowned.


    At that moment, Martha revealed her ace. She brought out a small orb. It was the Time Core that Kyros had.


    Martha and Puff poured out a massive amount of magic that they had gained. They could feel their blood surge with power.


    Time had stopped.


    Cminus floated above them.


    "AHHHH! Finally! Someone let me out of my cage! Now time for me is nothing! I''m counting no age!" Cminus began his rap game as he did a power that he hadn''t used before since he reverted time. And that was to stop time.


    Never before had Kyros shown this as it was dangerous. It would alert the many gods and fallens who have betrayed their side. Kyros also knew that Fate was doing her best to hide Cminus, while Destiny was doing everything to unravel his location. And so, Kyros never made Cminus do massive time magic such as this.


    And even when Kyros had created a Time Core and made it the dwelling ce of Cminus, they never fully utilized that power.


    Kyros went through the trouble of creating the Time Core as he knew it would help Cminus reach the next level. The Temple detected that Kyros had a low-grade Time Core. And it upgraded it, allowing Cminus to pass through thest stages of being Soul Wisp and finally bing a Soul Core.


    Kyros hid this ace and gave it to Martha because he knew that Destiny, who lost the previous battle against Martha, would prepare no ordinary means to kill her and set enemies to disgrace her.


    And Kyros''s expectations worked. The Cardinal appeared wanting to bed Martha.


    Martha had repositioned herself. Although she was shocked that a being with a simr fluctuation to Kyriachos appeared, she had only a little remaining time, and she had to use it. With Time stopping, the wind that held her helpless had lost its force. Martha aimed and was pointing an arrow right towards the Wyvern. She knew that her attack could not kill either, and she only had this quick second to attack and then flee.


    "You said you were hard with desire, right? Let''s see how hard it is." Martha chuckled as she released her bow.


    Time had stopped so abruptly that the Wyvern and the Cardinal were in no defensive poses. However, the power of the arrow had both Time and Space, and it flew and pierced right through the Wyvern and continued towards the groin of the Cardinal.


    And with the remainder of her power, Martha teleported out and flew with all her might teleporting now and then towards the ce where her father-inw was fighting.


    Back in the entrance of the portal headed towards the Temple...


    Mechiel''s figure changed. She stood up and had grown taller and more beautiful.


    "Oh? Was the curse revoked? You''ve aged, Mechiel. Or should I say that you''ve bloomed into a beautiful woman?" Diana smiled.


    Scarlet''s heart froze as she saw the beautiful form of Mechiel.


    "No. Those eyes are that of the Blood Cmity. So tell me, are you going to attack us? Your actions of foolishness must have alerted Destiny. You can''t hear his call anymore, can you? In this ce, you are not a soldier of Destiny but an enemy of it now." Branze guessed.


    The Blood Cmity''s eyes changed, and Mechiel''s innocent expression returned. She was shocked at her new figure.


    "The curse is gone...!" Mechiel was amazed.


    "Hmph! How rude of the Blood Cmity. Wee back, Mechiel." Branze nodded.


    "Impressive! That Blood Cmity knows how to absorb! You should be a Captain Level warrior!" Avary praised.


    Even Gregory was starstruck at Mechiel''s beauty.


    "Hmph!" An angry Myas ''identally'' stomped on Gregory as she fought and shot the iing bats.


    "I feel it too! The Blood Cmity must have forced my body to rank up."


    "Lord Branze. What about Lord Aron?" Hunter asked.


    "Is his condition stable?" Branze looked and found his brother unconscious.


    "He needs the constant deaths of the enemies to maintain his life. Who will go back to the Temple to bring him? I can go!" Hunter volunteered. He was originally one of Aron''s men, and his heart was aching seeing the pitiful state of Aron.


    "No. Don''t go back to the Temple. We will be pushing forward."


    "What?!" Hunter was stunned.


    "We won''t be going back to the Temple. We fight onwards." Branze repeated.


    "My Lord? We are abandoning the Temple?" One of the Knights asked,


    "Yes. Let''s go."


    We don''t send him back to the Temple?!" Hunter was shocked.


    "No. The Temple won''t be there. It will be wherever Kyros wants it to be." Branze revealed.


    "This is the reason why we were asked to move. Our greatest weapon is the Temple. The problem is that it can only be moved to where Kyros is. But, it can only bring the structure of the Temple and not the people within. As such, we had to go through this. Kyros left me to train everyone to have the strength to travel. That way, he can utilize the Temple''s power." Branze exined.


    "We kept it a secret in case Destiny would sense enemies who could read minds or other ways to unveil our ns. In fact, Kyros didn''t even tell anyone! But he trusted that I would anticipate this. The n worked. Don''t you feel it?" Branze asked as he nced towards a certain direction.


    On the direction that he nced at...


    Kyros was standing in the very center of the Temple. He had summoned it and immediately used [Holy Beam] that surprised the two Commanders, and both were killed in the massive Holy Beam attack.


    The Temple quickly absorbed the bodies of the two Commanders, and it regained power once more.


    Kyros received the experience that the Temple bestowed from the bodies of the two Commanders.


    The massive boost allowed him to raise his level to 22.


    Kyros smirked.


    "Interesting.. I''m still a Captain, but my ss is one of Champion." Kyros smiled, and he nced ahead and moved as the Temple disappeared through the Temple Skill, [Carrier has Arrived!]

 Chapter 275 - Abandoning The Fight

    The dark clouds that covered the entire world began to tremble.


    The mighty Shade Lord was hurt from the terrifying holy beam that pierced the great distance and damaged him. The spell that he was maintaining was canceled, and the great darkness that was being born was stopped. The clouds parted, and the great sky and sun shone on thend once more.


    The howls of the Cardinal were immense as the attack struck him in the most embarrassing part.


    While the wounds had already recovered, the pain and the shame lingered as the Cardinal''s power erupted and covered the sky. The mighty wind blew, and the ground below was starting to wither.


    "My Lord..." The Wyvern Commander shouted in fear as the wound in her chest made her vulnerable to the massive decay of the area around.


    "I''ll kill her!" The Cardinal raged, and it was as if the sounds of a thousand men roared.


    The earth itself trembled, and the many souls of thend began to quiver in fear.


    "I shall... chase her, My lord!" The Wyvern could finally breathe as the deadly wind of decay vanished around her, allowing her to heal the massive wound on her chest quickly.


    "No! The Nephilim has nned it all! We will retreat! He still has the means to kill us! We were too arrogant! Destiny is displeased. We retreat, and I will reanimate the fallen Commanders through a dark art, and we shall make our full assault!" The Necromancer ordered, and with great speed, they flew towards their base.


    As the terrifying power of the Cardinal disappeared, Martha sighed in relief as she was flying with all of her might. Time was moving faster, which made her movements and flight exceed the speed of the Wyvern Commander.


    "So you''re a god, too? Like Kyriachos?" Martha thanked her savior. The power of Cminus managed to stop True Time around them for several seconds allowing her to make that attack and flee.


    "Well, Kyriachos is deinitely stronger than me. But yeah. I am one of the gods connected with the Nephilim."


    "Your the source of all the oddity that has been happening in my head." Martha felt the familiar power.


    "Yeah. It''s a long story. I am Cminus."


    "Time God Cminus?! I remember you! You are that weird God!" Puff was amazed.


    "Oh right! You are a dragon from the Heretic Age! d to have an old-timer on board the Nephilim''s champion!"


    "Yet in all of that I''ve seen, this war against Destiny is too insane! Even for ancient creatures like us, it feels that we could easily die!"


    "It is. Initially, I was very skeptical about Kyros''s arrangements in this and how he even left me to Martha. But it was well yed. It''s like Kyros read the hand of Destiny."


    "Two Commanders in one blow... No one will expect that. Lord Kyros has indeed made preparations that were timely executed. But I hope that Father-inw can hold on." Martha looked ahead and could sense that the crisis around Mezal was still present.


    On the area where Mezal and the Champions fled to...


    Faye flew through the sky, bringing Mezal''s unmoving body.


    Mezal was dying. His soul was but a spark that remained. But despite how he should have died, his soul did not leave the body. It was as if the heavens were rejecting his entry, and he knew that it was due to the Curse of Destiny. Mezal did everything in the fight. He revealed his Ancient Source, he used the Soul arts that his father-inw taught him, but it just couldn''t contend with the raw might of the enemy.


    Demerus, Triona, and Ressi had used their forbidden arts, which they spoke of.


    [Over Mana] was a technique that they found in one of the abandoned fortresses that their family waged long ago and attacked the Dark Sea. It was a skill that Skeletons used to abandon their flesh and be beings without bodies and only had magic.


    Their magics would increase by sacrificing their body and going through a ritual that made them dark beings that abandoned the flesh. But going through this route meant certain death.


    They had be Skeletons that hovered in the sky and were wasting thest of their souls on the attacks that pushed their attacks to reach a level that only Commanders could wield.


    Sadly, they fought against a Commander with Crown potential. And this Commander had used an army to be its body.


    The destructive attacks that the three champions that would have shocked the Londs and impressed the Minds still could notpare to the power of the Commander in her [Army of One] form.


    Faye carried Mezal and focused on escaping. But her heart was being ripped apart as he could hear the destructive booms of the battle.


    She knew that each attack meant that her brother and sisters were falling closer and closer to their final death.


    "We will not be easily defeated!" The shout of Demerus echoed out, and several explosions could be heard at the back.


    Faye''s tears fell on Mezal as she was holding on tighter to Mezal at each explosion.


    Mezal could only quietly sigh and mock his weakness.


    "Perhaps I am not as brave as I thought. For I cannot bear to see the result of my defeat..." Mezal thought to himself as he watched the beautiful face of Faye weeping as she used all of her might to fly as fast as she could.


    The power of Destiny to make Mezal see the death of his allies had such a huge effect on him this time. He had lost many allies, but he never lost someone as strong as Champions.


    BOOM!


    "You arrogant half-skeletons can''t stop me!" The angry shout of the Shamanmander erupted, and a powerful boom that caused a great shockwave that even Faye and Mezal could feel urred.


    Another boom erupted, and the power of Shaman raced through the sky.


    "She''sing!" Mezal warned.


    "You can''t escape me!" The Shaman Commander shouted.


    Faye didn''t even turn back, but she could feel the power falling onto her.


    The massive arm of the Shaman Commander punched down.


    But suddenly...


    BOOM!


    The fist met something, and an explosion rocked the heavens.


    Mezal nced up and could see a massive portal opening with the massive arm of a Wyrm emerging out.


    "A mere worm dares to fight me?" The Shamanughed, but as she was about to perform her attack...


    "Pun intended? Come and fight us, and we''ll make you give up the ghost!" Theughing voice of Cminus echoed out as Time haste activated, and Martha''s figure was like a blur that began to attack the massive form of the Shaman.


    The Shaman cursed and wielded her power and began to fight the Wyrm and Martha''s small yet speedy form.


    "Neteri. Retreat." A voicemanded her.


    "My Lord? But I am almost victorious!"


    "You can''t sense it because of the thousands of souls making up your Army of One. Eredus, Lucas, and Faust are dead! Retreat now! The Nephilim have more secret arts! Do not dy!"


    "At your word!" The Shaman Commander agreed, and the massive light that made up her huge soul glowed and beamed out.


    Arrows suddenly shot at the fleeting lights, and a massive Temple suddenly appeared on the grounds below.


    Neteri''s lights beamed out, but Neteri felt that she would have died if she had stayed a second sooner.


    "The Holy Temple of the Nephilim... It glows with pure white power." She observed. As she flew up above, she could see the small army rushing towards the location of the Temple. And as she traveled, the light was appearing in the sky as the dark clouds were disappearing.


    "Eredus, Lucas, and Faust...? Hmph. No matter. Your Souls still belong to the Cardinal Heralcus. You all will be reanimated soon.." Neteri harrumphed and zoomed out to the great distance.

 Chapter 276 - Abandoning The Body

    As Neteri escaped, Faye saw that numerous allies had arrived.


    "I''ll take Father-In-Law. Get the bodies of your siblings! It''s still possible to save them through the Temple!" Martha suddenly appeared next to her and grabbed Mezal before flying with incredible speed towards the Temple. A strangeyer of time magic followed her. She was headed for the Temple. She knew that it was dangerous to pass through the Separated Realm at the current state of Mezal.


    Faye instantly moved and flew towards where her siblings fought and sought their bodies.


    Kyros stood at the entrance of the Temple and watched. He saw Martha arrive and quickly ced Mezal''s body on the Temple.


    BOOM!


    With a mighty leap, Reptilianded and was carrying the unconscious body of the limbless Aron.


    Gojirrahnded as well, bringing a dried-up body that belonged to the Vampire Commander and the weapons that the Vampire Commander had.


    "Martha. Help Faye get her siblings. Make it quick. Grandfather is dying." Kyros ordered.


    Martha quickly moved and teleported out. She knew that Kyros was urging her to move out quickly as he called her directly, disregarding his usual ''aunt'' greeting.


    Kyros took out a massive skull scepter and a sword with various skulls making the hilt. These were the weapons of the enemy.


    "Can Father''s soul be restored?" Branze asked as he noticed Mezal''s dying state.


    "It should be possible... The [Death Stane] is simr to the magic the Champions did. They abandoned the body for power. The Temple should be able to link it back." Dyne answered and willed that the Temple start healing.


    The light began to glow. But the Temple was focusing on healing Mezal. The mysterious powers of the Soul began to work, and the entire Temple was glowing.


    Mezal''s eyes opened, and he saw the people around him.


    "I''m alive..." Mezal sighed.


    "You seem sad, Father." Branze frowned.


    Mezal turned to the side and could see the limbless body of Aron.


    "How cruel of Destiny. It really wanted to make Aron a limbless and useless soldier."


    "Don''t worry, Grandfather. The Temple can heal him.:


    "And even without arms, it brother uncle who gave that wretched vampire the devastating blow that led to our victory. We would have lost if not for that. The Vampire Commander could use his blood to create a clone that had all of its might and strength."


    "So he could make us fight two Commanders at the same time? What a freak. No Commander could do that!" Kyros recalled that when all the powerful forces marshaled against the Omega Kingdom, the real freak of nature appeared in his previous life. Only vampires over level seventy could do what the Vampire Commander did. And yet here, it was one of the first few level 40 creatures they fought!


    "When are we healing Aron?"


    "I''m just waiting for Faye and Aunt Martha to return..." Kyros sighed in relief as he saw his grandfather''s status stabilize.


    "The Temple is somehow able to slow the effects of [Death Stance]... What a peculiar power." Mezal could not help but sigh.


    "I have... failed the Champions. The enemy was very strong." Mezal did his best to keep him from weeping.


    BOOM!


    Martha arrived with Puff carrying three skeleton remains with Faye with incredible speed.


    The moment they stepped into the Temple, Kyros made the Temple pour out the energy it got to heal the two.


    The Temple glowed, and a great amount of energy was absorbed.


    "Interesting..." Kyros saw several notifications and nced to the great distance as the lights disappeared.


    "I''m... still alive?" Demerus asked. He still was made of bones. But he was shocked that his [Over Mana] didn''t cause his soul to be drained out anymore.


    "My arms are back!" Aronughed as he awoke.


    Martha rushed and hugged Aron.


    "I was..." Martha could not contain it anymore and began to cry. She did her duty and followed Kyros''s orders, but the sight of his husband broke her heart.


    "It''s alright... I''ll be better next time." Aronughed and returned a tight hug to Martha.


    The moment Faye saw her brother move and her two sisters stand up in shock, Faye''s heart wept in joy. Then, the surprise and relief caused her to fall faint.


    Mezal caught her as she fell.


    "I''m sorry. I couldn''t protect you all..." Mezal apologized and turned to the three Skeletons.


    "How are we alive?" The Skeleton Triona asked.


    "Your [Over Mana] was an iplete spell. I''m guessing that this spell is something you guys tried toplete based on whatever heritage you found." Kyros approached the group of Skeletons.


    "Yes. We studied it and considered the dangerous scenarios we found ourselves in. We had to make an ace as this. It was because of that spell and the sacrifice of our father that we were able to secure our position." Demerus revealed a secret of their family.


    "So that''s why you don''t despise the bones. You must have seen your father fight in all of his glory and see that form as a mark of bravery. This makes it easier. This Temple is not a Temple of the Light but contains both the powers of Gods and Fallens. There are two reasons why you guys are alive. The truth is, you and Grandfather would definitely have died. The first is that the Temple can perform soul recovery. The fact that it could rebuild and even improve the soul of Mardock and my friend Cminus already assured me that it could heal the soul. In your case, it could bind it. You were already halfway through the spell, and the foundation youid was used by the Temple and fixed it. Don''t worry. There should be a way to revert our human forms." Kyros exined.


    "What''s the second reason that we are alive?"


    "The souls move differently in thisnd. This ce is not a normal. We are somewhere outside the normal universe that we live in. That''s why the soul cannot move or journey to the afterlife. Hence, your souls lingered longer in the body and allowed me to resurrect you. Gojirrah. Reptilia. I''m sure you''ve noticed it as the sun now shines over thend."


    "Yes. The more we moved, the more we didn''t understand. This is the world, the beyond the Nephilim Sealing Mountain. The portal that we emerged out of was the very ce where the Nephilim Sealing Mountain stood!" Reptilia exined.


    "What do you mean?" Mezal asked.


    "Let me put it this way, this ce in the future world beyond the Nephilim Sealing Mountain.. The Temple did not teleport us into a different world. It teleported us into a different time!"

 Chapter 277 - Abandoning Time Itself

    At first, Kyros didn''t notice it because there was no mountain, and he had the fight to finish the moment they left the portal. Butter, when Kyros was moving about, he noticed it. Thendscape was simr. Some regions had ces that revealed a battle had taken ce. But with Kyros''s intelligence, he noticed it right away.


    "Thendscape, the ces, and even the ruins suggest it. This is the same mysterious ce where we once were. But my deduction is telling me are in that same world where Gojirrah and Reptilia lived, but possibly decades or even a hundred years into the future."


    "How can you be so sure??" Branze asked.


    "The exit to the portal is the same ce where the Nephilim Sealing Mountain led to!"


    "Lord Kyros is right. The portal that we emerged out of was the very same ce where the Golem City and the huge mountain used toy! I can even tell that north of this ce is where my kingdom used to be!" Reptilia added.


    "What?!" Mezal and Aron were shocked.


    "I thought at first that this was some sort of alternate ce. Like a reverse world of that world where we were."


    "But you saw the ruins..." Cminus''s voice spoke.


    Everyone turned to the Time Core that floated near Martha.


    "Erm... Right. Everyone, this is my mentor and guardian. Time God Cminus. Even when we first met, he was always with me, but I didn''t reveal him because I feared Destiny''s and Fate''s power. But now I understand that Fate is trying to keep Cminus''s identity from being leaked while Destiny is trying to reveal it. As a god of time, you can only imagine his worth," Kyros introduced.


    "He saved my life," Martha added.


    "Erm... How do we address you?" Mezal asked. He was afraid of talking to other gods. He was shed and given painful wounds thest time he spoke to one.


    "Eh, Just Cminus. I''m with the Nephilim, and I''m more dependent on him than he is on me. Besides, you guys aren''t normal. Martha, a disciple of Kyriachos. Mezal and Aron, sons of Hyperion. If I''m not mistaken, Branze should be the reincarnation of Gannaios Steel. And Diana ought to to be Katara Kyriachos, the Bearer of Burdens, who totally isn''t Lydia who is sworn to carry our burdens." Cminus shrugged.


    "As you can see, he''s very entric. So don''t worry about that. He''s actually harmless."


    "Wait! You''re one of the Gods that Histerion showed!" Diana recognized Cminus.


    "Histerion?" Cminus frowned at first but suddenly remembered.


    "Oh my God! Histerion!"


    "Did he just say, ''Oh my god?'' Do gods swear by other gods?" Hunter whispered to Avary.


    "Wow! I forgot about him! The keeper of History! And my father!"


    "You''re father?!" Even Kyros was amazed.


    "I guess so. But let''s not talk about that. He is one of those Beings that Were. So it won''t do well to ponder on it."


    "He''s right." Kyros sighed.


    "Anyway, Cminus, you saw it too, right? Ruins of the kingdom where Gojirrah and Reptilia served was there! This isn''t some reverse world, but a future world! This is the same ce that the Nephilim Sealing mountain led to but, it is many, many years in the future! Can you sense the changing of time?"


    "That''s just it. There is no time here. We are caught in a strange ce. This ain''t the Past or the Present. But it isn''t also the future."


    "What?" Everyone had a confused expression.


    "It means..." Cminus began.


    "Beyond the Nephilim Sealing Mountain is another dimension. A dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. It is a journey into a wondrousnd of imagination. It is the Twilight-!"


    "Ignore the idiot." Kyros facepalmed and interrupted Cminus.


    "But how can this ce be the future and not the future? I don''t understand..." Reptilia asked. She was so convinced that they were in the future.


    "Beginning and End. I think I get it now. Everyone, listen up. When I arrived in Golem City, I saw a vision that brought me to a strange realm of Gods. But I heard that the fight between Destiny and Fate is also a fight that is a tool used by Beginning and End. And this makes me believe that this ce is the battlefield between Beginning and End."


    "Is Beginning and End gods like Cminus?" Mezal asked.


    "Yes. But this battle is even moreplicated. We have to stop thinking of the concepts we know about how time works. We are involved in a grand battle that exceeds time and we have to abandon time itself to make sense of this! There is a God called Beginning. And there is another God called End. They sound like a concept of time, but since these two gods toy around with the Time God and have Fate and Destiny working for them, you could say that they are more of Concepts. Every beginning has to have an ending. And we are Beginning''s champions for this battle!"


    "So the God which is the concept of Beginning is fighting the God known as End?"


    "Yes. You could say that this ce is in the middle. One God is at the start of Creation, and another stands at the end. And they are fighting towards the middle! I could be wrong on some details. But this theory somehow exins how Fate and Destiny are fighting against each other." Kyros exined his theory


    Everyone was silent after hearing Kyros''s theory. Some couldn''t evenprehend it. They could not help but look at Cminus.


    Cminus was now smoking something.


    "Oh, don''t look at me. I''m not as high as him." Cminus shrugged as he puffed arge smoke ring and blew a thick gust of smoke right at the center.


    "Anyway..." Kyros was doubly irritated now that Cminus was openly revealing himself and his entricity to everyone.


    "This exins why your souls didn''t leave. It can''t because it is in a ce where death doesn''t happen as fast it should. It''s like in a strange limbo in the universe outside of time and space. But while this saved you, this also poses a problem."


    "What kind of problem?" Mezal frowned.


    "Oh no..." Branze figured it out.


    "Branze?" Aron turned.


    "The souls don''t travel back in a way that they should in thisnd. It stays here. This ce where the path to the Afterlife is not possible makes the soul stay longer. This happened to your souls, but also of the enemy. And didn''t we just see a Shaman Commander?" Branze reminded everyone.


    "So they can draw back the souls of the inmanders?!" Triona shouted in shock.


    "Not just a Shaman Commander. Their Cardinal is a Necromancer." Martha revealed.


    The expressions of everyone changed to horror.


    "Then... Then...All the Commanders we fought and killed will return?" Demerus asked.


    "Rx. Killing those Commanders had some effect." Cminus answered.


    "Even gods have a hard time performing true resurrection." Cminus interrupted.


    "Yes. They are definitely weaker now. Even if the souls remain, resurrecting the dead isn''t easy. Even those who are Cherubims cannot easily resurrect the dead without great cost!" Kyros revealed. He had broken out of the Londs in his previous life ad saw a battle that even exceeded that of the Minds. As such, he knew what Cardinals were capable of, and if Cherubims couldn''t achieve true resurrection, the means of the Necromancer would result in an unstable resurrection.


    "Then what can we possibly face?"


    "Well, a half-life of those Commanders. We can''t underestimate Destiny, though. I''m sure it''s weaker, but just to be safe, we have to prepare to face them in their full strength."


    "Agreed. Everyone, do not be discouraged. We have stopped and killed theirmander. That wasn''t wasted. But let''s all fight and assume the worst anyway." Branze shouted to everyone and used his Motivational Speaker to keep everyone''s morale up.


    "It will have a body, and not a shadow body?" Aron asked.


    "If only it was a shadow body. Our necromancer enemy properly exins how and why those shadows killed by normal means cane back. True Cut may kill it and stop them from returning, but my question is, where are the original bodies of these shades? And if the body died, who killed it in this ce where Destiny has ced his forces?" Kyros asked.


    "So you mean to say that the original bodies of everything we saw in here are stored in their fortress? And that the Necromancer is saving those bodies for resurrection?" Diana asked.


    "Well, he could have used the bodies for other reasons. The fact that there are many Champions with Commander potential hints that the Necromancer probably fed them with the bodies of the weaker creatures and gave these men those shadow forms."


    "I get it. Creating a body requires tremendous resources. The stronger the body, the more expensive it is. So they took the bodies of weak soldiers and fed it to the Champions and Commander."


    "Yes. I''ve seen a Shade Lord Commander. Shade Lords are beings of endless darkness. That was what the Necromancer used as the resource to create the army of Shadows. But I''m guessing that another bulk of the bodies of those shadows was prepared in case this happens. They will be returning. Thosemanders will rise and fight us again. And while they are weaker, they could probably match most of us. After all, we did have to rely on tricker to kill them." Kyros exined.


    "Then what do we do? Are we going to attack now and stop them from being resurrected?"


    "It depends on Cminus."


    "Me?" Cminus asked.

 Chapter 278 - Abandoning The Ripe Opportunity

    Cminus wondered why he was the deciding factor for the attack.


    "What can I do?"


    "Your ability. You can stop time, right? Wasn''t that what helped Martha escape?"


    "I see! That''s right! We use his Time-Stop to ambush them!" Aron eximed.


    "No. That sounds too easy." Branze shook his head.


    "If anything, Destiny will already have a n to counter it," Mezal added.


    "Exactly. And I only stopped the time of the small spot surrounding the Cardinal and that Wyvern Commander. But I can only do it if I''m within five meters from them. That''s how Martha could move while they couldn''t. Martha used her incredible speed that surpasses an average Commander to shoot and flee. So what''s your n? Come on, Kyros. You''re smarter than this! You know as well as I do that Destiny would have prepared something to counter it from now on. They will be guarded and will do whatever it takes to stop me from using that ability. With Destiny, that hand we just revealed can''t be our ace anymore."


    "So you can only activate it within a very small area. And you can only cast it on a ce a few meters from where that Time Core is, correct?" Mezal confirmed.


    "Exactly. And I hope that you are not forgetting, I only used to be a God. Right now, I''m just a Time Core. It''s a very powerful Time Core, but it''s still Time Core like the Elemental Cores you have. I got lucky and stopped time for one and a half seconds, allowing Martha to shoot and flee. But I can only do that ability once in the middle of a battle."


    "So it''s not as easy to use. And since Destiny is guarded, we can''t expect to use that and kill Commanders." Aron realized.


    "That''s not what I mean." Kyros smiled.


    "Eh? Then what do you mean?"


    "The enemy thinks that we will attack them immediately. Destiny will think that we can figure out that they can resurrect the fallen Commanders and will immediately attack to stop it. That''s the logical thing to do. But we abandon the ripe opportunity of attacking now. Instead, we will train!"


    "Train?" Branze frowned.


    "Yes. Training is the best thing we can do. Think about it. We have the Library of the Nephilim, which provides amazing information about cultivation. These books could even surpass the basic and foundational knowledge to cultivate Force and Magic energy! And, we have my father and mother. Father''s entric research, Uncle Aron who has such a disgusting path in Combat that he can easily learn the theories my father exins. Grandfather can do a little of both what father and uncle can do. And it''s not just the Library of the Nephilim that we have! Haven''t you noticed? The Temple has changed!" Dyne pointed at the area of the Library of the Nephilim at the back of the Temple, and there was arger area that opened up.


    "The deaths of those Commanders, their Champions, Captains and foot soldiers have gained us enough points that nearly made the Temple''s level increased. And as you guys kept killing these shades, it all added to the Temple''s points. I have also used a great portion of the two Commanders to level me up a few times and enhance the Dark Core. I used that to capture or kill a great number of shadows through [Skotos Eis Phos]. And that finally made the Temple reach the next level and allowed ess to the Library of Light. Those two alone can increase our strength and knowledge by several folds as we would be able to solidify our cultivation!"


    "But we don''t have..."


    "Time!" Several voices chorused, and everyone looked at Cminus again.


    "Exactly!"


    "You don''t want me to stop time. You want me to increase the time within a specific area?" Cminus understood.


    "Yes! In this ce, where we are outside of time, you can easily do it, right? After all, how could you stop time? Even if it''s in a very small ce, it shouldn''t have been possible in the previous world we''ve been or in the nesworld!"


    "You''re right about that. So you want me to use it and make the Temple recharge my mana constantly? It''ll be costly. It would even be a miracle if I could give us an entire day!"


    Kyros closed his eyes and brought out the Temple Core.


    Cminus turned around and saw it. It had changed after the level-up.


    "I can program the Temple to constantly provide you with energy and use your Time magic to be distributed in the Hallowed Grounds of the Temple!" Kyros exined as he took the Time Core and brought it to the Temple Core.


    The Temple has a Dimensional Space ability, a massive Holy Barrier, and the power of Hallowed Grounds. What if we add you to the energy powering it up? The Hallowed Grounds ability allows me to ess the Temple Core, and the truth is, I can add whatever energy to it. But right now, there are no practical uses for that. But what if it''s you? The Temple Core will use your power to empower the entire Temple and speed up time. The Temple takes care of distribution and may even amplify your powers."


    Kyros ced it on top of the Temple Core. As Kyros willed it, the Time Core was drawn closer and absorbed inside the Temple Core.


    "Test it. Increase time inside the Temple by five hundred percent, and let''s see how far we can go."


    Cminus''s figure disappeared as he returned to the Time Core.


    Immediately, he used his powers, and Kyros made the Temple draw out the power of time.


    A faint, purple glow was appearing outside of the usual bright yellow light of the Temple.


    "Time?" Martha was familiar with the changes.


    Everyone began to look around at the Temple.


    Kyros saw it and counted the seconds that passed.


    1


    2


    As two second''s passed, a very satisfied smile emerged outside of Kyros.


    3


    4


    5


    A full five second''s passed, and the light disappeared with Cminus''s figure emerging out once more.


    "Sess! It worked! Time has truly sped up inside!" Kyros shouted in joy.


    "Son?" Branze asked immediately.


    "That experiment tested many things. I wanted to know if the Temple could increase the speed of time inside the Temple. And it did. You didn''t notice it, but five seconds passed in here, but only one passed outside!"


    "The cost?" Mezal asked.


    "Cminus, what would be the most efficient speed for you to use?"


    "How much energy does the Temple have? If we used the previous one is to five, how long can we keep it up?" Cminus returned a question.


    "Considering the amount of energy the Temple has from our killings and the yet-to-be-absorbed shadows I captured and brought in the Nephilim Storage Space, we can probably maintain that form for about two weeks!" Kyros revealed.


    Everyone was stunned. Two weeks was a long time! And if they were left alone, they could buy two and a half months!


    "Of course, we can''t expect our enemies to wait for two weeks. They would probably attack us. So with that as a measurement, I need you to plot the best means to use your powers. If you increase the speed, will the cost go up?"


    "... I thought it would. But in this ce, no. So if I want a one-is to ten ratio, I just need to double the energy I used."


    "Good! That will do! We can train!"


    "But Lord Kyros! Destiny is probably acting now!" Scarlet eximed.


    "She''s right, Lord Kyros. This will only buy us hours at most!"


    "Wrong." Kyros smiled.


    "Don''t forget what I immediately set out to aplish and even went so far as to abandon you guys! I went for the source of the darkness of thend! When I was moving and discovered that this was the same ce where Gojirrah and Reptilia lived, I sought out the source of darkness and did my best to destroy it. The darkness began to die out, and I sensed that Fate was rejoicing. Thisnd was prepared by Destiny to be his. His eyes were all over this ce. But not now. And even if he tried, we have the Temple. Destiny cannot see things within the Temple!" Kyros revealed.


    One of the first traps that Destiny sprung on Kyros was to send an orc vampire who served the Blood Cmity. The orc boasted powerful soul attacks that were also a very rare skill. But Kyros had [Greater Soul Resistance], and Destiny didn''t know about it.


    "What about Mechiel?" Scarlet asked.


    "The Blood Cmity." Gregory corrected while giving Scarlet a re.


    "Er, right! The blood Cmity."


    "She can''t do anything. Even if she were a god, she wouldn''t be able tomunicate with her main body. Not in this strange world we are in." Kyros assured everyone.


    "Then shall we start?" Branze asked.


    "No. Not here. We need to move."


    "Are we going back to the portal?"


    "That''s the logical presumption that Destiny would follow. No. We head to the grounds of Reptilia and Gojirrah''s kingdom. Alpha Draconi."


    "The underground cave region! Of course! Even if the kingdom fell, that ce would still exist!" Reptilia realized the n. The kingdom she served in had a massive mountain region behind it.


    "Yes. We go there and position ourselves there. But aside from that, we also need to fake an attack.. So we head there first, but Faye, Stellya, Martha, and Gojirrah. I have a mission for you!"

 Chapter 279 - Abandoning Despair

    Kyros and his team had journeyed to where the Alpha Draconi kingdom stood, and the ruins of the kingdom were shown. But what was shocking was one of the fallen pirs of the area.


    "Alpha Draconi..." Reptilia was amazed. In the former world, this pir still had the engravings of the former name. It was called Lizard Kingdom A. But the fact that it was now changed to Alpha Draconi proved that their actions in the past were carried over, and the world in this region were affected by Kyros''s actions.


    "So they liked the name this much, huh? So our actions in the former world impact this one... Is it possible to...?" Kyros became lost in thoughts.


    "Reptilia take us to the underground region." Kyros disregarded these thoughts and asked to be brought into the deeper parts of the mountain.


    Reptilia led the group, and they moved deep into the ruins of the castle.


    "The battle here must have been brutal," Kyros observed.


    "There are signs of life here!" Branze called out.


    The army of Steele lifted their weapons.


    "No need. I''ve sensed them since we arrived. They are survivors in this post-apocalyptic world. The armies of the Dark Dependent need life to feast on so some of them will be spared and allowed to be multiplied in order to be hunted down." Kyros exined.


    He turned to the edges and began to speak in Lizardnguage.


    "We are not here to attack or harm you. But the armies of darkness will be here soon." Kyros shouted.


    At that moment, a tall figure emerged.


    "You speak ournguage well, human. We have seen the battles your allies waged against Commander Neteri from afar. You are all weak, and only very few among you are Champions. Yet, we sense the deaths of several Commanders." A tall lizardman carrying a spear appeared.


    At that moment, several others emerged. Most of those that appeared were lizardmen and other lizardfolk. But there were humans and goblins and even Skeletons!


    "Hm? Strange..." Demerus sensed it as the tall lizard appeared. It was then he could sense it.


    "Their souls are different." Mezal felt it too.


    "Souls born without time. What an interesting group of people." Kyros smiled.


    "I haven''t seen beings like this for a long time. Most of the Timeless Ones who were mortals have either been in or devoured. This is very interesting." Cminus spoke.


    "They were probably born in this ce when whatever it is that changed time happened here." Kyros guessed.


    "Are you the leader of this ce? I''m sorry. But I ask you to find other ces of shelter. We will be fighting here.


    "We choose not to leave."


    "You will die." Kyros''s gaze turned into a re. The power of darkness covered Kyros, and his wings appeared. The Balefire sword also appeared on Kyros''s hands, and his chains suddenly shot and pierced the ground near the lizard.


    "So cool..." Scarlet sighed.


    "This is a mark of a leader. His words and threats are enough to weaken the enemy..." Reptilia praised secretly.


    Avary, Gregory, and Hunter motioned to the men that they began to order to take positions.


    The lizards who saw the movements all paled in fright. The leader of the Lizards also trembled at Kyros''s disy of power.


    "You misunderstand! We want to help. I am a Champion, and these lizards are but captains. And while we do not have the same strength that your men have, we can still be of use. Use us! Send us to our deaths. Use us as cannon fodders. But just allow our sons and daughters to survive! Please!" The lizard pleaded.


    "You son of a lizard, I''m in! That''s all that you had to say!" Kyrosughed as his threatening forms disappeared, and he moved closer to the lizardman.


    "You are just the allies we need! You the man! Or... the lizardman." Kyros approached and began to do friendly finger-guns to the lizardman.


    "But for real, I don''t have to make you guys cannon fodder. We are allies here fighting against the enemy! I won''t dare treat your men like that! So tell me about your men. Tell me about their strength. Oh. Right. How rude of me! Do you drink tea? Hey, can we get some tea here for our negotiations? Hurry up! Oh, I need to see the underground. You guys probably have some for, right? I need to see it." Kyros talked to the lizard as they continued to walk towards the underground region.


    The Steele family was shocked at Kyros''s sudden change in attitude.


    Kyros even began to tell jokes and pped the lizard leader''s back as he told the joke.


    "What...?" Aron was amazed.


    Surprisingly, Mezal approached, made several grandfather jokes and joined in on the tea.


    "Father?" Aron was even more amazed.


    "Kyros is using various skills. Father-inw is also helping him win the hearts of these lizards." Martha exined.


    "While we can make them our allies, Kyors has to make them feel at ease and at peace. In short, he wants the lizards to like him so that they would serve him," Martha exined.


    "Ah. Of course. Genius."


    "Actually, Kyros wanted Reptilia to use her beauty and make them fight with us. But Reptilia refused."


    "You can refuse an order from Kyros? Isn''t he your master?"


    "It wasn''t an order, but more of a request. Kyros was practically begging Reptilia in our chat room."


    "Your Coven leader... begs?"


    "Kyros has a strange code which he uses which ces tremendous values his employees. Your Steele family could use some of these. Oh, right! There was that Performance Evaluation form that I need to answer if I want to take a leave of absence!" Martha recalled one of the pending questionnaires that Kyros ced in their chat rooms that everyone should answer.


    The team reached the insides and saw piles of stones ced on top of each other, making a makeshift wall.


    But beyond the wall was the home of the lizardmen. It was a pitiful sight. Since they were underground, there were no tents or houses erected. Instead, there were humans and lizardmen, and even goblins. And everyone was simply sitting around campfires as families or groups of families.


    There were rows of farnd in this deep underworld region, and Kyros could tell that even the herbs and nts were grown using Dark Dependent methods.


    The familiar alchemy ss chamber where Kyros once crafted his materials was at the far end. But this time, it was sed to house various shadow familiars and shades.


    "Everyone here has learned to devour darkness, I see." Kyros observed.


    "We were forced to learn it. Otherwise, we would die. When the Necromancer came andid waste to all kingdoms, many of the necromancers that lived on the edge of these worlds abandoned their kingdoms. Some of their survivors reached Alpha Draconi and taught us how. It came just in time as the skies grew dark and thend fell into the dark curse. Even nts and crops would be born of darkness."


    "So your young ones must be suffering. They will die soon, right? I estimate that they won''t live past the age of thirty, even as cultivators. The means to live by darkness is too forced."


    "... Yes. All of us, save for a few who had an alignment close to the dark elements, and the skeletons will have short lifespans. And there is a high death rate among our young. But please... even if their lives are short... please let them live." The lizardmen pleaded.


    Kyros looked around and sighed.


    "Tell me your name," Kyros asked.


    "w Eighty-two."


    "... Damn, that sucks." Kyros sighed as he recalled the name curse for all lizardkin.


    "From now on, you shall be... w Eighty-Three."


    "What?"


    "Just kidding. You shall be called Midgard! The Guardian of the Middle. Since you can''t live ande with us and fight in the past, then you shall stay in this world and guard this present whenever we are not here." Kyros smiled.


    "Abandon despair. And embrace hope. Fate has sent us here not just to battle for the Middle but to create a base. I understand now. I shall build in the past... And make this present powerful!" Kyros smiled.


    "What are you...?" Midgard was confused at Kyros''s words.


    "You''ll find out soon enough. For now, we have to ovee this tribtion and get back to my time." Kyros raised his arm, and the bright light shed out.


    The Temple appeared and shone a majestic light.


    The bright light began to emit a powerful wave of energy, and all the beings nearby felt as if a strange weight was lifted in their hearts.


    All of the Steele family felt the rejoicing of Fate.


    "So this is our purpose..." Mezal understood the ns of Fate and how it worked with the battle.


    The power of the Temple began to shine, and the faces of everyone who lived in this dark world suddenly felt relief in their wounds. The darkness in their body began to tremble.


    "Lady Diana... What did Lord Kyros mean?" Avary asked.


    "Our actions in our real world affect this one. If Kyros builds a mighty kingdom there and has the strength to resist the Cardinal and the Commanders, then we would have our fortress here.. This is what it means to war in the Middle."

 Chapter 280 - Abandoning The Timeline

    The meeting of Kyros and his decision sparked a great change in the universe unseen to almost all living beings. Only the Gods and Fallen who were actively participating in the battle between Beginning and End could sense the changing future.


    In the strange realm beyond all known reality...


    Destiny could not see the locations of the Nephilim and the Steele family. The Spire of Darkness that the Shade Lord created to cover the entire region and give eyes to Destiny had been destroyed. And so, his watchful eyes had been removed from thend. The power of Fate was also constantly growing.


    "What exactly is Fate nning?" Destiny could feel it. The power of Fate was now beginning to threaten him.


    "What did that Nephilim do? I don''t understand." It was the first time that Destiny felt threatened. The surge that altered the future and the Days of the End created massive problems.


    "Destiny... What happened? Are you losing?" A figure emerged behind him. It took the figure of a man but was made of a dull grey color.


    "Apathos. Rx. This is but a minor setback." Destiny frowned.


    "A minor setback? Is this what you call a minor setback?" Another figure appeared. It was a woman with a long, long hair of greenish color that had no end.


    "Thora''s hair has grown twice as long. How can this be a minor setback? Unless you intervene or do something, the Days of the End will be dyed by a thousand millenniums."


    "I am working on it!" Destiny frowned.


    "We shall see. If you fail, End will be forced to make us aid you. I grow tired of this battle and will make you pay should I be forced to intervene. You have to at least destroy whatever foundations are set least we will have to abandon the timeline we know." Apathos turned around and disappeared.


    "I''m sure the others have sensed it but are not affected by the Nephilim''s victory. But for Apathos and me, we have to make small changes to our ns. So you better do well, Destiny! I see that you are running out of pieces."


    "It''s only a temporary victory for the Nephilim. The Nephilim and his team will be forced to act now. They know that their enemies will regain power if they dy. But even if they attack, the Commanders I sent to be raised will be raised again. I already know the full strength they have and have taken into consideration their growth. I will win this. The Nephilim may survive, but his forces will be severely weakened!"


    "Whatever. Never underestimate a woman''s cunning and intuition. Just do this so that my powers won''t be dyed again!" The woman cursed and disappeared.


    Destiny turned back to see his chess pieces. Then, with his sight robbed of where the Nephilim and his forces are, hemanded the Cardinal to be on the defensive and resurrect the Commanders.


    In the other end of this realm where Fate and Beginnings forces watched...


    "I can''t believe we survived that!" One of the Fallens eximed.


    She had seen a hopeless situation, yet the losses they had were practically negligible. None of Hyperion''s sons were killed. And even the Seeds of Fate did not die but somehow clung to life.


    "Hahahaha! My son is such a genius!" A manughed as he saw the events that transpired. The battle was hopeless, and even though Kyros decided not to save any of them, they were all still alive.


    "That was quite a gamble, Fate. Did you n this all?"


    "Of course not! You know the power of Phronesy''s son. How can we face That Which See''s All of Time if we don''t send something that we can predict? So this is what it means to be the Nephilim." Fateughed.


    "But we cannot be rxed yet. The decision of Kyros has created a means to dy the Days of the End. But while a dy is a great victory, it can still easily be revoked once the forces of End abandon the timeline they know and alter the future points. End will definitely send more gods and fallen to get involved. And yet, we cannot interfere least we lose! And as for the Nephilim, a thousand victories can easily be thwarted by a single defeat! End and his allies can always change the future, and we have to outsmart all of it!" One of the gods reminded.


    "My son knows what we are doing. Let''s just see this show y out and prepare for our own battles when the Days of the End arrive." Fate said to all watching.


    "Very well. I shall retreat now and continue my meditation to prepare for thest days. With the advantage we have and the dy, we have a great advantage for the battle toe." One of the gods decided.


    Back in the strange world where the battle of the Middle took ce...


    A massive army of darkness had all gathered together in a single ce. A pitch-ck dome covered everything, and Cardinal was concentrating in the center. Shaman Commander Neteri was also concentrating. She had dispersed her Army of One form to assist in recalling the souls of the dead.


    Nearby, Wyvern Commander Qara and the Shade Lord Commander continued to discuss. The Shade Lord had shrunk in size and only stood five meters tall aspared to his humungous form.


    "So Dragon Commander Pyrestarter was the only one who has truly died. The rest can be resurrected." The Shade Lord observed.


    "Myte husband''s soul was in beyond the portal. And unlike Grendelor Commander Lucas and Skeleton Commander Faust, who seemed to have died with the same soul purging power of the Nephilim, their souls fell in this world. Lord Destiny''s power managed to im their souls."


    "I still can''t believe that they would dare to attack us. And now we are the ones that are holed up in this dark dome. How pitiful..." The Shade Lord grumbled as he touched his chest. There were still the wounds of the Temple attack.


    "That Nephilim is quite good with his aim. He utilized that single beam with great precision, and even with my defenses that could equal Cardinals, it still managed to hurt me!"


    "And so we must watch with careful eyes. These foes of ours will most likely use the Nephilim''s ability to hide in the darkness and move as close as he can in this dome to disrupt the resurrection process."


    "Indeed. The power that could even escape Eredus''s eyes is too strange. How can this Nephilimmand such darkness?" Qara recollected the scenes that Eredus had on his death which the Cardinal had projected for all to see. This was what made them create the dome to protect them.


    "Since we cannot leave our forces outside as the Nephilim and his forces can either devour them or kill them and grow stronger, our option is to keep everyone nearby and shelter it with an imprable dome."


    "Hmmm? They''re here!" Qara noticed and gazed through the ck dome.


    A magic carpet approached. Two Champion mages, along with Martha and a lizardman, could be seen approaching.


    Martha saw the dark dome.


    "We''re here.. Let''s begin. Champions, shoot!"

 Chapter 281 - Time To Delay

    At Martha''smand, both Stellya and Faye began tounch magic attacks at the massive dome.


    But instead of powerful attacks, the pair only shot out magic through their scepters.


    The beams struck and created a ripple throughout the side where the attacks struck. But the attacks of the Champions could not do anything else.


    "What are they doing?" The Shade Lordughed.


    "They are probably testing the strength of the Dark Dome. After all, they only have so much attack."


    "Darako. Spread the darkness closer. We need to listen to what they n." The Cardinal ordered.


    "Yes, my lord." The Shade Lord bowed.


    The dark dome began to scatter a strange dark mist that grew wider slowly. Theyer of darkness spread out and moved closer to them.


    "I wonder what they n to do?" The Shade Lord wondered and was able to move the darkness closer that they could hear the discussion of Martha and her team.


    "What a weak shield. You just shot a small and look. It''s dissipating!" Martha shook her head.


    "Indeed. I guess the Commanders that are alive aren''t much. They must have sent the strong ones first. Except for that Wyvern Commander, I''m guessing that the Shade Lord that Lord Kyros told us about is too weak now. He did receive that twenty-percent beam of the Temple."


    "Yeah. Keep shooting to dissipate that dome. The weak shade lord may die from running out of darkness."


    "YOU IMBECILES!" The booming voice of the Shade Lord erupted.


    The massive shout caused the group of four to panic, and they fled.


    "Hurry! Runaway!" Martha shouted.


    "I don''t want to die!" Gojirrah shouted, and the two champions were shouting in high pitch voices.


    The angry shout was so strong that the area trembled.


    "Darako... Be quiet!" Neteri cursed as she opened her eyes. The sudden shout of Shade Lord had broken her concentration.


    "I am trying to find the souls of Commanders and require no disturbances!" Neteri shouted.


    The Shade Lord wanted to shout more, but Neteri was right. Reviving the Commander''s took precedence over his dignity.


    "Rx, Darako. Those idiots are too useless that they didn''t know we could hear them.


    The pitiful retreat of the four began to slow down.


    "What was that?!" Gojirrah asked.


    "I don''t know. Was it the Cardinal?" Faye asked.


    "That''s probably it! The defense of that dome is too weak that our attack began to destroy it and the Cardinal got mad at his team." Stellya answered.


    Darako was fuming mad but contained the urge to shout as he saw Neteri concentrating once more and began to chant. The Cardinal had also closed his eyes and chanted the ritual of bringing back the soul of a Commander.


    "I see! So he got mad at the ipetent Commanders and shouted!"


    "But that wasn''t the sound of the Necromancer. I recognize his voice. It was a voice that I will never forget..." Martha began to recollect how the Necromancer caught her.


    "It''s not the Cardinal? Are you sure? Maybe the Cardinal is speaking through another form!"


    "That''s right. The Dragon, the Crabmander, didn''t they all have the abilities to transform into a massive creature?"


    "No! I''m sure that it''s not the Cardinal! Even if he assumes a monstrous form, I will never forget the sound of that horrifying voice!" Martha argued.


    "He held me close and made perverted derations that made me tremble in fear."


    "Then, what did the Cardinal sound like?"


    "He sounded like a walrus."


    BOOM!


    A massive Force of energy erupted within the Dome and caused the four to retreat even further in fear.


    "Lo-Lord Heralcus! Please... the spell!" Neteri panicked. Her efforts were nearly lost at the anger of the Cardinal. The two of them were working together to initiate the resurrection.


    "Qara! Kill them!" Cardinal Heralcus ignored Neteri''s pleas and issued amand.


    "As you will!" Qara immediately flew out.


    Seeing the Wyvern, the group panicked and retreated.


    "It''s the Wyvern!"


    "Quick! Tell Lord Kyros that she''s out! Tell him to shoot! Forty Percent power of the Temple will eradicate that Wyvern!"


    "I will! Activate the marker!" Martha shouted as she held out a Core.


    "Qara! Retreat!" Commander Heralcus ordered. He was afraid of losing yet another Commander, and although it sounded like a boast, Haralcus could not afford a gamble and issued a retreat. He prepared the Dark Dome and hid inside to ensure the revival of the other Commanders. He knew that he shouldn''t be sidetracked.


    Qara quickly retreated.


    "Oh no! She retreated! Our n!" Faye called out as she saw the dragon retreat.


    "Why did shee out? Could it be?" Stellya asked.


    "Yes. It''s the only logical exnation." Martha added.


    The Shade Lord shook his head. The immediate retreat of Qara easily revealed the fact that his powers were allowing him to hear everything that the four talked about.


    Even the Cardinal was frowning. Qara''s retreat was also too sudden. She only realized it when she entered the dome.


    "I made it too obvious! Now they know that we could hear them!" Qara cursed. The power of darkness that allowed them to hear was one of their aces. And it was immediately revealed.


    "It''s not a coincidence. The angry shout, that tremendous force that could only belong to the Cardinal, and the wyvern''s retreat. It''s easy to determine what happened."


    "Right!" Faye affirmed..


    "Hmm. That wyvern is afraid of me. I already hit her once, and that attack left a trauma on her! She''s afraid of me! The Cardinal must have ordered her to attack, but she didn''t want to! So her fellow Commander called her an imbecile!"


    "Right! But she didn''t do anything, and then another Commander got mad and released his aura, and that made the Wyvern finally move out!"


    "But when she saw me bring out the Light Core, she got scared and retreated! Hemp! But a wise choice! Had she pped her chicken wings a few more times, with my aim and lord Kyros''s attack, she''d be fried gizzard. Or, in this case, fried lizard!" Martha dered.


    "Lady Martha... I''m a lizard too." Gojirrah reminded.


    "Er... sorry, Gojirrah. She would be a fried newt!"


    "Right. A fried newt! But that dragonmander was a tasty newt..." Gojirrah sighed.


    "Yeah. I can''t believe that pepper works great on it!"


    "Too bad we didn''t bring our special home spices..."


    "Isn''t there still arge chunk left?"


    "Lord Kyros is preparing it for our victory party. Maybe if we get out of this ce, we can try those spices! I can''t wait! Facing a dragon seemed worth the trouble! That Crab meat is also good!"


    Qara shouted angrily, and she assumed her full wyvern form and prepared tounch a massive breath attack at the four. The discussion of how her beloved became a delightful snack to pitiful creatures fa inferior to her race drove her mad.


    "Qara! It''s a trap! Calm yourself! They are clearly taunting us!" The Cardinal cursed and raised his hands, and blueish-white chains appeared near Qara and bound her.


    As the tremors inside the dark dome resounded once more, the four began to move further and further and were beyond the dark mist that enshrouded the ce.


    "Let''s retreat. We need to report what we found to Lord Kyros. This dome and this strange dark mist will ruin our ns. We expected them to be ready to attack, but who would have thought that they shell themselves up in that dome-like turtles. We will be wasting energy here. Let''s go back to the portal!" Martha ordered.


    And the group flew out and went to the distance.


    Back inside the dome, the angry wyvern continued to thrash about, and even Neteri cursed and attacked Qara for disrupting her meditation.


    As the group retreated, Kyros, who had been flying to meet them, felt it. The calls of the souls had weakened. His Greater Soul Resistance was not only good for resisting soul attacks. It was more sensitive in soul magic.


    "Great job, Martha! You dyed the ritual!" Kyros praised and sent a message in the chat group.

 Chapter 282 - Time To Serve Vengeance

    Kyros continued to fly through the air with great speed. He had been in constantmunication with Martha and had even used the enhanced power of their Dark Link to see the entire dome.


    With the enhancement of the Dark Link, the power of Kyros''smunication could now be passed on to a few people. As long as a member of the Coven is nearby, Kyros and the Coven could choose to link another person who is nearby.


    And so, Faye and Stellya were able to hear the voice of Kyros speaking directly to them.


    Kyros suspected that the power of the dark mist that spread out had sensing capabilities thanks to Cminus''s many lessons of how darkness could be used. And so, Kyros told Martha and the team to follow what he said.


    The reactions that they heard proved that Kyros''s conjecture was correct, and the group continued to y around with what they learned, with Kyros giving them some notes as they continued to act out the scene of pretending to be ignorant.


    The retreat of the four somehow relieved the Commanders, who was still holding down on Qara, who was angry to the extreme.


    "Silence! We have already been dyed in our ritual! We start now! Qara, calm your rage and join us. Now that they have retreated, we should focus on making up for the lost time we had! Neteri, have you found their souls?" Cardinal Heralcus asked.


    "I... nearly did, Lord Cardinal."


    "Try harder," Heralcus ordered as he closed his eyes to harness the dark artifact that Destiny gave for him.


    Neteri was silent but was secretly cursing. It was actually because of the angry reaction of Heraclus from being called a walrus that Neteri lost focus and was disconnected from the souls of the Commander.


    Neteri began to concentrate once more. Her power was vital to hasten the process of resurrection as she couldmunicate with the soul and create a path from the ce where the soul is towards its physical location.


    The souls live and see a different worldpared to those who see it. They see the physical ne and the soul ne and move through it. As such, souls could not move in the same physical directions as those living could. And so, it was difficult for newly departed souls to find a way to move in the new world and new sensation they now live in.


    And since the ce they were at had a frozen soul ne, it was even more difficult to travel.


    Neteri would try to search the resonating power of the Commanders soul. As the Commanders were the strongest cultivators ever to have walked in this ce, it was easy to find them. But the soul ne was something that Neteri could not easily move into due to her weak cultivation. She had to rely on another artifact that Destiny gave her. Through this artifact, she creates a call that attracts the souls back to them. But now that the link has been destroyed, Neteri has to go through searching for the souls in the soul ne again.


    The two began to concentrate as Darako tried to reason with the Qara, who was still bound in chains.


    As Martha and the group retreated, Kyros then gave the order.


    "Alright. Go back to them and start attacking them."


    "Go back? But I thought you said we should retreat." Martha frowned.


    "Exactly. I made you say that they will be relieved, lower their guard, and start whatever ritual they need to make. I''m sure that whatever ritual they are trying to do requires focus and intense concentration to perform. So they should be focused and trying to get their momentum to cast this spell back. Hence, you guys go back and start calling them. I''m still searching for more survivors that Midgard told me about." Kyros exined.


    "I understand, Lord Kyros." Martha answered, and the group made a sudden turn.


    "What do we say?"


    "Bring out Puff, and gave his speech in dragon tongue. Since Dragons rarely interacted with people, they didn''t want others to learn their tongue out of their pride. So I hope that not many of them can speak Dragon Tongue. Otherwise, this n won''t work. But might as well try since it won''t cost us energy anyway." Kyros answered.


    Martha noted what he would make Puff say, and Faye and Stellya blushed as they heard it.


    "This..." Gojirrah was amazed. The words would definitely invoke a reaction.


    Martha passed on those words to Puff, and Puff chuckled.


    "Your master is a genius! And it''s true! Dragons and vampires have always had this rivalry! Both races have powers from the Fanged Fallen after all." Puff chuckled and came out of the portal.


    "ROAR! ROAR!" Puff began his tremendous roar that crossed the distance.


    Those inside the Dark Dome heard the cries, and Qara''s eyes grew angrier.


    "That arrogant whelp!" She cursed as she heard the taunts.


    "What is he saying?" Darako frowned. He was worried that anothermotion might erupt. He moved closer towards the Wyvern and prepared to hold her down.


    But Qara was only grumbling and gnashing her teeth from the insults of Puff.


    "You are a disgrace to the dragons! Serving a human necromancer? Pathetic! At least my master has dragonic blood and has the power of Rtional Superiority! He is his own grandpa!" Puffughed.


    "Rtional Superiority?" Qara frowned.


    "What?" Darako asked.


    "Nothing. That whelp is talking nonsense and is insulting me."


    "As long as it is nonsense. Neteri and Cardinal Heralcus are in a critical moment. We should refrain and be silent. Block off your ears just in case."


    "Hmm. You''re right." Qara shook her head and was about to block off all sounds and rely on sight to stand guard when Puff said something.


    "My master knows of a secret that will shock you! Do you think your husband was faithful to you? Didn''t he see you lust after the Cardinal, which is already an embarrassment to our race? Do you think your husband could hold that jealousy down? My master is a vampire, and you''ve seen in that vampire''s memories the Celestial ranked Vampire that my master managed to seal! With her powers, my master can see bits and pieces of the vampire''s memories!" Puff shouted.


    Qara froze. This issue had been a constant problem that drove a gap between Pyrestarter and the Cardinal. The Necromancer had always openly shown his attraction to Qara. And Pyrestarter was too weak to do anything about it.


    "That Vampire was very loyal as he managed to hide most memories involving all your abilities and strength. But what he couldn''t hide was a secret. He hated your husband, did he not? And he knew of a secret that he was ordered to keep. He knew that your husband had made an angry rebellion against your Cardinal. And that was through Neteri! The Vampire loved that Shaman. But as that Shaman was also one of the maid chambers of the Cardinal, he could not do anything. But when he found out that Neteri also had another partner, it made him mad. Had not the Cardinal intervened, the two would have fought to the death!"


    Qara felt as if her world froze. His husband and the Vampire did hate each other. And it was also Pyrestarter''s anger that he did not follow the orders of the Cardinal and even went so far as to charge and attack the Temple despite the orders not to do so.


    The question was bothering her. Was it true?


    "Your husband had been sleeping with that Neteri who weed him secretly! How may you ask? Through the soul, of course! Neteri''s soul would move into the body of your husband every night even when you were beside him!" Puffughed as Martha told him thest sentence to dere.


    "Lord Kyros. Are your words true?" Gojirrah asked.


    "Eh? Of course not. I mean, there''s a possibility, but no. Neteri can''t have soul sex. She''s not a subus. Only those like the Blood Cmity could do something like that. I am only using every detail that Martha talked about. The Cardinal clearly is one horny necro. The dragonmander''s charge to the Temple didn''t make sense. Why did he attack all on his own? I merely used that. I doubt the Necromancer would sleep with the Wyvern. After all, he would not dare waste a Commander of Destiny. I''m just adding intrigue to the perverseness of that necromancer. Right now, that Shaman ought to be in a critical moment. I hope that the Wyvern can''t contain her anger. After all, now is the perfect time to serve vengeance." Kyrosughed.


    "It doesn''t sound like she acted. There is silence on the Dark Dome. Shall I make Puff call out again?"


    "No. Give it a few seconds. It''s best that Puff keep quiet. You see, she will want more info. And we are not giving it to her. Trust in the woman''s ability to overthink.." Kyrosughed.

 Chapter 283 - Time To Apologize

    Deep inside the Dark Dome...


    Darako was relieved to see Qara quietly sitting there. The wyvern was not trashing about angrily but was seated quietly, not even showing the rage she did earlier.


    But as Kyros predicted, it was because she was overthinking.


    Many did not learn the words of the whelp dragon that shouted in Dragon Tongue. In fact, only she understood it. And the contents of Puff''s words were urate.


    Pyrestarter was angry at the Necromancer, and it had been the source of many conflicts. But what made it worse was that the Necromancer showed no remorse and kept on bothering the Pyrestarter with his flirtatious words. It was this that made Pyrestarter want to attack ahead of everyone else, hoping that the powers of the Nephilim that he would devour would be greater. And even when the Nephilim was showing powers beyond his estimation, he kept fighting.


    Eredus had shown them the vision of the Blood Cmity. But the Necromancer determined that this Blood Cmity was one of their allies who was only insulted by Eredus''s arrogant ims and was used by the group. Nevertheless, the Blood Cmity would be killed, and the Necromancer would devour her soul because of her assault and betrayal.


    Cardinal Heralcus even concluded that the strange power of the Nephilim to grow stronger at each kill might be rted to this. And so, Qara believed that the Nephilim could draw out the memories of Eredus.


    Neteri was the only woman in their group who had such power that even Qara feared her. And slowly, bit by bit, memories of Neteri''s casual movements that bore no meaning suddenly had meaning. Qara was already jealous of her since she was the woman who freely entered the chamber of Cardinal Heralcus. And this jealousy had now an added dose of rage.


    Was it possible? Could Neteri have done that and their souls intertwined? Was the anger of Eredus towards herte husband really about his attraction to Neteri and not about the pride and arrogance of both men?


    She recalled one night when she and her husbandy on their bed.


    "I bet he''s thinking about other women..." Qara angrily thought as she saw her husband chuckling.


    Pyrestarter was next to her, thinking of one battle which he lost against another dragon in their real world. The dragon was a mboyant one, yet despite his colorful life, he was still respected and feared as he was strong. This mboyant dragon would often say, ''time to get my drag on!'' whenever he would fight.


    "Does that mean that I am a ''drag off''?" Pyrestarter thought andughed at what he believed to be a very clever pun. Qara saw that smirk and believed that her suspicions were true.


    These events all heightened Qara''s thoughts until she could no longer contain them.


    She took a deep breath.


    Darako noticed it.


    "It''s good that she has calmed down..." Daraka thought and turned his attention to the Cardinal and Neteri.


    Neteri was concentrating but was close to seeding. The souls of not just one Commander but four had been found and headed towards their location.


    "Almost there..." Neteri smiled.


    Noticing the smile of Neteri, Qara''s hateful thoughts could no longer be contained.


    The deep breath she took was not a rxation technique but a preparation for the strongest attack that dragons could do.


    Breath attack.


    "ROAR!" With a swift motion, she fired the strongest attack she had towards Neteri.


    "What?!" Darako ran and tried to stop her.


    Heralcus, who was in deep meditation, sensed the danger and created a shield in front of Neteri. But the full might of the dragon''s breath was not so easily blocked. Heraclus was in a meditative state, and the shield he created at thatst moment broke from the attack.


    "AAAHHHHHH!" Neteri was blown back from the breath attack.


    The four who were some distance from the dome heard the booming sounds.


    "Ah... There it is." Faye sensed the energy.


    "Amazing. Even if it''s against Commanders and Cardinals of great power, Lord Kyros''s insane mind can do such miracles! I wonder if I followed his original advice and stole the wives of all those Champions and even of that Commander... I should have asked him to get Reptilia to be mine!" Gojirrah thought to himself.


    "Lord Kyros. Your n worked!" Martha reported.


    "Good. Now go closer and say the following..."


    Inside the Dark Dome, Qara had been attacked by both the Cardinal and Darako.


    The attacks she received was so powerful that it caused her to revert to her humanoid form.


    "You... slut!" Yet even then, her anger could not be contained.


    Neteri was gravely wounded from the attack. If not for Heralcus''s quick action, she would have died.


    Heralcus was boiling in rage and was about to attack her again when a bright light shone on the artifact he had.


    "Stop. This is the Nephilim''s doing! She has tricked Qara with lies! Heralcus! Do better! Lord Destiny is greatly displeased by yourck of foresight!" A voice called out.


    "Lord Chance!" Heralcus bowed. It was one of Destiny''s alterations in the multiple realities. Chance.


    "The Nephilim is tricking you into attacking each other and has used this to wound you for his attack further!" Chance called out. The voice died, and the bright light vanished.


    Everyone was awakened from Chance personally intervening. It took great power to do so, and ye Chance intervened. They knew that if Chance spoke, it was lord Destiny''s will.


    "Qara. What did you hear?" Heralcus demanded.


    "The whelp told me this..." Qara began to ry the exact words of the dragon. She told of how the Nephilim managed to drink the blood of Eredus and find out the memories and told of his husband''s infidelity.


    "You fool!" Heralcus shouted in anger.


    "That is not possible! Neteri cannot bring out her soul to have sex with someone else! That''s not how the soul works! Heralcus angrily exined.


    "It''s... not?" Qara was surprised.


    "No! You idiot! And I don''t even like your husband! You will pay for your-" Neteri stood up in anger. Her blood was flowing down, and her strength had weakened.


    "Stop fighting! You heard Lord Chance''s words!" Heralcus reminded.


    "The Nephilim has not only dyed our ritual, but he has also caused us to attack one another! I will be the first to admit that my pride in arrogance and how I dealt with Pyrestarter had led to this! Now is not the time to fight among us, but now is the time to admit mistakes and apologize least we will die before we even fight the Nephilim!" Heralcus gritted his teeth as he said this. But he knew that he needed to stop the infighting quickly.


    "I... was wrong. I was deceived. Forgive me." Qara quickly apologized as he saw the Cardinal admit his faults which disyed the severity of the situation.


    "That Nephilim...!" Neteri turned her raged to the outside, and then she noticed the approaching figures.


    "It''s them!" Neteri called out.

 Chapter 284 - Time To Gather

    The appearance of the four with the dragon flying next to Martha added great pain and anger to those inside the dome, especially Qara.


    "What are they doing here? I thought they retreated?" Darako frowned.


    Immediately, the two Champion mages began to make attacks, and even Martha began to shoot arrows. Puff''s normal form had grown in size, and he was now slightlyrger than a horse. It flew around the area, grabbed stoned and boulders, and hurled it towards the dark dome.


    Gojirrah jumped andnded on the ground. He stood with a brave pose and leaned back.


    "The Shade Lord is stupid!" Gojirrah shouted.


    "Wyvern? More like, Why are you so stupid?!" He shouted again.


    "The Shaman is t-chested!"


    "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but that necromancer is ugly!"


    Again and again, Gojirrah made his relentless attacks and delivered words of poison at the Dark Dome.


    "That little...!" The Shade Lord channeled the darkness andunched arge dark spear towards them.


    The spear flew with great speed and crossed the distance, but right before it struck them, a massive portal appeared and ate the spear.


    "See how stupid the Shade Lord is? He shot concentrated dark energy at us! We, who have the ability to eat Darkness! Thank you for the meal! You just gave your enemy more power!" Gojirrahughed.


    Puff disappeared as a portal appeared in front of him. He flew in and quickly flew out, carrying the Shade Lord''s dark spear.


    "Delicious!" Puffughed as he bit on it.


    "Back in the past, when the kingdom of Alpha Draconis stood in thisnd, I banged your mother, Shade Lord!" Gojirrah then began to carry out more insults dragging everyone''s mother into the picture.


    The Shade Lord was enraged, but then the Necromancer''s power appeared.


    "It''s a trap! Right now, two of my Commanders are critically wounded! Ignore them! Focus on healing, and let us continue with this ritual. I can sense the Nephilim flying around the, killing shadow ghouls and remnants of the armies of the fallen Commander. He is preparing for our battle and using those to dy us. I fear that a trap in ce could even harm me! We lost so much already! Let us maintain our caution and keep this defense up. Darako. Use your powers to seal up this ce so that not even sound can pass through! We block our ears from them!" The Necromancer ordered.


    "That Necromancer resurrected his own mother! Too bad! I''m into necrophilia! So even if that Cardinal''s mother was skin and bones, I did it with her!" Gojirrah''s words echoed once more.


    Heralcus grew immensely angry but reminded himself of Chance''s words.


    "DO IT!" Heralcus shouted and ordered the Shade Lord in great rage. His shout was so loud it echoed throughout the and.


    "Do it? That''s right! I did it! With your mother!" Gojirrah shouted back.


    The Shade Lord quickly activated the spell, and the darkness took form and became as metal.


    The group continued their attacks even as the darkness condensed into hard steel.


    "Lord Kyros..." Martha reported.


    "I see it. Aunt Martha, have Gojirrah and the two champions retreat. As for you, go to these points and call out the surviving remnants. Tell them that we who in the Commanders are calling on all of the survivors here. They are to go to Alpha Draconis and fight with us. They have to make haste and be there within a day''s time." Kyros then ryed the locations of the nearby settlements that were close enough for a day''s travel.


    The group immediately retreated at Kyros''s orders.


    Kyros had finally reached the second surviving settlement.


    Unlike the former, which hid in the ruins of a kingdom, this one retreated to the top of a mountain.


    Kyros used his powers and made light stunning everyone who saw.


    A group of humans appeared and watched as Kyrosnded. Among the group were Skeletons, goblins, and even some orcs. But what intrigued Kyros was a race of winged humanoids. They looked like humans but had bird-like features.


    "Feather Folk... A rare race even in the nes World." Kyros recalled that he only started seeing this race when he was fighting in the Minds.


    "Who are you?" The leader was a Skeleton with tremendous power.


    "A Lich! Interesting! Ths dark world had allowed you to grow!" Kyros praised.


    "Lich? I am Lich?" The skeleton asked.


    "You don''t know, huh? I see. Your heritage and knowledge of the Magic Fueled and the Forsakers of Flesh are low. When a Skeleton is able to disy double the magic powers that his peers should be able to disy, he is considered a Lich. The lowest ranking among the Lich, but a Lich nheless."


    "You know of the dark arts? How can such a being of light know of it?" The Lich questioned.


    The bright light of Kyros suddenly turned to darkness.


    "That form!" The Lich was stunned.


    "I am Kyros Steele. I am sent here to fight those Commanders and Cardinals that have ruled this ce. Will you join me?" Kyros asked.


    "I have sensed the battles you waged. With my dark arts, I have sensed the death of several Commanders. Was it your doing?"


    Kyros brought out a single item. It was the fang of the Pyrestarter. The moment the Lich saw it, it eximed.


    "That is the dragonmander''s w!"


    "Yes. I am the Nephilim. I have in this one. But there is no time to rejoice. Our enemies will resurrect the Commanders that we killed. You have seen the powers of that Necromancer, no doubt. We ask for assistance in the battle toe. Alpha Draconi has already allied with us, and I have just convinced the nearby settlement to join us. Will you fight for your life or remain to be food raised for the ughter?" Kyros asked.


    The Lich turned around to observe the leaders that led the settlement.


    "Is this a trap?" One of the Feather Folk asked.


    "Impossible. You''ve seen his light! This being is clearly their enemy!" One of the humans eximed. He had noticed Kyros''s human form and agreed.


    "Is it safe to travel?" The horse voice was heard, and a tall Hobgoblin approached.


    "My my... a Captain level with the strength of a Champion! And a Commander''s Potential!" Kyros felt the power of the hobgoblin.


    "You ask us to travel, but is it safe?"


    Kyros smiled and used Soul Projection''s ability to show the scene he saw earlier. The power of the Blood Cmity to create illusions had grown stronger as Kyros absorbed the strength of the Commanders he killed.


    The sight of the dark dome was shown.


    "They are threatened by our power and have holed up in their fortress. Rest assured that they won''te out anytime. We have dyed the ritual to resurrect and even caused infighting among them. They are even more guarded at their current state and would expect us tounch a full assault. But instead, I wish to gather the nearby survivors and ask for their help in the battle toe. Destiny''s eyes are blind for now. So it is the perfect time to gather!"


    The illusions changed and revealed the lizards of Alpha Draconi training inside the Temple. And it changed to show how Kyros convinced the survivors of the previous settlement who agreed to move to Alpha Draconis.


    The visions attracted everyone''s attention. The scene that Kyros revealed to them was more than an image of people marching towards the fallen kingdom of Alpha Draconis. What they saw was hope.


    The Lich turned around and nced at the leaders, who all had the same expressions.


    "We leave at once!" The Lich dered and the entire vige erupted in cheers.


    At the other end of the ne, Martha was approaching another settlement.. Puff was flying next to her, carrying arge w which was the w of the Crab Commander.

 Chapter 285 - Time To Train

    The Dark Dome stood over thend, and there was immense silence in the region.


    The injury of Qara and the near-death of Neteri caused Destiny to move and make the warning. And with Chance speaking, Heralcus ordered everyone to stop listening to the taunts of the Nephilim. This was done so that no more incidents would fall, for they now feared the taunts of the Nephilim.


    And the loyal minions of Destiny followed and remained locked up and focused on the resurrection of the fallen Commanders.


    The Commanders inside were all fulfilling their respective responsibilities.


    The Shade Lord was preparing a huge amount of darkness to be used for rebirth.


    Qara was surprisingly given the task to defend despite her previous wild attacks. But every now and then, she would cut off her arm and would devour some of the soldiers in the dome to recover. Her arm, which had tremendous regenerative abilities, would be important ingredients for all Commanders.


    Neteri was still in the process of recovering, but she was already resuming her search for the souls of the Commanders and had to start the process all over again.


    Heraclus was preparing his dark spell and was bestowing his darkness that creates false life.


    "I am Heralcus Psevdos, and I speak truth into these bodies. Let these that have not died to be born again and have life evesting..." Heralcus chanted as he channeled the power.


    Everyone was busy and didn''t mind the world outside. However, sending spies and scouts was too dangerous. If the ones they sent were below Commander level, they would die and be eaten, and Heralcus didn''t want to give the Nephilim even the bits of darkness to empower them.


    But even though they did this, a strange worry fueled the heart of Heralcus.


    "What this Nephilim? How was he able to trick Qara? Am I not a son of Psevdos? How was it that he managed to deceive Qara with the falsehood that I didn''t sense?" Heralcus questioned. He was a servant and follower of the Fallen Psevdos. He attained the Corruption of this Fallen, and yet, even he, who wielded the powers of lies, was deceived.


    "Is it Fate? Is Fate helping the Nephilim deceive me?" Heralcus thought.


    "If this is so... Are we still being deceived? What ns do the Nephilim hold?"


    Outside the dome, Martha had revealed the w of the Commander and a massive form of Puff which revealed the might of a Commander.


    "We have conquered and inmanders! Join us! Journey to Alpha Draconi and hide under our wing as we take the flight to challenge those who covered the sky! The earthen dome in the sky has shone, and the bright light of hope hase!" Martha gave the speech that Kyros prepared for her to give.


    The people in this settlement were the weakest and the ones who were closest to dying. They saw the light shine and had hope. And now, one bearing the w of the Commander made the people ept.


    The group had a majority of goblins but no hobgoblins among them. The humans were all women and not even a single Skeleton among them.


    Martha made Puff lead them back and went on to thest settlement.


    Kyros was also headed towards thest settlement they could gather in this short time. Kyros knew that anymore, and it would be too dangerous.


    Yet every now and then, Kyros would turn and nce at the location of the Necromancer. Ever since he arrived here, he felt a strange conflict that resonated within him.


    "What concept guides this ce? That Necromancer definitely is using his corruption! If I wish to fight him, I need to understand it!" Kyros thought to himself.


    Unknown to Kyros, a war of strange power had begun when he made the group deliver those lies to the Cardinal.


    The Code of Kyros and the Corruption of the Cardinal were acting against each other. Kyros won the first round of that war that led to Qara and Neteri being severely wounded. But Kyros was afraid that he would die if he could not pierce through this mystery.


    Nearly five hours passed since Kyros emerged to call out the various settlements to an alliance. But inside the Temple, a full day has passed.


    Time was elerated on the Temple grounds. The ce where the fortified wall was had a wide space, and people were freely training within it. The space easily allowed many to train and fight.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    Sword fights were urring all over the ce. The lizardmen and humans now had the strength to stand from the blessings of the Temple. The Steele family was training everyone.


    The newly recruited warriors were amazed by the skills of the soldier. And not only that, but the Library of Light allowed everyone esses to the Record of the Nephilim, which detailed the journey of Kyros.


    The fights and shes within the Temple were recorded and reyed, and even projected on the skies above them.


    And the knights and archers were using this record as a visual guide to show everyone how they fought. The scenes of the battle were reyed for everyone''s learning. Even the Steele family was learning as they saw the battle seeing more instances in the battle that they could have made smarter actions.


    On the other side of the Temple was the ongoing ss about magic. The Emberdons decided to divide their team. Triona would aid and help the new mages and servants on how to use magic and how to wield it.


    The Temple gave fifteen powerful scepters. The five strongest ones were given to the Emberdons. But there were ten weaker scepters, one of which was used by Scarlet. And so, Kyros instructed that they use this time to train them to wield magic properly.


    The nine people who have bestowed a scepter throughout the battle learned how to shoot out magic energy. And now, it was the time to harness it. Triona Emberdon stood with her Skeleton body. She continued to teach several students how to wield the elements and the basic theories and application of magic energy.


    Scarlet, Reptilia, Aron, and Hunter were listening to her instructions. They were the ones bestowed with Elemental Cores. The Temple had given five Elemental Core to Kyros''s team. Two Fire, two Lightning, and an Earth Core were granted to a member of each.


    Mezal received the Earth Core, which he was able to expertly wield thanks to his training and experience with his shaman father-inw.


    Scarlet and Reptilia received a Lightning Core. Scarlet had been using along with her scepter. On the other hand, Reptilia had passed it along to Gojirrah, and the two were using it interchangeably. The lightning core was given to Gojirrah by the Temple, but as Gojirrah had a mission, Reptilia stayed and started studying how to use it.


    Aron and Hunter had a Fire Core as well. But as he had no time to experiment, Aron rarely used it.


    Triona didn''t have a hard time instructing them. The person she thought would have difficulty proved to be a monster not just in Force but also in Magic.


    Aron had created a True Cut power that harnessed fire. Thebination of True Cut and Fire with Holy created the rarest element that any being could wield.


    Aron sat down as Brimstone energy covered his sword. The Temple restored his limbs, but he needed to train in it as the feel and control of these new arms and legs was strangely different from his original arms and legs.


    "Magic Energy and Force Energy are simr but different. Force Energy is the energy that your body creates. But Magices from the mind. It is the mind that wields it and controls it, while Force is considered to be an extension of the body." Triona exined.


    FLASH!


    Suddenly, a majestic power erupted nearby.


    It was a contest, and Demerus won.


    The Skeletons training within the Temple were shocked and saw how Demerus eclipsed them in potency and power.


    The magic he wielded went beyond double his original power, and it continued to increase until it reached the triple of his original power.


    The Skeletons felt the vast inferiority they hadpared to Demerus, and all began to approach and bow at him.


    "So this is the power of a Lich?" Demerus smiled.


    His skeleton form had changed. Expressions could now be read as his face had be clearer, and it was as if ayer of flesh had covered his mouth.


    "My magic is so potent that it gave me the power to recover flesh?" Demerus could sense the changes.


    "Triona. We switch. I''ll continue training them. You go and meditate on the books of the Nephilim." Demerus smiled.


    After the great life and death battles, the Emberdons now wholeheartedly served the Nephilim and the Steele family. And so, Kyros gave them full ess to read all the books in the Library of the Nephilim.


    "Yes!" Triona excitedly moved over. Ressi had yet to achieve the power andplete the process that Demerus managed to figure out.


    "Alright, ss. Let''s have a practical test." Demerus smiled.


    "Let''s fight!"


    "Fight?" Aron smiled.


    "Errr... But only use magic. I don''t want to die again, Lord Aron.." Demerus chuckled.

 Chapter 286 - Time To Evolve

    The power of Demerus had brought him into the ss of Lich. But unlike the ss of Lich that Kyros met outside, Demerus wasn''t just a Lowly Lich which would have twice the magic power of what Skeletons have at their level, but Demerus had triple the magic potency.


    "So Lich triple, then I wonder what power those who are Arch-Lich has?" Demerus smiled.


    "Alright. Let''s give it a go." Aronughed as he wielded his fire, and it became a sword.


    "What?!" Demerus was shocked. The sword that Aron created was of fire, but it looked as if it was hardened.


    "Oh? So this sword should be equal to a regr knight''s sword... I guess I have a long way to go before I can even make Captain Level swords..." Aron sighed.


    "Oh well... Shall we fight?"


    "Erm... That''s not what I meant to fight! I mean, use magic!" Demerus defended. Aron could cut and pierce a Commander with unimaginable power. The Commanders they fought were all horrifying creatures that could take three or four of the Commanders in the Londs. Even if Aron had a regr sword, Demerus would dare not fight him.


    "Master Aron, I believe you need to read more books about the Artificer! I believe I saw several books about that. The way you wield the fire... It''s unnatural."


    "Oh? Now that you mention it, the dark spears that Kyros made weren''t this hard and could only maintain form for so long. Could it be because of my lineage to Hyperion Steel?" Aron wondered and nced at the power of the sword.


    "But I guess I should let my brother or someone else do that. I learn more from actually seeing it rather than studying." Aron answered.


    "I... I see. I have heard of this monstrous ability of yours. Then let us all fight. I''ll stay here within this perimeter and will not fly. Everyone except Master Aron, attack me with what you have and try to use magic. Master Aron, please stick with using fire."


    "Alright." Aron nodded without any concern.


    Reptilia frowned.


    "You underestimate the Coven." She red at Demerus.


    "Not really." Demerus smiled.


    BOOM!


    The potent magic energy erupted. A great power of Decay erupted and formed a massive skull that surrounded Demerus.


    "Entropy..." Mardock watched with an impressed expression.


    "His force is nearly half of my prime power. And he has not yet even perfected it. Amazing." Mardock praised.


    Reptilia retreated, as did the rest. Only Aron stood his ground and wielded me.


    "Oh? Is his magic causing my mes to decay? What an interesting concept!" Aronughed.


    "Come, Coven. Let''s train!"


    "As I said..." Reptilia frowned.


    "You underestimate the Coven! Scarlet!"


    "[Shadow Step]!" Scarlet shouted as she teleported right inside the gap of the skeleton.


    Inside the greenish skull, Scarlet shot Fire Bolts.


    KZZT KZZT!


    But the fire bolts were all disintegrated.


    Hunter and Reptilia attacked from the outside, wielded powerful energy, and shed on the massive skeleton.


    "Too weak, guys..." Aron shook his head.


    BOOM!


    The Force Energy all disappeared the moment it struck.


    "What happened?!" Reptilia cursed.


    "That Entropy is very strong. You need to make a massive attack to prate it. It degrades force and magic energy. This is a great way to train. It will force us to harness the strongest magic energy at once. If not..."


    "AHHH!" Scarlet screamed as she escaped from the inside using [Shadow Step].


    She fell down, and her body was rotting. Immense pain filled her body.


    "Send her in the Temple. My attacks won''t kill you, but it''s designed to make you experience pain worse than death." Demerus smiled.


    "Hunter! Get ready to attack!" Reptilia called out.


    "I wouldn''t do that if I were you. Haven''t you noticed? When you attacked him, the Entropy got to you. It should start hurting... right about now." Aron guessed.


    "AHHH!" Reptilia felt the pain. She turned to see her hand and saw that her hand was also rotting and felt the pain. The decay and entropy were moving towards her body.


    Hunter also saw it and tried his best to stop screaming.


    "This will force you to use magic to attack me. I can''t maintain that form for long as it eats up a lot of my magic. But this will also train me to wield it. This will be our training, I will teach you how to meditate, and then once you show progress, we test it inbat. After which, we go back to studying and meditating and then fight again. If your growth is far below mine, you will always fail." Demerus smiled.


    "Interesting. I like it! Let''s do this! Our time to evolve hase and this new power will definitely be mine!" Aronughed.


    Diana watched from the inner chambers of the Library of Light.


    "The Emberdons are geniuses indeed. I pictured a group that would be discussing and researching together like some mad scientist. But they made a contest out of it racing to figure out how to achieve the full powers of a lich. Demerus is clearly the smartest. And next to him is that Faye... But all of them are still shocking geniuses in their own right. And Demerus is pitting his genius against Aron to force him to train. It seems their Path of Molding is higher than I thought." Diana observed.


    BOOM!


    Aron charged towards the decay and used his arm to do a punch.


    The powerful punch harnessed force that dug deep into the skeleton.


    Demerus used greater magic to resist the attack.


    The fire around Aron disappeared.


    "I lost, huh?" Aron shook his head. He only had so much magic in him and the Fire Core.


    "Youck so much magic, Master Aron. You need to train to increase the amount of mana you can produce.


    "I guess I need to train to have more magic points." Aron sat down.


    "Yes! That''s right, and I will teach you a way to meditate and how to force your Mind to slowly increase the magic in you. It''s a high-level meditation technique of greatplexity. But seeing as you are a genius, I''m sure that- Oh. You''re already doing it..."


    Aron was already seated and had done the meditation technique that he had witnessed several times in his life. Kyros also gave him some tricks when he first awakened his magic energy back when he and Kyros first met and used the Temple.


    Demerus tried to sound casual, but he was agitated. It wouldn''t be long that Aron could prate his defenses and begin to train.


    Diana watched and wasughing.


    "I guess this is one way to make these geniuses train like mad." She chuckled.


    "Fate made the lives of these Champions so hard so that they would be this polished. Thankfully, not one of them died and became our allies. With them, our research potential greatly increases. Even though Aron is a beast inbat, he cannot create new techniques as these mages can. With them around, we can finally understand the many mysterious techniques in those books. This training time will allow the Steele Family to evolve and reach a higher level of power."


    Diana and moved back to the Temple.


    "Still... Even if all of them worked together, they can''t surpass you in the areas of research, right Branze?" Diana smiled as she nced at her husband.


    Seated in the middle of the Temple was not Branze. But a strange ethereal and mist-like armor had covered him. The power of Light had covered him. In Branze''s trance, he couldn''t even take notice of the notification that had popped up.


    ---


    Temr Pdin Job acquired.

 Chapter 287 - Time To Unravel

    The Library of the Nephilim was a library that contained the very basics of cultivation and creation. But the definition of ''basic'' was very different to everyone in the Lond nes. In fact, the cultivation of Gojirrah and of Reptilia was more detailed and advanced than the Lond''s knowledge.


    But with the library, everyone had the truth of the basics of cultivation that gave everyone a high chance of cultivating up to the level of Commanders easily. But the Commanders that would be formed if they follow the principles and lessons taught in the Library books could easily give them a Cardinals Potential. And even more, if these cultivators were geniuses.


    The basic principles of Elemental Affinity were lost in the Londs. While Gojirrah and Reptilia''s world had it, it was very distorted, and various means were done to rece the true way of cultivation. As such, they still had a very inferior means, that the Lizard Kingdom could only urately detect two elements for affinity. The other elements had a harder way of properly figuring it out.


    As defined and exined by the Gods and Fallen who created it, the group was learning many new and amazing things with the correct basics.


    But the Library of Light contained the truest teachings about the light itself. And it was the knowledge that was kept hidden from the gods and fallen themselves.


    Branze was seated in the center of the library. As he studied, he fell into a strange trance. Diana was familiar with Branze''s habits and made preparations to get coffee for Branze. But on her return, she was shocked to see the changes in Branze.


    His appearance exuded an ancient aura. The power of holiness was so thick that it was as strong as the entropy energy that Demerus formed.


    Diana nced back and read the book describing the powerful form Branze had assumed.


    "Knight Temr... A Commander Level version of a Champion Pdin. Knights and warriors who can reach this ss can easily use Force energy as if it was Holy magic. This lost code is wielded by those who walk the Code of Steel." Diana read and realized what was happening.


    "Isn''t this the Steele family''s research? So their research and passion were actually routed on their godhood as sons of Steel!" Diana was amazed.


    The light grew brighter and brighter, and the holy ethereal, misty armor that formed started to dissipate.


    Branze opened his eyes and saw Diana looking at him.


    "So the Pdin job ss isn''t the peak?" Diana asked.


    "No. They never were! That''s the thing that this Library holds! Pdin Commanders, Cardinals, Crowns, and Conqueror. There are sses for more superior pdins at each level! It was all hidden!"


    "Hidden?"


    "The holy light element that we see in those Light Golems is vastly different from the light energy that the Pdins use."


    "Right. Because Pdin''s mix their holy energy with the Force."


    "Yes. But why was there no one, whoever tried to merge it?"


    "Because Light is not like the other elements. Force cannot be transformed to Light energy."


    "Wrong. It''s not that it cannot be transformed, but rather it was cursed. Diana, we are the only people in the entire universe who can do this. Rather, everyone who bes the allies of the Nephilim will have the privilege of doing this!"


    "What do you mean?"


    "Light has been hidden! It makes sense! Our son! Remember what that god Histerion said!"


    Diana thought for a bit and recalled the very words of the old god.


    "Only the one who has Mysterion can unveil it. For his power is the revtion of secrets hidden from long ago." Diana quoted.


    "Exactly! This is it! The power of the Library of the Light! It bothered me why it was different from the Library of the Nephilim! And I realized that this Temple is not just a Temple! It''s a manifestation of Kyros''s power itself! Think about it! The weird abilities of this Temple that makes no sense and how Kyrosmands it!"


    "The Temple is Kyros?"


    "Were talking about Gods and Fallen here after all. Kyros has many mysteries, and that''s just it. He is Mysterion! That which reveals that which is hidden! This is a part of this mystery! The arts of how to truly wield the Light have been hiding. Not just to us, but to all the world! Father was figuring out how tobine it with Force, and me being able to discover it wasn''t just by chance. In this world, we, the descendants of Steel was the only ones who could! And the Nephilim unveils that which is hidden!"


    "I see. Beginning hid the powers of gods and fallen for this battle. It makes sense. If Beginning and End, Fate and Destiny were to fight, it''s an unimaginable concept to us, how they fight!"


    "Yes. It''s an unimaginable concept because they will be fighting with concepts themselves! Fate and Destiny. Beginning and End. Their fight should involve everything we know. Remember all of those gods and fallen? Their powers? They defined everything in existence. Unity, Separation, Distance, Pain, Emotions! Everything!"


    "And Beginning hid a lot of concepts for this battle." Finally, Diana was starting to understand.


    "Yes! Beginning hid great powers such as this, even the means of wielding the Light! And only the Mysterion can unlock and reveal the mysteries hidden before it all! Now is the time to unravel these mysteries! And this Library of the Light is it! Hidden is associated with darkness. And now, light is being shown on it! Remember, Kyros''s power. Skotos Eis Phos! Darkness to Light! He is uncovering things!"


    Diana was overwhelmed with things. The more she learned, a heavy burden began to somehow pile up on her shoulders.


    "Then that vision-! The events that happened to you and me-! It''s all part of Beginning and End''s battle?"


    "Gannaios Steel died two times in that vision. We know that he died first when the strange war brought the first Heretic War. And then that Time God, Cminus, reversed it and brought it to the past, and there we witnessed Gannaios''s second death. But now that I think about it, the memories we have of his power have been altered! When I was meditating, I saw and recalled Gannaios''s real power! But after Time reversed it was no different!"


    "So you''re saying... that the first war that happened was used by Beginning to conceal the many secrets that would be used to battle End!"


    "Yes! This also means that if we want to help our son, we have to cultivate to surpass Gannaios and Katara." Branze had a solemn expression.


    "The Corruption or Code that Katara has is strange. I still don''t understand it... I believe time will reveal it. For now... teach me how to be a Temr." Diana smiled.


    "Of course. That will be our focus. Let''s call father and Aron. They need to be here."


    "Let''s just call your father. Aron seems to be having fun studying magic. With his talent, as long as you show him the fruits of your research, he should be able to pick up on it." Diana chuckled.


    "Your right..." Branze sighed.


    As the meditation and training continued in the Temple, the army of survivors that were used to be food for the darkness was moving closer and closer to Alpha Draconis. The first batch had just arrived and walked their way down the path.


    Kyros was waiting on the ground. Then, finally, he saw Martha flying, and a small crowd followed on the ground.


    A portal opened, and Martha moved in it and appeared in front of Kyros.


    "This is all that was left in thest settlement." Martha sighed.


    "Don''t be so down, Aunt Martha. The next time we are here, they will be a fortress. Send them all in. I will head back to that Dark Dome and make onestmotion."


    "All by yourself?"


    "Rx. I have a way to teleport directly into the Temple, remember? I have a n."


    "Well, good luck. I wonder what you poison you will say that will make the Commanders suffer."


    "Oh, don''t be like that, Aunt Martha. You should know better now. I''m aiming to make the Cardinal suffer." Kyros smiled as his wings expanded.


    "Tell me when everyone is in the Temple. That''s when I will start."


    Kyros flew towards the direction of the Dark Dome.

 Chapter 288 - Time To Show Your Worth

    The power of darkness from the entire ce was beingpressed into a single location. The darkness in the dark dome was so pitch ck that even the light was being absorbed, making the ce near it darker.


    Malevolent magic was being performed inside the dark dome as the Shaman Commander Neteri has used her powers tomunicate to many lost souls.


    Kyros had arrived outside of the Dome and saw it.


    "What is this?" Kyros frowned.


    "Law of Nonequivalent Life Creation."


    "Cminus? You can link with me?"


    "I''m currently linked with the Temple and have been using Time. Through it, I ammunicating with you. It took me a while to figure out, though. Your Temple is really made up of your soul! Your father figured out what Mysterion is. It''s-"


    "Concealing of many Codes and Corruption. Please. Do you really think I didn''t know?"


    "What...!? You didn''t say anything!"


    "I figured it out when I came to this reverse world and found out that this ce is a ce outside time. And since you were with Aunt Martha, I never told you. The clue was that this ce was not within any real timeline. That means that this ce has no concepts, codes, or corruption being applied. That opens many possibilities as to what Beginning and End is about. The more I thought about it. I began to ask how Beginning will fight End since Beginning is clearly at a disadvantage."


    "How so?"


    "Beginning is from the start, and End is at the finish. So End has all the advantages. It knows the future! Beginning can only change the future by empowering the Present, but End can put traps, events and rearrange situations that we will soon face. How should Beginning fight against that?"


    "Hidden aces."


    "Exactly. So I know what my Code or Corruption is. The concept of Darkness to Light. The ability to hide the light in the darkness. The Library of the Light also hinted at it."


    "Welp, in any case, your father is really impressive. He has attained a new ss called a Temr Knight. It seems to be higher than Pdin."


    "Temr Knight, huh. Cminus. Since you are linked to me, is it possible that you will use Aunt Martha''s power to create a portal from there to here? I need help to break this dome."


    "Of course. But if you use Holy Beam, it will decrease the energy of the Temple."


    "How much energy does the Holy Beam require? I sensed that the energy consumption was so highpared to the beam I shot at the Blood Cmity back then. It''s like, if I increase the energy, it requires a massive amount. Am I right?"


    "It''s exactly that. I think it''s part of Fate''s training. Right now, if you shoot a Champion ranked Holy Beam it will only deplete a very little amount of power. But if you use a Commander, the cost is over a hundred times more!"


    "Bummer. I guess it will cost Fate more energy to channel such an attack."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Fate and Destiny are both actively moving even when we don''t see it. Think about it. Why has Destiny not revealed my location or the fact that I am Cracky Batcheeks? It''s because Fate is stopping that. So I think even things like me using the Temple to shoot beams beyond my current power require a lot of working from Fate. So if I were to massively waste the Temple''s energy, it has to count." Kyros exined.


    "So that''s why forcing to create an attack beyond your current powers costs more energy for the Temple! Weird."


    "Fate and Destiny are fighting in a way we cannot understand. It may even involve other gods and fallen. What power we have now, and what power our enemies have now, is a result of our efforts, Fate''s efforts and the hindrances of Destiny. This is why we don''t have any Crown enemies or beyond because Fate stopped Destiny."


    "To put it negatively, Fate is losing this fight that she could not stop a Cardinal from bing our enemy." Cminus sighed.


    "That''s right. But I don''t think she''s losing. We have won many victories after all." Kyros smiled.


    "Martha''s here."


    "Good. I already told her to go to the Temple Core and told her to gather the team. I don''t want to use another Holy Beam if possible. Let''s see what the Emberdons can cook up."


    "Alright."


    As Martha arrived, she was amazed at how the inside of the Temple was bursting with life. Even the Dark Dependent creatures like the Skeletons were somehow nurtured by the light.


    Faye and Stellya had already begun their studies, and it had been several hours since they arrived. However, even with the short time, their knowledge and growth were already outstanding.


    Martha moved into the Temple Core and touched it.


    "Aunt Martha, can you do it?"


    "...Yes. I think I can create a portal all the way there. But I can only hold it up for a few seconds." Martha answered.


    "Good. As long as it''s enough for everyone to send their attacks. Is everybody there?" Kyros asked.


    "They are in position," Martha answered.


    Behind her were the strongest fighters that could harness a powerful attack.


    Aron was stretching and testing his de preparing for a powerful Force Stab.


    The Emberdon Champions were also moving in position, and behind them were the strongest Skeletons and even the Lowly Lich followed. All that Emberdons focused their training on moved towards the Temple Core.


    "Sisters, let''s try our Emberdon Energy Wave! With all of us working together, we could create an Elemental Wheel from the books we read."


    "We will have to ask assistance from Lord Mezal. We will also need to harness that Light Core that summons the Golem. And..."


    "Lady Martha''s Darkness. It''ll be perfect."


    "What do you need?" Martha asked.


    "The attack that we will make will contain conflicting elements such as fire and water. But the theories of Elemental Resonance indicate that it''s possible for elements to work alongside each other as long as we follow the theories known as the Convergence of the Elements. It''s a way to arrange the elements in a position that does not conflict with each other. If we use all the elements of everyone, we could create a powerful attack. Your darkness is a necessaryponent to make this possible."


    "But I n to also send an attack through the portal."


    "It''s ok. We have seen your arrow attacks. Just shoot it to fill the gap of elements in our attacks, and if possible, your attack has to follow the speed of the beam."


    "That''s possible."


    "But what about Steel? We need Steel Element toplete a wheel." Ressi frowned.


    "Ah, but we do! The Steele family! A while back, we all held doubts about the Steele Family''s power which they imed to be from the gods. But I''m sure you all believe it now. I believe, behind the power they exhibit is the Element of Steel. Lord Aron will be sending a powerful force attack. If I''m not mistaken, it will contain traces of Steel. If we link it with all the elements putting Earth and Ice right next to it, the element of Steel will be revealed." Demerus smiled.


    "That''s possible?" Ressi asked.


    "I think it will work. That was what I would have suggested as well." Faye added.


    "Hmm... If big sister also thinks so, then I guess it''ll work." Ressi nodded.


    Martha saw the discussion and called Kyros through their link.


    Because she was holding on to the Temple Core, Cminus made use of the dark link was able to manifest a link for everyone to see in the Temple.


    "Cool." Kyros smiled as his projection appeared.


    "Lord Kyros!" Various cries of rejoicing were heard.


    "Good to see you all."


    "Is everything alright? You sound funny." Branze asked.


    "it''s alright. I''m still out here where time passes slower. I am using my dexterity and my skill Pronto to keep up. In any case, Emberdons... I hear you have an attack to try?


    "Yes. This power, if it works, should be capable of critically wounding or killing a Commander of their level!" Demerus boasted.


    "Alright. Show it to me! Time to show your worth, Emberdons!"

 Chapter 289 - Time To Shoot

    The Emberdons were going to reveal one strong attack. Kyros watched silently as the mages made the arrangements.


    The skeletons and lich that had joined were all called to participate.


    Demerus began to give instructions as to what to do.


    "In short, you are all to send bestow the magic towards us. We will be distributing you all equally among the teams. I hope the books of the elements have given you insight on how to mold your magic energy, at least to assume that form. Do your best in molding and forming it, and give it to us." Demerus instructed.


    As the group continued to make preparations, Aron turned to Martha.


    "Is this alright? Wouldn''t it be better to save this attack for when we fight again? What happened to all that talks about only showing our aces when necessary?" Aron asked.


    "I believe that this is part of Lord Kyros''s n. They don''t know that we have a time elerator in this Temple. I believe that with the powers and improvements we''ve made, by the time the war begins, this attack will change into a whole new different kind of attack. If we use this half-baked attack, Destiny will prepare against it."


    "I get it, but this is our trap. Destiny will underestimate this attack!" Aron understood.


    "It''s the same for all of us. This whole n of Kyros is quite detailed. Let''s hope that the Emberdons can put on a good show.


    The Emberdons quickly discussed the ns.


    "Triona. As you are the only one capable of wielding Light for this wheel."


    "No problem. We have a Light Core! While it seemed to be locked in creating golems and could not leave the Temple, I can still draw out the energy from it. I''m actually looking forward to it. Unfortunately, no mage has managed to wield the light to make this attack." Triona assured.


    Branze and Diana watched at the side. Diana turned to Branze, wanting to say something, but Branze shook his head and smiled.


    "We''ll wait." Branze mysteriously answered, and Diana nodded.


    "Alright." Diana smiled.


    "Mages!" Demerus called to those they trained.


    All those who held the Novice of Elirium scepter moved in position, and the Skeletons were arranged into another.


    All that could wield elements of specific nature were ced behind certain members of the Emberdons. The Emberdons were forming a circle and began to prepare for the spell.


    As they tarted, a powerful ring of energy was being gathered inside the Temple. An explosion of pure magic energy began.


    "I''ll start. We will be making the Convergence of Elements from Wind, right?" Stellya asked. Her elemental affinity was that of wind. And she had finally managed to wield it effectively.


    Stellya raised her hands, and the power of wind began to gather. The Emberdon Energy Wave was one of the attacks they created by solidifying their elements in one ce. Everyone would be wielding it to shoot a powerful attack. They were confident that this attack could even harm Commanders of the Londs. But now, they were using this time to test their newly learned theories.


    Demerus harnessed his power, and the green skull of the Entropy emerged. The power condensed right next to the ball of wind, and the two slowly met.


    The moment the two elements touched, the Emberdon''s all smiled.


    "It''s working. Who would have thought that merely rearranging our elements would create this effect!" Fayeughed as she harnessed her power, the next Element next to Entropy.


    Lightning emerged and connected with Entropy.


    "My turn! Hunter! Help me out." Triona smiled and wielded the energy. She was tasked to perform two elements and therefore had to ask help from Hunter, who had a Fire Core.


    Hunter obliged and joined in, as did several Skeletons


    "Just draw out the energy and let me handle the rest."


    The Emberdon''s watched carefully. This was one of the most critical moments to create the Convergence of Elements as Triona, who had the alignment of Fire, was the best candidate to wield Holy.


    Fire emerged out of Hunter, and Triona then drew it.


    "Now light..." Demerus watched.


    Triona held the Light Core given the Mardock and drew out the energy in it.


    "AHHH!" Suddenly, Triona felt great pain.


    Everyone was stunned. They saw the light rejecting Triona.


    "What?! Why is the light doing that?! Fay eximed.


    Demerus frowned.


    "I... can''t wield the Light!" Triona shouted as she tried to harness it.


    She was the one who would wield Fire and Light as she was mostpatible with wielding it. But as she harnessed the energy from the Light Core.


    Suddenly, Branze stepped inside and released his power.


    BOOM!


    A massive trembling urred as a powerful wheel of elements appeared around them. The link of light wasplete, and the energy ring stabilized.


    "Master Branze!" Demerus was stunned.


    Despite having no elemental core and only using Force energy, the power that Branze created merged perfectly with the forming elemental wheel.


    "Oh? What an interesting ability! I can''t wait to practice that!" Aron shouted excitedly.


    "What pure power!" Mezal was amazed.


    "Wielding light is not easy. But allow me to step in and take on this role." Branze volunteered.


    Kyros watched the screen and was amazed.


    "So this is the curse. Wielding the light element, which was supposed to be easy, has gotten so difficult. Unless one is a Steele or is a Nephilim, they can''t easily do it. But why did my mother show ease using it when she tried it back then? Is it because of her past life?" Kyros wondered.


    With the lightplete, the group worked on stabilizing it as the power that Branze was using was Force energy.


    Triona exined how they would attack Branze and what to do, and Branze was quick to learn.


    All the while, Kyros was listening to the words that Triona exined.


    "Hey, Cminus. The theories that they are saying have some differences to your teachings..." Kyros teased.


    "Oh, give me a break. I can tell that the elemental theories written in those books may be something that the creator of the Celestial Code had! Obviously, it would be more refined andplete than my knowledge! Besides, I only dabbled in it." Cminus frowned.


    "I guess I will need to house a debate like we used to grow." Kyrosughed.


    Mezal stepped in and revealed Earth energy through his elemental core. Mezal followed the same step that Branze did. Many of the Skeletons were positioned behind Mezal, and they fueled their energy to create a thick Earth Element.


    "We''re missing Brimstone..." Kyros observed.


    "That''s the rarest of all elements after all."


    Following Earth, Aron stood by and released his force energy. This was another critical moment of the process. This attack relied on the theory that the Steele family naturally had the power of steel.


    The force energy appeared, but it was as if it did not merge with the wheel.


    Everyone was frowning.


    "I guess... we can only do this much and skip Steel." Demerus sighed.


    "Wait... Give me a sec." Aron frowned.


    "Condense your force energy to be harder, uncle. Harder than Earth. Envision making a suit of armor in your force just like that Crab Commander did." Kyros spoke.


    Aron focused and began to do as instructed. The Path of Combat revealed its ways, and the force energy was suddenly taking form.


    BOOM!


    Steel element had appeared.


    "Great!" Ressi rejoiced as she brought out her Ice power on the one hand.


    The Lowly Lich that Kyros recruited was there.


    "I shall take care of water." The Lowly Lich harnessed his energy.


    The elements of Ice and Water merged with the massive energy wheel.


    Martha stepped in, and Puff emerged.


    "We''re all that''s left. It seems that instead of shooting an arrow, it''ll be better if I focus my all on pouring out the Space energy." Martha closed her eyes and drew out the power.


    Puff also concentrated and began to harness a massive amount of Magic Energy. The darkness that he gave was the first that connected to the element of water, and finally, Martha''s energy moved in and fitted itself between the darkness of Puff and Wind of Stellya.


    The Elemental wheel was forming. Suddenly, the Temple erupted in light.


    The Library of Light quivered, and a book shot out of the shelf.


    "What?!" Branze was amazed. He only focused on reading the elemental one book as this was the only book he could read. The rest had strangenguage which could not be understood.


    The book began to open, and everyone involved in the process went into a trance.


    Outside, Kyros also saw the vision.


    It was on an old woman walking throughout the cosmos. Her size was of great size. It was simr to the hulking form of Kyriachos that Kyros saw or the massive form of Hyperion that the Steele family saw in their vision.


    "The Severance of the Universe. The Separation of the Void. It has made this Universe empty and nk. Though Veiyos had taken the first step and has formed the way to move forward, the darkness and separation sadden the dark space before me. I call on the Celestial Elements! I call on the Codes and Corruption. I call on Soter and borrow your light! Let the space have cosmic bodies to exist and brighten the darkness! Let this light distract the distance and let all creation perceive that there is something near them and that they are not alone!" The old woman dered, and suddenly the space around her trembled.


    Elements of all forms began to gather in one ce. As the elements converged, a powerful light shot out from the void and truck the gathering elements.


    BOOM!


    "Let there be stars in heaven! Let the embers of this cosmic body give light to those nearby and seek unity!"


    A star was born, and all over the universe, massive cosmic objects appeared, creating flickering lights that covered the heavens.


    The vision ended, and everyone was once more back in the Temple, and Kyros was watching outside the dome.


    "I knew it! They are descendants of a god as well!"


    "Who was that?" Kyros asked Cminus.


    "That was Astra. Greater God of the Stars."


    "Astra, huh? It seems the Library of the Light has more books for me to read now." Kyros grinned.


    "Everyone." Kyros suddenly called out.


    "We''ll talk about what you saw when I get back there. For now, it''s time to shoot!"

 Chapter 290 - Time To Kill The Cardinal

    Martha concentrated, and a portal began to open up.


    The Temple began to glow as a link was established with her.


    "Martha. Grab on to your seats. I will use my powers in space to create a path for magic towards him. Your Dark Link with Kyros sets the direction, and the Temple increases the signal. And I am the link between you and the Temple. Concentrate. Do not lose your concentration on either formation of power. The Temple will provide you with the energy to maintain that form, so don''t worry about going beyond your magic capacity." Cminus instructed.


    "I understand." Martha began to concentrate.


    The vast distance between them began to link with each other. Martha could see where Kyros was, and with the assistance of the Temple and Cminus, she could sense the very space in front of Kyros.


    "It worked." Kyros smiled as she could sense the power of Martha.


    The portal began to open up above Kyros.


    "Alright, guys, it''s time to attack. But I want to add my own energy to that! Can you lead the energy of the portal?"


    "Yes!" Demerus nodded.


    The group began to move the energy out, and it moved through the Separated Realm and appeared over Kyros.


    The moment the energy stepped out of the Separated Realm, the Cardinal and the Commander''s sensed it.


    "That power?"


    "Stop! Do not try to sense outside! Do not look or listen! This is a trap by the Nephilim!" Heralcus shouted.


    The Commanders froze.


    "Qara, aid Darako and pour out your darkness to increase the power of the dark dome! Neteri and I are in a critical moment! The souls are now above the bodies I prepared and will be starting the resurrection magic! Do not listen and look at the actions of the Nephilim!" Heralcus instructed.


    The two agreed and began to work together to improve the power of the Dome.


    The darkness began to consolidate and harden even more. A powerful gust of wind gathered around the dome to increase the defense as Qara released her elements.


    The magic had fully emerged out of the portal, and Kyros looked at it.


    "Let''s name this attack, the [Supernova st]." Kyros admired the great power before him. It was unlike any other power he had seen in his life.


    "Even those attacks that those Celestials did in my past life could notpare to this. This attack only uses Champion energy, but it can challenge a Cardinal! This will greatly weaken the Shade Lord''s power! But now, to add my dark and light." Kyros could tell that the weakest energy was dark and light. The current Supernova st only used the Light of the Light Core and the Darkness that Puff could create. Puff was primarily a Dragon with Space element, and the darkness he crafted was barely enough.


    Kyros closed his eyes and harnessed the energy in him. He needed to create a power of light and darkness to fuel the power above him.


    "Dark and light cannot exist together. The power of two opposing elements should not be possible. The Elemental wheel and the Convergence of Elements theory even exin this. In theory, I should not be able to wield the two elements together. But the Code of Astra is within the Temple. Can I do as she did and petition both elements to appear?" Kyros wondered. He had only been able to wield one element at the same time. [Skotos Eis Phos] allowed him to convert Darkness into Light. But all of it would be converted instantaneously.


    But after seeing the vision, Kyros saw how Astra managed to create light and darkness. The birth of stars required massive dark energies and even ck holes necessary for its creation. Yet, somehow light was there.


    The vision became an inspiration for Kyros, and he closed his eyes. Darkness began to erupt on his left arm. The energy that gathered on his left arm contained all of the dark energy he could muster. And slowly, Kyros moved the energy back to his Dark Core.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!" Kyros activated it as the darkness passed through Dark Core.


    And as it did, a miracle urred. The passing darkness moved back to the Dark Core and moved out as Light. The dense light energy appeared on his left hand. And as that happened, a mystery that was not possible urred. Both Light and Shade existed in one body.


    The left side of Kyros was full of darkness, and the right side was simr to the Knight Temr form of Branze.


    In the worlds beyond, Fate saw and smiled at his creation.


    "You''re starting to look more and more like a Nephilim Kyros." Sheughed.


    Destiny''s eyebrows arched as he saw it in the other end of this realm.


    "Soter and Kyriachos in one? How did Beginning do this?!" He was shocked.


    As Kyros wielded both powers, he slowly bestowed it towards the wheel of elements strengthening the Light and Darkness.


    As it did, a figure emerged over the power. The avatar of Astra appeared once more. But unlike the frail, old woman, what stood above Kyros was the younger appearance of Astra, wearing magnificent armor made of all the elements.


    Kyrosughed andughed.


    The attack they manifested was already reaching beyond the powers of Cardinal.


    "I guess I over-prepared a bit! There''s no need for the Time elerator! I have the power to finish this now! It''s now time to kill the Cardinal! Game over Destiny!" Kyros shouted and harnessed Fate Challenger to make his voice be heard.


    "Astra?!" Destiny eximed in horror. The astral projection of a greater god was far, far from what he estimated Kyros could do at this point. He quickly channeled a massive amount of energy and released it.


    "Make it on time!" Destiny channeled the energy.


    Fate sensed it on the other side of this bizarre realm.


    "Oh? Trying to protect your little kiddies? Hmm... If you do that, the darkness in that ce will lessen. Alright. Let me help you, Destiny!" Fateughed and willed it. Once more, she prodded her magic to hinder Kyros. She sent a power that traveled throughout the realm and towards the strange world where Kyros fought. Her whispers were simple. It reached Cminus, and a faint whisper was heard.


    "Kyros looks like Goku." The whisper spoke.


    Cminus trembled.


    Kyrospleted harnessing the energy.


    "Ready? We shoot on three!" Kyros ordered.


    "WAIT!" Cminus interrupted.


    Everyone was startled. The Emberdons were just about to lead the power of their massive attack towards the portal, but Cminus stopped him.


    "What? What happened?!" Kyros was worried at Cminus''s cry.


    "Kyros! This is very important! Before we attack- Everyone! We should shout this! Ka...Me...Ha...Meh... HA!"


    "..."


    "..."


    "What?" Demerus scratched his skull head in confusion.


    The workings of Destiny reached on time.


    Heralcus sensed it, raised his right hand, and crushed a small skull.


    The souls of thend began to screech as they all gathered and condensed right over the dome.


    "Destiny!" Kyros cursed.


    "Quick! Shoot now! [Supernova st]!" Kyros shouted.


    With Kyros leading the energy, everyone followed. Only Cminus and a few confused Skeletons were shouting the strange phrase that Cminus invented.


    The powerful beam fueling all the elements sted out towards the Dark Dome.


    BOOM!


    A massive explosion urred, and the screams of a billion souls echoed out throughout thend.

 Chapter 291 - Words Of Poison

    The power of the Supernova st and the Dark Dome shed. The powerful sounds continued to rumble as the Supernova st pierced through the thick dome.


    But suddenly, the souls that could be heard screaming grew louder and louder as the power of the Dome continued to increase.


    The massive power that harnessed the souls of thend acted out with great speed. The power that provided a massive defense could be seen resisting the powerful beam that breaks down the defenses that Cardinal Heralcus used with Destiny''s power.


    The moment the power was sent out, the Emberdons and the Skeletons who were pouring out their elements suddenly slumped down on the ground as the energy was taken from them.


    They were the ones who triggered the attack to be sent out, and the rebound attacked them. Martha, Mezal, Aron, and Kyros only added energy, but the mages responsible for performing the trigger felt the magic being drained from them.


    Still, the portal closed up as Martha still felt drained from pouring out all that energy.


    "Aunt Martha. Prepare another portal. I need the Temple to send me energy to refuel myself! Holy Beam should work in being able to restore the depleted magic!" Kyros ordered.


    "Lord Kyros. The Temple has grown slightly dimmer!" Martha ryed.


    "Cminus?"


    "I think we still have enough to send you some energy. But for some reason, it drained the energy of the Temple!"


    "That attack wasn''t normal. The Temple helped us send that attack through the Separated Realm with everyone''s united efforts at work. The powers of separation should have diffused it. But it seems that the Temple stabilized the attack we sent here. You saw it, right Cminus?"


    "Yeah. I saw it. You guys just used a Champion-level attack that could destroy a high-level Cardinal spell defense. That''s an attack that can scale two whole levels!"


    Kyros waited as the smoke, dust, and mes of the attack began to disperse.


    Inside the dome, the Darako and Qara stood in the path of the attack. Despite not being able to see, the beam was actually headed straight for their Cardinal. It broke through the defenses of Heralcus, the Dark Dome, but luckily, the Commanders were able to defend it so that not a single heat reached Neteri and Heralcus, who continued to immerse themselves in the spell.


    "That brat!" Qara raged as she saw the boy.


    "Qara! Calm yourself! That attack wasn''t normal! We would have all perished if not for the protection of Cardinal Heralcus! So stay near the Cardinal and defend! Our hope is that that attack surely cannot be repeated again!" Darako reminded.


    Kyros revealed the sight to everyone inside the Temple.


    "Everyone, Emberdons... Behold your sess. That was a defense that only high-ranking Cardinals can create! And I''m not talking about physical armor defenses. I''m talking about Cardinal-level fortress fortification defenses! The enemy activated it right before we attacked." Kyros praised.


    "If someone... hadn''t distracted us, the enemy wouldn''t have time to activate their defenses." Martha frowned.


    "Erm... Sorry." Cminusughed.


    "True. If it wasn''t for Cminus, we would have destroyed it and killed all our enemies. But Cminus wasn''t doing it by himself. Something prodded him to do that."


    "Destiny?!" Martha was amazed.


    The Blood Cmity was so affected that even Mechiel frowned.


    "No. Of course not. Destiny has no power to influence the champions of Fate directly. They need mediums to do that. Right, Blood Cmity?" Kyros smiled.


    "Hmph!" The sour expression vanished, and Mechiel was in control.


    "It wasn''t Destiny that influenced Cminus to act stupidly! It was Fate!"


    "Fate? But why would Fate do that?" Branze asked.


    "She wanted this to happen so that Destiny would reveal and use up another of its aces. You may not feel it inside the Temple, but the darkness that covers this entire world has lessened. The dark clouds that prevented the light of this world''s dome weren''t the only darkness, but that Necromancer and that Shaman have altered this world, leaving a curse." Kyros exined.


    "Woah... That happened?!" Cminus was amazed.


    "I can feel it here. The weight of the sinsmitted has lessened. Fate helped us because she was confident that we were sure to win. She did that to make Destiny act."


    "We are sure to win?!" The Lowly Lich was amazed.


    "Yes. I will dy their spell onest time, and we will be headed back there to train. Our powers will grow stronger, and Destiny will grow weaker. Destiny will think that that was our ace, not knowing our real intention. Now, for the dy. Martha, ready the portal to help me recover. If the Temple can contain the Supernova st and send it here, it should be capable of giving me energy. Cminus, you know how much energy I need for this trip, right."


    "Yeah. I understand your ns."


    "Good. Let''s get started." Kyros smiled.


    Kyros flew up to the sky and revealed himself before the Commanders.


    Qara and Darako saw him and prepared to fight.


    Kyros took a deep breath.


    "HEY, CARDINAL! I HEARD THAT MY AUNT MADE YOU A EUNUCH!" Kyros shouted loudly.


    The power of Fate Challenger was employed.


    Fate, who was watching from another realm,ughed at the insult and decided to aid Kyros as she allowed her


    Cardinal Heralcus had immersed himself so much that he had even cut off his eyes and ears. His recent actions were only because Destiny ordered him to do that. But the shouts of Kyros that used Fate Challenger reached him.


    His eyes opened, and he had an enraged look. But he managed to hold his anger back. Great killing intent filled the air, and even Kyros could feel it.


    "HOW DARE YOU?!" Darako and Qara shouted as they raged with intense anger.


    "Stand your ground! That is his n." Heralcus ordered hatefully.


    "That''s right! Stand your ground, Commanders! Don''t you know that your Cardinal doesn''t have the balls to attack me? It''s because my aunt cut it off as well!"


    [Taunt of Tyrannus skill acquired.]


    "Damn, son!" Cminus was amazed at the insult.


    The Cardinal was visibly trembling but closed his eyes once more.


    Kyros had long maxed the level of his Taunt. But now, he managed to acquire another strange power as his power in darkness increased.


    "Oh? Interesting. Tyrannus? I wonder what''s this god''s history?"


    "He''s the first Fallen to have in another. You could say he is the source of hatred."


    "No wonder." Kyros smiled and closed his eyes and harnessed Fate Challenger and this newly acquired skill.


    Kyros felt as if the eyes of a strange dragonic beast were watching him from a great distance. The great dragonic beast smiled and allowed his hatred to be bequeathed on Kyros.


    The Corruption of Tyrannus was slowly growing in Kyros.


    "You n to raise the Commanders back from the dead? How can you do that if you can''t even raise your little Champion?" Kyrosughed.


    "Oh, snap!"


    BOOM!


    The massive power of Cardinal Heralcus erupted out, and he zoomed towards Kyros with great speed.


    The speed of his flight caused even Qara and Darako to be thrown to the side as Heralcus zoomed with great speed.


    The sudden departure created a shock wave that even affected Neteri.


    "My lord! The spell!" Neteri cried.


    "Exit, stage right!" Kyrosughed as he fled.


    Pronto and Time Haste were activated, and Kyros flew with his great dexterity that flew out of the horizon.


    "DIE!" The Cardinal shouted and chased after Kyros.


    Kyros flew and was headed towards the portal that led towards the original ce where the Temple stood.

 Chapter 292 - Words Of Misdirection

    Kyros fled with great speed. He channeled his force and magic into exploding out, and with the Blood Cmity''s wings, he flew.


    The Cardinal quickly chased him as the mad and angered Necromancer began to attack Kyros with massive attacks.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    A giant ghost skeleton had appeared and began to punch and p the ground in anger.


    The size of the ghost wasrger than the mountain form of the Shade Lord, and its powers had the strength of a Cardinal with a Crown potential.


    Yet as the huge skeleton continued to p and attack the ground below, Kyros could easily evade the attacks.


    "Ah... This brings back memories of when I entered the Mountain Giantsir back then... I didn''t even have the power of Flight but roughly the same dexterity stat I now have." Kyros recollected.


    The Minds of the nesworld have Cardinals and Cardinal-level monsters that Kyros fought in his previous life. The average Dexterity that cultivators and monsters who emphasized speed would have a stat point of around 320.


    Dexterity was different than most stat points. Strength gauged the amount of damage one could do, Vitality gauged how many attacks one can resist, but Dexterity factored in two different categories.


    Cultivators who pursue speed need to have both body and mind to be as fast as each other. Force and Magic energy can be used to push a person to speed, but without the eyes and the speed of the mind to keep up with a body, the cultivator won''t be able to fight effectively. Dexterity identified the fastest possible speed that a person or beast can move to control their body urately.


    Kyros had another lifetimes'' worth of experience and had the titles of ''the Swift'' and ''the Untouched'' as he was fast enough to defeat cultivators who were more than five levels higher than him without getting harmed or touched. However, when Kyros was reborn, that experience and that trained mind were far faster than what his body could do.


    Before his rebirth, the enemies of the neworld mistakenly thought that Kyros was a level 99 warrior. But his stats were too weakpared to most level 99 fighters. Using their [Guage] skill, the enemies of Kyros were underwhelmed when they saw Kyros''s stats.


    He was level 99, but he wasn''t even considered a Celestial! His Dexterity was only at 1120, which was very low for his level. And although he managed to double that number through various skills, it was still weak for a Celestial! So many enemies assumed that he was a warrior of the Hignds who forcibly increased his level.


    Little did they know that Kyros was actually a level 63 cultivator. And a dexterity stat point of 1120 was shocking in level 60! Level 60 warriors were called Crowns. But Kyro''s stats made him a person with a Conquerors potential. Kyros even had the qualifications to be called a High Conqueror.


    And because he was able to double that point, that made Kyros a person who had a Cherubim potential. And all of these were achieved with massive curses inflicting him.


    Now, the chains were lesser, and Kyros had Pronto and Time Haste.


    Cardinal Heralcus was a Cardinal with a Crown''s potential. This meant that the average stats would be over a hundred points higher than his average level. But Heralcus was not a fighter, nor did he train to be a warrior who could employ high speeds with his body. Thus, despite the massive level gap between them, his attacks could not hit Kyros.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Several skeletons had already appeared, and bone dragons were summoned from various dark portals.


    "Here''s a suggestion, take some of these bones and help your limping Champion up." Kyrosughed and continued to taunt the enemy using Tyrannus''s ability.


    "DIE!" Heralcus summoned all his massive bones and made them shoot a massive attack towards Kyros.


    "[Time Haste]!" Kyros used the ability once more, and his speed increased by half. His Dexterity jumped up to 463 points, and he zoomed out of the attack and headed towards the portal.


    BOOM!


    The massive attack was so strong that it caused a massive trembling that those in the Temple area could feel.


    "Ha! That attack was weaker than my attack that nearly killed you! Must be hard for a necromancer to have a broken yew wand!" Kyrosughed as a growing power of white appeared. With a mighty sh, Kyros used the power of Holy to make him move even faster than what his mind could perceive. But as his destination was just straight ahead, he didn''t need to use it.


    Heralcus chased and tried to employ greater attacks and shot it towards the portal doors in desperation.


    "Come! Let us finish this into that ce! You''re done holing up in your stupid dome,e and fight me, Cardinal! If you have the balls to chase me!" Kyrosughed.


    [Taunt of Tyrannus skill activated.]


    [Deception skill activated.


    [Deception skill level increased.]


    The gigantic skeletons and the skeleton dragon began to shoot out massive attacks.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Another round of huge explosions urred in the portal doors.


    "He reached the portal! Damn! I wonder if he managed to evade that attack I sent?" Heralcus felt a strange sensation. All of the anger he had disappeared.


    "What was that power? I was driven mad by his words!" He cursed as he recalled what had happened. Once more, did their preparations meet a great dy. The attack on the dome and how he moved out created a ripple in the paths of the souls that moved around the. It would take them several hours to redo what they had nearly achieved.


    Finally, the dust that was kicked up from his attacks settled down.


    The portal door stood standing without a single scratch despite the attacks. Massive craters were found nearby, but the ground underneath where the portal stood was not destroyed.


    "Not even the smallest damage from all those attacks? This portal sure is mysterious..." Heralcus observed. He hesitated. If he moved in the portal, he would be cut off frommunicating with his Commanders.


    As he stood there, rage continued to build up. Several minutes passed, and the Commanders finally arrived.


    "Cardinal Heralcus!" Qara called out as she arrived.


    "Commanders. It seems we will be forced to go into hiding..." Heralcus gritted his teeth.


    The Commanders were silent. They fought a warrior who wasn''t even a Captain, yet their situation was very pitiful. Now they know that staying in a single ce wouldn''t work. They had to hide and perform the magic.


    "Let''s go. We have to hurry and resolve my idiotic mistakes." Heralcus cursed.


    The Commanders followed silently as they heard Hearlcus admit his mistake.


    "Be careful. That Nephilim has powers of strange Corruption and Code. That insult drove me mad, and I could not control myself. We hide for now. Bear the shame. We are losing!" Heralcus dered as he flew, and the others followed.


    Neteri couldn''t help but look back at the portal.


    "They must be preparing an borate trap on the other side."


    "I sent a powerful attack inside. While the Nephilim would be unharmed, I''m certain that many deaths will ur. There are many footsteps from the surviving settlements headed towards this ce. They tried to increase their numbers. That attack would have epassed more than half of that space leading to the Temple." Heralcus exined.


    "Such power should have killed most of them. What if we attack now?"


    "I know better to dive right in. What if we enter that ce and find ourselves right in front of the attack they just did?"


    Qara was silent. If that previous attacknded on them directly, they would die.


    "They must have prepared something for us. Let us retreat. They are deliberately taunting us to force us into a premature fight. But let us make preparations. We have to act outside the possibilities." Heralcus exined.


    "My Lord... You can''t mean...?"


    "Yes. We will use that spell." Heralcus decided.


    But as they retreated, what they did not know was that as Kyros was about to enter the Temple, he created a massive light that shed and used the ability to teleport directly into the Temple at thest moment.


    And so, instead of moving into that strange ce beyond the portal, Kyros was actually teleported directly into the Temple at the bottom of Alpha Draconis.


    "Lord Kyros!" Scarlet shouted in glee.


    "Master Kyros!" Gojirrah approached.


    "Hoo... You''re back!" Mezal smiled.


    As Kyros appeared at the center of the Temple, he was greeted by everyone there.


    The recruits had heard and seen Kyros already. So the ones that Martha recruited bowed immediately.


    "Our Master and Lord!" The Lowly Lich bowed, and several skeletons followed.


    "Well? How was it? Did you buy us more time?" Branze asked immediately.


    "Yes. I left them words of misdirection.. They will be exerting a lot of effort on something pointless!" Kyrosughed.

 Chapter 293 - Words Of Tyrannus

    Deep in the far edges of the dome, a massive hole was opened in the Life, and Death Containing Field...


    The Necromancer Cardinal, Heralcus, led a mass exodus of his armies as the Shade Lord created a colossal bridge leading from the dome into thatnd.


    The movement of the army was surprisingly fast despite their numbers.


    "Draw in every bit of darkness that you can. Since we will be hiding in Middle, we should take all the darkness least they feast on it." Heralcus ordered.


    The Shade Lord Darako nodded, and a massive surge of darkness began to enter the rift that was opened. However, the light in the t earth called Middle grew brighter.


    The light around the


    The Commanders moved in in bitterness as they knew they had been defeated. They lost several Commanders and nearly died and were now forced to hide after wasting hours on the world.


    The power to alter the Life and Death Containing Field was beyond the power of any Cardinal. Not even Cherubims could do this! And yet, Destiny had provided this ce.


    The hole was like a tunnel, and it led to a floating piece of earth with a massive fortress stood appeared on the end of the dark road that the Shade Lord made.


    "You were defeated?" A deep, hoarse voice called out.


    The fortress had a massive tower in the center, and arge head appeared at the top.


    "The Nephilim released a massive power that surpassed my ability to defend. I had to use the Soul Commander artifact granted to me, but it broke through it and the Dark Dome of Darako."


    "Such an attack exists? How strong was the Nephilim? Was he a Cardinal too?"


    "No. The Nephilim himself was not even a Captain! And yet he had incredible speed that not even I canpare to!"


    "What?! Impossible! He has not even attained a job and is already showing a Crown''s potential?"


    "Not just a Crown. He surpassed my own speed! He should have a potential that is a High Crown or a Victor''s Crown as he would need over 400 Dexterity points to evade my attacks easily!"


    "I see... So you have no choice but to retreat and resurrect the Commanders that died."


    "Yes. He revealed strange powers that could only be legacies of the Gods and Fallen that allied with Fate. We have to make haste and attack them before they get stronger! Pergos, do you know of a Fallen or God that could instill anger? His words made me mad, and I lost control!"


    "Oh? So that''s the Fallen. His strength might be exined through it. You must have been affected by the Words of Tyrannos!"


    "Tyrannos? The First Undivine?! That exins it! That exined the rage I felt and the disgusting strength of that Nephilim! I underestimated him. I won''t. Pergos. I need your help! This Nephilim cannot be allowed to grow stronger. That energy that Lord Destiny gave you. What else can you do with it?"


    "The limits of Lord Destiny allow me to move in this ce. I cannot help you outside."


    "Then help me here. I need to resurrect the Commanders and make them reach their full power. Anything less than that, and I will lose."


    "Not possible. My energy is reserved to keep this ce protected.


    Suddenly, the entire space around them trembled.


    Pergos began to glow.


    "Pergos?!" Heralcus gave a hopeful shout.


    The light dimmed, and Pergos smiled.


    "The Words of Tyrannos has echoed out to his realm. Various Gods and Fallen have felt it. So Lord Destiny has granted me another set of energy that he can send at this point in time. And... he is sending it all!"


    Heralcus was amazed at the amount that Destiny sent.


    "You may choose to resurrect those Commanders and even bestow the energy to the departed Champions to create more Commanders. You have to win this. If you lose, we will lose this ce!"


    "I thank Lord Destiny for his mercy despite my ipetence. But Pergos, I have another request! I also need you to find a way to cross the rift and reach the ce where the Nephilim hides his fortress."


    "You want to cross this realm and attack the Nephilim''s Temple in the Crossroads?"


    "Yes. Can you create that portal?"


    "It is possible, but it will cost a lot of energy to create. You will have lesser Commanders to create if I do so."


    "It''s alright. They will guard the entrance of that portal. If you can create an opening above the space of the Temple, I can kill them without wasting a single soldier! And all the energy that Lord Destiny sent here will be used to create a foothold for the War of the Middle."


    "Alright. But no failures, Heralcus. Expect the Nephilim to have a powerful shield that is as strong as his attack! You have to win. Otherwise, we will be ced at a disadvantage. You know that I am just a conduit of energy, but anything sent from Lord Destiny wille at a price and allow Fate to work as well."


    "I will win this! That Nephilim cannot be allowed to grow stronger! Lord Destiny used such great power to warn me and made me use the Soul Commander as proof of that. I n tomune with the power of Soul Commander and awaken my Corruption! The Corruption of my Commanders must also take form!"


    "Then I shall follow your ns. Prepare your resurrection ritual after you resurrect them and create more Commanders. I will need another full day to open the portal and create the path!"


    As the forces of Destiny prepared their next attack, Kyros had been discussing their progress.


    "So they think we are back in that ce beyond the portal?" Aron confirmed.


    "Right. That''s why I went to the trouble of faking my teleportation to that ce. Of course, they won''t dare enter it. They know we have the power to devour and won''t waste sending scouts in. I left my shadow familiars to observe the entrance and inform me if there were any who entered. But up to now, none of them have entered the portal. Their armies have vanished."


    "This means that they will prepare to attack the portal again. But this time, with an army more formidable. I''m guessing they would reshape their armies so that nothing below Captain level will attack." Faye guessed.


    "No. That would be reckless. They have seen our powers. If they march through the portal, they might be met by that same devastating attack. I''m sure that they will avoid that."


    "Then this is even better! They will try to create a portal to invade the Temple without using that portal!" Mezalughed.


    "Exactly!" Kyrosughed.


    "What? But that was a different world! The magical powers to create another portal... I can''t imagine. It''s something that no Cultivator could do!"


    "That''s the point. Destiny will help them! But it''s a wasted effort!"


    "Yes. I decided to do thin when I awakened another power of a Fallen. I think Destiny probably knew about this Fallen power even before I realized what it was. When he saw how we were taunting the Necromancer and hismander, he gave the order to have everyone hide in that dome."


    "So that''s why they did that! I was wondering what was going on and why they went to such extreme."


    "The Fallen Tyrannos. The birth of anger, resentment, and murder. Because of him, Separation and the Severance of Creation reached a point where unity is impossible. And so we call him the First Undivine. Many Fallens followed in his footsteps. Luckily, we have him on our side." The voice of Cminus rang out around the Temple."


    "Fate was prodding me in that direction, and now I bought us more time, and Destiny will make a wasted effort to attack. We won, but frankly, I''m a bit disappointed. There only has been so much that we did on our own without Fate''s prodding. I guess that''s what Fate Challenger is helping us achieve. To act always outside of Fate to outsmart Destiny."


    "You''re disappointed? Lord Kyros... We defeated several Commanders and a Cardinal in the first sh without losing anyone!" Martha frowned.


    "I feel that it is not enough. You all have to be strong enough to fight on your own. And right now, we see progress in our fights. Mom, Dad... Good job doing the impossible and training everyone to fight. Uncle, you fought a Commander alone and survived long enough. Emberdons, Grandfather. You faced horrors far beyond your capacity and nearly lost your life for it."


    "Technically, we are already dead. But this power is what we need to survive right now." Demerus answered with augh.


    "The fight that follows will be a good opportunity for us to train. Everyone! You will face a Commander again. But this time, you should win! That includes you, aunt Martha."


    "Good. I want to kill that stupid dragon."


    "I want to fight that Vampire again." Aron smiled, and he was unconsciously holding on to his sword tightly.


    "Grandfather, can you face the Shaman alone?"


    "With pleasure." Mezal smiled.


    "The three Lich Emberdons will face the Crab Commander. Faye, Gojirrah, and Reptilia. You will face a Grendelor Commander. The rest of the Coven and Stellya will take care of the Skeleton Commander. Everyone else, you will fight that Shade Lord. The bulk of their armies will probablye from him. Those will be your corresponding mission. Father, Grandfather. Can you make the arrangements and oversee their training?"


    "Of course." Mezal nodded.


    "Go." Kyrosmanded, and the group immediately moved out.


    Kyros raised his hands, and the books that weren''t being read from the Library of the Nephilim flew towards him.


    "Now it''s time to put my intelligence to good use," Kyros smirked as the books approached him.

 Chapter 294 - Words Of Power

    Mezal was immersing himself in the books about Force energy. The concepts taught in the books had changed his perception of what Force energy is and how to use it.


    "This is Force energy? No wonder the Londs and the Minds'' quality of power is too far apart! This training... If one masters it, it can easily give us a Commander''s Potential in terms of Strength and Vitality!" Mezal praised. He recalled the utilization of the Crab Commander, who was undoubtedly the strongest Force user among all of them. His usage of Force energy was so condensed and strong that it was as if the Crab Commander had a body of Force.


    "I thought that the Commander had some strange artifact or a constitution that allows him to contain a massive among of his Force energy! But it turns out he''s just an expert in wielding and dividing the elements! Force Wall is not a skill but merely a way of wielding Force! That was the basics of his power! But the Londs have taken this legacy of Force and thought it was just... mere skill? Force Wall can be something else..." Mezal then took another book. This was the book he had been reading for a day before switching to books about Force energy.


    "Soul Energy... I wonder... Is it possible for me tobine the awakened soul power that my father-inw gave me with Force and with the Ancient Source that is in my blood?" Mezal pondered.


    "If my Soul can direct and guide the power that springs out of my Ancient Source, my Force energy, and my Magic energy, then I could create a whole new form of power..." Mezal pondered.


    He closed his eyes and began to experiment. Finally, the power of his Soul began to work.


    But as Mezal concentrated, no form of power from his soul broke out. Instead, it was like it was bubbling within.


    "It won''t manifest out of my body... But how did that Shaman do it?" He began to ponder.


    "It''s because you''re not saying the attack name." Cminus suddenly spoke to Mezal.


    "Cminus? What do you mean by saying the attack name?" Mezal heard Cminus''s call.


    "Recall what you saw in your vision of Hyperion and what the vision of Astra revealed. What did they do to manifest the power?"


    "They spoke it out. They dered it!"


    "Right. Do you know why cultivators call out the names of the attacks? It isn''t just some anime cliche material, but even before I created this official system that the gods and fallen eventually followed, the gods and the fallen would fight using their words. Each god is a manifestation of a concept itself. Remember what Branze and Diana reported about their vision? When Fate and Destiny got involved in that battle, they were not allowed to see the vision by old man Histerion. This is because when they speak, things happen."


    "So I have to say it?"


    "Yes. We call these things, Words of Power. It is a manifestation of what we want to achieve. Now, most cultivators don''t need to really say it. You could say that most mortal cultivators only do that out of habit, as this practice was passed down from the gods to mortals. But some cultivators need to do that. Your father-inw is one type."


    "Chanting... He chanted..." Mezal realized what Cminus meant. Shamans were among the cultivators that would say long phrases to cast out magic. Many magic cultivators also follow the same principle.


    "It''s actually written in the magic books that the Emberdon''s are reading. It exins the source of that power that mages use. Of course, Shamans do chanting, while mages do incantations. Other cultivators use rituals, sacraments, and invocations. When they say these words, they invoke creation and call on the existing things that have been spoken into creation by the Words of Power that gods and fallen have left behind. The Disciplines of Creation, including Alchemy, Enchantments, cksmithing, and Energy Conversion Circles, all use the same power source but are applied differently. So if you want to release the power of your soul, you need to-"


    "[Soul,e out of my body]!"


    "Erm... No. That''s now how it works. You can''t just say something and make it the Words of Power to manifest... WHAT?! It''s already manifesting?! How?!"


    The moment Mezal spoke those words, the power of his soul, which only stayed inside, had erupted outside. The eerie power that only the Shaman Commander had shown in this world had manifested around Mezal.


    The first to sense it was the Skeletons, the Lich, and the Emberdon Lichess. They felt the power of the Soul and were startled.


    "How is he able to do that? We can''t even do that!" One of the Skeletons watched in amazement.


    Demerus watched as Mezal began to use it.


    "It''s probably something that only he can do. Not even his monstrous sons can do that. Moving the soul is something mysterious. What we did as Skeletons and Liches is only to empower the Soul and seal it inside our bones. Our souls have locality in our bones, but we can''t move it at will. But his magic is simr to Commander Neteri, the Shaman. Yet, we know that this power is not something that everyone can use. Even the Cardinal, who is a Necromancer, cannot wield his own soul but only influence and control others." Demerus exined.


    He had seen how the Cardinal fought Kyros with massive explosions thatmanded humongous souls.


    "So we should not desire such power?" The Lowly Lich asked.


    "Right now, no. We improve our power. We can spend time reading that when this battle is over. But for now, we need to gain as much power as we can. That takes time, and we have to focus on the lost art of Magic Wielding!" Demerus ordered.


    Diana was also affected by Mezal''s disy that her concentration was lost.


    "Amazing... It''s like I''m standing before a god!" Diana eximed.


    "So that''s it... I can see it now..." Branze also opened his eyes.


    "See what?"


    "The source of dad''s power! This is the exnation of how he created turning Force energy into a pseudo-holy element despite the severe curses that sealed the way to cultivate light! The reason why father can wield the light and even teach it to us is because of what grandfather did!"


    "Your shaman grandfather? What did he do??"


    "Now I understand. Father never talked about the location of grandfather. Now I get it. Grandfather is dead. He did the same thing that the ves did to increase the power and energy Martha during her battle against the Thane Dragons. Tribute!"


    "He sacrificed his life to give father-inw this power?!"


    "Yes! The stories that my father spoke of my shaman grandfather and the stories our mother used to tell us were so exaggerated that we didn''t believe it when we grew up. After all, how can such a powerful cultivator die? It wasn''t in battle! This is it! He sacrificed his Soul to improve father''s power!" Branze could sense the powerful workings of the soul.


    With his power in wielding the light, he could sense a strange force around Mezal.


    Cminus was eating his shoe.


    "How?!" Cminus shouted at Kyros.


    "What? I''m busy!" Kyros frowned.


    "Your grandfather!"


    "Why are you cursing in Chinese?"


    "No! That''s not what I meant! Your grandfather made us some crazy,me, and downright weird Words of Power, and it worked! He didn''t need a shamans chant or any other triggers to activate Words of Power!"


    "Eh?" Kyros opened his eyes and took one look at his grandfather, and then closed it.


    "He used his Code to cut through it and invoke that power. Don''t forget, he is still a descendant of Hyperion and was the one who felt the full sh of Hyperion''s attack as he received it inside the vision. It''s only normal for his Words of Power to be stronger. For grandfather, he just needs to say what he wants to happen and don''t have to say the exact Words of Power to trigger the attack and use his Ancient Source as a trigger to do it. If we keep practicing and all cultivate to a higher level and develop the Codes and Corruption given to us, [Supernova st] will be a fast cast attack." Kyros exined.


    Cminus was amazed at Kyros''s exnation.


    "Now, can you be quiet? I asked you to help the rest and give them tips and advice, not ask one from me. I''m very busy."


    "Busy? You were sleeping?"


    "No, I wasn''t! I was cultivating! I''m done reading all those magical theories and the Word of Power theories that you didn''t teach me during my rebirth."


    "How was I supposed to know that you freaks could immediately do that?! Not even Celestials study that! Only Saint-level cultivators study it because only they can manipte its power!"


    "And yet you had time to teach me the art of streaking and unrobing." Kyros rolled his eyes.


    "Anyways, stop talking to me and let me cultivate."


    "You mean to get back to sleep."


    Kyros frowned.


    "Alright then. Let me show you what I''ve figured out so far."


    "Go ahead, punk."


    "[Celestial Gathering]!" Kyros activated the same Words of Power he was asked to speak in his past life after his training with Greater God Daradiel.


    BOOM!


    The source power that Kyros had during his peak strength began to form.


    The entire Temple trembled.


    "WHAT?!" Cminus was shocked.


    "Impossible... How?!"


    "Astra!" The Emberdons all shouted together.


    While they were wrong, Cminus finally understood how Kyros did it.


    "What?! You used the Code of Astra to invoke and borrow the power of Daradiel?!"


    "Earth, Wind, and Fire! He is wielding three elements at once?!" The skeletons were amazed.


    Kyros had not received it yet, but somehow, Kyros was able to draw out the power that only those who had the Celestial Code could.


    The Celestial Code had awakened.

 Chapter 295 - Words Of Daradiel

    In the past life of Kyros...


    Kyros fell, bleeding with severe wounds all over him. The enemies had chased him, and he had managed to cross various zones that no cultivators under Cardinal dared to cross.


    But in thest moments of his death, a strange power called out to Kyros and led him to safety. Even now, the power was slowly healing his wounds.


    "You know, you should be dead, like me. How is it possible that you are still alive?" A young, handsome man sat down and nced at Kyros.


    "You''re the one who saved me?" Kyros did not drop his guard but gave the young man a suspicious stare.


    The young man sighed.


    "So this is... the best that Fate could do, eh? Send me a person who has constantly defied her and lived. I guess this is good. One who challenges Fate might be strong. But do you have what it takes to cross the great gaps? Your cultivation is weak and unstable, and the heritages you built your strength upon are abysmal, to be honest." The young man sighed.


    "What do you mean?" Kyros frowned.


    "My strength has allowed me to conquer and kill."


    "Conquer and kill, and yet here you are. On the verge of death and at the mercy of me. What a great conqueror." The young man chuckled.


    "Why did you save me? Are you here to mock me? Experiment with me? ...Rape me?"


    "What? No! Rape you?"


    "It''s not my first time, fool! I''ve seen men like you who see themselves over everything and do what they want!"


    "Wow, Fate. Just wow. What did you make this kid go through?" The young man shook his head.


    "I saved you from offering you power. I see no hope in your future, but my future is much dimmer."


    "Power?"


    "You are a pitiful Commander. Strong, but rather pitiful. Your stats tell me that you simply forged your way up the levels. You have a Champion''s Potential and merely forced yourself to take in more energy to force you up the ranks. You are stronger than Champions but weaker than those with Commander potential. A pity."


    "Weaker than Commanders? I''ve killed dozens of Commanders. And a Cardinal."


    "What...? You managed to kill Commanders and a Cardinal? But I just saved your sorry soul from the clutches of those Commanders!"


    "Yes. I would have died, but they would have died too. I still have my family''s heritage skill, [Death Stance]." Kyros began to start the power that would have activated Death Stance.


    The young man could tell what it would have done.


    "Soul Overdraft! That would kill you but give you a strength of a Cardinal... Impressive. But you can''t have used this skill to kill a Cardinal since you are still alive. How did you kill the Cardinal?"


    "I used my sword!" Kyros answered with an irritated tone.


    "Your sword?! Your strength is not strong enough to breach a Cardinal''s defenses! Which sword did you use?!"


    "My other sword! I raped him! Of course, I used this sword! Are you stupid?! I took this and shed him!" Kyros raged.


    "Calm down, will you? You act as someone sealed your ability to be happy in life. Sheesh! Alright. It seems Fate has chosen you for a reason. If you can kill a Cardinal despite your severely weak stats, I guess I can give you a boost. Get up. I''ll be giving you my Code."


    "Your Code? Who are you, and why do you want to give me your power?"


    "Let''s just say I am a powerful cultivator who has special, powerful, and iparable power. I can see that you are cultivating with a unique method."


    "A force Pdin."


    "Whoever invented that is a genius. Even among my peers, what you are doing is quite impressive. In any case, I want to change your power. How would you like to be... a Celestial Pdin?"


    "A Celestial? You''re going to help me level up all the way to 90?"


    "Not in that way. Do you know that starting with Cardinal, cultivators have to train in various ways in order to level up and reach the next rank? Captains need to ss up to be Champion, and Champions need to do the same to be Commander. But what do Commanders need to be a Cardinal?"


    "Yes. To be a Cardinal, I know that a person has to have a second profession. They need to be at least a Champion level emphasizing the other fields of cultivation. For example, if the cultivator emphasizes Magic, they need to study Force. And the opposite is true for Force Cultivators." Kyros nodded.


    "Right. But do you know why they have to do that?"


    "Force and Magic need to both grow to reach the next level. Force strengthens the body, and Magic strengthens the mind and inner power. If someone is weak on either the mind or the body, it can''t withstand the potent power of a Cardinal. I have been training to increase my magic, but my utilization stems from my Grandfather''s heritage of Force Pdin. I am using a portion of my Magic and using it as Force. I don''t have any legacies to study to be a mage, but if I keep going, I will eventually have magic strong enough to bear the weight of the Cardinal."


    "Correct but iplete. It doesn''t have to be Force and Magic. The key concept is that Training Force or Magic strengthens both containers. And if one were to carry the weight of greater power, they need to have a container that stronger."


    "There are other sources of power apart from Force and Magic?"


    "There is. The Soul. Conquerors need to train in that if they wish to be a Cherubims."


    Kyros was amazed at this piece of information.


    "Soul? How do I train in the Soul?"


    "This calls those who have trained in it to be those with a Second Source. Second Source refers to the power harnessed through the soul. Your training as a Force Pdin has triggered that. But do you know what Cherubims need to be Celestials?"


    "No."


    "A Prime Core."


    "What''s a Prime Core? Is it stronger than what mages have?"


    "Yes. If you want to take the next step from Celestials into being Transcendent cultivators, you need to create or have this imnted in. Simply put, this is the heart and source of power. But I will give you my Celestial Prime Core."


    "So you are giving me the core that Celestials have?"


    "One much stronger. Celestials are called Celestials because they can finally fly out to the great celestial body beyond theirs. But my power, the Celestial Core, harnesses the power of these Celestial Bodies. More specifically, the elements that create thes and worlds above. Earth, Fire, Wind, Entropy, Water and Ice."


    "Your core has Six Elements?!" Kyros eximed.


    "Yes. But with your current power, you can only wield one. You''ll have to stay here for a bit and let me train you. Of course, you still have to study how to unlock the power. Are you interested?"


    "What price will I pay for this power?"


    "Just live. The moment I give you this power, my enemies may look for you. I am as good as dead. I''ll train you as much as I can, and I will die. Just live and try to survive. You may soon face my enemies. That''s the only catch. I just want someone to live on with my legacy. And if possible, find my allies. You''ll know them as the Core will urge you to."


    "I already have a lot of enemies. Adding a thousand more doesn''t make any difference. I ept. May I know your name?"


    "Daradiel. Wielder of the Celestial Code. Now. Let me grant to you my power." Daradiel closed his eyes.


    At that moment, he spoke in a strangenguage that Kyros could not understand. But in his new life, those words that Daradiel spoke had meaning as Kyros could understand First Word.


    "I am Daradiel. Greater God of the Celestial Bodies. I wield the Elements that shape the worlds, and through me, the Elements take life. Let the Code that I wield be passed on. Let the power be passed, and the elements converge, and let the elements hear his voice!"


    Kyros felt a sharp pain all over his body. His senses awoke as if he could hear the elements, and excruciating pain was felt in his chest.


    The Celestial Prime Core was given, and he could hear the elements.


    Back in the present timeline, in the Temple, Kyros recalled the Words of Daradiel and understood the power of the Celestial Code. It was the power to make the Elements beckon to his call.


    "How are you doing this? You don''t have his Code!"


    "But I did." Kyrosughed.


    "You mean...!"


    "That''s right. I remembered. That''s how I can wield Earth, Wind, and Fire because while I cannot sense the elements now, I remembered what I had to do to wield it!"


    "But how can you call the Elements? They won''t beckon to your voice!"


    Cminus didn''t sense it. But the Blood Cmity could. After all, it was the Corruption given to her.


    "The Charmed Fallen! He''s using the Charm Fallen''s allure to call the elements to submission!" The Blood Cmity was so stunned that she unconsciously spoke out loud.


    Earth, Wind, and Fire surrounded Kyros as he stood up. The power of the Celestial Pdin had returned to Kyros.


    "Finally. I can fight a bit better now." Kyros smiled as the power slowly faded. On Kyros''s peak, he was able to control four of the six elements. But now, he already had three.


    "I wonder how Daradiel would react if he saw me now. Last time, he kept looking down on me." Kyros mused.


    Somewhere in the nesworld...


    Daradiel was shocked. He could not understand but somewhere, somece where his eyes could not see, his power was being invoked.


    "Who?! How is this possible?!" Daradiel shouted.

 Chapter 296 - Words Of Seduction

    The power of Codes and Corruption could not easily be passed on. Gods and Fallen have to give this power and im the practitioners as their own to wield power. Those who are actual descendants can easily wield power. Those who aren''t descendants endowed with power have to take on the name of God or Fallen.


    The name was not just for show. The title bestowed on the person was the god or fallen, imbuing the ability to make the known universe submit to it and treat the named individual as part of the power of the great god.


    Kyros had no name from Daradiel or is a direct descendant. And yet his memories guided by his wisdom allowed such power.


    Cminus was intently observing the miracle before him. Even if Kyros had the experience, trying to wield and call on the power of the elements directly, and even by using the allure of the Charmed Fallen, could not work. But then realization struck Cminus. Kyros had one power that he had been using several times, which aided in his ability to do quick actions. Even the half-light, a half-dark form that Kyros has shown could be exined through this.


    Cminus connected with Kyros and essed the Soul Console.


    And as he did, he saw a long list of programmed codes that dictated how each Element would work and how Kyros''s body would respond.


    The three Souls of Kyros were working together. Earth was being wielded by Kyros''s Soul. As a man of neutral state and born from the dust of the earth, this soul was the best to wield the Earth energy.


    The Ancient Source harnessed the power of Fire as the Ancient God''s were primarily creatures of Light. In the elemental theories, Fire was closest to Light and was the best source to wield it.


    The Fallen Source wielded the wind. Time and Space magic was closely associated with the power of Dark and the Fallen. As Kyros had both the power of Kyriachos and the power of Time, he focused both energies on his Fallen Source to direct themands of gathering wind. Dark, Time, and Space were elements closest to the darkness, and it could even be said that these two powers were rted.


    Kyros began to pant as the powers disappeared.


    "Stillcking. But I know what to do." Kyros then began to open the Soul Console and slowly updated the codes.


    "The fragment?! This is really how you did it? Each of your souls was acting on it?!"


    "Yeah. All I had to do was a pump in Force and Magic. If only I have the power of the soul. I would be able to wield another. This is hard!"


    "Hard?! You call harnessing the power of a god whose Code you don''t have hard?! That''s impossible!"


    "I have to. The Necromancer will surely give us a big surprise. What happened to the Okto-Khefali of this ce? It''s definitely with the Necromancer. Imagine an undead Okto-Khefali appearing in this ce!"


    "Right! The Okto-Khefali! I forgot about that!"


    "We don''t know if it''s an ally of the Necromancer or if the Okto-Khefali is the enemy. I expected it to appear here, but it didn''t appear yet. So either it''s still sealed in this time, or if it''s already allied or has be an undead summon of that Necromancer. In any case, I need to gain back as much power as I can, and the fighting style of a Celestial pdin has had a lifetime of practice!"


    "Then you should study your dad''s discoveries. He is now a Knight Temr, after all. A Celestial Knight Temr sounds awesome!"


    "That''s the third priority." Kyros answered.


    "Third? What''s second?"


    It was then that Dyne noticed several people looking at him.


    "Erm... What?"


    "How?" Demerus asked.


    "Remember Astra''s power? She invoked the power of the Celestial Code. I''m sort of acquainted with the God who has that power. So I took inspiration and used the Corruption of the Charmed Fallen to erm... do something. You already read up on the theories of Words of Power, right? My words won''t have power, but by calling out to the Elements and using the Charmed Fallen, I can do it."


    "But that''s impossible! If it were that easy tomand the elements, the Charmed Fallen could have done this! How can you hear the voice of the elements?!" The Blood Cmity exploded in anger.


    Kyros nced at the Blood Cmity.


    "Don''t get mad. You''re cute when you smile." Kyros answered.


    The Blood Cmity''s red-angered face turned into a blush.


    "That- That''s- You! I hate you!"


    "Tsundere..." Martha sighed at the side.


    Scarlet continued to pretend to concentrate on wielding the elements, but her hand was trembling.


    Avary sighed as he saw Scarlet.


    Reptilia also shook her head.


    "I could teach you." Kyros gave a meaningful smile.


    "Wha-what?!"


    "The power to wield this Code. For a being that has transcended Celestial ranks and is close to cultivating to a god, I bet learning how to do what I did can help you grow stronger."


    "Why are you helping someone like me?" The Blood Cmity frowned.


    "I''m not helping you. I''m helping Mechiel. You and her soul are tied together, after all. Your strength bes her strength. It''s easier now that she has your soul. Your call and your power can spill over, and she might just be able to call upon the power of the Charmed Fallen through you." Kyros smiled.


    "Hmph! You''re a fool for thinking this. And let me guess... you want me to teach you how to channel the power of the Charmed Fallen?"


    "Yes. This also is important. Since if I want to practice that, I''d have to make myself vulnerable to your spell. Aren''t you tired of being our captive?"


    "Your arrogance will be the end of you! Fine! I ept!"


    "Good!" Kyrosughed as he motioned to make the Blood Cmity draw closer.


    Mechiel moved, and Kyros brought them to the middle of the Temple where Kyros was once sealed.


    "Everyone else, go back to your training. Cminus. Be sure to guide everyone."


    "Alright. You kids be careful." Cminus answered.


    "What do we do?" Mechiel asked.


    Kyros sat down in a crossed leg position.


    "Sit down and hold my hand. I need to show you what power I draw out to call the elements. And I''m assuming the Blood Cmity has Dark Link. It would be easier if she could link directly to me so I would bemunicating directly to your soul."


    "Al-alright." Mechiel sat down with a shy expression, and the two were facing each other.


    "Let''s test it. Hold on to my hand and see if you can hear my words." Kyros instructed.


    Mechiel nodded, and both closed their eyes.


    It was as if they were standing in a dark world. Yet even though there seemed to be no light, the two could see each other.


    "Where is this? This is like a dream!" Mechiel was amazed.


    "Oh? It looks like the Blood Cmity wants a home-court advantage." Kyrosughed as he recognized the ce.


    "What?! Then we better stop now, Lord Kyros! This ce is too-"


    "I''m d Fate led me to you, Mechiel." Kyros called out.


    "I..." Mechiel''s blush turned brighter. But then her expression changed.


    "Lord Kyros. I feel that Fate is telling me that we will... end up fighting. But, even now, the Blood Cmity is-" She trembled as she spoke these words.


    "We will. The binding of souls between you and the Blood Cmity makes you a person of Destiny."


    "Then... We are enemies?"


    "Yes. But don''t worry. Something so trivial as Destiny won''t keep us apart. The journey will be difficult, and it often seems that us fighting and killing each other would be inevitable. But I won''t let you go. I promise you."


    Mechiel trembled as she heard those words.


    "Why... do you show me such favor?" Mechiel asked.


    "I can''t answer that. But it involves a lot of gods." Kyros chuckled.


    "Are we really like your mother and father?"


    "Something like that. Two souls destined for each other but cursed to be apart. Shall we fight the chains that guide our future together and break free from them?"


    "Yes!" Mechiel smiled.


    "Try to be in control and fight back when the Blood Cmity tries to act. You and her share the same soul. She''s just a parasite. So don''t let her have her way."


    "Yes, Lor-"


    "And no Lord Kyros for you. You best get used to calling me by my name, Mechiel."


    "I... It doesn''t seem right. You are strong, powerful, and is the leader of this group. I dare not call the Nephilim casually."


    "It''s a bit too early to call me husband." Kyros chuckled again.


    "That''s not what I-!" Mechiel turned red.


    "Then call me Kyros. But I guess it does feel weird. We just met, after all. So I guess I''ll wait for the time when our closeness and familiarity allows you to drop this silly courtesy."


    "Your words of seduction won''t work on me." A dark shadow slowly took shape behind Mechiel, and it transformed into the figure of a woman of great beauty. What was amazing was that the woman looked like an adult Mechiel.


    Kyros froze as he saw it. It was the same appearance that Mechiel had in their past life.


    The Blood Cmity saw that her power worked, and she smiled a sinister smile.


    "Stop!" Mechiel shouted.


    The Blood Cmity stopped as she felt her body quiver.


    "You!"


    "You''re in my soul! So behave!"


    "What...?! This ce...! Its links us both!" The Blood Cmity realized what had happened, and Kyros regained control. It was then that the Blood Cmity realized that the words of seduction she believed Kyros to say weren''t meant for her but to grant Mechiel more power to resist.


    "That was scary. Thanks, Mechiel! Anyway, Blood Cmity. The best way to learn the Celestial Code, is to experience it. I want you to do the calling, and I will hear its voice.. Can you help me?" Kyros asked, ignoring the situation that nearly led to his death.

 Chapter 297 - Words Of Pride

    The Blood Cmity cursed as her powers couldn''t manifest at the veryst second.


    Due to her connection with Mechiel, it was impossible to entice Mechiel with the power of Charm. It would be tantamount for using Charm on herself.


    "Hmph! I''ll get you someday!" The Blood Cmity stood next to Mechiel as she red at Kyros.


    "That form looks very beautiful. I can''t wait for Mechiel to grow!" Kyros admired.


    "But... now let''s focus, shall we? Blood Cmity. If we do this together, you could have an understanding of wielding the Celestial Code. My attempt earlier was a poor, poor imitation. I couldn''t even use those magic to attack. I was only able to draw them to me. So I need your help. Lend me your powers. Allow me to experience what the true powers of the Charmed Fallen are. Ick practice after all." Kyros chuckled.


    "You were confident that I won''t kill you because of Mechiel, and so you openly offered this even though your soul would be in danger."


    "Not just that... I know that aside from the fact that Mechiel is fated to be mine, the power of the Charmed Fallen also affects you." Kyros sneered.


    "You really can''t bring yourself to kill me now, can you?"


    "Why don''t you stick out your neck and find out?" She frowned.


    "Well, we can try that. But I don''t have the time. So let''s begin, shall we? This Dark Link is the strongest form of bond. It''s simr to what Vampires can do to their ves and thralls. We keep the link of our soul connected so you can see the power of the Celestial Code. But when I did that, it was like a curious animal approaching me, wondering if I had food. But I don''t. If we use your allure, I can wield it, and they will obey me."


    "Why would you offer me this chance to train? What''s the catch?"


    "For Mechiel, there is no catch. But for you, it''s simple. I am confident that this arrangement will benefit me more than it will benefit you. I have your blood and have awakened the Corruption of the Charmed Fallen. So learning charm magic for me is possible. But the Celestial Code is not with you, after all. I have my secrets as to why I know it!"


    "Then why should I agree to this if it benefits you more than it benefits me?"


    "Let me rephrase it this way. I am stronger and more talented than you can ever be. Even without a Code, I will master the Celestial Code, and you would not be able to grasp even an inkling of it because you are weak, dumb, and defeated. Even before you can manifest in this world, I defeated you. Despite your ns and traps, I outsmarted you. Look at yourself! A mere parasite to the woman I love. Destiny led you to Mechiel, but Fate allowed it knowing that your power can empower me all the more."


    [Taunt of Tyrannus activated.]


    The Blood Cmity erupted in anger. Mechiel felt it but then stopped the raging soul that wanted to attack Kyros.


    Mechiel and the Blood Cmity had a pained expression as both were struggling to dominate the control over the soul.


    Even though Mechiel was the dominant soul, the ancient power of the Blood Cmity was too strong that it became an ordeal for Mechiel.


    Kyros saw it and smiled.


    "I am offering you a chance to defeat me. In truth, we still are equals in a way. Both of us only have the Charmed Corruption and will attempt to learn the Celestial Code. It''s all a matter of potential and skill now. These words of pride are obviously a clear taunt. But taunts are based on truth. Will your saintly pride allow my words to trample you? Or will you prove me wrong?" Kyrosughed.


    "Fine! I agree with your offer! I''ll show you! I am the Blood Cmity! I will be the next Xarmolipi whose powers will be known throughout time! One whomands not just the Elements but all Codes and Corruption!" The Blood Cmity dered with great passion.


    "Good! Now calm down. You won''t be able to sense the power if you''re all hyped up and bat crazy like that." Kyrosughed.


    The Blood Cmity trembled in rage as Kyros gave a casual andical response.


    "Alright! Let''s start. Hey, get in Mechiel''s soul. I wouldn''t dare touch you. Even if you have the beautiful features of Mechiel, I will only touch the real Mechiel!" Kyros ordered.


    Mechiel blushed, and the Blood Cmity submitted in rage and disappeared into Mechiel''s soul.


    "Hold my hand." Kyros raised his hand. Mechiel reached out, and the two souls connected. The power of the Dark Link was heightened.


    Kyros began the process. He used his memories to bring out the power. But this time, Kyros didn''t think about his memories of his previous life. Instead, he focused on the memories of when he showed the power several minutes ago.


    The Blood Cmity could see the soul of Kyros and could tell that Kyros was drawing out his memory.


    "Memory?" She frowned and couldn''t understand what had happened.


    "Why are you recalling this?" She asked.


    "Didn''t you notice? I was in a state of enlightenment and fell into a trance. That was Fate''s gift to me, and I can''t replicate it! So I''m using my memory to try to repeat it." Kyros gave a casual defense.


    "Hmph! So this is it! Was that power just a vision from Fate? And here I thought it was all your power!"


    "Fate pushed me when I was barely opening the door. My enlightenment was my hard work. What about you? Have you been enlightened with the Code or Corruption that you are not blessed or descended of?" Kyros sneered.


    The Blood Cmity raged silently.


    "Focus. We should start now. The Elements are now being called through this. Use your powers to call it out. Do you need me to teach you?"


    "No need!'' The Blood Cmity answered and released the power of her charm.


    Outside, the Elements began to gather as they sensed the call. But this time, the energy was thicker, swirling around Kyros and Mechiel.


    The Emberdons saw it and ran towards it.


    "This! This is amazing!"


    "Emberdons. Kyros and Mechiel will continue to gather the elements. Take this time to study it. You are witnessing an unknown power. But knowledge of what you see can help you! I will aid you as well!" Cminus called out.


    "Get all the Skeletons and magic practitioners here now! This is a time to learn!" Faye shouted and ordered out.


    The Emberdons all gave several orders. It ranged from gathering all men to set up a proper arrangement to view the mystery and study it. Ab would be set up around it.


    Branze smiled as he saw it.


    "I guess we have to move our studies elsewhere." Branze motioned to the rest for them to train and study outside. He could sympathize with the Emberdons as he often fell into a research craze.


    "They look amazing." Diana praised.


    "Yes. We are about to see their full power in research. Look at them. They are not even turning this into a contest but will wholeheartedly work together to figure out this mystery.. We are about to see the true power of the Emnberdons."

 Chapter 298 - Words Of Wisdom

    The power that Kyros and Mechiel gathered remained for a long time, and slowly, the elements were moving into Kyros.


    The Blood Cmity marveled at the sensation. It was as if what they were doing was natural.


    "How is this possible? He can''t hear the elements, but yet it''s like they are talking!" The Blood Cmity couldn''t make heads or tails of the scene.


    Of course, Kyros had made several deceptions to hide how he was doing it. Unknown to the Blood Cmity, the Soul Console was already moving the elements automatically. Kyros didn''t have to put any thought into it as his other souls acted as programmed. All he did was focus on the memory of his recent experience and try to respond to it. With the Blood Cmity there to issue the charmed call to gather the elements, Kyros had a huge load of his concentration.


    By looking at the memories of what he just did, Kyros was now in the process of deducing how to channel the energy. The thoughts of Kyros weren''t even hidden from the Blood Cmity as he could see Kyros observing the miracle of what was happening around him.


    And so the Blood Cmity began to ponder on the miracle and begin her meditation.


    But as she did, she couldn''t make heads or tails of this. The Emberdons were in a better position. The Blood Cmity did not wield any of the elements. The Emberdons at least had studied magic all their life, and while they had just begun learning the real path of magic, it was still better than what the Blood Cmity had.


    Outside, the Emberdons were holding on to the Elemental Cores given to them. The Skeleton Emberdons had a body that was practically like Elemental Cores. They sacrificed flesh to imbue magic on their bones. And so, they couldpare and imitate the magical mystery before them.


    "It doesn''t make sense! Just how is it that the Earth responds? Is this a word of power? Are we truly unable to imitate it?" Stellya cursed.


    "The Wind is acting differently! It''s not as how I wield it! How is it working together with Earth which is on the opposite side of the Elemental wheel?!" Ressi couldn''t understand the scene either.


    The Blood Cmity had been listening to them in hopes of gaining something as she knew she was at a great disadvantage. But their words proved that it was too difficult even for them.


    "The Time God!" Demerus suddenly recalled.


    "Oh, brother..." Cminus feared this would happen.


    "Erm... Kyros. Could you help me out here?"


    "What?! I''m busy! Can''t you see I''m in the middle of something?!"


    "I-I know. But the Emberdons...! They are asking me for help!"


    "Then help them! We are fighting with our lives on the line!" Kyros irritably answered. The powers around him and Mechiel grew unstable.


    "But-but-but...! The truth is, we gods of different code are just like you guys! We can''t learn a Code that isn''t ours, but we have to slowly train in them!" Cminus secretly called out to Kyros.


    "Then why didn''t you train in them?"


    "I was... preupied with my other incarnations."


    "Then it''s not my fault that you can''t help them!"


    "Come on, man! Help me out here! I don''t want them to think I''m someme god!"


    "You are ame god right now!"


    "Please! Can''t you think of something to get me out of this mess?"


    "Use your other incarnations and give them some words of wisdom! Just Sstoptalking to me!" Kyros somehow managed to block his ears.


    "Great God Cminus! Weren''t you there at the start of time? Tell us what you saw!" Demerus pleaded.


    Seeing as Kyros refused to help him, Cminus sighed.


    "Er- Right! I''ll help you! First, you need to know this mystery! When I was born, I was... ve-very young."


    "...What?" Demerus had a very confused expression.


    "?" Even the Blood Cmity couldn''t understand what Cminus meant.


    "What do you mean?"


    "I am speaking... of heavenly things. What I saw and what I am cannot be put into words." Cminus decided to add mystery in his talks.


    "He was very young when he was born..." Faye tried to ponder the meaning of this mystery.


    "Isn''t... that obvious? We are very young when we are born!"


    "No! Think about it! He is the Time God! Time was young then!" Demerus exined.


    "Correct!" Cminus exined.


    "I was young then. Therefore, what I saw, was young things."


    "Young things?"


    "What?"


    "I cannot spoon-feed you. It would be going against my Code to teach that which is learned through time." Cminus spoke in mystery.


    "I will, however, reveal certain mysteries. In the eyes of a child, the wrong can be right."


    "The wrong can be right?"


    "Yes! That''s the truth! The early bird catches the early worm!"


    "The early bird? What''s the early bird?"


    "One wrong move and you''re already mistaken."


    "What? What does that mean?!"


    "There is no war in Bai Sing Sei. Oh! Sorry, that''s from a different concept. But... I guess that''s all I can say. You have to learn everything else... in Time." Cminus decided to add more mystery to his Time God persona and spoke nonsense.


    Demerus frowned. Faye was scratching her head. Stellya decided to stop listening and focused on the elements. Ressi was already trying to imitate what she saw. But Triona kept repeating the mystery words of Cminus as if it was a mantra.


    "That''s it! The eyes of a child! We''ve been all elements wrong!" Triona shouted.


    "What?!" Demerus turned to her.


    The rest also did.


    "Think about it! He was very young when he saw the world. He saw the elements! The right way to wield them! And he said, in the eyes of a child, the wrong can be right! We have seen how others wield elements and thought of it as correct! But it was wrong! We should see things as the early bird!"


    "The early bird!"


    "Yes! The early bird that saw the true elements, which is the early worm! Right now, we are seeing that which is right! One wrong move and you are already mistaken! Because our ancestors did not see things as how it was, they were already wrong! We have before us the truth! The reality of how to wield the elements! It seems mysterious and strange, but this is how it should have been! Even Astra did not wield the elements but borrowed the Celestial Code!"


    "But that doesn''t help us..." The Lowly Lich spoke.


    "No! It can! Everyone! Get back to the basics! We master the basics first! Don''t search out the impossible! Search for the possible! Compare it with the books! We have two sources of truths now! Theories and practical wielding of magic must ur! Triona is right! The Time God is also right! He saw it from the beginning and is trying to tell us that if we make one mistake in applying the theories that we learned, which will be the foundation of magic, we are already mistaken!" Faye shouted.


    "Faye is right! There are many things that we can''tprehend! Go back to the elementary parts! Everyone! Bring out the books and start researching andparing!"


    "Thank you, Time God!" Triona bowed.


    "I... Proud you!" Cminus was so relieved that Triona saved him that he muttered a grammatically incorrect statement.


    "I proud you all!" Cminus repeated.


    As that was happening, the Blood Cmity also fell into a strange form of enlightenment.


    "The words of those Emberdons and the Time God ring true. I don''t have to understand that which I can''t. I''ll start with the basics!" The Blood Cmity decided.


    And as she began to approach the basic way to wield the elements, she unknowingly synched with Kyros, who was also doing the same thing. And as their souls acted in synch, the power grew stronger.


    Back in the realm where time continued...


    Somewhere in the nesworld, Daradiel felt his power being summoned.


    He could not understand but somewhere, somece where his eyes could not see, his power was being invoked.


    "Who?! How is this possible?!" Daradiel shouted.

 Chapter 299 - Words Of A Noble

    Daradiel was nothing but a mortal wisp staying in the nesworld. If not for his Code, he would have long departed. But as his Code continued to exist in the universe, he still lingered. But then he sensed that his power was being spurred. Only he could feel this strange power that urred beyond space and outside the time continuum.


    "How is this possible? Is someone calling on the power of Astra? No... This isn''t Astra. No one is invoking my Code. Someone is using it!" Daradiel was spurred in his spirit.


    "Fate? Is this your will? Is this why you have fated this ce to be my grave? Will someone walk on my Code and observe my precepts without me?"


    Daradiel became hopeful. This was a miracle that had never before happened. How can someone who has never trained or has been bestowed of the power of another god use the power of a Code?


    "It seems there is hope for us yet!" Daradiel smiled as he looked to the skies with hope.


    As Mechiel and Kyros were both trying to move the elements, the consumption of energy was rtively small. Thus their meditation continued for a time.


    The Emberdons were like madmen as they began to shout strange things with several Skeletons diligently trying to catch up to their research and experiments.


    The rest had already moved down.


    Branze and Diana were discussing the theories and were constantly experimenting on the power of the light.


    Mezal kept on studying books rting to the soul.


    "It''s too bad that there are no books about Shamans in this list. We only have an introduction to necromancy. But I don''t think I can do this. So many things to sacrifice to gain power. I need to offer a hundred and fifty lives for this spine-chilling ritual..." Mezal read and shook his head.


    He then turned his attention to Kyros upstairs and watched as he continued to harness the power.


    "I wonder how does he do it? Does his soul move the power? If I can move my soul outside, can it be that I can use it to guide my Force energy?" It was the that Mezal had a strange smile.


    "That''s it! I think I found it! I found my focus! My sons have theirs, and I should find mine!" Mezal decided.


    His sons were experts in their own rights, and he was something in the middle. And yet, this also meant that he could not defend and attack as effectively as his sons. All he had was the superior knowledge of Soul Energy.


    "Let''s beginbining soul and force!" Mezalughed.


    As Mezal made his decision to train, Aron continued his meditation.


    When everything around him was changing, he simply kept on meditating and did not spare any significant attention to Kyros''s miracles, nor was he interested in it.


    The vision of the Vampire kept appearing before him, and the fear that the full power of those vampires attacking his friends left him powerless. If all the Champions returned, he would definitely lose with an unfavorable situation.


    Destiny would find a way to filter out the darkness, and even if he held on to the dark cloaking powers of Kyros''s miraculous armor provided, he would be found out.


    "There is still no way for me to win against that Commander. I have to grow stronger!" Aron decided.


    He continued to strengthen the focus and concentration of his Force energy, envisioning a stronger sword.


    "My sword is too small to face against the hordes. Much less an army of flying bats. I can hold my own against an army, but how can I protect my allies from them?" Aron sighed. He nearly failed in his previous fight and had no choice but to block the main body of the Vampire. Never before had he thought about protecting as he has always assumed the role of the attacker. But now, his desires have changed.


    "Steel... Our power is steel. Did Hyperion use steel element to sever the world? I have to perfect being able to draw out my Ancient Source and use it inbat!" Aron continued to meditate and was taking inspiration from his study in magic. Although it was short, it gave Aron a lot of ideas. He began to focus and tried to forcibly bring out his Ancient Source, but only Force and Magic appeared. He could feel a trace of Ancient Source in both, which allowed him to wield both energies to have a terrifying cutting effect easily, but it was too spread out.


    Soon, Aron felt drained and stopped.


    "Hmm... Maybe I''m doing this the wrong way! Dad managed to merge Force with Holy. But since my element is naturally Steel, how can I form it? Is there a meaning to the name of Steel that Hyperion had? All other gods have some divine meaning to their name and power. What is Steel? If I turn my force into a Steel element, I might just have a shot in awakening the full potential of my Ancient Source and not just this apanying power." Aron began to focus his power and tried to make it sharper.


    Martha was not in the Temple but had moved into the Separated Realm. The space itself was the perfect training ground for them, and since the training she envisioned would be wild and explosive, they needed to fight somewhere empty.


    "This will be the perfect ce to fight, Vegeta." Martha spoke seriously.


    "Vegeta?" Puff scratched his head.


    "Er... Sorry. It''s that stupid power of Cminus.


    "Anyway, we will train here. You are to teach me the ways to train as a dragon properly. We never had the time and always had problems ahead of us. But now... It''s finally time to ept the gift of Kyriachos and perfect it."


    "Yes, master!" Puff answered.


    "And Puff... I want to learn how to sprout Wyvern wings!"


    Puff smiled.


    "I thought you might. I reserved a few morsels for you to devour." Puff answered.


    The rest of the Coven facilitated the training of the men.


    "Right now, we need to train like mad! Our goal is to have the power to defeat those Champions! If we can''t defeat the giant that Lord Mezal fought, we won''t be of any use to the war!" Avary exined.


    "With the short time we have, we can''t dare to follow on the steps of our masters! All that''s left is to develop Foresight, Combat, and Molding! Let''s wait until our masters havepleted their studies. We can''t discover new things, so we''ll wait for them to finish it and then train!"


    Despite his young age, Avarymanded attention and authority among the rest of the Steele family.


    Branze had instructed that everyone in the Steele family would be busy. Someone had to rise and take the time to train the rest, especially since all the strongest leaders of the surviving settlements were involved in the experiments of the Emberdons.


    Yet when Avary rose to the asion, everyone listened.


    As Avary spoke to the rest of the army, Hunter could not help but smile.


    "I almost forgot your heritage. You are high born. What a great power! The words of a noble should be like this. Not prone to giving empty promises, but words that offer hope and courage!"


    "It''s easy, honestly. With a little Foresight and the foundation that Avary and I have, this is... expected of us." Gregory was speaking in a casual but serious tone.


    "Truly a High Born. You should teach me to speak like that. Maybe my family will start treating me and sister Martha with respect if I speak like a real High Born." Myas giggled.


    "Of course! Just say the word!" Gregory agreed immediately.


    "Woah. Easy there, quick draw! You''re faster than a Swift de rushing off to a fight there! Help Avary for now! Lady Myas, try to shadow Sir Gregory." Hunter chuckled as he teased Gregory.


    BOOM!


    Another boom urred at the back as the climax to a battle was reached.


    Gojirrah stood victorious with Reptilia down on his knees.


    Despite being a noble Princess, Reptilia did not want to take the time to train the rest and called Gojirrah to spar. They were sparring on the other side of the Temple, away from everyone else who was listening to Avary.


    "I yield. That surprised me. Consider this your first victory, Gojirrah." Reptilia stood up.


    Grugnyr couldn''t help but watch and nce at Gojirrah with an envious gaze at times and would gawk at Reptilia. Hunter nudged Grugnyr as Avary''s speech ended..


    "Focus. We have work to do." Hunter urged.


    "Everyone, form a team of ten men. One by one, the group will fight against us. The rest of you will fight against other teams. Don''t be afraid to wound each other critically. Just avoid killing the other person immediately. Steele family retainers, knights, and servants divide yourselves among the recruits. It''s about time for you to take more responsibility and train your skills in leadership. This will force you to train Molding!" Avary instructed.


    As Avary and the rest facilitated the organization of teams, a select few who were mages were constantly learning how to wield elements. They had the hardest training as they would also participate in the training that Avary led.


    But Scarlet had shut herself and read various books about vampires while keeping up her training in wielding magic.


    Unnoticed by many, Scarlet''s form was slowly changing. Her skin was turning purer in white. She had the greatest potential in Foresight in the team other than Kyros. And with it, she managed a miracle. With the amount of blood they drank and considering the strong powers of cultivators they managed to absorb, the vampiric transformation of the Coven was expected to solidify in another day. But Scarlet not only managed to advance her transformation, but she was also able to control it.


    Scarlet opened her eyes, and a strange charm was being released.


    "I''m not about to give up yet, Mechiel.. I''ll be a subus if I have to!" She vowed.

 Chapter 300 - Words Of The Jealous

    During the great wars of the neworld, when the Eldrich took up arms and challenged the light leading to a massive war between the ones that reside in the light and the one tucked away in the darkness, the defeat of the Eldrich wasrgely attributed to the power that the dominions of Light had.


    That power was the power to petition from the legacy given by one of the daughters of Soter himself. The power of Wish.


    With Wish, the Light had received tremendous power that could change the tide of the battle. And even now, the mysterious power of Wish remained to be one of the strongest arsenals of the light.


    Little did Kyros know the mystery of Foresight was far beyond what even Kyros believed it was. The power behind it was so strong that it wasparable to the great power invoked by the lords of the nesworld from the legacy of Greater God Precari Ss.


    Foresight was able to replicate a very minuscule power of Wish. But at the level that they had, Foresight could ''direct'' the Fate Challenger towards their wish. The extent of what they can ask or search for increases as the level grows.


    Kyros was at the second stage of Foresight. The first stage of Foresight was called the Medium Challenger stage. The second was irvoyant Challenger and the third Seer Challenger. Each stage had ten levels, and Kyros had attained the highest level of Foresight, being at the sixth stage of irvoyant. The battles and how he absorbed the forces of Destiny allowed him to raise the next levels of this power.


    But now, he wasn''t the only one.


    Kyros didn''t focus on improving the Fate Challenger and wanted the team to focus on knowledge and strength to increase their fighting capacity. But Scarlet knew that the fastest way to increase her power was rted to Foresight.


    The desire of Scarlet was to find a way to win the heart of Kyros. And through that desire, the path was made open. A miracle urred. The power of Foresight began to touch upon the power of Wish. At that moment, a faint trembling urred within the Library of the Light, but no one took notice.


    Every cell in the body of Scarlet somehow found a way to perform Foresight. Then, instinctively, the cells began to choose the route of its vampiric path.


    Hidden deep inside the bloodline of Scarlet was the blood of the Charmed Fallen. And in it was the power of the Subus.


    It was a bizarre power as Scarlet managed to take control of the evolutionary path of her cells. They were all technically vampires, but they were also vampires with the blood of various powerful beings. Their master itself was something that shouldn''t even be ssified as a vampire.


    As Scarlet continued to meditate, the power of her Foresight that invoked a wish had finally created a single cell of different form. She now had a Devil Cell.


    Kyros''s vows and limitations on all his Coven were very light. In Scarlet''s search for power, she had not vited any of thews imposed by Kyros, and so, she managed to break free from the limits of her innate race as a vampire, and she was slowly transforming into a devil race.


    Suddenly, strange darkness formed in front of her. The darkness had the shape of a woman, and it was as if the woman was calling out for her.


    The moment the figure appeared, a great fear grasped Scarlet. She knew what this woman was.


    It was a Fallen. And she was sure that this was a Fallen serving destiny.


    "The Charmed Fallen!" Scarlet thought. Her body was frozen stiff, and she couldn''t even scream. She let out a groan, but the darkness was quickly taking shape.


    "Xarmolipi. It''s been a while." Another voice called out of nowhere. It was the voice of a woman.


    The dark figure was startled as she heard the voice and immediately retreated.


    "You''vee a long way. Stay awhile." The voice answered, and a strange light bound the dark woman.


    "You truly wish for this?" The voice called out to Scarlet. It was a voice of unknown origin. Scarlet was still in a frozen state. But somehow, she knew her thoughts would reach this voice.


    "Who are you?"


    "Your desire exaggerated, and it''s even wrong. You know this, yet you continue? But why? Why do this for a man whom you barely know? Why are you willing to go this far?" The voice asked scarlet.


    Scarlet was surprised at the question. She hadn''t thought about this.


    "I... don''t know." She answered. Scarlet felt that while her attraction was real, there was no easy answer to answer such a question.


    "You don''t know? The path you are taking is a path far worse than that of a vampire. Subus is devils. Beings that are not only Dark Dependent, but they are also Dark Derived. And the Path you choose is even more dangerous. It draws you closer to the power of the Charmed Fallen. As you can see, she even appeared. You unknowingly became a person who will carry Xarmolipi''s name."


    "That woman... is Xarmolipi? The Charmed Fallen?" Scarlet asked.


    "Yes. She was here toplete the ritual you requested and wished for. Your desire is so great that it used the power of Mysterion and managed to force Xermolipi Phaulos of the Foul Fallens to bestow her power on you! Little girl, you would be bestowed with her name. You would be a Xermolipi!"


    "What?!"


    "You created a Devil cell! And that''s... quite amazing, honestly. I can sense the Nephilim borrowing the power of the Celestial Code, but since Cminus is in this picture, I can guess how he is doing this. But you, you called the Charmed Fallen! You Charmed her!" The voice spoke.


    "I... I just wanted to..."


    "I know what you wanted! If you managed to draw out Xarmolipi, it could only be ''that'' reason. And that reason is your desire for his attention and his affection. This lord of yours is even set on another. Why burden yourself to follow a path that you can''t turn back from? You were about to be a minion of Destiny!"


    "That... I''m really not sure. I know that what I have for Lord Kyros is just a simple attraction. I am young and unlearned of the emotions of love. But I have seen death, and he has given me life. I wished to be by his side no matter what. And even now, that wish remains."


    "So even though your Lord has set his heart on another, you choose to walk this path?"


    Scarlet was silent. She trembled at the thought of bing a minion of Destiny and realized where her desire would take her.


    "You''re right. I should..." But then Scarlet felt pain as she thought about it.


    "No. I''m sorry. I am not about to give up. Lord Kyros has given me the power to challenge Fate. And I will challenge it to have my lord for myself! I won''t be a minion of Destiny! If I be one, how can I stand beside him?" Scarlet dered boldly.


    "I know that we haven''t known each other for that long. But I feel that... I have to do this even though I can answer why I am doing this! My heart has taken over, and my mind can do nothing but follow. So I must do this!" Scarlet answered.


    "Ah... That Cminus would often say to me, for love has its reasons that reason does not know. Spoken like someone who is truly worthy of my power."


    It was then that Scarlet found herself standing in a strange ce.


    She found herself standing around a beautiful garden in the middle of ake. The garden had a beautiful gazebo, and a woman stood there.


    "Where...?"


    "I am one that is hidden in the Library of Light. You have seen the awakening of Astra. Her descendants live on, and their attempts to draw out her power have forced her to make an appearance. But for me, I have been summoned by you! No doubt. You are my descendant!"


    "Me?"


    "The arrangement of Fate is to sure as the light that shines over the darkness. You are that who is destined to yearn but to never have. The cruelty of Fate to craft you and your heart to yearn for the Nephilim. It was through that desire that you called on Fate to move, and Fate allowed you to awaken the hidden power thates from me."


    "From you?


    "Foresight triggered my power. I am the daughter of the Alone. The Absolute. And because you desired the very same thing I did, it invoked the power of Wish that the Gods named Ss to have. I am Zh Ss. Through my name, mortals have derived two words from it. I am Zeal. For the desire of being Zealouses from me. But because of my Zeal for love, I became another desire. I am the desire of being Jealous."


    "Jealous?"


    "That mother fragmenting Charmed Fallen took my love. And now, the situation that yed itself spurred the power of me in you, and your desires triggered it. And now that Fate and Destiny work together to keep you two apart, just as it did with me! Fate stopped me from being with him to protect me. Destiny stopped him from being with me so as not to lose a Commander for theing war. But now, Fate has allowed her promise toe true. Once more shall I have the opportunity to win my man! If you win the Nephilims heart, my love will return to me! Just as was decreed! Challenge Fate, oh bearer of my name. And through it, you can wield the power of the Charmed Fallen to its full extent without bing a seed of Destiny."


    "Wield the Charmed Fallen''s power?"


    "Jealousy caused me to be the Charmed Fallen.. I am like you, and our experiences are linked through Fate. Just like you, I invoked Wish through the power of Ss and desired to wield the power of the Charmed Fallen!"

 Chapter 301 - Decree Of Death

    Nearly a day had passed inside the Temple as the forces of the Nephilim continued to train.


    But outside, it had only been nearly five hours.


    Inside the hidden fortress of Destiny, the Cardinal was about to resurrect his forces. He had alreadypleted the process of gathering the souls of the dead. The souls of the entire had been called through Soulmander. As the Cardinal had already used this skill, it was easier for him to search the souls and call out the souls of the Commanders.


    Several notable Champions were also called out, and ready preparation to turn them stronger.


    But the Cardinal had not done it yet. The provision of power would allow him to use that creature he sealed through dark magic finally.


    A massive dark cage emerged from a portal that drew out the beast sealed in the Cardinal''s soul.


    The massive beasts had eight heads, but his body had small wounds all over that began to regenerate the moment it stepped out.


    When the forces of the Cardinal arrived, this beast was still sealed deep underground. The Cardinal released it from the seal but trapped the beast in his soul. Heralcus intended to digest the beast through his soul slowly. This would have assured Heralcus''s growth up to Cherubim level and have a Cherubims potential!


    But now, his defeats forced him to use this beast to sacrifice it to improve everyone''s strength immediately.


    "An Okto-Khefali?"


    "Yes. Eight heads. One for each of my Commanders and one for me. Shellcross gets the fire head. Qara the wind head, Darako gets the dark head, Neteri gets the entropy head, Erdus gets the water head, Lucas gets the lightning head, Faust gets the Earth head, and I get the Ice head."


    "First, you lock me in your soul to slowly siphon my life, and now you kill me? I should have allied with Fate instead of you!" The Ice head of the Okto-Khefali spoke angrily. The other heads roared as they tried to break away from the cage.


    "Don''t make meugh, Eugene! I know your true allegiance. We all did. That was why instead of sending you here, Destiny tricked you and sealed you! You, a True Neutral! Your people, your kind, have always been mounts and prisoners forced into war. That is why you were sealed in this ce and not given freedom! Wouldn''t we have fought against me if you had been freed? So die now! I now have the power to cut your thick skin! Be food to fuel me and my forces! Your body will be offered to strengthen all our Champions! My army shall return stronger than before!"


    Suddenly, the power of Soul Commander took over the received darkness, and a massive scythe formed. Wielding the scythe was an aspect of darkness. It had a dark cloak all over its body, and it was as if it was made with dark mist.


    The Okto-Khefali saw it and became afraid.


    "Impossible!" The Okto-Khefali roared. The truth was, although the Necromancer sealed it in its soul, the Okto-Khefali would not have died. But now, seeing the power and the Aspect of Darkness obeying themands of a mere Cardinal, Eugene knew he would die.


    "I hope that Nephilim cuts it off again, you eunuch!" The Okto-Khefali cursed as the massive scythe swung sideways.


    The scythe destroyed the cage and sliced off all of the heads of the Okto-Khefali.


    "Begin." Heralcus ordered, and Neteri began to start the chant.


    The powers gathered as the sentient tower also aided in the resurrection process.


    Qara and Darako looked in greed as the head of the Okto-Khefali moved closer to them.


    The power before them could easily give them a massive boost in energy.


    "I''ll y that Nephilim for killing my husband!" Qara raged as she reached for the head of the Okto-Khefali before her.


    Darako did the same, and the two devoured their severed head.


    "The Okto-Khefali will be used as the foundation for resurrecting them. And the races that are simr to their own will be added to the mix. They will be a new creation! And I call on my Corruption! By the power of Necros! [Somatos Ous Thanatou!]"


    The spell that Heralcus invoked was a spell that drew directly from the powers of Necros. The power used the strange energy called Death to create life.


    The concept of death itself was not an end but a beginning to switch to another. Just as with all forms and elements of the universe, nothing disappears and dies. All the elements only change. That which is burned turns to ash, which is living decay and dposes into something else.


    The grand spell of [Somatos Ous Thanatou] was a power that forced decay to stop and use that power to give a false life into something. The body of death would be formed, and the being rises not to live but to live as one who is dead.


    Using the power and the Corruption of Necros, which was the first to stay alive after death, the magic was amplified all the more.


    Pergos watched from atop. His figure emerged at the top of the tower. He was not just a static soul given over to defend the final fortress of Destiny, but he was a powerful elite in the forces of Destiny. He watched and praised the power that was deemed impossible by normal standards.


    "As expected of the genius among Cardinals. To have awakened his Corruption! Who would think that he would easily master Soul Commander? With such a spell, the power his armies shall not rise with half of their original power, but it will be doubled!" Pergos then aided Heralcus and bestowed the energy that Destiny had gifted them.


    "Let the day of Necrose! Let thisnd of the dead be filled with the power of death! Who shall save our enemies from the Body of Death? Let the will of Destiny happen! And let the forces of Fate be defeated! I decree through the power of Destiny, let the Nephilims end be at hand!" Pergos dered as the power flowed out of him and empowered Heralcus, who began the process of resurrecting and empowering his armies.


    The words of Pergos echoed out across the world of Middle. It was more than just some odd chants. It was a Word of Power spoken by Destiny''s envoy. His words had the power to make things so.


    As the power rippled, Kyros and Mechiel were lost in the world of wielding the Celestial Code. But then he sensed it.


    The meditation of the two stopped.


    Everyone who was a Fate Challenger felt it as well.


    Aron, Mezal, Branze, Diana, and Martha stopped from their respective training.


    Martha emerged from the Separated Realm, for even in that world, she felt it.


    The Coven stood up, and the Emberdons paused as they sensed it. Then, they all began to move into the center of the Temple. Many of those who have Fate Challenger felt a dreadful fear.


    "We... We are...?" Hunter moved and asked Kyros to confirm if he was feeling was true.


    "We are sure to die. Destiny has cursed us, and the workings are so strong that it''s clearly telling us that we will die. It''s not just you. We also have it. Don''t worry about it. It''s just Destiny taunting us." Aron sneered.


    "It''s more than that, brother. It''s not just a taunt. It feels like this is our reality.


    The power was so clear that it gave everyone a clear sensation of death. They knew that a curse was ced on them.


    "Oh? Is Destiny going all out? Do you feel it, guys? Whatever powers he used to arrange our demise and the traps he set, they are happening now. If we survive this, we get... roughly a year? No! Two years! Two years of no obstruction from Destiny!" Kyros stood up.


    "That''s a nice vacation." Mezal smiled.


    Most of the soldiers, the lizards, the skeletons, and the other races that had joined the alliance felt a weakening in their bodies.


    "My power is actually affected. This curse is weakening us and draining us of our might." Branze felt it.


    "This is probably a powerful curse. Destiny is going all out and wants to kill right here, right now." Kyros chuckled.


    "This curse is very difficult to counter. It will decrease our chances of victory by arge margin." Branze frowned.


    "I guess I have no choice. Fate is also prodding me to do that too."


    "Do what?" Branze asked.


    "Now I know why I was given such heavy curses and restrictions. It seems Fate was already training me to bear such heavyweights all my life so that when the real cursese, it won''t affect me. So, Cminus. Upload my Soul Console to the Temple. And I want you to radiate this power into the time-eleration magic you are using."


    "Oh? You mean you will use your soul to help them fight this?"


    "The curse summoned her is simr to [De-Might], [De-Magic] and [De-spacito].I''ve already broken them. I will now teach everyone how to break it." Kyros then channeled the power within him, and Heretic Teacher appeared.


    "Oh? A lesson from my son? This should be interesting." Branze smiled.


    "Everyone, listen up. It''s now time for me to deliver my first-ever lecture!"

 Chapter 302 - Decree Of Kyros

    Kyros gathered everyone outside on the outeryers of the Temple.


    "As you probably know, I have been sealed in this Temple and was freed just right before I met Uncle Aron. But what I didn''t tell was that I have several seals and curses like this."


    "Curses like this?"


    "Several?"


    The group who listened, particrly the Steele family, was surprised at this deration.


    "Yes. What you haven''t noticed is that this curse is quite cruel. It''s doing three specific curses. The first is that it limits Force and energy flow in your body. Basically, Force energy is heavier now. You should notice that it''s difficult to wield it."


    "Right." Branze nodded.


    "The second is that it also does the same thing to magic. So, Emberdons, it''s harder to maintain magic now, right?"


    "Yes. Since my body is sustained by magic, I can feel its effects." Demerus answered.


    "The third one is the most problematic. You haven''t noticed that the speed of your perception has decreased. By the looks of it, a staggering ten percent drop." Kyros exined.


    "What? Our perception?"


    "Observe." Kyros brought out his sword and dropped it on the ground.


    To the perception of everyone, the sword fell with an excessive speed. Some of the knights couldn''t tell the difference, but all with the strength of Champions saw it and were horrified. They knew that Kyros dropped the sword without performing any exaggerated disy of Force or magic. And yet the sword fell faster!


    "To summarize, you have three curses. [De-Might], [De-Magic] and [De-Spacito]."


    "[De-Spacito]? The original or the one with the Beaver guy?"


    "... Aunt Martha. Please control the Corruption of Cminus."


    "I... I''m sorry." Martha bowed in shame.


    SLASH!


    At the side, Branze tried to produce a powerful cut and could see that his force sh moved faster than he thought it would.


    "This is bad..." Branze frowned.


    "If my perception has decreased, it means studying, training, and even researching all about this will be greatly affected." Branze cursed.


    "Really? That''s your concern? Not the possible effects this can do to our fighting capabilities?" Diana shook her head.


    "Erm... That''s also a concern, my beautiful wife!"


    "This... is... awesome!" Aron, on the other hand, was very excited.


    "What?" Branze and Mezal turned curiously to Aron.


    "Kyros. So you mean to tell me you''ve had this curse all along?"


    "Well, all my life. I can''t go into the exact details, but I already had this curse even before I was sealed into the Temple. Well, it''s probably two times greater than this. So I thought all my life that this was reality and fought thinking that time passes this much and that I''m very slow."


    "What...?" Avary was amazed.


    "Monster..." Reptilia was horrified.


    "Amazing!" Mechiel was shocked.


    The Blood Cmity was secretly horrified as well.


    When shemuned with Kyros, she had already sensed the curses and couldn''t believe the restraints imposed on Kyros. But now, it was clear that these curses had already weakened as Kyros grew strong.


    "So this is why Kyros didn''t choose to level up and reach Champion level! He couldn''t! The curses would require him a massive amount of resources and energy to scale the levels to Champion! He is destroying the curses first!" The Blood Cmity understood.


    Aron continued to make more tests.


    "I''m so slow! It''s amazing!"


    "Why are you happy?" Branze was confused.


    "Training, brother! You heard it from Kyros! He had this all his life! That''s why he''s so fast! So he kept on adjusting to the speed that by the time the curse weakened, he had already be so fast!" Aron exined.


    "We know that one of Kyros''s strongest strengths is his speed that could even surpass Cardinals! So if we have this, we could train to be fast! We did weight training when we were young. Now, it''s a weight training of perception!" Aron eximed excitedly.


    "That is exactly what we will be doing." Kyros smiled.


    "The curse is actually a very evil one. We are weaker, have harder times maintaining our magic, and the speed of our thoughts has been affected. But the insidious part is that the speed is only decreased by a certain amount that I had to show you by dropping my sword for you to realize you were already affected by [De-Spacito]. But instead, I will be training you to think faster."


    "How?"


    Kyros closed his eyes, and his connection with Cminus became stronger. Finally, Cminus, the Temple, and Kyros synchronized their power.


    "[De-Spacito]!" Kyros shouted as the Time magic spell erupted.


    Everyone felt the slowing of time this time. The effects of two De-Spacitopounded each other, and they felt their perception turning sluggish.


    "I can''t move my body properly!" Gregory felt it.


    "There. My lecture will include a fun physical activity. Now you guys are slow to the point that you can actually see it. You will feel the slowness of your body as it will take several seconds for your body to react. And then, we will be ying dodge ball. You may use Magic or Force, but only to defend and increase the speed of your throw."


    A ball made of earth energy appeared on Kyros''s hands. And suddenly, Kyros threw it towards Aron.


    Aron quickly evaded the ball. But the curse of De-Spacito became apparent as he saw the speed of the ball moving faster. Kyros didn''t throw it randomly but threw it with the intentio0n of hitting Aron.


    SMASH!


    The ball struck Aron by his shoulder.


    "So this is my lecture. I will be teaching you how to evade these balls at such speed. And let''s make this a contest. Everyone will have zero points. If they manage to hit another, their points increase by one. If they get hit, they get a minus one."


    "Oh? A contest? What''s the prize?"


    "Well, since I don''t have to hide my identity as a Nephilim and the leader of this team, how about I issue a decree? Grandfather, will you allow me and grant me authority for this? I want full authority in this matter."


    "Sure. I will allow you to have whatever authority you need. It''s not like I have real authority over kingdoms right now." Mezalughed..


    "Great! I decree as the Nephilim and by the authority of the Steele family that the winner can wish for anything that is within my power or the Steele family to give!" Kyros dered.


    Everyone was astonished at the offer.


    "Lord Kyros! If that is what you offer, then I will take it! If I win, I want you to marry me!" Scarlet suddenly dered.. The power of Charm suddenly appeared.

 Chapter 303 - Decree To Follow

    The power of charm appeared, and it surprised many.


    "Woah... Since when was Scarlet this beautiful?" Avary could not help but exim.


    Mechiel was also shocked. She could fee a power simr to hers.


    "Impressive. You awakened the Charmed Fallen''s power... No. It''s different, but it''s also the same. What a weird power. I mustmend you, Scarlet."


    "But it''s still not enough to affect you, Lord Kyros."


    "Well, you don''t need to. I made a decree, and that decree will be followed. Alright. If you win, I''ll marry you." Kyros smiled.


    Scarlet trembled in excitement.


    Mechiel felt a strange, painful feeling in her chest.


    Scarlet nced at her and smiled.


    Mechiel couldn''t help but clench her fist as anger awakened.


    "Anyone else wants to speak out their request?" Kyros asked.


    "As promised by my decree, you can ask for anything.


    "Lord Kyros!" Grugnyr shouted.


    "If I win, I would like Reptilia to be my wife!"


    "WHAT?!" Gojirrah and Reptilia shouted.


    "Sounds good." Kyros nodded without hesitation.


    "Then I want Lord Branze''s to marry me! I''m ok with being the second wife!" Triona shouted.


    "In your dreams, you Skeleton Scum!" Diana raged.


    "And why are you blushing?!" Diana noticed Branze''s expression.


    "Lord Kyros will be mine!" Fayeughed.


    "Erm... Su-Sure. Why not?"


    "The Time Core Cminus!" Stellya gave her wish.


    "I guess I''ll take Myas." Avary sighed.


    "WHAT?!" Gregory shouted and tried to move to grab Avary by the cor.


    "I''m just going by the flow." Avary shrugged andughed.


    "Then I want to take part! If I win, I''ll go with an Emberdon sister!" Hunterughed.


    "I want Hunter!" A woman dered at the back.


    "Nice." Hunter smiled.


    "Me too!" A knight also dered.


    "....Thanks? I guess." Hunter scratched his head.


    "I want the Necromancer''s body!" Myas dered.


    "What the fragment?!" Cminus was horrified.


    "Sister?!" Martha shouted in great dismay.


    "N-no! That''s not what I meant! If we defeat the Necromancer, I want him to be a sacrifice to the Temple to increase my level!" Myas rified.


    "Oh?! That''s a great idea! I want the Skeleton Commander!" The Lowly Lich dered.


    "Reptilia!" The lizard Midgard dered.


    Grugnyr and Gojirrah gave the lizard a hateful look.


    "Hmm... A four Emberdon harem sounds nice." Mezal gave a greedy nce at the sisters.


    Faye frowned. Stellya ignored Mezal. Ressi winked at Mezal.


    "Grandfather!" Kyros gave Mezal a disappointing look.


    "Dad!" Branze and Aron cursed.


    "What? You gave that offer. Are you too scared to push through?" Mezalughed.


    "Whatever. Fine. Let''s do this!"


    "Son! Are you seriously going to allow all this?" Diana frowned. There were other women who were dered to have Branze as well.


    "We don''t know how long we have, so we have to hurry. The curse of [De-Spacito] can be resolved in a few ways. The easiest is to overload it. We increase your dexterity to the point that the curse will break. The curse is malicious because it affects everyone ording to a certain percentage. By my estimates, everyone would need to level up twice to eliminate the curse. So now, I am creating an opportunity to train and increase your dexterity. So I need you guys to be on your best while I train you and lecture you on how to increase your speed. Everyone can join. And everyone can make whatever requests they want. And it''s also possible for anyone will win. Imagine if someone like Aron has the high lead. If everyone focuses and aims to hit him, they may. It will drastically decrease his points to the negative numbers, and I will set a time limit. So who knows who will win?"


    Suddenly, more began to have a hopeful look as they were giving sketchy nces at either the Coven, the Steele Family, or Kyros himself.


    Kyros willed it, and various objects and trinkets appeared. Then, cups, rocks, wooden tes, and other objects stored in the Temple fell down on the space before them.


    "What are those?" Hunter asked.


    "Use whatever object you can find here. Each object has a different weight, which should diversify how you use it. Our enemies in the future may use this magic in the middle of the battlefield, so mastery of how you use your speed to generate strength is required. So this will prepare you in case that happens. I will also be creating dark balls and other elemental balls so that each object will have different weights. You have to master your control in the strength and speed you apply. This will be very confusing since you can feel your body moving with great dy. And the effects of [De-Spacito] will also change as I will increase or weaken it. It will make things slower and faster so that by the time this training is over, that stupid curse will either be broken since your dexterity points increased, or you would get used to the new speed that you can fight as effectively as before." Kyros smiled.


    "Let''s go!" Scarlet erupted and jumped to grab a small cup that fell on the ground and threw it towards Mechiel.


    "That brat!" The Blood Cmity raged and assisted Mechiel.


    "Follow my lead, brat! I''ll help you win this, for my honor is at stake!" The Blood Cmity roared. But what the Blood Cmity couldn''t understand was that she could feel great anger against Scarlet for no apparent reason.


    Gojojirrah dived to grab another and was faster than Grugnyr. Several rocks and small objects were thrown, and it contained Force.


    Simr scenes appeared as the Steele Family, and their wives began to fight.


    "Puff! Be my shield!" Martha ordered and made Puff appear before her as she aimed at Ressi.


    "In your dreams, you bone head!" Martha threw a cup, but a powerful magic field erupted and blocked the attack.


    "So you knew?" Ressi smiled.


    "You''ve been eyeing all of the Steele Family! You want a harem of men, don''t you?!" Martha cursed.


    "Why not?" Ressiughed.


    Magic and Force began to erupt around the area. Kyros had to step back.


    Cups, rocks, wooden nks, and all sorts of objects were being thrown around. Finally, a scoreboard appeared at the very top, and Cminus began to speak at a very fast pace.


    "And we''re off to a good start with Martha snipping out all the girls that want Aron. Her advantage as an archer really helps her here. Puff seems to be acting as a shield preventing anyone from attacking Martha from the back. Everyone else is still having a hard time picking up their objects. The difference in their perception of time is really affecting their aim. Oh! Look at that! Myas is also doing well and- OH SNAP! That was abo from the girls that Martha hated and who wanted to marry Aron! Puff has betrayed Martha, and the confused Martha is angry. Martha, Kyros told Puff that he had to join the game and he wish for his freedom. This is also Kyros''s order so you have to fight Puff. Oh! Another round! Martha is at negative fifteen!"


    Kyros watched as the group began to fight, and Cminus continued to give his ringsidementary.


    "Time to adjust the [De-Spacito] spell. I guess I should increase uncle''s slowness by another fold. And decrease the power to the rest... There... Perfectly bnced. As all things should be." Kyros smiled.


    In some cases, Kyros removed his spell on some of the weakest servants making everyone have a handicap that equalized the battle.


    Suddenly, Kyros moved towards the middle.


    "Hitting me is ten points! Taking a hit from me, minus ten points!" Kyros suddenly dered and joined in the fun.

 Chapter 304 - Decree To Begin The Tribulation

    Mysterious energy was being sent across many realms and many points in time. Destiny, who stood at the end of time, continued to send forth the energy from his time, and it sted through the realm and crossed time and space. From where time ends, the energy was sent to a ce where time continued.


    In the timeline where the Nephilim existed, the gods and fallen were alerted by the energy to see reaching theirnd. But this was ording to the intentions of Destiny. He knew that sending this energy would drain him and prevent him from battling the Nephilim and springing the traps he had set. And so, he made the power breach the known realms to add tension to the present time and force the gods and fallen to do his bidding.


    In the fast emptiness of space, a god journeyed and stood at the edges of their territory. A single step more, and he would be in the range of the Ancient God that watches over this space.


    On the other side of this Universe, Ancient God Bow Veiyos saw the figure and ignored him. Instead, she kept on looking for the strange power that broke into their world and vanished.


    Standing a step short of Bow Veiyos''s range, the Greater God led the great rebellion against the Ancient Gods, Rhykestorn Ever.


    "What power is this?" The Greater God Rhykestorn Ever could feel it trembling through time and space.


    "It''s not Cminus... It''s much stronger than that! It''s an energy and power thates from the future!"


    Suddenly, various figures appeared one after the other and stood next to him. Then, finally, a dark portal opened, and a being stepped out of the Heart of Darkness.


    The many Gods and Fallen had felt a strange power, and Fallen Lord Thanatos Kyriachos had emerged from his hiding space.


    "Lord Thanatos!" Rhykestorn bowed.


    "This energy... It''s strange. The power itself is so weak. It has no power to harm us gods but only change the life of mortals. But yet, the power to do this is in itself terrifying."


    "What is it? And where did it disappear to?"


    "We don''t know. But from what I can tell, it''s a power that could move through time. Unfortunately, it seems that our battle against the Ancients has brought in more trouble. So it''s timely that when Cminus turned back time, we are seeing this power that moves back from the future."


    "Is that even possible? No other god or fallen has had the ability to exist in multiple timelines!"


    "Do you think we are the gods and fallen of this world?" Thanatos asked.


    "What do you mean, Lord Thanatos?"


    "Our existence and our memory have been wiped out. Our actions are only the effect of powers that we cannot see. Those that are gods over us are ordering us to fight their battles, and we don''t even know. My memory from the Separated One tells me this. There are more gods and beings just like the Separated One, but they simply refuse to show themselves."


    Rhykestorn was amazed at Lord Thanatos''s revtion.


    "I have kept this for myself. But this could not be a good sign. We have to start wars all over thisnd! We need to hurry and usher in a war that will birth more warriors for our faction. I give out the decree to begin the tribtions! All the Fallens and Gods to started great wars in alls and cosmic bodies." Thanatos ordered and then vanished.


    "As you will." Rhykestorn bowed as Thanatos vanished.


    "You heard what Lord Thanatosmanded. So go! And someone tells Sheolrah to unseal more of those Eldrich since she is near that dark!" Rhykestorn added.


    As the gods and fallens moved, the mysterious energy that appeared and vanished had already made way to the fortress of Destiny that was erected in the Crossroads headed towards Middle.


    The surge of power was harnessed by Pergos, and the act of resurrecting the fallen Commanders began.


    The curses and blessings of Destiny echoed out as Pergos released it into the Crossroads and towards the Middle world.


    Heralcus sneered as he saw the curses.


    "My Lord Destiny is truly generous! Those curses are hard to ovee! They would need to raise their levels several times to get that result! Those Champions and their experts will take even longer!" Heralcusughed and concentrated on resurrecting the fallen.


    "Neteri! We have to hurry! The faster we finish this, the better! We need Pergos to open the gate as early as possible! I dare not underestimate the Nephilim. One day maybe enough for him to ovee the curses of Destiny. Fate seemed to have abandoned the Nephilim and had not tried to counter Destiny''s n! This means Fate is preparing for the future battles once the Nephilim fails!"


    Neteri nodded.


    "Share Soul Commander with me. I''ll give you have of the souls."


    "I am honored!" Neteri was amazed. Half of this powerful artifact would be bestowed on her! This revealed how dedicated the Heralcus was.


    Qara watched nearby and smiled. She had already finished assimting with the Wind head, and the Deviant Wind Core of the Okto-Khefali was already within her.


    "Will the Nephilim still have a chance?" Qara smiled as she felt the power erupting within her.


    "Impossible. We will attack tomorrow. What can they learn in two and a half days? Our power has risen, and we are several levels stronger than we were before. And that curse... oh, that malicious curse. Lord Destiny has sent three specific curses. Those curses assure our enemies will not be used to their bodies! Imagine perceiving things slower. Imagine harnessing a smaller percentage of Force Energy than what you are used to. Imagine the same for magic! Those mages will be useless, and those Sword Experts will only be food for us!"


    "So that''s the curse? I have gotten several times faster, and that whelp of a dragon has gotten slower? I will make her suffer!" Qara vowed.


    Inside the Temple, in the Middle World...


    SMASH!


    An earth ball struck Gojirrah at the center of his chest and sent him flying back.


    His score had quickly dropped, and several of those who had already thrown their objectsnded on Gojirrah, and it brought Gojirrah''s score back to zero.


    CRASH!


    On the other side, a heated battle between Branze, Aron, and Mezal was taking ce. Several other battles were urring, but the fight continued.


    Those who wanted Reptilia as their wives had very high negative numbers. This was because many others had joined in on the fight.


    Apart from the Emberdons, no one dared to yearn for any of the Steele family or the Steele Family wives as they would see the threatening eyes of the rest. And so, the mostmon target that the poption set their eyes on was either Kyros himself, Reptilia, Hunter, and the human Emberdons.


    But most of the men aimed for Reptilia, so those who had great progress were bullied with abined attack.


    Kyros also even allowed some blows to hit him to increase the negative points of the rest. But if it was the Coven, his family, or anyone else who was a powerhouse, he would evade.


    Gojiraah managed to work his way up back to zero and quickly scored ten points but was struck by Kyros.


    It had been four hours since they started, and the Temple was slowly healing them of their stamina and adding more vigor for the entire game round.


    The game had been going on for the past two hours, but Kyros''s arrangements, actions, and control of [De-Spacito] resulted in everyone''s score being either on the negative points or at zero.


    Finally, the time limit was reached.


    "Time''s up!" Cminus announced, and the power of [De-Spacito] ended.


    "Stop!" Kyros activated Holy Beam, and the Temple shed with a great light.


    Everyone was startled, and the chaos stopped.


    All the scattered objects were suddenly sent back into the Temple Storage Space.


    "Alright. This will be the end of this session. We will have another game tomorrow. So everyone, rest up! Oh. And I forbid anyone to fight each other about the conflicting desires. This is also part of your training. Remember, we have a subus among us and is one of Destiny''s strongest champions, so it will soone to the point that the hatred and conflicting desires you have with each other will be used against each other. Part of being a Steele Family is learning how to endure. So return each to do your training. But be warned. I may dere the game once more, and the first hits that each will make or take will be worth a hundred points." Kyros instructed.


    The eyes of everyone became cautious as they red at each other.


    "I will announce it anytime I feel like it. So be ready to fight." Kyros smiled and walked back.


    "Amazing... You actually made a lot of progress in the first session!" After that, Cminusmunicated secretly to Kyros.


    "You are teaching them how to do [Pronto]!"

 Chapter 305 - Decree Of Blessing

    The curse that Destiny sent in connection to the energy was a malevolent curse that could easily mean the destruction of an army. By allmon sense, the addition of the curse [De-Spacito] alone would have meant sure demise.


    Destiny had once more believed he overestimated the strength of Kyros and the ability to ovee the curse, much less teach it to the forces.


    And yet, Kyros had done the impossible.


    The power of Pronto was one of Kyros''s amazing skills developed naturally since his perception has always been slower. The curses and seals that were ced on Kyros by Fate were meant for asions such as this.


    And so, the impossible urred. However, the steps to recovery had already started. Unknown to many, they were already using Pronto, and most of them had recovered from it.


    Dexterity naturally increases as a person level''s up. So at each level increase, the person grows faster, not just physically, but their perception also increases to a certain point. But to tap on the full strength of this speed required training. But the problem is that a normal person slowly increases in their Dexterity that they wouldn''t be able to identify just how fast they got. They would only see it when pressed in a fight, as their brains would naturally revert to a ''normal'' speed.


    Kyros used his powers to forcibly distort the perception of everyone to the point that many couldn''t even tell what the normal speed of their perception was. The contest forced everyone to maintain their Dexterity and brought their perception to the fastest possible speed that their brains could do.


    And the result was that even when they were not fighting, the distortion of perception for two full hours made them have a more precise grasp of their speed.


    "Destiny decreed a curse of death upon us, but this turned out to be a decree of blessings!" Kyrosughed.


    "Don''t be so cocky, Kyros. You just figured out one of the three curses. Remember, you''ve had De-Might and De-Magic for so long, but you haven''t cured it!"


    "I didn''t have the time. But don''t you see? These decrees of Destiny will only assure us of our victory!" Kyros turned to Mechiel and paid no concern over the remaining curses.


    "Mechiel. Let''s continue with our previous meditation. Understanding the Celestial Code is our objective." Kyros then moved to pull Mechiel out of the crowd.


    The group began to disperse, and many began to move and meet their teams for training.


    "That was fun!" Avaryughed.


    Gregory was exhausted. Many young warriors secretly had their eye for Myas.


    "But... I don''t get it? We have at least a week of free time left. Will this training really help us?" Gregory asked.


    "It''s working." Martha appeared next to them,


    "Lady Martha? You really think so?" Hunter asked.


    "Was I speaking too fast?"


    "No." Avary, Gregory, and Hunter answered,


    "Then it''s working. I spoke fast, and you couldn''t tell." Martha chuckled.


    "Re-Really?" Gregory was amazed.


    "Yes. You can''t tell because your dexterity points aren''t that high, to begin with. As for me, my Dexterity stat is one of my focuses. So I can clearly feel its effects. This is a vicious curse. If Lord Kyros hadn''t done what he did, you would see the terror of this curse only during actualbat. Imagine being in the middle of a battle, and you shot your arrow or shed your sword, and those attacks would fall short because your estimates of when your enemy would be in the position you aim your strike to be are wrong."


    "Scary... So that''s why Destiny didn''t drastically decrease it!"


    "Kyros used a lot of means to achieve it. When we were ying that game, he also kept talking, remember?"


    "Yes. He kept telling us how to react, and so on."


    "You didn''t notice that he was synchronizing the real-time from our perception even further. He was using Heretic Teacher by talking and redefining the speed of how we should be thinking. Right now, our minds are alert and in a state of caution because of his words. We are actually thinking a bit faster than what we usually do."


    "We are?"


    "Yes. We have thoughts as if we are in the middle of the battle. You know how it is that when we are fighting, time is slower. We be aware of every second and act ordingly. And Kyros has made this arrangement so we would all assume this vignce, even right now!" Martha then gave a heated re on some of the women who voiced their desire for Aron.


    It wasn''t just Martha. Everyone was in a constant state of wariness, caution, and alertness, which pushed their minds to maintain the speed of their perception that they had in the games earlier. Even Gregory was secretly watching Avary.


    "Kyros is using that, and he is adding a small faintyer of his power to increase the speed of our thoughts. This helps us keep the momentum of this speed. And I have a feeling that we can maintain this state much longer if we hone our Paths of Combat."


    "Amazing..." Avary marveled at Kyros''s preparations.


    "The effects of this curse could even be to our advantage! But we can''t put all the work to Lord Kyros. So I think it''s time for you to train in the Path of Steele. That [De-Might] won''t heal itself, after all."


    "You want to resolve [De-Might] on our own?"


    "Lord Kyros never intended to fix all the curses by himself. Well, actually, he doesn''t need to. He just needs to fix our problem with time. Leave magic to the Emeberdons. If anyone can figure out how to overload the [De-Magic] curse, it would be them. And as for Force, my husband is on it." Martha smiled.


    "Lord Aron? He can fix this?"


    "Yes. Brother-inw and Father-in-Law seemed to have expected this, and the two were preparing for it and doing their own study. But what we need to do, is learn the basics of the Code called True Cut. The Library of Light has books that detail this. We have to start now to teach others how to use it. It could be necessary if we want everyone to ovee [De-Might]!"


    On the far end of the Temple, Aron secluded himself. Despite the alert, everyone could see Aron''s serious expression and enlightened eyes.


    The activity earlier pitted him against Kyros, and it was the few opportunities he had to challenge his nephew. He utterly lost, but in the constant use of his Force, the bindings that held him gave him an even greater understanding of the limitations of Force.


    "This curse... allows me to feel what most people feel. Father said I have a talent and a constitution that allows me to wield Force energy in a more refined and... sharp form. It was as if my Force was naturally a sword itself. But now, I feel a great weight that pulls my Force energy down. This curse has also allowed me to sense a dulling power." Aron continued to harness his Force energy. He had the strongest Force Energy, and his body could naturally carry and use it in a way that would be three times more refined than the average knight. And since the curse would rob a person of a percentage, the effects were very much visible to Aron.


    "This is perfect. I was a genius who never understood the problems of normal humans. This is why my brother was always better at teaching and molding others since my state as a prodigy hindered me. But now, I can rte to them!" Aron smiled.


    The Force Energy in his body began to move wildly. It coursed through every muscle and vein of his body, trying to see where the ripple of Force would pass through and be hindered.


    Soon, he could see the parts of the body that somehow blocked the flow of Force energy.


    "I see it... These could be those Eight Gates of Energy I read in that other book. The curse has even helped me find where my Force Energyes from! I couldn''t feel it earlier since my body had a nearly perfect body constitution, and my Force energy would only flow out easily. Still, now the curse is making this body of mine feel the bottlenecks and identify the locations of these bottlenecks! It seems this curse will help me and everyone attain knowledge that only the Library of the Nephilim teaches us once it reaches level 2 or higher!"


    The basic books on Force Energy had revolutionized their understanding of Force. The knowledge was so great that once everyonepletes their training in it, it could increase everyone''s strength and vitality by at least twenty points! This would make it possible for everyone to have a Commander''s potential!


    But the Eight Gates of Energy were barely discussed. Only a general description of it and what it does were mentioned, and training on how to activate it was also avable. The Steele Family had already known how to activate one of the gates through their [Last Stand] skill. But this was a skill that would kill them after use.


    But now, Aron could see where it was.


    "I wonder... Are these Eight Gates of Energy the same for the rest? No. If it was, then it should be avable in our books. But since it requires a higher level of the Library of the Nephilim, then everybody should have deviations as to where this is! Oh well. Finding the Eight Gates of Energy won''t be my problem anyway! I''m sure my brother can find them and create a way for the others to look for them. I just have to focus on how to activate these gates...." Aron fell into a deep state of meditation.

 Chapter 306 - Decree Of Destiny

    As Aron was concentrating, the Emberdons were now back to their research.


    "The curse seems to be increasing the blockages that block the movement of magic from our brain..." Faye assessed.


    "In our case, since we sacrificed our flesh to create a pseudo-elemental core in our bones, it''s more difficult to search out where the decrease urs."


    "Then what''s themon denominator? Both of us have different forms, and yet the curse seems to be affecting us in a simr way."


    "It could be the soul. After all, while magic is the work of the mind, from where do we get that power now that we don''t have a brain? We have to redefine our understanding of what these books say about ''mind.''" Triona guessed.


    "This other book, Sources of Power, seemed to be referring to mind as Spirit. It talks about the three forms of power. The power of the Body is clearly Force energy. With our current forms as Liches, I am guessing that the spell we did change our body to empower the source of our Magic. But what would it be now that we don''t have a mind?" Demerus pointed out.


    Faye and Stellya realized this fact and were confused.


    "But do you still harness your energy into your head?" Stellya asked.


    "No. The magic swirls all around us. If we are going with brother Demerus''s ims, it''s no longer our brain that holds power."


    "If I may, Lord Emberdons." The Lowly lich stepped forth.


    "I, Devian, am inferior and is not worth mentioning before your great wisdom, much more with the power of Lord Nephilim. But our kingdom has a deeper knowledge as to how the skeleton, or that spell you identally used, happened. The bindings that you have are not to purge the body and attach it to a body. The process of bing skeletons burn every bit of your body, including the bones."


    "Including the bones?!" The three Emberdons eximed.


    "Yes. That is what I heard. But sadly, it''s only up to here that I can help you."


    "Devian! You have done well! Everyone, feel free to speak your ideas!" Demerus urged.


    "If that is true, then I''m guessing that the form of power responsible for turning whatever Force Energy we have into a pseudo Magic form should be our soul! After all, even the Liches and Skeletons imply this! Without a body, what is making these bones? Could it be, the soul?" Ressi asked.


    "Perhaps our mind is the third form of power. Spirit! Our body is bone. This form of bones we have is a manifestation both of soul and spirit!"


    "Spirit as Mind energy... It does make sense. I couldn''t understand it at first, but what if we are still able to think as we can even though we don''t have a brain because the [Over Mana] spell sacrificed body to strengthen Spirit. If our brain was the body part that contained Spirit, and right now we have no brain, then it means Spirit has taken form through the help of our Soul." Demerus muttered.


    "It would exin the strange hardness of these bones. If these bones are not our original bones, but a physical manifestation of our soul and spirit itself, then is it possible to change the forms of our skeletons!" Triona spoke again.


    "That''s possible! We could rebuild our body and resume human form again, but not be made of the body! Then we will work with this framework in mind. Lord Kyros is now wielding the energy once again! And as you have seen, Lord Kyros has been able to bring out the elements beyond his body. He could be using his soul!" Demerus realized.


    At that point, Kyros smiled and opened his eyes.


    "Now that you mention it, I do have a power called [Soul Over Mana]." Kyros revealed.


    "This is how I am able to wield my Force energy as Magic and Magic as Force. Maybe that is why the seal I was and am bound with seals Force, Magic, and even my Soul. This could also be the reason why I have an easier path in wielding the different elements!"


    "So this could be the right Path!" Demerus shouted excitedly.


    "Now I understand why I could tell the [De-Magic] curse is weaker on us than on Faye! It''s because our magic is using both Spirit and Soul!"


    "Then we canpare both our data. We don''t have the soul. You have it. If we can simplify the process and teach everyone how to link the Spirit and the Soul, we would somehow be stronger as magic wielders! You have the soul and can teach us how to wield both soul and body. Once you teach us that..." Stellya began to explore the possibilities.


    "We can teach the rest how tobine both Soul and Magic!"


    "That''s an interesting theory. I am unlearned in the theories of magic. I am using Soul and Force as Magic. But if you do that, then I can learn how to use Force and Soul to empower Magic!" Kyros smiled.


    "Father. This means that the soul can also empower Force if we learn how tobine it. Our path as Force Pdin has already started that." Branze spoke to his father.


    "Yes. I believe this will also benefit us. I have already made progress in this, but if we explore it alongside the Emberdons, we could find a way to merge Force, Soul, and Spirit just like Kyros can. We are descendants of a god, after all. We should be capable of that!" Mezal smiled.


    "Interesting! Lord Mezal''s insights in the soul with his power and training from a shaman will definitely help!" Faye praised.


    "We''ll let''s get this party started, then. First, I''ll help you analyze how tobine soul and magic. My experience in theories in Force should have at least amon ground." Mezal then began to reveal his Force Pdin energy which incorporated Holy.


    "Of course! The way of the Force Pdin should help foster the foundation of how to merge things to the soul! The only difference is the energy source, but merging it to the soul should be simr!"


    "Interesting..." Demerus was watching the Force Pdin energy.


    "Look at it! It''s increasing the Force energy! If we understand how to control mana with our soul, then even with the [De-Magic] curse, we should be able to release a power greater than before!" Stellya eximed.


    "Not only that, we could understand the Code that Lord Kyros is releasing! This surely involves the soul! Maybe that''s why we can''t understand it!" Faye added.


    "It seems we have our specific fields of study then. Brother is already doing something amazing." Branze observed that the wind around Aron was actually moving as the Force energy he was showing was slowly growing stronger and stronger.


    As Kyros and the group had found their inspiration, they began to work. Hours passed, and another round of the same contest urred. And soon, a whole day passed with this cycle of work and the game with only a few hours of sleep happening in between.


    As the day passed, another five hours passed in the real world. The armies of Destiny had finallypleted their resurrection spell.


    Eredus awakened and roared angrily.


    "That damned swordsman!" Eredus shouted as his memories returned.


    The Crab Commander Shellcross was the next to arise.


    "I''ll kill them!" He shouted as he began to transform into his gigantic crab form.


    The Grendelor Lucas and the Skeleton Faust awakened at the same time.


    "This power!" Faust eximed as he sensed the great elements surging around him.


    "Arise, my Commanders! The Decree of Destiny has pronounced death on our enemies and new life on ourselves! Arise now, stronger than you were, and we shall conquer!" Heralcus dered.


    "Each of your battles against them was near victories if not for the ambushes and tricks of the Nephilim! But now they are cursed, and we are blessed! Prepare the army! We shall conquer now!"


    The fallen Champions also woke up.


    Some of the mightier Champions woke up, sensing overwhelming energy.


    The newly resurrected Commanders now had a Crown''s potential! Most of them had High Cardinal potentials, and only Pyrestarter, the dragon Commander, had the greatest potential. But now, they all had the same power.


    "Let''s kill him!" Shellcross raged as he recalled his embarrassing defeat. He had lost against the cunning of Kyros and his team.


    "Patience, Shellcross. We have already lost Pyrestarter forever. We will be attacking them in the Crossroads, so a simple mistake could lead to more losses. We wait. Pergos shall tear a rip in space that will allow us to attack the Temple. Ready the armies. I want all mages to aid in Pergos. Once we open the ripple, weunch our attacks!"


    "Yes, Cardinal!" All the Commanders chorused.


    Pergos watched as the army was revived. The power that resurrected army of Heralcus had was nearly double the strength of the original army.


    "Victory is sure!" Heralcus called out to Pergos.


    "So it seems.. I shall start tearing the void. In a day''s time, we shall report the news of our victory to Lord Destiny! May his decree be a reality!"

 Chapter 307 - Decree Of Necros

    Pergo and the minions of Destiny made their n and prepared for the grand attack that would utterly decimate the forces of the Nephilim.


    The odds were stacked against the Nephilim and his team. Heralcus had revived his army. Although the division of Pyrestarter was lost as their souls were destroyed in the Crossroads, the total strength of the revived army was still twice stronger than it was before.


    More Champions were born, and some of the Champions became Commanders!


    The Commanders had received greater power that allowed them to have a stat increase of over a hundred stat pointspared to themanders of the Lond kingdoms! The original Commanders were now Crown Potential.


    The Cardinal had also received a tremendous boost by devouring the main head of the Okto-Khefali. He finally reached the potential that only High Crowns would.


    Heralcus received tremendous blessings that his magic and force were stronger than ever. Around him were massive ice creatures that continued to stand guard.


    Through the souls that Heraclus had, he imbued it and stitched the souls of the various souls into the body of the Okto-Khefali. While the head contained the power and might, the body contained tremendous vitality.


    Heralcus had several massive souls, which he would summon to make his attacks. It was these same souls that attacked Kyros. These required massive mana to manifest and make attacks. But now, Heralcus had the right base material, which was more than worthy to act as hosts of these souls.


    Heralcus, being a Necromancer, not only knew how to revive and add life to the dead, he could create monsters on his own and add life to it.


    Using the main body of the Okto-Khefali, Heralcus managed to craft a creature. Even though he was just a Cardinal, Heralcus had the working knowledge that only Crowns and Conquerors had! And so, with the Decree of Destiny that rippled from the future, he easily created a creature that could constantly carry all the souls he had.


    It was a hydra. The hydra had four heads, each bearing one of the strongest souls that Heralcus had. This would allow Heralcus to have these beings to his side constantly. Since these beings had a body, they had already found means to grow stronger in the dark.


    The Shade Lord was vital in these ns. As the entire army consisted of Dark Dependent beings, the Shade Lord would constantly feed on the pain and misery of the souls. This, in turn, allowed him to create energy.


    The essence of Destiny allowed the Shade Lord to grow and receive tortured souls which he would feed upon.


    And so, the power of the Shade Lord was now sufficient to fuel the entire army.


    Pergos had begun to open the rip, and after a day and half a day, he was finally ready to open thest part of the void and send the armies inside.


    "Thest wall is present. If I destroy that, the door to the Temple will open.


    "We will not waste any time. That Nephilim has shown miracles that surpass logic. Although it is impossible, I will fight him in the most cautious ways possible. We have strong forces, but who knows what lies he will spout to make my men fight among each other? I will break that wall. Then, together with my Commanders, we will release a massive attack and destroy everything on the other side!" Heralcus decided.


    "You spoke of a power that invoked the Code of Greater God Astra? Then so be it. They should have a strong defensive spell!"


    "Yes. So our first attack will be an attack simr to theary Bombardment spells of Cherubims and Celestials! We will fuse all our power together and make that attack! It should have the power equal to Conquerors! Once performed, I will activate my Corruption and use the Decree of Necros to revitalize our energy and lead the attack immediately!"


    "An impressive n! I cannot think of a way of how the Nephilim will resist such abination of attack!"


    "I won''t leave it to chance. The Nephilim taunted me and risked his life to lure me into that ce. Whatever traps he made should be enough to kill a Cardinal! And I won''t give him the chance to activate it! The Temple may have the power to resist the attack. But an all-out attack from my team will at mostpromise the strong defenses. And even before they can use whatever tricks to recover, we will charge in with all our forces! Not a second will be wasted!"


    "Good! Then begin your attack! Destiny''s praise awaits!" Pergos smiled.


    The army of Heralcus gathered. With his mighty summon that would equal a Cardinal spell caster, he stood ready.


    His original Commanders stood next to him¡ªall stronger than ever. Three new Commanders stood next to them.


    A vampire, a Giant, and a skeleton stood in the ranks. The army stood behind them.


    "Army of Heralcus! The battle of Middle begins with us! Our victory will resound across time and will be the sure foundation for the victory of Lord Destiny and Lord End! Every beginning must have an end! Let us shatter the rebellion of Fate and Beginning! Let Wisdom end! Let Love End! Let powers end! And let us be the End of things and attain Eternity!" Heralcus dered.


    A massive roar urred as the minions of Destiny uttered praises each in their tongues.


    A ck orb appeared at the top.


    Heralcus was the first to chant. And then Neteri the Shaman, then Eredus the Vampire, and then Faust, who was now a Lich Commander.


    The power of the ck orb grew stronger and stronger.


    The Shade Lord took action and drew out his power within all the minions of Destiny.


    Soon, the power of Qara, of Lucas the Grendelor, of Shellcross the Crab Commander, and the other Commanders, Champions, Captains, and the rest of the army was drawn out.


    A tremendous power that even the Minds would fear have appeared.


    Only Conquerors could wield such magic!


    The wielding and harnessing of the spell continued, and an hour had passed. And finally, Heralcus moved towards the massive dark spell.


    "Such a beautiful magic!" He praised as he touched it.


    The massive darkness responded to him as he wielded it. And slowly, the dark ball began to move.


    Heralcus carried the darkness and threw it towards thest wall that would rip the space and create a way into the Temple of the Nephilim.


    BOOM!


    Thest spatial wall was broken, and the attack exploded on the other side of the Cross Roads.


    "Go!" Heralcus shouted, and even as a miniature ck hole erupted on the other side, the army charged in.


    "By the Decree of Necros! I call on the Corruption! [Somatos Ous Thanatou]! Give life to that which has ended that they may live for Eternity!"


    The heaven-defying power that instantly refueled the energy of an entire army consisting of ranks up to Cardinal level urred.


    Thest bits of the energy that Destiny sent were used up, and the forces of Heralcus were once more back at their prime.


    They roared and charged through the rip in space and entered the darknd on the other side of the Crossroad.


    As they emerged on the other side, their shouts of courage and power ended.


    For all of them, from least to the greatest, all saw nothing.


    "Wha-what?!" Heralcus froze.

 Chapter 308 - Decree Of The Deceiver

    There was nothing on the other side. Emptiness stood up on the floating ind. All but the void remained as the dust settled.


    "My... my lord!" Neteri hesitated to speak. The amount of energy to create a path in the Crossroads and to recover magic and force to an entire army through [Somatos Ous Thanatou] was an amount of energy that no Cardinal could ever dream of wielding. Yet they did that through Destiny. And that attack... was useless?


    And yet, there was nothing on this site.


    "They... aren''t here?" Shellcross asked.


    "No! It''s a trick! They must be using stealth magic! Remember my fight against that Sword Expert! He could disappear among my minions! What if the Temple that we saw and that had vanished can hide!"


    "Then start shooting out an attack! But, first, we have to see if they are here!" Heralcus ordered immediately, and the groupunched magic and force attacks.


    Siege Cultivators appeared and used their massive skill. Theyunched attacks that could equal the power of Commanders.


    This was a force to be feared and could even threaten minor forts in the Hignds of the nesworld.


    The attacksnded on the floating ind that stood in the middle of the darkness, and explosions rang out around it.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    But the sight of their attacks moving and exploding without hitting any invisible fortress caused Heralcus to feel great pain in his heart.


    "Wait! What if they are dead! Thatnd is soil that has massive densities, probably created by a god or fallen! Only they can destroy such soil! But what about the Temple? We created a massive attack that was several times more powerful than what they can take and were all incinerated by the attack!" Darako dered.


    "So they are... dead?" Lucas asked.


    "I doubt it! I don''t see souls in this ce! If they were, I would at least sense something!" Neteri frowned.


    "What if they hid under the soil? They must have dug out and created an underground fortress inside." Eredus guessed.


    "Go see if you can dig down the soil." Heralcus ordered.


    Several minions were sent down, and they began to strike their pickaxes to the ground.


    CLANG! CLANG!


    The pickaxes buzzed and trembled as it struck solid rock faintly buried underneath the soil.


    "It''s not working." Faust was grinding his jaw that those nearby could hear it.


    "Heralcus. Send some of you men down. I wish to speak to you." Pergo''s voice echoed from the portal behind him.


    Heralcus trembled in rage and slowly moved to the back.


    "Move out."


    "My Lord, we are using that exit to move out?"


    "Yes! Lord Pergos is correct. The Nephilim will not expect to send our forces directly here regardless of our failed venture. They might be watching from the outside. Divide yourselves and have some stay here. The rest will use the original exit as a diversion. We need to find the location of their base!" Heralcus stormed off towards the spatial rift.


    Heralcus moved and stood before the massive tower.


    "It seems you have failed Lord Destiny greatly," Pergos spoke.


    Heralcus didn''t answer.


    "I did not call you here to chastise you. After all, I should have questioned intently your belief that the Nephilim''s Temple has positioned itself here! Your failure is also because of my negligence. I called you here to inform you of my theory. Why did you believe the lies of the Nephilim? And why did you not send out scouts?"


    "... The Nephilim went to great efforts to lure me into that portal. He was trying to get me to go there. He has already used the power of Tyrannus to taunt me. I... Believed that there was a trap set."


    "Why did you believe that?" Pergos asked again.


    Heralcus raised an eyebrow.


    "Lord Pergos. I know I am... an idiot in believing that..." Heralcus trembled as he said, idiot.


    "I didn''t say that. That is not my implication. How can you, a descendant of Lord Necros, believe a lie? Life after death, the power to bring back the dead, the very essence of [Somatos Ous Thanatou] is born from a lie! In short, you should have a higher resistance in determining if an enemy is lying to you! And yet, he managed to deceive you!" Pergos questioned.


    It was then that Heralcus realized it.


    "That...That''s right!"


    "See? You couldn''t even tell that being susceptible to a lie is practically impossible for someone to do under Cardinal level! And yet, you were deceived!"


    "What does this mean, Lord Pergos?"


    "Answer me. True or False. Every Beginning has an End."


    "True."


    "Exactly. Now think about this... Our enemies are an alliance of all the Gods and Fallen that Beginning either recruited, bribed, or forced to work under his army. So if he wants to achieve Eternity and put an end to End, he will need the Fallen or God who created lies! Because he needs to twist that truth!"


    "What?! But are not the fallen lords of lies on our side?"


    "It is for the sake of aplishing many hindrances that prevent Fate to see the End! But think about this! We do not remember the Beings that Were that aids our armies. And this will doubly be true for those on Beginning''s side. Therefore, the reason why you believed his lies has to do with greater power at hand! You used [Guage] on him, correct? What true name does he have?"


    "Cracky Batcheeks, The Naked Offender. Oh...! The name! He could hide the name from me!" It was only then that Heralcus realized how many lies he believed.


    "It seems my theory is true. You are dealing with someone who has the Corruption of the very Fallen or God who made the first lie in the universe! And since his power is so innate, he must be a direct descendant of this Fallen or God! So while he may carry titles bestowed on him by Soter, Kyriachos, and Tyrannus, his real bloodline that cannot be revealed now, is from the one who decreed the first lie!"


    "That''s why he fooled me! He wields the power of the deceiver!" Heralcus crushed his fist.


    "Now you know this! Go! Do not waste the remaining energy! You still have an army!"


    "Yes!" Heralcus frowned and moved towards the entrance headed towards Middle.


    "It would be suspicious if my army does not appear without me! If he has the power of lies, he can also tell lies! But I must appear in the forces that march out to Middle!"


    And so, the army was divided. Half of the army continued to march into the Crossroads where the Temple of the Nephilim originally was situated, and the other half marched out of the massive pathing out of the Life and Death Containing Field leading to Middle.


    But as the forces marched out, little did they know that upon releasing the massive attack, a young Feather Folk stood before the portal. He was one of the fighters in the surviving settlements that Kyros recruited. He saw the massive attack and jumped into the portal leading back to Middle.


    He waited for a few seconds, and there was great fear in his heart. But this was his mission. Kyros''s shadows could not be controlled as their link would disappear if it went inside the portal. None of the strongest fighters had the luxury of staying hours on this ce as they still had the training to do.


    He took a deep breath and pushed his head into the portal, and soon saw the armies moving down.


    He immediately flew up high and gave the signal, which was seen by another feather folk on some distance.


    The message was passed on until it quickly reached the Temple grounds in less than a minute.


    "Let''s do this.." Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 309 - Decree Of The Stars

    A few days inside the elerated time of the Temple grounds...


    Most of the training being made was now scheduled as the group had already established a routine rotation of tasks and activities, which maximized the growth of everyone.


    The current activity was the daily hub where every group reported their achievements and would discuss possible ways how each of everyone learning could aid the rest of the party. Each group had a specific field they emphasized and the constant experiments of trying to improve the power of their strongest attacks and how to simplify it.


    The discussion on that day was how to create an efficient, low-cost version of the [Supernova st], which could be deployed.


    "So in conclusion, the current [Supernova st] isrgely inefficient. We used up a huge amount of energy when we could have achieved the same massive attack in a smaller degree of energy. Unless we are facing arge shield that requires a massive beam of power that will prate the shield, any bombardment-like attacks should do in this battle." Demerus reported.


    "Exactly. We can create a Siege Cultivator-like attack by harnessing [Supernova st]. Especially since Lord Kyros''s mastery over the Celestial Code has reached a high-level stage."


    "Oh, I wouldn''t be so modest. The Blood Cmity helped. At least, around ten or so percent." Kyros chuckled.


    The Blood Cmity was enraged as Mechiel wasughing. The more they practiced, the more horrified she was at how Kyros knew what to do and how to handle the elements!


    "In any case, this presentation is very impressive. As expected of the lost descendants of Astra! And the use of the power in the most efficient means possible is also a good n! That way, we can make more of those attacks! We did go a little overboard back then, and Destiny had to use his powers to block that. But normally, we won''t face such terrifying defenses. We do not have the power to wield a real star like Astra. What we can do, is create a smaller version."


    "So, like a shooting star?"


    "Nothing so beautiful and harmless. I''m talking about a meteor." Kyros smiled.


    "Compress the energy into a miniature star, and since we can make a pseudo-Brimstone element, it should be easier for us to create the core of this star without creating the tremendous conflux of elements that makes up an entire star."


    The Emberdons all lit up in amazement at the wisdom.


    "Of course! It will be much more efficient that way!"


    And so, the ns were made to harness a massive attack that would imitate aary Bombardment.


    Back in the current time, the Feather Folk who had moved out of the portal had sent the message, which was passed on and word of the marching army got to the Temple quickly.


    Everyone was in their various positions. Most of them were now only reading and doing personal training on their abilities. Everyone had stopped fighting each other in the time that passed.


    Most of the original members of the Steele Family were confident. But those that had joined them from the settlement were nervous.


    The power of time had remained moving faster, and everyone had stood up and gathered once more in the middle.


    "Amazing. You actually predicted that they would do this!" Branze was amazed. He was skeptical at first, but seeing as how the armies used a strange power to breach the world to reach the ce beyond the portal, he couldn''t understand what manner of wisdom Kyros used.


    "Predicted? I didn''t predict this. I nned this, father." Kyros smiled.


    "You nned it? Impossible. You can''t n how they react."


    "Actually, I can. You know my code, the Code of Mysterion, right?"


    "Yes. Histerion said that it is the uncovering of that which is concealed."


    "That''s right. If we think of the Concept of this power, I need Concepts to do that. Just as the Greater God Astra needs the Celestial Code to use her powers, mine borrows the power of several others."


    "And those are?"


    "Well, if I need to be able to uncover mysteries, I would need the power to cover it. And that power is to lie. I''ve always sensed there was something more in my deceiving skills. But to uncover the mysteries of the world, I would need more than the power to conceal the truth, but I also need the wisdom to see through the falsehood. So I need both the power to conceal and wisdom to uncover it. Those two powers are probably one of the aspects of my Code." Kyros shrugged.


    "Lord Kyros. We''re ready." Demerus reported.


    "Then let''s go as nned." Kyros dered.


    With him and Mechiel at the center, they recreated a convergence of elements.


    The Skeletons, Liches, and the other magic wielders began to start. Each now knew what their Element was. The ten days in which they trained and fought in various mock battles had allowed them to understand how to use it.


    The Emberdons were instrumental in teaching them how to wield magic.


    Even with the curse of Destiny, those that already knew how to wield magic had actually improved greatly in the short time.


    The Elemental Wheel was now being formed.


    This time, it happened quickly as everyone already knew their role and where they would create magic. It didn''t even take a minute, and the entire elemental wheel was formed.


    This time, with thebined efforts of several skeletons, Kyros and Mezal, the group managed to form the rare element of Brimstone.


    The wheel waspleted, and the power of a star being born appeared before them.


    The Celestial Code, the Light and Darkness, and the other elements merged together.


    A transparent avatar of Greater God Astra appeared over the Star.


    Stellya then used her powers together with Martha to create a massive teleportation formation under their feet.


    FLASH!


    Instantly, they were teleported outside of the Temple.


    The team was hovering in the sky above the ruins of the Alpha Draconis Kingdom and concentrated on forming the star''s core.


    "Aunt Marta." Kyros turned to Martha.


    Martha nodded and began to gather Force Energy into her eyes.


    This was one of the stronger concepts of Force. The Archers of the Londs had the basic blessings for this, but with the Nephilim Library, they found another way of harnessing Force. Force energy is the energy of the body. And Martha now could manipte her Force energy to maximize a specific Job ss that she has.


    Her archer''s eyes began to increase in range.


    The great distance would have still been impossible for a Champion to see through, but Martha had the power of Space in her Force Energy. The power that Kyriachos bestowed on her didn''t just allow her to have Space element; it also allowed her to have a power simr to the Steele family whose Force Energy contained True Cut and the Element of Steele.


    As such, Martha''s eyes were triple than what most archers of her level could do.


    "The Branch of Bow will be the guide." She smiled as she flew and assumed her dragonic form.


    Therge conflux of Element was before her, and she raised the bow and pulled the bowstrings producing an arrow made of Force Energy.


    The massive energy began to arch back as the Branch of Bow was sucking it.


    "It''s embarrassing how I used this weapon on the previous battle." Marthaughed.


    Everyone around her concentrated and focused the energy as they controlled it so that Martha could easily wield it like an arrow.


    Soon, the energy everyone was creating began topress itself and formed several round balls of energy that floated at the tip of Martha''s arrow.


    "Everyone, this requires perfection. Allow the magic to erupt as Aunt Martha shoots the arrow. Show me the result of your training to ovee [De-Spacito]! Let''s show them the power and the decree of the stars!" Kyros ordered.


    "Yes!"


    "Ready...! Fire!"


    Everyone allowed their Force and Magic energy to explode out at themand as Martha released the bowstring.


    "[Meteor Doom]!" Everyone cried out the name of the bombardment version of the Supernova st attack.

 Chapter 310 - Decree Of Victory

    The attack that they created were miniature star cores that would explode on the impact of a hard surface. There were five small meteorites created that were shot towards the portal.


    Each meteorite had slight deviations to hit different ranges of the path. They didn''t even make a practice shot, but Martha was confident in being able to pull it off. Her path of Combat and Foresight had improved during the training, and shooting the arrow was now easy.


    The meteorites shot through the distance and quickly zoomed past the many Feather Folk who was waiting to send one more message before heading back to the Temple.


    Finally, the Feather Folk watching over the portal saw it flying by. It flew straight for the opening of the portal.


    On the other side of the portal, the armies continued to hastily position themselves near the exit where they would wait for Heralcus to emerge on the other exit.


    Lucas, Eredus, Faust, and the new Giant Commander were assigned to prepare for the ambush, and they were moving their men towards the exit. And because of that, all the Commanders were at the forefront of the march.


    Suddenly, several colorful lights shed on the portal, and terrifying energy appeared.


    "No!"


    "Retreat!"


    The three resurrected Commanders quickly activated various spells to the portal or moved out of the iing power. They dared not block it as they couldn''t even make out of the kind of energy that appeared in front of them. The Commanders ordered a retreat, and while many Champions was fast enough to react, not everyone was able to make their retreats quickly.


    At the appearance of the small meteorites, many met their doom.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The meteors moved with incredible speed and exploded on different grounds of the path leading to the center where the Temple once stood.


    Thest meteor moved ahead of the rest andnded on the very center of the grounds.


    BOOM!


    Each explosion was enough to cover the full length of the path, and only those that had the ability to evade and jump and elements of all kinds erupted out in a grand mixture of pure power.


    It was as if various stars were born in the darkness.


    Each explosion had a diameter of a hundred meters, and all five exploded out quickly, killing those engulfed in the release of the elements.


    The Giant Commander used his force to resist as his instincts were to defend. His low dexterity and his position in the army gave him little choice. And now, not one hair of him remained.


    Lucas had used his Grendelor form and evaded by jumping as high as he could.


    Eredus has flown to the skies and stood near the edge of the Life and Death Containing field.


    Faust had teleported himself and many with him to the far end of the strange realm.


    "What... What was that?!"


    "That was the attack that Lord Heralcus told us about! That was the one that destroyed Darako''s Dark dome! They know we are here! Everyone! Reform your ranks and attack!" Eredus ordered and summoned his vampire army, who took to the skies in their bat forms.


    "On me! We''re charging through! Eat whatever leftovers of our fallen allies you find!" Lucas roared with great anger as he ordered the surviving members of his squad to charge ahead. The remaining corpses that weren''t incinerated were being eaten by the swifter creatures that could absorb the power.


    The entire army charged madly towards the entrance.


    The army they oncemanded had lost nearly forty percent of their numbers. Many Champions and Captains died instantly, even before moving out of the portal.


    The rage and fear of the three Commanders led to the orders to rush outside and attack the Nephilim.


    Eredus was the first to move. If the Nephilim was ready to make another bombardment, he needed to appear on the other side and stop a surprise attack aiming for his Lord Cardinal.


    He flew with great speed and moved ahead of everyone else. He flew into the portal that would lead back to Middle without hesitation.


    But as he emerged on Middle, a bright light appeared right in front of his face!


    The pale white face of the vampire turned whiter, and he retreated with such a great speed that it was as if his soul retreated ahead of him.


    "AHHH! ANOTHER ATTACK!" He shouted as he emerged back to the Crossroads.


    The sudden panicked shout and reappearance of Eredus caused the Commanders and their armies to panic immediately.


    Many jumped to evade. Others retreated but would crash on their allies, rushing at them.


    The sight of a fearful Commander flying back and screaming as if he was to die made the rest panic as well. After all, they had just experienced the full power of the attack.


    In themotion, many crushed on each other. Since only a few were resurrected as shades and had bodily or pseudo-bodily form, the resulting stampeded at the front of the gate and how even those who were flying made sudden turns and crashed into each other caused several men to fall off the path and into the Life and Death Containing Field.


    Some of the bats that were flying also flew into the Life and Death Containing Field.


    The Commanders all made their quick retreats.


    And then, nothing happened.


    "...What?!" Eredus was confused.


    "What did you see?" Lucas asked.


    "I saw several bright energies simr to the attack! It was right on my face!"


    "On your face?" Faust questioned suspiciously.


    "If it was, then the attack should have followed you closely!" Faust argued.


    "Then... I shall check again!" Eredus cursed and moved back cautiously towards the portal.


    He avoided the path as he moved back. Slowly, he pushed his head through from the upper-most right corner of the portal.


    His head appeared in Middle, and he saw it. His great dexterity allowed him to move so fast that on the first time he moved out of the portal and the light, he immediately retreated, not seeing what it was. But now that he moved his head and caught sight of what it was, his soul exploded with rage.


    Several strange firecrackers were hanging from several tall sticks and were lit up to make it look like another volley of attacks was sent.


    "THAT NEPHILIM!" He roared and used his magic to destroy the firecrackers and retreated to the portal.


    "It was a trick! That bastard deceived me! Men! We attack now!" Eredus ordered, and he moved out.


    The flying army of bats charged together with Eredus, and the rest moved out in great anger.


    The swarm of bats emerged, and they scattered throughout the sky, searching for any living thing moving across thend.


    "There!" One of the bats transformed into a vampire and pointed towards a Feather Folk flying towards the horizon.


    Eredus wanted to chase after the flying figure, and he could catch up with his speed. But he knew it was dangerous to try. The feathered folk had already flown quite a distance from the dys they faced.


    "Scatter out and don''t stick next to each other!"


    Suddenly, a bright light appeared on the skies above.


    It was an arrow pointing down. It was a clear sign of provocation. The group was pointing in the direction where they were.


    "That arrogant brat!" Lucas roared as he appeared out of the portal and saw the arrow.


    At that moment, another portal was opening several hundreds of kilometers from where the portal was.


    Heralcus appeared and immediately saw the arrow.


    "Eredus! Why are you already outside?!" Heralcus shouted and called to Eredus through his dark link.


    "They used bombardment spell simr to the attack that destroyed Darako''s dome, my lord! We had to move out!"


    "A bombardment spell?!"


    "Yes! It happened fast, and nearly forty percent of our four armies were killed. And Giant Commander Trahder is dead!"


    "Do not charge and move your armies to form ranks beyond the Temple. Do not engage them! And beware of any lies and traps set by this Nephilim! He is a descendant of the Lord of lies after all!"


    "Yes, Lord Cardinal!"


    Suddenly, several fireworks erupted above the bright arrow above the skies.


    The fireworks then created a massive statement written in dark fire.


    "Come and die! For the victory feast of the Nephilim is at hand!"


    The words dered with great arrogance the victory that is toe. And Heralcus was enraged. He could feel the power of the Taunt of Tyranus radiating out of the words.


    All of Destiny''s warriors felt something else as they looked at those words.


    For those words were written with the power of Fate Challenger, and everyone had the impression that the sign was more than just an arrogant im, but a decree of victory by Fate.


    Heralcus made hurried arrangements to begin the march towards the area.


    In the Temple, a team of Skeletons, Liches, led by the Emberdons and Martha, was ready to fly out.


    "Strike team! Move out!" Demerus shouted as the team began to fly out.

 Chapter 311 - Final Stages

    As the Emberdon''s continued to study in the Temple. Their power had grown by another fold.


    The biggest contributing factor was that someone who walked in the Celestial Code was present. By seeing how the elements move and interact, the Emberdons were able to see how the elements would be wielded by the first god, who created several elements.


    The Light was from Ss and Soter, the Darkness from Kyriachos, but Fire, Lightning, Water, Ice, Earth, and Wind was born from the Celestial Code.


    It was as if they were students who had the opportunity to see how the grandmaster of element wielding works. They had the chance that not many in the entire cosmos have experienced. And with such expert welding done before them, they could further understand how to summon the elements at will correctly.


    The Library of the Nephilim also gave them massive boosts in understanding the magic theory.


    The findings revealed that each Element had a ''family'', which depicts the range of elements that a person can easily wield.


    Demetrius''s elemental affinity was Entropy. And going by the rules of this ''elemental family'', the next two elements moving in both directions of this wheel would be part of the family. Those directly next to the Element would give the wielder greatpatibility in studying the said elements, and those on the second spot would give them goodpatibility.


    This was why although Demerus did not have wind as his innate affinity, it was still in the family, allowing him to wield the magic in a superior manner. The other element with which Demerus would have greatpatibility was Lightning. As for the elements that were on the further side of the elemental family, Demerus would have goodpatibility with Fire and Space magic.


    The arrangement of the Elemental Affinity of the Emberdons was also spread out. This gave them the ability to master all the elements and was able to teach the other magic practitioners how to wield them.


    The teachings of Mezal on how to use the soul to add power to Force were also talked about.


    Branze, who has managed to reach the next level of this in terms of wielding Holy energy, was also immersed in the research and training of the team. They were all obsessed with understanding this power for the first three days. Only the training for [De-Spacito] would interrupt them. On the fourth day, the team had enough theories and began to work on application and training.


    But by that time, the Emberdons already had enough theories of magic-wielding that would put the Mind wizard grandmasters to shame.


    Training the rest of the forces was also easy with all the advantages. The books on the Library of the Nephilim gave the most efficient and basic knowledge that made those new to the training easily wield magic. And with the advanced knowledge of the Emberdons, the soul empowering theories of Mezal and Branze, and the constant exposure to the Celestial Code, many new trainees had enough skill to put the magic-using captains of the Londs to shame.


    Skeletons turned into lowly liches, and the lowly Lich Devian was now a proper lich.


    The lizardman mages, the feather folk magic users, and some of the wizards from the surviving settlements had also grown vastly in this time.


    In preparation for the strike team that would harass the enemies, Kyros nned together with the team what to do.


    "We have ten scepters that are at least good for captains that the Temple provided. We also have fifteen Captain level scepters and three Champion level scepters from the surviving settlements. That is not counting the Emberdons scepters. I think we can do well with this. Pair up the team to harness those scepters. Both should have the same elemental affinity and will split roles in harnessing these scepters."


    "I see. One focuses on defense, the other on offense. That sounds like a brilliant n. Normally, it would be difficult to create such an army, and we probably can''t do that in the Londs. But with the knowledge of Elemental Affinity and our unified training on how to wield energy, we could establish a buddy system for mages to work together. That way, training them will be easier since we can divide the groups to train on a single aspect." Faye agreed.


    "That sounds interesting... Who wants to partner up with me?" Stellya asked.


    Several hands suddenly shot up, immediately volunteering to be Stellya''s partner.


    "We''ll talk about that next time. And I don''t think you five Emberdons need partners, anyway. We just need a more solid framework for how this partner thing works for the rest of our teams." Kyros answered.


    "Why don''t they imitate a spaceship or a fighter jet? One focuses on defending and creating the protective energy field, navigating through the sky, using his energy to protect both pilots. The other will focus on shooting and attacking." Cminus suggested.


    "...That''s actually a good n!" Kyros marveled.


    Martha also agreed.


    "A spaceship? What''s that?"


    "What''s a jet?"


    "Everyone, get ready! We''ll draft the ns now!" Kyros immediately ordered as Cminus''s suggestions inspired him.


    Using the magical scepters as the basis, two magic users paired up and held the scepter together. With their knowledge, the group managed to enchant the scepters using the Energy Conversion Circles of Kyros that the scepter granted flight to the users.


    The Energy Conversion Circles also had a formation that allowed the creation of a stabilized energy field which acted as the ''ship'' that the pair rode.


    The ship had a simple design enough to cover just the two of them, and it took the shape of a small jet.


    These jets flew from the sky at the order of Demerus.


    On the lead were the five Emberdons solely piloting their craft.


    Behind him, all twenty-eight enchanted scepters with all the magic capable members of the Nephilim''s armies flew out in a formation.


    The teams were divided into five squadrons. Demerus led the ck Squadron with teams possessing mages that were either Entropy or Lightning members. They were the vanguard and the shield-breaking team.


    Fayemanded the Gold Squadron with a mix of people using Fire and Lightning. They were diverse users with speed and could throw in strong attacks suited for direct engagement.


    Ressimanded the Blue Squadron, and all Ice, Water, and Earth users joined her. They were the defensive squadrons focused on providing defenses for the entire squadron.


    Trionamanded the Red Squadron and had purely Fire users flying behind her. They focused on enemy bombardments with their wide and explosive spells.


    Stellyamanded the Green Squadron, which used Wind and Space users. They were the scouts of the team that would fly in and out of the battle.


    All five had an excited look on their face as they were dying to try out their new weapon of warfare. Thest piece that allowed them to organize the team was Kyros''s special enchantment. Kyros crafted a smallmunication device that links with the Temple using some of the magic stones that the settlements had. Then, with Cminus using his Time and Space powers as means to broadcast a frequency, the group managed to create a proper airforce.


    "All Wings of the Nephilim, Report in!" Demerus ordered.


    "Red Alpha, standing by."


    "Red Bravo, ready for battle!"


    "Red Charlie, all systems engaged."


    "Red Delta, awaiting orders!"


    "Red Echo, flying in."


    "Green Alpha, reporting in."


    "Green Bravo, on the go!"


    "Green Charlie, prepared!"


    One by one, the pilots reported their call signs and assumed formation until thest call was made.


    "Special Force Commander, Empress Draconis, reporting for duty. All members ounted for." Martha was thest to give her report.


    "Enemies at the horizon. Emberdons, ready for the bombardment of your teams. ck Squadron first! Gold Squadron follows, let loose at the copse of the shield. Blue Squadron set up a massive shield to counter the iing attacks. Red and Green Squadron, move in at the opening. Everyone, safe skies." Demerus ordered.


    The flying armies of Eredus, Lucas, and Faust could be seen in the distance.


    "What are those?" One of the Vampire scouts saw the approaching groups.


    "The enemies!" Another scout reported. The massive words that remained in the sky to taunt them drew everyone''s attention that they only noticed the approaching fleet now.


    "What? They dare attack us?!" Eredus raged.


    "Prepare for battle! They seem to be using mages!"


    "Hmph! Wipe them all out!" Eredus roared.


    "Wait, you fool! Don''t be driven mad! We have our orders! Stay on the defensive. Allow my skeletons to take their first attack and then send your forces! Lucas! Send your monstrous fliers as well!!" Faust ordered back.


    "...Fine. Vampires stand behind the army of Lucas. Those are Champions. And ording to Neteri''s memories, they do have powerful magics. Let the skeletons wear them down."


    "Bring up the magics'' shields and prepare to shoot them down!"


    "Sky Grendels! Sky Deviants! attack after the skeletons fire their attacks!" Lucas gave his orders as well.


    Martha was watching and sneered at the arrangement of the enemies.


    "Puff. Ready the Dark Devourer. We''ll eat up the first round of magic. Such a magical dose should be good food for us to vomit back at them." Martha smiled.


    At those words, the Emberdons also sneered.


    "Minor correction to the ns. Red and Green, move in after Empress Draconis attacks." Demerus gave thest-second changes as the two armies were within firing range.


    The first war in the Middle between Beginning and End was now reaching its final stages.

 Chapter 312 - Final Judgment

    Twenty-eight small ships with two magic wielders per location, and there were six special humans flying along with the ships.


    Martha was in her dragonic form, and her wings flew swiftly. The power to Space was rippling out as she zoomed out with ease.


    As they approached, the Emberdons activated their spells in the Energy Conversion Circles crafted in their scepters which generated the magic armor. Kyros paid more attention to this among the team, and each Emberdons was involved in crafting the conversion circles. This specially crafted circle produced a powerful mage armor that covered their forms. The armor enveloped ayer around their skin and made them look like robots.


    "Exoskeleton Mage Armor, Battle Form!" The Emberdons cried out.


    "ck Squadron, let''s volt in!" Demerus ordered.


    Martha secretly rolled her eyes as she recalled the intense and forceful talk of Cminus to make them say this.


    But even as they approached, the minions of Destiny were not intimidated.


    "Such fools. Challenging us in magic despite their affliction with [De-Magic] curse!" Faustughed.


    "Our shields won''t even tremble at the arrogant attacks of those Champions." Eredusughed as well.


    "You''re the fool, skeleton! Magic has always been about doing the impossible! You limited our power, but that made our magic stronger! Behold!" Demerus charged ahead.


    The ck Squadron followed Demerus.


    Demerus raised his scepter and began to write something in the sky. The power of Entropy remained in the sky, forming the letters.


    "How are they doing that? Why does not the elements die out?" Eredus saw it and frowned. The massive arrow and the daring taunt that hovered over the Temple had already made him curious. How were the letters and arrows able to remain in the air?


    Demerus continued to draw, and finally, the drawn figure came to life at thest stroke.


    Arge energy formation circle appeared on the sky itself! Demerus sneered as he watched the circle take form. It was a wild and crazy theory, but Kyros believed it to be possible.


    The insane Emberdons researched how to create a form using their own magic. As descendants of Astra, they had ess to one power that all Gods had.


    Ancient Source summoned it, and the very power of Astra was attracting the elements, just as how Kyros was using Charm to call the elements.


    The Energy Formation Circle that appeared horrified the minions of Destiny.


    "Im-"


    "-possible!"


    The Commanders Faust and Eredus, who were magic wielders, erupted in shock. None of their peers and immediate superiors have had the power to summon and create an Energy Formation Circle without engraving it on something solid.


    "[Entropy Ray]!" Demerus shouted, and all of the ck squadrons shot a darkser beam that passed through the energy formation circle.


    The beams struck a specific location in the circle, and a massive beam emerged. The amplified beam horrified the Commanders as they could tell it was an attack that had the power that only Commanders could create!


    "Fortify the shield! That attack is dangerous!" Faust shouted.


    BOOM!


    The beam was struck, and the power of decay began to spread out, creating a shocking reaction.


    "The magic wall is decaying!"


    "It''s a high-level Decay Magic! [All Decay]! Quickly! Faust! Fortify the shield!" Eredus shouted.


    The arrogance and confidence of the Commanders fell as they saw the attack. Faust quickly used the elemental core that was bestowed on him. The Earth Core that was retrieved from the head of the Okto-Khefali was used, and because Faust''s innate element was earth, he could control it masterfully.


    The decay had corrupted the magic wall that it began to erode. The beam shot through as the ray pierced through the magic shield.


    "[Castle Wall]!" Faust shouted, and a massive wall erupted in front of the beam''s path.


    BOOM!


    "Redirect attack twenty degrees to the left!" Demerus shouted, and with one swift motion, everyone in the ck squadron turned as they shot the ray.


    The beam veered left, and Faust quickly increased the power of his spell.


    The earthen wall veered left to block the ray.


    "Disperse!" Demerus ordered, and the five members of the squadron ran forward towards certain rings in the magic formation.


    Miraculously, the energy formation circles turned into five smaller formations circles, with each member carrying one at the very front of their ship!


    "How can they do that?!" Faust roared in anger. What he saw was an advanced usage of energy formation circle that only Conquerors had!


    Demerus and his squadron began to spread out shooting attacks on different parts of the shield.


    Whenever the shield would get attacked by the squadron''s bombardment, small power of decay remained and ate up the shield.


    "The Magic shield is being slowly eaten away by the decay!" Eredus shouted.


    "I know! Skeletons!" Faust shouted.


    "We are trying, Commander! We are trying our best to recover the shield, but the decay is hindering our magic from covering the gaps! And now, more parts of the magic shield are being eaten away. We have to deactivate the shield and activate it again if we want the shield!"


    "We would waste more energy if we do that. Focus on offense! Eredus, take care of the iing enemies! Faust! Start preparing for an offensive." Lucas shouted.


    But then, as they turned back to the sky, another energy formation circle had appeared. Faye stood behind it, and the five members of the Gold Squadron hovered in a formation.


    "Damn it!" Eredus cursed and performed his dark magic. Again, his blood erupted out, but this time, he created a third clone.


    "Vampires! Water and Ice!" Eredus shouted and moved ahead, harnessing the water energy that he had and was imbuing it with his innate ice power


    The flying bats turned into vampires, and they all began to harness ice energy along with Eredus.


    The Three Eredus then allowed his energy to explode and created a tide of ice energy that spread out, covering the hole in the magic shield.


    Faust stopped harnessing magic to create his Earth wall and prepared a massive attack.


    "I''ll show you a real meteor!" Faust vowed.


    "[Sky Spark]!" Faye shouted as she pointed the scepter towards the formation.


    The five ships began to glow as lightning coursed around them, and a web of lightning linked everything.


    Suddenly, several massive lightning bolts shot out of the formation and aimed for the gap in the shield.


    "[Ice Firmament]!" The three Eredus howled, and along with his vampire army, they created a massive dome of ice that covered the vanguard of the army.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The bolts of lightning began to attack the ice firmament. But the magic shield that covered the entire army began to fall as the skeletons began to prepare to attack.


    "Faust! Hurry! These pesky bolts are drilling into my ice!"


    The energy that Faust released caused a trembling on the earth below him. It was as if the weight of his power was adding pressure to the ground below. His powers rose and exceeded that of a High Lich.


    Massive earth formed, and all the skeletons began to channel their power into the massive rock.


    "Behold! My-Quaking Spell! [Final Judgment]!"


    Eredus began to cause his ice to explode and shoot out a massive snow attack to the skies.


    As the Wings of the Nephilim could sense the attack, the Emberdons turned to Martha.


    "Puff. Can you eat that?" Martha asked.


    "I''ve eaten bigger things." Puff sneered.


    "Good! Don''t get constipated from this!" Marthaughed.

 Chapter 313 - Final Moments

    The ice erupted, and thousands of icicle spears shot towards the Wings of the Nephilim.


    But the Blue Squadron was already ready and created their shield. When Eredus created the dome, Ressi created an energy formation circle and created a small dome of ice that covered the wings.


    Inside the dome of ice, another energy formation circle was being created. At the center of this formation was Martha.


    The power of the Space Core began to tremble. In the days that had passed in the Temple, Puff began to absorb the power of the Space Core that was growing inside Martha. Puff had the experience of a lifetime. And now, he was not only walking the steps to bing a Magic Dragon, but he was also correcting his mistakes.


    The training he did and the reforming of his magical body in the Temple was of great delight for Puff. He could not imagine what power he would have once he had grown back to his peak. The foundations were set, and now he was training in one of the rarer elemental powers, Space magic.


    Godhood and Fallenhood were also possible for him with all the Codes and Corruption avable to study and read.


    In addition to his training, the energy formation circle empowered Martha and harnessed all energy into Space Core.


    Once more, Puff emerged in his Wyrm form. This time, only his head appeared, and it had a massive mouth that could devour mountains.


    The ice shards were sucked into the mouth of Puff, and finally, the rising Meteor came into sight.


    "Blow it up now!" Lucas shouted as he saw the massive Wyrm moving in to devour it.


    It all happened too fast for Faust. The massive meteor was meant to explode out in the distance, but who would have thought that the massive dragon would immediately appear out of nowhere.


    Eredus was still drained from his spell and couldn''t attack the Wyrm.


    The massive jaws mawed down and swallowed the massive meteor whole.


    "You ate my [Final Judgment]?!"Faust roared. He didn''t have the chance to cause the magics in the meteor to erupt.


    "You called your attack [Final Judgment]? Then let me show you our attack!" Marthaughed.


    "Behold, my mighty attack! [No U]!"


    Puff drew his head back and spat out the massive meteor.


    "FAUST!" Lucas and Eredus shouted.


    "I can''t detonate it! A strange space magic is disconnecting me from the Earth Energy of that meteor!"


    "WHAT?!" The two Commanders cursed.


    Faust and the Skeletons shot out their attacks at the massive meteor.


    Eredus followed and shot their water and ice attacks.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The attacks struck but couldn''t destroy the massive meteor.


    Lucas cursed and harnessed all the Force energy he had.


    The power of the Force energy caused another trembling on the earth.


    "The Force is strong in this one." Demerus could sense it.


    Martha sighed and rolled her eyes. Although Demerus said it, he was unaware that his statement could give the author possible problems in the future.


    Lucas used his Grendelor might and flew towards the meteor. Unfortunately, his tail contained all his Force energy, shing out.


    "[True Cut]!" Lucas roared. The memories that they saw about the attacks of the forces of the Nephilim drew inspiration to Lucas. While his attack wasn''t as sharp as True Cut, his strong and explosive Force Energypensated for the sharpness.


    SLASH!


    Lucas''s tail whipped out, and it shed through the meteor, halving it into two.


    As the Space energy that covered it was removed, Faust immediately forced the eruption but limited it to minimize the damage.


    BOOM!


    The parts of the meteorites rained down on them, and everyone was focused on defending from the falling rocks.


    CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!


    Eredus then saw several red and green lights shing towards him.


    "Enemy attack!" He shouted and flew towards the lights.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    But suddenly, a ck figure stood in his way and shot several dark attacks.


    "ck Squadron! Gold Squadron Blue Squadron! Dy the Vampire Commander!" Demerus shouted.


    "Orders received!" The three squadrons shouted and charged towards Eredus and the vampire army.


    A gold-colored figure appeared and also shot lightning bolts at them.


    The vampires shouted in anger and attacked the iing ck and gold ships, but several ice burgs appeared in the air.


    The skies were busy with the battle against the three squadrons, and the ground forces were still recovering from blocking the iing meteor shower. The powers of the Commanders and their Champions were revealed as they managed to perfectly defend against the meteor rain, leaving no one dead. But as that happened, a strong wind blew, and six green ships flew overhead.


    The mighty wind caused the group to be distracted, and they took aim to shoot down the green ships. But unknown to them, the Red Squadron was already in position.


    "We are in position. Orders, Commander?" One of the Squadron asked Triona.


    "Make it happen."


    A singlepressed ball of fire was thrown down from the energy conversion circle that the Red Squadron had created. They had swooped in and was directly above the main army.


    And that single bomb fell.


    BOOM!


    A massive fiery explosion burst out and struck the heart of the skeleton army of Faust.


    At that instant, Stellya summoned a massive wind and created a hurricane in the middle of the battlefield, causing the fire to fly out.


    The Red and Green Squadron began to use their attacks as they made a pivoting turn.


    Wind des and fireballs were thrown, killing more and more at the retreat of the team.


    "Wings of the Nephilim! Retreat! The Beacon is set, and the attack has beenunched! Let Lord Kyros kill them all! Cherish your final moments, forces of Destiny! You will die again!" Demerusughed as he went on a full retreat.


    Eredus saw it from afar. The Temple''s arrow had turned into a funnel-shaped form, and a beam was being sent out of it.


    "Everyone! The Nephilim is attacking us!" Eredus shouted.


    The army was still recovering from the series of attacks and noticed the bright light.


    Lucas and Faust survived the fiery bombardment without problems but froze as they saw the iing attack. This was the same light that killed them.


    "Behold the majestic power of the Temple!" Demerus shouted.


    All the Commanders acted together and focused on defending. The Champions that survived the sh and even the Captains poured our their strengths to defend it.


    The bright light finally arrived.


    "[Cute Kitty Cat Beam]!" Demerus announced.


    A thin, weak, pathetic, useless, unimpressive, small, disappointing ray of light struck thebined defenses of the army.


    PITING!


    It was like a coin being flipped over to a metal surface.


    The light vanished.


    "...What?"


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    With their guards set on this, the Wings of Nephilim sent a barrage of attacks as they retreated.


    Firey explosions, lightning storms, entropy beams, wind des, and the iceberg that sank the Titanic attacked the unguarded forces of Destiny.


    The Commanders were struck by various attacks and were thrown back. Some of the Champions were also struck.


    None who were Champions had died from the attack, but many were wounded.


    But as they recovered, they could see the fleeing Wings of the Nephilim disappearing into the distance.


    There was silence.


    Faust lost the most as his Skeleton forces received the fiery bomb. The rest were tired and drained from using their powers to block many attacks.


    In that sh, they wasted magic and force energy, lost a huge portion of the mages in their armies, and failed to kill a single enemy.


    "I can''t believe n Kitty Cat Beam worked. I was against it, you know. I told them, ''our enemies aren''t THAT dumb.'' I guess I was wrong." Martha sighed as she mysteriously appeared above the army.


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "KILL HER!" All the Commanders shouted and attacked Martha.


    Martha retreated andughed as she began to evade the attacks from the enemy.

 Chapter 314 - Final Vexation

    Back before the Wings of the Nephilim began their attack, Faust made a report.


    "My lord. It seems that the group of mages has journeyed together with some of the skeletons and mages that hid in the settlement." Faust began.


    "The four mages that Neteri fought ismanding a small toon of mages."


    "It must be a trick. Be overly cautious. We don''t know what they have."


    "Yes, Lord Cardinal." Faust responded.


    Heralcus frowned and began to urge his armies to move faster.


    "We have to hurry. The team of mages that you fought has attacked their army."


    "Those mages? Hmm.... They weren''t anything special. Did they survive? They were using an iplete transformation to be skeletons. I thought that they died after that."


    "Faust said there were four mages. They must havepleted the process and be Skeletons. The Temple could have done it."


    "So, they were alive? But what can they do? Tell them to kill those pesky mages. They were only good at buying time for the Nephilim to arrive. With Faust and Eredus stronger, they should easily kill those mages. And what army can they muster from the survivors of the settlements that we allowed to live to harvest more Despaired Souls? And even if they are allied with the Nephilim, the curses of [De-Might], [De-Magic] and [De-Spacito] would weaken them!"


    "We cannot underestimate them! We have to- What''s that?"


    Suddenly several Shadow Ghouls could be seen in the distance. The march of the armies was crossing a nearby mountain region. The Shadow Ghouls suddenly panicked and retreated into the dense forest of the mountain.


    "Scouts?" Qara frowned.


    "Shall I go and kill them, Lord Cardinal?"


    "No. We have to be careful. They have used their abilities to produce deadly attacks when we least expect it. We already lost the recent Commander."


    "They were never strong enough to be among us in the first ce." Qara red at the nearby Commander that was added to their numbers.


    The Commander bowed and didn''t answer.


    "Regardless, I cannot... WHAT?!" Heralcus cursed as he sensed another number of souls dying from the ranks of Faust''s army.


    "How was that possible? So much of our forces had died!" Heralcus cursed.


    "Cardinal! Look! There is something strange going on in the Temple of the Nephilim!"


    The group turned and could see the strange shape forming, and a beam was shot out.


    "The attack was aimed towards the army of Eredus, Faust, and Lucas!"


    Heralcus then sensed more deaths ur a few secondster.


    "Faust! What''s going on there?!" Heralcus demanded.


    At that point, the group had seen and heard Martha''s taunt, and they began to chase her in rage.


    "More of our armies are dying. That Nephilim! That team of mages was probably just a distraction! The real attack was that beam!" Neteri cursed.


    "Cardinal! Look! The strange funnel is now aiming for us!" Daraka eximed.


    Heralcus frowned.


    "Defend!" Heralcus ordered.


    Immediately all the Commanders ordered their army to create a massive shield with them.


    Force, Magic, and Soul were used, and finally, the Kitty Cat Beam could be seen.


    The beam disappeared even before it reached them as it had a very pitiful amount of energy.


    "...What?" Shellcross frowned as he saw the disappearing energy.


    "It was a trick. They were using that to make use expend our power!" Neteri fumed.


    "Disperse the shield energy and continue marching!" Heralcus ordered.


    The Commanders gave their orders, but a trace of frustration was now showing on their faces.


    "[Holy Beam]!" A sudden shout was heard, and a beam shot from the mountains nearby.


    A small beam shot out of the open and struck the unprepared army.


    Kyros appeared to where the detected Shadow Ghouls were, and he shot several seconds'' worth of attack that prated deep into the army''s ranks.


    Kyos quickly turned his beam to the sides, and the beam struck many more soldiers.


    Qara and Heralcus shouted in anger and flew with their speed towards the location where Kyros was.


    Suddenly, the light below Kyros shed, and not a trace remained.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Heralcus and Qaranded on the ground and created a massive crater as theynded.


    "Where is he?"


    "It was a teleportation spell! I saw the ground that he was standing had an energy formation circle drawn on it!"


    "That brat!"


    "[Holy Beam]!"


    BOOM!


    Another beam tore on the other side of the ground. Kyros was among the thickets ofrge shrubs. Beneath him was another energy formation circle that allowed teleportation.


    "WHAT?!"


    Another beam tore through the area, and this time, Darako and Neteri were charging to kill Kyros.


    Suddenly, lightning energy began to gather around Kyros, and with a sh of light, Kyros disappeared.


    "Find him! And everyone! Prepare your shields!" Heralcus ordered.


    "What was that? How did he disappear?!" Darako cursed.


    "That brat! He''s an expert in the disciplines of Creation! What he did is not possible for cultivators below Crown! And yet he is able to actually create Spell Scrolls!"


    "Spell scrolls? The means to preserve magic spells into an object?"


    "Yes! But this brat is monstrous! He didn''t use a scroll! He wrote one down on the ground! He created teleportation magic-using Lightning energy! He had already created several energy conversion circles around this area! Everyone! Look for these formations! It could be hidden around the area! Search for any of those! Scouts! Move out and spread out!"


    "Are you serious? No matter how smart that brat is, he doesn''t look old enough to know how to create energy conversion circles! It takes decades of mastery! Who the hell taught him that?" Darako argued.


    "It could be a god! But, Darako, I know an energy conversion circle when I see one! I have studied formations like that one! Teleportation circles are among the basics that kingdoms create! And that was what I saw!"


    Qara was stunned at Neteri''s deduction. Even she had no knowledge of how to use spell scrolls.


    "That''s impossible! I fought that brat earlier! He only had Darkness and Light! But that''s a given since he''s the Nephilim! So how can he suddenly be skilled enough to wield elements and even have the knowledge to call on the elements and create a teleportation spell! Not a trace of lightning element was found in that brat! I know a magic practitioner when I see one!" Shellcross cursed.


    "He probably knew how to create energy conversion circles. As for lightning, he probably has a lightning core." Neteri exined.


    "That doesn''t exin how he can use teleportation! Not even our Lord Cardinal can do that! Even if he can draw energy conversion circles, his mastery and control over lightning should reach such a high level that it beckons at his call!"


    "It sorta does. Lightning sort of beckons to my call. Cool, right? Anyway, let''s enjoy this little game. This will be the final vexation that I can give you before you charge off to the Temple and die." An answer was heard in the mountain, and then suddenly, a sh was seen.


    Several magic attacksnded where the voice was heard, but as the dust and mes settled, there were no traces of Kyros.


    "Scramble out, scouts!" Heralcus shouted angrily.


    The forces began to move. Most of the army stood by and readied to deploy abined Force of Magic to repel the iing attack. The scouts and archers of the army began to scatter and search for Kyros.


    Kyros was hidden in the thicket of small branches. There was a teleportation energy conversion circle under him. He began to modify it to make it that the nding'' circle would be another teleportation circle leading to anothernding circle nearby.


    "This is fun!" Kyros chuckled as he watched the angry and confused expressions of the enemy.

 Chapter 315 - Final Destination

    Kyros had jumped from one portal to the other. After sending the team out, he gave orders for the next stages of the n and moved out.


    The massive arrow was a subtle trick. It allowed the enemies to quickly move and follow a path that Kyros had already known.


    During the elerated time inside the Temple, Kyros studied thend''s topography and began to plot where his trap would be prepared. Since Kyros knew the route of the enemy as they created a massive arrow pointing at the Temple''s position, Kyros had moved in the position in advance and used his knowledge to create the teleportation circles around the ce.


    His mastery in magic as he studied the Celestial Code and followed the foundation of magic teachings taught by the Temple and derived by the Emberdons made Kyros a master spellcaster.


    While he cannot create powerful attacks on a Champion level, he could castplex spells such as teleportation.


    The forces of Heralcus spread out, and Heralcus himself flew to the heavens and began to use his dark power to sense the formation circle.


    "Alright... Time for another distraction!" Kyros then ordered his minions that were scattered throughout the ce.


    Suddenly, the bushes at the side rustled, and a Champion saw it. Without hesitation, the Champion orc charged and made a powerful shing attack, and his ax was powered by immense force energy.


    BOOM!


    "Die!" The Champion roared again as a figure escaped the first attack.


    The whole armies watched in anticipation as the Champion managed to cleave a figure into two.


    A Shadow ghoul could be seen disintegrating into nothingness at the strange Force power of the Champion that had death energy.


    "It''s not him!" The Champion cursed.


    Suddenly, several rustles could be heard, and the soldiers began to check it all one after the other.


    Heralcus ignored all of the rustling sounds and concentrated.


    "AH!" Suddenly, a Champion cried in pain, and Heralcus immediately rushed towards that area.


    "Chance!" Kyros was waiting for this and flew.


    He did not use his wings to fly, making him lookrge. But Kyros used wind magic to fly.


    Everyone was distracted, and no one noticed Kyros flying.


    He flew so low that he was barely at the height of the knees of the soldiers. But with his high dexterity, Kyros managed to fly through the gaps and reached the deep parts of one of the squadrons of the army.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!"


    BOOM!


    A powerful burst of Light and Brimstone sted out on the backside of the army.


    The training of Kyros in wielding magic and his meditation of the Celestial Code allowed him to wield the power of light in a stronger form and even mixed the Elements he had with the Earth Core.


    The attack killed a few Champions who were too slow to deploy their attacks. The purging power of the light was just too much for these Dark Dependent Champions.


    The explosion shocked everyone. They were expecting a beam and did not expect Kyros to appear in the middle of the army.


    "It''s him!" Qara shouted.


    "You guys need to focus. Each kill I make allows me to restore magic and force in me. In terms of cost, I already have received more energy than all my previous attacksbined." Kyrosughed.


    Shellcross ran towards Kyros as he was the one nearest to him.


    "Die!" Shellcross roared.


    "Stupid crab! I killed the Grendelor and the Skeleton with Holy Beam! Feel my wrath!" Kyros shouted.


    [Deception activated.]


    Kyros raised his arms, and radiant energy gathered.


    Seeing the attack, Shellcross gathered as much energy as possible to defend against it.


    A massive, thick shield wall appeared in front of Shellcross as he stopped to attack.


    But suddenly, Kyros changed the direction of his aim and targeted Heralcus and Qara, who were flying as fast as they could.


    A beam of light erupted out, and the two quickly swerved and avoided the attack.


    "[Kitty Cat Beam]!"


    A weak amount of light energy, barely at the level of a Captain level [Holy Bolt], flew out.


    The speed of the attack wasn''t fast. But everyone was so on guard that they watched as the slow beam flew out and disappeared into nothingness.


    "Just kidding! You guys are too scared of my attack! That''s your weakness!" Kyrosughed, and his sword had finished creating another Energy Formation Circle below him.


    Lightning energy appeared, and Kyros was suddenly sucked into the circle.


    FLASH!


    Kyros vanished once more.


    Everyone had frozen and prepared their shields. And because of that, Kyros disappeared right under their grasps.


    "Son of a fragmenting motherless ghost!" Heralcus cursed and roared, and his force and soul energy exploded out.


    It wasn''t only him. The angry roars of the army echoed out of thend.


    Qara raged and flew all over the mountain, creating shockwaves as she passed.


    Shellcross angrily stomped the ground as he was deceived.


    Kyros appeared under a pile of stones that he had caused to copse. There was a small space inside this ce, and Kyros was watching the scene y out through the cleft of the rock.


    He was snickering as he watched the people shout at the sky.


    "I haven''t seen people screaming at the sky like that since Trump was elected." Cminus enjoyed the scene.


    Several trees, shrubs, and rocks began to fall as Kyros ordered his shadow ghouls to run around the area and tap and w on the trees as they passed by.


    People were shooting everywhere, and even Heralcus summoned a massive head to shoot beams on the mountain.


    "Is that an Okto-Khefali?" Kyros asked.


    "Looks like it. So that''s why I felt a familiar power. He resurrected his army with that!"


    "That also exins why the army of Heralcus is stronger than ever."


    "What a pity. Destiny will eat his shoe in anger when we kill them all."


    "Let''s not get ahead of ourselves just yet. Let me check with Martha. How''s it going, Martha? I think I distracted the Cardinal long enough for you to get them to a position?" Kyros asked through his dark link.


    "Almost there, Lord Kyros. Just keep distracting the Cardinal for another minute, and I should be in position."


    "Alright. I only have a few teleportation circles left. But it should be enough to make that Cardinal forget that his other army is rushing angrily to kill you. Cminus, ready the Holy Beam. We need to kill two Commanders. Be sure to spare Eredus, though. Uncle wants a rematch." Kyros chuckled.


    "You got it."


    Unknown to Heralcus, Martha constantly taunts the armies as they chase after her.


    Heralcus had forgotten tomunicate with Eredus again as Kyros''s tricks vexed him.


    And the army was also vexed by Martha''s taunts. The speed of Martha was faster, and her increased mastery of Space magic allowed him to move faster.


    "I have [De-Sppacito], you know. What do you guys have?" Martha chuckled.


    Lucas roared and erupted in force energy. Faust used massive magic that locked the space around Martha to prevent her from teleporting.


    BOOM!


    Lucas punched out, and the figure of Martha dissipated into dark energy


    "A clone?!"


    "What a waste. Do you guys have enhanced magic recovery? I hope you do. At this rate, you guys will be exhausted by the time we reach the Temple."


    You dare to fight me?!" Lucas challenged.


    "Fine then! Let''s fight! Puff,e out! Let''s show them our power!"


    Martha raised her hand, and a portal opened, and a massive Wyrm appeared.


    It was opening its mouth, and dark energy was gathering on its mouth.


    "Puff, take care of the Grendelor and the Skeleton. I shall fight with that vampire and avenge my husband!" Martha''s activated her dragonic form and flew high.


    Puff channeled the energy, and both Lucas and Faust stood side-by-side and prepared to meet Puff''s attack. However, they took no chances, and their Champions stood beside them and released several defensive spells and techniques.


    "X marks the spot! You fools have reached your final destination! Die!" Marthaughed.


    Suddenly, Puff shrank with incredibility speed and reverted to his small dog-sized form.


    The portal behind him also vanished, and what could be seen as a bright light that the enemies never noticed.


    "That!" Lucas and Faust recalled the first time they were attacked with this attack. It was the Temple''s powerful beam.


    BOOM!

 Chapter 316 - Final Gaze

    Various ns and tactics were presented during the daily reports as to how the team would handle the iing enemies.


    Kyros knew that they would be outnumbered by a hundred to one regardless of their improvement. And so, important and necessary ns to wilt down the enemy even before they reach the Temple were made.


    During the time-elerated Temple training days, each day would result in the team developing new abilities and possibilities for the trap.


    "And so, since Cminus is synced with the Temple core and is a Time God, it is possible that he could redirect the power to the Temple''s [Holy beam]. We have to create markers and energy formation circles that will be the ''path'' of this attack. Then, Cminus should be able to control the direction to a certain degree. We''ve mapped it around the Temple now." Stellya reported.


    Kyros was intrigued by the theory.


    "Let''s test it out. Cminus, use [Holy Beam]!"


    Cminus used the Temple''s power, and as he had ess to it, a bright beam shot out of the area, and it moved around the Temple grounds.


    It sessfully made swift turns to the delight of everyone.


    "Of course, this beam is feeble. So it''s effortless to navigate. You need to create a beacon or mark a target for a beam like this, and the Temple should have a firing distance of over three hundred kilometers for such a weak beam. And at that distance, it''s not urate even though there is a beacon."


    "It''s alright. I don''t need power. Even if it''s as weak as a kitty cat''s scratch, it will do. That ranged attack is for tricking the enemy, anyway. But this also makes it possible for Cminus tounch a powerful attack as long as we create enough beacons, right?"


    "Yes. But such attack won''t allow quick and easy maneuver, and we have to create an array of beacons from the Temple, leading to the upper ground floor."


    "Good. Then I want Feather Folk to explore the areas outside. Martha, you and Puff should be suited to learn the ways of Tyrannus. He is the father of Dragons, after all. By my estimates, the enemies willunch a two-pronged attack after we shoot our [Meteor Doom] at them. So you are in charge of leading the armies that emerge from the portal to where the Temple originally was to the ce where Cminus can lead the beam. We can create a massive mark in the sky to distract the enemy and make it look like it''s the one that can shoot beams. I believe it''s easy to shoot the [Cute Kitty Cat beam] up the sky if we attach a beacon on a small object and have a Feather Folk fly inside the mark in the sky."


    "Cute Kitty Cat beam?" Some of the people murmured at the bizarre name.


    "Once we established the deception that we shoot attacks through the mark in the sky, we fire a real round that will trail the ground. We set a good location, make the beam pass through forest, hills, and mountains and finally smash into the enemies." Kyros plotted.


    And so, the n was made. The trail had already been set as the Feather Folk scouts gave their reports. A suitable location was found, and when the Wings of the Nephilim moved, they began to create these energy conversion circles and finally used the trench on the nearby mountain region.


    Martha led the armies through her relentless taunts and made Puff fake an attack to hide the iing power.


    By the time Lucas and Faust saw it, it was toote.


    BOOM!


    The Holy Beam crossed through the armies killing the Champions nearby. Lucas and Faust used their might to defend against it and were critically wounded from the attack.


    Eredus shouted in anger and charged to save them, but then...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The Wings of the Nephilim appeared from their hiding ce and began to shoot attacks at him and his clones.


    Martha retreated and charged directly to the bottom, and Puff followed.


    Eredus realized that Martha was aiming to finish off the two wounded Commanders and harnessed his power tounch a massive Water attack.


    "Hey. We meet again." A familiar voice was heard that took the attention of Eredus. He turned to the side, and he could see a bright light shing on the top of the mountain nearby.


    A person was directly teleported from a great distance. The teleportation was made in the Temple itself and brought this man first. Managing the massive energy formation circle was the Lich and several skeletons.


    "So the Sword Expert lives..." Eredus gnashed his teeth as he called out to his hateful foe. This was the one who killed him even though he tried to make him a useless, limbless, and powerless swordsman.


    "You tried to clip my arms, and I''m here to clip your fangs and your wings." Aron had his sword unsheathed, and a terrifying force was exuding out of the sword.


    Even though the sword was not touching the ground, a deep cut formed on the ground. The mountain itself began to crack at the powerful cutting force.


    "Lord Aron! Don''t destroy the Circle!" Devian cried.


    "Sorry. I''m just excited to see an old friend." Aronughed as he raised his sword to the sky, and the cutting forces stopped.


    "Y-You! How have you unleashed the power of the first two Gates of Energy?!"


    "Thanks to your curse of [De-Might]. You see, the flow of energy in those gates was rtively open. But when you cursed it, the heaviness of the Force energy flowing in my body found those bottlenecks. And I just had to figure a way to break them."


    Eredus activated [Gauge] to peer through the stats of Aron.


    Aron Steele


    Race: Human / Descendant of a Divine


    Age: 27


    Level: 34


    ---


    Awakened Divinity:


    Steel


    ---


    Strength- 331 (De-Might curse active)


    Magic- 67 (De-Magic curse active)


    Dexterity- 283 (De-Spacito curse active)


    Vitality- 210 (De-Might curse active)


    Intelligence- 254


    Force- 213 (De-Might curse active)


    Ancient Source- 64


    ----


    Jobs:


    Heroic Avenger- Level ?


    de Master -Level ?


    Quick de- Level ?


    Blitzer- Level ?


    Magic de- Level 2


    ---


    Heroic Pdin- Level 2


    Defender Knight ¨C Level 4


    Ravager- Level ?


    Magic Defender- Level 1


    Magic de -Level 2


    ---


    Fate ???- Level ???


    Fate ???- Level ???


    Fate ???- Level ???


    ---


    Eredus was shocked as he saw the stats. Aron had various curses, and even with those curses, he still had a Crown''s Potential!


    "You... monster! How is it possible that you have such strength?!"


    "Rx! This is only a temporary increase in my stats. I used a safer version of dad''s [Last Stand] skill. I won''t be able to fight after this, and even if the Temple heals me, I''ll probably only be able to shell out half of my real power." Aron smirked.


    "Kill him!" Eredus ordered.


    The vampires charged towards Aron but suddenly, the portal brightened up once more as Devian and his Skeletons channeled another round of energy.


    Over fifty men appeared.


    At the front were knights that channeled their force energy and shielded those behind them.


    The ones behind them were archers who released a volley of arrows at the iing vampires.


    Devian and the Skeletonsunched themselves in pairs and rejoined their squadrons.


    Unknown to them, the Fire Squadron had flown at the very top.


    "[Fat Boy]!" Triona shouted andunched another massive firebomb.


    BOOM!


    "Wings of the Nephilim! Attack the enemy! Our mission is to kill the small fries!" Demerus shouted as he led his squadrons to stop the vampires with massive explosive spells.


    Eredus used his power to block the fires from reaching him.


    Aron jumped up, and a bright green wing appeared on his back as Stellya casts a flight spell on Aron.


    Eredus roared and charged with his two clones creating a massive water spell that created a sea of water on the skies above.


    The water turned into a massive sea leech that charged at Aron.


    Down the mountain, the wounded Lucas and Faust were struggling to keep up, and the surviving members of their army tried to block Martha and Puff.


    The Champions barred the way of Martha and began to use magic spells while the monstrous Champions stood in front of their Commanders, releasing the full extent of their Force energy.


    "My... how macho!" An alluring call was heard, and the team turned to see a beautiful young girl approaching.


    Something about that girl drew all the creatures, whether alive or dead, to stare in awe.


    "That''s it... Take one final gaze to this beauty." The girl chuckled as she held her scepter out and created a fiery avatar of a winged woman behind her.


    "Beautiful..." One of the Champions muttered.


    The power of the Charmed Corruption drew everyone''s eyes to Scarlet.


    The distraction was perfect. Martha shot several arrows towards the sky.


    The arrows struck two falling figures and added incredible weight to them.


    Reptilia and Gojirrah began shing and stabbing with their weapons as they fell on the Champions.


    "[Wrath of the Sovereign]!" The two lizardman Champions used the w and Fang of the Lizard Sovereign to release the tremendous terror of the Lizard Sovereign.


    BOOM!

 Chapter 317 - Final Warning

    Kyros continued to y the fun game of tag.


    With his dexterity, Kyros could even draw and create more energy formation circles thanks to the distractions of his shadow ghouls. And each escape hepletes added on the frustration of Heralcus and the Commanders. Kyros''s unbelievable dexterity and knowledge of creatingplex energy conversion circles made them helpless.


    Every time Kyros would teleport somewhere, he would alter it that changed it from a destination of where he would be teleported and make it a point of teleportation. He would then move in secret with his dexterity to hide on another point to create another teleportation energy formation circle.


    But the enemies were more guarded that Kyros could not use his [Holy Beam] to kill. So he switched and used a variety of weapons. He would use a bow and arrow, kill through magic, alter the energy formation circle to create an explosive circle that reflected Force energy.


    The means were shocking that Shellcross caused the deaths of several of his men when he attacked it.


    His tough shell resisted the attack, but those nearby were not lucky.


    "Move the soldiers ahead! Make them run through this region! Commanders! Guard every front! Champions, be on guard, and keep your shields up! His dexterity is still fast!" Heralcus cursed and gave the orders.


    The armies began to hasten and move.


    "You foolish Nephilim! I know that you are trying to force us to waste more of our energy! However, your mystery of how you escaped [De-Spacito] is of no concern to me! You are still too weak to damage my Commanders or me! And our power will eradicate that Temple!" Heralcus roared.


    "I shall take all that you value and kill it before you! I shall take their souls and ensure their suffering for all eternity!"


    "You know well than to taunt me, little Necromancer! You know the blood that runs in me. If you want to learn how to insult someone, learn from the Master!" Kyros''s voice was heard.


    It echoed throughout the valley, shocking everyone.


    "What?! Where?!" Darako frowned and began to use his dark powers to search for the source of the voice by expanding his darkness.


    "You sure you want to feed me, Shade Lord?" Kyrosughed.


    Hearing his words, Darako suddenly stopped.


    Qara and Shellcross each found a source of the voice. It was yet another energy formation circle that began to send the voice of Kyros echoing out of the field.


    But the two were hesitant in destroying it, for their previous hasty actions led to the death of some men.


    "Look at you! You are Commanders with Crown potentials! And you, little Necromancer, ought to have a High Crown! Do you dare taunt me? Where is your boast? Where is your confidence? Your first Commander was a Dragon who had Crown potential! The rest of you used to only have a High Cardinal''s potential! Yet they died!"


    [Taunt of Tyrannus activated.]


    Kyros''s taunt was not used to make them charge madly. Instead, it was a way of lowering the confidence of the Commanders.


    "And those that faced us ended being far more damaged than my men! Do you know how many died in your attacks? None! Not one of my allies died! Destiny tried to take my uncle''s limbs, but that bat got his wings clipped! Destiny tried to kill my grandfather and give him a death where he would find himself to be useless, and yet he lives, stronger than ever!" Kyros continued his tirade of words.


    Heralcus kept urging his men forward and made them move faster as he sought for the source of the voice.


    "You have all failed Destiny! Where were his decrees? Where did his words go? Fate sent a group of rag-tag individuals that were barely Champions, and yet, look at you now? And you still have the audacity to make threats? I am right here! Why haven''t you killed me?"


    "Ignore his words!" Heralcus gnashed his teeth.


    "Ignore my words? Then try to ignore this! This will be my final warning! All of you, listen up! If you continue to move forward, I will tell my allies to attack and kill your army! I willmand my allies to kill your Commanders! If you keep that march, I will show you what the Nephilim''s army is made off!" Kyros taunted.


    With the taunt, some of the marching soldiers started to feel fear.


    "His warnings are without cause! March on! Do not dy! This is another one of his tricks!" Heraclus began to harness the power of his ice that rippled around the army. The ice magic began to affect the souls, turning them apathetic towards the world around them.


    "Tricks? Yes, those are tricks! I''ve killed several Champions right under your nose with parlor tricks! You fools walked right into my trap! The moment you saw the arrow, you went towards it and, in doing so, set the direction of your steps! I''veid a few little tricks on the path you walk now. But in the future, you won''t see tricks anymore! But it''s a trap that definitely can kill Commander level !" Kyrosughed.


    The fiery words of Kyros struck deep into the hearts of everyone, and they somehow stopped marching.


    It was a terrifying blow against Heralcus. His strict orders were disobeyed.


    The Commanders all raged and shouted to make the army move, and they did after that.


    Kyros continued to taunt and give warnings.


    "Oh? You still can walk, then I shall give you yet another final warning! A super final warning! Take one more step, and it''s KABOOM! Goodbye, army!" Kyrosughed.


    Once more, the armies hesitated. While no one stopped, some trembled at thest warning, causing Shellcross to smash a soldier to bits.


    Kyros continued tough and make threats, and finally, Heralcus found it.


    "There! The convergence of all energy formation circles!" Heralcus shot a massive ice attack.


    BOOM!


    The energy formation circle was destroyed.


    But no sign of Kyros.


    "You missed!" A coarseugh rang far ahead of the path the army was walking towards.


    "What?! He''s not there?! Impossible!" Heralcus couldn''t understand how Kyros evaded it.


    The real Kyros was not the one who gave thatst Taunt..


    He wasn''t even talking. Through the power of Cminus, Kyros created recorded audio files and ced the small energy source in those formation circles. Everything that everyone heard was just a recording.


    The real Kyros was busy making more energy formation circles on the path ahead.


    "Cardinal! No matter what you do, I''ll always be a step ahead of you! Think, you fools! [De-Might], [De-Magic], and [De-Spacito] were on your side! Yet you couldn''t even chase after me! Was it a curse, or did you identally cast a blessing? Even before your armies reach our front doors, there have been many deaths on your side! Even with the raw powers of my team, we will still fail against you should this battle end in a melee! But despite all your advantages, you have lost! Surrender now, Heralcus! Save your forces for another battle! Just ept defeat! This is your super-duper final warning. This is as final as the super-duper hyper final thesis paper you present during your defense! Oh. Wait! Shot myself in the foot there. In most cases, that''s not super-duper hyper final since it undergoes more revision after..."


    Disregarding thest odd parts, the words of Kyros cut deep into Heralcus and the Commanders.


    "Pay no more attention to him! March! Let''s move off course! His trapsy ahead. Then we change direction!" Neteri finally shouted.


    "Why give in to our pride! His taunts jeer us, and in our humiliating form, we refuse to move! Let us take the longer route!" Neteri suggested.


    "...Go." Heralcus agreed.


    The army quickly moved and changed course. They took a sudden sharp turn and quickly raced over the mountain.


    "HA! HA! HA! This was my n all along! Now you really are in a position for annihtion! Behold, Heralcus! I do not lie! Now your Commanders are dead! In Ten... Nine... Eight...Seven...."

 Chapter 318 - Final Countdown

    Moments before Kyros made his ''final countdown''...


    The battle on the other side was bing more and more chaotic. Energy conversion circles were nted all over the ce, and it created a powerful buff for the Wings of the Nephilim. Some circles enhanced mana regeneration, and other circles added more elements to their attacks.


    The coordination of the team was also excellent, and the order of attacks brought the many vampires into focusing on defense. The energy conversion circles had always been a crucial tool used in wars. Even Kyros was nearly saved by when he and Mechiel rode the catapults grafted with these magic circle formations in his past life.


    But in this battle where only Cardinals were present, having an expert using such magics was practically impossible.


    The spells of these airborne mages turned into strong spells that the Champions could barely resist, although they had stats beyond Champion potentials!


    The arrangement and aerial formation of the vampires were also in disarray thanks to the massive fiery bringer of death known as the [Fat Boy]. Some Champions were killed, and many more Champions were severely weakened. As for those under Champion level, those in the inner radius of the fire were incinerated, and those at the edges of the attack were gravely injured. Many more were blown back.


    Immediately after, the Green Squadron dove right in and created massive sts of winds that kept the vampires from organizing themselves. The magic spells of these vampires were also disorderly as the wind had swept in the very heart of their army.


    The Gold and the ck Squadron focused on the groups of vampires separated. At the same time, the Blue squadron created more defenses just in front of the energy formation circle where their armies teleported out.


    None of the Commanders, even the Cardinal, had sufficient training to fight against such tactics.


    "Wings of the Nephilim! Secure your victory! See how our enemies are dying!" Demerusughed.


    "Cower before the might and wisdom of the Nephilim! We will be his wings that will fly him to the heavens and the ends of time to fight your lord Destiny!" Fayeughed as she led her squadron to the attacks.


    And as this aerial battle urred, the fighting on the ground below was just as terrifying.


    The ambush was executed perfectly. Once more, the power of the Charmed Fallen, prated through the ranks of warriors of Destiny. Eredus had lost because of this, and now a simr power captivated the forces for a second.


    But that second was very circuital as it allowed the Coven to begin their ambush.


    Two Lizardman Champions of potentials that matched the strength of the Grendelor kin and the monstrous armies that Lucas led made an ambush. Reptilia used the Lightning Core given to her and created a chain of lightning that bolted across the field.


    Although it didn''t kill them, the shock and stun it brought allowed the two lizard warriors to deliver the killing blow to the nearest, strongest Champions.


    Martha and Puff charged off, and Puff took on the form of a Thane Dragon. Both chased after the wounded Commanders.


    Martha teleported and used her speed to appear in front of Lucas.


    The two fists met.


    BOOM!


    Lucas was heavily injured and could not outmatch Martha.


    Faust wielded a massive spell and shot at Puff.


    BOOM!


    Faust didn''t underestimate the defenses of a dragon as they were known for their magic-resisting properties.


    "Fool! I am Puff, the Magic Dragon!" Puffughed as it charged forward and fought Faust in close range.


    Hunter, Avary, Gregory, and Grugnyr also attacked with toons of knights to challenge the Champions before them.


    The battle that had just started was already nearing its climax.


    Eredus was very distracted as he fought. He could feel the number of his Coven dwindle.


    He was worried about the state of Lucas and Faust, who took the might beam head on.


    And to top it all off, he fought against a monstrous swordsman who had nearly the same stats that he had!


    The massive water serpent charged at Aron, now flying thanks to some magic.


    Three Eredus controlled the magic water serpent that took the form of the head of the Okto-Khefali.


    SLASH!


    Aron performed one sh that split the massive serpent into two. But the waters quickly reformed.


    "Die!" Eredus shouted.


    As Kyros had predicted, this specific arrangement would force Eredus to panic and instantly bring out his strongest attack that would kill his enemy and have enough size and power to save his allies. Knowing this, Aron did not hesitate to use his strongest ability and released the energy in two of his Eight Gates of Energy even though he could only maintain this form for a short amount of time.


    "That brat sure is amazing. At this rate, I would already be defeated even before I reach him in a challenge." Aron praised as he flew straight for the massive water serpent.


    "Thank Shellcross for this trick when you get to the next world, will you?" Aronughed.


    Shellcross used his amazing control of Force Energy to make a massive armor. Aron did the same. But it was more than just armor. It had the property of true cut.


    "[Iron Giant]!" Aron shouted, and a Force Energy asrge as the water serpent appeared. But there was also another power in this attack.


    "Ancient Source!" Eredus felt it. Aron depleted nearly all of his soul to make this attack.


    SLASH!


    The power of [True Cut] was made. But this one had an Ancient source.


    The water was sliced into two, and Eredus lost allmand at this magic.


    But then, Aron suddenly started to fall.


    The three bodies of Eredus saw the chance of a lifetime. Aron had messed up!


    Three sonic booms sounded as they flew with their fastest speed.


    "Deja vu..." Aronughed.


    And it was only then that the three clones saw it.


    Two massive Force Walls were pushing at them.


    "No!" Eredus recalled how hest died but could not turn back anymore.


    SMASH!


    The three clones smashed hardly on a Force Wall that had Holy energy.


    Branze and Diana appeared right behind Aron. They teleported at thest minute and joined in the battle when Eredus least expected it.


    The two Force Walls had a small gap right in the middle.


    SLASH!


    [True Cut happened again.]


    The three clones felt severe pain in their souls, and their bodies were sliced in half. The power of True Cut made the lower body truly separate from the upper torso. It could never merge again. Each body used a specific part of Eredus. His first clone used all his blood, and the second clone was made bymuning his soul with the Water Core of the Okto-Khefali.


    And True Cut severed it. It was a critical blow to Eredus as he immediately lost control and connection to half of his body, blood, and soul.


    The six bodies fell on the ground, and a massive Force Wall was crushing down on them. Eredus was too weak to move and was in more pain from the Holy nature of the Force Wall.


    The main body red at Aron.


    "You...! Coward! I thought you would face me alone!"


    "Why? There are three of you. So I don''t feel shame in any sort of way. Why would I? I fought against a Commander with Crown potential. And I''m just a Champion. My allies are Champions too." Aron chuckled as he fell back down.


    "You guys finish this. Oh, man. I''ll only be able to take out the small friester.


    With Branze in the field, he already charged ahead and used his powerful Temr abilities to push back the enemies.


    Martha and Puff also bested the weakened Commanders.


    And it was just in time, too.


    "Aunt Martha? Report. Are you guys ready to kill those Commanders all together? I''m about to start my final countdown."


    Martha smiled.


    "Coven! We have food to eat! But as discussed, leave the Grendelor''s body for Puff and me. Drain every bit of blood on that Vampire."


    "Great... Drinking on the ground again. Thanks, Lord Aron." Hunter sighed as he was going to do what only wild beast would do.


    Aron onlyughed.


    Seeing as things were ready, Martha answered Kyros.


    "Go ahead, Lord Kyros. We shall kill them at yourmand." Martha answered.


    "Good. Count with me and kill them. Ten... Nine.... Eight... Seven...."

 Chapter 319 - Final Deception

    "Ten... Nine... Eight... Seven..." Kyros''s announcement and countdown continued.


    The armies of Heralcus and even the Commanders were on guard of the attacks that Kyros would leave. It sounded true! What if Kyros''s threats were made to make them take a sharp turn.


    "Do not believe him! March on! He made his threats a while ago!" Heralcus shouted.


    And the armies were marching on. But everyone, including the Commanders, was actually guarded.


    "Six... Five... Four... Three... Two... One... Die!" Kyros shouted.


    "Defend!" Neteri couldn''t help but shout.


    But then, nothing happened.


    "Is it a trick? Is he dying it? Why was there- No! It can''t be!" Darako felt it.


    "NEPHILIM!" Heralcus roared as he realized what had happened. Everyone was stunned as they heard Heralcus shout with deep hatred that Force and Magic erupted.


    HOW DARE YOU!" Heralcus shouted in anger as he turned his attention to a far-off distance.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!" This was the distraction that Kyros waited for as he charged into another toon.


    BOOM!


    A bright light exploded out.


    "Dual [Holy Beam]!" Two Champion-level Holy Beams were shot out as Kyros raised both hands.


    Everyone was shocked as they heard Heralcus scream, and with the given lies, they believed harm hade to the Cardinal.


    Kyros dove in and brought out all of his attacks.


    "Maximum [Pronto]!" Kyros shouted, and a bright light began to appear on his forehead. It was an energy conversion circle, and it amplified the power of Pronto.


    "[Haste]!" Kyros also used another spell that increased his agility.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Qara and Shellcross charged and attacked.


    But Kyros was able to dodge and flew with his wings.


    Darako and Neteri appeared and used massive attacks. Two heads of the Okto-Khefali appeared and charged at Kyros to bite him.


    "[Blink]!" The power of Fallen source appeared, and Kyros teleported as the two heads were about to bite.


    Heralcus appeared, and a ghostly apparition of the heads of the Okto-Khefali appeared.


    It readied a massive beam that was ready tounch a devastating attack at the location where Kyros appeared.


    "Die! You ursed brat!" Heralcus shouted as he channeled his power to Kyros''s ce, nearly two kilometers away.


    But suddenly, Heralcus froze.


    And it wasn''t just Heralcus. All the Commanders froze for a second.


    Kyros had stabbed his sword on the ground, and a dark power was creating a massive energy conversion circle that crept out of the ground.


    But even as Kyros did this, the enemies did not move.


    BOOM!


    A massive explosion urred at the back, creating a terrifying impact that created arge crater on the ground.


    Everyone in the army was thrown back at the sudden explosion. The ground they were standing in was not the same indestructible ground that withstood the attack of [Meteor Doom]. The ground was much weaker, so a trembling, the destruction of the terrain, and even rock slides urred from the back.


    "That was the same attack that Eredus received. We call it [Meteor Doom]! How do you like it?" Kyros chuckled as he made the finishing touches. The dark pattern suddenly turned to Light as Kyros used Skotos Eis Phos.


    "And don''t bother shooting or attacking. I''ll just teleport my way out of here. I may be drained, but thisdy right here has more than enough mana to send me back to the Temple." Kyros chuckled


    Next to Kyros, was a beautiful woman wielding several powerful elements around her. Kyros was stroking the beautiful maiden''s face, and the woman blushed at Kyros''s touch.


    Heralcus had nced at the back and saw that more and more of his army had died from an unknown attack.


    "You... TRAITOR!" Heralcus shouted once more. He med the woman. They were captivated by her for a split second, which caused him not to notice an attack headed towards his army.


    "If I aimed for you, you guys would have surely blocked it. So I used that attack to kill more of your army. Let''s see, including Eredus, Faust, and Lucas''s... Those are their names, right? So you probably have lost more than half of your armies. Frankly, if all of you attacked, we would have incurred many losses, and even I have a high chance of dying. But now, with half your army gone, I am sure that I will win. And I''m aiming for no deaths in my army." Kyrosughed.


    "YOU TRAITOR!" Heraclus shouted the same words again. His eyes were locked on Mechiel, who stood next to Kyros. There were no hints of attraction but only pure anger.


    The Commanders stood next to Heralcus, and all red at Mechiel.


    Suddenly, Mechiel''s innocent expression changed, and it was as if the youngdy matured even more!


    "Oh, shut up, you! I''m not doing this by my choice! I still serve Destiny! But this little fool has trapped me in this soul!" The Blood Cmity defended.


    "But regardless, you fools failed Lord Destiny! I''ve seen the full power of these Kyros, and you utterly outnumbered him! You idiots! Even in this battle, he tricked you again and again!" The Blood Cmity shouted angrily.


    "I am a servant of Destiny, but I cannot do anything as I am in chains! I heard their crazy ns! I heard these idiots'' strange tactics! And I believed none of them would work! Don''t you have Destiny''s Foresight? What happened to that?! You were all drawn too much into the Nephilim''s rhythm! Why did you be obsessed with his energy formation circles that you didn''t sense that attack? And how the fragment did that stupid Kitty Cat n work?! Are you idiots?!" The Blood Cmity shouted all her frustrations.


    Kyros was tapping her back.


    "There you go, let it all out. Release the anger."


    The Blood Cmity was so mad that it tried to forcibly take control of Mechiel''s body, but Mechiel''s irritated expression appeared, and the mature aura of the Blood Cmity vanished.


    "Behave! You''re just a parasite. I think Lord Kyros''s ns are awesome!" Mechiel giggled.


    "Indeed it is. I didn''t lie when I said I would kill your Commanders, did I?" Kyrosughed as he looked at Heralcus.


    "You...! You tricked me!"


    "Wow. You must be outraged, and is hurting to use me of tricking you. You don''t say, Sherlock?" Kyros ridiculed.


    "Let me tell you more of how I tricked you. I''ve been harassing you so that you would notmunicate with the three Commanders. I knew you had Dark Link just as I have. And I was using my Taunts to lure you in. While I apud you for keeping your wits, my taunt of Tyranus was enraging you to the point that Destiny''s Foresight became blurred. If you just paused for a second and forgot the hatred, you would have known that your allies were being tricked as well. But don''t worry. This will be my final deception. From here on out, no more lies. I swear." Kyros crossed his heart.


    Heralcus and the Commanders were trembling in rage. But they tried to contain it and tried to sense Foresight. They then realize that they could not feel Foresight since Kyros appeared.


    Suddenly, a light shed behind Kyros.


    Mezal appeared. He was wounded and bleeding, and a Feather Folk held him up.


    "Oh right! Since I''ming clean and promising a new life of no deceptions, I''ll confess to another lie. I didn''t use [Meteor Doom]. That spell requires the powers of the people who killed Eredus, after all. I used a real meteor this time. A Soul-Force-Magic union. As the Blood Cmity said, I made you so obsessed with the energy formation circle that when I attacked after the death of your Commanders, this Feather Folk flew my grandfather at very high heights and dropped him."


    "I used an amazing power to create a massive meteor. I killed a lot of Champions too! I believe I leveled up!" Mezal approved. But as he held his thumb out, his other bones were clearly broken.


    "Ah, yes. Because of the Blood Cmity''s rage, you didn''t notice the Feather Folk swooping down to grab my grandfather and fly him to the energy conversion circle which teleported him here. I had to trick the Blood Cmity too." Kyros chuckled.


    "WHAT?! YOU BRAT!" The Blood Cmity took control of Mechiel for a split second, and then Mechiel''s expression changed, and she wasughing.


    "Anyway, I need to recover. But as I promised, no more lies. There are definitely no energy formation circles hidden in the paths you will surely take. There are no more ambushes and tricks, like an army suddenly appearing out of a teleportation circle and attacking you. All that I have nned for you is that second meteoring at you! DIE!" Kyros pointed behind the Commanders and Heralcus.


    The Commanders and Heralcus jumped back in fear.


    There was nothing.


    "Made you look!" Kyros and the threeughed.


    "Goodbye for now! Try not to lose more men along the way! Not that there are traps there, just... be careful, alright guys?"


    FLASH!


    Kyros and the three vanished.


    Seeing that four retreat, the Commanders was silent. Their morale has drastically decreased.


    Heralcus fell on his knees as the realization of his utter defeat came to mind.


    Neteri was the only Commander to move.


    "Call all our men and make an ounting of who is still alive! And be careful of ambushes!" She ordered.. But even though she could summon an army of souls to fight for her, she felt that her own soul had left her as the painful void of defeat and shame covered her soul.

 Chapter 320 - Final Preparations

    The sight of their Cardinal on the ground, broken, was painful for the Commanders. But they were helpless against the scheme of the Nephilim. In their experience, regrets and decisions in battle were not something they often thought of. But there was something sinister from the words of Kyros that made them feel great and deep regret.


    The losses they faced were shocking. They had not even reached the Nephilim''s base, and they had already lost nearly half of their men.


    The Nephilim''s total manpower and military might not be worthparing in terms of firepower and attack. Even Kyros admitted such a disadvantage.


    Heralcus felt his mind go nk, and his confidence shattered.


    Destiny had chosen him to go for he was the best among his peers that could travel into this strange timeline. None of the Cardinals in his home who would be born further off in the future couldpare to him. And in this world, he got even stronger as he took control of Middle and made his men bring and cultivate the darkness. But now, he could not help but feel how utterly useless he was.


    Regret filled his heart. In his cautiousness to not use his all-out strength and use his power tomand all souls, he had lost half of his army.


    He kept reying the scenes in his mind, again and again, carefully regretting each step of the way.


    The fears that held him back were ambushes from the armies of the Nephilim, that he was being led into a trap of wasting more energy, and that the Nephilim would shoot the powerful attack which killed Lucas and Faust.


    He had seen the memories of Faust that the Nephilim summoned a Temple which he recognized as a Divine Abode. So he knew that the [Holy Beam] was power borrowed from the Temple. But the actual attack that killed Faust and Lucas the first time was an attack made by directly summoning the Temple and using it to attack.


    Because of fear of this attack, Heralcus always held back, took extreme caution, and readied enough energy to defend himself.


    Then more and more of what had transpired entered into his mind. He recognized his many faults and how Kyros had duped him.


    The more he saw the enemy''s powers, the more he felt insignificant. His enemies clearly had potentials that surpassed their own. It was more than just knowledge and understanding of the Supreme Basics, but they were talented enough to improve on it and perform tricks that go beyond the level of Crowns!


    But that was the ultimate distraction. At that time, his other armies were being massacred.


    He fell into such great contemtion that his emotions leaked out, and even the souls he wielded were trembling.


    "The souls... we have to get those souls! We need to know how they were defeated!" Heralcus suddenly realized it.


    "Neteri. You are to go with me towards the ce where Eredus and the rest died. We will summon the souls to see their memories, draw them in, and eat them. First, we need to know what their powers are and how my Commanders were defeated!"


    "Yes! Cardinal." Neteri answered as she saw her Cardinal stand up.


    "Qara, Darako, and Shellcross! You are to slowly lead the army and head towards the location where Eredus died. But check the grounds yourself! We cannot afford to lose another Champion! We''d be a fool to believe that there are no traps in this vicinity!"


    "Yes, Cardinal! We will number our steps to the exact distance!"


    "Neteri, let''s go!" Heralcus ordered, and the pair flew with incredible speed towards the location of Eredus.


    The three Commanders began to gather together and n the ways.


    "I will have to fly out ahead. I am the only one fast enough to evade his attacks." Qara volunteered.


    "I shall stand the vanguard. I should be able to resist his attacks."


    "And I shall use moving darkness to pave the way. I shall use the souls of the fallen to create the dark creeping ground."


    "But we still have to be careful. That arrogant brat is too strong and cunning! So we always have to assume that he is watching us."


    The threemanders began to execute the n.


    As they continued to move, everyone had already returned to the Temple.


    The armies that ambushed the team were exhausted from the fight. Despite the many ns, a few of their own had died.


    Reptilia also moved in and had a somewhat embarrassed expression. She was the winner of the contest as she made a bold deration. Whoever helped her the most, she would marry if she won.


    And so, various knights, including Grugnyr and Gojirrah, rushed in to help her. This allowed her to retain her points as many simps willingly took the thrown objects and even made a human wall around her when her points had reached a certain level.


    But due to the slightly underhanded means as it disrupted the purpose of the training, Kyros made onest order for Reptilia to allow her to be officially dered the winner.


    "My tactics should buy us at least three to four hours. So this gives us fifteen to twenty hours. If we''re lucky they might spend five hours outside. It all depends on the perfromance of Lady Reptilia. Did Lady Reptilia do as asked?"


    "Yes. Before we killed most of the surviving souls, we did that. It was amazing. Lady Reptilia owned it." Hunter reported.


    "Yeah. That was awesome. She could make a lot of money doing that." Aron praised.


    Martha gave Aron a painful pinch from the back.


    Branze did notment, but he could feel the dangerous re of Diana.


    Reptilia was red.


    "Alright. Then since Reptilia gets the bonus points, she can make a request. What will you request of the Steele family and me? We will give you everything ording to what you wish." Kyros promised.


    Martha and Diana held their breath. This was one of the things that they dreaded. Will this beautiful lizardwoman ask for Branze of Aron?


    "Lord Kyros... I wish to be part of the Steele family. Therefore, grant me a position equal to Lady Martha and Lady Diana."


    "You want to be my aunt?"


    "Yes. I have seen how you bestow gifts to them. If I were to seek the greatest power, then as your aunt, you would oblige my selfish desires. Even if it''s attacking and liberating the lizard kingdom in my real world." Reptilia listed her demands.


    Everyone was amazed at Reptilia''s offer.


    "Oh? I never thought about that. If I were Kyros''s uncle, that would indeed give me the highest levels of power, honor, glory, and prestige!" Demerus realized the brilliance of this request.


    "That request resolves a lot of things, including your position in the Coven. Very ingenious. No wonder you were willing to do that awkward dance. We ept. Henceforth, shall you be called Reptilia Steele."


    Suddenly, a strange light urred at the Temple, and it immediately bestowed a strange power to Reptilia.


    Shown at the top was the projected stats of Reptilia. But this time, her true name was now Reptilia Steele.


    "Wee to the family, aunt Reptilia." Kyros smiled.


    "Now, we will hold our celebrationster as well as the funerals for those who have passed away in the battles earlier. Right now, we are making the final preparations for the fight. Some of us have even gained a lot and increased our levels by at least one rank. The Temple has also leveled up at the Commanders'' deaths that we managed to sacrifice in the Temple. This has allowed us to gain ess to the Enlightenment Chamber. It is a powerful artifact that enhances the meditative powers of one person who will stay inside it. It seems to have the power to spur the Codes or Corruption inside someone and help them grasp it."


    "What?! That''s amazing!" Demerus shouted.


    "Yes. It will be of great use. But, it costs a lot! Luckily, the corpses you brought in can fuel. We roughly have at least 3 hours, which equals fifteen hours here. So I will take a lot one hour for certain individuals. One hour to my grandfather, father, mother, uncle, and aunts. One hour for each of the five Emberdons, one hour for Scarlet, and one hour for Mechiel."


    "M-me?" Mechiel was surprised.


    "You have the Blood Cmity in you. But, just like Scarlet, you both already have an awakened Corruption and Code. So you will be among thest to move in. From here on, then, you try to meditate on that power. As for me, I will take the remaining time, whether it''s one or two hours. Anyints?"


    The group was silent.


    "I have a request, Lord Kyros, can I enter right before you or right before... erm... niece Mechiel?" Reptilia was unsure how to call Mechiel now."


    "We''re not married yet, Aunt Reptilia." Kyrosughed.


    "In any case, I wish to ask assistance from brother Branze to teach me True Cut." Reptilia requested.


    "I also wish to learn. Now is the time to learn that since I need more power in my attacks. Branze and the two of us can enter the chamber after everyone else. He can teach us what he knows on the first few hours, and we will meditate on what we have been taught in thest."


    "That sounds wise, mother. Everyone else, improve your skills! We''ve lost some men from thatst sh. I don''t want anymore to die! Emberdons, good job ensuring a zero death rate among the Wings of the Nephilim. But your team was still unable to block all the vampire threats in that some of those who teleported died as they tried to defend against it. Grandfather. Uncle. Some of those who died were Steele family servants and knights. Two servants and a knight, to be precise. Do what you can to ensure no one else dies in thisst sh." Kyros gave strict orders.


    "Yes!" The Emberdons, Mezal, and Aron felt the stabbing words of Kyros. But he was right. They all vowed to ensure a zero death rate.


    "Everyone, go and make your final preparations. You all know the n. Coven! On me. It''s time for us to enhance our bloodline!" Kyros dered.


    As the final preparations were being made, Heralcus and Neteri arrived at the battlegrounds.


    "Let''s begin, Neteri!" Heralcus ordered without wasting a single second.

 Chapter 321 - Winner Of The Game

    The hours of training and recovery were what the team needed. There were many gains from the fight, and Kyros gave a detailed report of the enemy that remained, and the group enhanced their ns.


    Kyros met with the Coven and allowed them to drink his blood. While Avary and Gregory bit Kyros on his hand during their turn, the daring Scarlet ced Kyros''s hand aside and went closer and bit Kyros near the neck.


    "My, my. For a thirteen-year-old, Scarlet is quite daring." Martha chucked at the side.


    After that, Mechiel dove in and bit Kyros on the other side. Her body was more mature, and she nced at Scarlet as she greedily drank Kyros''s blood.


    "Erm... Mechiel... You weren''t supposed to... oh, oh well. Just be sure to control the Blood Cmity." Kyros sighed.


    Scarlet gave Mechiel a sneer and ignored her.


    "I''ll be going ahead, Lord Kyros. Be sure to have that big sister not drain you."


    "Big sister?!" Mechiel erupted.


    "Well, you are really oldpared to my Lord Kyros. You best get with those of your age, Mechiel." Scarlet chuckled.


    She was the first one assigned to enter the Enlightenment Chamber as the rest had other obligations. However, she needed to improve on her power as the sight of Reptilia''s performance made her feel jealous.


    Reptilia had moved up into the Library of the Light, where Branze and Diana trained.


    "It''s good to have you in, sister." Diana smiled as she called out to Reptilia.


    "I''m just d you didn''t have your eyes set on my Branze."


    "I never dared. I am still a Coven member of Kyros. Besides, I already have my own eyes set on someone else. But I must ask you. Why did Lord Kyros make me do that dance? It seemed like a means to embarrass me, but I''m sure he has his reasons."


    "Husband?" Diana turned to Branze, who was still red from Diana, calling him ''mine''.


    "What? Oh right! Kyros''s orders! Well, it''s like this. We know the enemy has the ability to scan the souls and look at the memories."


    Diana and Reptilia nodded.


    "But the length and dys that Kyros sessfully managed through his taunts prove that it''s not that simple. My son said that reviving the dead is not generally possible. So these enemies of ours must have a special means to achieve it. In this war, knowledge is power. So my son assumes that this Necromancer will try to get the memories of his fallen men."


    "So the Necromancer ns to check theirst moments! I see! Is that why Lord Kyros made me dance? Sounds... petty of him." Reptilia was confused.


    "Yes... Husband, won''t the dance be useless? The Necromancer could search further into the past to get the memories he wants."


    "No, he can''t." Kyros moved towards the Library of Light. Next to him was Mechiel.


    "Suspicious for my intentions, Aunt Reptilia?" Kyrosughed.


    "No! Never, Lord Kyros! You were free tomand me to do such. But I actually want to know if there was more to it."


    "Actually, there is. It''s an ingenious thing, really. Father is right. Heralcus will go and try to get their memories. But unless he revives the people there, he can''t really read them. Where are our memories stored, after all? The brain! He needs to recreate the brain if he wishes to see their memories!"


    "But won''t that take time?" Branze asked.


    "It''s precise because of that that he will be trying a different method."


    "Soul memories! You...! You terrible...! Terrible!" The Blood Cmity appeared and realized the plot of Kyros.


    "Soul memories?" Reptilia asked.


    "Cminus told me about that a while back. You see, the soul can have memories. It''s like the emotions of love that fostered and rebuilt mom and dad''s rtionship. It''s also the same memory that drives me towards Mechiel. But, even without memories, the impressions that urred in the soul remained. Normally, what would be the most prominent memory that you would have before you die? And I''m talking about soldiers of war."


    "It would be my murderer or how I die," Branze answered.


    "Exactly. Heralcus will draw out that memory and immediately read the memories of all these souls to search for the most prominent memory that actually impacted their soul. And that memory would be my dear aunt."


    Outside of the Temple, in the location where Eredus, Faust, and Lucas died...


    Heralcus and Neteri were drawing out the souls that remained. They used even more deadly magic than what they previously used. The blessings of Destiny had allowed them better control of their souls.


    The remnant souls of the Commanders were absorbed, and Heralcus saw their deaths.


    He saw the shock and bitterness of Lucas and Faust as they got struck by the Temple''s beam again.


    Heralcus frowned. This did not give him any new information about the battle. What he needed was details as to how the army was destroyed. He was counting on the impressions of the Nephilims army to be retained in the souls of his Commanders. But these two had the impression of regret and anger and focused on the beam.


    "Nothing! I learned nothing! Those useless Commanders!" Heralcus raged.


    Heralcus focused and found the nearby soul of Eredus was found.


    But as he absorbed his memory, he saw the battle against Aron, who was now several times stronger!


    While this was good information, it still didn''t allow Heralcus to see the army of the Nephilim.


    "Damn those fools! Their regrets focused on what we already know!" Heralcus gritted his teeth and called for the souls of the army.


    One by one, glimpses of the battle were shown.


    A massive fire explosion urred, and many memories were focused on this massive attack that had reached Commander''s level.


    "So.. it''s this attack? But how was this done? What are the weapons that the Nephilim used? Could he have created a trap with powerful energy formation circles?" Heralcus guessed and continued to scour the souls nearby.


    And then, the vision changed. From mere glimpses, the souls began to see a beautiful lizardwoman who aroused the desires of the dying soldiers in theirst moments.


    Heralcus saw the lizardwoman move and bowed and said something about offering them a dance to send them off to the next world,


    "Look so good, yeah, look so sweet. Lookin'' good enough to eat." The lizardwoman sang and made gorgeous and provocative dance moves.


    "DAMN YOU, NEPHILIM!" Heralcus roared as most of the memories he saw were about this, and the rest were vague impressions.


    Back in the Temple, Kyrospleted his exnation.


    "So, that''s the general idea." Kyros smiled.


    Mechiel chuckled at the silly idea.


    "Poor Cardinal. He must be vomiting blood." Branze couldn''t help but feel sorry for him.


    "Lord Kyros!" If we may intrude." It was Gojirrah, and Grugnyr was next to him.


    "Gojirrah, Grugnyr? Oh! This must be about your promise, aunt Reptilia. I can''t help you recant your promise that helped you be the winner of the game. You promised it, and as Steele, your word is your bond."


    "That''s ironic when it''sing from someone like you, Lord Kyros." Reptilia raised her eyebrow and smirked.


    "You know what I mean." Kyros chuckled.


    "Of course. Lord Cminus. Who is the one who contributed the most out of all of them?"


    "You''re calling Cminus, Lord?"


    "...Isn''t he a god?" Reptilia asked.


    "Yeah... But... He''s... He did... I guess when you put it that way."


    "I actually prefer your Royal Awesome Sexy Thang." Cminus rified.


    "And there you have it. The reason why I don''t call him by any respectable titles." Kyros sighed.


    "About the winner, Reptilia. There are a few contenders. You see, beyond the simple assistance of helping you get points, and preventing you from getting minus points, is the overall impact that these men have."


    "So there''s no one winner?"


    "Right. And it really depends on you to define who has helped you the most. I can give you the works of these three, and ultimately, it''s up to you to decide who gave you the most points. There is Gojirrah, who bravely fought and used his supreme, unyielding will to stop you from getting minus points. Here is the rey." Cminus showed a video that highlighted Gojirrah''s moments. He fought against Aron, Mezal, Branze, and an unfamiliar human.


    Disregarding thest unknown human that Gojirrah fought, the video montage disyed Gojirrah''s amazing and brave will.


    "Then there is Grugnyr who managed to turn a majority of women to make you win by pointing out the advantages these women have without you." The rey showed Grugnyr.


    "Ladies! Reptilia is the one who you have to remove! See her beauty that captivates even I, a mere orc! Martha and Diana are taken. The Emberdon sisters will probably use their power to be skeletons! And so, all your dreamy men will be ves to this woman! Make her win! Make her mine!" Grugnyr reasoned, and it made many follow this cause.


    It was smart, cunning, and wise, and the video turned to the woman trying their best to ensure that Reptilia won.


    "We also have this guy!" Cminus presented an unfamiliar human. It was the same human shown on Gojirrah''s video.


    "Who''s that guy?" Kyros frowned.


    "This is Jeff."


    Everyone frowned as Jeff was projected on the screen. Strangely, there were no videos shown.


    "And... what did he do? Why aren''t you showing his actions?" Kyros asked.


    "It''s very difficult to exin the details. But his actions created various domino effects that allowed Scarlet to lose a lot of points, gave Aron that slip, made Mezal lose concentration, and even led to you and Hunter''s very exciting and fun moment on thest game."


    "Ah, that was fun! Hunter! We should do that game once more!" Kyrosughed as he recalled the dare of Hunter to perform trick shots and led to the two of thempeting to create the funniest,edic throws made.


    "Lord Cminus! What specific traits does this Jeff have?" Grugnyr asked as he was worried about this new rival.


    "Erm... I don''t know. Before the attack in the Middle world, he was a dentist in one of the kingdoms."


    "A dentist?" Grugnyr and Gojirrah echoed.


    "Yes. Anyway, Reptilia. There you have it. Three eligible bachelors who could be your husband! It''s up to you to decide who has the most points."


    Everyone turned to Reptilia, and her expression amazed everyone!


    It was an expression of extreme delight. Her eyes were even in tears!


    "So I can choose him as my husband? This is.... indeed the best results!" Reptilia smiled.

 Chapter 322 - Winner Of Her Heart

    Even Kyros was amazed at Reptilia''s reaction. Reptilia had been a rather cold, detached, and seemingly heartless person. She had shown little interest in anything other than to get stronger, and Kyos even believed that the power he had shown her would make her decide to follow him even without the ties of the Coven. And yet, now, she is actually showing interest and attraction to someone!


    "What? That''s surprising!" The gossipy Faye suddenly appeared as a bolt of lightning shot out.


    More people began to crowd at the entrance. Since only the main family, the Coven, and the Emberdons can enter the Library of Light, the rest waited downstairs.


    Grugnyr and Gojirrah raced to the top as well.


    "Aunt Reptilia? You actually like someone?"


    "Of course. I never cared for love or to cater to my emotions because I wanted to get stronger. Now I am serving a Lord who is Captain level yet can kill Cardinals. Why should I not allow my heart to be unmoved? As a member of the Steele Family, I also now have the honor I longed to have in my life. I am sure that this family will rise and conquer not just the nesworld, but even my own." Reptilia smiled.


    "Wow. Sound''s like you''ve been holding back a lot. Alright. So who do you pick?"


    "I have long admired him. I have seen his courage, bravery, and loyalty to you and the family. His strength is also amazing, and even during the games, I watched carefully at his actions that made me win."


    Gojirrah felt great delight. His heart would not stop beating as he heard the words.


    Grugnyr had an ugly expression. He knew that his strength wasn''t much. In the many mock battles, Gojirrah often won against Reptilia.


    Gojirrah slowly made their way towards the top. His heart could not believe it! He had taken the heart of the most beautiful warrior he had known.


    "I... am overwhelmed!" Gojirrah called out and gave a longing look at Reptilia.


    "Why are you moving forward? You are not the one." Reptilia frowned.


    "I love you too, my- What?! I''m not the one?!" Gojirrah was shocked.


    "No. I do admire your strength. But sorry. I just don''t think we''re right for each other."


    "Oof. Not that cliche answer." Cminus sighed.


    "Not right? But... Bravery... Courage!"


    "Someone else has shown more than you."


    Grugnyr suddenly walked nearby. His expression was still that of shock.


    "...It''s me?! I... I do..." Grugnyr gave his wedding vows.


    "No. It''s not you." Reptilia shook her head immediately.


    "...What?!" Grugnyr was stunned.


    Scarlet couldn''t take it anymore and walk out of the Enlightenment Chamber.


    "It''s Jeff?!" She was shocked.


    Everyone turned towards Jeff. The unknown neer who lived in the Middle.


    "M-M-Me?! It''s me?!" Jeff was shocked.


    "Err- sorry, Jeff. Honestly, I didn''t know about your existence until Cminus revealed your existence to me."


    "Even I haven''t heard of you." Kyros nodded.


    Jeff fell on his knees at such an excruciating blow.


    "Wait! Then who won! If none from the suggestion of Cminus wins, then who?" Kyros asked.


    "Lord Cminus did mention it in passing, Lord Kyros. Lord Cminus. If Kyros was focused on stopping me from winning, would he seed?"


    "Of course. There''s no question to that."


    "Then why didn''t he?"


    "Well, he was-oh! I get it! He won! Right! I never thought about that because he wasn''t interested. But yes! If I extend the range of winners, he would be at the top!"


    "Who?" Aron asked curiously.


    "As I said, he is a man of bravery. I heard of his tales, courage, and sacrifice for the Steele family. They risked their lives and were ready to give them away to save Lady Martha. His powers are also impressive as he was the first to understand how Fate Challenger works. Indeed, his foundation towards this allowed many of our allies to rise to the asion. Without his simple discovery of the essence of Fate Challenger, the death of our men would have been unimaginable. In fact, we may have faced extinction, and only Lord Kyros would survive." Reptilia began.


    "It''s him!" Diana, Branze, and Martha asked.


    "Who is it?" Hunter asked Avary.


    "And even during the games, he never sought to win but sought to make it enjoyable for Lord Kyros. He challenged Kyros in a fun game just for the sake of fun. Perhaps the joy of his lord was his reward. Regardless, because of this distraction, I was able to win! Bravery, loyalty to the family and Lord Kyros, and the potential to be strong! Now, as a Steele family, he will serve me! Hunter, I am your prize!"


    "WHAT?!" Several shouts were heard around the Temple. But no one shouted louder than Hunter himself.


    "Huh. Now that I think about it, Hunter was amazing back when we were ying. I really had fun." Kyros recalled.


    "Wait! That means he''s going to be my Uncle?!" Kyros was then horrified.


    "M-m-me?!" Hunter still couldn''t believe it.


    Reptilia was the one who approached him.


    "You''ve always been a member of the Steele family to their eyes anyway. When you and your brothers saved Lady Martha, you have shown loyalty and courage to surpass all others. I want a man who would die like that for me. But, of course, the choice is still yours if you''ll have me. But you have always been the winner of my heart."


    Everyone''s mouth was wide open. Then, secretly, somedies began to cry. Even skeletons who weredies also wept as they saw their dream man being taken away.


    Gojirrah and Grugnyr watched in amazement. But they could not refute her words. Hunter was indeedmendable for his actions. Had it not been for him, Martha would not have received her power, which would have led to their deaths in the battles here.


    Hunter was still stunned.


    "Lo-Lord Kyros?" He finally asked.


    "Agree to it, Uncle Hunter. And kiss her, you fool!" Kyros gave a thumbs up.


    Hunter turned back and looked at the dangerously beautiful charm of Reptilia. She was so beautiful that even humans would long for her. Hunter never entertained the thought. He was not of noble birth. But amidst the Steele family, all of these things seemed eptable. It was then that Hunter started to dream. He always epted his life to be serving. But now, he realized with Lord Kyros and the rest of the Steele family, he could serve and yet be a king.


    "I ept." Hunter nced back at Reptilia. Now his eyes no longer withheld his emotion as he looked lovingly at the beautifuldy who confessed her love to him.


    "Alright. This is a nice moment. But we have to ruin it. Sorry. We''llmemorate the wedding after this battle. I''m guessing mom and dad will also want to celebrate their wedding again. So it''s a triple wedding."


    "Four. You''re forgetting our wedding, lord Kyros." Scarlet chuckled as she moved back to the Enlightenment Chamber.


    Kyros turned red, and a dark aura was hovering over Mechiel. Even the Blood Cmity was enraged.


    "Alright, people. Let''s get back to work. Let''s not waste any time. We don''t know how long Heralcus will try to see the memories of the dead souls." Kyros ordered everyone to return to their respective task.


    "Lord Kyros. Thank you." Reptilia bowed.


    "Don''t worry about it. You did a good job with that dance."


    "Ye-Yes. Mydy, would you..." Hunter asked shyly.


    "Fine. Defeat four Champions, and I''ll give you that same dance for your viewing. But that should only be after we are married." Reptilia smiled.


    Hunter was dazed. Several crashing sounds and explosive Force attacks could be heard outside as Grugnyr and Gojirrah were cursing when they heard this.


    Kyros was sweating and hoped that Scarlet did not hear what Reptilia had just said.


    "Lord Kyros. There should still be a few memories that would put their impressions on the Wings of the Nephilim or of our forces."


    "Yes. That was intended. If no souls would reveal small details about our army, then Heralcus would leave. But if there is a very small percentage that does, he will stay and try his luck." Kyros smiled.


    "Ah. I understand now. How cruel."


    Back outside, Heralcus continued to see through the memories. Neteri was also helping out.


    They were close to giving up, but Neteri saw a vision of a strange flying device.


    And so, the pair began to carefully search each memory to attain even a single additional detail.


    "They tried to cover it, but it seems some souls will still give us more information!" Heralcus began to hope, and the pair continued to sift through the memories.


    Hours passed, and the pair managed to find some things.


    There were some memories of great explosions, a strange Holy energy that moved like a wall, and so on.


    There was yet another woman who appeared that made Heralcus curse. The power of this young woman was simr to the power of the Blood Cmity!


    "They have another Subus?!" Heralcus raged and shouted madly. But as he turned to Neteri, Neteri was now singing the same song that most of the souls revealed. It was that song about some tasty treat called ice cream.


    "NETERI!" Heralcus pped her.


    SLAP!


    "My-my Cardinal! I''m sorry. I was... I was scouring those memories to see if if there were any words of power rted to the abilities of the subus which entranced everyone within that song.


    "What have you found so far?" Heralcus asked again.


    "It appears the enemy is capable of mobile energy conversion circles. Unfortunately, very few memories allowed me to piece it all together and exin how their mages have such devastating firepower."


    "I believe we have found all that we can in this. We should prepare our counters.. I have a way of destroying all energy conversion circles through freezing. Let''s go back! It''s time for us to prepare our final assault!"

 Chapter 323 - Winner Of This Chess Match

    Heralcus and his legion arrived near the arrow that pointed downwards. They nced at the mountain, and scouts were moving around the region.


    There was no Temple standing nearby or on top of the mountain, to their surprise. Heralcus spotted the arrow, but it vanished a few secondster.


    "Is the Temple inside that mountain?" Darako asked.


    "Yes. It should be. I saw how he managed to summon and bring the Temple out of nothing." Neteri answered.


    "It''s the perfect ce. We attacked this region, remember? Our Siege Cultivators couldn''t break the mountain and cause the mountain to cave in. Unless you Commanders bombard it with several massive spells and attacks, that mountain and the underground region it hides will endure."


    "And if we use massive attacks, we''d be falling into their trap as we would have less energy to fight."


    "Yes. So we either perform grand attacks that will destroy the mountain or charge right in. But then the path will be narrow, and we will face the full attacks of the Nephilim. In that scenario, we would still be expending energy to defend the attack." Heralcus exined.


    "But surely, they can''t perform power attacks several times! This could be to our advantage! We lead the charge and take advantage of the small space and use ourbined defenses to resist the enemy!" Qara eximed.


    "That is a good n. But that''s what they want us to do!" Shellcross dered angrily.


    "This enemy of ours is a master deceiver. That is what he expects us to do. And then he teleports his team behinds us and shoots that [Holy Beam] or that meteor attack behind us!" Shellcross pointed out the trap.


    Qara and Darako realized the horror of such a circumstance.


    "Then we ensure that there is none. The Nephilim is also trying to dy us. He knows we wille to that conclusion. Yet we cannot ignore this threat. Even though it will dy our attack, we still have to search the nearby areas for possible ambushes that the Nephilim hasid. He could teleport his forces in a back region, as Shellcross pointed out. So we have scoured the whole area for energy conversion circles. For now, we create pressure and blind them of our sight. Qara, go and scout the area around the mountain and create a powerful tornado that will block their view. Go now."


    "Yes!" Qara immediately flew out and flew towards the mountain. Her speed created massive gusts that kicked the dust off the ground. The power of the Wind Core created a strong wind, and a tornado formed right at the entrance.


    Qara retreated and watched the tornado. She then flew to see for any possible lookout locations hidden outside the mountain.


    At the same time, the armies began to scout around the area.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Some areas exploded as the group found energy conversion circles and was slowly dismantling them piece by piece.


    Heralcus found an energy conversion circle that wasn''t a trap and didn''t explode.


    "This brat! He has nted several teleportation circles around the area, just as I suspected!"


    He then flew up and observed thend.


    There was a lone mountain where the ruins of the Alpha Draconis Kingdom stood. Around them was thick vegetation of Dark-Dependent nts of all forms. Tall trees and thick marshes covered the forest around the mountain.


    The more he saw, the more Heralcus cursed.


    "My Lord?" Neteri asked.


    "He is good at making us dy our attacks. Search the area and create a massive formation to seal this ce. The area has thick shrubs and weeds that he could have cut, drawn an energy conversion circle on the ground, and covered it up again! I want you to all burn it! Burn all the trees and nts! Burn that entire forest!" Heralcus ordered.


    Neteri and Shellcro immediately took action and started to light fires all over the forest.


    The mes quickly spread as the group used Balefire to burn the dark-dependent nts and even used a variety of spells, gas, and other mmable substance to burn everything behind.


    The great fires began to rage, and soon, the armies of Heralcus began to form ranks at the entrance of the mountain.


    The tornado had died out, and they were prepared to charge. But as the winds and dust died out, Kyros was standing right at the entrance.


    "Hey! It took you long enough to start the attack."


    "Nephilim! Tonight, I shall feast on your bones!" Qara roared.


    "Whatever. You guys never learn, do you? So how was it that you acted exactly ording to my ns?" Kyrosughed.


    "ording to your n? Quit bluffing. I was more careful this time!"


    "I was counting on it. We needed time to recover. And we got it because you guys acted so cautiously. You see, if you sent Qara to fly towards this ce after I left, you would have known that the Temple was inside the mountain. This means that your little side-trip to see the attacks of my air support wasn''t necessary. But you were so cautious, including you, Qara. You never decided to scout ahead. So that dyed your arrival and gave us enough time to recuperate." Kyros mocked.


    "Did you find any traps at all, Commanders? After the first hour, you must have thought that there was no trap, but then, that made you feel afraid! Because you thought that I nned that and made traps again. So you continued your paranoia until you reached this region."


    Shellcross, Darako, and Qara had furious expressions. It was exactly as Kyros said.


    Heralcus had a cold expression but maintained his focused re.


    "A useless taunt. What can mere hours do to help you recover?"


    "You''d be surprised." Kyros sneered.


    "And even on my doorstep, you still fell into my n. You were so focused on the possible traps I made and the prepared teleportation energy formation circles that you were willing to burn the entire forest. And your wind dragon even made a tornado right in front of my doorstep, which is the least energy-consuming magic that would block my view. All ording to my n."


    "How was that ording to your n?"


    "Let me first tell you of this ingenious n! The annoying thing was your army of shades. Of course, I was fated to have the power to resist it and have the right element to erase the darkness. I used it a lot in the previous battles, which forced you to resurrect your army to have a physical form. That would solve the problem, as they would be more resistant to my light attacks, right?"


    "It worked! You had to use more energy and add Brimstone to kill my men on your next attacks."


    "Yes. Of course. But as I said, you were so focused on energy conversion circles. As it turns out, I''m a poison expert. I never got the chance to use it in my fights, and when I discovered Fate and Destiny''s existence, I decided not to use it against them. Specifically against the minions of Destiny. You see, most poisons avable in the Londs could easily be resisted by simply holding your breath. But you guys did not do that in this particr scenario I created. Pungent Shackling Poison Fruit. Do you know about this?" Kyros smiled.


    Heralcus''s expression changed, and it turned extremely ugly.


    "No... It can''t be!"


    "That''s right. I made several mixtures. You''ve seen my work in energy conversion circles. Would you believe that I am equally skilled in making poisons? I ced it in the forest around this area. And you burned the entire forest and ced a tornado at the center, which acted like a vacuum that drew the wind in. Even now, my long speech to taunt and talk to you is to dy your stay in this area. Your weaker leveled men should start getting paralyzed, or killed, right about... now."


    And at Kyros''s words, several men suddenly fell. Others began to convulse.


    More and more men began to fall, and a panic urred as everyone gasped for breaths.


    Suddenly, several bright lights shed out from the back of Kyros. The power of Kyriachos''s darkness disappeared, and it revealed the Emberdon Mages and the skeletons, all aiming with a scepter that formed an energy formation circle at the tip.


    The teamunched their attacks and shot at different ces.


    "Shields!" The Championsmanded.


    But the disarray from the panic and the sudden deaths and paralysis of their men caused many Force and Magic shields to weaken.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The pitiful shields could not withstand the might of the Champion-leveled attacks, and more of the men died.


    "Come and die. But I warn you, Cardinal. Fate is already the winner of this chess match between Fate and Destiny. Walk inside, Cardinal Heralcus.. It is your fate to fall here! No, in fact, it is your destiny to die here!" Kyrosughed as he vanished into the darkness of the cave.

 Chapter 324 - Winner Of The Battle

    More men started to fall from the poison. The strange poison that was harnessed from the poison fruit and hidden around thends before them was somehow more potent. Never before has Heralcus seen such a poison master create a concoction that could affect an entire army like this.


    There was no time to hesitate. Heralcus shouted in great rage and ordered everyone to attack. The burned poison fruit would soon even affect Captains, making the slow and could even slightly affect the Champions.


    "Siege cultivators! Shoot your strongest attack into the inside of the cave! Everyone charge exactly right after!" Heralcus ordered.


    Massive Force and Magic attacks were harnessed by the Siege cultivators who were using strange devices, and it shot out towards the entrance of the cave.


    But as it shot inside, no explosions were heard.


    A few secondster, the attacks they sent in were suddenly traveling back to them!


    "Neteri!" Heralcus ordered.


    Neteri called out the soul army, which was now within her, and a massive arm appeared and blocked the attacks.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "What was that? They sent the attack back!"


    "It was that dragon of theirs. I saw its mouth open within the darkness." Heralcus answered.


    "We must attack now!" Several massive skeletons appeared near Heralcus. Each of them had the powers equal to a Commander!


    "Attack now!" Heralcus ordered, and they all charged into the cave.


    Neteri did the same as the soul of her army infused in her to make herself stronger. The massive soul shrunk andpressed itself to go back to her original size. But the power of her punch would reach the levels of a Cardinal.


    Shellcross released his own massive Force energy, and his form grewrger, turning over five meters tall. The power of the Okto-Khefali mixed with his Force energy and increased the defensive abilities of his wall that would make it equal to the Cardinals.


    Qara transformed to her dragon form. It was only slightlyrger than her human form, and the appearance of her head looked closer to the Okto-Khefali.


    Darako turned into a massive dark being, and the entire area around them turned darker as creeping darkness shot towards the cave.


    Everyone charged forward as the desperate situation dictated the need to do so.


    Heralcus was at the forefront, and a small head of the Okto-Khefali appeared on top of him. The ice mixed in with the creeping darkness, and it shot through thend.


    Various explosions erupted at the front as the darkness and ice attacked the energy conversions circles nted in numerous ces within the tunnel. Even the ceiling of the cave had energy formation circles.


    At that point, the entire Temple could finally be seen. It had walls that were fortified, and a strange light barrier covered it. Several three-meter golems full of light energy were standing and began to point their arms as it shot out several white beams.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The attacks were blocked as Shellcross deployed his ming Force wall.


    "Archers!" Martha shouted.


    And the archers around the Temple shot their Force and Magic enforced arrows even though they were quite a distance away.


    The arrows flew, and a massive energy conversion circle appeared on the skies above as the arrows were loosed.


    The arrows passed through the circle, and suddenly we were all full of water elements!


    "Eredus!" Heralcus sensed it. The Water Core from the head of the Okto-Khefali was being used as a source to create the energy.


    The water arrows flew and began to explode around the Force Wall that Shellcross set up. The archers didn''t stop, and more and more were being released.


    "Entropy Cannon!" Kyros ordered.


    Mardock, the Entropy Golem, took the stage once more. Several energy formation circles were around him.


    "I''ve been outssed and have be useless and need to grow stronger. But atst, in this fight, I can be of help!" Mardock raised his hands as the energy of True Enropy gathered around him.


    BLAST!


    A beam of Entropy shot out towards the Fire Wall.


    BOOM!


    "Those brats!" Shellcross raged as he could feel the power of his shield weaken.


    "Hold your wall, Shellcross!" Heralcus ordered. He didn''t dare tell his othermanders to defend as they were expecting heavier bombardments.


    Heralcus knew that there would be the Temple''s [Holy Beam] and the meteor attack, and he nned each of the other Commanders to take on those attacks. This was their n.


    The creeping darkness and ice that spread on the floor crashed on the Holy Barrier of the Temple.


    "Prepare the [Meteor Doom]!" Kyros ordered.


    The Wings of the Nephilim assumed a formation around the Temple, and a massive energy formation circle formed once more.


    Mechiel stood at the top of the wall and closed her eyes.


    Several powerful elements appeared and gathered around her. The mages and all who could cast magic added their contribution.


    "Impossible! That''s the Celestial Code! They are using it to create Astra''s Code!" Neteri was shocked as she saw how two codes were working together.


    Deep inside the core of the Temple, apart from Cminus''s Time Core, the Earth Core and the Water Core from the Okto-Khefali were there. Again, the power of water was used, and this time, the Earth''s power was being harnessed.


    The star energy formed, and the Earth energy was added to increase the density of the attacks. The power of this attack was even a little stronger and more refinedpared to the ones that Eredus faced. The Enlightenment Chamber had increased the understanding of everyone who entered and was able to gain understanding and


    "Darako! Qara! Block that attack! Neteri! Concentrate your power, and let usunch an all-out attack to destroy that [Holy Barrier]! If we weaken it, then the Nephilim can''t attack the [Holy Beam]!"


    "Yes, Lord Cardinal!" The Commanders nodded.


    All the Champions joined forces and divided themselves ording to their ns. Each Champion was supporting a Commander, adding and harmonizing their Force or Magic to increase the power of each Commanders.


    The massive Elemental Wheel finally condensed, and several chunks of rocks began to float above the Temple.


    "Fire! [Meteor Doom]!" Demerus shouted, and everyone shouted the Word of Power andunched the meteors.


    Qara and Darako charged forward, moved beyond the Fire Wall of Shellcross, and used their powers.


    Wind and Dark elements created a path that threw the iing meteors off course. Since the attacks were more condensed, Heralcus schemed to redirect it instead of blocking it.


    With the wind and dark energy creating a current that led all the way to the exit of the tunnel, the two then created a massive wind and dark dome that protected everyone.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The meteors didn''t make direct contact with the dome but veered off and struck sides ceiling, and some even flew further out to the exit.


    The dust hadn''t yet settled when Neteri and Heralcus charged out, and both were using tremendous soul power.


    "Die!" Heralcus and Neteri both flew and prepared their attack on the Holy Barrier.


    "Abandon the walls!" Mezal ordered as his horrified expression was shown.


    Every quickly jumped off the wall as the power of Ice and Entropy approached.


    Decay and Preservation. These two could not have worked with each other. But with the power of Destiny, they were granted various powers that allowed the two contrasting powers to merge into one.


    BOOM!


    A massive explosion urred and created a massive eradicating power that created frost that turned to ashes.


    The Holy Barrier was no more, and the massive walls that stood in front of the Temple were nowhere to be seen. Various massive stones and rocks that looked like the ruins of the Temple itself remained. It was frozen and slowly disintegrated and broke as the powerful ice reached the core. A massive crater with the ground itself cracking and breaking from the powerful ice was seen with Heralcus and Neteri standing in the middle. And the ice began to affect the entire underground region causing the mountain above to copse.


    "Nephilim! I am the winner of this battle!" Heralcus shouted in triumph.

 Chapter 325 - Winner And King Of Middle

    The massive destruction of the attack was now causing the mountain itself to copse. The earthquakes inside the underground cave continued when a powerful Force Wall shot out and prevented it from falling.


    Shellcross focused his Force on stabilizing the copsing ceiling.


    Darako also did the same, and a putrid dark power began to creep over the ground and rush to the walls and ceilings to help it stabilize.


    Hearalcus and Neteri were exhausted as they watched the deteriorating icend before them. Finally, the two revealed their final aces. This was an attack that Heralcus and Neteri prepared to give the Nephilim and his armies no chance to fight back. The attackbined various Corruption and Codes that they had. They could only use it for a split second, but the results were more than satisfactory. The attack they performed reached an attack power of over 700 points! That was a power level equal to those who have Victor''s Crown potential!


    Thebined attack of the two had changed thendscape so that nothing remained.


    Heralcus raised his arms, and several pirs made of bones of different creatures suddenly tore from the ground and held the ceiling up. With that, the copse of the mountain stopped.


    "The Temple of the Nephilim is destroyed!" Qara rejoiced.


    "Victory!" The army of Heralcus began to cheer. The sounds of men, orcs, monstrous cultivators began to shout in unity as they saw that they had won.


    "Till death!" A roar was heard on the other end.


    Suddenly, a rain of arrows and magical attacks began to shoot out towards the army.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Heralcus and Neteri frowned and blocked the attack.


    They were exhausted and retreated while Shellcross moved to the front to take the blows aimed for Neteri and Heralcus.


    BOOM!


    "They are still alive!" Shellcross frowned.


    Angered by the ambush, the head of the Okto-Khefali appeared above Heralcus, and it shot a beam of ice.


    A massive Holy Wall appeared on the other end.


    BOOM!


    A small group of survivors constituting of wounded archers and mages could be seen.


    Mezal, Branze, and Diana stood in front of them and held the wall. Their appearances were ragged, and blood was trickling down everywhere.


    Faye, Demerus, and Stelly charged angrily as their eyes were red in anger.


    "For our sisters!" They shouted and wildly deployed their shields.


    A massive Wyrm''s head appeared, and it roared and shot a dark beam.


    Martha teleported out and punched Qara as she raged.


    "Martha! Retreat!" Aron pleaded as he crawled out of a trench on the far end of the underground region.


    But Martha was so enraged that she stood her ground and shot out arrows of darkness.


    But suddenly, a massive bone wall appeared and divided the two.


    "Organize the men and prepare to charge! This is theirst stand! Commanders! Do not take them lightly! These cornered rats can still bite!" Heralcus ordered and created a massive bone wall that raised to the ceiling.


    "I will drop the ceiling, and we all charge. Leave the Nephilim to me!" Heralcus ordered.


    "Yes, Cardinal!"


    "Everyone! Let our powersbine!" Martha ordered on the other side of the wall.


    "Earth!"


    "Fire!"


    "Wind!"


    "Water!"


    "Entropy!"


    Several cries followed, and a powerful magic and force energy could be detected on the other side of the bone wall.


    "Lord Cardinal." Neteri approached and offered to add soul to defend the bone wall.


    "Rx. My wall won''t falter easily." Heralcus harnessed his energy, and the bone wall was now glowing with pale green energy.


    "Attack on mymand! For Lord Kyros! Holy Beam!" Martha shouted again.


    BOOOOOOOOOM!


    A massive beam shot from the back of the army of Heralcus. It tore through the lines killing all that it touched.


    The attack was so fast that no one had time to react.


    BOOM!


    The beam reached the Commanders and Heralcus, pressed into the bone wall.


    "AHHHHH!" Shellcross shouted in pain.


    "NOOOO!" Darako was vulnerable to the holy light and began to deteriorate.


    The beamsted for several seconds and finally dispersed.


    The bone wall still remained standing. But there were massive cracks and the pale energy that once covered it disappeared.


    Darako''s body was revealed. It was a strange, skinny creature covered in strange goo. It was even smaller than Kyros''s young form.


    Darako copsed and breathed itsst.


    Shellcross also fell to the ground and was barely able to move.


    Heralcus was trembling as wounds appeared all over his face. He cast a defensive spell at thest minute, but the attack was too strong to defend that Heralcus focused on defending himself in thest few seconds of the attack.


    He saw at the very end of the entrance that they moved into was the Temple of the Nephilim.


    A lone figure was moving deeper into the cave and was headed towards Heralcus.


    The bright Temple behind him made him appear as a silhouette in the eyes of Heralcus.


    The silhouette that approached soon came to sight, and it was a young boy.


    He was wearing a cape, and the wind that mysteriously blew sideways caused this cape grandly.


    He held a sword in his hand, which was burning with Balefire.


    His walk was slow and defined, and soon, his appearance was revealed.


    Kyros smiled as he held his sword.


    "You guys should have paid attention. Of the several meteors we sent out, I was right inside one of them. It was a risky gamble. Had you chosen to attack that specific, I would have died right then and there. But thankfully, you followed my ns and chose to redirect the meteors to conserve energy. You didn''t notice that one flew all the way to the exit." Kyros exined as he moved closer.


    Neteri and Qara were slowly trying to stand up. They were able to ready their defenses as Heralcus blocked the initial attack, but when his shield failed due to its hasty creation, the pair had to block the attacks themselves.


    Qara''s two wings were burned off. She had used it to shield herself.


    Neteri was out of the souls she had, and her right arm was burned up.


    "The Temple...!" Qara cursed as she saw the Temple.


    "That was a marvelous attack! Too bad you missed it by this much."


    [Taunt of Tyrannus activated.]


    "YOU! YOU DID THIS!"


    "Who were you expecting? Chuck Norris?" Kyros sneered.


    "I believe a little exnation is necessary before I kill you. You see, I have the ability to move the entire Temple. I can take it and store it in a dimensional space, and I can summon it out at will. I knew you would send out an attack that could easily destroy the [Holy Barrier] of my Temple. And I didn''t want you to damage my precious Temple. That was quite an attack! But too bad we already prepared for it. Behind the Temple, at the furthest end of this underground region, we build a very, very deep pit. When you attacked, I told my team to stand their ground and retreat as your attack approached. Cminus activated his Time eleration ability, and the mages created a bright shing light. You wouldn''t suspect it as you would think it was just the Holy Beam or the Holy Barrier casting a protective spell. But the real reason was that it was used to conceal their escape. They dove down the pit, and your massive attack missed."


    "You coward! Your weak and scared of my power!" Heralcus roared.


    "Scared of your power? You misunderstand. In a fight, I can choose to block or evade an attack. If evading is cowardice, then all of you are cowards as you will naturally evade attacks you can''t block. That was an attack that only Victor Crowns could do! Obviously, my choice would be to evade it. My team retreated and jumped on the deep pit. The moment I sensed the Holy Barrier copse, I teleported the Temple. And with your backs facing me, I just couldn''t resist but send out a Holy Beam. And thank you, Cardinal. I was worried that my Holy Beam would hurt my allies. Thank you for creating that wall." Kyros chuckled.


    "You tricked me! You tricked me!" Heralcus shouted angrily.


    "I am a Cardinal! I am far stronger than you! I am supposed to be the winner of Middle!"


    "Gonna cry? Pipe down, you whiner. See the difference between the grand majesty of a winner. And look around to see the pitiful ending of the whiner. I already told you I am the winner of this chess match. Soe and receive your Destiny. You shall die at my hands." Kyrosughed as several Elemental Cores appeared around him.


    The Earth Core, the Water Core, and the Lightning Core took from Eredus, Faust, and Lucas appeared. The Fire Core that Scarlet received from the Temple also appeared.


    Itcked a few elements, but Kyros could still wield the power of the Celestial Code.


    The four cores began to float behind him, and an energy conversion circle appeared with each core in a specific position.


    The power of the Elements raged, and a bright light appeared around Kyros.


    He was finally using the job ss that he had used in his previous life.


    The Celestial Pdin had returned.

 Chapter 326 - Winner Takes All

    The power that Kyros showed harnessed the Code well. With the aid of the Cores that he received from the Okto-Khefali, it made it easier for Kyros to harness the energy.


    The power of the Charmed Fallen that seduced the elements to submission now had a channel to concentrate its power on.


    Each core was carefully arranged on certain energy conversion circles in a very specific way. There were ''slots'' in the rotating energy conversion circles where these cores were, and another strange circle was situated near the heart of Kyros, which drew out the power of Light.


    "Are you afraid, Cardinal? I haven''t directly fought you, yet you''ve already lost your army, and I''ve already made you bleed. Imagine what would happen when I attack?" Kyrosughed.


    "Do not mock me, boy! That attack drained your Temple! If you could attack any more, you would have shot again! My army may have been destroyed, but I can resurrect them! I will win this fight, and I will defend Middle!" Heralcus raised a green amulet and shattered it.


    A huge green ball of pale-green energy appeared.


    The cries of a thousand souls could be heard, and a wave of pale-green bones began to burst out of it.


    "Hundred Champions! Arise!"


    The bones began to gather and take the form of humans, orcs, massive beasts, and even lesser dragons!


    Suddenly, many souls from the departed ones nearby all arose, and all began to form.


    Using his tremendous magic capacity, Heralcus crafted a body of magic for all of them, and they began to reform. Unfortunately, the skeletons of the Okto-Khefali also appeared, and the souls became their flesh.


    It was unworldly magic. Magic and soul became flesh, and the creatures were reforged in greater power.


    "[Somatos Ous Thanatou]!" Heralcus screamed.


    "Let us fight and end this, Nephilim!" Heralcus roared.


    Several massive skulls also appeared above Heralcus.


    Heralcus summoned the Okto-Khefali''s Ice head, and powerful energy was permeating out of it.


    "Eh? Too many! I''ll pass on this one, Heralcus." Kyros suddenly began to run back.


    "What?!"


    "Guys, blow off that annoying wall and shoot the ceiling and take cover." Kyros shook his head and turned tail as he sent powerful magic attacks to the ceiling above.


    Beams of Fire and Lighting shot from the Cores and targeted the ceiling.


    On the other side of the wall, the mages were aiming at certain points of the cave. They had nned since the very beginning to drop this massive mountain and had made preparations. Hidden on certain parts wererge energy conversion circles that would trigger a chain reaction of explosions.


    Demerus issued themands to attack. Mezal undid the power of an Earth-Strengthening spell. Martha had teleported to the rooms and chambers above the ceiling and began to attack the pirs hidden behind the walls that held up the underground cavern. Finding them was easy through Foresight, and she had already prepared which posts she would attack.


    Unlike before, where only the ceiling above would copse, the borate preparations the group made had caused the entire mountain to fall.


    The Emberdon''s hadpleted channeling a weaker version of [Meteor Doom].


    "Destroy the massive wall!" Demerus shouted, and the groupunched their attacks on the barely standing bone wall of Heralcus.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    As the wall fell down, the final support that protected Heralcus and the team gave way.


    "Can Champions survive the crushing weight of the mountain? My group has already made preparations to teleport out. See you outside!" Kyros flew.


    The group had already activated the spell to teleport out, as Kyros said.


    FLASH!


    Only Martha was somewhere within the mountain, moving and attacking delicate spots to further the copse. Everyone else had vanished.


    "NOOOOO!" An angry howl left Heralcus''s voice as the entire mountain crashed on top of him and his rushing forces.


    Kyros was already outside, thanks to his dexterity. None of the forces was able to move out as Kyros sent more attacks as he was retreating.


    The Nephilim''s army had appeared on the nearby energy conversion circle that Kyros nted when he was shot out here.


    The team rushed towards the Temple to be healed. While the Temple had drained all of its energy from the attack, the death of the army from the attacks had allowed the Temple to absorb more energy, and everyone was being healed again with their magic pool being restored. In addition, those who were wounded from the attack of Heralcus from the st were also healed.


    "Heralcus is mine, guys. Focus on the rest." Kyros ordered as he watched the rumbling sounds deep within the wreckage of the mountain.


    "Coven, you''re with me. Try to keep up. Learn from our training in time. Our enemy will have a dexterity that exceeds our own speed. Imagine fighting Lord Kyros." Martha ordered.


    "Husband, a day wille where you will protect me. But for now, allow me to be your shield." Reptilia smiled at Hunter.


    "s, mydy. I want to have some fun." Hunterughed.


    Reptilia chuckled, and the pair walked forward.


    Grugnyr and Gojirrah sighed as they followed.


    "Lady Martha. I wish to fight the other bones. I don''t want to seduce a woman, after all." Scarlet smiled as a pair of blood-red wings appeared, and she flew high.


    Martha smiled and did not speak anymore as she led her team to the mountain''s ruin.


    "Everyone, on me. The mountain may have killed more, but that Necromancer will still have more power to summon. Destiny has decreed him to have a disgusting magic pool. Fighting him directly would have resulted in our losses. But now, we have no more tricks to spare. So fight his minions!" Branze informed, and everyone behind him cheered.


    "Emberdons. We''ll go after Neteri. Wings of the Nephilim, fly!" Mezal smiled and readied his shield as he paired with Ressi.


    BOOM!


    "NEPHILIM!"


    The massive head of the Okto-Khefali broke through the boulders of the mountain. Then, several more heads burst out, and finally, the body of a massive Okto-Khefali appeared.


    Heralcus appeared, and his Commanders were closest to him. Above him was a powerful pale-green shield that hovered overhead.


    "NEPHILIM! Let''s end this!"


    "What a magnificent shield!" Kyros thought it was love at first sight.


    "Of course, you would want it. Like the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges and the Cloak of Darkness that you have, that is also another legacy weapon that once belonged to Azerret, the Lieutenant of the First Fallen. It''s called Shield of the Wicked. A shield of great atrocity that vowed to protect the darkness." Cminus exined.


    "What a nice gift from Destiny! That shield will be perfect for my little collection. And it will no longer shield just the Darkness but will be a shield for the Light. For I am Mysterion. [Skotos Eis Phos]!"


    Bright light erupted around Kyros as the elements danced.


    Mechiel flew up as she now had wings that were simr to the Blood Cmity and joined Kyros.


    Heralcus red as he watched the smug look of Kyros.


    "Don''t dream for what you can''t have, Nephilim!" Heralcus roared angrily as his power erupted out once more and brought more creatures back to life.


    "You can kill them a hundred times! I will resurrect them! I will win and be the king of Middle! And this shield will be the banner that will shield Middle from Fate! Commanders! Kill them all!" Heralcus roared and flew towards Kyros with the heads of the Okto-Khefali following close by.


    Neteri also flew and allowed her massive soul form to be revealed. But unlike her form earlier, it was weaker.


    Qara assumed her full dragon form and charged.


    "Haven''t you heard of the phrase, winner takes all? Warriors of Nephilim! Take everything from them!'' Kyrosughed as he charged towards Heralcus.

 Chapter 327 - Winner That Wins

    Kyros had made the necessary preparations for the fight. Even with all their boosts and increase in power, he knew that he would never match the pure raw power of the Cardinal and the Commanders. Their victories were snatched at thest second on the first battle, and on this one, he preparedyers andyers of trap to weaken not just the army but the strength of the Commanders and Cardinal.


    The Cardinal himself was severely weakened from the numerous attacks. And to resist the falling mountain, he had to use more of his life-saving treasures from Destiny.


    Each plot was designed to push the group beyond their limits, but Kyros still had a few more tricks to push them. But now, it was the endgame for all of them. There were no longer any other tricks as this series of attacks was the best plot they could use to attack the enemy.


    The wilting of their forces and the weakening of the deadly strong foes was necessary for Kyros knew that Destiny had made crazy and even illogical overestimates of what the Nephilim could do.


    Heralcus and his army could fight a Crown with all the power he had and all the tricks on his sleeve.


    But the long list of overpowered skills, weapons, and allies was now on the verge of being depleted.


    "Nephilim!"


    "This is it, Heralcus! No more tricks and deception. Just a battle between our forces! So how about that one-on-one?!" Kyros charged.


    Heralcus summoned all of the skulls of the Okto-Khefali, and it began to hover over the sky and began to gather great energy. Heraclus took the Elemental Cores from Shellcross and Darako, who had died, and returned it to the original heads.


    "You may wield the elements, Nephilim! But the Okto-Khefali have always been immune to magic!" Heralcus roared as the skeletons of the Okto-Khefali appeared.


    Each head had its spine connected to them, making them appear like floating bones ofrge snakes. They charged forward towards Kyros.


    But Kyros didn''t cower back and charged towards the massive skulls.


    "Who said anything about magic?! The Celestial Pdin''s main weapon isn''t the elements, but his sword! Have a taste of this!" Kyrosughed.


    KZZZT! KZZZT! KZZZT!


    Bolts of lightning began to arc out, and Kyros''s figure began to move with incredible speed. The lightning bolts became the path of Kyros''s movements as he charged forward and made sharp turns. The speed of the charge surpassed that of the Okto-Khefali.


    Kyros''s body bolted back and forth, allowing him to perform several shes and attacks.


    "[Pronto]!" Kyros activated his most powerful spell, and a small energy formation circle appeared like a halo over his head.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    The attacks struck the massive creatures with lightning velocity, allowing Kyros to deal damage on the bones themselves.


    The bones of three of the heads began to break apart as the cuts tore deep.


    "[Soul Reform]!" Heralcus shouted.


    But suddenly, the halved bones reunited!


    "Useless! Your cuts won''t work on them! Those aren''t just bones! They are the souls that I created! Even if you cut them to pieces, they will reform!" Heralcusughed and ordered all the bones to charge out towards Kyros.


    The eight heads of the Okto-Khefali surrounded Kyros. Heralcus also joined in the charge. He revealed his shield and a massive sword that looked like arge beast''s fang.


    "A Death Dragon''s Tooth?" Kyros recognized it. It wasn''t the first time he faced it. The Eldrich Noble that he killed prior to his capture on his previous life wielded the Dragons'' tooth and used the power of death and decay.


    Kyros ignored everything else and focused on Heralcus.


    "What I have torn asunder, let no being put together. I, the Nephilim Kyros Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos Mysterion Steele decree it!" Kyros spoke the words of power and unleashed the power of True Cut.


    BOOM!


    It was as if reality itself was cracked. The entire space around them was severed. It wasn''t just the bones of the Okto-Khefali. The very space where the sword of Kyros had passed by was severed and could not reform. And so, the massive crack in the sky could be seen as the darkness began to creep into reality. Through Severance allowed Separation to appear. The Darkness of Kyriachos began to charge in.


    Heralcus was shocked, but his charge could no longer be stopped. Kyros had also charged directly at him as all the other bones were shattered.


    BOOM!


    The two swords shed in the sky. Fire, ice, and darkness fueled Heralcus''s sword, while the Celestial elements powered Kyros''s sword.


    The two powers shed in the sky above, with neither being pushed back.


    "Isn''t it sad that a Cardinal like you can''t push a Captain like me back?" Kyros taunted.


    "Your pretense is useless, Nephilim! You are running out of energy! Your Force and Magic are running out! Don''t think I don''t know your n! You want to deal with me so that I can''t kill your allies? Then that''s exactly what I will do! Worms of Hades!"


    Suddenly, thousands and thousands of long, pale-blue worms appeared from the back of Heralcus.


    "[Soul Over Mana]!'' Kyros began to burn all his Magic and Force energy and created a thick purging Holy light.


    The growing sun resisted the worms, but it was then Kyros realized that he wasn''t the target.


    The thousands of worms had flown all over the sky and began to connect the separated souls. The concept of uniting the separated began.


    "Hades Unites the Divided. Reconciles the Unresolved. For all is Destined to die and enter true unity! Your separationcks power, Nephilim! You can never overpower me! Watch as your allies die!"


    The eight heads reformed once more as the Worms of Hades linked the separated bones. The eight heads began to gather tremendous energy.


    Kyros saw it and tried to break free, but a strange power was stopping Kyros from being separated from Heralcus. His sword wouldn''t budge.


    "A foolish choice to strike my sword, Nephilim.! Now you will see your allies die! Now you will see the fulfillment of the decrees of Destiny to your known family! You called yourself a winner for your previous victories. But I am the real winner! I will win in the end though I have lost at the start! Now all your many victories in Middle will all be reversed at this moment!" Herallcusughed.


    "Don''t put up a pretense, Heralcus. I''ve wilted you down to your weakest form. You expect me to believe that an attack from the Temple that shot a Necromancer whomands the darkness would do nosting damage? Please! You have been fighting on borrowed time since the start! Me? I haven''t even begun to put my life on the line. Tell me, do you know of a seal called [Spirit Shackle]?" Kyrosughed.


    Heralcus was about tough at Kyros, but he felt a growing power behind Kyros.


    "It''s the weaker version of [Soul Shackle]. It took Cminus a lot of effort and me a lot of pain to weaken it. You see, Fate needed to curse me with this to hide my power. Destiny has sent his armies as provided by End. And that army has number and power. Destiny and End see how the present will lead to the future and have nted their seeds to stop it. How can Fate and Beginning fight against an enemy who has seen and lived in the future?"


    "They can''t! Lord End and Lord Destiny have already won!"


    "Fate and Beginning can, and they already have. They did the impossible! They tricked Destiny and End! Our fight is proof of this victory! When Destiny saw that I, a weak man with special powers, would be the Nephilim, he sent the paragon among his Cardinals to fight someone who has just be a Captain! But Fate knew this would happen and instilled in me the power of Mysterion. My power was concealed and was sealed. It was given no chance, no hope of being unsealed and revealed. But this is my power. To unseal and reveal! So behold! I will reveal to you, my true soul!"


    The Soul Console of Kyros spurred. It had already long solved the mystery of the [Spirit Shackle] seal and how to break it. True Cut created the opening, and Mysterion forced the door wide open.


    Heralcus was being pushed back as Kyros was growing stronger and stronger.


    "You said my many victories would be reversed and that you are the real winner?" Kyros sneered.


    "Let me tell you something obvious, Heralcus. A winner doesn''t lose! A winner wins!"

 Chapter 328 - Winner Of The War

    Fate watched the realms beyond and looked to the battle in the Middle. She knew that the enemy didn''t have a good view of what was happening in this world as Destiny would have used so much power that he wouldn''t be able to gaze upon that specific point in time.


    "That''s right, Kyros. You understand now. I sealed you so that you would unseal your power when the timees. The seals ced on you were so that you could be born in that world, and I didn''t give you the keys to unseal it so that I could send you in that point of time without alerting Destiny. This is the only way to thwart End''s foreknowledge of history! Arise, Mysterion! And finish this fight! Win Middle for us!"


    Back in Middle, the sh between Kyros and Heralcus created a change in the skies above as the elements and the darkness fought.


    Mechiel was watching closely nearby. She had been using her powers to distract the remaining souls and redirect their attention to weaken the attacks of Heralcus. Her presence also allowed Kyros to wield the Celestial Code with great power.


    But seeing the heads move, she flew closer to draw the attention of the floating heads of the Okto-Khefali. But then, she sensed it. Kyros''s soul was increasing.


    "What power! This Kyros! He has a very powerful soul! It''s like a Celestial!" The Blood Cmity eximed.


    Heralcus released more of his powers, but even the, Kyros was able to fight back!


    The powerful soul of Kyros was being unbounded as his Soul Console continued to unshackle the bindings.


    The strange power was hindering Kyros''s soul from fully uniting with his body. But now, the shackles were broken, and his soul was more united to his body. And so, Kyros''s base power began to rise.


    His body was growing more and more powerful. Finally, Kyros''s body surged to pass the Captain stage and into Champion. And then Commander! The soul of Kyros that lived and died as a level 99 warrior, or being known as a Celestial, was causing his powers to merge together.


    "Impossible! You can''t be this strong!"


    "I''ll just kill you before you attack my allies! Mechiel! Fall back! The attacks will increase in intensity! In this particr state, I have the blessing of the Celestial Code!" Kyros shouted.


    The eight heads of the Okto-Khefali were raised and aimed at Kyros. However, instead of aiming at the ongoing battle below, they shot their attacks to kill Kyros at Heralcus''s orders.


    "Die!" Heralcus shouted as he ensured that Kyros couldn''t flee.


    BLAST! BLAST! BLAST!


    The eight heads shot all their magic breath attacks towards Kyros and Heralcus.


    "Not enough! [Celestial Guard]!" Kyros shouted back.


    It was the same skill that he could use in his past life. It was a powerful skill that allowed Kyros to fight and resist the Celestials'' powers, whose stats were several times greater than his.


    The avatar of Daradiel appeared and pped his two hands in prayer.


    As he did, the elements resonated around Kyros, and several strange wheels appeared and had the celestial elements rotating inside the wheel. The wheel began to revolve around Kyros, with the elements in the wheel spinning in it. The wheels and the Elements smashed on Heralcus and threw him back.


    Even Kyros was amazed that the avatar of Daradiel had appeared. And the exaggerated form of the wheels had never appeared before.


    "Of course! Daradiel is still alive in this timeline! Now that my full soul is released, the blessings of the Codes I received in the past life are merging with this one! And with that, using the Celestial Code will draw energy from him!"


    Daradiel felt the power being drawn out from him in the real world.


    "What in the heavens?! I never blessed anyone with my Code!" Nevertheless, Daradiel felt that a mark of his Blessing was calling on his power.


    Daradiel saw the vision of a young boy with a massive energy formation circle and several elemental cores that even threatened him!


    The boy fought a Necromancer of great power, and the two were in the middle of a sh.


    Suddenly, the boy''s expression changed, and he nced directly to where Daradiel was.


    "Daradiel! Can you see me? Stay there a bit! We''ll being to get you! Fate has sent me!" The youth spoke and surprised Daradiel.


    Suddenly, the vision ended.


    Daradiel was standing there in a daze. But slowly, his expressions turned into a smile.


    "Ancient God Cminus! You''re alive! And who is that youth? He has great power! How did he summon my power?" Daradiel wondered.


    But he sat down and shook his head.


    "It must be Greater God Fate. It seems she isn''t the Greater God that she ims to be..." Daradiel chuckled.


    Back in Middle, a massive wheel of elements continued to spin around Kyros, and a massive shield appeared as the attacks of the Okto-Khefali arrived.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Heralcus managed to recover from the attack that sent him flying out and was shocked that the full force of his attack was blocked.


    SLASH!


    Kyros appeared in front of Heralcus. A portal had opened in front of Kyros, and Kyros moved in and ambushed Heralcus. It was so fast that Heralcus couldn''t even block the attack.


    The sword struck deep into the armor and flesh of Heralcus, and blood wasing out of Heralcus''s body.


    "A pity. You have a good shield but only used it to block a falling mountain. Oh! Then again, I guess it had its uses. Blocking a copsing mountain ain''t exactly easy. But I''ll be taking that shield now." Kyrosughed.


    "Impossible...! How...?!"


    "This is my grandfather''s trademark skill, [Last Stand]. We revised it tobine it with the Emberdon''s theories with their [Over Mana] skill. We modified it. Instead of killing the user, it will eat up a great portion of their soul. I sacrificed all those excess souls to grant me Magic and Force to resist your attacks." Kyros exined.


    Heralcus could see it with his necromancer eyes. Kyros''s soul had lost much of its power. Instead of the soul of someone who surpassed that of Crowns and Conquerors, Kyros''s soul had turned back to its original size.


    But Kyros''s body had great power that could match a Conqueror! Just as Heralcus had.


    Kyros began to push his sword further, but Heralcus used his remaining strength to resist it.


    "It''s over, Heralcus. With the Temple nearby, your soul can''t flee. I will feast on its power and grow stronger.


    "No! I will never ept this! If I die, You and your army will die with me! [Somatos Ous Thanatou] ¨C [Entropia]!"


    Kyros felt the power and was scared. The insane Necromancer was casting a powerful spell that would create great decay and aging!


    Heralcus''s ancient body began to rot and decay, and the entire area around them also decayed.


    "[Celestial Guard]!" Kyros shouted and activated the shield once more. But the power of the Body of Death surged through the shields and the spells of Kyros and began of great decay, entropy, and of elerated aging began.


    "Even the Elements decay, Nephilim! Die with me!"


    "Then what about time? Will that decay too? [Time Surge]!" Kyros poured in all his energy to heighten the effects of his passive Skill [Time Surge].


    Heralcus felt that time was moving so fast. It was as if his spell was being activated several times faster, and his magic, force, and soul, were being constantly drained out. But for some reason, the True Time that was surging out of Kyros was limiting the amount of aging that he was going through.


    Kyros was aging so fast that he was getting taller and taller. From a pre-teen, Kyros was slowly transforming into a young man.


    "Thanks! I''ve always wondered how to bridge the age gap between her and me." Kyrosughed.


    "You brat! [Entropia: Dunamis]!" Heralcus gathered his energy and exploded it out.


    He knew that he would decay several times faster than Kyros, and the strange leakage of True Time was hindering the decay. So Heralcus used his power to attack everyone else.


    "If I can''t kill you, I''ll kill your army!" Heralcus roared.


    "Don''t you dare!" Kyros frowned and urged Cminus to create massive magic.


    Time affected the entire area, and the Temple''s light was being drained.


    "Too weak! If I can''t kill them, I''ll make them age until they''re old and weaken them!" Heralcus was determined to use thest of his powers to leave a curse on the army.


    But suddenly, the entire power of Entropia began to shoot out in a specific direction. The power concentrated and shot to the center of the Temple.


    "What?!" Heralcus eximed as he saw it.


    Seated in the Enlightenment Chamber was Scarlet. Her power of Foresight allowed her to see what would be of her beloved.


    "Since your lover is older, you should grow older too!" Zh Ssughed as she took over.


    "Whether it''s the Blood Cmity of the Charmed Fallen! I won''t let you have my man again! Kyros will be Scarlet''s in this life!" The mad zeal of Zh appeared.


    The power of Entropia struck the center of the Temple, and Cminus undid the shields and increased the flow of True Time.


    As the attacknded, Cminus quickly activated Holy Barrier and began to purge the power.


    The young girl was no more, and a beautiful, seductive woman of bright red hair, eyes, and lips emerged out of the Enlightenment Chamber.


    Heralcus could do nothing anymore. The powers he invoked were way beyond his capacity and the sword stabbed inside of him was attacking him with Balefire and Blood.


    Kyros hovered near him and was now taller. No longer was he a boy, but he was already a man.


    His frame was lean but muscr. Kyros now stood as tall as Aron. He slowly pulled out the sword that was stuck deep within the body of Heralcus.


    "This was fun, Heralcus. Thanks for helping me resolve the issues with being a young boy. Now I can pursue her without worry. I am the winner of this war. Tell your master I said hi. And don''t think I''ve shown you all my tricks. I am Mysterion. I will unveil so much more than you could even imagine!"


    SLASH!

 Chapter 329 - Winner Of The Opening Match

    The death of the Necromancer meant the copse of the army of Destiny. They were resurrected through the power of the Necromancer, and without that source, they would die.


    While Kyros charged and fought Heralcus, everyone was also busy with their battles and fought against the Champion skeletons. Branze led the battle with Diana to block the army. His might as a Temr and Diana''s Pdin powers used the shield to strike and the shield to defend in a wide range.


    The army of Heralcus was bursting out of the rubble of the mountain.


    The Wings of the Nephilim couldn''t take flight as everyone expected a gigantic battle of Cardinal proportions on the skies above. And so, all the mages joined the ranks of the ground army. Only the Emberdons dared to take the skies and apanied Mezal on his fight against Neteri.


    The Pdin''s shield was a shield to defend. But the Temr''s shield was one that was used to crash into the enemy and charge forward. It was an offensive shield, and the two created two kinds of Force Wall used against the enemy. Diana created a massive defensive shield, and Branze created one for the offense.


    The numerous Champions could not break the shields and only managed to push Branze back.


    The Coven made their assault, each challenging a Champion alone.


    Reptilia and Gojirrah slew the most Champions of killing over twelve Champions each. The rest of the Coven worked together to kill these raised Champions.


    Midgard and the rest of those near or at the Champion level also fought andbined their efforts to y the Champions.


    The rest of the army charged forward to fight the numerous Champions that survived the mountain crash. Some groups of captains among the forces of Kyros tore through the enemy ranks and fought against the resurrected Champions.


    But the rest of the army was not useless. On the contrary, they used tactics and strategies of all sorts to bring down the Champions.


    The most impressive ones that managed to challenge the Champions'' might belonged to three squads formed during the games of Kyros. This was one of Kyros''s intentions as he wanted groups and factions to rise with their specialty.


    The first group was the Sword of Steele. It is a teamposed of some original knights and servants of the Steele family with a few Skeletons who joined in their group. These two''s Shield and Magicbo made them the strongest of the three groups. Hunter led this team, and while Hunter was busy fighting alongside the Coven, this team managed to eliminate three Champions and resisted the assault of seven more.


    The next group was originally called Reptilia''s Shield but had reformed to be ''Hunter Haters.'' Originally led by Grugnyr, this random group of Scaliesposed of mages, archers, and strong fighters made them the squad who performed the most unpredictable tactics and used unusual strategies.


    Thest was an all-girl group assault team that was formed. The Sisterhood of the Order of the Nephilim wasposed of archers, mages, Feather-folk, and other high-dexterity jobs. Although they had the lowest defenses and lowest damage outputs, their ability to harass, poke, and stagger enemies became of great value, allowing the former two groups to perform their jobs marvelously.


    With Branze and Diana shielding and charging, the Coven bringing down the toughest champions, and the three squads leading the assault, no one among the army of the Nephilim or on the numerous allies they recruited died in the battle.


    Up in the skies, Mezal and the Emberdon''s overpowered the immense soul power of Neteri by wilting it down.


    Mezal''s Soul and Force Hybrid power managed to contend against the attacks of Neteri. The soul of Steel was hard and strong. It had the ability to withstand attacks and had the sharpness to sever. And since Mezal''s soul was that of a god, Neteri felt great inferiority as she sent out the thousands of souls to attack.


    Her thousands were afraid of the soul of a god.


    Mezal became the main defender at first as the Emberdons showered their magics that depleted the souls of Neteri. Then, at thest second, Mezal used his sword that draw out his powerful soul. And when the battles above them reached a critical juncture, both Neteri and Mezal went for the kill.


    The Ancient Source was harnessed, and unlike the massive body of Neteri, Mezal created a soul avatar that only covered anotheryer beyond him. But the figure that appeared horrified Neteri. The figure of Hyperion Steel stood like an armor around Mezal.


    Mezal used the pinnacle of his knowledge of the soul, fused it to his Force energy, and created the startling image of Hyperion being reborn.


    "My Sword has severed creation! What is a ghost to me?" Mezal uttered domineering Words of Power that brought a shocking change to his sword.


    The aura of Mezal itself was making it hard for the souls of Neteri to be united as one. They weren''t one soul but were already severed, and the power and aura of Mezal itself demanded severance.


    Neteri was severely weakened because of that. And without her soul form, she was but an easy target that Mezal only had to cut.


    Qara fought Martha and Puff. But their battle was quickly hidden from view as Martha retreated into the Separated Realm, but Qara recklessly followed as the bones of his husband were shown to her.


    The battle ended at the death of Heralcus.


    Mezal watched as he held on the severed head of Neteri.


    "They grow up so fast..." Mezalughed as he threw the head down. The Emberdons were all in critical condition, but they managed to win the fight.


    Martha had emerged from the Separated Realm, and the dead body of Qara was in her hands.


    "It''s over, huh? And it seems that Kyros is looking more his age now." Martha smiled.


    Kyros suddenly lost power and began to plummet down. The massive soul that he had to sacrifice was staggering, and his power dropped from a Commander''s base strength all the way back to a captain.


    Mechiel appeared and caught Kyros. But a split secondter, Scarlet appeared beside her.


    Everyone was shocked to see the beauty and form of Scarlet. She had grown five years older as a result of taking in the attack of Heralcus.


    "Scarlet. Good job taking those attacks." Kyros smiled.


    "Really, Lord Kyros? You won''t even praise my beauty?" Scarlet gave a charming smile.


    Mechiel red at her.


    Kyros sighed but did not answer her.


    "Cminus. Reflect my voice so that everyone can hear me." Kyros ordered.


    "In the case of the great battle, the forces of Fate led by the Nephilim against the armies of Destiny cultivated by Heralcus... In the first conquest between those who stand at the Beginning and the Rulers of the End... In the gruesome trials where the weak and the beaten are forced to fight the mighty conquerors of the future... In the war that pitted the pitifully insignificant members and servants of Steele Family, along with the surviving tribes that were dirt and food of Destiny, to fight the conquerors of Middle who had an army that would threaten even the Minds of the nesword... In this battle, we have won!" Kyros shouted with all of his remaining might.


    Everyone erupted in cheers, and there was much rejoicing.


    Faye was lying on the ground, exhausted and drained. But her tears and weeps remained loud, for they had won.


    Those who lived in Middle wept the loudest. For their oppressors were finished.


    In the realms where time and space acted differently...


    Destiny felt it. He lost all powers.


    He froze and couldn''t believe what had happened.


    Two figures appeared next to him. One was a man''s figure with a grey shade, and the other was a woman with very long hair. The woman kept her eyes closed, but she had a very angry expression on her face. Her hair had already increased in length.


    "You lost Middle." The woman sighed.


    The space around them trembled as an ancient man of such unimaginable size appeared. He had a very long beard and hads and stars as freckles and moles. His eyes were dark, and he gazed at the small form of the three.


    "Lord End." The group bowed.


    "You lost, Destiny. I sense Beginning reaching out to us. Thora. Open your eyes. Let''s hear what that braggart has to say." End spoke.


    Thora opened her eyes, and her hair began to glow.


    The four saw the vision of a womanughing andughing.


    "Greetings, Gods and Fallen of the End! It looks like we are the winner of the opening battle!" Fateughed.

 Chapter 330 - Winner In The End

    It had been a long time since Beginning and End had spoken once more.


    Their talks would not just be simple but would invoke many powers that would echo throughout time.


    Time was not linear to these beings. To them, the past, present, and future flow like spirals that intersect in various points. Through the eyes of the Watcher, the group of End began to view a discussion that they had with Fate which transpired in the past, that is acted out in the present, and the gods and fallen who are at the End, we''re reacting to it in the future.


    It was a concept that no mortal being who lived in linear time couldprehend. Even most gods and fallen could not see, but only some who were Beings that Are, and those ssified as Beings that Were could exist in such paradoxes.


    "How have you all been? But I guess my question does not make sense since you are all well there in the future" Fate chuckled as she called out to them.


    "Oh? You''re calling to brag, Fate?" A woman suddenly appeared next to Fate.


    "Of course! And Destiny said I wouldn''t even win the first fight! And considering how important this fight is, I guess Destiny must be really ticked off. Our victory was not even a simple victory. It was a glorious one! We won so well. It''s like we won twice! And Destiny didn''t even see it! The Nephilim had seeded with great tests!" Fateughed.


    "Is it true, Destiny?" End called out.


    "...My Lord, the circumstances..."


    "Yes. Even I cannot see the events that led to the Nephilim''s victory. But the length of history has increased, as you can see in my hair. The Nephilim has dyed our victory by twice the time. And as our control over the past has withered, he cany the foundation that could even dy the end even further."


    "Oh? To think that you two would be able to outsmart Destiny. He has seen the end of things and could have countered the battle by manipting the future. How did you do it, Fate? Wisdom?" End asked.


    "Mysterion." It was Destiny who answered.


    "They hid a mystery that could not be seen through our eyes."


    "How can these two conceal something so strong that could thoroughly defeat your army?" End asked.


    "Through secret hidden since the Beginning. It must be a power lost before Cminus was born and before his first death." Another being appeared around Fate and Wisdom. But this figure did not have a form of being. It was because he was the Beginning. He had no form, no finality, but only the essence of the Beginning.


    "Beginning. You''re here too. Are you here to brag?"


    "I am always here. I am from the Beginning." Beginning chuckled.


    "How do you like it, End? I told you that my ns and the arrangement we had with Fate and Wisdom would be more challenging than you would think it to be."


    "But it''s over! Such power to deceive could only be made possible with Wisdom''s traitorous husband! And he does not even present himself here in fear of being found out! What is his identity? Let that coward stop hiding behind his mask!" Destiny roared. When he had lost, he sensed the power of lies and figured out that the way for Beginning to ever beat end is to have a Fallen of Lies to be with.


    "Why would he? Since the beginning, he has been hiding and has constantly been lying to hide from you so that you wouldn''t even find out about his existence and never know the true events of things! I''m sure you''ve figured it out now! The Nephilim is a deception to the entire world. Wisdom''s husband had to hide behind millions of lies to be forgotten even from History. Not even Histerion or you, End will ever see who he is. And because of that, we''ve managed to create a being that will also carry out our ns. Wisdom''s husband shall never be shown. But their offspring, he who is Mysterion, shall walk through history at the very spotlight of all of creation. But as he does that, he will have a shroud in him that not all his enemies can find out who he is! He is a mystery hidden and will be revealed to fight all of you!" Beginningughed.


    "I am yet defeated, Beginning! The Nephilim my have won, but the powers I sent to the past will echo out and leave their mark. I know that some of those Wisdom''s husbands shrouded are the gods and fallen who were lost in the first war! Hyperion Steel? Kyriachos? They may have their descendants and destined disciples apanying the Nephilim, but how many of them remain now?" Destiny sneered.


    "I sent in all my wrath to Middle! The majestic powers I sent would have been impossible for the Nephilim to defeat! Each of my Commanders was strong that they had reached the peak of their potential! I bet that right now, the Temple of the Nephilim is utterly damaged and that his allies could only be counted in one hand! The army they fought Destined them for destruction! And while they may escape Destiny, they will not go out of my fangs unharmed!" Destiny dered.


    "Oh? Is this true, Fate? Did the Nephilim fight a pyrrhic victory and lost so much of the men we''ve prepared and hidden in history?" Beginning asked Fate.


    "Actually, no! It was super easy. Barely an inconvenience for the Nephilim and his minions! They lost three men in the entire skirmish. And these men were just recently recruited people."


    "You lie! Impossible! The powers I sent harnessed and enhanced every member of those Commanders and that Cardinal! I sent in a Vampire who could create three clones of himself! Even a Cardinal would have a hard time fighting it! Those descendants of Hyperion were whelp Champions! In the first fight they had, that sword expert lost all his limbs! And the second fight would have been more horrifying for that swordsman!"


    "Was it horrifying, Fate?" Beginning asked again.


    "Well, it was horrifying. I mean, how embarrassing would it be for a vampire that can challenge a Cardinal to die against three shes? And I''m talking about two vertical shes and one horizontal sh. That''s all that the sword expert did. It was done. The vampire was sliced and killed with all his clones with him."


    "Liar!"


    "I am not Wisdom''s husband. I don''t know how to lie. I''m sure you know this to be true, Destiny. Just ept it! You see, this is where we differ. You sent in your strongest minions that could be sent to the Middle. I made the Nephilim and his army so weak that they had to live a life of constant struggle. You made your men strong. I made them weak and Fated all of them to fight their own mountains of enemies. So that when they finally get together, the mountains that are mountain ranges that crush them with meteoric weight won''t be so heavy a burden. After all, they lived a life of burdens."


    "You all at the End focused on creating armies and warriors to be scattered throughout time and space. We selected and fated a few insignificant, persecuted, and beaten-up groups of people and bounded them to greater curses so that they would rise stronger than all your armies. It''s that simple. And Fate isn''t lying, Destiny. My son really didn''t suffer great pain or had his limbs cut off when he fought Heralcus." Wisdomughed.


    Destiny was raging, but End onlyughed.


    "I''m very disappointed, Destiny. But don''t get too worked up in this defeat. After all, we are still the winners in the end. There are dys, there is no more work to be done, but we still exist here in the End. This means Beginning will soon end. In any case, thank you, Beginning, for giving us enough hints about the powers of your selected champion throughout time. Of course, even everything you said could be lies. I''m sure even the Nephilim does not know about himself and his true identity. Thora, end this call."


    And just like that, the call ended.


    "How pathetic, Destiny." Apathos sighed.


    "Now, now, Apathos. Rx. Destiny, do better next time. The end has been dyed by seven hundred years. More work for you, and you will bear the pain for that. This means lesser power, glory, and wholeness for you once we win. But these seven hundred years could easily spike to two or three millenniums. I sense that Middle and the nesworld will be spared for a full two years, correct?"


    "Yes. But I sent power to the past that will alert all warriors of Destiny. So the Gods and Fallen will hurry up and begin the wars."


    "Good. That should keep the Nephilim busy and alter the universe''s formation to our advantage. But, let''s not underestimate the Nephilim. Who knows how stronger he will be in this time?"


    "I can see that while Wisdom and Fate told truths about the battle, the strength of the Nephilim has weakened. They fated him and his allies only to reveal this strength when our eyes could not see. Which means..."


    "That they are weak again... I understand." Destiny agreed.


    "Go. Let the End be..." End dismissed everyone.


    Each went into their own realms, but Destiny stayed.


    "I have to ask his help... I cannot allow Time to be their advantage!" Destiny decided and traveled to the very edge of time and space.


    A being stood there and was one of End''s strongestmanders.


    "Lord Pausontai..." Destiny bowed. He dared not be arrogant before this being.. For everything, including Destiny, will cease before Pausontai.

 Chapter 331 Becoming Weak Again

    Back in the Realm of Middle...


    The group below was rejoicing for their great victory. They shouted and shouted as they felt like this was a dream. Those who lived in Middle were still in shock at what they had achieved.


    Never in their dreams did they think that their small and weafk numbers would ever have a chance of defeating Heralcus and his Commanders.


    "I''m not dreaming, am I?" Midgard asked himself.


    Kyros held the upper torso of Heralcus and took his shield. There was also another object of interest.


    "Interesting dark armor. I should be able to repair it or sacrifice it to the Temple to get more."


    Finally, Kyros reached for the ring that Heralcus was wearing.


    "A High-Quality Dimensional Stone. It''s even using the eyes of the beast that Crowns could only kill!" Cminus was amazed.


    "First things first, is there food for our celebration?" Kyros peered into the ring and used his knowledge in Creation to alter the ring''s ownership. He was acting fast, for he knew his time was running out.


    "Good. Just in time." Kyros smiled as he suddenly lost his strength. He fell down as he couldn''t even move the slightest muscles.


    Mechiel saw this and sped forward. But as she did, Scarlet also met her.


    "Scarlet! Let go of my husband!"


    "Your husband? You haven''t even made your bows. Now let go of my Lord!"


    SMACK! SMACK!


    Two smacks arrived as Martha appeared and pped the two of them.


    "Quick bickering and get Kyros to the Temple!" Martha ordered.


    "Yes, Lady Martha!" Scarlet answered.


    "I''m sorry! Mechiel apologized as the two of them sped down.


    "Damn it..." Martha sighed as she suddenly lost strength and fell down.


    "Puff?" Martha asked.


    "I''m as drained as you, Master. I can''t move." Puff sighed as his huge form fell down.


    CRASH!


    Puffnded on the ground, and many below rushed to evade the horse-sized dragon leave a crater.


    But Marthanded in the arms of Aron.


    "Mydy." Aron smiled.


    "Sir Aron..." Martha shyly answered.


    "Sorry, I could only do this much. I hope my fight against Eredus back then was enough to impress you." Aron smiled.


    "I''ve had my eyes on you since that tournament when you stood up for Lord Branze." Martha smiled.


    "Let''s head back to the Temple. You need to get healed." Aron smiled.


    "Ma-Master... What about me?" Puff asked.


    Kyros was brought back to the Temple as he immediately lost the power that he had gained.


    It wasn''t just him and Martha.


    Diana, Branze, Mezal, the Emberdons had over drafted their powers in that fight and now suffering from the bacsh of their respective abilities.


    Branze and Diana kept on using their Force Wall to attack and defend the many attacks of the Champions. But at the start, those Champions made devastating attacks that all reached the realms of what Commanders could do.


    And so, the two had to use the power of the modified Last Stand just like Mezal and Kyros did. Unfortunately, they burned up a huge amount of their power and were now unable to move.


    Martha had used her dragon cells to fight and overused her cells. Her fight against Qara forced her to make her cells evolve, simr to how the Thane Dragons fought and unknowingly wasted their cells. Martha made her cells evolve to the point that it would nearly kill her. Only then did she secure victory over Qara.


    The Temple itself could not heal the weakness that Martha, the Emberdons, and the core Steele family had.


    In Martha''s case, her dragonic cells needed to be refueled, and she had to devour a massive amount of energy to strengthen her cells. For the rest, it was an issue of the soul.


    "You''re just like me, then." Aronughed as he approached the group. He didn''t join in the fight but stood guard over the Temple Storage Space, where all the infants and toddlers of the surviving settlements of Middle hid. He was already weakened after his first fight.


    "Why do I feel that it was part of Fate''s n that we would be weak?" Aron asked as he carried Martha.<sub> </sub>


    Diana saw it and felt jealous and gave Branze a meaningful nce.


    But Branze was already lost in thought as more theories of his battles began to explode in his hand.


    Diana frowned and was about to call out Branze, but as she saw Branze''s eyes, she smiled and stopped.


    "It was clearly Fate," Mezal spoke.


    "I feel that we are fated to be weak."


    "That is correct. That battle has brought us all to the power levels of Commanders. In fact, it would even exceed Commanders if we gauge it by the standards of the Londs." Kyros exined.


    "I could have plotted another route, but this path is the right one. We''ve be too strong. How can Fate trouble us?" Kyrosughed.


    "Send all with critical wounds inside!" Hunter continued to give his orders.


    Many of those who were wounded from the battle were brought inside. Some of them even had their limbs cut off.


    "Tell everyone. We can''t afford a full heal. The energy the Temple used up nearly depleted the energy of the Core. We will recover a lot by sacrificing our enemies; I n to use it all up to increase our levels. As for wounds, we will be recovering them the normal way. Aside from broken limbs and such, the Temple won''t heal most of our wounds but only heal us to the point that we would cross any threatening threshold." Kyros exined.,


    The orders were brought out, and those that needed healing were brought to the Temple.


    The Temple gave a weak sh and barely healed everyone inside, just as Kyros determined it to be.


    The team began to slowly move up.


    Branze and Diana still felt the weight of losing over half their soul.


    "So I''m this weak? I''m barely as strong as I was before we came here!" Diana couldn''t help butugh.


    The rest also made their slow rise.


    Mezal had to be held by Faye and Stellya as he still had many injuries in that fight.


    As for Kyros, Mechiel has pulled him up, but Scarlet had forcibly made her way to hold Kyros on the other.


    Mechiel frowned.


    "Let''s not fight, for now, Mechiel. This is a time to celebrate. Allow me this few moments to hold him. He is quite... handsome now." Scarlet smiled as she nced at the lean muscles of Kyros.


    "Fine. I''ll allow you this. And you did save a lot of lives." Mechiel eded.


    "My son is now all grown up!" Branzeughed.


    "And look at that. Two girls next to him. How envious." Aronughed.


    "Kyros. I don''t care how strong you are or who you are. In this life, I am your mother. You shall only have one wife." Diana ordered.


    "Of course, mother. But as you can see, it''s not that easy."


    "Mother-inw! I''ll be sure to take care of your son!" Scarlet chuckled.


    "Scarlet! I am Lord Kyros''s wife! You be a good maid and attend to him by standing by his feet!" Mechiel cursed and shouted.


    "Scarlet. Please move to the side. Imand you." Kyros gave the orders.


    "No!" Scarlet answered and kept on clinging to Kyros.


    Kyros sighed.


    ? "I thought that she''s a member of the Coven. Why can she do that?" Stellya frowned. She had been eyeing the form of Kyros and was annoyed at the two women standing next to him.


    "The rules of the Coven aren''t that strict. I''ve seen it. The truth is, we are free to disobey him as long as we don''t put him in harm''s way, but those whom he loves in harm, and that we treat him with the level of respect of a Master. But it''s very flexible. In Scarlet''s heart, she treats Lord Kyros as such so she can disobey such an order." Reptilia exined as she joined the leaders who stood by.


    "Gather everyone and have them move in front of the Temple." Kyros decided to ignore Scarlet.


    Hunter nodded and went out and called everyone.


    "I can''t believe that I''m weak again..." Aron sighed.


    "Oh, don''t worry about it. We all are going to get weak. It''s part of Fate''s design. And not just us. I mean, everyone in this group." Kyros chuckled.


    "What do you mean?" Mezal asked.


    "Basically, everyone here will only be slightly stronger than we were before this whole battle started." Kyrosughed.

 Chapter 332 Becoming The Heroes Of Fate

    Everyone was stunned when they heard Kyros''s deration.


    "Everyone?" Gregory asked.


    "Yes. Everyone. You can''t feel it now, but Heralcus cursed us. We were exposed to the [Body of Death]. I can feel it creeping around. Everyone probably thinks that they are just tired, but their levels are dropping. The Body of Death or that skill [Somatos Ous Thanatou] is a wicked and dark Corruption. And even though we evaded his decaying attacks thanks to Scarlet, the power of the Body of Death attacks those who are under the protection of this same Corruption. So when he released it, I already felt the death energy infiltrate everyone''s body. You see, Destiny did that so that we would die if we used the Temple as a defense and went through a regr battle with sieges, walls, and so on. And yet, I manipted our battle to be in such a way where it would be finished at the shortest possible time." Kyros exined.


    "So... everyone''s going to get weaker?"


    " While most in this circle are immune to that power, those who are strong used powerful techniques that sacrificed our soul, making us weak. The Coven even sacrificed some of their Blood essences in this fight."


    "Oh, cruel Fate." Aronughed.


    "Can''t the Temple restore it?"


    "Yes. But I don''t n to. Not only does it cost a lot, I knew this was part of Fate''s n, and I allowed it to happen. It is necessary for us to return to the real world and in the real timeline. If we go out now and retain the strength that we managed to develop, the gods and fallen would feel a shift of power."


    "A shift of power?"


    "Cminus told me about this. Gods and fallens can sense the increase of power in every realm and. While it is very irrelevant for those under Cherubim and Celestial, it still suspicious, and the minions of Destiny might sense it."


    "I thought Destiny can''t make any moves now that we drained it and forced it to throw everything here?" Avary asked.


    "Yes. But Destiny will not have done something so reckless without preparing the present time in case we win. I believe that in the real world, his powers reached the ce and is now creating an upheaval to force the gods and fallen to hasten the war of the gods and fallen."


    "What war?"


    "The war that led Cminus to me. The gods and fallen of our present time are moving to battle. The Eldrich and the attacks of the orcs and the plot of the Netherworlds to wage war on the Hignds are but ripples of the real war between the gods and fallen."


    "So the minions of Destiny will still seek us out."


    "Yes. That is why I made grandfather go to that fort and reveal those traitors. I''m trying to dy the war. If we don''t act, the Londs will be in utter ruin in a few years if we don''t act. And that''s why we had to be weak! If we all leave this ce with the powers to fight a Commander and Champions for our men, that would be an increase of two whole ranks for everyone! Since it''s not just one or two men, the power that they will feel would be too noticeable. It''s one thing if the bnce of powers lessens. It only means a lot of people die. But if it increases, then it means many people cultivated and grew stronger all at once. Doesn''t that seem suspicious?"


    "Indeed..." Branze nodded.


    "And that will draw the attention of our enemies. So I allowed the Body of Death to remain and won''t make the Temple heal it." Kyrosughed.


    Everyone began to groan and sigh.


    "Welp... There goes my power."


    "Rx, everyone. This battle should have opened your eyes. Unfortunately, our strength is not at our level. Even now, I''m sure everyone here will confidently challenge the Commanders of our world!"


    "Yes! The Lond Commanders are... utterly weak." Demerusughed.


    "And while we have returned to a lesser level of power, the experience, the knowledge, and training is something we continue to carry. We are still miles and miles stronger than who we were before this. Anyway, we''ll talk about that next time! For now, it''s time for me to give a victory speech!" Kyros moved out towards the entrance of the Temple.


    Soon, all the warriors and servants and those who had joined Kyros in thest battle stood before the Temple.


    They were all tired and weary from the mental toll of the dangers they had faced.


    Kyros stood up before everyone and smiled.


    "We won!" It was a simple statement, and Kyros was almostughing.


    The crowds cheered, and some were evenughing, still unable to believe what they had just pulled off.


    "We won against an enemy that far exceeded us in numbers, strengths, powers, abilities, and so on. But we still won." Kyros added.


    "Tonight, we honor those who have fallen! Be it in this battle or in the past. Let us remember all the sacrifices of our friends, allies, andpanions who gave their lives to help us push forward. Be it be the Steele family, the Emberdons, those kingdoms who resisted and persisted in fighting against Hecus in this world, let us celebrate them! They have been thedders that helped us push forward! Honor them as heroes, for because of them, we now have the power to conquer Cardinals and even Conquerors!" Kyros dered.<sub> </sub>


    The crowd cheered again.


    "For the fallen Steele!"


    "For the Emberdon allies who lost their lives and families!"


    "For the people of Middle that struggled that others may live!"


    Many cheers and offerings were made!


    "But everyone, this was but the first of many battles. And while our victory now has very few deaths, do not expect our future battles to be this easy." Kyros suddenly warned them.


    "You have seen the threat that we face. And right now, you now know the battle that is taking ce. It''s not just here. In the Middle, more wille. This battle is not just for Middle. It will echo out through all timelines, even the ones back home. Even your hometowns of whichever worlds that you live in won''t escape it. The nesworld will fall into a great battle. The Eldrich is one of the harbingers of this war. So don''t think that the worst is over!" Kyros warned.


    Everyone fell silent at the words of Kyros.


    "And now, the curse of the Body of Death is making you all weaker. Weaker in level to make it harder for you to win the next missions! You must have felt it!"


    "He''s right!"


    "So it''s true..."


    Everyone felt the changes and had horrified looks.


    "But such is the Heroes of Fate! We will always conquer those that seem unconquerable! That is who we should be at the bare minimum! Has anyone seen such things? A mere captain-ranked being killing a Cardinal with the powers that equal a Conqueror? How can Champions defeat Commanders of horror? And how can you fight against those Champions and yet remain victorious? Be the Heroes of Fate! Be the ones who shall fight to the End! Tonight, we not only celebrate our victory, but we toast to our future!"


    Kyros willed it and brought out all the items and food that they had collected in numerous ces. In addition, the precious wine and drinks that the various settlements have stocked were also brought out.


    And among the stockpile were various food and drinks that didn''t belong to the things they collected.


    Huge barrels of wine and various massive bs of meats began to appear.


    Kyros held out a strange ring.


    "What is that?" Mezal was amazed at the item.


    "This is a Dimensional Storage Ring. Its quality is very high as it utilized Void Beast''s eyes as its source! And Heralcus has quite a huge stock in his person."


    "A Dimensional Storage Ring! That''s an item of legends!" Faye was amazed.


    The food continued to be released and ced all over the ce and was arranged properly.


    The cheers were deafening as the people saw the massive amount of food!


    Puff''s mouth began to water as he saw a huge b of meat.


    "Okto-Khefali meat! That''s one of the most delicious meat ever!" Puff was amazed.


    "Today marks the day that the Steele Family will rise. Today marks the day when the Army of Nephilim is formed, and we will begin our crusade all across the gxies and even across time! We will rise in Middle! We will rise in nesworld and rise to fight gods and fallen! We will rise to fight to the End! And we will win!" Kyros dered.


    The power of Fate emerged in Middle as the Army of the Nephilim celebrated that night.


    But as the celebrations continued, the dark tower that guarded the Crossroads felt a great weakening.


    Pergos could no longer see Middle as the power of Fate covered it.


    "That idiot Heralcus! Middle is lost! The timeline of Middle has changed! I just hope that the Nephilim cannot find the secrets it has!"

 Chapter 333 Becoming An Ally

    Thevish party continued throughout the night. But everyone was also too tired to carry on, and many had already sunk into a deep sleep.


    Kyros sat down at the top of the Temple and watched the remaining people joyously eat and drink while the wearied ones fell into sleep.


    The Emberdons, Mezal, and the rest of the Steele family, including Reptilia, were also asleep as their soul was required to recover.


    Scarlet tried her best to stay awake, but the spell which forced her to age five years older had taken a toll on her, and she fell asleep.


    Mechiel rose to the top of the Temple and sat down next to Kyros.


    "Lord Kyros," Mechiel spoke.


    "Come and sit with me." Kyros smiled and offered the spot right next to him.


    Mechiel sat down and observed the view. Middle''s night sky had some bright lights that looked like stars.


    "I heard that this was a t-earth dome. I don''t understand how this works. I only know of the nesworld, and a few days ago, I only thought that this was the kinds ofs there are..." Mechiel gazed up the sky.


    "A t-Earth like this is basically a giant dome. Mosts and heavenly bodies like the Yggdrasil Tree of the nesworld have their own specific ways to protect themselves from the celestial bodies that move in the sky and shield themselves from the great Darkness that Separates. Betweens is darkness like this." Kyros brought out his dark powers.


    "It''s thick darkness that stops life from continuing. And when the great cosmos were divided, various gods and fallen began to use their different powers to create all kinds ofary bodies that could sustain life. Of course, this Middle is different as it''s probably not in a fixed space or a fixed time. But if this was ordinary t earth, that dome protects against the darkness and reflects and absorbs light."


    "Amazing, Lord Kyros. You know a lot."


    "Not as much as I want to, I''m afraid. Mechiel. I know that I may have forced our rtionship, and I even used the Charm Fallen''s power to spur your emotions. But from here on out, I want things to progress naturally."


    "Lord Kyros, It is my honor to have you." Mechiel bowed.


    "No. That won''t do. I can''t really say anything about our mysterious pasts, and previous life and destiny as the Blood Cmity are still in you. But our rtionship was never forced. Instead, love blossomed naturally, and I intend to keep it that way." Kyros smiled.


    Mechiel was silent, and she only smiled back at Kyros.


    "What happens when we go back? The other half of the Blood Cmity is there. Won''t they share the memories of her soul?"


    "No. She merged with your soul to survive. The memories won''t be shared unless she detaches and goes back to the Blood Cmity and fuses with half of her soul. So everything that transpired here will be kept a secret." Kyros answered.


    "May I rest my head over your feet?" Kyros asked.


    "Oh..! Um... Su-Sure, Lord Kyros!"


    Kryos smiled and did so.


    "I am not doing this out of perversion. You don''t know how calm I feel in doing this." Kyros smiled.


    Kyros recalled how the wild, berserked him had to rest his head over the little vampire ve who served him. And when they grew older, Kyros had also rested his head just like this when the two were forced to work together in an unknownnd.


    And just like that, Kyros fell asleep.


    "Lord Kyros?" Mechiel was rmed.


    "Rx. He''s just asleep." The Blood Cmity calmed Mechiel with an annoyed tone.


    "That brat really is selfish. Right after he tells you that he wants you and him to have a natural progression in love, he does this dumb thing!" The Blood Cmity scowled.


    "Why are you annoyed? We share the same soul. I know you like this. Was it so amazing when he was teaching you the Celestial Code? I know that the sense of awe and amazement was not my emotions." Mechiel sneered.


    "Y-You! It''s the power of the Charmed Fallen working against me!"


    "Sure it is." Mechiel smiled.


    "Still, I''m d that Lord Kyros grew older. It would have been weird before." Mechielughed.<sub> </sub>


    "Is he asleep?" Martha appeared.


    "Lady Martha! Yes."


    "Oh? I wondered when he would run out of energy. The soul he released back then was no joke. To think it even surpassed the power of that Cardinal. Oh well, I guess I''ll ask him tomorrow."


    "Ask him what, Lady Martha?"


    "The marriage ceremony between Aron and me. And I guess Lady Diana would also want to renew her vows to Lord Branze. Not to mention Lady Reptilia and Hunter has to go through that. I take it that he hasn''t proposed to you yet?"


    "Um... N-No..." Mechiel nodded.


    "Don''t worry about it. Since I''m here, the history that binds you and him should be simr to that of Lady Diana and Lord Branze anyway. I want to talk with the Blood Cmity."


    "Her? Alright..." Mechiel nodded.


    "Speak, lizard." The Blood Cmity spoke.


    "Are you here to offer more threats?"


    "No. On the contrary, I was going to ask you to join us."


    "... What?! Join you?!" The Blood Cmity was enraged.


    "Lady Martha!" Mechiel also eximed.


    "It''s the perfect arrangement. The conflict between Fate and Destiny has set the direction of everyone in this world. Their lives are determined to be at odds with the other side. But now, we have you, inside Mechiel making you two, a Neutral. Mechiel is clearly Fate with the mysterious past that she and Kyros have. Fate arranged it for you to be here. Lord Kyros would soon offer you this anyway. If someone from Destiny joins our side, it will be one of the few things that we can forever change that disrupts the future leading to the End."


    "Ha! Why would I do that?! Are you-"


    "It''s very clear to us that you like Lord Kyros. And it''s quite understandable. Lord Kyros is perhaps the most amazing being ever to grace this universe. And you are sharing the soul of his beloved! You feel what Mechiel feels and see it as if it was you. I don''t care if you''re a being that existed for many millennia. How can you not fall for someone who can use a code to which he had no prior blessing? In fact, with your powers, I''m sure you''ve never had seen anyone worthy of you. So how about it? How about you serve Lord Kyros?"


    "I will never turn my back against Lord Destiny!"


    "I know you would answer this way. I''m just here to nt the seed. But Lord Kyros is Mysterion. That which is previously thought to be impossible will be possible. Scarlet has told me of the Code that she has. And, interestingly, you and Mechiel are Fated to be together. It''s as if Fate has altered the very destiny that you were supposed to have. I''m telling you now that your Fate is with us. Even if you manage to return to your main soul... I wonder... Can your heart remain an enemy to Kyros?" Martha smiled and jumped off.


    The Blood Cmity was silent.


    As Marthanded, she could not help but smirk.


    "Was that enough?" She asked.


    "Yes, Master." Puff answered.


    "It seems that you have been hiding your cunning. Lord Kyriachos was right. You are of a cunning kind."


    "Lord Kyros must have received this power from Lord Tyrannus himself. We are of the same breed."


    "But why the sudden revtion of your true cunning? You even have been hiding this from me, although Lord Kyriachos already warned, and I did sense it.


    ""Seeing Lord Kyros defeat the Cardinal made me believe that he is a man of great cunning. I''ve been holding back my judgment since the start. After all, we dragons made our bets in a time long ago, and look where it got me? But when Lord Kyros managed to kill Heralcus and ovee the powerful form of Destiny I was convinced. Dragons value strength? No. That Qara and that Pyrestarter are those of the weakest bloodline. The true dragons, honor with and cunning above all."


    "It seems your bond and link with me is not that strong. You''ve been hiding quite a lot."


    "I will not deny it. I''m sure that Lord Kyros even knows of it. I doubt he doesn''t see through my schemes. But now, I am officiallying on board the side of Fate. Master... I need to go to the Dark Sea. A heritage of great power may be there."


    "Oh? Tell me about it..." Martha smiled.


    "The nesworld was a battleground of the strongest dragons. There is a reason why the Nephilim''s Temple was ced here. The nesworld has many histories of Gods and Fallens. And as for the dragons, the Great ck Dragon, Tiamat, died in the Dark Sea!"

 Chapter 334 Becoming The King Of Present Middle

    The next day, calls to awaken the sober and the drunk urred.


    These calls were initiated by Kyros and Branze. When they woke up, the Steele family and Kyros felt a strange sensation.


    Later, Cminus rified what it was.


    "Time will once again stop in this world. Too bad. Fate is not even giving us an opportunity to use our Time elerating Training." Cminus sighed.


    "It''s not just her. It''s Destiny. We are in a ce where Fate and Destiny, Beginning and End, meets. And they do their battles here. now that the battle is over, the power that keeps us here will vanish." Kyros knew that this meant that it was time for them to return to their world.


    And so, everyone was ordered to rise, and no more celebration was held. Instead, everyone went on a weary march as the wounded grimaced and hungover went on their nauseous journey.


    Kyros had offered Heralcus and the rest to the Temple and used it to increase the levels of everyone. The Temple had already increased its level two times since they arrived in Middle. The first was when they defeated and offered the lives of the Commanders that they slew. It was then that Kyros had ess to the Library of Light as the Temple reached level 6. The second time it leveled up was when Heralcus was finally defeated.


    The amount of energy that they acquired from Heralcus was equal to the energy of a Conqueror. And so, Kyros began to discuss the full powers of the Temple.


    At the very front of the march were the core Steele family, the Coven, the Emberdons, and the leaders of the settlements of Middle.


    "Since I will be going out and journeying everywhere, you guys should learn how to use this Temple." Kyros chuckled and used his dark magic to write the stats above him for all to see.


    ---


    Nephilim Sealing Temple


    Status: War Against Present


    Darkness Crusadepleted!


    Nephilim Present Wars has started.


    Temple Level: 7


    y 5 Crowns to level up.


    ---


    Acquired Rewards:


    Holiest Grounds- Makes the entire temple ground radiate and store strong Holy Energy. The amount of Holy energy increased with more creatures sacrificed. Assaults any enemy creatures aligned to Darkness of Destiny and End. Superior Dark Spell Resistance applied. Allows ess to the Superior Temple Core.


    Paramount Holy Healing- Staying in Temple Ground grants powerful healing that purges high-tiered curses and low-level soul attacks. Dispels greater curses, Dark Maddening, and mortal level poison up to Crown level. Allows regeneration of limbs.


    Holy Barrier- Creates a Holy Barrier. Defense Strength of Barrier increases as Temple Level increases. Shade Level 5 creatures can breach the barrier.


    Carrier has Arrived!- Allows ess to Dimensional Magic to carry the entire Nephilim Sealing Temple and the Trial Grounds in a pocket dimension. Kyros may enter and exit temple grounds at no cost. Grants ess to Nephilim Inventory and the Temple Storage Space. Town Portal skill assimted to the Temple with the Nephilim''s knowledge in Creation.


    Holy Beam- Allows the Temple to harness the powerful Holy Energy in the Temple. The power of the attack is based on Kyros''s level of strength. Harnessing an attack with greater force than the maximum range of Kyros''s strength depletes a massive amount of the Temple''s energy.


    Library of the Light- Allows ess to the Library of Light.


    Codes awakened in the Library:


    Code of Steel


    Code of Astra


    Code of Zeal


    Enlightenment Chamber- Chamber to allow members of the Steele Family and all approved allies to meditate on the Codes in the Library of the Light.


    Holy Wave- Locked.


    Holy Cow- Locked.<sub> </sub>


    ---


    "Oh? I didn''t notice that the Temple assimted the powers of Town Portal!" Demerus was amazed.


    "I did thatst night. While everyone was partying, I wrote the code, made the energy conversion circles, and used the seal in the center of the Temple to be its portal. With this update, everyone can use a spell to create a portal. Of course, making the spell requires writing an energy conversion circle. And it''s a one-way trip. I still am looking for a way to fix it. This portal can''t also be used over great distances." Kyros exined.


    "Define great distance, Lord Kyros." Faye asked.


    "Basically, we can''t teleport if we are more than 30,000 kilometers away from the Temple."


    "That''s amazing! That distance is quite far! It''s equal to a single Teleportation Channels created all over the Londs!"


    "It would barely send us from the Londs to the ends of the Dark Sea. It can''t even get us to the Minds. So it''s not that great, considering how huge the nesworld is. Anyway, it can''t teleport us to this ce. This Middle here isn''t a location in the universe. It''s somewhere in time. And so, leaders of this out-of-time, Middle. You all will be left to your own."


    "Can you not stay for a longer time?" Midgard asked.


    "No. The powers of time seemed to be changing. And we will be returning to the past. Those of us from the present are sensing a strange discord and rejection from this ce. So it''s not that we want to go, but this world will kick us out soon."


    "What are your instructions, Lord Kyros?"


    "Defend this ce. But from what I can tell, the actions that we do in our timeline will effect this world. It''s a difficult concept, but you here will suddenly see how things change. It''s possible that the memories of fighting Heralcus and his Commanders will remain, but it''s also possible that it will change."


    "How will it change?"


    "It really depends on how much progress we make in our timeline. For example, if we manage to unify Middle and Aunt Reptilia and Gojirrah manages to unite and build a kingdom in their time, then your memories of how you fought Heralcus will change. When Heralcuses here in the real timeline, he will face a kingdom. Of course, we don''t know whether this kingdom will endure or not. But that''s basically it. Somehow, in this spiraling timeline, we will stille out victorious, and the people who survive the battle can only increase as we change our world. Perhaps, more of your men will join us in this battle. Perhaps you will find yourself to have arge kingdom now, and not just some scattered and small settlement. Honestly, I don''t understand it either. But Cminus told me that this ce is at a point outside of Time. Everything that happens here is affected by our actions in our present, which is your past. But from what I understand, it is also affected by the actions that Destiny does in both our futures."


    "Dude.... What?" Cminus interrupted.


    Kyros sighed. He understood Cminus''s exnation through his intelligence but trying to exin the multi-dimensional and supra-time-bound events of Middle was getting confusing.


    "I think I understand, lord Kyros." Midgard nodded as he grasped the gist of things.


    "Great. I will lead my men to help unify the kingdoms in the Middle in our timeline. It should create a strong Alpha-Draconis kingdom, and you would probably suddenly see yourselves in a kingdom or that there will be more races present. If Aunt Reptilia unifies it, then you may have records of her in your memories. Records of a powerful Queen."


    "King, Lord Kyros. Hunter will be King. They will have a king in their history known as Hunter Steele." Reptilia corrected.


    "M-me?!" Hunter was stunned.


    "Good job, Brother-inw!" Aron teased.


    "As expected of Brother-inw!" Branze chuckled.


    "I guess we have our Middle team. As you guys know, we have a lot to do. The nesword will be in such a chaotic state. We will have to divide our forces. So. Reptilia, Gojirrah, and Hunter will return to the original Middle. Your mission is to be king of that ce. Of course, you can use the kingdoms of this world and the humans. We will be there for the first part and cut off the loose ends."


    "Be King of Middle?!" Hunter was horrified at his mission.


    "How can I be the King of Middle? Lord Kyros, I am not a noble!"


    "Yes, you are! You are a Steele family. You have the most noblest of blood. I wouldn''t be surprised that you could even perform True Cut. You bear the name and should bear its power."


    "That''s not...!"


    "Rx, husband. I am from a noble. We will take it. With Foresight, Molding, and Challenger, Lord Kyros wishes us to grow and try to change that kingdom. We still have the human army that lies outside and the Golems."


    "I will serve Lord Hunter." Mardock bowed.


    "But... why does it sound like you won''t be joining, Lord Kyros?" Hunter asked.


    "That''s because I won''t. I will join you for the first part since we still have some unfinished business with the Champions that have positioned itself in that cave. We also have to conquer all of Airom. Both Logat and Vagat should be ours. But then, after that, we have to go to perform many missions. But it''s not just you. The rest of us will each have our own specific missions and adventure!" Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 335 Becoming The Saviours Of The Planesworld

    Kyros continued to discuss the ns they had once they returned. Time was slowly churning, and Kyros knew that they only had a few hours at most to stay in this ce.


    They marched towards the portal that led to the Crossroads and continued to talk about the ns.


    Hunter was still lost as Reptilia began to talk with Gojirrah and Midgard about how history progressed and how they remembered it and began to n what they could do.


    While they continued to discuss their ns, Kyros continued to talk to the rest andyout the ns for the future.


    "We will be busy for a time. Our weakness has returned, and it will be difficult for us to tap on our powers that can easily demolish Champions. But, of course, with our experience, I doubt there are any Champions in the Londs or in Present Time Middle that can challenge or kill us. So, I''ll remain with Reptilia and Grandfather to continue to force the other kingdoms to send support to battle the lizards. But now, our goal is to ensure that both sides don''t fight and kill each other too much."


    "I see. You n to make an alliance?"


    "Yes. If Hunter''s task is to unite Middle from the inside, our task is to make the nesworld Kingdom support them and send whatever knowledge, equipment, tools, and so on to improve the life in Middle." Kyros exined.


    "I talked to Midgard and the other survivors of the settlement so they can tell us what had happened. Based on the history that Midgard told me, our actions of sending the various kingdoms in the Londs continued. It created instability in the Midgard, and most of the Lizard kingdoms were subdued. But since we disappeared, the humans were unable to conquer Middle as well, and it seems that warsted for a long time and the Nephilim Sealing Mountain became the war zone." Branze reported.


    "So the Nephilim Sealing Mountain stayed for a time..."


    "Yes. But suddenly, Midgard said that the Nephilim Sealing Mountain had just disappeared one day. I''m guessing it''s because Golem King Petra finally died as he ran out of life source." Branze guessed.


    "That''s the most likely reason. That Gigantes Core that we saw in there might have kept the Nephilim Sealing Mountain active to seal up the portal to the Crossroads." Kyros nodded.


    "Anyway, the day of Apocalypse came when a dark opening emerged from the far north location, and Heralcus arrived and subdued everyone. And that basically led to them being defeated." Branze exined.


    "Alright. I guess we have to let Hunter unify the Dark Dependent nations as well. The easiest way for us to conquer is to have the humans in the nesworld give any support to Alpha Draconis to help Hunter conquer the entire ce. But to that, we have to grow stronger and settle the defenses on the nesworld." Kyros began to wield the darkness that he was projecting above the entire team, and it took the form of a strange tree.


    "Is that... the nesworld?" Scarlet asked.


    "Yes, Scarlet. This is the map of the nesworld."


    "So that''s what it looks like!" Aron nced at it.


    "You really need to read books, brother. There are books in the Library of the Nephilim that talked about that." Branze shook his head.


    "The conflict and movements within the nesworld are being driven and fueled by the conflict of Beginning and End. Unfortunately, I believe that most in our world, be it mortal of gods, are still unaware of the battle between Beginning and End. They might be aware of Fate and Destiny, the other gods and fallen, but don''t know where they are headed. As proof, Cminus knew very little when I met him."


    "Yeah. I learned about this whole Beginning and End thing when we managed to be allies with those Golems." Cmus''s voice echoed out of the Time Core.


    "And so, this means winning battles and stopping the Eldrich invasion will help in the battle against Destiny. So we are now going to strengthen the Londs and fight against the invasion of the Netherworld. Airom is located in this region. As you can see on this map, it''s very near the edge of the Londs. And our mission is to fortify these kingdoms."


    "So I guess we will be moving to each kingdom then?" Aron asked.


    "Yes. Just like Hunter, ideally, we should all end up bing kings and queens of certain kingdoms. That''s the best way for us to fight."


    "Oh? I''ll be a king?" Avary smirked.


    "Huh. To think that we started as vampire dhampirs, and soon, we will be kings!"


    "So we got a lot to do. If Hunter is to be the king of Present Middle, then you all will have to be the Savior Kings of the nesworld! The Steele Army will be divided equally among each team. Right now, what we need is to restore our strength. We''ve lost a great chunk of our souls that even with our Codes, we should only be able to do a level of attack equal to who we were before."


    "Yup. I tried it. I don''t even have a Champion''s might!" Aronughed.


    "Each level up should restore a portion of the soul we lost. This means a single level up could do tremendous changes. And I think this is good. With the Temple, we rose through the levels too quickly as we kept offering high-quality Commanders and our mastery over our Codes made us capable of performing attacks leaps and bounds greater than our current strength. But this also gives us the chance to strengthen our foundations. I hope that all of you won''t ck. By the time I reach the peak level of power that I had here, I should have double that power." Kyros revealed with a smile.


    "And honestly, I''m being conservative in my estimates."<sub> </sub>


    "Sounds exciting! I''ll aim to be a Champion that could fight a Cardinal just like you!" Aronughed.


    "Coven. Your goal is to be as strong as the peak I had here." Martha told the Coven.


    "Yes, mam!" The rest of the Coven answered.


    "What about the Emberdons? Are they going to remain like this? I mean, they''d get killed by the Addorant kingdom." Mias interjected.


    "Show them." Kyros ordered.


    Suddenly, Demerus, Triona, and Ressi raised their hands, revealing their former human forms.


    "This is still a work-in-progress. I still want to have kids. So we''ve been working on the way to slowly reverse the [Over Mana] spell and regain our flesh. The body and blood of Eredus helped a lot." Demerus revealed.


    "It limits the amount of power that we can bring out. In this form, we go back to being people with Champion power even with our knowledge." Triona chuckled.


    "As for Stellya and me, we also used our souls in that fight. So we''re basically as strong as we were before we went here. Just as Fate willed it." Fayeughed.


    "And that''s why we need to get stronger! Father, mother, and Emberdons. Your mission is to seek out the Celestial Code."


    "The Celestial Code!" Demerus was excited.


    "You n for us to receive the blessing of Greater God Daradiel? I won''t lie, but that power you wielded when you fought Heralcus was amazing!" Diana asked.


    "Yes. Actually, you and Father will really benefit from it! The form that I used to fight Heralcus is the power of Celestial Pdin. You could be Celestial Pdins and Celestial Temrs with that. And, of course, the Emberdons will be Celestial mages. Originally, I nned to seek that power out myself. But as it turns out, I don''t need to now. It''s better that I don''t receive his blessings. You guys have amazing intellect and research powers. Acquiring the Celestial Code could be a doorway for you all to understand how to wield all elements! You have Astra, after all! And the more you unravel and reveal to me, the stronger I be."


    "Lord Kyros is actually trusting us to study something for him?" Ressiughed.


    "This would be our greatest challenge. To think someone as amazing as Lord Kyros would rely on us to get stronger." Demerus smiled.


    "You are descendants of Asta. Live up to it and show me the real power. Anyway, we all need to branch out and learn other elements. Father and Mother''s power of Molding is necessary to transition our knights from sole Force users to have a diverse skill set. And if we want to fight the Eldrich, that''s the bare minimum. But beware, the journey towards the area where Daradiel is will surely be more treacherous now. I''m sure Destiny has sprung whatever traps he left in the nesworld to hinder us."


    "What about us?" Avary asked curiously.


    "Aunt Martha, Uncle Aron, Mias, and the Coven will first visit the Bowheart n. Some of you must try to turn the entire Addorant Kingdom to support us. Avary, Gregory, Myas, and Scarlet. This should be easy for you. Show them your power. Show them your beauty. Uncle Aron and Aunt Martha will help you for a bit and then will go with Grugnyr." Kyros exined.


    "Myas. This will be your training." Martha spoke.


    "Sister? You want me to go to my family, which has disowned me, and... practically take over as the Matriarch of the n?"


    "Yeah. That''s the easy part. I want the Addorant Kingdom to serve me." Kyrosughed.


    "Lord Kyros, you mean for me to restore my Fallen Kingdom?" Grugnyr asked.


    "I never thought you were such a schemer. I''ve been thinking about it. I will bestow to you the power of Charm and the Power of Taunt through our Bloodline. I still don''t know how or when I willplete that, but I''m sure you can handle that. Just as before, Aunt Martha and Uncle Aron will help you for a bit. And then they''ll be off to their honeymoon."


    "A honeymoon?" Grugnyr was stunned.


    "Oh? It does sound like a honeymoon for the both of us." Martha chuckled.


    "Together, the two of them will help Grugnyr restore the Fallen Orc Kingdom and use that as an entry point to go the Dark Sea. And they will seek out the ancient ck Dragon Tiamat!"

 Chapter 336 Becoming The Steele Kingdom

    Everyone continued to discuss the ns that Kyrosid out to them, and soon they arrived at the portal.


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


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


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


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


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


    "Indeed she is." Aronughed.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


    Inside the Crossroads...


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


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


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


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


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


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


    "We''re back," Kyros confirmed.


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


    Hunter made a strange sigh.


    So did Avary.


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


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


    "Sister!" Myas shouted.


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


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


    "The Okto-Khefali, huh?"


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


    "Is that even possible?" Triona asked.


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


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


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


    "Their of the Char Vermillion Lizards. They live under a massive cave deep to the west of this ce."


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


    "Yes!"


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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

 Chapter 337 Becoming The Vanguard

    <o>,m The Golem King Petra had a strange confused look. For a second, he felt the Cornerstone disappear. Even Mardock''s soul disappeared. A few hours have passed, but all of a sudden, they returned!</o>


    Petra could even sense that Mardock''s core had gotten stronger.


    "Mardock... It feels like he has reached a level that makes him even stronger than Stoph... And there is also the Gigantes Core... It has recovered ten percent of its energy! What happened?" Petra wondered. There have been situations in the past where it increased, and Kyros exined that there were certain victories in their battle against Destiny.


    "Hey, Petra." Kyros called out through his ability.


    "What year is it? Err... I mean, how long has it been since we disappeared?"


    "Cornerstone. You were gone for about three hours. I began to worry. We felt a strange ripple in the world around us that even the Gigantes Core became restless. It seemed to have moved past here but suddenly, it all disappeared!"


    "I see... So Destiny sent his powers to move into Middle in this time to send it. I guess that Crossroad that we were in is still somewhere in this world''s Middle..." Kyros began to ponder.


    "Corner Stone. What exactly happened? It''s great that you returned! But why has Mardock gotten stronger now? And apart from him, the energy of the Gigantes Core has been restored. And it feels... that it has be stronger. I don''t understand. There was no surge of power, but the Core just began to increase in its power. I now have newer abilities in my skill list."


    "Oh? That''s interesting. Mardock did get stronger. He should be stronger than Stoph now. But now, he''s only as strong as the Coven and can''t even fight any of the Steele family. It''s not just him. All of us have gotten stronger. Although, we became weak once more." Kyros chuckled.


    "I don''t understand your riddles, Cornerstone."


    "In any case, it''s good that not a day passed since we vanished! I''ll leave Mardock to exin things to you. So please wait for a bit. How are the humans there?"


    "Not much action since you left. The hours that passed when you disappeared were unnoticed by them. Everyone is busy and preparing for the Lizard Commander that they are expecting to attack. They are awaiting a group of mages called the Emberdons as well."


    "I see. We''re on our way there. Alert me if the Lizard attack has finally happened."


    Kyros began to update the team as to what had happened before he reached this ce. Martha, Aron, and the Coven, except for Hunter, Gojirrah, and Reptilia, followed and went to the Addorant Kingdom. Kyros gave Martha the Dimensional Storage stone he had taken from Heralcus and divided some supplies.


    Kyros began to update everyone else on what he had done on the other side.


    "So you poisoned the Lizard Commander and his Champions and even weakened his forces?" Hunter confirmed.


    "Yup. Reptilia was there. You don''t bear a grudge at me, do you, Aunt Reptilia?"


    "I would never bear a grudge to you, my Lord. And that''s not just because you''re my lord, but because I don''t want to suffer the insidious traps youid on me with your taunts and acting." Reptilia recalled how she was used and weakened during his Alchemy process so that the poison to bind her would work.


    "I already prepared for the worst-case scenario when our return would be already days after we have left. But since time has barely moved here, we could take part in the fight between the armies. I''m sure that the full force of the Charm Vermillion lizard will be there. And those Man-Gators will also be present. What we need is to quickly restore the light energy of Temple. We will defend the attack at the Golem City and make it look like the ones we will are being absorbed by the Golem City. I may summon more golems to make it look authentic, but most of what we get will be fed to the Temple." Kyros exined.


    "Understood."


    "In the battle toe, Remember to limit the power you show guys. Only reveal what you can reveal. Steele Family, don''t fight too well and pretend to be hard-pressed in the fight. Emberdons, I''ve returned you your original gear. Bear with me for a while. I n to return to Alpha Draconi or in the nearby kingdoms to steal some things to create small dimensional storage stones for all of you."


    "You can do that?!" Demerus eximed.


    "I just need the right materials. Hence our little trip here first. Grandfather, we are about to return. You take the lead."<sub> </sub>


    Mezal strode first, and they finally arrived at the Golem City.


    Knights, horses, and barbarians were busy moving around the area. Barricades have been set up, and small towers were deployed.


    Some of the mage schrs continued to observe the Gigantes Core and had seeded in creating a Soil Golem which they believed that they couldmand.


    "Finally. You''ve returned! I was getting worried! You lot were nowhere to be found. I was worried you turned tail."


    "I would never betray our Kattarax Kingdom. I''m sorry for the long wait. Let me introduce you to my Steele Family. Everyone, in case you have forgotten, this is Champion Watt Ordeus, a Champion Knight of the Kattarx kingdom." Mezal introduced.


    "And I see that all the Emberdon Champions are here." Ordeus moved to greet them.


    "Well met, members of the Mage Alliance. It seems that the battle is ours. With five genius champions of the Emberdons." Ordeus greeted the give.


    The Emberdons had used their original attires with the strange vacuum cleaners, brooms, and other objects as objects to fly.


    "Hmm? Who is this young man? This man looks a lot like Sir Branze''s son."


    "I am Kairos, my Lord. The older brother of Kyros." Kyros bowed.


    "This is my second adopted son. I adopted him after Kyros. It was Kyros who insisted and asked me to rescue him. He is a level 22 Captain, Champion Ordeus." Branze bowed.


    "Kairos? Well met, young one! So young, so powerful! Worthy of the Steele Family!"


    "We heard that there was a Commander," Demerus spoke. He had a cold, strict expression as he nced at Ordeus.


    "Yes. A Commander ising. I''m afraid. Is the Mage Alliance sending anyone?"


    "Our Commander, Commander Spark Torrent, is headed here. The disappearance of the Steele family is our doing. Did you send your scouts to look for them? We hid them. We have spent thest hour striking a deal with the Steele family. They have requested membership and a full schrship to our colleges as their knights wish to be Battle Mages."


    "Battle Mages?!" Ordeus was surpsied.


    "Yes, Champion Ordeus. The truth is, the Path to bing a Force Pdin can be strengthened through the study of magic. Therefore, I wish to have some of my servants'' study." Mezal exined.


    "Oh? The Mage Alliance is usually very strict when employing warriors of another kingdom."


    "We have made manypromises. But the Steele family has to prove itself to us. So, in this battle, we are requesting to make them the vanguard of the battle!"


    "The vanguard?!" Ordeus was stunned.


    "Please agree to it, Champion Ordeus!" Mezal pleaded.

 Chapter 338 Becoming Low-Key Fighters

    The Golem City now had a lot of defenses, but since they were afraid of Lizard mages to send attacks if they blocked the small passageway, the tactic that the humans decided to do was to ce their defenses within the Golem City itself.


    They used the destroyed and abandoned ruins and built on top of them to strengthen them.


    In this specific arrangement, the humans had archers that were positioned all over the Golem city.


    The lizard enemies would emerge from the small passage and would have an entire field full of archers and mages to shoot at them.


    The Steele family stood several meters ahead of the rows of knights who were on the defense.


    They were just thirty meters from the exit and deviated slightly to the right so that any mage champions would be unable to shoot them but would have to leave the small passageway to be able to aim at them.


    Mezal, Kyros, Diana, and Branze stood at the very front of this group.


    The members of the Steele family all wore ragged and dirty armor that made most of the warriors and knightsugh at them.


    But what they didn''t know was that under this apparently pitiful attire was the bestowed attire of the Temple.


    Demerus stood on top of one of the tallest buildings in the city. Next to him was Watt Ordeus.


    "Lady Diana and now that beautiful Lizard." Watt Ordeusughed.


    "Were they any factor to how your Emberdons agreed to give them a full-schrship as Battle Mages?"


    "No. Although my sister Stellya fancies that Kairos fellow."


    "Oh? Where is the younger brother, that Kyros?"


    "Where do you think? Headed to the Mage Alliance to study. Anyway, thank you for agreeing to this arrangement, Champion Ordeus."


    Ordeus was silent. Since Demerus arrived, it was clear that he was in a foul mood. He even shot at one of the Barbarian Champions, who was at odds with him. No one wanted to be on the bad side of this hot-tempered mage.


    The rest of the Emberdons were busy reading and analyzing the power of the Gigantes Core.


    A few Golems were standing among the Steele family. Although Ordeus nned to put more, Demerus demanded that only a few would be ced.


    Suddenly, a horse began to gallop out of the small passage.


    "The enemy is here! A horde of lizard creatures of all sizes is approaching!" The human scout reported.


    "A horde of lizard creatures? Any mages?"


    "Those beast appear to be the same lizardkin that the Steele family showed us. We can''t tell how strong they are."


    "Oh? Then no mages? Steele! Your first fight is against lizard monsters. We will give you little support. Move closer to the entrance so that you will be the target!" Demerus gave a strict order.


    "Demerus...!" Ordeus was finally angry.


    He suspected that Demerus was trying to have the Steele family killed.


    "We made an agreement! Mezal!" Demerus shouted.


    "Champion Ordeus. Let it be. We agreed to this. But do not worry. We have recovered thanks to their life-saving potions." Mezalughed as they moved forward.


    "Alright. The lizards areing. Remember guys, keep it low-key." Kyros reminded.


    "Yes! We are to be low-key, low-profile fighters that only have Viscount-level strength." Branze reminded.


    "Keep it humble. Keep your attacks moderate. We might have been turned weaker, but don''t show your skills, tactics, and speed that could even kill Champions." Branze ordered the Steele family.


    "Yes." The Steele servants chorused.


    "Allow me to join the Steele!" A viscount suddenly dered from the back.


    Everyone turned back to see a Viscount approach.


    "Who is that?" Kyros whispered at Branze.


    "Oh. One of the many admirers of your mother. He used to be strong." Branze sighed.


    "He used to be?"


    "I mean... when I was weak. Now I don''t even feel bothered by him. Before every time Viscounts or young Viscounts with Champion families proposed their love to your mother, right in front of me, I would rage." Branze chuckled.


    "You never told me that..." Diana blushed.


    "Well, you hated me back then."


    "So, are you jealous now?" Diana smiled.


    "Eh? Maybe if it was someone like those Commanders, we killed. After all, why would you mingle with an ant?" Branze shook his head.


    "True..." Diana sighed.


    "But I still like the feeling of you getting jealous. Maybe in the Minds, someone will once more spark your jealousy." Diana chuckled.


    "Maybe."


    "Lady Diana. I wish to protect you and fight by your side. Beauty of your standing shouldn''t be among such savages." The Viscount spoke as he drew close.


    The many servants of the Steele family red at the Viscount. To them, it was such an insult.


    "Hey, Viscount. Get back to your seat, kid." A young archer cursed.


    The Viscount froze.


    Kyros facepalmed.


    "Ugh. I didn''t think about this scenario." Kyros sighed.


    "What did a mere ve say?" The Viscount red.


    "You wish to take Lady Diana? Please. A weakling like you isn''t even worthy to carry her shield!"


    "Go home to your mommy, viscount." Another knight cursed.


    "You!"<sub> </sub>


    Diana was chuckling. To think it would be the Steele servants who would react.


    "Everyone, rx. Let this viscount fight among our sides. Viscount Stephen. Please, assist me and be my shield!"


    "As thedymands!" The simp viscount immediately rushed and stood next to Diana, pushing Branze to the side.


    "It will be my honor to fight for thedy."


    "Such honor should be ours!" Another Viscount was approaching, and a few more could be seen.


    "Stephen! You''re weak! Give me that spot!" Ancer shouted.


    "Yeah! Let me-"


    BOOM!


    "I have decreed the Steele to fight at the forefront! Viscounts! Wag your tails and retreat!" Demerus shouted angrily.


    The Viscounts moved back and had hateful eyes as they looked at the lucky Stephen.


    Stephen stood up bravely.


    "Hey, Jules. Who is this chicken standing next to Lord Branze?"


    "Is that chicken? I see a worm!"


    "I get it! Its called a meat shield!"


    The servant began tough and make jokes.


    "Stephen. Those are my servants. They mean well, so please do not take offense." Diana finally spoke as she could see Stephen about to explode.


    The knight stood his ground as the servant behind him continued tough and chuckle.


    "These... servants!" Stephen plotted how he could allow the lizard creatures to kill them.


    As Stephen stood, another group of people approached.


    Demerus frowned as these people were Champions.


    "Well, looks like a lot of Viscounts and even some Earls has their eyes set on Aunt Reptilia." Kyros chuckled.


    "Hmm..." Gojirrah frowned.


    "I shall put them to ce." Gojirrah volunteered.


    "It is not your ce to fight for me, Gojirrah." Reptilia chastised.


    "Ah... of course. Lord Hunter. Good luck fending off those Champions then." Gojirrah frowned and suddenly left the side of Reptilia and headed to the other side of the battlefield, standing next to Kyros.


    "Don''t worry, Gojirrah. I''ll look for a beautiful wife for you. Do you have anyone in mind?"


    "... Does Lady Reptilia have any sisters?" Gojirrah asked.


    "I have three who tried to kill me and hated me. While they are beautiful, they despise me and are the reasons why I left." Reptilia answered through the dark link.


    "Oh? Too much beauty can be a pain." Kyros chuckled.


    "Yes. Gojirrah, you cannot have my heart. But should it please you, you can have my sisters. Honestly, after Hunter, you were my second choice. So if you hold me, dear, find a way and punish my sisters." Reptilia answered.


    "The fight is not for you, Lady Reptilia." A Champion Berserker spoke gently as he approached.


    The Steele servants turned once more and saw Champion.


    "You should stay with our men. We knights will protect you, my Lady." Another Champion Knight appeared.


    "Ignore these brutes. I see that my Lady is a woman of grace and power. You also favor the Spear, just like me. Come and stay among your peers." A Champion Lancer also approached.


    "These... Champions are...?" One of the servants whispered to another.


    "Oh boy. It looks like Hunter- I mean, lord Hunter is not going to have it easy." Another whispered.


    "Lord Hunter. Good Luck! May Fate guide you!" Another servant mocked. The knight wasn''t used to treating Hunter as lord, and Hunter never demanded it.


    The teases and mockery made the Steele family chuckle.


    Some it drew the attention of the Champions.


    "Amazing... Before, if such people would approach the Steele Family, all the servants would be nervous. Now, look at them. They can''t even take these champions seriously! These are the strongest of the Londs! Now they are but a joke to our knights." Mezal whispered to Kyros.


    "So much for keeping things low-key..." Kyros sighed.


    "Why are youughing, ve?" The Champion shouted.


    "I''m sorry. But Lady Reptilia. Is already taken. She has... the Great Sword Saint, Hunter Steele! May his seed live forever!" The servant chuckled.


    "Sword Saint? I wish to see who this sword saint is!" The Berserker raged as he moved to the front. Next to Reptilia was Hunter.


    "Are you this Hunter? A mere soldier? Are you even a Captain?!" The Champion shouted as he stood defiantly in front of Hunter.


    The Barbarian was a head taller than Hunter.


    "A weakling! Ptooey!" The Barbarian spat at Hunter.


    "Lord Kyros..." Hunter took a deep breath as he spoke.


    "Ahh, screw it. We can''t keep it low-key anyway. Finish it before the lizards arrive." Kyros sighed.


    "Lady Reptilia! If you were to choose a man to be your husband, I am the-"


    POW!


    A devastating Force fueled punch rocked the jaw of the Champion as Hunter delivered a blow.


    The power of the vampire surged, and his strength soared.

 Chapter 339 Becoming A Force To Be Feared

    The sudden punch of Hunter shocked everyone, including the Champions around them.


    The five Emberdons could only sigh as they saw it.


    "Lord Kyros really values his Coven. Especially with all that HR thing, he thought us..." Faye chuckled.


    "Right. He won''t allow Hunter, who is now part of the Steele family, to be insulted like that." Ressi shook her head.


    The Barbarian Champion was thrown back from Hunter''s sudden cheap shot.


    "Champion!" The Viscounts saw the attack and shouted and rushed to attack.


    "Stop!"


    The Champion recovered from the punch andnded on his feet. He was clutching his jaw, and blood was trickling down his mouth.


    Various expressions were seen as they saw the Champion wounded!


    "Champion Bastark is wounded? That punch..." The Championncer that approached was shocked.


    "A Captain Force User? Impressive! But not good enough! Champion Mezal... It seems your soldier is the one first to draw blood. This insult will not be taken lightly. I wish to fight him, here and now!" The Champion roared.


    "Alright. Hunter, don''t hurt him too much. Remember that we are to be all allies in this war." Mezal warned.


    "Yes, Lord Mezal."


    "What did you say?! You dare-"


    CLANG!


    Hunter pounced and shed his sword, and the Barbarian quickly guarded.


    The Force skill that all Barbarians studied quickly increased his defenses.


    A Barbarian would have at least twice the muscle mass that knights of the same level would have. The thick muscles would help them produce arger volume of Force energy. If knights needed armor to defend and block, Barbarians focused all their Force on wielding their weapons, so their armors were lighter and more mobile. For defense, they relied on their own Force.


    "[Stone Skin]! A skill that a country bumpkin like you could never understand. My Force Energy is too strong that I can take your attacks and your swords at full Force!" The Champion mocked Hunter and went on the assault.


    "RAAAA!" The Barbarian brought out his massive sword and shed and attacked.


    But among the Coven, Hunter was the fastest next to Martha. And in terms of perception alone, Hunter was even faster. This was how he was able to y the game against Kyros during the Pronto training in the Temple.


    Hunter evaded all the attacks. But, the more Hunter evaded, the more his expression grew sadder.


    "This is sad..." Hunter sighed.


    The rest of the Steele family watched on and had the same thought.


    "This was the Champion rank I used to suspect? How weak are the Londs?" Hunter sighed.


    The Barbarian began to make massive attacks after massive attacks, but Hunter could keep on evading.


    "Lord Kyros. Why haven''t you thought us to be like Barbarians?"


    "Are you insane? These buffs are useless unless you have a body and Force energy like Shellcross. Even if you have [Stone Skin], our enemies back them were so strong that they could easily kill you anyway. We were all like ss cannons back there. That''s why I made everyone focus on offense and dexterity. Anything wecked to defend waspensated through strategy andmand. It was the only way to survive. Right now, if you wish to study the buffs, you may. It will be a great boost to your power."


    "Ah... That makes sense."


    "You little-"


    At that moment, Hunter finally found his opening. The Path of Combat allowed him to identify how to defeat the enemy easily, and he rushed in.


    As the Barbarian shed his massive sword, Hunter dashed in and made a simple stab.


    The sword was imbued with Force energy. It allowed Hunter to bring out the strongest attack.


    STAB!


    The sword stabbed on the chin of the Barbarian. [Stone Skin] took in the damage, and only a small wound appeared with strange cracks appearing at the side of his chin as if the Barbarian was wearing a y mask.


    But as Hunter stabbed, his quick dexterity allowed him to immediately release the sword just as the stab struck in its maximum. And his fist continued to slide just over the sword, and he formed a fast that struck the jaw of the Barbarian once more.


    POW!


    The punch struck once more, and it followed the stab so quickly that the enemy''s defenses were lost.


    But even before the punch of Hunter reached its maximum point, Hunter''s fist immediately moved and grabbed on the fur coat made of monster hide and pulled the Champion as his left hand rose to make another punch.


    POW!


    POW!


    POW!


    A series of punches were made as Hunter kept pulling the Champion, and soon, Hunter moved to issue abo of punches and kicks.


    POW!


    Thest uppercut sent the Champion vaulting to the air andnded on his back.


    He did not move or get up.


    There was silence across the entire Golem City.


    Everyone was shocked. An unknown warrior fought and easily defeated a Champion!


    Ordeus''s mouth was wide open.


    It was one thing for Mezal to reveal a Champions might when they had the summit on Airom Logat''s fortress. But this unknown Hunter instantly knocked out a Champion.


    "I''m...possible!"


    "Champion!" The nearby Viscounts immediately rushed to their Champion.


    "Rx. He''s not dead. Just unconscious." Demerus flew above them and used his powers to take away the Champion.


    "Any other Champion wants to challenge this young man? The lizard hordes are approaching. I can already sense them." Demerus asked impatiently.


    The nearby Champions, who all walked arrogantly to meet Reptilia, were now hesitating.<sub> </sub>


    Champion fights weren''t supposed to be like this. It was supposed to be explosive and glorious. But the fight was too anti-climactic and had no show of the shy bombastic attacks from both parties.


    It was like a simple boxing match between two random fighters!


    But the most unbelievable thing was that the Barbarian had fallen. Yet, they had the highest vitality and defense among all Champions! And [Stone Skin] was active!


    The other Champions did not move but slowly looked up and retreated.


    "It seems there is no time for any discussions or invitations..." The Champion Lancer retreated, as did the others.


    "How envious." Triona sighed.


    "Yes. To think that we who were Champions and gained enough power to challenge and defeat the Commanders of the Londs easily would be weakened, those like Hunter only grew a little bit weaker."


    "The stronger you are, the greater the nerf we had from Fate. At least that''s how Lord Cminus put it." Stellya nodded.


    Faye had activated [Gauge] to scan the stats of Hunter.


    ---


    Temple Firewall v2.32c


    Establishing connection...


    Requesting ess...


    Allied party member [Faye Emberdon] detected.


    ess allowed to Hunter Steele''s real stats.


    ---


    Hunter Steele


    Race: Human


    Age: 24


    Level: 24


    ---


    Strength- 121 (De-Might curse active)


    Magic- 79 (De-Magic curse active)


    Dexterity- 152 (De-Spacito curse active)


    Vitality- 210 (De-Might curse active)


    Intelligence- 154


    Force- 83 (De-Might curse active)


    ----


    Jobs:


    de Master Level 2


    Quick de ¨C 2


    Blitzer- 3


    Magic de- 1


    Knight Master Level 3


    Defender Knight- Level 3


    Ravager- Level 6


    Magic Defender- Level 1


    Fate Challenger Level 1


    Path of Foresight- Level 7 Medium


    Path of Combat- Level 9 Protester


    Path of Molding- Level 1 Influencer


    ---


    As Demerus led the unconscious Barbarian away, the Champions and Viscounts were having confused expressions as many of them tried to use [Gauge] just like Faye did.


    "A Stat distorter?!" One of the Captains cursed as he looked at the ridiculous stats.


    Ordeus still had a confused expression as Demerus flew back.


    Demerus was rubbing his forehead as he approached. The n was for them to secretly steal monsters to give to the Temple and keep it low profile. But now, the Steele was definitely going to be the center of attraction.


    "Lord Kyros, do you want me to make up excuses?" Demerus asked. As a Skeleton, he had ess to the Dark Link after Kyros installed the programs in their heads.


    "Yup. Just make up some lies as to why we hid our powers all these years and why we are showing it now. Any excuses will do. It doesn''t matter." Kyros confirmed.


    Demerus sighed once more as he ced the unconscious Champion to the side.


    "Champion Demerus, tell me. Was this why you allowed them to be the vanguard?" Ordeus asked him immediately.


    "Why do you think? These men have strong warriors who are cunning and brave. I wanted to see their full capabilities. That''s all. The Steele family hid their roots well and even made sure to hide their strength. As you know, they have a lot of enemies. And if their enemies knew their full strength, they would be persecuted greatly. So they hid it all. But we have a deal, and part of that deal was for them to show us their full potential."


    "Show you? Is that why that man fought Bastark?"


    "Yes. But you''ll see greater things than this. The Steele Family will now show everyone that they have be a force to be feared."

 Chapter 340 Becoming A Major Power

    The defeat of Bastark caused everyone to watch in shock.


    Viscount Stephen, who had stood next to Martha, was also horrified at what he saw. Among everyone who looked, he was the closest and saw the fight. After defeating it, Hunter simply went back to his position.


    "Lord Branze. I followed your theoretical application of ''nailing''. The attack wouldn''t push through, but the enemy''s force was too weak, and I had the speed to keep nailing on the attack to affect him."


    "Yeah, you nailed it." Branze smiled.


    Viscount Stephen began to tremble. That man referred to Branze as ''lord''.


    His body began to tremble.


    He noticed that not one of the Steele family reacted, cheered, or was amazed by the scene.


    And that brought a seed of doubt.


    Why were they not scared of the Champions?


    Stephen felt that while he could not prove the strength of these people, he still felt there was something abnormal about them!


    The roars of the Char Vermillion Lizards could be heard. The ground began to rumble from the charging force of the team.


    "Brings back a lot of memories, right, Hunter?" Kyrosughed.


    "Yes. It''s been a little over a month since that day... But it feels like it''s been ages!" Hunter smiled as he drew his sword.


    The Steele family didn''t just stand their ground. They were slowly headed towards the opening of the cave.


    "Since we''ve already shown our powers, let''s not be too showy, but let''s not be low-key. In short, let''s have some fun!" Kyrosughed.


    "They''re moving forward?" The Champions was confused. The ce where they stood would put them at the front of the charge, but it was near enough for the other groups to support them at the back. Moving any further would not only cause the Steele family to be surrounded by the enemy, but they would be outside of the range where the mages and archers could shoot urately.


    "Wait! Why- Why are we moving forward?!" The Viscount who rushed forward was being pushed by the soldiers behind.


    "Have some backbone, Viscount! It''s just a little lizard!"


    "ROAR!" The roars were heard, and the Viscount was getting nervous.


    "Aren''t their roars much stronger? This sounds different than the ones we fought and killed. And we killed a nest of them!" Branze asked Reptilia.


    "Those were the weakest breed. The Char Vermillion Lizards that lived here were from the outcast prince. The ones that are in the northern regions are the stronger ones. These ones don''t even have food."


    "Ah.. That exins it..."


    CRASH!


    The Char Vermillion Lizards appeared. The level of strength was clearly stronger as they wererger than the ones that they fought.


    "So the ones in the caves were where the weaker ones... I sense a strong power approaching. It''s as strong as a Champion..."


    "This should be fun!" Branze readied his shield actively.


    "Is my husband going to break Kyros''s orders and show off for a bit?"


    "He''ll understand. I need to keep all the simps in line..." Branze charged forward.


    The lizards charged out, breaking the sides of the passageway and were erging it.


    Unlike before, the lizards were now intent on destroying the human base after all the lies that Kyros had set and how he had forced the entire lizard army tounch an attack.


    The powers of lizards at the front were the strongest, and even the Champions frowned at the vanguard that attacked.


    "This is bad! Even our Viscounts would die in this battle! We face a wipeout if we are not careful!" Ordeus frowned and began to hope that Champion Drake Vestitude would arrive as soon as possible.


    But then Branze ran forward and raised his shield.


    "He''s crazy!" A Champion eximed as he saw Branze break away from the formation to fight.


    "Let''s see how strong I am..." Branze wondered. He knew he felt weak, but he was curious about how weak he was.


    "Force Wall!"


    BOOM!


    The entire row of lizards met something strong and was pushed back.


    A massive Wall surrounded the area, and Branze had a pained expression.


    "Force Wall?!" Stephen eximed in horror. The Force wall was too exaggerated! The charge had to be at least at Champion level, and the walls needed to defend against it should also be like that!


    "Ugh... I nearly gave way. I can''t handle a Champion. Pathetic." Branze sighed.


    The sudden pause was enough, and the Steele family charged forward.


    Viscount Stephen was caught in the sudden push.


    "What the?!"


    "Idiot! Attack!" A soldier behind him shoved him, and he moved in his confusion.


    The wall vanished, and the lizards lost bnce just in time for the Steele family to begin their attack.


    SLASH! STAB! CRASH!


    The attacks of everyone in the front line immediately killed a lizard. All but the Viscount who was caught up and was not synchronized from the attack. His attack only wounded the Char Lizard as his sword barely stabbed through. But the soldier behind him had shed the head of the Char Lizard and made a wound on the neck, causing it to stagger.


    Stephen quickly tried to pull his sword, but Diana shed and killed the lizard in front of him.<sub> </sub>


    "Don''t be a burden to my Steele Family." Diana frowned.


    Everyone who was watching how the Steele fought was stunned at the shockingbos of those who attacked.


    Everyone in the front-line, aside from Stephen, killed their enemy with a single blow. But what was shocking was those at the back. They had reorganized themselves in the charge, and as they faced the enemy, the one on the front would do a charge, and those at the back would charge on it or punch on the hilt of the sword nailing that attack even further!


    The first row of lizards died immediately, and their bodies suddenly vanished!


    The immediate disappearance startled those at the back as the team of Kyros charged with speed and delivered another critical attack and killed some more on the second row. Some did not die but received grievous wounds.


    "Retreat!" Mezal ordered, and the team took a step back and went on the defense.


    The lizards fell in disarray at the sudden disappearances of some of lizards.


    "Where?!"


    "Is it the Golems?!" One of the Champions asked. They had experimented on the ce and noted that the ground near the city could consume in enemies.


    Slowly, more golems began to form.


    "It really is the Golem!"


    "It seems that the Steele family has already created a warfare with their experience of fighting here..." A Champion noted.


    The lizards charged ahead, but another wall struck them right before their attack reached. But the wall appeared and vanished almost instantly as if it was broken.


    "Tsk..." Diana cursed. Her wall was broken.


    But the invisible wall was yet exploited as the Steele Family charged once more.


    The soldier behind Stephen was so annoyed that he tackled and pushed him down.


    "I''ll take the front, you idiot! You''re breaking our ranks!" The soldier kicked and stepped on Stephen as he attacked the lizard.


    Those behind him also began to step on the Viscount.


    The two forces began to sh, but Steele had the advantage.


    There the full force of the Steele could be seen.


    "The strongest one is still Mezal with his amazing Trinity Sword. That is the legacy sword of the Steele, if I''m not mistaken. But their forces... they are all practically Captains in strength!" One of the Champions frowned.


    "Is that what shocked you? True that Branze doesn''t have the deadly attacks that Mezal has, but his Wall! It stopped the charge! He''s even better than Lady Diana! And Lady Diana''s Wall matches the Champions Force Wall! What''s going on? How did they be so strong?!"


    "Their forces aren''t a joke either. It''s organized, disciplined, and terrifying!" One of the soldiers shouted.


    "Why is that night throwing down his pants?" Ordeus asked Demerus.


    Demerus sighed and shrugged his shoulders.


    Viscount Stephen continued to get trampled. Every time he moved his arm or head, it would get stepped on.


    "Hey, idiot! Get out of there!"


    "Hey! Stand up! Why are you lying there?!"


    "Oh no! I urinated!"


    Footsteps and pungent water rained downed on Viscount Stephen, and he began to cry.


    "Kick this stupid Viscount out! He''s messing with our formation!"


    "Right!"


    KICK! KICK! KICK!


    "Guys! I urinated too!"


    Eventually, Viscount Stephen was rolling out of the ranks of Steele. He had blood and many wounds that he couldn''t move, and he smelled bad.


    The father of the Viscount raged.


    "That Steele family!" The old man began to charge when...


    POW!


    "Are you an idiot?!" The Champion he severed punched him.


    "Don''t you dare attack them! Can''t you see?! I don''t care what grudge you had with them or with the family of Mezal! Regardless of the Ondo n''s crimes before, they are the Steele now! And they are a major power in the Londs!" The Champion roared.


    "What?! A Major power?!"


    "You are a Captain, so you can''t feel it! But just now..." The Knight Champion turned back.


    "They have seven Champions fighting! Seven! That''s a number none in the Londs can deal with! And Aron Steele, the genius swordsman, is not even there! So they may have eight! Who knows? They might have more!" The Champion eximed.


    At that moment, the Viscounts all looked at their Generals and noticed it.


    In the heat of the battle, Kyros, Mezal, Branze, Diana, Gojirrah, Reptilia, and Hunter were all fighting with tremendous force energy.


    Ordeus turned to the Emberdons...


    "Champion Demerus. What happened? Tell me honestly, what are the details of your alliance with the Steele family?" Then, seeing the full power of Steele, Ordeus asked Demerus.

 Chapter 341 Showing Their Real Might

    The Steele family never retreated but held their ground as they slew monster after monster. And from the outside, it seemed like a horrifying battle, and that the Steele Family were exerting all of their force and wits in the fight. In reality, it was super easy for them.


    "This is our enemy?" One of the youngest Steele servants frowned as she began to shoot her arrows.


    Her arrows easily struck the eyes or would hinder a lizard from lunging and performing an attack.


    Through the Path of Combat and Foresight, the group could easily adjust and fight, exerting the least possible efforts in fighting.


    This meant that some knights at the front would abandon defending and focus on killing as the ones behind them took care of it all.


    "Foresight and Combat is helping us fight. Our previous battles against the minions of Destiny always had Foresight and Combat, so our battle was akin to fighting recklessly, and we had to outsmart them constantly. But here, these lizards don''t have Destiny Challenger. So this is super easy." Branze chuckled.


    "Still, this is good. Since we are fighting like this, while it seems easy, to the eyes of the rest, it looks like we are pitting our very lives in this battle." Kyros smiled.


    The power of the Myster Experience System began to surge as the group fought and killed. But the energy they acquired from the enemy was surprisingly low.


    "I guess killing non-Destiny-rted enemies isn''t that good." Mezal frowned as he pressed on.


    The group continued to defend the entrance and slew their portion of beasts.


    While that was happening, Ordeus and Demerus continued to talk.


    "You n to serve their family?!"


    "Yes. We were secretly nning on stealing them. Their knowledge is quite interesting as the Force Pdin uses an ability thatbines Force and Magic. So naturally, we were interested. But when we cornered them and hidden them from your scouts, they revealed a power that made us shudder."


    "You...! The Five Genius Mages actually shuddered?!"


    "Yes. The Steele family imed that they were hiding their real power. When they showed it, we realized that we, the Emberdons, were too weak to fight them." Demerus revealed.


    "Too weak?!"


    "Not necessarily in strength. And they didn''t force us. On the contrary, we negotiated to be their servants."


    "What?! You wanted to be servants?!" Ordeus was shocked. Why couldn''t it have happened to him? Why couldn''t four gorgeous and powerful mages serve him?


    "They did tempt us with prizes couldn''t refuse. Our deal involved more than an alliance between our families. We will serve them and break away from the Mage Alliance. But they had to show their true power. This is so that our transfer to their group will not spur the wrath of the Mage Alliance. They have to show everyone in the Londs how strong they are." Demerus exined.


    Ordeus was shocked. He thought the Steele family would be something the Kattarax kingdom could control. But it seems that he was dreaming. They were far more powerful than they were.


    "But... why would they...?"


    "Why reveal their power now? Simple. Because now, with the threat of this Lizard horde, their enemies won''t have enough resources to spare to kill them. How many Champions would be involved to subdue them? And even if it''s possible to meet the number of Champions, the kingdoms that all their enemies would serve would send people here. So now that we have seen the enemy, not many would dedicate time and resources to killing them. Besides, you know that the Emberdons is a family of fragile forms. We need strength because we also have many enemies. The Mage Alliance is not a good home for us to stay... So we n to ept this alliance. It now only depends on how strong they will show themselves to be."


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Mezal suddenly made stronger attacks as his Trinity Sword imitated the Grand Cross of Pdins.


    The Steele Family used this to their advantage and fought.


    "ROAR! ROAR!" Several roars could be head deep inside the passageway, and this roar contained tremendous Force energy.


    Those who were Champions could sense it.


    "Champion Lizards?!" Ordeus sensed it.


    "About ten of them. How will they fare against them, I wonder?" Demerus asked.


    "Demerus. Report." A cold voice spoke as bolts of lighting raced through the sky. A figure wearing yellow robes and a massive scepter appeared. The man also had a shield.


    "Battle Mage Commander Relik!" Ordeus bowed.


    Demerus and the four Emberdons approached and saluted the Commander.


    "Hmm? I sense a great elemental surge among you." Relik frowned. He could sense the power pulsing from them.


    "We''ve received... a gift from the Steele Family. Commander, the day hase for the Emberdons to leave the Mage Alliance."<sub> </sub>


    Ordeus was shocked.


    "Oh? Does this mean you''ve found a protector that can shelter you from the storm?"


    "More like a Temple of the sanctuary." Demerus chucked.


    "Them? And why now? I always protected you and sheltered you."


    "Yes, Commander. You''ll see. Several Champions are approaching."


    The lizards began to move to the sides but didn''t charge. Several massive figures of strange color appeared.


    One lizard had a bright vermilion shade. The rest was pitch ck, like the color of charcoal. All in all, nine Champion-level lizards broke through, and the Vermilion Lizard released energy of Mid-Champion power. Next to them were more lizards that revealed powers on the mid-levels of the Captain realm.


    "What are those?!" The Commander was stunned. Even he would be hard-pressed to fight such threats. And if the enemy had this many Champions, it was natural that a Commander would be behind them.


    The lizard howled an angry cry as he began to ''talk'' to Reptilia and Gojirrah.


    To the rest, it sounded like strange howls and lizard hisses, but Kyros understood what it was. Just like the previous Char Vermillion Prince, this lizard could speak in Lizard tongue.


    "Gojirrah... Reptilia..." The Vermilion lizard called out with a hoarse and monstrous voice.


    "Are you under the control of this Poltergeist?" The lizard called out.


    Back when Kyros escaped Alpha Draconis with Reptilia and Gojirrah, he had pretended to be an Alchemist to create the Time Core of Cminus. But as they finally created it, Kyros detonated the many alchemy weapons to paralyze everyone and pretended that a poltergeist had taken control of him as he created the Time Core.


    This report waster cascaded down. The Commander had interrogated everyone who saw Kyros, Reptilia, and Gojirrah leave. Soon they discovered that the ''Poltergeist'' had deceived everyone and managed to make their escape with suspicion.


    And so, all the Lizardman and the Lizardkin knew of this, and thus, a full assault was nned to eliminate the human threat.


    The Vermillion Lizard could also sense a trace of dragonic power within the two.


    "Dragon... So it was true! The humans have found dragon blood here!" The Vermillion lizard eximed.


    Kyros had also used this detail to draw the lizardman kingdom to attack and used various lies, even ming a lizardman named Tail 1 for a conspiracy of colluding with the humans.


    "Come back to our site, Reptilia! You belong with us!"


    "I am d where I stand. And I do not belong to a group of weak lizard races like you. How is Tail 1? I have to thank him for being so foolish and bringing that Poltergeist that controlled this alchemy genius. If not for him, I would never have gained real power!" Reptiliaughed.


    "So you are lost... Then I shall do the honor of defeating you. I shall feast on Gojirrah''s bones and make you my mate!" The Vermillion Lizard dered.


    "Hey! Can you guys talk in English? Reptilia, what are they saying?"


    "Something foolish and stupid that should not trouble Lord Mezal." Reptilia answered.


    "This is fun! So lizards can talk like this! Can I try?" Kyrosughed.


    "Hey, you Newts!" Kyros called out in Lizard Tongue.


    The Vermilion Lizard froze.


    It was the dreaded N-word in lizard tongue.


    "Kill them!" The Vermilion lizard raged and charged madly towards Kyros and his team.


    "Grandfather... It''s time for you to show off..." Kyros chuckled.


    "I''ll have some fun then..." Mezalughed as his powers began to increase. His soul began to release great energy thatbined with Force and Magic.


    Commander Relik felt the fluctuations in the air and was amazed.


    "This is the Steele Family?!"

 Chapter 342 Showing Their Backs

    The massive might of Mezal was unlike the power he revealed when he sprung his trap to reveal several Champions to be part of a secret alliance with the Eldrich. The Champions of the Londs had all seen his death stance and hesitated in attacking him because of that power.


    But now, the power that Mezal showed that could easily reach the Commander level in the Londs surfaced once more. It was slightly stronger.


    "This is their real power?!" One of the Viscounts trembled. He had been among those many families who had a score to settle with the Steele family due to the unfortunate usations and traps. But now, he could not help but shudder.


    The power of Force Wall alone was able to stop several Champions at once!


    The Lizard Champions roared, scratched, and mmed their tails, but they could not break.


    "As you can see, the Steele family is capable of defending against such attacks. This is because they have so many enemies, more than our own. It''s the perfect arrangement." Demerus smiled.


    Commander Relik watched in amazement.


    The power of the shield even managed to stop the attacks of the Vermilion Lizard, and Meza''s smile continued to mock him.


    "Lord Mezal, Lord Kyros. Can we try our hand against these Champions?" One of the knights behind Kyros asked.


    "Well, this will really put the fear against our enemies. But, on the other hand, if they find out our Captains can challenge Champions and break the norm in the Londs, I think we would be able to move about much freely without worrying about the political conflicts here..." Kyros thought.


    "Well, now that we''ve gone this far, we might as well. I know you nned to maintain a weak facade so that our enemies woulde bullying us and we can secretly devour them. But this is also good." Mezal nodded.


    "Move into position and get ready to fight!" Kyros ordered.


    "Thank you, Lord Kyros!" The knights cheered and excitedly nced at their enemies.


    "Hurry and pick an enemy ording to Foresight and Combat. We''ll take care of the weaker ones. Show them that you can kill a Champion." Branze ordered.


    "Yes, sir!"


    The soldiers began to rearrange themselves, and they began to spread on their formation abandoning a defensive wall."


    "What...?" The Viscount watching were all confused.


    "Are they insane?" Another asked.


    "Petra. Have the Golems block the sides if some of those lizards move to the sides or if any of those Champions rush in. The killing blow has to belong to our men or to us." Kyrosmunicated to Petra.


    Petra was standing as one of the pirs near the Gigantes Core. He had pretended to be a statue but had witnessed everything.


    "Of course." Petra nodded. He had sensed that as Kyros killed, the life force of the in lizards would be absorbed by them.


    "It seems that you have a lot to tell me, Corner Stone." Petra spoke.


    "We''ll talkter. We''ll just clear this threat and test our strengths. Our adventures have drastically changed us. So we need to reassess just how strong we are..." Kyros answered.


    Slowly the Golems began to move and guard the side.


    The human kingdom knights were amazed at the positioning of the golem.


    "These things have great intelligence!"


    "Whoever built them and left magic in this stone should be shockingly powerful and wise!" A Championmended the defensive formation of the golems.


    "Are you ready?" Mezal turned around, and all the Steele family had changed their formation ording to the Foresight and Combat that they had.


    Each went to the position where they would be able to fight properly. Several small teams appeared. Some had groups of four, and the others had teams of three.


    "What are they doing?!" One of the Champion Knights couldn''t understand why they broke ranks.


    "Alright, guys. Test out how strong you are." Mezal chuckled and undid the Force Wall as the lizards charged forward. Each was facing their enemy.


    Surprisingly, aside from Kyros and Mezal, who faced the Champions, the rest of the core Steele members fought the weaker lizards.


    The rest of the Steele family were just in a position for the Champions to charge at them.


    And so the Champions raced towards the Steele family knights and servants.


    SLASH! SLASH! STAB!


    What they thought would be a scene of death turned out to be the marvelous fight off all the Steele Family.


    The teamwork they disyed and the fight that they made shocked everyone.


    Speed, strength, and skill amazed all Viscounts. Each made tremendous battle ys that each knight and archer saw a different scene yed out.<sub> </sub>


    The knights of the Steele Family could not match the enemy''s strength. So instead of meeting the attack with defense, the knights would make a resisting retreat where the attacks of the Champions were softened. Their execution was perfect. The Champions they fought and the training that they were thrown into back in the Temple were many times worse, and their Pronto aided them in executing the powerful blocks.


    The archers that they had were all Force Users with skills. Unfortunately, the bows wounded the Champions as the Knights took the blows.


    And as that was happening, an unarmored swordsman would charge in with speed to stab or sh the Champion.


    The minimum roles of each team were divided as such. And they all fought with great speed.


    Ordeus''s mouth was wide open. Not even the strongest elites in the Kattarax Kingdom could do this! Yet now, the Steele family revealed that their men could fight Champions!


    Kyros fought the Vermilion Lizard with Mezal. Two other Champions apanied the Vermilion King, and the three of them began to make massive attacks.


    Mezal fought as the tank, and Kyros was in charge of attacking. But the pair had to downy their strength and prolonged the battle.


    The fighting among the rest found the enemies to be too weak. Their fights in Middle was a constant choice between death and life. But this battle against these lizards champions was so different inparison. They now understood the full strength of Fate Challenger.


    One by one, the Lizard Champions fell from the strategic and strong attacks of the Steele family.


    As the battle progressed, Mezal used his Trinity Swords and imbued True Cut in it, wounding the Vermilion Lizard with his shes.


    Kyros also made his attacks as his sword released Balefire energy. The Vermilion Lizard tried to retreat with the grievous wounds, but the two chased it. The rows of lizards did not even dy Kyros and Mezal by the slightest.


    Finally, the Vermilion Lizard fell, and the other Champions perished.


    At the deaths of the Champions, the lizards began their retreat. The bodies of their allies did not even remain for them to devour as they mysteriously vanished.


    To the Steele family, the battle was boring. It wasn''t life-threatening, and none of them ever felt the danger of dying.


    As the lizards retreated, Gojirrah nced to the passageway and could feel that the real army of the Alpha Draconis was arriving.


    "Let''s go," Kyros ordered as he began to walk back.


    "What? We''re retreating?" Even Mezal was confused.


    "Be more sensitive, grandpa." Kyros chuckled.


    "Lord Kyros! I care not if we fight them!" Reptilia spoke.


    "You care not because you are loyal to me. But Reptilia, you are my aunt. It doesn''t taste right to have you fight against people you used to protect with your shield and lend your spear with. Besides, the human kingdoms have to fight. That was the point of my ns. We need to make the human kingdoms fight and for the lizard kingdom to have a distraction. How else can I hide the Temple in Middle?" Kyros exined.


    "I..."


    "You''re his aunt now, sister. Remember that. Take advantage of it if you need to, just like Martha did." Diana smiled and began to move back.


    And so, the Steele family made their way to the back.


    "We''re done. Emberdons... Do you ept?" Mezal called out to Demerus.


    "We do. You won''t fight anymore?"


    "No. We n to rest at the back." Mezalughed.


    "What?! Mezal? What do you mean you won''t fight?!" One of the Champions shouted.


    "Why are you retreating?! None of you even have wounds!"


    "We''ve already faced and killed several Champions. What more do you need?" Branze frowned.


    "Where is your honor?!" A viscount demanded.


    "Honor? Where was your honor when you framed us for the death of a certain Viscount?" Mezal chuckled.


    "What?! You usations-"


    "Have no benefit to us. We are strong enough to attack and kill you and your family. Should my Steele family march to Lorem Ipsum and demand your head, they willply. Or will your Champion stand up for you?" Mezal red.


    The Viscountfroze. The Champion next to him took a step away from him to show his stance on this side.


    "Cha-Champion!" The Viscount was horrified.


    "Let me be clear. I don''t see any of you as our ally. The facade I put up to secretly get the Emberdons to meet with me has already seeded. Why should we continue to fight, showing our backs to you when many of you tried to kill us? Now, do us a favor and face the iing lizardman horde and show your backs to us!" Mezalughed as he moved forward.

 Chapter 343 Showing The Might Of The Lowlands

    The Steele family began to move back excitedly,ughing and talking with each other about the fight.


    "Ha! I won! I killed a Champion faster than you three did!"


    "Our Lizard Champion had high defense! Yours favored speed!"


    "Did you see that evade I made? I call it the Jules Jumping Jamboree!"


    "My sword broke..." A Knight sighed.


    "Stop! None of you, move!" One of the enemy Champions who despised the Steele family ordered and stood to bar the way of the group.


    Seeing that one had moved, more began to move forward. Fear had driven them to stand and speak to push the Steele family to stay at the front lines. They had seen an unworldly power! Even the very knights were a threat! All knights of the Steele family were at least at captain level! And the reports stated that this was only half of the full servants of the Steele family as Aron and another group were seen leaving the mountain!


    "These soldiers aremitting treason not just to their kingdom, but to all humans!" Another Champion shouted.


    "Treason? We just wiped out an entire wave of the army that is attacking us! We are all injured, tired, and out of Force Energy. We want to retreat and rest." Mezalughed.


    "Injured?! None of you is injured!"


    "We want to focus on our mental health," Cminus spoke. But as the Time Core was next to Kyros, it was as if Branze had answered them.


    "Mental health?" Ordeus repeated in confusion.


    "Ri-right. Our mental health. The pressure is too much. We... are mentally tired." Diana tried to reason.


    "I want to focus on things that really matter... Me." Cminus spoke once more. This time, he was imitating Kyros''s voice.


    "Right. You do you. It''s our mantra now." Cminus spoke again and used Branze''s voice.


    "..."


    The Core Steele family was silent, but all of them had one thought...


    "THAT FRAGMENTING CALAMINUS!" Kyros, Branze, Mezal, and Diana were screaming in their heads while maintaining a calm expression.


    The Champions were all stunned at the odd and new line of reasoning.


    But one Champion wasn''t having any of it.


    "Ordeus! Tell Mezal and his Steele family to return to the-"


    KZZZZZT!


    Faye shot a bolt of lighting to the Champion.


    "Ahhhhh.....!" The knight was screaming in pain. But the bolt didn''t just shoot him. It held him and even lifted him.


    "Champion!" The Viscounts cried out.


    The other Champions was about to charge, but when they nced up, the potent magic energy of four Emberdons caused them to freeze.


    They saw a strange vision as they nced up. It was is several massive, horrifying skulls were ncing down at them.


    None of the Champions could move.


    Commander Relik also watched in amazement.


    "What exactly happened, Demerus?" Relik asked Demerus, who remained standing next to Relik and Ordeus.


    "You could say we found people we were Fated to meet." Demerus smiled.


    KZZZZT! KZZZT!


    The poor Champion was lifted and tossed to the back. His body was charred, and he couldn''t move.


    "Ah... Traitors...!" The Champion muttered angrily.


    "Who else dares to bar the path of my lords?" Faye red.


    The other Emberdons also began to harness their elements as they hovered above the Steele family.


    The other Champions began to move back. They were shocked at how Faye revealed her power. She had been guarding Airom Logat alongside them, but they never knew she was this powerful. And she wielded a unique element! Lighting users were rare in the Londs.


    "Commander... Your... your mages...!" One of the Champions who was allied with the attack was called out.


    "They are no longer ''my mages.'' But rest assured, the Mage Alliance will still offer our support. I will personally fight until reinforcements from your respective kingdoms arrive." Relik answered.


    "Now, I formally announce the severance of the Emberdons from the Mage Alliance. From this day forward, they are part of the Steele Family. May you five kids have a good life." Relik smiled.


    "Thank you for everything, Lord Relik. Our Lord has assured us that we will still offer our services and support should the Mage Alliance need us. They will join the battle with us."


    "That''s good to hear. Go on now. I''ve got some more work to do thanks to your random whims..." Commander Relik answered.


    "The-the Emberdons?!" One of the Champions eximed.


    "You heard me. They have allied. Frankly, they look good together. The Steele family has had their problems here among the knights and families, so has the Emberdons been subject to attacks and threats. Are you two certain? Champion Mezal, you will have more enemies now."


    "Our Steele can only bend but not break. We wouldn''t Steele if no fire tests our mettle. The Emberdons will be weed and treated as a branch of our Steele family. Thank you for your concern, Commander Relik. I have heard nothing but praises from the Emberdons."


    "Of course. I see them as my sons and daughters. Go now, and focus on your mental health." Relik smirked.


    "But- But Commander! We face a Lizard army!"


    "Are we that weak? Fight! Even if the Steele family does not join, they have not only wiped out ten Champions! If any group can kill as much as that, they can enjoy a rxing rest and focus on their mental health! And setting aside that, look around you! How many golems have risen because of their fight?! They killed so many that we now have double the golems guarding this city!" Relik questioned.


    The Champions were silenced.


    "Champions of Airom! Get busy! I sense a powerful team arriving! Learn from the Steele family and fight them! Show these lizards what we humans are capable of! Erm... no offense Miss..." Relik assumedmand.


    "Missus. This is Reptilia Steele. Husband of Hunter Steele and my adoptive daughter."


    "WHAT?!" Various angry cries could be heard around them.


    "Ma-married?!" Ordeus eximed and quickly asked Demerus.


    "Why? What''s so shocking about that?" Demerus asked.<sub> </sub>


    "Weren''t those two lizards just recruited?! Didn''t they apany Lord Kyros and flee here? How is she married? How long have they known each other?!"


    Although the real answer was already more than two weeks, at this time, only a few hours passed.


    p "Yeah. We attended their wedding ceremony. It was divine. They got married, I guess, thirty minutes ago?"</anda>


    "Lizard Champion! Do not be afraid that the Steele family is forcibly holding you against your will! Our kingdom will save you! You can be an honorable Earl in our kingdom!"


    "That''s right! Steele family! We denounce you! Free them!"


    "Lord Commander! See the evil of the Steele family!"


    "Everyone! Be quiet! A lizard horde is approaching, and you concern yourselves with this! There is no proof of your ims! Lady Reptilia, did the Steele family force you into servitude?" Relik asked.


    "Yes," Reptilia confirmed.


    "See?! She wasn''t- what?! You were?!"


    "I mean... that''s how it started. Kyros basically forced her to serve us." Mezal agreed.


    Yup. She didn''t have a choice in that matter. So I made her- I mean, my brother Kyros made her be our ve."


    "How time flies! I just realized that a few hours ago, you were a ve! Now you''re part of our Steele family?"


    "Yes. To think my Fate of bing part of the Steele would be through forced servitude."


    "And then I would be forced to marry you." Hunter sighed.


    "Forced to marry?!" A Champion shouted.


    Although it was Hunter that admitted to being forced to marry, they all still interpreted it as Reptilia was being forced to marry Hunter.


    "Inhumane!"


    "What inhumane methods, Steele family!"


    "Well, I mean... She isn''t human..." Kyros spoke.


    Themotion erupted once more.


    "Silence!" Magic erupted out and silenced the entirend.


    "Look! The Golems are marching forward as it anticipates an attack! Lady Reptilia! You may choose to leave the Steele family if you want!"


    "Leave the Steele family? Where will I go next? Those other Champions are utterly weak. I''ll stay with the Steele family. If any Champion can kill a Commander, then I shall serve them. Lord Mezal can match a Commander after all." Reptilia shrugged.


    "..." The Champions were silent and horrified at the same time.


    "You heard it! Everyone to your ces! By the gods, this is the most undisciplined army I''ve evere across with! A lizard horde with Commander approaches, and you all meddle with another family?! I know you all desire to have Lady Reptilia! Then if you want, show your power on the battlefield as she has said! And noints! Lord Mezal, I just want to ask-"


    "Rest assured, Commander. Should the defense line fall, we will act. Our mental health should recover in a bit." Mezalughed.


    "Go and show me the might of the Londs. Should any of you surpass Sir Gojirrah in strength, he shall have my four sisters who I promised to Gojirrah in marriage. They are as beautiful as me." Reptilia spoke.


    "F-four sisters?!" The Champions froze.


    The Viscounts felt their heart tremble.


    "Yes. Human rules of monogamy do not bind our lizards. We follow the strong. Should Hunter love another, he has the strength to do so. Should any of you prove stronger than this, then he shall have all four of my sisters."


    "..."


    The crowd went silent.


    "To war, dear brothers!"


    "War!"


    The army moved and organized themselves between the golems.


    "Loser simps..." Cminus sighed.


    Kyros could feel that Reptilia was releasing the power of the Charm Fallen through her vampiric connection with Kyros.


    Meanwhile, Relik moved back and stood next to Demerus.


    "Demerus... you''re Steele family are trouble makers!" Relik eximed.


    "They are. That''s why we are having so much fun!" Demerus chuckled.


    "They also sort of forced us to servitude. But since we know their power, we decided to serve them."


    "Are you sure of this path?" Relik asked.


    "We are... And thank you, Commander Relik. Your words are an inspiration. We also see you as a father. So much so... that I guess we''ll show it to you."


    "Show what to me?"


    "Come with me for a minute, and let''s talk in private. The Steele family and my family will defend this ce if needed."


    "What is it that you will show me?"


    "Let''s just say that the Emberdons have three skeletons in our closet." Demerusughed and flew out to a distance.


    Relik frowned, and he turned to Ordeus.


    "You heard him. I''ll be back." Relik flew.


    Ordeus was left standing, and Mezal approached.


    "Rx, old friend. Will fight in needed." Mezalughed.


    Ordeus felt helpless and a sense of inferiority. Mezal was far, far stronger than what Ordeus estimated to be.

 Chapter 344 Showing Their Face

    At the outskirts of the mountain...


    A massive army stood by.


    Commander Komodo Dragon was still slightly wounded for nearly a day ago. He had suffered from the cruel Alchemy Weapons and was still recovering.


    The marshaling of the forces took some time as half of the army that was guarding the garrisons set to defend and guard thends against the nearby kingdoms were called out.


    His edict called out not just the lizardmen but marshaled all lizard kins.


    It had lizard kind of all forms: the Smanders, the Newts, the Serpentine. And leading them was the leader, the most intelligent lizard kin of all who had power, magic, and resources, the Lizardman race.


    The first to be sent was the Char Vermillion race, who desired to avenge their fallen prince. While the Char Vermillion lizards in the cave were the weakest and the outcast, the massacre''s taint and stigma implied weakness for this race. And so, the Champion King of the Char Vermilion race dered to be the vanguard of the attack.


    The attack went in, and the Discarded Army was also sent to support.


    But then the reports arrived.


    "The Char Vermilion Lizard King has been in?!" Komodo Dragon eximed.


    ? The amount of Char Vermilion Lizards would have broken through the front lines with their number and power. Even if there had been Champion mages, the army would have pushed through.


    In such a situation, Komodo believed that the fall of the front lines would allow the elite Vermilion Lizards to kill several Champions with their high resistance to mes, the mostmon element that mages use.


    And he knew that the Char Vermilion Lizard King would retreat if wounded. But the reports that he received revealed his death and that the Char Vermilion Lizard race was not only kingless, but none of the stronger elites who could have taken the throne remained.


    "Commander... What do we do? What about the Discarded Army?" A Champion asked.


    "Tell me more..." Komodo Dragon spoke to a Lizardman scout who observed the battle.


    The scout began to recount what he had seen.


    Several other scouts confirmed the same thing.


    "A small team of powerful soldiers including Gojirrah, Reptilia, and a man who looked like the Alchemist that the found and who was possessed by the evil spirit was there. They stood near the entrance. They had power simr to the Pdins of the Human Kingdoms and created a massive Force Wall that blocked the charge. It was able to halt the advance of the Vermilion Lizard King and his forces!"


    "That is a power of a Commander!"


    "Yes, Commander. But after the battle, this group had retreated back. From what we can tell, they were not united. Some members stood on the way as this team moved back and a human mage shot and attacked the Champion, severely wounding him!"


    "...Then this is good. It''s a joint attack. Let''s hope that the next army won''t be as strong. Send in the Discarded Army."


    "Yes, Lord Commander!" The Champion nodded to the side.


    And so, the Discarded Army began their attack.


    Seeing the power of the enemy and how it killed the Vermilion King, the lizardman was more organized and brought along lizardkin as shield bearers and defensive walls to protect against the shield. Various races that could also burrow and dig through the ground were called.


    At the back of the human army, Gojirrah began to exin the army he was part of.


    "So, we of the Discarded Army would always be at the front lines. We aren''t exactly cannon fodder, but we are the first expected to die. My position among the Discarded Army was quite high. But even then, it was awlessnd. Almost everyone there, save for a few, are criminals in their world. Those who weren''t mostly sumbed to the wicked ways and cultures of thisnd. They are weaker than the standard army. But it seems our little show of power invoked fear in them and that they have been granted the use of war machines and defenses." Gojirrah exined.<sub> </sub>


    "That''ll do. This Discarded Army could also be a ce where you can recruit more forces to build a kingdom. Originally, we intended toy low and gather information. Still, with our powers revealed, it forced the Lizard Kingdoms to send stronger forces forcing the human kingdoms to send more defenses here. And as the two will be throwing things at each other, this should lead to a long, drawn-out war."


    "What''s the n after this, son? I thought we were to go after the Celestial Code?" Diana asked.


    "We will join the battle tomorrow, and I n to use the chaos to disappear and move inside. I''ll go ahead and create an energy conversion circle to create a teleportation pad in some cave inside Middle. Gojirrah''s retreat sounds like a perfect ce."


    "You have a secret home?" Reptilia asked.


    "I am someone with many enemy Champions. So I have prepared a secret retreat in case of sudden attempts to kill me." Gojirrah answered.


    "I''ll use that ce as the location where the teleportation will happen. This way, the three of you can move inside. I''ve already made a teleportation pad right in where the Temple originally stood in the secret chamber. This will help us move in and out of Middle. Grandfather, you remain with the human Champions. This will be the most dangerous ce, but you have the most experience in this. But now, you have to do more than just survive the plots of all enemies around you. But you also have to send resources inside the Temple. I''m sure that the cities outside of Airom will improve."


    "I understand. Hunter has his mission inside to keep improving the Temple. I will be from outside sending more people in." Mezal nodded.


    "Yes. When you think it''s enough, prepare for the disappearance of the Steele family and move everything in the Temple. Remember, Fate is after us. I''m sure that your stay with Ordeus and these Champions will be cut short. You have to keep surprising and outsmarting Fate otherwise, and you''d be in trouble!"


    "That''s worrisome. Fate is a trainer, but she feels more terrifying than Destiny. I believe that we will suffer in this." Mezal frowned.


    "Oh, we definitely will. Unless we outsmart her, we will probably face deaths." Kyros nodded.


    BOOM!


    The battle began as more shields appeared, and the Mage Captains and human ranged experts began tounch their attacks.


    Many lizardkin began to crawl out and break through the ground as they rushed towards the human kingdom.


    The great battle had begun, and Kyros and the group began to observe.


    Meanwhile... just on the outskirts of the Golem City.


    Commander Relik was stunned as he saw the true forms of Demerus, Ressi, and Triona.


    "So... this is your true face and source of power? And you are showing me your real face... because?" Relik asked.


    "Because we mean it when we say we treat you as our father. You have taken this burden, Commander Relik. And you at least deserve to know the truth."


    "...Your spell worked and gave you this?" Relik was amazed.


    "The world we were in was amazing." Faye smiled. She then began to speak of a prepared speech that contained half-truths of their adventure.


    "And that''s what happened. We fell into a strange portal in a strange world. We got stronger and arrived back. And while it had been weeks in that world, only a few hours passed by hearing." Demerus summarized. Demerus didn''t speak of Fate and Destiny or the truth but gave a vague report into falling into a strange world that Cminus insisted on calling the world a certain term.


    "So... where is the door to this... zone?"


    "It disappeared. But trust me, Commander. Unless the Steele family is by your side, do not seek this door. If you see this portal or door, turn away. You unlock this door with the key that is your imagination. Beyond this portal is another dimension! A world of the new sound, sight, and a world of mind-boggling enemies and creatures. You will enter into and of both shadow and death, and of life and power. But don''t ever do it, Commander. Don''t ever cross over into the Twilight Zone." Demerus gave the exact cryptic warning Cminus told him to give.


    "The Twilight Zone... Amazing..." Relik sighed. He could not imagine what powers and horrors they faced that allowed the Emberdon to live as a Forsaker of Flesh.


    "Commander. Join us. I have asked permission from our Lord Kyros to bring you. See for yourself the powers that tie this Twilight Zone to that world." Demerus tempted.

 Chapter 345 Showing Strength To The Weak

    The battle between the Lizardmen and the humans had begun. The Discarded Army of the Lizardman, leading some of the lizardkins, moved and attacked the line of men. They deployed various military war machines that blocked the ranged attacks of the mages and the team.


    The Champions and the Captains were all shocked at the strength of the lizard. But, facing it first hand proved torturous and dangerous. The deaths were slowly rising, given that the human kingdoms of the Londs had already assumed its perfect defense. Knights, Barbarians, Archers, mages, and Assassins all worked together to repel the enemy, but they were slowly losing their ground.


    The rampage and tactics of the lizardmen were just too superior.


    "They are not that strong! Only that elite force is strong! Charge in!" One of the lizardman Champions roared and charged to fight the human champions.


    It was a deadly battle as Champions fought against Champion. The previous courage and desires of the humans to win Reptilia''s sisters were lost as they all began to fear annihtion.


    They were too weak.


    The Steele Family watched at the side.


    Branze and Mezal casually talked about how they would counter or fight the enemy in this scenario. They continued to discuss what they had also known.


    "I''ve fought on some Orc Skirmish to rise to Viscount. The lizardman of Middle just has a higher foundation. If we pit two warriors of the same level to fight against each other, the average human will lose." Mezal deduced.


    "Airom is a very safe ce. These knights are veryx. They have experienced no war. The defenses here are only for assurance. But the Orcs and the Humans never had a n to fight each other in Airom. While this is a mountain that separates humans and orcs by only such a distance, war was least likely to ur here. So the average knight here would lose." Branze sighed.


    The Golems were the only reason why the line had not fallen. The tactic that Kyros had revealed in using the dead lizards to be meat hammers appeared once more. They also became excellent catapults that could hurl the lizard bodies like boulders.


    But even with that, the humans were just too weak.


    "Jules. It''s your turn." Branze ordered as he noticed the ranks was about to fall.


    "Yes, Lord Branze." Jules rushed in and began to fight and kill the massive lizard breaking through.


    The Captain blocking the lizard, who nearly fainted in fright, saw Jules''s annoyed expression.


    "You''re a Captain? How can you be so weak?" Jules moved in and charged.


    The presence of Jules was likened to having a Champion. After several rounds, whenever a Steele family joined in the ranks, they would listen to their instruction as each would have a unique strategy to deal with it.


    "That..." Ordeus finally asked as to why the Steele family was doing this.


    "I don''t have any obligation of wasting our strength, Ordeus. I respected you, but in truth, it was pretense. I have long surpassed you. And my obligations do not lie with Kattarx, for we have given up our nobility. So, we will do the bare minimum. My men will help keep the line strong. You would have rushed in long ago had it not been for them. And this is part of their training. I don''t raise weak soldiers. All will challenge their Fate and will conquer their Destiny." Mezalughed.


    Ordeus was silent. He could not refute Mezal''s words. The Emberdons were now nearby, talking with Commander Relik about their ns to move and meet with the Steele family.


    "Hmm? Where is Young Master Kairos?" Ordeus noticed that Kyros was missing.


    "Off to a mission. He only helped because we needed one more person with Champion''s strength. But now, he is off to meet with his brother toplete another mission. Hmm... the wall is copsing in various areas. Five of you, move out. Emberdons pleases assist. Ordeus, your knights are weak! Look at that formation! So disappointing!" Mezal began to chastize Ordeus.


    But in this talk, six members of the Steele family rushed in and fought the lizard horde.


    The Emberdons shot several magic attacks and killed several lizards, and the Steele family were there to defend and restore order. But unnoticed to all, Kyros had secretly snuck in and used the power of his dark cloak to move unnoticed inside the army of lizards.


    The timing of Kyros moving inside coincided with magic attacks, members of the Steele family pressing further, and the Golems making a charge. Unfortunately, no one noticed that Kyros was already deep in the ranks of the lizards and was moving like their shadows.


    As Kyros moved in, Stellya summoned a powerful wind that began to blow like a hurricane.


    The massive gust blew and became a distraction to the lizards.


    "Time to see the powers of this improved cloak!" Kyros smiled and activated the darkness that his cloak now carried.


    The dark cloak that he acquired at the very start of his adventure had evolved into the Wings of Darkness when he forged it with the wings of the Blood Cmity. And now, with the Shade Lord, the thick powers that breed darkness itself had awakened.


    It was as if Kyros became a mist of darkness. He was even lesser than a shadow, and he could easily move even without taking a step as the creeping darkness could swiftly move him.


    Kyros would run and would jump to the side and eveny t on his belly, and the darkness would carry him.


    The darkness moved like a slithering snake, and Kyros''s body followed. The strong wind made it difficult for the soldiers to concentrate, and when Kyros had reached an area where no soldiers were, he jumped up and continued to use the power to slither in the roof.


    "It''s finally revealing the powers worthy of it being the Cloak of Azerret. It''s amazing if you get to unlock it with stronger powers. The entire set of Azerret''s armor was so strong that it had to be sealed and divided into parts." Cminus chuckled.


    Kyros checked the stats of the Wings of Darkness.


    ---


    Wings of Darkness (Lvl. 9)


    Defense: 79<sub> </sub>


    Durability: 45


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy.


    Dark Resistance: +49


    Dark Shroud


    Dark Guard


    Dark Chains


    Dark Creeper


    Shadow Familiar (10) or Shadow Clone (2)


    Heart of the Fallen (1)


    ---


    "Dark Creeper is the skill that is allowing me to slither on like this. Interesting. This will increase my assassination and sneaking skills by another level." Kyros smiled as the darkness began to condense.


    The dark serpent that was Kyros moved through gaps between the footsteps of the lizardman and lizardkin.


    And just like that, Kyros finally reached the end of the cave and arrived in Present Middle.


    Kyros sought therger lizards and crept under them, acting like their shadow as they moved under the sun''s heat. Morerge wooden shields were being brought in due to the powerful mage attacks of the Emberdons, and Kyros used that to hope from one shadow to another. Eventually, Kyros reached a nearby forest and disappeared into it.


    An hour passed, and Kyros soon reached the secret hideout of Gojirrah. With his Dark Link, Kyros reached the secret hideout. It was deep in the forest and had a secret door that led to the underground. The small cave had a various stock of non-perishable meat and even a little garden of edible nts that was somehow growing in the dark.


    "Dark Dependent nts as food, huh? It seems Gojirrah has lived a sad life if he prepared this room."


    "Just like all Fated to be part of the Steele Family." Cminus chuckled.


    ? Kyros began to draw out the energy formation circle, and when hepleted it, he immediately activated it.


    FLASH!


    Kyros was transported back to the Temple grounds.


    "Kyros!" Mechiel eximed and rushed towards Kyros and gave her a hug. Mechiel was asked to stay in the Temple to avoid any more trouble. Scarlet can actively release the Charm Corruption. But Mechiel''s power in Charm was bing stronger that she couldn''t contain it.


    "I was worried!" Mechiel shouted.


    "...Worried of my safety?" Kyros was confused.


    "No. Worried that Scarlet would do something to you!" She answered.


    "Scarlet already left with Uncle."


    "Hmph! That woman! Who knows if she would keep her word!" Mechiel frowned.


    "I ordered her. Rx. She cannot do anything like that. And I''m not affected. My eyes are all on you." Kyros smiled as he stroked Mechiel''s beautiful face.


    "Can we go now...?" Hunter asked.


    "Oh, right."


    Hunter, Gojirrah, and Reptilia were already waiting with a few members of the Steele family.


    "What''s the update?" Kyros asked immediately.


    "The war was bing more and more gruesome. The Emberdons acted. We had to charge in and repel the forces. I was able to find a few of the Captains that worked with me."


    "Allies?"


    "Selfish brutes and criminals. But desperate ones who do not wish to die. I stopped my de from killing them, and I tempted them with Dragons blood. They are willing to betray Alpha Draconis. I told them to gather a few and enticed them during the fight. I don''t know how many will meet with me from this group of lizardmen."


    "I did the same to the discarded prince of the Man-Gator. They were the ones who you fought with when you arrived here, lord Kyros. If we prove true to our words, we could gather the entire Man-Gator tribe who were discarded as the weakest."


    "Good. We need manpower. Man-gators and desperate lizardman criminals sound exactly like the type of army the Steele family can gather. So what is our Fate but to be a light, showing strength to the weak." Kyros chuckled.

 Chapter 346 Showing His Spear

    Back in the Golem City¡­


    The battles had finally ended, and the counting waspleted. Hunter and his team fought at first but then moved in preparation to teleport to the other side.


    Those remaining continued to fight. The Emberdons disyed their power, and all who hated the Steele family were getting more and more helpless.


    The Steele family was too strong!


    Mezal stood over the body of a Champion Lizard near Golem City.


    It looked at Mezal with a re.


    "Do you fear death?" Mezal spoke in lizard tongue.


    The lizardman was started at the words of Mezal.


    "You speak ournguage?"


    "You are a Champion of the Discarded Army. You are one of the few honorable Champions that Gojirrah spoke of."


    "Gojirrah? He recalls me?"


    "We lied. He isn''t under the control of some poltergeist. He said that your only crime is that you killed three women of prominent power. And that made you the enemy of the world. So you chose this ce to be your refuge." Mezal said as he pressed his feet over the lizardman''s face.


    "Forgive me for stepping on your face. But as you can see, the other humans are looking. So I have to make it look like I''m bullying you. But Gojirrah wants to save you. This is also why my Steele family didn''t kill the toon you control. Those loyal groups of captains were only harmed." Mezal voiced off an evilugh and kicked the lizardman so that his face was turned to his allies. As Mezal said, they were alive.


    "We have a way of teleporting you to safety. So tell your men to rx. My allies will make it look like they will be performing a cruel sacrifice that will even make small cuts around your body. Do not resist them. And when you are teleported, do not try to flee; otherwise, Gojirrah and his men will be forced to kill you. Am I clear?" Mezalughed.


    "...Yes."


    "Good. Reptilia will be your new queen. I bid you farewell." Mezalughed.


    "Bring the sacrifices to the center!" Demerus dered.


    "Sacrifice?" Ordeus was confused.


    "Demerus told me that the Steele family has already understood the power here. They will be recreating a powerful Golem, but it requires certain sacrifices." Relik answered.


    Suddenly, a powerful horn resounded, and various knights, barbarians, mages, and other Champion level forces arrived. With them were the young prince and princess of the Londs and the delegates who were sent as the first batch to Airom. And those who were their escorts were prominent Champions.


    The wearied human army rejoiced when their allies entered the Golem City.


    Three Commanders led the way. They were famous figures in all of the Londs.


    "Commander Tresh of Loren Ipsum. The Ragion Commander." Mezal knew the man.


    "This should be interesting. I''m sure Fate has revealed that it was me who killed his son¡­" Mezal spoke in lizard tongue.


    Two more powerful energies appeared.


    The first was a powerful Pdin. Behind him was Drake Vestitude, and he was the strongest of the three Commanders. He belonged to the Five, known as the five strongest cultivators in all of the Londs.


    Pdin Champion Michael Daidon entered, and his eyes focused on Mezal.


    "So that''s the Pdin. Drake. He''s stronger than you. That man is a Commander level." Michael smirked.


    "My Lord?" Drake was stunned.


    "Something must have happened that forced him to show his real power. But you should do your best to recruit him to our kingdom." Micahel spoke.


    "Oh? So he''s the one smearing lies to my Jericho kingdom!" A beautiful spear master with her hair whipping out near the floor itself.


    She was a legend in the Londs as she could challenge and defeat men from the Minds. Her hair was also her weapon, which she would imbue with force energy, making it stronger than a normal whip.


    She is the youngest princess of the Jericho Kingdom and its best spear master. While she had fought against two of the Five and failed to defeat both, it would be her if there was a sixth ce in the official records.


    Mezal saw the woman and could feel the intense killing intent.


    "Oh? So Fate sends me a woman, a beautiful woman, to kill me! I must thank her!" Mezal smiled.


    The figure of the Princess suddenly disappeared. Quick sonic booms were heard as her figure flew several meters off the ground through the air. She had appeared on top of one of the ruins and threw her javelin towards Mezal.


    The javelin shot out, and lighting energy covered it.


    "Mezal!" Ordeus shouted.


    "[Force Wall]!" Mezal sneered, and a powerful wall emerged.


    BOOM!


    It was as if lightning struck the wall of Mezal. But the javelin was thrown back, and the woman caught it again.


    "You dare lie about my kingdom! You use Viscount Gradier Conquistar of being a worshiper of a necromancer and a coborator with the Eldrich?! How dare you?!" The woman roared.


    "Commander Aliciana!" Drake wanted to speak, but suddenly, Michael stopped Drake.


    "Wait. That Force Wall! It''s strong. Let''s see how things y out for now. We can easily interfere with this fight. Unless Mezal gives Aliciana more reason to anger her, she will only resort to making intimidating attacks. No doubt she was ordered to find out how strong Mezal is. Let''s let her." Michael whispered.


    Drake nodded.


    "What say you, Mezal Steele? Show proof of your ims, or I will skewer you!"


    Many watching suddenly had hope. If a Commander killed Mezal, it would solve many problems! After all, from what they saw, Mezal was the strongest Steele.


    "Champion¡­ Will Mezal die here?"


    "Foolish thought." A Champion answered his Viscount.


    "Mezal is not stupid to enrage that Commander. And that Commander has no intention of killing him. I''m sure she was ordered to see Mezal''s true strength.


    "Youngdy, please be more gentle. As you can see, these old bones are quite fragile and cannot endure your youthful strength!" Mezal spoke like an old man and intentionally made his voice even more coarse.<sub> </sub>


    "Champion Steele! While you may be of old age, power dictates titles! Refer to Commander Aliciana as her title!" A Champion Spear Master of great beauty stepped up.


    Three beautiful Champions and several young Captains appeared and stood at the front. They were known as the Spear Maidens. They were all trained by Commander Aliciana herself. The Spear Maidens were also herpanions in many wars. Its numerous victories easily made the Spear Maidens one of the strongest teams in the Londs.


    "Power dictates titles, you say? So then, in that case, your Commander and all of you girls might as well call me Daddy! Come to daddy, and let me discipline you!" Mezalughed lewdly.


    The remaining Steele family who did not go with Hunter''spany all had flushed expressions.


    Demerus facepalmed.


    Commander Michael froze.


    "...What did you say?!" Commander Aliciana trembled in rage.


    "Let me discipline you,dy Aliciana. By the time we''re done, you will call me daddy. I just need to show you my spear!"


    Commander Michael did not hesitate and charged forward.


    But he was toote. The enraged Commander Aliciana lunged at Mezal stabbed out.


    Mezal evaded at thest second, but the spear pierced through the clothes and the false armor that he had on.


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, the Force Wall erupted and pushed back Commander Aliciana back.


    Blood fell down as the Force Wall smashed on Aliciana''s face.


    "Commander!" The Spear Maidens cried.


    Michael was surprised. Mezal wasughing at that fight.


    "He¡­ can fight Aliciana?" Michael marveled.


    "Everyone. Please allow me to fight these misbehaving women." Mezalughed.


    "Kill him!" Aliciana ordered, and the team of Champions and Captains charged.


    The Golem King Petra saw all that was happening and decided tomunicate with Kyros.


    "Cornerstone!Your Grandfather is¡­ how do I say this¡­?"


    "Just say whates to mind."


    "Your grandfather is bing a crazy exhibitionist that is asking a group of beautiful women to polish his spear. And he keeps adding if you know what I mean."


    Kyros''s expression darkened, and he talked to Petra about what was going on. Finally, Kyros gave off a helpless sigh.


    "Lord Kyros?" Reptilia asked.


    "Oh boy..." Kyros sighed.


    "A group known as the Spear Maidens led by a beautiful Commander Spear Master is fighting grandfather."


    The trio had strange expressions.


    p "I think it''s better than Lord Mezal. Have some fun, Lord Kyros." Hunter chuckled.</anda>


    "The Spear Maidens are quite popr in the Londs. They all have girls of great beauty. In fact, many plots were made to kidnap a few of those girls, but Commander Aliciana is just too strong. I heard stories and tales about her. Besides, I don''t think they can do anything to Lord Mezal." Hunter exined.


    "Indeed." Gojirrah nodded. Mezal fought against Neteri. What is a Commander of the Londspared to the shaman who could match Crowns? Even if Mezal was weaker, a Commander of the Londs was easy for him.


    "You don''t understand. Grandfather has been around beautiful women. He''s desires have returned, and with his soul empowering him, it even awakened the man within! I can sense it! My grandfather is walking the Code of a Hunter."


    "A hunter?"


    "A hunter of women."


    "He doesn''t seem like that, Lord Kyros. The Emberdons were exceptionally beautiful. That''s why he showed desires of marrying them."


    "That''s exactly the point! Grandfather has been around beautiful women! They were even willing to marry grandfather! He has been struggling all his life and sealed these desires for love and lust to protect his family. But now, his family is strong, and he was exposed to all forms of fantasies."


    "Fantasies?" Gojirrah asked.


    "Yes! Aunt Reptilia! A beauty that even drove those who are humans mad with lust! It was the first time many of them saw a lizardman, and yet, aunt has such a beauty that makes them throw away this racial barrier and want to... well copte with her."


    Reptilia was turning red.


    "I''m sorry if I offended you, aunt. But I''m using that as a point. You are just one of these women! The Emberdons are beautiful, and then there''s Mechiel and Scarlet! I don''t think I don''t see the looks you guys give at Scarlet now. And if not for your deep respect-"


    "And fear," Hunter added.


    "Great, terrifying, fear." Gojirrah also added.


    "If not for your respect and fear, you guys would have your eyes glued to Mechiel, wouldn''t you? Well... Think of my grandfather. She has all thesedies. One his daughter-inw, the other his grand-daughter-inw and if we add Scarlet, whose all over me-"


    Mechiel pouted at Kyros''s casual mention.


    "He has been keeping all of these unfulfilled yearnings. And just when he could have taken Emberdon''s his sons, they be skeletons, and while there are a few who remains human, his grandson and his own sons have been blocking him."


    "I''m sure Lord Mezal will not do anything foolish to create wars over some women."


    "Do anything foolish?! The man has Foresight! He even surpassed my expectations and managed to defeat Fate''s plot! I''m not worried about him starting a war! I''m worried about him building a harem!" Kyros eximed.


    "Don''t exaggerate, Lord Kyros!" Reptilia frowned.


    "Lord Mezal is not a lewd, old man. He is dignified and- What''s that?! The Corruption of Charm! It''s resonating!" Reptilia felt it.


    "And here we go..." Kyros sighed.

 Chapter 347 Showing His Glory

    The power of Zh could be sensed as it was a form of true awakening. While Scarlet remains to be the true avatar, Mezal managed to acquire the Code and learn from it.


    At that moment, Mechiel, Kyros, and Scarlet felt a strange power resonating.


    Outside the mountains and in the ins, Scarlet was also confused and told this to Martha.


    "Is itdy Reptilia? Did she finally awaken it?"


    "...I don''t think so. She is able to draw out some power of it through the Coven... And so, she is more likely to awaken the Charm Fallen''s power instead of Zh''s. Besides, if it was her, then even I would sense it clearly as part of the Coven!" Martha answered.


    Aron had an ugly expression.


    "THAT STINKIN'' OLD MAN!" Aron roared.


    "Master Aron?" Scarlet was confused.


    "That old man! It''s that old man! That dirty, perverted old man!"


    In the entrance of Middle, Branze was at the front lines and fought to repel thest of the lizards when Foresight showed him a horrifying future. He led the army of the different kingdoms to charge deeper and left the Steele knights and warriors to remain inside to capture and offer the secret alliance of bing part of Reptilia''s team.


    Everyone was using Foresight to tell if there were any potential allies and would even discuss with each other in the battle in which the group was.


    But when Branze had left for the front line, the Spear Maidens arrived, and at the Middle of the battle, Mezal called on the Steele knights who had served him the longest.


    Jules, Paul, and Javis, were orphans who served Mezal since they were young, and they joined in to fight the group alongside Mezal.


    The Trinity Sword was the one that Mezal used, and the three kept throwing the three parts and wielded them all. As the Trinity Sword contained three des, the battle styles of the knights changed depending on what sword they held.


    The main de wasrge and strong¡ªa two-handed sword fitting for a Ravager. The second sword was asrge as a normal sword and had a distinct curve, and whoever held it fought like a Blitzer with fast charging shes. The final word was small and light that the knights fought like Quick des as they held it.


    The strange thing was that the three knights could easily switch from one job to the other and would even turn back to a Knight when they wielded their shields!


    The sight amazed everyone who was watching. Even the Commanders uttered cries of surprise at the fight. This meant that Mezal was not only so rich that he could elevate his team to Captain levels, easily giving him the strength of an Earl, but the Captains had multiple sses!


    "Is the Steele family building a team of... de Masters?!"


    "Impossible! de Masters are rare and only seen among the richest elites! How many blessings do they need to create one?!" Another argued.


    "But this battle! We couldn''t tell in the chaos of the war, but this battle reveals that their knights have mastered several jobs!"


    The battle was drawing its quick conclusion.


    Mezal''s fighting abilities were shown, and his Job, which he imed to be a Holy Shield Master, shocked the Spear Maidens.


    Their powerful stabs were meant with arching Force Walls! Mezal didn''t create a wall to resist but created a Force Wall that had different shapes. His pyramid force wall caused the stabs to slide off the side and only their Commander''s strikes.


    When the three knights joined in and fought, the Captains and the Champions were being pushed back.


    The three Captains were the aggressors as Mezal acted as a shield creating walls around the three to defend.


    But what was startling was how they four united their attacks to subdue the Champions. The group was careful not to wound the enemies and disarmed them or struck them with a Force Wall that threw them off the battlefield.


    They tried to rush back, but a wall would suddenly block them. And as they had no weapon, they could not destroy the massive Force Wall that covered.


    At that point, Mezal had abandoned creating a Force Wall around him as he focused on keeping the other Spear Maidens from moving in.


    But even without a shield, the Commander''s flurry of attacks all missed.


    Mezal''s perception was too fast for the Commander that Mezal was easily able to evade the attacks. Of the many things that were weakened, his dexterity had not weakened after the battle in Middle. Sopared to the gigantic and swift attacks of Neteri and the other forces of Destiny, the attacks of this woman were rather basic.


    Mezal continued to evade with the spear''s tip barely grazing his skin. Soon, Mezal''s armor fell, and the clothes were blown away, Thest pieces of armor fell in a very cool manner, and Mezal''s topless body was shown.


    "Oh? Were you intentionally trying to disrobe me, princess? Well, I don''t mind in showing you my glory." Mezal chuckled.


    At that point, the power of Zh echoed, and a power that copied Charm appeared.


    The sudden sight was marvelous, and all who watched were shocked that such an old man would still have such a youthful body.


    "What the...? Is that Mezal?" A knight asked.


    "Amazing..." Another Barbarian felt such vast inferioritypared to Mezal.


    "It''s... Glorious..." One of the Spear Maiden Champions voiced out unconsciously and even stopped her attempt to break the Force Wall stopping her.


    Kyros had linked with Petra and saw the scene and watched from the Temple''s screen.


    "Oh boy. Just as I thought..." Kyros sighed.


    "Yup. Mezal is using his powers to be what women would call a DILF." Cminusughed.


    "What''s a DILF?" Reptilia asked.


    "Dad I''ll Love Fervently." Kyros gave a PG answer and closed the screen. However, he could not stop the events in the city, so he decided to ignore this.<sub> </sub>


    The fight continued, and eventually, Commander Aliciana was defeated. She lost her weapon, and even though she had a team with her, they all lost as the nearby Steele family fought them. She was pressed to her back, and behind were was another Force Wall that stood like hard metal.


    One of the Champions was helpless. Her opponent was just a Captain, but all her attacks missed no matter how hard she tried, and the Captain she fought somehow overpowered her and caused her to get caught in the attack of her Commander, causing her to be severely weakened.


    Jules was standing right up to her with his sword touching the neck of the woman.


    "... Beautiful..." Jules was amazed at the beauty of the Champion.


    "Is that the one you like, Jules?" Mezalughed.


    Jules was stunned at the question and was about to shake his head.


    "I am a god, Jules. Follow me, and I will make you a king of many queens!" Mezalughed.


    At those words, the three trembled. Mezal was not exaggerating. He was someone descended from Hyperion Steele! And this was a God that was outside of time!


    Mezal turned towards the Commander, who was pressed on the wall as two Force Walls pushed on her stopping her.


    "Well, Commander? Do you surrender?" Mezal asked.


    Aliciana watched as Mezal approached, and the Force wall pressing her front disappeared. But even with the disappearance of this power, she felt a strange weakness and lost all will to lift her hands to defend. She was helpless and vulnerable, and she could feel a terrifying power as if Mezal was like a giant.


    The Emberdons could see Mezal harness his Soul, and it was standing behind him like a giant. Anyone would feel intimidated by it. This soul had faced Neteri and conquered the massive soul! At Neteri''s defeat and when she was absorbed in the Temple, this power strengthened Mezal''s soul.


    The size of Mezal''s soul and the power of Charm affected Aliciana.


    "I will never surrender."


    DON!


    Mezal pped the Force Wall behind and pinned Aliciana to the wall.


    This was the legendary Kabedon technique that Cminus secretly taught Mezal.


    "I wonder if this technique that is heralded as romantic by Japanese women will work on this princess?" Mezal wondered as he recalled how Cminus taught how to do it.


    Aliciana was turning red. She was no longer looking at an old man for some reason, but she had a strange thought.


    "This... is a real man..." Aliciana felt her heart race.


    "FATHER!" Branze arrived. He had sensed the workings of Fate and how Mezal was changing it and rushed back from the front lines.


    "Ugh. You''re here already?" Mezal sighed and turned back to Aliciana.


    "This was fun, Princess Aliciana. I know you were just doing this to test my strength. I hope that my performance has been satisfactory." Mezal smiled.


    "Get away from her!" Branze shouted as his figure transformed into a knight glowing with white energy.


    BOOM!


    A massive Force Wall shot towards Mezal.


    "Emberdons! Please help!" Mezalughed as he turned around.


    "Damn. He''s showing off..." Demerus cursed.


    "Ugh. He wants us to make it look like we are creating the Earth energy." Stellya sighed as she raised her scepter, and the rest did as well. They could not afford to reveal that Mezal had an Earth Core and was even beginning to create Earth Element naturally.


    "[Hallowed Ground]!" Mezalughed as the earth surged.


    BOOM!


    "Stop flirting with women, you old pervert!" Branze roared as he charged.


    "You unfilial son! Fine then! It''s been a while since I''ve spanked you, unruly kid!"


    The battle between the twomenced.


    The Commanders watched in horror as the two fought. Their power had already surpassed them.


    News rang out across the Londs. The Steele Family was now considered among the strongest forces within the Londs.


    The news of this battle was witnessed by the prince and princesses of all the Lond human kingdoms. Then, finally, it reached a certain someone.


    "A Champion that can defeat a Commander?" A wizard was amazed. The wizard was wearing a cloak and carried a scepter of grand power that it was clear he was not of the Londs.


    "Hmm... In Airom, no less? Interesting. Princess Listrel..." The wizard turned to a beautiful young woman.


    "I know, Tathar. Set a course. We fly towards Airom. Stain! Inform those at Airo that the daughter of the nes World King, Listrel Protos Endoxos, is headed there!"

 Chapter 348 Showing Love To Enemies

    The fight between the two Steele horrified those who were their enemies. And it also amazed those who wanted to be their ally.


    The Spear Maidens had retreated back as the fight of the two Steele''s created great shockwaves and powerful Force shes that dug through thend around them.


    But undisturbed to their fight, the other Steele families moved at the orders of the Emberdons and gathered a few ves, and created a veryplicated energy formation circle beneath.


    "Lord Branze, Lord Mezal! Can you stop fighting? It''s damaging the Energy Formation Circle of the Golem Sacrifice!" Demerus finally shouted as they continued to create a veryplicated Energy Conversion Circle.


    "What is this spell?" One of the Prince of the Londs asked Demerus. This Prince had a good trading rtionship with the Mage Alliance and was familiar with the Emberdons.


    "This spell will create a Golem with the strength that surpasses the average Champions here in the Londs. At least, this is what the Steele family told us."


    BOOM!


    Another blownded, and the earth quacked.


    "That''s it!" Demerus raged and began to shoot massive magic attacks at them.


    "Enough! My Lords! Enough!" Demerus shot out strange dark magic that began to corrode the Force Walls that the two were making!"


    The Commanders and the other elites of the Londs were amazed by the Entropy power that Demerus disyed.


    Branze and Mezal stopped fighting.


    "Ugh. I guess we have to listen. We don''t want to damage the Golem City, do we?" Mezalughed as he moved.


    Mezal was panting, but otherwise, he had a happy expression. His topless body was still affecting the women who couldn''t help but gawk over him.


    Branze threw arge rag over him.


    "Get your clothes on, you old pervert!" Branze roared.


    Diana was onlyughing at the back as she moved closer. But unlike Branze, she showed no anger at the old man.


    "Husband. Let father have his joys. He has carried the vows of mother and even honored it." Diana pulled her husband away from Mezal.


    The captains and viscounts who had always had their eyes on Diana no longer dared to look at her. The Champions that they served warned them to the point of execution that if they had continued to pursue or seek revenge for the alleged crimes that the Steele family still had with them, then they would be stripped from their position.


    The Viscount that fought alongside the Steele family became a big joke of the entire Londs. Tales of his foolish deeds would soon be spoken, and his very name became synonymous with foolishness.


    "Oh? Commander Tresh. What an honor." Mezal smiled. The son of Tresh was one of the tools that Fate used to make Steele''s life a living hell. It was the offense towards the son of Tresh that nearly led to the deaths of Branze and Aron. Mezal was forced to kill the son and tried to cover it up.


    "I suppose you have... many secrets that you don''t share, Mezal." Tresh red. But unlike before, Tresh dared not to move against two Commander-level opponents.


    "Is it about your son? He tried to kill Aron and Branze when they were young. So I had to kill him." Mezal smiled.


    The room was suddenly silent as all the elites of every kingdom, the Champions, and even the Commanders felt a spine-chilling sensation as the anger of the Champion Ragion began to grow.


    They were Barbarians who could harness more Force energy two times stronger if their rage was building. And Mezal had openly admitted to killing his son!


    "So... It was you... You really did kill my son..."


    "As I said, he was a wicked and corrupt man. He chased after my sons out of envy for being defeated in thatpetition. My son Aron was but a Knight''s Shadow, and he managed to defeat your son, who was practically a Barbarian by his job ss."


    "I care not! Even if he has raped and in thousands of innocents, he is still my son! My rage will not be satiated easily, Mezal!" The Ragion roared.


    "A pity. And here I was thinking ofpensating your loss by teaching you the secrets to my Force Wall. It''s not a Knights Skill. But it can actually be shaped. You would have had a force armor stronger than Commanders wearing Commander-level gears... But if the chasm between us cannot be mended, I guess I will just keep this offer to myself." Mezal sighed.


    "But when my daughter was born, she taught me forgiveness and love." The Ragion suddenly gave a gentle smile.


    "My son was my most beloved treasure. But he clearly was an idiot. My daughter helped me see that there is more to life than rage and bitterness. And that I should live to reconcile and not hate! For what is life if not meant to be spent with another in fellowship and joy? I have lost a son, but if you are willing to mend the chasms andpensate my loss, then today, I shall have a brother. And I shall have more sons as your sons would be my sons! If you, my enemy, want to show me love for my hate, then let it be. Let it be that we will be sworn brothers." Commander Tresh gave a teary-eyed smile.


    "I am honored to call you, brother. Brother Tresh." Mezal smiled back.


    "Brother Mezal!" Tresh rushed in, and the two shared a manly hug.


    At that moment, all that had Fate Challenger and had Foresight felt an immense weight being lifted out of the air. It was as if the hostilities aimed at them disappeared.


    The sudden disappearance of Fate''s curses stunned Kyros.


    ---


    Mezal Steele has sessfully subverted Fate!<sub> </sub>


    Rewards:


    Crafting of Altars of Blessing for Codes and Corruption is now avable in the Temple.


    Mezal Steele has acquired Heretic ss Job: Con Artist.


    ---


    "Wow. Mezal really is getting good at this." Cminus whistled.


    "...He even surpassed my estimates. This is scary. How many wives is he going to have?!" Kyros cursed.


    Scarlet and Martha suddenly began to call Kyros through their Dark Link, and Kyros began to talk with them.


    "What happened?" Scarlet asked.


    "It seems that Grandpa arranged something. For some reason, he managed to outsmart Fate. Do you feel it? It''s as if Fate doesn''t know what to throw at us as traps. This could be a good thing for a time. But let''s get ready. I have a feeling that Fate is a sore loser. She won''t take this matter lightly." Kyros warned.


    In the realms beyond, Fate''s mouth was wide open.


    "What the fragment?! He resolved all my traps?!" She shouted in shock as she could see her powers bing rewards.


    "Impressive. This Mezal has found a way of harnessing the wisdom in my son." A woman next to her chuckled.


    "Be careful, Fate. Think of it that you are now fighting against me. Mezal has awakened a Corruption that branched out of my Code." Wisdomughed.


    "Damn it! I guess I have to move on to the Minds. Let''s see you outsmart this, punk!" Fate was incensed.


    Back in Golem City, Branze and Diana saw and understood the multiyered, 4-D Chess plot of Mezal.


    "It was all a n. His fight. His taunts. He hid his intentions from us and even hid them from Kyros! That''s why I could feel a strange separation from my father when I was near him. He was using True Cut to severe his thoughts. And now, he is revealing it. Fate didn''t even notice that my father''s n was to impress everyone and then give out these powerful techniques!" Branze had guessed.


    Sure enough, everyone was envious of Tresh. Mezal offered him something far more valuable than a son! Such power would propel the Commander to have Mind strength!


    "Wait!" A Champion roared angrily. Mezal and Tresh had just made a unique handshake courtesy of Cminus and formalized their status as sworn brothers.


    "You..."


    "Hmm?" Mezal nced at the Champion.


    "You killed my son too! I want to be sworn brothers as well!"


    "Your son killed my brother! I want your son to be my sworn brother!" A viscount dared to shout.


    "Too daring! Why would he want to be your Sworn Brother? You aren''t even a Champion! Your family caused my family to decline! The nder promised to be our partner, but they died! Teach me that Force technique, and I''ll call it even." Another viscount shouted.


    "How is that rted to the Steele family? They are not directly responsible for it! But Commander Mezal! Remember? My son tried to kill your son, and Aron killed him! I dare not want to be your son''s sworn brother, but... they can adopt me!"


    "Adopt you? Who are you?" Another Viscount cursed. She was one of the Viscount archers and was as famous as the Bowhearts.


    "Mezal! You better take responsibility! Two of my sons are yours!" The woman was used.


    "An ugly girl like you?! Hmp! Lord Mezal! Lord Branze defeated me in the contest, and I have been scared for life. Unless he bes my husband and teaches me the ways of the Force-!"


    "Silence! Mezal! Your family raped my aunts and sisters! And they even killed my sons!" A Champion shouted.


    "We did?" Mezal was confused. He was sure there was no enmity between him and this Champion.


    "Well... No. But they could have. I mean, if we tweak the circumstances of Aron''s birth and imagine the fact that he met my aunt, he would have raped her."


    "..."


    "..."


    And so, many of those who hated the Steele family suddenly began to resolve and reconcile their anger as Mezal began to make them offers and counteroffers of shocking importance.


    As that happened, A champion of the Spear Maiden''s whispered to Commander Aliciana.


    "I didn''t know Commander Tresh has a daughter!"


    "He doesn''t." Aliciana shook her head.

 Chapter 349 Showing Their Sincerity

    The discussion among Mezal and how many kingdoms were practically prostituting themselves to be an ally to Mezal had no end, and the Commanders had eventually raised their voice in anger.


    Commander Tresh was, in particr, angry at those who dared to make up usations to his Sworn Brother!


    BOOM!


    A Champion was knocked out and sent flying.


    "Who else dares to make brazen usations against my sworn brother?! My sworn brother knows no corruption and is not a murderer!" Tresh dered boldly.


    Commander Michael Daidon facepalmed. Several minutes ago, this Commander had just used Mezal of killing his son, and now he even says that he isn''t a murderer.


    "Commanders¡­ Champions¡­ If I may have your attention. I am about to perform the ritual that will sacrifice these lizards and summon a golem!" Demerus cried out impatiently.


    "Commanders. Champions. Prince and Princesses, let us turn our attention over to this." Mezal urged, and the group began to move.


    As everyone was moving, Diana was clearly showing a great public disy of attention.


    Various princesses had their eyes set on the young and powerful Branze.


    And now, many were looking angrily at her.


    "My wife¡­ You are adding difficulty to our status. I can already feel Fate change. Though father has dispersed a multitude of hatred, a significant amount is rising once more."


    "Is that a problem?" Diana chuckled.


    "Not at all. I will dly make you the envy of women." Branze gave Diana a quick wink.


    Everyone gathered around.


    "Rx, and don''t resist!" Mezal spoke threateningly as he told the lizards.


    "You know how to speak lizardman?" Tresh was amazed.


    "I lived among a tribe of shamans who spoke anynguages. For some reason, this was their main tongue." Mezal casually answered.


    "Amazing!" Treshmended.


    Everyone''s eyes rolled as they saw how Tresh was now practically a fanboy.


    The Emberdons gathered and began to make a strange chant.


    "Maya hiii...Maya hoo...Maya haaah...Maya haaah haah!"


    The chant continued, and the humans began to watch in curiosity as the powers of the energy formation circle began to activate and spun around brightly.


    "What strange chant..."


    "Sort of catchy, though."


    Suddenly, a bright light shed, and all the lizardmen and lizardkin disappeared.


    p Everyone was amazed at the light.</anda>


    "What was that for?" One of the Prince asked.


    "It was a sacrificial ritual to summon a strong golem."


    "How strong?"


    BOOM!


    A red arm suddenly smashed out of the ground below. It had a reddish hue, and a strange heat began to burst out of the ground.


    The golem stood with bright heat that even made the Champions retreat.


    "What powerful heat..." Drake Vestitude eximed.


    "A Champion level Golem! Impossible!"


    "Created from the deaths of the lizards!"


    "This is... amazing! I must tell the king!"


    "What power!"


    Stoph stood up and stopped moving. His powers have increased after the many sources of power that allowed him to level up. The level up added to the effect of the rising power and startled many.


    "We have to protect this ce! It can give birth to champions just like that!"


    "It requires many deaths and lizardkin sacrifices to create them. But unfortunately..." Demerus sighed.


    "Unfortunately?" Commander Michael asked.


    "There are no elemental cores anymore. It creates a champion at the cost of an Elemental Core." Mezalpleted Demerus''s statement.<sub> </sub>


    "An Elemental Core?!" Various shouts were heard as they were stunned at a price. Elemental Cores were rather rare in the Londs. Even in a kingdom, the number of Cores that they had was low. The Wizards and Mages created Pseudo Cores or borrowed from Monster Cores.


    "Emberdons... You sacrificed an Elemental Core?!" Commander Relik was shocked at the cost.


    "Of course not. We''re not that luxurious, Commander." Stellya chuckled.


    The truth was, even the Emberdons had Monster Cores. But these Cores had been transformed by Temple into a proper Core which fitted their elemental affinities. Each had a Low-Grade core in their body. While it was weaker than the real Elemental Cores that Kyros had in its possession, it was enough for the Emberdons to release such powerful magic.


    "No. This is the Elemental Core of a Golem. We found it and buried it because we know everyone would get greedy over it and hastily made the sacrifice to revive it." Mezal answered with no hesitation.


    Everyone was silent but was secretly cursing. Mezal was right. That would have given a nation a chance for someone to have a Commander''s power. But now, the Champion was born.


    Stoph stood and waited.


    "We now have a Champion that can easily kill those Lizardman and Lizardkin Champion. Unfortunately, the Steele family can only help you so far. If you wish more of these, offer your own Elemental Cores. I will help you all with lessons on force and power as a means to repay my past crimes against you. Now... What other crimes have I yet to pay?"


    At that point, an eruption of voices was heard.


    As the great unburdening of Fate was happening, Kyros and his team had already unchained the lizardman and lizardkins and had been healed by the Temple that appeared in the massive forest.


    They were all healed, and the Temple was stored away.


    "What was... that?!"


    "I leveled up?!"


    "Everyone!" Reptilia shouted.


    "This is our god. Lord Ky-"


    "Uhh... My identity can''t be leaked, Reptilia. Let''s go with another name for now."


    "I''m sorry, my Lord, which name should it be?"


    "Cracky Batcheeks."


    "What?" Reptilia was confused.


    "Lord Kyros? That name again? The Coven on Crack is back?" Hunter sighed. He always hated that name.


    "Kyros. What are you doing? That name will draw out our enemies."


    "Nope. Fate is in control now. In short, it will lead an enemy to us, but not all of them. Fate wants to train us. Destiny wants to kill us. Destiny can''t use that name if we release it since we drained his power. But Fate can. It''ll be good training. Considering how Grandpa has resolved all the issues. If that old molester could seduce princesses and queens to our side, we''d have more forces tomand. It''s about time we reveal that name. Besides... there is a mysterious power in me hiding my name. It feels like it''s rted to the Corruption that I have in me. The power of lies." Kyros added.


    "Alright. Lizardmen and lizardkin! This is our God, Cracky Batcheeks. And we are vampires. The Coven on Crack."


    "Cracky Batcheeks and the Coven on Crack?" Many lizardmen repeated with confusion.


    "Gojirrah? You are a Coven?" The lizardman that was familiar to him asked.


    "Yes. Lizard Lizard Stick Stick. It''s good to see you." Gojirrah called out to his friend.


    Hunter and Kyros''s mouths were open from the stupid name.


    "You lizardkins really have stupid names. Fine, I''ll bestow to your names. But for now, we head out to the Underground Cave that Reptilia spoke off. To show my sincerity in this alliance, here are some weapons you can use. You can go out and use them to invade a certain mine. It will be perfect for the Temple. All those ores could be transformed easily. And we do need to up our cksmithing skills for the future of Middle." Kyros flew to the sky to show his power.


    "Lizardkins. Everyone you fought that managed to defeat you are our allies easily. Be one of us, and we will rule Middle. No longer are you discarded? But you will be my army!"


    "So pay tribute and bow down to serve, lord Ky- Cracky Batcheeks!" Reptilia shouted.


    Kyros brought out the weapons and armors that he was to equip the lizardman.


    What was interesting was that even the lizardkins had armors on them! They were usually ignored, and no armors were given to them. These were the armors that Kyros took from the defeat of the grand army of Heralcus.


    "These armors!"


    "Captain level!"


    The lizardmen were eximing in shock.


    The lizardkins were also astounded and even approached the gears and armor.


    "You will be my army! You shall be called-" Kyros called to everyone to dere the name of the army.


    "Crackheads! You will be the Crackhead army!" Cminus interrupted.


    "Crackhead! Crackhead! Crackhead!" The lizardman army cheered, and even the Lizardkins were shouting.


    Kyros saw the army shout and couldn''t argue.


    "Fine... We''ll go ahead and use that name."


    And so, the Crackhead army was born.

 Chapter 350 Showing Ourselves In Middle

    Alpha Draconis was situated in the very central region of the t Earth called Middle.


    To the far north of this, and extending all the way to the East was the Undying Lands.


    A tall man with arge bone sword sat down.


    He was one of the rare sses that mixed Necromancy and Necroforce. This particr job ss used both Magic and Force, which focused primarily on using dark and death powers.


    The Death Knight Necron Sives grasped the crystal ball that was ced on top of a pool of blood.


    Through a dark ritual, he called on the souls that wandered in the Middle. The sudden deaths of Champions that created a ripple within the weight of Middle made him curious, and Sives sent out his spies to observe the center of Middle.


    There the reports of a human Kingdom emerging from Golem City. The Golem City was now clearly a ce where humans had managed to reach through a possible portal.


    "How goes the defenses of the Scaled Kingdoms?" Necron asked a Death Knight nearby.


    "Of the three kingdoms, two have sent out an army. Unfortunately, the death of the Champions you sensed was more than we expected. The Scaled Kingdoms now have a problem as the Golem City has revealed more treacherous foes. Aside from the Celestial Golem, they now face a human army."


    "That is indeed a problem. But this also means we have the chance to attack that region. We still have to locate the Okto-Khefali. He is inside there for sure. How goes that soul seed? You im that a powerful soul has entered it?"


    "Necromancer Edith will update you, my liege." The Death Knight bowed, and another stepped forward.


    "My Lord. We have found an interesting soul. It seems to havee from the portal that might have opened in Golem City. This soul has a very powerful dark energy. Its potential surpasses even our princess! Only the dark lords of our worlds could contend with this being!" The Necromancer reported.


    "What?! It''s that strong?"


    "Shall I kill it? We still have time!"


    "Kill it?! Are you insane?! Do I dare bare fangs at my princes? Do I dare bare fangs at my king? If I kill it, it will have the power to revive! And we will receive its wrath!"


    "Very good." A chuckle was heard, and everyone froze.


    A beautiful woman with a sharp, sickle-like tail stood nearby. She had dark wings slowly growing at her back and a dark, tight attire that wrapped around her, disying her seductive form. The dark attire also revealed much of her beautiful skin that gave a faint light as if it was moonshine.


    "A Grendelor!" The Nercon was shocked.


    "Greetings. You must be the leader of this kingdom. I must say, despite yourck of resources, you have both talent and potential to grow." The woman smiled.


    "Who are you?"


    "I am here to search for answers as well. Destiny or Fate led me here. I can see that I am no longer in my world. What is this ce? Is there a name?" The woman asked as she took several steps closer.


    At that moment, everyone could feel her power. It eclipsed that of the Necron.


    The Dark Knights and Necromancers around the room were the strongest in the realm. But they knew they would die if they tried to fight back. The Necromancers could even feel some of their peers'' life and death essence.


    "You... How many Champions did you kill?!" Sives demanded.


    "Quite a few. I was hungry. What can I say? Although one of them seemed rather happy at the thought that I would sink my fangs on his face." The womanughed.


    Sives drew his sword.


    "Please. I don''t want to fight you. That Celestial Golem in that city... I felt his power. He''s nearly strong as my old man! I need help and have no ns of killing more. Serve me. All of you."


    "And what purpose have youe here for, Grendelor? I serve my kingdom and have my duties."<sub> </sub>


    "Then pursue it. I feel that my purpose here is not in this world. We still have our world to conquer. But what I am after is a man..."


    "A man?"


    "Yes. Cracky Batcheeks."


    "Cracky Batcheeks?" The undead group was confused at the name.


    "It''s a strange name, but he is the one I am seeking. He is a mysterious being that even the Gods and Fallen seek out. Have there been reports of this man? He could be somewhere within the region where that Golem King was. My soul only passed by, but I could not seek out this man in that wounded state. But I''m sure he should be on this."


    The group nced at each other.


    "I am sorry, mydy. But our information about that area is scarce. It belongs to a huge kingdom of all lizardkins and reptilian kin. The Scaled Lands is a ce you''d have to conquer first to explore."


    "Hmmm... Then I guess we''ll try sending spies then. If you don''t mind, I wish to be the leader of this kingdom. As Dark Dependents, I''m sure you follow the Code of Strength. Besides, once I find him, I''ll leave. Aren''t you happy that you have someone as strong as me?" The woman smiled.


    Sives nced at the rest, and the Death Knights and Necromancers all nodded. The woman was just too powerful! She could have easily killed and devoured them but chose to ask for an alliance. They knew that the Champions she ate were only to rebuild her body.


    "The kingdom is yours tomand. But keep in mind, this kingdom has its mission, and we all have our lords."


    "It won''t be a problem. I''m sure our interests will all be the same. I''m just going to go after that man. But in doing so, we will need to conquer the Scaled Kingdoms. Or why not this entire? It''s not that big, anyway. As long as I can get some benefits once wepletely conquer this, I won''t mind." The woman chuckled.


    "Agreed. May I know your name, my Lady?"


    "Yes. I am Lea Olethros. Princess to the Dark Kingdom in another world." The woman introduced.


    "Death Knight Necron, Sives.


    As that was happening, the movement within Middle was even more intense.


    The appearance of humans had created a huge change in the Middle.


    A few kilometers from where Gojirrah built his hideout was a wide gorge with arge entrance to the cave. This was one of the mines within thend which the Alpha Draconis used to harvest several precious metals ores.


    It was rather busy, and several groups were moving to get the next haul as the Alpha Draconis had dered war on the Golem City. But reports of their defeat and how the humans were even able to push back the army out of the entire area happened.


    Kyros stood and watched from afar.


    "It seems they''re rather busy."


    "The Goblin Kingdom to the West and South regions and the Undying Lands on the North and east must have sensed it. The Undying Lands can sense the weight and power of thends. The death of the Champions would have drawn their attention." Gojirrah reported.


    "And, the goblins would have spies all over the underground regions. It''s not surprising that the leaders of those two kingdoms would know of what is transpiring in Middle." Reptilia answered.


    "More work for Hunter. In any case, showing ourselves in the Middle will surely draw out many enemies. Hunter, Aunt Reptilia, and Gojirrah... You have heard from my father and mother about the Path of Molding. You have to improve it here. Now is the best ce to do it. Let the name of Cracky Batcheeks echo out through you and your superbmands!" Kyros smiled.


    "Yes, Lord Kyros!" The three answered together.


    "Husband. Since Lord Kyros names you king, you should lead them." Reptilia smiled at Hunter, who nodded.


    "Crackheads! Move out!" Hunter gave themand, and the small team of lizardmen and lizardkins rushed out.

 Chapter 351 Someone Stronger

    Thend of the Scaled Kingdoms was in an uproar. The reports of how the lizardkin champions died and how the army was pushed back out of the entrance drove the nearby kingdoms to action.


    All scaled beasts, from lizards to newts, to other sorts of reptiles, all sent forces to Alpha Draconis, and the mine became active as it was necessary to send more metal for the creation of more weapons of war.


    toons of lizardman and all forms of Lizardkin guarded the area. A small fort was made at the entrance of this cave, and the transportation to reach the gorge was mainly by boat.


    But a small toon of lizardmen with a strange, unknown g arrived at the top of the gorge and used a small slope to move towards the cave.


    The guards then caught sight of these armed lizardmen and lizardkins approaching. They marched in full ranks and had impressive outfits.


    "Captain-level weapons... How luxurious..." One of the Lizardman Captains saw it and sighed.


    "Captain? What are your orders? That g they bear is unfamiliar to me. Is this a new faction?" Several of the lizardmen next to him asked. He was the Captain with the greatest rank in the group as he had the highest cultivation. Moreover, the mine was right in the center of the Scaled Kingdoms and feared no attacks. As such, no Champions were wasted guarding the area.


    "Let me go ahead and talk to them. It must be a new faction. I''ll see what they want..." The Captain moved to meet the group.


    He was respectful as the one at the front was clearly Champion. And the two Champions wore impressive armor.


    "What great armor! They must be very strong. What do they want with this ce? The metal they mine and take here shouldn''t be worth their attention..." The lizard captain sighed as he approached.


    As he walked upwards to meet the group, the Captain became even more respectful as he could see that the armor had thick dark energies as if dark elements forged it.


    "That must be from the Lizard Kingdom 3. It''s positioned right against the Undying Lands. But why head here? And how did Lizard Kingdom 3 manage to send them so quickly towards this ce?" The Captain approached.


    As he approached, the Lizardmen at the very front began to whisper.


    "What do we do with this one?" Gojirrah asked.


    "You are asking because you sense something?" Reptilia asked back.


    "He''s rather skilled. Lord Hunter?" Gojirrah asked respectfully.


    "You''re right. I feel that he would make a great ally. Talk to him and continue marching. Befriend him and let him lead us into the fort. Once inside, we make our attack. Gojirrah. You should go ahead and do the talking. I hear that you''ve been with Lord Kyros and saw how his negotiation and strategies work."


    "Yes, Lord Hunter."


    "Ugh. I''m still not used to this." Hunter couldn''t help but cringe at how Gojirrah addressed him.


    "Champions. I am Captain Reptile A."


    "Captain Reptile A. I am Lizard Sixty-Seven. This is Lady w Tail Seven. Our kingdom has called us to protect this area. The Humans have pushed back the forces in Golem City and have even left Golem Mountain. We are not sure if the portals opened were just within that region. So we are here to protect this region and patrol the area."


    "I understand. It will be my honor to serve such prominent Champions." The Captain bowed.


    The group moved and continued to chat as Gojirrah continued to ask the details about the groups in the area and how the river connects to the numerous kingdoms.


    Soon, the group was now behind enemy lines.


    "It''s time! Gojirrah! Do it!" Hunter called out from the back. He looked like a lizardman in form.


    At hismand, the tail of Gojirrah whipped out and smacked the Captain knocking him out.


    Reptilia leaped out and targeted the Captain Lizardman archers at the wall.


    "Attack!" Hunter gave themand as he led the team to fight.


    "For Lord Cracky Batcheeks!" The soldiers roared, and the fight began.


    Several toons of men had also arrived outside the mine and saw the fighting and raced towards it when a dark figure stood before them. The creature had dark wings, and numerous shadow creatures appeared before them.


    The rushing toons and several other witnesses saw the figure flying up in the air.


    "Who...?"


    "Scaled Kingdoms! Your era is over! The darkness of the Undying Lands hase! I am Lord Cracky Batcheeks, and you shall be the first sacrifice!" The darkughter echoed out as they felt creeping darkness rising in the air.<sub> </sub>


    When they saw the figure, they could feel an intense power of blood.


    "A Vampire Master?!" The soldiers shouted in fear.


    Kyros dove down and began to fight the soldiers and feast on them.


    But his attacks did not contain his full power as he intentionally allowed survivors to run away.


    The battle in the mine was quickly known as many witnesses rushed and escaped the area in fear of being killed. However, a Vampire Master meant that he could create thralls which could create a vampire gue in thends.


    As Kyros and his men began to reveal their identities in Middle, the chaos outside of the Middle and in the Londs was getting more chaotic.


    The orcs fought hard to defend Airom Logat, and many Champions and Commanders were called to defend thends. Rumors of Kingdoms in the Dark Sea crossing the darkness to aid the orcs were rampant, and all human kingdoms in the Londs were making a mass exodus.


    But as these skirmishes grew rampant, a small team had finally reached the familiar passage that led back to Airom Logat.


    Martha saw the familiar passageway that led to the chamber where he fought the Thane Dragons. She lost those servants and two of the Steele family''s bravest and most loyal men.


    "It feels like it''s been so long. But in reality, not a month has passed since we found Puff in there..." Martha sighed as she watched the path.


    "Not a month in our time. But in real-time, not even a week has passed." Aron chuckled.


    "But anyway, Scarlet. I hope you know what we''re doing. We were supposed to go to the Bowheart Kingdom first. And yet, you insisted that we go here first. But why? I doubt that the Blood Cmity is still in this region."


    "I think I understand what Scarlet intends. Airom Logat will fall soon. I can sense it. The movement of the Human kingdoms of the Minds is altering Fate. Ever since Fate''s strange, unburdening weight and curse, things have gotten clearer to me. I can feel that the Fate of people here is doomed. Lord Kyros has arranged for the Orc kingdoms to fall. But we should not forget, that our goal is to create a kingdom. Scarlet, what do you sense?" Martha asked.


    "The power of Zh is helping me harness the power of Foresight much better. Lord Kyros has his ns. But I n to impress him all the more. Zh''s power is connected to having a desire."


    "A desire?"


    "To be more precise, it feels like a wish."


    "A wish?"


    "Yes. All I ask is two days. We stayed here for two days and helped Grugnyr before leaving for the Addorant Kingdom. Grugnyr has shown great skill in manipting people. With that, he could create a rebellion inside this ce to make its fall easier. I wish for the quickest way toplete this mission, so I can journey with Lord Kyros and end his sce with Mechiel."


    "I see... If we help Grugnyr gather his orc army, they can serve under the Steele family. With the plots of Fate removed and how Steele''s enemies have suddenly be allies, we have the luxury of doing this. We can name the army that Grugnyr gathers to be part of the Steele family!" Avary was now seeing through Scarlet''s n.


    "Exactly! With this force, it will make our mission to acquire the Bowheart family, or even Addorant Kingdom itself, to serve us immediately! That way, we can get Lady Martha and Lord Aron to journey to the Dark Sea immediately and search for Tiamat. The Addorant kingdom can be used as a base to attack the nearby orcs'' kingdom, and Grugnyr can rebuild there. The faster we''re done here, the faster I can return to Lord Kyros''s side." Scarlet chuckled.


    "I approve of your n,dy Scarlet. I already have a n that can turn the orcs to ally with me. But I need powerful humans to aplish that. And Airom Logat is a good ce to start!" Grugnyr approved.


    "Let''s go! We need to make the copse of Airom Logat something that can happen so fast. My wish to keep Lord Kyros and Mechiel''s rtionship to be without progress can only work if we clear all other pesky problems here."


    The group moved out.


    Scarlet paused for a bit and turned towards a specific direction.


    "Come... You have to hurry. I''ll make this ce so mundane that you will decide to go there... Meet with Lord Kyros! Be the distraction that can hinder their rtionship!" Scarlet wished in her heart.


    Aron saw Scarlet''s gaze and turned as well.


    "Wow. You sense it too."


    Scarlet was curious as she turned to Aron.


    "Someone strong ising here. And this person is stronger than the current me..." Aronughed.


    Scarlet was startled as she heard it.


    "Stronger than you, Lord Aron?"


    "Yes. Definitely." Aron moved ahead as Scarlet fell lost in her thoughts. She couldn''t understand. Who was this that she had led to Kyros?

 Chapter 352 Someone Who Can Grant Her Wish

    Two days had passed, and the chaos in the Londs continued to rage.


    The war against the orcs made them forcibly ally themselves with the many Kingdoms in the Dark Sea. With the usations of the orcs allying with the Eldrich revealed, all of the Londs began to search for more traitors, and many mercenaries, bandit groups, and other groups who were constantly traveling in the Londs were unveiled to be creating treacheries.


    The reports forced many Viscount and even Earl families to be investigated, and some were unveiled to be traitors as their deals were made with vampires, orcs, and even goblin kingdoms on the coasts of the Londs that led to the Dark Sea.


    Amid these traitorous discoveries, the Orc kingdoms were being med, and it finally caused all humankind and their allies to target the Orcs.


    The Dark Elves, Vampire groups, and other more dark dependent races allied with the orcs as the treachery immediately created discrimination. It led to skirmishes and battles as those who were enemies of these races urged nearby kingdoms to attack with numerous usations.


    In the massacre, a few were uncovered to be true, had secret dealings with Necromancers, and were in charge of secret trade rings. This urged the discrimination to be full-on ughter the very next days.


    The chaos in the Londs raged so much that orc kingdoms and dark dependent groups were forced to ally with the kingdoms in the Dark Sea and took on the role of being antagonistic and had no choice but to wage war.


    And the shocking news was that the Minds had vowed to support the Londs. The Londs held the weakest of those who were dependent on the light. And their resources would greatly help humankind fight. And this war was not just a simple battle to protect the Londs. It was expected that the war would spill over and rage across the Dark Sea.


    The Dark Sea, like the Londs, held the weakest breed of Dark Dependent beings. It was at the edge where the unending darkness ceased and Light would shine to purge. But now, the Minds, who had more light, would be moving to assist the Londs to conquer the Dark Seas.


    All Human Kingdoms were forced to fight. They could not refuse the orders given by the Princess of the Hignds. The Dwarven kingdoms were once more given an opportunity to prove their mettle and craft their metals in support of the human kingdoms.


    The orc kingdoms on the higher regions of the Londs were attacked, and siege attacks from many kingdoms surrounded it. As a result, many were forced to servitude, and some of therger kingdoms were forced to retreat and abandon their fortresses to preserve their armies and defend in a better fort.


    This was all ording to their ns of Kyros.


    Kyros had seen the future and knew that while there were some innocent groups, these innocent groups still supported the war in the end as they were spared and were enlisted into the army.


    In the end, there were no innocent groups. And so the plot nted so long ago was now in motion. But while the strong and unstoppable forces of the Eldrich have yet to reach its shores, Kyros has managed to greatly alter the future and make the humans deal the first blow.


    In Kyros''s future, the Lond kingdoms easily fell as the Eldrich secretly supported the Orcs. But now, this unripe and even untrue preparation led these future enemies to be attacked and greatly weakened.


    During the two days, the region of Airom was not spared. A revolution of Orcs that wished to ally with the humans began. The Steele family was once more at the center. Many witnesses have already seen how the Steele family had orcs serving them. But strangely, even though this was reason enough to use the Steele family of coboration, many enemies of the Steele family rose to defend Mezal and his family!


    Even on the lips of their enemies and those who hated them, the Steele family''s name was regarded with praise, and Mezal Steele was heralded as a hero.


    A human Commander reached the top of the steps and saw several orcs waiting.


    "You must be the recruits of the Steele family?" The Commander frowned.


    "Yes. Commander, we were expecting you. Lord Aron will give the briefing. He has many tasks ahead and will leave the conquering of Airom to you. We have here a detailed map of the entire region and the locations to mine ores and weapons."


    "I keep insisting that the Steele family is scheming a trap. Their honey-tongued lips are all lies. Yet I cannot fathom what advantage we gain for having this mountain." The Commander walked ahead and made hostile bumps against the orcs, who did not resist.


    "Commander. Don''t disrespect my men. They have nothing to do with this. They hate the orcs in this ce. It killed their entire kingdom." A casualugh was heard.


    Aron was lying down atop a rock with a small stick in his hands.


    "Hm... True Cut. I think I''m beginning to grasp more of the concept now. It''s no longer just my genius body being able to disy it naturally. But I now understand why I can disy it. Boy, it''s easy to meditate when you''re not pressed to train as you would die the next day." Aron chuckled. He continued to immerse himself in the memories of his training and even in the concepts of cut taught in the Library of Light.


    "These curses are the best! Had it not been for these hindering chains that weaken my force, I would still be a prodigy who can''t get why I can do this. But now that I am no longer a prodigy, I can understand why I was a prodigy and how I did it..." Aron was very happy with himself.


    "I wonder..." Aron nced at the Commander, curious at his sword''s level.


    "Aron Steele. I''ve heard that your brother is quite strong. Was it all a trick? Was he always ying possum and allowing you to overshadow him? Your arrogance irritates me. I will not hold your actions in contempt before a superior officer. The whole Londs are at war. So you, a Viscount, will naturally follow the chain ofmands!" The Commander ordered.


    "I''m not a viscount. I''m an Earl. And the chain ofmand is that the stronger obeys, the weaker. So I''m not going to obey you."


    "Are you implying that I am weak?" The Commander red.


    "Of course not, Commander. I am implying that I am strong." Aron smirked.


    "Arrest him!" The Commander ordered, and many Champions began to march.


    But Aron didn''t move.


    "Are you going to use that stick to cut them?" Scarlet asked. She was seated on the other side of the rock and dared not show herself as it would cause too much trouble.


    "Hmm... That sounds too cliche. I bet the readers are expecting that."


    "What?"


    "Oh, Sorry. I am Steel. I am not just a person who can Sever. I AM Sever. So I can cut through the walls of this world. In any case, help me out here."<sub> </sub>


    "You want me to help you fight, Lord Aron?"


    "Well, yeah. But I just need your Foresight. Have you heard of the phrase, words cut deeper than des? I''m curious. Can my cut wound them on an emotional level?"


    "You want me to use Foresight to speak their secrets?"


    "Yes! You''re trying to improve Foresight and this Wish thingy you have, right? This will be good training for you!"


    "As you wish, Lord Aron. I think I can do that."


    The Champions moved in front of therge stone.


    "Get down here, Aron Steele!" A mighty knight ordered.


    Aron heard Scarlet''s words of wisdom.


    "You will never ovee your brother. They will always make your family proud, and they won''t ever love you." Aron rebuked.


    The shocking statement was imbued with a powerful force. Hyperion Steel had severed all creation through his sword and his Words of Power. And Aron was learning to harness a very, very minuscule percentage of that power.


    The knight trembled and fell to his knees.


    "Lies... It... It can''t be!"


    The scene shocked those nearby. With a word, a Champion fell to his knees.


    "Oh? So it can be done! Interesting! I guess I now have powers simr to Soul attacks..." Aronughed.


    "Soul attack?! Be careful! Aron is someone that can attack your soul! Those with weak mental states move back!" One of the other Champions dered and brandished his shield.


    "No matter how big your shield is, she will like those with long spears. Give up." Aron spoke.


    "Y-You...! Y-ou demon!"


    "She probably already cheated on you..." Aron shrugged.


    "N-no...!" The Champion wept, and a great rage controlled him.


    HE stood up and turned to the side, facing a Champion Lancer.


    "You! I''ll kill you!" The Champion raged, and he suddenly charged and tackled the Champion Lancer nearby.


    BANG!


    "This is too easy." Aron chuckled.


    The Commander was shocked at the sight.


    Aron began to say a series of strange words.


    "You! You won''t ever satisfy that anger. Your family is dead, and you have to stop running away from that. Face it, ept it. The earlier you ept it, the easier it is to live a better life. They would want you to be happy. And you! The failures of your men were never theirs but yours! You are just a coward who likes to me others for your fault! Yourdy died because you were too weak and too stubborn! Your pride made the orcs attack you! She would still be dead if you had just paid the right price to that orc merchant!"


    Instantly, the two Champions also reacted. One fell in silence and looked as if he had peace, while another fell into a great, paralyzing depression.


    The Commander drew his weapon and was about to attack.


    "Stop!" An alluring voice called at the back.


    "Finally." Scarlet smiled.


    "Hmm? You know her?" Aron was confused.


    A beautiful knight d in bright white moved forward.


    "What an interesting Soul Attack. I can''t sense anything other than your voice in it. What power is this?" The woman asked.


    Suddenly, Scarlet appeared to the side.


    "It''s you! You''re here! Someone who can grant my wish!" Scarlet smiled as the power of Wish began to fade.

 Chapter 353 Someone Who Can Claim My Heart

    Beyond the orders of Kyros and how everyone went on their way to aplish the ns that Kyros set, Scarlet plotted something else.


    There was a reason why she urged the group to move and dy their journeys. For her powers of Zh had awakened. Using that and Scarlet''s impressive powers of Foresight, the mysterious power of Ss, Wish was aplished.


    But unlike the Wish that the Princess of the neworld did to find Lea Olethros, which manifested changes directly to reality, what Scarlet has was a movement that could somehow alter Fate. The zeal, jealousy, and desires of Zh were too strong that they could make Fate''s power shift.


    And so, Scarlet followed her heart and plotted this dy. She was not going against any of hermands of Kyros. Thews of the Coven were veryx, and Kyros trusted them. And Scarlet wanted to protect Kyros and everyone that Kyros loved. But she did not want Mechiel to hold the heart of Kyros.


    Now, the very person that could grant her wish was here.


    Scarlet had actually revealed herself when this woman stepped forward.


    Aron had long sensed the powerful warrior hidden among the regiment of soldiers that arrived in Airom.


    He was actually sent here by Martha to dy the entrance of this team as she feared that they would massacre the orcs without discrimination giving Grugnyr fewer allies to recruit.


    Scarlet was the backup that Aron would need should the battle be chaotic and if the team needed to retreat or make a sneaky attack.


    But Scarlet revealed herself even when no fight had happened.


    Her demonic beauty caused the Commander and her force to stop the moment she appeared.


    "That... That... A subus?!" The Commander saw the form of Scarlet.


    "No... Not quite. This power... It''s holy. It''s not a Corruption but a Code!" The woman in white had a curious expression.


    "As expected. You know." Scarlet smiled.


    The woman had a strange expression.


    "You there! Swordsman! Stop these foolish fighting! Is this demon your ally?" One of the retainers of the woman called out.


    "Demon? Your master just said that she has a Code and not a Corruption. Fallen has Corruption, and Gods have Code. Don''t you know the basics?" Aronughed.


    "Shut up! How dare a lowly fighter as you mock me! I hold more authority than the kings of Londs! I am a retainer to the Princess of the nesworld! This woman before you is Listrel Protos Endoxos! Daughter and heiress to the throne of the nesworld!"


    Aron sneered. He had a lineage more shocking than this girl. So what if she''s the Princess? Aron was a god! But he knew that he would cause trouble if he acted on his pride.


    "Greetings, your highness! I am Aron Steele! Eldest son of Mezal Steele."


    "You''re pretty strong. And you seem to know a lot about Gods and Fallen."


    "What? That basic knowledge? It''s quitemon for people here to distinguish between Corruption and Code."


    "Actually, no. It''s not basic knowledge. In most cases, some kingdoms will parade a Corruption and im it''s a Code." Listrel chuckled.


    "But I''m not talking about that. Aside from this girl, you nearly sheathed your sword. I could sense it. You should have at least three blessings from Sword Gods. Correct?" Listrel smiled.


    Aron was stunned. While Listrel still failed to sense it, the scary part was how she was able to sense the power even before Aron channeled it.


    "I seem to have made a fool of myself in front of you, your highness. Forgive me!" Aron was used to lowering his head in his days when Fate chased and tried to kill him. So Aron folded.


    "Oh? And here I thought you would be the arrogant type."


    "I am confident. But I won''t dare be arrogant. May you have heard of the nder n and my Steele Family''s troubles? I can''t afford to be arrogant."


    "Good to know. And this youngdy? Isn''t she a vampire? How strange."


    "I have the blessing of Zh Ss. A goddess who harnessed the power of Wish. I feel that you too have that power." Scarlet smiled.


    "Wish...? That''s right. What an interesting power! Do you have a wish as well? Is this why the Steele family is so strong?" The woman asked.


    "Not really. But that which you wish to find is inside the mysterious mountain that leads to the world called Middle." Scarlet revealed.


    At that moment, Aron had a strange expression.


    "Now, why would you do that, Scarlet?" Aron asked. Scarlet had revealed crucial information! Kyros''s exact location was revealed!


    "Lord Aron, you know my vows."


    "I do. You''re not breaking it... But you are not honoring the intention of the vows either." Aron frowned.


    "I am simply doing what the powers of that I am blessed with desires. I don''t want my man to be taken from me."


    "So you send a beautiful and powerfuldy to be with them as Kyros hasmanded you that you cannot join them?"


    "Yes." Scarlet chuckled.


    "Whatever. I don''t want to get involved with that." Aron shrugged.<sub> </sub>


    "Your highness. Please do not harm my ally. She is a vampire, but as you can see, it''s aplicated power. I now take my leave as whatever powers called you to her has to do with something I have no right being a part of. Orcs, follow me!" Aron jumped off the rock, refusing to take part in the secret plot of Scarlet. The orcs followed.


    The woman watched as Aron left.


    "That guy seemed strong. Too strong for someone in this ce." The woman chuckled.


    "And who would you be?" The woman asked Scarlet.


    "I am called Scarlet Steele. But as I bear the same power, it would be appropriate to call me Scarlet Zh Steele."


    "Code of Zeal? You have that lost Code?" The woman was even more intrigued.


    "Princess. Go in Middle and seek out my master and Lord Aron''s nephew. It''s all connected. Whatever it is your wishing to find is also in there." Scarlet answered.


    "What I''m seeking is in there? Is this why Wish led me here... So I really will find Lea in there... While a portal to another world is quite amazing, it''s not like it''s the only one here. So I decided looking for the remnants of Lea''s soul would be more important. But it seems she is also headed there..." Listrel smiled.


    "She?" Scarlet was surprised.


    "Yes. The one I''m looking for is a she. Is something amiss?"


    "No. I''m just surprised at the length Fate has to move to keep my Lord and thatdy from progressing in their rtionship.." Scarlet was shocked. She then could sense something.


    "Neutral?" Scarlet muttered.


    "What?"


    "No-nothing. Pay no more heed to my words. But please believe my words."


    "Why should I? What are your intentions of sending me in there."


    "There is a man I love. And he loves another."


    "Oh? You wished for the man you love to remain untainted? What a very wasteful use of such power."


    "It''s not wasteful, your highness. This is the only way my power of wish can work. If you go, you will learn many things. One of which is my Code. You will understand why I have this power. Please meet with my master."


    "And you talk about Fate and Destiny as if you know about it. Will I learn something about that in there?"


    "Yes. I can see that Fate is with you and that you are meeting him as part of Fate''s ns all along."


    Listrel observed Scarlet for a time. And she could see her sincerity.


    "This man must be very special to have your heart like that. Are you not afraid that my heart will be swayed and I would try to steal him from you?"


    "His heart is not easily swayed. The truth is, my Wish led you here because only by clouding his heart could I have the chance to steal his."


    "Preposterous!" The retainer shouted.


    "You there imply that Princess Listrel will take a liking to your master?!" Merik shouted.


    "She will. That is the n. I can''t win this war of love since his love for her is that strong. Princess Listrel will be my ally."


    Listrel smiled.


    "Princess! Let''s leave this insane rambling!"


    "No. I''m very intrigued. I shall go and journey to Middle.."


    "Princess! This woman is clearly a subus! She is lying!" One of the retainers urged.


    "Merik. Please stop your fanaticism. This woman threatens you, for she holds power inconsistent with what you have been taught. See how Code and Corruption merge as one! A devil, yet that of a god! That alone is grounds for us to seek out her master! Leave her alone. And let''s go!" Listrel rebuked.


    She then turned to her elven retainer.


    "Tathar. Control your urges." Listrel gave a light p.


    Tathar was startled.


    "Princess...! I..."


    "It''s alright. This Scarlet is very beautiful. Let''s go meet her master. I''m curious to meet someone who what kind can resist such beauty. And I''m curious to meet someone who can im my heart!"


    Deep inside Middle, Kyros felt the changing of Fate and opened his eyes.


    He was deep inside the Temple meditating and felt all forms of Foresight left him.


    "What the...? This is new."

 Chapter 354 Someone To Smash

    Kyros walked out of the Chamber of Enlightenment and observed the progress within the Temple grounds.


    The entire mine had been used to deploy the Temple. But as the location was only temporary, the team did not construct more walls or alter theyout in the new ce where the Temple was deployed.


    But even then, the weapons and things that Hunter had acquired these past two days had transformed the emptyyout of the Temple Grounds as weapons and massive metal shields,rge ballistic weapons, and even a catapult were ced on the side.


    Surprisingly, all of these were added as part of the Temple Grounds and would be drawn in and drawn out. Because of this, Hunter and his team decided to attack more and further improve the fortification of the Temple.


    Hunter and his team had begun to attack the nearby fortresses and caravans in the area. They took advantage of the fact that no one had heard of them yet and swiftly attacked various caravans that traded weapons, and they amassed these captured siege weapons in the Temple Grounds.


    But Kyros paid no heed to all of this. There was just something strange happening within the realms of Fate.


    "Why did it disappear? And all of a sudden?" Kyros was confused.


    "Kyros. Did you feel it? I can''t sense Fate." Mechiel emerged from the Library of Nephilim, where she was studying through various cultivation materials.


    "Yes. Ugh... Fate is cruel. If she wants us to get stronger, she should give us more time and freedom to move about."


    "Lord Kyros!" Scarlet sent a message.


    "A powerful person is headed inside Middle. It''s an elite team from the High Lands! I think it''s someone connected to the king of nesworld!"


    "That powerful? Did Uncle fight them?"


    "No. I made them go to Middle to meet you. I revealed myself ording to Foresight''s direction."


    "To deal with the darkness in here, I believe. These past few days, I have felt unrest in the Undying Lands. Some powerful being somehow snuck in and made residence there. I''m guessing it''s someone from the Nethends. And now, someone from the Hignds.


    "Lord Kyros. I think It''s my fault that Foresight and Fate have be silent. But it seems it was..."


    "It was a cruel trick of Fate. She did this to create Neutral. That way, the very power she bestowed for us to grow can''t be used. I think Grandfather''s performance surpassed her expectations that she must temporarily halt Foresight to deceive us into a trap." Kyros deduced.


    "Shall we halt our advances?" Hunter messaged.


    "No. Continue. This team that is headed here will take a few hours at most. Finish whatever task you have and regroup here. I will have to go and meet this person. How strong is this person?"


    "She imed to be a Princess of some sort."


    "Hm? Is it Listrel Protos Endoxos? Princess of the nesworld?"


    "You know of her, my Lord?" Scarlet was amazed.


    "Who is she?" Martha asked curiously.


    Knowledge of the names of those who ruled the Hignds was not known to the people of the Londs. Thisnd was considered a deste wilderness and was not even considered to be part of the kingdoms of Light. Only those at the Minds would of these names.


    And so, not even Martha and the rest of the Steele family knew of this person.


    Kyros had heard of her name and had even seen her in the battles. Before thest battle in the Minds, Listrel died at the hands of a powerful Eldrich demon who devoured the previous Princess of the Nethends.


    Yet, this Listrel showed great valor and did her family proud by defeating such a powerful creature. That woman was so strong that not even Kyros could have beat her at his peak back then.


    "She is the Princess of the nesworld. Knowledge of her in the Minds ismon. I know of her through Cminus."


    "Was it wise for me to send her to you?" Scarlet asked.


    "Yes." Kyros answered. If he were to save the neworld and stop the massacre, he needs to meet Listrel.


    "Honestly, it''s good that I meet her as early as now. This will really shake up the future." Kyros secretly called out to Cminus.


    "But why did your sensing of Fate disappear?" Cminus asked.


    "It''s obviously a trap. But see how Fate arranged it? I cannot ignore this. Right now, we don''t have any hope of fighting a Crown or a Conqueror. I''ll need her help as early as now. If I get her favor, I''m confident that the Londs won''t fall unless the Eldrich appear." Kyros dered.


    "Everyone. This could be dangerous. Our sess has been so much that Fate must be nning something crazy. So be wary on your missions." Kyros gave his orders, and everyone passed the message to their respective teams.


    "Lord Kyros. I''ll go with you." Mechiel spoke.


    "This is too dangerous."


    "You''re meeting a woman. I already have Scarlet to deal with, and now this. Besides. I feel that Scarlet has something nned."<sub> </sub>


    "She won''t try to kill me."


    "Yes. But she ns to kill my future. I can sense the wariness of the Blood Cmity. Her hatred for Scarlet is based on fear. I think... Scarlet could seed in taking you from me even if you don''t want to. I''ll have to fight for you too..."


    Kyros was surprised at Mechiel''s words.


    "That makes sense. I think I understand Scarlet''s n. So I guess you should go. But, I should not be too confident. Scarlet has the power of a God. She can alter reality and the future itself. So you may need to fight for this. And me as well."


    Mechiel smiled.


    "Thank you, Lord Kyros."


    And so, the two left.


    Outside of Middle, Aron had already exined to Martha what Scarlet did. But surprisingly, Martha did not say rat Scarlet out!


    "You didn''t say anything." Aron was surprised at Martha''s reaction.


    "I have a feeling that the Blood Cmity will be an ally through this." Martha smiled.


    "Oh? Her pride and loyalty to Destiny is the only thing that stops her from loving Lord Kyros. And so, we hit her where it hurts the most¡ªher pride. I understand what Scarlet wants. It''s a plot to keep Mechiel and Lord Kyros together. But the fact that Fate disappeared proved that whatever this is, it is Fate''s will. So we can know for certain that this test is for Lord Kyros''s benefit. But, it will create great trouble for Kyros, and Mechiel will surely be with him. Only through conflict and dangers like this can love truly blossom. For the Blood Cmity, her emotions will be spurred. With more beautiful and powerful women by Lord Kyros''s side, her pride won''t take it, and she will allow Mechiel to indulge in more expressions of love."


    "Expressions of love? You mean...?"


    "Yes. They will smash."


    "A rather vulgar expression, my dear wife!" Aron chuckled.


    "Husband. We already had our fun. But Lord Kyros, who is head-over-heels with Mechiel, yearns for this, and the submissive Mechiel would have weed it. But she hasn''t allowed Lord Kyros to touch her."


    "Are we seriously talking about my nephew''s sex life?" Aron was confused.


    "Since it involves a potential strong ally, we have to. Do you know why Mechiel hasn''t allowed Lord Kyros to touch her?"


    "Easy. The Blood Cmity''s heart will fall for Kyros if they do. It''s the Blood Cmity that''s stopping this."


    "Exactly. Scarlet used her Wish to create a hindrance. She knows that it''s only a matter of time before something happens. But this arrangement also will create tension. The Blood Cmity may force herself to do it."


    "So they''ll smash?"


    "They can''t. Not with Princess Listrel around."


    "What about some harem action?"


    "This is not that kind of novel."


    "Bummer."


    "You''re talking to your wife."


    "I-I was referring to my disappointment to the missed happiness of my nephew, your lord, and the hope of Steele and this world."


    "In any case, the main concern is that the Blood Cmity''s pride will be a challenge. This is actually necessary. And while nothing may happen for a time, if the Blood Cmity sees Kyros being taken, she might act."


    "So they will smash?"


    "That''s a possibility."


    "But I don''t understand. When Scarlet talked to Listrel, she said something about Wish. So why is it still a possibility."


    "It was granted. She wished there would be a hindrance to stop Mechiel and Kyros from getting closer. But Fate yed her. The real issue here isn''t Mechiel. It''s the Blood Cmity!"


    "What a clever trick!" Aron was amazed at Fate''s plots.


    "So Fate technically granted Scarlet her wish but also used it as a trap for various possible futures. This is the best route, actually."


    "Still, this sounds envious that Fate is manipting situations and is pushing Kyros to have someone to smash." Aron sighed and had a distant look as he considered thedies that would get entangled with Kyros. The Princess was very beautiful and was equal to Mechiel and Scarlet''s beauty.


    "You''re still talking to your wife. And what''s with that expression?" Martha red.

 Chapter 355 Someone Delicious

    During the past two days, Kyros had immersed himself in studying and reading through the books in his library. His focus was on the books about magic, elements, Force, and even the soul. Kyros was trying to improve his control of the Celestial Code. With Kyros''s intelligence, the knowledge he acquired pushed Kyros to a state where he could already match the theories of those in the Hignds.


    And when Kyros felt that he had reached this stage, Kyros had focused his attention on cksmithing to apply all the knowledge he had learned. Books on cksmithing and magic enchanting were also called out.


    The many books in the Library of the Nephilim were hovering all over Kyros when he began to create weapons and as he hammered through and crafted these weapons. The sight was amazing, even for Hunter and the rest. The lizardmen that were cksmiths were also called to exin and introduce certain principles that Kyros had questions about. His progress in his control over the elements even made changes to his job titles. His acquired job ss as an Earth Artificer disappeared, and it was reced with Celestial Artificer.


    This job allowed him to harness Earth, Fire, Lightning, Wind, Water, and Ice and wield it to make weapons and armors.


    Needless to say, the cksmiths that were helping Kyros had be obsessed and decided to be loyal servants. As they had seen the peak of cksmithing, they knew staying with the Nephilim''s Crackhead army. They would even surpass the cksmiths at home!


    Kyros could easily craft weapons on the same level of weapons that the Balefire Butcher once had with his weapon. And that was to give special abilities to the weapons and armors he was creating. Only a Commander level mages or Force users could harness and contain an ability in order to craft a weapon. And so, these types of weapons and armors were scarce. It would take a Commander a few days toplete this process. But which Commander had the free time to do that in the Londs?


    And yet, Kyros was able to utilize the power of the Temple to harness the energy and shape these mighty weapons. First, Kyros had crafted the armors and weapons he made for himself. After that, he designed an armor for Mechiel that would also be used as a weapon. And when he was satisfied with it, he turned his attention to creating helmets, greaves, and even a tail guard armor for Gojirrah and Reptilia. And with the experience in creating these weapons, he ordered the lizardmen to continue creating more and more weapons.


    His ability and control over the elements allowed Kyros to instill weapons on the armor that had rare abilities. Most Commander-level equipment with such ability would have basic abilities such as [Elemental Enchanting] or [Force Resonance] as the Commanders would only allow a weapon or armor to ''release'' elemental magic or Force. But Kyros''s amazing talent and knowledge allowed him to instill power and magic in the armor and weapons Kyros crafted.


    There was numerous cksmiths'' equipment within Heralcus''s Space ring. And all of this was ced on a certain side of the Temple, which was now being manned by several captured lizardman that was constantly forging weapons for the growing army of the Crackheads.


    Mechiel and Kyros left the Temple and went outside wearing the set Kyros created.


    Kyros went out with his full set prepared. First, he took in a Champion armor that he wore over the Wings of Darkness suit.


    He had a sword and shield, which was among the many spoils of their acquired weapons. All in all, Kyros looked like a knight wearing dark armor. The sword and shield also had a dark tint as Kyros forged dark energy over them with his Dark Artificer skill.


    "I guess this makes me look like a Dark-Dependent knight. If Pdins are knights of heroic chivalry, then dark dependent knights ought to be those who avenge their enemies. So I''ll name this specific ss, Avenger of Blood." Kyros chuckle.


    ---


    Avenger of Blood Job Acquired.


    ---


    The notification rang out, and Kyros was not even surprised. To his side was Mechiel, whose appearance had also greatly changed.


    Her figure has greatly changed over these past two days. Her powers as a Vampire and the power of blood had changed right after they absorbed the energy of Heralcus and their men. Kyros had allowed Mechiel to explore the power that Eredus had. She even wielded the Water Core of the Okto-Kefali as the Blood Cmity also had the affinity of water.


    Mechiel''s vampiric appearance had caused her to grow even more beautiful. But because of her control over blood, Mechiel no longer had pale-white skin, but it had a healthy light pink glow. Her eyes had dark red rings, and her wings had formed. But Mechiel would hide her wings through the attire that Kyros made for her,


    Kyros had taken the broken of Neteri''s broken armor and Eredus''s armor and knitted it together with his Dark Artificer and Celestial Artificer jobs. But instead of armor, Kyros crafted a beautiful red and ck dress that had frightening defenses.


    The dress itself could merge with Mechiel, and the powers of the Blood Cmity could move through it freely.


    Kyros had to order the deaths of a hundred captains in order to shape the blood needed for this dress.


    It was a horrific dress that even Mechiel was hesitant to wear at first, but Kyros assured her that it was appropriate given her standing as a future Vampire queen.


    "You''ll be marrying me, a Nephilim. I can be the light that will ze and the darkness that will devour. Don''t worry about it!" Kyros would encourage.


    But as the dress waspleted, Mechiel''s heart raced.<sub> </sub>


    The dress didn''t reveal much of Mechiel''s skin, and it even had a long sleeve that minimized the amount of skin that she would be showing. But hiding her appearance was important given Mechiel''s standing as a subus.


    Kyros named the armor the Bloodstained Dress, and Mechiel could feel its powers. Kyros didn''t even give her a weapon but had taught her how to create Blood weapons.


    At her level, the weapons she could create in number would even be stronger due to the quantity and Mechiel''s free wielding of these weapons.


    Together, the pair had moved out at night and observed the marching forces of lizardmen.


    As they continued to scout, Kyros saw powerful lizard creatures with such a potent life force that they were stronger than the Commanders that the Lond nes had sent. In fact, since Kyros had seen the best of what the Londs had to offer, he knew for sure that these mighty lizard creatures could easily defeat the Commanders of the Londs.


    "The Lizard Lords. So this is one of Fate''s challenges that she was nning to use against us! They have the power of Commanders but should have the strength of Cardinals shortly..." Kyros assessed.


    "If that''s the case, then Hunter and the rest won''t be able to defeat them."


    "Not in closebat. Not even Gojirrah or Reptilia could defeat them by strength alone. But this is what it means to challenge Fate. But it seems that even Fate''s preparations had been halted." Kyros smiled.


    "Why so?"


    "The Challenge of the Lizard Lords was something that Fate had activated or enabled so long ago. It happened right after our first challenge against Fate. To counter this, I made my ns to send more humans to the Golem City so that we won''t fight them alone. But now, the battle in Middle isplicated. Apart from the humans led by father and grandfather, we have the Crackheads moving in. To the lizardkins of Middle, it would seem that a traitorous group has appeared and formed its own kingdom and taken advantage of the chaos. That''s why we have yet to be attacked even after all the attacks and raids we made."


    "And what of the battles further to the east and north? I sense the blood of many lizards being spilled.


    "That''s because of the Undyingnds. The lizard kingdoms face attacks on many fronts, just as I nned. It''s up to Hunter and aunt Reptilia how they take advantage of this. They have to grow stronger in Fate. Even if Foresight has disappeared."


    Suddenly, Mechiel felt her blood ripple out.


    "Lord Kyros." Mechiel spoke, and fear unconsciously leaked out.


    "I know. I feel it too." Kyros turned over to the trees above and saw a peculiar silhouette looking at them.


    "My... What a treat. I went in so deep into these Scaled Kingdoms, and never would I imagine that I would meet vampires of such lineage. And you! To think that I would meet a human who has harnessed such darkness! You even wield darkness purer than those Necro Commanders. Forgive me, Dark Dependent. I''ve been looking for someone delicious to eat." The enchantingugh of a woman was heard.


    Kyros saw the woman and cursed. Never did he imagine that Fate would silence herself so that those of the True Neutral alignment would be able to move without drawing attention.


    "Lord Kyros... She''s... strong!" Mechiel called out once more.


    The woman was about to move when Kyros called out to her.


    "Princess! I know you!"


    The woman was surprised.


    "You know me? Then you are not from this? Are you from the Londs?" The woman asked.


    "We are not from the nesworld but are those in the Dark Sea. Princess Lea Olethros. Daughter of Necron Olethros. We are your humble servants!" Kyros bowed.

 Chapter 356 Someone I鈥檇 Rather Not Deal With

    The moment Kyros saw her, Kyros cursed.


    "Kyros? We''re not fighting?" Mechielmunicated through the Dark Link that Kyros created between them. She was surprised that Kyros spoke words to halt the enemy from attacking them.


    "It''s too dangerous! That power that she wields is that of a Cardinal! But I know that her real power should be a Crown or a Conqueror! In short..."


    "She''s stronger than Heralcus..." Mechiel replied.


    "Yes. And by all ounts, we are still weaker than the peak power we revealed against Heralcus. We have no choice. She''s too dangerous to fight!"


    "Then what do we do?"


    "Dy! Lea is the rival of Listrel. Scarlet said that she managed to send Listrel here. We need to wait and hold off as long as possible!" Kyros exined.


    "You are from the nesworld?!" Lea was stunned.


    "Indeed we are. We are of the Dark Shine kingdom. We were sent here right after the mysterious death of..." Kyros paused and was frantically looking through the log reports of the death of the two, which he saw a while back.


    "...?" Lea was confused.


    "The death of who..."


    "Umm... I am not quite close to him, so I forgot his name. It''s in the tip of my dark tongue..." Kyros rushed to search for the reports and finally found them.


    ---


    Warrior of Destiny Eldrich General Argos has been killed.


    Rewards:


    1% Gigantes Earth Core Energy restored.


    ---


    Warrior of Destiny Necromancer Xilen has been killed.


    Rewards:


    1% Gigantes Earth Core Energy restored.


    ---


    Kyros saw the two reports and finally sighed. The reports were buried in the numerous reports and notifications during his battle against Heralcus and even after all the rewards were bestowed. Kyros didn''t bother to memorize these names as he never thought it would be worthwhile.


    "The Necromancer? Did you mean that guy? Xi- something?" Lea asked.


    "Xilen! Necromancer Xilen! Of course! We were worried. We were sent in after we lost contact with everyone. We feared that something may have happened to you and to Lord Argos!"


    "Argos? That Eldrich... Of course! He was in the Dark Shine as well!"


    "Yes, Princess. We teleported here through a secret spell that the necromancer worshipers of necromancer... Damn it! I forgot his name!" Kyros forgot the name of the necromancer lord of the few viscounts they killed back then. Kyros had to search through the log files.


    "Necromancer Damn it?"


    "N-No! It''s I forgot the name of that stupid necromancer! He had so many silent letters in his name that I forgot how to read it..."


    "It''s probably of a Necromancer that I don''t know of..." Lea shrugged.


    "Lorjdenheign! Necromancer Lorjenheign!"


    "I don''t know him, so you don''t need to try hard to recall his name."


    "But I fear that her Highness Lea will suspect me of lying about the truth."


    "Of course not! When I managed to infiltrate your Dark Link and heard your conversations, why would I suspect you to lie? Frankly, I''m quite impressed that you know of my true powers. Even more intriguing was the fact that you knew of my powers. How did you know that I really am a Conqueror?" Leaughed.


    Mechiel and Kyros had an ugly expressions on their face.


    "Still, you said that your current power is something that can fight off at least a Cardinal? Who is this Heralcus, and why did your words indicate that he would be a High Cardinal? You have but a Captain''s might. And yet you have the power of a Commander? My... That would mean you would also be a High Cardinal at the very least..." Lea smiled.


    The darkness began to surge around the grass below them.


    "Anyway... I''m hungry. I can siphon the memories of whatever you''re hiding through my soul."


    "Actually... I knew you could read through our Dark Link. I''m not an idiot. Bye."


    A bright light shed, and Kyros and Mechiel disappeared.


    "What?!" Lea was stunned, and to her surprise, she ordered her Foul Form to attack. The darkness underneath the ground where Kyros and Mechiel stood turned into a massive mouth that bit the area.


    It was arge grotesque beast without any eyes or nose. Instead, it was just a dark mouth with a slimy, reptilian form.<sub> </sub>


    But the sudden gnaw did not manage to bite on Kyros or Mechiel.


    The dark creature fell back and sshed on the ground, disappearing into a puddle of darkness.


    Lea moved towards it, made the dark ooze move out of the way, and revealed the strange markings on the ground.


    Lea was stunned as she could easily tell what it was.


    "Impossible! An Energy Conversion Circle made of Darkness! How can this be! Not even the Dark Wise Ones can do this!" Lea jumped towards it and extended her hands to touch it. Instead, she channeled the dark energy to see where the two teleport out.


    "Did they already create a portal point?" Lea frowned. But then she realized that the power of the portal only had the power to send those who activated it in a vertical direction.


    "Up?!" Lea stared above and saw Kyros falling.


    Massive darkness would cover the dome at night, and the dark energies would double in amount. Kyros drew out this darkness and pulled it into his sword. And once it was gathered around the sword...


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!" Kyros shouted and caused the darkness he gathered to shoot down on Lea.


    BLAST!


    The dark puddle charged up and met the beam, and a pained screech was heard.


    But suddenly, the entire beam was split in half as a dark de cut through it.


    Kyros quickly raised his shield, and the light disappeared as the dark night blended with Kyros and his shield.


    BOOM!


    Kyros was blown back, but the darkness was able to stop the attack.


    He flew and quickly allowed the darkness to appear around to create wings as he flew faster to the ground evading arge maw from the skies.


    "Light Devouring Darkness." Kyros frowned.


    "Amazing dexterity." Lea was impressed as the darkness returned to her tail.


    "Amazing Dark recovery for your Grendelor Darkling. I thought I nearly killed that one with my previous attack."


    "Who are you? You''re quite strong. You have a captain''s strength but can easily surpass a Commander. What power! Are you someone just like me? Stronger but forced to live in a mortal, fragile shell?"


    "You could say that." Kyros smiled.


    "You knew I could sense the Dark Link, so you answered when that woman of yours spoke. But it was to dy me from killing you. Had you pleaded and kept silent, I would have attacked you a second sooner. But you answered and made me curious..." So Lea began to analyze the plot of Kyros.


    "And to entice more of my curiosity, you even managed to name the very allies that I met. That''s why you took your time to use whatever power you had to dy andplete the magic circle. I was deceived. You never managed to create another point where the teleportation was supposed to be, and you used it to beam you up to the sky, make the attack and buy time. All of that so your precious woman could retreat."


    "Of course. She''s not like us. I can take a blow or two from you. Of course, I would have died if you used in Force of Magic other than darkness."


    "Ah... So you do know your weaknesses."


    "Of course. How would I have lived for so long if not for knowing my strengths? What of you? Did Listrel kill your main body? Howe your Dark Soul resided in Middle? I guess you don''t know your weaknesses." Kyros chuckled.


    Lea''s smirk turns into a re.


    "Hmp! Speak while you can. You are desperate. You are buying time to make your little girlfriend flee. You even used your Shadow Clones to move with your girlfriend, hoping to distract me. I can pinpoint the very direction of where your girlfriend is!"


    "Wrong. I''m buying time so that Listrel will arrive and kill you. She is my weakness. If you chase after her, it will be troublesome. I don''t even need to hurt you. I need to survive long enough for Listrel to arrive and kill you."


    "Kill me? She''ll kill you as well!"


    "No. My allies sent Listrel here. She is looking for me. And that ally that sent her in was a subus, just like my girlfriend. If she was spared, we will too. Didn''t you see me make a bright light?" Kyrosughed as he wielded darkness and harnessed [Skotos Eis Phos] to turn it to pure holy.


    "So I didn''t imagine it. What are you?"


    "Why waste my voice with you? I''ll help Listrel kill you, and I''ll save myself the effort and give my long, lengthy, andplex exnation to someone who matters."


    "Then I''ll just kill you, right here, and right now!"


    "Are you ready?" Lea sneered.


    "Wow. You''re too strong. I change my mind. You are someone I''d rather not deal with right now."


    "...What?" Lea was confused.


    "I am buying time for Lea to arrive. And my girlfriend ran off with all her might so that she could buy time to create another energy conversion circle. She''s not as fast as me. And now, she created the point where I am to teleport. Bye."


    FLASH!


    Kyros disappeared.

 Chapter 357 Someone Outside Of Time

    The n was to keep Lea busy enough until Listrel appeared.


    Kyros unleashed a bright beam of light that illuminated the night sky, which would draw lizardman and the rest towards it. But Kyros knew that they wouldn''t take long as Listrel would sense it and charge towards it.


    Mechiel escaped immediately after being teleported up to the sky above. Several Shadow Clones tailed her for a bit before splitting up in different directions.


    The Shadow clones had told Mechiel of the real n, and Mechiel followed. She used her abilities to make her fly through great distances and quickly created an energy conversion circle using her blood. The process was more delicate as Mechiel was not as fast in creating it as Kyros was. Her mastery of the elements was not enough, and she had to trigger blood energy to activate it.


    And that was the teleportation point where Kyros appeared.


    The moment Kyros appeared, the pair raced with great speed.


    At a distance, an angry cry Lea could be heard. She chased after Kyros. She knew that Kyros had exposed her location and that many Commanders would chase after them. While she had the power to decimate them, the real fear was that Listrel was there.


    "Damn that stupid brat! I''ll kill him!" Lea roared as her Grendelor form appeared.


    Her entire body was covered in dark tar, which moved as if it was alive. Inside this dark tar, was the power of lightning that surged outwards. Two elements that were nearly impossible tobine worked together.


    ? The ground below her cracked, and she shot through the sky with the lightning energy allowing her to st through the skies with intense speed.


    Lea flew through the skies with great speed, quickly closing the gap between the two.


    A yellow light could be seen flying through the night sky, and all those who were nearby the area saw it.


    Far in the Golem City, Listrel sensed the power.


    "Amazing. Lea is here..." She smiled.


    "We''re chasing them? We''ll have to cross through the armies of Lizardmen. You know it''s against the rules for those who are a realm higher than the highest member of the opposing force to join in the ranks unless we are defending." One of her retainers reminded.


    "I know. But those are the rules of the nesworld. We''re not here, are we? The moment we cross this city, we will be in the t Earth dome known as Middle! Let''s go!" Listrelughed as her powers surged.


    Back in the forest, the powers of the Grendelor caused all the Commanders to shiver and tremble. The power that Lea revealed was suffocating thend. A power that was never before seen had shown itself in the skies above.


    "Brat! I''ll kill you!" Lea charged with all the speed she had and sted towards the direction of Kyros.


    Her flight alone created shockwaves that uprooted the tress as her flight was slowly descending, and finally, Lea whipped her tail which contained shocking Force energy.


    BOOM!


    A massive sh tore through the grounds and shed through Kyros and Mechiel''s location.


    But as her blownded, her anger grew all the more.


    "WHAT?! HOW?!" She roared.


    At the veryst second, a bright light shed out once more and teleported Kyros.


    This time, the ce where Kyros appeared was where one of his shadow clones was. The shadow clones could create these magic circles faster than Mechiel could and had already ordered these clones to move in a different direction since splitting up.


    Lea roared angrily as she wasted a huge amount of her attack to miss.


    "I''ve already used this tactic, so it''s very easy for me to use it again. Thank goodness we are not fighting Destiny. Destiny might still know about this trick and would have preparations since the death of Heralcus and Neteri would have echoed throughout time and informed them. But in the absence of Fate and Destiny, this tactic should work." Kyros chuckled as he used his power to hide all traces of their existence through devouring magic.


    "Are we safe?" Mechiel asked.


    "Yes. I''ve sent the shadow clones to different areas. And they have been moving and creating new portals. Some near than the previous locations, some far. Lea can only chase after us effortlessly or surrender."


    "Why isn''t she chasing us now?"


    "Hmm? It could be the devour spell. She did make a powerful attack and might have foolishly believed that we were incinerated." Kyrosughed.


    FLASH!


    "Of course, she could have found a way to use the very magic circle that we used to teleport here." Kyros charged ahead and raised his shield to block an iing attack.


    BOOM!


    The power of the Holy erupted out to attack the dark force approach.


    Kyros was being pushed back as Lea kept charging ahead.


    "Mechiel! Fight back!" Kyros ordered, and Mechiel quickly harnessed her blood power to create several red flood dragons that flew and bit down on Lea.


    Lea''s tail whipped out and sliced the water dragons off, but the momentary distraction allowed Kyros to make another attack.


    "[Time Surge]!" Kyros suddenly stepped back, causing Lea''s attack to slip through, and with the added haste, Kyros caused the Holy powers in him to erupt.


    "[Holy Cross]!"


    BOOM!<sub> </sub>


    The sh struck Lea, and an explosion urred.


    Lea was sent flying but quickly recovered and made hernding.


    "It isn''t right. Grendelors like you shouldn''t be capable of dividing your life force to create clones like that. And you should have Time Reversing magic which allowed you to recreate that energy conversion circle I made..." Kyrosined.


    "Well, Captain, like you shouldn''t have that disgusting strength!" Lea roared angrily. Her current power was only at a Cardinal level strength. But it was still strong enough to resist Kyros''s attack.


    Kyros could feel several energies moving around the area, and two energies were headed in their direction.


    "You have no escape path! With my clones spread out and hunting your clones, I can easily catch up and dy you with your teleportation tricks!" Lea charged forward.


    Kyros sighed and had no choice.


    Several Elemental Cores appeared, and the power condensed into one as the Celestial Code appeared.


    "Celestial Code!?" Lea erupted in shock.


    "[Celestial Guard]!" Mechiel and Kyros shouted to create the strongest defense that Kyros could create.


    The pair shed as the powers of the elements defended Kyros and Mechiel.


    With Mechiel next to Kyros, the two were working together to harness the fullness of the Celestial Code to block the brutal attacks.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The powers erupted as Lea grew desperate. She could feel her time running out, and all of her clones were rushing with all their might to return and merge with that body.


    The defenses of Kyros and Mechiel were quickly being destroyed, but Kyros was calm. He could feel salvation arrive.


    With thestyers of Kyros''s Celestial Guard remaining, Lea made a desperate attack. Her clones were also close by, and all were reforming into one. But right before she couldnd the blow, the ground below turned white.


    "[Divine Wall]!" A shout was heard from afar, and a massive wall erupted upfront to protect Kyros from the attack.


    BOOM!


    The violent explosion caused a trembling that shook the entire Scaled kingdoms.


    But the wall stood strong, and Lea had an ugly expression on her face. She had reformed all her clones and was at her original might. But now, he could no longer deal with several powerful enemies. If Kyros received her buffs, then Kyros could hurt her!


    Listrel walked to the back and had a smug smile on her face.


    "Look''s like someone ran out of time..." Listrelughed.


    "Listrel...!" Lea raged.


    "You must be the servant of that subus. I had to st through the lizardman kingdom when I saw that light." Listrel smiled.


    "Thank you for your haste, Princess."


    "My Wish has been granted! I found you again, Lea. And this time, I won''t let you go. Kyros! Help me out here. You seem to have some eptable strength." Listrel smiled.


    "[Holy Strength]! [Light Regeneration]! [Might Aura]!" Listrel cast the spells onto Kyros.


    Kyros smiled as he immersed himself into the familiar spells that were his peak spells in his previous life.


    Kyros''s power boomed, and his power surged as the Celestial Code worked to improve on the spells.


    "Oh? Your Celestial Code is improving the power of my spells! Amazing! Can you keep up with her speed?"


    "Of course! [Time Haste]!" Kyros harnessed the power of Cminus, and Time flowed out and empowered him.


    A being deep underground where the group fought awakened at that moment. This massive creature could not understand what power he felt. For he felt himself.


    In the realms beyond, Destiny sensed the power.


    "ACTIVATE TRAP CARD!" He shouted with great excitement.


    "What?" A being of undesirable form was confused at his sudden outburst.


    "So-Sorry. I got into it! I couldn''t believe that this would work so soon!" Destiny cheered.


    "Stop being excited. It only worked because Fate allowed it."


    "What do you mean, Lord Pausontai?"


    "That''s why I didn''t want to fight her and Wisdom. Thesedies really astound me. Well... whatever. Try to win this one, Destiny. You already lost. Make time, and everythinge to an End quickly." The being sighed as he allowed Destiny to control the power he had.


    The spell was veryplicated, and Destiny thought it would be a while until this spell could be used. But all the conditions were met. For now, the impossible odds had happened. Someone outside of time appeared in Middle.

 Chapter 358 Someone Who Threatens History

    Kyros saw only a strange shing light. The power of Time Surge that he released from Cminus caused a strange ripple that brought in new power.


    Kyros felt the cores shaking and sensed the same power somewhere at the bottom.


    "That freakin'' Fate!" Kyros realized what had happened. Their battle somehow led them to a region directly above the secret underground chamber where the actual body of the Okto-Khefali was.


    The attack that was at the levels of Crowns had urred at the very top.


    The Divine Wall did not allow the force energy to go through it. The impact of the attack created a massive fissure on the ground and weakened the integrity of the caves. All of this caused the crack at a strange seal hidden at the bottom. This was the secret seal where the Okto-Khefaliid.


    And the attack raged to the bottom, creating a crack in the seals of the Okto-Khefali. The beast had been trying to break free, and the massive attack further weakened the seals as the attacks surged downwards.


    The seal itself was not just a seal of the locality. It was a seal of being locked in time. The Okto-Khefali was one of Destiny''s weapons which he sealed and kept hidden through the power of Pausontai. He was one of End''s strongestmanders and was one of the powers that brought the End as he is the being that was the aspect of Stop itself.


    But now, a strange conflict urred. The power of Stop had ended. And it freed the Okto-Khefali that was locked in time.


    At that moment, a being of immense power and preceded time itself sensed it from the realms beyond.


    "Someone is threatening History!" His voice boomed, and it shocked the entire universe.


    "I call on the power of Stop. Pausontai, Answer me!!" The old man dered.


    "Let all cease!" Pausontai answered at the very end of time.


    The power of stop urred. All of the universe and even the gods and beings beyond the known realms stopped. Only beings that were not bounded in time continued to move and felt the power of time stop.


    And then Kyros used the power of Cminus. True time was activated. And at that moment, while Destiny could not send his powers to this time, Puasontai could.


    Destiny rode the surging power that Pausontai did to reach the time and delivered an edict of Destiny.


    Kyros and the rest heard a voice that spoke from the End.


    "It is destined for a being to live in one time. The Laws of Beginning and End are to be followed. No being can exist outside the timeline, and the linear flow of Beginning and End is to be set. By my edict, I call on Histerion to set history! Let the wills of the Universe be followed! Let those who broke this rule be banished!"


    The voice spoke.


    "Destiny and Fate!" Kyros felt the power return as both energies reverted.


    Two figures emerged from the mysterious era of Beginning and End.


    One was a beautiful woman with bright red hair. She was breathtakingly beautiful, and her eyes were pure white. She wore a robe of pure purple, and the train of her robe spread out endlessly behind her.


    The other was a tall young man wearing an attire that made him appear the most elite of aristocrats. His firm gaze was strict and small. Barely visible red strings of infinite number were connected to him.


    Kyros knew the woman was Fate, and the other was Destiny.


    Everyone was frozen, and Kyros could only look at the pair talk.


    Suddenly, an old man with a very long beard stepped out of the void. By his appearance, Kyros knew that this was the same old man that his father and mother met. Histerion.


    "Fate... You seem to be handing me the Nephilim on a silver tter. Why are you doing this?" Destiny asked.<sub> </sub>


    "Good to see close and personal, Kyros. You''ve done me proud. I''m sorry for this. But you and your family have surpassed my expectation. I never thought that you would be capable of crushing the weakened curses I ced on you. As such, I have to do this." Fate chuckled.


    "Fate hid the trap behind a True Neutral! But she''s using Destiny?! That sadistic woman!" Kyros understood the intention of Fate with her words.


    "Destiny has spoken, and this will have been set. What say you, Fate? Do you agree to banish these people responsible for breaching the timeline? Only one timeline must exist, for there is but one Beginning and one End." Histerion spoke.


    "You still retain a neutral role, Histerion?"


    "I am only here to record all History and show the history to those who need it. Should Ende, I really don''t care." Histerion answered.


    "Then I believe we are all in an ord. I''m sure that since Fate is here, we are to discuss where they will be banished! Since it involves the Nephilim, erasing them out of history is not an option." Destiny began.


    "I''m not here or argue, Destiny. Lord Pausontai knew that I allowed this and led the Nephilim to this spot where the True Neutrals existed. So let''s skip the useless talks. Just send them to the Unrecorded Pages. The ce where all alterations and branching of timelines are stripped of reality and bundled up in a chaotic world." Fate smiled.


    "Mother Fragment! Fate! You''re sending us to the Shadow Realm?!" Cminus eximed as he heard it.


    "That''s right, Jimbo!" Fate chuckled.


    "You...! You...! Do you want to send us there?! I''m not even mad that you lied to me all my life and made me believe that you were just some Ancient God! But you''re actually going not to defend us and just toss us there?!"


    "Actually, Cminus, the Fate you knew was me, but it also wasn''t me. That timeline was already thrown into the Unrecorded Pages. It urred, but it did no longer ur in keeping with one history."


    "Your insane, Fate. That world is where no one can journey ande back to. This isn''t like Middle. And in that world, the power of Destiny won!" Destiny called out.


    "So why are you doing this?" Destiny challenged.


    "Isn''t it to your advantage if they get sent there?"


    "This power is witnessed by Histerion itself. We both have to agree on this to work. Then, I can simply disagree if you don''t exin to me why."


    "Are you scared?"


    "I''m cautious. I won''t let you win. Exin to me the truth, Fate!"


    "Alright. The truth is, Wisdom believes that the Unrecorded Pages have several histories. Cminus has already died once, and the history of that world should have been thrown there. And when Cminus died again, it added ayer of time once more. So the timeline of Kyros''s previous life will also be there. But they will mesh together and crash upon each other creating conflict. So you can''t im that your powers have advanced there. It will be chaos. So who knows what that world will have? In any case, Kyros should be sent there since he won''t have much of a challenge here. It will be two more years until your powers will affect this. And so, my training regime to make him grow stronger will not work here anymore." Fate exined.


    "So you n to send him there?!"


    "Yes. He will live. He has Fate Challenger. That world is now outside of our powers. While Destiny and Fate work, it isn''t as smart or guided as it is in this world. And in the chaos, I''m sure Kyros can find a way back here."


    "Your gambling the life of your champion over that?" Destiny frowned.


    "Yes. That''s how I will beat you, Destiny. You who see the future. No matter how many victories and strengths Kyros has now, you still see his future. So I will hide once more in that world," Fateughed.


    Destiny was silent and began to think.


    But even as he considered Fate''s words, the arrangement seemed too good to be true. In his perspective, Fate was still sending Kyros to his death!

 Chapter 359 Someone To Protect Us

    The Unrecorded Pages was a realm that is the convergence of all timelines thrown away. Beginning and End fought a battle that branched out into numerous timelines. All those other timelines are treated as ''have already happened, and only one timeline remains in their perspective.


    And as timelines were abandoned by most gods and fallen as their true bodies would only exist in one, these worlds became a scourge and a terror.


    Destiny had seen how these timelines led to chaos. And so, while Fate listed her intentions, and while it was true that Kyros would be outside of his sight, that world was just too chaotic and distorted that surviving and finding food would even be a matter of question. Even he didn''t know how one would return once the person is thrown over to the Unrecorded Pages! This was a timeline of chaos! It was destined to never meet the one true timeline for eradication and cessation. The power of Pausontai had already set the utter end of it.


    Even if Kyros finds a way to move back into this world, the remnant powers of Destiny will cause all of that chaotic world to go after Kyros! And not just Destiny. Almost all divine powers would act to stop him!


    From Destiny''s perspective, he could only win.


    "Alright then. I agree with Fate''s edict." Destiny answered as he suspiciously looked at Fate, smiling back at him.


    The two nced back at Histerion.


    "So both are on an ord? Then let it be written. When the power of Pausontai ended and freed the Okto-Khefali, the Nephilim used the power of True Time and created a conflict within the time-space continuum. The Core of the Okto-Khefali, which has some remnants of false life, broke thew."


    Kyros realized what had happened as Histerion spoke those words.


    "Damn it! Elemental Cores still have life in them! The Okto-Khefali''s cores still had life and the probability of revive! Fate used her powers to make me forget this information, and all my estimates became wrong!" Kyros cursed.


    As he read the books of the Codes, Kyros was now beginning to understand through his wisdom the many mysteries and powers that defined existence. And so, he knew it was dangerous to make the Okto-Khefali meet with the Elemental Cores from the future. The information that Fate caused him to forget was information that didn''t require substantial power. But if Kyros knew this, he would never have dared to use the Okto-Khefali''s cores.


    Fate nced at Kyros and gave a cruel smile.


    "Sorry, Kyros. Make your mother proud! Although she can''t see you since you will be off into a realm where not even the gods and fallen can see you, still, make her proud!" She chuckled.


    A bright light fluttered from the skies above Histerion. And it was as if all of the universes were being wrapped up like a scroll.


    "Let the universe bear witness! In the passage of True Time, two of the same beings of different times existed together at once. And as such, the decrees andws of this universe are witnesses. Fate and Destiny have made their edict. The different cores of the Okto-Khefali Eugene, Listrel Protos Endoxos, and Lea Olethros. Mechiel Swordcrest, they who are bounded by Fate to the Nephilim, Kyros Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos Mysterion Steele..."


    "Wait! What?! Those two as well?! Why?!" Destiny cursed and red at Fate. But it was toote.


    "I banish you to Unrecorded Pages!" Histerion decreed, and Kyros''s vision turned warp.


    The entire world changed from the perspective of the group. They saw themselves traveling towards the great universes and saw the gxies and somehow flew beyond it and saw a massive scroll, the flow of all events written in the scroll. The scroll was made of bright gold parchments and was glowing as numerous words were constantly written in this scroll that contained the universe.


    The group saw themselves flying towards another scroll. The scroll looked ck and charred. Its edges were on fire, and it seemed doomed for destruction.


    The three entered the scroll, and all of the reality changed as they moved toward it.


    The group found themselves in the high sky of a greatnd.


    Kyros could tell that this was still the nesworld, but it was several times darker. There were light sources around the area, but they paledpared to the celestial body that gave light.


    Kyros was about to say something when he felt a strange power rebel inside him.


    BOOM!


    The elemental cores of the Okto-Khefali suddenly erupted with a strange magic that threw Kyros off. Kyros was assuming his Celestial Code form, and these cores weremuning with him. But suddenly, the Cores rebelled.


    Kyros was using the Lightning and Earth Core, and both suddenly dislodged, creating a severe magical bacsh causing Kyros to faint.


    The same thing happened to Mechiel. The power of the Water Core found life and shot out of her hand.


    "I''m free!" A strangeugh could be heard as the Cores shot towards the distant skies and flew.


    Each core suddenly had life. An elemental force rippled out of each cire, and it transformed into the head of the Okto-Khefali.


    At the same time, a terrifying curse of decay and weakening attacked Listrel and Lea.


    The Unrecorded Pages was a cursed world that limited the rise of power. This would forever lock the powers of this world and ensure no god or fallen would ever appear. Every time a new timeline is formed, the main bodies of the gods and fallen are brought into the main timeline where Beginning and End were. And the disappearance of the gods and the fallen would create a sudden copse in power.<sub> </sub>


    Listrel and Lea lost arge bulk of their powers. It created a bacsh as the world itself began to attack them to take away all their power.


    "My... power!" Listrel screamed.


    Lea also felt the same, and they felt their power levels drop. From their current power level, the weakening caused them to weaken, and they fell to the level of Commander! And even then, their powers were still decreasing!


    Kyros and Mechiel were unconscious, and the other two were in pain. They lost the ability to fly and were all plummeting down towards the nesworld.


    "Lea! We have to protect them!" Listrel shouted.


    Lea was angry and wanted to shout back and attack Listrel.


    "This world is not purging them! They are still strong! We need them to survive in this ce!" Listrel pointed out.


    Lea immediately nced at the two and realized that Listrel was right. Mechiel and Kyros had not experienced the purging of elements.


    "But how...?!" Lea was stunned.


    "I don''t know or care how. But if we are to survive this strange world, we need to work together! And we need them to survive!" Listrel quickly adjusted her fall and moved towards Kyros. Lea redirected herself and moved towards Mechiel.


    The two caught them and kept falling.


    "Lea!" Listrel called.


    "I know what to do! Let''s just do it! Damn! To think I''ll have to work with you!" Lea cursed.


    The four continued to plummet, and the speed of their fall was growing faster and faster.


    Both charged all their remaining energy. One gathered light and the other darkness.


    As they approached the ground, the two shot all their powers towards the ground to push their bodies and break the speed of their fall.


    BOOM!


    The two attacks were barely at the levels of Commanders, but they managed to push their bodies upwards. Yet the pressure and stress that they felt began to crush their bodies, and their skins burst and blood flowed out.


    SMASH!


    The fournded on the ground, all with great wounds.


    Listrel could barely see what was around them, but she crawled towards the side. Lea was unconscious from the fall.


    "Are we... going to die here?" Listrel wondered, and then she saw two figures approaching.


    "What was that?"


    "Look! Sister! They''re wounded!" A cry was heard.


    "What do we do?"


    "They''re critically wounded. We have to save them! They look strong! They can help us as payment for saving their life!" Another woman answered.


    "They are strong?!"


    "I saw that they caused the massive explosion. They shot it to push themselves up and break their fall. We now have someone who can protect us! Hurry! Save them!"


    "Elves...?" Listrel wondered how such beings existed in this world. But as she heard them talk, thest line of defense that kept her conscious gave way as she knew they were saved. Finally, Listrel drifted into sleep, and her thoughts lingered on how there were elves in this strange and abandoned world.

 Chapter 360 Someone To Save You

    Kyros woke up and trembled as he recalled thest memory he had. He was falling to his death. He felt the intense pain all over his body. He nced down and could feel that his entire body was bleeding and wounded.


    His vampire regeneration was not working.


    He saw himself in a strange, dark, and damp cave. There was a small light by the side that illuminated the room.


    Next to him were three more beds, and Kyros could tell that Listrel, Lea, and Mechiel were the persons bandaged and badly wounded.


    "Two days." A voice spoke to him.


    Kyros turned his attention to a man seated at the side. He was holding a strange staff. It had a raw crystal object at the end of this staff.


    "I was unconscious for two days?" Kyros asked.


    "Yes. I see that you are smart enough to keep up. Luckily your allies are alive. Who are you, and where did youe from?"


    Kyros closed his eyes to recall the scene of his fall.


    "This is... the extreme west of the Mind regions. So that''s why there are elves here..." Kyros deduced.


    "Answer my question, human." The elf voiced out in an angrier and more demanding tone.


    "I was from a ce called Middle. There is a portal that leads to another world in the Lond nes. These four are my allies. But it seems that whatever ancient trap I awakened hurled us further into this ce."


    "Middle? The Londs? I heard that the Lizardkin races hailed from a ce called Middle."


    "It''s been a long time since we''ve been on the nesworld. But, truthfully, we never thought we would return."


    "Then answer this... What was that power that you used? That power that you used to break your fall seemed to have been a power that surpasses level 40 attacks. And we could not find any object among your items that could have released that attack."


    "Items? Forgive me. For when we were in Middle, we could activate attacks on our own. How long have we been gone since the changes in this world? I heard that the residents of that Middle said time passed differently there." Kyros didn''t want to speak of unnecessary things that would prolong the conversation. He lied so that the elf would exin the current state of this new world.


    "You can create Force and Magic? What was thest thing you remembered when you were still here?" The elf was shocked.


    "I''m too weak and wounded to confirm if I can release Force and Magic. But from what I can remember, the Minds had fallen as the Eldrich race destroyed Omega." Kyros recalled the discussion that there would be a merging of all timelines that were thrown away and believed that the future state of the world of Kyros''s past life would have continued in this Timeline.


    "That... was around two years ago!"


    "Two years?" Kyros was stunned at first. This was the same amount of time that passed since he reincarnated. He spent two years traveling through time and talking with Cminus, mastering all forms of knowledge.


    "Many things have happened since that time, warrior. Strange magic has caused this world to fall into chaos. The Celestial Light that gave light to our nesworld shattered. The blessings of gods and devils were all lost. You probably think that you can''t release Force and Magic because of your wounds, but the truth is, whatever blessings you thought you have vanished!"


    "So that''s it...!"


    "Not long after that war, strange beasts of fire and ash arose and appeared all over the ce. Everything they touched decayed and burned. Light Dependent and Dark Dependent were all devoured by this beast. It created a copse of the nesworld that you know! These creatures were purging the Eldrich, the humans, and all of creation!"<sub> </sub>


    Kyros recalled the state of the scroll that he had seen. The appearance of these creatures may have been the manifestations of the reality of the world inside the scroll¡ªthe Scroll burning and charred.


    "What do these beasts look like?"


    "They had all kinds of forms and shapes. Some were giants. Some were small, like insects. They had a leader that attacked everyone. They took no prisoners as the people they killed would be them."


    "So my powers are lost... It seems nesworld itself is dying..."


    "Where is Middle? Perhaps it can be our new home. Anywhere is better than this ce."


    "No. That ce is smaller than the nesword. You can explore all of Middle in a little over a year. Creatures of simr form appeared in that world. But they had Entropy instead ash and fire. These beasts are probably invading thes. And the gods and fallen who we acquire power from is either fighting them, has been weakened, fled to another realm, or killed." Kyros exined. He knew the truth that no gods or fallen existed in this world. He was probably the only one with a Code and Corruption.


    The elf sighed.


    "I would have preferred those Eldrich would take over and won that war. At least, we could serve them..." The elf recalled the past.


    "What happened after the war?"


    "The war never finished. I don''t know what happened to you, but just about the time you went into that ce called Middle, people started to turn into these things. Some who were strong enough to be called heroes were transformed into these beings."


    "Anyone important?"


    "Yes. People like the king of the nesworld." The Elf chuckled.


    "We don''t understand what happened. We believe it was a gue of some sort. But many important people suddenly turned into these wild creatures... This happened to both sides. Those in the light and those who served the Eldrich and even among the Eldrich themselves."


    "What happened after that?"


    "The Eldrich and the rest of the Dark Dependents began to fall from their battles. Eventually, both sides allied. At first, there was conflict. But after a month, we all knew that we would all die if we didn''t work together. There was some alliance and an effort to fight back against these beasts. But it has always been a losing battle. So many people would suddenly turn into these beasts. Itsted for about three months. People would be your friends, and you just took a nap, and when you woke up, they already turned into these creatures that would eat you and turn you into them."


    "Since we are here in the far western regions of the Minds, then I guess this alliance didn''tst? Logically, survivors would migrate to one region. Yet, it''s been two years, and you are not dead or in a ce where many people gather."


    "Good deduction. But it''s not that the alliance didn''tst. Regardless of where we were, both sides became unlikely allies just trying to survive. But some kingdoms went dark, and there were no survivors. The catastrophe of these beasts caused numerous kingdoms to fall all of a sudden. We can''t even contact nearby kingdoms as the lines ofmunication were cut or destroyed. Even our kingdom fell. We went into hiding. We were constantly moving away from these beasts. We don''t have a choice. We suddenly became weaker and could not fight back. So you don''t have Contained Magic from the days of old. We were hoping you had a way to save us." The elf exined.


    "You saved me because you believed that I was someone that could save you?" Kyros asked.


    "Of course. But it seems we held on to pointless hope..." The elf chuckled.


    Suddenly, Kyros''s dark sword and armor suddenly raced back to him.


    "Oh, I wouldn''t be too negative." Kyros stood up as his entire body began to heal at an incredible rate.


    The Power of Mysterion that was hidden when they entered this realm was revealed.

 Chapter 361 World Wood Tree

    Mechiel opened her eyes.


    She found herself in the same small room.


    Some of Kyros''s belongings were on a nearby bed, but Kyros himself was absent. The room now had various scented candles that added light and a touch of coziness.


    "This room?" Mechiel was confused.


    "You''re husband is quite the entric man. He must have asked the elves to decorate this room. I''ll admit, I like it." The voice of a familiar foe was heard.


    Mechiel turned and saw Lea on her bed.


    "You!" Mechiel stood up in shock and prepared to harness her powers.


    "Don''t. We both worked together to save you." Another voice spoke.


    Mechiel saw the other woman, Listrel, also on her bed.


    "I envy you. Your vampiric regeneration never disappeared. It must be that name. What power was it?" Listrel asked.


    "The name?"


    "Yes. You are a member of his Coven, correct? Of his name that that powerful god announced, Mysterion is the only one I do not know." Listrel answered.


    "I have the blessings of Kyriachos. And yet, that power was taken from me."


    "I have Soter. And that, too, was taken from me. But you and he didn''t lose the power. Was it Mysterion?" Listrel asked.


    "I... am not sure. I am but her humble servant. Even I dare not present myself as his wife unless hemands me. Lord Kyros is... too great."


    "He must be. To think that through him, I would see Fate and Destiny. But who was that other God?" Lea asked.


    "That old man... He matched the God that Lady Diana and Branze said they met. The god called Histerion."


    "The Steele family met him?!" Listrel was shocked.


    "Just who is your husband-lord, and just what did he pull us all into?"


    "My Lord should answer those questions. But, you should have understood that Lord Kyros is the champion selected by Fate hers;f. We are serving a God called Beginning, and we are fighting to survive as the God End wants to end everything. Fate serves Beginning, and Destiny serves End. And it seems that Fate has bonded you both to him."


    "What does that mean?"


    "It means that we are allies." Kyros suddenly entered as more men arrived.


    "Lord Kyros!"


    "Please drop the Lord, Mechiel." Kyros chuckled. Along with him were several elves. They were the strongest Elves among the team. The strongest was as strong as a Champion.


    "It''s a new world out there, girls. Force, Magic, cultivation, and the basic way life works are all different out there." Kyros exined.


    "Were you all able to hear and see when those gods appeared?"


    <o>,m "Yes. Just what have I gotten myself into?"</o>


    "Let''s talk about that next time. Right now, I need you guys to see what exact level of strength you can bring out? I heard you two managed to create a massive attack that saved our fall."


    "Yes. We did. But now, that power isn''ting out of us. It''s sealed... Or probably gone... Or whatever happened to my power. From the conversations of those gods, it seems that the power of Blessings that aid forming a ss up on the jobs we have disappeared."


    "I sense it too. The different Jobs and sses I mastered have all been banished. I am left with a raw capacity to move around my Force and Magic. Unfortunately, it''s not resonating or following my will. I have be so weak."


    "I''m sure you can piece together whatever power you have is missing. You are stripped to the bare minimum without the powers of those gods and fallen. But you two are still the strongest. Although many of my powers remain, it has weakened. I already had been weakened prior to entering this ce. And the addedyer is making me so weak that I should be capable of defeating Champions in our previous world. But we need to move. I took the liberty of observing the world outside. And it''s not good. So I hope you have rested enough. We have to go now." Kyros exined.


    The group nodded and got out of their beds.


    Listrel and Lea still had numerous wounds as they began to walk outside of the room.


    As they moved out, it was clear that they lived inside a giant tree that was as big as an entire kingdom.


    "A World Wood Tree? I would have never known that this was a World Wood Tree with all the decays."


    "This ce is one of the few kingdoms that managed to survive after the apocalypse. Gentlemen, please make your preparations. I need to discuss with my allies certain private matters."


    "Yes, Lord Miracle." The Elves nodded and moved back.


    "Lord Miracle?"


    "That''s what they called me. I decided to roll with it. By the way, I told them that Mechiel is my wife and that you two are my retainers. Anyway, let''s set something straight. You already should have some idea what this world is."


    "An abandoned timeline. It seems that you have the power of the Time God. Did he use his powers to time travel and bring your original soul back?"<sub> </sub>


    "Right. You catch on quick." Kyros chuckled.


    "But we have a very strange new world to deal with. What did you two remember when we entered the scroll?"


    "We were over the nesworld... But there were fall small sources of light.


    "Yes. Now there are three."


    "Three? What happened to the other one."


    "Wrong question. The right question is, what happened to the nesworld."


    "What? Where are you going with this?"


    "What is the geography of the entire nesworld. Since both of you are the rulers of their respectivends, you should know this."


    "Arge Yggdrasil tree nted on the Dark Earth. The Dark Earth is my homnd. The Nethends, Netherworld, or Nether regions. Whichever name you prefer."


    "Right. But now, that''s not the state of the Yggdrasil tree. This is a world where the powers of gods and fallen no longer remain. But to be more urate, it''s being purged or burned out of existence. This entire ce still stands because the World Wood Tree is technically a tree that feeds on the Yggdrasil. And the Yggrrassil should be a power that formed from whichever God caused it to exist."


    "Goddess. That would be Goddess Antheiana." Listrel answered.


    "She is born from the lineage of Ss. A daughter of Light and Earth."


    "If this world is without these powers, the nesworld would no longers exist. As you have deduced, and as was exined by Mechiel, we were sent here because of a battle between Fate and Destiny. So we need to figure out what happened to the nesworld and what powers, Codes, or Corruption has been lost. Why is the nesworld moving around?"


    "Moving around? That means... that the Dark Earth is gone!" Lea had an ugly expression.


    "Gone? so that''s it... The nesworld is no longer affixed to a certain location in the universe. It''s floating around!"


    "We can''t know for certain. The good news is, this means that there is hope and a way to ovee this ce."


    "Then how?"


    "And that''s the bad news. The only way for us to leave this world is through something so impossible that even the God, Destiny, couldn''t think of how that''s possible."


    "...So we''re doomed." Lea frowned.


    "Wait! Let''s not lose hope, my dear enemy. We have here the chosen champion of Fate. Do you have an idea how to get out of this world?"


    "Yes. We basically have to travel to the edge of this Universe and use tremendous energy to break out of this scroll."


    "...What?" Listrel was shocked.


    "Break out of the scroll?! You need to have the power of that God, Histerion!"


    "Yes. Remember what the state of this scroll was?"


    "It was burning! If that was the rendition of how the universe is, then it means that this Universe is burning! It''s deteriorating! Which means we are doomed!" Lea cursed.


    "Not yet. It was in the process of being burned. To be more precise, it was being purged. Did you not feel it? The power that sent us here? That heat?"


    "Heat? I did feel that heat when Histerion pulled us out of our previous world. And I felt the same heat entering this." Listrel recalled.


    "Yes. Of the many elements that I have studied, there is one that was hardest to find. While there have been sources of this element, it was very weak or too little that a cultivator could train in it."


    "You''re talking about Brimstone. You''re saying that this world is being purged by Brimstone?" Listrel asked.


    "I know it is. Fate knows that there is a way to get out of here. And when I saw the creatures that caused the apocalypse of this world, I realized that there is someone who can get us out of here! They were made of Brimstone! They were beings of ash and fire. Most forms of elemental-based attacks won''t work on it. It absorbs fire, holy, and earth, melts ice and metal, is immune to lightning, wind, entropy, and it purges water and dark."


    "Then how did you kill such a beast with your current power? Your current form is clearly even weaker when we fought!"


    "Yes. I should have the strength of a Captain. But I have True Cut."


    "True Cut?! Wait! You''re the sword expert! The one that created a ripple! The Code of Hyperion!" Lea realized it.


    "Steele? It can''t be...! You''re a Steel?"


    "No. I''m an adopted member. I learned the Code of Steel. My adoptive parents are the real descendants of Steel. But honestly, with all the problems we face, that''s not important right now. What is important is that the reason this scroll is burning is that Histerion is burning it. Those beings that we saw were the manifestation of him burning the scroll. They are creatures of Brimstone. And that could be the ticket to get us out of here."


    "So we have Brimestone. We can harness that energy, and then we could break out of this world!" Listrel finally had hope.


    "But how are we going to go to the end of the universe? We are still in nesworld! How can we even journey through the stars! Not even my father or Listrel''s father would be capable of interster flight without Codes and Corruption." Lea asked.


    "I have no idea. As I said, even Destiny thinks it''s an impossible task. That''s why he agreed to Fate sending me here." Kyros shrugged.


    "...We''re doomed." Listrel finally agreed to Lea''s assessment.

 Chapter 362 World Doomed To Burn

    The massive World Wood Tree stood towering over mountains. The trunk was as wide as a mountain, and its branches spread across the sky. But its leaves were withering, and its state was constantly declining. Some branches on the far edges of the tree had already fallen off. And cracks and small pieces could constantly be seen falling.


    But even though there was such a decline in this massive tree, it was still a beacon of life in a dead and dying world.


    The nts and trees that could be seen on top of this massive tree had already withered. Several barren patches ofnd had no trees or nts in the entirendscape but only had the flickering of small embers moving in that area.


    Kyros watched from the watchtower of this region and could see the Brimstone Beasts moving and devouring life and objects.


    "Why are here, lo- Er... Kyros?" Mechiel asked.


    "To understand them. These beasts are quite curious. This world still follows certain rules even as the gods and fallen have left. Take, for instance, what keeps these creatures from living? What is their source of energy? They don''t do skotosynthesis, but what?"


    "From the looks of it... they devour." Mechiel answered.


    "That''s the answer, isn''t it? It seems strange, considering they are beings of brimstone as they devour life, death, and elements. They give birth to new creatures of form. If Histerion set this scroll on fire, then these beasts have to eat life, death, and even the elements to keep burning."


    "A world doomed to burn..."


    "Yes. But what dictates the form of these beasts? Some are born with the forms that are bipeds. Others walk on four feet. And others are even born like an insect. Could it be based on the highest life they devour?" Kyros wondered.


    "Why is that important? Shouldn''t we just go there and kill them?" Lea appeared as she emerged from the doorway and joined the group watching over the grand balcony of the Elven Fortress.


    "Lea. So? How many men?"


    "There are roughly twenty-seven thousand people capable of fighting. And there are eight thousand that are not. Those who can''t fight haven''t cultivated, are young, and are invalid or have been so wounded that they are useless."


    "And how strong are the soldiers?"


    "There are over a hundred who are at Champion level, six thousand that are on the Captain level, and the rest are ordinary soldiers."


    "What about the state of the weapons of this elven nation?"


    "The wood of this tree has been used to create arrows and weapons. But most of these weapons can only be used several on a Brimstone Beast. For arrows, the arrow itself will be burned after one shot. The weapons such as the spears could be used some fifteen times. But the strength of the wood weakens. As for weapons made of metals and various steels, they are quite rare. Only those who are Champions have those, as they were the only ones strong enough to be used against Brimstone Beast. But the Champions don''t use it as much as even their weapons are weakening."


    "Have you tested just how strong the wood weapons made from this tree are?"


    "It''s quite strong. Although, I tested one arrow and noticed that the arrow could kill a Captain if shot at the heart of these Brimstone beasts. The wood turned into a spear that could kill several Champions before being burnt up. Such a pity. These elves treated this Tree as their home. I can sense their sadness and anguish as they harvest its wood to make weapons."


    "Well, it is the end of the world. Had the elves not abandoned tradition, they would have died. "


    "Are you sure that this is the only n we have?" Listrel appeared.


    "As I said, we are fighting against time. While it may take years until all of these scrolls are burned up, we do not have the luxury of staying in one ce. We need to find the sources that retain this universe from acting as it once did. And they are all here, in the nesworld."


    "How sure are you that that is true? It doesn''t make sense. If you im that the power of the gods and fallen have been pulled and dragged into that timeline where we once were, that would mean that their powers exist in the infinite universe where they would dwell. Even my father only knew of the surroundings and systems. We don''t even have aplete list of the names of the gods and fallen! Why would the important ones be in the nesworld?"


    "Because of Fate. That''s why."


    "Fate? Do you believe that Fate led them here? How? She has no control over this timeline!"<sub> </sub>


    "Actually, she does," Kyros revealed the Time Core.


    "You must have heard Cminus speak back then. He is the Time God that helped me. Right now, he seems to be in some slumbering state. But he is the god that proves my theories. Mechiel. The reason why I love it is that we had a veryplicated rtionship in our past life. Perhaps you will find more about it in this ce."


    "There is... a version of me in this timeline?" Mechiel was shocked.


    "Not anymore. She died right before I did. It''s a lot to take in. But this should exin a number of my odd actions. I wonder if I''ll ever find out what happened after I died." Kyros chuckled.


    "Anyway, this ce is where all the abandoned timelines are sent. Those gods called it the Unrecorded Pages. So the timeline where we met, fought, and fell in love with each other exists in this one. Fate sent me here with confidence that I could escape. Destiny was so confused because, in his mind, it seemed impossible. I deduced that this was one of Destiny''s weaknesses. He only knows the end where End exists. His powers and knowledge on these abandoned timelines are very little."


    "So you think that in one of those abandoned timelines, these gods would have hidden here?"


    "Yes. That''s exactly what I believe. I already told you of my identity as the Nephilim. In my past life, when I met Mechiel, I was very weak. I managed to be a Celestial then, but a rather weak one. Even Conquest Conquerors could easily kill me in that timeline. This was all intended. Fate trained me and kept me hidden through my powers of Mysterion. She gave me that life and even killed me because my purpose was to grow strong in an abandoned timeline. When I moved into the main one, I would have the strength to keep fighting and challenging Destiny. Her sending me here also assumes the same way."


    "So somewhere in the neworld are the remnant powers of gods and fallen that allow all existence to continue. And we have to find that and hope that it can send us to the edge of the universe?"


    "Yup."


    "Sounds impossible. But now I get it. That''s what Fate wants Destiny to think."


    "Exactly. Are the arrangements ready?"


    "Yes. It took a while, but everyone is now following the orders that you have given. All your ns are being followed. But I fear when they realize what your ns are, they will rebel."


    "And that''s why we have to act. We can only stay here for another two weeks. Let''s go. We can only find out more of those Brimstone Beast by killing them." Kyros ordered.


    The four moved back into the room. Inside the trunk of the tree were cities and forests. There were long vines all over the inside of the trunk, which the four used to move them towards the bottom of the World Wood Tree at great speed.


    As they approached the bottom, the sounds of battle could be heard.


    "Another attack? When will these attacks end?" Mechiel sighed.


    "It''s expected. Our fall near the side of this tree has forced the Brimstone Beast to move and investigate. This means that there is some form of intelligence among the beasts. Since the elves got to us first, whoevermands the Brimstone Beast has sent some of its forces to scout and find out what happened. I heard that there haven''t been any attacks for the past two months before our arrival." Listrel exined.


    "Are we going to fight? I''ve been itching to get my hands dirty. I wonder if my teeth can devour brimstone?" Lea wondered.


    "How primitive of you, Lea. Have some ss." Listrel chuckled.


    "It''s the end of the world, and you still care for ss? Your vanity for perfection will do you no good in this world. I can''t believe that I have to fight next to you." Lea frowned.


    "You girls can kill each other after this. For now, we all have no choice but to rely on and support each other. Save that energy when you fight. I''ll distract the enemy. Breakthrough the front lines and eliminate them." Kyros ordered as he sped up.


    The four reached the bottom of the World Wood Tree and could see the raging battle as they fell to where the roots and the trunk met.


    "Let''s move. Clear out the enemies and force the Brimstone Beast to retreat!" Kyros ordered.

 Chapter 363 World Out Of Time

    The fortress wall of the world of this World Wood Tree was made on those walls. But the constant attacks of the Brimstone Beast that raged during the past two years had left a massive hole on the eastern side of the tree.


    The Elven kingdom exterminated the Brimstone Beast to the west of them since there were no civilizations on the other sides of the tree since the World Wood Tree stood near an ocean that covered the north and southern regions.


    And the Brimstone Beast could not fight well in the waters.


    The eastern side, constantly being bombarded, was also where more than fifty percent of all the elves and other races fought and defended. As the elves were naturally good archers, they created forts all over the openings and cities inside the trunk, and no Brimstone Beast could ever reach the gates they created. The archer''s arrow quickly shot down even Brimstone Beast that took the form of flying creatures.


    So the Brimstone Beasts that attacked them all had long-ranged attacks.


    The beast of strange forms all attacked. They would spew, shoot out, or hurl brimstone towards the tree and attack the massive branches.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Explosions after explosions rocked the area. The range of the archers couldn''t reach the positions of these Brimstone Beasts, who now had greater range than the previous army that attacked them.


    This forced the elves to take action.


    Numerous toons were ordered to move slowly but were now being bombarded by the brimstone siege cultivators.


    The number of deaths was increasing.


    A woman led her archers to go closer to aim at the Brimstone Beast that was using long-ranged attacks.


    One squad of archers has managed to move in closer finally and could finally shoot back at the beasts.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Their arrows flew through the air, but a group of brimstone creatures used their bodies to block the attack.


    The arrows pierced deep into the creatures. Some even pierced through, creating a hole. But the brimstone body caused these arrows to burn. If not for the strong quality of the wood used, these arrows wouldn''t have pierced through and burned up.


    The archers could barely use Force energy. All they had was their skill and the strength of their bow.


    BOOM!


    An attacknded near them, and the toon had to find shelter near the broken pieces of wood that remained. It was as if they were finding shelter amid giant charcoals that were slowly burning.


    "Mydy! We can''t move in like this! We will be wiped out before we can even get one!"


    "We have to! Can''t you see?! The Brimstone beast hasn''t attacked us because they were building so many forces! They only attacked now because they were curious about Lord Miracle''s arrival! They attacked us prematurely! If we retreat now and fail to kill any of them, we will die in the future! Our toon has to kill!" The woman cried out.


    Suddenly, powerful darkness erupted and shot at the numerous brimstone attacks being sent.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The attacks struck the siege, and a dark knight withrge wings could be seen flying over the area.


    "My Lady! Look! It''s Lord Miracle!"


    Kyros flew with his dark wings and began to slip through the barrage of brimstone fireballs thrown all over the area.


    "Now! While I draw their attention!" Kyros shouted, and the group of archers began to rush faster.


    Several dark forms were being released as the shadow ghouls and shadow clones of Kyros charged out in different directions making the enemies shoot at the different fleeing figures.


    With the distraction, the archers managed to get in position and aim.


    "Fire now!" As the toon shot their arrows at the Brimstone Beast Siege Cultivator, thedy elfmanded.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The expert eyes of the archers struck the chest of these beasts where a strange red stone was.


    Most of the brimstone beasts walked on two feet and had a body simr to elves and humans. Unfortunately, the arrow attack killed them.


    "We did it!" One of the elves was amazed.


    "Move to the next!"


    The toon of elves moved, and apart from them, many others who were charging managed to close the gap and begin to attack more of the siege cultivators. But, unfortunately, the attacks led to many deaths, and the brimstone beast began to attack and send its forces.<sub> </sub>


    "ROAR!" The roar of the brimstone beast echoed as they charged ahead.


    The archers saw it and trembled.


    "Mydy...?"


    "Focus on the Siege Cultivators! They can kill us if they must! But we have to kill those siege cultivators! We are fighting for a world out of time! But if we sacrifice our lives here and now to kill that beast, this will buy our elves more time, and this beast will have to retreat! It seems futile! But fight and die! Fight and die to give our friends and loved ones even one more second!" Thedy elf shouted as they kept their attacks focused.


    The arrows flew, and the beast drew close.


    Soon, the elf could see the Brimstone beasts up close. But even then, she kept her bow aimed at the distant siege cultivator and managed to kill another one.


    She smiled as she waited for her death.


    BOOM!


    A figure stood right in front of her. This figure had wings just like Lord Miracle and brandished a long sword that was made of red.


    Her blood-red sword had force energy and created explosive attacks that managed to send the enemies back.


    SLASH! SLASH!


    Mechiel stood her ground and attacked the enemy.


    Despite the horde of beasts gaining upon her, Mechiel managed to fight back.


    Her Path of Combat was weak, but she still stood her ground and fought. Pronto was her main advantage as she could dive through the horde of Captain-level Brimstone Beast without faltering.


    "Help me!" Mechiel finally shouted as the elves were still in a daze at what they saw.


    "Fire!" Thedy elf immediately shouted, and they began to offer covering fire.


    "You really need to learn how to fight. All that advantage on the power you retained, and that is how you fight? No wonder Kyros made you flee." Lea voiced out aint as she ran straight for the enemies on another side.


    BOOM!


    Lea was using her bare arms and her tail to attack the beast. Each punch had pure force, and each whip of her tail would sever the beast in two.


    Her blows were strong that even though she had no Force Energy, her body and natural defenses could crush and kill the Brimstone beast.


    "I may have lost my cultivation, but my body remains strong! Get back, you pesky beasts!" Lea shouted as she bombarded each beast with swift attacks.


    Listrel used her sword, which could shockingly harness Force energy! It wasn''t as strong and extravagant as Mechiel''s attacks, but her refined attacks and amazing martial art skills allowed her to kill anything that came close to her.


    Her sword never touched the enemies, but the Force power behind her attacks allowed her to cut through these beasts.


    Kyros also began to attack as the number of Siege Cultivators aiming for him had dwindled.


    He dove through the ranks of a beast as the dark sticky form of his suit became spears that would shoot out to those nearby as his sword kept shing through the enemies.


    But as Kyros fought, he began to fall into a form of trance.


    He was light, and he had the power of Earth thanks to his mastery of the Celestial Code.


    But Brimstone was Earth, and Holy Fire made into one. It was the power that merged an intangible element with something tangible. The energy of light and the physical matter of earth became one. This was an element that had continued to evade him.


    "Brimstone purges the dimensions. The light was made to heal, but the offensive extreme of light, which creates heat, gives birth to Holy Fire. The Balefire element which humans have tried to recreate was this same fire. A me that devours and incinerates. But Brimstone is even more mysterious. How can something that should be incinerated bear the power of the me? What exactly are sulfur and brimstone? How do I create it?" Kyros began to immerse himself as he dove down to kill the horde of Brimstone beasts that surrounded him.


    Suddenly, Kyros''s body began to glow in the light.


    His Celestial Pdin form could no longer be used as he lost the Elemental cores. But Kyros needed a form that could interact with the light. His current form, which wielded darkness, was in opposition. And so, he assumed the form of his father.


    FLASH!


    Kyros wore a raiment of white, and his swords had changed.


    The swords struck through the Brimstone Beast. It made cuts because of True Cuts, but Kyros was now assuming an elemental form that had easier ways of handling and experimenting with Brimstone.

 Chapter 364 World Out Of Order

    The Temr Pdin was a form that emphasized using a purging power of Light or the Holy Element with the power of Ancient Source.


    Branze created it by allowing his power as a Steel to surge out.


    Kyros did the same and allowed his power of Mysterion to unleash a unique form of Light energy. Mysterion was the concealing and unveiling of things. And with that, Kyros began to absorb and release the energy of the Brimstone Beast.


    The power of the sword and the cloak of the armor of Kyros that gave him darkness that could move and change forms had be a raiment of white. And even the Blood Sword ability had transformed from a vampiric power that could feed on blood into an angelic source that could harness light.


    Brimstone was earth, fire, and light. But the three elements could not be absorbed separately, as they were all one. Yet, despite the insanity of absorbing them into his body, Kyros continued to allow the energy to seep in.


    Kyros slew a group of beasts with one sh and quickly jump back to retreat.


    The numerous beast made strong attacks and missed as Kyros fled. If not for Kyros''s quick speed and Pronto, he would have died. Kyros expertly determined thest moment when he could flee and did so at that moment toplete the shes and attacks he made.


    His body was in pain as the heat was burning inside of him.


    The attempt to devour the brimstone beasts and their energy with the Myster Experience System created a burning pain right inside of his bones.


    But Kyros did not stop and made another rushing attack to create a wider sh at the Captain-level beasts.


    SLASH!


    The heads of another group were sliced off as he charged back in, and this time, he used the power of True Cut and created a Force sh.


    Pain surged all over Kyros''s body.


    But Kyros bore the pain and was waiting for his body to regenerate and turn the energy into his own to heal him.


    "Damn it! Even after absorbing the essence of all those dragons, giant beasts, vampires, that shaman, and even that necromancer, the damage of Brimstone is still too much for me to make a recovery!" Kyros cursed.


    "You''re insane! Why are you eating Brimstone that purges all of creation?!" Cminus shouted.


    "Yo, Cminus. d you woke up!"


    "What are you doing?!"


    "What do you think I''m doing?! I''m trying to recreate the Code or Corruption that makes this Yggdrassil remain!"


    "What?!"


    "I already have the Celestial Code. I have both Corruption and Code in me. And the numerous powers that my bloodline carries either through birth or by the blessings of these Gods and Fallen ought to be enough for me to create a Code. But, Cminus, you understand where we are now! All Codes and Corruption are dying out. I need to either save the Codes'' source that allows the existence of this world that is out of order and merge with it to be the new source!"


    "Don''t tell me?! So you''re trying to create the Code that stabilizess?!"


    "Yes! The Celestial Code creates the outer portions of the. In this world, my death would have left the power of the Celestial Code in Minds, where I died. And because the Celestial Code of Daradiel remains here, the nesworld remains as one of the many worlds that have not been destroyed yet. The Celestial Code defines the outer shell of the Celestial bodies, and so, this has remained. Somewhere here should be the power that defines the Core! And if I study it by the time I see it, we would surely die! So I have to experiment now!"


    "And you''re trying to study the Corruption of Prometheus even without any blessing?! Your powers of Charm cannot call upon a Corruption it doesn''t understand!"


    "We''ll talkter. I can''t concentrate like this! The burning powers are so strong that it''s distorting my auto-battle set in my Soul Console!" Kyros answered as he charged back.


    With the entry of Kyros and his team in the battle had provided the time for more of the archers to get into position.


    The four of them held back a small area of brimstone beasts by making wide-scale attacks and tried to push back the areas directly in front of where some of the archers were.


    A few archers provided direct support and attacked the enemies near those fighting at the front. Except for Kyros, who was fighting deeper within the ranks and was surrounded, the rest was able to fight and defeat the monster in front of them as the archers provided support and shot down those moving at the sides so that they would not be surrounded.


    But the three at the front were slowly bing more and more exhausted.


    Fighting the Brimstone Beasts was constantly harming them even if they were not being hit or struck by any attack. The longer they were exposed to the Brimstone beasts, the more they felt a powerful burning heat that grew more and more even though they were not directly touching the beasts.


    Mechiel was being drained. She was using her blood to create wide attacks to pierce them as the blood on her body would transform into spikes to stab those that tried to attach her at the side.


    But the blood she was using would be drained, and Mechiel was running out of blood.


    Lea''s fist, legs, and tails were starting to show burns as her strong physical form was starting to show burns.


    Listrel remained untouched save for the heat that her skin felt. But she was running out of Force Energy from the constant use.


    The first one to fall from trying to defend was Mechiel. Her body had numerous wounds, and her blood wings and even her arms were burnt, and she had to run back and retreat.


    "Pull back! I can''t hold!" Mechiel shouted.


    The toon of elves saw that she had fallen and was about to retreat, but suddenly thedy ordered back.<sub> </sub>


    "Don''t retreat! Reinforcement is here! Cover Lord Miracle''s ally!"


    The archers stopped retreating and kept shooting, but many of their allies arrived, as thedy elf said. They quickly sent their army in as they saw how Kyros and the team managed to buy enough time to eliminate the siege beasts.


    Many of the archers began to attack, and the arrows covered the sky as they flew down on the Brimstone Beast.


    "Form ranks! We''ll buy you more time!" Listrel shouted as she kept fighting.


    The elves did asmanded and began to form their ranks and shot the enemies in an organized manner.


    Listrel and Lea retreated as the lines were formed and the Brimstone Beast was being pushed back.


    "Where is Kyros?" Mechiel asked thedy elf.


    "Hail, Lady Champion! Lord Miracle? He''s still fighting deep within the ranks. His wild battle had been stopping more of the enemies from surrounding you. Our arrows cannot reach them yet."


    "Rx, Mechiel." Lea arrived and sat down nearby.


    "How many of your forces are dead?" Lea asked.


    "...We lost some eighteen."


    "Hmp... To few. Bring me their bodies. I will feast on them." Lea answered.


    The elves nearby were stunned.


    "Oh? Do you hesitate at my request? What use do the dead have? I can save more of you in the battles if you give me those corpses. I am a Dark and Death Dependent being. They can live on in me." Leaughed.


    "But Lord Miracle..."


    "Lord Miracle is a freak. He looks like a Dark or Death Dependent being, but his actually the opposite. This vampire girl is also the same. But I need to feed. Think of it as paying for my services. Would you rather I kill some of you?" Lea sneered.


    "Still so barbaric, Lea? Lady Elf, I hear that you were the one who found and saved us. So please do as this imp says."


    "IMP?!" Lea red.


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, an explosion urred right on the battlefield.


    Kyros had to fly with all his might, and his charred form could be seen.


    "Lord Kyros!" Mechiel shouted.


    "Focus on saving him. That kid''s pretty reckless..." Listrel shook her head.


    Kyros was bleeding all around him. If not for Cminus casting Time magic that somehow prevented the enemies from charging in and giving time for Kyros to flee, he would have died.


    His arms had been burnt down to the stomp.


    "... Ouch." Kyros cursed as he fled.


    "Wow. It was the first time I saw someone spontaneouslybust. You''re amazing." Cminus chuckled.


    "Whatever, smarty pants. The fact remains that I managed to absorb a bit of Brimstone. I just need to harness it. Maybe create a Core out of it?" Kyros wondered as he flew just below the rain of arrows that struck those who were wildly approaching.


    Kyros''s wings finally gave way, and he crashed to the ground and rolled all the way towards where Mechiel and the rest were.


    CRASH!


    Listrel used her Force to create a wall that Kyros crashed into.


    "What exactly are you doing?" Listrel asked.


    "Couldn''t you have caught me more gently?" Kyros cursed.


    "You''re full of Brimstone. I can''t." Listrel chuckled.


    "I was doing this." Kyros raised his right arm. Though it was a burnt stomp, a small spark of energy suddenly formed.


    "Brimstone!" Listrel and Lea eximed.

 Chapter 365 World Without Blessings

    The battle ended as the Brimstone Beast began to retreat at the attacks of the elves.


    The Brimstone beasts began to retreat, and Kyros observed the armies.


    "Why were there no aerial beasts this time?" One of the Elfmanders asked.


    "They are fighting elsewhere. In short, there is another kingdom or another group of survivors that is much stronger than this that requires them to send flying beasts." Kyros answered.


    "Lord Miracle..." The Lady Elf approached.


    "High Elf, Aubry. You seemed so eager to die." Kyros chuckled.


    "I thank you for your assistance. Your friends are quite strong."


    "Not really. I mean, they used to be. But here, they have powers that are dropping to Champion level. Should there have been Champion-level Brimstone Beast or beyond, things would have be more dangerous."


    "My Lord... You think there are far stronger beasts than this?"


    "Yes. And they will probably send out more on the next battle. Whoever or whatever is controlling these Brimstone Beast is probably gathering his forces to attack another. But now, they will probably send stronger ones since we have defeated an army. They thought that siege cultivators that would attack the tree from afar would be enough and would eventually kill you all. But I''m sure all hell will break loose in the days toe."


    "Lord Miracle... What must be done?"


    "We move forward. We have to abandon the fortress and move ahead. If you guys want to live, and I mean, not just live for a time, then follow me." Kyros exined.


    "Move forward?" Aubrey was amazed.


    "But... how?"


    "Our hope is that there is another kingdom further ahead of this ce. We don''t know where, but it should be close by if it can force the armies here to be few. If they die, we will die as we would be forced to fight through the hordes of those that fight there. You saw flying beast before, correct?"


    "Yes. We were wondering why there were no flying beasts."


    "So that proves it. I have a n for us to march through this, but you probably won''t like it." Kyros smiled.


    "What n?"


    "A small team will charge ahead and draw the enemy. I n to draw out the real enemies controlling this army and force them to attack. And when they attack, we cut down this tree and bring it down on them!"


    "What?!" Several shocked cries were heard.


    "Oh? How daring..." Lea smiled.


    "That does seem like a good n. The wood is strong enough to attack and wound the Brimstone Beast. So the entire tree ought to be enough to decimate their armies. At the height of the tree, if we make it all fall down, it would crash and could even kill Commander-level Brimstone Beast. The weight and strength of the World Wood Tree would utterly crush them." Listrel added.


    The elves were shocked at the crazy n.


    "This... Lord Miracle...!"


    "Listen, what is stopping you from doing this? Religion? Tradition? The gods and fallen have disappeared here. Whatever you cling to save, you will not be here. Right now, I have arrived, and I can save you. But this world is even more dangerous than you think it is. We have to act and move. Our first mission is to head towards the former Omega Kingdom."


    "Omega Kingdom? That was thest fortress before the arrival of the Brimstone Beasts!" The elf who spoke to Kyros was also there.


    "That''s right, Logon. There is something there that I think can help us. But ultimately, our mission is to head to the Hignds. Crushing the armies here in that manner can help us ambush the army threatening the next one. These Brimstone Beast can onlymunicate through shouts. Their very nature prevents them from being able tomunicate with others through long-range or other telepathic means."


    The elves had a depressed look. Many nced at the massive tree that was their home.


    "We..." Aubrey couldn''t answer.


    "We ept." Logon answered.


    "Father!"


    "Aubrey, it''s for the best. We all know the blessings of the Bow have been removed from us since that day. The Goddess of the Wood and the Goddess of the Bow are gone. Lord Miracle is correct."


    "But this our home! This is Erynbar! We are wood elves! What are we if not of the tree?"


    "Our mission is to save your entire world. It is to save all of the nesworld. The great tree, the nesworld, is dying. We have severed or uprooted from the soil where we are nted and have been drifting to space. That''s why the stars and the sun change. We don''t have Time as well. Who knows if the nesworld will crash into another or celestial body? This is your Erynbar, but the nesworld is also your Erynbar! The real ''Wood where you Dwell'' is the nesworld." Kyros exined.


    Aubrey was stunned.


    "Lord Miracle, you know Elven Tongue?"


    "Yes. I can speak Elven Tongue, Sindarin of LOTR, Dobby, and Santa''s Helpers."


    "What?" Aubrey was confused.


    "In any case, you feel the blessings of Bow Veiyos and the other Veiyos powers disappearing. Imagine that in the world. It''s not just Bow Veiyos who disappeared."


    The elves were cringing at Kyros''s casual mention of the Bow Veiyos''s name.


    "This guy is right again. Can''t you feel it? The nesworld itself is nearing a cmity! This very ce is losing the powers that make this form. A world without blessings was hard to imagine before. But now, here we are. The very few remnants of power remain that allow things to function. Our only hope is this insane man." Listrel pointed to Kyros.


    "The n is also a way for us to kill those beasts with very few casualties and move on. We will need as many forces as we can get. If you want the nesworld to survive, you should fight to get this man wherever he wants to go." Lea added.


    Aubrey was silent and turned once more to her father, Logon.


    Logo nodded.


    "I ept. The Elven Kingdom, Vey Woodrealm is in yourmand."


    "Great. I want you to divide the workforce. Those that cannot fight or are kids should be taught to harvest more wood to make weapons. Anyone that can shoot must train for the Time. We need to restore the elven ability to imbue force energy to your arrows. Another team will apany Listrel, Lea, and Mechiel... You three lead the army to kill more Brimstone Beast. Hunt them and bring them back here. Although we killed a lot, it won''t be enough to fuel the energy we need."


    "Recover their might and skill? Fuel the energy we need?" Listrel was confused at Kyros''smands.<sub> </sub>


    "There are no gods left here. But luckily, the Code of the Bow is something that I have seen. The disappearance of the gods and fallen meant that their blessings remained. But that also means that the limitations and curses that limit the growth of all beings are gone."


    "What?" Lea was confused.


    "First, our time issue. Cminus?"


    "I know what to do," Cminus spoke.


    The elves were surprised at the sudden voice.


    "This voice? That''s the voice of the Time God!" Listrel recalled the voice that spoke.


    "What are you nning? Do you n to drain the life of the tree? For me to create Time energy?"


    "Of course not. We will be using coal power."


    "Coal power? You mean Brimstone?"


    "Right." Kyros made a light step on the ground. It was only then that everyone realized there were strange markings on the grounds.


    Kyros''s dark cloak was writing on the ground, and as it was like water, it easily wrote even under where people were standing.


    FLASH!


    A strange light appeared.


    "An Energy Conversion Circle!" Listrel was amazed.


    Lea was not so much surprised, considering she had fought Kyros, who abused this against her.


    "Put all the charcoals. I mean the corpses of the beasts here."


    "A fire-channeling conversion circle... But whatnguage is used here?"


    "First Word." Kyros answered as he continued to write the outer circles.


    At Kyros''s orders, the corpses of the Brimstone Beasts were brought inside the energy conversion circle.


    Finally, the circle waspleted.


    Everyone marveled at the speed at which Kyros wrote this.


    "Lord Miracle''s knowledge on the Path of Creation is quite astounding!" Logon was amazed.


    Kyros ced Cminus''s Time Core in the center.


    A power surged as the energy of the numerous burning ''coals'' created energy.


    Suddenly, Listrel and Lea felt it.


    "What the?! Time elerated!" Listrel shouted.


    "But how?!"


    "Put in more coals- I mean Brimstone Beast them! And it looks like we need more. Guys, you go and hunt to keep this Time field going! I used the entire area at the first level of the World Wood Tree to have elerated Time. But you guys have to keep it burning!"


    "Next... Training. Give me a bow and arrow." Kyros ordered, and one of the archers nearby handed it.


    Kyros closed his eyes and recalled the curses that he had.


    "A world without Blessings of Codes and Corruption, huh? That''s every day of my life." Kyros chuckled, and he drew the bow.


    FWIP!


    The arrow shot out, and it now contained Force Energy, and it flew with great speed. Several forms of power were unleashed that day. In a world where the Codes and Corruption had vanished, it returned within Kyros.


    ---


    True Aim Archer job acquired.


    Quick Bow Archer job acquired.


    Magic Bow Archer job acquired.


    Eagle Eye Archer job acquired.


    Master Bowman job acquired.


    ---


    Everyone was amazed at the power, and the familiar sensation that the archers had lost was felt.


    "That was...!"


    "Goddess Veiyos''s blessing!"


    The elves were stunned as they saw Kyros shoot it out. While Kyros had shown several abilities, it was foreign to them. But this was the power that they had pursued all their life! And it wasing back!


    "Alright, guys. Time to train you to return at least half of your abilities!" Kyros chuckled.

 Chapter 366 World To Protect

    On the outskirts of the massive World Wood Tree, Listrel and Lea walked at the front lines, and they were careful to move through the ashen world stealthily. They had seen numerous lone Brimstone Beast wandering around and began to assassinate them.


    They even witnessed a Brimstone creature slowly rising and taking form from the ground.


    The group attacked and killed silently so as not to draw out any more beasts. They attacked and ensured that their assaults were done to kill the Brimstone Beast immediately. But as they silently traversed through the barrennds of burnt soil, Listrel couldn''t take it anymore.


    She had seen a strange miracle back then. Not only had Time magic, ancient and very impossible magic appear, but Kyros managed to recreate the powers that were lost in this world. And she could not understand it.


    "So... exactly how many gods and fallen code does that Kyros have?" Listrel finally asked Mechiel.


    "I thought we were to move stealthily." Mechiel frowned. Kyros had noticed that the Brimstone Beast was very keen on sounds.


    "Just tell us. Even I can''t believe what I saw!"


    "You guys should get used to it. I''ve seen even more incredible things." Mechiel chuckled.


    "Just tell us already!"


    "Well, I don''t really know the full details... But from what I''ve seen Lord Kyros and the other lords of the Steele do, we have Charmed, Fanged, Zh, Astra, the Celestial Code, Kyriachos, Tyrannus, Soter, Lord Cminus''s Time powers, Lord Hyperion Steel, and I head Lord Branze is someone who is the incarnation of Gennaios Steele, and Lady Diana is someone called Katara Kyriachos. You already met the Goddess of Fate. Our enemy is Destiny, and from what I understand, Lord Kyros bears the power of Mysterion." Mechiel began to list the powers in her memory.


    Lea and Listrel had shocked expressions.


    The powers that Mechiel listed were so diverse and so unique. Many of the Codes and Corruption listed was known as Prime Source. Kyriachos, Soter, and Hyperion Steel were foundational powers that defined many aspects of creation.


    In their prestigious positions and connections, even they could only dream of having these powers.


    "You have Charmed and Fanged Corruption. That, I can sense. But what else do you have?" Lea asked.


    "I''ve also learned a bit of the Celestial Code. I can wield magic by using the Charmed Fallen''s power to attract the elements into submission. Lord Kyros taught me how to do that. And through it, I have learned a bit about Astra''s Code. I also have a skill called [Pronto], which is a power I believe to be from Lord Cminus." Mechiel listed the powers she had.


    "..." Both Listrel and Lea were even more shocked.


    "Wait a minute! None were from the Code of Bow!"


    "Goddess Veiyos Bow... Oh, right. I don''t think anyone has fully awakened that yet. But from what I understand, Veiyos Bow is one of Lord Cminus''s allies." Mechiel added.


    "Looks like we do have hope, then. His ns sound insane, but he might just have what it takes to save this world." Listrel sighed.


    "And here I thought our little battle in the nesworld would be the focus of my life. But now, I got pulled into things far beyond my capabilities." Lea sighed.


    "Yes. Things were simple back then, Lea. Let''s hope we survive this so we can go back to killing each other." Listrel nodded and noticed a group of Brimstone creatures being born.


    "More are appearing? And this time it''s a group! Is this normal?" Listrel asked an elf.


    "...No. Most Brimstone Beast is from people that have been killed. Very few are raised from the Earth! This is also the first time I have witnessed this. Even the scouts we send to observe the enemy had never reported this when they went out to observe this ce yesterday!"


    Lea dug her hands into the ground. She could feel a growing heat.


    "This is bad. It looks like the power of Brimstone is starting to corrupt the Yggdrasil itself! Even the soil of the Yggdrasil is being burned! That is why Brimstone Beast is being born from the ground! And more will appear from now on! We are on a tight schedule if we want to save this world!" Lea analyzed as she could feel the soil''s neutrality has a purging power.


    "I think that''s why Lord Kyros wants to push ahead as quickly as possible. He probably ns to harness the Celestial Code and use the power of Astra to strengthen the nesworld. Astra''s Code is the Code that harnessed the Celestial Code and the Code of the Earth to creates. If these Codes are dying, it will cause the neworld to burn out. But harnessing that Code could rid this world of the Brimstone!"


    "Then we have to hurry. Destiny couldn''t see all of this. To him, it didn''t make sense why Fate allowed it since he believed even the neworld would not exist now. But Fate knew there was an impossible hope hidden here. And she''s betting that Kyros can reach that hope. I think we should go all out, Lea. The more of these creatures we hunt, the more fuel we have to create the time eleration."


    "Yes. I also need to train. I saw him absorb the energy of Brimstone. If he is a person who can wield both dark and light, it should be possible for him to teach me how to be a Dark Dependent that can feed on the light!"


    "That''s quite an impossible hope, Lea. Right now, my powers of the Light are closer to Brimstone. But even I wouldn''t dare do what he did. How much more you, who is close to the exact opposite of Brimstone."


    "We are both bound to Kyros by Fate. This also means we are someone that is Fated to be with him to help him get through this battle. So let''s do our best, Listrel!"


    "Agreed. How about a contest?"


    "Oh? You read my mind." Lea smiled.


    "Wait! What are you nning?" Mechiel shouted in shock. The two suddenly gathered their energy to fight.


    Lea held out her hands, and the power of Force returned.


    ? Listrel raised her sword, and the power of Holy returned.<sub> </sub>


    "What the...! How?! You don''t have Codes or Corruption!" Mechiel was stunned.


    "Why so surprised, Mechiel?"


    "How did your powers return?"


    "They didn''t return. We don''t have the blessing. But you forget we are the best of the best in the neworld. Don''t underestimate us. Kyros showed us that it is possible to harness the power we lost. Wecked confidence in ourselves back then. But when Kyros trained the archers and began to teach them, I realized that I was lied to. These Blessings of Code and Corruption aren''t blessings, is it?" Listrel smiled.


    "Yes. I can feel it now. All paths are open. Those Blessings unsealed us from the Gods, and Fallen''s limitations had cursed us to have. But they were also like floats that could help someone learn to swim. When we arrived in this world, those training floats were taken, and we sank. But now that we know we can swim independently, it''s easy." Lea began to draw out the power in her.


    The power of darkness returned as it wrapped around Lea''s arm.


    "Well, Lea is making a vast underestimation of things. It''s not that easy. It''s more like we had tools that helped a ground animal fly, and it was taken from them, and now they have to learn how to fly on their own. It sounds impossible and difficult. But the two of us aren''t exactly normal either." Listrel smiled as she nced around her.


    "So this is what freely wielding light is? Interesting. Mechiel. Join us as we fight. Archers, find a group of enemies that you guys will kill on your own. The three of us have to fight alone. You guys also have to train."


    "M-me?!" Mechiel was shocked.


    "Yes, you. You''re so weak. You need to improve your fighting skills. We, your big sisters, will teach you how."


    "But- But... Lord Kyros usually trains me..."


    "Not anymore, he will. He''s too soft on you. We''ll roughen you up. Just try to survive. Besides, I''ve seen that other Subus. She wants your husband. She''s far stronger than you, you know?" Listrel chuckled.


    "And you also have us to worry about," Lea added.


    "Wha- What do you mean?"


    "Oh,e on! That husband of yours has so many Codes and Corruption! We don''t even have to like him. But such powers that he possesses will greatly help Lea or me if we marry him. You two haven''t even done it yet, have you? For a Fallen, you have such pure untainted energy." Listrel chuckled.


    "She''s right. So if you really love your lord, you''ll fight. Frankly, your love for him isn''t that deep anyway. I''m starting to like your man. I may take him from you if you are too weak. Come on, let''s go! I sense a group over there!"


    The tail of Lea wrapped around Mechiel and forcibly pulled her as Listrel used her light powers to fly.


    "Woah! This is fun!" Listrelughed as she tried to adapt to the new sensation of being able to wield the power of Light freely.


    The elves were shocked at what they saw.


    "Wha-what do we do?"


    "I guess we should also fight and do what Lady Lea said.. That conversation that they had was quite marvelous. Lord Miracle is a god! And a devil!" One of the elves eximed.


    Back in the base, the training had begun.


    "So, as you can see, Force is always present! Even now! You guys just don''t know how to draw it out! But I''ve shown you that it is possible! Meditate on the steps, I said! Search for that power in you! No longer are you the elves of the Vey Woodrealms! But as you are warriors who have a world to protect, I now call you,eers! Arise,eers! Arise, for you have a world to protect!" Kyros dered, and the Word of Power which Kyros based on the very call for him to arise and fight End, rippled out and surged in everyone.


    The army of elves roared. Kyros was using the power of the Heretic Teacher, and it allowed them to absorb every word that they said.


    Kyros then channeled the power of his father.


    ---


    Motivational Speaker Job acquired.


    ---


    "I, a mere Captain, can do much! So can all of you!eers! Will you arise and save this world?!"


    "Yes, Captain!"


    "Erm... Right. I guess." Kyros was stunned at the crowd''s answer.


    "Oh well. It fits the dialogue." Kyros shrugged and decided to say what he felt he should say.


    "The power... is yours!"


    Numerous archers suddenly felt the power of Force return.

 Chapter 367 World To Save

    BOOM! BOOM!


    A giant Brimstone Beast had appeared as the attacks of Listrel, Lea, and Mechiel led to the deaths of many beasts.


    The giant was twenty meters tall and was very fast for its size.


    Its massive fist shot towards Lea, who continued to take the beast blow by blow.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    "Hurry!" Lea shouted as she could sense she was running out of energy.


    Her control over Force Energy was vastly weaker than how she could wield it before. This is because she was wasting so much and was quickly draining the reserve in her body.


    The biggest problem was theck of Death energy. While the darkness of thends was great as the small sources of light could barely create it, the power of Brimstone was purging death itself.


    BANG!


    A final blow and Lea was sent flying back and crashed on the deste ground.


    "Now!" Listrel shouted, and Mechiel gathered the power of her blood and used it as water energy.


    Listrel rushed in and brought the power of Holy and Water to stab out, and the sword struck through the core of the massive giant.


    "ROAR!" The howl of the Brimstone Beast echoed throughout the distance as the core lost the ability to contain and gather the energy.


    The sword pierced in the core and managed to defend against the power of Brimstone.


    The giant copsed, and its massive pieces began to fall apart.


    Listrel fell, and even Mechiel was drained of her energy.


    The elves had arrived and had quickly guarded the area.


    More working elves arrived with various gears that protected them from the mes.


    Kyros had created a design for a suit that he called the Hazmat Suit, which contained various precious cloths that could resist fire.


    With these suits, those that had very little martial training or cultivation could withstand the heat and began to quickly grab the fallen brimstone rocks of the beast and ship it back home,


    The elves created a defensive perimeter but noticed that the rest of the Brimstone beast had retreated.


    "Amazing! The Three Ladies of Miracle have done it! It killed a Champion level Brimstone Beast!"


    "Bring them back!" The elf in charge of the toon ordered.


    "SKREEE!" A loud cry was heard in the distance as numerous flying beasts appeared.


    Listrel saw it and cursed. She was out of Force and Magic.


    Lea was barely able to stand as she watched the creatures swoop in.


    Mechiel stood up and rushed to the front as her battered and torn wings spread out.


    "Lady Miracle! Leave it to us!" Suddenly a voice called out.


    Several tall archers arrived. But unlike the other archers, these had somehow regained their beauty of old.


    "Sir Arathen!" The elf in charge of the toon shouted.


    "High Bows! Aim high!" The elf called Arathen ordered, and the archers took aim.


    "Release!" Arathen ordered.


    The other elves were stunned. The beasts were still too far for their bows to reach!


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows were set to lose, but each bowstring that released the arrow created a light eruption of Force.


    The arrows flew with great speed and managed to resist the wind, and struck the flying beasts with expert precision.


    Force energy allowed the arrows to pierce through the Brimstone core even with the higher defenses of the winged brimstone beast.


    The beasts started to fall.


    "Archers focus fire on a single beast! That survives! High Bows, reload!" Arathen ordered.


    Listrel watched in amazement.


    "They have regained their Force power?!"


    "But how?!" Lea was shocked as well.


    "Lord Kyros must have taught them."


    "Taught them how to use Force?"


    "Yes. He''s a really good teacher. I believe he''s even better than Lord Branze."


    "But how?! Even with the Time eleration, it would only have been about two days in the tree!" Listrel was stunned.


    "I believe that, just like you, they managed to regain their abilities to fight quickly. Is that so impossible?" Mechiel asked.


    "Yes! We are the elites! These are Mind warriors! The difference and gaps between us are so much more! Our knowledge in Force and Magic is so much more than them."


    "Lord Kyros is probably smarter than both of youbined. I''ve seen this. This isn''t our first life-and-death battle. Lord Kyros canmand an army easily. And he can train them to be strong." Mechiel insisted.


    "Damn it! Lea! Let''s go back! We''ve hunted so many already in the past hours!"


    "Lady Miracles. Please return and leave the rest to us. More of our allies will be emerging, and we will be beginning the hunt to draw all the Brimstone Beast here."<sub> </sub>


    "Fine..." Lea stormed off as she moved.


    "Lord Miracle said that he found a death energy source for you so that you can recover."


    "The ocean?" Lea asked.


    "Yes. He managed to draw a strange energy conversion circle in the sea after several tries. Please hurry."


    Lea''s anger lessened as she hastily moved.


    Listrel and Mechiel followed.


    "Alright, men! Go back and return! Another group will relieve you! Go inside and train! We will continue pressing forward."


    "Yes, Champion Arathen!"


    Arathen smiled.


    "I''m not quite there yet. But let''s hope Lord Miracle will think of something when we get back."


    It took the three another hour to head back. They passed through the numerous battlegrounds they fought. At first, the monsters fought them one at a time.


    Soon, the Brimstone Beast were moving in toons, and Listrel had to call on the elves to assist.


    They would draw the attention and gather the beasts, and as the elves were in position on the nearby hills, they would ambush and kill the beasts.


    And soon, they were attacked by that giant.


    The elves wanted to retreat, but Lea and Listrel challenged the beast to push themselves beyond the limit.


    "That giant was quite strong. It felt like it used the life source of a champion-level monster..." Listrel recalled.


    "Yes. That Champion was even stronger than the Champions we fought in Middle. Brimstone is such a mysterious and powerful element..." Mechiel expressed.


    Lea and Listrel had already asked Mechiel to tell them the story of their previous battles and didn''t believe it at first. It was too ridiculous! How could an army easily form after such a short training period?


    But now, they saw the power of Arathen and the High Bows and how they had recovered Force in such a short time. Their achievements in the life-of-death battle they faced could even be matched in terms of how much percentage was restored to their peak power.


    As such, Listrel and Lea had an envious expression as they moved back to World Wood Tree.


    The three passed through the magic field and time began to elerate.


    Soon, they could see what was happening inside the camp.


    Various men were hauling the acquired Brimstone from the dead Brimstone Beast. But what was shocking was that several of these people had a Hazmat Suit that was made of water!


    "What the?!" Listrel and Lea were shocked.


    Beyond the groups constantly putting these ''coals'' on the energy formation circle was Kyros constantly teaching the archers how to aim.


    But then, there was another Kyros who was instructing more of the men to build strange war machines with the wood from the World Wood Tree.


    Finally, there was a Kyros by the sea, hammering water and shaping it into a suit.


    "Blood Clone? Lord Kyros! You achieved it!" Mechiel recognized the ability of Eredus and spoke to the main body, who was in charge of directing the construction of war machines.


    "You''re back! Looks like you three have gotten stronger!" Kyros smiled.


    "You can create... clones?!" Lea was shocked.


    "Yes. I had to absorb a lot of water energy, though. These clones weaken me. Each time I create a clone, I lose a great deal of energy. Since I needed one clone to use my Water Artificer Job to create more water suits so that more who are not cultivators could help out with the heavy lifting, I can only do three clones." Kyros exined.


    "Too bad he''s not ever going to use this for harem purposes..." Cminus sighed.


    "Shut up." Kyros frowned.


    "Thanks for your help. I needed someone to quickly gather Brimstone, and you guys did an amazing job. You seem to have regained a portion of your power after all." Kyros smiled as he nced at Listrel and Lea.


    "Not as much as if we stayed here and trained with you. Teach us the Codes and Corruption." Lea demanded.


    "Truthfully, there is not much I can teach you to return your power. And doing so would only weaken you. You girls are geniuses, after all. I have to let you guys spread your wings." Kyros chuckled.


    "A Code or Corruption is something impossible for us to learn!"


    "That''s why you have to develop one." Kyros smiled.


    "Develop a Code?" Listrel was confused.


    "Yes. All the allies that were Fated to meet me are either descendants or geniuses that can figure out a Code or Corruption. Didn''t Mechiel tell you the story of my family?"


    "Wait... You mean... They achieved those powers on their own?"


    "Yes. My father, uncle, and Grandfather are descendants of Steel. But how many of Hyperion''s sons and daughters could do True Cut? They awakened it and discovered it. You two, have that power."


    "We have?"


    "Yes. You are my fated allies, aren''t you?"


    "Then that means...!" Listrel realized something.


    "Destiny was rmed when Histerion brought Lea and me in together with you. I wondered why he was threatened. Now I understand. We were beings that he didn''t ount for. Since you and Fate have already won the first round, he knew that Fate wouldn''t have sent us here without any reason! Does that mean that Fate nned for us to escape by awakening our powers?" Listrel asked.


    "Yes." Kyros smiled.


    "You guys have to find out how to awaken that power. Your Codes or Corruption will be necessary for our mission."


    "Mission?"


    "We have a world to save, remember? Saving the nesworld is the bare minimum if we wish to reach the edge of the universe and break out of this Unrecorded Pages."

 Chapter 368 World Where Everything Is Possible

    Two days have passed outside of the three. But inside, ten days have passed.


    Those days were very important for Kyros and his team.


    He had exined that the loss of blessings also meant that they could explore all power.


    Even in Middle, the curses and limitations of the gods and fallen remain. They were outside of time, but they were still inside thews of the gods and fallen to limit the ascension of mortals that would be gods or fallen that could challenge them and bring back the Heretic Wars.


    But in the Unrecorded Pages, all these curses were lost. They were in a world where everything was possible.


    The training went well for everyone, and numerous weapons of war were being created and ced at the top. Preparations to fell the World Wood Tree were also in ce.


    The cursed world where there were no blessings of Codes or Corruption was to Kyros''s advantage. Kyros had lived a life of having so many curses that in this world, those curses failed to exist and were helping Kyros learn faster.


    One of Kyros''s clones was focused on being able to wield water.


    Kyros had numerous abilities in how he could control and even shape the darkness, and Kyros took this knowledge and explored how to harness it during the days when Listrel and the other two first left. By the time they returned, Kyros could already create various suits that had a thickyer of water in them.


    The water hazmat suits were initially so weak as they could only allow a person to be exposed to brimstone for two hours before it would start to hurt them.


    But Kyros was constantly learning. Without the nket curse that affected everyone in the nesword from ever ''discovering'' how to control water. And so, as the days passed, one of Kyros''s clones continued on this path.


    [Water Wielder skill level increased!]


    [Water Wielder Level 6 reached!]


    The notification popped up, but the clone ignored it and constantly taught Mechiel what to do.


    Mechiel''s task had changed. She was the only one who could wield water and was aiding Kyros''s clone to create more and more weapons.


    She could already gather water but now was another impossible task that Kyros was teaching her.


    "Being a Water Artificer really is hard..." Mechiel sighed as she tried to help Kyros. Unfortunately, she could not harden the water or harness it as Kyros could.


    "Water is the closest element to darkness. I am from darkness and already have a skill on how to contain and touch dark energy freely. You can''t even do that! Don''t be too hard on yourself. The path I set for you isn''t artificer now. You have to be a Water Enchanter. If you can enchant or imbue the essence of water, it will be great." Kyros chuckled.


    Mechiel continued to spend the elerated days trying to learn how to enchant weapons. Her main advantage was the Celestial Code, which helped her wield water. And with her presence that could attract or seduce the elements, Kyros was now able to focus while teaching Mechiel how to strengthen her magic power with water. Kyros was hoping to be able to wield magic outside of the Celestial Code and make his own. He knew that if he managed to diverge outside of the path, he could even understand the code of water itself. After all, the Celestial Code was only a Code that gathers water. And Kyros was searching for something beyond that.


    As the two were more and more exposed to how to handle and wield water, they were growing more and more powerful. Mechiel was slowly bing a proper wizard that could


    Down near the sea, Lea continued to absorb the death energy.


    The oceans had changed because of the Brimstone energy trying to break out. The sea itself had subsided by arge percentage, and life in the sea was deteriorating. Most of the nts had disappeared, and theck of food meant the loss of all monsters and beasts. The merfolk races had to leave their homes and aid the elves.


    But while the brimstone energy had created a catastrophic change to the environment, it could not purge the death energy as the heat had not managed to ovee it yet.


    Several strange energy conversion circles were drawn in the water. The strange part was that while it was ''written'' over the water, the circles remained still.


    This circle was drawing in the little death and dark energy of the sea.


    Lea sat underneath the circle and harnessed the energy. She continued to meditate on the words of Kyros and sought to figure out what power she had harnessed within her.


    But as part of her training, it was a dangerous step.


    Lea held out a ck ball. This was the darkness that Kyros created. It was the purest of darkness and was of Kyriachos itself.


    Lea slowly absorbed the darkness and allowed herself to fall into the Dark, Maddening state.


    She sought to explore the real powers of darkness and death.


    As Kyros no longer continued to give instructions on the generation of the weapons of war, his clone was inside the massive energy conversion circle that was powering the Time Core of Cminus.


    Listrel was with another one of Kyros''s clones, and they sat within the energy conversion circle to absorb and study the terrifying power of Brimstone.<sub> </sub>


    Kyros was constantly using his Temr Form as he sat down and meditated.


    Surprisingly, Listrel next to her had already assumed the form of a Force Pdin!


    She managed to recover and assimte with the power that Mezal Steele had developed but was using the power of Brimstone instead of the power of the Holy.


    But soon, Listrel could no longer bear the pain of the Brimstone and moved outside of the conversion circle.


    Kyros''s clone remained and was trying to harness Brimstone.


    "To think that even your Clone can maintain itself in that Brimstone chamber longer than me!" Listrel cursed.


    Near here was the main body of Kyros, who was meditating on the roots of the World Wood Tree.


    The power of Earth was resonating deep within, and Kyros opened his eyes.


    "Please don''t disturb me." The main body of Kyros spoke and closed his eyes once more.


    "What the?! That form! The power of the Dryad!" Listrel was shocked.


    "He''s really making use of his time. I never thought that we would actually be in a world where I could elerate time once more. We can''t do this in the real world, by the way. But here, where Time had actually been discarded, it easier and more efficient to do Time eleration." The voice of Cminus spoke.


    "Lord Cminus!" Listrel bowed.


    "No need to be so formal. Even the others just call me Cminus or Cal. But on the other hand, I think most of them lost the respect for me..."


    "How is Kyros doing this? His clones are all learning!"


    "Yes. I suggested that he do the Naruto training thing. This is the perfect time for him to train in this world of possibilities. And as for his learning, his parents should be rted to the Gods that introduced wisdom in the first ce. No need to feel inferior. He''s even smarter than me!" Cminus chuckled.


    Listrel frowned as he looked at the three clones.


    "Lord Cminus... I have a question. This has been bothering me and is probably the reason why I am so preupied. And Kyros doesn''t want to tell me."


    "You want to know what happened to the ''you'' in this timeline?" Cminus asked.


    "...Yes. How did I die?"


    "Why is this important?"


    "When Fate and Destiny showed up, I realized just how weak I am. Despite my strength, I am but a pawn in this battle between gods that spans time and reality. It feels like my fate and destiny in this abandoned and even the one in the current one where Beginning and End fights are inescapable..."


    "You are strong." It was Kyros who suddenly spoke. His clone that was absorbing the Brimstone had stepped out to recover.


    "I don''t think you need to know the answer to that question."


    "You won''t tell me what killed me?" Listrel frowned.


    "No. But I will tell you what will keep you alive. Listrel. You are very strong. The gods are stronger, and yes, Fate and Destiny have been toying around with your life. But, with your current power, you still can''t escape their will."


    "How will that encouragement keep me alive? And besides, you said that these gods toy with me! Why would that be strong?" Listrel cursed.


    Kyros smiled.


    "Because you now know how to be weak. The first time I was brought into this world and fought against Fate and Destiny, I walked right in the palm of their hands. In most cases, Fate saved me with her plots. But after a while, I learned and adapted. I found out I was weak. And that''s how I have this strength. Let me tell you something, Listrel... Fate doesn''t think I can ovee this. She is gambling it up. She doesn''t know if we can seed in this crazy n. So you better hurry up and learn from your weakness. That''s what it means to challenge Fate." Kyros chuckled and moved back in.


    Listrel was silent at first, but then she smiled. The simple words of Kyros got to her and her worries dissipated.


    "You better tell Lea about this," Listrel spoke as she stepped into the energy conversion circle to bear the power of Brimstone.


    "I don''t need to. I already made a fool out of her. For someone like her, that''s enough." Kyros chuckled.

 Chapter 369 World Of Hurt

    Deep in the barren wastnd, where the armies of the Brimstone beasts emerged, was a tall man with the appearance that looked like a young Histerion.


    His heart was a red core that continued to ripple out a strange heat. He stood and led an army of Brimstone Beast of all forms.


    These past four days were full of attacks and ambushes that slew numerous patrols in his armies.


    The elves had suddenly acquired a means to fight back, and the general of the Brimstone Army decided to move back.


    "It seems the Nephilim is quite capable." The man that looked like Histerion smiled.


    "A pity that my manifestation can only do so much. It seems my Brimstone Clones will have a lot of fun for a while."


    The army he led was prepared to kill the creatures far to the East. However, the defenses of the Minds were strong, and it took several Brimstone Generals to prepare.


    But the arrival of the Nephilim dyed the war. Histerion''s power took over and began to take control over the Brimstone General, which now took his form.


    A massive army prepared to wage war on the tall trees. A few thousand winged beasts flew to the skies.


    A mighty army numbering hundreds of thousands of Brimstone beasts marched towards the massive tree. The entirend before the World Wood Tree looked like a tide of moving Brimstone!


    Siege Cultivators as strong as Champions also moved, and numerous beasts with Commander-level strength caused the ground to quake.


    Giants that were even taller than the creatures that Listrel and Lea faced marched on the ground.


    It was a massive force that faced nearly thirty thousand elves, many of which couldn''t even fight!


    Kyros nced at the approaching army. The Time eleration had stopped, and many of the elves were already positioned at the very top of the tree.


    The return of their Force meant that they could take advantage of their height to shoot down urately.


    Even the Brimstone Beast that could fly could not reach the great heights with their Brimstoneposition.


    "This is it..." Lea watched from the great heights as the forces marched near.


    "Can we do this?" Aubrey saw the forces they would face and could not help but worry.


    "Hmmm... Things just got a little moreplicated." Kyros frowned as he could see the figure of a man in the distance.


    The man flew up and shouted with all his might.


    "Nephilim Kyros! It seems you have done well in this world!" The loud shout of Histerion could be heard.


    Many heard it but could not understand thenguage.


    "He is speaking in thenguage of the gods!" Aubrey was shocked.


    "Calm down, Vegeta. Well, yeah. First Word. The firstnguage. So you''re not wrong in saying that." Kyros nodded.


    "What is he saying?" Listrel asked.


    "Oh, you know. World domination, wanting to kill us. Give me a sec. I think I can chat with him."


    Kyros used his Force energy and used one of the horns of the elves that could create a booming sound.


    "God Histerion. It''s a pleasure to see you here. I can''t believe that you would be my enemy! I suppose there is no other way to talk myself out of this?" Kyros answered back in First Word.


    "Apologies, Nephilim. This is the world doomed to burn. You were sent in here. So we will naturally fight."


    "So I have to face you, Histerion? Wouldn''t that be unfair? You are already burning this scroll, and now you must appear like this, and I have to fight you?"


    "I wouldn''t say that you are facing ''me'' as in the god of history, my dear boy. This entire world is doomed to brimstone. I am not the same being that you saw. I do have incarnations here, but I''m not a god. I do not have the power of Fate and Destiny. This world is doomed to be purged, and I am merely the will that wants it done. So, such powers such as Fate or Destiny to manipte events to your advantage or disadvantage do not exist here. I''ll be a mere cultivator, just like you. I only carry the will to purge, and that''s it! I couldn''t evenpare to a Cardinal in terms of strength."


    "Just like me, huh? Liar. You are talking of a Cardinal on your standards. Which is what? Like a Crown going by the standards of the Minds?"


    "I''ve seen you already surpassing the Cardinal standards of the Londs. So why not?" Histerion chuckled.


    "Are you also manipting the wars all over this nesworld?"


    "No. I was just summoned here as I sensed your threat. Brimstone Beast Generals indeed control the other ces, but they are mindless beasts that only take the war instincts of whoever they were before."<sub> </sub>


    "Oh? So I threaten the bnce of your purging?"


    "Yes. I can feel it. You hold numerous Codes. You could even stop the purging within the neworld."


    "Why are you telling me all this? Such information is critical. Don''t you wish to kill me?"


    "Oh, no. I''m neutral in this battle of Beginning and End. I record history even if it means that history will end. As for this battle, I have to stop you from preserving the nesworld. I am a manifestation of the desire to burn this entire world, and that''s it. But if you defeat me and manage to do so, I won''t actively try to kill you and send more incarnations from across the gxies. They have their ces and will only go here when finished."


    "Ah. That''s good to know. In short, I''ll face these incarnations of you, but if I win, I''d have more peace." Kyros smiled.


    "Correct. And killing an incarnation of my will drains a bit of my power. So unless you stay here for so long, you could live a rather peaceful life."


    "Good to know."


    "Well, Nephilim. Let''s start this fun battle."


    "Sure!" Kyros smiled back as the Brimstone Beasts began to roar as they prepared to charge.


    Their roar rose to the heavens, and it quaked fear into the hearts of the elves.


    Histerion transformed into a Brimstone Beast and moved back to takemand of the horde.


    "What did you two talk about?" Listrel asked.


    "I''ll exinter. But basically, we won''t be fighting the God, Histerion but a weak incarnation of it. So that''s the good news."


    "Fighting an incarnation of a god that is stronger than the gods and fallen that Lea and I worship is good news?" Listrel frowned.


    "Yes. It''s less frightening than it sounds. But we have an army numbering a few hundred thousand. This will be quite a battle. Anyway, I need to bolster our morale."


    "Good luck with that. The roars of the hundred thousands of Brimstone beasts are turning our men into cowards!"


    "We''ll see about that. I still have, Motivational Speaker job! And I have the perfect speech!" Kyros smiled.


    "Please be the speech at the ck Gate! Please be the speech at the ck Gate!" Cminus hoped as he recalled the scene from his favorite Trilogy movie that is the one trilogy to rule them all.


    "Sons of the nesworld! Son of the World Wood Tree! My brothers and sisters! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me!" Kyros dered.


    "Errrmagaaahhhddd!" The Time Core of Cminus quivered with excitement as he recognized the altered form of the speech.


    "A day maye when the courage of elves fails, when we shall burn and be purged by the ming hells of these Brimstone Beast and all memory of life fade, but it is not this day!"


    "He said the words!" Cminus cheered.


    "An hour of sulfur and burned bows when the age of elveses crashing down, but it is not this day!"


    The hopes of the elves listening were slowly rising up.


    "This day, we fight! By all that you hold dear good on this world, I bid you stand, Elves of the West!"


    The power of Motivational Speaker erupted, and the elves'' courage returned as they roared.


    "Oh my god! We are in the west! We are in the west part of the nesworld! That was so amazing!" Cminus cried.


    "Aren''t you a god? Why are you saying, ''oh my god?''" Lea asked.


    The elves cried out with courage as they pulled their bows to full circle and waited for the orders.


    The hundreds of thousands of Brimstone beasts began their charge.


    "These beasts fancy themselves as devils and kings of the fiery furnace that has doomed this world! But Elves of the West! Let''s show them a world of hurt!" Kyros ordered.


    The archers at the top of the tree began to release their arrows and it rained down on the Brimstone Beasts below.


    The arrows flew, and each arrow had a unique weighted point, as well as an aerodynamic design that allowed it to fly smoothly and had a design that allowed it to cross a great distance and not veer off greatly from the target.


    Histerion was stunned as he saw the arrows fly through the sky and cross the great distance.

 Chapter 370 World That Fuels The Fire

    The arrows fired from the great heights of the World Wood Tree shouldn''t be able to reach the position of the Brimstone beasts. Even during the previous attacks, the Brimstone Beast had already known the furthest distance to which the elves could shoot their bows.


    But now, the archers have taken a much higher position! That position would cause the arrows to fly randomly and be tossed by the wind. It was impossible to take a clear shot even with Force Energy.


    And yet, these arrows crossed the distance and fell with such power as if the wind did not resist it!


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrowsnded with tremendous force that it wounded the Brimstone Beast, and even some had died from being attacked by so many arrows.


    The arrows managed to travel a long distance that they fell on the areas where not even the Siege Cultivators could set up their attacks!


    Several Siege Cultivators were struck and killed even before they reached the position to be in range to attack the tree.


    The elves at the top cheered as they saw their arrows fly a distance so great. At the top of the tree, their arrows had incredible range!


    Kyros smiled as he saw the gloriously beautiful seen.


    "Science!" Kyros bragged to the amazed members near him.


    "The arrows had such power!" Aubrey was amazed. They never had the chance to try these weighted arrows on the Brimstone Beast.


    Kyros only chuckled. He invented the arrows to have a design that allowed them to fly the distance, but as it drew near and would be affected by the Brimstone power and the increasing gravity that it brought, these arrows would fall quickly.


    "It''s not 9.8 meters per second squared since the nesworld has 10.3. But because of the Brimstone beast, gravity has increased all the more. So those weighted arrows should be like sharp rocks falling, and from the height, we shot them, each arrow would pack quite a punch!" Kyros smiled.


    "No reader cares for the math, Kyros. No need to go over the height of the World Wood Tree and sine and cosine. Not everyone is interested in geometry."


    "I was talking physics! If you must mock me, do it right!" Kyrosined.


    Back down, Histerion''s figure appeared once more.


    "Oh? Tremendous knowledge. Cminus''s other incarnations helped them create innovative inventions and designed the arrow with unique traits, and Kyros''s intelligence did the rest. To think they could create such powerful arrows that can be shot at such heights and stillnd to its intended target area..."


    "It seems I''ll have to take this a bit more seriously." Histerion raised his arms and ordered the Brimstone Beast to spread out.


    The Brimstone Beasts abandoned the tightly formed ranks and arranged themselves in a much wider form to cover and spread his army to the far sides that they were almost at sea.


    The elves could somehow see the army change their formation.


    "They are spreading out!"


    "Keep firing. Divide the toon to target specific areas. Have someone dictate which side of the field has an advanced the furthest it keeps them moving. We still have the advantage of distance." Kyros ordered.


    Aubrey gave the orders out and the team followed.


    Some of the elves with little cultivation and strength became the eyes that scoped out the entire area. Elves had naturally amazing eye-sights. But with the crystal scopes, they could see the battleground below.


    And while the attack range was wider, the Brimstone Beast was still so far that even their Siege Cultivators could not attack!


    The archest continued to send out more of its attack, and the constant barrage was killing the Brimstone Beast.


    The flying Brimstone Beasts did not attack but continued to wait.


    Histerion continued to send more and more of his forces without worry.


    "It''s working!" Aubrey cheered.


    "Let''s not get too hopeful. This will be warfare you have never seen before. Look. All the Brimstone Beasts are gathering and dying in the same location." Kyros answered.


    Everyone observed the changes.


    "What does this mean?" Listrel asked.


    "Kyros... I sense that the Brimstone Energy is... gathering!" Mechiel felt the powers of Fire and Earth gathering on several points.


    "You got it. Brimstone purges. And the purging won''t stop until nothing in creation remains. Everything, even the neutral earth element, are things that it can purge. We are in a world that fuels the fire of the brimstone. And right now, we see how it can be used."


    "Fuels the fire? You mean the dead are creating more Brimstone Beast?!" Listrel asked.


    "It means we are facing an enemy that can recover or recycle a huge portion of the lost powers. The earth itself is our enemy."


    Suddenly, the fallen Brimstone Beasts that were clumped up together in death started to move.<sub> </sub>


    A strange fire and magma burned, and arger beast stood up. It was nearly three times the size of the other Brimstone Beasts, and it gave a powerful roar.


    "Attack! Focus your attacks on those reforming beasts!" Aubrey ordered.


    The archers took aim and shot at the location of the rising beasts. It walked on four legs, and it had a strange bulky back. It took the shape of various monsters and creatures from wolves, behemoths, and evenrge insect-like creatures.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows were loosed, and the rain of arrows fell.


    But as the arrows struck it, the damage wasn''t that great as the arrows no longer prated through the tough exterior.


    None of the beasts fell from the archer''s attacks.


    One of the massive beasts that were formed had arger mouth. The ce where this beast rose was the same spot where a Siege Cultivator used to stand.


    "Ah... Quite creative. It reformed to have harder defenses that could withstand our attacks. The core of the beast is now ced on its belly. We can''t hit it from our direction." Kyros smiled as he observed it.


    "What do we do, Lord Miracle?"


    "We wilt that hard rock down. Shoot one round of water arrows with twenty men. Its size is big. Just make sure to hit it." Kyros ordered, and Aubrey passed on the order.


    With Mechiel''s assistance, Kyros was able to add water elements to the arrows. It was the process of enchantment. Mechiel managed to take over and became the primary enchanter who spent most of her time harnessing the power to control water and officially received the job [Enchanter]. Even without the power of the Celestial Code, Mechiel gained the skill of [Water Wielder] and kept on improving it through Kyros''s training.


    The army had another set of arrows that they created enchanted with water.


    Members of the High Bows aimed and gathered Force Energy to cover their bows.


    The High Bows were the best in the entire elven army. Before the Codes and Corruption disappearance, the High Bows had the job ss known as Master Bowman. This was a ss that could be acquired once the archer achieved mastery of the other disciplines. A True Aim Archer focuses on aim. A Force Bow Archer is an archery Job that emphasizes offense. And a Quick bow archer emphasizes speed and arrow control to make their attacks curve and move at unpredictable angles.


    And High Bows mastered these three job sses, and the higher the mastery, the better the level of their Master Bowman ss. These people were the very first to learn and manage to revive their control over Force. Each was geniuses of their own right.


    The group aimed and shot almost together, which showed their equal skill.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows flew, and they moved with great uracy andnded at the back of the beast, with each arrow having equal gaps between the other.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Each arrow was designed to explode like a water spell of a mage.


    "ROAR!"


    The Brimstone beast roared in pain as the attacks managed to prate and create holes in it!


    The arrows exploded with great force, and the power of water doused the burning back of the beast.


    "Shoot at it with normal arrows! The back isn''t so strong now!" Kyros ordered, and the archers turned their sights on the massive beasts.


    More of the arrows struck, and this time, the arrows began to leave visible damage as chunks of the rocks began to fall off from the force-empowered arrows.


    Soon, the entire armored shell fell off and revealed the main body.


    After another round of attacks, the giant beast finally died and fell to the ground.


    "Keep those attacks up! We have to keep wilting them down! Our goal is to force Histerion tounch an all-out attack. And then we can initiate Timber Protocol." Kyros ordered.


    And so, with Kyros leading the group and the usage of water enchanted arrows, the archers were still able to eliminate the bulky beasts that emerged.


    Histerion watched in surprise.


    "Impressive. To think, in such a short time, the Nephilim have managed to amass numerous such weapons. I guess I have to send them."


    Suddenly, severalrge Brimstone Beast began to merge far away from the range the arrows could reach.


    Kyros watched curiously and sighed.


    "Oh, great. Dragons. He''s creating dragons!" Kyros sighed.

 Chapter 371 Fire With Wood

    Dragons were among the strongest beings that ever existed. Even in the secret history of the gods and the fallen, Kyros knew that the Dragons were involved in the Heretic Wars as this strong beast was able to cross the gaps and threaten gods and fallen.


    The formation of a Brimstone Beast to have dragonic form meant that the Brimstone energy had devoured an actual dragon.


    "That''s a Drake... Great. It can fly and have powerful breath attacks."


    "Oh... Is that a Wyrm? It''ll be tough to prate through the thick defenses of those!" Lea saw another form.


    "Let''s hope that since it''s made of Brimstone, it''s weaker than a real dragon scale." Listrel frowned.


    "Rx. They are Brimstone beasts. Whatever hardness or strength the scale of the dragon was, it was purged and devoured and turned into Brimstone. So it will be weaker than the real thing. But it''s still a tough thing to kill." Kyros sighed.


    More dragons were formed. Soon, eight dragons that were Drake, Wyrms, and long, serpentine dragons, were formed from the Brimstone.


    The attacks of the archers kept on hitting the various Brimstone Beast that was charging. The cycle continued that even though many of the giant Brimstone Beasts with great defenses fell, more would rise at the back, and the archers could tell that another Brimstone beast may soon rise from the fallen giants that had just been in.


    "What do we do? It looks like it''s never-ending!"


    "No. Each beast we kill eats up a lot of Brimstone energy. I would say that only about half of the original energy is retained. The best way to think about this battle is to imagine more than two times the enemy. But brace yourself. Those dragons seem to be on the move now." Kyros watched the dragons move closer to the tree.


    Suddenly, the dragons opened their mouths to prepare for a breath attack.


    "A breath attack at that distance?" Kyros frowned. They were still so far away, and given the nature of brimstone power, such attacks could only travel a short distance.


    "ROAR!"


    The dragons delivered a terrifying roar, and a powerful eruption ofva shot out of the mouths of each beast and created a wave ofva that flew over the skies and shielded the numerous giant brimstone beasts from the falling arrows.


    The timing was precise, and the volcanic spew blocked the iing arrows andnded on the ground beyond the giant beasts.


    Theva flowed at the ground, and the giant beast could move faster as the rain of arrows had ceased.


    Another round of arrows was fired, but the dragons shot yet another round ofva and shielded the brimstone beasts again.


    The army of Brimstone moved faster, and as they approached the pool ofva, theva began to move inside the brimstone beasts and was strengthening and erging them!


    "How is this possible?!" Aubrey shouted as they saw the giant beast bing even bigger.


    "The dragons are using the lives of others. This is a way to transfer energy. Looks like I was wrong. What we should think is that we are not fighting an army. But imagine arge energy pool. Those dragons are formed from the Brimstone Energy that made up the beasts, and it was all transformed into thatva st. Our arrows still managed to deplete some of their energy, but by using the pure energy ofva, it is now able to shield and strengthen the beasts."


    "Then what do we do?" Aubrey asked.


    "Rx. We still have our ground team, remember? It''s time for those ballistae to get into action." Kyros smiled and held on to a vine used as amunication channel within the tree.


    "Logon. It''s time to bring those babies to work!" Kyros ordered.


    Logon was situated at the bottom and heard themands of Kyros.


    "Yes, Lord Miracle! Bring out the babies- I mean, Ballistas!"


    Several massive ballistae were brought to the front.


    The strange contraption was another of Kyros''s own designs. This was the freedom he didn''t have in the previous wars. Then, there were too few resources to create such weapons of warfare. But now, the elves were excellent wood artisans and carpenters, and some managed to even retrieve their nt powers with the guidance of Kyros, who immersed himself into the tree itself.


    The Elven Druids channeled their power into the ballista.


    Numerous archers poured out force energy into therge wooden pikes loaded into them.


    The Master bowmen used their ballistae and locked on the gigantic marching creatures that had reached deep into the shadows of the World Wood Tree.


    TWANG! TWANG!


    The loud sounds of the massive arrows beingunched echoed out. The design on the arrow, and with the assistance of the Quick Bow archers, aided these arrows to have a spinning motion, and it flew and drilled through the giant Brimstone Beast, piercing them with ease.


    The arrows continued to have terrifying force as they continued onward, piercing and killing numerous more beasts.


    Histerion was surprised at the sudden attacks that broke down the numerous giants that were close by.


    Logon was amazed at the power of the arrow that managed to pierce through and kill the giants. He and his men started to grow confident. In their battles against the Brimstone Beast, they had always been losing. Now, they had the ability to attack and kill the hordes even while they were a distance away. And now, those arrows they just sent out killed the strongest Brimstone Beasts with just one arrow!


    Those giants would have been the strongest forms of Champion-level beasts! And yet a single arrow slew them!<sub> </sub>


    "Brimstone Beasts! Do you dare to purge the woods of the elves?! The Woods will fight back! Men! You have heard it was said that we could fight fire with fire! But now, we shall fight fire with wood! This is how strong the Woods are! So let''s honor our home by killing as much as possible!" Logon ordered.


    "Raise the ballistae aim! We aim for the dragons!" Logon dered.


    The elves aimed and raised direction where the ballistae aimed. The arrows were aimed straight at the beast when they attacked the beast. But now, the arrow was pointed towards the sky above.


    Archers had the experience of always shooting at a higher angle to make their arrows strike a moving object. So using the ballista was a satisfying feeling for these archers as if they had a wonderful toy to y with.


    "Fire!" Logon ordered just as he saw the dragons shoot out another wave of fire in the air to block an iing tide of arrows.


    TWANG! TWANG!


    The ballistae roared, and the arrows flew to the sky and began to plummet down.


    The dragons were out of breath and quickly shot out whateverva they could spew to attack the falling wood.


    But the wood endured the burning mes.


    STAB!


    The arrows stabbed at the brimstone core heart of the dragons, and the form of the brimstone dragon began to break.


    "Marvelous weapons. This wood is indeed admirable." Histerion smiled as he observed his numerous dragonic beast die.


    "So even with this, it won''t be easy? I guess it''s time to ramp up my offenses. I guess I have to ept that the Nephilim can kill many of my forces despite having such weak allies..." Histerion smiled, and his invisible power began to ripple out.


    At the top, Aubrey cheered at the deaths of the dragons.


    "They were killed! Amazing! We can wipe them all out! We might not even need to cut down the tree!" Aubrey cheered.


    Kyros shook his head.


    "Cminus, say the words which was the turning point in the tale of the Two Towers."


    "My pleasure!" Cminusughed.


    "Is this it? Is this all you can conjure, Histerion?" Cminus imitated Theoden.


    p ROAR!</anda>


    As if those words triggered the sudden change, various roars echoed throughout the region.


    Suddenly, the Brimstone Beast began to morph into different creatures.


    The slow-moving giants had smaller forms but quicker speed. But unlike before, where it required many others to die to begin the change, this happened instantaneously.


    "Oh... This is new." Kyros watched.


    Suddenly, the speed of all Brimstone beasts changed. Suddenly, there were flying creatures at the center of the battlefield, and they were able to evade the raining arrows.


    Even the ballistae attacks began to miss.


    "What''s happening?!" Aubrey was stunned.


    Kyros closed his eyes to sense the area.


    "I understand now. Brimstone purges everything. But it also locks up the souls. They are literally hell. And right now, the dominant souls that made up the Brimstone are shifting. It eats a lot of energy, but in this scenario, going with this strategy is better for Histerion."


    "Then... we can''t predict what they will be?"


    "Yes. Flying, underground, everything... oh look! Some have indeed moved underground! I was wondering when they would bring this out." Kyros pointed to a certain location.


    "Lord Miracle, what now?!" Aubrey asked. They had already shown their aces and had no more to counter this change.


    "What now? We fight. Did you really think it would be easy? I could help you all fight fire with wood, but the real battle starts now. Each step we take is a step to survival. Honestly, I sort of knew this would happen. Brimstone Beasts don''t have a permanent form since the start. So whenever Histerion or a Brimstone General is around, this could happen. Instant transformation by the shuffling of souls."


    "So we''re finally taking action?" Listrel asked.


    "Yes. Time for us to get to the front line." Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 372 Fire To Darkness

    The elves'' arrows were now missing as the shape-shifting brimstone beast took on the thin and fast beast that could move and leap.


    Aubrey ordered the team to fire at will as the organized release of arrows to certain locations was no longer effective.


    The elves no longer aimed at an enemy but focused the attacks right where the beasts were but were shooting to create a curtain of arrows constantly raining on a certain location to stop more of the Brimstone Beast from entering.


    But the Brimstone Beasts used numerous tactics to counter this. A dragon had spewed fire once more and more managed to slip through.


    The archers that were based on the base of the tree and guarded the hallow trunks began to shoot and attack. The enemies were now within range of the attacks.


    Logon gave orders as he aimed the arrows toward the growing beasts and the approaching siege cultivators.


    But then, the dragons at the back shot the flow of brimstone, which suddenly hardened and created a wall of moltenva. These walls blocked the way towards where the several siege cultivators were forming.


    Massive beasts withrge cannons on their backs began to form over the in Siege Beasts.


    "ROAR!"


    The beast roared, and a massive boom erupted, which sent a big ball of Brimstone to fly into the World Wood Tree.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The fortifications made near where Logon and his men stood were nearly attacked.


    "Lord Logon..."


    If it were before, the archers of the elves would have already been attacked. But Kyros made the team move to the furthest possible edge inside the trunk.


    Logon saw the attacks but didn''t panic.


    "Lord Miracle should be moving soon."


    Back at the top, Kyros, Mechiel, Lea, and Listrel prepared for their attacks. Massive stones were being rolled out from the inside of the tree and prepared to be dropped down.


    Kyros hopped on one of the stones.


    "This is insane..." Listrel shook her head as she hopped on another rock.


    "I knew they would use their Brimstone powers to create barricades. And this is why we brought these massive boulders up. It''s also imbued with water energy to help us quench the burningnd." Kyros smiled.


    The rocks wereid on a strange wooden contraption with a bow-like feature. The stone rolled over, and arge rubber band made from the gum of the World Wood Tree was used. It was pulled back, and the rubber extended far back. The wooden tform where the contraption was built began to tilt downwards as the rock was held back.


    "Hold on tight, guys... The G-Force will be quite strong that even your cultivation levels will still cause you to be affected. Mechiel, our training in harnessing the Celestial Code and how the elements whirl around our bodies should give us enough resistance to keep ourselves awake from this."


    "What''s G-Force?"


    "It''s either something about gravity or something about guinea pigs. I''m not sure. My connection with Cminus is fuzzy here."


    "Guinea pigs?" Listrel and Lea were confused.


    Mechiel only chuckled and prepared to getunched.


    Everyone began to position themselves at the back of the rock, where a smallpartment was present for them to be able to ride the boulder. There was a small energy formation circle drawn on where they stood.


    "Time to rock their world! Let''s go!"


    TWANG! TWANG! TWANG!


    Several massive stones were shot down, and it quickly gathered massive speed. The rocks were imbued with Force Energy and zipped through the ground with intense speed.


    Right before it hit the ground, the energy formation circles created an additional burst of water that ejected the four who were holding on to the rock and greatly weakened the force of their fall.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The massive boulders crashed on the areas where a huge pile of Brimstone was. This brimstone pile was made of the many lives that had died, and the brimstone energy was slowly forming into arge creature that could push through.


    But the arrival of the massive boulders created an explosion, and a terrifying shock wave rippled out and destroyed the forming creatures.


    The walls erected by the dragons that were creating were also demolished, and the entire ce caved in as a massive crater was formed.


    "Fire!" Logon ordered.


    TWANG! TWANG!


    Another round of arrows was released, and it flew with great power and stabbed through the Siege Cultivators and the Dragons at the back.


    Kyros was flying over the skies, and the shadow familiars shot out of his dark armor. Each familiar had the figures of Kyros. And out of his sword, numerous paper-thin beings emerged. These were shadow ghouls of Kyros.


    All of these rushed and attacked one of the giant brimstone beasts recovering from the impact. Kyros knew the speed of this beast would be fast enough to counter, so he sent his familiars to attack it.<sub> </sub>


    The shadow familiars clung to the beast and tried to bind them and allowed themselves to be burned to pin down the beast.


    Kyros''s wings expanded out, and he charged down and stabbed the sword into a Brimstone beast''s core.


    The souls of the shadow ghouls and familiar were shrieking as they were being killed.


    But Kyros smiled. Because as he stabbed the sword, he could sense a massive amount of souls being freed from the purging brimstone.


    "[Phos Eis Skotos]!" Kyros used his powers and activated the reverse. Mysterion was the power to uncover. But in order to do that, Kyros knew his lineage from his father, who may as well be the lord of all lies, would have to power to cover. And in that power, he reversed the use of his power. Instead of turning darkness into light, Kyros turned light into darkness.


    The power of light that was purging and capturing the numerous souls as beings of hell weakened the souls became free.


    Kyros activated the power of Charm and drew the fleeing souls towards his sword and his cloak.


    The souls transformed into more shadow apparitions turning into dark flying souls that hovered over the sky.


    Kyros then made these beasts charge out wildly. However, unlike the Shadow Familiars and the Shadow Ghoul Familiars, he did not control these beings.


    But the angry souls of being attacked and purged charged wildly and attacked more Brimstone beasts.


    Each floating soul shed with its arms that transformed into sickles and des.


    Kyros kept summoning more and more as he began to drain out the Brimstone.


    "He creating Wraiths! And they are all at captain levels!" Listrel was shocked as shended on the side.


    Five wraiths emerged and attacked the Brimstone beast nearest to them.


    Ten more appeared. And soon, over forty wraiths erupted out and drained the massive Brimstone Beast before him.


    No brimstone remained as the power was dispersed.


    "He''s even more of a demon than me." Lea chuckled as she also arrived.


    Kyros''s form was pitch ck, and he held on to the sword and shield that he brought with him.


    "I should have brought Heralcus''s shield. Ugh..." Kyros sighed as he assumed the form of a knight that wielded darkness.


    Mechiel alsonded and was amazed at the reverse spell that Kyros created.


    "Amazing. He''s drawing out the light and turning the souls back to darkness!" The Blood Cmity watched in shock.


    A tall brimstone beast managed to break through and evade the arrows and killed any wraiths that dared cross his path.


    His brimstone form became more refined, and soon, the gentlemanly appearance of Histerion appeared. But instead of the schr form that he once had, this Histerion wore armor of brimstone.


    "Brimstone knight..." Kyros identified the form in which Histerion assumed.


    "I guess I have to kill you if I want this attack to seed. Come at me, all of you!" Histerion smiled as he drew out a sword of brimstone.


    "No need. Everyone, focus on defending and holding the line. He''s a Knight of Brimstone, and I am a knight of darkness. I''ll handle him." Kyros smiled as he harnessed the form of Darkness.


    "Oh? Quite a miracle I see here. It''s the first time I''ve seen reverse Knight Temr!" Histerionughed.


    "A Dark Temr." Kyros smiled as the darkness began to cover him.


    "Oh? You can even do True Cloak! You clearly are a being that breaks the norm, Nephilim. Your darkness can perfectly hide you!"


    Kyros''s body was slowly turning invisible.


    "Funny you should say that. Dark Temrs in Cmainus''s strange memories often say, ''Adun hide you.'' Or, to be more precise..."


    Kyros''s form finally disappeared.


    Histerion raised his sword and created a brimstone shield.


    SLASH!


    BOOM!


    Kyros shed out his sword, and Histerion felt the Force energy and blocked the attack.


    The sh of Brimstone and Darkness created a tremendous boom, but Histerion was actually pushed back!


    "Adun Toridas!" Kyros''s form appeared for a split second before he charged forward and disappeared again.

 Chapter 373 Fire To Reflect Light

    Kyros was using the power of the darkness to conceal himself. It was a power that exceeded being cloaked but had some form of transparency.


    With his speed and the power of Time assisting him, Kyros was able to move at a speed that was on par with Commanders that have Cardinal potential.


    The Brimstone Knight form of Histerion began to fight and sh as his des met the attack of Kyros.


    Around Kyros''s sword and shield was a thickyer of darkness.


    But at each strike of the two, the darkness would tremble and be purged, and theyers of darkness were quickly being drawn out.


    Kyros kept on fighting with Histerion and was pushing Histerion further away.


    The two battled, and Histerion was so pleased with the exciting fight that the Brimstone beasts didn''t interfere with their battle.


    Just beyond the ce where Kyros and Histerion fought, Listrel positioned herself in the very center of the battlefield. This was the ce where the most brimstone beast charged through.


    Mechiel and Lea had positioned themselves further to the sides, taking their stance near the oceans.


    Listrel saw the approaching army and a giant brimstone beast that approached.


    p "Time to test it out." She chuckled.</anda>


    Listrel began to harness her power to create a massive Force of energy that covered her and was imbued all over her body. During her time training, she tried numerous attempts to resist the massive Brimstone.


    As a human being, she was generally weaker than the other enemy races, especially the Grendelor race, who boasted superior defense and had no need for armor for their powers naturally emerged out of their skin. Listrel alone would likely die against Lea. And she had to bridge the gap with the use of magic, weapons and armor, and her knowledge of Force.


    But stripped of all the blessings, Listrel didn''t have time to train in creating defensive magic. In the days inside the elerated field, she began to plot out how she could fight against an army. She knew that in the battles that she would face, using her armor and weapon would consonantly damage it, so she could only focus on Force.


    Her main advantage was that while the world had no light source, the Brimstone energy acted as a fuel. Her body was trained to naturally have the power to absorb light and grow in it. In her training, restoring that power was the step she needed.


    Once she was able to slowly gather energy from the heat and light of the Brimstone, she began to create a unique Force technique.


    She was already a genius, and with Kyros''s guidance, she managed to do something that even surpassed Kyros''s way of handling Force.


    She was able topress the Force to the point that she managed to create a thin de that contained fiveyers of force energy. Theyers of Force became something visible that it was as if ayer of ss covered her.


    The ss was thin and small at first, but soon, Listrel could create an entire armor of ss, and even her sword had a thinyer of ss around it.


    Listrel roared as she charged forward and challenged a giant Brimstone beast even bigger than the ones she and her team fought.


    The Brimstone Beast suddenly opened its mouth and shot out moltenva towards Listrel.


    Listrel didn''t retreat but raised her shield and took on theva attack.


    The ss Armor on the shield changed form and became arge pyramid-shaped shield, and the molten attack struck the tip of the ss pyramid.


    Theva slid off to the side, and the strange Force Energy that Listrel created in the form of ss was able to throw off over fifty percent of the heat and reflect it away.


    With such an increase in her resistance to heat, she did something she couldn''t do before when she fought a Brimstone Giant beast like this one. Listrel charged forward and used the tip of the pyramid to strike the core of the Giant Brimstone beast.


    "ROAR!" The Brimstone beast roared in pain and stumbled as Listrel''s Force armor allowed her to pierce through the core and burst out at the back. The Brimstone Beast fell as the Brimstone energy on its core began to leak out.<sub> </sub>


    Listrel smiled as he stood and watched the numerous Brimstone beast charging at her.


    "My Force Armor can resist up to Champion level Brimstone Beast, huh?" Listrel took note of her might and made several slices, and cut away the remaining portion of the Core.


    She then pped it and sent the remains of the Core towards where Kyros was.


    She then took her sword and faced the horde of fast Brimstone Beast approaching.


    "[Mirror Wall]!" She shouted as her Force Energy erupted and created a mirror wall behind her.


    The Mirror wall''s angle was set so that the reflection of all the iing beasts was pointed at her. The reflection of the heat and light from the iing Brimstone energy became light that fueled her.


    As a Light Dependent creature, she was someone who could gain more and more energy through the light.


    "[Divine Provision]!" She chanted as she activated the skill that she had learned and used for so long.


    The power of Light was creating a source of energy for her.


    "Never fight a demon in hell or a Holy Knight beneath the sun..." She quoted a famous saying in the nesworld as she could feel the surging of her power. Unfortunately, the energy she needed to create the Mirror armor and the mirror wall was beingpensated by her enemies.


    This was her answer to resolve all of her weaknesses. She created a new kind of Force Energy as she was inspired by the power of Kyros''s Force Pdin style.


    "I am Light Dependent. Unfortunately, I can''t take in Brimstone, but I can take in the reflection of the fire you make!." She smiled as a strange white mist began to appear over her and was bing simr to the form of the Temr that Kyros showed her.


    "[Mirror Maze]!" Listrel shouted again, and several small walls of the mirror began to appear. The sudden appearances of mirrors created a confusing terrain, and the rushing Brimstone Beast began to ram on these walls or each other, destroying their formation.


    Small walls of mirrors would suddenly appear, and the speeding creatures thumbed and fell on them.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    A wave of arrowsnded and killed the beasts, but unlike before, where the next volley would take several seconds, the next wave of arrows happened in less than a second.


    "Fire at will, High Bows!" Arathen, the leader of the High Bows, was hovering just above the ground and was suddenly pulled back up.


    A hundred-men squad of the Elite High Bows had rubber cords tied over them, and they were using them as bungee cords to spring them back up.


    The archers released and would shoot enemies, and right before they would reach the ground, the bungee cord would spring them back up to safety.


    This allowed Listrel and the rest to have close-ranged archers that could shoot and make quick attacks and maintain a safe distance.


    All that Listrel had to do was keep the squads safe and charged forward to fight and kept on erecting mirror walls to slow the charge of all enemies. With her ability, she was able to slow down the enemies and fight for a long time to hold back the army.


    "Keep assisting Lady Listrel!" Arathen shouted as he watched the battle at the sides.


    Mechiel was floating over the battlefield, and her form was made of part blood and part water, and her size looked double it.


    As a vampire, she had the power to create a Blood Sword. But Mechiel used the principle to create numerous darts using water.


    "Time to blow these beasts up!" Mechielughed and flew up as her water wings pped and shot out numerous water darts at the approaching beasts.

 Chapter 374 Fire To Douse

    Mechiel''s training focused on wielding and controlling water. She now had the power tomand water and freely move it. Kyros had taught her and allowed her to train in this. But the foundation of Mechiel''s water spell was actually another power that the Blood Cmity already had.


    Her power tomand blood was passed on to the water. And by using the Corruption of Charm, the element of water was pulled and tamed along with her blood. Mechiel had to go through a lot of training, and ultimately, her current form could control the most waters that she had.


    And she wielded the power of the water and created Water Weapons. She crafted small darts of water that had a bit of blood at the tip of these weapons, and then she suddenly shot it all out towards the iing Brimstone Beast. These darts were small but had high offensive power as the energy of blood and water was focused, and it waspressed. So what looked like a small dart of water actually had a huge amount, nearly triple the actual volume of what it appeared to be.


    STAB! STAB! STAB!


    The water darts pierced right inside the Brimstone Beasts. But the Brimstone Beasts kept moving in.


    Mechiel watched as the beasts continued to run and were worried that the effects of her attack wouldn''t work.


    "Will it work? Lord Cminus said they would blow up..." So she watched and prepared to use her other nned attacks in case this one wouldn''t work.


    The Brimstone Beasts began to run but inside them was the small dart of water. The heat of the brimstone was too hot, and the sudden injection of this small but thick dart caused the water to expand.


    The archers observed if the mystery of what Lord Miracle said would happen.


    And it did.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The brimstone beats that were rushing forward suddenly began to explode and began to tremble, and the parts where the darts were shot created small explosions. Theva that made their body began to surge out as these small explosions burst out them.


    The eruption exposed the brimstone core of the beasts all the more, and Mechiel signaled to which a small team of archers hadnded at the side. They jumped from the top of the tree and used the leaves to glide themselves down on the ground. They began to shoot their arrows right at the core, and the attacks pierced through easily.


    These people were not even captains, and they hadn''t perfectly mastered Force like the High Bows, and their Force energy couldn''t prate through the thick armors of the Brimstone beasts.


    But with the hardened portion of the brimstone blown off, the core was easily struck by the water enchanted bows, and it caused the core to leak out, causing these beasts to die as the core controlling their form was damaged.


    Mechiel kept shooting and shooting her water darts, and the archers behind her kept on attacking. Morale was high. These people had never killed a Brimstone Beast in all that time, but now they could shoot and kill these beasts with a single attack.


    At the front of the battlefield, Histerion created a powerful sh that threw Kyros back. But then, Histeiron nced at the side and frowned.


    Kyros noticed it and turned around to see the battle of Mechiel progress to their advantage.


    Water was being replenished, and the entire Brimstone Beast couldn''t push through.


    "I can''t believe it worked." Kyros shook his head as he saw it.


    "How did that happen?" Histerion frowned.


    "Cminus could exin." Kyros chuckled.


    "Ah, I knew it would be you." Histerion chuckled.


    "Histerion, you may have Brimstone and all the advantage of this strange world. But The author spent an entire night researching and watching online videos of what happens when you inject the water directly into a pile of moltenva! The science is clear. The application is sure!" Cminusughed arrogantly.


    "Oh? Do tell!"


    "The author took the idea from credible science sites, which exin that when water is injected rapidly into a column ofva, the water will rush upwards and then mix with the molten rock. This will destabilize the vapor created by something known as the Leidenfrost effect. It''s a scientific term that exins the effect of dropping liquid on a surface that is vastly hotter than itself! Anyway, the destabilization of the vapor will cause the unprotected water to expand rapidly and add stress on theva, or in this case, the Brimstone beast. And BOOM! It explodes! I had to change how the site exined it to avoid copyright hits."


    "Ah, disregarding your many confusing words, I think I can sense what is happening. But this would not be possible if that girl was so skilled in wielding water, and she could evenpress it! Is she a step away from bing a Water Artificer? What a rare talent..."


    "Yeah! Science, bitch!" Cminus ignored Histerion and carried out another insult.


    "Still as weird as ever." Histerion chuckled and charged again at Kyros, and the two continued their fight.<sub> </sub>


    Mechiel was slowly gaining ground as more and more of the archers arrived. Those that couldn''t even cultivate were there and assisted the team by using crossbows that used the wood of the tree creating powerful attacks that reached captain level.


    To the side, Lea stood with a dark, pitch-ck armor made of the sea.


    "Though the light of the cosmic entities of suns and stars can pierce through the darkest void, it cannot reach the depths of the sea." So Lea stood as the power of water and darknessbined.


    As a Grendelor, she was already a natural at harnessing darkness and water. But as she studied the power of Kyriachos that Kyros gave her, she began to understand the power and the Corruption that her race had always carried. The power of water and darkness that her racemands were due to a Corruption known as the Abyss. The bottomless darkness untouched by the light created oceans and seas that heat could not conquer. Through this power, the oceans remained even as the Codes of Astra gave birth to numerous stars and suns.


    Lea was a genius who even surpassed the Blood Cmity in aiming for a certain goal. In this world where these tworgely Dark Dependent beings could not find a source of energy, Lea was the first to find power through the water. The Blood Cmity could do this in theory if she finds the divide and substance in water.


    The seas behind her began to turn dark. The abyss that dwells deep under the seas had risen, and this darkness gathered around her.


    Histerion noticed it and had another amazing expression.


    "Impressive. She has awakened the Corruption of Avyssos."


    In Lea''s meditation, she found a trace, thest will, and power of Avyssos, as she allowed herself to fall into a Dark Maddening state.


    And the power of Avyssos was opened to her, and she became the bearer of the remnant power of this state. Just as Kyros said, Fate had prepared this timeline. Avyssos''s greatest presence was found in the nesworld. And the remnant power sought and found its new host in Lea.


    The darkness of the sea became her armor. Lea raised her fist and could feel the pulsating power.


    "Commander level." She smiled as she charged forward.


    BOOM!


    The entirend shook as she leaped forward as the speed surpassed the speed of sound.


    BANG!


    She appeared in front of a forming Brimstone giant, and her fist plunged deep into its core.


    "So this is the inverse of Brimstone? Purging Light and solid Earth makes Brimstone. But Devouring Darkness and fluid water make the Abyss." She smiled as her punch instantly caused an explosion of water and created the same explosive effect Mechiel created on her attacks.


    The Brimstone Beast began to charge at her as if they had found their greatest enemy.


    Lea chuckled and cracked her fist.


    "Come at me, all of you. I have a lot of fire to douse with the dark water I carry." Sheughed as she allowed the Dark Maddening to take over.


    The power of Avyssos enveloped her, and her form began to transform. Awakening the Corruption allowed Lea to tap into the primal form of the Grendelor before their race intermingled with the many species in creation.


    Several tails like her own erupted out and became like tentacles. Her face also transformed, and numerous tentacles erupted out and covered her face. She became part octopus and part grendelor.


    "I''d never thought I''d ever see an Abyssmon again. Their race has been wiped of true History. My praise to you, Nephilim, for allowing this power to be hidden even from my eyes." Histerion offered his words as he kept shing with Kyros.


    The army of Brimstone Beast charged bravely toward Lea, but Lea reached out her hands, and the tentacles extended out and stabbed the approaching beasts at their core.


    "ROAR!" Lea gave a terrifying shout as many more dark tentacles of water exploded and attacked the iing beasts.


    "Do you see the tide of this battle turning?" Kyros chuckled.


    "Pun intended. The seas that remained which endured this brimstone world will be our victory!" Kyros dered.


    "So it seems. But I will apologize, dear Nephilim, for I will not take defeat easily. Brimstone can easily call on the power of Codes and Corruption too. Prepare to fight the avatar of Pyron!" Massive fire energy began to erupt outside of Histerion''s form. He looked like a knight being consumed by the fire.

 Chapter 375 Fire Meets Water

    The power of the mes had taken form through Histerion.


    Pyron wielded the power of fire itself. He was said to be the god born from the sh of a God and a Fallen whose devastating battles created the element of it. Out of this spark from the sh came Pyron, the lord of all mes.


    He was one of the Gods who didn''t have a physical form but remained as fire throughout time until the moment that hisst spark ignited, and he was no more.


    The Brimstone Knight was releasing fire after fire, and Kyros had to retreat.


    "You are not the only one who can call upon the power of multiple gods. For example, my son was a being of Molten Brimstone, and when he fought his enemy, the solid and physical nature of his being was pushed out, and thus, fire was born. But if Pyron is the father of fire, then I am the father of Pyron!" Histerionughed as his powers rippled out.


    "Brimstone contains the me inside with its physical form. The problem is that the heat is only limited to a certain distance. But if we alter or weaken the physical form of this heat and expand this energy, behold the mes that we can make!" Histerion boasted as he made a sh.


    A wave of fire erupted out, and Histerion''s Fire sword expanded like a beam. He made a wide sh, and Kyros knew that this sword would constantly release and create a massive sh that would even harm Listrel and the elves at the back!


    Kyros harnessed various power of Darkness and created a powerful sword that shed back.


    BOOM!


    The Fire sword and the Dark sword collided, and the inverse elements created two opposing shock waves pressing over each other.


    Kyros roared as he tried to resist the sh of a being with Commander-level strength, but then the power began to push him back!


    Listrel was busy fighting the enemy when she saw the iing attack and created a massive power to reflect the iing attack and aided Kyros in stopping the wide sh that wasing for them!


    BOOM!


    Listrel was knocked back from the attack, and her numerous mirror walls were all dispelled. But luckily, thebined effort of Kyros and Listrel stopped the massive fire sh that was nearly a kilometer wide!


    "Retreat!" The High Bowsmanded.


    "Impressed?" Histerion chuckled as he approached.


    Kyros''s arms were exposed, and the gauntlets that he wore were broken. But the power of darkness was reforming and covering his arm, recreating the dark Gauntlets.


    "Not really. You have this power, but in your current form, an attack from me would hurt. So I can now kill you." Kyros bragged back.


    "It''s nice that you could still be positive in this situation. But while it is true, against your archers and even that water vampire you have, it''s the perfect enemy. Without the hardened forms, it will be difficult to hit my men. I didn''t want to do this, as expanding the energy wastes energy and makes my brimstone beast die after two days. But I know I''ll lose more men if I don''t do this!" Histerion chuckled.


    The power of Pyron exploded out, and everyone could see that the numerous brimstone beast near the tree were transforming.


    The heat in the numerous brimstone beast bodies began to expand as they suddenly released a massive me that covered their bodies.


    Their hardened form of burnt Brimstone had turned into a strange liquid state as if they were all made ofva.


    At the back, several of the siege cultivators began tobine and create a giant dragon that had no wings. The form was that of a wyrm, and it had a gigantic mouth that was brimming withva and fire.


    "Sacrificing form to acquire longer range and more firepower. And since they are now beings of fire and not brimstone, I need to aim for the core, huh?"


    "Correct! Those arrows of yours will lose effectiveness as they will simply pass through the fiery form of my men. Even the water darts of your friend and the fist of your Abyssmon won''t be as effective."


    "I still have other ns! Drop the Wood Shields!" Kyros ordered.


    Logon heard it and gave more orders. The orders reached Aubrey, and shemanded to drop the Wood Shields.


    Several massive shields of wood fell from the middle levels of the tree.


    "Wood Shields?" Histerion chuckled.


    "They will burn, Kyros! Let''s fight! Surrendering is useless. I won''t stop until you are purged! This is what it means to be in the Unrecorded Scrolls!" Histerionughed as he charged forward and led an army of fire monsters forward.


    CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!


    Several massive wooden walls fell and nted themselves standing up as the anchors dug down the ground when theynded. A wall of wood was erected.


    Histerionughed as he raised his sword and charged for the wood wall that fell in front of Kyros.<sub> </sub>


    "Die! Nephilim!"


    "No, You," Kyros answered as he reached for the wooden wall and poured out a massive amount of energy.


    SHING! SHING! SHING!


    A light began to shine as the energy formation circle appeared.


    Histerion recognized it and knew that this was a teleportation circle.


    "Oh my." He realized what it was.


    VSSSHHHHHHH!!!!


    An explosion of water erupted as a portal in the circle was opened. And the other side of this portal was under the sea.


    It was as if several massive drains were created under the ocean, and all the water began to rush inside these portals and explode out on the ground.


    The pressure, the weight, and the powerful st of the water instantly killed the form of Histerion that met it head-on.


    At the back, Histerion took over thest Brimstone General in this army, and this time, his expression was sour.


    "That hurt!" He cursed as he watched all the fire monsters he ignited be done so easily.


    "Create a wall ofva! Protect that Siege Dragon Wyrm!" Histerion ordered immediately.


    The wave of water would reach them in the next seconds, but many Brimstone Beast rushed at the front, all grouping together, forming a wall of Brimstone.


    More and more beasts jumped onto the wall and allowed their bodies to mix in a pile and increased the width and height of the wall.


    The water crashed on the wall, and the brimstone wall resisted the water.


    "Nephilim! This is a rather novel idea!" Histerionughed as he stood over the wall of brimstone.


    Behind him, the massive Wyrm was gathering a tremendous amount of fire energy.


    "I''ve wasted a lot of my men! But from here on out, it''s going to be my time!" Histerion red at Kyros, standing on top of the wooden wall.


    "I wouldn''t count on it. As they say, when it rains, it pours. You are right where I want you to be. Too bad there is no sun. Otherwise, the shadow would have given it away." Kyros chuckled.


    Histerion was confused at Kyros''s words when he heard a loud crashing sound.


    He turned up and saw what Kyros had created.


    From the top of the tree, they peeled off argeyer of it and made a massive drawbridge.


    The drawbridge was about a kilometer wide, was dropped down, and was like a very long nk that extended out to where Histerion stood.


    SHING! SHING! SHING!


    Drawn over this long drawbridge were several energy conversion circles that began to glow. Many elves who were taught how to summon magic activated the circles. And just like before, all written on it Were teleportation circles.


    VSHHHHHHH!


    The ocean fell and crashed upon the armies of Histerion.


    The great Fire Wyrm beasts didn''t even have a chance to shoot.


    Kyros watched from his position andughed as the waters killed the two forms of Histerion.


    "And this, my dear friends, is what happens when fire meets water." Kyrosughed.

 Chapter 376 Fire Meets Timber

    The crushing force of water erupted down and crashed on the numerous fire beast preparing to make an assault right before the Fire Wyrm could make an attack.


    The attack of the Fire Wyrm would not be Brimstone orva but woulde out as pure fire. Such an attack could have sted onward and struck the numerous elves on top of the tree or those guarding the tree''s roots.


    But even before they could make an attack, the ocean fell over them with tremendous weight and force. Finally, the fire was extinguished, and their weaker forms could not resist the torrent of water. The entire team of fire monsters, including the Brimstone General, had died.


    Thendscape changed as the tidal waves pushed out wildly and swallowed the Brimstone beasts.


    The elves that aided Mechiel had already ridden the boats sent down to them from the higher levels of the tree.


    The teleportation circles written on the wooden shields and nk soon lost their magic, and no water fell.


    But the effects of how these waters raged out had eliminated the army of Brimstone Beasts.


    Kyros had flown towards the top of the sea and carried Listrel with him.


    Mechiel and Lea also flew upwards, each bearing a bloody red water wing and a dark wing ofpressed water.


    The four remained floating on the mid-levels of the tree and watched the battle.


    "From what I sensed, there were only two Brimstone Generals that could assume the form of Histerion. And since we killed both, what will happen to the surviving Brimstone beast far out of the tide?" Kyros pointed at the distance and were able to resist the waves.


    "The beasts would madly charge in. Then, without a leader thatmands them, they would follow their instincts and kill whatever life they could find." Listrel answered.


    "Correct. And that is where wee in. Cutting down the tree would never have worked if Histerion had gainedmand. But, since our goal is to kill an entire army of Brimstone Beast, we have to crush them and destroy the core."


    "So all those previous ns were to kill Histerion?"


    "Yes. With the powers of Brimstone, I''ve taken to ount everything that these creatures could do and what kinds of attacks they had nned. If Histerion hadn''t shown up, the n was to force the Brimstone Beast to lose so many men that they would have no choice but make an all-out attack."


    "But Histerion proved to be more tricky..." Lea chuckled.


    "Yes. In any case, the n still would have followed a simr ending. The purpose of the water was to both eliminate the generals and make these molten monsters harder. They now have to pass through the ocean to get to the tree. We lead them towards the tree, making their molten cores harder, and we crush them with the tree. If these brimstone beasts were crushed and their cores left underwater, they won''t have a chance to resurrect, right?"


    "Ingenius. It looks like we will be leaving all the nning to you!" Listrelughed as she yfully pointed her finger and kept poking Kyros.


    "Hey!" Mechiel frowned.


    "Useless girl! Stop poking Kyros! Is this the strong princess of the nesworld? You can''t even fly!" Lea cursed.


    "Says who?" Listrel chuckled as the power of light gathered on her feet and kept her hovering.


    "Light has no physical form and can''t be used as you, but I can use it like this. Cminus taught me." Listrel chuckled.


    "What?! Then why did you?!"


    "Kyros chose to save me. So I obliged him!" Listrel chuckled.


    "Chose to save you? I shouted for you to fly as the waters returned, and you just stood there! I knew you could fly, but I thought you were too exhausted from your fight and carried you!" Kyros quickly defended as he saw the change of expression on Mechiel''s face.


    "Oh, don''t be shy, Lord Kyros. Let''s make more gods and goddesses!" Again, Listrel hugged Kyros, but this time, Mechiel and Lea began to pull her away.


    "Enough! We have the battle to fight! Don''t dy!" Kyros used force energy to repel Listrel and charged off towards the battleground below.


    But as he charged towards the ground and began to attack the drowning Brimstone Beasts, Cminus spoke.<sub> </sub>


    "It must be nice having to go through puberty twice. I''ve never seen you this flustered, Kyros." Cminus chuckled.


    "Shut up." Kyros shook his head.


    "You know, you were too rash when you made those promises to Mechiel. I mean, sure. You guys have a past. She saved your life and sacrificed herself in the act of true love. And not to mention you were enemies in that past life. So apart from that attraction and the dream and hope that you held on to, you never really had much time with her. Both of you only chose to love the other. But love is moreplicated than that. In front of otherworldly beauties like Listrel, Lea, and even Scarlet, you''re finally starting to crack, aren''t you? So take my friendly advice, Kyros. Free yourself. You don''t owe Mechiel anything other than whatever you are doing now."


    "Are you telling me to stop loving Mechiel?"


    "No. I''m telling you that you should love her. But don''t limit yourself to her. Be free. If you fall in love with someone else, it''s OK. But, the way things are going, expect more women to throw themselves at you. Honestly, I pity Scarlet. She really tried and even used tactics that some women would consider underhanded."


    "Why do you even care?" Kyros frowned as he sliced through several Brimstone beasts trying to swim out of the tides.


    "To tell you the truth, the first time I died and reverted time, you''d be surprised how that dilemma caused even more battles and chaos in the world of gods and fallen. You are a god and a fallen, Kyros. Don''t make vows that you can''t keep. y it safe."


    "What do you mean, y it safe?"


    "Oh? Is this a rare moment that not even your INT can resolve? Let me exin. When you be and god or a fallen, which I know will happen soon, your powers will grow, and these vows will bind you. And as you are training a team of people who are all Fated to awaken long lost powers, they may bind themselves to you. It''s not a simple thing that you can casually ignore if that happens. Cmity shall ur. That''s why gods and fallen don''t make promises. Only a few have endured it."


    "My mom and dad?"


    "Yes. But we have yet to see if this union will continue. There are many forces and many bonds that seek to sever that. Gannaios Steel had already vowed himself to another. It was a trick that many of the daughters of Kyriachos tried to do to sever it. And it was a terrifying time. The world nearly ended. Now I believe hidden beyond my memories is the work of End, who tried to do that to force the End. And I think that Love will be a weapon." Cminus exined.


    "Hmm... You actually have some smart things to say once in a while." Kyros flew forward and had enraged the Brimstone beast that wasn''t ordered to attack.


    Kyros and the three girls appeared and made their attacks which enraged the monsters.


    They began to retreat to draw out the enemies.


    Kyros, however, charged forward and activated the power of Haste.


    With the waters surging over them, the hardening of Brimstone had caused the numerous Brimstone beast to slow down. The flying brimstone beasts could make sharp turns, and they charged out without any formation.


    With the three girls being the primary target and Kyros drawing the attention of many more at the sides, the entire army of Brimstone Beasts chased after the group and even walked on the subsiding seas.


    Another group of magic-capable elves activated the teleportation circles drawn on the extending drawbridge. More waters from the ocean were thrown down to ensure that the waters didn''t subside quickly.


    But with the weaker flow of waters and as many brimstone beasts had hardened and found the strength to push forward, the entire army was slowly moving towards the tree. Kyros and the three moved all over the battlefield and were taunting the brimstone beasts to attack a long, winding line.


    Finally, it was time to crush all the beasts at once.


    "Timber!" Kyros shouted themand.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Massive explosions urred at the other end of the tree. The biggest ones were where Logon and his team once stood. It created an even bigger hole.


    At that moment, many elves wept as they pulled out the massive wooden poles and sticks that were used to keep the tree standing. In making many wooden weapons, the World Wood Tree had already been stripped so that it could easily fall. There were only certain fortifications that kept the tree up.


    The explosions and the removal of these fortification caused the huge tree came crashing down on the hardened brimstone beasts.


    CRASH!


    Fire met wood in the concluding attack that ended the first war against the Brimstone army.

 Chapter 377 Fire Meets Life

    The weight of the massive tree was so heavy and had great durability that it crushed the army of Brimstone Beasts that attempted an attack on the falling tree.


    But the waters around them had weakened them, and they couldn''t harness the maximum output of their heat and were crushed by the tree''s massive weight.


    The booming crash of the tree caused the waters to create waves that pushed towards the sea.


    The archers had jumped up, and numerous weapons of war and other things were thrown down and gliding down from the great heights. Some of the weapons were stored at the back of the tree. Hard containers were used so that the weapons could endure the fall.


    Kyros and his team patrolled the sides of the tree to check if there were any survivors and killed any Brimstone beast they found.


    Soon, the elves began tond, and many were weeping at the sight of their fallen home.


    Suddenly, explosions began to ur under the tree. The rumblings were heard and felt, but none of the fires met the world above.


    "They are all exploding?"


    "True death for these Brimstone Beasts. We''ve seen it quite a few times recently. But now, we are all seeing it happen at once. The crushing weight of this and the water around them is killing them. And there is, of course, the resilient life of the tree that refuses to die."


    The entire tree began to glow a strange green light as the power of life surged out.


    Everyone marveled at what they saw as they felt a strange familiar power rising out of the wood.


    "What is this...?" Aubrey asked.


    Kyros flew over them.


    "That is the power of the Tree. It raged and fought till itsst breath. Can you feel it? It''s thanks to all of you for fighting hard?" Kyros asked.


    "What... What do you mean?! This Tree was abused by us! We took down its leaves! We chiseled out its barks! We broke off its branches!"


    "The Tree was more than just your home. What is valued beyond everything is all of you. In this world where thest of life is being purged and thrown in the fire, it only wanted you, its people, to survive. And now it has hope that you should live." Kyros smiled as he began to harness the power of the Wood.


    "When I sat down on the roots of this tree, I used the powers to draw it close to me. My charm worked, and it began to talk to me."


    "It talked to you? But how?"


    "I wield and understand the Celestial Code. It''s a power that draws elements together. Earth was my specialty in this world. And when I received this power, I had learned the voice of the earth." Kyros exined as he recalled the memories of his past.


    He became an incredible general thanks to his powers in the Celestial Code. The earth itself would speak to him where his enemies were. And when he traveled back in time, that ability was lost. But here, in the very soil and where he received Daradiel''s blessing, the power returned. But his ears could only hear as far as the World Wood Tree could.


    "What did it say?" Logon asked.


    "It asked me to save you, his children. His greatest fruits were none of the precious things that this tree bore. It was you who dwelt in it. He saw the love, thepassion, and the joy and took pride in himself being a father. But the Brimstone Beasts were killing him. He was dying in the first ce and told me to save you."


    "Lord Vey..." Many of the Elves wept.


    "I told him about our n, and I told him that he would save you one more time. He was happy and agreed at once. Every time you took its wood and crafted weapons, he wasn''t sad or angry. He was happy. He could protect his children. You call him lord, but I think he would have loved it more if you all called him father." Kyros smiled.


    "Father...!" The elves cried as they swam from their positions and hugged the tree.


    The trembling increased, and the elves the hugged the tree realized what was happening. The power of Life was fighting and attacking the power of Brimstone, raging and using water and weight to crush it out of existence.


    "It''s protecting you onest time. Every weapon you formed, every de you made out of it, made it happy. Because it knows it is with its children."


    The weeping of the elves grew more and more, and every one of the elves was holding on to the tree as they wanted to feel the warmth and life of their father just one more time.


    "Damn it! It''s Going Merry all over again...!" Cminus wept.


    Soon, the trembling stopped. Finally, thest of the Brimstone Beasts were killed.


    The entire tree began to shine, and the life essence of the tree gathered in a spot of the tree that overlooked every elf that was hugging it.


    The green energy gathered into one spot, and the figure of a Dryad appeared.<sub> </sub>


    "Everyone! Greet your father onest time! The only World Wood Tree that is a yer of Brimstone. He fought against a Supreme God, Histerion, and won! That is World Wood Tree Vey!" Kyros announced, and all of the elves began to cry out.


    "Thank you, Nephilim! For your blood has given me this chance to speak." The dryad spoke.


    Kyros gave a respectful bow, and the threedies also gave a low bow.


    "My children! The Nephilim tells me that you will all embark on a great journey! He spoke of the treacheries you are to face and the impossible odds ahead of you. I can only give you this... thest of my power. Thest of the life within this region. All life fled to me when these beasts arose. And now, they will be given to you. Goodbye, my children. Nephilim. I hope to see you in that world."


    The form of the dryad dispersed as the green energy began to grow around the tree.


    "Hold on to the tree, everyone! Receive your father''s blessings!" Kyros ordered and made his allies rush towards it to hold on to the life.


    The power of Life rushed out of the tree and gave strength to all the elves.


    "What an amazing blessing! The power of life that defeated the Brimstone freed the souls trapped within. And in this region, most of the souls were elves. They were happy in their freedom and chose to be the energy that will fuel everyone!" Listrel quickly held on to the tree.


    "Sacrifice magic. A most mysterious power..." Lea moved and followed, as did Mechiel.


    Kyros held the tree atst and closed his eyes.


    A wave of life energy began to surge through everyone.


    Aubrey felt a powerful energy flow through her as she felt the power of the Wood gather. A strange green light formed on her forehead, and a third eye was made.


    The hair of all elves turned from light gold to a dark green shade. Their eyes turned green as well.


    The power and life of the tree, which held on millions and millions of power, had awakened the ancient form of the Woodrealm Elves.


    The magic of life and nt bearing returned, and almost everyone could sense the presence of earth.


    Those that had no cultivation gained strength. Those that had cultivation grew stronger.


    <o>,m Kyros himself felt the surge of great energy and felt the connection to the Yggdrasil itself. The World Wood Tree was said to be the tip, the smallest twig of the nesworld, and Kyros found it true.</o>


    His levels began to rise at a frightening pace, and a strange seed appeared within his soul.


    "Nephilim. Your triune soul of Light, Darkness and neutral form is suited for my power. I can sense a great constraint and power in your soul. It shocks me to see just how you were even able to draw out such magic with the very little you have in your soul. My wisdom through the centuries of my birth tells me that cultivators at the Commander level create a Soul Seed that grows within them to nurture and harness the energy within their soul realms. That is what they use to make their Elemental cores. You already have darkness. But your unique disposition allows your soul to build another. So allow my power to be your Soul Seed. Light, Darkness, and Neutrality can grow and be divided among the regions of this tree that will bloom. Let it be the source that holds all your future elemental cores in."


    Kyros smiled.


    "I ept your great gift!"


    The power began to gather in Kyros''s soul, and the bindings and many curses constraining Kyros were slowly being torn away.


    ---


    Devil Bound Curse weakened to Devil Chained


    God Bound Curse weakened to God Chained


    Devil Snare Curse weakened to Devil Trap


    God Snare Curse weakened to God Trap


    Advanced Devil Sealing Curse weakened to Devil Sealing


    God Sealing Curse weakened to God Sealing


    Yggdrasil Soul Seed nted


    Nephilim True Life Earth Core formed.

 Chapter 378 Fire Of Love

    The power of life continued to flow through and empower the armies of the elves.


    In the entire battle, not a single elf was lost or in, which gave the Dryad of Vey great hope that Kyros could fulfill his promise.


    A miracle urred at that moment when the Vey gave its life.


    While Brimstone was a torturous hell as an element, the powers that governed it was still within the alignment of light. And in its alignment and nature, Brimstone was guided by a Supreme Emotion that defined the character of Histerion. And this emotion was joy. The souls were tortured, but when they returned to the tree, the souls sensed the will to give life, and in doing so, it merged in its joy and cleansed the emotions of everyone and purified them.


    The cleansing forced all the impurities into their bodies and caused them to grow stronger and stronger.


    Those without cultivation easily rose ranks, crossing the first ten levels with ease. Elves who were wounded or had injuries that prevented them from being useful on the battlefield began to recover. The burnt limbs regrew. The blind could see. Theme could walk as the life energy restored all of these.


    They regained their form that had been forgotten as the lineage had waned and the power was lost. The Woond Elves, first-born mortals of the Veiyos God-line returned.


    It wasn''t just Kyros and the elves that received an inheritance.


    The power coursing through Mechiel was so potent that the Blood Cmity took over.


    "Blood Cmity?! What are you doing?"


    "This is to make us stronger! This is amazing! A powerful nt with the blessings and heritage of Veiyos! They are the gods of the nts! Did you know? Charm is born from beauty! Thema Veiyos was the epitome of beauty and was defeated and devoured by a Phaulos. And that woman corrupted beauty. Beauty was a concept that gave. It was not meant to be for oneself. For though a nt is beautiful, it is not meant to be kept but to be seen by all. But when that Phaulos devoured Thema, she became Xermolipi! The Charmed Fallen! That which uses beauty and charm to draw power for selfishness!"


    "What are you talking about?!" Mechiel was confused.


    "You have be a water mage! Can''t you feel it? The ocean has gone dark from Lea''s power! Blood, Dark Water, and the power of life through this tree that wishes to give! Take it all in! We can recreate that power!"


    "Young one who walks the steps of Xermolipi..." A voice suddenly called out. The Blood Cmity realized that it was the Dryad.


    "Dryad Vey?!"


    "I am here at the request of the Nephilim. When he sat down on the roots of my body, he spoke to me and told me of the battle. He also asked me many things. One of which was a crazy request. But seeing his sess now, I am inclined to help him for the sake of my children. Thema was a beautiful orchid that floated gracefully over water. Its purity and gentleness were loved by all. Xermolipi was a rose of bright bloody red. Her thorns were her selfishness to seek to be desired but never to belong. The power of Nephilim and Fate has granted us the raging elements and ingredients to build the Bloody Rose Over Bloody Water. Though I rejected it, Kyros, your husband, has insisted on doing this. I only ask that you keep my sons and daughters safe through this power."


    The Dryad spoke, and the power surged within Mechiel.


    Inside the soul realm of Mechiel, a small seed was nted.


    The dark soul of the Blood Cmity was granted life and began to condense. Like Cminus, the Blood Cmity was so weak that she was simr to a Soul Wisp. But now, her element and form gathered as seed began to seep inside the soul wisp and gather the energies of darkness and water flowing inside.


    The Blood Cmity was stunned.


    "nts can absorb water! The Dryad is pouring out the life energy and has brought in the power of water absorbed and the dark Abyss that Lea called out!" The Blood Cmity saw her soul bing more condensed, and finally, it became a Soul Core!


    The darkness of her Soul Core grew and grew, and suddenly, a small bud broke on top of it!


    A flower bud had breached out and continued to grow.


    The flower slowly bloomed, and the immense life energy from the tree surged to the soul of Mechiel.


    The flower absorbed the life of Mechiel, and the essence of the soul flowed directly into the core of the Blood Cmity.


    That was when the Blood Cmity felt it.


    "What, no! My soul!" The Blood Cmity was rmed as she felt her soul bing one with Mechiel. The emotions and desires of Mechiel were being injected into her being.


    "The Nephilim! Dryad! You tricked me!"<sub> </sub>


    "Daughter of Xermolipi, nts represent the bnce of darkness and light. A seed brought down in the earth where no light touches it. There is no life in that darkness, yet it uses the darkness to grow. It grows over the soil and takes in the rain and the dead to bud and draw in the light. Light nourishes the nt. And the darkness fortifies it. A nt cannot grow if one is missing. You are the darkness, the daughter of man is the light. In this role, you are united." The Dryad exined. There was a slight glee in his tone.


    "Your mother devoured our orchid goddess, but now, may you be our new orchid!" The Dryad chuckled.


    The Blood Cmity resisted and tried to break free, but she was already a Soul Core, and the nt kept taking in the soul of Mechiel, which had the power of life.


    At that moment, the Blood Cmity felt the reverence and respect that the Dryad felt for Kyros.


    "No...! No...! How could this be?"


    "Do you feel it, Daughter of Xermolipi? This was the n to resolve your allegiance. Right now, you are not just taking in her soul, but my reverence and gratitude to the Nephilim. Do you know what such adoration leads to? Love."


    "No! I will conquer you! You nt! I was born before you!"


    "A sealed little girl dares to count the years of life? Even if you might have lived for eons, I am the culmination of centuries of life. I am the tree that saw and took the souls of the elves that lived, loved, and left this earth. I am confident that my gratitude will be enough to weaken your heart."


    "No! I am still a Daughter of Xermolipi! I am a rose that he can never have!"


    "A rose may have thorns, but a hand decided enough to snatch it will still take hold of it even if the hand bleeds. You will be his soon. And that will break the curse!"


    "No! How do you know of the curse?"


    "You fool... Didn''t the Nephilim already exin it? How can I, a World Wood Tree, stand in a world where the Gods and Fallen have disappeared? In this timeline, a son of Veiyos has found his way here! His memories became mine!" The Dryadughed as the energy erupted inside, and finally, a small rose bloomed over the soul.


    The Soul of the Blood Cmity had be a Core. Mechiel was able to harness the blood since her body was a vampire that had taken in the power of Eredus. But now, she not only had a body of Blood, but she had a Soul Core of Blood!


    The Blood Cmity struggled to recall her duty. She recalled her purpose and her calling. But slowly, she could not resist as she began to cry at the thought of harming Kyros.


    "The Seed is nted. And the fire of love cannot be stopped. So grow well, daughter of Veiyos!"


    At that moment, the bestowal of the Dryad had ended.


    The elves began to cry as the power of the Dryad could no longer be felt.


    "Do not weep. He is in you. You are the forest. You are the trees." Kyros smiled as his two hands harnessed opposite energy.


    His left hand held darkness from his Dark Core. But his right hand held the nt core that had gathered such light.


    Kyros''s form remained that of a Temr. One side was the Dark Temr, and the other side held the power of a Knight Temr.


    Lea and Listrel were amazed the moment they opened their eyes. They were about to brag about their powers but saw the strange miracle of Kyros.


    "How can he do that?! How can Light and Dark exists at once in one body?!" Lea was stunned. Although Kyros was able to use the power of Skotos Eis Phos and Phos Eis Skotos, they were converting energy from one to the other. But now, these two energies exist together at the same time!


    "Impossible! Does he have three souls?!" Listrel marveled.


    The sight of Kyros made the elves marvel at him.


    "Lord Miracle! Thank you for helping our father fulfill his wishes!" Logon bowed.


    "Your father wished for you to live. The battles that we face from now on are more treacherous! We will be the ones on the offensive. Everyone, we prepare for our departure! Create more weapons from this tree! While we cannot carry it all, we have to honor the wishes of Dryad Vey and make the most out of this wood!"


    "Yes, Lord Miracle!" The Elves chorused together.

 Chapter 379 Fire As Future

    In the history that passed within the world of the Unrecorded Pages, most of the survivors yearned for the war-torn days that happened two years ago. It was a day of pain and suffering, but it was heavenpared to the new world that they lived in.


    The Omega Kingdom had fallen to the hands of the Eldrich forces thatmanded an uncountable armada of Dark Dependents. All races, from the Dark Sea to the ones that had hidden in the underworlds of the Londs and the Minds, were brought to take part in the siege.


    The Omega Kingdom fell, and the armies of darkness were poised to attack the massive walls that dived the Minds to the High Lands.


    But in this history, the numerous kingdoms to the far east and west of the Minds were not attacked. This is because the main goal of the armies of darkness was to take the High Lands, and attacking these kingdoms to the expanse of the east and the west would be too costly. So only a small portion of the armies of darkness set out to demand the surrender of the numerous kingdoms.


    When Kyros died and True Time was turned back, the Codes and Corruption that made these kingdoms strong suddenly disappeared. The Brimstone Beasts suddenly appeared, with many of the strongest cultivators turning into Brimstone Beasts.


    Yet many kingdoms survived the cmities at first. Many in the Minds found means and capabilities to fight back, and there were even kingdoms that birthed strong fighters that managed to rewrite the ways of Force and Magic to face the Brimstone beasts.


    Many other races from the dark army had no choice but to strike an alliance with the surviving kingdoms and had to find means to survive through light and dark depending means.


    Another year passed, and the constant sieges continued. The entirend began to show signs of dying that neither the dark dependent nor the light-grown could survive. The surviving kingdoms began to dwindle one after the other.


    The brimstone beasts appeared everywhere, and the survival of the kingdoms depended on the forts that sheltered them. Marching out to another domain would mean death.


    But hope appeared when several Pegasus arrived and imed they were from the High Lands! They imed that the Walls that Endured continued to endure and that the Hignds were preparing for an expedition to save those who survived and that they only had to remain strong and defend for as long as they could!


    The Pegasus flew from one kingdom to the other and gave hope to thends.


    But that was more than a year ago.


    The kingdoms to the far west fell one by one.


    Soon, one of the surviving kingdoms in the vast desert in the west of the Minds had no choice but to send out its strongest birds to carry out a team who would set out to ask for help from the nearby kingdoms and ultimately tell the High Lands that they were close to falling.


    The kingdom survived due to the demi-human races that lived there having little need of water and had found ways to live off the nts that grew in the parchednds.


    Yet the constant bombardment and attacks of the brimstone beast were driving the kingdom to the edge.


    They were ordered to call for aid and seek out any surviving kingdoms and nations as they set out.


    They found the sea city from the desertnds, which has survived the cmity much better due to its tremendousnd advantage. The newt-reptilian races gave more blessings to the rocs and their demi-human riders and bade them luck for their journey.


    But after that, many powerful kingdoms that the rocs flew out on revealed nothing but ash, brimstone, and death.


    The rocs were forced to fly great distances without resting and used the most precious herbs and stamina drinks of their kingdom and from the reptilian water kingdom.


    As they flew, they witnessed another kingdom doomed to fall. Its survivors and rulers were crying out on top of the castle to be saved, and the team swooped in but demanded the most precious herbs topensate the rocs.


    The rulers agreed, and the demi-humans saved only the king, wife, and child. No more was added as it would add more weight.


    The group went off, and with the offering of the king''s loyal servants all the most precious herbs, the rocs grew stronger and managed to fly greater distances.


    It saw a mighty mountain that three kingdoms had used as shelter to save them from the cmity. The mountain had steep edges and only one passageway up.


    There the rocs rested once more.


    Nearly a week passed when the rocs and the riders rested.


    The rocs flew once more and aimed to reach the great Wall that Endured.


    In the journey that followed, no other kingdom was found. There were hordes of Brimstone beasts everywhere, and some even had powerful beasts that could fly and chase them!


    A battle ensued as these Brimstone Beast could keep up and had seemingly endless stamina that chased the group.


    They finally saw it on the fifth day of their constant escape from the Brimstone Beast.<sub> </sub>


    "I see it! The Walls that Endured! We''re moving in! Fly with all your might, men!" The woman rider cried out as she saw the massive wall over thend. Numerous hordes of Brimstone Beast seemed to be swarming at the bottom, trying to ascend the mountains and constant attacks of catapults and even magic weapons and attach that the Minds could no longer perform at the loss of the Codes and Corruption.


    There was a massive fortress in between the valley of the two mountain ranges, and it had scores and scores of archers and warriors fighting at the front lines. The brimstone beasts were constantly under fire and could not even reach within a kilometer, thanks to the constant attacks being sent out from the back.


    The scouts saw from a distance the approaching rocs.


    But each bird had very poor countenance and was skinny and weary for its flying. It had flown for weeks without stopping and had to evade the numerous attacks. Below it was an unending tide of Brimstone Beasts, and it was chased by numerous massive brimstone beasts that could fly.


    "Survivors! Save them! Kill the Brimstone Beasts behind them!"


    A magic cannon was loaded and aimed at the group.


    BOOM!


    The cannon shot out a powerful beam that aimed at the beasts. Even at such a distance, the beam struck the beasts perfectly, causing them to die out.


    The rocs zoomed towards the fortress, and it fell in exhaustion.


    "Catch them! Don''t let the rocs die!" Amander cried out, and numerous winged fighters flew to the sky and caught falling rocs.


    "Cardinals...!" The woman was amazed that such powerful cultivators still existed. The cultivators were both Dark Dependent and Light Grown. As she gazed around, she realized that the army consisted of all the world''s races. Even the eldrich was among the fighters!


    A certain cultivator rose through the air and caught the woman, and the woman was amazed that she could somehow hover through the air as the man''s magic allowed her flight.


    "Lord Cardinal!"


    The Cardinal brought her down.


    "You are themander. You must be from the distant Castle Rock Kingdom from your attire and rocs. The demi-human kingdom on the High Rock mountains west of Minds." The Cardinal spoke.


    "It is as you say, Lord Cardinal! Please! Save us! The kingdoms that survive in the Minds cannot endure any more! You have to send out the teams to save them now!" The woman cried.


    "Since you journeyed all the way here, then I shall be blunt. We cannot save them. You have seen the battles here. Even when the cmity began, we knew that we could not afford to send out forces to save any kingdom." The Cardinal answered.


    "Wha-what...?!" The woman was shocked.


    "It was our idea." An eldrich appeared. His dark powers were so thick that the woman could tell his powers surpassed the numerous cardinals in the light.


    "Since the start, we knew that we couldn''t save any of them. Even the armies that we led during the war two years ago and sent out to fight the western and eastern kingdoms of the Minds cannot be rescued. But we knew that our forces would make an alliance with the kingdoms they tried to conquer just as we did here."


    "Then... why? Why did you send out the Pegasus to tell us all that you would save us?"


    "To give you hope." The Cardinal that caught her answered.


    "Hope that will allow those kingdoms to endure and fight as long as they could. Hope that will allow the Brimstone beast to divide their forces instead of attacking them here. Your hope buys us time. More time and fewer brimstone beasts." The Eldrich answered.


    "I''m sorry. But your kingdoms all have a simr future. They will have the fire as a future." The cardinal answered.


    The woman lost strength on her knees and buckled down.


    At that exact moment, a massive army of Brimstone Beasts was charging towards her very home, the Castle Rock Kingdom.


    The desert dunes were no longer seen as the armies of the brimstone beasts covered every inch of the desert. Nevertheless, it was a terrifying scene, and all the residents of Castle Rock knew that it would be toote for them to be saved.


    The Fire would be there future.


    But at that moment, four figures had arrived on the skies behind the marching armies. The residents were to scared as they watched the beasts that they did not notice this four flying figures.

 Chapter 380 Fire Of Hope

    It was months ago that the demi-human, Margie, left Castle Rock Kingdom to journey towards the High Lands.


    But hernding there revealed terrifying truths. But as she witnessed the horrors and hordes that constantly threatened the Walls that Endured, she knew it was impossible to send a team to rescue them.


    She sat down on the floor in her great depression and knew that her hometown would die soon.


    The Cardinal stood over her and noticed numerous demi-human races that once hailed in Castle Rock approach.


    All wanted to hear of their home. But as they saw her face, they understood that Castle Rock would not live long enough.


    Suddenly, a Commander stood forward and greeted his Cardinal.


    p "Lord Cardinal! I thank you for protecting my people and me! And even to the Eldrich leaders!" The Commander began.</anda>


    The Cardinal sighed. He knew that this would happen.


    "Let them." The Eldrich answered.


    "Let them leave?" The Cardinal was stunned at his words.


    "Yes. It''s better for them to go there. A fortress that stands can still kill thousands and thousands of these Brimstone Beasts. And if we allow them to leave and sacrifice a few of our flying beasts, it will draw out numerous brimstone beasts to chase them. It will lessen the attacks here, and they will fight on those kingdoms." The Eldrich exined.


    "..." The Cardinal was silent as he heard his words. He then turned to the Commander and noticed that more of the demi-humans had stepped forward.


    "You are all throwing yourself to die. You do know that, right?" The Cardinal asked.


    "Yes, Lord Cardinal. But the truth is, we thought our homes were vanquished already. This gives us hope. We want to choose where we die. The demi-humans who hailed in Castle Rock are all you see before you. We are these few men. We want to go and die in our home." The Commander who stepped forward dered.


    "I... see..."


    The demi-human was amazed as she looked around. There were Commanders among them.


    "You... all... You all will surely be a great pir that will help Castle Rock stand longer!" The Demi-human wept. At the very least, she could go home with powerful people. There were no Commanders among them, and such a force would greatly help her. She could even recognize some of the Commanders that stood as they were famous demi-humans in Castle Rock who were heralded as heroes.


    "Demi-human. What is your name?" The Eldrich asked.


    "I am Margie."


    "What other kingdoms have you seen standing? Give me aplete list of who they are and the current situation of their forts." The Eldrich asked.


    Margie began to tell of the kingdoms and their states.


    "Cardinal, I will request many of my Eldrich to fight and hold back the fires. But you call out those listed kingdoms and ask if there will be any warriors willing to head home and fight and die." The Eldrich asked.


    "Are you sure?"


    "The calctions are clear. These forts will stand and can y more Eldirch with them going there than if they stay here. If those fortresses fall, we will have thousands more of the Brimstone Beasts. So they must remain as long as they can. My calctions conclude that we will y perhaps a million more by sending them all home. And such arge force will draw away more of the Brimstone Beasts that attack our walls, giving us time to recover and repair." The Eldrich exined.


    "Then it shall be done, Lord Borges." The Cardinal bowed.


    "We cannot save you. But we will give you resources to help you survive for a time." Borges spoke to Margie.


    "Thank you... Lord Eldrich!" Margie cried.


    "Go and die in glory." The Eldrich turned away and began to make more of his preparations.


    But unknown to them, a Brimstone Army of millions was already at the borders of Castle Rock. The numbers were so outstanding that Castle Rock knew they would die.


    But the four flying figures that remained unnoticed to Castle Rock were casually talking to each other.


    "Wow. So many survivors!" Mechiel was amazed.


    "So many who live. And so many who died. I am hungry..."


    "Lea. You''re not seriously going to eat the corpse-like you did in the Vey Woodrealms?"


    "I''m still a Grendelor, Listrel." Leaughed.


    Kyros watched as Castle Rock prepared its defenses against the Brimstone tide.


    "Hmm... That''s odd. They seem to be moving atmand, but I don''t sense a Brimstone General among them! So it looks like we''re in for an easy battle." Kyros chuckled.


    "Easy battle? Our enemies still number around two million Brimstone beasts at the horizon!" Lea chuckled.


    "And while these BRimstone Beast won''t have the form and shapeshifting powers that Histerion could do, we don''t have a sea to soak them in or a tree to drop on them." Listrel reminded.


    "But we have the Grand Pikes." Kyros chuckled as he gazed back.


    The mountains had hidden what was behind Castle Rock.<sub> </sub>


    The elves continued to march and had numerous carts and wheeled carriages with ingenious creations.


    After the wipeout of the Brimstone Beast, Kyros and the elven army spent an entire week under the influence of time eleration and crafted massive weaponry from the tree.


    That week equated to months of building and shaping. However, with the motivation of the elves to fulfill their father''s wishes and the enhanced strength and power of everyone, they managed to make the most of the tree.


    The core wood of the World Wood Tree had a powerful core that Kyros and his teambored to harness. It was strong and hard to even endure a little brimstone without being burned up. And the newfound power of the elves to wield the power of nts and wood could even cause these wood to recover slowly.


    And so, Kryos led the entire army into a new age of technology.


    The steam-punk, forest-elven fantasy of the Nephilim Liberation Army was formed.


    Vast wooden mechs that were powered and fueled by steam were created. The wooden mechs had numerous chambers with metals that the elves managed to mine.


    As the furnace of Brimstone beast died, theva rocks that remained allowed them to harvest metals.


    And these were used as chambers to house their wooden creations.


    Kyros watched the massive ballistae move atmand. The steam-punk creations were only possible thanks to Kyros''s wisdom. Cminus gave him the vision, and Kyros made it possible.


    But while a lot of science was used to create this, this was sessful because of the awakened power of the elves to control the nt and the wood. The steam engines were used to provide constant power to the rider, and with numerous energy formation circles drawn, it allowed these wooden mechs to rise.


    "Time to test out these bad boys. But first, we need to tell the people of this kingdom that we are here." So Kyros gathered massive light energy and shot it above the skies.


    The bright light that Kyros created still did not draw the attention of the Demi-humans.


    The Brimstone Beast were marching from the East, North, and South. Many thought that the mountain regions to their west dyed the beasts, and so no one turned their hopeless gazes to that side.


    But then, the light that Kyros created cast a reflection on a certain Demi-Human in the throne room.


    "What is that?!" A demi-human shouted and caused the group to turn to the west.


    "Impossible! People are flying in the sky! How is that possible?!" Another demi-human cried.


    "Flying?! Those are winged creatures! No, wait! One of them is flying by releasing constant light on the legs! But where did theye from? Is it not the elven Woodrealms of Vey that lie beyond those mountains? Who are these creatures! Two warriors of light! And two whomand darkness and water!"


    "Call out to them!" The Demi-Human King shouted.


    "My lord! Our force energy is so weak it won''t reach them!"


    "Then light the beacons!" The demi-human king shouted.


    "They could be an ally!"


    "Yes, my king!"


    The demi-humans rushed out, and a massive beacon that was never used was now used.


    As the world had fallen, this beacon used to warn and call aid to allied kingdoms far away by lighting the beacons was no longer used. But now, it was.


    A bright burning tower stood at the peak of Castle Rock, and Kyros smiled as he saw it.


    "The beacons of Castle Rock! The Beacons are lit! The Demi-humans call for aid!" Cminus eximed.


    "And the Nephilim will answer." Kyros smiled as he harnessed his power of light and created a bright light of wings.


    Mechiel harnessed the power of water, and her wings formed.


    Listrel harnessed the Force energy and created a Mirror Armor.


    Lea''s dark water covered her, revealing her monstrous Grendelor form.


    "The hellish fire stands to kill a kingdom. But let''s light the fire of hope to our new recruits!" Kyros ordered, and the armies of the Elves suddenly emerged from the mountain top.


    The massive wooden structures and the elves over them were now revealed to the Castle Rock Kingdom.


    Ballistas and catapults appeared at the side, and all the twenty-seven thousand elves assumed their formation.


    "My king... How can these wooden warriors save us? Their wood won''t be able to kill a brimstone beast!" One of the advisors asked.


    "Fool! Look! We are surrounded by the Brimstone Beasts, all from the north, south, and east! But not one hase up behind that mountain range on the west!"


    "You can''t mean...?!"


    "Yes! No beast emerged because those elves killed them! Everyone! Fight and survive! There is hope in Castle Rock!" The demi-human king shouted.

 Chapter 381 Saving Castle Rock

    The Nephilim Liberation Army formed ranks in the mountain region. A cliff had divided the mountain region from Castle Rock.


    Before the days of Brimstone, Castle Rock and the elves had a very poor rtionship and had even been in wars with each other.


    The mountain regions that connected thend were even carved out as Castle Rock took the rocks and stones and elevated the cliff where the kingdom stood, towering over thend.


    The height and sturdy mountains with only one trail leading to the top were why Castle Rock survived the cmity.


    But now, never had the expected that the elves would appear on that mountain range, but it would appear to be hope.


    "Descend the mountains! We will now fight! Commanders and Generals! Take your post!" Kyros ordered as he flew ahead with his three allies.


    "General Logon! Take the forces to the north, and I will take the ones to the south. Keep your battles within the range and hide behind Castle Rock to keep the Brimstone beast from attacking us on the east side. High Bows! Takemand! Catapults at the ready, and prepare the Grand Pike! Support Lord Miracle and Charlie''s Angels!"


    "We are not called that! Damn it, Cminus!" Lea cursed as she heard themands of Aubrey.


    The various wooden mechs began to move down the bare mountain and officially entered the desertnds.


    But unlike before, the elves now had people who fought at close range as they wore numerous battle mechs with massive pikes that had metal edges.


    The people of Castle Rock cheered as they saw the elves move to battle.


    "Demi-Humans! The elves who have been our enemies for eons are here to fight with us! Do yourselves a favor by fighting and killing as many as you can! Let us not repay the kindness of the elves with a hesitant heart! Fight with all your might!" The king shouted, and the entire kingdom erupted.


    Morale soared to the heavens as Castle Rock quickly began to use the form of warfare that they developed to counter the hordes of brimstone through the years.


    Men and women began to align themselves in a straight line and had a strange form of rock armor.


    "A Stone and metal hybrid armor? What a primitive yet effective way to counter brimstone..." Kyros observed.


    "They can fight in close-rangedbat!" Mechiel was also amazed.


    "These folks live in the desert. The heat was also theirpanion. So naturally, their resistance is stronger." Listrel observed.


    "Just like you, right?" Lea chuckled.


    "Yes, and no. I am resistant to the purging aura because brimstone is close to the light. But the fires are not veryfortable to me." Listrel chuckled.


    "Well, let''s not let our allies fight. Do as nned. We are in charge of making sure none of the front lines falter. And try to save as many wood mechs as you can. With all these brimstone enemies, we could mine more metals for theing fights." Kyros instructed as he prepared to enterbat mode.


    "With all these Brimstone Beast, we will surely have metal to forge better weapons and armor! Unlike the elven kingdom, these people of Castle Rock seem to have amazing metallurgy to equip our forces. I believe I can finally repair my armor." Listrel smiled.


    "This fire will also be a way to forge us as fighters. Without Histerion, this fight is ours. So take this time to experiment and harness your power. I will try to harness the light and the darkness in me for this fight."


    "In short, Kyros will search for his inner panda." Cminus joked.


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "Just... fight you guys..." Kyros didn''t know what else to say and concentrated on harnessing his power.


    Kyros closed his eyes and began to harness the power of the Light Core and the Dark Core.


    His soul was divided into three parts used to nt the massive Soul Tree inside. The three souls nourished the Ygdrassil Soul Tree that had sprouted from the seed. This tree created energy for Kyros.


    This meant that Kyros could recover Force and Magic energy constantly. And as long as Kyros would use attacks that are less than the constant regeneration, Kyros would have seemingly endless supplies of energy.


    But Kyros applied this principle to his very body. His own body was now divided into three equal parts. The left hand held the Darkcore in his body, and his right held the Light Core. In the middle, the light and the dark were held back by the neutral. This allowed the two conflicting energies to live within the body.


    He received tremendous energy from the Dryad, and caused his level to soar greatly. The numerous seals that weakened his body allowed him to surge in might and power.


    Kyros took a look at his stats and his weapons and armor.


    ---


    Kyros Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos Steele


    Race: Nephilim


    Soul Age: 17


    Bone Age: 18


    Mortal Level: 27


    ---


    Awakened Codes:


    Mysterion


    Steel


    Astra


    ---


    Awakened Corruption:


    Fanged


    Charmed


    Kyriachos


    ---


    Strength- 294 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 268 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 424 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 229 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- Let''s not talk about your strengths. What we should really be looking at are your weaknesses. That''s how we be better!


    Soul Force- 246 (Sealed) (Adds to a single attribute and raises stats by half [16])


    Ancient Source- 193 [Adds a 38 point increase to stats if harnessed] (Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 201 [Adds a 38 point increase to stats if harnessed] (Sealed)


    ---


    p Kyros''s stats made massive leaps. At his level, the massive boosts in the stats would give Kyros the title of having a Crown''s Potential.</anda>


    Except for his Dexterity, Intelligence, and the Ancient and Fallen Source stats, his values were a hundred points higher than those at level 30!


    "So my stats are around a hundred to a hundred and seventy points higher than an average level 30. I guess I''m close to having a High-Crown''s potential." Kyros smiled.


    Kyros then took a look at his weapons and armor.


    ---


    Wings of Darkness / Angel Wings of Light/ Wings of the Light and Shade (Lvl. 14)


    ---<sub> </sub>


    Defense: 82


    Durability: 45


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy.


    Skills:


    Dark Resistance: +49 / Light Resistance


    Dark Shroud / Cloak in Light


    Dark Guard / Light Shield


    Dark Chains / Light Bindings


    Dark Creeper / Light of Glory


    Form of the Light and Shade


    Heart of the Fallen (1) / Heart of the Ascender


    Summons:


    Shadow Clone/ Angelic Clone (10)


    or


    Prime Shadow Clone / Prime Angelic Clone (2)


    ---


    Bloodied Balefire Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges / Lifeblood Holy Fire Sword of Ten Thousand Justice (Lvl. 18)


    ---


    Attack: 47


    Durability: 40


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark Energy. / (Must activate Skotos Eis Phos to change to light mode)


    Skills:


    Soul Bind


    Dark Trapper / Light Evangelism


    Blood de / Life Essence de


    Chaos Sword / Holy Sword


    Heart of the Fallen (1) / Heart of the Ascender


    Summons:


    Shadow Wraiths Familiar/ Swords of Light (20)


    Blood/ Lifeblood Golem (4)


    or


    Symbiot Blood/Lifeblood Golem (4)


    ---


    "Oh? I never noticed that my Wings of Darkness now has an official name. Wings of the Light and Shade, huh? Too bad I didn''t bring Heralcus''s shield. In this world, I would be able to undo the bindings that prevent me from fully tapping on to its real potential." Kyros sighed.


    Kyros only brought one of the shields he crafted, and even that was damaged because of their fall when they entered this world. The shield of Heralcus had many seals, and while many parts of the seal were removed, Kyros found that there was still resistance to it and felt that the shield was also one of the weapon sets that belonged to the Heart of the Fallen, which his sword and cloak is.


    After checking his stats, Kyros harnessed all his might, and the constant flow of power between the Light and Dark cores was causing Kyros''s strength to rise.


    ---


    Nephilim Harnessed Dark Core


    ---


    Hello Darkness, my old friend.


    Through the awakening of several Fallen inheritances and the powers of Mysterion, the Primordial Darkness is birthed in this Nephilim Core.


    Magic Points- 54 (Increases at every level increase of Kyros)


    May recover mana by absorbing dark or death energy.


    Summon Dark Golem (2) ¨C Spell charges can be recharged by absorbing dark energy or by trapping a soul.


    ---


    Nephilim True Life Earth Core


    ---


    Through the sacrifice of the Vey World Wood Tree, the powers of life are birthed and give birth to the light.


    Magic Points- 54 (Increases at every level increase of Kyros)


    May recover mana by absorbing light or light energy.


    Summon Angs Golem (2) ¨C Spell charges can be recharged by absorbing light energy or by converting a soul to the light.


    ---


    "My light and darkness summons are now stronger." Kyros chuckled as he summoned the power of light and darkness borne from thebined powers of his sword, cloak, and cores.


    Using the cloak''s power, Kyros summoned a Prime Clone of Light and of Darkness.


    A being of darkness and a being of light that had his exact form appeared. They had twenty percent of the power and might of Kyros and were of differing elements.


    Using the power of the Sword, Kyros summoned twenty swords of light that hovered around him. However, since his sword was held in his Light arm, he could only bring out the light summons.


    Finally, his two cores allowed him to create golems of light and darkness.


    The energy of the two cores was drained as four golems emerged next to him, and each had wings of its own and could fly.


    Unlike the other golems that the other cores and even the Light Core in the Temple could create, these golems were made mostly of light or dark energy and had little physical form.


    "Wow... Your summons has gotten quite strong!" Lea was amazed. The Prime Clones of Kyros could actually hurt her!


    "Are you done? As ourmander, you are the one who should attack first." Listrel waited.


    "Not yet. We still need to activate the mass Haste Spell."


    "Can''t we do itter? I want to fight without it." Lea asked.


    "... Oh, all right. Let''s go!" Kyros charged down, and the threedies charged down with him.

 Chapter 382 Saving The Land

    The war began as Kyros charged toward the hordes of Brimstone Beasts. His numerous summons shot out and attacked the Brimstone Beasts in perfect coordination as Kyros began to fight the enemy at close range.


    A giant Brimstone Beasts roared and charged at Kyros, who flew straight for it.


    Kyros didn''t retreat, and he directly stabbed his sword right onto the Brimstone Beast without even sending his numerous swords or summons to attack it. Instead, Kyros flew in at top speed and made a strong stab at the giant''s core.


    STAB!


    The pration of the core allowed Kyros to pour in the power of light, and with the power of Light Evangelism, he charged the energy into the brimstone beast''s soul and caused the power to free the numerous souls bound in the brimstone hell.


    The core exploded out, and the energy was leaking. However, the souls were free, and some even became the Swords of Light that Kyros had previously summoned. The conversion of many righteous souls was enough for them to be swords of light and serve Kyros through the power of Charm.


    The light and dark Prime Clone made their attacks as they charged down and wielded one of the swords that Kyros summoned.


    SLASH! SLASH!


    The two Prime Clones of light and darkness halted the giant from using its giant hands to attack Kyros as their swords struck the arms.


    Kyros kept pouring out more and more energy, and it began to release the souls and disperse the energy.


    Unlike when they killed the Brimstone Beast, this giant beast could no longer reform and cause other Brimstone beasts to rise as the souls locked in its hell were released. More and more of the Swords of Light appeared as the giant''s core dimmed as it lost all power.


    Kyros thenmanded all the Swords of Light and poured his power into them.


    The swords flew out and made shing attacks on the many Brimstone Beasts.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    The weak swords had very little strength. It was barely at the level of a mid-captain and had less than a hundred points in strength. But a strange power was imbued in them that allowed them to make a small wound at each strike.


    "[Swords of Severing Light]!" Kyros shouted, and the power of True Cut was imbued on all swords.


    There were now over thirty swords that charged and attacked the nearby brimstone beast, with every strike causing damage. Finally, the swords crowded over on Brimstone beast.


    The four golems that Kyros summoned also wielded the swords and used their strength, which could reach over a hundred points, to attack the other beasts. But just like before, their swords had True Cut!


    The two, Prime Clones and the four Golem Summons, flew out and attacked. Their shes and strikes could instantly kill most Brimstone Beast that hadn''t reached Champion level.


    Kyros also continued to attack and focused on more and more of therger Brimstone Beasts. Again, he would stab to the core to free the energy, but most of the time, no Swords of Light would appear to serve him.


    The Swords of Light borne from the in giant soon disappeared, and only a few of the recently converted souls remained. But none of the twenty that Kyros summoned through his sword vanished but were only weakening at each attack.


    But suddenly, a massive light shone all over the ce.


    Listrel''s power began to appear as she created a massive mirror wall that stood behind them and began to shed light energy from the brimstone beasts.


    Listrel made wide shes that sent out beams of light at every sh.


    Unlike the rest, Lea had no soil in her soul that could be used to nt the seed. But a mystery was revealed! Listrel belonged to the many Dryad races! They were the humans charged by the goddess who nted all nts and trees, beginning with numerous Yggdrasil, and charged the descendants of the kings of the nesworld to take care of it!


    This was why Listrel learned of the powers of the Dryads, and numerous World Wood Trees were raised in the High Lands.


    So instead of a seed, Listrel managed to create a leaf.


    The power of that the leaf the Dryad gifted her allowed her to gather and absorb light energy. The absorption tranted to the regeneration of her wounds and the recovery of Force and Magic energy. She had be a truly angelic being that thrived in the light.


    <o>,m With the light that her mirrors reflected and turned into light energy, the swords that Kyros used were slowly regenerating, improving their durability. This was the teamwork that Kyros envisioned for the two of them.</o>


    The pair fought as the vanguard who would block the charge of the Brimstone beasts on one side, while Mechiel and Lea fought on the other side.<sub> </sub>


    Listrel had the leaf with no seed, but Lea had the seed that could not bud.


    The power of the seed was simr to Mechiel. But while Mechiel''s seed was Blood Core, Lea had that of dark water.


    The pair could harness the power of water through the Cores they had and fought with the same strategy they revealed in the previous battle. However, the pair were not as aggressive as Kyros and Listrel and fought just close to the army of mechs that were now shooting their arrows at the weakened Brimstone beasts.


    Mechiel used the power of her blood core to send out small darts that weakened the Brimstone Beasts and would reveal their shells.


    Lea was rushing and clearing the brimstone beasts that would approach and fight the enemies at close range. She didn''t fear the elves'' arrows as the elves were too skilled to hit her.


    The battle continued with the Nephilim Liberation Army gaining more and more ground. Soon, only the eastern front had Brimstone Beast as the Liberation Army managed to gain grounds.


    The war machines that wielded woods rained down and pushed back the beasts.


    At that moment, Kyros and the three no longer fought in the front lines as they had already established a stronghold for the archers to stand their ground.


    Mechs of massive sizes wieldingrge iron weapons were at the front and fought the Brimstone Beasts at close range. The archers didn''t shoot out their bows wastefully but only attacked to limit the number of Brimstone beasts that the front lines had to face.


    Kyros and his threepanions, along with Aubrey and Logon, now stood before the King of the Demi-Humans.


    "Well, met! Our liberators and saviors! I am King Rivarridon Rock. The King of this dyingnds!" The Demi-human King greeted. His skin was dark, and as a demi-human, his eyes looked strange, and he had a tail. But other than that, his features looked very human.


    "King Rivarridon. I am Kyros. The one that the elves called Lord Miracle and the leader of the Nephilim Liberation Army. I stand before you with a plea. Just as you saved us, I ask you to join us and abandon your home to save thend and other kingdoms."


    King Rivarridon was startled at the sudden deration.


    "Lord Kyros the Miracle... While your words truly inspire courage, I have to ask. Is it possible? The million brimstone beast have grown in number. Many more stand before you. From the wooden gears, I can tell the elves had desecrated their very homes to march here!"


    "We did not desecrate our father. Instead, he chose to save his sons and daughters." Aubrey began.


    Rivarridon turned to Aubrey and recognized her.


    "A few years ago, we stood as enemies, Aubrey. But now, I apologize for my unkindment, and I thank you for saving us. But be not angry at my next question. Can the wood that you use be enough for the demonic mes of those beasts? Their numbers are more than the sands in this very desert!"


    "The Wood has returned." Aubrey smiled.


    "The Wood has returned?" Rivarridon repeated.


    "When I said, save thend, I meant to redeem it. I take it that your castle could only stand for another few months before your people die of thirst, correct?"


    "That is true. For a year now, no rain has fallen. These beasts have destroyed the weather and ways of thend."


    "Our march here was not just a march of warfare. My people have regained the power we lost long ago. Behind these deste mountains are now forests and valleys blooming with life."


    "What?!"


    "The wood will not run out anymore. Yggdrasil himself is fighting with us!"


    "Can it be true?!" One of the advisors asked.


    "You im that no rain has fallen for a year. Would you believe us if the rain falls once more?" Kyros smiled.


    "The rains? If such a miracle happens, then we would believe it!"


    "Mechiel? Lea?" Kyros smiled and turned to the two, who were constantly using their powers.

 Chapter 383 Saving The Laws Established

    Mechiel and Lea did not bring out more of their abilities like Kyros and Listrel because they couldn''t.


    Their focus was divided as they were trying to harness the power of Charm and the power of the Grendelor.


    The march to ''save thends'' was to eliminate the Brimstone curses guing thend and causing suffering to the Ygdrassil tree that made up the nesworld. However, Kyros had the power of the Dryad, and with his numerous Codes and Corruption, he managed to recreate stability in thend.


    The Brimstone Beasts had caused an immense change in the climate and were slowly purging the cycle of life. Life and Death energy could not abound, and the cycle was broken as the souls were gathered and held in the beasts'' hellish cores.


    But when Kyros and the group eliminated nearly ny percent of the Brimstone Beast in the entire Vey realm, the clouds began to form again.


    Listrel used her powers to create lights, and Lea began to water thend as shemanded the entire ocean to flow to water the drnds.


    Soon, clouds began to form as the essence of life gave birth to all elements.


    And as the clouds formed, Kyros and the team embarked on a journey of watering and nting seeds on thend. The nts quickly grew as life was released and the dead returned to the ground.


    It was there that Kyros decided that he would harness the power of the clouds, which would be necessary to nt life. The death of the Brimstone energy somehow caused pools of water to appear, and Kyros realized that it was the Yggdrasil itself saving or healing itself.


    And so, even when they fought, Mechiel and Lea were using their powers to move the clouds themselves.


    Dark clouds brought rain. And there, Lea learned how to harness the power of the Abyss to hold the rain and not let it fall. Then, Mechiel used her Charm to draw the clouds to follow her.


    "It should be about now, right Mechiel?" Kyros asked.


    "Yes. That cloud is just... moving too slow!" Mechiel sighed as she gazed to the far west.


    Because of her gaze, the rest also unconsciously turned to the west. And there, they saw massive dark clouds approaching.


    "The rains! The rains will fall once more!" An advisor to the king eximed. Then, and only now, did the people realize the miracle.


    "How is that possible?! Was it your doing?! What power do you hold?!" Rivarridon asked in amazement.


    "The gods have returned!"


    "Not the gods or the fallen. What has returned was thews they established. So we have saved thews of thend in our escapade."


    "Thews the gods established? What do you mean? How can Brimstone disrupt thesews?


    "Even if the gods and the fallen disappeared and their Codes and Corruption vanished, thews that they set would not be destroyed. The power of Brimstone purges these things that even these basicws were being purged. Eliminating them will cause thesews to return once more."


    "That is why thends west of here are now full of forest andkes as they once did. We have seen it with our own eyes! The death of our Father, Vey, caused a mass release of life that has now caused the forest to grow once more." Aubrey exined.


    "So the rains returned when you killed all those Brimstone beasts?"


    "Yes. I know that in Castle Rock, your sources of water have been the Rock of Birthing Waters and the numerous cactus nts that can hold the outstanding amount of water. The rains in this desert would allow these two natural elements to gather water once more. But, unfortunately, there has been no rain that quenched the Rock of Birthing Waters and the massive cactus in Castle Rock because of the curse that these Brimstone Beast left on thend. You were on yourst drops of water. A few more months, and you would be dead. Am I right?"


    "That is correct."


    "But now that the Brimstone beasts to the west have been eliminated, it has all returned. But as to why there is rain now, it is because of Mechiel and Lea. They hold Corruptions that are drawing the rain here."


    "Lord Miracle! The people of this kingdom are yours tomand!" Rivarridon bowed, and all demi-humans quickly followed.


    "Good! We will go out and save thisnd. This desert region is home to many metals. No doubt these Brimstone Beast have absorbed it. But once we kill them all, they revert these metals, which we will instantly work on. How many men are there in this kingdom?"


    "We have over fifty thousand demi-humans, elves, and beings of other races. Both Light Grown and Dark Dependent are here. But among them, only forty thousand could fight."


    "That will greatly boost our numbers. I can see that your forces can resist the heat and fight in closebat. We will use that to our advantage. For now, we clear out the Brimstone beast! Follow me to battle! All of you!" Kyros called out, and the demi-humans cheered.


    For the first time in two years, Castle Rock has sent their numerous soldiers, and even the rock beasts descended the cliff and fought with the elves.<sub> </sub>


    The rain soon arrived and even added more resistance to the demi-humans who fought at the front lines.


    Kyros and the rest began to fight as well. Kyros took the chance even to conduct a lecture to help the fighters regain their ability in Force Energy. The Demi-Humans showed even better potential than the elves. The Elves were close to the nts and hated the heat. But these demi-humans who lived their lives in the desert were more resistant, and so, there were even some fighters who had regained the ability of Force.


    The full military might of the elves and their wooden titans were revealed.


    The Grand Pike was a massive bow that held a giant piece of lumber taken directly from the World Wood Tree. When it was shot, it crossed the great distance and squashed and killed thousands of Brimstone Beast at once.


    A massive opening in the front lines urred, and Kyros and the three moved towards where the giant pike was and held their grounds as Kyros didn''t want to waste the wood in a battle of this intensity.


    The High Bows flew on the giant rocs of Castle Rock and the strongest warriors and held their ground in that area.


    The copse of ranks allowed the elves and the demi-humans to push back quickly and gain more ground.


    At that moment, those who could not fight helped gather metal from the numerous abandoned mines near the bottom of Castle Rock, and the forges in Castle Rock were immediately lit.


    Others worked tirelessly in the rain and pried open the hardened corpses of the brimstone beast and found small amounts of metal in them.


    A great energy formation circle was revealed on arge tform and at the core of the altar was Cminus, who had grown from a Soul Core to a Soul Seed.


    The massive tform was carried into Castle Rock, and Time eleration''s power began.


    As the first day passed, Castle Rock was immediately able to create metal weapons that reced the wooden poles and devices that the elves used.


    Swords and shields were formed, and more and more elves were outfitted with great weapons of their choosing. Thences, the swords, and all other metal works had long been destroyed among the elves. But the weapons that were forged at Castle Rock were more resistant.


    Two days of fighting continued, and eventually, the great number of brimstone beasts were all defeated.


    A great celebration urred that day, and the elves and demi-humans rejoiced. A feast of great wealth appeared as fruits of all sorts were offered by the elves. The wine was served, and a great party was held.


    But not a few hours since the party began, the scouts arrived and offered a grim report. Another army of Brimstone Beast approached.


    "We''ll handle it." Suddenly, Kyros volunteered and ordered the three to join him.


    "Lord Miracle?" Aubrey was startled.


    "We''ll fight and dy as long as we can. You guys enjoy your party."


    "May I perish if I allow-"


    "Don''t make such hasty vows. Listen, this party is a great bonding moment for all of you. This will uplift morale and remind everyone what we are fighting for. Besides, I and these three need to work on theirbat skills and awaken more Codes and Corruption if we want to win this. You all have one day to enjoy and make merry. After this, we prepare and make our march to save the more kingdoms." Kyros ordered.


    Kyros began to encourage everyone to enjoy and even allowed Cminus to take charge of the party.


    Soon, party rock music filled the kingdom as DJ Cminus released his awesome mix.


    The four flew out towards the East to meet the brimstone beast and fight them tobat.


    "Have you guys understand more of your powers in the past days of fighting? We''ve killed a lot of Brimstone, and I felt the location of my Code. What about you?" Kyros asked the three.


    "I felt the same. These past days I felt a strange call. It calls me East. I recall that there is a kingdom of great water there." Lea reported.


    "I as well. But what I sense is the cry of thend and its rejoicing." Listrel answered.


    "As I thought. I understand now. The power that the both of you carry..." Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 384 Saving The Power Of The Dryad

    Kyros andpany had eventually seen the massive army that marched to oppose them. But unlike before, where the beasts were gathering at one point, the Brimstone Beasts were scattered and only marched west.


    Instead of facing the entire army of Brimstone, Kyros and the group drew their aggression by flying over numerous regions and began to attack a few.


    Kyros used his numerous Sword of Light to stab out at the ground. Mechiel and Lea worked together and shot daggers of water that were causing the enemies to explode out on their chests as another dagger would prate the core and do further damage. The harnessing of water had increased, and the two could weaponize water and grant it a harder form. Slowly, the two were bing Ice mages even without a Core. They used the nt Core that could draw and gather water to make these attacks.


    Listrel used her power to zoom down and sh a few monsters, and the mirror armor that she made allowed her to create a bright light. The power of her mirror mail had now taken root and used the power of the leaf in her soul. So the faintest form of light that came out of the Brimstone could be reflected and harnessed.


    Even as the darkness of the night had fallen, Listrel could shine like a mini sun right in the middle.


    But during the battle, Listrel and Lea would often experiment with their attack to create a known form of attack.


    With each of them making their attacks, the scattered forces of the Brimstone gathered to attack the shy four, who now found a cliff within the desert and waited at the top.


    From afar, the brimstone beasts were rushing towards the cliff where the four decided to make their stand.


    "How was the progress?" Kyros asked when they gathered together again.


    As he dismissed the group, Kyros challenged Listrel to try and harness the element of Earth butbine it with light. Brimstone was the form of Earth and Purging Holy Light which was already like fire, but Kyros wanted Listrel to create Holy Earth. The same power that Mezal could create.


    As for Lea, Kyros told her to use Darkness and try to create Water magic. Not wield the water that the darkness had, but somehow give birth to it!


    It was a strange order, but seeing as Kyros was smart enough to aplish everything before him,


    "I can''t understand the merging of Earth and Light. Both are ipatible elements. One is made of stone, and the other has no form. Yet you want me to take the form of Earth and create it like light? No matter what, it''s impossible!" Listrel had a very annoyed expression.


    Lea had no joy from her training either.


    "How can I turn Darkness into water? Darkness is vastly different from water! The Abyss power that I have captures darkness!" Lea eximed.


    "What exactly is this training about?" Listrel asked again.


    "It has to do with your heritage. I was confused at first, but I only realizedter that it should not have been possible for you two to have created a Soul Seed, or in Listrel''s case, a Soul leaf, in your souls! It''s just impossible!" Kyros exined.


    "What do you mean?" Lea asked.


    "Mechiel and I were able to create it because of the innate nature. The Blood Cmity had darkness and was a being that specialized in a unique harnessing of water, which is blood. Her twin souls allowed the sprouting of the seed. In my case, well... I am a freak. But how was it possible for you two to have the same power? The elves have awakened their ancient form. The power they received reverted them to their Primal Form. They are one with the forest. It''s like they have be trees and nts themselves! But ask any of them... Did they manage to birth a seed or a leaf in their souls?" Kyros challenged.


    The pair was silent.


    "Then if you and Mechiel have these Soul Seeds because of your specific form, why do we have them?" Listrel asked.<sub> </sub>


    "Your heritage. I''ve learned a lot to conclude that the neworld, or all Yggdrasil''s, weres or celestial bodies that the goddess Veiyos nted. It''s even possible that the Yggdrasils are responsible for birthing all nt life in the entire universe. But, Listrel, you told me that the form I assumed when I charmed and meditated on the World Wood Tree tomunicate with Vey was a Dryad. Lea, have you heard of it?"


    "No. The more Listrel talked about the Dryad, I knew what she wasn''t talking about, those regr tree spirits. She''s talking about something else. Like a powerful dryad of some sort."


    "Correct. Dryads are spirits born from a tree. When a tree is strong enough, it can leave its physical shell and gain sentience and form. That is why dryads never stray far away from the tree where they were born, and felling the tree kills the dryad. The Dryad that Listrel talked about is a dryad of a certain tree. A tree we all know and have seen."


    "The nesworld!" Mechiel and Lea chorused together.


    "Exactly. The fact that Listrel was able to bear a leaf without any roots, seeds, or stem is proof that the leaf can exist without a source because Listrel is the source! That could be the hint to fully awaken the Codes and Corruption you two are born with! In the case of Listrel, as someone from the line of Protos Endoxos, you were among the first ones assigned to take care of thisnd. The power of the Dryad is not just a myth. It is your heritage!"


    "My ancestors... are these Dryads of legend?"


    "Yes! This exins why your family bears the greatest ability to wield the light! It''s because you are basically trees!"


    "She''s a tree? I thought her power would be rted to the power of light... Her Force power of creating mirrors used Steel and Light after all." Mechiel added.


    "Exactly! Thews of Elemental Affinity state that a person haspatibility with the main element the person is born in. It states that the first two closest elements to the right side or the left side of the Elemental Wheel would be elements that this person can master quickly."


    "I remember that. The Emberdons told us the Elemental wheel was in order. Light, Brimstone, Earth, Steel, Ice, Water, Darkness. After Darkness is Time/Space, Wind, Entropy, Lightning, and finally, Fire, the element that leads back to Light."


    "That''s right. The twelve elements in the Elemental Wheel. Now, which would Listrel have to be, as she managed to create Steel and Light to create mirror?"


    "Earth!" Listrel and Mechiel both shouted.


    "That is her real affinity. Not Light. But her Code is something thatbines Earth and Light, which makes her a Dryad!"


    "Thenbining Earth and Light... Adding life to earth... You were asking me to create nts!" Listrel realized the intention.


    "Yes. But obviously, in this ce, where Brimstone is purging all life andws, you won''t be able to create it right now. Not with all the Brimstone Energy around. That''s why I asked you only to merge it!"


    "Then the reason that the nts began to bloom again...!"


    "Exactly! It''s because of the power that you wield! In Fate''s strange and unbelievable power, she allowed this to happen with the impossible hope that I would understand the Code that defines nt life! It is the very Code that you have locked within you! As a result, the world will bloom, and your power can save this ce! The elves are mere nts, and their presence is causing the flowers and leaves to bloom. But the real source of power is actually you! One who has the leaf in her soul! If you perfect this power, you may help the nesworld regain its ability to create nts once more! But your power could not beplete without another."


    "Another? Could it be?" Mechiel turned to Lea.


    "Me?" Lea was surprised.

 Chapter 385 Saving The Power Of Water

    The revtion made sense to Listrel. Her powers had always been sensitive to Earth, and even she could feel the power of Earth surging in this neworld that had no light. Without the presence of powerful light, she could feel the earth''s pulse and be even sensitive to the shifting of the Earth.


    But Listrel was stunned to learn of how Lea wouldplement her power.


    "Her powerplements mine?" Lea asked.


    "Lea Olethros. You bear the name of destruction. I think I understand now. I could guess what happened at the start and how your name is rted to the power of the dark abyss of water."


    "Please enlighten me." Lea asked.


    "The clue is on my soul seed. Or rather that three that were born in my soul. The Dryad Vey nted my soul in the Darkness of my first soul, the Fallen Source. Then, it expands and grows its trunk in my mortal soul, and finally, it reaches and absorbs light in my Ancient Source. The arrangement is perfect. And I realized that perhaps when the Goddess Veiyos nted these Yggdrasils, she followed this same principle. The Nether Regions is the darkness of the earth. It cannot survive without it, just as how trees and nts cannot survive if not rooted in darkness."


    Listrel was shocked at these words.


    "It''s actually funny. The Olethros and the Endoxos waged war against each other. But the truth is your two races actually exists to support each other."


    "So the lies of Endoxos that they were the kings of the nesworld was a lie." Lea chuckled.


    Listrel frowned.


    "The lie affected both of you. You desired to take control of the Londs to the High Lands, but doing so would have brought great damage to the tree after a long time. It''s necessary for the Londs and the Minds to be out of the darkness. There is a bnce that has to be observed! The light cannot exists without the darkness, but should the darkness spread on the upper levels of the tree, it would even bring more harm! Think about it: what happens if you bury a tree to its trunk?"


    "It dies?" Mechiel guessed.


    "Yes. Some trees can survive, but this nesworld is a tree that probably can''t. I know this because the Dryad designed the soul Seed to have the trunk live in my mortal soul! The World Wood Tree is named that way because it follows the very design of the Yggdrasil. And so, if you bury this tree in darkness, it will rot."


    Lea''s expression turned ugly.


    "Then what exactly is her purpose? She is not a soil of the darkness! The soil where the nesworld is nted is a dark by itself. And these Grendelors are not the source of that darkness! Are they? Were they borne out of the darkness of that?"


    "No. They are not the darkness. I''m sure that the Goddess nted the Yggdrasil on a dark, as you said. Her power isn''t there. It''s something else. Just as you believed to be strong in the light, so did she believe to be strong in darkness. What else does a tree need aside from soil and sun?"


    "Water!" Lea and Mechiel eximed together.


    "That''s correct. The Dark Abyss is your heritage. The darkness of the water was meant to add moisture to the soil. You are the water that Veiyos used to nourish this tree. You already have started to find the source. So this means that you, your very existence, brought back the rain!"


    "So my power is not darkness? Like Listrel, I was only raised as a princess in thend and took in the source of power around us."


    "Yes. The Olethros was the ruler of this world. But so that the ns of End may work, he sent his agents in. Agents of Destiny who manipted the ways of this world and even caused a war!"


    "The Eldrich!"


    "Yes! They corrupted the past and even somehow tookmand of the Nether Worlds. But they were defeated and lost against the High Lands, and the ownership returned back to your families. You two have to study and meditate on this. I now told you of your heritage to prod you towards the direction. One is a daughter of Earth and the other of Water. Harness and channel your power! Listrel, try to create life on your earth. Lea, you do not control water. You are it. Find a way to channel that! Focus the power and give birth to a Core just like I did!"


    "Create a Core?"


    "Yes. The Cores imnted on you are that of Darkness and that of Light, correct?"


    "That is correct. Our fathers caught beasts of pure darkness and imnted these in our bodies. Numerous Paths of Creation improved these cores. Alchemy, Energy Conversion Circles, and so on..." Listrel answered.<sub> </sub>


    "The truth is, you could do the same. Your advantage is the things nted into you by the World Wood Tree! Use it to build a Core of your own making! A Core that is yours!"


    "Understood!" Lea quickly charged out of the mountain as she was excited to learn about her heritage.


    Listrel quickly followed, and even before the Brimstone beasts arrived at the cliff, the two had already made battles and began to fight and experiment. But this time, there was a difference in the way they fought.


    "They seemed to be rather excited in fighting." Mechielughed.


    "The two now believe. I used a lot of my Heretic talking skills when I spoke with them. Like the Emberdons, they now believe that this power is truly theirs. They lived their lives thinking they were something else, but now, they are searching to harness that power."


    "But can they create Elemental Cores?"


    "If it was before, then no. But just as how you and I managed to create Cores with the seeds nted, they too can build it."


    "I''m a little envious. As led by Fate, my alliance with you is only through the Blood Cmity." Mechiel sighed.


    "Actually, that''s not true." Kyros smiled.


    "What? It isn''t?"


    "I never told you this because of the Blood Cmity. She might use this against you. But now, the soul of the Blood Cmity has merged with you and is a separate entity. She can no longer go back to her main soul. And now that you are freed from that influence, I can now tell you your legacy."


    Mechiel was stunned as she heard those words. For a long time, she struggled to understand her past. And while she had heard of hints about it, she hoped that Kyros would rify everything. And it turns out it was only kept from her because of the Blood Cmity!


    "Mechiel... You probably have made guesses about our rtionship. The hints are around you anyway. Cminus, the Time God. This world is a ce abandoned as it is considered a false timeline. The power of Cminus to change time..."


    "Yes. I know that you are someone that Cminus must have chosen and went back in time with. With the Path of Foresight, I can tell that Fate had to alter time itself to hide Mysterion."


    "Correct. I was a warrior who died in this timeline in my past life. All my powers were sealed up, and I had to die and cultivate once more to reveal the hidden Mysterion. In that past, you were also there. We first met through the Steele Family. I was adopted by the Steele and met you. Like in what you experienced, your family, the Swordcrest family, were killed. We were together for a time until Destiny used the war that we are now experiencing and the return of the Eldrich races to kill me. After that, everyone in the Steele family died." Kyros exined.


    "So that''s why you treat them as your family..." Mechiel had noticed how Kyros treated the Steele. It was mysterious as she had learned that it hadn''t even been years since they knew each other! And yet, Kyros''s respect and protectiveness towards them were high.


    "Yes. They put with me a lot. My parents lived painfully sad lives. Now, they don''t have that future. It''s full of storms, but they aren''t suffering anymore and are fighting joyfully! But you were their ve as well in that timeline. You served them and even served me. Even though I was wild and crazy, you stuck with me. But when the Steele family was massacred, I lost track of you. The next time I saw you, you were Vampire Empress!"


    "An Empress?" Mechiel was stunned. She knew of the ranks of the Vampires and the categories of the impure and pure line. Vampire Empress was a pure bloodline, and she could not be one by being turned by another Vampire. She could only be one if she were born by a pure Vampire Ancient!


    "How could I have been an Empress?" Mechiel frowned.


    "Exactly. But I believe your heritage is not an Empress, but you are a Vampire Ancient. My Coven all have that potential because I turned them. The Fanged Fallen is their heritage. But as for you, I don''t know what your true Fallen Heritage is. You have mixed with the Fanged and the Charm. This makes it slightly even more difficult since you naturally rely on those powers. But within you is another Corruption!"


    "What is it, Lord Kyros?" Mechiel was amazed and quickly asked.


    But against all forms of expectations, Kyros shrugged.


    "I have no idea." Kyros shrugged in defeat.

 Chapter 386 Saving A Soul From The Hands Of Death

    In the Recorded Pages of True History, the disappearance of Kyros began to sow seeds of worry in everyone. Everyone paused their adventures as the disappearance of Kyros was also followed by the disappearance of two prestigious people.


    Lea Olethros, Grendelor Princess of the Nethends, and Listrel Protos Endoxos, Princess of the nesworld, disappeared.


    The retainers of Listrel witnessed the disappearance as they felt a strange power that ripped through the earth and space itself.


    Both the High Lands and the Nethends were in upheaval at the confirmed disappearances of both forces.


    The Nethends had actually lost their daughter earlier. But they kept silent as the life talisman of Lea had shattered. They could not use her disappearance as an excuse as the one who was reported to cause it was Listrel herself. But now, even Listrel had disappeared, and the life talisman of Lea shattered.


    This was grounds enough for the Hignds and the Nethends to send their strongest warriors to travel the vast space and appear in the Londs.


    A war between the two forces began, but the battleground was the Londs.


    As for the Nephilim''s army, they could notplete any of their ns due to the mobilization of the teams and the change in the terrain. It wasmon for the nesworld to have portals leading to other realms. There were several hundred of them. But now, Middle has be the sole obsession of both forces, and their warriors were gathering in Airom.


    The war against the Lizard races forced the entirend of Middle to a momentary ceasefire as several powerful people had arrived to search for their Princess. Both the High Lands and the Nethends demanded to send their teams to explore the Londs. The rules had forbidden both from sending teams of stronger power least the war would escte quickly.


    But eventually, it was decided that Cardinals would be sent to search for the missing princesses in Middle.


    The arrival of a Cardinal in Middle brought fear to the many different races and forces inside. The arrival triggered a ceasefire for all races, and no kingdom dared to fight each other. The Cardinals from the Nethends and the High Lands requested details from kingdoms, and all willingly gave their information, knowing that lies would lead to extermination.


    The sudden loss of Kyros forced an emergency meeting where everyone was forced to travel back into the Temple. The power of Dark Link was lost, and aside from a few message talismans, the group had no means tomunicate. And so, a regroup was necessary.


    Days passed, and eventually, the group was able to move into Middle and gather at the Temple of the Nephilim.


    The Steele Family, the Coven, the Emberdons, the rest of the official knights and members of the Steele family, and the newly recruited allies and leaders of each team were there.


    "It seems that what Kyros feared hase true. And it''s amazing how Destiny has orchestrated it to ur at such a quick pace." Mezal chuckled as the group gathered.


    "Indeed."


    "Am I the only one who is worried?! We have to find him!" Scarlet shouted angrily.


    "You''re just worried since he''s with two frighteningly beautiful women." Marthaughed.


    "A fault of your own doing." Aron reminded.


    "Fate tricked me! But we have to do something! Not even the Temple can sense him!"


    "Of course, it can''t. We had a time-traveling trip to Middle, which is not within the timeline! Kyros must have gone to a ce like that!" Branze answered.


    "Scarlet, I know you are worried. But it''s Kyros! He calls me her mother, and he exemplifies the very honor that me and Branze desire for him to have. His word is his bond. If you''re worried that your n to im his heart backfired, I will tell you to know that it won''t be as terrifying as you think. His love for Mechiel isn''t as fragile as you think it is." Diana added.


    "Indeed. The bonds and powers that connected my wife to me were hidden in him. Through Mysterion, Gennaios Steel and Katara Kyriachos have be one. That bond is also in him. If anything, your ns could work as exposure, and close kinship with all those girls could help you im his heart." Branze added.


    "Or, he could go my route and get all of you girls for himself." Mezal chuckled.


    SLASH! SLASH!


    DING!


    Two shes suddenly erupted out, but a massive shield appeared over Mezal.


    "Put your soul into it, kids! Otherwise, your True Cut won''t even leave a scratch at it." Mezalughed.


    Branze and Aron red at their father.


    "Lucky Lord Kyros. I wonder how many girls he would end up with." Avaryughed.


    "Hmm... I think Lord Cminus was here, he would say something like..."<sub> </sub>


    "This isn''t that kind of novel." All the Steele family chorused.


    Everyone began to nod and somehow felt the strange powers of Cminus.


    "A-anyway, before we start saying weird stuff, we have to talk about what happened. The effects of their disappearances are a little troublesome." Mezalughed.


    "A little? Father, our ns to take over kingdoms are ruined because of the appearance of these Cardinals. Wars are stopped. Traveling from one ce to the other is even more difficult! Look how long it took us even to regroup here!" Aron frowned.


    "It''s a little because the answer is quite simple." Branze began.


    "They sent Cardinals. Our goal is to simply cause the High Lands and the Nethends to move away from here so that things will go back to the way it was before. And it just so happens. We do have it!" Branze exined.


    "What?"


    "A level ny golem. Petra."


    "Are we going to have Petra kill those Cardinals?"


    "No! But we can scare them. If we lure those Cardinals back to the Golem City, and Petra appears, we can make Petra exin to these Cardinals what happened and how those two princesses are alive but were flung to another world. There are numerous portals that connect the nesworld to other worlds. Both teams will be invested in that, and with a Celestial appearing in Middle, the two sides would think twice in sending forces here."


    "Branze is right. That should do the trick. And after that, we should have the freedom to do our previous ns and take over various Lond kingdoms to fight against the orcs. We just have to follow what we were ordered to and to grow stronger as we do that!"


    "Then, I would like to propose a change to the orders Lord Kyros gave me." Hunter began.


    Everyone listened to him.


    "I heard thends of the undead received tremendous losses. Lea appeared and devoured a lot of their strongest heroes and disappeared, leaving them weak. I wish to conquer that first."


    "Why?" Martha asked.


    "There was a wish, a hope, and a question that I have always asked Fate. And now, I could finally see the answer. I want to resurrect Hemsey. There is a way that is open to the north!" Hunter dered.


    "In the undeadnds lies a key to saving my brother from the hands of death!"


    Back in the world of the Unrecorded Pages...


    The march of Kyros and the Liberation army continued.


    They continued to move east and conquered more Brimstone Beast. A supply chain was made, and the rocs of Castle Rock proved to be useful beasts that transported objects back and forth.


    With food and a supply of resources now possible, the Liberation Army marched bravely with enough ammunition to face the next threats.


    Kyros and the team continued to fight at the front lines.


    All of a sudden, Kyros gazed to the distance and cursed.


    "We have to hurry up! Otherwise, the kingdom ahead will fall!" Kyros suddenly dered.


    "What happened?" Listrel asked.


    "Histerion. His back. And I feel that the armies he has ready will be three times more terrifying than what we saw before!"


    On the vast water kingdom of the reptiles, the king watched as the water was slowly drying up. The power of Brimstone had increased, and everyone could feel the heat.


    In that water kingdom was a young man who gazed helplessly. He was brought here and served the king, for he was the only known cause of a brimstone beast to have suddenly turned back to a man!


    "To think I awoke from my Brimstone form to only be killed by Brimstone." The young man sighed.

 Chapter 387 Saving A Dead Ally

    The Reptilian Kingdom of Serpent Pond was one of the few kingdoms that had survived and thrived far better than the rest of the world. They had a nation surrounded by water that burst from the springs down the earth.


    Throughout the two years, they retained much of their poption, and the Brimstone Beast could not conquer thend.


    The reptilian race fought on the water and crafted numerous weapons that could fire the water. But recently, a massive amount of Brimstone Beast began to attack, and their tactics had changed. An intense heat had appeared over thend, and a terrifying drought had urred.


    The waters began to recede, and the brimstone beasts that had somehow gained sentience waited from afar to wait for the drought to make their invasion easier.


    <o>,m A young man saw the drought and the poor state of thekes and could only sigh. He walked towards the deepest and coolest part of the kingdom. Despite being a human, he was given authority to move toward the throne of the king because of his special case.</o>


    Many tall, slender lizards appeared and bowed at him as he passed.


    Finally, he arrived at the throne room, which was built on a tall cliff where the waters continually flowed out at its peak. The amount of water that surged out had be weak, and it wouldn''t be long till it couldn''t spout the water as it was reaching its limits.


    "King King Lizard 3..." The young man bowed at the king, named King Lizard 3.


    "Ah... It''s you..."


    "You seem to be more... rxed now."


    "It''s... simply epting our fate. I have done everything that we could to increase the power of water, but now, we know that there is no hope. Everyone is pretty much living as they please these days."


    "I am sorry."


    "Oh no... Never be sorry, young one. Your story brought hope these past months. You awakened one day and lost the Brimstone form, and we saw a Brimstone beast turn back to human! And because of that, hope was born. Out of that hope, I have seen the full potential of our race. I have never seen love return. Amid such catastrophe, hate and resentment vanished. And everyone simply began to love and appreciate each other. It''s as if the brimstone brought immense joy to us all." The kingughed.


    "Your story brought such hope. Maybe even as we are being consumed, one day, we will break out just as you did! Tell me, have you gotten your head in order?"


    The manughed.


    "Yes. I''m sorry for confusing you. But I actually began to make sense of it after a few weeks of sorting my head. I believe your people have told you of my theory?"


    "Yes! Indeed! I was amazed, but when you told us, we were rather busy fighting for hope. So forgive us for not listening. But now do tell us, transmigrator! Please, delight us with your tale! Your tale of two memories! If this is another world, and you have crossed it, I pray that we will be in that other world you spoke of when this battle is over!" The smander king requested.


    A young man stood up and bowed.


    "I have two memories. The first one exins how I got here. I lived a terrifying life in the Londs. But we managed because we have a strong and smart lord. Their family was really something. Bad luck would constantly follow us, but we managed. But everything changed when the fire nation attacked."


    "Fire nation? The Brimstone Beast?"


    "Err... Sorry. I think my arrival here is causing my head to act crazy sometimes. No. It wasn''t the Brimstone beast yet. It was the age before the Eldrich revealed themselves and hid behind the orc armies that attacked the Londs. Anyway, the war escted, the family I served died, and I fled. I heardter that there was one surviving member of my previous master who had risen and be a strong warrior. But, I was already a ve and found myself in the Minds. Eventually, I was sold to the human kingdom to the east of here. The merchant master was on his way here when the Brimstone beast turned, and I think I became a Brimstone Beast."


    "Oh? Are you from the Londs? That''s quite a journey."


    "It was. But my second memory has the same memories as I did, but it all changed at one point. In that timeline, I met the son of my lords earlier. It didn''t make any sense since the year that I met him in my other memory was a year when he shouldn''t have been born yet! But there he was. And he was not afflicted by many diseases. He was very strong! He was so strong and had a terrifying bloodline! He turned me into a vampire!"


    "A vampire? Honestly, we''ve suspected that you were. But it didn''t make any sense because you seem and feel very much like a human. But there is something in your scent that made us consider that."


    "You think I''m a vampire?" The man was confused.


    "We didn''t really think anything of it. Are you?"


    "I don''t know..." The man then began to close his eyes.


    On the far east, the battle against the Brimstone Beast continued.


    Kyros began to draw out the power of a in beast. He was slowly learning how to take in the souls of the beasts and take them for himself. The power of his Life Core was growing more and more powerful, and the tree in his soul had grown bigger.


    But despite that, Kyros had a worried expression.


    "This is bad. At this rate, we won''t reach that ce in the schedule I think would be safe. There is just too much Brimstone Beast, and they have be wiser."


    "So we will lose the Serpent Pond kingdom?" Mechiel appeared and asked him.


    "Unless they fight harder and increase their morale, we would be toote," Kyros answered and gazed at the far east.


    All of a sudden, Kyros felt a strange connection.


    "Hm? My Coven?!" Kyros eximed, and he flew to the great heavens to avoid the Brimstone beasts and the purging energy.<sub> </sub>


    As he rose high, he could now sense a faint force.


    Kyros suddenly charged towards the east.


    "Everyone! Keep fighting!" Kyros shouted as he left.


    The three were confused at Kyros''s actions but continued to fight.


    Kyros flew and flew, and numerous massive Brimstone Beast began to fly and chase after him.


    But Kyros ignored them all and charged to the distance.


    Finally, the Dark Link managed to connect.


    Kyros recognized the source and the soul that he was trying to connect to.


    "Hems?!" Kyros shouted.


    Back in the Serpent Pond Kingdom, Hems suddenly jolted as he heard the familiar cry.


    "L-Lord Kyros?!"


    "Hems! It is you! You''re alive! This is amazing! Where are you?" Kyros shouted. He couldn''t understand it yet. Unlike Hemsey, who died, it was still possible to resurrect him. But Hem''s soul dissipated, and it was impossible to resurrect him! Yet he was here!


    "I am here at Serpent Pond! Lord Kyros... If you are here, then... that means those strange memories... Were they all true? What happened?! Where are we? What''s going on?"


    "Calm down! Listen, is there a great threat of Brimstone Beast near you?"


    "Yes! The water here is drying up! The king and the kingdom have given up!"


    "Don''t! You have to make them fight! You have to tell them to hold on! I am on my way! And I have brought the kingdom of Vey and the Kingdom of Castle Rock with me! Fight and survive!" Kyros shouted.


    Hems suddenly smiled.


    Around him, the numerous lizardman was ncing at him for suddenly shouting strange things.


    "He''s here! My lord is here! I am a vampire! I am a member of his Coven! I am a part of the Coven on Crack!" Hems suddenly cheered.


    "What?" The people around him were confused.


    "Oh... Wait. Sorry. That''s the wrong name. I am part of the Coven of the Nephilim! We are vampires! My master is Kyros Steele! A man of many miracles! And he is here!"


    The crowd was giving him strange stares.


    "My king! Don''t lose hope! Help is on the way! We have to fight and survive!" Hems urged.


    "Hems. Tell them to look to the east. A pir of light will be the proof that help is on the way!"


    "My king! Look to the east! My lord thatmands the light and the dark will show proof that he ising!" Hems shouted and pointed to the far distance.


    Kyros was flying to the highest heights he could reach and channeled the power of Light and activated [Skotos Eis Phos] to turn his dark side into the light.


    BOOM!


    A massive pir of light shot out of his sword and pierced the sky.


    At the very great distance, the darkness and fiery brimstone colors that could be seen over the horizon had another color. A very thin white light shone.


    "By the gods! It''s true!" The king saw and eximed.


    "Lord Kyros, the Nephilim, ising! Everyone! We should fight! He is bringing the armies of the Vey Woonds and Castle Rock with him!" Hems shouted.


    "You heard him! Make a decree to the nation! A mighty hero, the Nephilim, ising to save us! Everyone! We will fight! Hope remains!"


    The kingdom was alerted, and the pir of light that many noticed proved as a sign. Morale was back, and the kingdom prepared for war.

 Chapter 388 Saving Serpent Pond

    Kyros had returned to his armies and had a very serious expression.


    "Mechiel! Listrel! Lea! Unleash your powers! We have to fight to the strongest of our capabilities and get to Serpent Pond quickly! Aubrey! Rivarridon! On the arrival of the Rocs, select some of your strongest warriors and prepare to have their head out to Serpent Pond. Lea, you will be in charge of this army! Cminus! Activate the Haste spell! Everyone, I want teams to feed the Altar of Cminus quickly. Keep adding Brimstone to those Energy Formation Circles to keep the Haste spell up!" Kyros gave a series of orders.


    Everyone was stunned as they could see the urgency in Kyros''s eyes. His previous attitude of calmness was no more.


    "What happened?" Cminus asked as he began to cast a mass Haste Spell which increased the speed of the front lines.


    "Hems is here."


    "Hems?! Didn''t his soul dissipate...! Oh! That''s it! Where do souls go when it is destroyed? We now have an answer! It is purged to nothingness in a world of Brimstone!" Cminus eximed.


    "Exactly! But when Hems was sent here, and the moment I arrived, it created another change! He was freed! The brimstone beast from he had disappeared, and he turned back into a man! The power of Mysterion was in him through the Coven link we shared!"


    "That''s amazing! If his original Brimstone Beast form were killed, it would have been impossible to resurrect him as his soul would be drawn into another beast!"


    "It seems that we have to thank the goddess Fate for that! I now have a chance! I won''t ever lose any of my men in this timeline! None of my closest allies will die! I swear on it through Mysterion!" Kyros dered and even used Words of Power to say it!


    The form of the Light and Shade appeared once more, and Kyros prepared to fight.


    "Kyros. You''re too hasty." Listrel spoke.


    "Your action will cause Histerion to be curious. You said he''s back!"


    "He is already curious about my actions and has guessed that I want to reach Serpent Pond as quickly as possible. So don''t worry. We just have to go there as fast as we can. Listrel, join me." Kyros ordered as he took the hands of Mechiel and the trio began to fly to the sky.


    "Abined attack?" Listrel could guess what was going on.


    "I know you''ve been hiding it. But you awakened the power of Earth, right?" Kyros called out to Listrel.


    "There is no escaping your eyes, is there?" Listrel chuckled.


    "I didn''t mean to deceive you. On the contrary, I nned to give you a pleasant surprise."


    "I know. I would have let you keep it and surprised me with your progress, but we don''t have that luxury." Kyros exined.


    "What do we do?"


    "Through Mechiel and me, we can wield the power of Astra. The power to create a star. I harness the Celestial Code, and we attract the elements, and I use it to form Astra''s power. But that attack requires tremendous energy, and I would need my mage team, descendants, or inheritors of Astra''s name. So instead of that, we''ll focus on creating the star''s core. There is enough Brimstone energy here already to create the core."


    "Wait...! You''re crazy! I know your n! You want to create a ck hole!"


    "Yes." Kyros didn''t hide it.


    "It''s supposed to be one of my aces in the next battle, but I don''t have a choice. An ally of mine who died in that world is here! It''s a miracle! No matter what, I must save him!"


    "Is he as strong as Mechiel or me?"


    "No. He doesn''t have your potential."


    "Then heed my words, Kyros. Let him die. You''ve already done your best to save him this time! But you cannot go and show this power now! Especially when you can use it at a more strategic time! We are still fighting in a world doomed to end! So you have to consider the big picture!"


    "I am considering the big picture! I have to save him! That is the point of my power! Mysterion! The power to hide! This battle is a battle that will require generals and armies to fight End! There are some I can sacrifice, but my generals and lieutenants have to go with me! If I can''t hide them and send them to that time where Beginning and End will fight, we lose!" Kyros countered.


    Listrel was silenced at Kyros''s answers.


    "Ah! Whatever. You are Mysterion, and you are smart. I just hope that this isn''t personal."


    "It is personal. I won''t ever lose a close ally! Whether it is Mechiel or the least of my Covens! Listrel. You and Lea are now part of my allies. The two of you can fight and wage war when we get back. But I won''t ever let go of you two. When I call, you shall answer. And when troublees knocking down over you, even if it''s an Ancient God like Histerion, I will fight to protect you!" Kyros dered.


    Lea and Listrel were startled at Kyros''s deration.


    Mechiel felt a bit of jealousy, but she still smiled.


    "Listrel. Let''s do this. That Hems is a great hero. Even I want to save him and meet him. I never did. But I can tell. He is part of the core team of Kyros, just as you two are now." Mechiel exined.


    "...Fine. Let''s do this!" Listrel finally agreed.


    "Wield the power of the Earth. We will call on the power of Astra. And the Gravity of the Earth will be the channeling power."


    Suddenly, Swords of Light appeared and dove down to create numerous energy conversion circles on the ground below them.


    "Fill it with Brimstone! Quick!" Kyros ordered, and the soldiers acted.<sub> </sub>


    "Lea! Aubrey! Rivarridon! Keep the Brimstone Beast distracted! The moment we begin this, Histerion may act and force these creatures to fight."


    "Leave it to us," Lea answered.


    Finally, the trio began to harness the power.


    Everyone felt the fluctuations and was amazed as the powers of Fire, Light, Darkness, Brimstone, and the power of the Earth gathered. With these elements, Kyros began to do the impossible. He was creating a star!


    The Code of Astra was studied, and Kyros had already learned the basics. But now, he was trying something that even he wasn''t confident in being able to achieve.


    The moment they gathered the energy, the Brimstone Beast suddenly began to attack with great intensity, and beasts of terrifying powers emerged.


    p Lea was covered with the power of darkness and water and rushed out to meet the monstrosities that formed.</anda>


    The energy continued to gather and form as the threebined their powers.


    As they did, Kyros then sensed some powers off in the distance.


    It was as if several powerful creatures were looking at him.


    "Okto-Khefali." Kyros frowned as he could sense the power and tell that he has somehow reformed into a powerful beast.


    "Your day wille." Kyros focused on the task at hand and gathered the power.


    "Listrel! Add your power to it! Harness gravity!"


    "You say it like it is such an easy thing! I can do earth, but Gravity is not that simple!" Listrel cursed but then began to search for the earthen power within her. The energy conversion circles allowed her tomune with the power of Earth under her.


    "nesworld! You have suffered the burns of this beast! Fight with us just as Vey fought with us!" Kyros called out and used his Heretics skills and even charm.


    At that point, the surge of power increased, and Listrel found it.


    ---


    Job Acquired.


    Gravity Knight


    ---


    Listrel was among the high-borns of the neworld, and they naturally had a superior notification systempared to those on the Londs. Hers quickly identified a mythical job that has yet to appear in the nes World! She saw it and smiled.


    The leaf in her was helping her harness gravity.


    She poured out her power, and a small dark ball was formed in between the three of them that continued to hold hands.


    "Continue," Kyros ordered as he let go of the two and wielded the ck ball.


    The powers of Kyriachos appeared as Kyros imitated the gravity spells of Martha and began to increase the amount within the small ck ball.


    Finally, Kyros was satisfied as hemanded the two to stop.


    Listrel and Mechiel suddenly fell as they were drained of energy.


    "Perfect! With this, we can move faster and save Serpent Pond!" Kyros took the ball and flew towards the armies.


    When he reached deep into the millions of Brimstone beast, he threw it and retreated with all of his might.


    BOOM!


    A tremendous suction force appeared, and a massive ck ball that rippled out tremendous darkness exploded and devoured everything within ten kilometers.


    Millions of Brimstone Beast were gone just like that.


    Kyros fell from the sky and was falling into the army of men who were still fighting the Brimstone beasts at the front lines.


    Lea caught him.


    "...Lea. bring the rain."


    "I know. I''ve been doing it since you left. Leave everything to me." Lea answered as Kyros fainted.

 Chapter 389 Saving Water With Fire

    The massive attacks eliminated millions of Brimstone beasts almost instantly.


    But it drained Kyros, Mechiel, and Listrel.


    The elves and the demi-humans were shocked at the massive attack they witnessed.


    "That... That power!"


    "Amazing, aren''t they. Kyros and Mechiel are Champions. Listrel is at the Commander level. But that attack was something only a Crown could do!" Lea smiled.


    The attack was something that the previous Mind kings and cultivators could do. The strongest in the Minds were Conquerors. But most kingdoms in the Mind had such power to strike.


    "Crown?! Aren''t those attacks at Conqueror levels?!" Aubrey asked.


    "Oh... Sorry. I was speaking in Hignd or Nethend standards. Sorry." Lea chuckled.


    The group was amazed.


    "But even among Crowns, that was quite special. And now in this new world without Codes and Corruption is practically impossible to pull off."


    "I''ve never seen that form of power!" Rivarridon was amazed.


    "Me too. And that was using the power of darkness! It was a gravity-based attack! Listrel used the brimstone earth form against them. It was easily brought in and pulled by that attack. But the one that triggered the devouring process was the darkness." Lea was astounded that the power of Kyriachos created such a devouring power. In any case, our mission continues. Kyros told us to prepare a team to quickly fly over towards Serpent Pond. Send them! The rest of us will clear out these enemies and make haste to get there!"


    The armies moved as Kyros, Listrel, and Mechiel were ced upon a massive tform designed to pour out the power of life through the nts.


    The Rocs soon arrived after sending men back and forth thends to cultivate and increase its growth, and the new orders were given out.


    The High Bows were sent along with the best fighters of Castle Rock.


    The team flew out and passed through the great Brimstone Beasts in the far distance.


    In Serpent Pond, the battle had begun.


    The remaining waters were used and shot out the approaching Brimstone Beasts.


    The serpents swam and attacked the beasts as the tides rose, and the waves crashed on the group and receded.


    With the waters manipted by a few genius water mages, they were able to fight and attack the Brimstone Beasts through an aquatic battle.


    The hardening of the Brimstone Beast made them slower and easier targets for the team.


    Hems was at the very front of the battlefield battling alongside the lizardman. He would ride the wave with a board and deliver a strong attack with a long spear that the lizardman used.


    His two memories were merging. The fighting skills that he had honed and achieved in the past life had allowed him to have the strength that was close to bing a Champion. But the short but sweet memories of his fight leading to the Thane Dragons were causing him to improve his ability to fight.


    "Why can''t I feel it? Fate Challenger is not working here!" Hems cursed.


    Numerous Brimstone Beast charged at him, but he began to stab his spear as he retreated.


    More rushed in, and he had no choice but to jump back at the water where some men couldn''t cultivate pulled him back.


    Many of the warriors had this set up which allowed them to fight.


    Hems arrived back at shore.


    "Three more..." Hemsughed.


    "I can''t keep up with you!" A lizardman frowned.


    "My constant attacks on them are already hurting me! How can you resist the heat?" the lizardman next to him asked.


    "Heal up and stay in the inner pools to cool down. You''ve been overexposed to the heat." One of the doctors observed, and the lizardman nodded and was reced with another fighter.


    "Master Hems. Are you not affected?" The doctor asked curiously.


    The warrior who fought next to Hems was a Champion! And yet he had to retreat. But Hems could already outfight several warriors who took the post as those who fought in the front lines and didn''t suffer burn wounds!


    "I don''t know... I don''t feel anything. It''s supposed to hurt, right?" Hems asked.


    "Yes. Look at my men. They suffer burns from constant exposure. Could it be...? Because you were once brimstone, you have a body of brimstone?" The doctor asked.


    Hems was surprised at the words of the doctor. But it made sense!


    "What...!" Hems was amazed at the realization.


    "Amazing!" A young teen who was aiding in pulling the ropes nced at Hems.<sub> </sub>


    "Send me back in. I want to try something..." Hems took the board and were prepared to dive in.


    The water mages created the ripple of magic and were about to send another wave of water.


    Hems surfed his way into the front lines, and many lizardmen swam and made a jumping attack to stab the foes. The Champions aimed for Champion Brimstone, and Hems naturally fought the weaker minions.


    Hems slew one but didn''t retreat immediately and fought harder, diving deeper into the ranks of Brimstone beasts as he shed and sliced the brimstone beasts and shed off its limb.


    The warriors were confused. They were thought to fight and stab the core of the Brimstone Beast as cutting its limbs won''t do much damage and will only make the beast regenerate.


    But Hems made onest attack and severed a small part of the Brimstone beast''s hands. He made a quick stab at killing the Brimstone beast and then rushed in and took the small severed hand of brimstone!


    "What?!" Everyone watching Hems was stunned.


    "Ow! It''s hot." Hemsined as he retreated and dove into the waters.


    He was being pulled back, but as he appeared, everyone felt the heat.


    Hems were still clutching onto the Brimstone piece.


    "It''s a bit hot. So I might get burned if I hold on to it for a long time. But... this proves it. I am resistant to it!" Hems had a smile on his face.


    "Master Hems! You have a brimstone-resistant body because you once were brimstone!" The doctor eximed.


    "That''s probably it. But I wonder... If I am a Vampire Brimstone, does that mean I can drink the blood of those beasts?" Hems wondered.


    "What?! That''s not possible!"


    "It''s possible, alright. In my two memories, the memories with lord Kyros are more memorable than the lifetime I had in my other memory. But it was that memory that I remembered the most! The impossible was possible with him! I am a Vampire Ancient through his blood!"


    "An Ancient?! Do you understand what you are saying?!"


    "Yes! I do! I do now! Back then, when I met Lord Kyros, I didn''t understand the ranks of vampires. But in the long life here, I do! Kyros holds the blood of a Fallen! The Fanged Fallen! We drank his blood! We could be a Vampire Ancient! And if I am that, and I can eat the brimstone, then it''s possible!" Hems smiled.


    "I want to find out too. Master Hems, I''ll assist you in capturing a Brimstone Beast. We''ll go fishing. We catch one, weaken it, and you can try drinking its blood inside the cool pool inside." A Champion lizardman offered.


    "That''s an amazing n! Let''s catch one of the weaker ones first!" Hemsughed.


    And so the group did so andunched an attack.


    Hems severed a Brimstone Beast in half, and the other skewered the beast and retreated.


    Themotion was noticeable to the other fighters nearby as they witnessed Hems and two Lizardman carry a Brimstone beast with no arms and legs!


    "What''s going on here?!" A Commander inside the cool pool asked.


    "Trust me,mander!" Hemsughed as they threw the Brimstone beast in the cold water.


    The Brimstone Beast roared in pain, but Hems borrowed a de and chipped the beast''s chest, revealing the core.


    He stabbed it and took a small portion of the core, and the Brimstone beast squealed.


    "Here goes nothing!" Hems bit on the molten liquid!


    "AHHHH!" Hems shouted in pain as he felt the fire burn and sweep in his body.


    But as he had expected, he then felt the power spreading in!


    "Damn, that burns! But it''s working! It''s working!" Hems stabbed the sword and ate a bigger chunk.


    Everyone was shocked at what they saw. Hems kept feeding on the Brimstone beasts and screamed in pain and would even dip himself down in the water to drink it.


    But his bites grew more and more, and he devoured the entire core.


    Hems could feel the power coursing out and directing the energy, and when he opened his mouth, a strange heat could be seen. His very mouth now had Brimstone element!


    "Get me another one!" Hems ordered.


    "It''s working! I am gaining a body more resistant to Brimstone! Hurry!" Hems shouted.


    "I''ll do it! We''re capturing another weaker one and a Champion level!" The Commander eximed. He had connected the dots and understood the intention.


    "This is amazing! Someone report this news to the king! Hems can save this pond with fire!"

 Chapter 390 Saving Those Sure To Die

    The battle in Serpent Pond continued, and the waters they used to defend themselves. But now, they had an even greater advantage and did not constantly send wave attacks which would cause their waters to dry up.


    This was because someone now was able to battle within the front lines, And yet there was still an endless amount of Brimstone beasts.


    After absorbing the core of a Champion Brimstone Beast, Hems''s appearance had changed. However, his arms and his legs which he would use to fight the beast had already changed.


    With it, Hems was able to fight constantly and wound the beasts, and even punch them!


    His resistance in Brimstone had reached a point that he wasn''t affected by it unless high-leveled Brimstone Champions would be his opponent.


    With him dealing with the weaker ones, the lizardman would focus on sending more of their men to deal with a Champion using four or five men.


    BANG!


    An ambush made by a brimstone champion was made, and his punch sent Hems retreating.


    The team assigned to save Hems rushed out and used the waves to throw them closer and attack the champion.


    Another pulled back Hems, who was close to losing his consciousness. The Brimstone in his body had disappeared, and Hems was too weak to fight.


    The lizardman rushed back and swam through the waters and brought Hems back to safety.


    Hems were too weak to keep fighting and no longer had the strength.


    "I''m... sorry. I can''t fight anymore..." Hemsughed in bitterness. He did his best, but the punishment and attacks he could deal with was only so much. There was nothing that could replenish his strength in this world.


    "Lord Hems. There are more who are also dying and wish to fight back. But they can fight back through you."


    "...?" Hems was confused at the words of the man.


    "You are a vampire. You can drain the life of people, correct?"


    "...!"


    "Have you heard of the phenomena called Sacrifice? It is a powerful magic that bestows one of the greatest magic that takes away and devours life. The more joyous the soul is, the more powerful the magic behind it bes."


    "You... can''t be... serious...?"


    "See for yourselves and decide." So the lizardman brought him to the room to see all those dying.


    Within the room were hundreds of lizardmen and people of other races who had severe wounds.


    The wounds of these men looked terrifying, and seeing some of them allowed Hems to realize that there was no hope for them.


    "Master Hems. I held on to life for you..." A lizardman champion smiled. He had a terrifying hole in his torso. Thankfully, his heart was not struck but could be seen slowly beating at the side of this hole.


    "We... waited for you to return."


    "...No... I can''t...!" Hems began to weep as he saw the many willing souls.


    "Please...! Master Hems! We want to keep fighting...!" Another dying one pleaded.


    p "Do not worry about us. Don''t you know? The element of Brimstone... brings joy! This is one of our most joyful moments. We fought to keep... our loved ones alive. And hope is arriving!"</anda>


    Hems didn''t know what to say as he heard those words. The number of people before them pleaded.


    "I..." Hems could not find it in his will to kill and devour these men.


    Suddenly, a figure appeared over the groups of people.


    "Then perhaps, I can help myself to some to encourage you."


    The groups were alerted at what they saw, and many picked up their spears.


    "Rx. I am an ally of the Nephilim. The one who created that pir of light."


    Suddenly, cheers could be heard from afar.


    "They are here! A roc has arrived!"


    "Elves! Powerful Force-users!"


    "There are powerful Demi-human force users as well!" The cries could be heard.


    "I came here since I sensed the desire of Sacrifice." Lea held out her hand, and a small ck cloud appeared.


    "I have the power to bring back the rains. Thisnd will prosper. Seeds and nts will sprout through me."


    Suddenly, thunder was heard, and a sh of lightning shed white colors could be seen from afar.


    "White lightning! The rain! It''s back! Look at those clouds!" A lizardman eximed.


    "You may choose who to offer your life. I have brought back the rain. This man wields the Brimstone." Lea made his offer.


    "My Lady... Can''t it be... that..."


    "You know why you wield that power and how you managed to travel here?" Lea suddenly asked.


    "What?"


    "I sense Sacrifice in you as well. You gave yourself up in that other world, right? Is this why Lord Kyros regards you with such importance?"<sub> </sub>


    "I..."


    "You gave your life willingly, correct?"


    "Yes... Anything for thedy of my lord!"


    "ept their offering. It''s an insult if you don''t. You will definitely grow stronger. You are his Coven, after all." Lea then moved to the center and revealed her true Grendelor form.


    "I am an ally of the master of this man. I am Princess Lea Olethros. Daughter of Necron Olethros. King of the Nethends. And I have been brought here by the Nephilim to drench this world with water." Lea dered.


    "It''s her! It''s really her!" One of the necromancers who had survived the cmity and took refuge in thends eximed.


    "My friends! You who are about to die... Give yourselves to her! She brought the rain! She is Lea Olethros!" The necromancer eximed.


    Many of the dying lizardmen smiled.


    "But I will only take those who are truly willing. Your noble Sacrifice is stronger the more joyful you are when you give your souls up. Giving your life to this man is equally good. He is the man who has be Brimstone to fight for is! We will both restore this world! Those who are happiest in offering their lives to me, tell me. And I will take you."


    A few hands immediately shot up into the air.


    Some were shouting as they did, but they raised their hands in joy.


    Lea quickly acted as she moved, and her form turned into arger version of herself with more grotesque forms, arge mouth that bit and instantly killed the people who volunteered. Lea quickly swallowed the dead and didn''t leave a drop of blood or show the poor state of those killed.


    Hems watched in horror, but he was the only one with such expression. The lizardman who died cheered as they heard numerous shes of lightning erupt at the back and could feel the growing power of Lea.


    Lea appeared before Hems once more and reverted to her normal form. Her appearance was more beautiful, and a strange essence of dark water appeared all over her.


    "Hurry up. Most of them chose you to be the ones who will carry on with their will. Save them from a painful death. Your act of absorbing them won''t kill them. They will live in you. You are Brimstone, and you have seen how those Brimstone beasts keep the souls of the dead in them. The act of draining their life is your act of saving those who are sure to die."


    Hems stood in silence as Lea went back to devouring more and more of those who raised their hands and smiled even as Lea ate them up.


    Hems finally moved and approached the champion who was closest to dying.


    "Give those brimstone beasts hell through me..." The champion smiled.


    Hems raised his hand the blood de formed.


    But his sword had blood that appeared to be molten!


    STAB!


    Hems stabbed at the champion, who instantly died as his sword began to absorb more and more of the champion''s blood.


    A small Brimstone energy began to form near Hems heart. And it was slowly getting stronger.


    Hems began to stab those willing, and this small energy became a tiny wisp of Brimstone.


    As Hems killed more and more, it solidified and finally took form.


    A Brimstone Elemental Core had formed and housed the souls of these men.


    Hems left the room enraged by what he had done. The rain had already fallen over him, and as it touched him, it began to release steam.


    BOOM!


    Hems made a powerful leap as his powers had surpassed the levels of a Champion.


    BANG!


    His punch stabbed through and broke the core of a Champion beast!


    Hems held on to the broken core of the beast and harnessed the Brimstone energy.


    Several forms began to break to take shape around him! Several Brimstone beasts had risen.


    "Lord Hems! Retreat!" A young soldier eximed.


    "It cannot be...! That form!" A nearby lizardman shouted.


    It was then that the young soldier noticed that the brimstone beast that formed next to him had the appearance of a lizardman!


    Four champion-level brimstone beasts were standing around him.


    Hems had in four lizardman champions and many captains, and even more warriors below the captain level. But his current form could create four champions at most.


    "Let''s go!" Hems roared as he and his brimstone summons began to fight.


    Those who witnessed the fight began to cry louder as their morale rose high.


    Lea smiled as he saw this.


    "As expected of Kyros''s allies. They are all freaks!" Sheughed and harnessed the power of Dark water.


    Several dark figures rose from the waters nearby. They also took the form of lizardmen!


    The kingdom cheered as they saw it. From their perspective, death won''t end their service to the army that would save the nesworld.


    "Everyone! Keep fighting! The main army will be here soon!" Lea shouted.

 Chapter 391 Finding The Source Of Water

    At the arrival of Lea, the battle against the swarming forces of Brimstone had switched to the favor of the team.


    The biggest support was the rain that Lea brought. After killing the Brimstone Beasts with the ck hole attack, thend was cleansed of the heat, and the rains quickly returned. But Lea did not allow the rain to fall but used her powers to quickly send the storm forward.


    The advantage was that there was still a portion of thend that had not run out of water. This ce allowed the storm to move in deeper and faster. There was also a strange force within the waters that Lea could feel resonating with her.


    The rain had reached them, and a shocking amount of water was falling beyond the battle and was already causing the Brimstone Beasts to harden and slow down on their march.


    Lightning bolts began to attack thanks to the Castle Rock wizards who had managed to recreate the call of lightning. Most Castle Rock warriors were fire, and lightning was among their elemental affinity.


    Using the dark clouds above, bolts of lightning began to attack Champions.


    The arrival of Lea was also timely as numerous Siege cultivators had started to appear!


    With the water and the cold storm, the fighters of Castle Rock were able to fight longer and aided Hems at the front line.


    The warriors rushed in andughed as they felt the cold bing their armor.


    The reptilian races were amazed at the hardy forms of the Demi-Humans that could fight four times longer than them!


    "Everyone! Do not fight to your death anymore! Focus on surviving! The embers of the elves and the demi-humans from afar can be seen! Their army ising!" The king ordered.


    The High Bows fought from the top of the tallest towers and used their devices to shoot and aim at the Brimstone Beast.


    Their arrows could travel a great distance and even used the wind of the storm against them to send the bows even further and kill the beasts.


    The lizardmen were amazed at the nts that rose on their ground and became a catapult.


    "We call this a ntapult. Use whatever rubble and rocks you find, and we can shoot them at the enemies. The rain has made them slower and harder. But an attack from this height could deform the creatures and slow them down." A High Bow exined and made the people who couldn''t cultivate to use the ntapult and gave them the means to shoot and fight.


    The Castle Rock cultivators brought in Cold Steel for the Commander-level lizardmen, who could now fight longer.


    The cold steel would also heal them, and the rain increased its powers.


    Lea continued to watch the skies and could tell that their advantage was sure.


    More Rocs had arrived as it continued to bring more men into the sea.


    The exhausted body of Kyros, Mechiel, and Liathel had arrived, and Hems was called back.


    "Lord Kyros! He''s grown!" Hems were amazed as he saw Kyros.


    "Yes. He fought someone who could decay time and tried to kill him by aging him. But he managed to fight back. However, the Kyros you met here was this man''s previous life. He is like you. Or, to be more specific, it''s because of him that you have two lives.."


    "So that''s what it was! I can understand now! Lord Kyros lived in this world at first, transferred to that other time, where we met earlier!"


    "That''s right. His most recent attack took a huge toll on them. The power to create the ck hole and wipe out the numerous Brimstone had taken up a lot in him. He hasn''t awakened since he threw it. So until then, the burden of leading this army falls to me."


    "Then I shall follow mydy''s will." Hems bowed.


    "When the armies of Castle Rock and Vey arrive, we will be preparing another massive attack. We have to keep marching east. The more Kingdoms we save, the greater the chances of surviving this apocalypse. Hems. Lizard King, defend as much as you can until the main army arrives. And when they do, start marching east. We have to hurry. We have to kill as much as we can and rescue as many as possible. The source of the Brimstone apocalypse is a god called Histerion. He is the keeper of the Scroll of History itself."


    "It sounds like Lord Kyros fought more amazing foes since I passed away."


    "Indeed. That''s why we need to keep pressing onwards. Lizard King, I seek the secret heritage of water that lies in this fortress. I can sense that a Code has been spared here."


    "A Code?"


    "Yes. What has caused these waters to keep flowing? I am starting to understand Fate and can tell that there is something beneath Serpent Pond that can help me harness an even greater power."


    "The source of water is our very source of life. We owe it all to that power to survive!"


    "And that''s what I need. The elves have abandoned Vey. You should know what that is to them. But when they did, Lord Kyros revealed to them that Vey wanted his children to be safe. So we marched out here to gather more forces. What we seek to save is the nesworld itself. It is dying. That is why the elves have left. You must have seen their form. The World Wood Tree gave the power to them. I believe the same thing can happen here." Lea exined.


    "I... understand. I will lead you to the heart of the Serpent in this Pond. The Leviathan dwells within it."


    "A Leviathan? They exist?"<sub> </sub>


    "The truth is Serpent''s Pond has always been the home of a strong dragon who attained the heretic god status. It is said that it received a tremendous wound and fled and died back in this pond. And that is how the waters continuously flow. But it has been dead for so long... until around two years ago!"


    "Two years ago? Perfect!" Lea smiled.


    "Perfect?"


    "Yes. The power it hasbined into two! The power of a dead Leviathan should not be enough to cause this. But I believe two ago, the conflict of the gods forced a Water God to flee here. And in all the nesworld, this ce is the perfect home for it to stay!"


    "A Water God lies down there?!" Hems was amazed.


    "No. It used to stay there. But now, that god had traversed time and went to the timeline when you met Kyros. But its Code remains! And that ce is the perfect ce to understand and learn water!" Lea exined.


    "I don''t understand..." The lizard king was confused.


    "Where is it?" Lea asked excitedly as she took Mechiel.


    "I''ll show you." The king led Lea, and the two went over to the throne room, where the coolest of water would spring out.


    The king had Lea stand near the center of the throne room where the waters sprang out, and he gave the orders, and the guards began to pull several levers.


    The area around the hole where the water sprang out opened, revealing a spiraling staircase.


    Lea followed the king inside.


    Soon, they arrived at the ce deep underground in the kingdom.


    There in the underground cavern, was a small pathway that revealed the underwater channels of Serpent Pond. And there were the bones of the Leviathan.


    Lea nced at the massive bones thaty there.


    "I know this is holy ground to you. But send me inside. The future of the nes world depends on this." Lea urged.


    "...Alright." The lizard king agreed and directed Lea to the chamber where she could directly dive into the waters.


    She ced Mechiel inside and moved into the room where she could enter the sacred grounds.


    The lizardman began to pull various levers that closed the door behind Lea to change the pressure in the room, and a small opening emerged where she could dive in.


    Lea dove into the water and felt a strange power calling out to her.


    She moved towards the location where the heart of the Leviathan would be. And there, the source of the bursting water was found.


    It was as if water was just bursting forth from the center of the Leviathan''s chest. There was nothing there, but water came out.


    As Lea approached, she could feel the strong current pushing her back! Even with her strength, she couldn''t move closer and closer. And yet, she felt as if the power at the center of this ce was hers.


    But as Lea approached, memories of a battle that didn''t make sense began to ur. Memories that had vanished in the purging of time and memories that were supposed to be forgotten were recalled.


    It wasn''t even Lea''s memories. But she remembered what the Greater God saw.


    "Hydron!" Lea somehow learned the name and saw his memories.


    But at that moment, in the vast emptiness of the purged worlds that had fallen because of Brimstone...


    Darkness began to gather and created a form of a man.


    The man had no face and only an outline. He was like a living shadow. And he was a being that could never be known. Not even End or Beginning recalls this Fallen. Only the god Histerion knows of his name.


    "Someone... remembers..." The being spoke and began to move.


    While the being emerged, Histerion continued to gather his army and march towards the Walls that Endured. However, his armies were pushing forward, and the High Lands were forced to throw everything they had.


    Histerion gazed at the distant sky and smiled.


    "I was hoping this would happen. Lanthanou has appeared!"

 Chapter 392 Finding Them Alive

    Another day had passed, and the terrors that the kingdom of Serpent Pond faced had ended.


    The kings and queens had gathered at the throne and were happily discussing and telling of each other''s journey.


    "King King Lizard 3... It''s good to see you still alive." King Rivarridon Rock smiled.


    "King Rivarridon Rock and the beautiful High Elf Queen Aubrey! It seems well have our astounding journeys to tell!" King Lizard 3 nced at the two and could see the amazing changes they had in demeanor. Everyone had gotten weaker when the Codes and Corruption were lost. Rivarridon seemed to be as strong as he once was and Aubrey looked as she had gotten immensely stronger than before!


    "It''s all thanks to Lord Miracle and his allies." Rivarridon smiled.


    "Indeed. Had Lord Hems not been here to tell us, we would have given up."


    "But our meeting is not to be celebrated. If that god called Histerion is back, it means we are in trouble. That god is the one who controls the brimstone. And with him, the Brimstone Beast develops ways of growing more and more powerful! He underestimated Lord Miracle so much thest time. But if he gathers his Brimstone beasts and prepares for it, we would be facing Cardinals soon."


    "Lady Lea already informed me of that, and our men are ready to make the charge. The power of water has increased since she went down there."


    "This means the rains will be heavier! Then we have to establish a supply route. Thanks to Brimstone beasts, it''s very easy to travel, and the roads are pretty much t. We have to hurry and create it. Your kingdom will be the bastion to sprout trees and have food for all of us. With the deep waters in your pond, Lady Lea should be able to harness dark water and create a ce to cultivate dark-dependent nts! The demi-humans are more dependent on it and can grow stronger." Aubrey answered.


    "King King Lizard 3. Have my team arrived here?" Rivarridon asked.


    "Yes! The first group of rocs did arrive months ago. They should be on their way back here. But... seeing the millions of beasts, I don''t think it is possible for the High Lands to save us..." King Lizard 3 answered.


    "Yes. Lord Kyros believes that those Pegasus who told us to hold off were lying. Their intention was to boost our morale, so we would do our best to hold off. This would lessen the number of enemies they face."


    Lizard King 3 frowned.


    "I understand their intentions... But that was... cruel. My people hoped for them."


    "As did ours. But now we have Lord Miracle, and we intend to be the ones to save them!" Rivarridon smiled.


    "Let''s get to work then! I want to see those High Land pricks see what it''s like to be saved by the bait left to die!"


    The armies began to make it push, and constant fighting was happening.


    Yet even when the Brimstone Beast began to change its form, the power of water and the return of rain had brought life back to thend.


    About a day''s journey beyond the front lines, several wearied Rocs were flying.


    It was the toon of demi-humans that had ventured off Castle Rock to ask for support from the High Lands. But instead, they had numerous allies that decided to fly with them to aid their kingdoms.


    The state of each surviving kingdom was grim. But even then, the warriors that journeyed with the demi-humans to fight and die in their homnd were resolved to jump off.


    The team even aided one particr kingdom, which had a siege brimstone cultivator. They managed to save the kingdom and clear the current horde, but it was determined that they would die within the next month unless a miracle urred.


    But as they flew towards Serpent Pond, they were horrified to see the millions of brimstone beasts that marched west.


    The more they saw, the more they wondered how to survive this.


    "The other kingdoms had fewer Brimstone Beasts because they were marching to Serpent Pond or Castle Rock..." One of the lizardmen sighed.


    "Serpent Pond was in a much better statepared to my Castle Rock... But with these hordes of beasts..." The demi-human Margie had grim hopes. But, in a very selfish moment, she had hoped that Serpent Pond had bought Castle Rock more time as they would face these millions.


    "...If Serpent Pond has fallen..." Another demi-human dared to ask the question.


    "If it has... then I''ll die fighting in Castle Rock." A Lizardmanmander did his best to give his smile.


    "Hm? Clouds?" A demi-human shouted and pointed at the distance.


    "Rain?!"


    "How has rainfall on the parchnds?"


    "I heard that when the Brimstone Cmity fell, Serpent pond''s waters had risen and produced more power. Could it be?" Margie recalled her talk with King Lizard 3.


    But as they moved closer into the vast darkness of the storm, they saw a strange battle.


    A massive pir of wood and steel flew like an arrow on the ground and cleared hundreds of Brimstone beasts instantly. Even the champion brimstone beast was in as the strange pir of wood that had wheels rushed with great speed.


    Several more plowed the ground and slew hundreds and hundreds more.


    In a few seconds, thousands of Brimstone Beasts had fallen.<sub> </sub>


    Numerous wooden beasts and hundreds of knights charged through the gaps that the pirs formed, and an army of elves, demi-humans, and lizardmen rushed in the gap.


    The massive golems kept shooting harpoons of metal that rained on Brimstone beasts, and the harpoons would be pulled back in with a brimstone core harvested.


    Many mechs would travel and collect the cores that were acquired and brought back.


    As the rocs flew further, it met another roc approaching it.


    "Champion Margie!" A demi-human cheered.


    The two rocs met on-air, and Lesly jumped to ride the roc.


    "Lesly?! You''re ok!"


    "Champion Margie! Thank goodness you are safe!"


    "What happened here?!" Margie and the rest were all shocked.


    They expected a broken fort with their allies dead. But they were surprised to see that they not only found their allies to be alive and well, but they were also even pushing back! Serpent''s Pond was not even on the horizon!


    "Is Serpent Pond safe?!" A lizardmanmander asked.


    "Wow! Commanders! Yes! They are all safe!"


    "But how did this happen?"


    "Oh! A vampire, a knight, and a demon fell from the sky with a demon-god hybrid. They talked to a tree and convinced the elves to fight and save us. And thanks to a man who used to be a brimstone beast, we saved Serpent Pond on time. The demon-god hybrid, the vampire, and the knight are resting after creating a ck hole while the demon is now meditating on the Leviathan."


    "What?"


    Leslyughed.


    "It''s really like that. You''ll catch up! We are marshaling an army now to head towards the center of the Minds. Oh right, was there anything strange you noticed on the way here? How is the progress of the other kingdoms? Can we save them? Are there many brimstone beasts that can fly the air?" The demi-human asked Margie a series of questions.


    "What?"


    "Please, Champion Margie. I was sent here to ask you."


    "Oh! The kingdoms are in danger. They probably won''tst long, another week."


    "Another week... So that means we will have to send more people ahead... It''s good that you have returned with the rocs. Have the rocs park at those massive tforms. With the magic runes that Lord Miracle made, it can heal the rocs. We''ll be sending men to fight them."


    Margie was brought into thending zone, and they could see an army exceeding a hundred thousand fight off and face the Brimstone Beast.


    "Amazing... This formation... Our men are constantly healed, and they return to the battlefield!"


    "Yes! The elves are the strongest around here. We thought that they would resist the heat because of their affinity to nts. But it turns out their real alignment is earth, which is close to brimstone. Since we have a Brimstone ally among us, a few elves have been training to use brimstone! It still hurts them, but if they keep fighting and training and increase their Brimstone resistance, they can eventually fight for weeks without needing to retreat."


    "What?! They can wield brimstone?"


    "Oh! Sorry! I''m getting ahead of myself. Right now, it''s only Master Hems that can wield brimstone. But we''re sure when Lord Miracle awakens, he can train people to fight using brimstone!" Lesly chuckled.


    "Who is Lord Miracle?"


    "He''s... Oh... Um... he''s..."


    "Who is that on therge tform? It seems that his blood has spilled all over the floor." A lizardmanmander asked.


    Lesly was confused and nced at thergest healing tform. And it was only then that she remembered.


    "Lord Miracle!" She shouted and rushed towards the tform.


    "Quick! Increase the healing! Lord Miracle is dying!" Lesly should.


    Cminus heard the cries and found the blood of Kyros.


    "Kyros! A dream attack?! Who?! Damn it! [Time Stop]!" Cminus cast powerful magic and stopped the flow of True Time in Kyros.

 Chapter 393 Finding The Forgotten

    A few minutes prior to the arrival of Margie''s party...


    Kyros was lost in the deep darkness of a strange world.


    The attack that they sent out that formed a dark hole was an attack that vastly surpassed what they could do. In that attack, Kyros had to use his two cores. His Light and Dark core were used, and [Phos Eis Skotos] was used to turn Light into darkness.


    But the result of that power created darkness beyondprehension.


    Everyone fell into an exhausted state, and their bodies were too tired and drained as they were out of energy.


    Their internal injuries were also great, as the raging element they allowed to the course in their bodies caused numerous ruptures and wounds.


    But the truth was, they had already recovered a day ago. Under Lea''s orders, the team had already been on the massive healing tform that was using the Brimstone cores as a source to use the souls trapped within and heal the team.


    The energy formation circle itself was a thing of horrors that was only used by the Eldrich race.


    Yet unknown to everyone, a subtle power was at work that was making everyone forget about them!


    They were supposed to awaken soon, and even Lea told them when they would, but it did not ur. And yet, everyone was constantly battling as they had forgotten who was on that tform.


    When Kyros, Mechiel, and Listrel harnessed the power to create a ck hole, they found themselves falling into a strange state simr to the Dark Maddening. But because of Kyros''s power and the Light Core he had, he was confident that he could pull everyone out.


    They used that world to train in the darkness and for Listrel to understand the inverse elements and learn from them to gain more resistance.


    But as the group continued to meditate on the vast darkness, they found themselves being separated from each other, and they all fell into a deep sleep.


    Little did Kyros know, the world they were in was not the same darkness that Kyros fell into when he met Kyriachos. Instead, it was simr to the world of Kyriachos, but it had an even more sinister aspect.


    The darkness that was around him was not just a void in space. It wasn''t just nothingness that had no light. It was the darkness of no existence. It was a realm beyond the created and was a ce that no one could physically travel to.


    It wasn''t in any rift, in any portal, or any cracks within the spacial realm. Instead, it was in a ce that had been created.


    Slowly, Kyros was falling deep into the strange world of this darkness, and he was being affected by it.


    His existence and thought were slowly disappearing into the vast ckness.


    It was then that the hunter began to move.


    A being of darkness formed and was moving to erase every form of memory of this being.


    "Quite a tough one... Your ties to everyone are quite strong. It''s very hard to have everyone forget about you." The sinister creature approached.


    It raised its arm, and it transformed into long needles that looked simr to the forms of the Shadow Ghouls.


    It then stabbed its de out towards Kyros.


    BOOM!


    The Balefire sword of Kyros appeared in his hands and met the enemy''s attack. But during the many wars and massacres, the sword of Balefire had evolved once more. From being able to use fire and entropy, the new sword that Kyros forged during his stay in Castle Rock could now be a sword of Brimstone!


    And this sword and cloak were now tied to Kyros''s soul.


    Darkness had met Brimstone which was one of its most loathed enemies.


    But despite the sudden attack of Kyros, which managed to purge half of the arm of the being, the being onlyughed as it retreated.


    "How intelligent! You already sensed my attack from the start! I see now... Mysterion!" The beingughed as it became one with the darkness around you.


    "Who are you?! Why have you attacked me and..." Kyros roared but realized he was having difficultypleting his sentence.


    "And... And...! What did you do to me?!" Kyros shouted angrily. He had realized that he was supposed to have allies here, but they vanished! And he couldn''t even remember who it was.


    "Having trouble remembering? That''s normal. And even if I wanted to tell you who I am, I can''t. It is my nature to do so. Only Histerion knows my name."


    "...You! Then you are...! Rumpelstiltskin?"


    "...Ugh. So Cminus is with you? That old coot made the same joke when we met. Of course, I doubt he will remember."


    "You are Forgetfulness?"


    "I am the being that allows memories to fade. I am that which makes creation forget its experience. I am the one that makes all things fleeting."


    "Of course... If this world is doomed to burn in brimstone, the gods and fallen would still be able to remember this ce! And yet, only Cminus can remember... This means that this world doomed for destruction is also a world that is doomed to be forgotten! You are the opposite of Histerion! Histerion purges this world with Brimstone! He makes all things ashes! But you are what devours it all and makes it nothing!"<sub> </sub>


    "As expected of Mysterion. The Goddess of Wisdom may be the only being who is constantly aware of me apart from Histerion."


    "If your name is forgotten, I shall give you another name, so I shall always remember! Oblivion!"


    "Oblivion? How quaint."


    "Would you rather be called Skyrim? Or Morrowind?" Kyrosughed.


    "Hm? You''re buying time, aren''t you?"


    "Me... Mechiel! I remember!" Kyros suddenly flew as his dark wings expanded out, and he flew towards a certain point of the darkness as Kyros managed to recall it. Ever since he was in the darkness and had forgotten everyone, the power of Charm was calling out. It called out and cried in desperation, for it could not ept being forgotten.


    Kyros had already lost his memories in the ce to the point that all he did was try to survive. It wasn''t only until Oblivion appeared that he finally understood his enemy and began concentrating on trying to remember.


    And there, he caught the ripples and tears of the Charmed fallen that did not wish to be forgotten in its vanity.


    "Xarmolipi! Of course!" Oblivion cursed as his form changed, and a massive ck ball withrge tentacles became his form.


    Kyros began to charge out, and the tentacles began to reach out and whip out at him.


    The Brimstone Sword erupted in energy as his light arm was fueling it, and Kyros began to sh back and fly in search of her.


    "Mechiel!" Kyros began to shout as he flew and escaped the tentacles of the massive creature.


    But as Kyros kept shouting the name, another person woke up. The name of Mechiel had spurred the memories in Listrel. And as the power of the Charmed Fallen cried out in desperation, Listrel began to remember.


    "Damn it... I nearly... died!" Listrel shouted as she could see her body turning into a transparent form.


    "I''ve already died in this timeline! I won''t die again!" Listrel roared in anger as she harnessed the power of the leaf in her soul.


    "I need... power!" She shouted as she realized she couldn''t move. She could see the battle from as far as the darkness could not hide the fires of Brimstone.


    "Calm down...! Calm down and remember!" Listrel could feel the power making her mind fall into a trance.


    "This is a different kind of Dark maddening! Do not give in! This is a soul realm!" Listrel began to remind herself of everything Kyros exined when they reached here.


    "I was already close to using it! This soul realm can benefit my leaf! That was what Kyros said! The power of Skotosynthesis! And if I feed my nt, it could give birth to live! Our real bodies are being healed by Brimstone cores! In theory... I can do something simr Skotos Eis Phos...! I am a leaf of the Yggdrasil! Make my body the tree and this darkness the soil! Summon the brimstone and burn the leaf! In this soul realm, I''ll turn myself into a burning bush!" Listrel closed her eyes and wielded the energy in her to empower the light.


    But as she gathered more and more energy, what she was able to summon was not the light. Instead, her soul birthed Brimstone as the leaf caught on fire.


    VOOOSH!


    Her entire form began to burn with strange fire, and the mes pierced the darkness.


    "...Listrel!" Kyros recalled her name, and Kyros charged towards where Listrel was.


    The powers affecting and causing Listrel to be forgotten are purged away.


    "Listrel! Reflect my light!"


    "Yes!" Listrel answered.


    Kyros held his sword with his two hands.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!" Kyros shouted and sent out a massive beam of light towards Listrel.


    With Listrel''s soul recovering, she harnessed the energy and power she had already mastered.


    A massive mirror appeared, and the light was reflected.


    FLASH!


    A bright light shone all over the ce and caused the darkness of Oblivion to flee.


    As the light illuminated the area, it struck a certain body floating in the darkness and caused her to awaken.


    The light had shed on her, and she could finally move. Unlike Listrel and Kyros, Mechiel only had the darkness with her. And so she had no other means to fight this ce.


    "Kyros! Help!" Mechiel managed to cry out.

 Chapter 394 Finding The Light

    Kyros knew that Mechiel would have no way ofbating the darkness with her powers and could only use Charm out of desperation.


    When she managed to cry out, Kyros quickly activated his powers to speed towards the location where he heard the sound.


    He could feel the insane power constantly making her forget her allies.


    Kyros kept repeating the two names repeatedly as he charged towards the source of the sound and battled the massive dark creature that was chasing him as fast as he could.


    The attack that was reflected and created a strong surge of light eradicated the form of the darkness that was chasing them.


    "That hurt..." A voiceughed at a distance.


    Kyros continued to chase Mechiel and knew that a simple attack like that wouldn''t be enough to kill Oblivion.


    Soon the darkness began to gather, and it took the form of a human being from afar.


    The figure of a man was shown. The man was unkempt and dirty. He had dark robes and arge staff that seemed to have been plucked off a random dying tree.


    "What abination, you two! And reflective power... That''s a rather rare skill, kid. What exactly is your bloodline?" The dark form appeared near Listrel.


    "And the Nephilim sure is strong! I''ve never lost an incarnation in this world. To be able tounch a massive light attack like that. I believe even you would have difficulty bringing the Brimstone in here."


    Listrel turned over and red at Oblivion.


    "It''s not... that hard!" Listed shouted back, and the brimstone energy that was constantly flooding her real body in the real world began to erupt in her soul.


    Listrel then charged towards Oblivion.


    "I remembered everything, you mother fragment! How dare you murder me like that!" She charged as the Brimstone energy enveloped her entire soul. And yet, her soul was not consumed.


    She raged and cursed as she was able to recall so much morepared to what Kyros could remember. Her power in Brimstone was allowing her to purge the strange darkness that was reaching in on her soul. And so, her memories surfaced as to what exactly was going on!


    "Ah... Brimstone... To think I''d be so unlucky to meet someone who is a genius in wielding it!" Oblivionughed. A massive dark sword appeared in his hand, and he shed it out.


    A massive power erupted, and Listrel realized that she was tricked. The form of the man was far stronger than his previous form, and the attack would kill her!


    "You''re powerful for old men. I like it..." A seductive call could be heard from afar, and Oblivion was startled as his attention turned to a beautiful woman illuminated by the light.


    The distraction gave Listrel a chance that she needed, and she evaded the massive attack that shed down.


    Several beams of light shot towards Oblivion as Listrel made her retreat.


    Oblivion raised his arm and sent several dark rays that struck the iing beams, and the light began to fade.


    Kyros was shocked to see how his attack had vanished.


    "Light faded! This is... the darkness that can consume the greatest of light!" Kyros was horrified. What magic drew out the souls that pulled them into this dark world?


    "How annoying. It seems I will have to use more of my powers to kill you and turn you into Oblivion. I should have listened to Histerion and sent in a stronger form." Oblivion sighed.


    The Blood Cmity had appeared instead of Mechiel.


    She was ring at the enemy.


    "You... You were making people forget about me!"


    "A daughter of Xermolipi for sure! To think you''d be able to distract me. But that little spotlight trick the Nephilim did enhance your power. To think a Phaulos like you would need the light to be remembered."


    "Who is he?" Listrel asked.


    "The Fallen of forgetting. We are in a world doomed to be burned. And it''s a timeline that will be soon forgotten. That''s why he is attacking us. Do you remember if we have other allies?"


    "Lea! Lea Olethros! You guys forgot?!"


    Mechiel nodded and began to think. She couldn''t remember anything else outside of this realm!


    "Yes. You can remember a lot more because of Brimstone that you have covered yourself in. You must have a special inheritance that allowed you to do it. But I can''t bring it out. Skotos Eis Phos cannot turn darkness to brimstone andva." Kyros exined.


    "You were rescuing an ally that was brought into this world. You were so desperate to save him that you used a massive magic attack and harnessed the energy of darkness to create a ck hole."


    "Hems! I remember now! We were sucked into this world because we created that attack! But this fallen appeared only muchter... Lea... I remember now. She must have found a Corruption or a Code. And in doing so, she remembered something that should have been forgotten. And so Oblivion appeared!"


    "Because we are after Codes and Corruption!" The Blood Cmity answered.


    "Exactly. It''s annoying to see you all remember the memories that should have been sealed and kept hidden with my power!" Oblivion approached as his sword grewrger.


    "In any case, let us end this! I only have so much time left! After that, you shall all be forgotten!"


    Kyros drew out his sword.<sub> </sub>


    The joyful souls that were captured were ignited, and Brimstone appeared again.


    "Blood Cmity! Use Charm! We can''t take that blow head-on even if webine our might. But with your Charm, he will lower his attack! Listrel! Let''s block that attack!" Kyros ordered as Oblivion readied and swung his sword.


    A massive light glowed out as several swords of light were summoned by Kyros.


    It surrounded the Blood Cmity, who was using the full power of Charm.


    The sword''s attack slowed down, but the attack was still bearing a force that both could not contend with.


    "Listrel! Reflect the power of Charm!" Kyros shouted.


    And Listrel created several mirrors that appeared around her, and it was as if the power of Charm fell and merged with her beauty.


    A massive force shield appeared over Listrel. Kyros wielded his de and harnessed all the might he could muster.


    "[Last Resort]!" Kyros shouted a modified version of the Last Stand that bolstered his strength for a time but would not kill him.


    BANG!


    The two met the sword and were able to resist it!


    "We''ve blocked it!" Kyrosughed.


    "How annoying. But luckily, my sword isn''t an ordinary de!"


    The massive sword suddenly revealed numerousrge needles that shot toward Kyros. Since Listrel and the Blood Cmity were using Charm, Kyros was the only easy target.


    Kyros saw the approaching spikes and harnessed the darkness and light within.


    "Skotos Eis-"


    "Skotos Eis what?" Oblivion smiled as his power rippled out of the strange world.


    STAB! STAB! STAB!


    Mechiel jumped in and used her blood form to block the attacks aiming for the critical parts of Kyros.


    Kyros''s head was not struck as Mechiel threw dove in and embraced Kyros from the back, and turned her wings into a shield that blocked the attacks.


    But the needles had still reached Kyros''s chest despite Mechiel''s effort to defend Kyros with a Blood Wing Shield. A part of Kyros''s heart was pierced. His arms and legs were also stabbed because of the needles.


    "AHHH!" Mechiel shouted in pain.


    Kyros was in so much pain, but the power of Oblivion was making him forget that he could not utter the words to activate the power.


    "I win! It was a close fight! I can''t even swing my sword anymore, but you are all dead!" Oblivionughed as the sh had ended in his favor,


    More needles had appeared from the sword and shot toward everyone! This time, without the power of Charm, they could now be targetted.


    Listrel saw the needle approach and closed her eyes as she epted her Fate.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    She opened it again and found the dark needles right in front of her face.


    "What?"


    "He stopped moving?! It''s Cminus!" The Blood Cmity realized.


    "He stopped time!" Listrel drew her sword and was about to cut the needles stabbed onto Kyros.


    "No..." Kyros spoke softly.


    "Kyros!"


    "Don''t cut those ck tentacles... Let me...nd... thest blow... I remember now... I found the light that he... has covered." Kyros red at Oblivion hatefully.


    "You who forget... You will remember my name! [Skotos Eis... Phos]!"


    BOOM


    A massive light erupted and attacked the unguarded form of Oblivion.

 Chapter 395 Finding The Lost Memories

    "AHHHHHH!" The purging light assaulted the body of Oblivion. Unlike his former form, this one was his real body!


    The purging light attacked Oblivion, who began to fade away.


    The light shed out and had so much power that the strange realm began to copse. At that moment, Kyros and the group began to be pulled back out as they held on to Kyros and brought them out of the dark void.


    Listrel and Mechiel opened their eyes and jumped out as they turned back to Kyros.


    "[Blood Heal]!" Mechiel instantly cast her magic.


    "[Holy Heal]!" Listrel did the same.


    Kyros''s bloodied form acquired two forms of healing which affected both sides of his body, and it began to heal.


    Time Stop was still activated, and Kyros''s blood did not flow out as it did.


    "What happened?!"


    "A fallen who Kyros called Oblivion attacked! He is the opposite of Histerion, the god of history!"


    "The Fallen that is the opposite of History? One that destroys history?"


    "One... that makes history forgotten," Kyros spoke as he slowly raised his body.


    "Kyros! Your awake!"


    "You saved me, Cminus." Kyros smiled.


    "Time Stop affected him?"


    "Cminus used [Time Stop] on me. And using Time Stop on me had affected this enemy connected to me in the soul when he attacked me... Cminus knew that since I have Time Surge. So stopping time won''t work on me but affect whatever parasite is attacking us. If I weren''t stabbed, [Time Stop] wouldn''t have worked on him."


    "So that''s why you didn''t make me sever those tentacles!"


    "He was a dangerous foe! Possibly the hardest foe I have ever fought. His ability to make me forget rendered my abilities useless! Had it not been for Time Stop, we would have died!"


    The group was shocked when they heard this. Kyros was finally admitting that he fought an enemy he was threatened of!


    "A Fallen like that... I don''t think I would ever remember it. It''s probably his power to be like that."


    "His name is Lanthanou." An old man answered as he stood nearby.


    Mechiel and Listrel jumped to their fighting position as they saw the form of Histerion standing next to them.


    "Rx. His body is weak. It''s like he''s an average old man who never cultivated his entire life. Lanthanou, huh?" Kyros pondered.


    "What?" Mechiel asked as if she couldn''t hear what Kyros said.


    "Lanthanou." Kyros repeated.


    "His name is... What was it again?" Listrel asked.


    Kyros had a peculiar expression.


    "His name is Lanthanou." Cminus repeated.


    "I can''t understand what your saying." Mechiel scratched her head.


    "His name is what?" Mechiel asked again.


    "Lanthanou." Kyros articted.


    "His name is who?" Listrel asked.


    "Lanthanou."


    "His name is Chicka Chika Slim Shady." Cminus spoke.


    "Chika Chika Slim Shady..." Mechiel and Listrel repeated the name.


    "No! Don''t listen to him! That''s not Lanthanou''s name. It''s no use. The both of you can''t remember it. I can probably hear and remember because of Mysterion and Cminus since he is the god of time. So don''t bother trying to remember his name. Let''s just call him Oblivion. Now, I suppose there is a purpose to you telling us this, Histerion."


    "Yes. You managed to defeat Lanthanou. Quite an impressive feat. As you have deduced, he is the Fallen that cause the world to forget. Every second bes fleeting. Every experience fades. Every emotion ends. Such is his power. And honestly, he''s the one Fallen I don''t want to fight."<sub> </sub>


    "Is he stronger than Beginning and End?"


    "Well, we both are. We are beings outside Beginning and End. So it only makes sense for us to be stronger. But honestly, our powers are very limited. Unlike the others gods and fallen who were birthed and can change and take actions to change reality, he and I are set. Just like Beginning and End."


    "I thank you for that information. I now know more about the gods and fallen. But why are you here?"


    "As of now, Lanthanou and I are working together because of you. Your little ally has managed to recall memories that were supposed to be forgotten, and of course, you all are here to be purged. The Code was supposed to be purged, and the memory along with it. But now, it has an owner. Yet, while we work together, my agenda is simple. I just wish to purge this world. If you manage to save the nesworld or residents and somehow return to the Recorded Pages, I don''t really mind. But Lanthanou hates you."


    "He hates me? So it''s personal?"


    "Yes. Very personal. He is a being that causes everything to forget, but yourst attack has been recorded in my Book."


    "Book of History?"


    "It''s a record of everything that has happened, highlighting its most important moments. I was forced to record your battle with him in the Recorded Pages. Because for the first time, Lanthanou has been wounded!"


    "Meaning?"


    "Meaning, he will always... remember it!" Histerionughed.


    "This is a time that shouldn''t even exist now. Cminus has created an alternate world with his power, but it is set to be purged. This ce is another realm that not even Beginning or End can go to. Whatever happens here cannot happen or impact that other world! But now... it just did!" Histerion smiled.


    Kyros was amazed.


    "Is that rted to how I can move to the real timeline?"


    "Yes. You have to do something to force me to write it. If you manage to do that and force me to write something in the Recorded Pages that pertains to this world, it will create a ripple. A link that will connect the two. And if that happens, I can''t purge that which connects to the Recorded Pages. Just like how Lanthanou can''t forget what is written in the Recorded Pages."


    Kyros nced at his team.


    "We have found a way out!"


    "Greater God Histerion. Why are you telling us this?"


    "Because of Mysterion. When Cminus used [Time Stop] I could sense Kyros linked with Lanthanou. This is not possible. A mere god or fallen cannot connect with Lanthanou. But Mysterion could! I was amazed. Your power truly is amazing. So while I will still try to kill you in battle, as is my duty to burn all history that should not be, I am offering you a deal. I will help you and spare the nesworld in this fallen world. Of course, to do that, you have to link it to the Recorded Pages."


    "But what will I do to link it?"


    "If you survive mying tribtions, and face the full wrath of both Lanthanou and me, help me remember what Lanthanou is making me forget."


    "Help you remember?" Mechiel was confused.


    "Of course! If Lanthanou remembers something because Histerion recorded it...! That means there could be something that Lanthanou is making Histerion forget!" Cminus eximed.


    "Exactly. I don''t dare underestimate Lanthanou. There could be something that he is making me forget! If Mysterion can link with Lanthanou..."


    "Then I can ''uncover'' what was hidden," Kyros answered.


    "Yes. Doing so will force me to record the scenario."


    "A god that records all of history has actually forgotten something... And that was rectified! That makes sense! That scenario will make a ripple all over the realities!" Listrel understood.


    "Exactly! It looks like the answer for us to return home will present itself. But you said you would preserve the nesworld? How? And Why? Isn''t this ce doomed for destruction?"


    "What I''m telling you to do, is not a way. It''s perhaps the only way! If you seed, and I remember, I will be forced to add the locality of where the battle transpired in this Unrecorded Pages. You see, if there urs a link between the two pages, I can purge everything except anything rted to this link."


    "So, in this case... if you add that I managed to make you remember something in the nesworld... specifically, a certain location, it will have to be... preserved?" Kyros guessed.


    "Yes! That is exactly the reaction. I cannot purge the nesword because if I do, it will destroy the link to it! And when I list the very location where I remembered, it will create the link that can break through the realms, and you can travel to the other world through that. But it''s a one-way trip! And everyone that you want to go over to the next world should be near the location where I am to be transported to the other world." Histerion exined.


    "That''s good. This helps us now have a goal!" Kyros smiled.


    "Of course, I am just being too hopeful. I will still move to kill you."


    "I know. You didn''t be ''my ally''. You just gave me away. Because if you helped me, Lanthanou would remember you as well, and both of us will be his enemy."


    "Correct. And that will only lead to constant strife between us. So I am only telling you what you can do. But other than that, I will try to purge you!"


    And just like that, Histerion''s human form vanished as it turned into brimstone and fell to the floor.

 Chapter 396 Finding The Code And Corruption

    The reunion between Hems and Kyros was a touching moment that radiated what bromance was.


    When Oblivion was gone, Hems recalled Kyros and suddenly sensed he was awake, and he fought and ended his shift on the front lines and met his kill quota as fast as he could to meet with Kyros.


    The entire army of the Nephilim Liberation Army continued to make its strong march in their battles.


    Death tolls had practically disappeared, and those who got wounded were few.


    Those in the front lines would only retreat now to heal from being overexposed from the Brimstone.


    The power of being mages was now returning as many of the previous mages were unlocking more and more of their magic abilities. And because of that, a new job had be open, which greatly changed the way of battles.


    The jobs of Magic and Force Extraction had returned.


    Mages could now start drawing out the energy they had and help bestow to another.


    Kyros has always been able to extract magic and fire. But in the current circumstances, it was more helpful for him to fight on the front lines to keep the team pressing.


    But now, these jobs had returned, and the mages focused on constantly empowering their men and raising their levels. This impossible potential to harvest energy was lost when the Codes and Corruption disappeared. And even if it would return, the Light Empowered and the Dark Dependent ways of harnessing these energies would still not apply to Brimstone.


    But Kyros paved the path and created shocking energy formation circles with his knowledge of what Cminus knew and even improved it.


    And so, numerous energy formation circles helped the mages draw it out and had now found a way to bestow in on another.


    Another impossibility had been resolved, and it was now possible for people to grow.


    But the speed of this bestowal was still so little. The army prioritized young and healthy people but found no chance to cultivate them until the tribtions began. Soon, more and more people began to reach level 10. And these youngsters had a natural resistance to Brimstone that made them on par with many of the demi-humans of Castle Rock who were used to the heat!


    Kyros and the main members of his party, Listrel, Lea, and Hems, were meeting at the throne room in Serpent Pond.


    Hems and Kyros continued to catch up with the tales and told of everything that had happened. Kyros expressed great gratitude to Hems.


    "Master Kyros. I''m just d your alive!" Hemsughed.


    "We have a way back now. And if we do, it seems you''ll surpass Hunter in power!"


    "Is he strong now?"


    "He''s marrying a member who is an official adopted Steele family."


    "Oh? Who is this lucky madame?"


    "A lizardwoman called Reptilia."


    "A lizardwoman, huh? I''ve seen some pretty beautiful ones in this lifetime."


    "I doubt you''ve seen anyone as beautiful as aunt Reptilia."


    "What a lucky man Hunter is!"


    "Let''s hope you and Hemsy find a way in our family!" Kyros chuckled.


    "Lord Kyros! She approaches!" King King Lizard 3, who Kyros now renamed Aquasoul, reported the arrival of Lea.


    Lea emerged from the waters with her eyes still baring urgency.


    "Lea."


    "Lord Kyros. I have something to report." Lea bowed respectfully.<sub> </sub>


    "For you to be so respectful, you must have seen quite a lot. But we''ve also had our share of trouble. We''ll go first.


    Lea had appeared and was amazed at the battle that the group had fought.


    "It couldn''t get to you because you never fell into a Dark Maddening state. I believe it was trying to kill us in that realm, and Oblivion would take over our bodies to kill you." Kyros exined.


    <o>,m "So that which I remembered through the Corruption of Hydron was something that this fallen Oblivion didn''t want toe true! Now I understand! Fate took arge gamble!" Lea was now even more amazed as she heard the tale Kyros told her.</o>


    "Start from the top. Who is Hydron?"


    "He is one of the Fallen that sided with the alliance of Cminus."


    "Is that true?" Kyros asked.


    "Yes. Old Hydron was dead for decades by the time we met. But he was loyal to us! So he died here, huh?" Cminus was amazed.


    "How did he end up here?" Kyros continued.


    "The battle between the gods and fallen, the betrayal of the Greater Gods who desired to eliminate all the Ancient Gods and im their powers to themselves is a battle between Beginning and the End. Hydron had seen that his fellow Fallen were headed to a path that surpassed their craving of power but saw nihilist tendencies. It was as if this Universe would reach the point where it would cease. Is that what it means... to End?" Lea turned to Kyros.


    "The Ending of All. It makes sense." Kyros nodded.


    "So that''s the n. Everything will end. History will bepletely written. Time will end, and everything will be gone." Cminus was shocked at the desires of End.


    "I think it''s more than that. In that kind of world, someone stands to gain power. End will be stronger. What was it that the Fallen that killed Hydron wanted?" Kyros asked Lea.


    "The traitors desired power because they yearned for power. Someone among the Fallen and among the Greater Gods has pierced a ne beyond the understandings of came into contact with other universes. They called it the Multiverse. There are universes like ours, but what these gods sought after were universes that they called Eternity. Every Universe created goes through a battle against Beginning and End. One god seeks to put an end to things while the other will fight to make it assume Eternity. But in these worlds were gods of different power. It''s very different from our Universe."


    "How so?"


    "In these universes, a god could be any god! And the paths to bing gods are vastly easier. If the scenario happens in this world, any god, even Hydron, could train and be like the god who cut Hyperion! And it''s several times much easier to be like this. In Eternity, there is no source of Codes and Corruption. Because in the eternal state of these universes, allws exist and are already defined! Hydron, who is water and would have no chance of bing beings like that Brimstone Histerion, would now have a chance!"


    "I see! End is using that to spur the End. I''m guessing he has his purpose. But right now, he is manipting the greater gods and fallen to move and aplish the End through this greed."


    "So the gods and fallen wage war with each other, and ultimately, those who are manipted by Destiny and End end up ending the universe?" Mechiel asked in her confusion.


    "Yes. Confusing as it sounds, that''s exactly what it looks like!" Listrel answered.


    "Think about who we just fought! Oblivion has the power to make people forget! I''m sure that no one knows about Beginning and End other than the strongest gods. Just as how Cminus forgot many of these gods and fallen. An average fallen like Hydron doesn''t even know that they exist! I think that Oblivion made them forget!"


    "Hence, I was so useless. I could only remember the gods or fallen when I met them. But other than that, our memories must have been sealed. And I don''t think we could remember! Only the Mysterion can help us!" Cminus answered.


    "Obvilion would want End to win. Histerion may not wish to help since he''s already perfectly joyful being brimstone. But Oblivion wants everything to be forgotten. And that can be achieved if nothing exists! So what else did you find out through Hydron''s memories?" Kyros analyzed.


    "In Hydron''s memories, Hydron had already arrived in the nesworld to ambush a certain god. But it was a trap! Hydron fought and lost and hid his power. A few more came to the rescue but fought enemies, and while they made it look like they escaped, their Codes and Corruption were here! The Corruption of Water. The Code of nts. And the Celestial Code. They all stayed in this nesworld!"


    "Code of nts? That could work well with me!" Listrel was amazed.


    "This is clearly the handiwork of Fate!" Cminus answered.


    "Exactly! Lord Kyros! We have to find the Code of nts and the Celestial Code!" Lea called out respectfully.


    "I know. We were sent here by Fate not just to gain power but to gain knowledge. We can save gods and fallen on Beginning''s side from dying! And we could even kill the gods and fallen on End''s side! This was the impossible gamble that Fate had purposed! The Celestial Code will be where I fought and died. Of that, I am certain. But where is the Code of nts?"


    "In the Hignds! It lies there!"


    "So our mission continues. We conquer this army, im the Celestial Code and the Code of nts! And this time, we have to hurry. We face two powerful gods. Everyone, start preparing and training the army! We need them ready to kill Cardinals!"

 Chapter 397 Finding The Ones Outside Of Fate And Destiny

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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


    He is Breveros, the Eldrich Elder of the Hignds.


    Together, the three fought, nned, and defended theirnds. But s, their wisdom and might were fading, and now, they had toe out of their meditations to fight and die.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


    "That aura...!" Breveros frowned.


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


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


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


    "What is it, Breveros?"


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


    "What?!" The two shouted in shock.


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


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


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


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


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


    "Yeah..." Gradius chuckled.


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


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


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


    All three had powerful energies.


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


    "Sister?!" The two echoed out.


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


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


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


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


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

 Chapter 398 Finding The Game Changer

    The Cardinals and Commanders onlyter realized that Kyros, Mechiel, Listrel, and Lea were not among their allies or champions.


    "Who are you, and how did you get here!" Breveros demanded again.


    "We are from the Minds. The western regions that you abandoned. But I managed to save around two hundred thousand people from the kingdoms. The woman who came here from Castle Rock was also saved along with the Commanders you sent. I recall their names."


    Kyros began to list the names of the Commander and even spoke of their specific features.


    The group was startled at how Kyros could name them and describe them perfectly.


    "We don''t have much time. An army approaches. I knew Histerion wouldn''t make things easy. But luckily, there was a massive warp pad there!"


    "Warp pads? None of them worked anymore!"


    "It''s a bit hard, but I managed to do it." Kyros then tore a void open and moved through it, and appeared on the other side of the ce.


    "You...! You can teleport?!"


    "It''s difficult. I can''t use ordinary energy formation circles. So I used an existing one. The Stone Warp Pads resonate with each other. The Westeron Kingdom had only seventeen survivors defending the throne room by the time I got there. But the stone pad survived in the chambers near the throne room. With that, I managed to send them here. More should be arriving. Excuse me while I summon some Shadow Wraith familiars."


    Numerous ghostly forms flew from Kyros''s body and moved to the lower parts of the kingdom.


    "Wraiths?! But how?! The undead cannot be born in this world!" Gradius eximed.


    Suddenly, a strange sh appeared from the inside of the throne room.


    Everyone was rmed.


    "It''s our allies. Geez. I know that you guys were epting your deaths or whatever. But you guys are too jumpy!" Listrel frowned.


    "Listrel... We are showing the powers of Codes and Corruptions that are otherwise gone."


    From the room, several dozens of elves appeared.


    "Elves..!" The group was stunned.


    "This ce...! It has amazing life!" A beautiful elf smiled.


    "Aubrey...y suppressing fire on them. Everyone! Begin attacking them!" Kyrosmanded.


    "Elves of the Vey kingdom!" Gradius finally recognized them.


    "What race of elves are they?! Their form... it has drastically changed from any surviving elf! It''s like... they are the ancient elves of old!" An elf Commander was amazed.


    Kyros turned his attention to approaching flying armies.


    The elves began to harness their power and aimed.


    "You''re shooting from that distance?!" Rachel was stunned.


    "Rx, sis. They are elves! Not just any elves, an elf blessed with the Drayd Vey. They''ve trained in the ways of Bow Veiyos. It took several months, but now we have an elite sharpshooter just like our kingdom back when the Codes and Corruption existed." Lea chuckled.


    The archers drew their bows and shot a volley.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows of wood shed with great light as the life of the used was harnessed into weapons.


    Some archers had a fire, others had wind, and others still turned their attacks to lightning!


    "Impossible! Elemental attacks?! Their Force and Magic has returned at this level?!" Breveros marveled at the sight.


    Aubrey and the High Bows began their torrential attack.


    The attacks crossed the great distance with amazing speed, and the flying armies of the resurrected champions began to fight back and used attacks to defend the volley.


    At the side, Lea was moving closer to some of the surviving dark dependent.


    "You guys did well. Living in a Light Empowered country with little nourishment to keep you alive. You must have eaten your allies to live..." Lea sighed.


    Listrel also did the same and spoke to some of the old schrs.


    "Who are you? I don''t remember you..." Listrel asked.


    Because Lea spoke closely to them, many were started as they could see a strange resemnce between the former princesses of the Hignds and the Nethends!


    "So, your, my brother, huh?" Listrel turned to his brother.


    "I''m notfortable knowing that my dad remarried and had you." Listrel sighed.<sub> </sub>


    "I''m d my dad did. Grendelors have an extremely low reproduction rate. Even in a hundred years, they can''t get the females pregnant. But it looks like my parents were rather busy while I was at the front lines." Lea chuckled.


    "Princess Lea... Is that really you?" A dark being rose to the side. It was a shade and vampire half-breed.


    "...? Is that you, Terrin? You survived and got strong! Amazing! I never thought you''d ever have the potential." Lea chuckled.


    "It... it is you! Impossible!" Terrin had heard that phrase all his life from Lea. He always hated it. And this was the first time that he was happy to hear it.


    "Princess Lea... You are... alive?!"


    "Let''s recollectter. As you can see, an army is headed this way. We have to eliminate it." So Kyros ordered as he could tell that the attacks of the elves were not enough.


    "Kyros! Histerion is doing something new again! He managed to restore the bodies of powerful cultivators! I can feel them! They really are flesh and blood! But also brimstone!"


    "Histerion is trying to bring this fort down now. I told you we didn''t have time." Kyros chuckled as he began to rise with his two wings. One part was darkness; the other part was light.


    "What the?!" Breveros was shocked as Kyros summoned two elements at once.


    The Wings of the Light and Shade were revealed. One side of Kyros was light, and on the other was darkness.


    But at each palm of Kyros was the opposite element.


    In light, there was round darkness. And in darkness, there was a power of light.


    The clones appeared by Kyros''s side.


    The power of each clone was several times stronger when he first summoned them.


    Each clone now had thirty percent of Kyros''s full power.


    "Ladies... Shall we try out that attack?" Kyros smiled.


    "Eh? Were you using that already?! But I want to fight with my old man!" Listrel frowned.


    "Me too! Those are the strongest!"


    "Those are hasty forms that Histerion crafted. If we fight it and you slug it out, Histerion may even know our abilities. But if we kill it now, Histerion won''t acquire any date from us and will be forced to create a stronger one. We''ll use Tactics ck Hole Surprise!" Kyros exined.


    Listrel was conflicted. He wanted to fight his father and Pyrekaiser so bad... But she could tell that their forms were iplete. They only had their Force energy back.


    "Let''s just kill them. That''s an embarrassing attempt to recreate my father. If we kill them immediately, Histerion will know that we were disgusted by it and try harder next time. I''ll help Aubrey dy their approach." Lea rushed to the front, and suddenly, a massive water serpent appeared out of her body.


    The massive serpent shocked everyone.


    But then the serpent suddenly began to shoot out huge balls of water at the approaching forces.


    Mechiel sighed and shook her head as she heard the thoughts of the two freaks.


    "I wouldn''t want to fight my dad..." Mechiel gathered the power of the elements through Charm.


    Unlike before, she could easily create the Celestial code.


    With her and Kyros merging their power, the foundation of Astra quickly formed.


    Listrel raised her sword, and the power of her Gravity Knight increased in skill and mastery.


    Over the months that they pressed on fighting, Kyrosv and the team had grown stronger. While they never used the full extent of everything they learned and practiced behind enemy lines, the constant fighting improved their mastery.


    Fire, Light, Darkness, Brimstone, and earth power of Gravity quickly gathered.


    Kyros used his clones to aid him in channeling the light and dark two energies.


    The foundational elements to create the ck hole were quickly forming. All it now needed was energy.


    "You three, join in as well. We''re creating a star!" Kyros chuckled.


    The three nced at each other before deciding to agree.


    The three raised their hands, and the powers of Light and Darkness were poured in.


    The star quickly formed as the three were able to add in a shocking amount of energy.


    "So they really are the game changers..." Mechiel was amazed.


    "Yes. And these three are quite strong! We found people who is strong enough to alter the End and Destiny! Everyone that survived this hell world has also tampered. But these three became champions and their supposedly in future became extraordinary! If we bring them to the real world, could you imagine how many changes they can make?"

 Chapter 399 Finding Hope And Salvation

    The power of the Breveros, Gradius, and Rachel quickly allowed the power to form.


    A ck ball that absorbed and contained the light and all the other energy was forming, and everyone could tell that the power level of the attack was something that the Cardinal and the Commanders could no longer reach.


    "Crown! That power is at a Crown!"


    "It''s as if a Crown mage is casting a great devastating spell! We are saved!" A Commander cheered.


    "No! Look! The attacks on Princess Lea are not doing anything! Her attacks should be at a Cardinal mage level! Don''t forget! Our enemies are the strongest in this world!" A Cardinal answered.


    Lea controlled the power of the gigantic Leviathan to shoot water cannons at it.


    The waters exploded with tremendous force, but the flying forces used Force energy and sheer strength to punch at the water cannons and either destroy or deflect them.


    "Hold them out as long as you can, Lea." Kyros ordered as he began to wield the surging energies to create bnce.


    "Everyone! Focus! Harness the energy! While there are no longer Codes and Corruption, you have all been deceived! Those Codes and Corruptions were not blessings to give us power. But it was only things that unsealed our potential and gave us guidance on how to do it! In this world where no Codes or Corruption may be born, it also means that there is no limitation as to what power we can wield!" Kyros exined.


    The powers the three saw before they stunned them. This type of magic was one that even they couldn''t achieve.


    "Ster Magic!" Breveros eximed.


    "Sister...! What magic is that?! How can youmand power simr to darkness!" Gradius was confused at the power that Listrel was creating.


    "It isn''t dark silly. You might have confused this with Time/Space magic. But this isn''t it! It''s gravity. I''m using the power of earth! I''ll teach youter. If we share blood, then you have this bloodline. Although, it''s sad that you don''t have a leaf in you. Rachel, that power that your sister is using is also rted to your bloodline! But for now, do as the crazy Nephilim tells you!" Listrel chuckled.


    "Nephilim!" Breveros shouted again.


    "You should really calm down, Breveros! Anyway, it''s time for us tounch our attack!" Kyrosmanded.


    Suddenly, several massive lights began to light up as the shadow wraithspleted the energy conversion circles that somehow lit up.


    Kyros had already reached the levels of Champion, and his power in darkness had grown. The Shadow wraith used their darkness and very souls to light up the magic.


    "Have the Magic Cannons, Ballistas, and energy catapults be moved towards the energy conversion circles! It harnesses void magic and can help your attacks travel faster! But wait for my attack! Tell everyone to attack mymand!" Kyros ordered.


    "Do as he says!" Gradius shouted, and everyone followed suit.


    The magic cannons and the other war machines were ced within the energy conversion circle. The wraiths had moved towards the ces on top of the wall where these war machines were and had used their own ghostly body to draw the energy conversion circle.


    "Everyone! Let''s go! Fly with me and help me harness the power of this star!" Kyros ordered as his wings began to p.


    Mechiel, Lea, Rachel, and Breverous suddenly sprouted wings behind them and took flight.


    Surprisingly, Listrel and Gradius did the same thing and harnessed light energy to create boosts on their feet.


    The siblings gave each other praising nces, and everyone began to fly.


    "Is this the n? They can easily evade us like this!"


    "No. They need to stop this attack. The attack could wipe out the entire Brimstone army below. So they have to block this! Besides, they can''t evade it! I''ll be sure to hit them!" Kyros assured.


    "Everyone! Fire at the army now! Make them break rank and be disorganized!"


    At the orders, the weapons of war began to shoot powerful attacks at the approaching army.


    The seven flew towards the approaching flying army, now assuming a tight formation.


    The cultivators began using their Force energy to create shields and Force Wall that took in the magic cannon and ballistic attacks.


    The team of seven that Kyros led flew straight for the army, which had the strongest cultivators at the very tip of their formation.


    The two were about to sh, and a massive amount of force formed.


    Suddenly, a portal appeared right in front of Kyros and the rest, and they moved right inside it.


    They suddenly appeared to the side of the iing army, and everyone harnessed the energy and sted it at the flying army.<sub> </sub>


    But suddenly, the formed star met something invisible, revealing what looked like a massive protective pyramid-shaped ss. The pyramid tip was shing at the birthing star the seven were throwing out.


    "Force Mirror Wall!" Listrel was amazed as her attacks were used to mask the entire army and create an illusion of the real army.


    "Don''t hesitate! I saw through this! We are shing with the core of their team!" Kyros shouted as he kept on wielding the dark ball.


    The dark ball and the massive mirror continued to meet the army, which now revealed its true formation at the cracking of the ss!


    The entire formation was an illusion caused by the mirrors. In reality, the previous attacks were not striking the very heart of the army!


    But now, with all the strongest warriors harnessing their force energy, the powerful magic of Kyros, which once wiped out an entire army, was being pushed back!


    The armies were rearranging themselves, and the powerful tip of the ss was gaining momentum as it pushed back, causing the ck ball to shrink.


    "Keep the form up!" Kyros shouted as they felt the pressing power of Force energy.


    Their enemy had monstrous force energy that even the magic they wielded could not break through!


    From afar, Histerionughed as he watched the team fight.


    "Do you really think you are the only one with this mirror trick?" Histerion chuckled and nced at how his ns were unfolding.


    But suddenly, he froze and cursed.


    Several massive rocs had appeared at the top of the wall and were circling towards the back of the pyramid where non of the reflective magic was!


    The rocs had appeared more and more, and Histerion could tell that it wasing from the inside of the warp pad.


    "Tactics ck Hole Surprise! Taunt the enemy to face us with our dark magic while our rocs and archers shoot them at their ck holes!" Kyrosughed.


    The archers kept shooting and shooting the rear and would even yfully aim for the ck hole of the enemies.


    The concentration of force energy quickly weakened. The team was stronger than Kyros and could have overpowered them with Force Energy. And yet, a simple trick caused the stronger to be defeated.


    "I underestimated the lies and tricks of the Nephilim. So he really is their son!" Histerion sighed.


    The rocs had Aubrey and the rest flying, and each roc grabbed one of the war machines now brimming with dark energy.


    With the team in position, it let out its barrage that attacked the army from the back.


    Histerion sighed. He knew it was useless. This army was already arranged to a position that was meant to stop Kyros from creating a Crown-level attack!


    "Fire at will!" Aubrey ordered as they reached the back of the pyramid, and their speedy attacks did harm to the armies.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Magic cannons sted the enemy, and the pyramid began to crack.


    The elves were now using arrow attacks that were stronger than before as they were now using another set of branches with tremendous life energy.


    With the attacks from behind, the force field began to shatter.


    Kyros nced at the several figures just a few meters from them. He watched at the forms of the strongest beings of the nesworld.


    "Come back when you have a more respectable form!" Kyrosughed as he sent out the dark ball deeper.


    Instead of a ck hole erupting, the power of the star was being born, and all the light that the darkness kept was unleashed.


    The beam tore through the group, and they were instantly incinerated.


    "Push it down!" Kyros ordered.


    And the beam shot downwards and began to attack the numerous brimstone beasts.


    On that day, the Hignds that believed they too would die found hope and salvation as the beam of bright light shot down and eliminated the front line of the Brimstone armies.

 Chapter 400 Finding The Code Of Plants

    The massive battle against the hordes of Brimstone beasts ended with the defeat of the flying armies.


    When the strongest of the nesworld had died, the magic attacks of the ster magic practically wiped out all of the front lines of Brimstone Beasts.


    The powerful siege cultivators that had done terrifying damage and nearly caused a portion of the wall to copse were killed.


    Kyros and his team then spread out, and Gradius and the rest contacted the numerous fortresses scattered around the Walls that Endured.


    As the nesworld was a Ygdrassil, the Walls that Endured were crafted as a massive round walls that stopped entry from the Minds to the Hignds.


    There were four massive fortresses at the center of the four quadrants of this circle wall.


    And the reports of their battles were made known.


    Thankfully, only the main fortress where Gradius, Rachel, and Breverus faced the flying army recreated the true forms of the strongest warriors in the nesworld.


    Breveros was the one who suggested to have Gradius and Rachel be with him for this battle as he knew that with the three of them gathered in a single ce, the one who controlled the Brimstone Beast would send its strongest forces towards the ce where the three gathered as they were the leaders of the survivors.


    The Hignds began to scout out and confirmed that while the massive wall spanned out for several thousands of kilometers, the defeat of Histerion''s special army led to the retreat of all Brimstone beasts on all sides of the wall.


    All of the Hignds cheered and rejoiced at the news of the retreat of the Brimstone beasts. It was the first time they saw the armies retreat. The Walls that Endured had faced constant battles for a long time, and it was the first time peace had formed.


    But as the peace urred, Kyros and the group were quickly moving towards the ce where a garden of World Wood Trees had sprouted.


    On the way, Kyros and the team continued to discuss everything they had been through to get here and how they managed to save a massive army of men.


    "And so, the Brimstone Beast knew that if they would spread their forces out, we could easily kill them all and improve our weapons. Even as the region we had to protect grew wider, we could always see the Brimstone forces organize themselves together and march out as an army. With that, we managed to secure the west Minds." Kyros concluded his report.


    "Right. And when we found the warp pad, Kyros and I managed to get it to work." Listrel exined.


    "And that is how we teleported directly to the main fortress. Kyros knew that you three would be gathered together. Histerion would try to wipe out all the leaders at once. You three have shown intelligence, wisdom, and strength in guiding the Hignds. So if one of you survived, it would take longer. It must have kept its eyes on you."


    "It is as you said. I noticed the intent of this god Histerion and decided to have all three of us gathered. I wanted to be freed from this treacherous battle and didn''t want Gradius or Rachel to suffer and live alone. I wanted us three to die together. Who would have thought that salvation wasing." Breverosughed.


    "It''s not over yet. Histerion ordered a retreat because he nned to create a Brimstone force far exceeding the current ones. Not only will we see the strongest cultivators of nesworld again, but we will also see a real Brimstone Army. One that has intellect, mind, will, Force, and Magic. It is going to be something unlike we have ever seen before. Even the smart armies we already faced would look pathetic to theing ones. Histerion won''t be relying on numbers but will create quality warriors. They will still number millions, and each average will probably be stronger than Champions."


    "Sounds like we''re doomed then..." Rachel was amazed.


    "That''s why we can''t let them. We need the Code of nts to understand and awaken the power that you, Protos Endoxus, have. And Rachel, you must also awaken the power of Water that your sister is now wielding. Against the Brimstone, we need as much water as possible."<sub> </sub>


    "nt and Water... I never knew about this. The higher echelons of the Eldrich knew... But I never thought it would be like this! So... we tried to divide the two powers that made up this nesworld...!" Breveros was amazed.


    "And now you will be fighting to keep it united! I guess that''s enough for someone like you to do. I mean, you did take care of my sister. So even if we Grendelors hate your kind more than the Protos Endoxus do, I forgive you specifically, although I am curious. How did your kind defeat my father?" Lea asked curiously.


    "Lea, please save your questions forter. We are pressed with time here. Gradius, Rachel, and Breveros. Our sess lies in acquiring the Codes. This means that while these two meditate on that tree, we willunch an attack to reim what formerly was Omega Kingdom."


    "What?! We are going on the offensive?!" Rachel eximed.


    "He''s right, Rachel. Offense is now our best defense. If we give Histerion time to build his army, we will surely lose. Attacking Omega Kingdom will help us see what forces they have and catch Histerion unprepared. Also, we need to create a path connecting to the western Minds. The Omega Kingdom will be the perfect ce. With Kyros''s powers as a Dryad, who knows? We can even harness more power just as they did to the Vey kingdom!"


    "That''s not possible." Kyros shook his head.


    "It''s not?" Breveros was disheartened.


    "Vey was born because of the elves that lived in it for thousands of years. They took care of the tree and loved it." Mechiel exined.


    "It could feel the love that the people had towards the Vey. The charming and attractive love the elves made spurred the tree''s will to desire to be alive."


    "That World Wood Tree was not just any other World Wood Tree as well. It was the furthest edge. The furthest and most extreme twig that the nesworld had. It isn''t like the World Wood Trees you have in the growing garden. Vey was a part of the nesworld." Kyros exined.


    "Yes. In contrast, these trees here are caused by the presence of a nt God. ording to the memory of Hydron, this was one of the earlier gods who was killed and betrayed in secret even before the rebellion of the Greater Gods began." Lea answered.


    "But where is the nt God? Howe we never saw it? If we saw that same power, we would have wielded it! We would have meditated under it!" Gradius answered.


    "You never saw it? Actually, you probably did, little bro." Listrel chuckled.


    "What?"


    "You must have worshiped it. But when this world was abandoned at the death of Kyros in Omega Kingdom, another Fallen worked its powers."


    "Right. You guys forgot of its existence. And the nts must have grown and covered it. But I think the power of Oblivion which causes people to forget, only made you avoid the ce." Kyros answered.


    "I forgot it?!" Gradius was stunned at such an answer.


    "Don''t overthink it. I nearly died fighting an incarnation of that Fallen because he made me forget my ace attack! Thankfully, the dark void of Kyriachos also has the power to make us forget. It harnesses a few of Oblivion''s powers. I had Lea trained there when we were at Vey, and she can resist the power of forgetting to a certain degree and always remember the location in Hydron''s memory."


    "And that is where we are headed! We''re here!" Lea stopped as the group arrived before a small hill at the center of several World Wood Trees.

 Chapter 401 Remembering The Past

    Just like the power of Corruption hidden at the heart of the fallen Leviathan, the Code was just found deep within the hill.


    The group quickly dug through the hill and found it.


    There was powerful life energy growing inside.


    Kyros began to exin to Listrel and Gradius the process of merging with the Code.


    He had already taught Lea before they reached Serpent Pond how tomune with it in case he would need to rush in ahead.


    Kyros had already learned of the method ofmuning with it in his past life when he met Daradiel.


    Listrel and Gradius began to meditate on the strange power right at the center of the World Wood Tree through the method that Kyros taught them.


    "I can''t believe... that this was here the entire time! Escaping our senses!" Breveros eximed.


    "It''s the same with Serpents Pond. The Corruption was the source of why their waters remained and kept increasing. And yet, no one bothered to check it out." Kyrosughed.


    "Yes. Even as I was moving there, I felt that something was attacking my thoughts. If I had not trained in the Dark Maddening state to contain my consciousness, I would have been lost as I approached it." Lea exined.


    "Lord Miracle." Aubrey arrived.


    "Aubrey. How is the progress?"


    "Due to the retreat of the Brimstone Beast, our forces can advance faster. Our request to build walls has already beenmunicated, and everyone is following orders thanks to Lord Breveros." Aubrey reported.


    Breveros chuckled.


    "Please. We are both recipients of Lord Miracle''s powers and arrival now. Your elves used the power of nts to build vines allowing us to restore the fallen walls easily. Likewise, our knowledge of stone masonry will be gifted to you. Let''s hope that the two Minds and Hignds rings will meet soon."


    "Just do what you can. We will be going on the offensive soon. But, I still can''t get over the fact that an Eldrich would not be a person of Destiny!"


    "I can''t believe that our wars are just part of the orchestrations of the Beginning and End. So please enlighten us more, Lord Miracle. What exactly happened here?"


    "The souls of those who have not been born in the original timeline are part of the ones that survived here. Everyone else was transported in that time where I traveled into. So I traveled back to the point several years earlier than when I came out. So naturally, billions of souls have been born in that era."


    "You said those are part. Then I''m guessing I, born way earlier, belong to another group."


    "Yes. You are not people of Destiny or Fate. Since Histerion will be purging the world here, the souls that have to be transferred doesn''t have to be everyone. Those who are not important are allowed to have multiple incarnations since this world is only doomed to be burned and forgotten. This is why while Histerion is simply going through the motions and burning this world, Oblivion will be so keen in trying to fight and kill us."


    "But what will happen if I meet in one location in this timeline and in that main one?"


    "There could be problems. But it''s easily resolvable."


    "How do you n to resolve it?"


    "I kill the other you."


    "...I guess that works."


    Kyrosughed.


    "The other, you are still a pawn of Destiny. Either that I capture that you and bring you to Middle."


    "Yes. About Middle... I''m confused... so that thing isn''t in any timeline?"


    "Yes. It''s the Middle. The stage where Beginning and End will fight."


    Rachel scratched her head in utter confusion.


    "I will probably leave you guys in Middle so you would escape Destiny''s eyes and be the ace that turns the tide. I guess this was Fate''s n. We gather very strong people who were never fated or destined to be strong. The three of you are great examples of those outside Fate and Destiny''s powers. You reached this far because of your power. And that''s amazing." Kyros exined.


    "It was... full of its terrors for sure."


    "Yes. The remnant Codes and Corruption in the nesworld gave it time to retain its form. I would say that the death of the nt God here is the biggest as it nourished the entire nesworld and fought the burning embers of Brimstone. And even when it has been burned, it still managed to renew its woodenyers. If you think about it, it''s like burning a tree, and somehow it was able to heal and renew itself even though it has been disconnected from its stomp. Or, in this case, this Yggdrasil has been uprooted from the darkher where it was nted on."


    GRRRRRRRRRR...


    Suddenly, the entire region trembled, and the trees began to quiver as the power of the Codes were being bestowed on the two.


    At that moment, another trembling could be felt in the universe, and it was as if everyone could feel demented anger at the skies.


    "Lanthanou sure is angry." Kyros smiled.


    "Yeah. He doesn''t want us to remember these things. Now, these two will recall many things about the gods and fallen. I wonder what Lanthanou will do after this." Lea pondered.<sub> </sub>


    "Wait! What did you say?" Kyros was astounded. How did Lea recall it?


    "I said the name? I said his name, didn''t I?" Lea was also startled at what she said.


    "That''s it! I think that''s one way for us to fight him! The more we remember things that are supposed to be forgotten, the more it weakens our power! Everyone! We have to remember everything!"


    Suddenly, strange darkness flickered from afar, and a being broke through the open skies and shouted.


    "No!" The voice echoed all over the world, and everyone suffered a painful headache.


    "Ahhh!" Kyros shouted in pain.


    Listrel and Gradius also felt a powerful force strike them. But suddenly, the World Wood Trees began to glow as if a power shielded them.


    BOOM!


    The skies erupted, although no force, explosion, or anything that would have triggered a booming sound was heard.


    And then, it was gone.


    At that moment, it was as if a form of power shed in Kyros''s thoughts. He then couldn''t understand and suddenly fell silent and suddenly had an angry expression.


    Everyone began to stand us and was rubbing their temple.


    Kyros did the same. But despite what had just happened, they all acted as if nothing had happened.


    But as Kyros rubbed his head, he felt something was off.


    "I can''t remember what happened in thest five seconds!" Finally, Kyros realized what had happened and shouted angrily.


    "Lord Kyros?" Breveros was confused at their sudden anger toward Kyros.


    "I forgot something! I was supposed to say something important! But I can''t remember."


    "Ah... Wee to my life. One of my other incarnations has that daily. His wife often calls him out of the blue and would say, ''I have something to say to you, but I can''t remember what." Cminus sighed.


    "Shut up, Cminus! This is important! Lanthanou is making me forget something... But I don''t know what! It''s Lanthanou he!"


    "A boom! A sudden attack! We were attacked!" Lea suddenly spoke.


    "Attacked?!" Kyros asked.


    "Yes! He appeared! He said something! But I can''t remember what! He used his powers against us! We must have been talking about something important!" Lea urged.


    "Then let''s go over what is important. What would be so important that would cause Lanthanou to attack us?" Kyros asked everyone.


    "Is it... about the Codes and Corruption of this ce?" Cminus guessed.


    "I don''t think that''s it! We have to hurry! The more time we waste, the more I can''t remember!" Kyros cursed and began to close his eyes to recall what it was. His instincts were shouting to ask now, but somehow, he couldn''t remember.


    "What were we talking about? Was it something I said?" Lea asked.


    "...Yes! That''s it! It was something you said! What did you say?"


    "...I... I can''t remember!" Lea was horrified at the attack that was forcing her to forget something.


    "Did you guys remember what she said?" Kyros turned.


    "I..." Rachel scratched her head again.


    Breveros shook his head and began to think.


    "Ugh. It''s like the conversation my other incarnation has with his wife. His wife tells him something, and somethinges up, and by the time they try to carry out the conversation, they forget what happened, and even my other incarnation can''t tell her what they talked about! You know, his wife is very historical. You''d think someone like her would remember the past!"


    "Remember the past! That''s it!" Kyros cheered as the fleeting thoughts recovered.


    "Lanthanou attacked us because we remembered the past! That''s it!"


    "Remembered the past? You mean the past of this world!"


    "Yes! Lea, we are not of this ce! We are not people of the Unrecorded Pages! So if we remember something that oveps the Recorded Pages, It should be hurting him somehow! We have to keep remembering things!" Kyros urged.

 Chapter 402 Remembering Their Past Lives

    The words of Kyros made Lea and Mechiel confused.


    Breveros pondered the words of Kyros.


    "Well, it does make sense. That Fallen you call Oblivion wants memories to fade and be forgotten. And as a fallen and something that defines the reality that we live in, doing the exact opposite should hurt him. You said that Histerion and this Oblivion are stronger than the other gods and fallen. That also means that they are built differently. So Histerion must purge this world, and Oblivion must do his part." Breveros exined.


    "I feel that to be true..." Mechiel answered.


    "Ever since that time that the powers of Oblivion were causing people to forget about me, the anger and fear of the Charmed Fallen awoken in me. I can''t hear its voice. But at the same time, I can feel the urge of the world to forget. The desire of the Charmed Fallen to be remembered even by the people of this world is growing stronger. And when Listrel meditated on the Code of nts, I felt the powers of Oblivion weaken. Kyros is right. If we want to weaken Oblivion, we have to remember more! What about Cminus? What if you make us remember the events here? What if he tells us stories about the world that he saw?" Mechiel asked.


    "That'' wouldn''t work," Cminus answered.


    "There is a difference in remembering and knowing. If I told you what I''ve been through, it isn''t remembering."


    "Then in that''s the case, then what else CAN we remember? Everything that we can remember is from the gods and fallen that have died here! So there''s nothing else to remember!" Lea argued.


    "There is still a way!" Kyros smiled.


    "There is?"


    "There is a lot to remember! Our past here!" Kyros answered.


    "Our past? We can''t remember it! Are you suggesting we find the Brimstone Beast that has our souls?"


    "No. Our souls are here with us. There can only be one soul in the timeline and one existence. When you died here, your souls were recreated and transferred across time when Cminus turned time back."


    "Then wouldn''t that just be knowing? It''s like we''re circling back to Cminus''s answer." Lea frowned.


    "We''ll find out, won''t we? Mechiel. In your past life here... You were a Vampire Queen of great power. I suspect that someway or the other... the Blood Cmity still became your host!" Kyros revealed.


    "What...?!" Mechiel was amazed, and even the Blood Cmity was surprised.


    Suddenly, there was a light trembling all over them. It was as if the entire universe quivered.


    "That...!" Lea was amazed.


    Mechiel closed her eyes as she could feel her soul quiver. The desire of the Charmed Fallen to be remembered appeared once more.


    "Kyros is... right! It''s not just.. knowing. It really is remembering. Knowledge of the past not directly rted to memory will create ripples that affect memories. I can feel it..." Mechiel nced at the vast distance, and something within her was awakening.


    "I was... the Blood Cmity in that life!" Mechiel realized and turned to Kyros.


    "Kyros...! Who was I in my past life, exactly?"


    "I don''t know who you were. What I did know was that you were called a Queen among Vampires. You remained that same vampire ve who served the Steele family all my life. Unfortunately, our family lost you a bit earlier. The next we saw each other, you had changed so drastically that I didn''t believe it was you. But then again, I also changed a lot. You probably didn''t recognize me at first. But somewhere along the line... you probably figured it out."


    "I... I died saving you!" Mechiel suddenly cried out as he recalled.


    At that moment, another trembling in the skies began.


    "It''s working!" Lea was amazed.


    "This proves it! The memories of the gods and fallen are not the only things that can be remembered! We are not beings of the Unrecorded Pages. And no matter what, our existence here is still tied in the Recorded Pages! Remember what Histerion said! There are things that Histerion has to record in the pages of history. Our mission is to do something that will force Histerion to write something in the Recorded Pages! But how was it that he knew only we could do it?"


    "Because we are of the Recorded Pages... Only we can make that possible."


    "Exactly! Lanthanou attacked us when Lea began to remember! Hems is a special case as he has Brimstone! You could say that his transmigration to this world was hidden from Lanthanou that even though he remembered, it didn''t draw out Lanthanou! That''s another weapon we have against Lanthanou! Mysterion!"


    "Can you use it now?"


    "No. I still don''t understand Mysterion. It''s still a mystery to me..." Kyros sighed.<sub> </sub>


    "Then let''s focus on what we do know! Even if the people of this world learn of the memories of these gods and fallen, it won''t call Lanthanou to act out! But if it''s us, people tied to the Recorded Pages... it will hurt him! And we can learn vast amounts of things! Things that you know!" Lea urged.


    "Breveros! Tell me what happened here! Tell me the ns of the Eldrich! If I find out what the Eldrich''s ns are, it will change the progression of things in the timeline in the Recorded Pages!" Kyros had a huge grin on his face.


    "The past? But what will that do? You won''t be remembering anything!"


    "No. But it will reveal more understanding to my memory. It would be one thing if Cminus told me about his adventures so disconnected from mine... But if I understood the things about your ns, it would allow me to see my past differently! The same goes for Lea! If she hears about the secret plots going on behind the scenes, it may cause her soul to be angry!"


    "That sounds far-fetched. But perhaps there is a chance for my knowledge to hurt a powerful Fallen. I guess it''s worth a shot!" Breveros chuckled.


    "Hurry! Your memories will be affected by Lanthanou''s power!"


    "I understand! What happened was... Ah!" But then Breveros felt that his memories were being yanked out, and he fell to his knees.


    The power within the world began to change. This time, Kyros did not forget the attack as it affected Breveros.


    "Lanthanou! Cminus! Use Time Stop!" Kyros quickly ordered as he harnessed Time Surge and fed energy to Cminus''s Soul Core.


    The power of Time stopped the flow around Breveros, and Kyros quickly stabbed his sword on the ground and unleashed the Brimstone energy in his sword to create several pirs of Brimstone that surrounded Breveros. The power of Brimstone began to protect Breveros, and several strange explosions urred nearby.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Breveros revealed several wounds that Kyros was now able to ''remember'' were there!


    "Wounds?! How?" Kyros cursed.


    "Ahhhh!" Breveros shouted as strange dark energy could be seen appearing over him.


    "Enemy attack!" Kyros shouted and harnessed Brimstone to attack the energy.


    BOOM!


    "Lanthanou! He''s attacking us! Lea! Mechiel! Be on guard!"


    Breveros was trying to remember what he didn''t know. Lanthanou was already secretly destroying his memories. And when he finally tried to remember, it made him feel the impact of the soul attack.


    The moment the pirs of Brimstone surrounded Breveros, several screams were heard, and several dark, impish creatures with deformed faces, horns, small wings, and a ck tail were retreating.


    "Memory Eaters! I remember them now! Kyros! These are soul beasts! They hide in the darkness! Use light!" Cminus called out.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]! Kyros quickly activated his power, and a powerful light appeared and rose to the skies.


    Then, the dark beasts were revealed, and the forest was full of them!


    At that moment, Mechiel and Lea saw themselves impaled by several small spears that these dark imps inflicted on them. However, they kept on forgetting that they had been attacked!


    "Ahh!" Mechiel shouted as she remembered the pain. The beast was cunning and knew it could not kill them even with an attack to the head. And so they were attacking the body and slowly stabbing everyone quickly.


    "No one... can remember!" An angry cry could be heard from above as a dark door could be seen where countless more of the dark imps were moving inside.


    "To battle!" Rachel ordered as she saw the beast.


    All the nearby warriors were already fighting as some of the weaker soldiers nearby had already died from the wounds that these dark beasts made.


    Liathel and Gradius were awakened from their trance as several pirs of Brimstone appeared around them and revealed some dark beasts about to attack them!


    "You little imp! How dare you disturb me from learning the powers of the Dentro!" Liathel raged, and a single p sent the creature up, its bodies scattered into nothingness.


    Gradius was also awakened and saw the horrifying swarm of small, winged imps and charged for battle.

 Chapter 403 Remembering What Was Concealed

    The sudden attack had already urred when they heard the trembling sounds.


    The Memory Eater Imps had already begun their assault, but no one noticed them because they were soul beings. But a massive door had appeared from the heavens. Only, through the nefarious powers of Lanthanou, he manipted the minds of everyone.


    The power of forgetfulness affected everyone, and Lanthanou made everyone ''forget'' to feel pain.


    The Memory Eaters were very weak. And against the powerful cultivators that served as the escort and bodyguard of the three leaders of the Hignds, the Memory Eaters used their stabs and could not easily kill these cultivators. And so, they used their advantage to keep attacking and attacking, causing the soldiers to lose blood and were weakened slowly.


    But when Kyros used his powers, and the light appeared, the creatures were found. Everyone now saw these creatures and realizing they were being attacked caused them to remember how to feel the pain.


    Many shouted and quickly unleashed force defenses to repel the enemies. Many with so many wounds realized how weak they were and quickly retreated.


    Mechiel and Lea began to use numerous attacks on the Memory Eater Imp groups and slew them at once.


    Gradius and Rachel began to give out orders.


    Liathel used the power of the tree around her.


    "[Healing of Land]!" She used the power of the nt and the trees around her, and it began to glow and surge with powerful Light magic.


    The many soldiers who were close to dying were healed, and the imps that were struck by the surging power began to screech in pain.


    "Breveros! Tell us the most important details! You may forget the rest! Hurry!" Kyros urged as he could sense the power of memory being forcibly taken. The Memory Eaters were only a group that was meant to distract everyone while the true magic would be released.


    "Rhykestorn Ever! A god appeared to our leader, Lord Impyernos, leader of the Eldrich! We were ordered to corrupt and damage the nesworld by iming the Minds! Our purpose was to ess the many portals connecting numerouss and minor worlds! Our goal was to create a way for the Fallen warriors to travel! They had promised us to be the kings of the Minds should we do that since it would allow their gods to enter! We were to find and reactivate the oldest portals created during the Heretic Wars! And... Ahhhh! I can''t remember...!" Breveros began to shout as his soul began to leak out of his body.


    Kyros nced at the heavens, and a dark hand had emerged from the darkness, and the power of Oblivion surged out.


    Gradius and Rachel also shouted in pain.


    Their sudden pause made them easy targets as the imps charged at them, but the Commanders and Cardinals that apanied them fought back as they were healed.


    Immediately, Kyros raised towards the skies and wielded the power of light that covered his body. Two clones of light appeared and had angelic appearances. Several massive swords, each having the power of Light and Brimstone, appeared around Kyros.


    "Lanthanou!" Kyros shouted in anger and hacked his sword.


    "Hahaha! Your time is not now, Kyros! Our battle will happen soon! Be prepared!" The hand disappeared back into the dark door, and the door closed and disappeared.


    Kyros was toote, and his sword sh reached nothing.


    p As Kyros looked around, his rage grew as he saw the battle raging around them.</anda>


    "....Lord Kyros..." A faint voice was heard.


    "That... Oblivion! Hems! I forgot about him!" Kyros quickly moved and flew towards the Walls that Endured.


    The rest continued to fight, but Kyros was worried that his ally was fighting on the other side.


    "Lord Kyros... Are you there? A strange attack has been made! A huge army of Dark imps appeared, and most of our forces except the elves couldn''t see them! We fought for a bit and easily killed them all."


    But despite hearing this news, Kyros was worried. Once more, they had been ambushed, and people could have died even when Kyros was there! He had grown so much stronger since theirst battle, and yet, the enemy was able to outwit them!


    He knew that things would never be too easy and that while the army won, there would be something that they had forgotten.


    Kyros charged towards where the Walls that Endured. He suddenly lost his thoughts.


    "What''s going on...? Why did I feel that I could quickly move towards where Hems is?!" Kyros frowned as he continued to ponder why he had this feeling.


    "Cminus! Was there a way to make us travel so swiftly towards where Hem was?" Kyros asked.


    "I... Don''t remember. If there was, Lanthanou must have taken that memory from us."


    "You don''t have a way to remember? You are still a god after all."


    "I used to be a god, Kyros. Now only a fraction of my powers remain. I would have been able to recall if I had the means to defend against it. But Kyros, you have that means! You are a god and a fallen after all!" Cminus urged. He could feel Kyros panic which was very unusual for him. Ever since his rebirth, he never had experienced this.


    "So Lanthanou is this strong, huh...?" Cminus began to feel worried.


    "His powers are enough for us to fail this mission. We don''t understand the power that he has and the rules of forgetfulness. Why didn''t he just make us forget that we could breathe? What are the limitations of his power?" Kyros began to list down his questions from the two battles he fought against Lanthanou.


    "Erm... I can''t even remember your first battle! I have no memory of it all!" Cminus began to panic.


    "What?! You couldn''t remember?!" Kyros panicked as well.


    "Yeah... All I remember was Time Stopping you!"


    Finally, Kyros remembered.<sub> </sub>


    "... Cminus."


    "Yes?"


    "You don''t have memory of my first battle against Lanthanou because you weren''t there! You were outside as the battle happened in the void!"


    "...Oh! Right! We... That made me worried."


    "But I can''t me you idiotment this time. Because of his power, I can''t rely on my memory anymore."


    DING!


    ---


    Codeword stated. Reying video.


    ---


    A strange alert popped up on Kyros''s notification.


    A vision of Kyros appeared.


    "Dear future Kyros. If you are reading this, then you must have fought Lanthanou again. If so, he must have robbed you of your memories, and you uttered ''I can''t rely on my memory'' or other variations of that phrase that triggered this recording. Tobat Lanthanou, you have developed an ingenious system based on Cminus rants about programming. Introducing the Log Files!"


    "Log files?" Both Kyros and Cminus repeated together.


    "You sealed the memory of the log files because you are Mysterion. In truth, your battle against Lanthanou gave you a deeper understanding of Mysterion. You have already awakened your code. But you made yourself forget it!"


    "I made myself forget it?" Kyros was amazed.


    "You can''t forget something if you''ve already forgotten it." The recording of Kyros then pointed to his temple like a wise, dark man full of wisdom and life hacks.


    "essing the log files requires you to remember. So all you have to do is awaken Mysterion again!"


    "What?!" Cminus was confused.


    "Awaken Mysterion again? It''s already difficult and impossible to figure out a Code or Corruption! Much more, forget it and remember it again! How long did it take you to figure out Mysterion? You expect yourself to remember your Code easily?!"


    "...Done." Kyros opened his eyes, found the log files, and began reading them.


    "..."


    Cminus can''t even.


    Kyros found the mysterious log file and read through it, and reached the line which made him remember.


    ---


    Kyros headed towards the warp pad leading to Westeron Kingdom.


    ---


    Kyros quickly remembered everything and felt his head begin to throb in pain.


    But Kyros ignored it and journeyed towards the warp pad to check on Hems.


    Kyros wrote on his hand the word Warp Pad with his sword.


    "Why not just write it down?" Cminus asked.


    "No. I remembered everything. I already figured out the power of Lanthanou when we first fought and got connected. But I never told everyone. You also knew about it, but as you are bonded with me, both our memories were sealed when I used Mysterion. This was also why Lanthanou made everyone forget pain earlier. His powers can only make people forget a certain number of things at a time. There are many factors that will prevent him from making someone forget. The more things there are to make the person remember, the harder it is to make him forget. If I wrote warp pad with simple writing, I would forget to look at this!"


    "But if you wounded yourself, the pain would remind you of it..." Cminus understood.


    "Exactly. He''s learning... This is bad."


    "What do you mean he is learning?" Cminus asked.


    "Based on the logs, Lanthanou has already attacked us twice before!" Kyros revealed.


    "What?! When?" Cminus was amazed.


    "I don''t know. We already forgot those two times!"

 Chapter 404 Remembering The Plan

    When Kyros recovered his memory, he stopped pressing toward Hems and moved back to Mechiel and the rest of the team.


    Cminus was shocked that there already had been two other shes with Lanthanou other than those he remembered.


    "What does the log say?" Cminus asked Kyros. Only Kyros the log files of his activities because it was concealed in the power of Mysterion.


    "It just says we fought. Based on that, we might have fought an enemy and instantly forgot about this. On several asions, we almost forgot about the power of these Warp Pads that connected themselves to the Hignds. Specifically, the Warp pad connects us to the Walls that Endured. In both cases, he tried to make us forget, but we kept remembering. It must have been two asions where I activated Mysterion and managed to unseal my memories. But his attack this time is different."


    "Why?"


    "The previous two attacks made us forget that the battle happened. This one made us remember the battle. Lanthanou is changing his tactics. He is clearly like Histerion. He cannot pour in his true form at will. His first defeat gave him a major setback. But now, he made another battle and involved Memory Eaters. It''s bad, but it''s also good."


    "He''s getting desperate to find out how you keep remembering!" Cminus realized it.


    "Yes. He took away our pain and used Memory Eaters instead. It probably didn''t kill much, and those killed weren''t forgotten. But he was trying to steal away our memory of using the portal to seal the two connecting areas of our armies. The Minds is now well-guarded, and with the elves who are blessed with eyes that can harness light and life energy in their eyes, it will be difficult to attack or harm them."


    "So that''s why you''re heading back. Hems and the army is in no immediate danger?"


    "Yes. But it''s not as peaceful as we think. With the power of Lnathanou and Histerion working together, what do you think happened to those killed?"


    "...They were forgotten?"


    "Yes. I estimate that I probably already lost close to a quarter of the armies I rescued and gathered, who resisted and survived the many battles."


    "A quarter of the army?! Then that''s...! Wait... How much do we have now? I can''t remember the exact number!"


    "Don''t bother trying to remember the correct number of the army we have now. It''s pointless! We''ve already forgotten the full amount of soldiers we''ve recruited. What we remember now, or even if we count them all, that number is not the original number of men we had! When we kept gathering more and more forces from the surviving kingdoms, that number had decreased during the two attacks that we don''t remember!"


    "Sounds scary. We''re losing men and we don''t remember it! What are you going to do now?"


    "I''m going to pretend that Lanthanou''s n worked! I''ll pretend that I forgot to use the portal!" Kyros chuckled.


    "Then you will march an army towards the Western Minds?"


    "Yes! But this won''t be a march. Instead, we will beunching our entire army! Histerion will ambush me on my way back to the Minds. We will fight him there, but the Hignds'' main army will march towards the Omega Kingdom! We will be forcing the final battle now!"


    "What?!"


    "This was the n I made right after we fought Lanthanou! The final battle will be pushed immediately! Once I acquire the Celestial Code, it will force Lanthanou to fight!"


    "Why?"


    "Because I will remember!"


    "Remember what? You already remember everything!"


    "Yes. I died and was brought back to that world. Chaos urred, and the Brimstone Beast appeared. All souls destined by Fate and Destiny were also recalled in time as everything was tossed into the Unrecorded Pages. Those that survived here were those who are not people of Fate, Destiny, or those born after the time where you turned time into. But why do I feel that the Celestial Code still exists here?"


    "...Why?"


    "Because that which remained here wasn''t just the Celestial Code! It had Mysterion in it!"


    "Mysterion?! You mean the Celestial Code was hidden?"


    "Yes! That''s why it was in the Omega Kingdom! And not only that, someone in the Omega Kingdom took the Celestial Code as his own and fought to the bitter end. But when he died, the Celestial Code was hidden once more! It will be the memory of another person! Who do you think in the Omega Kingdom would most likely get his hands on the Celestial Code?"


    "Either a strong servant of the undead armies or an Eldrich like Breveros who tookmand."


    "Yes! I will remember a lot, which will harm and anger Lanthanou!"


    "How can that anger hurt Lanthanou?"<sub> </sub>


    "I don''t know."


    "You don''t know?"


    "At least for now! I already figured it out, but I had to seal it! So I can''t remember it yet. And what''s interesting is that I can''t figure it out even with my intelligence! So I must be using Mysterion to hide my thoughts of a certain element that assures Lanthanous''s appearance in that battle. But that''s the n. I am confident that this n will work."


    "Well, that''s great. You''ve been panicking quite a lot, fitting Lanthanou."


    "He is the strongest enemy we have faced so far. But panic is necessary. It has to look real. So I will be sealing myself, for now, to forget this whole n and charge off recklessly to Hems."


    "Wait. If you seal your memory now, how will you tell the Hignds to attack the Omega Kingdom?"


    "I won''t. Cminus. You have an important role in this plot."


    <o>,m "Me?"</o>


    "Yes! The power of Lanthanou in which he allows us to forget things has a weakness!"


    "It has?"


    "He can only make people forget something that he knows!"


    "That he knows? He''s a Fallen who is as powerful as Histerion! He knows everything!"


    "Yes. Everything in this universe! Lanthanou only knows everything within this universe! But you have knowledge that exists beyond it!"


    "So my incredibly inessential knowledge of Final Fantasy VIII''s junction system will finally be of use, huh?"


    "No. That''s not it." Kyros shook his head.


    "My knowledge of One Piece and the theory of its connection to the Japanese myth of the blue and red oni from the story, the Red Oni Who Cried? Just like that story, the Blue oni pretends to be something else so that the red oni will be epted and celebrated, and they represent Red-Haired Shanks and Blue-Haired Buggy. And that Buggy, being the blue-haired one, secretly implies that Buggy had always had greater importance in One Piece since the Blue Oni is usually the stronger and is the cunning Oni in Japanese myths?"


    "Wrong. But that''s a rather interesting perspective... Toriko had Blue and Red Onis in him, and the Blue was the stronger one... A-Anyway. That''s not it." Kyros shook his head to get back on the matter at hand.


    "My knowledge of Lord of the Rings?"


    "Yes."


    "What?"


    "It''ll be your knowledge that will cause Listrel to lead the attack to the Minds!" Kyros raised his finger, and a small green seed appeared.


    "Listrel now has the power of the nt. Using the power of the Dryad, I sealed the orders in this seed with Mysterion. It will grow in Listrel and sprout when the timees, and the knowledge of what to do will reveal itself, and you will tell her what to do."


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yes. My n is pretty awesome. I''ll use Mysterion now. I''ll be back to my nervous self and now lead a desperate attack to the Minds while Listrel meditates. Because of this, I will naturally leave your Time Core to her so that you could use Time magic to help her grow stronger quickly." Kyros exined the n.


    "Why are you exining it to me if I will still forget?"


    "... I just thought you wanted to know... In any case... Let''s do it!" Kyros used his powers, and Mysterion concealed their memories.


    Kyros saw himself running back.


    "Damn it! That Lanthanou did it again!" Kyros rushed faster as he suddenly lost his presence and attention to what he was doing.


    "What happened? Where are we?" Cminus also panicked.


    "We must hurry! We have to get to Listrel! You help her harmonize the Code of nts! I have no choice! I have to lead an army to save Hems! We don''t know what Lanthanou has made his army forget!" Kyros flew at his maximum speed.

 Chapter 405 Remembering Nothing

    Listrel was shocked at the return of Kyros, who no longer had his usual calm and collected nature, and Kyros began to exin what had happened.


    "Was there a way for us to get here fast?" Kyros pressed.


    "...No. I don''t remember anything!"


    "He made us forget! He couldn''t make us forget about the Code because the Code is too important to forget and is the power of another god! But he''s closing our path! We must have used something to get here so fast! But now, we can''t even remember it!" Kyros eximed.


    "What are we going to do?" Mechiel asked.


    "I tried to do something at thest second before Lanthanou used his power. But... I forgot." Kyros had a defeated and frustrated expression.


    When they saw it, the team felt dread. Kyros was like a beacon of hope that always assured them and gave them the chance of winning. His miracles and powers were the reason they stood strong and powerful even in this world devoid of Code and Corruption.


    "But Kyros, how is that possible? When we fought against him, the powers of him causing us to forget things like that?" Mechiel asked.


    "The Memory Eaters probably aren''t just beasts that Lanthanou created! It should be a manifestation of his power to make us forget! That power is quite strong! Think about it! We are here and must have found a way to move here! Logically, if it''s something we forgot, we can force ourselves to remember it! If we retrace our steps, we will be able to do it! But now, we can''t!" Kyros exined.


    "...He''s right!" Lea was amazed.


    Kyros turned to Gradius, Rachel, and Breveros, who also shook their heads.


    "YourYour arrival is a vague blur to us now..." Gradius frowned.


    Rachel was trying to remember the specifics.


    "We have no choice. We will be falling into the trap that Lanthanou has set. But if we don''t move out, Hems and the army is in danger of being wiped out and forgotten! Hems are still alive. I can feel him. But if we don''t do anything, we will lose them! From our current position, we can only deduce that there is a way to move towards them quickly and them to us. The few elves at the top are proof that we came here. I''ve been trying to remember past urrences through deductive reasoning. But even then, I can''t recall how we got here! Anything rted to our return is nk! I remember nothing!"


    "Wait! We have rocs! What if we flew our way here?"


    "No. Think back even more! In less than a day, we have memories of being with Hems, and then, suddenly, we were fighting the army of Histerion, which had life and form! It doesn''t make sense!"


    "Yes. I also don''t recall you guys arriving through Rocs."


    "What if..."


    "Stop!" Kyros shouted.


    Mechiel quickly reached out and held on to Kyros. Kyros had reached the end of his patience and actually shouted at them!


    Kyros stopped speaking. He realized he was bing angry and impatient and knew that if he were to lead this team, he needed to keep himself calm. He took a few deep breaths.


    "We don''t have time to discuss this. We move out. This will be a trap. Listrel. Take this seed and let it bloom. Whatever it is, just figure it out. I can only trust that the me that rushed towards the Walls that Endured alone to head towards Hems thought of something that could help us resolve this crisis. Our lives are in danger. We had hope of victory. But now, the power of Lanthanou is so strong. We might forget the allies and hopes that we have. If this keeps up, we will all die, alone and divided. All of us having no memory of each other. So let''s do what we can. "


    Listrel nodded.


    "Leave it to us. We''ll master the power of the nt Code and do whatever we can to fight."


    "Mechiel. You stay here."


    "No. I saved you once in my life. I''ll save you this time! I''m starting to remember, Kyros! And the power of the Charm in me is screaming. I don''t want you to forget me!" Mechiel urged.<sub> </sub>


    Kyros was silent but could only nod.


    "Histerion and Lanthanou will be trying to kill us. We have to be ready. Lea. Stay here to guard them. Breveros, please join us."


    "Just the three of you?" Lea frowned.


    "You guys can hurt Lanthanou by constantly talking and discovering more about those lost memories. I''ll need an army." Kyros asked.


    "I''ll assemble whatever forces can send out." Breveros nodded and moved ahead.


    Kyros left Cminus to Listrel and repaired the energy formation circles that were helping Listrel speed up time.


    At the same time, Kyros began to create several energy formation circles all over the ce to create ayer of holy magic to detect any Memory Eaters.


    When he created the energy formation circles, hidden in a certain location within the three, a memory eater began to fade and dispersed from the Holy energy.


    This was a Memory Eater that everyone forgot about.


    It hid and listened in on the team and finally died.


    Back in the Omega Kingdom, Lanthanou had now taken form as his darkness gathered around him.


    He had his old, unkempt form remained. But this time, several skulls were protruding at the back clothes, and he had arge, bone scepter.


    The entire discussion that Kyros had with his team had been projected above for him to see.


    The forgotten Memory Eater had seen and heard the entire n.


    "Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha! That Kyros is now desperate! The once-proud Nephilim now willingly moves towards the trap that has been set for him! And what''s funny is that I barely killed any soldiers among that division that this Hemsmand! I can''t believe you had a hard time dealing with this man!" Lanthanouughed.


    "The man I fought was very clever and cunning. Are you sure he has no other ns? He did beat you thest time." Histerion smiled. Unlike Lanthanou, Histerion wore white robes and maintained a very dignified, clean appearance. Several living beings stood next to him.


    Each living being represented the best warriors that the Hignds, the Nethends, and the Eldrich ever had to walk on the nesworld.


    Their power reached the levels of Crown. But this time, they had Force and Magic. It was as if these warriors were reborn to have the very strength they had when they were Crowns.


    "I hope that this little n of yours will work with these Crown-level beings."


    "I indeed lost, but it was because of Cminus! That idiot god was able to use his ability of Time Stop to pause my incarnation! But if he were any secondter, that Nephilim would have already died! But this time, they are panicking! You clearly don''t know how to deal with smart enemies. The trick is to take information away from their hands. You saw his panic! We got this in the bag! You''re just too weak to fight him, Histerion. I can''t believe you were actually trying to create a form of yourself in this world!" Lanthanouughed.


    "Perhaps, he''s acting."


    p "Acting? I know acting when I see it, Histerion. If he was acting, then he must have remembered what had happened! But I can peer through his memory and can tell that he had forgotten about the warp pad! Go and conquer! And with this will be done with this Nephilim pest! And give it to me now!" Lanthanou demanded.</anda>


    "No. The agreement is, I give you the Celestial Code if you help me defeat Kyros. I won''t give it to you until he is defeated!" Histerion smiled.


    "...Fine. Go and conquer! And make it fast! The more they remember the more painful it is for me to be here. I shall wait in the abyss. This brimstone is hurting my skin!" Lanthanou waved his hand, and he vanished into the darkness.

 Chapter 406 Remembering The Extended

    Kyros, Mechiel, and Breveros led their army that traveled on foot. The rocs could not carry the number of men they had, and the Hignd''s flying beasts had nearly been eradicated in the previous battles.


    "They were the beasts who would save us in many battles. Whenever there were Siege Cultivators among the Brimstone Beast, those who could fly would be sent to conquer the Siege Cultivators. And so, we have very few beasts remaining. They are also the primary target of the Brimstone beast in each sh." Breveros exined.


    Next to him were several members of the Eldrich.


    All were Cardinal levels who had surpassed their limits and grew strong and skilled enough to be geniuses.


    Even in such a dark situation, Kyros did not lose hope. The truth was, he knew that there would have been a way for Lanthanou to spy on them in the attack as there would be a beast that would be hidden from memory. Lanthanou could easily lock a certain space in the area, make people forget this small space, and hide a Memory Eater there.


    But even then, Kyros chose to y out the scene with all earnestness. There was no choice in his perspective.


    Kyros was betting his victory on the seed he gave to Listrel and hoped that behind it was a mystery that was so important that it could change the course of the battle. And so, he did what he could do in front of such adversity and began to awaken more of their memories.


    "Tell me about the start of your war? How are the Dark Shine Kingdom involved in advancing and attacks all those years ago?" Kyros asked.


    "The Dark Shine Kingdom? That''s a very nostalgic word." One of Eldrich smiled.


    "I served the Eldrich who was sent there. General Argos was sent to the Dark Shine Kingdom, and our Lord created a breach to send three Eldrich, including me, to empower any kingdom in the Dark Sea. The Dark Shine was the closest when Lord Impyernos opened the Life and Death Containing Field, covering the entire nesworld. We spurred the king and told the king of the secret behind the Airom region."


    "That it is the burial grounds of many dragons?" Kyros asked.


    "Oh? Lord Miracle already knows?"


    "In my Timeline, I already met an ancient dragon that somehow survived the entire cmity. He was reborn and now serves my family."


    "A dragon? Do you happen to know his name?"


    "Is it important?" Kyros asked.


    "Lord Kyros. Like how Endoxus and Olethros received their power from Dentro and Hydron, our Eldrich n received its powers from a Heretic Dragon!"


    "Ah... Those Heretics. Yes. I don''t know the real name. I am told that his name is Dorothy. That''s what Martha called her at first."


    "Dorothy?" The Eldrich was confused. Why would an ancient dragon be called Dorothy?


    "Isn''t Dorothy a woman''s name?"


    "Not since the rise of gender spectrum in 2022." Kyros shook his head.


    "What?"


    "Er... Sorry... That was a weird thing to say. But he is now called Puff. But I don''t know his real name. Martha did say something about Puff being his grandpa."


    "???"


    "But I realize that it may have been rted to some deceptive plot care of Cminus. Is there a specific dragon you were looking for?"


    "Yes. We sought the dragon that birthed our darkness. That was why we led the Dark Shine Kingdom to believe a powerful dragon was left there. But even before reaching the Londs, we found the dragon we were looking for!"


    "Wait! Then the dragon you''re looking for... Is it the Dark Dragon Tiamat?"


    "You know of Lord Tiamat?" Breveros was amazed.


    "I know that it was in the Dark Sea. Puff told us."


    "Yes. That was the very dragon God that bestowed our powers! The Nethends used to be where Lord Tiamat kept the conquest of the God-Born and the Fallen-Spawns."


    "God-Born and Fallen-Spawns. These are beings that are not gods or fallen but who have power that surpasses all Celestials."


    "Yes. They were between the mortals and those at the levels of gods and fallen. Vampire Ancients are one example of these beings. Lord Tiamat killed many dark Fallen-Spawns and some God-Born whichter became the Nethends. I believe it waster that the Ancient God Dentro nted the Ygdrassil to create the nesworld."


    The space around the world began to tremble as Kyros was able to connect a lot of things.<sub> </sub>


    "So that''s it! That''s why there was a pause in the conquest! Tiamat was found and paused the war!" Kyros eximed.


    "You got it. The Tiamat was a cause of this issue. General Argos and I reported finding the Tiamat and forced Lord Impyernos into the nesworld. But Lea Olethros was there and stopped us from acquiring it. But we knew that if we fought the King of the Nethends, we would lose again. So we leaked this information and various kingdoms within the Dark Sea, the different races of the Dark Dependent who were not loyal to the King of the Nethends, and our Eldrich n waged war to acquire it. This caused a great pause in the skirmishes made in the Londs and the Minds."


    "So that''s why after my family died, the orcs stopped attacking!" Kyros realized another important mystery in the past.


    When his kingdom fell from the attacks of the orcs and his entire family was defeated. But after that, there was peace for several years. Then, only the orcs were waging war, and there were fewer dark-dependent kingdoms involved.


    "I guess that the mission to find the Tiamat will be a dangerous one... Martha and the rest won''t be able to acquire it if they move in alone. Our exit must have caused turmoil in the kingdom since Listrel and Lea have disappeared. So the Tiamat will be an important aspect in the future..." Kyros pondered.


    "Who won the war to im the Tiamat?"


    "We pretended to lose. But the truth was, the Tiamat was already corrupted." Breveros revealed.


    Meanwhile, back in the Hignds, Rachel also told Lea the story.


    "So father died because of the Tiamat?"


    "Yes. This happened a little while after I was born. The Tiamat, the source of power for the Eldrich, had already decided its next host. Impyernos was the one it wanted and only fed on father and made him crazy. It was also the reason why you died. To save father, you became the de of the Eldrich and fought for them. That included the great battle between you and Listrel."


    BOOM!


    The area trembled as the memories surged.


    Lea was clutching her head.


    "I remember now... What a battle!" Lea chuckled even though the pain.


    At the same time, the trees around them also trembled as Listrel had finally mastered the power of the Code of Dentro.


    Gradius could only sigh in defeat.


    "No wonder they said Sister was a genius I could neverpete with..." Gradius could not understand all of it but had already benefitted from it. Like Listrel, he also had a seed in him now in his soul realm.


    ? The secret seed that Kyros created had opened, and Listrel saw the strange encryption that appeared as it shed out.


    ---


    Combine the climactic battle of Lord of the Rings 2 and 3. Treebeard goes to war while Aragorn distracts them. For Frodo!


    ---


    "...What?" Listrel frowned.


    "Cminus... what does this mean? Can you exin this to me?"


    "I was born for this..." Cminus read and felt a great excitement surging through him.


    "Hmmm? Why is time speeding up?" Listrel was confused.


    "Get Lea and Rachel! We''re going to save Kyros, so I have to exin this quickly." Cminus ordered.


    Listrel quickly followed.


    Lea, Rachel, Listrel, and Gradius waited within the area where time was elerating.


    "Prepare for a blow-by-blow, word-by-word exnation that will detail every second of the Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition. Ahem..." Cminus cleared his throat.


    "The world is changed... I feel it in the water... I feel it in the earth... I smell it in the air... Much that once was... is lost. For none now live, will remember it." Cminus began the epic tale.

 Chapter 407 Remembering The Charmed

    The entire world continued to create trembling noises as Kyros led the team.


    They could feel that the more they remembered, the greater the number of memories surged.


    It was as if the little memories that Kyros and Mechiel remembered created a wider hole for more memories to flow inside.


    Kyros had a headache. He was not remembering, but he was now understanding so much more about the past that he was achieving the very thing Lanthanou set out to do when he tried to make people forget about the world of the Unrecorded Pages.


    Kyros could now know the future in the current timeline he was in. But as he pressed on about the questions regarding the being that appeared and ordered Impyernos to wage its war, Kyros was now able to see how the power of forgetting was targeting a specific part.


    It was as if the very memories rted to the attack of the Eldrich and resurrecting the passageways betweens was a critical mission.


    "Is Lanthanou serving End?" Kyros finally asked.


    "What do you mean, Kyros?" Mechiel asked. She had a sour expression as her head was suffering from having strange memories jumbled up.


    "It doesn''t make sense. There has to be some purpose behind the concept of forgetting. He isn''t doing this like Histerion is! I feel he is hiding something behind this battle we have with End! After all, things will never end if it is within our memory! The End of all will also mean the Oblivion of all!"


    "Then Fate sent us here... to figure out something! Maybe like Histerion, Fate is hoping that we could trigger the memories of something!"


    "Or someone! There could be gods and fallen that even they have forgotten! If Histerion is affected by Lanthanou''s power, then all of them are! Mechiel! The Charmed Fallen''s power... It urged me to remember her. If you have the Charmed Fallen''s power, her vanity will not ept being forgotten! I don''t think her Corruption lies in this world as she is an ally of End and Destiny! But try to meditate on that. Perhaps you can trigger that power and use her vanity to remember things!" Kyros urged.


    "...I''ll try." Mechiel nodded, and she closed her eyes to meditate. She started by arranging and deducing the numerous memories that now had shed in front of her from the stories of the Eldrich. But she also brought out the power she trained right after the first fight against Lanthanou.


    It was the call of the Charmed Fallen that despised being forgotten.


    "Come on, past self... If you bear the Charmed Fallen... You won''t want to be forgotten!" Mechiel pleaded.


    At those words, a vision of Kyros appeared in front of her.


    "By the power of Mysterion... Remember!" The vision of Kyros appeared.


    Suddenly, the memories that Mechiel had already recalled but were sealed right after the fight against Lanthanou were brought back!


    Thunders could be heard though no lightning erupted.


    "Dark Lightning... It''s reacting in this world. We must be remembering something that Lanthanou has kept a secret!"


    "Is it... Lady Listrel or Lea?"


    "No. The ripple is here with us." Kyros smiled as he turned to Mechiel and saw her crouched down.


    "Mechiel!" Kyros was surprised, and she lifted her as she no longer had the power to speak.


    Mechiel also clutched her head in pain as several memories began to ovep. So many keywords that the Eldrich said about their ns and the rise of the Vampire ns caused her to begin to see strange scenes of her other life in this world. And when she focused and harnessed the pride of the Charmed Fallen not to be forgotten, she felt a strange power being born within her.


    She was starting to recall the years of suffering based on the stories of the Eldrich, and she was starting to remember scenes of ces where she was.


    A dark call echoed all over the universe. It sought to be remembered. But, it did not want to be forgotten. Its rage was apparent, and it was growing stronger and stronger.


    And finally, she saw a familiar figure that appeared in her memories.


    Mechiel was but a weak vampire on the verge of death. The Orc armies had moved ording to the ns and instructions of the Eldrich. She was captured by the Orcs to be brought south of the Londs and was shipped off in the Dark Sea.


    A band of brave men fought their way out and managed to kill the orcs, and began to flee back. They sought to return to the Dark Sea, but along the way, another ship of orcs attacked and sunk their ship.


    Being the weakest form of Vampire, Mechiel could still survive the dark seas and swim through it, and survive yet another day. The dark waters had the energy that Mechiel could slowly absorb. But as a Dhampir Ghoul, she still required a lot of Light rted energy and needed normal food.


    She began to sink into the deep ocean as she had very little strength.


    But as her memories brought her deep into that sea, there was a strange light. A dark red light.


    And there, in the depths of the waters, the form appeared.


    "It seems that Fate is kind." The form appeared and smiled at her.


    Mechiel couldn''t remember what happened next. But as she recalled that, the power within the Blood Cmity also began to tremble.<sub> </sub>


    "Mechiel!" Kyros called out again.


    "I was... brought deep in the Dark Sea!" Mechiel recalled numerous scenes of her life than began to sh out.


    "What?"


    "Xermolipi Phaulos... She... she was there?!" Mechiel eximed.


    Kyros was stunned at Mechiel''s words.


    "Xermolipi Phaulos! It''s really her! She was in the nesworld! Her real body! It was somewhere in the oceans of the Dark Seas!" Mechiel eximed.


    "The Charmed Fallen? But how? Why would she be dying? Isn''t she one of End''s allies?" Kyros was confused.


    "She... was saved by Fate! I was... Fated to meet her!"


    The moment Mechiel said these words, more thunder could be heard. With his eyes, Kyros nced up, and he could see the dark lightning bolts erupting in the heavens above. It wasn''t even the clouds that caused it but a reflection of a power unknown.


    All of a sudden, the voice of Lanthanou was heard.


    "You damned brat! How dare you remember that?!" Lanthanou''s curse reverberated through the heavens, and the entire universe began to quake at his words.


    Once more, the power of Forget began to apply as everything within the past seconds was being forgotten!


    The quake ended, and everyone forgot what Mechiel had just said. What everyone remembered was Mechiel copsing from the pain.


    Dark lightning and thunder continued to echo out.


    "This reaction..." Kyros cursed.


    "We''ve forgotten something!"


    "What?"


    "It could only be it! Lanthanou has made an attack once more!"


    As Kyros spoke, Mechiel trembled. She saw the quake and was the only being in the entire army that remembered what had just happened.


    "You will forget!" A whisper was heard as Mechiel felt a great pain in her head as the power of Lanthanou was trying to remove that memory.


    But the power and desire of the Charmed Fallen fought back as it refused to be forgotten or to forget what she acquired.


    "N...no!" Mechiel fought back. Her memory began to return, and she recalled what n Kyros set through the power of Mysterion. This was going to be her battle! The distraction that will keep Lanthanou busy!


    Kyros didn''t have time to speak to Mechiel as he sensed terrifying energy at a distance.


    Kyros saw it and sighed. They couldn''t move with haste and ordered the army to move at a pace that would not weaken or exhaust them. Kyros knew an ambush woulde, and so he wanted his men ready to make an attack.


    "They are here, huh... Hems... Send all the armies and attack the Omega Kingdom! With Lanthanou drained now, it''s a perfect time! He won''t be able to make us forget the way to the Omega Kingdom!. So abandon all defenses and rush towards it!"


    "But Lord Kyros! What about you?!" Hems shouted as he heard Kyros''s orders.


    "This was one of the scenarios I anticipated. We don''t have a choice now, Hems. The power of Lanthanou is too strong! If we figure out something to defeat it, we lose all memory of it! So we can only act in desperation now. Hems! Capture the Celestial Code! Lanthanou would be too exhausted from the consecutive attempts he caused the power of Forget to appear here! Histerion is here! I''ll distract him!" Kyros ordered as he nced at the distance, where the air was getting increasingly hotter and hotter.


    Several figures could be seen approaching.


    They were the strongest warriors of the nesword!


    They only numbered a few men, and Kyros''s army vastly outnumbered these small men.


    But the power that they wielded made even Breveros tremble.


    "Histerion''s serious, huh? He''s even assuming a powerful form! I hope that whatever I left with Listrel can help us out of this mess!" Kyros sighed as he turned around.


    "Everyone. I apologize. But it seems that most, if not all of you, myself included, will die here." Kyros bowed his head.

 Chapter 408 Remembering The Celestial Code

    Kyros was very honest with the team.


    But those that stood by didn''t cower and only gripped their swords and weapons tighter.


    "Still... It took two beings that we cannot fathom to kill you. Not a bad ending... Histerion approaches with his army. I want to ask the remaining Feather-Folk to carry my wife back." Kyros turned to a Commander.


    "...I am saddened that I won''t die with the honors of facing this beast. But I will dly bring your wife to safety." The Commander bowed, and his wings erupted out.


    "N...o..." Mechiel cried out. But she was too weak. The fight she was having with Lanthanou was causing her to be drained of all power.


    "Mechiel. Your battle is to distract Lanthanou. I''m sorry. I thought I''d be strong enough to figure this out. But the power before us is too powerful. Breveros... I''ll be frank."


    "No need to exin, Lord Miracle. If the battle begins to shift to our defeat, we will sacrifice ourselves to save you." Breveros answered.


    "Good. I really don''t want to retreat."


    "It''s not cowardice when you still have more people you could save. I understand. We are beings doomed to fire. This is both our Destiny and Fate. We are both pawns to be used in the battle between the gods and fallen." Breveros sighed.


    Kyros''s expression changed. The moment Breveros said that something just didn''t sit right. This was not how Fate acted.


    "Could it be...?" Kyros thought. He began to try and deduce what it was that he saved in that seed.


    "What message did I leave there? Did the past me who made that ount for this battle?"


    Several men appeared on the distant horizon. The heat began to sting. It was as if they were looking directly at the sun''s heat.


    Four beings were flying in the air.


    Kyros expected an army, but when he saw them, he sighed.


    "This is bad. Histerion is really going for my neck now..." Kyros sighed.


    "Their back. The former lords of the nesworld, and my master...! Their back!" Breveros saw the three and was horrified.


    Of the four, three were familiar figures.


    The first one harnessed tremendous light energy and donned a sword and shield. He contained so much Force and Magic that the entire world looked as if it had recovered its sun back.


    Emperor Elistre Protos Endoxos appeared once more, and while his powers were limited only to the form of a Crown, the powers had fully returned. He even wielded the Codes that were lost.


    The light of Soter glowed strongly. The King of the nesworld followed the religion of the light and served the god, Soter, the most.


    He not only learned of the Code of Soter but would be blessed with the special blessing that allowed him to rule. He was the Vicar of Soter.


    On the opposite side was his eternal rival. King Necros Olethros flew out quietly at the side. He was around three times the size of Lea''s full Grendelor form. The tail wildly swished out, and the darkness gathered around him like a huge shield that protected him from the darkness.


    A thousand screams could be heard as he moved, and the shadows that were being cast from the light of Elistre were like the shadows of several beings screaming in pain and trying to flee from the shadow.


    The forced energy of this man was so strong and sharp that the ground below him began to crack from at his flight.


    The final being was a man who Breveros knew well. He was an Eldrich that was assigned by Eldrich Impyernos to lead the charge into the nesworld and acted as the leader. Had not it been for Breveros, Kyros would never have known the true leader and assumed that the Eldrich leader was this man.


    The man was clothed in some form of darkness that took the form of armor. But the man himself didn''t wield the darkness. It flew with him.


    Compared to Necros Olethros, who wielded massive Force energy that was aided with a few magic, this person was the opposite. His magic allowed him to do marvelous things.


    He had an almost Elvish appearance, but his eyes were that of darkness, and scales were growing around him like most Eldrich.


    Hemanded the Wind and Entropy that followed him and carried him.


    "Eldrich Emperor Bolerax Hiwind... It really is my brother. It''s like looking at him when he was younger..." Breveros frowned.


    But Kyros''s eyes were not on these terrifying warriors. But he looked at the man leading them.


    Leading the group was Histerion himself. He was no longer a being formed from the, but this incarnation was emitting powers far beyond his previous forms. It contained tremendous Brimstone energy.<sub> </sub>


    "Instead of a random form, it''s like you stepped into this world and was reborn." Kyros sighed as he flew up to the sky.


    Histerion had his usual appearance. But the heat he released was so immense that the heat brought by the light of Soter could not evenpare.


    "I have to be more serious if I want to fight you. But I''m sad, Kyros. Here I thought you''d be able to make me remember." Histerion sighed as he flew ahead of the three.


    "Honestly... I think there is still a chance that I did do what you asked of me. But it''s all a blur."


    "Ah, to deceive your enemy, you must deceive yourself, especially since your enemy is someone that can alter memories. But this feels like we''re at the end of this journey, Nephilim. If you do have any aces, best reveal it now."


    "Of course." Kyros then ripped open the void. When he found the strange dark world, Kyros could now create a small spatial chamber. It was very small, barely a meter wide. But it in, Kyros hid the strongest powers that they had crafted as they marched ahead.


    It was a small core of energy.


    "A Soul core? But that doesn''t look like it has any elements at all. It''s as if you simply took the souls that make up the Brimstone Beasts you defeated. For what purpose is that?"


    "Thest time I used this, it gave me the power to defeat the Necromancer Heralcus. I needed the Okto-Khefali''s cores. But since I don''t have that luxury, I will have to make up their cores with pure soul energy." Kyros harnessed the powers that Mezal told him. But instead of sacrificing a portion of his soul, he drew in the souls of those inside the soul core.


    "[Last Stand]!" Kyros sacrificed the entire core that contained thousands and thousands of souls. This resulted from their study and experience creating the Time Core of Cminus. Kyros created a massive contained for all the souls, which he would be able to use in a battle like this. The power of Last Stand surged within him.


    The power of the elements quivered as [Last Stand] took effect. Through numerous training, Kyros could ess more of the elements. It wasn''t the same when he wielded the Cores of the Okto-Khefali. But during the months that had passed, Kyros used the time eleration of Cminus and actually trained for nearly a year to master the elements.


    And so, Kyros harnessed the energy of the Celestial Code. He had wielded it before, in Middle, and once more, the form of the Celestial Pdin returned.


    Kyros''s power surged from Champion and broke through the levels of Commander, and finally, it stopped when Kyros reached the level of a Cardinal.


    Those nearby were amazed at Kyros.


    He was already so strong as a Champion. But now, he scaled two realms!


    Histerion smiled.


    "Now, there''s the Nephilim that defeated my weaker incarnation! Let''s have fun!"


    But Kyros''s expression was full of shock.


    "I remember! I... remember!"


    Drawing out the power of the Celestial Code caused a quiver among the Codes.


    He saw the memories of the Okto-Khefali! It had taken shelter in the Celestial Code and was working alongside Lanthanou.


    "You...!" The Okoto-Khefali was alerted to the power of Kyros.


    "There you are... No wonder you didn''t go for the Corruption of Water or the Code of nts. Instead, you sought the Celestial Code!" Kyros smiled.


    "You brat! Die!"


    Harnessing the power of their link with the Celestial Code, which was answering Kyros, the Okto-Khefali caused the elements around Kyros to attack him!


    "Foolish! I was the wielder! How can a lizard-like you control it!" Kyrosughed and quickly called out to the elements.


    The Okto-Khefali raged and fought against Kyros.


    But it was no use. The power of the Celestial Code appeared as Kyros remembered the power hemanded in this past life. H was reborn without the Code, and Kyros only copied bits and pieces when he used it. But the power of Lanthanou was already working, and Kyros could not fully remember what it was to wield the Celestial Code. But now, with the very Celestial Code hemuned with nearby, it cried out to its real master and was trying to escape the Okto-Khefali!


    Kyros''s power surged even higher.


    BOOM!


    "Crown! Lord Miracle... has reached Crown!" Breveros was amazed.


    Kyrosughed as he gained the power, and hope was rekindled.

 Chapter 409 Remembering The Glory Of Today

    The Okto-Khefali was enjoying the power of the Code. The Celestial Code kept drawing and creating the energy of Fire, Wind, Water, Earth, and Ice. The energy was potent that the Okto-Khefali was even able to start drawing out to create his own body and live!


    But the body he created with the Celestial Code turned on and attacked him!


    "No!" The Okto-Khefali roared. He could never imagine the events in the Unrecorded Pages and didn''t know that Kyros was thest person the Celestial Code called master.


    The elements betrayed the Okto-Khefali.


    With the pain the Okto-Khefali felt, he failed to notice the booms approaching.


    The power of Brimstone purged through almost every form of magic. And so, Histerion didn''t have any means tomunicate or control beings. So he left it to the Brimstone Generals to handle it. But now, all the mighty Brimstone General became the three allies by his side.


    There was no other being left tomand the Brimstone. And so, the Okto-Khefali was the being that was assigned to defend and fight if a desperate army would be sent to attack.


    The armies of the Hignds had abandoned their walls and marched for war. But now, they had a massive being that carried them.


    Several gigantic trees that were as tall as the mountain began to walk. These were the World Wood Trees that were given life!


    Listrel and Gradius stood at the peak of thergest tree and could see the Brimstone Army in front that was now moving towards them.


    "All that Brimstone, huh?" Lea smiled. She and Rachel appeared at the side as they nced at the army that covered all earth before them. Brimstone after Brimstone that covered empty mountains.


    "But not a being that took the real form of our fathers. They must be with Lord Kyros." Listrel sighed.


    "How many millions are there? It will feel like we are set for an endless battle!


    "Well, we are not on our own." Gradius smiled as seven gigantic World Wood Trees had grown arms and legs and marched towards the Brimstone beasts.


    "The will of Yggdrasil. Youmuned with it and mastered the true powers of the Dryad. Far stronger than the elves could. I can''t imagine how I could beat you now if we fought in the real timeline." Lea smiled.


    "You have all of the Dark Sea tomand Lea. Should we return and bes enemies, I can''t wait to fight a more glorious battle with you." Listrel chuckled.


    Gradius and Rachel nced at each other but said nothing.


    "Why are you two reacting like that?"


    "Well... Now that we know this isn''t the real world... it''s scary. What will it be when we go back there where our races still fight?"


    "Oh? It''s as if you''re confident that we will get out of this world."


    "We aremanding a massive tree that surpasses even Crowns in power! It''s very hard for me not to have any hope!" Gradius chuckled.


    "A punch from these massive mountains would be like a punch of a Conqueror!"


    "Which is very weak... I could create such damage with my fist at my former peak. If I go home, I wonder? Would my strikes match a Cherubim?"


    "In the real world, where all the Codes and Corruption return, I think I can make this tree kill a Celestial! Wanna have a go when we get back?" Listrelughed.


    "I feel sad. The brimstone power to attack these trees is enough to kill them!" Gradius sighed.


    "Of course, it is likely enough, my friends..." Cminus spoke slowly.


    "Likely enough that we are going to our doom! thest march of the Ents!"


    "..." The threedies rolled their eyes. They spent an entire day in elerated time listening to the odd epic.


    "Please shut up. I don''t want to hear anything about that ever again." Leamanded.


    "Have we listened to the same story? I loved it!" Gradius dered with obsession.


    "I think it was awesome!"


    "Whatever. Command the men. We are going to fight now!" Listrel ordered.<sub> </sub>


    "Alright! I wanted to make thest shout!" Gradius flew to the great heavens.


    "Men of the world! We have learned of the treacherous truth that this world is ending! But hope hase! Though we fight against Oblivion and Histerion, we have our ally, the Nephilim! Neither fire, brimstone, or oblivion shall defeat us! Our memories of this day shall remain! We will remember the glory of today! For this is the day, we challenge a god and a fallen far stronger than who we know and best them in battle! So we ride! We ride!"


    "Ride?" Rachel frowned at the odd choice of her husband.


    But Cminus knew better.


    "Say it, kid. Say it! You know the words!"


    "So arise! Arise, Riders of Gradius! Fell deeds awake, fire, ughter, and Brimstone! Spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! So ride now! Ride to ruin...!"


    "He''s gonna say it..." Cminus was trembling in joy as the words fit the scenario.


    "...and the world''s ending!" Gradius roared.


    The armies of the Hignds roared as they heard and felt empowered by the speech of the Gradius.


    The battle to reim thends of the Omega Kingdom had begun!


    As the battles raged, a trembling remained as the Okto-Khefali continued to battle Kyros.


    Histerion chuckled as he saw the trembling and heard the pained shouts of Lanthanou echoing all over the ce.


    Lanthanou was already fighting the power of a goddess that desired to be remembered, and now, it was as if he was fighting against a god.


    "Do you feel it, Lanthanou? Do you sense it, Histerion?"


    "The power of Fate! It''s being born through you!" Histerion smiled.


    "What an ingenious plot! Now I understand Beginning''s n! She worked with Fate and Wisdom to bring you here so that the power of Fate will be brought in the Unrecorded Pages through the power of Mysterion."


    "I don''t know what the real n is, though. I believe, however, that whatever I left with Listrel will be the ace that will help me help you remember. The very deal we struck should be part of Beginning''s n."


    The power of Fate began to appear, and even the Okto-Khefali, who now had a half-life, could sense it.


    "No! You! You''re turning me into a being of Fate!" The Okto-Khefali resisted.


    But the power of Kyros''s control over the Celestial Code and his understanding of how to use it has amplified his uses of it.


    Kyros was now more efficient in wielding the power of the Code. Finally, Kyros was reaching the peak of his might.


    Histerion didn''t attack and waited.


    "Not bad. How did you do it?"


    "A certain idiot is living in the Code of Daradiel. That Code still seems to have treated me as its master in this universe. I never managed tomune with it until now. When I am close to it, I summoned a vast amount of energy, and it responded and sent me its energy."


    "Ah! I took that Okto-Khefali and made it eat the Celestial Code because it is one of the beings that can exist in this realm. He could be mypanion and pet if he was born with a Brimstone Head. But I never thought that my random whim would bite me back." Histerion chuckled.


    "No. It wasn''t your whim. It is Beginning''s n. A True Neutral who was tortured and turned with the power of Necros. The very same Corruption that Lea''s father right there was named. If Fate had Fated Daradiel to die in this world, she knew that bringing the Cores of the Okto-Khefali would turn into this specific scenario. And it''s by this that I can fight." Kyros smiled.


    "I hope you''re saving some of your aces to fight Lanthanou... Let''s have a good match, Nephilim! I look forward to your victory! I want to remember!" Histerion smiled as he charged forward.


    "Breveros! Pick two and have the army fight them! I''ll take care of the other two!" Kyros ordered and began to harness the power of the Celestial Code.


    "Men! Assume our formation! We face the kings of the High and the Hell!"


    Kyros wielded his sword and charged toward Histerion as his two Prime Clones appeared and headed for Bolerax Hiwind, the Eldrich Emperor.

 Chapter 410 Remembering The Present

    Kyros carried the power of a Crown and charged against two Crowns. And the two weren''t ordinary Crowns. One was a god, and the other the strongest mage among the Eldrich.


    But Kyros did not retreat. The power that he wielded surpassed his expectations. And somehow, he feels that there was something strange with the events. Lanthanou battled against retaining the memories of two gods, and Kyros received a huge power boost.


    This wouldn''t have happened by chance. And Kyros knew that this only happened because of his desperation. Kyros genuinely believed that he was trapped. And as he panicked and thought death would arrive, the enemy became confident and made moves.


    But all that was a plot to force the enemy''s hand and turn advantages into disadvantages. Kyros saw the suspicious evens and believed his reactions in the battle were part of some consideration.


    "Let''s see how my magic does in front of Bolerax." Kyrosughed and harnessed the power of the wind in his sword.


    "Wind sh!" Kyros shouted and made several shes which sent out cuts of winds.


    The space around Kyros trembled as the force of his Crown-level sh rippled out and created sounds of thunder that reverberated for several kilometers.


    The power of the Wind sh shot towards Bolerax Hiwind and even to Histerion.


    "[Wind Conflux]!


    Bolerax Hiwind raised his arm, and several small orbs of green energy appeared in front of him.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Massive explosions simr to the sounds of volcanic eruptions roared about. The shockwaves were so strong that those under the Commander level had to use Force or Magic to defend against the shockwaves!


    "Lord Miracle! Take your battle elsewhere! The attacks are affecting our battle!" A Commander pleaded.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The battle between Breveros and the two kings of the nesword was starting.


    The entire army assumed a formation and used several of thest legacy items created during the age-long forgotten.


    These weapons contained energy bombs and powerful spell shields that the Hignds were full of in the age before the Brimstone apocalypse.


    Breveros and the other Cardinals were fighting with the strength that could equal a Crown thanks to these, but the group was fighting a losing battle as they faced two of the strongest warriors that had walked the nesworld.


    Magic and Force energy kept shooting out and struck the two beings using Force energy to block the rain.


    "Keep attacking! Don''t give them a chance to recover their Force energy!" A cardinal in charge of leading the army shouted.


    Their Commanders ensured that the shield formation and the attack formations they assumed were stable and strong so that they could stand firm and survive the earth-shattering blows.


    Kyros was now more careful when fighting Bolerax Hiwind. The wind attacks he sent out turned against him!


    "Amazing. Even with Celestial Code in my hand, you can masterfully steal and control them!" Kyros was amazed. Bolerax caused the explosions as he dispersed the energy.


    "[Wind Commander]!" Bolerax shouted as he gathered the dispersing wind from the sh attacks.


    "Bolerax. Keep attacking him from afar. I''ll meet him inbat." Histerion smiled and slowly flew towards Kyros.


    Bolerax continued to harness the energy, but Kyros could not charge toward him as Histerion now stood in between.


    "Did you know that Soter used sulfur and Brimstone to punish the Fallen who rebelled back then? People associate hell to be with the Fallen, but it was never their strength! It was their weakness! Behold! An ancient power, long forgotten!"


    Histerion''s body began to change.


    Kyros could feel an immense heat. This form surpassed the Brimstone Knight form he used when they first fought.


    The skies turned red, and a realm of Brimstone opened up from the skies above.


    And there, at the very top, was a massive eye watching them. Kyros knew that the eye was the real Histerion who was watching his incarnation and granting it power.


    "You''re reading the Unrecorded Pages?" Kyros trembled.


    "Rx. I can''t do anything more than this. I am a god bound to writing history. It''s very annoying doing this for me. This will be the most I can do to further the burn of the Unrecorded Pages." Histerion smiled.


    It covered the entire sky that even Listrel and the rest could see.


    "What is that...?!" Lea was horrified.


    "It''s the Eye of Sauron!" Gradius shouted.


    "Can we please stop it with those references?!" Listrel shouted angrily.<sub> </sub>


    "The Eye of Sauron is fixed on Kyros! It''s not looking here! Fight! im the Celestial Code!" Cminus shouted as the power of Time exploded out, granting haste to the entire army and even therge tree stomping and shing the ground, killing hundreds at a single strike.


    "He''s right! Go!" Lea roared, and the power of Leviathan and the rains poured even harder, adding protection to the tree and the armies that hadunched on the ground to prevent the brimstone beasts from flooding the massive World Wood Tree.


    The Hignd Army guarded the legs of each tree and secured a perimeter around the legs of the tree, which would ingrain itself on the ground.


    "Defend the tree! It will make several sweeps to clear the hordes in front of us so we can press forward! Our battle is to ensure that this tree won''t get burned!" A Commander shouted as he rallied the Champions and Captains below.


    The massive eye quickly tilted and nced toward the Omega Kingdom.


    It saw the actions and the trees, and then the massive eyes shifted their gaze back to Kyros.


    "Oh...? You''ve done quite well! I can''t believe you''ve managed to add life to those World Wood Trees!" Histerion smiled. His entire form was made ofva. But yet, his form still assumed the appearance of a knight.


    "World Wood Trees?" Kyros was confused as he heard Histerion''s words.


    "Are you ying dumb, or did you forget? No matter. If you won''t win and defeat this form, I can go there and cut down those trees! Much like your Celestial Pdin Form, this is also a Knight ss that requires the strongest blessings of my Code to work. This is the Hellforged Knight!" Histerion suddenly shed out with a massive ax formed from his Brimstone body.


    The power was immense! Kyros knew that Histerion would be so strong. But the attack surpassed the average strength of a level sixty being.


    Crowns had a strength value of over 500 points! But the power of the ax swing proved that it was vastly stronger and had roughly over 700 points!


    "A High Crown?!" Kyros cursed as he harnessed the power of the souls that formed his Last Stand.


    "[Soul Force Celestial Shield]!" Kyros harnessed the power of his Celestial Guard but added the energy.


    The Swords of Light and the two Prime Clones also acted and released magic and energy to block the blow.


    The Prime Clones even held unto Kyros and pushed him to stabilize him as he took in the powerful blow.


    BOOM!


    Kyros was blown back as another crackling sound shot out across thend.


    BANG!


    Kyros crashed to the ground but quickly sprang out and charged toward Histerion.


    "Too strong! I must defeat him now!" Kyros shot out, and several swords appeared around him.


    But as Kyros flew, he caught sight of the energies behind him.


    Bolerax raised his staff, and the power of wind and entropy gathered, creating several green arrows of wind and entropy, and it shot toward Kyros.


    The magic energy was so strong that while the arrow seemed small and weak, it could easily prate and kill several Heraclus in one shot.


    The power of the Crown that Bolerax harnessed did not have explosive energy. But it had concentrated power.


    Bolerax aimed his scepter at Kyros.


    "What are you going to do, Kyros?" Histerion chuckled as he prepared to make a charge with Bolerax''s attack.


    Kyros undid the power of the Celestial Pdin and closed his eyes.


    "I can''t win with that form. I must emphasize speed and offensive power!" Kyros urged as the arrows approached.


    Kyros''s body glowed, and his form quickly changed. His celestial coat of armor disappeared, and his sword and wings began to glow.


    "I lived my life as a Pdin in my previous life. But that was then. This is now. I no longer have to carry the shield. I can carry the sword alone..." Kyros spoke words of power that evoked reality.


    Kyros felt his body tremble, and his memories of everything he had gone through in this life shed before him. One of them was the memory of when he awakened the power of Hyperion.


    "Remember the present. My power in this time was not meant to improve the power I had in the past. I died, and in this life, I vowed not just to carry a shield to protect, but a sword to y my enemies!"


    "[Evermore Entropy Annihtion Arrow]!" Bolerax shouted as the arrowsunched out.


    The moment Bolerax released the magic, all the arrows vanished as they whistled in the air with tremendous speed.


    Kyros held the sword with two arms.


    "[Celestial Swordsman]!"

 Chapter 411 Crown Of The Victor

    Kyros''s form transformed as the power of the celestial elements shifted from empowering his entire body as an armor and shield into bing a sword.


    The power of the wind gathered on his Wings of the Light and Shade, and Kyros flew back with tremendous speed. The arrows chased him, and he got hit for half a second!


    "[Pronto]!" The power of Time erupted, and Kyros''s Celestial Swordsman improved even more.


    The arrows of Bolerax were quickly approaching. It moved at a speed that even Crowns wouldn''t be able to defend against! This was Bolerax''s most dangerous spell, which would use so much entropy that it would harm him. But in his Brimstone Body, the entropy had very little effect!


    But with Pronto and Kyros''s already high dexterity, he could see the arrows that would have easily assassinated another Crown.


    All of a sudden, Kyros stopped evading and suddenly pushed forward.


    ZOOM!


    The power of [Time Haste] activated and allowed Kyros to dive right inside the approaching arrows.


    Kyros moved so fast that he zoomed right in, and the arrows missed!


    Histerion and Bolerax charged forward as they saw the attack missed.


    Histerion wielded hisrge ax to smite Kyros while Bolerax harnessed a massive gust of wind to slow Kyros''s charge. The arrows that Bolerax shot had made a round turn and were now chasing after Kyros.


    But Kyros now had time toplete his form and continued to call on the Celestial Code to tamper with his sword. Because of [Skotos Eis Phos], Kyros''s sword was assuming the form of the Lifeblood Holy Fire Sword of Ten Thousand Justices. And using that as the center, the elements gathered around.


    Kyros controlled the power of light, and with his hand that had the Dark Core, he bestowed darkness in the midst of light and used [Skotos Eis Phos] to stabilize it! The hilt of the sword became dark. Slowly, the darkness moved up, and the very middle of the de was darkness, and around was the light and the elements.


    "Let''s try it! [Astral sh]!"


    SLASH!


    Kyros made a 360-degree sh that caused the power of the star to pulse out!


    The iing arrows of Entropy and Wind could not resist the power of the star.


    The sh was so strong that it challenged High Crowns and threw the two enemies back.


    A massive magma shield appeared as Histerion held it out to receive the star.


    "[Hell''s Gates]!" Histerion shouted and activated a defensive spell to resist the attack.


    Bolerax raised his staff and revealed his other hand that harnessed so much entropy that his hand was withering!


    "[Withering Atmosphere Shield]!" Bolerax activated his defenses.


    The attacks and the defensive skills met.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The attack sent the two flying back, but Kyros was not yet done. He could see that the battle on the other team was bing even more dangerous, and Kyros harnessed the power of the star.


    Histerion saw Kyros aim his sword towards the Kings of the Hignd and the Netherworld and made the two quickly retreat.


    "[Cute Kitty Cat Beam]!"


    A rainbow beam with a cute kitty on its tail shot out. It was very weak and didn''t even have any firepower.


    NYAN!


    The sound of the beam itself was cute.


    Everyone stopped as they saw the beam.


    Histerion was silent for several seconds.


    "...Did I just sessfully trick a Being that Was?" Kyros was amazed at himself. He could feel another power surging out of him.<sub> </sub>


    "So this must be dad''s Corruption, huh?" Kyros guessed.


    "I... can''t believe I fell for that! It seems that you raising your levels also allowed you to tap into some power inside of you. You''ve awakened the Corruption of Deception! Among several others..." Histerion frowned as the four beings stood by.


    Kyros looked at the army and realized they were in no shape to fight anymore.


    "Breveros! You did well! All of you, head to the Omega Kingdom! That is where the battle is! Before Lanthanou arrives, you all have to secure the Celestial Code! Lanthanou will definitely go after it!"


    "But Lord Kyros!"


    "Don''t worry. Didn''t you see me push them back? I can manage now. I''ll keep them busy and kill these incarnations. You all fight where you can fight!" Kyros persuaded and even used [Oration] to order them.


    "I... understand."


    "If you do, hurry up before our battle begins. It''s going to get so crazy! Move now, or you will be caught up in the battle!"


    Breveros understood the urgency and ordered the army to retreat quickly. The retreat was not even organized as everyone began to flee for their very lives.


    Histerion smiled.


    "Impressive. You didn''t even use his deception power to make them retreat. Does that mean you are confident in facing all four of us?"


    "Confident? No. The four of you together should have a power that can challenge even those arrogant ones in my past life."


    "Oh? Your first encounter?" Histerion closed his eyes to search and retrieve the record of that event.


    "Ah. Your first encounter with a strong Hignd warrior elite. He had Victor''s Crown potential."


    "That''s right. Crowns are the big leagues and the biggest bottlenecks for cultivators in the Hignds. Reaching Victor''s Crown would make one a hero! They are a step away from bing those level seventy monsters, the Conquerors. And yet, I''m about to fight in a Victor''s Crown-level battle! Man, it feels like a long time, but in reality, I''ve been only reborn for over a year in this new time! And most of it is spent here!" Kyros harnessed the power that he ced in his sword. But now, the energy was surging and covering Kyros.


    "You took the Celestial Code and harnessed it to make Astra''s Code! Impressive, Nephilim! I believe that you are the first Astral warrior in existence!"


    "I hereby decree this job to be the Astral Sword Master!" Kyros dered, and the power he spoke invoked a reality.


    Kyros''s form stabilized as he constantly released the energy of the star.


    "[Astral Sword Master]! Very good. This will be a fun match! Ah, too bad I didn''t create Conquerors in this world! You tricked me! I estimated that Crown would be more than enough to kill you! Yet now, you can push my strongest warriors back and me... But I won''t be easily defeated, Kyros!" Histerionughed as the three assumed a formation.


    The energy surged as the four moved in a formation.


    "An energy formation circle?!" Kyros was amazed. This was knowledge that surpassed his own! An energy formation circle that was not ''drawn'' was instantly formed among the four!


    "You are birthing a star with your power. But let me use the mature version! Your young star has too little heat as it is just forming... But can it contend to the higher heat of brimstone?" Histerionughed.


    Kyros created ster power that harnessed the Celestial elements and bound them in dark and light. But Histerion also did the same!


    At the core of the formation were the dark powers of Necros Olethros that Lanthanou had bestowed. It was darkness constantly binding and devouring!


    Around it was the power of brimstone that surged likeva. With the darkness holding it in, the brimstone became the core of the power.


    Light shone as Elistre Protos Endoxus used his light to gather around the brimstone.


    Bolerax raised his arm, and the power of entropy was added, and a thick amount of power caused the light of the energy to give off strong radiation!


    "Let''s see if your little star canpete with my raging sun!" Histerionughed as he charged forward.


    Kyros gathered all his energy and poured it into his sword. He created a powerful shst time, but now, Kyros desired to erupt the energy on his attack.


    Kyros swung down as it met the formation of the four enemies.


    "[Supernova sh]!"


    BOOOOOOOOMMMM!

 Chapter 412 Crown Of Thorns

    The attack of Kyros harnessed the power of a birthing star and forced it to erupt and create a star.


    The two clones he summoned had merged with his sword, and the power of the light and the darkness grew.


    It wasn''t just a concentrated sh anymore, but it released the contained energy simr to the attack he would make the Emberdons do.


    BOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!


    But his enemy was thebined heroes of the nesworld, led by Histerion, who was using a strange power beyondprehension. The four still began to share the power without using anything to form an energy formation circle. It was as if their very bodies were an energy formation circle.


    The blue star and the yellow sun fought.


    The entire battlefield erupted as the attacks of the Crowns met.


    The powerful explosion caused the earth to tremble.


    Breveros saw the explosion at the back that exploded towards the heavens.


    A smaller blue light could be seen struggling against the massive yellow light.


    "Lord Miracle...!"


    "He knows what he''s doing. Let''s do what we can! Look at the power! He''s right. At the scale of the battle he now is fighting, it''s not something we all can fight. They are Crowns. It''s not like two years ago when Crowns would be within our capacities! Their battle doesn''t even have the containing magic of the Ygdrassil that limits the explosions and destruction that all cultivators can reach! It looks as if it were Cherubims that are fighting!"


    BOOM! BOOM!


    More explosions and shock waves rippled out, and the attacks made the nesworld feel pain.


    "Go!" Breveros urged his team.


    Near the Omega Kingdom, the army led by the Olethros and the Protos Endoxus was quickly gaining ground.


    The beasts of brimstone had taken all forms. It made siege cultivators of Commander and Cardinal levels to shoot the massive World Wood Trees. The brimstone siege attacks struck the World Wood Trees were damaged, and their legs had grown shorter as the attacks caused the trees to abandon the destroyed pieces.


    The arms and legs burned up were discarded, and the entire tree would tremble and reshape itself.


    Its massive size had decreased by nearly one-fourth of its size.


    But the mountain tree still delivered and killed hundreds at each swipe of its arm.


    Gradius and Rachel were fighting together and harmonizing their powers. Gradius defended, and Rachel fought as she charged deep into the enemy''s ranks and received numerous powerful light spells from Gradius.


    The two used very strange abilities that diverged from themon ways ofbat.


    Gradius developed the power of absorbing the light from the brimstone. Hismand over the fire and light had allowed him to manipte the fire of another!


    The Brimstone Beasts'' own fire was absorbed! The power of the fire was causing Gradius to glow as if he was a wood being burned. But as the energy gathered around Gradius, Gradius immediately harnessed it into Force energy!


    His adventure these past two years pushed him far beyond his limits. As the celestial bodies that gave light to thend drifted and became inconsistent, Gradius needed a constant energy source as he fought the hardest.


    And during those times, he thought of using the brimstone as the light source. And in this, he received an epiphany! Unknown to him, his power as a Protos Endoxus was starting to awaken. But now, he received the Code of Dentro. And this ability of his magnified itself.


    "Finally... I can make the magic of this!" Gradius smiled and constantly cast magic and force.


    The energy around him would heat and even harm his body. But if Gradius quickly used it, he would not get burned.


    As Gradius fought, constant spears of Force energy would shoot out all over the area. The cores of the Brimstone beasts were the constant target of his attacks, and he was killed by the dozens every second. Spells and buffs were cast everywhere, and even healing magic was used on his allies nearby!


    Rachel fought right up front as well. She used her body that constantly released water and fought the Brimstone beasts creating an Obsidian armor.


    Her entire body had evolved to assimte with the obsidian stones naturally and merged it with her body.


    The Obsidian stones were not just normal stones but contained her life energy! Her control and wielding over darkness allowed her tomand the Obsidian properties and wield them as her own.


    Lea and Listrel could not help but praise their siblings for the ingenious fighting method.


    "Of course... Obsidian is dead brimstone. The joys of brimstone have died, and the souls have ended. It''s possible to wield it like that!"


    "No wonder Gradius has also bestowed the power of Dentro''s Code. He was already learning it. Perhaps in his stay, Dentro was already trying to call out to him but could not breach the power of Oblivion."


    "Well, we can''t let them have all the glory. We big sisters need to show off a bit. After all, those giant Brimstone Mountains look dangerous." Lea smiled, and she began to take a step forward.


    In front of them was a massive Brimstone beast that had formed from possibly hundreds of thousands of Brimstone beasts. It was like a massive hill; several were forming and would challenge the World Wood Trees.


    "I''ll take care of this."


    Above them was the massive Leviathan that Lea had summoned. It began diving closer towards them and opened its mouth as it swallowed Lea.


    But as it did, the darkness began to creep through.


    During the Heretic Wars, the different Fire Dragons that reigned and challenged the gods grew too many, leading to the creation of a Fallen.


    The Fallen was designed to attack the entire universe and seal the souls of the Heretics so they could no longer revive themselves through their power.<sub> </sub>


    And that Corruption that was born was the power of Hydron.


    The power flooded the entire universe as the heavens rained with water.s were drowned, and even the stars were dimmed.


    As the waters ceded at the light of Soter, Hades was formed. The world where all the souls of the dead were kept.


    By its very nature, the power of Hydron was not just water. But a means to chain and silence the souls.


    The entire dragon turned ck as the Abyss spread through it.


    Therge dark serpent charged towards the mountain of Brimstone beasts and challenged it inbat, and ran like a spear towards the gigantic Brimstone beats.


    STAB!


    The charge of the ck serpent prated the chest of the beasts.


    Even with the strong heat, no mist or steam appeared at the contact between the two. On the contrary, it was as if the water was dense and darker and devoured the souls.


    "Oh boy... What a show-off..." Listrel observed the battle.


    "Hmm... But the ground is bing more fertile thanks to the water and the dying brimstone. I wonder if I can nt a World Wood Tree here?" Listrel pondered the possibilities.


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, a strange power appeared as the space above tore open.


    "That damned Nephilim! He locked me in a battle against the Charmed Fallen! And he uses the chance to summon the Celestial Code?!" An old man appeared out of the void.


    The old man looked even more haggard than his usual appearance.


    But as he appeared, Lanthanou saw the scene before him.


    "How is this possible?!"


    "There he is... Lanthanou!" Listrel smiled.


    The moment Listrel said the name, Lanthanou felt the energy.


    "You! You remember me?!"


    "A tree is rooted on the ground. As long as I am here among the trees, I will remember. Your ugly face finally shows itself."


    "Saruman!" Gradius shouted as he saw the old man.


    "You''re the old wizard that we have to kill! It''s just like in the story that Cminus spoke of!"


    Listrel facepalmed.


    "Die, wizard! Photon...!" Gradius harnessed the power of the light.


    "Photon what?" Lanthanouughed as the power surged and affected everyone.


    "[Photon st]!"


    Gradius had fought for hours and stored a massive amount of Force energy. He began to turn it into magic slowly. And now that the enemy had appeared, he shot the light beam worthy of being a light attack from a Protos Endoxus.


    "How?!" Lanthanou cursed as he saw the power of shot out even though Lanthanou made him forget!


    Lanthanou cursed, and the power of darkness appeared to block the attack.


    "[Magnify]!" Listrel shouted as she used her force to create a massive mirror right above where Gradius shot his beam.


    The beam collided with the mirror energy...


    BLAST!


    A massive pir of light expanded out.


    BOOM!


    "ARGH!" Lanthanou has harmed again!


    "Kyros was right..." Listrel chuckled.


    "It was all in that seed he gave."


    "You...! A Crown of Thorns!"


    A crown of dark thorns was on the heads of Listrel and Gradius.


    "We are linked to the Yggdrasil! If you want to make us forget, you''d have to make this entire Yggdrasil forget!" Listrelughed as she flew up.

 Chapter 413 Crown And Crownless

    The Crown of Thorns was a legendary power that only the strongest of those who had the Code of Dentro acquired.


    The power of Dentro and the remnant energy sought to save the nesworld as it felt the pain of the Yggdrasil. And when Gradius and Listrel acquired the power, the will of the Yggdrasil and its hatred for its enemies was spurred, allowing the power to crown beings.


    The crowning of warriors was necessary for cultivation. Only those Crowned and have blessings from the gods or fallen are allowed to breach the limitations of their body by being transformed into a divine or corrupted body.


    The Crown of Thrones represented that they were the kings and queens assigned by Dentro. And millenniums have passed since thest crown of Dentro was bestowed! Most cultivators who sought Dentro''s blessings were given weaker crowns. But now, two crowns were given, allowing the two to connect strongly with the trees andmune with them.


    Through this power, the World Wood Trees came to life and answered the call of Listrel and Gradius.


    Lanthanou was in pain. He used his powers to make them forget the light, but that power didn''t work. With Brimstone all around, he needed to create great effort to make the two forget.


    But the attack was sent and magnified. And all that energy attacked him.


    Lanthanou was weakened and his form. Even though his form was that of a High Cardinal, he was still susceptible to the attacks of the Light.


    The failed attempt to make Gradius forget caused Lanthanou severe damage.


    "My turn!" Leaughed as she harnessed the dark serpent to move.


    The gigantic mountains of Brimstone began to burst as the water serpent of Lea pierced through thest one.


    The ck serpent roared as it charged forward and raced towards Lanthanou.


    "Sister! Let me have a taste of fighting a god!" Rachel shouted as she charged even faster! Herrge ck obsidian monstrous form flew up to attack. But as she was closer to Lanthanou, she quickly closed the gap and was about to punch the enemy.


    "Die!" Rachel roared.


    Lanthanou had not yet recovered from the st he received, and he harnessed the power and made Rachel forget her iing attack. Rachel realized she had approached the enemy without any attack!


    "What?!" She was confused. She was sure she had an attack prepared. But the punch that harnessed speed, momentum, and velocity was forgotten, and she could notplete the attack.


    "[Vine Sapper]!" Listrel activated yet another spell that she had prepared beforehand.


    At the very body of Rachel, Vines had already grown and began to spread all around her. The obsidian armor covered her body and prevented Lanthanou from seeing the vines.


    The vine began to attack Rachel as pain appeared all over her body, leaving a stinging attack. In that split second, Rachel felt her right arm and the power it contained!


    <o>,m Rachel sent out her punch.</o>


    "No!" Lanthanou cursed and blocked with the darkness.


    BANG!


    "We understand your power now, Lanthanou! You can only make us forget one thing at a time! If not, you would have used multiple powers to confuse us!" listrelughed.


    Rachel continued to send out more punches and finally harnessed the power in her tail, and she whipped it out.


    SMASH!


    The tail struck, and the sharp de at the end caused a shing attack as Lanthanou was sent flying back.


    "Sister!" Rachelughed as she made her tail send Lanthanou towards the serpent.


    Lea''s ck serpent opened its gigantic jaws. The power of the Abyss gathered at the mouth of the serpent and empowered the massive teeth of the dragon.


    Lanthanou released the power of Time and Space and created expanding ck energy as the serpent''s jaws fell.


    BOOM!


    The massive water serpent was also destroyed as a dark vortex extended out.<sub> </sub>


    Lea appeared as the water serpent copsed, and she flew towards Liathel and Gradius.


    "What are we fighting?" Lea asked.


    "Just stick to me and don''t bother asking things. He''s making us all forget. And don''t forget to breathe. We could survive without breathing for hours and hours. But it will hinder our battle capabilities." Listrel reminded the two.


    Gradius was drained of all the light energy he gathered from the Brimstone beast. As such, he carefully waited and did not let loose even more attacks.


    "I''ll have to get ready for the next massive attack."


    "That was quite an attack, little bro." Listrel smiled.


    "What attack? I can''t seem to remember anything."


    "Probably because he has set its magic. Don''t worry. With the vines there, we can keep you alerted."


    "What vines?" Lea asked.


    Gradius and Listrel sighed at the reactions the two.


    "They probably can''t remember anything other than the past few seconds. So we have to be careful, Gradius. We can remember, and we should protect them while we fight!"


    "I''ll protect Rachel." Gradius bow.


    "Good. Hmm... I guess you could die, Lea." Listrel chuckled.


    "I don''t need your help, anyway."


    Suddenly, a powerful Darkness erupted up above.


    Lanthanou had fled and flew higher, and they could feel a strange power breaching the area. Then, as it was with the eye that they saw in the heavens when Histerion acted, a massive Finger could be seen moving inside.


    "He''s empowering himself. I guess this is a good thing! We''re finally pushing him into a state where his real body is moving! This was the n of Kyros. He ordered us to fight Lanthanou to the point that he would have to intervene like this."


    The form of Lanthanou flew up high as the powers gathered all over him. A Bestowal of Blessing was starting.


    "He''s nning to be a Crown!" Lea saw it and frowned.


    "That''s right. This Brimstone World cannot birth crowns. No matter how skilled everyone is, they can''t be a Crown because there is no one to crown us of that power! And I guess it applies to him as well." Gradius guessed.


    "That''s right. When Kyros and we fell here, we could tell the limitation. The efforts of men can only reach a certain level. Unless there is a god or fallen among us who can wield andmand the flow of the universe, no crowns can give. That''s why we spent several months experimenting and studying how to be Crownless Cultivators. Luckily, we found Codes and Corruption that can help us be Crowns..."


    Above, the power around Lanthanou began to surge as the dangerous finger that contained potent energy continued adding more energy to him.


    "Should I attack him now?" Gradius asked.


    "Too risky. We don''t know if that being will send an attack on us. We know that Histerion''s power of wielding the scroll is protecting us. But let''s not trigger the real form of Lanthanou."


    Soon, the image of the Crown appeared. It was a ck crown that seemed to be on the verge of fading.


    Rachel and Lea instantly forgot about the crown; only Listrel and Gradius could see it.


    "A Crown faces two budding seeds who received a premature Crown and two other Crownless Grendelors. You all will perish!" Lanthanou decreed.


    "Let us end this! You pulled a fast one on me. When I wrestled with the memories of Xermolipi, the real her on the other world from remembering, you guys attacked this ce to get the Celestial Code! How cunning! But it ends now! I apud the Nephilim for being able to keep up the fight, Histerion. But I will end his hopes! Let all the forgotten rage from their graves! Let their hatred and despair for attaining Oblivion rage against those who are remembered! Let the Forgotten Ones devour the Remembered! I summon you by my Crown!"


    The entire world began to tremble as the skies parted. The finger of Lanthanou harnessed great energy and called on another power.


    The souls of those who were forgotten began to resonate, and many souls departed the Brimstone Beasts and formed another army!

 Chapter 414 Crown Of The Forgotten

    The entire ne was covered with Brimstone beasts


    An entire army began to appear from the souls who raged as they were forgotten. Their despair and desire to be remembered turned them into bersekred creatures born out of the darkness.


    The power of Lanthanou gave the forgotten ones the ability to make their demands to be remembered.


    And so the souls took form as if a Shade Lord of greater power was with them.


    The forms that appeared came from all races and Listrel and Gradius instantly identified that these were the souls of the dead of thend!


    "So many souls!" Gradius was amazed at what he saw.


    "Their rage... Can you feel it?" Lea asked.


    The souls took form from the darkness and began to form ranks at the heavens. They all were beings that had wings to fly!


    Gradius and Listrel frowned. An aerial army that formed out of the darkness was unexpected and something that their current army was not armed to deal with. Moreover, the Brimstone Beasts sent very few high-flight-capable beasts over thest two years.


    The attack of the resurrected forms of the strong warriors that could perform Force attacks was a new army that was only defeated thanks to Kyros''s arrival. But now, the beings were transforming into several beasts.


    The hate and agony caused many weaker beasts to form into one.


    "How is it possible that people who have been forgotten would number this many?!" Rachel asked.


    "This world is suffering an apocalypse. Very few are alive to remember those who have passed! And so, many souls are raging to be remembered!" Listrel answered.


    The dark army from the sky began to attack as the Crowned incarnation of Lanthanouughed.


    "Behold the Crown of the Forgotten!" He boasted.


    "Why? We''d just forget about it anyway." Lea frowned.


    "..."


    Lanthanou couldn''t argue with that logic and sent his forces to attack.


    "Die!" Lanthanou sent out the army as he began to charge.


    Lea called out the Leviathan''s water once more, and it surged all around her.


    Rachel charged to the sky and had his Obsidian armor.


    But even with the huge serpent, it looked nothingpared to the army of darkness.


    The massive World Wood Trees had no choice but to hold off their attacks at the bottom and focus on the dark beasts at the top.


    Gradius and Listrel began to harness their Code and made therge tree reflect the power of life.


    "The Wood Remembers!" Listrel and Gradius both harnessed their power to make the tree reflect the energy of life.


    "Oh? Calling out on the power of the Yggdrasil to make it remember? Toote. I am a Crown now! My powers are sufficient to make a dying tree forget!" Lanthanouughed as his entire body began to reflect the power of Oblivion.


    The two forces began to fight, and Listrel and Gradius were suffering from the bacsh.


    "Brother! I''ll deal with him! Let the trees release the light!" Listrel shouted, and the pair began to fight their respective battles.


    Listrel harnessed her power tomand the Crown of Thorns to remember, while Gradiusmanded the World Wood Trees to release its light tobat the darkness.


    The trees gave a strong swipe at the heavens to attack the iing beasts.


    But the aerial beasts were easily able to fly out of the way.


    The armies of Brimstone beasts below were now able to attack and march in as the wide swipes of the massive trees.


    An army of darkness threatened the skies, while an army of Brimstone ravaged the ground!


    The two approaching armies instantly turned the tide of the battle, and warriors of the Hignds were now suffering heavy losses.


    Listrel began to bleed as the power of the Crown bestowed to her quivered. She was being beaten in the sh of two Crowns formed from actual Crowns of a God and a Fallen!<sub> </sub>


    Lanthanouughed as he prepared to take out the memory of Listrel and cut down the memories of the tree.


    But then he sensed another power that quivered the heavens.


    Lanthanou suddenly felt fear.


    "No... it can''t be! Who is trying to remember her?! The Nephilim?! How?!" He sensed it and quickly activated the full power of Oblivion and tried to wipe out the budding traces of memory.


    But as he did, he felt a sudden pain in his heart as the enemies he had to clear off the memory began to spread all over the ce.


    "How?! Who is remembering this?! Why are there so many?!" Lanthanou cursed.


    BANG!


    A powerful punchnded and struck Lanthanou from the back!


    Lanthanou flew forward and reached the ranks of the dark army.


    Lanthanou turned and saw that the assant was Hems, who appeared in his Brimstone form.


    "The trees and nts! With the power of the awakened elves, it was now possible to speak life into the. And so, they have been secretly nting a seed! We nted a single word on those trees right after your first attempt to assassinate Kyros! And now, those seeds budded at the orders of Kyros. That word is the very word that you made Histerion forget!" Hems smiled, and his entire body began to crack as he opposed the power of Lanthanou.


    "You... you remember!" Lanthanou raged and grabbed Hems by the neck.


    He nced down at the ground and saw an army of elves and the surviving warriors of the Minds! They had appeared from the back. Lights continued to sh as a portal had somehow reactivated itself.


    Because of the battle, this area was unguarded, and no Brimstone beast remained. And so, hems teleported in it to see if the path was clear, and after confirming it, he sent the armies that were ready for war.


    Among the weapons that were brought in was an Energy Catapult. It was the same kind of catapult that Kyros used with Mechiel before he died in his previous life to escape from the Eldrich. And with that powerful weapon that could throw a rock hundreds of kilometers away, Hems used it to make him attack Lanthanou!


    "Histerion never destroyed the portals in case he needed to travel through it. And since our arrival at thest kingdom closest to the Hignds, we already found and essed it!"


    "How do you remember?! I severed the ties and memories for the portals!"


    "Of course! I remember everything! I am made of Brimstone! Severing me of my memories means severing Histerion himself! Even when Kyros and everyone else forgot, I kept on remembering!"


    Lanthanou was about to kill Hems when he heard Hems''s impossible im!


    "No! You forgot! Don''t lie to me! I can feel it!"


    "You feel the power of Mysterion! This shell of obsidian made from the darkness of Kyriachos covers me from your senses! Even lord Kyros doesn''t know I remember! But the n to kill you has already been set ever since your first attack! Don''t underestimate my lord''s intellect! You''re always ten steps behind!"


    "See how your lord has failed you! He sent you here to assassinate me! But you failed! Now die!" Lanthanou cursed and crushed the neck of Hems but then felt terrifying energy surging out.


    "I''ve been holding on to this for a month now. A million Brimstone Beast was contained in me. Their souls and energy... can now burst out. I can finally... let it lose." Hems smiled as the breaking of obsidian finally released the great power that was pressed in him.


    BOOM!


    Arge ball of orange fire shot towards the heavens and exploded with brimstone.


    The army around Lanthanou was affected as the massive volcanic st purged and covered everyone withva.


    At the very center of the explosion, Hems was harnessing the power of his Brimstone Core.


    Far away from the Omega Kingdom, the battle between Kyros and the group was nearing its end.


    Kyros was dying. He only had his upper body remaining, and if not for his vampire bloodline, he would have died.


    But even in such a form, Kyros was not afraid.


    "I remember now... How clever of me. I would only say this when I was close to dying or was sure that I would die. But now I remember everything!" Kyrosughed.


    Histerion''s continued to stand before him. But his expression was that of shock.


    "What did you say?!"

 Chapter 415 Crown Of Lanthanou

    Kyros was defeated in the fight.


    His powers as a Crown were simply not on par with Histerion and the rest''s powers.


    But in the desperation of the battle, Kyros thought of the keyword that released the power of Mysterion.


    Kyros remembered many things. And as he remembered it all, he found that all his ns had worked perfectly.


    Kyros suddenly revealed a simple word. It was a word that somehow shook Histerion to his core though he couldn''t understand it!


    "What did you say?!"


    "I''m close topleting your mission, Histerion. I found a word. A simple word locked within the depths that Lanthanou has cursed you and this world to forget. It''s so powerful that he only sealed this word and all connections it has in existence. I believe this is End''s power working with him." Kyros smiled.


    "Who is Prophetia?!" Histerion lost his calm, and there was a demand for urgency. He could feel a powerful force acting behind the scenes and through the realms of creation. It would breach through the far reaches of the universe and even affect the Unrecorded Pages!


    "I don''t know. But if you are reacting that way, you could feel the urgency of knowing what you have forgotten. You are right. Lanthanou is hiding something from you!"


    "How did you know that word?"


    "It happened back when Lanthanou first attacked us. He tried to kill me and stabbed me with his attack. Cminus used Time Stop, and the three of us were locked in some battle.


    It seemed to havested a second to most, but with True Time stopping, the reality was that Cminus fought Lanthanou for a long time. It probably took hours. Unlike everything else that he causes all things to ''forget,'' this one was special. He had to hide it further and conceal it. He used a vast amount of his power to seal this word and make all of the universes across all times and realms unable even to utter it by ident! It''s as if the word itself is hidden from our lips!"


    "He used... the power to conceal?"


    "Exactly! This was the n of Fate, Wisdom, Beginning! Perhaps even before I was born, this n was already in ce! They knew the most difficult battle would be against beings like you and Lanthanou! But they also knew that whatever it is that Lanthanou will cause to forget to ensure the victory of End, it would be sealed with such powerful magic! And so, one of my purposes is to do that! It uncovers that which is hidden! My power awakened when it met the power of truly concealing something!"


    "But how do you remember? Such a thing would have rmed Lanthanou!"


    "That''s because he forgot it! He used a powerful attack that made that battle something that was forgotten across all of the universe and all realms. Even he forgot it! And I can''t even remember the details of it. So all I have is a summary of this battle!"


    "Then you''re a fool to reveal this to me now. He will have sensed it!"


    "Wrong! You''re not the only one who remembered the word! The power of the nts that the Dryad of Vey gave me allowed the elves to bestow sentience and life to ns! And with it, that word that I spoke was nted! Right now, he sensed not one but many beings harnessing the knowledge of that word! Even if I knew the word, it was still wrapped around in the darkness. I only managed to learn the word but cannot evenprehend what it is!"


    "...Even I won''t be able to remember it. That word does not exist as far as history is concerned."


    "That''s why we had to go through this n. You and I had to fight a tremendous battle. And my allies had to make for the Omega Kingdom under the guise of stealing the Celestial Code, which, for some reason, is important to him!"


    "It could be rted to the war. If he has to Code in this world, he could seal it and weaken the gods and fallen who use the elements involved in the Code for the battle against End."


    "I see. Then, in the end, these elements were gone, and Beginnings armies were weak. But now, I have a chance to change Middle." Kyros understood now.


    "Then how do you intend to figure out more beyond that word you spoke?"<sub> </sub>


    "The traps we set are designed to challenge his power in making everyone forget. The Charmed Fallen awakened at that time and spoke to me, and I realized that the power in Mechiel was far stronger than I thought. She did not just find the Charmed Corruption through the Blood Cmity, but her incarnation acquired the Corruption in this timeline! And so, she would be the starter. And now, seeing as the power of Lanthanou has also breached more in this world, the only thing I need to do, is creating another link with him! Making contact with ''that thing'' should do!"


    "I see! The Crown! You want him to bestow the Crown in his incarnation here! Your goal is the Crown of Lanthanou! The Crown of the Forgotten itself!"


    "Yes! Crowns were always a symbol of power and authority. With a Crown, the Lanthanou here would now hold the memories pertaining to that word!"


    FLASH!


    Suddenly, Kyros was healed. His dying body began to recover as the power of Brimstone was building his body!


    "A Heart of Brimstone! No! It''s something more! It''s like aary core! Kyros saw his heart reform as the power of Brimstone appeared around it. Inexhaustible energy began to course through his body.


    Kyros felt that his entire body was coursing with fire and earth energy.


    And with his body bing fertile ground, the Seed nted in his body began to sprout all the more!


    "You''ve already done so well. Complete your mission! I will not fight him. The moment I do, I and him in the real world will also begin fighting!" Histerion answered.


    "So you''re joining the war and siding with Beginning?"


    "I never intended this. But Prophetia... Her name is a name that speaks the future! You cannotprehend it because even Wisdom is kept from you. But I believe I have an idea of who that person is."


    "Your wife!" Kyros was shocked. When he heard Histerion exin the meaning of the name, the Wisdom kept from Kryos finally affected him.


    "Exactly. Kyros. Do you understand? At first, I thought Lanthanou was only hiding something from me. But I never imagined it would be this terrifying! All gods and fallen will have sensed something wrong with them if they forget such an important thing. But I am Brimstone. I am joy itself! My powers worked against me!"


    "I''ll get your memories back, Histerion. This must have been my mother''s n all along!"


    "Yes. She knew that End would ally with Lanthanou! In this battle for eternity, Lanthanou would put all the strongest gods and fallen that would not join End and make them neutral. Your mother plotted to reverse that! Prepare yourself, Kyros. I will now hurl you over there! Be warned! Lanthanou''s powers are far stronger than you can imagine!"


    "I know!"


    Histerion picked Kyro up, and the three resurrected beings began to wither into a pile of rocks as the power surged around Kyros.


    "I''ll give you a boost. You already have experience in being a human catapult, right?"


    "Er... I had never experienced having a god as a catapult though!" Kyros cursed as he knew what wasing.


    Histerion chuckled as he picked Kyros up and grew a thousand meters bigger!


    The god then hurled Kyros towards the battlefield at the Omega Kingdom.


    Kyros was being thrown out, and he began gathering the power of earth and fire within his body. The Heart of Brimstone erupted in power, and Kyros was bing a powerful meteor.

 Chapter 416 Crown To Touch

    Hems had released the tremendous amount of Brimstone he had contained during the past months.


    He had battled and devoured it, and they would seal the power using water magic to create obsidian. While the obsidian wasn''t near as hard as Rachel''s power, it did its job by creating ayer that contained the bursting Brimstone.


    Hems ate and ate the brimstone energy, and he had an energy formation circle written around his obsidian body to help contain the energy. But al of burst out as Lanthanou attempted to kill Hems.


    It was as if a volcanic eruption had burst out of the sky.


    "ARGH!" Lanthanou was caught in the massive release of Brimstone, and the mes devoured his arm.


    The massive st affected the entire army around him, and a great portion of the army of darkness was purged out.


    Hems were thrown out of Lanthanou''s arm and began to fall into the army.


    The enraged Lanthanou reached out as his form grewrger and his arm recovered.


    Hems had no energy left when he released it all.


    Listrel took advantage of the attack and fought back with her Crown of Thorns to fight the Crown of the Forgotten.


    Lea and Rachel charged to save Hems, but they were too far!


    "Fire!"


    A voicemanded.


    The High Elf Queen Aubrey was flying a giant roc carrying a massive ballista.


    Therge machine shot out a single arrow made from the World Wood Tree.


    The arrow flew out and intercepted the approaching arm of Lanthanou.


    "Fool! Your trees won''t harm... What?! Brimstone?!"


    BOOM!


    As the arrow struck the arm, the many energy formation circles inside detonated the Brimstones inside the arrow. The arrow injected all the brimstone into the arm.


    "Ahhhh!" Lanthanou met the element that it feared again and pulled back the arm.


    "Ready the Brimstone Gun!"


    Several massive metal mechs powered by steam and brimstone readied their weapons. Each mech carried arge metal cylinder that began to activate the energy formation circle in it.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    The cannot shots resounded, and the shells that carried numerous brimstone sank into the arms and exploded the shells of brimstone.


    On the other side of the battlefield, arge roc had teleported and carried another group of elves.


    "Brimstone elves! Get ready to fire!" Themander ordered as the rocs rose to meet the army of darkness.


    The ranks were disorganized as the brimstone attack of Hems affected a portion of the army.


    "Fire!" Themander ordered, and the arrows were released.


    "You should have told me Lord Kyros has prepared a Brimstone army!" Gradius cursed at his sister.


    "I didn''t know! This must have been forgotten thanks to Lanthanou!" Listrel answered back.


    "Not exactly,dy Listrel." Logonughed as hended next to her.


    King Rivarridon Rock also arrived.


    "This was all nned by Hems. We were ordered to develop this secret army, but Lord Kyros sealed his memory. You did not forget. You never knew. As the god of memories who can make us forget, he could see the memories. That''s why all kings stayed at Rivarridon Rock. The portals connecting our kingdoms have been restored. It was part of the n to make a special Brimstone army that could fight Oblivion! We spent months developing this army and never brought it to the front lines, so to alert Lanthanou! His fallen form here is not omnipresent! And we did not remember anything that alerted Oblivion! So now here we are, at yourmand!"


    "I knew that he had a n!" Listrelughed as the power of her Crown managed to fight back with the bombardment of Lanthanou.


    "You brats! Let''s have a proper fight now!" Lanthanou''s size grew, and his stomp crashed on the ground and caused the entirend to tremble. His form towered over the threes as he harnessed the totality of his power to assume a form. He no longer attacked Gradius and Listrel in a Crown war but prepared his gigantic body to attack.<sub> </sub>


    "You will all vanish in Oblivion! Tremble before me, you ants!"


    "You idiot!" Hemsughed as hey on his back. He had fallen to the ground and had a human form as the Brimstone vanished.


    "You know what''s great about bing ants? We know how to look up!" Hems chuckled.


    Lanthanou was startled and turned around and saw arge red ball rushing towards him.


    The power of Brimstone that could equal the attacks of Conquerors was right above him and falling fast.


    Lanthanou tried to evade, but the meteor swerved. The power thatmanded the meteor had locked on to Lanthanou.


    ? "No!" Lanthanou extended his arm, caught the massive meteor, and activated his power.


    The dark energy rose from that of a Crown and reached the levels of Conquerors!


    Dark and Entropy appeared, and the two elements crashed on the meteor attack.


    BOOM!


    The power of Brimstone and Darkness met and shed.


    The shockwave rippled out, and all the army in the air was affected.


    All the warriors released their Force energy to resist the shockwave, but everything that flew in the skies was now falling from the impact.


    Lanthanou kept resisting the falling stone, and right at the top, the Brimstone gathered and took form.


    Histerion appeared.


    "Retreat! Nephilim''s armies! I am no longer your enemy!" Histerion shouted.


    All the army of Brimstone suddenly retreated and was marching towards Lanthanou.


    "Histerion! What''s the meaning of this?!" Lanthanou roared.


    "Prophetia. Who is she?" Histerion didn''t have an amused face and asked immediately.


    "You...! That name means nothing! Don''t forget that the Nephilim has descended to the lord of lies himself! Whatever you think you feel is deception brought by him!"


    "Do not underestimate me, Lanthanou! You have used your powers against me! If that is true, then you have altered my records." A deep-seated hatred erupted.


    "You have altered history! You and End! I did not care for the war as long as I could write history! But you have crossed my bottom line!" Histerion raged as his body began to take shape.


    "Hellforged Knight! You dare assume that form against me?!" Lanthanou raged.


    The attacks of the elves kept shooting, and now, the Brimstone army was fighting.


    The army of the Hignds was also reorganizing themselves and was prepared to attack Lanthanou.


    "Kill him!" Histerion gave his orders and the Brimstone beasts began to charge at the foot of Lanthanou.


    Suddenly, the powers of darkness had gathered and covered the entire world. Only those that glowed and had light could be seen in the darkness.


    "What?! You have such powers hidden here?!" Histerion cursed.


    "Fool! You have forgotten it! Of course, it has to work! Why do you think everyone in the Recorded Pages and True Reality has forgotten this ce save for a few gods and fallen? My power has always been here! And now I shall call upon it! This darkness is linked to the true incarnation of myself, and with it, I shall kill you!"


    "Linked to your true incarnation, you say? Kyros! Your n worked! Touch his Crown, now!" Histerion smiled.


    Deep inside the gigantic form of Lanthanou, his true body was standing and kept on gathering the darkness and Oblivion of the world.


    But then a hand appeared and grabbed Lanthanou''s crown!


    "What?! You?!"


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!"

 Chapter 417 Crown Of Twelve Stars

    When Histerion hurled Kyros to the sky, Kyros quickly felt that Histerion''s power was forming around him. With his Heart of Brimstone, many rocks and mountains of Brimstone began to surge out. Kyros knew that Histerion transferred the power and was forming within.


    Histerion took the lead and shed with Lanthanou.


    With numerous attacks around him, Lanthanou could not sense the darkness that had moved deeper into his dark elemental incarnation.


    The power of Mysterion had helped Kyros hide in the initial meteor attack, and he dove in and raced towards the actual form at the darkness''s core.


    Kyros saw Lanthanou and grabbed his Crown, and activated [Skotos Eis Phos].


    BOOM!


    Kyros tried to connect himself with the Crown and take the darkness as he caused it all to transform into light.


    "AHHH!"


    Lanthanou''s form and the power source was the crown itself, and it was being directly attacked by Kyros using the element he was weakest against!


    As the powers of the light surge, Kyros begins to draw out the dying darkness and perceive the memories of Lanthanou.


    The Crown''s power contained many memories that had been forgotten long ago.


    A woman stood at the far realms that could not be traveled through in space or time.


    Her clothes were as bright as the sun, and she rode a white that looked like a moon. On her head shone twelve powerful lights that caused her to see through all the time and all realities.


    She kept on fleeing as the realms around him began to change.


    "Monsters! They altered it! They altered the true future! They changed End!" The woman cried as she tried to flee.


    "Changed it? I defined it." A sinister voice spoke as a powerful conflux ofs and universes breached and stood to stop the woman.


    "Hahaha! You can''t escape forever, Prophecia!" Lanthanou appeared on the other side.


    "In the beginning was Beginning and End. One set to begin things, and the other was destined to stop them. And through it, all things muste to an end. But the one thing that End could not end was Beginning herself. And so, he set out to do what his name was." The strange conflux of energy spoke.


    "How dare you! You will not win End! And you, Lanthanou! You betrayed my father''s trust!"


    "What he doesn''t know would never hurt him!"


    "You won''t seed! Beginning will never let you win!"


    "Your powers must have grown weak, Prophecia. The moment you were forgotten, we had already won!"


    "Lies! My father will defeat all of you!"


    "How and why would he fight me? The problem with your father is that he is too joyful! Even your loss will not affect his emotions and view of the world! The End shall reign as the future is forgotten! me yourself for involving your father! Why were you born to have powers that could prevent the End? But now, End has won! History will only move!"


    "If I lie, how did shee to being? With you forgotten, the strongest Being That is to Come has been born! Allow us to introduce the victor that will end Middle! Eschathema!" Lanthanouughed as the universe tore and numerous heads tore through space.


    Eight heads of the Okto-Khefali emerged. And above the eight heads was a woman.


    "No... It cannot be! The Last Days!" Prophecia felt her power weaken as the Woman Who Rides the Beasts appeared.


    "Since beings like you cannot die, to be forgotten and sealed is the answer! Fall now! Prophecia!" Lanthanouughed as the three powerful beings fought against the woman.


    Entire universes were used as weapons and swords, and End began to wield realities and the power to End as she shed out towards the body of Prophecia.


    The massive Okto-Khefali moved and bit at Prophecia while the dearness of Lanthanou bound the woman.


    It was a battle that was simply too much for Kyros''s perception or understanding. The battle took ce across time, and each attack had effects that made their mark on all timelines.<sub> </sub>


    At the end of the battle, Prophecia gathered her powers and made the twelve lights on her head turn into stars.


    "Crown of the Twelve Stars, may your light of the future remain bright! The smallest ray can piece the treacherous emptiness of End! So shine! Shine and let the whole universe know! End is not the real End!" The woman released the powers, and the twelve stars flew off her crown as the entire realm began to be boxed up by oblivion.


    Kyros saw himself back in the real world.


    Lanthanou recovered and moved to kill Kyros!


    "She''s your daughter!" Kyros shouted with all of his might.


    BOOM!


    The power of Brimstone erupted out as Histerion was greatly angered.


    Kyros was nearly in when the power of Brimstone smashed on the real body of Lanthanou and sent him flying down and digging through the curst of the Yggdrasil.


    The universes in the Recorded pages trembled as the memory of who Prophecia was was approaching Histerion.


    But the darkness within the Unrecorded Pages quivered.


    "You fool! You made me do this!" Lanthanou cursed and wielded power within the realm of the Unrecorded Pages, and with great effort, Lanthanou made his move.


    "[Epnthanomai]!" Lanthanou used the power that had his very name!


    The power surged and rippled out of the realm.


    Many Gods and Fallens felt the power, and many were confused and did not even know the power behind this.


    Beginning, Fate, and Wisdom suddenly forgot about the Unrecorded Pages in the faraway realms. But the attack that Lanthanou was forced to do had numerous problematic results.


    "Did you feel that? That power!" Fate eximed.


    "Of course! We have an enemy that can make us forget! End has someone that used these powers to alter everyone''s memories!" Wisdom eximed.


    The ripple moved out, and even those at the side of End felt it.


    "Rx. That one is our ally. You have just forgotten him..." End answered. But his expression remained ugly.


    "Why was he forced to use this power? It will alert Histerion!"


    And as expected, the real body of Histerion felt a strange crisis. He felt his power being called or used somewhere, but he could not remember when.


    "End... I told you I don''t want to take part in this war. But it seems history is still being attacked!" Histerion cursed.


    As Lanthanou severed all memory of the Unrecorded pages, the power of darkness inside the Unrecorded Pages grew by many folds.


    "That sted Lanthanou! He made me forget about this ce!" Histerion cursed as his massive Brimstone punch on Lanthanou had left nothing but the Crown that began to fall apart on Kyros''s hand.


    "What will happen now that your true self cannot remember this ce?" Kyros immediately asked.


    "It means I can'' send more of my power to help in fighting. But Lanthanou, as you can see, has grown stronger! The good news is, you managed to force him to make a move that will make the gods and fallen who sided with Beginning sense the power of Lanthanou. This could dy the End by millions of years! So, Nephilim! Survive this battle and win! And if you do, Beginning will finally have a chance to see the future!" Histerion urged.


    ? But Kyros nced to the dark skies above.


    The full power of Lanthanou formed in the sky, and the weight of the Universe could be sensed.


    Kyros knew that Lanthanou''s base power had now surpassed that of Conquerors!

 Chapter 418 Crown And The Conqueror

    The power that made the entire world forget was so strong that all gods and fallen sensed the powers working.


    Some surviving heretics even felt a strange power, and the stronger ones could discern the power.


    "Forget? There is a power out there that makes me forget?" A dragon god pondered as he nced throughout the world.


    "Father... What''s going on?" A young man appeared, and a beautiful young woman also appeared.


    "Son, Daughter... Be at ease. We True Neutrals do not need to join this war between the Fallen and Ancient beings. This battle can only involve them." The dragon god answered.


    "But this power! Forgetting? We must have forgotten this exists! It is such a scary power that can threaten our very race! What if we forget so many things about our race?!"


    "There are always opposites in power. If it is good, there is evil. If there is forgetting, then there is memory! This is a war between beings far stronger than us. But this also means that the neutral, those uninvolved in the game between gods and fallen, will have a chance to rise! This battle will im many Codes and Corruption. And that means more food for us!" The Dragon God answered.


    The power that attacked the True Body of Histerion surged all over the ce, and Histerion knew he had forgotten something.


    "It seems useless if I try to remember what I have forgotten. But tell me, Lanthanou. Why are you dering war against me?" Histerion asked. Before him was the True Body of Lanthanou, and they spoke outside the worlds of scrolls.


    "Why are you asking me? That power I used was so strong that even I have forgotten what it was." Lanthanou sneered.


    "Are you sure you two want to fight?" Behind Lanthanou, a man appeared. An Incarnation of End had erupted to the side.


    "That''s right, Histerion. Fighting now could damage your scrolls and the workings of History itself!" A woman also appeared at the side. An incarnation of Beginning appeared.


    "Fight? I just want to punch this man and see if his powers will leak and allow me to remember. You all know my stance. I just wish to write History. Such is who I am. And yet, some powers are causing me to forget? Now that you made your move Lanthanou, I sense there are more things I have forgotten. You are at your limit, aren''t you? You have concealed great things, but this is pushing yourself to the very limits."


    Lanthanou kept silent, but his expression changed.


    "I can make a few guesses. If you did this, something happened that forced you to use your power. But if it''s you, whatever spurred you to act should not be happening in the Present. Wh would you act when End could send his minions to stop it! No. It isn''t something in the Present. is it the Past?" Histerion pondered.


    "It''s in an Unrecorded Page." Beginning answered.


    "What? The Unrecorded Pages? How can you be so sure?" Histerion asked.


    "Wisdom told me long ago that should this ever happen, and should Histerion''s powers ever be challenged, it would be something rted to the Unrecorded Pages."


    End and Lanthanou''s expression changed.


    "See? She was right. Confused how we remember? We don''t. But this was something nned since the start. The Nephilim shall ascend. And this is only part of his ascension."


    "Nephilim? You haven''t borne the Nephilim yet!" Lanthanouughed.


    "He lies..." Another form appeared.


    The lord of lies appeared.


    "You!" End red.


    There was no use trying to call him by name. For all his names would be a lie. Only Wisdom knew his true name.


    "You are lying, Forgotten One! That means... the Nephilim have been born. We have forgotten. But such truth can''t be easily forgotten... Unless."


    "Unless the Nephilim is inside an Unrecorded Page." Histerion understood.


    "He has used his powers to make everything within an Unrecorded Page be forgotten. It seems the Nephilim is threatening you all. Histerion. Would it be presumptive of me to assume that you are to be our ally?"


    "No. I rified my position and didn''t want any part of this war. But then... they attacked me. I will fight back." Histerion spoke and invoked a Word of Power, which rippled out and affected the Universe.


    The power changed, and Histerion''s Word of Power affected all realities.


    End began to turn older and older and began to spit out something that would be the lifeblood of beings like End.


    "The End has moved for a million years? Not bad. More time for us!" Beginning chuckled as she vanished along with the lord of lies.


    "Begone!" Histerion pped his hand, and the entire universe that held the scrolls and the burning scrolls around them red with heat and killed the incarnation of Lanthanou and End.


    Histerion was left alone in his world, and he nced around.


    "I have forgotten an Unrecorded Page of History? I won''t be able to remember where I put it now. Only the Nephilim can help me remember."


    In the Unrecorded Page of History that was kept hidden in the darkness...


    The entire world was copsing with the darkness.


    Histerion''s True Body had forgotten about the incarnation he sent into this realm. And because of this, a disconnect of power prevented him from harnessing the power to strengthen this incarnation.<sub> </sub>


    As for Lanthanou, the darkness had formed and gathered around him. The power of darkness continued to grow.


    Kyros had managed to escape from the attempt of Lanthanou''s attack as he was saved by Histerion and had taken Hems with him.


    "We''ll need all the Crows that we can get to fight him! He''s already a Conqueror!" Kyros answered as he poured out a massive amount of light that he had taken from Lanthanou''s Crown. Skotos Eis Phos allowed him to create a link with the darkness and turned a huge portion into the light.


    The energy healed Hems, who began to recover.


    On Kyros''s hand were two Orange cores.


    "Do it!" Kyros ordered, harnessed the power, performed [Last Stand], and sacrificed the souls in the soil cores.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The powers of Kyros and Hems surged out, and the powers of both rose to the highest heights.


    Hems began to growrger andrger as the massive amount of energy allowed his Brimstone body to create a giant.


    FLASH! FLASH!


    On the other side, the power of the two Word Wood Trees erupted as the energy of the trees obeyed the voice of the crowned ones.


    Listrel and Gradius felt their power rise, and their forms began to change.


    Their hairs became green, and a vast amount of life energy sued them. The absorbed light of the tree was being reflected through the mirror-like powers of Listrel and the battery-like power of Gradius.


    "ROAR!" The Leviathan''s roar was heard as it was granted life.


    Lea and Rachel worked together andbined their power, and with the fusion of their dark power and the waters that Lea controlled, a new breed of beasts was born.


    A massive obsidian Leviathan appeared, and thebination of both allowed them to create an avatar power that equaled Crowns.


    Lanthanou knew that if he kept gathering energy, he would be attacked and needed to start harnessing the darkness around for a sh.


    Histerion towered like a giant as his Brimstone Army began to fuse.


    A smaller brimstone giant also formed as some of the beasts closer to Hems went and gave its life to Hems.


    "Five Crowns dare to fight a Conqueror?" Lanthanouughed as he looked at his enemies. The power of his attacks surged greatly.


    "Six! We might have a Crownless army, but our power and attacks will equal that of Crowns!" Breveros shouted and harnessed the power of his army. The army of elves, demi-humans, and lizardmen began to gather with the Hignds army and harnessed numerous energy formation circles.


    "Too slow!" Lanthanouughed and shot a powerful ck dart towards the army that had not yet formed itselfpletely.


    BOOM!


    The small dart of ck magic was intercepted by a ball of many colors that blocked the attack.


    Mechiel appeared, and around her were the lost elemental cores of the Okto-Khefali.


    The beauty of Mechiel could not be revealed as the powerful light of the stars kept appearing.


    She had already learned the Celestial Code and could wield it through her Charm. But now, she found the real Celestial code, or the Celestial Code that was forgotten, called out itself as it could not resist the beauty of Mechiel.


    "Mechiel! Keep that form! If you undo it, everyone here will be captivated by your beauty. Unfortunately, we do not have time to defend against that!" Kyros shouted.


    "That''s fine to say that I look beautiful, Kyros!" Mechielughed.


    The familiar manner of Mechiel''s speech made Kyros smile.


    "I see that you remembered..."


    "A bit." Mechiel chuckled as the power of the Celestial Code appeared. On Mechiel''s head was a crown. It was something that Kyros had worn. The Crown of the Celestial.


    "Seven Crowns... It won''t be enough! Your light can pierce through my darkness!" Lanthanouughed.


    "Pierce? I don''t n to pierce through it..." Kyrosughed as his form assumed the Astral Swordsman form once again.


    The powers around him began to erupt as the power of the stars returned.


    "Ah, the Astral Sword Master. I''ve seen your form when you fought Histerion, Kyros! That little form of yours cannot do anything against me!" Lanthanouughed.


    "I am Mysterion. It is in my nature to hide!" Kyros raised his sword, the power of the stars harnessed within.

 Chapter 419 Crown Of Steel

    Since his rebirth, Kyros had long departed from being a Knight ss who used shield and sword but became one who focused on the sword itself.


    The Steele family had also diverged from the path of Force Pdins and transformed into a new one. In the many months he had lived in this world, Kyros has meditated and harnessed the power to attack. But, with the enemies being a powerful god and a powerful fallen, he needed to perfect attacks and defenses.


    The powers of the stars began to gather on his sword. And Kyros began to pour another form of power into the sword.


    "I hereby decree this job be..." Kyros began to invoke the Word of Power and used Ancient and Fallen energy to invoke it into a reality.


    "The Ster Sunder Sword Master!" Kyros dered, and the power he spoke invoked a reality.


    BOOM!


    A strange power gathered around Kyros, and a Crown appeared on his forehead.


    "What?! How do you have his Crown?!" Lanthanous saw the Crown and trembled. It was a Crown that only one person had ever worn since the beginning of creation!


    "Since when did you receive his powers?!"


    "That''s my secret, Lanthanou! I''ve always had it!" Kyrosughed.


    Ever since Kyros held the sword and was bestowed a ''drop of power'' that Hyperion gave him, Kyros has already gained enough power to deduce the essence of this power to form a Crown. Kyros was only too weak to bring out that power. But now that his strength had reached the level of Crown, calling out the full power of the Wielder of the Sword job he gained when he first met Hyperion Steel caused him to form the Crown. And yet, in his battles here, he never released so much of this power even as he fought against Histerion.


    "I won''t pierce through your darkness. I''ll cut through it!" Kyros shouted as True Cut empowered his sword.


    "You brat!" Lanthanou shouted as he gathered his darkness, which began to gather slowly. Everyone could feel that powerful attack was about to explode in the infinite darkness of Lanthanou.


    "Everyone! Attack together! Extinguish the darkness!" Breverosmanded, and his army followed.


    The Force and Magic of the army were drawn out together andunched a united attack simr to Astra''s power! The army of Breveros used the same formation that Kyros had prepared the Mind armies to have and even positioned their formation ording to the blueprint.


    With Mechiel wielding the Celestial Code and wearing a Crown of the Celestials, the power of Breveros''s armies also received the blessing as they connected it all.


    Lea and Rachel harnessed their power and used their power to draw in and absorb the darkness.


    "Sister. We can only rely on pure brute power. We wait for the rest of them to attack and keep bing the shield for Mechiel and the armies." Lea instructed.


    "I understand, sister. I hope Lord Kyros will give me a chance to knock the teeth out of that old man!" Rachelughed.


    The darkness of Lanthanou was being absorbed as the Dark Serpent moved forward. With it leading the way, the darkness that had covered the army of Breveros and threatened Mechiel had weakened.


    On the opposite sides, Histerion and Hems marshaled their powers of Brimstone. They did not need to be near the Dark Serpent as they boldly challenged the darkness with their body that purged.


    Listrel and Gradius also did not hide under the umbre of the dark serpent, for they nned to pierce the light!


    "Yggdrasil! Heed our request! Let not the tree that withstood time, trials, and Brimstone be tossed in oblivion! Let out your light!" Listrel harnessed the power of the Crown of Thorns, and the world responded.


    Gradius and Listrel, who had merged with the World Wood Tree, released two powerful pirs of light covering their bodies and the trees.


    Six Crowns prepared to attack. One Crown moved to weaken the Lanthanous attack.


    "You all think you can match me! Don''t make meugh! Histerion! I won''t ever make your True Body remember this! Die! [Epnthanomai: Dunamis]!"


    The power of Dunamis was invoked.


    Heralcus had used [Entropia: Dunamis] at the end of his battle. But what was the power of a Cardinalpared to that of a Crown.


    The darkness exploded out and engulfed everything. The power of a Conqueror was disyed as the attack devoured everything into oblivion. The space where the darkness moved vanished into existence. Even though it was right before them, the space itself had been forgotten.


    The Dark Serpent charged forward and began to devour it.


    "[Flood the World]!" Lea brought the power of the waters to contain more darkness as Rachel brought out the dark, devouring powers to cover every inch of the serpent.


    With the darkness slowing approaching, the rest behind Lea and Rachel sent their powers out.


    "[Supernova st]" Mechiel and Breveros shouted as theyunched the same attack that Kyros and his team developed in their battles in Middle.


    The power of the Elemental Wheel''s perfect andplete form exploded out and fought the darkness.


    Histerion and Hems challenged the darkness and sent out a single punch.


    "Follow my lead, small one!" Histerion told Hems.<sub> </sub>


    The power of the Brimstone surged, and Hems felt a Crown of Brimstone faintly appearing over his head as he punched out.


    "[Armageddon Punch]!" The punch of Brimstone pushed forward, and the darkness began to resist it!


    Hems did the same, and the power was slightly weaker than Histerion was sent out.


    Gradius and Listrel harnessed the power together.


    "[Light of the World: Holy Beam]!"


    The pair sent out a powerful st as their entire body shed out with a bright light, and a mountain-sized holy beam was shot towards Lanthanou.


    The forces began to sh on all sides and challenged the darkness of Conqueror.


    All attacks were attacked simultaneously and managed to hold back the attacks of Lanthanou.


    Finally, Kyros made his move.


    The power of the Stars and the power of the True Cut took a longer time to merge. But now, Kyros hadpleted it thanks to his allies'' attacks. Kyros stood at the gap between the two Brimstone Giants that kept punching their Brimstone forward.


    "Let''s see if my de can cut the darkness now... [Star Severing sh]!" Kyros shouted and shed out.


    But as he did, Kyros felt an incredible pressure that the sh went very slow.


    The Crown of Steel surged with power, and a small jewel appeared at the tip of the crown. This was a drop of knowledge that Hyperion bestowed to Kyros.


    The powers surged, and the avatar of Hyperion appeared behind him.


    "What?! Impossible! Hyperion is dead! How can you have his legacy?!"


    "Gone but not forgotten, Lanthanou." The avatar of Hyperion responded.


    "You...! Your alive?!"


    "Dead. But nothing in this world can stop me from cutting a path. My sword will y you all through the Nephilim and my family!" Hyperionughed as the slow sh of Kyrospleted its motion.


    SLASH!


    A devastating cut urred and shed through the darkness. If Kyros shed his sword any lower, the entire Yggdrassil would be cut!


    The moment Lanthanou saw the power, he knew he had gravely underestimated the Nephilim and began to direct his powers towards it to attack.


    But at that moment, a Crown appeared on Mechiel''s head.


    "Hey." The power of the Charmed Fallen only used one word. It was a word of vengeance as the hatred of the memory of the Charm Fallen was still instilled in it. It hated the power that made her forgotten. And in that single word, Lanthanou''s attention was divided!


    "No!" Lanthanou couldn''t turn aside and focus his powers on blocking the attack.


    The sh halved everything in front of it. The world parted us the sh sent out, and the darkness could not resist. Finally, with so many elements raging on all sides, the cut of Kyros halved the darkness and struck the main body of Lanthanou!


    SLASH!


    The world rumbled, and the darkness shook, for its source was attacked!


    The sh halved the body into two, and the two parts of Lanthanou began to fall!


    "It''s our win... Lanthanou!" Kyrosughed.


    Lanthanou''s eyes couldn''t believe what had happened! He never thought that the Charmed Fallen would still have such power!


    "I hid the memories of Mechiel from you. She had met one of those who had the Corruption of the Charmed Fallen. That was the very best of what she could do. And that was all I needed. I needed you to look away for just one second." Kyros smiled.


    "We win, Lanthanou!"


    "Fools... I still win. [Sacrifice]!" Lanthanou shouted, and with hismand, the binding power appeared, and a vast amount of darkness began to shoot out of his body and went up to the heavens.


    "No!" Histerion saw it and was rmed as he could sense the darkness sealing up the entire forgotten Unrecorded Page!

 Chapter 420 Crown Of Oblivion

    The power of Lanthanou surged out swiftly.


    But unlike the previous attack that caused everything to be forgotten within the darkness, this one spread out and was not determined to attack the team.


    The halved Crown of Lanthanou began to tremble, and Kyros saw it.


    A strange, dark green appeared as the two crowns began to disintegrate. The power of the second Crown was far stronger than the first.


    "Two Crowns?! He has two crowns!" Kyros shouted when he saw it and tried to harness another sh. But as Kyros aimed his blow, he felt the power of forgetfulness surging. ncing at it caused Kyros to sense that he had forgotten something.


    Everyone else somehow forgot to make attacks as they looked at it.


    Kyros felt that he needed to do something.


    Only Cminus, who was not looking at the Crown directly as he didn''t have physical eyes, wasn''t affected. However, he knew what was happening and knew that he needed to act fast. So he allowed himself to be his natural crazy self. And as Cminus allowed his entricity to take ce, he cried out a very Cminus rm that would draw everyone''s attention.


    "It''s a-me! Mario!" Cminus shouted and harnessed all the power in his Time Core.


    Kyros frowned and turned at Cminus and was about to curse at him. But as Kyros turned then recalled what he needed to do.


    Everyone reacted simrly, and all began to realize that they were not acting or moving.


    Kyros was the first one to react.


    SLASH!


    Kyros quickly made another sh as he began to cut through the strange power that was surging out of the darkness.


    The power of the [Star Severing sh] was sent out.


    "Don''t look directly at the Crown and make your attack!" Kyros ordered, and everyone else followed.


    Everyone was looking elsewhere and quickly shot out another round of attack.


    The entire attacks wereunched. Only Rachel and Lea performed a different attack as they shot out the darkness they absorbed to push the approaching darkness.


    The attacks were sent out, and everyone was able to defend against the darkness.


    But Kyros noticed that there was a strange weakness in the darkness that they faced.


    "Above! The power is surging above!" Listrel warned.


    "No. Not above. It''s covering this entire page." Histerion frowned.


    The powers of darkness had spread out as it shot to the skies. All the ranged attacks struck the Crown that appeared, and an explosion resounded.


    "Nothing is truly forgotten unless it''s gone! And my power can never really manifest itself unless I die! The death of my incarnation releases the true power of my Crown! This entire world will be forever lost! With this incarnation gone, I curse this entire realm to be forgotten!" Lanthanouughed as the darkness shot towards the sky.


    The two halves of Lanthanou and the Crown began to dissipate.


    And suddenly, the entire darkness spread out and vanished as everyone remained standing in their respective ces.


    "...We did it?" Hems were surprised.


    The darkness began to expand out endlessly. Everyone thought that the darkness had attacked them, but the massive amount of darkness only exploded out and covered the world.


    "That''s it? He''s dead?"


    "God Histerion. Did we do it?"


    "Killed the incarnation? Yes. Won the battle no." Kyros cursed as he watched the entire skies.


    "What''s going on?"


    "We''re forgetting and is being forgotten. As we speak, all the proof of our existence is being wiped out in the real world."


    "What? Impossible! How can he do that?


    "He sealed the entire Unrecorded Pages. What a smart gamble. Save for a few of the strongest gods and fallen, very few in the Present know about the Unrecorded Pages. This is because numerous powers instantly curse this realm. End, Entropy, History, Oblivion, and Darkness. Right now, he is closing the memory of things making people forget everything about this ce. The existing powers that have hindered people from remembering this ce are now being heightened. And so, just as we managed to make the world forget about the Unrecorded Pages, everyone is now forgetting everything inside this ce. And that includes four certain individuals."


    "Us..." Listrel frowned.<sub> </sub>


    "Exactly." Kyros sighed.


    "Nephilim. I''m sorry. But I cannot fulfill your promise." Histerion sighed as he could feel the realms close up.


    "So... we lose? Just like... that?" H


    "This was part of his n. When he sent his incarnation inside, he knew it could end in this. And so he sealed this entire ce. My true body won''t be able to find this ce. And the presence of darkness is too much. So that even if I exhaust all the Brimstone in this world, I can''t bring you back into the world!" Histerion sighed as his entire frame turned small.


    "Are there other ways? Wisdom and Fate must have something to throw a wrench in these ns! The arrangement of Fate and Wisdom has been so precise." Mechiel spoke.


    "In my memories, I can see that my two lives were arranged in a way that will help the power of the Nephilim grow. I can sense something. A lie. If Kyros''s father is the Lord of Lies, then I believe the Charmed Fallen was a secret ally!"


    "An ally? Isn''t she one who swore to serve End and Destiny?" Histerion asked.


    "And yet, my two lives have always been for Kyros''s benefit! I aided in the ascension of the Nephilim. If not for me interfering and saving his life in that past life, the Cminus wouldn''t have had the chance to bestow his powers and create this timeline. There should be something, something that is already set that will help you breach this ce!" Mechiel eximed.


    "That does sound possible." Kyros nodded.


    "I refuse to believe that Fate, Wisdom, and my Father will allow it to be like this. I am Mysterion, a hidden weapon by Beginning! Numerousyers of plots were created to hide me. And even now, I still am hidden from the reaches of Destiny and Ends men. Mechiel is right. If we don''t have anything in this world, then there should be something in the real world that will help us escape this curse!"


    "Something in the real world?" Hems pondered.


    "Middle?" Mechiel guessed.


    "Middle?"


    "A called Middle. We found it in the Nephilim Sealing Mountain. It''s a ce outside of time and space. But I don''t think Middle can help us."


    "Kyros! You! You can help!" Cminus recalled.


    "Me?"


    "Yes! There is another part of you left in that world!"


    "The Temple?" Kyros asked again.


    "Yes! When you got unsealed in that Temple, you fainted. So I took the liberty of exploring and analyzing the Temple. And I discovered the Temple itself harnesses a mysterious power. Despite its brimming energy and how you have used it, the gods and fallen has yet to discover it! Even I couldn''t ess it until you programmed the Temple too!"


    "You mean it has Mysterion?! Then that works. I assumed that even the Temple would forget about me and either be dormant or seek another sessor! But if that''s the case, then that Temple will always remember me! Histerion!" Kyros turned to Histerion.


    Histerion closed his eyes and smiled.


    "Your right. I can feel it! The gap that Lanthanou is trying to close and seal isn''t closing! We don''t have much time! Kyros! With the power I have left with me, I can send up to six individuals now! That''s the maximum based on the amount of energy I have! Decide who will go!"


    Everyone heard it, and the entirend was silent. Only six could be saved.


    "Does the Okto-Khefali core and Cminus include those six individuals?" Kyros asked.


    "No. Cminus is bonded with you, and the Okto-Khefali has nowmuned with Mechiel." Histerion exined.


    "Then send only five of us." Kyros decided.


    "What? Five? Why five?!"


    "Breveros is an Eldrich. I don''t trust him. Lea and Gradius would not want to be separated from each other but will choose to die with each other. So send five. us four who originally arrived here, and Hems." Kyros turned to the Breveros and was about to apologize out of courtesy.


    "It''s alright, Lord Miracle. I understand. That is my sin." Breveros spoke ahead.


    Kyros then turned to Gradius and Lea.


    "Thank you." Lea only smiled. If Kyros had demanded more from them, they would have agreed, but their hearts would have been torn asunder. Instead, Lea approached and held Gradius.


    "We''ve already epted death. It''s amazing that we hoped and defeated that god." Gradius smiled.


    "We don''t have time! If we take any longer, Lanthanou will get suspicious! Are you sure? You will be the ones I will send and write in the Recorded Pages?"


    A powerful light surged as Light and Darkness shed around Kyros and enveloped all living beings on the battlefield with Mysterion.


    "Yes. Do it. Send us to the world now!" Kyros answered.

 Chapter 421 Forgetting The Nephilim

    Histerion smiled as he bade farewell to the group.


    "Brace yourselves. This power will also alert my True Body as I write in the Scrolls of History! And unto you, and your Temple, the power of Memoria will be given!"


    The power of Histerion surged. A pir of Brimstone shot from where Kyros, Listrel, Lea, Mechiel, and Hems stood, and it shot towards the sky and pierced the darkness. This small ray of light shed a tiny beam, and the power of Oblivion closed thest gaps of any memory about the Unrecorded Pages.


    Histerion''s true body felt a change. He could still not detect the source of where the power came from. But he turned to see the scrolls of History.


    In it, a strange line was added all over the events of True Time.


    "Prophecia, your daughter, was lost. However, through the power of the Nephilim harnessing Mysterion, her memory has returned. Mysterion promised to find her."


    Histerion saw it, and suddenly, tears of sadness fell. The very act itself was against all forms ofw. The very incarnation of Joy felt sadness as he learned of the power that robbed him of his joy.


    Histerion was angry. There was a greater joy to be experienced. But the enemy has deceived him into thinking that his current life is already joyful. He felt as if he was so captivated by looking at a diamond, not knowing that it was just a small stone in his paradise.


    But as he saw it, Histerion focused on the promise giver, the Nephilim, and the power of Mysterion.


    "May my joy beplete." Histerion harnessed the power of Brimstone and knew that he had to hide the return of the Nephilim. He could not even remember sending the Nephilim into the Unrecorded Pages, but he knew what he had to do. He caused his Brimstone energy to erupt throughout the universe in anger.


    Two words were etched once more in the Scrolls of History.


    The names of Listrel Protos Endoxos and Lea Olethros were etched again, and everyone began to remember.


    To everyone who had eyes to see, ears to hear, and a mind to understand the Beings that Were, it looked as if Histerion was only sending an angry attack toward Lanthanou and End.


    But hidden in the wild power, the brimstone that came out of the Unrecorded Page had fought and pushed through the small ray of light that connected towards the power of Mysterion.


    With Kyros and the others leaving the Unrecorded Pages, the power of Lanthanoupletely covered the Unrecorded Pages causing all to forget everything about it.


    The light crossed the great distances and sought the Nephilim Sealing Temple. The power of Lanthanou hadpletely covered the entire Unrecorded Pages save for a small dot in its existence. Something was holding off the power of Oblivion, but Kyros and the rest suddenly left that ce, and the Unrecorded Pages were sealed and forgotten. All the memories and adventures they had were all removed.


    Wisdom and the Lord of Lies felt it.


    "What is this feeling?" The Lord of Lies wondered. He had forgotten all about the existence of Kyros, that he was the Nephilim, and even about the ns.


    By some other power, they held on to some prophecy of the ascension of the Nephilim and how he will bring power and eternity into being.


    "Husband... This power... you feel it too?"


    "Yes. It''s derived from me!"


    "Derived from both you and me... Then that means... it''s our son! I see. Lanthanou. He used his powers. Our son must be the Nephilim..." Wisdom quickly deduced as she sensed it.


    "Mysterion is back. We forgot about it. A battle must have happened. This must be rted to why Histerion acted against End. But now, Histerion will be guarded, and Lanthanou won''t have his chance other than this. Whatever we have forgotten has been preserved by our son. Now even Fate and Destiny have forgotten about this. They will only sense a champion of Fate! End and his team have forgotten about the prophecy. The words of the forgotten god that left this prophesy before he or she was forgotten are now lost on End. Only we know it now." Wisdom smiled.


    "So our deception finally worked? Again, End will be a blur. And this time, they won''t know from where or when the Nephilim will arise."


    The moment Kyros crossed through the light.


    End felt a terrifying power attack him.


    "What happened?!" He roared in anger, and all of the creation trembled.


    Destiny. Pausontai. Apathos. Thora. Lanthanou. The Beings that Were who served End appeared one after the other as their powers were all affected.


    "What happened?!" Thora shouted in fear.


    "Something is happening! End is no longer inevitable!" Apathos shouted.


    "What''s going on? Lanthanou?! If we all don''t know, then it must be you!" Destiny used.


    "..." Lanthanou couldn''t answer.


    End took form and appeared among them.<sub> </sub>


    "It is uncertain... While End is uncertain. Eternity has not yete! Lanthanou... This must involve Histerion. But this event is kept hidden from all of us. This means... that despite the plot that assured our victory all these years, our enemy has found a way to reverse it. We can still win back our losses. Let the march of the future begin! Awaken Eschathema! We must usher in... the Apocalypse!"


    On Beginning''s side, the teams had also gathered as they felt the fracture of End''s reign.


    "Everyone. A n that has been set from the Beginning is now bearing fruit. From here on out, we can expect the Last Days to arrive. Eschathema is sure to awaken. Prepare your seeds and forces in the living realms. The war to Middle will soone!"


    Back at the Nephilim Sealing Temple in Middle...


    The sealing of the Unrecorded Pages caused a massive effect that twisted the very memory of the entire world. But none were more affected than the allies of the Nephilim.


    The entire area around the Temple had transformed in the following months.


    All the allies of the Nephilim had relocated and poured out their possessions and important relics and brought them inside.


    The Temple was heavily guarded with proper walls and became a powerful fort. Weapons of war, such as ballistas, catapults, and other powerful weapons that could harm Champions, were present.


    But everyone faced great danger.


    Mezal and Branze were seated at the center of the Temple''s house. They kept discussing the head-splitting confusion.


    Some parts of their memory remained. The power of Lanthanou could not fully sever it because of the power of Mysterion.


    At that meeting were the core members of the Steele Family.


    "This doesn''t make sense. As I have pointed out... something bound us all together. We have visions of this, correct?" Branze Steele asked.


    "Yes. We, the Coven on Crack, can only remember our Lord Cracky Battcheeks... And somehow, his blood is what created us. But other than that... my memories are a nk!" Martha answered. She represented the Coven on Crack.


    "Our calling was also from a mysterious altar. The power of the Stars, of Astra, speak of another power." Demerus Emberdon represented the Emberdons.


    "I am telling you all! It''s Kyros!" A woman shouted angrily.


    It was Scarlet.


    "I don''t know or remember who he is or what that name has to do with anything... But it''s him! My husband!" Scarlet answered.


    "Suppose that you are right. This husband of yours... This Cracky Batcheeks... what a god-awful name... And this one who gave birth to the power of the Stars is here... Then all the mysterious memories we have, including a battle in this very world, but a few thousand years ahead in the future, have this entity at the center. We can conclude that we are being attacked by either a god or a fallen."


    All the heads began to murmur and speak.


    "My son has spoken correctly," Mezal added.


    "Our memories are being changed. And this is a terrifying power. We could be here one second and will remember stranger things that could force us all to start killing each other. Whatever or whoever we served united us. Some have joined more recently than others. But now, the purpose to which we gathered is being threatened!" Mezal added.


    WARP!


    Suddenly, the Temple began to glow a bright orange light.


    Everyone inside felt a strange heat and a powerful joy they could not understand.


    The energy gathered right in the very middle of the Temple. Then, the ce where Kyros was once sealed began to tremble, and Brimstone began to pierce through it.


    Mysterion released its powers, and five forms appeared right at the center of this ce.


    At the arrival of the five, the Temple began to give a startling glow.


    The parting gift of Histerion was activated.


    [Memoria] surged out, and everyone who was called into alliance of the Nephilim began to remember the missing pages of history.


    "Corner Stone... Wee back." The first one to call out to Kyros was Petra, the king of the Golems.

 Chapter 422 Forgetting And Remembering

    Kyros''s form took shape, and the rest also took form.


    The power of Memoria surged through the Temple. And the two powers met. Memoria and Mysterion fused, and the powers of this memory were kept hidden even from Lanthanou. So the Temple became the conduit of memory. But because the power of the Lanthanou was so strong, what everyone had was scattered memory that had no form. Only through using the power of the Temple could those who have forgotten to be given the power to remember.


    And yet, even in that, Petra was the first to sense and understand the arrival and return of Kyros. As a Celestial, he was the closest being to a god and instantly had a vague idea of what had happened. They were beings born from the Gigantes Earth Soul Core. The soul core was connected to the Temple. His memory was even more apparent. The loss of Kyros gave them a sense of loss that they could no longer understand their purpose. This was especially true for Mardock, the Entropy Golem. He was linked with Kyros. But then that connection was lost, and he found himself between the Gigantes Soul Core and the army of Kyros.


    But now, the being that was their master had returned. And Petra sent out the greetings.


    Kyros stood up and nced around.


    Everyone looked at him and was confused.


    "Does everyone remember?" Kyros smiled.


    "Kyros!" Scarlet cheered, and she jumped towards Kyros''s embrace.


    BANG!


    Mechiel appeared in front of Scarlet and attacked her with a powerful punch.


    The vampire''s power surged out, and the darkness blocked Mechiel''s fist, but Scarlet was still thrown back!


    "Scarlet. Your powers have increased at a frightening pace. But you won''t have your way now." Mechiel frowned. Because of the two Mechiel''s memory and the awakened Corruption, Mechiel''s emotions have gone to a strange change.


    "You... My rival! The one who walks ording to the Corruption of Xermolipi Phaulos!" Scarlet shouted.


    "Everyone! She''s the enemy!" Scarlet shouted.


    "...No, she isn''t." Branze sighed.


    "If she were, they would be fighting right now. This power... You are a Commander?" Branze asked.


    "Oh? It looks like Histerion has given me some parting gifts. And you guys seem busy. Commanders and Champions... How many beasts did you offer to the Temple these past months?" Kyros chuckled.


    "Those two! I remember now! Lea Olethros! And Listrel Protos Endoxus!" Mezal shouted as he felt the memories jolted in at the sight of them.


    At that moment, the names of the two, which were re-written in history, provoked a strange phenomenon.


    The Hignds and the Nethends began to erupt as the thought of dead life talismans suddenly sprang back with life! Everyone suddenly remembered them. But because they were thought to be dead, the effects of their deaths weren''t too obvious. To most, it was as if they simply moved on, especially since there were more chaos and problems to deal with.


    The two women who returned could feel the subtle changes as the universe remembered them. Listrel somehowmuned with the Yggdrasil and felt a power surging.


    Kyros quickly harnessed the power of Mysterion.


    "Don''t let this tree remember. At least, not yet." Kyros ordered.


    "I know." Listrel smiled.


    "So this is the Nephilim''s Temple... Amazing..." Listrel was amazed.


    "You... I know you!" Hunter moved closer and watched Hems. He could sense a strange link, and the power of Brimstone that had just surged out made him joyful seeing Hems.


    "You forgot? Well, that''s natural. It''s me, brother. Hems! Together, Hemsey and I gave our lives to savedy Martha!" Hems smiled.


    "Kyros? Are you the Nephilim? The lord of this Temple?" Branze asked.


    "Yes. I am also your son, dad. Good to see you too."


    "Dad?!"


    "I have a son?! But... but... how is this possible?" Diana was amazed at her form. How old was she when she gave birth to Kyros? The shbacks were unclear, and she couldn''t remember any time she gave birth!


    But Branze turned to the Coven.<sub> </sub>


    "Coven. What do you make of this?"


    All the members of the Coven bowed before Kyros. They could feel the power of their blood resonate and somehow grow stronger.


    "Lord Kyros."


    "Eh? So awkward. You guys better start looking through the memories stored. You were never that formal to me. And Aunt Martha, you can just call me Kyros. Well, technically, Reptilia and Hunter too. Since you guys are married." Kyros chuckled.


    "Corner Stone." Mardock bowed in respect. He was serving the Steele family and was around them. He could sense him to be the leader.


    "I guess you''re my grandson?"


    "Cminus. Can you rey the power of Memoria in them?"


    "Sure thing. That boost that Histerion gave has helped me transform from a Soul Core into a Soul Seed! Pretty soon, I can be my own being!" Cminus chuckled.


    "Gather everyone. I will use the power of Mysterion and Memoria to make it clear." Cminus spoke.


    Soon, the people were arranged within the Temple, and Kyros waited.


    Apart from Scarlet, everyone felt strange standing right in front of Kyros as they didn''t know what to say.


    "Kyros. What about us?" Listrel asked.


    "What are your ns? I won''t hold you against whatever vows you have. I know you have your own family and n to follow."


    "It''s kind of hard to return there. Besides, we know that both sides'' war is part of End''s maniption. I don''t like... being a pawn." Listrel answered.


    "Knowing our heritage and how weplete each other in taking care of the tree gives us this responsibility of trying to save it. And that means, for this tree to survive Eternity. That world of Brimstone... showed me the worse of what the Yggdrasil will be. I don''t want that." Lea exined.


    "I feel the same way. Besides, cultivators want to be a Fallen or a God. You are the way to bing that. Both our parents are locked in being Celestials." Listrel added.


    "I see. Well, the best path is for the two of you to return there. The history of that world has been exined to us by the survivors. We now know the plot of the Eldrich and how to conquer it. From the looks of it, I believe certain spies are in the Hignds if the actions of the Eldrich seeded as they did. Find that out. What the Eldrich would never expect is the alliance between both of you."


    "We understand." Listrel and Lea answered together.


    "While we''re gone, I can allow Mechiel... But don''t let any other girls get you." Listrel chuckled.


    "Yeah." Lea asserted as well.


    Scarlet heard it, and she frowned. And what was annoying was that Kyros didn''t seem to reject the approach of the two.


    "We should leave ahead. Our current forms are too weak after forcing those Crown forms. It''ll take a while for us to reach peak strength. And with thews and blessings returning, I think we''ll be far stronger than we once were."


    "Hey, Lea. Let''s arrange a proper fight between the two of us. The winner takes Kyros."


    "I was thinking the same thing."


    Mechiel was next to them but ignored the two.


    Scarlet couldn''t understand why Mechiel was rather cold to Kyros.


    Soon, everyone gathered. The Steele Family, the Coven, the Emberdons, and everyone else who had met the Nephilim.


    "Let''s start this. You forgot about me at the time when Lanthanou first appeared in the Unrecorded Pages. Now, it''s time to remember. Then, Lanthanou sought to attack us, change life''s trajectory, and sever you from the path of fighting with the Beginning''s side. This was his cruel powers that worked when I was sent there. But now... remember! Our advantage? We only spent a few months together. Even after how close our ties and your loyalty has grown, End and Lanthanou would have never expected that we won''t have even fought together for years! With this, Histerion can restore your lost memories!" Kyros raised his hand, and the power surged.


    In the realms beyond... Histerion''s power continued to attack.


    Lanthanou felt ufortable and was reading the scrolls of history for any changes.


    "What did he remember? What is he adding?" Lanthanou pondered. Little did he know that the ufortable feeling he was sensing was not from Histerion but the power of Mysterion.

 Chapter 423 Forgetting The Game Changers

    The power of Histerion helped Mysterion hide the returning memories.


    Histerion had recalled Prophecia, but he created a power that attempted to find out the missing entity.


    Lanthanou was fighting back against it.


    With the beings fighting, Lanthanou did not sense things that were much more trivial being remembered.


    The months of memories that the Steele family and the Coven had been returning. With the Temple and the many clues left within their life that proved that something was missing, the recollection was much easier.


    The light glowed, and everyone saw visions, and emotions began to spill forth as the quick visions allowed them to revisit what they felt.


    Within these emotions was the power of Brimstone that brought about joy.


    Lea and Listrel had left the Temple as they saw the process begin.


    "This joy will make everyone even more loyal to him." Lea chuckled.


    "Oh,e on. You''ve seen how charismatic and capable he is! Those closest to him have already reached the highest limits of what loyalty could be. This is for those other armies who joined. This joy will be tied to the Nephilim. We are living testimonies of it. To think we care for each other." Listrelughed.


    The two left the cave and nced at each other.


    "I can''t wait for our big fight." Listrel smiled as she went her way.


    "You will undoubtedly head towards the west where some spies of the Nethends are." Listrel guessed.


    "And you will head over to your loyal Mind warriors here, I see..." Lea chuckled.


    "Yes. Try to survive. I will be putting a lot of effort into finding and killing you. Our two families and the most loyal servants must curse and cut themselves for forgetting about us. But with our life-talisman glowing back, it should jolt them to remember. So once I find my ally, I will immediately put the word out to look for you."


    "Don''t worry about me. The depths of the abyss can never be pierced by the brightest lights." Leaughed.


    Listrel moved ahead.


    "Listrel." Lea suddenly called out.


    "What? You miss me already?"


    "Why aren''t you sad? We are no longer under the influence of Brimstone and its joy. You lost your brother. Yet you don''t seem in any way affected by it. We lost a vast, powerful army. Many of those Mind people became your friends in the pasts months there. And with Brimstone all around us, our pride, prejudice, and sovereign status meant nothing. Yet you don''t seem affected!"


    "You aren''t affected either, Lea." Listrel chuckled.


    "I''m not affected because I have hope. Your reaction and your power of having the Crown of Thorns give you powerful memories. You know something, don''t you? Everyone back in that world is alive, aren''t they?" Lea asked.<sub> </sub>


    "Obviously. I don''t remember anything, though. But Lea, do you think that Kyros would be that cruel? He must have used Mysterion to make us forget! He spoke of finding the game changers when we were in the Minds and were busy pushing to reach the Hignds. Those who are outside of Fate and Destiny''s calction."


    "I remember those talks. End is still set to win since he sees all the future. Right now, the Nephilim are hidden, but End must have their aces. Kyros needs more secret aces if we want any hope of winning this. Breveros, Gradius, and Rachel were three warriors who could be gods and fallen soon. So they are alive?"


    "Yes. It isn''t just them. In that world is an army that survived fighting a Conqueror! The Mind allies we fought next to have technologies, powers, and bloodlines that are also vastly important! Who knows what they all can achieve if they reach this realm where blessings and corruptions are present!"


    "So you don''t remember anything but hope that Kyros did something to save them."


    "He already did the impossible. I don''t hope for this. But, I know this is the truth." Listrelughed as she went her way.


    Lea saw Listrel move out and could not help but nce back toward the Temple.


    "Thanks, Kyros." She whispered and left.


    As the powers of Mysterion caused everyone to remember, a certain seed coated with Mysterion was born within Kyros.


    It was the secret memory he even sealed. This was a very important memory that Kyros had to use Mysterion to seal the memory of this. No one other than him could know the real details. Kyros expected Listrel to remember this because of her Crown, but it was alright. Knowing is different from remembering.


    The memory yed out. Right before Histerion sent them out, Kyros made Cminus stop time as he used his Crown form.


    Time stopped, and Kyros spoke to the leaders.


    "Breveros, Gradius, Rachel. You have to stay here and lead the army. Histerion, save thest bit of your energy to preserve this world. This is why I want you only to send us five! This was Fate and Wisdom''s n! This world is supposed to be forgotten! No one must remember this ce save for me! Stay here and grow strong! Search for power and multiply! War will happen in Middle, and if End knows the future, he will win. And that''s exactly why I was sent here! The n was not just to hide me through the power of Lanthanou, but to hide an army that will surprise even End!"


    "But how will I send this entire world into reality? I can''t do that!" Histerion asked.


    "There is a way! Middle! Use the energy and find Middle! My Temple was kept hidden in Middle! I n to have the Temple stay there and won''t move or transfer it. This way, a future where the Temple will appear in Middle will exist. You can do that, right?"


    "I see. Since the Unrecorded Pages are hidden, my True Body can''t find this ce, but my incarnation here can send this entire ce over to Middle, which exists in a limbo dimension! I use your Temple as a beacon." Histerion smiled.


    "Yes! Exactly! End can see the End and will fight it. He is always a thousand steps ahead of us. But if this world survives and creates an army that is so strong, with powers that surpass everyone''s expectations, it may be possible for us to turn the tides in future battles. I believe your arrival will be just on time! I will seal the memories of my friends to hide them from Lanthanou or any other gods or fallen who can peer into our memories." Kyros exined.


    "I might remember or know your n. My power and connecting with this Yggdrasil will help me sense another bud or branch of the tree. Me and Gradius are connected somehow." Listrel answered.


    "You will. But you won''t remember. Knowing is different from remembering. Besides, if Histerion carries out his n to alert his true body, he will fight with Lanthanou and keep him busy." Kyros smiled.


    "Indeed. It''s amazing how Beginning and Wisdom nned this all out."


    "There must be more powers involved. But this is what Mysterion should be. I''ll hide the weapons and aces used in the future war and reveal them at the right time! I''ll use my powers now! Histerion, send us out after!" And Kyros used Mysterion.


    This memory was unsealed, and Kyros remembered.

 Chapter 424 Forgetting Fate

    The Temple shed with its great lights, and the memory returned.


    Everyone remembered the fights and battles they had with or against Kyros. The power of Brimstone surged, and they all remembered.


    "Hems!" Hunter shouted and rushed to his brother and hugged him.


    As the power of Histerion was being channeled and sent out, another power source began to empower everyone.


    "Soul Impartation...! This is my father-inw''s power!" Mezal sensed it as he could see souls fathering around him and all the rest of the core members of Kyros''s team. The Emberdons, especially those who have lost their physical form, felt a significant strengthening in their souls.


    "I see. Histerion gave out many souls, and now the Temple bestows them to the Core members. At least my adventures there have caused everyone to grow stronger." Kyros watched as everyone felt a fiery power surge through them.


    The power of Brimstone began to cleanse everyone as they were purged of any impurities.


    But as that was happening, all the Coven began to quiver, and some even stumbled in pain.


    Kyros observed and could tell that the powerful and pure heat was strengthening them, but the amount was far weaker than it gave to the rest.


    The Temple was managing and sending out everything; it somehow knew just what amount to send.


    The transfer of power ended among the Coven.


    "Don''t worry, guys. The Temple was just clearing your bloodlines and helping you get stronger. But your real power is still dependent on my bloodline. Remember your Coven Master." Kyros touched his forehead and invoked the power of his blood.


    In that Unrecorded Pages, the battles that Kyros had against Lanthanou, the bloodlines of Lea and Rachel, the purest of the Olethros, and Breveros of the Eldrich was essed, and Kyros''s power in the ursed lines of the Vampires had increased.


    Martha and the Coven felt great power surge through them. The appearance and recollection of who Kyros was suddenly allowed their power to tremble. Their bloodline began to evolve!


    "This power...!" Martha was stunned.


    "Fire? I sense the power of fire!" Scarlet felt it.


    "Not just fire... It''s Brimstone." Hems smiled.


    The rest of the core members who were with Kyros the longest and were not members of the Coven received greater benefits. Those with longer memories of Kyros received greater power.


    Branze smiled as the visions ended. Apart from their memory, Branze and the rest had also seen memories of the battle in the Unrecorded Pages.


    "What a battle... I''m sort of envious that I couldn''t join. But, nevertheless, that ce was horrifying..." Faye Emberdon was amazed.


    "What horrifying powers that Lanthanou has!" Aron opened his eyes.


    "To think my strength was weakened! I can''t believe I even forgot all those battles!" Aron was amazed.


    "Forgetting Kyros meant forgetting many important battles. The very memory of him is our strength! It seems that enemy... that fallen guy... erm..."


    "Don''t bother. You guys can''t say his name. And it''s better that you can''t say it since it will create a reaction if you say it. So let''s just call him Oblivion." Kyros smiled.


    The members of the Steele Family who had fought with him in Middle remember the memories, and all began to cry.


    "Lord Kyros is back! I can''t believe I''ve forgotten him!"


    "All our problems are now resolved!"


    "The Steele Kingdom shall rise! Did you see that?! And we thought our battles here were amazing! But they are nothingpared to our lord''s apocalyptic battles!" Another eximed.


    "Too bad... they are all..." One of the women sighed as she felt sad that all those gant and powerful people had died.


    Branze and Mezal nced at Kyros.


    Kyros only gave a mysterious smile, and the two understood.


    But then, everyone was silenced as another ray of Brimstone covered them, including Branze, Mezal, and Aron.


    "Oh? Another round?" Kyros was curious. He could sense a variation in the energy being sent.


    The members of the Coven stumbled down as they were robbed of their strength.


    Kyros summoned golems and his clones and the shadow wraiths, who began to carry the members of the Coven and ce them at the side. Next, Kyros summoned beds within the Temple, and the Coven members were ced on them.


    A few people stood among everyone who saw the changes but were not given power by the Temple.


    Kyros turned to these people.


    Among the new members who were present and who had bowed in service was the Battle Mage Commander Relik. With him were two more Mage Champions.


    There were also several lizardmen Champions around the area.<sub> </sub>


    "I see Reptilia and Gojirrah have brought in more reliable lizardman."


    Next to Mezal was also a group of beautiful young girls. Commander and Princess of the Jericho Kingdom, Aliciana, was present along with a few of the Spear Maidens. She was oddly standing suspiciously close to Mezal.


    Kyros saw them and sighed.


    "It looks like grandfather has gotten quite busy." Kyros sighed as he saw the young Commander give a gentle bow.


    "It''s not as bad as it looks," Branze spoke as the power and memories he received at Histerion ended. But instead of relishing in the memory, he moved quickly to Kyros.


    "Princess Commander Aliciana has made numerous trade deals. I considered what I could ess in the Temple and nced at the quests we had to finish. I can tell that the Temple is something more. I was right about the things it can build and your memories. This Temple is more than something we can build into a fortress." Branze reported.


    Kyros nced at his father and could sense a sense of excitement in Branze.


    "Right. This Temple is meant to be a kingdom. A massive kingdom that we can deploy in Middle. In the wars toe, half of the universe will be against each other. We are to make a kingdom of warriors that will fight and help us defeat the powers of End." Kyros exined.


    "Son... It''s good to have you back." Diana approached and embraced. She was then crying as she held tightly onto Kyros.


    "Hm? Mother?" Kyros felt a strange emotion that Diana felt.


    "You... remember?!" Kyros was amazed.


    "It seems me and your mother received a special memory from Histerion." Branze revealed as he moved in and joined the embrace.


    The two gave Kyros a tight hug. And it was the same hug the young Kyros often received from Branze and Diana of that timeline.


    Kyros was amazed.


    "You... you both remember?" Kyros began to tear up.


    "Yes!" The two answered.


    "Not just them. I think that all the other Steele family members who were there in your past life received it." Aron added.


    "It was through me." Hems revealed.


    "Histerion used me as a way to channel both memories. My soul had two memories and was made with Brimstone."


    "Oh... I guess my secrets out." Kyros chuckled as the group ended in the embrace. Diana and Branze nced at Kyros with their eyes still tearful.


    "We''ll talkter." Branzeughed.


    "Yeah." Kyrosughed back as he felt a twinge of embarrassment in showing a very intimate familial moment with the two.


    Diana then turned towards Mechiel.


    The two nced at each other.


    Mechiel trembled.


    "Mechiel. I''m d you were alive in that life." Diana couldn''t hold her emotions. She reached out, and the two embraced.


    Mechiel began to weep. The Steele family was her family in that past life. And it was killing her that she could not reach out to thank these people, especially Diana, who treated her like a daughter.


    "How generous of Histerion. He wanted our souls to receive closure in many ways." Branze smiled.


    Mezal opened his eyes.


    "So that''s how I died. Huh... Interesting... Steele Family. You must have seen it! A past life doomed to die. Our enemies at that time were not just Destiny. Our hardships were from Fate! The universe conspired to kill us and make usughingstocks and weaklings! We did our best, and boy, did we do our best." Mezal suddenly called out.


    Kyros turned to his grandfather and was curious. Even he did not know how Mezal died.


    "We fought. We struggled. I set a path for my family. And they have done marvelously. The soul of mine that I left in the house of Steele showed me everything. Before my death in that timeline, I made a spell that harnessed my will and power upon the Steele family. I was a spiritual force that attempted to battle the terrifying curses our family faced. This was the same magic my father-inw used to save me. But because of this magic, I have seen all of the Steele family''s memories!" Mezal dered.


    "So that was it..." Aron answered.


    "I always felt that my old man was watching..."


    Kyros was shocked at Mezal''s ims.


    "I have seen your fight! I have seen how Kyros fought and brought glory along with all of you! Branze! Aron! I am proud of what you did!" Mezal smiled.


    "Me dying that way... was pretty intense." Aron chuckled.


    "But now, the strange power that attacked and forced Kyros to be wiped out of history is helping us! The curse of Destiny has vanished!" Mezal announced.

 Chapter 425 Forgetting Her Chosen

    Ever since he was reborn, there was the secret power that chased after Kyros and his allies. The nefarious powers of Fate were believed to be the enemy. But it turned out that Fate was an ally! It was in ordance with the power of Mysterion. To hide the allies and warriors of Beginning, Fate moved to attack the allies so that Destiny and End would be deceived.


    Yet this n proved useless as Destiny and End figured out who they were anyway and Destined them to death, adding anotheryer of gues and curses that attacked them.


    Destiny and End had their eyes on Kyros, and the Nephilim''s army would often have to fight every step, with Destiny throwing attack after attack. But now, the curse has vanished!


    "What?! That curse has vanished?!" Many of the Steele family reacted.


    "So that''s why I felt... at peace." Triona Emberdon expressed.


    Many then sensed that there was a strange peace in their life. As if something that was choking them had vanished.


    Those that developed Fate Challenger sensed it, and those who were more skilled in Foresight felt as if they could conquer the world!


    "This is it. Neutral! We are True Neutral!" Marthaughed. She had merged her soul with Puff. And since Puff''s alignment in this grand battle was known as True Neutral, she was the first to make the connection.


    "I wouldn''t rejoice so quickly, guys." Kyros shook his head.


    "The power of Destiny has been removed... But Fate''s curse still rests on us. Fate used Mysterion to inflict her curses on us from the start. And when I was being sent to the forgotten realm, Fate followed me. And herein lies the problem..." Kyros exined.


    "Problem? Fate went with us and went back... So this means that Fate remembered?"


    "Well, not exactly. Fate only knows I am cursed with her magic because her power has been tied with Mysterion. So in short, it''s attacking me, but Fate has forgotten about me, the Nephilim."


    "I''m confused... She curses Lord Kyros but forgot him?" Faye scratched her head.


    "I understand. How cruel. She really doesn''t want to give us a break. She must have known that this would happen!" Branze cursed as he realized it.


    "Do exin, dear brother." Aron urged.


    "In our past life, most deaths were caused not by Destiny but by Fate. Destiny has set certain deaths to be followed. Mine, grandfathers, Mechiel, and so on. But apart from that, it was Fate that chased us and attacked us!"


    "One without Kyros being unsealed to his true potential and another memory where he was sealed, and we would die a pitiful death. In that life, Destiny still easily found us. But in this one, it was all arranged for Kyros to go to the Unrecorded Pages and be forgotten in History. But that won''t be enough. We fight End, the one who knows the future! He will see and will deduce our identities as champions of Fate! And so... The option left is for Fate to attack us!" Mezal nodded.


    "Yes. We are now True Neutrals. But if Destiny sees that Fate has cursed us, Destiny would either help us or use his powers to survive Fate and hinder her." Branze exined.


    "Wait! So Destiny will now be our ally?"


    "That is yet to be seen. Destiny sees us as True Neutrals." Kyros answered.


    "We fight gods and fallen who sees the future or who has existed far out in the past. Thisplicated battle will maximize all powers. Fate is cingyers uponyers of ns that were so confusing it even took me a long time to understand the rtionship between Fate and Destiny. Fate knew we would have two lifetimes! That''s how her n to make Mysterion hide us as allies of Beginning!"


    "So... basically, originally, her curses were meant to train us. But since she has forgotten her chosen, the Nephilim, then..."


    "Then she will see us as the enemy. This was also part of her n to cloak us in Mystery. So she will seriously try to kill us. And it''s not just me. Anyone bonded or connected to the Nephilim Sealing Temple will also have it." Kyros added.


    "Yes. It also affected our family. Interesting. Only the curse of Fate remains." Demerus pondered.


    "From here on out, we are no longer champions of Beginning. They have forgotten their chosen champion. In this scenario, we might end up fighting gods and fallen from Beginning''s side."


    Everyone had grim expressions.


    "Oh, cheer up, everyone!" Mezalughed. He turned to see the sour faces of everyone.<sub> </sub>


    "What exactly has changed since the start? Nothing! Whether in this life or the other, Fate fought to kill us! We have fought against both anyway! Besides, it''s better this way. Considering how I have suffered from Fate, this scenario gives me a chance and a reason to p that fragmenting fragment with my shield and cut her with my sword!" Mezalughed.


    "Exactly. She''s going to pay." Kyros gave a dangerous grin.


    "Let us not forget what my son has been through! He faced two dangerous beings who outss Fate! What is she now? And with him back, this means the power of Temple that we have forgotten to ess is back!" Branze dered.


    "Right. The Temple. I sure missed this Temple!" Kyros nced around and looked like he was about to cry.


    "Come to me!" Kyros ordered.


    WARP!


    Suddenly, a shield appeared on Kyros''s hand.


    "Dimensional storage and summoning... The power of Holy attacks... I missed you all!" Kyros teared up.


    "I missed this old Temple. I miss essing the dimensional space. And I better keep Heraclus''s shield with me." So Kyros summoned it, and the moment he touched it, he could sense a strange resonance.


    "Oh? The Temple can finally add and make it part of the set. Strange... It was as if I needed Brimstone to be able to resist its darkness." Kyros sensed it.


    "Lord Kyros... What of the Coven? Why am I not affected by it?" Hems turned to see the members of the Coven, unable to move. They were somehow conscious yet very frail.


    "You are no longer a member of my Coven, Hems. Your element is Brimstone. Something the opposite of what Dark Dependants are." Kyros chuckled.


    "Oh? But I still have Brimstone... I guess that''s alright."


    "Yes. As for them, it seems that the diversity of my Bloodline is now opening numerous paths for everyone. Let''s see... Since I left, you guys managed to bring in a lot of stuff and killed a lot of beasts. Therefore, we should be able toplete the Temple quests. Hopefully, we can also im the minor rewards of level 2." Kyros essed the Temple''s core and saw that all the requirements were met.


    "You can count on it. I''ve taken into consideration what the Temple needs. Me and Grandfather thought about it and knew what the Temple would need before the time we forgot about you. These items were on a checklist. And even when we''ve forgotten about you, we still sought of it, for it was listed in the things we decided to get." Branze exined.


    "Yes. The Temple should be able toplete a few points of the Temple. I can''t wait. Our kingdom will finally rise!" Mezalughed.


    With the disappearance of Kyros, the Temple could not improve and assimte all the items brought in.


    [All Temple Quest Level 1 rewardspleted. im Rewards?]


    Kyros smiled as he saw it.


    "With the power of Mysterion, I hide this Temple. This is why it''s named this way. The Nephilim Sealing Temple was not meant to simply seal my powers. It was meant to keep me hidden! Now, we finally have a way to fight back! True Neutrals have once challenged the world of gods and fallen. This is why the Heretic Wars urred. And now, an army of Heretics shall appear and throw the future into uncertainty."


    Kyros selected the Yes option.


    The power within the Temple began to tremble as all the reward items were being drawn in. Many more items that were not on the list began also to be assimted, just as Mezal and Branze deduced. They had once more outsmarted the expectations and limitations of Fate.


    ---


    Questpleted.


    The Nephilim Sealing Temple will transform into the Nephilim Sealing Fortress.


    ---

 Chapter 426 Forgetting The Temple

    The space trembled, and the entire cave was being altered. The Temple itself had begun to absorb the very mountain in which it stood. A blinding light began to spread out.


    But as the light spread to the very edges of the Temple''s grounds, strange darkness began to appear.


    The Temple activated the power of Phos Eis Skotos as it began to conceal the energy and power of the Temple itself.


    Now was the best time to do this. Such a marvelous change would spur the Temple to change in power and form, and the power of True Creation transpired.


    The resources the Temple required were far, far inferior to the product it made. This was because the creation process used the very basic form of an item and its magic to change it.


    The power of Steel, Soter, and the other Codes and Corruption that the Temple has was harnessed and added to the base materials.


    The Temple seemed to mind as the items gathered were being renewed.


    Kyros suddenly saw a vision.


    He saw an aspect of Light. A being with no form and essence was the first light ever shown in the entire universe.


    He was the being that existed before and whose powers were the cause of unity until Hyperion severed the Universe.


    He was the being that stood and was the first among the ones that took form right after the Beginning.


    "Nephilim. You are the light that will shine at the end of times. When the Last Days appear, the enemies of Beginning will gather and wage their war. The world will be plunged into darkness, oblivion, and death. But in the mountain of the Nephilim, thest stand will be made. You are the secret force, the final stand, and the final rays of my light that will fight the darkness. Arise, O Nephilim! And let my light shine! I am Astera Proinon Soter! First of the Light! And my light will pierce through the darkness of the End!"


    The light spoke and shone brightly.


    This power had shown itself in small forms as it called and brought back many weapons that had been lost in the world. And then, the power of Soter began to take physical form and was imbued with the existing powers.


    Kyros now knew how the Temple would be hidden.


    He could feel the power of Mysterion surging out. The base materials were all gathered for the sake of deceiving the gods and fallen. The massive changes in the materials gathered in the Temple were left unknown.


    "[Kaine Ktisis]!" The being dered and the power that transformed creation.


    The base materials were now being renewed. And yet, its resonance across the universe and through the realm remained the same. It was as if they were still the same objects they were.


    The entire mountain and even the deep ground beneath the Temple were being assimted.


    The walls that were made grew taller as they pushed outwards, expanding the region within the Temple.


    It was then that arge structure enveloped the entire Temple. The walls became a rampart defense,plete with chambers within the walls. ces, where weapons of war could be ced were set.


    Gates formed and covered the four areas of the wall, and the wall itself was brimming with power.


    The Temple was now only the ''church'' grounds within the forts. As a result, numerous rooms and chambers were opened.


    From a Temple, it had be a small castle.


    Each corner of the walls had a watch tower. The ground was tilled and cultivated, and farnd appeared. Yet, a strange power remained in the farnd.


    A massive hall appeared to the east of the Temple. Several forges appeared, and all sorts of equipment were there. An array of weapon racks full of weapons appeared. To the side, several rows of knight armors, archer garbs, barbarian outfits, and all sorts of armors for various jobs had appeared.


    Right next to the station was a room that had numerous beds. It was like a hospital, and various magical devices were arranged around.


    The Library of the Nephilim disappeared from its room within the Temple. And it all appeared and created arge hall on the east wing of the castle and had even more books than before!


    The knowledge of cultivation for all, be it magic, brute, and even rudimentary knowledge on all paths of Creation, was made known!


    The books inside had enough knowledge to help all Nephilim''s armies reach the levels of Cardinal as long as they had the right amount that could be bestowed.


    Right next to the library was a smaller chamber that had numerous ss containers, cauldrons, and other objects. This was not among the listed rewards of level one, but Branze had already known that the Temple could create an alchemyb, so he instructed his men to take whatever they could acquire from their trades, purchases, and raids.<sub> </sub>


    The alchemy room had the same devices that Kyros yed with in the lizard kingdom. It was a chamber that created all alchemy pills, weapons, and healing items.


    At the center of the two halls was the path leading towards the Temple.


    Theyout of the Temple had changed. The Library of the Nephilim was extended with the addition of the codes and corruption that Kyros managed to acquire in the Unrecorded Pages.


    There were several levels and rooms made. All in all, a structure three levels high and even one level down had formed.


    The entire area where the group stood had be a wide, open area that clearly looked like a training ground with arenas, various equipment, and obstacle courses.


    Rooms formed, which Kyros could tell were the residential areas for everyone to live in.


    As the bright light faded, the entire structure of the Temple changed.


    The group marveled at the radiant power around them. A fortress that would be the envy of the Londs and would surpass the Mind kingdoms has suddenly taken form!


    "Amazing..." Mezal watched and trembled.


    Their new home had taken form.


    Everyone watched in amazement and began to move about. They moved out of the wide arena and explored every side of the Fortress.


    Even Kyros followed in curiosity and amazement.


    Branze watched and could feel the power emitting out of the stone.


    "This power... Isn''t this like a mark on our backs? No... Mysterion? Is this entire Fortress shrouded and concealed in Mystery?" Branze asked.


    "That''s exactly it!" Kyros answered as he moved towards the armory and smithery workshop.


    "If you think about it, resources and items such as this are vital in knowing the End. It''s not about people. You need to see the resources of the world and the weapons of your enemies to doom them to destruction. The power of Soter was hidden in Mysterion. Soter changed everything. He made everything inside, a new creation, but coated in my power. That way, the Temple''s real worth, and growing power would be outside of the estimates of End. The Champion level equipment that some of us wielded were weapons and armors carried by gods and fallen. They were weakened and hidden in here for us to wield. But now, with me forgotten, it allowed the residing power of Soter to appear and perform [Kaine Ktisis]. Everything we brought inside was transformed into a new creation."


    "So basically, Beginning''s n is to make the enemy forget this Temple?"


    "Yes. I saw a vision of Soter. He said the same thing. This Fortress will be the light in the dark days toe."


    "Is that a hospital? Why did the Temple create one when it can heal?" Aron wondered.


    "Healing takes up energy. It''s best to save the healing for our strongest members. When we reach the higher levels, like Crowns and so on, it will take a vast amount of energy to heal us. If we have an army, a hospital is necessary." Branze exined.


    "An armory and a smithery... We can make great weapons with this!" Mezal smiled.


    "Indeed. With our current manpower, even with all the weapons added, we won''t have enough resources to arm them. But now that we have this, it''ll be easier to produce weapons of war.


    The Emberdons were over at the alchemybs along with several other mages, and they were all shouting excitedly.


    Everyone continued to explore and test out the amazing features of the Fortress.


    But as that was happening, a fallen had felt the power.


    Thanatos Kyriachos, the current lord of the fallen, gazed at a distance and sensed the power that surged out. But he was so far away that he could not understand where the light was.


    "My lord!" A being appeared next to him. It was Rhykestorn Ever.


    Instantly, many fallen also appeared.


    They were all alerted and afraid at the power they felt. No god who bore the name Soter remained. Thest ones died in a great battle in the past. Yet now, this light has returned!


    "...Soter''s light? How can this be?!"

 Chapter 427 Forgetting The Light

    The Ancient God Soter, who was a Being that Was, was among the first enemies that End had to defeat. For in the Code of Soter, the power of light would pierce through oblivion itself! Many powers of End would never reach its finality had Soter lived.


    Yet the God known as the Morning Star had once again shed its light on the world. It was as thin as a ray, but the implications made everyone nervous.


    The gods and fallen who had betrayed thest of the living Ancient Gods all began to panic. While those that remained among the Ancient Gods rejoiced and sought the source of Soter.


    Daradiel saw the light and could not help but weep.


    "That light...! It''s back! The Morning Star is back!"


    Yet in the mystery of this surging power, the Light had not appeared in any location.


    As the Temple was inside Middle, the surge of light that was invisible to most human eyes was hidden and didn''t leak out into the nes World.


    Everyone could only sense it, but not know where it would be.


    The powers rippled out and far out in the future, End and the rest sensed it.


    "That light? How could it be? How could that light be kept hidden and I only know of it now?" End was confused.


    He was at the End. He had read the history that Histerion would write. He had known the things that Lanthanou had damned to oblivion. He should have known, that sometime in history, the light would return. But it was only now that he learned of it.


    "Somethings wrong. How can I have not known..." End frowned.


    He had seen things from the beginning and had known of true history. This meant that he already had preparations for everything that would arise to threaten him. People that would have threatened him, events and countermeasures that would be made, had already been set by End.


    But here was a Light that appeared outside of History. History was changing once more.


    "What did you do, Beginning? How did you hide this?" End pondered.


    Lanthanou was watching at the side and could tell that his recent actions might have led to this!


    "What did I... forget!" Lanthanou raged. In all of history, he has never before met circumstances where his power would be something that will thwart the preparations of End!


    "Prepare a force that will counter whatever it is that the returning light has made. Look for people with tremendous capabilities in the light. Arrange the future to kill them at the opportune time. I cannot do it alone anymore. I will have to focus my attention on resolving the branching possibilities." End gave his orders.


    Everyone around him was amazed.


    "Lord End... What if I just kill these problematic infants from the start?" Destiny asked.


    "No. Such destiny will kill these people, but Beginning will act more cautiously at their deaths and create more champions and hide them. This will also disrupt history. Let these people live and rise. But since we know who they are, we kill them right before they make any crucial contribution. Our goal is to make sure that history is not changed drastically to what we know it will be." End began to exin the ns he has followed.


    "Thora. Watch over all of creating and find these people of power."


    "What of the True Neutrals?"


    "We have to best ignore them. They do not understand this battle or what it will lead to. The ns I have set to deceive them into service remain unchanged! The future remains steadfast to what this. Knowing what the End does not mean that you act on it immediately. You have to wait for the opportune time to end that destiny. Are we clear?" End asked.


    "We understand, Lord End." Everyone bowed.


    Both Beginning and End''s forces all sensed the power and were working on their ways to find it.


    "Find it! ording to Wisdom, the Nephilim have been born! This being is something we prepared but it has been forgotten! As for us, we prepare our forces! Use your powers to reach the present and stop whatever ns End has made! In desperation, all those borne of the Light will be targeted from now on and Destiny will be against them!" Beginning instructed.


    "I shallbat that fool! Our goal is to hide the Nephilim even more! We are to use our powers and call superbly strong cultivators! With our power raising these champions, they won''t suspect the Nephilim among them! The Nephilim have to be dwarfed by the champions we raise! But if he has defeated Lanthanou, he will definitely surpass all your champions!" Fate smiled.


    "Go! We battle to the Present and prepare for the war of Middle!" Beginning instructed.


    As the two groups made their ns and counterns, hidden in mystery was Kyros, exploring the Nephilim Sealing Fortress.


    "So the Nephilim and his armies will be sealed in this... We are also True Neutrals now thanks to the purging of Brimstone..." Kyros assessed.


    "This ce... is amazing!" Branze arrived.


    "Indeed it is! But what else can it do beyond the provisions of these things?" Mezal asked.


    "I noticed that my Champion level gear has also improved. It''s now a Commander-grade weapon! The change must have surely added more incredible benefits!" Aron was excited to know.


    "Alright. Since you are all so impatient... Let''s see the full capabilities of the Fortress. I seem to have gained the power to make people see the stats on mymand. I''ll let the core team see it..."


    Kyros then willed the disy to appear before the Steele family, the Coven, and the Emberdons.


    ---


    Nephilim Sealing Fortress<sub> </sub>


    Status: Army Building


    Fortress Level: 7 (y 5 Crowns to level up)


    ---


    Acquired Rewards:


    ? Holy Fortress - Makes the entire Fortress ground radiate and stores strong Holy Energy. Amount of Holy energy increases with more creatures sacrificed. Assaults any enemy Creatures aligned to Darkness. Crown Dark Spell resistance applied. Shrouds the Curses of Destiny from affecting all who have sworn allegiance to the Nephilim and havemuned with the Temple. Allows ess to Temple Core.


    Creation Holy Healing- The Temple Fortress radiates with healing energy. Standing in the Temple Altar allows perfect healing. Heals damages to all creation crafted by the Temple at a slow interval. Dispels curses, Dark Maddening, Advance Poison, and Mid-tier curses. Allows healing, regeneration, and restoration of limbs and organs to all who have sworn allegiance to the Nephilim and havemuned with the Fortress.


    Holy Fortress Barrier- Creates a Holy Barrier that activates at will. Defense Strength of Barrier increases as Temple Level increases. Force and Magic pedestals are positioned in various ces of the Temple to allow users to pour Force or Magic to aid in the Force Field Generation.


    Carrier has Arrived!- Allows ess to Dimensional Magic to carry the entire Nephilim Sealing Fortress, the hill that conceals it in a pocket dimension. The Pocket dimension can carry up to a hundred living entities of body and soul. Soul beings without physical form may reside inside the pocket dimensions without cost. Also, up to twenty people to ess the Nephilim Inventory and the Temple Storage Space.


    Holy Beam- Allows the harnessing, weaponizing, and containing the Holy energy within the Fortress. Allows all trained mages to ess the powerful Holy Energy within the Fortress. Damage and strength of the attack are based on Kyros''s level.


    Library of the Light- Allows ess to the Library of Light and Shade. Minor blessings of all Gods and Fallen may be bestowed at a cost to any members.


    Codes and Corruption awakened in the Library:


    Code of Steel


    Code of Astra


    Code of Zeal


    Code of Celestial


    Code of Dentro


    Code of Soter


    Code of Brimstone


    Corruption of Fanged


    Corruption of Charmed


    Corruption of Hydron


    Enlightenment Chamber- Meditation and healing hamber to allow members of the Steele Family, the Coven, and all approved allies to meditate on the Codes and Corruption in the Library of the Light and Shade. Job advancements, ss changes, and the bestowal of minor blessings may be performed in the chamber. Corruption of forms is also possible.


    Holy Wave- Locked.


    Holy Cow- Locked.


    ---


    Built Fortress parts:


    Rampart Defense- Wall guard of great power. May resist and diminish explosive attacks of beings under Crown. May be restored through Brute force and Magic.


    Library of the Nephilim- Contains the knowledge of the Ancients and the Fallen and contains knowledge that can perfectly allow one to cultivate up to Cardinal level.


    cksmith and Armory- Allows advanced mortal smiting, elemental artificer creation, and transmutation of ores. Contains ten main weapon crafting forges.


    Alchemy Lab- Allows creation, upgrading, and enhancement of Commander Grade alchemy pills, weapons, and Elemental cores.


    Hospital Wing- Area can harness a faint area-of-effect healing energy when patients are listed. People inside receive a low-grade healing aura, which aids in the reduction of curses, poisons, and other negative status attacks.


    ---


    Everyone was amazed as they read it.


    "Bring one member of the Coven in the Enlightenment Chamber. The rest are to be sent to the Hospital. It seems that that is what they need to grow stronger." Kyros quickly ordered.


    His clones and the wraiths moved and brought the members of the Coven in with Martha being the first to be sent inside the Enlightenment Chamber.


    "Exin to us what all your abilities imply and what you n to do." Branze asked.


    "The biggest benefit is the fact that the Library of Light is now the Library of the Light and Shade. With this, I n to create... a dark army! If we want to be forgotten, we are to be an army of darkness! Our enemies should never remember that we hold the power of light!" Kyros smiled.

 Chapter 428 Forgetting The Okto-Khefali

    Scarlet had a dream.


    In her dream, she saw herself as a goddess. She was the personification of passion. She was the desire to pursue and devote one''s self to a cause.


    The light and the devout desires of justice were born and the power of Zh urged all creation to have passions for that which they love or cling to.


    In that vision, the passion of this goddess became devoted to a man. Zh fell in love with another god of great power. Scarlet saw the world through the eyes of Zh who made this man the peak of priorities. Even when numerous powers that gave birth to all emotions appeared, this man still stayed at the top of Zh''s heart. She was zealous for her man.


    The two traveled over the entire universe and while many wars were waged between the Fallen and the Ancients, the two lived in a paradise of their own.


    But then... she appeared.


    First, the goddess who manifested beauty was born as a daughter of the goddess of the bow, Thema Veiyos was a gift to all creation. Beauty was for everyone to admire.


    Even with such supreme beauty before them, none of those gods and fallen who had their respective partners were ever envious or desired lust to Thema. For the beauty of Thema was for all to see, and all to enjoy.


    But then, a daughter of Phaulos appeared and attacked Thema! She had the immense fixation to be remembered, and this foul desire of extreme selfishness allowed her to take away a portion of Thema''s beauty.


    Thus, the power of the Charmed Fallen, Xermolipi Phaulos, was born. And in it, the desire for selfishness that rtes to beauty exploded out.


    Many divine couples were faced and affected. The lust that Xermolipi birthed was tremendous. It quaked the heavens and the earth.


    And there, the love of Zh departed as he chased after the beauty of Xermolipi that he could never forget.


    The pain in Zh''s heart grew immense. And she made a wish. And it was the first of it''s kind. It was a dark wish. A being of such light should never have desired wicked things. But her zeal and passion allowed it toe true. The Wish became the first stage of corruption. The First Undivine was Kyriachos. The first being that transformed from being an Ancient into a Fallen. But Zh was the second one!


    Her rage and zeal created a ripple that all beings would now have their own agendas, their own zeals, passions, and their own wishes to pursue.


    Scarlet felt the anger and resentment that Zh had.


    She then saw a strange light appear as Zh''s original form appeared.


    "In your pursuit for the one that you love, do not be like me. I sought to be the Charmed Fallen. But I failed. You cannot ''be'' her. You should be something that can defeat her. Seek out the power, not of the darkness but of the light. You who are my descendant and have the blood of the Nephilim, you may be just like the Nephilim! Acquire the power of the Light and Shade! Only by this can you defeat the Charmed Fallen! Seek the true beauty, the beauty of Thema!"


    Suddenly, Scarlet woke up.


    She found herself in the Enlightenment Chamber in the Temple.


    She stood up, and she felt a strange conflict within her.


    "Ugh¡­ What is this?" She frowned.


    "Your done, huh? Not bad. Half living and half dead. And not just any living, you seem to have the power of light!" Martha weed her and pulled her out.


    As she left, the entire area around her was sealed with many magics.


    "What''s this? Where are we?" Scarlet asked.


    "This is the Temple. Or should I say the fortress? But since it was your turn, Kyros decided to shield the ce and seal it in case your awakened form will go out of control. Surprisingly, your beauty is now more refined."


    "Refined?" Scarlet was confused.


    "Well, previously, you had this strange beauty like that of the Charmed Fallen. But now, while you are jaw-droppingly beautiful, it''s as if¡­"


    "It''s aimed¡­ towards someone," Scarlet answered as she could feel the powers coursing through her.


    "Amazing. You really are going to be a great rival to Mechiel! With this, it should be safe to open the seals in this ce. You took a few days in that Chamber, Scarlet." Marthaughed and waved her hand.


    The power of the Fortress surged and the seal was undone.


    "Wow! How did you do that?"


    "We now have ess to a portion of Kyros''s Soul Console. And he somehow set it up to be linked with the Temple. Anyway, let''s go! You''re the only member of the Coven who has not yet awakened. Everyone else is gearing up!" Martha led Scarlet out of the room.


    Outside, the Temple, the fortress was bustling with life and action.


    People were running around the area. Many were training and sparring at the arena in the center. All forms of battles were being used. Some were even fighting against golems!


    The hospital wing was full of people who were wounded in the training. Many of those in the hospital wing had deep wounds and were resting.


    "Those people! Where we in a battle?!" Scarlet asked.


    "No. They just finished my training. It''s Aron''s turn to train them. You guys will soon train men of your own too. And of course, we will all have these weekly¡­ contests." Martha chuckled.


    BOOM!


    A massive explosion urred in the alchemybs.


    "Water mages! We need water mages! Put out the fire!" Demerus shouted in panic.


    "Damn you, Demerus! Emberdons! Stop destroying the alchemy room! Do you know how many monsters we need to sacrifice to pay for pay the damages you caused?!" Branze erupted from the middle of the training arena.


    "Shut up, shield man! Focus on your tasks and we will focus on ours! We are trying to create another Elemental Core!" Demerus roared back.


    "Can you guys keep it down?!" Mezal roared from the library. Behind him were three beautiful maidens who were carrying a few books.


    "Shut up you old pervert!" Branze shouted back.<sub> </sub>


    SLASH!


    The entire arena suddenly had a huge cut that shed through the ground.


    "Eh? That strong?" Aron was amazed at his own strength.


    "ARON!" Branze roared in anger.


    "It-it''s not my fault! Your wife was supposed to block that!" Aron argued.


    "Like hell, I''m going to block that! What are you trying to do?! Kill your sister-inw! All of my Foresight was telling me to get out of the way!" Diana cursed.


    Hunter, Reptilia, and Gojirrah were also at the side as they evaded it. But the fear in their hearts remained.


    "ARON! YOU NEARLY KILLED ME! YOUR SISTER!" Reptilia raged.


    "My sister, your butt! Adopted sister!" Aron argued.


    "Get him!" Reptilia charged and the rest of the Coven, including Hems, charged forward.


    The battle raged and more sword shes were erupting.


    "Everyone! If you die, me your weakness for failing to evade the extension of my sword! This is part of your training!" Aron roared.


    Some of those around the arena began to flee for their lives.


    But as the rest saw those fleeing were the ones with Foresight, the rest followed as they knew staying around would be their death.


    Aron, the Coven, and Diana began to fight.


    Scarlet watched and could not help but chuckle.


    "Lady Martha¡­" Scarlet then turned to Martha as she managed to use her blood power to seek ''him.''


    "Kyros isn''t here," Martha answered.


    "He took Mechiel and they went somewhere."


    Scarlet frowned when she heard this.


    "Where?"


    Meanwhile¡­


    Deep in the underground region of Middle, Kyros, and Mechiel had continued to walk through thebyrinth of darkness. Shades and all forms of dark-dependent creatures were moving.


    Leading the way was a Lizardman Champion that had been recruited into their fold.


    He had led them into a strange stairway that led downwards. There was terrifying darkness that enveloped the stairs.


    "This is the region which we do not pass, Lord Kyros. Beyond this¡­ lies a great evil that brings shivers down the spines of Commanders. No one has ever seeded in taking five steps down the staircase." The lizardman champion exined.


    "The Darkness of Kyriachos lies here. No wonder." Kyros smiled and moved ahead.


    "Mechiel. Stay here. It''ll be too much even for you. But try to take as many steps as you can. This will be great training. Call the core team and tell them to also do this. I hope I won''t take long. With such darkness, my enemy ought to restore itself." Kyros began his descent down the stairs.


    Each step down caused the powers of darkness to invade Kyros. But Kyros easily resisted it.


    TAP! TAP! TAP! TAP!


    Kyros moved four steps and paused.


    "Hmm¡­ No effect, huh? Oh well. Kyriachos is my name¡­" Kyros sighed.


    "Are you sure about this? Won''t this cause Oblivion to sense something?" Mechiel asked.


    "No. The world has forgotten him. The Okto-Khefali that Heralcus killed and harvested for his own in that future Middle has been forgotten by everyone because of Oblivion''s power. The present time Okto-Khefali meeting his future Elemental Cores will not cause a reaction in the universe. Don''t worry. I''ll be back."


    Kyros moved down the stairway and disappeared into the darkness.


    Mechiel was silent but watched the steps down.


    "Show off¡­" Mechiel sneered and took one step down.


    Instantly, the powers of darkness attacked her body and mind.


    "I see¡­ The darkness of Kyriachos demands separation. This is good training. If I master this, my powers in darkness will increase. I could even use this to create a Dark Elemental core!" Mechiel decided.


    "Go and call the rest of the Core members of the Nephilim. Tell them to divide their time and have some be sent here." Mechiel ordered and the Lizardman champion bowed and went back.


    Down the depths of the darkness, a massive creature with several heads could sense it.


    "Oh? Someone is challenging the steps? Perfect! With each step he takes, the power that separates and binds me here will weaken! I should be free soon!" The massive creatureughed.


    "I, Eugene, the Okto-Khefali shall be free!"

 Chapter 429 Forgetting The Allies Of Beginning

    Kyros continued to walk down the stairs as if it was nothing.


    The power of Kyriachos detected a being simr to its lord and did not attack.


    But as Kyros took more and more steps down, the stronger the darkness was and it was beginning to attack Kyros! It no longer sensed the supremacy of Kyriachos and began to attack Kyros.


    "Hmmm? Such darkness dares to fight me?" Kyrosughed as he began to sprint down the steps and enraged the darkness.


    "Cminus... You better hide inside my soul and don''t you dare try to go out. This darkness is insane!"


    "I can feel that it''s literally insane. Such madness lies in ut. Why is Kyriachos also attributed to those who are wild and insane?"


    "I don''t know. You''re the god between the two of us. Didn''t you know him in your life?"


    "Know him? Oblivion made me forget! I only remembered him when we met him personally! You''re a Kyriachos and the son of Wisdom! Can''t you deduce that yourself? You should tell me, mister ss president!" Cminus asked.


    "...If I were to guess, the darkness or the void is something that ceases thought. It''s like Oblivion in a way. People affected by it fall into the bottomless darkness of the Dark Maddening where only their body and instinct move them. It removes every control and constraint in their body and adds a terrifying amount of death energy. The deeper we go, the stronger this death energy is." Kyros exined.


    "So it''s basically magic."


    "..."


    Kyros was angered at Cminus''s reaction and Kyros opened his mouth.


    The power of Dark Devourer appeared and Kyros began to eat the darkness.


    The darkness began to tremble in fear as the mad dark eater appeared.


    Inside Kyros, the power of the Light Core harnessed Brimstone to purge the darkness. Kyros also had an energy conversion circle inside of his body that was actively changing the elements of darkness and was increasing Kyros''s cultivation.


    "Hmm... I can''t eat too much otherwise, the rest can''t train here. This is a good training ground to resist or assimte in the darkness. I guess I can use this darkness to raise a few levels..." Kyros chuckled.


    "Erm... Kyros... The darkness is affecting me." Cminusined. He had evolved from being a Soul Core to a Soul Seed. And because of his soul seed form, he was now practically ''alive'' just like how nts are.


    "I know. But this darkness is good soil. Based on the books that I read and from the knowledge you told me, those that have a chance of bing a god or a fallen create a Chamber of Power in their Soul realm. To be an eternal being, the soul itself has to be the source of power so that eating and drinking are no longer necessary. I''ve nned to create a garden of life in my soul realm. Soul seeds like yours will be the perfect one." Kyros exined.


    "AHHHH!" Cminus cried as his soul seed was exposed to a powerful Brimstone energy. As the Time God, his inverse element was Brimstone who purges everything, including time. And while half of his soul seed was buried in darkness, the other was exposed to the great heat of Brimstone!


    "Get used to it. You''ll need it to grow. And that should keep you silent." Kyros chuckled as he descended deeper and absorbed more of the darkness.


    The darkness that acted as the soil was being drained by Cminus as he was being exposed to the brimstone light of Kyros.


    Kyros continued to walk down the steps towards their of the Okto-Khefali. In this world, his imprisonment was kept in this darkness but the arrival of the Lizard Lords would have opened this chamber through some mysterious means. But Kyros changed all that by bringing in the warriors and fighters of the nesworld.


    Listrel and Lea''s appearance also altered the direction of the future to the point that Fate and Destiny''s estimates were dyed.


    Now, with the Nephilim forgotten, the destiny that would have awakened the Okto-Khefali was also lost.


    As Kyros walked deeper and deeper, he arrived at a point where even the darkness was finally causing him pain and the pace of his steps was getting slower and slower.


    "I can''t... walk anymore..." Kyros frowned.


    "I guess I have to eat as much darkness as I can. The rest don''t need this level of darkness to train from." Kyros opened his mouth and began to be one with the darkness.


    "The living... will be killed by this death energy. Those that are dead or Dark Dependent will be absorbed and taken by the dark. But I am... both! I am a vampire so I cannot die. But I am also light! And as light, this darkness can never convert me! Perhaps this is the future that I will live! I''ll be like a candle in the dark... Then this will be the ce... to practice to keep my light shining no matter what!" Kyros smiled and began to cause his Brimstone energy to rage from within.<sub> </sub>


    Cminus felt great pain but his Soul Seed had received a majestic boost. Dark energy as his ground and the powerful heat of Brimstone as the sun was causing Cminus to grow!


    He was slowly forming a strange ethereal body that was within Kyros.


    A soul was clearly forming within Kyros''s soul.


    "That''s it...!" Cminus sensed it. The way that his soul would be kept hidden had finally revealed itself. If it was just the previous traitor Greater Gods and the Fallen, then Cminus was confident that he could hide his appearance. But with numerous Beings that Were involved, Cminus knew that he would be detected.


    "A soul space...! This is the power of the Nephilim! I get it now! That Fortress! I thought it was built by other gods and fallen! But it in itself is Kyros''s power! He hides! He hides an army! He hides a kingdom! He hides the souls of the gods, fallens, and beigns that will be his ally! In him the allies of Beginning are forgotten!" Cminus felt it as his soul began to form.


    "You finally understand? How slow... That''s the true purpose of the Library of Light and Shade! The stronger I get and the more I unlock about those codes and corruption, I could hid a god within!" Kyros teased as he constantly began to surge more of the power inside of him.


    "Hm? I leveled up. I guess I should start walking." Kyros decided and descended into the darkness.


    Deep down the passage, the Okto-Khefali was starting to grow curious.


    "What kind of a person can resist that darkness? Was it that Grendelor I sensed? To think she would be this strong! Does she have that power? Somatos Ous Thanatou? Then the vision I saw of that Necromancer should happen anytime soon..." The Okto Khefali cursed.


    As a being who lived during the War of the Heretics, he was not new to strange anomalies as the battles with gods and fallen will naturally bring out the strangest events.


    "Somatos Ous Thanatou... The body of death. Is this... my end? Is this the final moment of me, Eugene?"


    RUMBLE! RUMBLE!


    But then, it was as if the darkness grew angry. The darkness that chained Eugene began to move. The four heads of Eugene perked up in confusion.


    "Hm? The darkness is now fighting light? Impossible! How can there be light in this ce?! It would be snuffed out!" Eugene eximed.


    Eugene began to feel a call as one of its heads suddenly rose up.


    "My Dark head!" Eugene was amazed.


    The dark head turned to Eugene.


    "A being... approaches. He is not of my master, nor is he your ally. He is the Nephilim and he bears the power that is simr to your cores! He is an Okto-Khefali yer!"


    "A yer?!" The Okto-Khefali was shocked.


    "Allow me to use your powers." The dark head spoke.


    "...Fine!" Eugene cursed. A yer of his kin was a treacherous thing. As an Okto-Khefali, dying was very difficult for him. As long as his Cores exist, he may yet live. His resilience and power even surpassed dragons! But yet, here was a being that had caused final death to another Okto-Khefali!


    "The being... can eat darkness. It must have in an Okto-Khefali with a dark head like you!"


    "Eating the darkness? Then send my darkness to it! Let''s see the stats of this being! [Dark Scan]!" Eugene used powerful magic that would surpass the scanning abilities of Cardinals!


    The darkness moved along with the darkness and Kyros was unable to defend against it.


    "Scanning magic?! Somethings alive down there?!" Kyros cursed. He didn''t expect something to use scan magic on him. Kyros was unguarded. And so, the magic had scanned him urately.


    "I guess I have no choice... [Skotos Eis Phos]!" Kyros shouted as a magnificent beam of light exploded and purged the darkness.

 Chapter 430 Forgetting That The Enemy Can Wait

    The power of light exploded in the darkness and the shroud of Kyriachos struggled.


    Kyros had been scanned with a powerful darkness. Many details that Kyros had been hidding had been revealed.


    "Damn! I was too careless! I have to hurry!" Kyros charged down the dark steps. Instead of the subtlety of his movements to keep the dark ones uninformed of his true potential, Kyros had no choice but to charge quickly.


    With the information the enemy now had because Kyros was greedily devouring the darkness to level up, they could prepare and counter him!


    And Kyros wouldn''t let the enemy have this information freely. He had to deal with them.


    With the light, Kyros charged and didn''t even take in any of the darkness!


    Meanwhile, in the depths of the darkness, Eugene and the controller of the darkness and Eugene was ncing over at the stats of Kyros which they managed to get but the dumbest of luck.


    ---


    Race: Nephilim


    Soul Age: 17


    Bone Age: 18


    Mortal Level: 36


    ---


    Awakened Codes:


    Steel


    Astra


    Celestial


    Mysterion


    ---


    Awakened Corruption:


    Fanged


    Charmed


    Kyriachos


    Mysterion


    ---


    Strength- 402 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Magic- 312 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Dexterity- 496 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Vitality- 371 (Sealed/Cursed)


    Intelligence- We''re still looking at this stat? He outsmarted and defeated Histerion and Oblivion! Why bother?


    Soul Force- 312 (Sealed)


    Ancient Source- 231 (Sealed)


    Fallen Source- 230 (Sealed)


    ---


    Passive Skills:


    --


    Elemental Skills:


    Brimstone Resistance - 7


    Brimstone Wielder- 2


    ///


    - Brimstone Maniptor- 4


    ///


    Celestial Wielder- 5


    ///


    - Celestial Maniptor- 7


    -Celestial Controller ¨C 5


    ///


    Dark Consumer - 20 (Max)


    Dark Resistance - 14


    Dark Wielder - 20 (Max)


    ///


    - Dark Maniptor ¨C Max


    - Dark Controller- Max


    - Dark Being ¨C 2


    ///


    Fire Wielder- 4


    ///


    - Fire Maniptor ¨C 4


    - Fire Controller - 4


    ///


    Fire Resistance - 16


    Blood Devourer- 10


    Charmed Fallen - 7


    Deviant Soul ¨C 10 (Max)


    Earth Wielder ¨C 13


    ///


    - Earth Maniptor ¨C 17


    - Earth Controller- 9


    ///


    Earth Resistance - 8


    Eyes of the Supreme Commander- 10 (Max)


    ///


    - Micro-Management- 10 (Max)


    ///


    Fanged Fallen ¨C 12


    Force Wielding ¨C 20 (Max)


    Greater Soul Resistance ¨C 13


    Ice Wielder- 8


    ///


    - Ice Maniptor ¨C 8


    - Ice Controller ¨C 8


    ///


    Ice Resistance - 9


    Light Wielder - 20 (Max)


    ///


    - Light Maniptor ¨C Max


    - Light Controller- Max


    - Ascended Being ¨C 2


    ///<sub> </sub>


    Light Resistance ¨C 11


    Lightning Wielder - 8


    ///


    - Lightning Maniptor ¨C 8


    - Lightning Controller- 8


    ///


    Lightning Resistance ¨C 7


    nt Wielder- 4


    ///


    - nt Maniptor ¨C 8


    ///


    True Cut- 6


    Time Surge- 6


    Time Resistance ¨C 11


    True Magic- 6


    Unlocked Time Perception- 5


    Water Wielder ¨C 14


    ///


    - Water Maniptor ¨C 18


    - Water Controller- 10


    ///


    Water Resistance ¨C 11


    ---


    Active Seals:


    [Devil Chain]


    [God Chain]


    [Devil Trap]


    [God Trap]


    [Devil Sealing]


    [God Sealing]


    [Shackling Light]


    [Binding Darkness]


    ---


    Active Curses:


    [Enfeeble]


    [De-Mana]


    [Enemy of Fate]


    ---


    "What the fragment?!" Eugene cursed.


    The darkness quivered as it saw the name of Kyriachos and began to fear Kyros.


    "Two stats that are over four hundred? By his Dexterity, he ought to have a Victor''s Crown potential! How can a Champion have so many blessings of Codes?! This is the Nephilim!?" Eugene eximed.


    The dark head turned to Eugene''s main head.


    "We have tobine our powers. Through the darkness that my master has bestowed, I can reanimate the other heads and increase the death energy in them. It should give us the ability to reawaken their Cores! I''ll create a dark realm to increase this space so you can reform your true size!" The Dark Head exined.


    The two understood that Kyros''s stats mean that he could easily reach a power level that would surpass Commanders and even challenge Cardinals at once! And that was a very, very conservative estimate!


    Eugene and the darkness aspect that chained him were in an agreement. The enemy that they were fighting was something that they couldn''t understand. The darkness was set to prevent the Okto-Khefali from iming it and stopping the one that it was destined for to eventuallye and im it. One who walked in the power of Somatos Ous Thanatou would be the person destined to im and cultivate the power of the Okto-Khefali.


    The death energy gave false life to the heads and so on, all eight Cores of the Okto-Khefali had begun to take form.


    Fire, Lightning, Entropy, Wind, Dark, Water, Ice, and Metal elements rose from the dead and found life in their decay. The massive form of the Okto-Khefali had returned and the giant creature roared loudly as its powers and strength grew. The energy that it had quickly surpassed that of a Commander and was reaching Cardinal level!


    "More! Our enemy has a High Crown Potential! In terms of powers and attack, he might be able to perform an attack that could reach the base level of Crowns!" The Dark Head spoke.


    Eugene cursed. He wouldn''t have believed it but he had seen Kyros''s stats. Even having a High Crown''s potential didn''t necessarily mean that the attacks could reach Crown level! Usually, only Cardinals would have stats that would reach the 400 stat mark! But Kyros was a level 36 Champion! He was 14 levels away from having such stats! But he feared what the Codes and Corruption that Kyros had and what its full power could do!


    The Entropy head was the main head of Eugene but the Dark head was currently the strongest one thanks to the dark being empowering it.


    The two beings were gathering more and more death energy and created an Okto-Khefali powered by the same Corruption that Heralcus used.


    But in that alternate future where Heralcus did acquire the Okto-Khefali, the battle he had with the Okt-Khefali was rather dangerous. His primary ally was the very darkness that chained the Okto-Khefali. In that alternate timeline, thousands upon thousands of years had passed and very little energy of the darkness remained. The Okto-Khefali, Eugene, was also affected by the death energy of the darkness and was greatly weakened.


    Heralcus fought and yed the Okto-Khefali using the very darkness that bound it, and in that battle, some of the elemental cores were destroyed. And so, the power that Heralcus received was weak.


    But now, the darkness and the Okto-Khefali were stronger and even worked together. They were quickly reaching a Crown level of power! The height of Heralcus was only a Cardinal, and they had crossed that gap and reached the next realm!


    The darkness inside expanded out as if there was another world inside and the full frame of the Okto-Khefali was revealed.


    Kyros could sense it from afar.


    "Did you feel that, Cminus? It looks like those guys are preparing for my arrival. I can feel the power of the Okto-Khefali appear." Kyros smiled.


    "AHHHHH!" Cminus was still shouting in pain.


    "Oh... You still haven''t gotten used to it. I''ll seal you again with Mysterion." Kyros closed the lid on the loud, crying soul of Cminus who was being scorched by the sun.


    Kyros then began to think about how to properly deal with the problematic enemies.


    "I don''t want the Okto-Khefali to lose more of its core... Even though Heralcus had an ally to tame it, he still lost some of the core when he fought the Okto-Khefali... It''ll be dangerous if I sh with it and lose those precious Cores... Those are the closest thing to what another god or fallen core is! If I am Mysterion who hides the power of the gods and fallen who sides with Beginning then I must acquire those cores to be used as the foundations of what my ally will make..." Kyros knew that the cores that were previously gifted to him by the Temple were not perfect and wouldn''t be suitable to pursue godhood or falsehood.


    "Alright... I''ll use that strategy..." Kyros decided and began to rush further inside. Soon, he was close to the very bottom of the stairway and knew that the Okto-Khefali was just beyond the doorway.


    He then took out a strange orb. It was like a soul core, but it had several souls inside of it. After learning the trick of sacrificing the souls to perform Last Stand, Kyros created a weaker version of that spell which was also more economical. It took and chained the souls of the dead that was absorbed in the Nephilim Sealing Fortress.


    And with it, Kyros created a strange soul core through alchemy. It was not an Elemental core, but with it, he can perform a weaker version of [Last Stand].


    Kyros stillcked training and he needed the boost of several souls to awaken that power.


    "[Last Resort]!" Kyros shouted and activated the weakened version and the powers of the souls in the soul core surged and bestowed great power to Kyros.


    "I didn''t want to waste one, but oh well..." Kyros sighed as his powers began to increase.


    The power of the Celestial Swordsman appeared.


    The sudden power surged out and the two dark beings sensed the power.


    "With this sword, I have in a Fallen! What is a mere worm?!" Kyros''s domineering words echoed out of the darkness.


    "He''sing! Attack with all you have! Use your true form!" The Dark head shouted.


    Eugene knew what to do and activated the power of his blood and brought out the memories of long ago.


    Just as the Dracanae that Martha fought was bestowed the power by Destiny to evolve far beyond their capabilities, so did Eugene awaken the memories of so long to revert his cells and be a monstrous power.


    The power of the Okto-Khefali returned and Eugene had reached the power of the Crowns!


    A Crown had appeared over the head of Entropy as Eugene assumed the strongest form he could make!


    He nced at the path and prepared for Kyros to move inside! The Dark Head also prepared its strongest attack.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    ...


    Only then did the two realize what Kyros had nned.


    "YOU MOTHER FRAGMENT! GET IN HERE AND FIGHT!" Eugene roared.


    "Hmm? Why should I?" Kyros''s voice echoed from beyond.


    "You! You''re waiting for us to lose power in this form!" The Dark Head realized.


    "Yeah. Why should I fight you now? I can wait. I''m asking Cminus to tell me a long story titled, One Piece. Wanna listen?"


    "That''s...! Cheating?!"


    "Why? Did you guys forget that I can wait and not get in that room you prepared?"

 Chapter 431 Releasing The Darkness

    It was toote for the Dark head and Eugene to stop their attacks. They forced all the darkness and sealed it in the room.


    The darkness that was now controlling the Dark Head of Eugene had to forcibly pull the darkness back as the light of Kyros attacked it. And the Dark headbined his powers with Eugene.


    But this union and fusion of the two came at a price. The union made the dark head assume a limitation of locality! He was also in chains! And because Eugene forced evolved, the dark head he controled was also wasting massive amounts of death energy! They could only maintain that form for a time.


    They were deceived and lured as they sensed Kyros assume a form that far surpassed his actual level.


    The power that Kyros released also consumed a lot of energy and the group assumed that just like their form, Kyros was also fighting in borrowed time.


    But no, Kyros was rxing just outside.


    Kyros was patiently waiting outside and began to call out books from his Inventory. Obviously, he had already read through thetest chapters of One Piece thanks to the fact that Cminus is a fan.


    So instead of manga, Kyros was reading through things that the Fortress received with the upgrade of the library.


    "I soooo missed inventory." Kyros smiled as he read the books about cksmithing.


    "Many of these books already start to talk about advanced knowledge. You never really got into cksmithing, right? You focused on alchemy and energy formation circles and only knew cksmithing that can aid up to Commander level." Kyros sighed as he started to read.


    Cminus was still in the process of fighting the heat and was too busy screaming. Kyros ignored him and kept reading.


    Deep in the dark room, the dark head and Eugene panicked.


    "Help meunch a breath attack!" The Dark head ordered.


    "Right!" The Okto-Khefali agreed. He was shocked and afraid of Kyros and knew that his death would be certain if he falls into Kyros''s hands. Together, they harnessed the powerful darkness and imbued Entropy and wind in it.


    Dark, green energy gathered at all eight heads that had been awakened and controlled by the darkness.


    "Oh? An elemental merging attack? As expected of a Crown. That attack should be as strong as Histerion''s attack when I fought him. Then there''s only one thing to do." Kyros sighed.


    "See if you can defend against this, you lying- wait! Where are you going?! Come back!" The dark head sensed Kyros running back up the stairs.


    Kyros harnessed all of his Dexterity stat and even used Haste on himself to move faster up.


    "I''m not an idiot. Why waste energy and defend that? I can just escape."


    "You...! Cheater! Be a man! Fight me!"


    "Be a man? I''m swifter than a coursing river, has the force of a great typhoon, I have the strength of raging fire thanks to Brimstone, and I am literally Mystery itself. I''m even more mysterious than the dark side of the moon. I am more than a man, I am the Nephilim."


    "GET BACK HERE!" Eugene cursed.


    "ROAR!" The darkness roared.


    "Free the Okto-Khefali. That''s your only way. Don''t you want that to happen, Eugene? You would be free." Kyrosughed as he raced up.


    Eugene was startled as he heard this.


    "He knows... that I''m imprisoned?" Eugene wondered.


    Kyros stopped running as he believed he reached a ce where the attack won''t hurt him that much. He waited to see the results of his words.


    "Now... let''s see what the dark being that chained Eugene will do. Will he release the chains that bind Eugene to fight me? But even if he does win, and I die, he will set the Okto-Khefali free. And his mission to deliver this to Heralcus will change... Hmmm.... This means Middle will change once that happens..." Kyros began to ponder what the dark being will do and went back to reading.


    Inside the room, the dark being was going through the exact dilemma.


    "Release my chains! If you don''t we will lose!"


    "..." The Dark head didn''t answer and began to weigh the consequences of their actions.


    "You can''t fool us, Nephilim! Your power surged by an entire realm! You must be doing a powerful sacrifice technique! You are bluffing!" The Dark Head shouted.


    "No, I''m not." Kyros calmly answered as he perused through the book.


    "Yes, you are!"


    "I''m really not."


    "You liar! Sacrifice magic offers one''s soul! I know Sacrifice magic! The power you hold, the celestial might is born of the light! That means you sacrificed your soul!"<sub> </sub>


    "No, I didn''t."


    "Yes, you did!"


    "I''m pretty sure, I didn''t!"


    "You cannot lie to me! Darkness cannot bring forth the power of light!"


    "Didn''t you see my stats? Oh... Right... Skotos Eis Phos was hidden from you. That''s Mysterion for you." Kyros snickered.


    "If you sacrificed other souls, I would have known! If you sacrificed bound souls that you have corrupted through whatever Fallen, I would have noticed!"


    "I didn''t bind corrupted souls and sacrificed them." Kyros denied.


    "Impossible! If you were to make a sacrifice of the light, you must have done it by using those willing! That self-sacrifice of the highest power is the only thing that can help you harness this power."


    "Now that you mention it... Martha did the same when she fought those Dracanae who forcibly evolved themselves. Those ves gave their life willingly in their heroic decision to help us. And now, I''m using that same power. Sacrificing willing souls."


    "WHAT?! Impossible!" The dark head roared angrily.


    "Yeah! Believe it or not, I have tons of happy souls with me." Kyrosughed and nced at the small soul core which contained the happiest souls thanks to the power of Brimstone and the joy it gives.


    "Anyway, if you really want to fight me, free the chains of Eugene. Of course, the main issue is, how are you going to give him up to theing being that has the power of Somatos Ous Thanatou? So, I understand why you are hesitating. After all, the battle for Middle had just started. Although, spoiler alert, I already killed that guy called Heralcus. So, my rmendation, release Eugene."


    But the Dark head was stunned at Kyros''s words. How did he know about those things?


    "Who are you?!" The Dark head roared. Although he had read about Kyros being the Nephilim, he was still shocked that this being was somehow able to traverse the current time and arrived in Middle!


    "Why ask? I was careless, and I''m sure you''ve read my stats. I am the Nephilim. The champion that is to ascend and fight End."


    "Stop dying!" Eugene shouted.


    "Darkness! Release my chains! I will lose all my power soon! My cells cannot hold this form for so long!" Eugene roared angrily.


    "Silence! Worm!" The Dark head shouted back.


    "Idiot! If I lose my power, we won''t have the chance to defend against him! I would still die! What is your mission? Didn''t the Nephilim say it? You are to give me to this Heralcus? You don''t have a choice now! If you don''t release me, I will die! But if you release and bond yourself to me, you might have a chance in keeping me and attacking meter and offer whatever remains of me to your master!" Eugene pleaded.


    "You actually died a pitiful death, Eugene. You were weakened and some of your cores had already died and became ordinary one which was devoid of your true powers. Only the Ice, the Water, and a few others remained. But now, I can see that the Dark Core is quite strong. Come out here and y. That Dark Core will help me make a Vampire Ancient." Kyrosughed.


    Eugene was stunned.


    "How do you know this?!"


    "I already told you... I defeated Heralcus." Kyrosughed.


    "Darkness! Release me!" Eugene pleaded again. He could somehow sense a strange foreboding. The ims were too bizarre but somehow, Eugene could sense the truth in them.


    Kyros was secretly releasing the powers of some of the tamed cores of the Okto-Khefali.


    At the peak of his battle with Lanthanou, Kyros was able to corrupt and seal the soul of the other world Eugene in him. Eugene had merged with the Celestial Code, and Kyros called it back and took Eugene''s soul with it.


    "If all things work out... I''ll have an Okto-Khefali with us..." Kyros sneered.


    Unaware of Kyros''s thoughts, the two beings continued to bicker as Eugene was now actively rebelling and trying to wrestle control from the Dark Head.


    "Release me!"


    The Dark head struggled. He knew that if the Okto-Khefali did this, there would clearly be ways for him to break out. He knew the true nature of Serpents and were the offspring of the Fallen who lie in the first ce!


    But as things were, he had no choice. Fighting Eugene for control meant wasting energy. And he needed that to fight Kyros.


    Reluctantly, the chains of darkness that bound the soul of Eugene were slowly released.


    Kyros smiled as he sensed it.


    "Perfect." Kyros sneered.

 Chapter 432 Releasing The Shield

    The powers that bound Eugene had been released and Eugene felt that he could harness the full potential of his abilities as the constraints were removed.


    The Darkness had no choice but to prepare for the worse and fight Eugene after they defeat the Nephilim.


    The Dark being couldn''t leave the room but left lingering energy that was bound to the Okto-Khefali''s dark head.


    Eugene didn''t fight off or made any attempts to eject the dark head. He knew that he needed the massive darkness to attack the Nephilim. But he was already plotting how he would detach himself from the control of the dark head when the timees.


    The two charged forward and left the dark room as its figure grew smaller to fit through the doors.


    As he left, the darkness that was kept within the room exploded out and raced up the staircases.


    Kyros sensed it and instantly contacted Mechiel to back away from the staircase and retreat in case the darkness separates.


    The entire world was being pulled out into a different realm.


    "The dark realm... So I''m being pulled into the world where Kyriachos is. I wonder if I''ll meet him again?" Kyros did not panic but remained standing as the darkness enveloped him.


    The staircase remained but it was as if the small space where Kyros stood was yanked out of reality and pulled down in the greatest darkness.


    "Not exactly where Kyriachos is... But this darkness will help me! Instead of me exerting a whole great deal of effort, I can just let Mysterion leak out and hide everything that will happen to me... Just as nned." Kyros snickered as he waited.


    Eugene had tremendous speed as it charged with all of its might and readied to release his breath attack.


    Kyros sensed the energy move out as the Okto-Khefali''s strength grew stronger. The energy that it had even surpassed Crown and was close to bing Conqueror level!


    "It''s been a while since I felt the pressure of a level seventy cultivator..." Kyros could not help but reflect on the days right after he stepped on the stage that could challenge them and drew out the hidden experts in the nesworld.


    But despite having the strength he could not challenge, Kyros remained standing.


    He drew his de and began to collect the power of the Celestial Code.


    With his inventory, he was prepared to summon his aces to make the attack.


    As the two approached, Kyros confirmed the power that was tucked away in the darkness. The gloom and despair that it hid were clearly in contrast to what Kyros had right now.


    "That''s why my emotions were cursed with De-Joker. The bonds that chained me back then were made of great darkness itself! The Shade Tribtions were the despair in my soul that manifested itself. I was practically fighting the depression and sadness on my first Shade Tribtion in the Temple. I wonder... What will happen to Eugene, if he gets a taste of joy after millenniums of being chained in this darkness?" Kyros plotted.


    Eugene rose quickly and soon Kyros was right in sight.


    "Not yet! Shoot when you know it''s right! Remember! That Nephilim can surely teleport with his powers!" The Dark Head reminded.


    "I know! Use your power and seal it all! Let''s not take any chances!"


    "You''re just making me waste my energy!" The Dark head cursed.


    "Do it! Or else I''ll... AHHHH!"


    But right as the two were distracted, Kyros brought out the Cores of Eugene which they had brought into the Unrecorded Pages.


    Because of the power of Oblivion, two instances of the same being existed in one realm! Many gods and fallen prevented this from ever urring because it broke the naturalws set by He Who Is Prior to the Beginning and Beyond the Ends of End.


    Histerion, Fate, Destiny, and many others were tasked with this that the very meeting of two beings would create a rip and harness the power of Cminus and the Veiyos creating a rip in the time and space continuum killing both.


    But with the power of Oblivion, Kyros managed to hide the Core of the Okto-Khefali Eugene. The ce they were in, was in a separate world, concealed in darkness. And Kyros allowed his Mysterion to surge out. He could not even do it in the Fortress as he would need to cover the Fortress with great darkness to do this technique. But Kyros was controlling the power of Kyriachos to hide the event that urred here.


    And at that right moment right before the attack, Kyros released the Core he managed to subdue with the Celestial Code.


    <o>,m Memories flooded the head of Eugene and the appearance of another being like him created a crack in the world around him as the curses of meeting another being in the real world affected Eugene.</o>


    Many gods and fallen across time felt the feint ripple and was rmed! But they could not understand the power that rippled out.


    The Dark Head was also connected to Eugene and felt the strange power rip out of his body.


    "AHHHH!"<sub> </sub>


    The timing of Kyros was perfect and not a single breath attack from these heads was aimed at Kyros.


    In fact, the breath attack exploded close to him and wounded him!


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Eugene nced at Kyros in great fear. He had faced numerous gods and fallen, but the cunning intelligence of Kyros in that exact moment of unleashing whatever magic he had caused Eugene to wound itself.


    The power of entropy affected him. Decay urred around his body and cuts from the whirlwind of des that exploded out.


    As the Dark Head and Eugene squirmed in pain as Kyros approached.


    He calmly walked through the explosion of darkness, entropy, and wind and brought out the Shield of Heralcus which was now part of his set.


    The power of Brimstone that was surrounding Kyros gathered towards the shield.


    Heralcus described the Shield of the Wicked as ''a shield of great atrocity that vowed to protect the darkness.'' And such legacy weapons would have a heart of their own. The shield would be ipatible for Kyros to bear as it would reject the cause of Kyros. Transforming the shield was also difficult. Even the powers of the Nephilim Sealing Fortress and Soter''s light of creation could only prepare it for the next step.


    Kyros noticed that most of the powers of the shield were locked and could not be harnessed. But now, the missing element was revealed. Through Brimstone the wicked force that resided within the shield was transformed.


    Kyros harnessed Brimstone and made the gloomy and corrupt shield feel joy.


    "Shield of Azzaret. I release you from your dark binds. The power of the Body of Death shall no longer gue you. You shall not be called the Shield of the Wicked! For you shall not be the shield that defends those who are wicked, but will be the shield of redemption!"


    The Cloak, the Sword, and the Shield were now resonating with simr power andbined. The shield that Heralcus carried was the Shield of the Wicked. Like the Cloak and the Sword, it once belonged to Azerret, the Lieutenant of the First Fallen.


    The shield trembled as it epted its new owner and did not resist it.


    The powers of the shield changed.


    Kyros held the shield out and blocked the rampaging elements. While the full attack would have been impossible to defend, the remnant forces or the shockwave of the attacks were easy for Kyros to block.


    Kyros smirked and nced at the stats of his shield as he met the ranging dark, entropy, and wind attacks.


    ---


    Righteous Shield of the Forgiven Wicked / (Lvl. 9)


    Attack: 15


    Durability: 90


    Recovers durability when exposed to Dark and Light Energy.


    Skills:


    Kic Absorb


    Force Shield


    Fortress Barrier


    All Push


    Heart of the Fallen / Heart of the Ascender


    ---


    "A forgiven shield. One who was in darkness, but is now fighting in the light... Impressive." Kyros praised the concept behind the shield. He could not change its past, but Kyros used Brimstone to make the shield dream of a better future.


    "Perfect for me, one who is the Light and Shade. I wonder what else items Azerret has... It seems that Fate is arranging for me to have these items... Then that means... he can only be... ''him''..."


    Kyros continued to move as he harnessed the energy in the sword. His sword was ready to cut. The power of the stars gathered in his de.

 Chapter 433 Releasing Eugene

    The power of the shield pushed created a powerful wall that could defend against the enemy. Kyros was able to use the ''Fortress Barrier'' from the Fortress''s spell which allowed him to deploy the Fortress''s barrier for five seconds.


    These five seconds were enough for him the charge in and harness the power of the stars on his sword.


    With the Shield, Kyros could now be both the Pdin and the Sword Expert. This was the same attack he performed against Lanthanou!


    A faint glow of a crown appeared on Kyros''s head. Unlike before, this crown was transparent. But against a squirming, struggling, and unguarded enemy, this level of power was enough.


    The bright lights of the star gathered and horrified the dark head. But he could not react quickly as the pain he felt distorted his senses.


    "No!" The Dark Head tried to fight back but it was toote.


    "[Star Severing sh]!" Kyros shed out as the power of a Crown erupted.


    SLASH!


    The energy sted out and struck the Dark Head! Kyros didn''t even aim for the rest of Eugene''s body but limited the sh to only attack one head.


    Kyros felt a great limitation as he shed the power out and tried to fight against it.


    But the attack of the universe struck him back and Kyros began to develop deep wounds that surfaced around his body.


    STAB! STAB! STAB!


    Spikes of energy afflicted him as Kyros''s attack went beyond the limitations set.


    "This is it... The powers that limit the worlds! So it''s here, even in Present Middle! It even found me despite me using my powers of Mysterion!" Kyros cursed and had no choice but to follow the limitation of his attack.


    Yet despite holding back, the sh was sessfully sent and it severed the dark head!


    The powerful darkness was pulled off as True Cut cleaved the connection of the dark head from Eugene.


    The darkness quivered as the connection between the dark head was cut off.


    "No! Impossible! This Nephilim cannot be a Steel descendant! How can you have True Cut?!" It was only when the powerful energypletely severed out the darkness and the magic that bound the two did the Darkness realize just how horrifying the sword sh was.


    The darkness quickly used the dark link and created a powerful pull that quickly drew back the dark head as it disappeared down the stairs. All of the darkness around the area also disappeared. Kyros saw that he was brought back into the normal world.


    Kyros was bleeding around him and had to call on numerous items to heal him in the darkness and in the light.


    Eugene was shouting in pain as it saw and felt its death with Heralcus and how Kyros dominated him.


    "I refuse... to serve you! You may have subdued my Soul Core, but you won''t subdue me!" Eugene roared.


    "That''s why... I n to release you from my bonds." Kyrosughed and hid the soul cores that were causing Eugene to feel the bacsh and curses.


    Eugene''s body fell down on the floor. All seven headsy and were in pain.


    Kyros also stumbled back.


    "It''s a bit of a good thing that the darkness that controlled you is a bit of a coward." Kyros slowly sat up and nced at Eugene.


    "I''ll release you and you are free to go."


    "...Why?" Eugene asked with an exhausted tone.


    "Simple. You''re a dead man anyway. You broke the rules and caused the gods and fallen that maintain the time/space continuum to be alerted. Numerous powerful beings that were so strong they did not join the Heretic Wars would move. And you saw two beings, didn''t you? The Ancient God Histerion, and the Fallen Oblivion. Those two will go after you. You are really going to die." Kyros smiled.


    "...Unless what? You are offering me something..."


    "You saw my power. Your other self must have shared memories with you in that world. You know what that ''what'' is." Kyros began to devour many medicines sent from the Fortress.


    The group had already started their alchemy program and numerous healing items were being created. The more expensive ones had a ray of the Fortress''s light power and allowed great healing of Soter.<sub> </sub>


    Kyros stood up as the deadly attack that nearly ended his life vanished.


    "Light... and Darkness... You are both!"


    "I am Mysterion. You know that I am the one being that can save you from your problem. Unless you want Histerion to catch you again. I gather from your memory, that you thought you''d be free when you left me. But then, you must have been petrified to see the state of the world. If not for Histerion and Oblivion deciding to keep you around, you would have truly died there. Are you sure you want those two toe after you?"


    "So... you release me... But I serve you to be hidden by your power! Mysterion? Is that really freedom?" Eugene mocked.


    "Yes. I don''t want to chain you. When I fully controlled your cores, those two practicallymitted soul suicide. But now, I will allow you your freedom."


    "Freedom? I have to be around you always to protect myself from them! You say freedom, but won''t I be like your bodyguard?"


    "Well, you were trying to kill me. I''m not even a Crown yet. You know that I''m not even a Commander! Obviously, I''d use attacks that can hurt you. So you can''t really me me for doing that. But you still have your freedom. It''s your choice whether you will help me or just stand idly."


    "Stand idly? If you die, they will find me. So I have to ensure you''re alive!"


    "Yes... But will you need to do that? I mean, both you and that dark being tried to fight me and I ended up outwitting you two. The other one fled down the stairs." Kyrosughed.


    Eugene fell silent.


    "You are a True Neutral. I am Mysterion. You''ve seen the sh between the two and know to an extent what Beginning wants, and what End wants. I mean, with that alone, you should be joining my side!" Kyros urged.


    "Unless you guys believe that whatever power you have will allow you to remain alive. End is end. You will die."


    "You lie, Mysterion. If that is the case, why did not Beginning send her allies to tell us this? We have broken free from the chains of Fate and Destiny! We would have been the ally that Fate and Beginning needed!"


    "Oh, you still don''t get it, do you? That''s why I''m here! I needed to tell you and your allies about this so that you will join us! You see, had Fate or Beginning told you, you would have all been killed by End anyway. It doesn''t matter if you are free from Destiny, the future could be arranged so that you will all die! In fact, I''m sure somewhere along the line, you will still die. But Beginning did not tell you because then End will not target you earlier on!"


    "Target us... earlier on? You mean, we were intentionally spared by End?"


    "Yes. Eventually, you would have been killed anyway. And telling you now will only cause you to haverge targets on your backs. You will all eventually die. Had Beginning told you all this right after the Heretic Wars or even before it, End would have started targeting you. If you had known since the start, this whole battle would have drawn out even longer. You would have lived your lives fighting End and dying hising, but in the end, you will all die. So Beginning made a n."


    "You... You were his n to tell us without alerting End."


    "Correct! Imagine if End had set ns all across time of when the True Neutrals would be attacked or killed. Imagine if it''s fifty years from now. What if, without his knowledge, you guys learned of this truth and started preparing? Then when the n was put into action, you retaliated and defeated End''s attack. That will set his ns hurling millenniums into the future. It is for this very reason, that I came. I, Mysterion was set to hide allies who will fight. Secret weapons that will appear at a specific time to throw all of End''s n into nothing."


    "...And you n to gather the True Neutrals. You n to recruit them all in secret?"


    "Yes. That''s why Fate and Begining didn''t tell you End won''t target you right until the time you guys ''needed'' to die. For your case, it would be when Heraclus arrive." Kyros reminded Eugene of his future death.


    "..."


    "You really shouldn''t take your time thinking about this. That darkness will try tomunicate with the other beings who serve End. What that Darkness expects, is for us two to fight it out and return to vanquish either of us who stands as the victor. But if the two of us attack him together now..."


    "...Let''s do that first. Let''s talk about this allianceter." Eugene growled.


    "Fine." Kyros waved his hand and a pile of corpses appeared.


    "This should help you regenerate your body. And this should refill your energy." Kyros took out three small cores.


    "Those are...!"


    "These are the dead cores that your other self had. Only a few went with me to the Unrecorded Pages. But these ones had no soul of your heads as they might have been killed when Heralcus killed you. But they should replenish and strengthen you."


    "...Yes."


    Kyros tossed the three elemental cores.


    "Eat while your talking. We have Dark Fiend Lord to kill." Kyros marched down.

 Chapter 434 Releasing The Eight Cores

    The Darkness Aspect hid back in his caged den.


    He quickly began to pour the darkness into the Dark Head to transform it and turn it into a creature of his likeness and control.


    From the cells of the evolving Okto-Khefali, the Darkness Aspect poured into his soul to make it his new body. The power of Somatous ous Thanatos had stopped the cells from evolving as the Body of Death cannot evolve.


    "That power to sever...! But this could work to my advantage! The Okto-Khefali is free and will fight the Nephilim! He meant it to kill me but it seems he underestimated the curse of power limitations! He thought he could release a True Crown''s Power but suffered the consequences of it! Now, I shall focus and recreate my form! A Dark Fiend Lord shall be born in Middle!" The darkness aspectughed as his body took form.


    The head turned into a humanoid form and the body was simr to that of a Thane Dragon.


    The power of the darkness allowed the head to rise to the power levels of Crown.


    But as the darkness continued to take form, he noticed something odd as he listened to the silence.


    "Why...are they not fighting? I don''t even sense the fluctuations that would attack the Okto-Khefali!" The Dark Fiend pondered.


    Suddenly, footsteps could be heard approaching.


    Kyros finally arrived at the depths of the underground chambers and saw the room that was pitch ck.


    "I thought so. A Darkness Aspect. The soul of Dark Fiend Lord was sent back from the future. Destiny could not send powerful beings from the future. Even when he sent his armies, he could only limit their power to Cardinal level. But to chain, an Okto-Khefali would require a stronger cultivator. So a Dark Fiend Lord sacrificed his body and only moved here in his soul form." Kyros smiled as he took a look.


    "Nephilim! I shall end you! I shall kill you and devour the body of the Okto-Khefali! You have allowed me to create this form! Severing the Dark Head allowed me to gain its full power! Eugene has already allowed me control of his head, and even the soul core had be docile! And then you severed it! Now with the soul core and this body, I have arisen!"


    "I know. That was the n. I needed to offer a crown-level being to the Fortress. It''s part of the mission of the Fortress." Kyros chuckled.


    "Sorry, Eugene. But I don''t n in giving back the head. You can have the soul core, though. The Fortress will disperse the soul of this Dark Fiend Lord."


    "As long as my other heads survive, even the dead cores will arise. Don''t worry." Eugene appeared.


    "What?! You''re alive?!"


    "I serve the Nephilim now. I have seen the future and its oblivion. Once I kill you, I will convince all the other True Neutrals and End will have an army of Heretics to face!" Eugene dered.


    "You...! How has your evolution stopped?!"


    Kyros raised his shield.


    "I keep telling you I killed Heralcus. Somatos Ous Thanatos was imbued in this shield. This is the Shield of the Wicked." Kyros revealed.


    "With it, I have already studied the power of the Body of Death and with some genius-level mages who also live in a body of death, I use create pills through alchemy that will induce that power. I have two dragon allies that may need to use their Hyper Evolution in future battles and I naturally have to prepare to stop it." Kyros exined.


    "You thought I would rage and fight the Nephilim to myst breath since you were no longer there to stop my evolution. How stupid. From here on out, the future shall change. I can''t wait to see what my decision today will have in Middle''s future. Will that vision of me being killed by a lowly Cardinal Necromancer continue? Or will I fight that Cardinal in the future and eat all of his armies and his family?" Eugeneughed.


    "I will end you both! The power of the Dark Fiend Lord surpasses your imagination! I am-"


    "-Unaffected by the limiting curse. I know! You were to be part of Heralcus''s powers. I keep telling you, I fought and killed Heralcus. I know all his strengths and his weaknesses. He would have powers that will allow him to unleash Crown attacks at their full potential and would even defeat Conquerors in that way. That''s why when Fate sensed that I was reaching the level of power that could challenge Commanders, he sent me to future Middle to fight him. When he received your power, it was pointless. He was still a Cardinal."


    "He''s immune to the curse?!" Eugene was surprised.


    "Yes. That''s why I am talking and waiting for him to get stronger. That way when I kill him I''ll have an opportunity to see and study how he is immune to this curse." Kyros exined.


    BOOM!


    "I''ll kill you know Nephilim!" The Dark Fiend Lord raged as he harnessed a powerful dark sword and prepared to attack.


    The darkness gathered around him.


    But Kyros stood up and released his power. The Celestial Code appeared and numerous wraiths flew out of Kyros.


    The form of the Light and Shade appeared on all his weapons.


    "That will not be enough, Nephilim!"<sub> </sub>


    "I wasn''t also dying and ranting just to make you strong. I dyed so that my spell would beplete. Eugene..." Kyros then revealed all the Cores that once belonged to the other Okto-Khefali.


    "I covered it with Mysterion to an extent that you won''t suffer the bacsh of meeting it again. Use these cores..."


    The eight cores gathered around Eugene and with Kyrosmanding the Celestial Code, it merged with Eugene.


    Eugene felt the connection and it was as if he couldmand all the other Cores at will.


    Some of the Cores were indeed dead. But they were still the Cores of Eugene. And as Eugene said, as long as a head was alive, the other cores could gain life.


    A great mystery urred. Though the cores were coated in mystery, Eugene already knew the truth. This was his soul core! This was an Okto-Khefali''s core! The power of Mysterion kept this secret to the Universe, but he that knew the truth, or who already received Revtion was able to fully take advantage of it!


    The eight cores merged with Eugene and the power of the Celestial Code erupted.


    Eight avatars appeared. Heraclus had used this power with his Commanders and Eugene used this same power.


    "Let me lend you my Dark Core." Kyrosughed as the Dark core appeared.


    Several energy conversion circles appeared written as the numerous wraithspleted the writing of the seals.


    The dark core linked with Eugene and the form waspleted.


    With the dark core of Kyros, Eugene and Kyros managed tobine and share their energy!


    A few cores of Eugene already had housed the power of the Celestial Code. And as it was his soul, Eugene was able to ess it and harness the same power.


    "The Celestial Code! I can see it! I can harness it!" Eugene felt his heart racing.


    Eugene was amazed as he could feel a merging and union that was far stronger than what he and the Darkness Aspect once could do!


    "This...! This was his n! This is why he recruited me!" Eugene realized what Kyros aimed to do.


    "Celestial Form! [Andromeda!]"


    Sixteen heads of the Okto-Khefali peered down on the Dark Fiend Lord.


    Kyros stood at the front and harnessed the Celestial power.


    "No! Impossible!" The Dark Fiend Lord felt the power of the twobined. If it was two separate attacks, then he could block it. But the Crown powersbined and through synergy, thebined equation of Kyros and Eugene''s power surpassed what two separate Crowns could do.


    A massive crown appeared on top of the two of them. It was bizarre. In all of history, never before has a Crown recognized two separate beings as one. But the link of the Celestial Code connected the two.


    "Ha Ha Ha! Nephilim! I''m starting to like this deal! This Celestial Form, Andromeda is quite a beautiful form!" Eugeneughed. He could imagine what power he would have in the future!


    "Fun Fact: Andromeda is a constetion with sixteen main stars. In Greek mythology, Andromeda was so beautiful, that when her mother boasts that she is more beautiful than Nereids, Poseidon sends a sea monster Cetus. So Kyros used this naming scheme because of the Sixteen stars and the fact that there is a sea monster involved. Cool, right?"


    "Who?!" Eugene was surprised at the suddenmentary.


    "Oh. That''s Time God Cminus. Looks like he''s ok now."


    "No... I''m not! But without the darkness that you keep purging, It''s much better now." Cminus grumbled.


    "Time God Cminus?! That entric crazy god who would whisper ''hail hydra'' in a low voice every time he meets an Okto-Khefali?!"


    "...Damn, Cminus. You must have been so annoying..." Kyros shook his head.


    The power of Time surged out and hastened the merging power.


    "What?!" The Dark Fiend Lord saw how the power gathered faster and faster.


    "Shadow of Hyperion!" As he had no choice, the Dark Fiend Lord shed out his sword.

 Chapter 435 Releasing The Bottleneck

    The power that the Dark Fiend Lord carried was not just the first darkness that Kyriachos made. The darkness that was left was the shadow of all the darkness. Kyriachos''s powers were only harnessed to contain the darkness but now, the final form of the darkness was released.


    "Hey! I know this one! Skia Kyriachos! The Fallen of the Casted Shadow!" Cminus recognized the power.


    The Dark Fiend Lord harnessed the power to create a shadow of Hyperion''s sword.


    The power that Skia revealed was the closest thing to the power of Hyperion. The dark de that was forged was renowned even in the Heretic Wars.


    The Crown power of the Dark Sword was revealed and the Dark Fiend Lord shed out.


    "Die!"


    Kyros was impressed as he could sense the power of a corrupted True Cut forming.


    "Impressive... Harnessing True Cut that goes beyond the levels of Crown... A perfect foe to test my power! If you made the darkness a sword, I shall make the Celestial Code a sword! Form of Andromeda! [Constetion Severing sh]!"


    All of a sudden, the sixteen heads of Eugene began to harness all the elements and it all became like a sharp sword that extended outwards.


    Sixteen swords led by Kyros''s sword shed out and the conflux of elements struck the dark sword that was falling.


    BOOM!


    The meeting of elements caused an immense shaking that even those at the very top could feel it.


    Mechiel was amazed at the level of power that Kyros revealed.


    "Amazing. He even surpassed his peakpared to his form in the Unrecorded Pages." Mechiel was amazed.


    Suddenly, Martha appeared out of the void. Following her was Puff. Puff had assumed his dracanae form and had a humanoid figure. To most eyes, he looked like a Lizardman hybrid as his form was slightly altered.


    "That... power...!"


    "How envious. If I try to harness this level of energy the universe will kill me. And somehow Kyros can do that." Mechiel chuckled.


    "This is the path that Kyros said?"


    "Yes. But don''t move in yet. Something happened that forced Kyros to fight."


    "Should we be worried?"


    "Do I look worried?" Mechiel asked.


    "... You''ve sure changed a lot. It''s hard to imagine you as that innocent girl that was possessed by the Blood Cmity. Now..." Martha smiled.


    "Even the Blood Cmity is dormant now. Her will is weakpared to mine. Two memories are in me. In one, I''ve already conquered her." Mechiel chuckled.


    "My concern remains with Kyros."


    "...I saved him and betrayed my race, abandoned whatever form of power I had and died happily with him."


    "Many people will die for their loved ones. If you ask me, it''s the easy path. Dying for someone isn''t the same as living for someone. The Nephilim have great powers. This power awakens pride, selfishness, and a whole list of desires. I don''t care if you happily died for him. I care if you will happily stand by him for all eternity." Martha gazed at Mechiel''s eyes and didn''t even blink.


    Even the beauty of Mechiel could not affect Martha.


    "Are you sure you''re not his mother? It seems to me that Diana is more of the aunt and you are the mother."


    "I am still a member of the Coven. Kyros is first my lord before he is my nephew. Will you be next to him forever? Isn''t that the problem of the Charm? Will one ever be enough?"


    "I would have been insulted by your words... if it weren''t for me being worried about the same thing..." Mechiel sighed.


    "The more power of hers I have... the more distant I feel. It''s as if... Kyros is just another prize."


    "... I guess your honesty will ount for something."


    "Kyros knows. He always does. I''m hoping that he can resolve it. I want to love him. I do. But my nature... The curse of the Charm... The longer I stay around him the more I feel that Scarlet should be his wife."


    "Really? Diana liked that Listrel woman. But she''s a Pdin. So it''s understandable."


    "So who would you ship? It''s obvious that it''s not me."


    "Neither you nor Scarlet. You two are too conniving. I did like Lea. She seems strong and I feel like we are kindred spirits."


    "Must be that tsundere thing you have with your lovers."


    "But I think Kyros needs several women beside him. He has too much to worry about that he does not need onepanion to share his burdens. He needs apany. But as Cminus would always say..."


    "This isn''t that type of novel." Mechiel and Martha sighed together.<sub> </sub>


    "It looks like the battle has ended." Mechiel felt the Crown-level powers disappearing.


    "Should we go down?" Martha asked.


    "I think we should. There''s something peculiar of the darkness here." Mechiel answered as she stepped down.


    CRACK!


    The pair heard a crack and found Scarlet emerging out of the small portal of light.


    "Wait for me!" Scarlet appeared.


    "I think it''s not wise for a daughter of Zh to walk in there. You who copy the darkness will not resist it."


    "Copy the darkness? My dear, Mechiel. I''m not a copy. I''m the upgrade!" Scarlet chuckled and moved down the steps.


    Kyros stood at the very bottom and Eugene was behind him.


    The two were drained of power and had numerous wounds all over their body. The universe''s attack was far less severe than the first one Kyros suffered.


    "That... was amazing!" Eugeneughed.


    Against thebined attack of Eugene and Kyros, the Shadow of Hyperion''s sword stood no match. His powers had slightly exceeded the limits of what Crowns could do. But it was easily defeated by the power of thebined two.


    The moment the attack ended, Kyros and Eugene lost all of their energy and were tired.


    In front of them was a wisp of darkness that remained.


    The Dark Fiend Lord''s body was attacked and a strange power repelled the soul out of the Dark Fiend Lord''s Body. The halved remains of the body were on the ground while the soul was floating above. He once again reverted to a Darkness Aspect. But now, only a wisp remained! He was so weak that he could not evenmand the darkness around him!


    "I''m... so hungry..." Kyros sighed as his stomach grumbled after exerting a massive attack. His wounds were already healing thanks to his high regeneration, but the energy that he had were being consumed causing him to fall into a hungry state.


    Kyros turned to Darkness Aspect that was dying.


    "Lord Kyros!" Scarlet suddenly appeared but right before she could reach and hug Kyros her blood froze. For some strange reason, her blood obeyed Mechiel and she couldn''t move.


    "Hm? Isn''t that Eugene?" Mechiel noticed and moved ahead of Scarlet.


    "Wha...at?! Ho..ooow?!" Scarlet cursed.


    "Blood Magic. While you were unconscious, I gave you some of my blood. I am a Vampire Empress. A Vampire Lord like you will obey my blood." Mechiel chuckled as she arrived next to Kyros.


    "Y...ou!"


    Mechiel undid the magic as Scarlet was about to hurt herself by breaking free.


    Scarlet red at Mechiel and moved to the other side of Kyros.


    "Eugene. Do you remember me?" Mechiel asked.


    "Ah... Mydy. The Charmed Fallen. You had my other self quite smitten and managed to control my Soul Cores." Eugene recollected.


    "Correct. I can guess what happened. Sixteen Heads... not bad. You''d probably be the only Okto-Khefali to do that."


    "I''m the only Okto-Khefali who has sixteen cores!" Eugeneughed.


    Mechiel saw the Darkness Aspect and the remains of the Dark Fiend Lord.


    "Oh my... What a delicious meal!" She licked her lips.


    "Sorry, Mechiel. We''ll have to offer that to the Fortress. I need several Crowns to offer to the Fortress, remember? Martha... Please store the soul in." Kyros approached and brought the corpse of the Dark Fiend Lord to the Fortress.


    Martha went ahead and quickly used her spatial powers to store the soul of the Darkness Aspect.


    The soul tried to flee and use the darkness but it was too weak to resist and Martha punched the soul with her dark powers and absorbed the helpless wisp along with the Soul Core of the Dark Head of Eugene.


    "So, what was it that you were eager to acquire from this ce?" Martha asked.


    "Please direct your attention... to the altar where the darkness gathers. We can still use this ce to train our resistance and powers in the dark. Anyway, I was sure that they hid it here." Kyros moved towards the darkness as he stabbed his sword which now assumed its light form.


    The darkness cowered and gave away and a strange altar was revealed in the center of where he stood.


    "This is the chamber that controls the connection between Middle and numerous worlds and realms. The darkness of Destiny had clogged the passageway with dark magic preventing or limiting inteary travel. And I''m going to release this bottleneck!" Kyros exined.

 Chapter 436 Releasing The Eldrich World Seals

    The energy formation circles and the many engraved words started to glow as they received the powerful element of light from Kyros.


    The sword continued to pulse light energy and soon the glowing lights overpowered the darkness.


    The entire altar was revealed.


    "Inteary travel? You mean Middle is connected to numerous worlds?"


    "Didn''t Petra say the same thing? Remember, Middle has always had people being sent to this ce either identally, or intentionally. Petra imed that Middle would often repopte itself even after they made their march around this ce. This was the hint that we had to consider. Fate and Destiny have been sending people here. This darkness that was supposed to chain Eugene had been limiting the travel to ensure more of Destiny would arrive here. It was a bottleneck that limits the arrival of the allies of Fate. This is also the way Heralcus and those champions of Destiny arrive in the first ce."


    "So... You intend to close this portal and stop them?" Eugene asked.


    "Close? No. We fight a being that knows the future. There are many ways to fight End. One, allow Destiny and End to aplish their goals so that they would think that they are winning and only appear as a secret ace on critical asions. I am against this because our goal is ultimately to give Beginning an advantage. End will have his aces after all. So I decided to create drastic changes that altered End''s n in staggered instances."


    "I see. Creating so many changes in the ns that Destiny has to act."


    "Yes. This would dy the end and gives our allies more time and resources. And so, I n to constantly hinder End''s n to give Fate and Beginning more things to work on."


    "Won''t we be targeted?" Martha asked.


    "No. You might have understood my intentions. I won''t just dy End''s n by allowing many people to go into Middle. While the key officers of the Fortress will remain in Middle or the nesworld, we will be training people to move out and go into these worlds!"


    "So we open the seals and portals and release great chaos into the different worlds... Our team will go out there and with foresight, challenge every member of Destiny!" Mechiel chuckled.


    "Right. These past few days, I''ve been training my power in Mysterion. I believe I can cover around ten people with it. But man, Mysterion sure is taxing! I''m already hungry right now! Let me just see if there is food in the Fortress... Oh! Airom Bacon! Nice! Now for some sides... a lot of carbs... Wow! I didn''t know we have Lemonade Honey Tea!"


    Meanwhile... Back in the Fortress...


    Grugnyr had just ended his wretched training with Aron and was now rewarding himself with a great meal. He cooked his heart out and made the best meals he could think of. Grugnyr, despite being an orc, was a very good cook. Now, The fortress itself had given him a proper ce as he made a request and a kitchen was set up. But as there was no ce, the Fortress Storage Space was currently the temporary kitchen. Kyros thought that this was also beneficial andmanded some of the cooks to always have some food stored inside. He was tired and hungry but concentrated and made the wondrous meals that he was about to eat.


    He sat down and adored his creations of a delicious meal.


    "Finally..." Grugnyr smiled and prepared to eat.


    POP! POP! POP! POP!


    All of the food suddenly began to vanish one after the other.


    "WHAT THE FRAGMENT?!" Grugnyr roared in anger.


    Kyros began to munch on the food.


    "Ugh... I was soooo hungry after that match. Anyway..."


    "Go ahead and eat, Kyros. We can roughly understand the ns. Opening these portals grants opportunities for Beginning to send her forces earlier into thisnd. But we will send out forces into these ces to stop End''s sesses." Martha continued.


    "Not just that. When we were in the Unrecorded Pages, we learned from Breveros that the Eldrich was trying to open the portals in the nesworld. If we tie that to the current war between the Greater Gods who rebelled against the Ancient Gods and their allies, then we can deduce that a highway is being prepared. The Eldrich is vital in this n. So, for us, the best way we know how to fight Destiny is by stopping the Eldrich''s ns. Causing havoc in these worlds, killing Eldrich, or those that the Eldrich recruited as their allies will help in dying End''s ns. At least at the levels of us mortals." Mechiel exined.


    "So it''s all going back to these Eldrich. I still have to thank them. If their allies didn''t make it here, I would never have be a vampire and met Lord Kyros." Scarlet smiled and gazed lovingly at Kyros who was greedily devouring the Airom bacon.


    Kyros paused from his feast.


    "Don''t think that our actions will have little ripples. These highways ought to be important for their ns and even the gods and fallen would be unable to move faster. So destroying a fortress that belongs to Destiny will inevitably dy the End for a year or two." Kyros then went back to feasting.<sub> </sub>


    "Hm? Lord Kyros... Grugnyr is asking why you took his cooked meal." Martha reported as she nced at their chat box.


    Kyros froze as bacon strips fell from his mouth.


    "... Is he angry?"


    "He said he just finished training with Aron and was rewarding himself with this meal. He says that it''s not an exaggeration that he is dying of hunger as we speak."


    "..." Kyros thought for a bit.


    "Yeah? Well... I fought a Crown! Tell him that I too, am not exaggerating and am dying." Kyros went back and ate.


    "What are your ns, Nephilim? Where do you n to go with this portal?" Eugene asked.


    "I won''t be going just yet. I''ll remain in Middle and nesworld for now. It''s time to start dealing with the Eldrich. Lea tried to go back home, but it seems that the Eldrich has managed to garner a great force that suppresses the very power of her father. She has been reporting to me her struggles and how an Eldrich of a noble descent is going after her."


    "An Eldrich noble? Those are quite strong." Mechiel recalled their might. In that other timeline, both of them died facing one! Kyros was already a Celestial at that time, although he was greatly cursed. But even with her around, they fell against the Eldrich.


    "Oh? For the new Mechiel to say that this Eldrich is strong. Are you then worried about Lea? Isn''t she a rival of yours?"


    "A rival? She ranks lower than Scarlet in Kyros''s heart. As of now, there is no ranking?"


    "There''s a ranking?!" Scarlet was intrigued.


    "And I''m not worried for her. I''m actually happy for her. She should be having fun now." Mechiel smiled.


    At that moment... beyond the Nephilim Sealing Mountain and further south of the Airom regions were vast, and thick marsnds.


    It was full of swamps, damp trees, and constant rain.


    But for some reason, there was arge plot of dry sand at the very center of this marsnd.


    BOOM!


    A tall, dark man with an ancient aura gathered an incredible Earth and Entropy energy that took away moisture from thend and had cause thend to dry up.


    The man kept his foot pressing down on a dark beautiful creature who was bleeding all over.


    Lea had many wounds and some of her Grendelor scales were even ripped off!


    "Impressive resistance to my Dry Magic. You chose the marsnds as your battlefield, but this won''t do you any good... Princess Lea!" The manughed.


    <o>,m "Eldrich! I knew you... plotted this! My father will kill you!"</o>


    "Your father? He will find many issues. Your disappearance, along with Listrel''s disappearance had created a great opportunity for us! It caused a lot of trouble that even I forgot of your existence for months!" The Eldrichughed.


    "Now our forces are in ce. The Dark Shine Kingdom wille here and ravage thend! And when we find the Eldrich World Seals and release it, we can now return to this world without hindrance!" The Eldrichughed.


    "Oh? So that''s the n! There is a portal here in the Londs... Thanks! I got what I needed." Lea''s expression changed as she suddenly smiled.


    The power of the Leviathan surged.

 Chapter 437 Releasing The Serpent

    The Eldrich Noble used his power to create a severe drought as his Fire and Earth elemental powers purged every moisture in the area when he fought Lea.


    He knew the true form of Lea''s bloodline and knew its weakness. He was one of the Eldrich Nobles that naturally had two elemental affinities often giving them strange and powerful power.


    The Fire and Earth that he had could not be Brimstone for he did not have holy. But through Fire, the Earth energy was drained and turned into sand. This special ability that he had was perfect to subdue and kidnap Lea Olethros who was reportedly believed to have mysteriously lived again! The Olethros were beings born of water! And here power would be it''s bane!


    After days of pursuit and finally locating her, they shed and he believed that he had managed to gravely weaken Lea.


    Lea fled and hid in the marsnds where she could fight the Eldrich Noble and used the moisture in the forest to counter him.


    But Lea''sst stand was easily countered as the Eldrich Noble turned the ce into a desert!


    He was constantly draining the moisture and was preventing Lea from harnessing her powers! He thought he had won as he made an arrogant disy of his powers.


    But as he stomped on Lea''s figure, he suddenly saw a vision! He was no longer in the swamnd but it was as if he was at the very bottom of the ocean and nced at the never-ending abyss. Then suddenly, eyes appeared out of the darkness and nced at him!


    A massive beast that the Eldrich identified as the ancient Leviathan was there!


    "Aren''t you... a little thirsty?" Lea''s voice resounded.


    BOOM!


    Profound energy of water sted through the Eldrich as the vision ended.


    Lea had sent a powerful punch towards the Eldrich as a faint crown appeared over her head.


    But unlike Lea''s former Crown, the crown she had had now transformed. It was the Crown of Hydron!


    The water sted out and ravaged the insides of the Eldrich Noble.


    BOOM!


    Another explosion urred as the force energy of Lea appeared and blew the Eldrich Noble flying through the marsh.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    The Eldrich Noble managed to regain his bnce after flying for nearly a kilometer out. His entire body was cracking as the sand armor was cracking from the punch. The power of water was disrupting his recovery. He spat out blood and nced back at Lea who was charging at him.


    "You... dare!" The Eldrich roared as he harnessed his great magic abilities to create severalrge stone swords that were burning with fire.


    The massive swords shot out towards her but Lea did not stop as she assumed her Grendelor form once more.


    The scales returned and her figure appeared to even more perfect than she once did.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    Lea casually blocked the attacks and pped them.


    Her Force energy would surge like water and dispel the dryness and heat of the attacks.


    SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!


    The powerful magic that would have drained and devoured anything was easily pped aside! Lea wasn''t even harmed in touching these powers!


    Lea charged forward and sent yet another punch on the Eldrich.


    "Don''t be too arrogant! [Form of Erimos]!" The Eldrich shouted and a powerful heat appeared as his entire body became covered with burning sand. A crown formed over him and a faint appearance of a massive golem monster appeared.


    "A Gigantes Descendant? Interesting." Lea smiled as she saw the avatar that the Eldrich formed.


    The explosive power caused all mortals up to a hundred kilometers away to sense the horrifying power. Crowns don''t ever show their power in the Londs. The strongest that the Londs have are Commanders!


    The nearby kingdoms of orcs and humans were shocked at the power that they felt and were all rmed.


    Far out in the north, near the borders leading to the Minds, Listrel frowned and turned around.


    "So even she got attacked... She must be very certain that she can kill the enemy if she would allow the enemy to reveal a Crown power like that." Listrel thought for a bit.


    "I get it. She yed possum to gather more information from the enemy. And she must havended a strong attack that forced her enemy to bring out her full power to defeat Lea after Lea made a powerful attack. Ironic. She''s the one aligned to the darkness and I am the one following the torturous path." Listrelughed as she stabbed the sword deeper into Eldrich''s chest.


    Back south, arge giant taking the form of a bear-like beast stood over the marsnds. He had a body made of burning sands and the area around him was turning into dry sand.<sub> </sub>


    "[Deste the World]!" The Eldrich Noble shouted as his two giant arms pped at Lea.


    Lea didn''t retreat but smiled as the two giant sand arms approached to crush her.


    BOOM!


    The Eldrich Noble was stunned as he stood at the very core of the giant golem.


    "She... didn''t dodge?"


    It seemed too easy!


    But then the Eldrich Noble could sense resistance at the palm of his hands.


    He could feel that inside the burning sands of his two arms was Lea! Powerful water energy was sting out and was resisting the dry, and parched power!


    "You fool! You dare think that you could defend against this with your Grendelor power? You have a shocking power in Water, but in this form, all moisture will be burned up!"


    The power of Fire and Earthbined as the sands sought to drain every moisture in thend.


    But as he sent out the heat, the water was not being drained! The water wasn''t even cold! But the Eldrich noticed that there was a strong dark energy in the water that made it so resistant!


    "How is this possible?! What kind of water is this?!"


    "This is your power? I guess this should be what I would expect on something that attempted to imitate his power. The burning coals of molten earth andva were far more terrifying than this. But no matter, you served its purpose. I wanted to try... I was already a Crown before I went into that ursed world. Theck of Codes and Corruption limited my powers. I wonder... Just how strong I am now? But I dared not to release even a small portion of my power. But you are now masking my powers in your attempt to dry me up, right? Let''s see what happens if I release the Leviathan in me." Leaughed as she allowed the serpent within her that apanied to Corruption of Hydron to explode out.


    The Leviathan emerged out as small snakes that drilled out on two palms of the giant and the Eldrich was shocked.


    "No! Impossible! How can such water overpower my energy?! Die! [Form of Erimos]! [Birth of Brimstone]!"


    Harnessing and channeling the ace of their magic, the Eldrich revealed the power that catapulted them to a great standing. Unlike the people of the Hignds or the beings of the Nethends who were either Light Empowered or Dark Dependent. They channeled the power of both. The power of Unholy appeared and turned the fiery sands into pseudo brimstone energy!


    The heat intensified as the sand demon became brimstone.


    But even with such heat, he could not drain or defeat the water serpent coiling inside. It wasn''t the potency of the power anymore. Lea''s waters were evaporating. But there was just so much of iting out!


    "Monster! How... can you have so much water?! How can you be... a Leviathan!? They have died long ago!"


    "I was lucky enough to find one that was close to being resurrected!" Leaughed as her entire body became the Leviathan.


    "Now die!" Lea charged out and was like a sword that easily stabbed through the two palms of the golem.


    Lea charged right into the core heart of the golem where she knew the Eldrich was.


    "Die!" But the Eldrich gambled it all.


    Using their own dark art, he created a power simr to [Last Stand]! He consumed a huge amount of his spirit to empower the Brimstone and create the strongest earth defense around him.


    The brimstone energy that he created was exceedingly hot and incredibly resilient. Most Crown Nobles of his level wouldn''t be able to break it even if they used an inverse element!


    STAB!


    But it was all meaningless.


    The Leviathan was coated in ck and hardened the tip of its snout like a needle.


    "What....?" The Eldrich couldn''t believe it.


    Lea''s two arms had stabbed inside the Eldrich. Her entire skin had transformed into a dark, shiny stone.


    "Obsidian. My specialty. It has great strength and defenses against Brimstone. You''d need to be diamond to resist my power!" Leaughed as pulled her arms sideways and ripped apart the Eldrich.


    The entire golem copsed as the Eldrich died.


    Lea held on to the body of the Eldrich.


    "It''s a Crown Eldrich Noble. Do you need it?" Lea asked as shemunicated with Kyros via Dark Link.

 Chapter 438 Releasing Each Other鈥檚 Bonds

    Lea couldmunicate with Kyros through a connection called the Dark Link. Kyros had already discussed his arrangement with the two. They wouldn''tmunicate using any message talismans as they believed that using these devices could allow others to use other magic to detect the transference of magic over long distances.


    Generally, those in the Londs or even the Minds do not have this capacity. But with all the elites moving out, it was possible.


    But the Dark Link of Kyors was superior. And it had innovative masking technology brought by Mysterion.


    Kyros and the group had finally settled in harnessing and growing the darkness left behind. Though the Darkness Aspect was dead, the darkness it left behind remained. Kyros was harnessing the energy of Kyriachos and creating a powerful energy conversion circle to bind the darkness so that others could train in the Darkness.


    But then, he received the message from Lea.


    Kyros smiled.


    "I knew it."


    "Good news?" Martha asked.


    "You must have felt a Crown battle from somewhere."


    "...No. There was? I can''t sense anything outside of this ce."


    "Oh... right. I am still connected to the Gigantes Core so I can vaguely sense what''s happening in the Londs. Lea fought against a Crown."


    "A Crown?!"


    "Yes. An Eldrich noble."


    "An Eldrich Noble? Then her opponent must be so strong!"


    "Definitely. An Eldrich Noble was the one that killed the both of us in our previous life." Kyros chuckled.


    "Is she leading the Crown here?" Martha guessed.


    "You underestimate Lea too much. While I am confident in being stronger than her, my cultivation is still so low. But Lea was already a Crown before we were sent into the Unrecorded Pages." Mechiel chuckled.


    "Kyros is smiling because Lea must have offered the corpse to him," Mechiel exined.


    "She killed the Eldrich Noble?!" Martha was amazed.


    "Don''t worry. It''s within the possibilities. It will redirect attention from us. That''s why Lea and Listrel had to leave. They would go about their missions and try to hide our activities by making big bangs out there. I''m sure Listrel is also about to kill an... oh. I was right."


    Kyros then felt Fate and Destiny tremble as another Eldrich was surprisingly killed!


    "This one isn''t a Crown though..." Kyrosughed and finally sent his reply to Lea.


    "Are you sure you don''t want it? That would help you so much. Eating an Eldrich noble will help you grow so much stronger." Kyros asked back.


    "...I erm... think you should have it. I can grow stronger anytime." Lea blushed as she replied.


    "Are you sure?"


    "Yes. Call it a parting gift. I''m close to the edge and won''t be able tomunicate with you anymore. Since I am not a member of your Coven, our Dark link has its limits."


    "Alright then. Send it up using the energy formation circle I taught you. You can send it directly to the Fortress as long as you are not over five hundred kilometers from where I am."


    "Done." Lea had already memorized the energy formation circle and created it with her dark water power. The corpse of the Eldrich was sent back.


    "Thanks a bunch, Lea! This is really helpful!"


    "No. Thanks for everything, Kyros. And... I... I guess... I''ll miss you?"


    Kyros couldn''t help but smile as he read it.


    "Me too. See you around, Lea. Be careful." Kyros ended the call.


    "..."


    Kyros felt Cminus''s gaze from within him.


    "What?"


    "...Slut." Cminus shook his head.


    "What the fragment?!" Kyros cursed.


    "And here I thought your heart is set for Mechiel!"


    "It is!"


    "Whatever you say. I guess being so smart gives you the wisdom to juggle a few girls, right?"


    "Just shut up." Kyros shook his head and stood up.


    "Send some of our men to mine in this ce. The ores have been corrupted and now have traces of darkness. We have to harvest them. This will be great. We can use them as weapons to craft dark armor."<sub> </sub>


    "A dark army to hide our powers in the Light. You already have the Coven and they have awakened the Fanged Corruption..."


    "Let''s get to it! It''s time to clean up our loose ends so we can go on our real missions. The Tiamat and the Celestial Code! With the real source of that Code with me, there is a chance for Daradiel to live once more! Our next mission! Resurrect a god!" Kyros smiled.


    "A god? Interesting... So it seems that the Nephilim will draw in a powerful alliance. The more I stick around, the more beneficial this alliance feels like." Eugeneughed.


    "And a Fallen... We can resurrect Daradiel and resurrect Xarmolipi. Whatever Destiny or Fate ns, it will happen soon. She ising to the ensworld." Mechiel smiled.


    Everyone was startled.


    Even Kyros frowned at Mechiel''s words.


    "...I am hesitant about that. A Fallen that is aligned with Destiny and End is a dangerous person to resurrect. Especially someone as annoying as the Charmed Fallen." Kyros gave Mechiel aplicated look.


    "That woman does not want to be forgotten. If she realizes her end and how Oblivion will wipe out her existence, she will rage. She will side with Fate and Beginning." Mechiel assured.


    "... Your girlfriend sure is sus." Cminus secretlymented.


    "I feel that she''s not the one I loved. The power of Corruption was probably too strong. It was a great help in our fight back then... but now..." Kyros was silent.


    "I know you are hesitant, Kyros. Maybe I have changed. But to be fair, so have you." Mechiel nced at him.


    "Oh? I have?"


    "Yes. You may be the Nephilim, but you still have the power of the Charm in you. I''m not the only one who is selfish here. I can sense it. Your heart is not as steadfast to me as you once were. But I don''t me you. In your past life, you had numerous curses. I was just the person who helped you and saved you. You will naturally fall in love with me. But this life that you have right now has given you a lot of people who rely on you. You have a family, you have power, influence, wisdom, and the resources to ovee. Listrel, Lea, and even Scarlet are the first of perhaps many who will take you. And while you can resist most influences due to having ovepping Corruption and Code, the power of Charm is not so easy to ovee."


    "So the Dryad''s n in making you their orchid won''t work?" Kyros asked.


    "It is working. But it''s creating aplex... emotion around me."


    "I noticed. I know that it''s not just my heart that isn''t as steadfast." Kyros made aplicated smile.


    "I do love you. That I know. I will die for you and while I am here, I will be by your side. You''re smart. You can choose to discard me or pursue me. That is all up to you."


    "...True. Power does change a person. I guess even I am not immune to this. Now, I have a family to protect and a universe to save. And yes. Objectively, the allure of having so many amazing people that I looked up to in the past, to be allies and people who expressed their clear attraction and desire over me, is getting to my head." Kyros confessed.


    "It''s not probably you. You were more innocent. It''s the Charmed Corruption in you." Mechiel chuckled.


    "Whether it is, or if it isn''t... Mechiel, I don''t know where my heart will be at the end of this journey or where yours will be. And I think we shouldn''t force it. We should release each other''s bonds. Not that we throw away our emotions altogether... But we should just... let things take their course."


    "...Agreed." Mechiel smiled.


    "But no matter what, I only ask, that you will fight for us until the end."


    "I will. That I can promise." Mechiel smiled.


    Martha and Scarlet were both silent but were amazed at the talk of the two.


    "...Martha... Did they just... break up?" Scarlet sent a message to Martha.


    "...I think so..." Martha was just as confused.


    "...Alright. Then I guess we''ll be resurrecting the Charmed Fallen then!" Kyros chuckled.


    All of a sudden, Mechiel suddenly walked over to Kyros and moved her face close to Kyros. Their lips almost touched.


    Martha and Scarlet were shocked.


    "A goodbye kiss? No. That doesn''t feel like it."


    "You clever kid..." Mechiel smiled as she nced at Kyros.


    Kyros suddenly let out a devilish grin.


    "You did that... because you knew... that the feelings inside of me... would chase you!" Mechiel chuckled.


    "Yes. The Charmed Corruption in you felt there was no challenge. I was already hers. And that was very boring to her. But when I used Word of Power to cut off our ties, it awakened the desire, right? No matter what, I''m still the best prize for her!"


    Mechiel suddenly lunged in for the kiss.


    BANG!


    "Stop!" Scarlet shouted and her dark powers struck Mechiel.


    But instead of getting angry, Mechielughed out all the more.


    "Now this.. is fun!"


    "I am serious, Xermolipi. As for you, Scarlet, Daughter of Zh. I also like you. Just like Listrel and Lea, you also have that shot of bing my wife. But just as how the Gods and Fallen can only take one lover, thews of this universe are clear. Only one of you can win. So which of you will im my heart?" Kyros revealed.


    Scarlet was stunned.

 Chapter 439 Releasing The Golems

    Four days had passed since the unsealing of the darkness and the portal towards a certain world was opened.


    Yet a terrifying curse to blind the gods and the fallen urred and kept this small, strange outside of the notice of everyone.


    Destiny watched from the end of time and was cursing.


    "What did it open?! How could that True Neutral subvert the future? What is Fate doing?" Destiny cursed.


    But Destiny had already taken root of each opening of the gate and sent many who has Destiny Challenger to salvage the situation. Destiny used to have a monopoly on Middle and chose to seal it. Leaving Middle open would give Fate the chance to send her forces inside by force. End needed more time in the future so sending the bare minimum and creating a kingdom there and blocking all ess to it was the best strategy they had.


    But Fate has altered the future and set Middle through some mysterious means! It was already impossible for Time to be altered creating an alternate future Middle. But somehow, Fate found a way to send a weaker team into this future Middle!


    But all knowledge of this mysterious team that fought in the alternate Middle has mysteriously vanished!


    End believed that only Histerion could do such miraculous powers. They also beleived that whatever Lanthanou sealed, was to their advantage.


    But Destiny could not help but curse at the rippling effect of this!


    "The secret and now forgotten battle that that man had with Histerion is definitely the cause of this! What happened? Why are the things I''ve long destined suddenly getting overturned! There must be a secret enemy hiding somewhere! But where?!" Destiny shouted angrily as he nced over the gigantic orb that revealed the future paths to him.


    The battle that Destiny had with Fate was intensifying. Many other allies of End were helping him minimize the branching possibilities of the future.


    "There are just too many futures now! How can I end all these branching timelines!" Destiny cursed.


    But on the other side, Fate wasughing from the present.


    "It''s open! The path to Middle! Fate Challengers! Arise! Find Middle and get to the nes World! The Nephilim! That forgotten being is definitely at the center of this!" Fateughed as she used her power to arrange all her Challengers alive in the present.


    Fate and Destiny continued to fight to reveal this to their allies and hide it from the other side. Both were in a deadlock. Destiny would ultimately win, but Fate continued to dy this revtion.


    And so, it was only up to the mortals to fight for thesends. The allies of the two were now moving towards thend of Middle.


    All over the universe, the mortals of both sides were rmed at the opening and began to send their forces inside.


    Destinymanded his legions to move ahead, but on all worlds, those who are of Fate led wars that forced these legions to only send what they could spare!


    In Middle, thend itself has quickly turned into a chaotic era. The first was that thend of Middle felt the presence of two Crowns fighting in a mysterious, and concealed ce. And right after that, the portals opened!


    The undeadnds had suddenly increased in powers as many vampires and beasts hade up. The powers of the vampires and undead had an army that surpassed all of current Middle.


    The seals of darkness that prevented creatures above Commanders twas broken! Armies of Captains led by Champions emerged. There were very few warrior mages that had not reached the Captain level. An average army of a mid-level twenty team appeared.


    Soon, reports of a Cardinal were heard and it forced the human army of the nes World to halt their invasion and pulled back.


    With a war going on in the Londs, there was no time for them to spare resources as the Crown battles were reported.


    But as the Minds were now sending more and more forces to guard the area, the overall threat that was determined in the Airom was not that high. Compared to an army with Cardinals inside this portal leading to another world, were Crowns battling outside!


    A Lizardman army waited at the exit of the path leading to the Nephilim Sealing Mountain.


    A Cardinal stood at the very front and several Commanders were behind him.


    He nced at the human army guarding the entrances andughed at their might.


    The group had no Cardinal. They had only a few Commanders and champions and captains and these people had been too few!


    "That''s it? This is the Human army that threatened you? The so-called Commander-King Komodo?" The Cardinalughed as he ravaged another toon of dead humans.


    A Commander of the Alpha Draconis who once called himself king was now one of the weaker Commanders in the kingdom.


    They marshaled their troops to attack and reim the manynds they have lost.


    In one night, the lizard kingdom was unified and organized into a proper nation. The many lizard kingdoms were now linked and had new rulers who overthrew the previous leaders at once.<sub> </sub>


    "There lies thest defense of these humans from the nes World. I am interested as to what kind of world goes beyond that magical mountain."


    "You must be wary of the Golem King. There is a Celestial guarding that ce! Our scouts have reported great golem activity as many have been recreated during these past months! If that Golem King still exists, then the humans have a powerful ace that could easily wipe us all out!"


    "A Golem King? A Celestial?" The Cardinalughed.


    "I''ve read those reports. But seeing as to how ipetent the Commander-King is, I wonder if it''s just yet another excuse for his failure?" The Cardinal questioned.


    Komodo remained silent.


    "Stop!" Suddenly, a voice cried out.


    An old man walked out of the forces of the nesworld.


    "Lizardman army! Residents of Alpha Draconis! And Commander-King Komodo!" The old man addressed the group.


    "We have seen how the portals through allnds have been open. Our spies indicate that more Cardinals have been sent inside there! We know that this ce, this mysterious world is now going to fall into chaos. We, who are of the nesworld request a truce!" The old man dered.


    The Cardinal Lizardman was shocked at the words of the old man.


    "Why is some old Champion half a step into his grave so brazen and daring to call for a truce? Are we equals?" The Lizardman asked.


    His mere words created a trembling of force energy that caused many under Captain to quiver in pain.


    "Equals in power? No. Equals in the situation, yes! You face a great army in the other regions. We have sensed the arrival of many powerful reptilian warriors. The Lizard Lords that represent the pure breeds of many lizardman races, some close to dragons have already arrived. But... isn''t it the same in the east and the west? The Undying Lands now have Cardinals. The Wild Lands are also reforming! If you are not careful then a goblin army will open from your underground caves! And not only that-"


    "Kill him."


    BLAST! BLAST! BLAST!


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    At the Cardinal''smands, numerous Commander-level siege cultivators harnessed their power and utilized siege weapons!


    "Ahem... not only that, if you continue to press forward, the stronger kingdoms of our world, which has Celestials will be roused to anger! Just leave us in peace and we won''t attack!" The old man stood as he did before. Around him, a powerful force shield that managed to resist the attacks of three Commanders was slowly disappearing.


    The cardinal was shocked as he saw the old man standing without any wounds.


    "Who is that man?" The cardinal asked Komodo.


    "A mysterious man. He is one of the strongest fighters. He and his freak family along with certain deserters of Alpha Draconis! He vanished for a while, but now his back! Known to us as the Naked Shield, a powerful divergent Pdin Shield Expert!"


    "A shield expert?! And a pdin?! But no matter! I came here to win! Commanders! Prepare to attack! Overwhelm that man with might and magic!" The Cardinal ordered.


    The elite Commanders serving the Cardinal moved forward.


    Three lizardmen with a unique form disying their purity to certain power lizard races and two reptilian creatures moved forward.


    "Kill!" The Cardinal ordered and all the Commanders rushed forward.


    "They don''t want to listen. Prepare the Golems! Release the Commander Golems!" Mezal ordered.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    A series of loud booms were heard as several brightly colored stones shot out of the cave entrance and crashed on the Commanders.


    Two instantly died and two others were doing their best to survive the onught as four humanoid beings emerged.


    In the past four days, Kyros had secretly infiltrated the base and upgraded the Gigantes Core.


    "If you keep this up, I will sacrifice the captured lizardmen and make the Golem King, move! He will have a power that surpasses the Crown!" Mezal announced.

 Chapter 440 Releasing The Half-Fallen Princess

    In the mysterious massive moon that orbited around the nesworld, a country of powerful beings existed. These were the former leaders of the Netherworlds before them being kicked out at the arrival of a certain god who nted a seed in their dark world.


    This god defeated the many beings and cast them out as they desired to destroy the nt which wouldter sprout to be the nes World.


    For years, these people endured numerous hardships and suffered from their eviction. They always gazed upon the Yggdrasil that they wanted to conquer.


    These were among the most ancient of beings that were said to have been born from the disunity that spread among the gods and fallen. The hatred and division had given rise to beings that were not created but emerged.


    But this massive moon was a massive structure in itself.


    It was like the entire orbiting structure became a great fortress that forever lurked and looked over the nes World.


    A massive castle that was asrge as an entire continent in the nes World stood. Many nations were within one castle. The Eldrich and many of the Dark dependent that was outcast or sided with the Eldrich were brought here.


    "He''s dead?!" A roar exploded out and the power of a Cherubim surged and caused quakings within the many castles that made up this moon.


    At a central hall where many Eldrich leaders assigned for the invasion of the nesworld met. There were other races who sat among the tables and represented the dark-dependent outcast.


    A dark man with green eyes and pale skin could not believe the reports made. His son, an Eldrich Noble, and another Eldrich have died in the nes World!


    "He was a Crown... One with a good legacy. To think he would die facing the daughter of Necros. This changes things. We would be in an all-out war against the Nethends." Another Eldrich spoke. The Eldrich had a very deathly pale appearance and looked like a very unkempt old man.


    "The Eldrich cannot enter. But us outcasts lords should do the trick." A vampire appeared. He had a powerful aura that could equal some of the stronger Eldrich nobles.


    "That path is pointless. My spies among the lizardman had just reported to me, that guarding the entrance towards the nes World, is a Celestial Golem! Those rumors have been confirmed! The humans that have guarded it have managed to understand the science to it!" A Dark Serpent with gold eyes arrived and its tall body towered over the rest.


    "A Celestial? Then we can''t attack it. Unless our lords move, we won''t be able to destroy that ce!" Another Eldrich argued. The Eldrich was perhaps the youngest among all, but his power was also at Crown level!


    "I have heard, that it requires expensive sacrifices. That Golem Celestial is something of a myth among the group. It used to have a mind of its own before the humans arrived. This means we can control it!" The serpentughed.


    "To control a Celestial? Such marvelous dreams... But I''m sure there is a high cost at that." The old eldrich was pessimistic.


    "Nevertheless, we must take it!" The serpent argued.


    "I agree." The young eldrich nodded.


    "A Celestial that can be controlled is something I cannot afford to ignore. And if the rumors are true, we might end up with a Golem army! This can help us in our invasion against the Hignds!"


    "We still have the Nethends to worry about. We do not know how strong Lea is and what she found out after she disappeared. But we must pressure and divide the Nethends as quickly as possible. We offer them that! The Half-Fallen Princess!" The old Eldrich spoke.


    "You mean... we release the seals?" The young Eldrich smiled.


    "Yes! We have the power now, don''t we? Think of the many victories that Destiny has led us to achieve! We found those portals that could easily allow Eldrich Cardinals to step in and avoid the curse of thend! And while it took great effort to send a Crown, a few Cardinals in the low-leveled regions of the Londs If we send in a few more, they could get killed. So we reveal one of the many legacies we n to acquire. We reveal the location of the Half-Fallen Princess and release her seal! She is the weakest among the four Half-Fallen Royal Family. And from what the records show, she is the child that this family abandoned! The dream for these Dark Dependents and even the Grendelor to be a Fallen will entice them! And we tell them, we have three more! I am sure, at least five serving the Necros Olethros will betray him if we reveal this!" The old Eldrichughed.


    "That could work! And it''s not like the Half-Fallen Princess can ever be awakened from that spell. Not even if the kings of the Nethends and the Hignds were to work together could they open this seal! That''s a good n! It seems we are destined to seed!"


    "We do have a few issues. Another Eldrich has died near the Minds. The one spying on Listrel and her allies has also been killed. We can assume the worst." The father of the Eldrich noble who died added.<sub> </sub>


    "The Hignds will prepare to fight us. But the good news is, the Nethends will be their first target! They will believe we are working with them and that will lead to war. This will still help us fulfill the n. Wars between the two to make our spies find those portals faster! In a way, that sacrifice of losing a Crown Elderich was the price no one wanted to pay! Nheless, his death will be our advantage. Desertlord. Your son''s death will be an important piece in our victory!" The old Eldrich encouraged.


    The Eldrich father had aplicated look but became silent.


    "What if... the two are allies? Do we have preparations against that?" Desertlord brought up one possibility.


    "Allies?" The vampireughed.


    "Lea and Listrel vanish without warning. And all of a sudden, they became unimportant. Suddenly, the two of them return. What if there is an agreement or a truce between the two?" Desertlord pointed out.


    "Impossible." The Dark Serpent shook his head.


    "They had fought and killed each other. The two are sworn, enemies. Listrel will always want to kill Lea. It would take a great miracle for the two to be allies. They hold the future of their races on their shoulders and will fight to the death. If they did disappear and fall into a treacherous world and managed to survive, they will have to face the reality of this world and even if they became friends, they will y each other." The young eldrich answered.


    The other Eldrichs in the room also agreed with this assessment. The other dark races who were silent also nodded.


    "Airom bes our focus. With the Undying Lands a fruitful ce for us to create an army, we can begin increasing our control there. We could also use the many worlds connecting in the Undying Lands and the Dark Shine will speed their journey to make them reach Airom. And as that happens, we release the seals of the Half-Fallen Princess!"


    "I''ll handle the Undying Lands. Sindrianth, I''ll need help with your lizardman spies." A Vampire who had Crown powers volunteered his assault in Middle.


    Therge dark serpent nodded in confirmation.


    "I''ll take care of Airom. The Dark Shine is now fully in my control and many kingdoms have folded to my service." A skeleton Eldrich spoke.


    "Who shall infiltrate the nes World?" The old eldrich asked.


    "I can go." A young eldrich raised his hands.


    "Oh? Young Eldrich Prince Breveros is interested?" The old manughed.


    "I want to see the outside world. My Lord Brother has this ce set. I want to see thends we will conquer with my own two eyes..."


    Meanwhile, back in Middle...


    The Lizardman army led by a Cardinal was in full retreat.


    The enemy had easily overpowered them and the Golems quickly killed severalmanders striking fear in the heart of the Cardinal. If Mezal and the Golems attacked him, even he would die!


    The human kingdoms all gathered their leaders and were all thanking Mezal.


    Mezal stood and dealt with the politics as he nced at the far end where a group of people had left inconspicuously.


    Kyros and several of the select core members of his army had moved past the Golem City and were headed back to Airom.


    "It''s been a while since I moved back to the nesworld..."

 Chapter 441 Building A Kingdom

    A week has passed since Kyros and his team left the Nephilim Sealing Mountain.


    With the sessful defeat and retreat of the Cardinal, news of the Golem Cities'' powers was reported and struck amazement everyone.


    All the kingdoms were plotting how to take control of Golem City. But none had the capabilities to fight off a Celestial. And so, the wars raged between the East and West. The lizardman kingdom focused its efforts on attacking the areas beyond and had a small portion of its forces guarding the Golem City.


    But even the forces that were left behind were stronger than the armies that stood to guard the Londs.


    The world of Middle had surpassed the very limits of what the Lownds could create.


    But Mezal''s show and his knowledge in essing the golems naturally made him the nominal leader.


    His connections with the princess and the other Commander warriors have allowed him to take control andmand the defense in Airom. His teachings and imparted knowledge had caused him to be treated like a king among the forces.


    The many families and kingdoms that once hated the Steele family were now offering gifts to him.


    The power of Charm that Mezal had allowed him to be very favorable in the eyes of many. And those that still harbored caution, had no choice in the matter as several important deals that allow him to teach and bestow secret arts made those who were afraid to still proceed with forming alliances.


    Because of that, he was able to persuade the Commanders to leave the defense to him. There were Crown battles happening in the Low Lands and that became the priority of the forces there. The Minds all decided to move back as the threat above was far more important.


    Mezal tookmand and told made immediate changes in the world.


    One of the strange things that Mezal did, was allowed a pathway for delegates of Middle to move out to the Lownds!


    But he argued that if the people of Middle could see the actions of what was going on beyond theirnds, then they would ignore them.


    And so, the Undying Lands, the Wild Lands, and the Lizardman kingdom all received an invitation and a few spies were sent.


    Many saw the power inside the Golem City and many powerful Golems stood and guarded the area and gave their reports of what they saw and many explored the Airom regions.


    The strange move had many people question the act, but in a few days, the number of forces guarding the sides had moved back.


    The Middle folk saw what numbers were left in the fortress and the Golems that guarded it. And with them having the ability to explore the areas beyond it, it gave confidence that the people of nes World were not a threat at least yet.


    The information of Crowns battling was also ryed and this caused the Middle Folk to fear. The battlefield that remained after the sh was also advertised to those who passed on to confirm what had happened.


    With the confirmation that Crowns were there, and how they could easily enter Middle, most of Middle decided to stop their advances and let bygones be bygones.


    Mezal left Golem City when he saw that all was settled and left it to his harem to guard the ce.


    In the guise of spying into thend of Middle, Mezal left for Nephilim Fortress.


    WARP!


    "Lord Mezal?" Ressi appeared as she portaled right at the entrance of the cave.


    "Oh? Amazing! You didn''t even make an energy formation circle!"


    "We created a giant one inside the Alchemy chamber. This allows us to portal anywhere within the Fortress, or at a distance of fifty meters from the exit. What brings you here?"


    "Here to check on you guys and see the progress. And to make sure that none of your crazy experiments are going overboard."


    "Hahaha... It''s not that bad..." Ressi gave a suspiciously nervousugh.


    WARP!


    "Ressi?! Why are you here!? We did it! A sentient man hybrid! We did it! Behold!" Demerus suddenly portaled out of the fortress and carried a strange wolf. He held the wolf to Ressi.


    "It can talk!"


    "Ed...ward..." The wolf spoke.


    "Hahahaha! That''s a good joke, Demerus! Way to make an entertaining entrance for the VISITING LORD MEZAL!" Ressi suddenly spoke louder and used her head to point to Mezal.


    "Lo-Lord Mezal! You''re here?!"


    "... You taught the dog how to say, Edward?"<sub> </sub>


    "...Oni-Chan..." The wolf muttered as it turned to Mezal.


    Mezal nced at the wolf and decided to ignore it.


    "Anyway... We still have a lot to do. With the attention out of us... Demerus, you, Ressi, and Triona must infiltrate the Undying Lands. Reveal your Lich form. It should give you guys a good way to see things on their side. And... you might familiarize yourself with the dark magics of Necromancy. With our foundation, it should be possible. The Fortress has devoured Heralcus and should have that power somewhere within." Mezal exined.


    "Yes, Lord Mezal!" Demerus bowed.


    "Good. Any updates from Gojirrah, Reptilia, and Hunter?"


    "No. They have already found their way back to the world from which they came."


    "Alright... Time to get working. With so many worlds moving in here, we can kill and offer a lot to the Fortress! We will need to alsoplete the missions of the Fortress. What''s the update on the Fortress Missions?"


    "More good news from the worlds that were opened in Middle. The portals give us ess to so many different worlds. Many of the items that we have learned could not exist within the neworld are now essible! Just now, a few of the lizardmen that went with Hunter have arrived back and reported that there is a mine in their world with the soil that the Farnds need to level up. But, it''s guarded by a kingdom which they are certain to be an ally of Destiny. The three are working to weaken that kingdom as it is in the middle of war."


    "What''s their n?"


    "Gojirrah ns to lure the strongest cultivators of that kingdom. They have Cardinals but it''s not anything that they can''t handle. Once out, the rest will burn the food supplies and sabotage the kingdom from within using Triona''s weaponized [Fat Boy] bomb."


    "That sounds impressive. A bomb like that, deployed at the heart of the kingdom right in the middle of war will create chaos. No doubt Reptilia is now using his beauty and power to make the enemy kingdom prepare an attack. But if this kingdom is right in the middle of a war, how will Gojirrah lure all the strongest cultivators out?"


    "Erm... He said this was Kyros''s old idea. He ns to either sleep or abduct the most beautiful princesses in the realm. They would most likely belong to the strongest cultivators, either in marriage, or that these cultivators have their eyes on these women."


    "...Yeah that sounds like something my grandson will scheme. I guess Gojirrah is tired of seeing Hunter and Reptilia being all lovey-dovey!" Mezalughed.


    WARP!


    Suddenly, Faye appeared.


    "Oh! Lord Mezal! You''re here! Everyone! Our device worked!"


    "Which one?"


    "The Destiny Marker." Faye smiled.


    "Destiny Marker?" Mezal asked.


    "Using the soul of the Darkness Aspect, we were able to create a device that detects beings with great ties with Destiny! And a few just popped up in Middle!"


    "Ah... So they''re here. Good! Are they in the Undying Lands?"


    "Yes!"


    "Good! Demerus. I''ll leave this mission to you. You gather the rest and leave immediately. Bring me to this device! I wish to see the device that can detect Destiny!" Mezal ordered.


    Faye waved her hand and all of them were teleported directly into the Alchemy room.


    "Lord Mezal!" Triona was surprised at Mezal.


    "Show me the device." Mezal spoke and Triona bowed.


    A massive orb that held a dark soul was at the center. The soul inside was acting like apass and it was pointing towards the east.


    "So this device can point it. And I''m guessing the more of this dark soul is pointing towards the direction, the greater the blessing of Destiny?"


    "Yes." Faye exined.


    "Then we have work to do. Demerus. Win their trust and take advantage of their resource! Explore and use them and even send your forces to attack our men! How can they grow if they do not ovee? Help them to attack the forces we deploy in Middle. You should also even try to find our other bases! After all, how can they ovee Destiny if we don''t test our men?" Mezalughed.


    Demerus smiled.


    "I understand, Lord Mezal. I will help Destiny find us, but in doing this, I will hide us!"


    "Exactly! We cannot be an invisible mystery. We have to give Destiny a false idea as to who or what we are! Remember, our n is to be a faint speck of trouble in the ns of Destiny. Annoying, but unimportant! And then... boom! We blossom and conquer worlds!"

 Chapter 442 Building An Undead Army

    The Emberdons made their preparations for their departure.


    Demerus, Triona, and Ressi would use their powers to take away their human form and release their skeleton form. But the power and potency that they have would make them appear as a Lich! This would give them easy ess to bing part of the army.


    "So we spy on them, learn the arts of necromancy and steal whatever we can from them! The more things we take from Destiny, the more advantageous it is for us!" Demerus reminded.


    "Is there a timeframe for our ns?" Triona asked.


    Demerus turned to Mezal who was also instructing Faye and Stellya, who would be left to be in control of the Fortress.


    "Timeframe? We have to quickly be a kingdom that can conquer continents! And with Kyros''s timeline, we only have about a year to aplish that!"


    "So it has to be that much if we want to surprise End... A year is very short. We don''t have the people and the resources."


    "This is the way we defeat End! It still ys along with how we have always fought. We get pitted against tremendous odds, and we are forced to conquer through it! So we have a year. But knowing my grandson, he''s bound to do something crazy. So I adjusted his timetable. We need to be great in six months!"


    "That means I''d have to steal at least half of the army of the Eldrich... I have to also learn what powers lie in the Undying Lands so I can build an undead army for Kyros..." Demerus thought.


    "Yes. Use their greed and wickedness against them. We know what they want in nesworld. Because Kyros managed to ask Breveros, we know that they are looking for God Born and Fallen-Spawns. These are half-breeds that are part of the heretic beings that once lived in the nesworld when the tree was nted. We also know that their greatest legacy, the very source of their power, is the dragon Tiamat! And his corpse is somewhere in the Low Lands! This information should only be known to the top Eldrich. Even the undead and Dark Dependent that allied with them do not know this. And so, we can seduce them with our information."


    "I see. I im to know this secret and gather our team. It will also be a good position for me to explore the worlds of the Eldrich!"


    "Yes. And for proof, we do have Puff. And you have perfected the summoning mark of Puff, correct?"


    "Yes. It allows us to call him out as long as we are here in Middle."


    Puff had a Thane Dragon''s form and stood on his feet. Because bringing him up to the world would expose him to the Eldrich who is actively looking for a dragon''s legacy. And since it would do him no good to hide all day in the spatial realm that Martha can summon, it was decided that he would stay in the Middle.


    He sighed and had a bored expression. He wanted to rage havoc outside, but his lineage was simply too sensitive to reveal.


    "When we finally make known the great kingdom of the Nephilim, End will begin to target us with forces that we cannot imagine! But if we rapidly develop and appear, those forces may try to attack us. We wage war and be another aspect of Mysterion! We will hide our real weapon! While we build a Kingdom worthy of conquering continents and distract End, Kyros will be a man capable of conquering gods and fallen!" Mezal smiled.


    As Mezal and the Emberdons made their preparations, a carriage was headed toward the human kingdoms. There were numerous caravans and carriages, and toons of soldiers marching along the path as an exodus had happened.


    The battle of the Crown caused many nearby kingdoms to retreat back home and abandoned many of the front lines. Dark water was seen in the swamnds along with what appeared to be a desert! Many feared that the missing Princess had begun to fight and kill her enemies as they linked the dark water to the Grendelor race and the sand powers to those belonging to the Hignds.


    But even as the powerful battle took ce, the Minds and the Hignds did nothing and it was as if they ignored the battle that broke numerous rules!


    And so, the people who once felt safe with the garrisons and on the outskirts of every kingdom were moving back to their homes.


    If their viges would be caught in the battle of Crowns, they would all die.


    But one caravan in the midst of the ce was drawing strange attention and allure.


    Many people would pass and could not help but be curious as to what was inside. But everyone felt that something beautiful and amazing would be inside!


    Avary quietly looked around as he kept guard outside and continued tomand the horses to move. Finally, a group of nobles dared to approach the carriage. It belonged to the most reputed Viscount in the entire march.


    "Young swordsman. Which esteemed guest is seated inside this carriage?" A tall, muscr, viscount asked. The exodus forced many nobles to abandon theirnds and flee to the kingdom.<sub> </sub>


    And the viscount that moved towards them to inquire. He could see that the carriage had exquisite designs and from it, he knew that the person riding inside would be a woman. The horses that were used to pull the carriage were all powerful horses that only captains wouldmand!


    Avary looked at the man and analyzed his nobility.


    "Mdy... It''s a Viscount." Avarymunicated with the Dark Link.


    "Send him in..." The response was sent back.


    Avary sighed.


    "If Lord Viscount wishes, then he may enter the carriage. Mdy will wee you. But... the carriage is quite small and only one person maye in." Avary answered.


    "Oh? May I know the name of thisdy?" The viscount asked.


    TAP! TAP!


    At that moment, a tap was heard and the viscount turned his attention to the source of the sound.


    And outside, was a white, pinkish hand of such tenderness and beauty that tapped on its sides to draw attention.


    "I am sorry, Lord Viscount. But I am not someone of thisnds but simply visited. May I ask my lord toe in for a talk?" The voice of such alluring power was heard.


    The sound of her voice alone caused those who heard it to freeze and they couldn''t even breathe for a few seconds. It was just the arm, but terrifying anticipation and lust surged onto them.


    "Ye-yes! If thedy wishes!" The man quickly answered.


    "What? Husband! Where are you-?!" But the woman among the escort of the man was no longer heard as the viscount had quickly jumped in as the door of the carriage opened.


    The silhouette of the woman could be seen as curtains draped the sides and all the men who saw it were exploding with lust.


    "Everyone... I wish to talk to this esteemeddy privately." The viscount dered.


    The wife of the viscount felt a deadly premonition as the doors closed. She knew her husband would leave that carriage changed.


    "Stop! Young swordsman! Call out your master!" The woman cried out as she approached.


    "Stop. Do not approach. The invited guests may enter, but anyone else will have to maintain their distance." Avary answered as he drew his sword.


    CRACK! CRACK CRACK!


    The ground began to crack and some of those who were up close felt a stinging sensation from the raw force energy of Avary.


    The Codes and Blessings that Avary released when he drew out the sword had was immense. The power of a divergent True Cut made possible by his connection to the Coven was felt. The power of a Champion rippled out.


    Everyone stopped as they sensed the tremendous power and marveled that a young man had the might of a Champion.


    The escorts of the Viscounts were shocked and began to move back.

 Chapter 443 Building A New Identity

    Avary released his power and scared the people back. But the release of power was done for another reason. It wasn''t just to scare them. It was done to mask another power.


    Inside the carriage, the viscount nervously sat down as he kept gawking at the beautiful veiled woman.


    "My...dy... if I may be so bold to ask... Might I see your face? Your... amazing aura is just too-"


    STAB!


    A bloody sword stabbed the man''s chest.


    But before the man could shout, he was shocked as he saw a perfect beauty that had removed the veil.


    "[Blood Scourge]..." Mechiel activated an ancient vampire''s powers and drew out the memories of the Viscount as she drank her blood.


    The power of the Charm Fallen also allowed Mechiel to corrupt the man.


    "Be my Dhampir Ghouls..." Mechiel used her power to turn the man and enforce a contract that the poor viscount had no choice but to ept.


    "To think I would dirty myself and show my face to such lowly mortals... The things I do for love..." Mechiel sighed.


    "Lady Mechiel, did you find what you wanted?" Avary asked through the Dark Link.


    "Yes, Avary. His memories are important. He has a few Viscounts that he is associated with. I can easily draw in viscounts and even an Earl."


    "So... you''re not going to kill that man?" Avary asked.


    "How brave you are to question me." Mechiel chuckled.


    "I''m sorry, Lady Mechiel. But you''ve changed. I''m honestly scared of being assigned as yourpanion."


    "Scared or excited at the thought of being with me?"


    "For some strange reason, I''m more resistant to your charm. I believe what''s driving me to not even think of that is the power of my lord, and the fear and respect I have had for Lord Kyros. But I was sure it wasn''t enough. I wonder."


    "Oh? Perhaps this was why you were assigned to help me. Well, apart from Gregory who is already smitten with love, you are the less tempting one. So maybe there is that. Anyway, I want to kill this viscount. My nature despises such weak and ugly beings. But the vows I made to Kyros are quite strict. To think I am reduced to do this." Mechiel sighed.


    "I''m still surprised that neither you nor Scarlet would journey with him but would be assigned to conquering Lond kingdoms," Avary answered.


    "Londs? That was his immediate order, but youck Foresight. The implication is that we used our Lond Kingdom connections to conquer Minds with our beauty. And I''m sure that both of us are aiming to take some of the kingdoms beyond the Walls that Endured. And the prize is one night with him where we could do anything. It won''t work on me, but Scarlet is most likely going to do everything her imagination can to lock herself to Kyros. And that is an insult upon my Charm. As for why he didn''t take either of us, it''s still part of his n. He really knows how to keep me... longing for him."


    "Use the whole jealousy thing to keep your hearts with him... Wow. He sure knows how to y his cards. But why didn''t he bring Scarlet if he wanted you to get jealous?"


    "It''s too much. Bringing Scarlet will make me... insecure. I would chase after him and not follow his orders."


    "Oh... But I think Scarlet would chase after him though, aren''t you worried?"


    "No. Scarlet will indeed try to chase after him. But is chasing Kyros that easy? He''ll deceive and frustrate Scarlet. That''s also why he didn''t tell us where he was headed. Logically, he ought to go towards the Celestial Code. But there are other options. Tiamat, Hydron, the kingdoms we''ve visited in the Unrecorded Pages... He could even search through the many portals that lead to the other worlds!"


    "Do you know where he''s headed?" Avary decided to ask.


    "...I would bet on the Celestial Code. But you see, he wants me to chase him. He also will do things that will push my desires for him to the next level as he tries to permanently remove my current conflicting nature."


    "What do you mean?"


    "I''ve seen his heart. Scarlet knows of it too. The Fate that he seeks is clear. He seeks to fall in love with someone else."<sub> </sub>


    "Can he do that? I mean... he is basically in love with you, who holds the Charmed fallen."


    "He can easily do that..." Mechiel''s expression turned ugly.


    "He is Mysterion. He has made his experiments in the Unrecorded Pages. His next trick will resolve many things, which include reminding Fate that the Nephilim has awakened." Mechiel answered.


    Avary was confused, but Mechiel''s words opened his Foresight.


    "He''s building a new identity!"


    "Yes. With his powers of Mysterion, he will his, and Cminus''s memories." Mechiel trembled as she said this. She had already felt the severing of memories and had grown extremely agitated.


    "Scarlet and I will have to use our powers to get a kingdom and have enough resources to search for him across the Londs and the Hignds. It''s a fight of time. Should both of us fail the time trial, Kyros will have already fallen for another woman."


    As the caravan continued towards the human kingdoms, to the far eastern regions of the Minds where the branch extend to the great east, was the Mind kingdoms of the Uninvolved. For centuries, the kingdoms in this ce have detached themselves from the politics that happen between the Hignd and the Minds and the many wars within.


    A team of human knights, swordsmen, archers, and other jobs walked towards a strange castle that had mysteriously awakened and surfaced towards thend.


    The team had three Commanders, six Champions, dozens of Captains, and over a hundred warriors of all sorts. It was a powerful team that could even conquer kingdoms in the Londs! But among the official soldiers, there were seven others who did not belong to the toon and were enlisted warriors. Each were famous on their own right and added to the powerful team.


    The group made a camp right outside the strange castle that had appeared. A Commander in the Minds was a reputed individual and would have easily defeated any beast''s horde that would form in the great forests of the east. But reports of the death of the Commander and his entire toon made everyone worried.


    "Men! It''s over here. This is the ce where we lost contact with Commander Sereges. His life talisman shattered and we are going to investigate it. For this mission, we even enlisted the wandering Commanders and Champions... But you seven will have to follow ourmands. Commanders, you are free to move about at your leisure. Champions... You are assigned to the teams of my Commanders."


    "Commander Tyrs. What of Champions that can challenge and defeat Commanders?" A young woman among the seven asked.


    The group turned towards the woman whose face had always remained a mystery. The rumor was, that her battle was burned in a war that raged when she was young and her appearance was ugly and horrifying that forcing her to wear a mask.


    "Champion Angelica... Fine. You will have your leisure. But your Ardent Wings artifact will be useful. So stick close to the team or be at earshot of mymands in case we would need you to fly with us to explore more parts of the castle or require your fast flying speed. We have seen the traps of this castle. It''s quite dangerous." Commander Tyrs answered.


    Among the seven, one of the other threemanders nced at the Champion.


    "So this is her... Ardent Wing artifact? What a lie. To think the bloodline of Fafnir would just wander around the Minds... My Eldrich lords shall be pleased!" The Commander secretly thought.


    "Commander! The camp is set!"


    "Alright. Champion Erwin. Guard this ce. The rest, let''s move!" The Commander ordered and moved towards the dark castle that stood like a massive structure amid the deep, dark cliffs that surrounded it.


    "Everyone... Deploy our force bridge magic and-"


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, a strange power surged and even before the Commander could give an order, ck stone materialized that connected the castle.


    At the very center of the bridge that formed, was a clear, semi-transparent, bluish slime.


    "A slime? No? Is that... an Elemental Core?"


    "It''s both." The Commander frowned as he approached and drew his massive hammer.


    "Wee to Fortressvania! I couldn''t use castle since I''d probably get in trouble with Konami." The Slime spoke.

 Chapter 444 Building A Bastion Of Darkness

    The strange castle allowed a bridge to materialize out of nothing and then, a strange slime with powerful time magic radiating out of it appeared.


    "Is it a slime? Why does it feel like a Time/Space Core?" One of the Champions wondered.


    "It''s both." The Champion Angelica answered. She took a step forward.


    "Both?" Commander frowned as he approached and drew his massive hammer.


    "It''s a Slime that grew so strong it''s an elemental core. I heard that there is an ancient art that allowed cultivators to grow so strong they could create elemental cores that were alive."


    "Should we attack it?" Another Champion asked.


    "Attack it? It''s a Time/Space core! We must capture it!" Commander Tyrs insisted.


    "Try if you can, Commander. There is great magic in this castle. The entire space is being controlled by that Slime." Angelica answered.


    Suddenly, strange magic appeared around the ce that even the camp where some of the warriors were was affected and a strange barrier was erected.


    "Everyone! Move closer! We have been pulled inside this ce!" Commander Tyrs spoke.


    An archer frowned and shot an arrow at the barrier.


    "Fool! Don''t!"


    But it was toote.


    FWIP!


    The arrow was released and as it struck the barrier, dark magic shot back and attacked the archer!


    STAB!


    Arge dark de materialized and slew the archer.


    "Idiot! That barrier is strong! It''s harnessing powerful energy from inside of that castle!" The Commander cursed and called all men.


    "We have no choice but to press onwards." Another Commander spoke.


    The group turned towards the bridge where the slime stood on the path.


    "Let''s go! Don''t do anything stupid! This ce could kill us anytime! We are alive for a reason! Await themands of your Commanders and Champions!" Tyrs wielded his hammer and led the team.


    The entire toon slowly moved closer. Even those at the camps quickly followed as they feared the magic attack them.


    "Wee to Fortressvania! I couldn''t use ''castle'' in the name since I''d probably get in trouble with Konami." The Slime spoke.


    "It can talk?!" Tyrs eximed.


    "Thatdy dracanae just exined it, didn''t she? I''m alive. Obviously, I can speak." The slime answered.


    Angelica was shocked when she heard the slime''s words. How did the slime know of her real identity?!


    The Commander that was secretly a necromancer was also stunned. The term ''dracanae'', was not known in the Minds. Very few lived across the universe because of the many curses that befell the dragon races. And not only did the slime know of this, it easily discerned the bloodline of Angelica!


    While many were confused at the term, dracanae, no one paid attention to it since the oddity of the slime was right in front of them.


    "Who are you?"


    "I''m a vampire''s assistant... So I guess my name is Ygor? Hmm... That doesn''t sound right. I don''t think my name is Ygor. Err... About this... It''s all very vague. From what I can tell, I just woke up from a long sleep and have resurrected this castle. Well, technically, this is a mansion that I turned into a castle. Wait! That''s it! A scary mansion.... I could be Luigi! Alright! It''s settled! I''m Luigi!"


    ???


    Everyone had bizarre expressions as they gazed at the slime.


    "Anyway, this castle holds great power! The power of an Ancient Vampire lies buried within! Seek in the castle the great powers and take control of the Elemental Hydra! Who shall be the sessor of the great Vampire Ancient, Nightwing Devilmourne?" The Slime asked.


    "A Hydra?! An Ancient Vampire?!" The Commander eximed.


    More amazed was the Necromancer Commander.


    "An Ancient Vampire? Only such a person could control an Elemental Hydra. Is it an Okto-Khefali of legends? I must inform my lord!" The Necromancer Commander decided and reached for his message talisman. But as he grabbed it, he realized that his talisman had lost power.


    "Oops. I can''t have you guys do that." The Slime chuckled and the power of time and space rippled.


    Small explosions urred as all talismans andpasses suddenly began to break. Numerous devices that harnessed the power of spactial magic also began to break.


    Many others also noticed as they were about to report to their respective lords.


    "My talisman!" A Champion exined.


    "This ce is designed to be a testing ground. It was meant to pass on the legacy of Nightwing Devilmourne. As such, your kingdoms, and political affiliations mean nothing here. Only the strong shall inherit this ce. Time and Space are locked. All talismans have lost function. Be it a message talisman, warp talisman, signalpass, or the stronger Life Compass, I destroyed them all. But don''t worry! If you win this, you get the bastion of darkness that my master has built for you!" The Slime exined.


    Everyone had a wary expression as they saw the devices that could teleport them out lose power.


    "Wait! Among these men are people who are too weak for this challenge! If Commanders can die, then those who are not even Captains should be allowed to leave!" A Champion spoke. He turned to his team of untrained individuals who had just begun their careers as soldiers.<sub> </sub>


    "I am programmed to receive. I cannot do anything but lead you all into the depths of this castle. The castle shall test all of you. There are dark beasts inside that you must face. Those who survive to the end will be given this power." The slime answered.


    Many ugly expressions were revealed. Those who were wise wanted out of this terrifying nightmare.


    But as the rest worried, the Necromancer Commander was doing his best to hide his smile.


    "Good! I was bound to serve my master and give them any information of such power. But now... I cannot deliver this information to them and the best thing that I can do is fight to im this power myself!" The Necromancer chuckled. He was bound in service and could not betray his master. But now, he would have the means to do so. Gaining the power of a Vampire Ancient could help him be free from the clutches of the Eldrich!


    The Slime suddenly vanished as a strange portal opened before them.


    The more they saw the portal magic, the more they were shocked by the advanced technology and power of the castle.


    "This ce has magic that can match the Hignd kingdoms!" Commander Tyrs eximed.


    "Step inside, and go to the heart of the castle." The voice of the slime echoed from around them.


    "Wait! It could be a trap!" A Champion frowned.


    "Well, you guys can stay here if you want. But the Hydra is quite hungry." The slime chuckled.


    Suddenly, seven massive serpent-like heads rose up on both sides of the bridge they were in.


    "ROAR!"


    Sevenrge mouths quickly bit down. The speed of its charging maw was so fast that the captains were smashed to smithereens at the force of the tackle and didn''t even die from the bite!


    Blood and gore exploded all around the area and panic ensued.


    "Formations!" Commander Tyrs shouted as he saw the attacks of the Hydra.


    He charged towards one of the heads and smashed his hammer on the beast.


    BANG!


    The head of the Hydra was pushed back and the Hydra roared.


    The Champions and Commanders all began to deflect the heads of the beasts.


    "Everyone! Move into the portal!" Commander Tyrs shouted as he could sense the terrifying power of the Hydra.


    The damage he inflicted had already vanished as the bruises healed.


    Angelica fought against one head and used her wings to fly and strike the Hydra with her fist.


    An explosion of fire erupted as her armed gloves released tremendous force energy that caused the Hydra to be pushed back.


    But as the group was fighting, an Eight head appeared. The head was like a pir of pure darkness condensed and only the red eyes gave away its form. It opened its mouth and darkness began to eat and spread out the entire area.


    The crowd could no longer see anything beyond the darkness as they were enveloped inside.


    "AHHH!"


    The sounds of screams echoed out as the other heads used their darkness to feast on the dead.


    "Get everyone inside!" Tyrs shouted as he quickly fought off the heads.


    The Champions and Commanders formed an encirclement around the portal to let the rest of the men move inside. But suddenly, the portal began to close!


    "Go!" Tyrs shouted as he fend off two heads at the same time and made the Champions move inside.


    Soon, only Tyrs and Angelica were left as they were the only ones who could deal with the maws of the heads.


    "Angelica! Go ahead!" Tyrs shouted as he summoned his might and swung his hammer on one of the heads that mawed at him.


    BANG!


    Angelica rushed inside to the closing portal and Tyrs quickly ran towards it.


    But as he was about to approach, a shadow stood in front of him and punched out!


    BANG!


    Tyrs was thrown back and several heads rushed at him and bit on his limbs.


    "AHHH!" Tyrs shouted but kept his Force energy to resist the attacks. He then saw the entrance of the portal and could see a shadowy figure. He recognized it! It was one of his Commanders!


    "You...!"


    "Commander Tyrs... You are quite strong. I admit, even I can''t defeat you! So I''ll ask these Hydra''s to help. A necromancer is a worthy heir to this castle, don''t you think?"


    "You! Commander Menks! You are Necromancer?!"


    The shadow dispersed and moved into the small hole of the portal and vanished without sight.

 Chapter 445 Building A New Team

    The betrayal of Commander Menks came as a surprise to Tyrs. He nced at the closing portal. His thoughts were not for his life but for those who moved inside. With a trusted Commander to be a Necromancer, then they would all be betrayed and killed!


    "You traitor! You traitor!" Tyrs roared hoping that his words would reach the other side as the portal finally closed.


    The eight heads of the Hydra appeared and surrounded Tyrs but Tyrs kept shouting and shouting.


    "Menks is a necromancer! Menks is a necromancer!" Tyrs shouted and shouted.


    He felt a harrowing pain as he looked and realized that the portal had closed.


    "I... have failed everyone..." Tyrs trembled and epted his death.


    But as the four heads bit on his four limbs, the four others circled and had a strange expression.


    "... This can''t be right. I can''t kill him! Hey! Luigi! Or whoever your name is!" The Hydra called out.


    "It... can talk?!" Tyrs was shocked. How can such a monster speak like a human?!


    WARP!


    The Slime appeared on top of one of the heads of the Hydra.


    "What is it, Hydra?"


    "Don''t Hydra me! I have a name too! We just woke up but I''m pretty sure I''m someone awesome!"


    "Alright... Then what awesome name does the Hydra have?" The Slime asked.


    "Call me Reginald."


    "...Reginald? That''s what you''re going for? All the names of the universe and you chose this ssy, rich-kid name?"


    "Respect, please!" The Hydra demanded.


    "You look more like a Eugene in my opinion."


    "Eugene? That''s the name you want for the great me? I''ll tell you this much, I ain''t no Eugene! Eugene sounds like a guy who has terrible bad luck and suffering!"


    "Whatever, Reggie."


    Tyrs was confused as the two spoke. But even more confusing was that he was defeated by a hydra who has a very unremarkable nickname, Reggie.


    "It''s like this... I was nning on tearing this dude''s four limbs and offering him up to Lord Nightwing to be eaten. But for some reason, I can''t kill him."


    "Eaten?! Wait! Your Master is alive?!"


    "Well, no. That''s why we brought people here. He will feast and eat on everyone."


    "But... but... your ims earlier?!"


    "Really? You expect a vampire ancestor to willinglyy down his powers? Why would he do that?"


    It was only then that Tyrs realized how insane that suggestion was!


    "...Why? A bewitching spell?"


    "No. I have an ability called [Deception]. With it, I lured you guys in to die like a chicken to KFC." The Slimeughed.


    "Anyway, Reggie. You sure you can''t kill him?''


    "I''ve been trying to! But I can bite, I can''t use force energy, or use my magic breath attacks on him!"


    Tyrs heard the Hydra''s words and tried to pull himself out. But it was no use.


    "Please, kid. Each head is as strong as a Commander despite my Champion rank. You guys stand no chance." One of Reginald''s sneered.


    "Hm... You can''t kill him? Let me try." The Slime focused and powerful swirling vortex that appeared out of space appeared around the Slime likerge icicles.


    Tyrs saw the powers and was petrified. The slime had amazing magic that could match a Commander!


    "...You''re right! I can''t kill him too!" The slime eximed.


    "Let me try harder..." The slime focused.


    Several forms of magic appeared, all deadly and diverse!


    The space vortex took in many different forms like a weapon as the slime showcased all of his attacks.<sub> </sub>


    Swords that harnessed spatial rifts appeared and dispersed. Needles of great entropy and time decay were created. Various forms of magic appeared as the Slime listed and called out all of his magic attacks.


    "Spatial Sword! No... Time Needle! Nope... Spatial Crush! Ugh... Can''t do it!" The slime grew more frustrated the more magic he tried to bring out.


    "Time Vortex! Slime Entropy Poison! Spatial True Cut! Spatial Copse! Slime Hentai Tentacles! Wait, what? How did that get in there...?" Luigi stopped the attack that was about to hit Tyrs.


    "Whew... That was close." Luigi sighed and went on to make more attacks.


    The slime shouted numerous attacks and eventually fell silent in defeat.


    "Hmm... Why? Let me check the logs."


    "The logs? What logs?"


    "...It''s a programmer thing..." The slime fell silent and it began to mutter in a low voice as if it was reading something.


    "Ah! There it is! It says here... we can''t kill him because he has ''a pure heart forged by Fate''. So... Yeah. We can''t kill him."


    "Oh? So this guy is a Fate Challenger! I get it... Hm... What''s a Fate Challenger and why do I know what it is?" Reginald was confused.


    "...You can''t kill me?" Even Tyrs was amazed.


    "Yeeaahhh... Look, we thought we were supposed to kill everyone. But it seems our source code has many limitations. It says here that you are a really good guy. This fortress has a way of checking the hearts. Earlier, you sought the safety of all your allies and proved yourself to be this very great and strong warrior who is bent on justice and all that crap... So you get to live. Anyway, lock this guy up, Reginald. Try to cure his wounds. I still have this escape room to manage and wait for everyone to start killing themselves."


    "Why are you doing this?! If I''m to be spared, why are you killing everyone else?!"


    "Part of the reason is to awaken our lord Nightwing. He needs a lot of blood and a lot of deaths. But based on the logs that I just read, it looks like my lord is looking for people who are of Fate or people who are Game Changers. Our lord is creating a new team to defy Destiny who has destined his death." The Slime vanished once more.


    Tyrs was stunned as he heard this and he was being pulled into the depths of the darkness.


    The eyes of the Hydra were looking intently at Tyrs and an evil expression appeared.


    "I can''t kill you... but I believe... I can kill my boredom with THAT deadly game!" Reginald''sugh echoed in the darkness.


    The head of the fire harnessed a strange power and bit on Tyrs.


    "Brimstone Curse!"


    "AHHHH!" Tyrs felt great pain as the power of Brimstone surged within him. And his reason and sense of fear were being reced with a strange desire and joy.


    Tyrs''s heart began to race as he could not imagine what horrors he would face and why he was being cursed with a powerful spell that was driving him happy.


    Eventually, the weak, but joyful Tyrs found himself in a dark room but light appeared as one of the Hydra''s heads lit up with mes.


    And around him, was arge tform with strange markings on the ground. At the very center was a drawing of an old man with a ck hat, a white mustache, and what appeared to be a walking stick.


    Tyrs saw many square markings that didn''t make any sense.


    "Boardwalk... Water Works... Railroads? What is this ce?"


    "Yeah... So it''s like this. Before the firstmander came here, and before you guys arrived, I and Luigi were so bored! So we used the castle''s powers and created this ce. So the rules are simple... We purchase properties using y money and take turns rolling the dice and buying whatever we have..."


    "Wait... This is...a board game?"


    "Yeah."


    "I thought you said deadly game...?"


    "Oh... This game is very deadly! That slime dude got all the hotels for the blue and green ones on thest game! I tell you! Whenever I move to thatst side of the board, I have to pee every time I roll the dice! But I did it! I beat him with the light blue and the brown ones!" Reginaldughed.


    Meanwhile...


    The portal began to close and Champion Angelica was thest to rush inside.


    But right before the portal closed in, the crowd heard the words of Tyrs...


    "You traitor! You traitor!" Tyrs voice was magically sent over as Menk''s shadow opened the rift and allowed sound to pass through.


    Everyone was shocked at what they heard. They all turned to Angelica and many nced at her in shock.


    But unknown to them, a shadow passed through the portal and returned to Commander Menks.


    "What did you do?!" One of the nearby Commanders roared at Angelica.

 Chapter 446 Building A Feast

    Angelica was confused at the events that had urred. But everyone is ring at her and had brought out their weapons to brandish against her.


    "Answer the question! What did you do?" Commander Menks brought out his daggers, which were his weapon of choice.


    The daggers were glowing with thick ice energy as Menks drew closer.


    Many of the Champions and the rest approached.


    "I did not kill him!" Angelica shouted but her weapon was drawn.


    "Kill her!"


    "Interesting. I didn''t expect betrayal to happen. A necromancer infiltrating the ranks... That makes sense."


    The slime appeared as a bright light appeared.


    The crowd was silenced. The Slime was the lord of the castle and thest time he appeared, a Hydra rampaged and killed many of the,


    The slime slowly floated down andnded right on top of Angelica.


    Angelica felt the terrifying power of the Slime and could feel tremendous magic.


    "What an interesting turn of events. But s, a necromancer isn''t to our liking." Luigi chuckled.


    "Necromancer?! Angelica?!" A Champion who had known Angelica the longest eximed.


    "Wait! Lord Slime! Stop making up stories! I am not a necromancer!"


    "You could be, or you could not be. I do know the identity of the Necromancer... But I want this game to proceed with fairness. And while the necromancer will have the chance to be the king of this ce, I will make it a little bit hard for that erm... person. I can''t kill the necromancer, since it is against the rules set on me though. So... I''ll tell you all information about this necromancer. This traitor will try to kill the stronger members of this group. Those that have the highest chance of winning, this necromancer will secretly attack." Just like your precious Commander Tyrs who now suffers a Fate worse than death!" Luigiughed.


    Menks was startled. He was silent and nced at the Slime. Everyone began to talk to each other but Menk''s thoughts were racing.


    "He didn''t expose me yet. He disliked my methods but is giving me a chance!" Menks thought.


    "Then is that woman the necromancer?!" One of the wandering Champions who joined the expedition asked.


    "It''s not me!" Angelica shouted.


    "A monstrous being that hides her face! You are a necromancer!"


    "Listen! The slime knows the true identity of the Necromancer! But at the start, he already exposed who I am!" Angelica insisted.


    "Monstrous being? You never showed them your face?" The Slime was amazed.


    Angelica was surprised at Luigi''s statement.


    "Hmm... You have your reasons... But I believe it''s more entertaining if I do this..."


    Suddenly, Luigi and the helmet that Angelica wore vanished!


    The helmet had numerous magics and bindings that made it very difficult to remove. But now, Luigi used his time magic and took it away.


    A beautiful face was revealed and everyone was shocked.


    The beauty that Angelica had was breathtaking and many trembled in shock.


    "Beautiful..." Amander eximed.


    Those who served under Tyrs, be it Commander, Champion, or those of low level gazing at Angelica.


    "A beauty that makes princesses pale inparison! I know you...! The lost princess of the Hignds!" One of the recruited Commanders recognized her from the stories told.


    Angelica had an ugly expression as she nced around and could see the lust and desires of men. The anger and fear that she carried were slowly returning.


    "Since it''se to this... I''ll just survive! This ce isn''t ordinary... I''ll kill everyone if I have to!" Angelica decided.


    "As you can see, I am no necromancer! I am what the Slime called me earlier! A Dracanae! I have the blood of a dragon!" Angelica quickly removed her robes and revealed that the magical winged artifact, was in fact, a part of her body!


    "I have powerful Force energy which is why my strength can match Commanders! But I do not practice the dark arts!" Angelica exined.


    "...She''s right! The Slime Lord said it, didn''t he? The necromancer is trying to kill the strongest one! First was Commander Tyrs! And now... it''s her! The traitor somehow had the power of necromancy to attack Tyrs while he was on the other side!" Menks eximed.


    "I think it''s still her! The Slime Lord ultimately wants one winner. He could be lying and wishes that the Necromancer wins! If it''s not her, why did Commander Tyrs shout ''traitor''?" A Champion questioned.


    Menks''s expression turned to that of shock.


    "He''s... He''s right! Tyrs knew who the traitor was!" Menks realized this truth and turned back to Angelica and everyone with him.


    "Wait!" Another Commander spoke.<sub> </sub>


    "What if the Necromancer didn''t move into this ce? If the necromancer has the power of the darkness then he could have stayed on the other side! He could have easily escaped with dark magic! But he waited for all of us to be here!" The Champion spoke.


    Angelica was quiet to see the defense of this Champion. But she knew the driving factor for this Champion to heroically take this stand was because of her beauty.


    "To think that which I hated would be my salvation..." Angelica sighed secretly.


    "Think about it, friends! The necromancer is trying to kill the strongest ones! He stayed behind to kill Tyrs and used it to me Angelica and hid! In this scenario, the necromancer does not need to appear to this side! He fled on his own!" The Champion pointed out an excellent scenario.


    "...He''s right. Besides, I''ve known Angelica for so long. Although I''ve never known of her identity, I know she is a noble warrior." Finally, thest of the survivingmanders spoke up!


    Menks turned towards the Commander and saw that the Commander had a strange look at Angelica.


    "Idiots! Driven by lust!" Menks secretly cursed as he saw everyone being drawn to a sudden desire to ally.


    "I''ll kill herst then... The slime lord must be doing this for a specific purpose. But what? Why is he going through all these tests? Vampire Ancients would never leave their legacy... What exactly is going on in this castle?" Menks began to think and observe the energy around him as everyone was discussing and proving Angelica''s innocence.


    "Hm? What''s that?!" Menks sensed terrifying darkness surging out. It was so potent that even he would be driven mad by this darkness!


    RUMBLE... RUMBLE..


    At that moment, the ground began to tremble.


    "Weapons ready!" Menks called out. He was among the highest official in the group now that Tyrs was dead. And as ranks no longer had value in this ce, he instinctively told everyone to fight.


    "I must lead this team to fight my way and im the heritage. This Angelica seems to despise her beauty. If I ignore it, she should respect me and possibly listen to my words." Menks schemed.


    "Angelica! You may be a beautiful princess, but here, you are a Champion! So fight! Everyone! We do not have time to discuss who the Necromancer is. But Champion Urion has brought up a good theory! The Necromancer may not be among us! So we have to fight as one! Commanders serving Tyrs! Give your orders! We have to leave in case the Hydra returns!" Menks shouted.


    The Commanders quickly realized that they were not organized and followed Menks''s advice and gave orders to prepare and create a formation.


    Angelica could not help but look at Menks in amazement.


    Menks saw it and was relieved.


    "I was right... This should work." Menks decided as he saw the group follow his advice and Angelica''s expression.


    The group began to move out in files. They were wary as the quaking was bing more intense but they knew that fleeing and rushing in a panic could lead to death. Who knows what trapsy ahead of them?


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, a massive red crystal sudden emerged out of the ground and the entire room and began to pulse out great red energy.


    "What is that?!" A Champion eximed.


    Menks saw it and shivered. He knew what this was.


    "A Vampire Chrysalis! The Vampire Ancient is not dead! This castle does not have a tomb! This ce... isn''t something meant to leave a legacy! It''s a trap! We are food! The Slime Lord was building a feast worthy of his lord! We are food to be offered to this vampire!" Menks cursed and realized the intention of the Slime.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Several smaller red chrysalis appeared like pirs of red to pink diamond.


    Everyone was confused as to what they were.


    "Everyone! Let''s get out of this ce!" Menks urged.


    "Wait! That crystal! That energy is radiating with a great amount of energy! It could be valuable!" One of the Champions shouted.


    "He''s right. Commander Menks. We have to wait."


    Menks was trembling and wanted to flee.


    "These fools! Blinded by greed! Thatrge chrysalis should be where the Vampire Ancient sleeps! These smaller ones... are his minions!" Menks cursed.


    "Everyone...! We should follow Menks''s words! I have a bad feeling about this." Angelica suddenly voiced out and quickly moved back.


    "Let''s go now! I shall be the vanguard! Who will apany me?" Angelica charged to the front of their march and suddenly, many followed.


    "I shall protect you, mdy!"


    "Let''s go!"


    "Mdy! Allow my speed to go ahead of you so that... AHHHH!" A Scout captain rushed in the front and suddenly shrieked in pain as several dark, ghost-like creatures pounced over the captain and bit and stabbed him.


    "Wraiths! Shadow Ghouls! Everyone! Prepare to battle! Beings of the darkness are here!" Menks quickly ordered.

 Chapter 447 Building A Body

    Angelica charged up front but was also stabbed by the Shadow Ghouls in the surprise attack.


    Angelica''s form was too strong that her defenses allowed her to resist the attack of the ghouls and released a powerful Force energy that contained fire essence and purged the Shadow Ghouls from the extreme heat.


    Angelica cursed and began to fight as her entire form began to radiate with a yellow aura that was her Force energy.


    The famed Sword me Champion began to fight but now, her beauty was revealed.


    But while she fought at the vanguard horde of shade ghouls rushed in and attacked the rest.


    Their paper-thin form that was impervious to most physical attacks proved a problem, but the Mind forces were more equipped to fight it.


    Elemental magics and artifacts were used against the many shade creatures that were rushing toward them.


    "Fire Enchant!" A Champion mage used her magic to enchant the entire team and their weapons all glowed with fire magic.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The shes and stabbed released a Champion-level enchantment that easily killed the shadow ghouls. The stronger members of the team fought the shadow wraiths.


    But the trembling of the earth continued and many started to get frightened fearing the Hydra''s return.


    The forces at the back of the group had their weapons drawn and were ready to fight.


    CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!


    The massive red pirs that were glowing began to break.


    Inside the pirs were the bodies of familiar men. Some of these men had missing limbs and others had deep cuts and wounds all over their bodies.


    "Commander Sereges!" A Commander instantly recognized one of the bodies that appeared inside the red pir. It was the same Commander that disappeared exploring this ce.


    The Commander''s eyes opened and the people that once served him also opened their eyes.


    The entire dark underground area began to have glowing red eyes appearing under them.


    "What''s going on?!" Commander Menks saw it and cursed.


    Several energy formation circles began to glow right above the red pir and time magic was activated.


    At once, the dead soldiers rushed with great speed and began to cross the distance.


    BOOM!


    The leaping rush of the Undead Commander Sereges created sonic booms as the speed of his rush surpassed the speed when he was alive.


    "Defend!" A Commander rushed to the back andmanded his champions and captains to form ranks.


    The group was able to organize itself quickly and bolster the defenses.


    "Commander Sereges has two Champions serving him! We outnumber him and fight!" The Commander ordered and even Menks was forced to take part in the fight.


    The two groups met and the brutal battle began.


    The undead gave no concern to their body and charged in recklessly and went for the kill.


    The Force Walls that were deployed were quickly destroyed and the mad rush of the undead had reached them.


    BANG! BANG!


    "They''re stronger than when they were alive! Be careful!" A Champion warned as he locked himself inbat with another Champion who was once his friend.


    A Commander shed out as the Undead Champion leaped at him and severed the two. But the two halves rushed in and bit down on the Commander.


    The Commander cursed and tried to push the Champion back, but the undead Commander Sereges rushed at him and swung his sword.


    SLASH!


    The cut was made cleanly and a Commander was instantly killed!


    "Commander!" The Champions charged in to avenge their Commander but the reckless charge of Commander Sereges pushed them back.


    With two battles urring on both sides, and the appearance of many Shadow Wraiths, Shadow Ghouls, and other creatures of darkness, the side of the living was slowly losing.


    Strange darkness began to break out and Menks saw it.


    "Avoid that darkness!" Menks saw it and warned. But it was toote, and everyone was busy fighting.


    The darkness moved in and affected many of the soldiers who were fighting and the Dark Maddening curse began to affect them.


    The strange darkness was affecting many and a Champion who was among the wandering teams was the first to be affected. He nced at Angelica who was fighting and his lust took over.


    "You are mine!" He dered and charged toward Angelica.


    Angelica heard it and saw that the Champion was rushing at her with a disgusting expression.


    "Champion! Do not press further!" Angelica warned but the Champion did not listen.


    Angelica cursed as he saw that the Champion would not stop and she wielded her fist and used her wing to make a huge p that caused her to fly backward.


    BANG!


    Angelicaunched a punch that struck the Champion squarely on the chest.<sub> </sub>


    The Champion was thrown back in the attack.


    It was then that Angelica noticed the ranks that were affected by the darkness had begun to act strangely. More were rushing towards her and some began to kill their allies!


    "Kill those affected by the darkness! You cannot save them! Retreat to the center and form ranks!" Menks gave his orders and the survivors began to gather in the center.


    All the other Champions and the Commanders moved and fought to stabilize the ranks.


    "We have to get out of here! The heartbeat! Can''t you hear it?!" Menks shouted.


    "Heartbeat?" A Commander asked.


    "So I wasn''t the only one to have heard it. Since the appearance of the first gigantic rep crystal, a faint heartbeat could be heard. But now! It''s getting louder and louder! Somethingsing!" Angelica warned.


    LUB DUB! LUB DUB! LUB DUB!


    The heartbeat was getting louder and louder as many of the living started to die.


    "The ground!" A Champion warned.


    "It''s absorbing the blood!" He pointed at the ground and saw how their dead allies no longer had a pool of blood under them.


    The undead warriors didn''t feast on this blood as they should have.


    "This entire ce... is a sacrificial chamber! We''ve been tricked! That''s why Hydra didn''t kill us all!" Angelica realized what was happening.


    "Everyone! Move out! Every man for himself! Leave this ce!" Menks ordered as he felt the power surge towards the red crystal.


    CRACK!


    Menks and Angelica heard something break from the distance and a terrifying dread fell on them both.


    "The vampire never meant to give us his legacy! We were tricked to stay and fight here to be offered as a sacrifice! This ce is using our blood for the vampire to rebuild his body! If we stay here, we will die!" Menk rushed out and used his powers to create a powerful Force sh.


    "Run!" Menks shouted as a path opened. He was the first to move out and many began to follow.


    Angelica had no choice but she flew with her great speed and the Champions and Commanders did the same.


    The Captains and the rest were startled and shouted in panic.


    "Commander! Save us!"


    "Help!"


    "Don''t leave me!"


    But the Commanders and Champions paid no heed but focused on their retreat.


    Some of the Captains immediately abandoned the ranks and ran.


    With no Champions and Commanders aiding them, the ranks copsed as the undead Commander Sereges easily overpowered and killed them.


    Menks was at the very front of the crowd and kept on cutting and killing the Shadow Wraiths and Ghouls that met his path. He could see the end of the tunnel and saw lights at the very end of the dark hall.


    He began to attack the ceiling.


    "Commanders! Champions! Bury this ce!" Menks ordered as he sent numerous attacks to the ceiling and causing the rocks and floors to copse.


    STAB! SLASH!


    Angelica followed and used her flight to make a massive cut on the top.


    Her sword pierced through the stony ceilings and cut its way up front. The rest began tounch attacks behind them and caused the entire ceiling to copse.


    CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!


    "No! I''m still here! Don''t attack yet!" A soldier pleaded. He had retreated immediately and survived the undead and shadow threat. But now, he saw the stones copse and blocked his path.


    "Help!" He shouted but no one came to help him.


    "AHHH!" The soldiers behind him were caught by the undead and were starting to die one after the other.


    The soldier felt his knees weaken and he stumbled down.


    "I''m... dead..." He lost the will to fight and closed his eyes to await his death.


    ...


    ...


    "Hm? Isn''t that one of the soldiers that served me?"


    "Yeah. It''s faint, but that guy is a person of Fate. Luigi must have sent him over. Let me inject some brimstone on him and we can do a three-person game. This one is getting boring since you don''t want to trade my pink properties for your red ones."


    "I''m not an idiot, Hydra. Why will I get the Pink when two Red properties are mine? You get the pink, I get the red!"


    "But don''t you like pink? Red is more my color. I''ll throw in a Railroad and you can have it."


    "What will I do with one Railroad?! Let''s just have a three-person game. Hey soldier! Report!"


    "???" The soldier opened his eyes.

 Chapter 448 Building An Elaborate Trap

    Out of all the fighters that ventured into this dark castle, only sixteen remained. The toon of the soldiers originally had threemanders eachmanding two Champions who led their toons consisting of several ten men teams led by a Captain.


    But out of this group, only one Commander, four champions, and seven Captains made it out of the copsing cave.


    Out of the seven hired wanderers, only two Commanders and two Champions remained.


    The Commander looked in horror at the copsed cave and was horrified at what he did. Menks started it, but he added to the damages that caused the entire cave to copse.


    "My... my men...!" The Commander fell.


    The Champions stood in silence as they nced at the pile of rocks and could hear the cries of terror and pain that continued to echo out from deep within. They could hear people who were caught in the copse of the cave and even more who were fighting.


    "Commander... Hel...p..." A voice cried out.


    BANG!


    Angelica suddenly attacked Menks and punched him towards the wall.


    "You''re the necromancer!" Angelica shouted.


    "What do you know of this ce?!" Angelica demanded.


    Menks was caught off guard and the sword of Angelica was now pressed onto him and the punch created a destabilization of his Force and Magic cirction preventing him from casting magic or using Force.


    Menks spat out a mouthful of blood.


    "Tell me!" Angelica demanded.


    "What... usations are you-"


    "Don''t lie! My beauty is not just my face! I am not of humankind though I look the part. I am a half-breed between a Dracanae and a siren!" Angelica revealed.


    "You were not affected by my natural charm! That alone proves you practice the dark arts! You are a half-dead man! You also knew of things before everyone else did! You knew that the ce was not a training ground! Ever since you were unaffected by my beauty, I knew that something was strange with you and paid careful attention to your expressions! You knew that this ce was a sacrificial chamber before anyone else did!" Angelica revealed.


    "She''s right! He suggested that we leave the ce first!"


    "Exactly! I used my beauty to make everyone follow his suggestion because I believed that he knew something! What was that down there?!" Angelica asked.


    "Tell us!" A Champion drew his weapon towards Menks.


    Menks''s expression changed from that of anger to a sneer.


    "How smart of you, Angelica. But as expected of the Fafnir bloodline. How are you rted to Champion Supreme Pyrekaiser Fafnir?" Menks asked.


    Angelica was stunned at his words.


    "Answer my question!" Angelica demanded.


    "Stop threatening me. I may have been your enemy, but you know that down this ce, we are but food to that Vampire! You need me, just as I need you!" Menks boasted and even though he had no strength he forcibly pushed his body and Angelic had no choice but to withdraw her strength or Menks would suffer grave wounds.


    Seeing Angelica retreat, Menks smiled.


    "You sure are smart. At least this gives us hope in escaping this hell hole. To answer your question, I knew nothing of this ce before we came here. I also fell for that slime''s lies and killed Commander Tyrs. Had I known it would be like this, I would have at least kept him alive untilter! You are correct! I was the one who betrayed Commander Tyrs. I threw him back in with my [Dark Shadow] magic."


    "Dark shadow? Isn''t that a bit redundant? I mean, is there a light shadow?" A voice was heard and everyone was startled and turned towards the side.


    The dreaded Slime Lord was there once more.


    "Luigi! You tricked us!" Menks shouted in anger.<sub> </sub>


    "Eh? You tracked them too. You killed off Commander Tyrs. That dude was quite strong and you might have managed to defeat the undead Commanders down there with his leadership and Foresight. Don''t me me that you''re in this mess." Luigi chuckled.


    "Why are you here?!" Angelica asked.


    "I''m sure you guys found out the inconsistencies to our power. I''m sure you guys noticed that we have been putting on a facade. As you guessed, we were never meant to give you a legacy. You were to be offered as food for our lord. And our Lord has just risen thanks to the wonderful offering of Commanders and Champions." The Slime Lord chuckled.


    "You monster!" The Commander raged as he drew his weapon and charged at Luigi.


    WARP!


    The Slime disappeared.


    "I still have power over this space, you know. We are weak, but you won''t be able to kill me so easily." The slime''s voice echoed out.


    "In any case, I''m just trying to make things fun for my lord and give you guys clues. Enjoy your meal, boss!" The voice of the slime vanished.


    But at that moment, Menks''s expression turned strange.


    "Wait... What did he mean by that? They are weak?!" Angelica cursed.


    "Your starting to realize it now? The lord of this castle and even that slime isn''t as strong as we believed them to be! When we arrived inside that chamber, I understood what was happening. There is an Ancient Vampire here. But it''s weak. It just awakened. That''s why it didn''t kill us all and offered us that room! Even that Hydra was not as strong as we believed! We panicked and tried to flee inside this ce, but if we fought that Hydra head-on, we would have won. It used its strongest ability when it showed itself. We naturally thought that was just his average attacks. But it was definitely its aces! I knew because my shadow saw it all. This ce used lies to trick us into our current situation. That slime lord was building an borate trap to catch us and kill us one by one! It even used its magic to make us kill each other!" Menks exined. His shadow stood up and it was like a dark clone of himself.


    Everyone was startled at the sight of the necromancer revealing his form.


    "I know the darkness! So I know what this vampire ancient intends to do! We were all tricked into entering the ce with the magic walls, barriers, and time-distorting magic of the slime! But that was already most of their capacity! They lured us here and killed a few of us while the ground absorbed the blood that spilled and took the life essence of those dying! It was all to awaken therge crystal we saw! The room was designed to be a battleground! The Hydra couldn''t kill us all outside! He had to move inside that ce for the offering to work! See the limitations?! See the weakness! I tried to get us to leave that ce because therges red crystal was a Vampire Chrysalis! A hardened cocoon of blood to fuel a vampire who''s asleep!"


    "Then that chamber would take the blood of the fallen. Why did you make us attack the cave to copse it!? We could have rushed here and held the line to let our men go! You traitorous wretched excuse of a man! I''ll kill you now-"


    "Stop!" Angelica shouted and silenced the Commander.


    "He had to copse the mountain. The heartbeat. I heard it too. It must have been the Vampire Ancient''s heartbeat. Everyone, this necromancer is indeed our enemy. But even I didn''t kill him because, in this ce, we need all the strength we can get. The Vampire Ancient had awakened. I felt a terrifying threat behind us."


    "So?! His slime is a time and space expert! There was no need to copse the mountain since the slime could just teleport his lord here! Who knows?! Maybe the vampire ancient will teleport here after it feasts on everyone there!"


    "Wrong. If he could teleport and kill us, he would have appeared here already! But he hasn''t! He has just awakened and his strength is weak! I led us to copse the cave so that the strongest of us would not get eaten. Those souls down there are not worthparing to the food up here! But because the vampire ancient has not made his move, it means he cannot directly challenge all of us now!" Menks exined.


    "He can''t?" A Champion asked again as he couldn''t believe his words.


    "I am Necromancer. I know thews of such a thing. This Vampire Ancient would have been as good as dead. He can reim his power but it will be done through the offering. If he has a Commander''s strength he would have to at least eat four or five Commanders unless that Commander is like me, a Necromancer who has tremendous death energy. Don''t you see, you fools? If I die here, you will all die because I am worth five Commanders to him! So suck up your anger. I led you all to copse the mountain above so that we can escape! Which I suggest we do now! He might chase us and use more schemes to kill us!"


    Menks began to walk out.


    "...It''s no use. When we copsed the mountain, we had already failed."


    "What?" Menks asked.


    "I felt... an unnatural power move in. The Vampire Ancient is not down there. He is up here."


    "What do you mean?!"


    Suddenly, Luigi appeared again and his slime form had changed. He maintained a simr round shape but had two legs and what looked like a giant eye.


    "What Angelica means is... there is an impostor among us."


    WARP!


    Luigi disappeared again.

 Chapter 449 Building Up A Good Climax

    Luigi''s words left a chilling fear on everyone.


    Everyone began to nce at each other.


    "An impostor among us?!" Amander eximed.


    "Menks. Is it possible?" Angelica asked.


    Menks had an ugly expression.


    "...Yes. To a vampire ancient, shape-shifting is an easy task. If he managed to kill a person, be it a Commander, Champion, or Captain, he could easily transform and take his form. Ancient Vampires should have the ability to see the memories through the lifeblood of beings. So even if we interview and torture everyone here, the impostor can easily recount the past of this person. Don''t trust everyone." Menks exined.


    "Then it''s you! You''re him!" The Commander shouted towards Menks.


    "How? Of everyone here, many witnesses can state that I didn''t die. I and Angelic rushed to the forefront of the battle and copsed into the cave! If you ask me, the most suspicious ones are the Captains!" Menks turned towards the Captains.


    "Us?! You betrayed Commander Tyrs! The strongest among us! How do we know if you are not been part of this plot since the start?! What if you are here to help the vampire kill us!" A Captain challenged.


    "That''s right!" A Champion drew his weapons and many others followed.


    "Stop!" Angelica suddenly spoke as she spread her wings and caused Brute energy to appear. She was trembling. She had been immersed in the battlefield and fought through many trials. But the psychological warfare being employed in this ce and the faint dark energy she had been in contact with were pushing her fears up. She instinctively stood up to defend herself against Menks.


    "Why are you defending against him, Angelica?!" A Commander challenged.


    "A Necromancer, I can kill! But a Vampire Ancient I can''t kill alone. He can''t be the traitor! If he was, he would have let us stay underground! If he is the traitor, it doesn''t make sense for him to lead us out when it made more sense for us to fight and die down there!" Angelica exined.


    RUMBLE! RUMBLE!


    The underground cave began to quiver.


    "The undead are pushing their way up!" A Commander cursed.


    "...Let''s move out now!"


    "Wait! Assume a formation! There are monsters above this ce! The Vampire ancient and the slime lord chose this ce which was full of monsters to act as natural guards! He even leaked out of the darkness to corrupt the monsters and make them wild!" Menks warned.


    The Commander red at Menks.


    "Commander! Listen to him! We can all kill each otherter. But we have to keep analyzing our steps! Menks cannot be the Vampire Ancient. He is a traitor but he isn''t our biggest problem now!" Angelica urged.


    "Fine! Line formation! Menks! You take the lead. I and Angelica will be positioned at the back. Four Champions up front and two at the back. All you seven Captains stay in the middle! Move out!" The Commander rushed out.


    "Everyone! State your name and rank!" Angelica called out.


    "Starting with you, Necromancer! Tell us your true identity!"


    "I am Dereven Menks. Commander of-"


    "Introducing, Necromancer Xeretek Menks. Bonded Servant of Eldrich Charsik. He enjoys beheading mortals and creating undead summons with the corpses of those he killed. He has not one, not two, but five... five undead summons at the Champion level! Truly an exemry necromancer of his ilk." A voice began to broadcast around them.


    "What?!" Menks was stunned as he heard this.


    "Servant of Eldrich Charsik?! You serve an Eldrich?!" The Commander at the back raged.


    "So the Eldrich is back... my worries were true." Angelica sighed.


    "You know?"


    "That''s why I came to thesends in the first ce! But now is not the time! Menks! If you have an undead summons, bring them out now! That way we know you can''t betray us!" Angelica shouted.


    "Damn that slime! How did he know?!" Menks cursed as he brought out a strange small box and crushed it.


    The moment the box was broken, Time/Space magic exploded out and five humanoid creatures appeared.


    All of them were corpses of famed warriors whose names had be heroes within the Uninvolved regions of the Minds.


    "You! You killed Champion Thessus!"


    "All the more proof that I don''t serve the master of this castle!'' Menks berated.


    "Next up, is everyone''s favorite bachelorette! Angelica Fafnir is the illegitimate daughter of Pyrekaiser Fafnir sent to the Uninvolved Lands to search for proof of the Eldrich''s infiltration in the Minds. She is a single woman who scorns her beauty because of many traumatic experiences and likes pretending to be an ugly woman."


    "I''m going to kill you after this, you stupid slime!"


    "Next up is Commander Derwin. Loyal soldier and friend to Commander Tyrs. But not very loyal to those serving under him. A womanizer that has slept with many wives. Even those of his champions."<sub> </sub>


    "WHAT?!" Two Champions eximed.


    "His lying!" The Commander cursed out as he heard the announcement.


    "Next we have Champion Archie. A thief and a corrupt official. He is partially responsible for the deaths of Lenard, Freist, Charlie, and Aster who were med with numerous charges."


    "What?! A thief?! Who are Lenard and those other guys?!" Archie cursed.


    But unknown to him, two Captains were shocked as they heard it.


    "Champion Rex is a spy of the Amberfiend Elf kingdom. He is half-human and half-elf and is tasked with the assassination of the merchant Dorex."


    "I''m not a spy!"


    "Whatever man, that''s what a spy would say. He has an eleven engraved magic on his upper leg which gives him strength and speed. Am I right? Of course, I am!"


    Rex was silenced at the words of the Slime and could not rebut.


    "I don''t know much about Champion Maiden Estelle. She hadn''t received any wounds from the fight where I can draw out her memories. But I know that Champion Maiden Laura hates her and thinks she is ugly and gossips about her behind her back. Not cool, Laura! Laura epts bribes by the way, and she was used by Rex to gather more information for his spy mission. At least Laura got that elven wood if you know what I''m saying. HeHe..."


    Laura and Estelle''s expressions turned ugly.


    "You... you...!" Laura nced at Rex angrily.


    "I don''t have any information about wandering Champions Northspark and Champion Maiden Meria even though they have wounds and spilled blood on the ground. But they could be my master, so..."


    "This damned slime!"


    "Now on to the seven Captains who are most likely to be my master, Jeffry murdered quite a few soldiers to get promoted. He uses poison as he has a secret book from a poison master. I wonder if he poisoned any of your friends? He is also skilled in throwing the me at everyone else. I''ll say this, those who were imprisoned for using Sandarite Poison were innocent. All of them."


    "That! That''s not true!" Jeffry shouted in panic.


    But the killing intent in the air was strong that Jeffry felt a chill on his back.


    "Mark is a hired kidnapper and has brought quite a few kids to the ck market. Dous tortured and killed Jeffry''s wife in retaliation since Jeffry murdered that Scout captain who was secretly having an affair with Dous. Ress is generally a good girl. If not for the fact she was ckmailed by the enemy to open the gate killing half of Commander Derwin''s team."


    "That''s not true!" Ress shouted.


    "Colin is a servant of the Necromancer Menks and has been doing his dark bidding in assassinating, nting evidence, and asionally, making that delicious cup of tea. Colin is very good at making teas."


    "Is it true?!" Mark was shocked.


    "...That Slime is impressive. Colin does make a good tea..." Menks quietly murmured.


    "Trek is probably the first one to die among you, sorry Trek."


    "What?!"


    "And Wailen is actually my master who will attack now."


    FLASH!


    A bright light suddenly shed and everyone was surprised at the bright light.


    Panic shouts and attacks were made as the white light shed out.


    The light was made with pure holy light that blinded everyone for a few seconds.


    Everyone used their life-saving secret art or weapons to protect themselves from the shing light.


    By the time the light shed out, Mark was beheaded and arge hole was in his chest as if something powerful punched through him and caused his innards to explode out.


    Wailen had numerous wounds on his body.


    Rex and Estelle made their attacks to kill him in panic.


    Wailen was still shocked. His bag had exploded and everyone realized that the explosion came from his bag.


    "It''s.... not me..." Wailen uttered hisst words before copsing.


    "And that is how you build up a good climax. I was ranting and telling truths and lies that lowered my guard. And suddenly, I ignited the sh bomb in poor, innocent Wailen''s bag and the master killed Mark while everyone was distracted. Fourteen remains. Oh! And monsters areing!" Luigi''sugh was heard.

 Chapter 450 Building Murderous Intentions

    There was no time to be distracted as a horde of goblins appeared.


    But when they saw the goblin horde, they were stunned. Their appearances were more horrifying and their eyes were red with bloodlust.


    Goblins and hobgolbins were charging down.


    "Champion level? Assume formation! These goblins are strong!" Angelica led.


    But as she rushed to the forefront, the others hesitated.


    She wanted to shout in anger but she knew that what she asked was too dangerous.


    Suddenly, the undead summons of Menks rushed forward to aid Angelica while he was busy creating a ritual to revive the undead body of Mark and Wailen.


    "Maintain distance from each other but form a formation. My undead will cover the gaps between!" Menks ordered as he began the ritual. He gathered the blood of Mark and was taking his organs and ced them in Wailen and began the dark ritual.


    "You...!"


    "Oh shut it, Commander Derwin! In this ce, you should thank my powers so that the dead will still fight for us!" Menks shouted.


    BOOM!


    Angelica held her ground andunched powerful attacks that blew away the goblins. With her identity revealed, she did not hesitate and released the pure raw powers and high stamina that she has.


    The group assumed formation and was starting to fight.


    Menks was quickly using his powers to summon and gazed at the Goblins.


    "Don''t brutally kill the hobgoblin champions! I can turn them into my men! Colin! When the Goblin champions rise, help me here!"


    "Yes, master!" Colin answered.


    Colin openly admitting to being a servant did not make everyone surprised. But many began to think


    The battle continued with everyone fighting. The maddened goblins had lost their ability to organize themselves and simply rushed out towards the team of fourteen allowing the team to fight through.


    "If anyone breaks ranks to cause the death of another, I will instantly attack! Be prepared to kill yourpanions! Angelica! Don''t hesitate to kill them! Of everyone here, you are the one that is most unlikely to be the vampire! He cannot recreate a body like yours as it would cost so much to recreate a dragonic bloodline! So if you see anyone acting out of order, kill them!" Menks ordered.


    Hearing this, the groups were slowly crowding around Angelica. Some chose to move close to Menks since these two were the ones who were most unlikely to be the impostor.


    Menks began to resurrect the Hobgoblin champions to add more to his group. But he also created dark potions to recover the force energy.


    "Take it!" Menks threw a bottle toward Angelica.


    "What''s this?"


    "Force Recovering potion! The best kind of potion there is because it uses the life of another!" Menks answered.


    Without hesitation, Angelica drank the potion and shocked those nearby.


    "You trust him that much?!" Derwin eximed.


    "He is not the impostor. The Eldrich he serves was among the secret Eldrich I was assigned to track down! How did the lord of the castle know of that name? The eldrich are pretty strict. Menks knows it because it''s his master. But I''m sure he never met this master of his! This means Menks have long been under the bond of that Eldrich. And changing masters and destroying servant bonds is not an easy task. That slime would need to capture and seal Menks to force the change."


    "What if he became the servant recently? He could have gone here before this mission!"


    "I have monitored the movement of all Commanders, Menks included. He cannot have made contact with the lord of this castle. I personally meet with Commanders or move close to their vicinity to use my dragonic sense of smell to confirm that it''s not a body double. Besides..."


    BOOM!


    Angelica released tremendous force energy that blew away the row of goblins and even killed two hobgoblin champions!


    "I feel great," Angelica answered.


    "I won''t force everyone to take it. But if you want, ask me. I also have one for magic energy. We''re reaching the end of this goblin horde. The Goblin Lord should show itself soon." Menks warned.


    The Champions began to hesitate.


    "Give me one!" Champion Archer Rex finally decided to ask for one.


    "Give me a magic restoring one," Laura spoke.


    "Me too..." Champion Mage Northspark also asked.


    "Give me one." Ress, the Captain mage quickly asked. Her mana was running low.


    Menks quickly gave them and maintained his distance behind the battlefield as he continued to harness more.


    ? He even drank his creation as he was spending massive amounts of magic and force energy in the creation of his undead minions.


    He had caused three more undead hobgoblin champions to rise and they took the vanguard as the undead human champions were still stronger. Next to him, was the undead body of Wailen who stood by and watched the captains and champions.


    The battle continued and the goblin lord finally appeared.


    He had a power of a Commander and the elite of the champion goblins were with him.


    "Infiltrators...! Kill them!"


    "ROAR!"


    The Goblin Lord was able to speak and surprised the group.


    "The Goblins! I know them! This is the Goblin City! Why are they here?!" Darwin was stunned.


    "Defend!" Menks shouted as he finally took to the front line. There were only a few of them and against such a number, there was a huge chance that they would all be killed!


    The group began to fight with all their might and the Commanders and Champions were pouring all that they had to survive. The threat of the Vampire was also hovering over them.


    "Dragonic form!" Angelica shouted as scales appeared around her.<sub> </sub>


    "Form of the Thane!" She shouted and her body hardened and she charged further into the ranks of the goblins.


    "Follow my lead!" She ordered.


    "Dragon Knight!" Darwin recognized the job ss that he revealed.


    "Dragon w sh!" Angelica''s sword began with tremendous energy and a powerful sh was sent out creating an extended sword.


    "That was Force sh! She can do the high-level technique!" Archie eximed. As a Champion Swordsman, he knew how rare it was for Force sh to appear.


    With Angelica''s lead, the rest managed to push further and faster.


    Despite the disadvantages that they faced, the group endured and started to win as the other members were fighting seriously and for a mere moment in time, there was trust.


    The mages were the most helpful as they shot attack after attack. Chain lightning. Fire Balls. Piercing Icicle. An array of Mind magic was used and quickly eliminated those below Champion level.


    The undead summons of Menks charged straight without concern for their lives to inflict grave wounds on the Champions.


    With suicidal teams and powerful mages, the group managed to dwindle the goblins.


    BANG!


    The wing of Angelica smashed on the Goblin Lord and caused him to stagger.


    "We''re winning! Let''s do this!" Archie charged straight for the Goblin Lord to deliver a critical blow.


    BANG!


    A fireball of great potency struck Archie''s back!


    "AHHH!" Archie shouted and stumbled back.


    The Goblin Lord took the chance and gave a powerful kick at Archie.


    Bang!


    Archie was sent flying back and a Captian rushed towards Archie.


    STAB!


    Treks used his sword to stab the falling Archie.


    "GWAAA!" Archie shouted as hended back. He nced at the two captains that ambushed him.


    Ress, the Captain mage shot the magic, and Treks stabbed him. The eyes of both were full of anger.


    Archie realized what it was.


    "I didn''t... kill... them!" Archie pleaded.


    But Treks charged forward towards the Goblin Lord who was busy fighting others and sent another kick towards Archie.


    BANG!


    The bones broke as Archie could not defend against the full attack of the Commander.


    At that moment, Estelle''s charge tounch an attack stopped as she made a pivot and stabbed her spear at an ally.


    STAB!


    Jeffrey, the swordsman was immediately killed as the spear stabbed through his head.


    Darwin sensed the attacks and kept on attacking the Goblin Lord. Together with Menks and Angelica they rushed andnded their finishing blow.


    But as Darwin saw the kicknd and killed Archie, he was relieved.


    "Good... Archie''s dead... Rex isn''t of this kingdom and he was sleeping with Laura. So he shouldn''t be-"


    FWIP!


    STAB!


    Darwin was shocked as a powerful arrow stabbed through his heart.


    He turned around and saw Rex preparing another attack and revealing his elven form.


    "Rex... You...!" Darwin sensed a strange power hindering his force cirction.


    "My body...! Sandarite poison?!" Darwin sensed the power.


    "I know. I''m a cheater. But I only cheated on her because she cheated on me. It''s true! I am a spy. But I loved her. And I''m never going to be anyone''s cuckold!"


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    "No!" Angelica shouted and tried to block but the arrow was too fast for her.


    STAB! STAB! STAB!


    Three arrows pierced through Darwin. One on the heart, and two on the head.


    "Are you insane?!" Angelica shouted.


    "Why? We killed the goblin horde. And why are you only ming me? Look around you! If you have anyone to me, me that slime and his lord! He has been building the murderous intentions of everyone from the start." Rex answered without flinching.


    STAB!


    "Indeed he has." Estelle appeared behind Rex.

 Chapter 451 Blood For Creation

    The blood spilled out wildly as Rex began to hold on to his throat.


    A spear had stabbed out and the Force energy within the spear was surging out wildly.


    "Darwin sensed Sandarite poison when he was attacked. I was wondering how a mere captain swordsman has ess to such dangerous and rare poison. He couldn''t have afforded it! You were supplying him with that, weren''t you? Among the people that were poisoned were my best friend and benefactor. Her death seemed random. But now I know it led to you. To Jeffrey, it was just for personal gain. But for you, it was a political move so that you can spy more on the kingdom." Estelle answered as she pulled the spear back.


    Rex couldn''t even speak as he fell.


    Angelica looked around her and saw all the deaths.


    Champion Archie was ambushed by Ress and Treks. Captain Jeffrey was instantly killed with the spear stab of Champion Estelle. Rex drew his bow against Commander Derwin and shot four arrows that killed him. But Champion Rex was then attacked by Champion Estelle!


    Their numbers dwindled down to ten. Two who had the powers to match Commanders, three Champions, and five captains remained to y the dangerous game.


    "You have all gone mad! We may have killed the Goblin Horde, but we are not yet outside of this ce! What if we face the Hydra?!" Angelica shouted angrily.


    "One of you is definitely the vampire!" Angelica nced at the murderers. Ress, Treks, and Estelle saw the re of Angelica and retreated.


    "And you! Why didn''t you stop them? You had your monsters and could have to save Commander Darwin!" Angelica turned to Menks in her anger.


    "What for? I''m a Necromancer! If they die, then it''s to our benefit. You seem to have forgotten, Angelica. We are still enemies. You are trying to find and kill my lord. Why should I let you?"


    "Your summons are weaker than the real thing! These undead summonses are nothing more than cannon fodder!"


    "Yes. But if they die, it gives me the certainty that they are not the traitors!" Menks answered as he was quickly working on creating more undead summons.


    Colin was already helping him and was about to pull back the dead goblins at the back.


    But as he turned around, he noticed that the corpses have vanished!


    "My Lord! The corpses have vanished!" Colin cried out.


    Everyone''s expression turned ugly. They were too busy to notice that the corpses had begun to disappear while some were empty of all blood!


    "Impossible! I was watching! No one had time to drink the blood of these dead goblins!" Menks''s expression turned ugly. He sat in silence for a split second and raised his hand.


    "AHHH!" Colin cried as he stumbled down.


    "No... The Servant Bond still exists. It''s not Colin! Who could it be?!" Menks turned around everyone.


    "Full disimer. Archie wasn''t really the guy who willed Ress and Treks''s friends. I just found the names of their closest friends who died and made lies to tie Archie with it. Genius right? I made up some lies while revealing many of the truths. Also, Rex and Jeffrey were not involved in the deaths of Estelle''s friend. Rex did help Jeffrey poison one person with Sanderite, but in this brutal, selfishnds of the Uninvolved, why would all the deaths rted to sanderite be connected to them?" The voice of Luigi echoed out.


    The slimeughed andughed.


    "Master sure is having fun. You guys don''t know who he is hiding or pretending to be, right? And dear necromancer, thank you for creating those magical potions using the goblins'' life force which has been tainted with Dark Maddening! That really helped me in building the murderous intention of everyone! But I bet you knew this and tricked everyone to drink it anyway to make them start killing each other!" Luigiughed.


    "YOU!" Estelle roared in anger as she drew her spear towards Menks.


    The undead summons of Menks quickly stood in front of him and blocked Estelle.


    "Stop! I did not know!" Menks shouted.


    "Liar! You knew this would happen! You poisoned us all! You said it yourself! You can easily raise the dead!"


    "Yes! For these people! The front line! What made it possible for us to conquer through the Goblin hordes!? Was it those Champions and Commander? No! It was mages and those at the back ranks! The front lines except for Angelica, I could raise up to be cannon fodder! But those who fight behind the walls, be it archers, mages, or even a spear maiden, I cannot rece! If any of you murdered those at the backlines, I would have stopped it!" Menks defended.


    "Liar!"


    "Enough!" Angelica shouted in anger.


    "That slime is messing with us! We are getting weaker and the vampire ancient is getting stronger! He wants to keep us in this state of disunity so he can kill us! From now on, no one kills each other! I don''t care what crimes you havemitted against each other, but we have to move now!" Angelica quickly moved.


    The others followed.<sub> </sub>


    Menks ordered the undead to start carrying some other corpses which he would resurrect while on the move.


    As the group moved, they could see many wild creatures and beasts. There was a great battle but there were only very few bodies left. Several areas looked like it was habitats of many creatures. It was clear that the goblins attacked all of them and massacred many races. A huge war urred within the mountain.


    "Where are the bodies? It can''t be... that the Vampire has already eaten them all!?


    "No. He was too weak. Remember what the Slime Lord is plotting! The blood of Captains and those below are not enough. The Goblins monopolized this region and made a habitat out of it. They protected this kingdom and allowed the different races to survive. They were the ones who had a champion andmander strength. The rest didn''t. It must have not been enough for his body!"


    "Yes. So this is why there is potent darkness in this ce! That Slime drove everyone mad and made the goblins attack all creatures in this mountain! This underground world was once full of life and has now been sacrificed for the creation of that castle!" understood.


    "Creation of the castle? You mean the castle was created through magic?"


    "Yes! By sacrificing life, it gathers and creates powerful magic that can take the form of Blood to create objects of power! It''s unheard of magic! But the whispers of those who serve the Fallen speak of such possible magic. [Blood for Creation]! He needed a Castle to bring more Commander levels in it and to make a trap! But he was too weak to do that. So he needed to create this chaos where people will kill. A feast was built and we, the food walked in willingly!" Menks eximed.


    "So we are helping him when we killed the goblins!?" Laura eximed.


    "Yes. We have to leave! Avoid fighting if possible! I''ll send my undead to spread around each other so that you idiots will not kill each other!" Menks exined and sent his forces out ahead.


    The group marched onwards and saw monster after monster that was dead. Signs of battle were everywhere and the group kept on charging from one ce to the other.


    Huntress Captain Meria and Douss the Scout reported whenever they could sense monsters and other life forms.


    "Scouts! The path diverges again! We need to go up! Which one leads to the top?" Angelica asked.


    "The right one! I can hear the sound of the wind blowing from that direction! Do you smell any more beasts?"


    "The path to the right doesn''t give off the scent of a beast. But I can smell elements. Something''s there!" Angelica frowned.


    "Prepare for battle! Spread out and don''t stand near each other! We should be entering the castle again!"


    Soon, they found a strange stairway leading upwards and bright light emerging from it.


    "Is that the castle?"


    "Be careful. We might fight that slime and that hydra!" Menks shouted and the group rushed up while assuming a formation.


    A team of three Undead Commanders, including Derwin, charged to the front.


    As they moved towards the entrance, several Golems stood.


    Eight golems made of different elements stood at the ready and guarded the pathway leading out.


    "Golems?!"


    "Attack!" Menks ordered and sent his summons to the front.


    "Awaken! Skull Overlord!" The Commander revealed his strongest summon.


    A massive Greenish ethereal form of a huge Skeleton appeared behind Menks and it was releasing a tremendous amount of Commander-level magic.


    But as he charged forward, Menks nced around and gave a meaningful look at Angelica.


    "Don''t attack me just yet, Angelica. We only need mages and champions here! The rest are too weak, and it''s better if we confirm their identities! Colin!"


    STAB!


    Suddenly, Colin leaped and stabbed Dous!


    SLASH!


    Another undead Champion goblin shed and severed the head of Treks!

 Chapter 452 Blood Of Allies

    Dous turned towards Colin who had a cold expression.


    "Traitor..." Dous gnashed his teeth as blood began to spurt out of his mouth.


    "Traitor? I was just confirming that you are not the Vampire Ancient!" Colin answered and buried the dagger deeper. And it seems Treks isn''t him too. But what does it matter? What can you do in this battle?! At least can focus on reviving you as undead with the power of my master!" Colin pulled his dagger and stabbed again at Dous''s throat.


    Two Captains were killed. If Ress was not a Mage, she too would have been killed. Ress trembled as she saw the other captains die in a brutal ambush!


    The other surviving captain was captain Meria who had the blessings that allowed her to be a huntress. She had the abilities of a Scout and an archer. But her use to the team was barely sufficient for the fight and she knew that she would die soon. If not abandoned by the group, she would be killed by Menks.


    She drew her bow to confirm the little uses that she had against the elemental Golems that appeared to have a high Champion strength. Meria''s tears dropped as she began to weep in fear. She was certain that she would die here one way or the other. She even believed that Menks is just waiting for another opportunity to kill her!


    Angelica was angry, but she could understand Menks''s intention. The other Captain had little use. Against the Golems of Champion to Commander, they would only be in the way. Menks opted to kill them to confirm that they are not the Vampire Ancient.


    The eight Golems had the elements of Fire, Lightning, Entropy, Dark, Water, Ice, Wind, and Earth. The Dark had powers that were equal to Commanders and all eight rushed forward to meet the undead summons.


    "Mages! Attack the elements that are weak to yours!" Menks ordered.


    Estelle stayed behind the ranks of the undead minions who charged forward to fight the elemental golems.


    She used them as meat shields to rush into the side and stab out at the golems. She stayed behind Commander Derwin''s undead corpse and would move to the blindside to deliver a stab.


    The battle began as they shed against the Golem Champions of different elements.


    Angelica was shocked at the durability of the Earth Golem as it managed to resist her punch.


    Laura and Northspark released their Champion level magic on the Golems but shields of different elements blocked the attack.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The fire and lightning attacks were aimed at the ice and water golems.


    Ress harnessed lightning energy and shot it along with Northspark.


    But the ice managed to resist the strong heat, and the water golem had created powerful darkness that devoured the lightning!


    "Impossible! Abyss Water!" Menks saw it and cursed. He began to make strange seals on his hand and the gigantic skull began to glow a strange color.


    "Angelica! Estelle! Retreat back! This attack is harmful to everything except death!" He ordered the gigantic skull tounch its baleful breath.


    "[Baleful Frost Breath]!"


    The power of a chilling, entropy shot out as the skull opened its mouth. A bluish, mist blew towards the group and passed the frontline of the undead.


    The power of Entropy and Ice attacked the Golems and their bodies began to freeze up leaving them wide open to the attacks of the undead champions andmanders.


    Even the Ice Golem was starting to slow down as the strange mist somehow caused the ice to be petrified.


    SLASH! BANG!


    The undead took advantage of the frozen and slow state of the golems andnded a powerful strike.


    But even with the undead Darwin who had a body of Commander, the force and power were not enough to break through the hard bodies of the golem! The Steel and Earth Golem didn''t even show damage from the attacks.


    "Mages! Attack the ice golem! Those things are too resilient! It will take all your attacks to kill it!" Menks called out to the mage.


    The three mages challenged their magic.


    "[Fire Needle]!" Laura harnessed her fire energy and concentrated it to create a small needle that shot toward the Ice Golem. Her magic was the first to reach and it stabbed deep inside the Ice golem and then exploded out.


    But the golem did not break even with fire energy exploding from within the golem.


    Northspark harnessed his lightning energy and focused on channeling great heat to it.


    "[Burning Lightning Bolt]!"


    ZAP!


    Red lightning shot fort and the bolt struck the ice golem and it began to show signs of breaking.


    Ress harnessed such great magic that her attacks could already be considered to be Champion level!


    Her desperate attempts to show her worth made her reveal all her aces.


    "[Scourching Sun Burst]!


    Arge yellow sun was born and flew towards the golems and it exploded out.


    BOOM!


    Laura''s attack weakened the core of the golem and Northspark''s attack weakened the outer defenses. With these two attacks, Ress''s attack finally seeded as the Ice golem began to crumble.


    Estelle focused her force energy and prepared her strongest attack.


    All of the Force energy was gathered right at the tip of her spear.


    "[Armor Piercer]!" Estelle targeted the hardest Golem of all and stabbed her spear towards the core of the steel golem.


    DING!


    The loud metallic ring was heard. But Estelle had revealed powers that could kill Commander in that attack. The stab caused the spear to dig deep into the chest of the Steel Golem.


    "[Force After Shock]!" Estelle shouted as she pumped Force energy and channeled it through her spear.


    BOOM!


    An explosion formed and the hole in the chest of the Steel Golem grewrger.


    Meria harnessed the power and ced it in her bow and she shot it out.<sub> </sub>


    The arrow she used was one of her strongest arrows as it contained explosive energy.


    BOOM!


    The explosion urred and Meria did her best to stay standing and put on a facade of strength so that she would not be killed.


    Angelica channeled her dragonic force and her right arm became a lizard''s arm and she charged forward to punch the Earth Golem who she challenged.


    "[Dragon Thane Punch]!"


    BANG!


    The simple punch created a hole in the chest of the Earth Golem.


    Menks also harnessed the power of Necromancy and the two bodies of the resurrected captains, including Dous and Treks ran recklessly towards the Golem.


    "[Corpse Combustion]!" Menks released the Death Energy inside the corpses and all the life and force that the bodies contained exploded out.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The attacks were potent that they caused cracks to appear all over the golems and the Steel golem began to lose its energy and was starting to copse.


    Angelica was sttered with the blood of the dead captains that were raised.


    The blood spilled out everywhere.


    "Monster!" Angelica roared.


    "Monster? By the blood of our allies we will survive! This ce is only a magnifying ss that erges the horrors that we face! You, daughter of Fafnir, serve a kingdom who has caused many of their allies to die! How many die in the Londs or the Dark Sea to preserve the bnce of the Hignds!" Menks shouted.


    "Shut up, both of you! Focus on fighting! That didn''t kill the Golems! Look!"


    At thest second surviving golems created arge shield around them. But now, the shield opened and only theyer on top of them remained to prevent the mages from doing more magic.


    Shields of Wind, Water, Lightning, Dark, and Fire appeared overhead as the Golems used their defensive and offensive forms to pound the Champions.


    The death of the three golems caused a strange energy transference that made the remaining Golems stronger!


    But the Dark Golem began to explode with power as it suddenly grew stronger and surpassed the power of the first level of Commander.


    SLAP!


    A powerful p from the Dark Golem struck Angelica and pushed her back.


    With her flying back the Dark Golem led the charge at the gap in the formation.


    Menks quickly sent his summons there and


    It punched out and its dark fist was so strong it created a hole in its chest of Darwin.


    But the undead knew no pain and kept fighting.


    With the shields above the ce where the Golem stood, the mages could not assist the summons.


    Northspark dove closer and lunged his scepter right in hole of Darwin and shot a powerful attack through it.


    "[Divine Lightning: First Tribtion!]" Northspark released a powerful spell that contained Light energy!


    ZAP!


    The lightning attack caught the golem in surprise and pushed the Dark Golem back.


    "Enemies at the back! My traps have been sprung!" The Captain Huntress Meria sensed her Force Energy being triggered.


    "We don''t have time! We have to kill them now!" Menks shouted.


    "Menks! Get your team ready to move back! We will concentrate on shooting another round to blow the entire area!" Northspark ordered as he began to gulp down several potions.


    Angelica also prepared tounch another attack.


    The summons fought to buy the team a few more seconds but they were being destroyed as limbs and parts were now missing from the punches of the golems.


    Everyone readied their attack.


    Menks took several of the potions that Colin was making at the back and prepared for a stronger attack.


    "[Baleful Freezing Skull Spirit]!" Menks shouted as he sent the skull tounch its suicidal attack. There was no time and he quicklyunched a strong attack on this soul skull.


    It moved to pass through the undead and struck the golems creating a terrifying frost that contained great corrosive energy.


    BOOM!


    The Undead were unaffected but the Golems were all freezing.


    "Attack now!" Laura shouted as she sent out her attack.


    Ress did the same.


    Two powerful magic were sent out.


    Ress nearly fainted but managed to stand firm.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Northspark prepared a great magic. And a power that could kill Commanders was appearing.


    "Let''s finish this!" Northspark roared and channeled the energy to kill the Golems.

 Chapter 453 Blood Of The Dead

    The groupunched their all-out attack on the golems. But it wasn''t enough.


    The explosions were so strong that the Dark Golem was sent back from the frontal magic attacks. But no signs of it that indicated it was dying were shown.


    Dark energy appeared and the form of a vampire ancient appeared!


    "Idiots! You really believed that my master would be among you?! He already fled here so that you would kill yourselves! He''s been here the whole time! The blood of your allies and your foes fed him!" The voice of Luigi echoed out.


    The dark golem revealed arge form.


    "Keep shooting! We have to defeat it now!" Menks ordered as he harnessed more and more energy that shot towards the group of golems.


    "Die! [Divine Lightning: Second Tribtion]! Northspark sent out his magic and a continuous beam of magic struck the Fire Golem and drilled in finally creating a hole through it.


    The undead, Estelle, and Angelic retreated to avoid the raging energy.


    "Be on guard!" Angelica stood next to the mages and watched the attack. Should the magic sts fail, she would charge in to finish the job. Thick force energy gathered around Angelica and her arms and body were showing more scales.


    "Hold the attack!" Menks shouted and powerful energy of great pale white appeared as it formed another dark skull and shot towards the golems.


    "[Soul Eruption]!" Menks shouted.


    BOOM!


    The entire area exploded and the different golems began to disintegrate into nothingness.


    "Just kidding. He was with you all along." Luigi''sugh echoed again.


    Northspark continued to channel his magic to kill the other golems.


    But as his beam continued, Northspark suddenly swung his arm and shot the bolt to his allies!


    Ress, Meria, and Colin disintegrated upon contact and Laura harnessed her magic to defend.


    "AHHH!" Laura poured out all her magic and managed to defend and the magic rushed towards Menks!


    The beam passed through them and Estelle did her best to evade but then the Dark Golem sent a powerful dark bolt before it began to disperse into the air.


    STAB!


    Estelle pulled an undead to block the attack and the undead''s body was stabbed through and managed to wound Estelle by a bit.


    The beam continued and struck Menks who abandoned his offensive attack to create a defensive attack.


    "[Skull Spirit Defense]!" Menks shouted and activated his magic.


    BOOM!


    "NO!" Angelic roared and punched out.


    "No! It''s-"


    BANG!


    Her fist exploded through Northspark''s head and instantly killed him.


    Menks stumbled down as the powerful beam nearly pierced right through his shield.


    And the remaining champions were in pain.


    "Four remains! Who is it?!" Luigiughed.


    "It... wasn''t Northspark?!" Angelica was shocked.


    "A trick! That enemy has been lying since the start! There were many ways to redirect Northspark''s hand! Even you could! Be wary of Angelica! It''s could be her! That might not be her anymore!"


    Menks ordered the undead summons to attack Angelica.


    "No! I''m not the Vampire Ancient!" Angelic shouted as she charged toward the foes.


    STAB!


    BOOM!


    Estelleunched herself and even though she had a wound on the stomach she desired to kill Laura.


    Laura tried to defend against the attack and used a magic shield, but she was too weak and the stab prated through her fire shield and stabbed her.


    "It''s... you?!" Angelica realized that the hand of Northspark could have been moved by forceful means


    Laura was grasping the spear that had lightly stabbed her.


    "If we''re all going to die...! Then at least let me be to kill you!" Estelle twisted the spear as her rage increased to push the spear lower.<sub> </sub>


    "Ahhhhh!" Laura screamed in fear as the spear started to cause a wound on her chest.


    But even then, the battle between Angelica and the undead summons continued.


    BANG! BANG!


    ? Angelica had no choice but to also fight with her full strength otherwise the wild and deadly suicidal attacks of the undead would im her.


    "Menks! Stop! Attack Estelle!"


    "No! Estelle was attacked with such dark energy! That is yet another heightened emotional outrage at many crimes of Laura! You are still the one who was the most suspicious! You could have used a force attack to redirect Northsparks beam!" Menks recalled that Angelica stood next to Northspark before he suddenly turned his arm to ambush everyone.


    Menks saw the way the arm of Northspark turned at that moment. Something forced her arm to move and as everyone else was busy with the magic, the most likely candidate was Angelica!


    Estelle kept pressing her spear down and Laura was doing her best to gather magic.


    "Estelle! Don''t kill me! I''m sorry for all those lies!"


    "Hahaha... it''s useless, Laura! You heard Menks! I am being driven by my rage. And even though I know, I''m sorry, it''s the blood of the dead that spills to the ground that will ease my anger! Die!" Estelle pressed down.


    Menks gathered more energy and prepared to send his attack as he nced at the two.


    "Blood of the dead..." Menks murmured and grew angry.


    Several bone arrows of pale green energy were hovering and Menks was waiting for the right moment to attack.


    "Crowd over her!" Menks ordered.


    A Champion brandished its strong ax and attacked Angelica. Angelica roared and her force power began to glow.


    Green energy appeared as she revealed the Wind Core inside of her. With great speed, she charged forward and shed the arm of the Champion and took the ax from the hand, and threw it.


    "Die, Laura!" Estelleuged.


    SPLAT!


    The stabbing sound resounded as the ax struck Estelle on the face.


    "Laura!" Angelica shouted to see. But she was toote. Estelle had managed to bury the spear and cause it to erupt and destroy its heart of Laura.


    "Die, Vampire Ancient!" Menks shouted and sent his magic arrows out.


    STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB!


    Angelica had readied her skin to defend but realized that no arrow hadnded on her.


    All the Commander-level, magical pale arrows that the Necromancer summoned had stabbed on his own undead summons!


    "You...!" Angelica was confused.


    But Menks nced at the dead bodies. His expression was turning uglier and uglier and he turned back to Angelica.


    "Is it you...? Are you the Vampire Ancient?" Angelica frowned.


    "No... It can''t be true! We... We were tricked... The oddest death... It was him!" Menks realized it.


    "Oddest death?! What do you mean?!"


    "The first one to die! Mark! It''s all so clear now! I doubted my abilities, but I was sure that Wailen was not the one who inflicted those wounds against Mark! Think! How could Wailen kill Mark?!" Menks asked.


    Angelica recalled the manner of Mark''s death. When the shbang from Wailen''s bag exploded, Mark''s head was beheaded and arge hole, as if he was punched through or stabbed with something urred. And it was only now when Menks pointed it out that it seemed odd. No one saw how he died or who attacked.


    "You mean...!"


    "That was because the Vampire Ancient was Mark! He hid in the blood!"


    "Hid in the blood?! What do you mean?!"


    "I was the first one he deceived...! It''s all so clear now! He was weak then and he needed to deceive me!"


    "Deceive you? He''s been deceiving all of us! What are you talking about?!"


    "He tricked me! He made me believe that he is a Vampire Ancient! But he''s not!"


    "What?! He''s not a Vampire Ancient?!"


    "No! He used that to set our expectations! But in reality, he is something more! He could either be a blood demon, a subus, or..."


    "A Fallen." A voice continued.


    Blood began to seep out of the bodies of an undead Champion. It was one of the first goblin champions that were resurrected! But now, the blood took form and devoured the champion and the figure of a young man stood.

 Chapter 454 Blood Of The Dragon

    The appearance of the young manpletely absorbed and reced the body of the Goblin Champion. But his features were not yetplete.


    Yet the danger and crisis that the two survivors felt made them wary.


    The blood from all the corpses began to leak out and it all moved towards the young man.


    The eyes of the young man glowed with a bright red light as he looked at the two.


    Angelica was panting from facing all the summons in the battle. And Menks was drained of mana. The two didn''t attack but began to eat various medicine.


    "Angelica!" Menks threw another ancient pill towards Angelica who ate it without hesitation.


    The young man''s form began to findpletion. He had an appearance that was surprisingly very human. There were no tails, horns, or any other bestial form in his body. None of the goblin''s body or figure remained. His skin was not even pale white. The power of a Commander emanated from him as he appreciated his form.


    "Blood...! His power is blood?! So that means... Northspark''s attack..." Angelica recalled Northspark''s ambush and realized what made Northspark suddenly change target.


    Northspark had pushed her scepter inside the hole on the body of the undead summon tounch an attack at the golems. The blood was all over the scepter!


    "That''s right. With my blood on that scepter, I just gave it a light pull. You were too hasty, Angelica. The lightning power of Northspark would have done great damage to me!"


    "Nightwing Devilmourne!" Menks called out as the appearance of the young man reached itspletion.


    Angelica could not help but feel a strange attraction toward the magnificent form of the well-chiseled young man. Angelica felt as if she had finally seen the peak perfection of a man.


    What was even more terrifying, was that even Menks was affected.


    "What is this...!? The power of an incubus?!"


    "It''s ok to stare as long as you say, no homo." Luigi''s voice echoed at the back.


    "Silence! I grow tired of your ramblings, Cm-... I mean, Luigi. Strange... Why do I feel that your name is... something like Cmity. Luigi! Perhaps that is your real name! The Slime Cmity!" Nightwing Devilmourne suggested.


    "Hmmm... Auto pass on that boss. That sounds like the dude in Nostalgic Gamer in a Cultivation World. I''ll stick to Luigi for now. Anyway, boss. It''s time to reveal our ingenious evil plot!"


    "Ah yes. Let''s give time for our little friends who survived to know of what got them here." Nightwing turned to the two.


    "It took you a while to figure it out, Menks. You were the only person who could have figured this out. I was indeed Mark. Or rather, I was inside him. Mark suffered grievous wounds and I injected myself inside him. Blood kept feeding as he fought and fled. He was too busy to realize that I had already controlled his arm to nt that bomb on Wailen''s back amidst the chaos and prepared my magic to trigger it at any time. It was a shame that you killed them. Tell me, have you figured it out? Who among those were innocent and who among those you killed really did the crimes that I made!" Nightwingughed.


    "What are you?!" Menks asked. He needed to buy time. The sudden severance of all his summons had caused a bacsh. He had attempted to negate the bonds but right before his Soul Arrows attacked, all his summons had severed ties.


    "I''ve already said it. I am a Fallen. You are technically half right though. I still am a Vampire. I am the Fanged Fallen." The young man smiled and revealed his fangs.


    "Fa-Fanged Fallen?! The lord... of the vampires?!" Angelica was shocked.


    "Impossible! The Fanged Fallen had died so long ago! That''s why no Vampire Ancients exist anymore!" Menks added.


    "And yet, here I am. The Fanged Fallen. Devoid of all memories and reborn as a mortal. And look at me. I''ve tasted and devoured the blood of several Champions and Commanders, and yet, here I am. A mere Commander-level vampire who had to rely on trickery and deceit to kill you all. I wonder what the blood if the blood of a Necromancer can help me recover more of my powers. Also, there is the blood of Dracanae. This should be good nutrients for my body."


    "You won''t get us so easily!" Angelica roared as she charged forward.


    Menks also moved and ran towards the corpses.


    "Buy me time!" Menks shouted.


    "Make it count!" Angelica shouted as her form transformed.


    "A Lesser Dragon Transformation! Interesting. Your blood will do great things to me!" Nightwingughed as he rushed towards Angelica.


    Wings of blood formed behind him as he flew with blurring speed.


    BOOM!


    The power of a Commander surged out and Nightwing punched out at Angelica.


    But as he did, Angelica made a series of evasive maneuvers and disyed her martial prowess.


    Nightwing was stunned as his attack missed.


    "Blood Vampire! You may have been a Fallen, but you''re a mortal now! And in this world, people practice martial arts!" Angelica delivered a swift spin with her wings and delivered a roundhouse kick.


    BANG!


    Nightwing blocked the attack with his fist but Angelica made a spiral turn and kicked Nightwing in the face.


    CRASH!


    Nightwing mmed on the ground as Angelica delivered another blow.


    "Die!"


    BOOM!<sub> </sub>


    Angelica''s stomp missed as Nightwing retreated back.


    "Nice moves! I''ll give you that. But believe me, I took those attacks intentionally. Still, your power and skill allow you to match people who are at least five levels higher than you! But I''ll show you, the real roundhouse kick. You will feel the pain of my Noris 0.02 Roundhouse attack!"


    Nightwing was slowly turning into a mist of blood that moved around.


    "[Dragon''s Breath]!" Angelica shouted and a powerful wind blew out of her mouth that could match a Commander-grade wind spell.


    As the battles continued Menks was close to harnessing the power to resurrect thest champions that had blood. Laura, Estelle, and Northspark. Their bodies would be rich in mana and would allow him to harness more energy to summon the Skull Overlord.


    He carefully extracted the blood out of the three.


    STAB!


    Suddenly, a massive blood spike pierced out of Northspark and stabbed Menks''s chest.


    Menks did his best to evade, but the ambush caught him off guard.


    "Who said that I could create only one body?" The demonicughter of Nightwing was heard as another body grew out of the two.


    "No...!" Menks tried to resist and nced at the scepter of Northspark. The blood on the scepter had already vanished.


    "I lied again. And you foolishly believed that I was fighting there." Nightwing sneered.


    "You... demon...! But you won''t have... thestugh... Your lies and tricks have angered me... beyond what you can imagine... I should be able to do that... [Sacrifice]!" Menks shouted.


    He knew he was dead but his pride and arrogance refused to ept defeat.


    The great mystery of Sacrifice was invoked.


    "You won''t have any drop from me, Nightwing! Angelica! My enemy! We may stand against each other. But in this hell where only life and death matter, I considered you an ally! Receive my life and save yours!" Menksughed as he went against all the soul bonds between him and his master. A second life would have been possible, but before the Fallen, he believed all these contracts and bonds would be destroyed.


    His soul would be in torment in a greater and darker realm, but he didn''t care. The greater the sacrifice, the stronger the power that would be bestowed.


    KKZZZT! KZZZT! KZZZT!


    Angelica felt her power surge.


    Her cells underwent a transformation and her strength soared.


    Her real cultivation jumped over thest bottlenecks and she even raced several stages of the Commander level.


    The sacrifice provided sufficient energy to strengthen the blood of the dragon blood within Angelica. She received the powerful life force brought about by the purest of desire that the mighty cultivator freely offered without any hint of fear, selfishness, or thoughts of self-gain.


    The body of Angelica remained slim and lean. But her strength and the form of her dragonic transformation allowed her to be a Thane Dragon!


    Nightwing''s body raced to create its full, perfect body. His two blood clonesbined and created an armored form.


    Nightwing now held a sword, a shield, and had two dark wings.


    "So upon awakening, I fight a Crownless fighter. How troublesome. After all the limitations that forbid me from using other means to awaken! What was I thinking?! Luigi... What bonds did my past, idiotic self ce on you when faced with an enemy clearly surpassing my powers?" Nightwing called out.


    "Let me check... Article 7 Section 2 Dash Eight B states, in the situation where Party B, Nightwing Devilmourne, AKA, the Master is set to fight warriors more powerful than himself and faces a life-threatening situation, Party A (that is Slime Time Lord) and Party C, (That is Hydra) is to offer no help apart from granting ess to the rooms of the castle, giving odd advice, and offer thoughts and prayers..."


    "..." Nightwing sighed.


    "What if I were to enforce my power as the master over you both?" Nightwing asked again.


    "Hmmm... Let me see... That covers Article 9 Section 3... Oh! Here it is... I see...!"


    "What does it say?"


    "Master, do you have a screwdriver?"


    "?" Nightwing scratched his head.


    "...I think I can craft one with my blood magic."


    "Great! Screw you, master!"


    "..." Nightwing began to grumble andin.


    Angelica felt her strength surge and had a great sense of gratitude towards Menks.


    "Thank you, Menks." Angelica smiled and then turned to Nightwing.


    "I don''t care for your lies. I won''t drop my guard anymore!"


    "I''m sure you won''t... Let''s get this over with..." Nightwing sighed.

 Chapter 455 Blood And Body

    The moment that Nightwing awakened, he had a strange premonition of who he was and what his mission was. But he had no memory. All that he remembered was that he wanted revenge against the one who killed him in his previous life.


    He knew that the path of being reborn as a mortal and to face life and death was the key.


    He awakened and found his two servants. A Hydra and a Slime. Both were also confused and the slime had a peculiar personality.


    Nightwing and the trio made careful consideration of what they needed and what weapons they had. The castle was slowly rebuilt as Nightwing enacted several ingenious means to gather more blood for his castle and used the underground regions where the goblins lived and cultivated which became a mini-town of its own.


    Nightwing made them wage war with each other and was slowly growing but the main concern was that he wasn''t growing fast enough. His power of blood needed him to exert effort and facing Commanders, he knew that it wasn''t economical to challenge them directly.


    It was even more frustrating, that apart from guarding or defending the entrance, the Hydra and the Slime had no power to act as they were limited by many severe protocols that they could not bypass. Nightwing himself, had his ownws and could not choose to flee powerful opponents.


    It was then, that they sensed the arrival of the Commander group. And so, the triounched their ns to kill and conquer them.


    The undead summons was a trap. They only had a lifespan of half an hour and would die.


    Having practiced on the previous Commader, Nightwing used the Slime to lure them in and made them fight and kill each other and appeared only when one remained.


    When Tyrs arrived with his team, Nightwing hid down the chambers to prepare his trap. The assumption of him ''just awakening'' was yet another scheme when in fact, Nightwing already had Commander level power.


    All of this was to draw out the perfect scenario for their easy victory.


    But Nightwing''s preparation failed at thest second as the unexpected spell, Sacrifice, worked.


    The magic of Sacrifice was very difficult to perform. Everyone was given over to their own selfishness.


    And an imperfect Sacrifice could never truly bestow and strengthen another. At most, those who are recipent of the offering that follows the sacrifice will find very little boosts in strength and will almost always recover from their wounds.


    And those that could harness and casts it was very few. It took people with great legacies, inheritances, or blood lines to pull that spell of.


    Angelica could feel the very hope of Menks in the power she received. In thosest moments where they fought, Menks found freedom and desired for Angelica to have all of his strength to spite the Fallen. His joy of being able to defeat the Fallen also served as catalyst for the hope that Menks had.


    Menks knew that with Angelica''s special bloodline, she would not only reach the level of strength that Cardinals had, but she would receive tremendous blessing that would throw her at the peak of Cardinal! She would be a Crownless!


    Angelica''s permanent level rose from Champion and reached the middle stages of the Commander stage. But she had acquired the power to evolve her cells to be a Thane Dragon!


    Dragons grow spectacrly great in their stats depending on their forms. A Dracanae that is at Commander is mighty strong, but nothingpared to a Lesser Dragon of the same level. But Angelica had reached a form! She was Thane Dragon!


    BOOM!


    An explosive step forward urred as Angelica threw out a devastating punch.


    "Crownless strength. I''m a Commander and I have to fight something twenty levels higher than me?!" Nightwing cursed and used his escaping method of dispersing himself as a blood mist.


    "ROAR!" Angelica roared and the force energy was so strong that it blew at the mist and began to eradicate it!


    BANG!


    Nightwing''s true form was revealed from the mist and hended on the walls of the castle.


    His human form was revealed and he was sighing at the power of the roar.


    Angelica felt the surging power but could sense that the miracle of Sacrifice was slowly dispersing.


    "Menks... Apart from permanently increasing my level to Commander, you gave me excess energy to wield this Thane Dragon power for several minutes! It will not go in vain! I will kill this vampire, the hydra, and even that annoying slime!" Angelica vowed as she charged towards Nightwing.


    "Several minutes? Let''s make it one minute. If that''s the power you have, I will force your cells to grow and end this power! Thanks for the information, Angelica!" Nightwingughed.


    But suddenly, eight elemental cores appeared and surrounded Nightwing. The blood mist form he assumed didn''t just make him escape but was used to gather the cores.


    The cores formed an energy formation circle and the darkness was at the very center.


    Angelica saw the circle and frowned. The magic and power involved in this spell far exceeded what she had learned in the Hignds!


    All the cores lit up and revealed a terrifying magic.


    "How about you face your kin... Awaken! Dark Serpent!" Nightwing shouted and with the elemental cores, a massive serpent formed out of the Darkness and roared as it charged for a frontal collision.


    BANG!


    Angelica''s punch knocked the serpent back and it dispersed as her strength surged out.


    "Too weak!" Angelica shouted.<sub> </sub>


    But suddenly, a dark mist from the serpent exploded out and covered the entire room!


    Angelica was surprised and found that the entire room was full of darkness.


    "This darkness? What is this?!" Angelica cursed as her head grew distorted. The strange darkness was unlike any other she had experienced or trained in.


    The power of the Darkness was trying to pull Angelica''s consciousness out and into a void world!


    "I will not... be defeated! I will never forget who I am and the sacrifices of everyone! All that I killed or who died before me, even Menks who gave his life for me shall not be in vain!" Angelica shouted.


    "Hya!" Angelica went wild and began to unleash her attacks everywhere.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Massive attacks and explosions urred in the room and she began to hear voices all around her.


    "Over here!"


    "No! Over here!"


    Many voices leered out and called at her and Angelica would attack out.


    "Somethings wrong... What is this vampire nning?" Angelica contemted.


    The sounds of the voices continued out.


    Angelica stopped moving and quieted herself as she used her extraordinary dragonic senses to pierce through the darkness and sense what was happening.


    She quickly harnessed her Force energy and surrounded herself as she raised her arm which expanded like a shield.


    "[Thane Dragon''s Shield]!"


    ZAP! BOOM!


    A massive attack with seven elements shot down and pierced the ground.


    The attack was so strong and powerful that it exceeded the attacks that Cardinals could do!


    The darkness disappeared and a massive, deep hole appeared in the middle of the castle.


    At the very bottom was Angelica who was struggling to move.


    Her Thane form vanished as she nced at the dark being forming at the very top of the hole.


    Nightwing was panting and looked drained and weak.


    He panted and nced at the very bottom of the thin, small pit which was steaming with thick mist from the body of Angelica.


    "I got you again... You are so predictable, Angelica." Nightwingughed as he moved down.


    "You... Trickster! You coward!" Angelica cried out.


    "That''s right. I made you attack the darkness and tried to hide my presence within that darkness. I knew that dragons are more resistant to the darkness of Kyriachos. But it was never meant to kill you. The stronger attacks that I can do requires more massive energy formation circles. But the stronger the are, the more time and effort I need to exert toplete those! And in that darkness, as you attacked, I made it. You did good to raise your shield in time and survive the [Star Piercing Stab] of mine..." Nightwingughed as he stood over Angelica.


    Several blood tendrils appeared behind Nightwing as the creep and moved over the wounds of Angelica.


    BANG!


    The fist of Angelica suddenly pierced through the chest of Nightwing.


    "Wh...at?!" Nightwing clutched his chest and turned to the form of Angelica which had reverted back to a Thane Dragon.


    All of a sudden, Angelica rose up and quickly transformed back to the Thane Dragon.


    "Im...possible... How...?"


    "I lied." Angelica sneered.


    "The power that Menks gave me allows me to hold this form for days! And you went down this thin hole willingly! I couldn''t catch you before, but in this ce, you trapped yourself with me!" Angelicaughed.


    "You lose, Fallen! Blood is always bested by Body!"

 Chapter 456 Blood Magic

    Angelica made a terrifying gamble and resisted the power and released her form to make it look like she was defeated.


    The power of the bolt coursed out around her, but her trap worked. The potent energy of Menks was enough to ensure her survival and victory! She had be the hunter in this dark game!


    Her punch was not just a normal fist that crushed and pierced through the chest of Nightwing. It had the power to deflect all magic itself. Dragons were naturally resistant to magic and had a means of dispersing it. That punch killed the body of Nightwing. She could sense death happening before her!


    She nced at the dying body of Nightwing who was slowly dispersing into a pool of blood.


    "I... did it!" Angelica cheered.


    "Yeah... About that..." A voice was heard above as the body of Nightwing dispersed into a pile of mist.


    Angelica was shocked. She quickly turned her attention to the skies above and saw another Nightwing!


    "That was my blood clone. You were too eager to show your hand that you didn''t notice that the one I sent was a weaker form. I still have much more blood.


    Nightwing was standing up. Just above him was massive energy akin to a star-forming above him.


    "As I said, I need more time to create the energy formation circle. And now, with all eight cores used, I can finally perfect and strengthen the magical attack. You don''t have to teach me how cunning dragons are. I know the power of your bloodline!" Nightwing chuckled as he raised his arm.


    "That won''t be enough!" Angelica shouted as she regained her dragonic form and began to rise.


    Angelica roared and flew to the top as she harnessed all her force and magic energy to push her out of the deep hole. But in this thin, tunneling hole, she had no ce to make quick evasions.


    "I know..." Nightwing smiled and prepared to release the powerful magic.


    "[Star Piercing Star]!" Nightwing made the massive star shoot out sword-like energy that stabbed down.


    "A sword technique?!" Angelica was stunned as she could somehow see the faint avatar of a strange being of great size stabbing out towards her.


    "Why is he summoning an Ancient to make an attack?! What Crown does he wear?!" Angelica cursed out as she began to summon all her cells and all the life energy that Menks blessed her with.


    The avatar that appeared was proof that the magic had surpassed peak Cardinal. It was bing a Crown! Had the Crown appeared over the form of this gigantic being, then even she wouldn''t be confident in blocking and surviving the attack.


    "[Dragon Knight Shield]! [Defender Dragon''s Scale]! [Defender Dragon''s March]!" Angelica shouted as she released the full power of her bloodline and cast many of the spells that she could not have summoned given her vastly ipetent level of power.


    Pyrekaiser Fafnir was known as the strongest knight in the nesword despite being a half-dragon. His race was somehow forgotten many would see him as a champion knight with terrifying defenses.


    Angelica''s form evolved. Her right arm which had a shield grew even sturdier. The power of her cells empowered it. Her Force energy also began to grow stronger as the Blessing that she had acquired took its true form.


    An avatar of a massive Thane Dragon with armor ting that looked like steel appeared behind her. She was also revealing a legacy that was rich and would be the envy of many even in the Hignds.


    "Oh? Impressive... Did the nesworld receive an ancient inheritance from long ago? To think the Defender Dragon would be your blessing!"


    "With this, I shall endure!" Angelica braced herself and kept flying as she met the power head-on and reflected it to the sides.


    "I''ll destroy the ground!" Angelica thought to herself.


    BOOM!


    The entire castle began to tremble as the entire hall where they fought burst out and the potentially explosive energy began to spread out.


    The ground copsed and the mountain trembled as the energy that reached the levels of Crownless shed.


    A massive hole reced the area around the castle as Magic and Forced shed.


    But as the area was destroyed, Angelica was shocked as the magic continued to pour out!


    "How?! Without the ground and ce to write the inscriptions, how can this magic continue?!" She cursed. Seeing as her n failed, Angelica could only press higher and higher.


    The destructive magic didn''t push back Angelica but Angelica was actually slowly rising!


    "I''ll kill you when I get up there!"


    The smoke and ground cleared out and finally, Angelica had her answer.


    With the ground destroyed, Angelica could see the energy formation circle. It wasn''t written on the ground, but was written over the skies! The blood of Nightwing was drawn into the air and along with the elemental cores, it became the energy formation circle!


    "Blood magic! You are using your very life for this attack!" Angelica realized what was happening.<sub> </sub>


    ? "Do you like it?! Be d! You are this strong that I have to give up a huge portion of my life to harm you!" Nightwingughed as his blood began to appear at the side of Angelica and was slowly drawing itself into an Energy Formation Circle!


    "What?! Impossible! It can''t be! You can''t do that! There is no way for you to create magic in this formation! What power source are you using?!" Angelica refused to believe it and pressed higher with all her might.


    But her worst fear happened as the blood began to glow with energy.


    She panicked and allowed herself to be pushed lower so she could block the beams as they shot out.


    "[Kitty Cat Beams]!"


    Several thin, weak, pathetic, useless, unimpressive, small, disappointing rays of light shot towards their shield of Angelica as she flew down to the ground.


    TING! TING! TING!


    Comparing the damage of the rays of light to insect bites would be an insult to insects.


    The rays struck Angelica to the side and shocked her.


    "YOU! YOU TRICKED ME!"


    "...I''ve been doing that for a while now. I killed everyone because I tricked them. Why are you angry now?" Nightwing asked.


    "I" ll kill you!" She roared as she charged upwards.


    Rising a few meters was already a chore in the battle. Many strange markings were constantly appearing on her side and many more kept appearing to her sides. A dilemma was urring. Was this a bluff? Was this a double bluff? Or was it a triple bluff?


    Her hesitation showed and she was once more being pushed down as she was unable to decide the real nature of the many magic on the side. But she knew that if she would be pushed down, she would have a hard time moving up as the enemy might shoot more and more attacks.


    "He''s forcing me to waste energy! He is fighting a battle of attrition! This deception is meant to trick me!" Angelica finally decided and harnessed all her might to push higher and higher.


    Her figure rose and drew closer to Nightwing and could see the weakening of magic.


    "I win! You lose! Your magic is faltering!" Angelica shouted as her ascension became faster and faster.


    She could see the blood thinning around her and the body of Nightwing was frail as if it was being drained of life itself!


    "You trickster! You pretended to be all strong, but me killing that clone meant a lot, wasn''t it?! I didn''t just punch through your clone! I killed half of your lifeline! Now your gamble has failed! Die!"


    Nighting waved his hand and all the elemental cores flew at her and contained the raw power of the energy it was emitting.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    Eight impacts struck Angelica, but Angelica pressed on.


    Angelica felt her body tremble at the impact and realized that the life energy she was bestowed with was draining quickly!


    "I must end this now!" She pushed and harnessed strong Force energy to make her fly forward.


    Nightwing began to flee and fly up the roof and was intending to escape but Angelica''s flight was not even dyed by the meteoric attacks of each core.


    She punched out as Nightwing blocked.


    POW!


    The punch continued as the pair broke through the roof.


    But suddenly, Nightwing smiled as he allowed his body to disperse into a mist with true death urring.


    "Another Blood Clone?! Where is the real one?!" She was confused. But then she felt terrifying magic shooting up on her.


    Nightwing was at the bottom and had reformed another energy formation circle and shot energy to the top.


    It was toote to evade. Angelica was struck by the rising sword stab and flew to the heavens as she pierced floor after floor of the castle.


    The beam of light dispersed and Angelica''s wounded body began to fall from the great heights she has ascended.

 Chapter 457 Blood And The Blade

    Nightwing stood at the very bottom of the massive pit that was formed from the sh. The blood in him had decreased significantly than he originally had. The amount of energy that he consumed through the Champions and Commanders that had died in their cursed region had been used up and Nightwing now only had the strength of a Commander left.


    But he kept ncing to the sky which was now revealed. The shroud of darkness and mist that once covered the castle had vanished.


    Around Nightwing were the eight cores he used to attack Angelica in a meteoric fashion.


    But it was all a diversion.


    The taunting energy formation circles that formed next to her were meant to transfer the blood from the top to the bottom. And there, Nightwing arranged his blood to recreate the same power that he was shooting out. The energy formation circle at the bottom gathered the energy being shot out from the top as Nightwing''s main body was already there. The deception was subtle as Nightwing was also diminishing the amount of energy he shot out which further heightened his paranoia about Angelica.


    She thought the weakening energy meant that the energy formation circles at her sides which shot out the [Kitty Cat Beam] were gaining power. But in reality, it was because Nightwing was crafting the same spell down below.


    Angelica lost power and her regeneration was not enough to heal her wings. She fell straight down as strange gravitational magic appeared to direct her course and she was falling down towards the same pit.


    Her body couldn''t move and the life energy within her was quickly regenerating her body, but her injuries were too much that she needed her body to regenerate first.


    Her wings would not regenerate on time and she needed to conserve her Force energy should the Hydra attack her.


    Angelica directed the regeneration so that she would be able to move her arms as she was falling head-first. Such a great fall would wound her and it would be critical in condition. And who knew what trickery the Vampire Ancient would have prepared?


    But as Nightwing tried to take another step forward, he lost bnce and copsed. The floating elemental cores that were floating also lost their magic and they fell to the floor.


    "I''m this drained huh? I can''t sustain all my Elemental cores in an energy conversion circle. And there''s no time to make a recovery circle..." Nightwingmented. But he expected this.


    Nightwing knew the price he had to pay and was in a terrible state. He had resolved to fight Angelica up to this state where they would have roughly equal chances of winning.


    Several small attacks that were barely at the Champion level appeared as blood spears.


    "Hmm... This magic should work. If we are going to fight a drawn-out battle, I have to make it harder for her to move and have to force her to use up all that life and death energy that Menks gave her!" Nightwing decided as he harnessed a certain type of magic and only used the Dark Elemental Core.


    Angelica''s figure appeared falling from the heavens and Nightwing released his attacks.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    Despite the limited mobility that Angelica had, she managed to block the spear attacks.


    She shed her sword numerous times and made careful turns and twists and used the first block to evade the other iing spears.


    At thest moment, Angelica punched toward the ground with force energy to stop her descent.


    Many spears attacked at that exact moment but all the blood spears either missed or were blocked!


    Nightwing frowned as he saw his attacks failed.


    "She''s really good. I never found an opening even back then since her movements gave no openings..." Nightwing sighed as Angelica began to struggle to stand.


    "You''re not... attacking? No spells at the ready?"


    "I''m all drained up." Nightwing chuckled.


    "Your strength... You should be at Mid Commander level."


    "So are you. That attack forced you to recover your body. But in doing so, you lost all that precious life energy. Damn you dragons... Resistant to magic, and terrifying healing abilities!" Nightwingughed.


    "By the looks of it... you will be forced to fight... a physical battle with me... I cannot use all of my dragonic bloodlines to it''s fullest extent. But against your remaining blood, my de will be enough!" Angelica smiled as she tried to stand up.


    "Oh? Don''t think of me as some useless pool of blood!" A sword, a shield, and dark wings appeared behind Nightwing.


    "You''re a fighter?!" Angelica was stunned. The vampire ancient had shown terrifying abilities as a magic user with his ancient knowledge of energy formation circles. But now, the enemy revealed weapons that made her scales tremble. It was as if the weapons that were shown had injected fear into the bloodline of dragons!


    "When needed. Come, Dragon Knight!"


    Angelica gritted her teeth.


    "You''re also dying. Right now, I still have the advantage! You may have wisdom and power to do magic, but if it''s martial arts and techniques, I am confident of my abilities!"


    "Let''s see!" Nightwingughed andunched himself towards Angelica.


    His wings grewrger as wraiths appeared at his sides.


    But at that moment, the recovery of Angelica had given her enough to fly.<sub> </sub>


    She flew to the air but did not choose to meet Nightwing but flew higher.


    She noticed strange magic that increased her weight and saw Nightwing shooting out more blood spears.


    DING! DING! DING!


    It was then that Angelica noticed it.


    "Gravity magic!" She cursed and now understood why he ''couldn''t'' cast spells! There were already numerous spells created on the blood that was casting gravity-increasing magic upon contact.


    Her sword became heavy and she was forced to focus on evasion.


    Her martial ability and mobility were disyed as she began to evade the attacks and deal with wraiths that flew and attacked her blind spot.


    The power of her force energy create thunderous sounds at each attack she made. Thunderous shock waves rang out at each wave of her attack!


    Angelica quicklyunched the offensive as her wings suddenly grew bigger. Her speed doubled as she swooped out of the attacks.


    "A wyvern? You even have that form?! How extravagant of your family! Did your father hunt a wyvern for you to eat?" Nightwingughed as he waited for Angelica to approach.


    Angelica sped up to keep herself away from the blood spears and the wraiths that couldn''t track her movements.


    The homing spears also turned, but Angelica had left them far away.


    "Die!" Confident with her speed, Angelica charged at Nightwing.


    Nightwing sneered as he waited for Angelica to attack and began to retreat.


    "[Dragon Horn Stab]!" Angelica shouted as she stabbed out.


    Nightwing held his shield up and resisted.


    "Foolish!" Angelica sneered. Her power and force had surpassed Nightwing and blocking the attack would make Nightwing stagger giving her time to move fast and make ambush attacks.


    But as Nightwing held up his shield, a strange vision appeared.


    He saw himself as a Pdin knight that fought against many foes. Surprisingly, he was fighting Commanders even as a Champion! Even with several buffs and skills that would nearly cost him his life, his Pdin self, was able to contend with the raw strikes and attacks of the knight.


    In his vision, he saw a Commander stab out against him much like how Angelica was.


    Clutching his shield, Nightwing forced his shield forward and just as the tip of the sword made contact with the shield, Nightwing began to retreat back.


    His shield continued to harness the great strength that was meant to resist the attack.


    The full power of Nightwing''s dexterity was revealed. His perception had increased by several folds.


    It was as if time had slowed down several times and Nightwing made his move.


    As the sword of Angelica continued to push forward, Nightwing retreated just enough so that he wouldn''t be blown back, but also kept resisting the attack just enough that the stab was slowly losing velocity and power.


    The careful execution of the high-level block allowed Nightwing to now be thrown back and even allowed him to make his attack. With a slight turn on the shield, the stabbing attack began to slide to the side while Nightwing positioned himself in a way that he couldunch his attack.


    Nightwing stabbed with the sword.


    STAB!


    The entire attack barelysted a second, and by the time Angelica realized what had happened, there was already a wound on her shoulder!


    "H...how?!" Angelica cursed.


    "I surprise myself sometimes! Nightwingughed and was about to make a retreat when he felt that the sword could not be pulled out. Nightwing made a split-second choice of letting go but felt a tremendous Force of energy binding him.


    "Wh-what?!"


    "I surprise... you sometimes!" Angelica made a powerful sh.


    BANG!


    "[Vibrating Force Crusher]!" Angelica shouted as Force Energy created a rippling effect that spread and crushed Nightwing''s body.

 Chapter 458 Blood Offering

    Legend spoke of a mighty dragon that fell in love with the giant beautiful nt as it was said that the nesworld was the most beautiful tree nted by the great nt Ancient, Dentro.


    It was said that the spirit of the Ygdrassil also fell in love with the great Land Wyrm and their union led to the formation of the Ygdrassil.


    The union of the two gave birth to one of the strongest dragons thatter became a mighty champion among the Heretic Army. The dragon was so strong it could contend with the Greater God of Fire and the Greater God of Lightning.


    In the many attempts to defeat the powerful Heretic, the Ancients and the Fallen sent their warriors but were all defeated by the Defender Dragon. He had terrifying earth energy and could create the power of Tremor. It was onlyter, that a son of Hyperion Steel was taskedy waste and decimate the greatnd and the battle urred at Airom.


    Yet the legacy of the Defender Dragon lived on. For he had loved the people of the Hignds as they were seen as the son of her mother.


    And the bloodline power of Tremor was left with them. Forever, the descendants were bound to serve the king.


    The power of the Defender Dragon was a legacy that was kept hidden from many. Only the King of the Hignds knew of it and the corresponding Supremes that served him. But unknown to all of them, Pyrekaiser Fafnir dotted on her daughter so much that he gave her this very legacy.


    Not all born of the Fafnir family would have this. But only the most trusted and suited would be entrusted with this legacy.


    Such was the legacy of Angelica.


    Her Force contained the power of Tremor and she hid her ace well, and only used it in the most unlikely of scenarios.


    "I am Angelian Fafnir! A descendant of the Defender Dragon! And I will defend the nesworld from your ilk, vampire!" Angelica roared as she revealed her true self.


    The crushing and copsing power continued to explode out and Nightwing was being blown back.


    Nightwing quickly harnessed the power of the shield to push forward the attack.


    "[All Push]!" The power of Gennaios Steel was harnessed and the tremor that began to quake through Nightwing was being pushed back.


    The shield endured the many tremors and Nightwing held on tightly to his sword and risked it. The attack of Angelian had critically wounded him and he had no choice but to even the odds.


    "[Balefire Chaos Sword: Grudge of a Thousand]!" Nightwing triggered the attack of the sword and the bitterness and defiant anger of all who died under the castle came alive and attacked Angelian.


    BOOM!


    The explosion urred deep within the scale of Angelian and she felt the coursing hatred and balefire.


    "Ahhh!" She screamed as the attack seeped through and attacked her body and soul.


    She saw darkness copsing and all the horrors and evil eyes of men that have everid eyes on her. She saw many strange things and the whispers and gossip about her.


    The rumors of what her father nned to do to her and how she would be used as a political tool.


    She felt the lust of the people who died in the castle and the many secret grudges that she had even when she hid her identity.


    The pain ragged hard. She felt alone as she sensed the dark emotions of everyone and so many more who wanted to do evil things for her.


    "Mother..." She began to weep in pain as her heart was covered in darkness.


    But as she turned to the side, she caught sight of Nightwing who was also in dire straights.


    She saw him and could not help but stand up.


    The Slime teleported out and the Hydra approached as its massive frame was shown.


    The two gathered around Nightwing.


    "Master! This is bad! You''re dying!" The hydra eximed.


    "You don''t say?" Nightwing sighed.


    "What do we do?! What do we do?!" The Slime panicked.


    "You can''t do anything. The battle has yet to be decided. And you can''t intervene, because my idiotic self set so many rules about it."<sub> </sub>


    "Is it true?" The Hydra asked the Slime.


    "Yeah. use three of Article twenty-three. If master dies, he dies." The slime read.


    "...Master. What were you thinking?" The Hydra asked.


    "I''ll never know, will I?"


    "But master, why did you spare her? Were you thinking of drinking her blood? That surprise beam attack. You could have used more energy but you didn''t."


    "... I don''t know. My idiotic self must have been a sadist. But you saw the memories of everyone. And I have tasted her blood and seen her thoughts. I... pity her." Nightwing sighed.


    "Pity... me?" Angelian was wobbling as she walked but her sword helped her walk. She had a half-dragonic form as she wobbled over.


    In her deepest and most fearful state, she fell into terrifying despair. But this all made her desire to kill Nightwing all the more. She gathered thest of her strength as she moved over towards Nightwing. But she trembled as she heard those words.


    "Why...?" She asked. She suddenly felt the magic of the darkness disappear. She realized that this was correct! The second magic that attacked her from behind wasn''t the same sword-stabbing star magic. It was drastically weaker.


    Had it been the same type of magic, she would have died.


    Nightwing nced at the beaten, but a beautiful woman and smiled.


    "Maybe it''s because you''re cute." Nightwingughed.


    "Cute?! You...!" She moved closer and stood over Nightwing.


    "Because I''m cute you decided to waste that attack? Were you dreaming of doing... evil things to me? Were you hoping to make me your servant so you can enjoy me forever?!" Angelian roared.


    "Mypanions are slime and a hydra. I''ve seen the memories of others and yours as well and I know what you fear. But if I were to pursue that... I''d prefer that you''d be willing and happy in giving yourself to me. Well, no matter. You win. Kill me. Sadly, the castle and these two idiots won''t be yours. But I canmand them not to harm you as thest order."


    "Why are you suddenly so generous?"


    "Call it sympathy from a kindred spirit. I sense that I have the same curses and fate that you struggle with. Mine was definitely worse. Even right now, I sense that the curses you bear aren''t worthparing to my own. But someone like you who has suffered a lot, and with no ce to turn to, isn''t it better to pretend to die here? Don''t you want to be free?"


    "No ce to turn to? What do you mean?!"


    "The memories of Menks and the rest. You were already suspected to be someone important. Many of the kingdoms nned to capture you and arrest you should you have gone home. You see, the infiltration of the Eldrich was far more than you hoped it would be. You could say, that half of this region is controlled by them. And you don''t have any hope of escaping. Several people with the strength that could challenge what you and I just showed areing here."


    "No! You... lie!"


    "Why would I lie to you? That''s why I said, pretend to die after this. You could flee. The slime and the hydra can remain here as proof of everyone''s death."


    "No! It can''t be true!"


    "Menks''s sacrifice. Didn''t you feel it? Don''t you understand why he gave you so much? In thest moments of his life, he hated being a chained bondservant of the Eldrich. He gave you that power, and that amazing life energy so that you would have the chance to fight your way out of this region. Didn''t you feel it?"


    Angelian froze. She then recalled the warmth and concern of sacrifice and thest vision of him.


    When the sacrifice spell urred, Menks appeared in her vision.


    Menks stood there and smiled at her around a field of bright white.


    "Sorry for everything, Angelian. I am bound to serve. But honestly, I''m not the cruel guy that I show myself to be. Anyway, this energy should be enough. With this, you can beat that being and even have the strength to get out of this cursed region. Goodbye."


    Remembering these words, Angelian''s heart began to quiver. She copsed and lost strength.


    "Why? Why is it... like this?" She began to weep. She had many ups and downs in her life. And whenever she would find the chance to soar, fate would rage against her and make her fall from the great heights she once had.


    "Well, there is a way out. Blood Offering. The same magic of Sacrifice can be made. I... am too confused... and tired to continue anyway. I''ll give you all my blood. And you will be stronger."

 Chapter 459 Blood To Give

    ? Angelian was surprised at the words of the vampire.


    "...Look. You''re a dragon. Once you kill me, eat me. Maybe then you''d have the strength to fight. My blood will greatly nourish you. It will help you flee and there is a great future for you. But be warned, the higher the heights you can ascend, the steeper the fall you''ll face. That is the curse that you live with."


    Angelian was confused.


    "Why?"


    "...Call it a sense of realization. I must have been a very angry person before I was sealed in here. But because whatever memories I had of revenge and desire had vanished... I just feel free. We are who we are, and we do what we do because of our memories. But now that I don''t have these, I feel... so tired. I feel an unbearable weight on me. It''s like I know I have to do something. But devoid of all memories, and having forgotten what sin was caused on me, or who suffered because I failed, I just feel free and I don''t want the burden again. You should understand this the most. You''ve been wanting to die, right? You''re tired of all the curses and misfortunes that follow you."


    "You speak that I have cursed. What do you mean?"


    "Yours is a strange one. Fate hates you. I don''t know why, but I can see it. Destiny wants you but right now, it''s still trying to kill you. Two forces of mysterious power are struggling to have their will done to you. Both are trying to kill you. But I feel that Destiny''s purpose is different. It''s as if, it wants you to change sides."


    "Fate and Destiny? Why? Why are they after me?!" Angelian despaired.


    "How should I know? I''m guessing I did all these memories wipe out to keep myself hidden from Fate and Destiny''s battle. I see a few curses in you.


    "Je It''s not as strong as mine... but looking at it... Terrifying curses. I think I had those, but I''m not sure." Nightwingughed.


    "What curses?"


    "A few. Sess Limiter. This is a curse of Fate that sets you to have a cap on the sesses you will receive in life. If ever you seed and be powerful or strong, Fate will work to give you such troubles and losses that limit your power. Hated of Fate. This means that you are Fate will always attack you and bind you. Dragon Bound. This one feels like it''s from Destiny. It will be released if you side with him. And then there are those perma-spell casts. De-Joker which robs you of your joy. De-Magic limits the bloodline magic, but I feel this one is intended for all descendants of the Defender Dragon. Surprisingly you also have a strange one. De-Bloodline. This one should be of Destiny."


    "Let''s not forget the other one." The slime was added.


    "Right. There''s that terrifying one." Nightwing actually frowned.


    "De-"


    "-Bluetooth device is connected sessfully." The Slime interrupted.


    "..." Nightwing red at the Slime.


    "We''re dying here. Keep your puns to yourself!"


    "S-Sorry. I just couldn''t resist."


    "De-Heart." Nightwing turned back to Angelian.


    "Quite a terrifying curse. You are bound to have apprehensions about everything. This is the most terrifying curse because you will always feel apprehension and suspicious of everyone''s intentions. You always look at the bad things. Your heart is cursed that it cannot believe in others loving you."


    "Why is that bad?" The Hydra asked.


    Angelian was stunned that the Hydra could speak.


    "The curses that she has is something that she alone cannot surpass. I mean, look at me! The Fanged Fallen! But here I am defeated. If my idiotic self did not impose those crazy rules on Luigi and the Hydra, I could have easily won. Allies to rely on and help you are necessary if you wish to battle this curse. But you can''t. It''s in your heart. Even if you try, you won''t trust others. You don''t even trust your father, do you?" Nightwing exined.


    "My father?! You saw those memories! You saw what I heard!"


    "You''re crazy to believe those? See how terrifying those curses are? Angelian, you were bestowed by your father, the secrets of your bloodline itself! The fact that he gave you that, despite it being illegal proves that he loves you! Your crazy to even think that his nces and gazes at you were of lust? He was dotting father! I saw your memories, and I can tell you quite clearly, that your father loves you but this curse twists the perception of things. You still listen to odd rumors and chose to believe that he is only doing this because of politics or other selfish reasons and that you are a tool!" Nightwing exined.


    "What? She thinks her father lusts after her. Wow. That De-Heart is really terrifying."


    "Yes. I have more curses in me, but I pity you that much. Anyway, I''m dying. Eat me. You are a dragon. You can eat me and use my blood to nourish yours. I''ll even throw in a freebie by using that same magic of Menks. Sacrifice. You can kill me first since you don''t trust me. You live on and struggle in your life. You will gain great power and could even be a Heretic if you live long enough. Of course, Fate and Destiny will try to kill you. But honestly, it''s no different than your current plight. At least, this way, you''ll have more power to fight back."<sub> </sub>


    "Master. You''re weird. Why do you want to die?" The slime tilted its head and wondered.


    "... If it''s hopeless... Why should I live on?" Angelian suddenly spoke.


    The Slime and the Hydra turned to Angelian.


    "Vampire... What if you live... What if you... drink my blood?"


    "Eh? Do you want me to win? Pass. Just let me die."


    "But... if you''re the one that lives... you''d have more chances in surviving, right? You are very smart! You can fight through this and defeat everyone."


    "Why would you want me to win?"


    "Because... I''m also tired... I hate it. I know my mistakes and my foolishness. People have died showing their love for me... but even to thest moment, I doubted them! I hate it! I''m tired as well!"


    "Please... Tired? Try having those curses for millennia!"


    "All the more reason that you should bear this curse! Even if I eat you, Fate will just send more powerful enemies! So what if I eat you?! What next?! Will I be facing Conquerors next? Cherubims?"


    "Hmm... If you ate a Fallen, you''d probably be hunted down by Greater Gods and Fallen." Luigi added.


    "Fallen and Greater Gods?! I''d face people like you?!" Angelian cursed as she turned to Nightwing. She stumbled down and lost all her strength.


    "Please... Take this burden from me! You live! You fulfill the wishes of my father! You defeat the enemies that are wrestling to kill the king of the Hignds! Take it all!"


    "What? Do you really want me to win? Are you crazy? And you are even asking me to fulfill your wishes?"


    "Please...! I don''t want to suffer anymore! If I am to bear these curses, then this bloodline will fall on the Eldrich! I can''t have that! At the very least... you can have it!"


    "... Fine. I guess I can continue to live on. I''m curious as to who I am and what happened to me, anyway... What a bother."


    Angelian smiled.


    "Thank you..." Angelian smiled as she nced at Nightwing as her vision slowly faded. The mental breakdown gave her exhaustion unlike any other. But little did she know that strange magic was at work and her De-Heart was being destroyed which was causing her to feel the weariness.


    She couldn''t see clearly but she could feel the Fallen approach her.


    "Hmm? Sacrifice? You''re that willing to give yourself to me, huh? But I understand. You''ve suffered for too long. Do you have any other request, before I kill you?" Nightwing asked.


    "...You... look kind of cute... I''ve never had the joy of having someone... But now, I long for it. You have that power of an Incubus... So I guess with my defenses down, I... have these feelings of desire in me. Could you... kiss me?" Angelian smiled. She wished she could see the handsome appearance of the Fallen.


    "Oh... My. I probably have kissed a lot... but in this incarnation, you ought to be my first. Fine. I''ll draw out your blood through your lips." Nightwing drew closer and brushed the cheeks of Angelian. The defenses of the dragon were gone and her pinkish cheeks were blushing with anticipation.


    "This is... not a bad way to die." Angelian chuckled.


    "No. I''ll take you to heaven before your journey to hell." Nightwing dove in and gave Angelian a deep kiss.


    The surging energy that began to draw out blood of Angelian appeared and Angelian felt a rushing warmth on her lips and savored it.


    The power of Sacrifice emerged.

 Chapter 460 Blood Of The Eldrich

    As Nightwing delivered the kiss, Angelian gave in to her lust and willingly gave her life to him.


    The Hydra and Luigi finally understood Nightwing''s intention.


    Nightwing had created numerous spells underneath the bloody ground and was hidden from view. It was a subtle deception that all throughout the battle, Nightwing always revealed the energy formation circles and made it very apparent that he was casting spells to be made. But this time, a small formation was set and was trying to dispel the De-Heart magic.


    Because of De-Heart, it was rtively impossible for Angelian to offer her life willingly to Nightwing. Nightwing had gambled to arrange the scenario of the end of their battle to destroy the guarded heart of Angelian and free her from it. The curse itself was weakened when Menks used to sacrifice and when Angelian received help without any forms of strings attached to her. It was so potent, that even the De-Heart could not stop Angelian from experiencing the joy of receiving a free gift.


    With the crack in that heart, Nightwing spoke and used Charm to open a door that has never, ever opened in Angelian.


    Her suspicions and fears prohibited her from tasting the joy and warmth of tossing away all her guards and giving up her body to another who she found attractive.


    The two began to enjoy the process as Angelian offered all of her blood to give.


    "This is so hot." Luigi approved.


    The Hydra bit Luigi and flung him far out to the distance for making such stupidments. The process itself was very delicate and didn''t want the spell to be ruined with Luigi. His life was tied to Nightwing. If Nightwing died, he also will die!


    As the kiss continued, Angelian lost all consciousness, and finally, Nightwing''s lips parted.


    "My n worked. I''m stronger now. I should really be a Cardinal now." Nightwing was pleased as his daring n worked.


    "Master... The girl is still alive!" The Hydra exined.


    "Yes. I can''t kill her now. Something unexpected happened." Nightwing gathered the blood on the ground and uncovered ayer of energy formation circle that was casting strange magic.


    "Unexpected?"


    "The moment De-Heart was destroyed, her true allegiance was revealed. She is a person of Fate."


    "A Fate Challenger?!" The Hydra eximed.


    WARP!


    The Slime Luigi appeared again.


    "I can''t sense her Fate Challenger now!"


    "I took it from her. When she surrendered herself, I could now take the curse away from her."


    "You took it from her? But boss... I thought whatever your past self nned, it was to hide you from Fate and Destiny. Why make yourself an ally of Fate?"


    "I will eventually do things that will make Destiny find me anyway. If I don''t have Fate''s mark as his champion, then Destiny may suspect something The best way, is to present myself as a champion of Fate, but someone not as powerful as my first. But... I don''t think I can move for a bit and will be helpless. Luckily, I have a powerful Commander who can challenge Cardinals by my side now who are not bound to my past idiotic self''s restriction."


    "Hm... Boss... Why aren''t you stronger? Drinking her blood allows you to also feast on Menk''s sacrifice, correct? But you seem rather weak. I thought you''d at least be at Cardinal 2 by now!"


    "The magic of taking in her curses and identity as a Fate Challenger isn''t cheap. And besides, I broke several of her curses. I sacrificed one level of what should have increased in my cultivation was offered back to her."


    "Woah! One Cardinal level?!"


    "I destroyed De-Joker. De-Bloodline was neutralized when I hid her in my power, Mysterion. The cost is worth it. Given her enough time, she will grow stronger. And I just discovered that my strange bloodline should be beyond the Fanged or the Charmed Fallen. I feel like I have the blood of Tyrannos too!"


    "How? Did drinking her blood give you dragonic strength? Isn''t that normal?"


    "No. I gave her my blood and she''s bing a vampiric Thane Dragon. Her De-Magic was neutralized thanks to the vampire blood."


    "Wait! She''s now your Blood Coven?!"<sub> </sub>


    "Yes. I marked her with great power. Strange thing, though. As I was kissing her, I wanted to fool around a bit and add a little more of the Charm to heighten the happiness, but for some reason, I can''t. There are these... voices inside of me that are stopping me from doing that."


    "It''s called your conscience, master."


    "...Fair enough. But hey! Give me a break! I''ve been asleep for who knows how long?! Can''t a guy have a little fun? And even though I did use the Charm, it only awakened the desires that she had. I didn''t even have to use Charm halfway through the spell. But that''s not what I mean. I saw visions of two women. Powerful women with the same power as the Charm."


    "Two subi were angry that you were kissing a girl? Master, can you give me one subus?"


    "...You''re a slime."


    "Yes. I''m a slimy, dirty, perverted old man. I admit it. So when can I get some of them subus?"


    "...Now I''m even more confused about what my past was..." Nightwing clutched his head in pain as he suffered a bacsh and ignored Luigi.


    "Anyway, what''s the n, boss?" The Hydra asked.


    "Where are the survivors who had Fate Challengers?"


    "They continued to y. I injected too much Brimstone in them and they are ying like crazy." The Hydra sighed.


    "Well, we better get out of here. Have those two send out reports and news to the surrounding kingdoms. With the information about the Eldrich and the many conflicts, it is enough to make this region fall into war. And when there is war, there is blood. And we will be at the center of this region''s cmity. I will make a dark kingdom and let''s hope that the eldrich will take notice."


    "You are nning to take on the Eldrich?"


    "The dark dependent are the most nutritious meals for me. Of course, we will be aiming for the blood Eldriches."


    At Nightwing''smand, the Slime began to harness his ability and devour the entire into himself.


    The secret of the castle exterior was that it was the slime monster itself!


    The entire dark castle began to disappear as bright magic warped out.


    And just like that, the castle was gone.


    The disappearance of the castle and the discovery of a battle that raged in the underground area wereter discovered as the scouts saw the dead.


    It was reported, that the entire squadron led by Commander Tyrs was annihted save for the Commander himself! His family had reported and spared no effort to find him as his life talisman was still intact.


    But then, news began to spread around the kingdom. Commander Tyrs made numerous public appearances and revealed numerous news that created chaos around the region.


    The spies, the treacheries of some families, and even the borate plot to kill them all were made. At the very center of this, was proof of Menks being a Necromancer servant of the Eldrich who has infiltrated the kingdoms!


    Various men of the Hignds began to investigate.


    Champion Supreme Pyrekaiser Fafnir would head the investigation himself and the Hignds demanded that the Uninvolved Land will open themselves to the investigation.


    Political discourse was made as the Uninvolved Lands unanimously voted against this.


    Two weeks passed since the disappearance of the castle.


    In a random mansion found near the crossroads to many of the kingdoms in the Uninvolved Regions of the Minds, a woman woke up.


    Angelian found herself dressed in very beautiful,fortable clothes that made her surpass the attires that the princess of the Hignds wore.


    "I''m alive...?" Angelian was stunned.

 Chapter 461 Conquering The Uninvolved Land

    Angelian nced at the strangefortable room of great luxury. The room was cold, thanks to a powerful cooling device. Angelian''s nket was thick and cozy. There was an array of food next to her that reminded her how hungry she was. She indulged in the food nearby and ate to her heart''s content.


    And suddenly, she wept. She had never experienced such peace and calmness as she continued to eat and there was a strange lightness all around her.


    "The curse...? The curse has been removed? But how?" Angelian couldn''t understand but began to test her theories.


    She thought about her father. The story of how she met her father was bizarre. She was brought in to be a concubine as many of the men hired to catch her noticed her superior beauty and was contracted by Pyrekaiser himself!


    But when she was brought before him, instead of bing Pyrekaiser''s concubine, Pyrekaiser ''discovered'' that she was his all along!


    As she reflected on this strange meeting, she couldn''t help but feel the care of her father as the room she was in her the room that her father gave her.


    She could not help but smile as her heart began to warm up.


    "...I see. Father spread that rumor! Father must have known of my curses and knew that if he made the announcement and tell me, De-Heart would make me unable to trust him. He knew I couldn''t trust him. And considering my bloodline, he wanted people to think that I was going to be his concubine when in fact, he had already learned of my bloodline long before and even when he contracted those bounty hunters to catch me... It makes sense now! Why was it so hard to believe this?" Angelian recalled.


    She then realized that the tale of her father was not full of greed, lust, and other unspeakable selfishness. But it was a father longing to be reunited with his daughter.


    Angelian wept as she realized how hard it must have been for her father to keep giving so much, even going as far as to awaken her bloodline, but still not receive her trust.


    "Father... When I see you again, things will be different. I will be your daughter!" Angelian vowed.


    But then she stood up and nced around the room.


    "But... why am I alive?" Angelian couldn''t understand.


    "Did my father arrive? Did he sense something and defeated that dying vampire?" Angelian pondered as she began to walk up the bed and head towards the closest door.


    She could hear voices speaking in the other room.


    She moved and opened the door.


    There was arge table with several people sitting on it. Aside from the man whose chair was positioned directly behind the door where Angelian moved out of, there were two people out of seven present that were familiar.


    Commander Tyrs and another Captain-Level soldier who served in their suicidal crusade were present.


    A tall, dark, unfamiliar man with scales around him was also present. But through scent, Angelian was also sure that this man was the dreaded Hydra who ate a lot of her formerpanions!


    Two more were famous personas in the Uninvolvednds.


    The powerful Duke and Commander of the Dwarvennds had been ostracized from the kingdom he served. He had a huge bounty on his head.


    And thest one was a man who had elven ears, but he was a halfbreed and looked more human. But his identity was easily identified by Angelian as her father had tasked her to investigate him! He was the former leader of the Shifting Shadows organization. An organization that specialized in assassinations.


    "Commander Tyrs! Dwarven Meister Strongholgen! And you... You are the Emperor Assassin!"


    "Oh? Angelica...? Or should I say Angelian Fafnir." The tall, elven man smiled.<sub> </sub>


    "As beautiful as the whispers spoke of! And it looks like you''re well-rested! But I must say, despite your beauty, you are lucky to have caught the attention of Lord Nightwing." The dwarf chuckled.


    Nightwing stood up and turned around to Angelian.


    "Beautiful..." Nightwing praised.


    Angelian blushed as she heard his praise.


    "Wha-why... Why am I alive?"


    "The answer was that I was never nning to kill you. I had several purposes in defeating you and tricking you to give yourself to me in death. I tricked you so that you would offer sacrifice, and used that moment to destroy De-Heart and a few of your curses. You must have felt the lightness around you?"


    "...You tricked me to remove the curses? I guess I should thank you... But what''s going on here?" Angelian asked.


    "We are meeting on how to conquer the Uninvolved Lands here. That''s what''s going on." The ''Hydra'' spoke.


    "It''s a bother to exin... but simply put, I''m not the monster you thought I was."


    "...You killed several Commanders and their entire toons and tricked us so that you could just be revived. The blood of many innocents was in your hands." Angelian frowned.


    "They weren''t so innocent as you would have thought them to be, Angelian," Tyrs exined.


    "The Eldrich has infiltrated us in many, many ways. Menks was not the only one. Out of the entire group that was sent here, more than half were secret agents, sleeper agents, or hired people of the Eldrich. Many of them didn''t even know they were fighting for the Eldrich as they were either at the service of someone serving the Eldrich or were manipted and tasked to serve them indirectly. And apart from them, anotherrge bulk of the people were spies to other kingdoms. Even your wanderingpanions were spies of other nations and traitors to the vow they im to have made." Tyrs exined.


    "I might be biased since my concern is with my kingdom, but out of the group, there were only two people who were truly among the good guys. Me, and this soldier. Joshua."


    Joshua bowed.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Well, this is a world where the strong wins. Everyone hadmitted crimes or had taken bribes that would have equaled execution in the kingdom. This is why the kingdom I serve is on the brink of copse. There were too many people in power that had not the agenda of the kingdom but wanted to increase their own wealth." Tyrs exined.


    "So... only those who were righteous were supposed to live?" Angelian frowned.


    "Depends on how you define righteous." Nightwing smiled.


    "You, Tyrs, and Joshua had killed many people, some who would have been considered to be innocent in the eyes of themon folk. But you see, in my eyes, as someone who is waging war against Fallen and Ancients, it''s all about allegiance. The gods and devils toy with the world. This entire world is part of a great battle that wages. My idiotic self hid it from me and sealed my memory. But what I do know, is that a battle between two forces that will dictate the future universe is at foot. To me, righteousness can mean killing those innocent, but whose allegiance is with Destiny."


    "Destiny? Wait... I thought with what you said, I am supposed to be for Destiny!"


    "Yes. As it turns out, the purpose of Fate''s many curses on you, was to train you and deceive Destiny. To Destiny, he seemed to have been under the impression that you would side with him. But Fate made a risky gamble with you. She pushed you so far off and left you to fend for yourself and made you her enemy so that Destiny would protect you. But I was the wild card that changed everything. When I destroyed De-Heart, your true allegiance was revealed. You are, a Fate Challenger. A Challenger fated by Fate to fight for her!"


    "I... don''t understand. Will I be fighting against my father? The Hignds?"


    "No. They will ultimately be our allies. However, right now, we must fool Destiny into thinking we are serving him. Right now, I still reek the scent of Fate Challenger since I took your curses. But our goal is to find and kill an Eldrich. Someone who will make me look like an agent of Destiny. But to force an Eldrich out will be tough. Hence, the n. We are to conquer the Uninvolved Lands and be the secret rulers. That will force the Eldrich to meet with us."

 Chapter 462 Conquering A Kingdom In Three Weeks

    Angelian listened to the meeting and was shocked at the discussions of the group.


    Sheter found out that the two infamous personalities were on the verge of death and were saved by Nightwing as the memories of those that died fed him vast information.


    Meister Strongholgen and the Emperor Assassin whose real name was an unimpressive ''Benjie Boy'' turned out to have served Nightwing when he saved them. The two had allied and were attempting to leave thends as they found out about arge conspiracy and attempted to alert the Hignds.


    Commander Tyrs and the other Captain who survived Nightwing''s terror, Dario, had been actively spreading public information about various truths within the region. Their usations led to immediate wars and some of the kingdoms instantly found and tried the persons involved in deals with the Eldrich.


    Eldrich Charsik was known throughout all the kingdoms and while some of the kingdoms managed to resist the usations as the Eldrich had people on the higher-ups, some had led to instant death.


    "All the evidence and proofs that you have found in Menks''s memories allowed us to topple the chaos in the kingdom. And the Hignds are also trying to gain entry and will pose a problem to our n of conquering everything."


    "The key is Angelian. No doubt, your father is trying toe here." Nightwing spoke.


    "Angelian, your father will not believe me, a Fanged Fallen to be innocent or good. And at my current level, anything at the strength of Conquerors can easily kill me. Within the whole Minds, there are seven Conquerors, and two of them are within this region. But our advantage is that they will be troubled with the chaos that they bring and will allow us to move on our own. However, Angelian, you have to inform your father that you are alive and that the mission you have set must continue without their assistance." Nightwing exined.


    Angelian was stunned.


    "You just said¡­ that you are weaker than my father''s current might. Why then do you toss them away? Won''t it be easier for you to have them fight your battles?"


    "If theye in here, the Eldrich will simply retreat. You will keep the nesworld safe, but this Eldrich ns to awaken and activate several powerful portals that connect the nesworld to many worlds. The nesworld is at a crossroads between many battles. In theing wars of Gods and Fallen, this ce will be the key. The side that controls these portals gains tremendous advantage." Nightwing exined.


    "So that''s why you are aiming to infiltrate the Eldrich and appear as their ally¡­" Angelian nodded.


    "Right. I know this sounds confusing to you. But I spared you and even took your curses to help you believe that I am not the Fanged Fallen that will bring a vampire apocalypse. If you haven''t noticed, I even bestowed to you, vampiric powers with no strings attached."


    Angelian nced at his arm.


    "I do feel stronger now¡­"


    "Blood will nourish you as a vampire. You gain its advantages and none of its weaknesses. The Defender Dragon has a powerful heritage. But I am a Fanged Fallen. You would be the first Dragonic Vampire Ancient."


    "A Vampire Ancient¡­?!" Angelian was stunned.


    "Yes. I hope you trust me now." Nightwing smiled.


    "Don''t be so impressed. He also did that so he can bow chika wow wow you." The other man chuckled and made several strange gestures that seemed undignified. Angelian quickly realized that thisst, unfamiliar man was the slime in human form.


    Angelian blushed as she kept turning away from Luigi''s excessive actions.


    "Ma¡­ Master Nightwing, please tell your subordinate to not say these¡­ strange things." Angelian bowed.


    "Well, he''s not lying. Frankly, if you would agree, I was thinking of settling down and having you as my wife."


    Angelian''s ears turned red.


    "But don''t worry. Despite my nature as a Fanged Fallen with the power of an Incubus, I''ll still leave it to you and would prefer a more natural progression of our rtionship. The gift that I gave you was meant to impress you and frankly make you like me. Nevertheless, I won''t hold any grudges or take it away should you say no to my advances. However¡­" Nightwing''s expression turned serious.


    "I will demand you to serve me in this battle. That is all."


    Angelian felt a powerful surge that somehow frightened her.


    Suddenly, the surge of power disappeared.


    "I don''t care for what future ns you all have. I have never demanded you to make any vows. But you will fight with me in this battle. Keep in mind, what I told you. This battle involves Beginning and End. It is a battle that extends through time itself. I had to seal and awaken myself to be born in this era. The power that hides me from the senses of Beginning and End is my advantage. With it, I n to make myself appear to be a servant of Destiny. A traitor of some sort. And that''s why I can''t have your father, Angelian, enter this ce. Do you understand, Angelian?"


    "I¡­ I think I do. My father will force the Eldrich to retreat. But no matter what he does, he cannot enter thend of the Eldrich. You can because of your innate dark power."


    "Exactly. So he has to be a constant threat that will make everyone wary and give us the freedom to do our respective missions."


    "What exactly is our current mission? I understand the long-term n. And lord Nightwing, what do you n to do to the kingdom I serve?" Commander Tyrs finally asked.<sub> </sub>


    "Your kingdom is on the brink of copse. A civil is likely as all those who serve the Eldrich knowingly, or unknowingly will fight."


    "So we will save our kingdom?"


    "No. We will let it fall." Nightwing smiled.


    "Let it fall?!" Dario was stunned.


    "Yes. Take all your loved ones and rtives and get them out of there. I will force Eldrich''s forces to move and take over the kingdom. We make them think they win. But then, we destroy the kingdom. At the height of their victory, more necromancers or those who are more trusted by Eldrich will appear and take their positions there, and that is when we destroy the ce."


    "What of... my king...?" Tyrs asked.


    "For now, we have no evidence to suggest he is used by the Eldrich. If he remains innocent after our investigation, then they will all join us. My power, Mysterion is meant to hide. A kingdom will vanish and fall, but its people, the people not tempted by the Eldrich will be my people."


    "I see... Ingenious. The eldrich will lose a kingdom and will force many of them to take drastic steps to im it. But as for us... we suddenly will have our own kingdom."


    "Yes. The blood of the traitors will be used to strengthen Fortressvania. This means you will not just witness, but take charge of a great massacre far more terrifying than the ones you have experienced. Tyrs, Dario, and Angelian. I intentionally set up horrifyingly cruel means of taking over. The Eldrich will only think, that a new yer is joining thend grab. And so, instead of fighting me, they will invite me. What are your thoughts on this matter, Tyrs? Dario?"


    The two nced at each other.


    "I will be destroying this kingdom of yours. Your loved ones will naturally be saved. But they must serve me and be part of my kingdom."


    "...Truth be told, my loyalty to my kingdom has faded. When faced with a grand scheme and understanding an even more terrifying and greater cause to serve, these mere... allegiances seem rather petty." Tyrs sighed.


    "I feel the same way, master Nightwing."


    "You call me master, yet none of you have ever made a vow to serve me. The choice still lies with you. You may choose to remain free or choose to serve me. Shall you refuse, nothing will change?"


    "We chose servitude." Everyone bowed and answered. Even Meister Strongholgen and the Emperor Assassin, Benjie Boy, bowed.


    Nightwing smiled but was surprised to see Angelian bow as well!


    "How bold of all of you to do this. Are you certain? Are you not worried that I, an Incubus am simply using charm to lure you and will be a cruel master?"


    "...You allow Luigi to serve you freely and allow him to make oddments. If you were a cruel master, we would have seen that ages ago."


    "...Good point." Nightwing sighed.


    "Bow chika wow wow," Luigi added.


    "Anyway... I can''t mark you in servitude yet. I''m not sure why, but I sense that my power has already called out servants. Perhaps somewhere in this nesworld, are my allies sealed and kept hidden for many millenniums. But, if we offer the blood of half a kingdom, I should have the strength to mark you as my Coven. We will assume the identity of a powerful vampire. Have there been any reports of a mighty vampire in this region? Using a new identity will be too suspicious."


    ? "No... The Minds despise the Vampire. Only those of the Londs would have vampires, but they are quite weak." Tyrs shook his head.


    "Well... there was that news... Princess Listrel Protos Endoxos ims that she fought a powerful vampire who almost killed her!" Angelian recalled news that her father told her a few weeks back.


    "Perfect! A vampire that defeated the Princess of the nesworld! Then let it be him! There can be no other! He will be my mysterious identity! The perfect scapegoat! Since he is in the Londs, he will not hear of the things happening in the Uninvolved region."


    "Erm... Are you... sure? I''ve heard of this... vampire!" Emperor Assassin asked.


    "Yes! Is there anyone as strong as this vampire?''


    "None."


    "Then it can only be him! What domineering name does this Vampire possess?"


    "I don''t know about domineering. But he has a name worse than I, Benjie Boy. He is called... Cracky Batcheeks. The self-proimed Vampire Ancestor of the Coven on Crack."


    "What the fragment?!"

 Chapter 463 Conquering A Conqueror

    A Commander Mage trembled in pain as he nced at his enemy. But he was confused as to why he was not killed yet.


    "Your patron isn''t as innocent as he ims to be. And you know this. With the current revtion, it''s only a matter of time before your allegiance will be revealed." A dark assassin wielding long des of bloodughed.


    The Mage Commander and his three Champions were easily routed by the strange ability of the man.


    "You are headed towards that region to retreat. But my allies are already on their way to that ce. You have a choice... Be massacred with your allies and your secret Eldrich leader, or serve us." The Assassinughed as he kept stabbing the sword down on a Captain.


    "I don''t serve an Eldrich?"


    "Menks was a Necromancer. We killed him. You had dealings with him, didn''t you? You''ve been trading with him and he was your secret source of the Mazeline Ores. We tortured him until he revealed everything." The man sneered.


    "Menks was a Necromancer?!" The Mage Commander eximed.


    "Yes. We all know of your leader. Trust me, you serve n Eldrich. So why not, serve us?" The assassinughed.


    "And serve another dark lord? Why should we?!" A Champion challenged.


    "The Eldrich will invoke the wrath of the Hignds. A vampire, won''t! There are vampires here, after all. But you see, our master is taking advantage of the Hignd''s hate for the Eldrich. No doubt, you have heard the chaos that urs in the Nethends of how civil war has urred! The Eldrich is trying to im thends and the Grendelors are in a state of turmoil. And now, they are even here. Our master just needs to kill one Eldrich, and he can freely serve in the Minds. If you refuse, then I won''t even need to kill you. I''ll just be on my way and let this region kill you for being a traitor!" The Assassinughed.


    "...Where is your master?"


    "We are recruiting. There is a mansion at the crossroads between the Jourgen Road and the Tangerress Highway. At the crossroads of this ce, you will find the devil''s offer." The assassinughed as he shed out and tore open a portal!


    WARP!


    "Space magic!" The Commander eximed as he saw the man disappear.


    "Commander... Who was that?!"


    "I don''t know... he must not be of this ce. But it might be rted to that incident. The mysterious castle that appeared and vanished."


    "But... I thought Commander Tyrs killed that vampire!"


    "He probably said that to gain a reputation! But I think Commander Tyrs now serves that vampire! Why has he been doing his reckless actions?! He even abandoned his family iming there were traitors within!"


    "What do we do now? The offer of this vampire... is quite tempting." Another Champion sighed.


    "Our gains are dwindling if we stick with our current allies. That assassin was right. We will soon be hunted down. Our crimes towards the many kingdoms won''t be forgiven. I say... we join him!" The Commander eximed.


    The Champions all nodded.


    Meanwhile, Emperor Assassin teleported out to the basement of a certain house.


    "Strongholgen! You''re already here?!" Benjie Boy eximed.


    "It was easy. Those mercenary dwarves will do anything for gain or power. I showed them dark artificer legacy, and the possibilities to do water and earth, and they all wanted to meet my leader. Their arrogance and pride was their undoing."


    "You mean... Peak Cardinal Earthbright Centrion, the Dwarven master of Cardinal cksmiths will be in attendance?!"


    "Yes! I have a bone to pick with him. They are confident. Earthbright Centrion is one of those Cardinals with the horrifying might to make Crowns retreat. No Crown would dare enrage him! They will arrogantly enter and try to take things from our master! They think they can kill our master and his legacy! Hahaha! What fools."<sub> </sub>


    "This will be quite a battle. Still, our master is a bit demented. He wants to kill another group of cultivators for his blood pool in preparation for bringing down a kingdom. I''m an assassin, but the amount of people he wants to kill in these two weeks surpasses what I did in my lifetime!"


    "You enjoy it, don''t you?"


    "Of course! Have you not heard? The Londs are birthing powerful warriors. A famed swordsman who halved an orc fortress has appeared! And there were several powerful knights, archers, and other rising skilled fighters. It is said that these people are equal to Cardinals now! My master''s path will cause me to meet powerful fighters. And I thought my days of ying are gone!" Benjie Boyughed.


    "Odd. The rumors of your deposition speak of your righteousness. But hearing you say this makes it sound like you love killing."


    "I do love killing. And yes, my morality is directed. I only kill evil-doers and set up my assassination organization to kill them. Hence, they betrayed me. Gold and power change an organization. So I''m thankful that our master is a being of terrifying darkness but guided with a great amount of righteousness."


    "I wouldn''t really call it righteousness. But I understand your point. Beginning and End. One wishes for Eternity, the other, Eternal Darkness..."


    "Let''s go. The earlier we finish ourst mission, the better. Besides, thisst one is rather troublesome. If not for our Master''s power, we wouldn''t survive leaving the nest of this one."


    "Cyclops Cardinal Barakan Doragan. We will be soon hosting a Cardinal and a Crown and were supposed to kill all of them..."


    "We have yet to see Luigi and the Hydra fight. Although Master Nightwing we would be fighting a battle where we could die, it''s assumed that our side will win. Just try to stay alive, Meister!"


    As the two continued to send out an invitation to meet at the mansion, Nightwing, Luigi, and the Hydra were at work preparing the guest for another feast.


    The entire Fortressvania was now a mansion of respectable size. And it was being modified by Hyrda and Luigi to include more rooms. The entire mansion was bing a living being that could now alter and grow thanks to the dead.


    Angelian was together with Nightwing who was standing in the midst of a pool of blood. He was using the blood to create powerful weapons. Nightwing was busy reworking the sword of Angelian. She had a Commander-Grade sword from her father. But now, it was being transformed into a weapon of blood.


    "That sword will directly supply you with blood. Its grinding abilities also allow it to eat flesh and it''s simr to having you eat it. Your draconian bloodline has awakened so your power of devouring has gotten stronger." Nightwing handed the sword which was nowplete.


    "...Lord Nightwing. I have to ask... why is your power sopatible with that of dragons? I know you bestowed your bloodline to me, and I feel... amazing."


    "Apart from the Fanged and the Charmed Fallen, apparently, I have the blessings of Tyrannos. The First Undivine."


    "Tyrannos? Is that a Fallen? Or an Ancient?"


    "Neither. The First Undivine is the first Heretic. You could say, he is the father of all Serpent races, including the Hydra and the dragons. He is also the first being to ever murder someone. Well, to be more specific, he devoured a God. And with it, the concept that we know as eating was born. Originally, the gods and fallen acquire power through Light or Darkness. This energy seeps in. But Tyrannos found the first way of acquiring energy in a whole newer form. He ate his fill and got the power of a god. The Fanged Fallen tried to copy this and drank blood. But in terms of superiority, Tyrannos''s powers rank higher."


    Angelian was amazed at what she heard.


    "Lord Nightwing... I did see a dragon in my dreams. It was... a strange Thane Dragon. But it also felt like a Wyrm."


    "Ah. That one. I''ve been trying to divine its name. It''s not Tyrannos. I feel that he''s name is... Puff. Or Dorothy."


    "???"


    "I know, right?" Nightwing sighed.


    "Regardless of what its name is, that dragon ought to be an offspring of another heretic dragon god. The power of the Defender Dragon should be stronger, but this heretic dragon god allowed you to have a closer step intopleting the heritage of the Defender Dragon."


    "Then this dragon must have been your ally!"


    "No... It''s connected to me through another means. It''s like this dragon is the subordinate of one of my followers. Regardless, the reason why I am letting Benjie Boy and Strongholgen gather more people to be offered here is that I n to awaken this power. The power of Tyrannos who taunts, who enrages, who devours must be awakened if I n to face destroy the kingdoms here. After all, in Tyrs''s kingdom, a Conqueror lies there in silence. That''s why I am inviting Cardinals to this feast. And after this... we will be hunting Crowns!"

 Chapter 464 Conquering Lust

    In arge desert within the eastern Mind regions...


    BOOM! BOOM!


    "How feisty of you..." A thin man continued to evade the massive Force Boulders that were being flung at him. The size wasrge that the terrain itself began to change from the angry fit of the beasts.


    A massive force of energy that took shape and slowly became rocks was hurled at the man.


    "Meister?" The man asked.


    "Leave it to me!" Strongholgen charged in and revealed a bloody-red hammer which he smashed down onto the iing hill.


    "Force Devourer!" Strongholgen smashed a powerful hammer on the iing Force Boulder.


    BOOM!


    The boulder was thrown down and the Force energy began to disperse as the core of the spell was attacked.


    A giant appeared and he had only one eye.


    "Meister Strongholgen? Together with the Emperor Assassin? This is quite... a development!" The giantughed.


    Several other cyclops which were a few meters shorter than the giant cyclops appeared to the side.


    "Impressive. A hammer forged to devour force and magic! Extraordinary. It makes you a powerful force that can break through the strongest defense. Even now, your Commander power can contend with my Cardinal might." The Cyclopsughed.


    "All is a gift from our new lord. You cyclops have been approached by many necromancers. My master had already in one of them. Xeretek Menks had met with you. I believe you knew his identity as well?"


    "Ah? Is this the same one serving Eldrich? I have no interest. Do you think the power of this region will copse so easily? You underestimate the Minds! Cardinals like me may be king of the hills in this region, but there are many mountains and kingdoms that must be torn down."


    "Our master is a Crown. And now, he has another Crown serving under him. You know my organization has Commander-level assassins. But we specialize in killing Cardinals with our special assassination tricks. But now, my power has grown and I can openly challenge you. Anyway, I''ve already given the invitation. You and your kind need to hide somewhere with all the revtion in this kingdom. Are not your many hidden sins revealed? Our master controls Hydra and other monstrous beasts. He is the perfect person to ally with. The outcasts of giants, the cyclops, will be treated with respect!"


    "I am not interested. But since you have stayed here, why not stay a while, and be our guests for dinner!" The cyclopsughed as he harnessed another massive boulder, far stronger than thest.


    "Alright... Meister, I guess we''ll have to give the Gigantes Legacy to someone else. Let''s try the giant race up north."


    "Gigantes Race?!" The cyclops cardinal suddenly stopped gathering the force energy.


    But in that pause, Benjie Boy opened a portal and the two jumped in and disappeared.


    "Time/Space magic?! That was long-range teleportation!" The cyclops cardinal eximed.


    The rest of the cyclops watched and couldn''t understand what had happened. Only a few had intellect equal to humans. Most of those in the Champion level had low-leveled intellect. Only those who were sons of Cyclops Cardinal Barakan Doragan had a great intellect that was on par with humans.


    "Lord Cardinal... What do we do?" A Cyclops asked.


    "That bastard! He tricked us!"


    "Is it true, father? The Gigantes Race?" A Commander son of the Cardinal asked.


    "...We cannot be sure. No Gigantes remain and their legacy is near-impossible to acquire. But... We cannot let the giants im it! We have to go! Where is that letter he gave?" Barakan asked.


    As the pair made their adventures to deliver their letters, Nightwing and Angelian were also traveling toward the ck Bog Kingdom.


    It was called a kingdom, but no king ruled over it. It was thend of exiles and outcasts. Those with great crimes flee for a life in the bognds.


    A flying ship continued to sell over the ck bognd. Inside it was a crew ofwless brigands.


    "We''re near the ck Bog! We are safe. No forces will dare march at the gates of thesends!" An old manughed.


    Among him were races of many kinds. Orcs, dark elves, Arthropodians, and Goblins were among the group.


    Leading them was three powerful Commander-level humans. They were the strongest Commanders on the team.


    The old man nced back and sighed.


    "That wretched Commander Tyrs!" He gnashed his teeth. His entire operation was revealed and he was quickly turned into a traitor. The rest were also ouws due to the many revtions that shook the region.


    "HELP!" Suddenly, a cry was heard and everyone turned their attention above them.


    The bognds were now full of mists, but a figure with wings could be seen flying with all her might.


    It was a bloodied woman who had his wings nearly torn.


    "A Feather Folk?" An Orc magi asked.


    "Feather Folks in this region? It looks like it''s fleeing from something!"


    "High Commander level. Then something of a Cardinal race is chasing after it." A beautifully, monstrous woman that had many spider-like spines at her back spoke. She was an Arthropodian race and had regiments and parts like that of a woman.


    "What do we do?" One of the Commanders asked the old man.


    "Ignore her... We already have our own troubles." The old man shouted.


    The flying woman dove closer to the bottom and cried out again. But this time, her appearance was revealed.


    A woman of peerless beauty was shown and all the men, regardless of race, were startled at the beauty.


    "Help me! Please! I will give my life to my savior! All that I am, will be his!" The woman pleaded.


    "I''ll save you!" A Champion Orc shouted.


    "A mere you?! Ha! My angel, I will aid you!" The Orc magiughed.


    "It''sing! Please! Hide me!" The woman pleaded and dove down.<sub> </sub>


    "Wait! Why are you all agreeing?!" The enraged spider-woman cursed.


    "Men..." Another Champion sighed as she watched the beautiful beingnd. But as shended, even she couldn''t help but marvel at the beauty of the woman.


    "The woman stumbled down as more and more blood dropped on the deck of the flying ship. The woman copsed as all her strength was spent.


    "He''s...ing! Be careful! His cultivation is at the peak Commander stage! But his powers can easily reach Cardinal!"


    As she spoke, everyone could see a massive dark ball of energy devouring the fog around the bognds. Terrifying energy equal to that of a Cardinal was shown.


    Below the ball was a dark vampire who flew with great speed. He had no wings and seemed to be floating. But there was a strange elegance in his stance and nced at the group.


    "You lot! This is a private matter. Let the Feather folk go, and all of you will not die!" The vampire shouted.


    "No!" The men shouted in unison.


    "Hmph! You will all die for the stupid reason of not being able to conquer your lust!"


    "Wait!" The spider-woman called out.


    "Master Vampire! I wish to be spared!"


    "Then hand me that woman!"


    "Sister! If you hand her over, I will kill you myself!" A spider-like man raged.


    The spider woman cursed.


    "You stupid men! This woman is not worth your life!" The champion woman also shouted.


    "Prepare to die!"


    "Force and Magic Shield Formation! Our enemy isn''t a Cardinal yet! We can resist this!" The old man led the way as he stood at the forefront.


    "Diamond Defense!" He ced arge staff on a certain part of the ship which then activated an energy formation circle.


    Everyone quickly moved to position and released their power.


    But the vampire frowned and harnessed more energy.


    "[Star re]!" The Vampire shouted and the dark energy began to explode with fire, lightning, and entropy.


    The shocking surge of energy made everyone worry.


    "Damn you, men!" The spiderdy cursed as she saw it.


    But suddenly, she then saw an apparition of the vampire standing close to her. A surge of demonic lust fueled her as she suddenly felt ecstasy.


    "That''s not a vampire...! That''s an Incubus!" She wanted to shout but it was toote. She was driven mad in lust.


    "Kill for me... And I shall grant you... one kiss!" The vampireughed.


    Suddenly, the spiderdy saw the vision disappear. Everyone was moving as if they had not seen the form of the vampire before her.


    "You stupid vampire! This ship can block the attacks of a peak Cardinal! Your current powers are not enough!" The old manughed as he activated the energy and used everyone in their formation.


    A strange pyramid-shaped purple force field enveloped the entire ship.


    "Hahahaha! Let''s see you break-! Hey! The formation is missing! Stop!"


    STAB!


    Suddenly, the champion woman slew herpanion!


    STAB! STAB! STAB!


    The spines of the spider stabbed out and killed many other men!


    "No! What are you doing?!"


    "Sorry! Just like you... I''m giving into my lust!" The spiderdyughed.


    "Die!" The old man raged and revealed another scepter and aimed to kill the woman.


    SLASH!


    The old man could suddenly see the sky and the ship, and his headless body of his. And finally, he saw the feathered folk that they saved holding a sword of blood red.


    The shield that protected the ship instantly disappeared and the vampire shot out its attack.


    STAB!


    Suddenly a sword stabbed anothermander who was about to defend himself from the enemies inside the ship. The vampire dispersed the ck energy andughed as blood-like vines burst out of the sword and slew the men nearby.


    The head of the old man still had some life in him. He wasn''t just a mage, he was dark-dependent undead! He saw the vampirend on the ship.


    "Your right. My magic can''t prate through your shield and I would be forced to use stronger ones. That''s why I had people disable your formation from within." The vampireughed as he used force energy to pull the old man''s head and bit on its face.


    BITE!


    In a dark cave deep underground the Uninvolved Lands, an Eldrich saw the vision of the old man.


    "Who was that vampire?" The Eldrich cursed.

 Chapter 465 Conquering The Midlands

    Three Eldrich had used dark magic and sacrificed tremendous resources to enter into the neworld. The curse and power that should have detected them were no more.


    They stayed for a few weeks and had already managed to reverse the entire region''s chain ofmand.


    Their former infiltration only had a few people in key positions. But with they finally appeared, they either killed, threatened, or conquered guilds, merchant groups, and other organizations in an instant.


    The power that they held grew so big that they now controlled thirty percent of the power in the Uninvolved Regions.


    But now, the Eldirch had seen a vision involving one of his most trusted spies.


    A Battle Mage had just died and the spells set in his soul allowed him to send an image back to the Eldrich.


    The Eldrich saw the vision and the creature that tricked his minion and spoke of it to his allies.


    Several Dark Dependent races with Crown cultivation were stunned at the report that the Eldirch leader spoke. Some had to use secret teleportation to travel into the further regions of the Minds. But all of them had Cardinal level cultivation.


    "Is it really that man who raised havoc in the Londs?"


    "We don''t know what Cracky Batcheeks look like, Lord Breveros. But it''s most likely him!"


    "Then the information was wrong! This man is not just a vampire! He is an Incubus! A powerful breed of at least two races... And that might not be the fullness of his powers. Where is he?"


    "The ck Bog Kingdom... Not an easy ce to go to with the lockdowns and closure of borders. No portals lead there as well. If we drop everything we do and chase after that incubus, it will still take us two months."


    "Two months is too much." An Eldrich frowned.


    "We have our missions after all."


    "You guys don''t get it, do you? That man was cunning and strong. And he has controlled the daughter of Pyrekaiser!"


    "What?! Angelian? She was that Feather-folk?!"


    "A woman of amazing beauty with curses that is equally terrifying. And now that beauty has the power of Charm. Her beauty was already something that can smite the souls of men. She was born beautiful so her curse will attack her. But now, she found the perfect shield! The two of them should take priority over every other mission we have! If we don''t we will end up defeated!"


    "Fine. I will listen to you, Prince. Let''s go and kill him."


    Breveros sighed.


    "That''s the frustrating part. We can''t!"


    "What? What do you mean, Prince Breveros?"


    "Two months. That''s the problem! We cannot fight him without any preparations. You know how incubus is! They couldmands to fight for them! Within two months, we will need an army to fight for us against an army of whatever those two will gather!"


    "Prince Breveros, you are not suggesting that he is a pure Incubus?! The sons or descendants of Xermolipi.


    "Those stories were not an exaggeration?" Ady with an insect-like body and a form of centipede asked.


    "No. And if we are dealing with an incubus, you are most likely to betray us. Just like the vision that Avish saw of his contracted ve. The Incubus is terrifyingly smart. He knew that the power of the enemy was too much. That shield could not be prated. And had he fought head-on, he would have had to exert a lot of effort to kill them all! But he didn''t even use half of it. He sent a spy inside which lowered the guards of men. Then he made everyone prepare for that formation to shield them from the spell, but he never nned on using it. He charmed thedies inside and they killed the stronger ones to ensure that the shield would vanish. Everyone thought they had a shield protecting them. That confidence led to their death. They were all eaten. Food now, to the hungry form of this beast. Our choices now are to either kill him or, if he bes strong enough that we cannot win against him, then we ally with him."


    "Should we report it to the king?"


    "We obviously have to tell my brother. But... I want to take hands-on action here. Tell him that I''ll handle it."


    "Are you serious, Lord Breveros?"


    "Yeah. Why not? I have to show off once in a while. I can''t even live a life worthy of beingpared to my brother''s shadow! I have made peace with that, but I have to put in some effort since I am still a prince." Breverosughed.


    "Understood. What''s our n?"


    "We continue with our current ns. But we have to increase the speed. He is headed to the ck Bog Kingdom. That gives us time to gather and prepare to march out an army in the ck Bog Kingdom. Go now." Breveros ordered.


    The group bowed and many disappeared the moment Breveros gave the order.


    Breveros sighed.


    "Great... My arrival in the nesword and I have to deal with an Incubus... Is this Fate? Why are you so angry at me?" Breveros sighed andmented.


    On the path leading to the ck Bog Kingdom, Nightwing had already finished killing everyone. Only two other women apart from Angelian were left on the ship.


    The rest of the men had died and vines of blood continued to spread out and had stabbed on to numerous people. The blood was being drained as Nightwing began to grow stronger in power.


    As they moved, the spider-woman and the Champion human approached and were trembling in their lust as they saw the form of the incubus.


    His body was extremely dangerous. His form and muscr build were somehow just perfect for their taste. The woman trembled with lust as did Angelian. In fact, she realized that the power of lust was even greater now that there were more women.


    "Lord Nightwing..." Angelian felt a great urge.<sub> </sub>


    "Angelian... You must be frustrated as to what is happening. I am being of lust, and yet I never indulged myself to have you. Let me show you why... You two are just what I needed. Two subus desires to conquer me. They wish to make me theirs. The problem is that I don''t want them to find out where I am. But, their powers are quite potent. Ever since our first kiss, Angelian, they nted a powerful curse on those will dare kiss me. And I''m assuming anything, more deprived than a kiss also counts. But I need to know where they are and how strong they are. I''ve already used my power to hide this ce. They appear to be strong. But now, there are three of you..." Nightwing smiled.


    "Three of us?"


    Nightwing suddenly appeared in front of Angelian and the other two women! Three Nightwings used the art of Blood Clone and stood before the three.


    "To you two, I give you this choice. You are free to leave. But... if you want to kiss me, you may. But your survival won''t be sure." Nightwingughed.


    Angelian was shocked.


    "If... we survive... what will be of us, my lord?"


    "Two subus desire to have me. I''d need strong womenpanions to fight them. You will be like Angelian. And of course... I am a man of great hunger. My hunger for lust will not know its end. You shall be mine... All mine!" Nightwing smiled.


    Angelian and the two girls trembled in their lust as their desire reached its limits.


    The three girls instantly pounced at the Nightwings in front of them and Angelian dove fast in her jealousy as she raged at how two others were kissing the clones.


    Nightwing smiled as the beautiful girls pressed their lips to his and pushed their tongues inside.


    The three women engorged themselves in their lust.


    And at that moment...


    The avatar of two beautiful women appeared behind Nightwing and terrifying anger erupted.


    Both of them raised their hand.


    The two women who kissed Nightwing retreated in fear. Their lust was easily defeated. And a terrifying fear appeared.


    "No one can kiss him." The two spoke and swung their arm at the two.


    The power of the curse rippled out to three separate locations and Nightwing poured potent blood energy into the girls as they were kissing.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    The power of a Cardinal erupted. But the attacks were not concentrated and were divided. But Angelian received a powerful share of the attacks.


    "AHHH!" The champion woman shouted and quickly fainted and Nightwing quickly ced a huge amount of blood in her.


    "I won''t let death take you..."


    The spider woman was shed with numerous cuts as the anger of the two subi was sharper on her.


    It was as if the two were insulted that the woman was more monster than a woman!


    The spider woman lost her arms and green blood oozed out.


    But Nightwing used his blood to save her.


    SLASH! SLASH!


    Two shes struck Angelian, but she stood firm and kept on kissing and kissing Nightwing.


    The attack did not make her retreat as she even pulled harder and didn''t want Nightwing to stop!


    Another energy, far stronger than thest was building up and Nightwing sensed that it could kill Angelian and finally used a spell to put Angelian to sleep.


    The attack that was about tond faded as their lips parted.


    "Two subi... How dangerous. The Londs... Just what did my past self do?" Nightwing pondered.


    Somewhere in the Londs, Mechiel''s sour, and angry expression appeared.


    She shed her wrist and her blood dripped and the reflection changed and a woman''s figure appeared.


    It was Scarlet!


    "What happened to Lord Kyros?! Who was that man?! Why did he kiss those women?!" Scarlet shouted.


    "That was still Kyros. No wonder we couldn''t sense him! Scarlet. Remember that Kyros has three souls. He sealed two with Mysterion and left one. And with the left a huge part of his emotions. His cruelty, his arrogance, and his lust!"


    "You mean... That was the Fallen within Lord Kyros?!"


    "Yes. We have to hurry up! Let the rest conquer the Dark Sea. We are pushing our forces to conquer the Minds!"

 Chapter 466 Conquering Each Other

    A powerful spell that the Londs had never experienced for millenniums was being made.


    Everyone hadpleted their side and set up the grand spell that allowed them tomunicate with each other. The offerings of blood and the many light spells were working perfectly and created awork ofmunication that neither Ancients nor the Fallen could tap into.


    Only the Nephilim could use the mixture of power. Everyone else was connected as they were allies of the Nephilim and their names were listed in a book. The Nephilim Book of Life was a powerful artifact that was created using many powerful magics. Anyone listed on this would have free ess to the power.


    All members of Kyros''s original team were out in their conquests. It had been several weeks since they all parted ways and their movements across the Londs had greatly changed.


    At the very center of it, was Mezal. No matter what Fate and Destiny tried to conjure up, Mezal had a countern. It was as if he could see both sides and made it look like both sides were fighting against each other to a stalemate.


    The Fortress was growing and more rooms were improving and some of the rooms were close to being leveled up.


    The magic was activated and the team of Kyros had their weekly meeting.


    The different locations all lit up and each party began to report.


    "And so, Myas is practically treated as a princess here. We n to finish up and we''ll start heading over to the Dark Shine kingdom. We just need wars and battles to ur." Martha exined.


    "Good. With that, our advances in the Londs are working. The orcs are being pushed back and we have a few months left before the main army of the Dark Shine reaches here. Going with what you Kyros learned in the forgotten pages of history, our biggest battle will be against them who will have Crowns and Conquerors. We have to eliminate kingdoms and offer them to the Fortress if we want to have the raw might to fight back. Unless of course, Martha and the rest can perform assassination and throw more chaos to the march of these kingdoms."


    "...You want us to go in there and kill those kingdoms? That''s quite a change in our ns!"


    "You''ve sensed it. The civil war brought about by Lea is a huge advantage for us. It''s dying the kingdom''s march and will allow us to have more freedom. Martha, if you do go there, and Lea has her kingdoms allied to her, it will be easier for you to find the Charmed Fallen''s body! I''m sure Mechiel and Scarlet who has already controlled their respective kingdom can even help you."


    "About that... I and Scarlet won''t be staying in the Londs. As originally nned, we will be increasing our pace in gaining connections so we can reach the Minds. And you guys need to help us." Mechiel spoke.


    "What is Kyros up to, this time?" Mezal sighed.


    "He has chosen to forget himself."


    "What?" Branze raised his eyebrows.


    "He used Mysterion on himself again? Is he trying to flee from Oblivion? No... That doesn''t sound right." Branze began to think.


    "No. It''s mainly for me and Scarlet. He used a cruel way of making us act in great haste to get to the Minds. He has sealed his human side and his Ancient side. All that is left is his Fallen side."


    "A pure Fallen Kyros?"


    "It''s very cruel, selfish, arrogant... and very, very... yummy." Mechielughed.


    Scarlet was also blushing red.


    "His lust has exploded out like we could not imagine. Kyros has always held back in terms of this because of his devotion to me. But now, he casts these all down. He sealed his memories and Fated himself to meet the most beautiful woman in that region. It was a powerful magic that makes him like a ma and will draw beautiful women to his side." Mechiel exined.


    "...Is it possible to learn this power?" Grugnyr asked.


    "Easy there, Anikin." Aronughed.


    "...I''ll take three of those," Mezal spoke.


    "Shut it, pops!" Branze and Mezal shouted together.


    "So what? It''s not like he can kiss women with two subi haunting him." Marthaughed.


    "He has already kissed three women. A powerful one with a dragon''s bloodline, an Arthropodian spider-woman, and another human." Scarlet was getting angry. But Mechiel''s expression was different.


    "He''s so cute when he does that. He thinks he can find other women. I''ll be the only woman he thinks about!" Mechielughed.


    "Arthropodians? Aren''t they those insect monsters?" Greg asked.


    "Yes. But you should see them." Hems chuckled.


    "When I was in the Minds in my past life, I''ve seen some of them. Others were so horrifying to look at. But some were dangerously beautiful! I''m guessing Kyros was kissing the beautiful ones."


    Scarlet red at Hems.


    "She was beautiful. That spider woman was Hive Queen. It desires to have a worthy husband so it can have hundreds of children. It yearns for the seed of a man when he finds a perfect specimen. They are already lustful women, to begin with. With Kyros turning into an incubus those women will be practically throwing themselves to Kyros all day." Mechiel chuckled.


    All the men had strange expressions.


    Branze and Aron felt a powerful killing intent as the two swiftly changed their expressions.


    "I must... acquire that power!" Grugnyr desired.


    The women nced at Grugyrn and shook their heads in disgust.


    But most of the men, even those who have someone to be with at night were also thinking the same thing.


    Diana and Martha both red at their man.


    "Stupid nephew! How dare he!?"


    But the res and killing intent remained.


    "We underestimated his lust and failed to kill any of the three women. We used some of Kyros''s blood to create a hex on him so that our powers would be summoned if he kisses someone. When our powers were called, he sensed us and hid from us. He probably thinks that we are trying to control him."


    "Yes. He treated us... like enemies." Scarlet clenched her fist.


    "Don''t be too sad, Scarlet. I believe Kyros made several preparations so that he could deceive himself. This reveals more of his intention to train us. We have gained the advantage over Fate and Destiny. My grandson probably thinks that his awesome granddaddy would be this amazing. So he set up the strongest enemy we could face. Himself!" Mezalughed.


    "He wants us to conquer each other. Interesting." Aron''s hand itched with excitement.


    "Yes. That''s why we would need everyone who can join us in this crusade. So we have to hurry up and look for those portals that can help us jump between regions, or the Emberdons will need to create a means to teleport people with extremely long-ranged portal magic." Mechiel exined.


    "We''ve already found one," Demerus reported.


    "There is one near the south part of Airom and it leads us to the northern region of Londs. It''s the closest to the Hignds yet. The portals are very unique and have been sealed with the power of Oblivion!"


    "Oblivion? So that''s why it was hard to search for them!"


    "Yes. The issue was that people would often ''forget'' that ce and not think of it existing. It could be right in front of you, but you would forget about it. But, if you coat yourself in Brimstone, you''d be able to move in. But not just any Brimstone. It has to be Histerion''s Brimstone." Faye added.


    "Good. Then your priority is to search for one of these portals that connect the Hignds. In the Lost Pages, Breveros told us that there are numerous portals all over thend. This was how they were able to swiftly conquer the nesworld. The moment they made a touchdown on the Londs, conquering the north was easy with these portals Every region would have at least one. All of you should find it."


    "So you will try to race towards the Minds and search for Kyros? Do you know where he is now?"


    "Yes. Thanks to my memories of the past, I know more about the Minds and can guess what he is doing. On the eastern extreme of the Minds is the region known as the Uninvolved Lands. Unlike many kingdoms that stand beyond the Walls that Endured of the Hignds are numerous kingdoms waging war against each other bidding strength and favor from the Hignds. The regions to the East and West are generally neutral. But the Uninvolved Lands are even more extreme. While many kingdoms sought a favor, this region decided to cut off and sever itself, scorning to create ties with the Hignds."


    "Oh... So a region that is cut off, eh? No wonder Kyros chose that area"


    "It''s not among any of the areas that we thought he would go to..." Scarlet sighed.


    "You really think you can outsmart him?" Aron chuckled.


    "So... let me just get things straight. Lord Kyros is now a Fallen. Cruel, selfish, and arrogant. And I''m guessing Mechiel needs help because Lord Kyros tricked himself into thinking two subi are after him. This means... We''re going to fight Lord Kyros, right?" Hems asked.


    "Yes." Branze answered.


    "That''s the summary..." Mezal added.


    Then, there was silence.


    "..."


    "..."


    "..."


    "We''re doomed, aren''t we?" Avary smiled.


    "Pretty much." Reptilia sighed.

 Chapter 467 Conquering A Crown

    Back in the ck Bog Kingdom...


    Angelian was standing next to Nightwing as the group continued to travel. The ship that only the old man knew how tomandeer was moving steadily.


    Nightwing smiled.


    He then nced at the two dying women and bestowed on them the blood of those nearby.


    Nightwing didn''t turn them into vampires but used his blood magic to keep the blood of the two circting inside of them. As that was happening, a blood-healing spell was being activated and slowly healing the two.


    "Those two... were quite powerful. Scary powerful." Nightwing began to assess his situation.


    Angelian suddenly copsed in pain.


    "Their attacks contained poison. Interesting. That''s one powerful hex."


    "Poison? But... how?"


    "My saliva. It affected you first. Those that have tasted me once, will be doubly cursed. I''ll tell you now if you try to kiss me again, you will die. Those two are relentless. The curse is getting stronger." Nightwing rose.


    "They... know where we are?"


    "Yes. But that''s why I''m here. That''s why I am trying to get into the ck Bog Kingdom. I was right. This group has more Eldrich servants. Two misdirections should work now. Both sides will race towards this ce and they can fight. I don''t know what these women who have my blood want, but the incubus and the subus will only desire to be a queen or king of their own. Let''s not fight with them. Our next n of action is to leave a trail to prove that we did go inside and we will vanish. The subi and the Eldrich will think that I am headed towards the ck Bog Kingdom when in fact, will create my forces right in the middle of the Uninvolvednds. We will just enter for a bit, but we will only stay for a bit and warp back to Luigi''s mansion to wee our... guests..."


    "...Master. The entrance of the ck Bog Kingdom is said to be difficult to conquer." Angelian spoke.


    "Even my father told me not to move towards that region. The entrance is said to be very cursed and strange."


    "I''ve seen the truth with the memories of those we just killed. I think I can handle it." Nightwingughed.


    "Husband Nightwing. I suggest we turn back." Suddenly, the spider-woman spoke.


    "Arachnid Hive Queen Sherah. You know what lies there, don''t you?"


    "Yes, my dear husband!"


    "Careful. The curse also applies to words of endearment. Their jealousy will hurt you like a p."


    "I care not for their curses, my husband! They are-"


    SLAP! SLAP!


    Sherah was thrown to the side and was shocked.


    "What do you know? It''s literally a p." Nightwing chuckled.


    "...Master Nightwing." The Champion human stood up and watched if any p would arrive. But she then sighed in relief as she didn''t sense any jealous anger.


    "Monica. Respectful titles do not belong to what endearments are. Feel free to use that."


    Monica bowed and was delighted.


    "My loving master... Sherah is right. That entrance is a massive mountain that is also a deste battleground. As you may know, the ck Bog Kingdom was formed from a great war that urred where many of the Uninvolved Land marshaled a grand army and lost so many lives but failed to conquer it due to the mysterious bog that surround it. The bodies and deaths are said to have created a curse within the entire mountain region. Death and ghost of all sorts appear and mysterious deaths have urred. If your purpose was to redirect our foes, then we have already seeded."


    "I have seen the visions of those present. I can guess the terrors that guard the closest gates nearby. I am not worried."


    "My lovingly, handsome, and spicy master...!"


    "Spicy?"


    Monica resolved to turn respectful addresses to be more spicy addresses.


    The two girls and Nightwing were stunned at the strange way of addressing Nightwing.


    "I must inform you something that perhaps these people do not know. My family is rted to a Crown! He went into that gate to investigate an ancient spell that is believed to be in that region. But he died at the gate! Knowledge of this is not public but this is why even Crowns do not tangle with the things happening in this region! Even Crowns can fall in that region!"


    "Oh? Interesting. It seems that there is a hidden power there... Then we must get that!" But instead of being afraid, Nightwing smiled.


    "My loved Master, we will face something that can kill a Crown! I urge you to turn back!"


    "No. This is the perfect test for my power. I need to test it on someone strong. I want to know if I can conquer a Crown killer without using my strongest spells. I can''t rely on energy formation circles forever, after all." Nightwingughed,


    He then harnessed his power tomunicate with Luigi.


    "Luigi. It seems there is something of interest here. Gather more people and make the mansion mobile so as to dy the gathering. Tell Benjie Boy and Strongholgen to gather more men."


    "More? Won''t we be biting a bit more than we can chew?"


    "I''ll be bringing a harem of powerful and beautiful girls. These will probably be the most strongest and beautiful girls in the region. So don''t worry. It''s alright. I already found two that will devote themselves to me. These beauties will help me fight."


    "... How envious."


    "Don''t be. The subi are too strong. I can''t have fun with any of the girls I get. It''s exhausting. Being among such beauties and can''t do anything to them."


    "Huh. I''d figure being a Fallen you wouldn''t care and have fun with them even if they die."


    "The thought did cross my mind, but it''s such a waste. They suddenly be Fate Challengers for some reason... I wonder if it''s because she''s a woman and my power of the Charmed is affecting her. I''ll contact you soon. The closer I get to the ck Bog Kingdom, the more strange energies are growing rampant. I might not be able tomunicate with you." Nightwing disconnected as the ship moved deeper within the ck Bog.


    Meanwhile... close to the massive mountain, a woman was rushing out of one of the caves that led to the numerous entrances.


    "Madam! Run!" Several soldiers cried out as they made a formation.


    But deep in the cave, the sounds of death and screams could be heard.


    The woman saw all the deaths urring behind her and began to weep.


    "There''s no time! They should all be dead now! Let our sacrifice be not in vain! Go and save your brother!" The knight shouted and drew his sword.


    At that moment, several forms began to apparate to the side.


    Dead men, orcs, elves, and even monstrous races with blood spilling out of them and horrifying wounds appeared and began to attack.


    The knight charged off to block one of the attacks to save the woman.


    "Go now!" The knight shouted.


    The woman was carrying a young boy who had many wounds. She turned around and ran with all her might.


    "No... This can''t be! Our family! Dad! Mom!" The woman wept as he charged forward with a young boy with him.


    "What''s happening?! What kind of magic is happening within thesends?!" The woman cried out and fled.


    But as she moved further, she could hear the sounds of the apparating undead beings fighting and the knight that protected her was screaming in pain as the sounds of bites and breaking bones could be heard. All of the knights were being massacred.


    Behind him, numerous beings of all monstrous forms began to apparate and chased after her.


    She turned around and saw the monsters and fled with fear.


    "No! No! Not my brother! Please, gods! Help me! Save me!" The woman wept.


    "ROAR!" An undead mantis monster charged at her and shed out.


    "[Mana Shield]!" The woman shouted and a powerful shield appeared around the woman.


    CRACK!


    But the stabbing attack prated through the shield and made a weak cut on the woman.


    The woman felt the attack and brought out the strongest artifact that her family had.


    "Oh, Talisman of the Time Lord, Protect me! Grant me the time to save my brother! [Time Incantation]!" The woman cried and a weak purple light began to glow.


    STAB!


    The mantis''s w stabbed down but the woman pressed forward and forced herself to carry her brother.


    The power of Time surged out to her and she vanished from sight.


    WARP! WARP! WARP!


    Near the ship of Nightwing trembling energy began to forge.


    "Oh? What an ancient teleportation spell. Only someone like Luigi can make that." Nightwing made his ship stop.


    WARP!


    Space and time cracked and a woman appeared!


    The woman saw the entire area change as she sped up through time and then she saw a flying ship!


    "Please! Help me!" The woman cried out with all her might as she copsed in exhaustion.


    She kept crying and crying and saw a beautiful woman with angelic wings reach down on her.


    The moment the woman saw the beautiful woman with angelic wings relief filled her heart.


    "Please save... my brother!" She begged.


    "Master?" Angelian asked.


    The woman turned her gaze up and could see Nightwing. But as she saw Nightwing she froze.


    The man was a horrifying being, perhaps even more demonic than the horrors she faced inside the mountain.


    "No...! No...!" The woman wept and surrendered herself to death. She was so hopeful but the moment she saw Nightwing, she realized she must have reached another dangerous man. Unable to cope with the shock, she fainted.

 Chapter 468 Conquering A Fallen Spawn

    The nightmares of the woman didn''t end.


    Even as she fainted she could see the horrors of the battle she had. Her entire family had been massacred before she and the toon that was sent in were all killed.


    A terrifying demon stood at the very end of it all.


    And then, just when she thought she had escaped and found allies, she saw a being of even greater horrors and darkness!


    She was falling into the endless darkness of her fears when a voice called her back.


    "Awaken!"


    Suddenly, the woman''s eyes were opened.


    She was so scared and began to gasp for breath and found herself inside a room.


    "You almost died there. Are you alright?" Angelian asked and smiled.


    "...Feather-Folk?! You...! This ship!"


    "Yes. You were so scared you passed out and nearly died. If not for our master, you would have died." A woman spoke to the side.


    "Another beauty. It seems that our master ns to draw many girls to his side..." A spiderdy sighed.


    The woman was stunned as she saw the other two women.


    "I''m Monica." Monica introduced.


    "I am Angelian."


    "I am Sherah."


    "You! You''re a Hive Queen!" The woman eximed.


    Sherah frowned when she saw the woman''s reaction.


    "My brother! Where is my brother?!" The woman suddenly remembered.


    "Resting on the other quarter. You wish to visit him?" Angelian smiled.


    "Wait! That demon?! I saw a demon in this ship!"


    "A demon?" Monica asked.


    "Yes! There was a dark demon! I know this sounds crazy. But my eyes are special! I can pierce through the veil of the living and see the invisible forces battling here! This ship has a very powerful and malevolent demon!"


    "Ah. You mean, Master. He''s not a demon." Monicaughed.


    "Oh but his lips are truly something that will send you to hell. Oh, those lips of his! It''s the greatest temptation of a Fallen! I''d give up another arm or leg for that kiss!" Monica''s expression turned strange.


    "What?! You''re master?!" The woman shouted and quickly stood up.


    "Rx. Our master is not that dangerous."


    "Not dangerous?! He is a being of darkness?!"


    "You''re alive. Don''t you think that if he wanted to kill you, he''d have done that now? He''s in the other room ying with your brother."


    "ying with my brother?! My brother-"


    "We know what you''ve been through. Master took a sip of your blood to get your memories. He knows what happened. He said that he had the perfect way of dealing with post-traumatic people as it once cured a young cub who thought he was responsible for his father''s death. Master seemed pretty confident it would work. Your brother is already happily singing songs right now. Can''t you hear it?" Angelian exined.


    The woman rose and charged out of the room as he followed the melodious sound.


    "Demon! What nefarious magic are you attempting on my brother!" The woman charged into the other room of the ship and opened it up.


    "Hakuna Matata! Ain''t no fleeting craze!"


    "It means no enemies, for the rest of our days..." The young boy sang.


    "Yeah! Sing it, kid! Change the lyrics to avoid copyright strikes!"


    "IT''S OUR TRAUMA-FREE, PHILOSOPHY!" The two sang together.


    The woman was so confused as he saw his brother happily ying.


    "As you can see, our master is not only dangerously yummy, but he. is quite entric." Monica sighed.


    "Christopher! You''re sister''s awake."


    Christopher was still dancing when he heard Nightwing''s reminder.


    "Sister!" The boy rushed towards the woman.


    "Christopher! You''re safe!"


    "Of course, he''s alright. If a meerkat and a warthog can get a lion out of a post-traumatic disorder that would have a life-long psychological scar, it can help your brother."


    "Amazing." Sherah on the other hand saw the strange markings and the magic it was creating.


    "Brimstone! Master, you can use Brimstone?!" Monica was amazed.


    "Yes. I''m a very good brimstone cultivator. Not as good as that nostalgic gamer guy, but good enough to manage." Nightwing smiled.


    ? "Anyway, Krysta, right? I saw your memories. Quite some magic you have. You time-traveled nearly three hundred years in the future."


    "Wha... what?!"


    "Time traveled? So that''s why she gave me that demeaning look." Sherah chuckled.


    "That''s right. Your kind didn''t find dominance in the ck Bog Kingdom then. It was a scorned race. And interestingly enough, the ck Bog Kingdom started to rise into prominence at that time. This means, that whatever horrors she faced inside the walls, was the very same thing that allowed the ck Bog Kingdom toe to power." Nightwing smiled as he took out the talisman of the woman.


    "This is quite magic. It feels like it''s crafted by a powerful dragonic Time God. This should be a Heretic. Too bad it lost its power. Although Luigi might be able to do something out of this."


    Krysta saw the talisman and clenched her fist.


    "Three... hundred years?! Impossible! That magic should only allow me to pause and move time by seconds!"


    "You bent time and space. How else did you escape those monsters chasing after you? Here you go."


    "You''re... giving it back?"


    "You don''t want it? I can keep it if you don''t want it. Or would you give this up as some form of payment?"


    "...That''s a family heirloom."


    "Oh. Then it''ll be mine once we''re married." Nightwing smiled.


    "Who would want to marry you!?" The woman cursed back.


    Suddenly, she felt great killing intent surround her as she turned and saw the three women ready for their weapons.


    "Everyone, stop. None of you, by yourselves, can satiate my lust. If I want to build a harem, it''s my freedom too. You can always choose to leave me. But if you harm any other woman that I chose to be with, then I shall abandon you and treat you as enemies as I did with those subi!" Nightwing spoke coldly.


    The three were petrified and the mere thought of being separated from Nightwing caused great pain in their hearts.


    The three bowed down.


    Angelian was struggling and was telling herself to stand up and resist as her pride was insulted by the words of Nightwing. But memories of the kiss would haunt her.


    "Good. But I must say, Krysta. You are very interesting. You cannot feel lust. But Is ee this an exciting challenge? You will want me even without your lust." Nightwingughed.


    "An incubus taking the hearts women dare to brag about having me?! Your kind should be killed and purged!"


    "I don''t know if it''s because of your unique constitution or if it is because of your allegiance to the Saint Cross Holy Kingdom. But whatever it is, it''s impressive. To feel no lust towards me is a very, very impressive feat. No woman should be able to resist my powers." Nightwingughed.


    "Enough! Send me back to my kingdom! Even if three hundred years have passed, I am still of royal blood!"


    "The Saint Cross Holy Kingdom? That kingdom fell, over a hundred years ago!" Sherah recalled.


    "What did you say?!"


    "I was but a monstrous spider beast then and did not even acquire my human form. I had just gained sentience and was being hunted by that kingdom! That fell, when the ck Bog Lands gained might and they sent a powerful army to kill us all. They failed in their assault and it led to a grand massacre that instilled fear in the nearby kingdoms from that day onward! Their main armies died without prating through the mountain barriers of thend."


    "I read about this. The kingdom lost so many and had been a huge bully in thesends. Their destruction was sought by nearly everyone in this region." Monica also spoke about what she had read.


    "What?! The Saint Cross Holy Kingdom is... gone?!" Krysta was shocked!


    "As I''ve said... You have time traveled. This isn''t the time you lived. The talisman that you have brought you here. Fate led you to pass through time. And my own being, which draws all women of staggeringly great beauty will meet me."


    "How is that possible?! My talisman isn''t that strong!"


    "And there is another reason why it harnessed such great power. I''m sure you know what it is."


    "Another reason?! What do you mean?"


    "Hahaha." Nightwingughed.


    "You''ll understand it in time. In any case, Fate has brought us together. That same being that ate all your family and killed your soldiers is back. It''s hungry and it will stop at nothing to feed again. Ladies. I now know what it is we are fighting. It should have the power to conquer a Crown! It''s a Fallen Spawn! A being hidden by Destiny to ambush Fate. A trap designed to appear when the being known as the Nephilim rises!"


    "A Fallen Spawn?! A direct descendant of a Fallen?!" Angelian was horrified.


    "Yes. It awakens for a time and devours people and then vanishes and leaves all traces of its existence. It selects a host who will be in charge of feeding it. I believe that a plot to bring many ambitious people set. The current power that protects the ck Bog Kingdom is a blessing from this very being!"


    "Master... You wish to fight it? Would it not be best if we have the others here?"


    "There is no time. I''ve seen the memories of Krysta. She escaped thanks to circumstance, luck, and powerful magic. But in most cases, this Fallen Spawn will only awaken for a very short period. And that is the time for us to fight it!"

 Chapter 469 Conquering Bandits

    The borders of the ck Bog Kingdom were a massive mountain range that covered the entire area. There were four main entrances into the ck Bog Kingdom, but Nightwing had brought their ship to a part of the wall that stood far away from the rest.


    Krysta kept on insisting for the group turn back, but Nightwing paid no heed to her.


    "We''re all going to die!" Krysta shouted.


    Even Christopher looked afraid as he nced in the direction back of the mountain regions.


    "Don''t be scared." Nightwing encouraged.


    "But... Uncle Nightwing... The monster in thatnd... is scary. It killed... everyone. My sister is right. We should be escaping this ce."


    "I know. I''ve seen the memories and in the time of your memory to today, I estimate that it''s even more powerful now given that it has fed for hundreds of years. I saw what your sister saw. That being could even threaten the Hignds! But, dear Christopher... I''m an even more terrifying monster than what is in there."


    "You don''t seem... that scary, uncle."


    "Well, singing all those songs takes the danger away from me. But it''ll be more fun when I get serious. Besides, we won''t be the only ones moving in there."


    "Are you certain, master? I have no learned information of any operation headed here. And mywork is quite vast." Sherah spoke.


    "I also do not know of it."


    "Of course. Not even the men here, or Menks knew about this. I believe that most of those who will enter this ce will be from the ck Bog Kingdom itself."


    "You mean, it''s a secret from within?"


    "Yes. There is a reason why this Fallen Spawn decided to release powerful magic to aid thesends and create awless state. Angelian will know from first-hand experience, that the powerful dark dependent are not so generous."


    "...I have met a very generous dark lord, my lord." Angelian smiled.


    "Ah... But those that died won''t agree. You just happen to be on our side."


    "If I wasn''t... would you have killed me?"


    "Hmmm... Perhaps, I''d have my way with you until those two kill you."


    "Then it makes me wish I was your enemy." Angelian chuckled as she approached and embraced Nightwing.


    The other two women frowned and moved and clung on to Nightwing on the other side.


    Krysta pulled Christopher back to cover his eyes.


    "Hm? Enemies." Angelian frowned as she turned to the side.


    Suddenly, several flying ships appeared.


    "That ship! It''s quite a powerful one! Magical shield! That''s got to be worth a fortune!" The voice of a sinister raspy man could be heard.


    "Attack!"


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Nightwing activated his blood magic which used the built-in energy formation circle and created a shield. The shield resisted the attacks.


    "Oh? That spell should be at Commander level. They should also have magic spells that would reach Cardinal." Nightwing was amused.


    "Activate the [Void Traversing Trap]!" One of the voices was heard.


    "It''s them!" Sherah frowned as he heard the order.


    A strange magic urred and the entire area was changed into a strange darkness.


    Thendscape changed and all there was a dark ne and several ships at a distance. The bognds and the many trees and swamps around the area disappeared.


    "A dimensional magic?"


    "No. It''s illusionary magic. We''re moving in circles and they are at the edge of it. It will appear as if we are traveling endlessly into this void world, but in reality, we are moving around their trap. Sherah, who are they?" Nightwing asked Sherah. The memories he has absorbed had very few memories of the ck Bog Kingdom.


    "This should be the famous bandit group, the Body Snatchers. Famous for their kidnapping exploits and ship raids. They kidnap all sorts of groups and while they hunt here, they have been known to terrorize all the Minds if they find a client or sponsor. I heard they once took over an entire vige and offered every single one of them to an unknown buyer."


    "Monsters!"


    "Good! Then eating them won''t be a problem for all my beloved girls here. Angelian? Monica? Krysta?"


    "I''m not one of your girls!"


    "It would be my pleasure to see this corrupt band die! They''ve taken one of my friends!" Monica dered.


    "Oh? Then I guess we''ll kill them all. Are any beautiful women on board? And by beautiful, I mean equal to any one of you four. Anyone less, I will have no interest." Nightwing smiled.


    Krysta had a disgusted look at Nightwing''s statements.


    "There are women. But none as beautiful as these three." Sherah nced down as if ashamed.


    "Oh? My women should not look down on themselves. Sherah. You survived because I found you beautiful." Nightwing approached and held Sherah''s chin up.


    "But... I''m an Arthropodian. Master''s form is closer to humans."


    "So? That doesn''t mean I don''t find your form seductive." Nightwing leaned down.


    A strange magic covered Christopher in darkness as Nightwing leaned down and he was hidden from the expressions and sounds that Sherah let out.


    A hot, searing kissnded on Sherah''s neck and it was as if a hot brand was made on her.


    "Ma-Master...!" Sherah fell to her knees weak from the pangs of pleasure that radiated from her neck.


    "We can''t let the kids see the adults have fun."


    "Master... Please! Me too." Monica pleaded. And Angelian approached.


    "Those who kill the most win. Monica. Since you are the weakest, kill a Commander and I will reward you. You are my woman, but you are also my warriors in this battle. So you all have to get stronger. Krysta. Regardless of your state now, these men are people who havemitted grave crimes even greater than what I have done since my awakening. Will you fight?"


    "...I will fight them as a Quick de Magi. But they have ships moving out. How can we board them?"


    "Leave that to me. I will tear open a portal and you can jump into one of those ships. Monica. You go with Krysta. One of those ships has a Commander. Angelian... Sherah. I''m sure you can manage to reach those other ships?"


    Both nodded and their forms began to change.


    "I''ll deal with that ship with a Cardinal."


    "Good. I''ll distract them and target their main ship with that Dark Elf Cardinal. The moment I move, all eyes will be on me. I''ll have to borrow your talisman for that." Nightwing raised his arm and the Talisman flew towards Nightwing.


    Krysta didn''t resist and allowed the Talisman to get to Nightwing.


    "Use that window to move in the portals I will create."


    "Portals? Master, you also know the power that Luigi has?" Angelian asked.


    "Yes. I have a Time Core based on a clone of his. It''s not as strong, but it can allow me to perform these mundane powers. Because of this illusory world, I think I can go all out." Nightwing smiled and dark, bloody wings spread out.


    The terrifying power also spread out. Krysta and Christopher could feel the malevolent evil of the darkness that enveloped his wings.


    The form of Nightwing was no longer that of a vampire, but he had scales of blood forming around him giving him the form of a Thane Dragon.


    "Thane dragon form?!"


    "Your blood gave me quite a boost, Angelian. But of course, you also benefited from mine. Don''t destroy their ships. We''llmandeer them." Nightwing zoomed out and pierced through the magic shield.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Sonic booms were heard as the power of a Cardinal flew out with great speed.


    "Cardinal! They have a Cardinal! Defend!" The dark elf called out and wielded his power to create a massive scepter made of ice.


    The gigantic scepter swung down but Nightwing didn''t retreat.


    BOOM!


    The scepter was broken down by pure force and the Dark elf suffered a magical bacsh as his crafted magic weapon was destroyed.


    Nightwing sped forward as the magic shield of the ship appeared.


    BOOM!


    The ship was thrown off but the shield managed to defend against the attack.


    "Gather your magic! Shoot that damned thing out of the sky!" The Cardinal shouted as blood dripped off his mouth and everyone assumed the formation and prepared the ship''s weapon to shoot.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Two powerful attacks were sent out and struck Nightwing who created a blood shield.


    But the shields were too weak to resist the harnessed power of the ship.


    STAB! STAB!


    But at that moment, Nightwing stood right in the middle of the ship.


    "What a powerful Talisman!" Nightwingughed as his blood weapons began to drain the blood of the Cardinal and Commander he attacked.


    At that moment, explosions rang out on the other ships.


    Angelian flew and dove down another ship killing a Commander and she charged off to kill more.


    The beauty of Angelian made the warriors stunned as their reaction speed dropped at the sight of such divine beauty.


    The sudden appearance of thedies on each ship at that critical moment led to the deaths of the strongest members of each ship at once.


    Monica unleashed all her might to kill the Commander at once.


    CRASH!


    Sherah morphed her spider form and increased the strength of her legs and jumped the distance with great speed.


    The Commander on the ship reacted toote and the force of the Hive Queen smashed into him.


    Monica and Sherah were both stunned at the increase of power from the blood that was fed to them. The death energy in their body had grown immense and even their normal attacks were releasing dark energy. Even more amazing was that their cultivation level increased as Nightwing bestowed on them enough energy to help them scale their levels!


    Sensing the increase of their power, they could hear Nightwing''s whisper.


    "My women will be strong. I will see to it. Serve me and you will have power and strength!"


    "Yes, master!" The two shouted as they fought.


    Krysta created numerous magical swords that swung with great speed as she tried to keep up with the reckless, yet powerful charge of Monica.

 Chapter 470 Conquering Hell

    Around the massive mountain range that covered the ck Bog Kingdom, a certain cave had mysteriously appeared. With the endless bogs covering the ce, and the magic guarding it, the cave that appeared was nearly impossible to find even by those who lived inside the ck Bog Kingdom. But a sign from the heavens that could only be analyzed by those who carried with them the secret of thend.


    Several powerful families and orders that lived inside the ck Bog Kingdom gathered near the opening and awaited the sign from the heavens to officially mark its opening. There were even fleets of flying ships from certain kingdoms outside of the ck Bog Kingdom also gathered and brought out an armada of flying vessels.


    But as they all arrived, no one spoke a word at each other but patiently waited.


    Suddenly, a group of ships began to move behind them.


    The gs it raised were that of the Body Snatchers.


    Five ships arrived and had several people on board each ship and at the very center of it was a ship coated in various powerful energy formation circles. It was a ship that would have made it among the most expensive ships around them.


    Five ships moved in and sought their ce among the many ships present.


    "Since when did the Body Snatchers gain ess to the secret knowledge of thisnd?" A voice called out and a dark man with numerous green moss growing around him.


    "Tree Morph Druid. This ce is too dark for you to see the sunlight. Might I suggest you find some sunshine?" The leader of the Body Snatchersughed as he moved out.


    "Ettos! Why are you here?" The druid frowned.


    "We found ourselves a great client. It seems that there is a party here."


    "You fool. You will only die if you move inside this cave! I will treat our former trades and dealings to give you a sincere warning. Do not go inside! A magic barrier exists and only those who have the key can move inside!"


    As the two continued to talk, Nightwing and his allies were inside the room of the main ship.


    "Luckily, we already have that key. Don''t we, Krysta?" Nightwing chuckled.


    "I won''t use it and bring us in there!" Krysta red at Nightwing.


    "Sister... We should do it. We should help them." Christopher urged.


    "Why?" Krysta frowned.


    "He''s strong. They are all strong. And they are right. We are gone. Those people they interrogated didn''t even know of our kingdom! This is not our time. And sister... He has been quite good to us. He obviously likes you. But he isn''t even forcing himself on you." Christopher pleaded.


    "...Can you help me enact my revenge?" Krysta asked.


    "Your desire for revenge oveps with my desire to kill him. You see, that Fallen Spawn is perfect to continue my disguise. Its identity is crucial to me. its memories and heritage will be my perfect cover. When we would meet these Eldrich, I can now willingly offer to have them read and study my memories! My identity will be perfect for infiltration! So I have to kill it and devour it. Even if the real form of that Fallen Spawn turns out to be a very beautiful woman." Nightwingughed.


    "... You''ve seen my memory. The moment we enter that region we will be transported into that dark world. When we moved inside, I had an army. Some waited outside, but many apanied me. But the creatures inside that ce were too horrifying."


    "Horrifying? More appetizing. The blood and flesh will nurture me and Angelian. And with my blood given to Sherah, she could return to her full strength and could even create a new nest of its own in there."


    "Master... I will need... something else... to help me give birth to more spiders."


    "Ah yes... You want the D."


    "The D?" Christopher asked.


    "Devil blood. She needs a potent source of nutrients to create a hive. I was nning to prepare arger and more concentrated amount. But since we now have to enter this region, this small amount will do. The blood of the Incubus is inside it. The women your spiders will bite will fall into your control as long as they are weaker than you in cultivation and mental fortitude."


    A ball of blood emerged from Nightwing''s chest and rushed towards Sherah.


    "My Master adores me!" Sherah greedily ate the blood and experienced great ecstasy which forced Nightwing to use strange magic to hide sight and sound for Christopher.


    "You do you keep doing that?" Angelian asked.


    "PG rating. We can''t let the kids see these things without limitations."


    The shouting match outside continued. But with the memories of all the members of the Body Snatchers, Nightwing was able to make the reanimated warriors act out their roles.


    The blood in them was already devoured by Nightwing and he was able to create a corpse puppet with his blood magic. The only drawback was that their strength had weakened. The Cardinal leader, Ettos, now only had the strength of a Commander.


    But Nightwing was confident that he could deceive everyone as he could make these corpse puppet talk and act like their natural selves.


    Many of the groups gathered disdained and were telling the Body Snatchers to move back as they had no business in this ce.


    "Move back? Really? How many secrets do I know from all of you? How many of you have made trades and deals with me? What if I were to... reveal some information?" The corpse puppet Ettosughed.<novelnext>  </novelnext>


    There was a sudden silence as everyone began to fear what he would reveal. The ck Bog Kingdom had all the most notorious people, someing from the Hignds and fleeing due to grave crimes. It was a world of betrayal and information was vital.


    The Body Snatchers were not that brave to have dared to reveal the secrets since they would be pushed to their deaths had they done this. And so, Ettos''s words shocked everyone. Who would have thought he would be this brave?!


    "Oh? Did Ettos suddenly develop some backbone?"


    "I finally have... a sponsor. And our mission is to get him inside. We have a key. A lost key that can open this."


    "What? As if you''d know what that is." A Nobleman from a human kingdom frowned.


    "Hmph. I know the real truth. Your g imitates the lost Saint Sword Family. But I know the truth. We have... the remains of the marked Child of Destiny!" Ettosughed.


    Suddenly, everyone''s expression changed as they heard Ettos.


    "The remains of the Child of Destiny?!"


    "Yes. We have it. A child marked by Destiny to die. The same child that the beast wanted to devour to attain Destiny''s favor but could not. I wonder what will happen!" Ettos chuckled.


    "That remains to belong to us!" The nobleman human shouted in anger.


    "Belongs to you? You''re not even part of this ck Bog Kingdom. We have reliable information that all the bloodlines of the Saint Cross Holy Kingdom died when they moved in there. The Saint Sword family has no descendants. Your family must have ransacked their homes and found their diaries or something!" Ettosughed.


    "What words do you spout, brigand?!"


    "Words of truth! If you are part of the Saint Sword Family, then show me their bloodline skill! Show me your Magistrate Sword of Purple Fire! You im that it was your ancestor''s skill that was lost when their strongest experts died, but in truth, it was a bloodline ability! Bestowed by a Greater God to them! If you can''t make one, then you are not a legitimate member of this royal family!" Ettos used.


    "You...! Why did I waste my time on you?!" The nobleman turned around and left.


    At that moment, Krysta and Christopher peeked out to watch the man.


    "That hateful man...! He dares pretend to be us!" Krysta red at him.


    "Does my woman wish for his death?" Nightwingughed.


    "I am not your woman!"


    "Ah... But if killing him will please you, then maybe I should do that." Nightwingughed and Krysta clenched her fist.


    Christopher sighed.


    "A powerful demon is trying to impress my sister? I always knew my sis was a demon... but this?" Christopher sighed.


    "What''s that you brat?!" Krysta cursed.


    RUMBLE! RUMBLE!


    "It''s starting! The mouth of that world is opening!" Krysta shouted.


    The strange fog began to disperse and the mountains were reforming.


    And suddenly, a cave, like the mouth of a huge giant emerged from the mountainside.


    "I, King of Great Power lies imprisoned in this world! Free me and receive wealth and power beyond your imagination! Conquer hell, and I will grant you... heaven!"


    The strange mouth spoke and it opened wide creating a gigantic hole that could fit the passage of the entire armada of the ships two times over!


    "Conquer hell!" The loud cries of those riding the ships were heard and they all charged forward.


    "I will reach the throne room!" A manughed as he ordered his fleet to charge in.


    As the ships moved, the ships under Nightwing''smand also moved. But unlike the rest, Nightwing ordered the charge to blend in with the crowd.


    "This..." Angelian noticed it.


    "Ah, you noticed it? Well, considering you are around a being thatmands lust, you will naturally be sensitive to these things. That''s right. That Fallen-Spawnmands greed!" Nightwingughed.

 Chapter 471 Into The Gigantes

    The massive cave opened like a mouth to the world and the power of Greed called out to everyone who was driven mad.


    "How does it feel?" Nightwing asked.


    "Thest time you went here, you were all affected by this greed and followed it despite all the red gs. Now, I doubt the power of greed affects you, Krysta."


    "I... have all the regrets in the world. My family died... All of them... None is left."


    "You know... I am a necromancer of great power. I know that a Fallen Spawn would have not allowed the souls of its prey to be sent out to the afterlife. It would cling to it and torture it and use its anguish to feed itself. Your parents are suffering from eternal hell. I could either send them away to the afterlife or resurrect them as Dark Dependant."


    "What? [Resurrection]?! You lie! No dark dependant can do that! That abomination of a spell will not bring back my parents! It will bring back a different creature!" Krysta cursed.


    "Normally, resurrecting the undead for dark dependents does that. But I won''t be using that spell. I will use a mixture of shaman magic, Soul Core alchemy, and Holy magic."


    "Holy magic!? How can someone like you perform Holy magic?!"


    "It''s a bit ufortable and I can only maintain this form for a bit... But..."


    FLASH!


    Suddenly, Nightwing''s form changed and the appearance of a radiant being cloaked in white appeared.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!"


    The brightness of Nightwing changed.


    He became shining, exceeding white as snow that nothing else on the nesword can improve its brightness.


    "Ugh. This form is so ufortable. If only I was human. Then I''d be able to shoulder light and darkness without being affected. Hm... Why do I believe that I am human? Odd..."


    Angelian saw the bright form and her heart was swayed.


    ? The pure holy energy of Nightwing made Angelian yearn for this.


    "Impossible!" Krysta saw it and was amazed.


    "Master...!" Sherah and Monica were screaming as their hearts saw the divine form of respectful attractiveness. If the former was a dangerously chiseled being crafted to fulfill the deepest lust of their hearts, the current form of Nightwing was a being of such purity and handsomeness that spurred their desires to have him as their forever husband. One had the hotness of hell and the other had the dream of heaven.


    Krysta saw the form and trembled.


    "With the power of light, I can harness their soul and make it a Soul Core. This is the same process that most Skeletons and Liches perform. But they could only do this to the living. But my power and light can call them that they will not depart from this ne to the afterlife. Necromancers create a dark resurrected body of cruel and murderous individuals like in Pet Cemetery."


    "Pet Cemetery?"


    "Er... Sorry. I mean, that their resurrected form is made from all the wicked and cruel desires and passions that they have. It only brings back a part of them but it really isn''t resurrection. But my method harnesses their soul through shaman powers, contains them in a Core through Alchemy, and retains these souls there with Holy. But this isn''t something I can perform endlessly. The death of the Fallen Spawn should allow me three resurrected forms. If you want to have more... I''ll need to kill all the powerhouses who are going to that world. This magic cannot use weak sacrifices. I''ll need cultivators at the level" Nightwing exined as the form disappeared.


    "Now I have to shut that off. That Fallen Spawn may detect me if we enter the mouth." Nightwing used his Corpse Puppets to see what was happening outside.


    "If we kill everyone here, I should have enough materials to create two more. Four of your loved ones. These are the ones I can create. And the rest of the souls will have to go to the afterlife."


    Krysta trembled.


    "Mom... Dad..." Christopher voiced out.


    "We''ll talk about thatter. For now... We will be entering the mouth of that being."


    "Being? That cave is a creature?!"


    "Actually... It''s the mouth of a Gigantes. That Fallen Spawn is hidden inside that Gigantes and made it a powerful dimensional world."


    "A Gigantes? What''s that?"


    "A race of powerful giant golems. Let''s just say... that the ck Bog Kingdom didn''t have a perfect mountain region. This entire site is a single Gigantes! And the moment we enter inside, all of us will be portaled to different regions of the Gigantes and we will all be forced to journey towards one side."


    "Master... What do we do when we are separated?"


    "I''ll use the Talisman of Krysta to keep Christopher by my side."<novelnext>  </novelnext>


    "Why can''t we just leave him here?" Monica asked.


    "Because he''s a Child marked with Destiny. The safest ce he can be is right next to me, concealed through my power. With the power of time, we won''t be separated too far. The power of my blood will lure you to me." Nightwing exined.


    "...What about me?" Krysta asked.


    "Oh, don''t worry. I know the scent of my women so I''ll be headed straight for you." Nightwingughed.


    The race towards the Gigantes continued but Nightwing had no intention of going first. He allowed the ship to be at thest parts of the ship.


    "With an uing battle against a Fallen Spawn, I have no time to deal with these annoying ones. So I guess, I''ll do that." Nightwingughed.


    "Merachods of the Dark Shamans killed the son of Tree Morph Druid! The Druids are responsible for the betrayal of the North Fog Alliance! Emperor Assassin was hired by a member of the North Fog Alliance to kill Brektol Chamberon!" Ettos, spurred by Nightwing began to speak out all the secrets that it knew in its career.


    Ettos named every group present and began to create a web of intrigue to use everyone and how they had faults with another party! But some of them were lies and the power of Deception was being used through Nightwing''s power.


    The darkness appeared and because of the effect of greed that the Fallen Spawn was using, it made many people rage in anger as they realized what they lost.


    "You traitors!"


    "I will kill you Merachods!"


    "Die!"


    Even as they entered the mouth of the Gigantes, some began to fight and a powerful portal appeared at the very end of the mouth and they were being brought into the strange and mysterious world.


    They approached the portal and as Nightwing neared he suddenly made a series of strange seals on his hands as the ground beneath him was coated in blood. With the many souls in him, Nightwing could now perform the shamanic seals. While the shamans used strange methods to bind the souls to him, Nightwing was using Charm to make the souls cooperate as a quick Energy Conversion Circle was created.


    "I will alter everyone''s memories. This Fallen Spawn is reading through our memories to understand the state of the world! I will use this magic to temporarily make you forget about me for a time so that all things rted to me will be forgotten. Do not resist my magic!" Nightwing spoke with haste as the magic was formed.


    "[Oblivion]!" Using Kyriachos and the deepest darkness that his Fallen soul had, Nightwing channeled the power of Oblivion and made everyone forget about him. Since most of them hadn''t known Nightwing for too long, it was easy to rearrange the magic.


    Their ship entered the portal and everyone was pulled by strange dimensional magic.


    WARP!


    The entire scene changed and Krysta saw her life sh before her eyes.


    The memories of her family and how they lived were shown and deep regret affected her as she was given into great sorrow. Her memories of how she was able to activate the Time Talisman and how she met the ship led by Angelian headed towards the area and how they fought and interrogated the Body Snatchers were pulled out.


    Nightwing held on to Christopher and was being pulled out.


    The Time/space talisman activated its power and the two were being warped into the world inside the Gigantes.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!" Nightwing activated his light magic.


    The memories of Christopher were being drawn out and the entire Gigantes trembled with excitement as the Child of Destiny that was lost so long ago had resurfaced!


    The Fallen Spawn sat on his throne deep within a massive castle and smiled.


    "You''re here! So you teleported through time through that ancient magic! I didn''t think that that girl would go to such an extent to save that boy. But now you are back!" The Fallen Spawnughed as he used his power to search for the boy.


    His powers searched throughout the body of the Gigantes.


    "Where is the boy?!" He called out to the Gigantes.


    But suddenly, he saw a bright being clothed in raiment of white standing in front of the boy.


    "A son of Greed dares to seek out my avatar? Are you sure you want to find me? Stay there. I will go to you! By the order of Angels, you shall die!"


    The Fallen Spawn was scared that he halted his search.


    "WHAT?! An angel?!"

 Chapter 472 Into The Trap

    Krysta saw herself falling into the abyss. And as she did, her memories were being reyed before her eyes. She saw all her memories y back as if it was forced on her. But the power of Mysterion hid numerous things and other memories were imputed. These memories were messy but the image of the angel appeared.


    ? Imputing new memories would be hard, but Nightwing didn''t seek perfection but intentionally made gaps in the memory of everyone and only shes and bits of the visions.


    Angelian, Monica, and Sherah also had the same memories imputed on her.


    As they were all brought in, the Fallen Spawn fed on their dreams using the power of Mamon.


    "[Corruption of Mamon: Dream Eater]!" The power of a voracious hunger devoured everything including dreams. All these dreams were being absorbed and the Fallen Spawn saw it all.


    The memories of Krysta, Angelian, Monica, and Sherah all culminated in them falling to their knees as the Angel showed its real form.


    FLASH!


    Three red-coated men appeared with their crosses as they ran forward and made an awkward hop.


    "Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!" The three men shouted.


    FLASH!


    The vision ended.


    The Fallen Spawn''s jaw remained open. But it wasn''t because he was devouring dreams, but because utter confusion filled his head.


    "Spanish Inquisition?" He muttered again in his confusion.


    With the Fallen-Spawn confused and delving into all his memories to search for this mysterious phrase, Krysta woke up.


    She saw herself next to a beach and couldn''t see the sea.


    "The beach...?" She nced and her memories began to return. The power of Mysterion was unsealed and she remembered her true memories.


    The memories of Nightwing appeared and the days that were confusing became clear.


    "What a terrifying power! If my memories could be altered in, just by a day... who knows what I would miss out on! My brother could be dead and he could have his way with me, and I won''t remember!"


    Krysta was frightened. She decided to get her brother and flee. If Nightwing could alter her memories she won''t be able to know what has been done to her or her brother!


    "I can''t trust him! What if my memories have already been altered?!" She sped up and began to move.


    A hill stood in front of her and she could hear the sounds of battle on the other side.


    "It''s already starting?!" Krysta cursed and ran up the hill. As she reached the top of the hill, she saw a great battle happening below it.


    All the other people who went to the beach were spread out across thend and were fighting hordes of ck dog-like beasts with five long spines that would sting like a scorpion extending at its back.


    "The Darklings! They''re here!" Krysta recognized the same creatures that they fought.


    The beast pounced at the men and fought them and while the beast only had a peak Captain strength its numbers were too many!


    But what was strange was that none of the people who went inside were fighting at the top of the hill. A series of hills encircled the area and everyone was at the bottom fighting in the valley below.


    Unknowingly, the first groups of people that were sent into this world walked right into the trap as the Darklings were buried underground and only rose to attack when everyone was right inside the circle.


    A strange trap was deployed and all powers of all forms of flight and hovering abilities were hindered as a strange gravity field appeared! Archers were useless, and mage attacks that would have beenunched to cross the distance all would fall down instantly.


    "They trapped the forces! What''s wrong with these people?! If this ce opens every decade or so, why is it that they don''t know anything about this ce!?" Krysta cursed.


    Everyone was forced to fight next to the people who they wanted to kill. And the resulting chaos led to a team of men who were not united.


    "That man lied! Our family has nothing to do with the murder of your family!" An orc pleaded as he was being surrounded and stung by the dog-like scorpion beasts.


    "Ahhh!" The orc''s small wounds began to fester as these beasts were injecting a strange poison that was burning him up!


    Despite being a Champion, the Orc sumbed to his wounds and the beasts feasted on his flesh!


    The survivors ignored him and grouped ording to their alliances. A few groups who were neutral with each other also teamed up and five small groups of people could be seen grouping with each other.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The powers of Commanders began to shoot up. The Champions also fought and began to massacre the beasts nearby and various forms of Force energy and magic were beingunched.


    But as they fought, Krysta saw the same mistakes that they once made.


    "What idiots! I thought they''d been in this world! They should know the dangers of what happens when one of them dies!"


    Krysta revealed her power. Swords of magic formed and were imbued with physical form. Magic and Forcebined and became a power of their own.<novelnext>  </novelnext>


    "[Supra-Phyiskos]!"


    Several swords formed and they gathered great magic.


    With a thought, the swords flew with great speed and rained down on the Darklings that were feasting on the in orc champions.


    "You idiots! Form ranks and fights together! Those beasts gain the strength of their kill! If one champion dies and is being feasted on, more champion darklings will rise!" Krysta shouted.


    Several men saw Krysta and heard her words.


    But despite that, each continued to fight on their own.


    "To thedy!" Several voices were heard and a group of men that were together started to rush toward Krysta.


    Krysta recognized them to be the corpse puppet that Nightwing created. She was shocked that they moved and acted as if they were alive.


    Krysta had no choice but to join them. The battle was too chaotic and if Champion Darklings were to rise, then a wipeout of everyone fighting could happen.


    The Magic Swords stabbed out and made a way for Krysta as she rushed towards the Corpse Puppet. Though they were weak, their battle tactics and strategy surpassed everyone else!


    She saw the fight and how people were even making cheap shots at the other groups.


    Some of the formations began to copse and Krysta cursed as she saw it. But she was far from the ce and her magic swords could not save the fallen.


    BOOM!


    ROAR!


    Soon a boom was heard as a Darkling suddenly transformed into a hulking form simr to a Barbarian!


    It released powerful Force energy!


    Krysta saw it and realized that the Champion that died was a Ragion!


    "No! This is the worst turn of events! Ragion train in powerful Force energy to defend their bodies! We will have Darklings with high defenses!" Krysta cursed as she raced towards the team of Body Snatcher corpse puppets.


    "Quick! Move towards the center and help me gather more of those scattered groups!" Krysta ordered.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Several loud explosions were heard as three more massive humanoids with five tails simr to a scorpion''s sting stood up.


    The creature rushed towards the unsuspecting teams and loud explosions could be heard as the Commanders were forced to act!


    "Everyone! Follow that woman''s advice!" A Commander shouted.


    Many other groups agreed.


    "Everyone! Gather into one formation! If someone next to you dies, move them into the circle, and don''t let them get eaten! Three to five beasts of the same level may arise if any one of the champions falls! And even your captains will only add to their strength!" Krysta warned.


    The groups began to move towards each other and were more united as they soon realized that unless they followed Krysta, they would all die.


    "Group together! Kill the champions first!" Krysta ordered and everyone followed.


    "I don''t care what kind of hatred you have for one another! Right now, we are all food to be fed to these beasts! So group together and fight! We have yet to see a Darklore! These are Commander-level beasts that control this army!" Krysta exined.


    Everyone was shocked at Krysta''s words.


    Soon the team managed to group together. They followed the tactic that the Body Snatchers did and the group managed to improve their fighting.


    "Mydy, how do you know of these beasts, and why do your power bear simrities to the sword magic of my family?" A Commander approached and asked.


    Krysta did her best to control her temper.


    "Repeat a lie... and soon it bes true..." She answered softly.


    "There is a lot you do not know of the Saint Sword Family." Krysta answered mysteriously.


    "Keep fighting! I''ll exin everything after this!" Krysta ordered. But she swore to herself to kill this Commander herself.


    The battle raged and raged. And hours passed and more Darklings kept appearing.


    The fight intensified and the longer it continued the more confused Krysta was.


    "What''s going on?!" She cursed.

 Chapter 473 Into The Mouth

    Krysta began to ry tactic after tactic. She even told everyone how to sense the shifting of the ground to determine if there were beasts that were buried.


    "Don''t be afraid of them if they dig toward us, they move at an extremely slow speed! Kill them when you sense the changes! Scouts and other sensory types can easily detect it!" Krysta ordered.


    With her presence, the group was fighting well even as the hours passed.


    But Krysta didn''t understand how so many darklings appeared on the battlefield.


    When she was on her first trip, her father who was a famed strategist and tactician made numerous preparations and performed various tests to understand the monsters within. It was there that her father taught her how to n.


    She was amazed at how his father was able to quickly analyze the flow of the battle and learned how to fight back.


    But Krysta was starting to get worried at the unusual number. And then she recalled what Nightwing said.


    "It''s been hundreds of years!" She cursed as she realized it. Her pride got in the way and she was so eager to correct the errors of the people around them and not follow the very same advice his father told her.


    It had been hundreds of years since her time inside this ce and the number of Darklores would have doubled or tripled, or even quadrupled since her visit!


    "Everyone! We can''t stay too long! We don''t know when these Darklings will end! Move uphill! We have to get out of this trap or we will be all killed by exhaustion! Those stings can affect you! Even though they are Captain level, a single sting can cause numbing and light paralysis that builds up with more stings! If we stay here, we die! Reach the top of the hill where the gravity spell is out and we can fly up to escape the horde!" Krystamanded.


    She turned towards the members of Body Snatchers and was tempted to ask for help. But fear and worry filled her heart. She gritted her teeth and kept fighting, deciding against asking that wretched incubus for help. The Body Snatchers also didn''t speak to her any more than necessary and even approach her for any corrections with her tactic.


    With her leading the group she tried to guide the group to move outside of the trap but the number of beasts was preventing them from moving uphill quickly. But with their teamwork and the Commanders who had already gotten used to fighting the beasts, the entire group was able to move, and very few losses were counted among them and those that died were quickly pulled back so that the beast may not get stronger.


    The fight uphill got messy And because of the disadvantage of the terrain and how the darklings would pounce from the top, a Commander got attacked by the darklings'' stings and his strength began to wither. With a Commander level fighter bing weakened and paralyzed from the sting, their battle turned deadly as the opening the enemy needed finally appeared. The warriors were too used to fighting that the change in the routine of their battles whichsted for hours suddenly changed and exhausted everyone.


    The captains and champions exerted more effort but were quickly draining their pool of Force and Magic energy.


    The Commanders got more and more stings. More Champions died, and while the rest was able to stop the beasts from eating them, everyone was using all of their abilities and using all their pills, medicines, and special spells.


    sts and explosions urred all around as the Commanders all released their magic along with Krysta.


    The entire space within a hundred meters was wiped out by the powerful spells and skills of the Commanders. Krysta showed magic that matched their strength!


    "Everyone! Get back to formation!" Krysta ordered and the group followed.


    But after the wipeout, the tide of Darkling beasts poured in from the top of the hills.


    "They noticed that we were tiring to go uphill and many dug their way there!" A Commander realized the darkling''s n.


    "Attack! Go all out! We have to move up that hill!" Krysta ordered and the Commanders acted.


    More magic and force attacks rocked the top of the hill but more beasts tunneled out of it and dove in.


    Waves of Darklings appeared and fell towards the team and forced all Commanders to use their attacks.


    The Commanders were being drained from all the strong attacks.


    Suddenly, a rumbling was felt on the ground and severalrger forms of the same beasts appeared. They were three times the size of the Darklings and had powerful energy emanating from them.


    "Is that...?" A Commander asked.


    "That''s the Darklore beast," Krysta answered back with her voice quivering. The Darklore beasts had gotten smarter and used this strategy. The group was too weary from the fight and more had received stings from the darklings.


    The Darklore Beast began to charge and their Commander-level energy was revealed.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Three more appeared and the hills began to quake as many more beasts appeared.


    "Is... this it?" A Commander sighed as he saw four Darklore beast charge from a different direction.


    "We''re... doomed." A Champion saw the numbers and his heart gave up.


    But then, Krysta saw something strange.


    A strange silhouette was seen in the sky and it was not affected by the spell that prohibited flight.<novelnext>  </novelnext>


    "[Star re]!"


    A voice was heard and four bright shes of light fell on the path where the Darklore beasts were rushing through.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Massive attacks that peaked the Commander level and could easily be Cardinal erupted around them.


    "Who...?!"


    "Nightwing..." Krysta recognized the form.


    Suddenly, a cry of numerous people was heard as many people arrived up the hill.


    Leading the charge were Sherah and Monica!


    "Krysta! Get your team ready... A bigger beast ising." Nightwing held on to his sword.


    "I really hate doing this... [Skotos Eis Phos]!"


    Nightwing turned into a being of pure white.


    BOOM!


    At that moment, a massive beast appeared right at the center. It looked like the same Darkling butrger.


    "Show yourself, beast! I know you are not a darkling! They cannot absorb the energy of what they eat. Only those marked with greed will! Servant of Greed! Reveal yourself!" Nightwing called out.


    Augh could be heard as therge creature transformed into a being of bright orange color. The features of arge hog could be seen and the stings had altered its form and became like the tongue of a frog.


    At that moment, the Darklings and the Darklore beasts all changed form. Their dark, doglike form disappeared and their true appearance which was simr to the form of the massive creature was revealed.


    "Greedlings. And of course, a Coin of Mammon." Nightwing nced at the pig.


    "You recognize me! Why is an angel here?" The massive pigughed as the ground beneath him quaked and many more Greedlings emerged from the ground.


    "I''m here to eat bacon." Nightwing chuckled as he readied his sword.


    "Krysta! Lead your men to attack! Let''s finish this in an instant! Everyone! Let us be your strongest attack! Against a Cardinal level Coin of Mammon, I''ll need everyone''s help! No matter what happens, keep fighting! Trust me!" Nightwing raised his sword and imbued it with ster energy.


    "Go!" Monica shouted!


    "Attack!" Sherah added and their teams at the top of the hills rushed down.


    Each had a team of nearly a dozen of men and had other survivors!


    "Go!" Krysta shouted and his team all charged toward the beast''s horde and unleashed their attacks.


    "[Supernova Stab]" Nightwing flew down and stabbed out.


    "[Phagos: Estion]!" The Coin of Mammon ignored everyone at the side and opened its mouth as a strange vacuum appeared and Nightwing flew straight into it!


    BITE!


    The maw of the pig closed as it easily swallowed Nightwing!


    "Keep fighting!" Monica shouted as she charged.


    "Don''t hesitate!" Krysta cried out.


    "Foolish! That angel entered my mouth willingly! Don''t you know that light cannot escape a ck hole? My powers will devour that being! My darkness cannot be defeated!" The Coin of Mammonughed.


    But then he felt a strange turbulence within him.


    "Child. Your darkness is too weak!" A sinisterugh could be heard.

 Chapter 474 Into The Fortress

    The Coin of Mammon was confused when he heard theughter deep inside of him.


    "How?!" The Coin of Mammon cursed and used his powers to send his soul from inside his belly.


    The moment he saw the being deep inside the ck hole, he shivered.


    What was at the very center of the ck hole was not a radiant being of light.


    It was a terrifying devil standing in the darkness.


    "Who...?!"


    "I have to thank you..." Nightwing smiled.


    "You see, no matter what, I couldn''t bring out the power of Tyrannus. It''s very... picky, you see. It rebels and doesn''t want to reveal more of its power even though it is mine. But now, in this ce where a Coin of Mammon using Greed to devour me, it has aroused its anger. Son of Greed, do you know who gave birth to Mammon of the Phaulos Fallen? You are not the only creature that can assimte what it eats. Dragons can. You and dragonse from the same father. And so... when an unfilial son dares to bear its fangs to its father, it enraged the power in me."


    "Tyrannus! Impossible!"


    Nightwing''s form grew angry and the blood and power that Nightwing acquired from Angelian and from other dragons that Nightwing did not know.


    "Did my idiotic self devour a Wyrm? Strange. This also feels like a Thane Dragon. But I also have memories of all forms of dragons... Just who did I eat?" Nightwing pondered.


    The growing power was building as the Coin of Mammon felt a great rage bursting out of Nightwing.


    "Die!" The Coin of Mammon released his Cardinal power and made it copse within as the power of devour hungrily tried to pull in Nightwing.


    Nightwingughed and countered with his own magic.


    BOOM!


    Gravity surged out of Nightwing and the darkness of Kyriachos exploded out.


    "A Fallen! Lord Fallen! Forgive me!" The Coin of Mammon saw the real form of Nightwing and was horrified.


    But Nightwing had an amused expression. The magic he released in his current form somehow allowed him to harness magic easier.


    "Hm? Magic? This dragon form can do magic? Did I devour a magic dragon? Was I Little Jackie Paper?" Nightwing wondered.


    The rage of Tyrannus increased and a faint crown appeared over Nightwing and the ethereal spirit of a gigantic being that looked like a dragon appeared behind him but had a humanoid form.


    "What being is this?!" The Coin of Mammon could not even identify the powerful avatar that appeared in front of him. All he could feel was exceeding terror.


    "Master! Master!" The soul began to call out as he used his power to alert the Fallen Spawn.


    "Useless. What do you think I was doing before I revealed myself? This entire valley has a barrier of Mysterion. You won''t be able to call out to your master as I have hidden you from him!" Nightwingughed as the darkness grew.


    "I couldn''t have released this power outside. But here, inside you, no one can see or sense this power emerge from me! Tyrannus was the father of dragons and the father of all who devours. You think yourself a big fish, but there''s always a bigger fish!" Nightwingughed as the avatar behind him opened its mouth and a powerful devouring force erupted out.


    Outside, all the fighters charged in and unleashed their strongest attacks.


    The Commanders and all the Champions brought out their strongest attacks creating massive explosions that wiped out the Greedlings and struck the Coin of Mammon.


    With the battles outside, the Coin of Mammon faced great instability and began to copse within.


    Nightwingughed as he felt his powers push through. He felt the rising surge of his strength as he reached the peak of Commander level!


    "My father will... kill you!" The Coin of Mammon cursed.


    "Fool! I AM your father!" Nightwing increased the devouring force to the maximum and the Coin of Mammon began to implode to the inside.


    Outside, the survivors saw the massive pig copsing into itself as its gory flesh was being sucked inside a strange power.


    A pained squeal was heard as the pig clumped up into one giant ball of flesh.


    And then there was silence. The Greedlings sensed the death of their master and began to scatter.


    "Leave no one behind!" Monica shouted


    Sherah also fought and Krysta could only follow the orders of the group.


    Twenty minutes passed and everyone was massacred.


    Nightwing had emerged out of the bloody, and gory ball of the pig and was doused in the pig''s blood.


    As he stood and watched everyone finish thest remnants of the Greedlings.


    Nightwing jumped andnded next to where Krysta sat. She was tired and drained and did not have the strength to flee or fight Nightwing.


    "I won''t thank you. I don''t trust you."


    "I noticed. Your brother''s safe by the way. I hid him far away from here and gave him golems tomand." Nightwingughed.


    "A likely story." Krysta cursed.


    "Call every one of your teams. We will have to meet with everyone." Nightwing answered as he stood at the center.


    Krysta wanted to argue. But she knew that even if she didn''t call everyone, these people were likely to follow Nightwing.


    She obediently followed and everyone who was killing the surviving Greedlings at the different areas of the battlefield all returned.<novelnext>  </novelnext>


    Nightwing was seated on the ground with his sword stabbing at the ground. With all the blood around him, it was difficult to make out his current appearance.


    All the Commanders and Champions lined up and there were a few dozen surviving Captains that stood around Nightwing.


    "Rx. I''ve made a magic barrier around this ce. If any of those Greedlingse, I would be alerted. Be at ease and sit down."


    At thoseforting words, everyone sighed in relief and some even stumbled down as they gave in the exhaustion.


    Even the Commanders rested as they sat.


    "That''s better. Easier for me to kill you."


    STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB!


    Several spikes of blood impaled everyone who Krysta gathered.


    They could not even scream as they were killed instantly.


    Krysta was horrified at what she saw.


    "What are you doing?"


    "Killing them. You want me to resurrect your family, don''t you?" Nightwingughed.


    She was so shocked as she saw all of those who fought by her side die that very instant and turned around to see the reactions of the other survivors. But everyone else had a nk expression.


    "They''re all...!"


    "Corpse Puppets. Obviously." Nightwing answered as he released several Wraiths that flew around the area.


    "You''re insane! You demon!"


    "Am I supposed to be insulted?" Nightwingughed as the blood moved out and revealed his current form. His features had turned even more amazing.


    His face was like hard rock and many gems seemed to be surrounding his body. Jewels of various colors that Krysta identified as precious stones were all over his body. Carnelian, chrysolite, and emerald seemed to be decorated on his forehead. Turquoise, sapphire, and amethyst could be found spread out on his two arms. Jacinth, agate, and crystal were on his chest, and beryl,piszuli, and jasper were on his legs.


    Krysta saw a beautiful monstrosity. It released terror and amazement at the same time.


    "Master!" The two women felt weak on their knees as they saw another form of Nightwing.


    "Do you girls like it? The form of Tyrannous. I finally awakened his power. But sadly, we cannot relish this yet. Imagine me making a blood clone and each clone assuming a different form. The demon, the angel, and the dragon. Each clone would have a round with you girls."


    "You pig!" Krysta roared but the other two turned saw red and began to moan at the thought.


    "But let''s see... my idiotic self left a spell where I could offer a great set of deaths as a sacrifice that will make me stronger. Those wraiths are writing the energy formation circle as we speak. An army of Greedlings, a few Greedlores, and a Coin of Mammon. That''s not counting all thesemanders and champions. This should meet the minimum requirement. The Coin of Mammon was Cardinal after all." Nightwing stood at the very center and his blood created arge writing on the ground with the wraiths acting as important points in the huge spell.


    "With this power, I will be able to ovee the curse of those subi that cannot even be stopped with the power of Mysterion and Oblivion! I offer these armies!" Nightwing roared and a bright red sh appeared in the area and all the dead, excluding the Corpse puppets that Nightwing made all vanished.


    The power ripped open a void and sent every single one of the corpses into a different world. As the light dispersed, the entire valley was empty and only Nightwing, the girls, and the corpse puppet remained. Not even a drop of blood from the Greedlings remained.


    Nightwing stood and smiled as he saw his spell was sessful and closed his eyes to await his reward.


    And Nightwing sensed it. A strange vision was shown and he could see a bearded man seated with a crowd of people standing behind him. Right in front of this bearded man was a namete. Written on the namete were the words ''Chuck Norris''.


    The bearded man smiled and gave Nightwing a hearty thumbs up.


    ''Chuck Norris approves.''


    The vision revealed a title and then, the vision disappeared.


    Nightwing''s mouth went ajar as he was shocked at the GIF he saw.


    "DAMN YOU, PAST SELF!" He roared in anger.


    Meanwhile, far away from the ck Bog Lands, inside Middle, was the Fortress of the Nephilim.


    FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!


    Mezal was amazed at the army of dead creatures appearing one after the other.


    "What are these things?!" He cursed.


    "I read about them! These are Greedlings!" Demerus Emberdon answered.


    "Is it from Kyros?"


    "It has to be! The energy I can feeling from that clump of meat is very powerful! I can sense a terrifying power from it!" Demerus answered.


    "It''s [devour]! The same power that Puff has as a dragon!" Faye answered.


    "Wait! Devour?! These creatures release devour?! Then with this... we can make numerous experiments to regain our human form!" Demerus was overjoyed.


    "Thank you, Lord Kyros!" The Lich Emberdons praised.


    "San Kyu Oni-Chan, Kyros." The Chimera spoke to the side.

 Chapter 475 Into The Toilet

    The Fortress of the Nephilim sprang to action as a massive amount of creatures were sent inside.


    While only a few Commander-level beasts were sent into the Fortress, the army was a special breed born of a Fallen Spawn that harnessed the power of a Fallen Phaulos.


    The bright light shed as the Fortress began to absorb all the dead men, the dead Greedlings, Greedlores, and finally, the Coin of Mammon.


    Numerous notifications appeared as the power of Greed was being assimted into the Fortress.


    "This great surge of Death energy! It will help many of us! Activate the Energy Transference Array!" Mezal ordered.


    The Emberdons had created yet another massive structure with the aid of their new allies in the Middle. They have acquired numerous resources and finallypleted the Nephilim Energy Transference Array. This device allowed energy to be transferred to various parts of the nesworld.


    Each member of the Coven and the Nephilim''s army had created a structure known as an Energy Tower which received energy that was being sent.


    In the weeks that passed, numerous of these towers were made so that the members of Kyros''s armies could receive the blessing of the Fortress as long as they stand inside a small chamber that can bestow the power to increase one''s level simr to receiving a level up, or in being healed.


    Some of the energy being sent would be lost during the transference process, but the Emberdons were slowly resolving these issues.


    At that moment, Gojirrah was fighting a Heroes Battle. Under the service of Hunter and Reptilia, he and the group were fighting battles against the rising lizard kingdoms and they were challenged to a battle to send their best fighters. Gojirrah volunteered and challenged five fighters at once. He defeated four of the challengers who were Commander level but was surprised to see his opponent was a powerful Cardinal that was on the precipice of bing a Cardinal.


    Hunter and Reptilia were also struggling in the wars since they were now being outssed by their enemies.


    Gojirrah panted at the first few exchange against the Cardinal and knew that he had no chance of winning. His right arm was severed from the battle.


    But his enemy was a Lizard Lord! A king of a Lizard Kingdom!


    Gojirrah didn''t want to ept defeat and watched the man.


    It was then that a light shed on the tower that they had.


    Gojirrah was startled as he saw it and the broadcast of a massive army being sent to the Fortress was ready to im!


    "Wait!" Gojirrah called out.


    "I need to use... the bathroom! I cannot fight like this!" Gojirrah imed.


    "Bathroom?!" The warriors who were watching at the side all had strange expressions.


    "I fought four of your Commanders and held it in! Your victory will be redited to the fact... that I had bigger burdens to carry! Let it be known! Lizard Lord Scale Thirty-Seven is the Conqueror of the Untoileted!"


    "The what?" Many horrified lizardmen were startled at the deration.


    The expression of Scale Thirty-Seven turned ugly as he heard this.


    The army of Hunter began to chant the domineering name of the Lizard Lord.


    "Conqueror of the Untoileted! Hail the Conqueror!"


    "... You trickster! You only wish to go back and recover your wounds!"


    "The toilet is right over there! I have been struggling with chronic diarrhea due to the stress of this expedition." Gojirrah pointed to the small chamber that was ced nearby. The tower stood right behind it. It was a portable building that many brought to the battlefield as nned by Branze.


    "Chronic diarrhea?!" Scale Thirty-Seven couldn''t believe what he was hearing.


    Of course, those parts of Gojirrah''s growing army noticed the light flickering over their tower and knew what Gojirrah was nning.


    Reptilia heard Gojirrah''s words and shook her head.


    "How shameless..."


    The Lizard king frowned. But the chants of his Untoileted glory continued and he gave in.


    "Fine! Go! Be quick!"


    "I have diarrhea. It WILL be quick." Gojirrah assured his enemy with great confidence.


    Everyone facepalmed at Gojirrah''s description and entered the small chamber.


    When it was opened, everyone could see that the small chamber had nothing but what appeared to be a seat.


    But Gojirrah closed the door.


    The energy was being transferred and Gojirrah took in enough energy to cross the final level.


    As the energy surged, Gojirrah felt a strange power resonating with him. He had already received numerous blessings due to Puff serving them. But there was something peculiar with the energy that stimted every cell in his body.


    Gojirrah felt his power surge and he crossed a single level. He was now at the peak of Commander that was a step away from reaching level 50!


    At the same time, Gojirrah felt an immense hunger as the power of Devour grew in him. Gojirrah''spatibility with the power of Greed allowed his body to transform. The hunger and evolution of his cells quickly caused his body to wither and his body was noticeably dry.


    He quickly stepped out of the room and nearly stumbled down from hunger.


    Scale Thirty-Seven saw Gojirrah''s feature which was even worse than before!


    Everyone was shocked at Gojirrah''s features and many concluded the same thing.


    "He seems dehydrated. He really has... diarrhea?!"


    BOOM!


    The hunger was intolerable and Gojirrah charged recklessly at Scale Thirty-Seven.


    "Foolish!" The Lizard Lordughed and met Gojirrah''s charge and shed his gigantic ax at Gojirrah and used his powerful spell.


    "[Bluefire sh]!"<novelnext></novelnext>


    The ax was enveloped with a bluish me that shed down at Gojirrah.


    SLAP!


    But the tail of Gojirrah pped on the ax and sent it to the side.


    BITE!


    Gojirrah leaped forward and bit on the chest of Scale Thirty-Seven!


    "AHHH!" Scale Thirty-Seven screamed as arge hole in his chest appeared.


    Gojirrah hungrily ate the insides of Scale Thirty-Seven.


    CRUNCH!


    A loud, crunchy noise was heard.


    "My... Elemental... Core...!" Scale Thirty-Seven cried out before dying.


    Gojirrah kept on eating and eating and strange spikes appeared above his back and reached all the way to the tail. The power of Bluefire me was immediately merging with Gojirrah''s body and his back was radiating with blue energy.


    The scene struck fear in all warriors as they saw their Lizard Lord die by being eaten.


    "Who will be the next snack of Gojirrah?" Hunter asked.


    At once, all the enemy soldiers tossed down their weapons as they witnessed Gojirrah continue to devour every flesh of his enemies.


    Meanwhile...


    "MOTHER FRAGMENT! FOR WHAT WAS THAT?! I GOT NOTHING!" Nightwing cursed as his voice echoed out of the valley.


    BOOM!


    The entire valley had numerous holes and sts as Nightwing sent out his anger on thend.


    Nightwing was beyond enraged because of the response. The sacrifice provided nothing of value to him and he lost a chance to formally enter the realm of Cardinals! What was more, he could sense that the two women that haunt and cursed him were actually getting stronger!


    But suddenly, a light appeared above and Nightwing a Core fall down.


    He caught it and could sense the energy of the Core.


    "...I could have just eaten the body of this! Why would... Hmm? Interesting. All restrictions have been removed. Anyone can use this now..." Nightwing was the core and could tell that it was a Time/Space core that was focused on devouring.


    He nced at his allies and sighed.


    "I guess this should belong to Krysta." Nightwing offered.


    Krysta red at Nightwing.


    "Why? Because you want your women to be happy?"


    "That, and the fact that you desperately need this. It is an improved Time/Space Core of the Coin of Mammon. But this one has been purged of all the wickedness of Mammon Phaulos. It will give you the power of Devour."''


    "Desperately need that?! Devour!? What do you take me for?! I am of the Sword Saint Family! A master of [Supra-Phyiskos]! It is an art of great Holy Form! Why would I allow myself to be tainted with a such object?"


    Nightwing only chuckled.


    "You don''t get it to do you?"


    "Get what?!"


    "How did you manage to use Time-Space magic that teleported you hundreds of years in the future? How is it that you don''t even feel an inkling of lust toward me?"


    "... Master''s right. Why doesn''t she?" Monica asked.


    "Seriously, Monica? You didn''t notice?" Sherah chuckled.


    "Notice what?"


    "You''re in for a shocking revtion then..." Sherah mysteriously answered.


    "Why would I feel lust towards you?!"


    "Because I am an Incubus. A being of lust. Yet you don''t feel anything, do you? Do you not understand? Why does your [Supra-Phyiskos] ability fail when you attempt to manifest Light, Fire, or Lightning elements?" Nightwing asked.


    Krysta''s eyes widened when she heard that. She never voiced it out, but this was indeed a mystery.


    "Monica. Try to create fire energy. You have trained basic magic, correct?"


    "Yes, Master." Monica raised her hand and caused a fire to appear floating in the air.


    "You see? Your inability to produce it is not because of the environment. The problem why you can''t create it is because of your current state."


    "My current state?"


    "You don''t feel hungry. It''s as if your body is numb. You have several wounds but you don''t feel any of them, don''t you? You ''feel'' tired but it''s not like your body is aching from the pressure of the attack. Don''t you get it?" Nightwing chuckled as he listed more symptoms of Krysta''s condition.


    "What state?"


    "Omae Wa Mou- I mean... You are already dead."

 Chapter 476 Into The Heat Of More Battles

    Krysta was confused at the words that Nightwing stated.


    "What nonsense are you talking about?"


    "You really don''t know, huh? I can imagine why you didn''t know about it, but you should have noticed sooner orter. Even your brother knows about it."


    "Stop spouting nonsense you-"


    "How did you activate the talisman of time that allowed you to travel hundreds of years into the future? You''ve been using that talisman a few times in your life. What made it special when you used it then?"


    "Y-You are using your powers to trick me!"


    "I''m not that powerful in memory alteration. I don''t have the Code of Ypnos. I can hide your memory with Mysterion and make up a few shes of vision using the power of Lies like I did when you went in here. But altering or changing memories? That''s a whole new department. If I could, do you think I would have been more creative in making up those memories I instilled in you to fool the Fallen Spawn? So if I did alter your memories you''d have noticed by now." Nightwing exined and approached as he released the power of the Devouring Core.


    The moment Nightwing used the power of the Devouring Core, an immense pain that it was as if her entire body would be sucked into the devouring power.


    "Ahhhh!"


    Suddenly, Nightwing used this power on Monica and Sherah.


    The two women stood without suffering any form of pain.


    "See? Your body is not a real one. It''s because you are an expert user of [Supra- Phyiskos] that allowed you to create this fake body. You don''t remember? You were stabbed right in the heart before you managed to escape. In your dying moments, you had the thought of using that magic to get your brother to safety. That''s when you invoked it."


    "Sacrifice...!" Monica realized the mystery. In the Minds, there have been numerous tales of how Sacrifice would turn the tides of a battle. With the Minds having various kingdoms that practiced superior Light Grown cultivation methods, many of the holy kingdoms have tales of Sacrifice.


    In fact, wars and battles in the Minds that involved the holy kingdoms often have contingency ns to prepare if their enemies would use Sacrifice.


    "Through Sacrifice, you consolidated this fake human form. You are a variant of a ghost. One with physical abilities. Perhaps one of the very few forms that had manifested across all the universe. Even more powerful than Patrick Swayze!"


    "Who?" Sherah asked.


    But Nightwing ignored her.


    "Most ghost, wraiths, phantoms, and other beings are born through dark dependent means and uses evil rituals. But you used light. It wouldn''t have been possible if not for your [Supra-Phisikos] ability. Sacrifice was also the cause that allowed you to time travel with this talisman and led you to me. You know what thoughts you had before you found me."


    "I wanted to save my brother..."


    "Yes. And in a twist, if Fate, you were thrown into a time void where you were in stasis, and when Fate sensed several warriors of Fate gathered together it brought you out of that time limbo. And now, you are very much, dead. A ghost clinging to life. This is also why you are immune to my lust." Nightwing exined.


    At that moment, Krysta felt trembled. She tried to look for a pulse or a heartbeat but found none.


    "I''m... dead...?!" Krysta was frightened.


    "It''s actually interesting. You see, both you and your brother were Destined to die. It seems you have arger role to y in theing wars between Fate and Destiny. Destiny tried to wipe out your family, and Fate arranged it that you would be under my shade to be kept hidden. I''m guessing that your power is a direct line from one of the Ancient Gods or the Fallen. The question is, which Ancient God or Fallen do you serve? Devour will definitely help you survive for now, but unless we understand the source of your power, you may still die." Nightwing used his time magic with the Talisman.


    "Hey, Luigi. In the record of gods and fallen, which one of them would have the power to create or give life out of energy?"


    "Hmm... That''s a tough one. Why do you ask?"


    Nightwing then exined their predicament of Krysta.


    As Krysta heard Nightwing''s exnation she felt terrified. But every test she tried to see if she was ''alive'' all failed. She even wounded herself and instead of blood, she saw energy leaking out as her skin began to close.


    Luigi began to think.


    "Well... there''s that elusive Fallen, Ligma."


    Monica and Sherah frowned. They studied the names of many gods and fallen, but never heard of Ligma.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Who''s-"


    "No! Don''t!" Nightwing panicked and tried to stop Sherah. But it was toote.


    "Who''s Ligma?" Monica also asked.


    "Ligma Balls!" Luigi began tough at his sessful childish joke.


    Nightwing cursed but the girls all had confused expressions.


    "Get serious, Luigi!" Nightwing cursed.


    "I''m guessing it''s Pnevma. The being that was born out of the breath of all gods and fallen. When he was born, he created the entity and power that everyone now has. The entity and power that is known as the soul. The power of Krysta bares simrities to that. So... good news, Krysta! You''re not dead. Your power just allowed you to harness and create a physical form for your soul. Basically, you created your own body since you sacrificed the body. It''s simr to the power that Skeletons and Liches do in abandoning the flesh. She did and made her a powerful Force and Magic user. Although, she will probably run out of energy soon." Luigi exined.


    "I got it covered. I made a Devouring Core that uses the power of Mammon."


    "Oh? Devour? Nice! Erm... Master. When are you going back? There are a lot of people looking for my mansion now."


    "Just keep holding out and do mysterious and strange things. Continue to tempt people with more power. With Devour, I believe I can kill and eat more Cardinals with ease when I get back there."


    "Alright. I''ll tell those two. Oh. And whatever you''re using to call me, I call dibs on owning it."


    Luigi instantly disconnected the call.


    Nightwing ignored Luigi.


    "Anyway, Krysta. Do yourself a favor and get this power. I''m guessing you will need to absorb soul energy if you want to maintain that form or create a more physical and stable form."


    "... I''d rather die."


    "Then I guess I''ll be raising Christopher alone." Nightwing sighed.


    "You...!"


    "Take it. The souls you will devour here are those of the Greedlings. You can eat an army''s worth of souls and with that, you can have enough energy to keep fighting for a year and still persist. I could even give you a Coin and even if you would have to fight all out asionally, you''d still live a decade. If you don''t want to ally yourself and be mine, fine. But this can help you live long enough to make sure your brother doesn''t get corrupted by me. So if you want your brother to live an honorable life and not be some form of a human incubus, then you best stay alive." Nightwing tossed the Devouring Core.


    Krysta hesitated but caught the Core. She could not abandon her brother to death.


    "Where are we to go next, master?"


    "Into the heat of more battles! You will have to go fight more Coins and save as many people as you can! With this Coin dead, those other Coins must be moving towards this location and will buy any survivors fighting in this world time to organize. We move out and gather them. Everyone, hold still. Let''s teleport out." Nightwing used his power.


    The team instantly disappeared.


    As the group vanished, several minutes passed, and numerous rumbles were heard as several Coins surfaced.


    "...Grecher is gone! And where is his army?!" A Coin shouted.


    "He is... truly dead! To think his soul disappeared and did not return to Lord Zhasz!"


    "It''s that angel! It has to be it!" Another cursed.


    Meanwhile, Nightwing''s team appeared in another area. There was a dense forest and the sounds of battle could be heard nearby.


    "Monica, Sherah. Those Coins of Mammon left this area and traveled to where we were. This is your chance to assimte with the survivors. I will not interfere this time. You will have to kill the Mammon yourselves!"

 Chapter 477 Into The Swamp Lands

    The Fallen Spawn was enraged as he received the reports from the Coins that rushed towards Grecher.


    A Coin was a power that the Fallen Spawn crafted from himself. And these creatures would resurrect themselves as long as the soul of Grecher returns. But there was a strange power that stopped Grecher''s soul from returning and the bacsh of the severing power made the Fallen Spawn suffer great pains.


    But now, no trace of where the angel was could be seen.


    It brought fear to the Fallen Spawn and ordered his Coins to act in pairs as they would fight in thend.


    The Coins were ordered to move in pairs and were ordered to eliminate the surviving warriors and prepare for the Grand Merge. With an angel hunting the Coin of Mammons, the Fallen Spawn realized that he had little time left.


    All the Coins were rushing back to kill everyone and devour them. Two Coins would attack


    "I must begin forming my Fallen Form!"


    There were nine Cardinals and twenty-four Commanders that were fighting in the region and the armies of the Coins were all poised to fight it.


    Suddenly, a massive amount of Greedlings began to die near the stomach region of the Gigantes.


    The Coins began to tunnel through and travel using the veins of the Gigantes which acted as an underground highway for the Coins to move from one ce to another.


    The Coin of Mammons rushed out of the underground world and despite their massive piglike forms, they traveled swiftly.


    "We have to be careful in showing ourselves! Since the two of us will be working together, let''s strengthen the Greedlores by bestowing more power on them!" A Coin suggested.


    "Agreed! We have to eliminate all beings within two days! Lord Fallen must be thinking of using the Gigantes'' Antibodies to seek and destroy the angels!"


    "He has not gained full control of it. Simply opening the mouth of these beasts already takes up so much energy. Unless that Angel harms the Gigantes, those Anti-Bodies won''t-"


    "RAAAAAAHHHHHH!"


    The entire world trembled and a loud cry was heard all over the world.


    Everyone was startled at what they saw.


    The Gigantes was in pain!


    Somewhere to the far east of thend, Nightwing plummeted down to the ground as he was drained of energy.


    Nightwing''s holy form vanished and he could not even maintain enough energy to fly!


    Krysta cursed and used her powers to save Nightwing and catch him as he fell.


    She nced at the end of the ce where the ''edge of the world'' was. They had reached the furthest point of the Gigantes''s body.


    But now, a ray of light was piercing inside. Nightwing''s powerful attack created arge cut that somehow shed through the almost indestructible muscle lining of the Gigantes!


    "...What power! The power to sever and cut through anything!" Krysta marveled as she watched the wall which was starting to close.


    Nightwing was so exhausted that he could barely move. He used the strongest attack that he could manage. The power was simr to a Crown but because of his dark form, the avatar and the crown did not manifest fully when he prepared for it.


    "Let''s... go. Use the magic to send us away. Bring us as far as you can in that direction." Nightwing did his best to point.


    Krysta nodded and held on to the Devouring Core and used the spell engraved on her right arm. Because of her unique body, Krysta received several engravings that allowed her to cast magic if she just sends energy into the energy formation circle written on her arm.


    Mages of the Minds did this and would use specialized material or steel where the spell was engraved. But with Krysta, her entire body could be used. This was a weaker form of the Spell Slot that mages in the Hignds or the Nethends had.


    But Krysta had something simr to a spell slot.


    The spell engraved on her right arm was [Portal]. Krysta used the Devouring Core''s Time/Space abilities and the Talisman and they moved out.


    As the magic gathered, Krysta could sense the arrival of terrifying beasts. All at the level of the Cardinals!


    This was what Nightwing warned her but she quickly activated the spell before the beasts even saw them.


    WARP!


    The pair appeared at a mountain region that was overlooking a swampnd that extended as far as their eyes could see.


    "The Swamp Lands," Krysta recalled the region that she and her family traveled through on her memories long ago.


    "Or... the intestines of this Gigantes. This was the path you took to get to the heart, right?"<novelnext></novelnext>


    "...Yes," Krysta answered.


    "Let''s move. I can sense Angelian beyond this region. That attack will dy the Coins more so that Monica and Sherah can make their preparations."


    "Nightwing... What were those creatures? They were not here when we first traveled here."


    "The antibodies of this Gigantes. They lie dormant and will only awaken if the Gigantes are hurt. The Fallen Spawn cannot control them. Although he has stayed here for hundreds of years, fully controlling this world is something that those who are Celestials can do! Even I would need to be at least a Cherubim to have hopes of controlling this."


    "But the battles we had inside this world were also terrifying. My father was simr to a peak Cardinal and the powers he revealed here could match Crowns! Yet those creatures never attacked!"


    "Normally, they wouldn''t appear as the insides of the Gigantes is an expected battleground. There are only certain areas that it will defend which will seem likerge stones or mountains to our eyes but are actually organs of the beast."


    "Then what was that which you attacked?"


    "You don''t know? That cut made an opening that could lead to the outside world. Had you moved through it, you would have been somewhere in the mountain regions around the ck Fog Kingdom."


    Krysta was shocked at what she heard.


    "In short, that attack made a wound and forced the Anti-Bodies to appear. The Gigantes is looking for us. I had to use my light form to make a wound so that the antibodies would be looking for an angel. And now, I will assume a vampire''s form. You''ll have to hunt some greedlings for me, though. Let''s go. Carry me towards that region. I can sense Angelian nearby."


    As Kyros moved into the swampnds, the Antibodies, which were eight-meter-tall stony giants arrived at the area and roared and began to spread out to search for the assant.


    The Coins surfaced when the Antibodies left and used a spell to show their lord the attack.


    "A wound?! That angel managed to cut open a wound?!" The Fallen Spawn saw the massive cut that was slowly closing and knew what level of strength was necessary to make that attack.


    "My lord... What do we do?" A Coin asked.


    "Return to your targets and kill them swiftly! Stay in pairs! The angel has drawn the attention of the AntiBodies which is a good thing. It won''t be able to openly fly out of the area anymore. Hurry! We have to start the Grand Merger before more Angels arrive!"


    "At yourmand!" The Coins moved.


    While the Coins moved up north, Monica and Sherah had already assimted with another group of survivors and slew over a hundred Greedlings.


    The two stood in front of another group of survivors which had a greater number than them.


    Three Cardinals stood at the forefront of several groups. The team had survived, but it was clear that there was still lingering animosity between the camps unlike when Krysta gathered the team.


    "Oh? A Commander led this group? Your Body Snatchers are quite something." A Cardinal praised.


    Sherah chuckled.


    "Our benefactor allowed us to appear close to each other." But then, Sherah''s expression changed.


    "We''ve seen another toon get wiped out. As you know, these creatures acquire what they kill. We had to flee from those Greedlores. Yes, they are Greedlores, not Darklores." Sherah exined as she pointed at one of the dead Darklores which was now transforming into a strange pig!


    "What?!" The crowd echoed out in shock.


    "Darklings can''t gain strength from what they eat. Greedlings on the other hand, can." Sherah exined as several small spiders began to move out of the Greedling and start to move over another one.


    The Cardinal saw it and raised his head.


    "You are a strange Hive Queen. Your spiders seem unique."


    "A gift from my benefactor. In any case, we have to prepare. The Coins are moving. We need to make a n!" Sherah exined as she revealed a magic stone that could record a scene.


    The scene of the Coin of Mammon receiving powerful attacks from several Commanders was revealed.


    All who watched it had horrified expressions.


    "What... was that?!" A Cardinal eximed.


    "We don''t know. But there are many of them! The holder of this stone recorded thisst moment before he died. We were able to kill the beast, but the other Commanders died from the poison..."


    "What do you propose?" The Cardinal asked.


    "We have to move to the Swamnds. The poisonous miasma in that region is deadly to these Coins. We make our stand there!" Sherah urged.

 Chapter 478 Into The Heart

    The swamnd was a path full of miasma, poisonous ponds, massive bones of gigantic creatures, and many strange beasts that somehow survived and developed an ecosystem inside.


    In the midst of these poisonousnds, three dozen survivors who had made it out of the Greedling swarms were sprinting and running as they were still trying to escape the swarms of beasts chasing them.


    The swampnds had a thick cloud of green mists over them that had great amounts of poison in them. This forced all cultivators to move below and not fly up because of the potent poison that urred. And so, even these survivors had to once again, move through the grounds where the horde of beasts would chase them.


    The team consisted of the survivors that managed to stay alive and flee from their respective teams. But all of them only survived because they had resistance to the poison due to their races. No humans were among them and the group kept on running away


    "Move! They are right behind us!" A demi-human Cardinal cursed as he led the team. He had the features of a stone golem and belonged to a rare race known as the living golems. He was exhausted as he had to fight the greedlings that appeared in front of him. And if not for his natural resistance to the poison thanks to his stone-like body, he would have long sumbed to the many poisonous stings he received from the Greedlings and would have died.


    Many demi-humans and arthropodians races followed the Cardinal and fought along the way. They were all Champions, Commanders and another Cardinal Arthropodian humanoid bee at the rear fought.


    Like the golem Cardinal, the bee was also able to retain the ability to fly as his biology also used various poisons. But even he wouldn''t dare to remain in the sky as he would be affected by the clouds of miasma that hovered above the region.


    He gazed at the back and could see the Greedlings chasing them. The creatures were stronger and while none of the men had been eaten, there were numerous Champion-level Greedlings chasing after them!


    The Cardinal harnessed powerful lightning magic and shot it out on the rushing swarm before retreating back.


    "Hurry!" The Beetle-man Cardinal shouted.


    "HYAAAAAA!"


    A loud, piercing shriek was heard and everyone stopped pressing forward.


    "What was that?!" One of themanders at the front cried out.


    "Everyone! Stop! Something''s up there." A Feather-Folk Knight Commander nced to the sky.


    "Cardinals. We will need to fly up. Those creatures are not flying down. It''s as if... they are waiting to shoot!" The Feather Folk Commander spoke.


    The arthropodian Cardinal arrived at the front seeing everyone stop. But even though the one that ordered them was a Commander, the two listened. This Commander had saved their life and had proven reliable thanks to her ability to fly. She even had special pills that allowed her to resist the poisonous miasma!


    "How many do you sense?" The golem Cardinal asked.


    "About ten... All should be at the peak of Commander level."


    "Commander level?! At the skies?!" The Cardinal cursed.


    "Yes. We have to fly up there now! I can sense them gathering magic!" The Feather Folk flew up immediately.


    "Damn it! Commanders! Take control and hold those Darklings off!


    Inside the white armor, Angelian''s dragonic form began to appear. In truth, there was no pill that allowed her to resist the miasma. It was her dragonic cultivation that gave her greater resistance.


    She flew past the clouds and could see the creatures.


    The golem Cardinal followed and used gravity-defying magic that gave him the ability to fly. This was a feat rare even among Golems. his powers to create a defensive Force shield around him and flew through the dense miasma cloud. As he passed through the clouds, he could see the creatures that Angelian sensed.


    It was arge reptilian beast with a long serpentine neck andrge dark green wings. The creature''s neck was glowing with pale green energy and was indeed building up its magic to perform an attack.


    "A Darkvyrn! Impossible! The records didn''t state these beasts to exist here!" The Cardinal cursed.


    Angelian had also seen the memories of Krysta that pertained to the insides of the Gigantes and the horrifying trials she faced inside. But this creature was not in her memories.


    Angelian charged forward and prepared his dragonic powers to create a shield as the creatures began to open their mouths.


    "I''ll distract them, lord Cardinal! Finish them off!" Angelian shouted as she charged toward the beast.


    The Darkvyrn''s neck began to glow a green light as they took aim at Angelian.


    BLAST! BLAST! BLAST!


    The darkvyrns took a deep breath and began to spit out a st of green bile! This was the same poison in the ground that not even the Cardinals dared to touch!


    Angelian charged forward and held her shield and secretly used her Thane Dragon powers to resist the poisonous sts.


    The golem and the bee Cardinals rushed forward and used their respective magic.


    The golems arm began to morph as his earth powers created a massive cannon on his hand. He was a siege cultivator and began to prepare for a powerful attack.


    The body of the bee-man began to glow as his insect-like abdomen began to glow a bright yellow light and lightning began to gather at his stinger.


    The golem shot with his cannon while the bee shot a beam of lighting through its stingers.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! ZAP!


    A volley of meteors wasunched from the golem''s cannon obliterating the darkvyrns and killing five of them. A beam of lightning ripped through the remaining five and the five were killed instantly.


    Angelian flew back as she tried to throw off the green acid on her shield.


    "Let''s go down! I can''t stay in this cloud of mist any longer!" The golem spoke.


    "Impressive.... defense. I can''t wait to eat you!" sinisterughter was heard and suddenly, arge gigantic beast appeared over the sky.<novelnext></novelnext>


    Arge batlike creature with a pig''s face flew over them.


    The beast was the size of a hill and its terror and power released shockwaves of great force energy!


    "That beast...! It''s as strong as a mid-level Cardinal!" The golem eximed. They were only at the first level of power. Level 51 cultivators, and what appeared before them was most likely, equal to a level 55!


    It would have been possible to kill them but they were all exhausted and weakened and facing a monstrous cardinal in the poisonous skies was tantamount to suicide.


    Angelian saw the creature and sighed.


    She harnessed her power and prepared to give an all-out charge.


    STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB!


    Suddenly, numerous swords stabbed around the beast.


    Everyone was startled and Angelian saw Nightwing flying past through the mist as he held on to Krysta.


    He assumed a Pdin''s form and held on to the sword with Krysta.


    Suddenly, a series of bright chains was revealed to be connected from the swords that stabbed the beast and were tied to the sword that Nightwing held.


    "Do it. Under the guise of my light, drain him!"


    Krysta revealed powerful dark energy as she held on to the sword.


    "That... power!" The bee Cardinal saw the dark energy that Krystamanded.


    The creature squealed like a pig and was angered by the ambush attack.


    "What are you guys waiting for?" Nightwing asked the nearby Cardinals.


    The two were awakened and began tounch their attacks at the bat-pig creature.


    Angelian also made her charge. Her fist began to transform and as the attacks of the Cardinalsnded, her fist also struck the beast.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The consecutive attacks struck the creature and in its weakness, Nightwing harnessed his sword and stopped Skotos Eis Phos to turn his holy sword into a sword of darkness.


    Krysta was absorbing a terrifying amount of power because of this, and to the eye of everybody, it appeared as if Krysta was the one wielding the sword!


    "NOOOO!" The beast roared and the Cardinals and Angelian continued their attacks.


    Soon, the beast began to fall.


    And as it plummeted, the Cardinals that fought also started to fall as they were moving way beyond their limits.


    Angelian flew towards Nightwing.


    "Why were you thinking of killing yourself for them?" Nightwing chastised Angelian.


    Angelian was stunned at Nightwing''s rebuke.


    "Master... I..."


    "Angelian. Were you starting to care for them?"


    Angelian was quiet but finally pleaded.


    "Master... please spare them."


    "I won''t kill them now, because I need an army to attack the Fallen Spawn. But all of them will die. All of them will be killed at the right moment to strengthen me, and perhaps to resurrect Krysta''s family."


    Krysta was silent. But she nced at Angelian and realized that Angelian was not as insane as she thought!


    "It''s just that... they are good people."


    "They are either neutral or aligned with Destiny and will heed Destiny''s call. Angelian, I''ve already told you what is at stake. Think about it, my enemies are too strong, that I even had to use a powerful spell to deceive Destiny. Don''t think that Fate and Destiny are just abstract concepts. They are gods and fallen. And you are fighting against them."


    Angelian was silent and bowed.


    "I... understand."


    "We have to move. This team is quite useful. They are more resilient to the poison of this bog and even the poisonous stings of the Greedlings. Do you understand? The Greedlings sting injects the poison they drink from the swamp. We will use this team as a vanguard to threaten and draw the attention of the Fallen Spawn. Let''s hurry. That Coin was already on the verge of bing a Silver of Mammon!"


    "You n to use this small team to head to that temple where the Fallen Spawn resides?!"


    "That''s right. There is something here that allows the Fallen Spawn tomunicate with all the Coins. I had a hard time searching for you with my powers. Something must be amplifying the Fallen Spawn''s power. We take that, he loses his eyes, and Monica and Sherah will be able to kill those coins and bring us the real army! Angelian. Gather those survivors and tell them to prepare as we head into the heart of the Gigantes."

 Chapter 479 Into Wild Conclusions

    Deep in the heart of the Gigantes...


    "NO! THAT COIN WAS REACHING SILVER LEVEL!"


    The angry roar of the Fallen Spawn was heard as he sensed the disappearance of the Coin.


    All the power that this Coin had, all the flesh that would have instantly dissipated and returned to him vanished.


    The Fallen Spawn had seen what killed the coin.


    It was a Pdin! A Pdinbined forces with the wretched Krysta and other Cardinal survivors.


    "First an angel, but now a powerful Pdin is actually among those who traveled here?! I was too arrogant! The Mind kingdoms could produce genius cultivators like that. I never thought that there would be one here! I cannot wait! I must create more Silver and turn this body into Gold if I want to be able to kill that angel! Bragot! Go and kill those who killed Rassk! I willmand Melek and Vord to assist you! A Silver and two Coins ought to be more than enough to deal with those mortals!"


    "As youmand, my lord! I will surely return with good news!" Arge flying creature that mixed the features of an eagle and a pig answered.


    He brought his numerous flying beasts with him. A massive mountain-size round creature with tentacles and horns all over it also followed. It was the Greed Hive beasts and it carried an army with it!


    As the creatures moved, the Fallen Spawn transformed into a body that was simr to a Grendelor.


    It had arge tail, but its body was bulky and had numerous thorns around him. A cracked crown of bones sat on itsrge head, as numerous horns surrounded his devilish form.


    He approached arge crystal that contained the preserved bodies of numerous powerful cultivators he had gathered in the few times that the ce had opened.


    "In these few hundreds of years, none but the family of the Saint Swords has ever forced me to fight seriously. But now, with their power, I shall be able to fight an Angel! And when I kill it, I will be... the Undivine!" The Fallen Spawn approached four crystals that held onto four humans.


    "These four crystals will be my Elemental Core! Fight fire with fire, resist holy with holy! Now I shall be a beast of great darkness, but will have great resistance to light! Perhaps the angeling here is my trial sent by Destiny! If I seed, I''ll be his Challenger!" The Fallen Spawn used his devouring powers and began to assimte with the four crystals that would use these individuals as living Elemental Cores.


    As he began to assimte the power, the team of Nightwing had finally found their way and found a strange fleshy creature that formed the shape of a tower. At the top of the tower, was a strange, chimney-like hole and a strange dark mist was being released and spread across the misty, green sky above the Swamnds.


    "This is it... The transmitters of thoughts that link it to the Greedlings..." Nightwing pointed at the strange object.


    Behind him was the team of Cardinals that followed Nightwing.


    In the hours that passed, the group had managed to explore the region and managed easily kill the many enemies that attempted to hunt him.


    Nightwing was the leader of the group. While Nightwing stood with the powers that were only at the peak level of Commander, he was still considered to be the strongest among them all.


    "Pdin. We just have to destroy this?" The Golem Cardinal asked.


    "If only it were that simple," Nightwing observed the strange fleshy tower that took root on the ground.


    "Is there a problem?" The bee Cardinal asked.


    "Yes. This tower is not just a structure that was erected here. It was grown here."


    "Grown?" Angelian asked.


    "Yes. My dear allies, I''ve already exined to you, that what we face guarding the incredible legacy that could help us control this Gigantes, is a minion of Mammon." Nightwing began.


    Both Angelian and Krysta had conflicted expressions but kept their opinions to themselves and allowed Nightwing to lie.


    "Through its magic, the world inside seems several hundreds of timesrger. Nevertheless, this is still the inside of this creature. This swamnd is the creature''s intestines and stomach. And Mammon used its parasitic powers to merge with the intestines of these beasts to create these objects. It grew and while the forces of Mammon have lost control of this building, its purpose in creating the dark mists still functions. The problem is that killing it... will attract the Antibodies. You''ve seen them before, haven''t you? A while back, I saw an Angel breach this ce and it attracted those Antibodies."


    "Antibodies? Those peak Cardinal creatures that we''ve seen flying around?!"


    "Yes. They didn''t attack you, since you were not a threat to the body of the Gigantes. It''s looking for the angel I mentioned. And from what I saw, there were even Crowns among them."


    "If we destroy this... we get attacked and massacred by those Antibodies! So what do we do?!" Krysta asked.


    "Simple. We make these Antibodies jump to wild conclusions." Nightwing had a nasty grin on his face.


    "I''ll need everybody''s help. All those with powers that contain tremendous magic energy or light energy should give them to me now. I have an idea that will help us destroy this and kill more of the Coins and Silver of Mammon." Nightwing smiled.<novelnext></novelnext>


    Several minutester...


    Two Coins were racing towards the deeper parts of the Swamp Lands. It traveled underground and even swam through the acid swamps as they were summoned to attack the survivors.


    "I can''t believe that bat died!" A Coin cursed.


    "To think that two Coins and a Silver are being summoned! And those survivors are very organized! Even with four armies, they can survive!"


    "There is a strange power at work there! I don''t understand how that Hive queen can create endless spiders just like us! We might need Bragot''s help to deal with those Cardinals we faced! And they were very organized! They knew what to do and how to fight us!"


    "Let''s hurry!"


    BOOM!


    A strong tremor urred and the pained cry of the Gigantes echoed all over thend.


    Suddenly, a tremendous boom urred as a powerful st of holy energy shot out into the sky.


    "Holy energy?! It''s that angel! He''s attacking the Dark Mist Source!"


    "We can''t let that angel destroy it! Let''s go! That angel will be attacked by the Antibodies and if it dies and if we can snatch it away from the antibodies, we would be all the stronger!"


    The two Coins began to tunnel their way through the ground and hastily moved toward the location where they sensed the pir of light.


    The Silver of Mammon also did the same thing and flew towards the direction of the majestic pir.


    Several angry howls were heard from different directions as the Antibodies were summoned thinking that the Angel had appeared.


    But the antibodies were faster as they zoomed through the sky with great speed and reached the area where arge wound was inflicted on the high heavens. It was as if there was a strange hole in the green skies above and darkness was seeping out. It was night in the nesworld, and its darkness had seeped inside.


    It was a power of a Crown!


    The antibodies arrived in their anger and found no angel.


    What they did find, was a giant half-bat, half-pig-like creature on the ground and it suddenly raised its strange mouth and lunged its body towards the fleshy tower.


    SLASH!


    A powerful dividing energy full of Force energy shot out of the mouth of the giant beasts and the energy shed down and halved the tower in two.


    The fleshy tower was not as strong as the walls of the Gigantes and it easily crumbled. The Gigantes felt pain at the attack.


    The Antibodies shouted in anger as they prepared tounch their attacks.


    FLASH!


    Suddenly, the entire creature vanished!


    The Antibodies grew angry and then... it sensed the arrival of three creatures.


    The two Coins and the Silver arrived just in time.


    Two popped out of the ground while the other circled from afar.


    The Antibodies saw the three.


    "Creatures of Mammon! You dare attack our master?!"


    "Huh?" Therge flying Silver of Mammon voiced out in confusion as it saw two Antibodies releasing Crown-level power rush towards him and his massive army.

 Chapter 480 Into The Brain

    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    "AHHHH!"


    "You dare ambush us?!" An Antibody sent a smashingbo that blew away the parts of the Silver.


    "WHY?!" The Silver shouted in confusion.


    "You know why!"


    BANG!


    The enraged Antibodies began to attack and attack the Silver and massacred three armies of Greedlings.


    Watching beyond the Swamnds were Nightwing and his allies.


    "Poetic, isn''t it? The limited knowledge of the Antibodies. The Parasite of Greed had already made a strange building but just because it didn''t hurt, they won''t attack the Silver and Coins."


    "...How did you... a Pdin makes that attack...?" A Cardinal asked.


    "Oh, It wasn''t me. It was her." Nightwing brushed off the golem cardinal''s question.


    The Antibodies saw the Silverunch an attack and created a powerful cut that contained an incredible amount of darkness. And from the eyes of the Antibodies, it was as if the Silver attacked and fled.


    "But... that darkness!"


    "It''s a... weapon we prepared. You all foolishly entered this ce without preparation. My family has been stocking up great darkness for a long time." Nightwing answered. He knew that if he kept quiet and acted mysterious, the survivors would begin to question him.


    "Our n has always been to destroy that structure that allowedmunication. So we prepared. The magic Krysta who has a deeper heritagepared to the fake Saint Sword family can harness it. Of course, it''s still my Force energy that has to be cut. I''m notfortable wielding the darkness."


    "Why aren''t we fleeing?" The Bee Cardinal asked.


    "And leave all those to be devoured by the Greedlings? If we don''t get rid of that body, another Coin could eat it and we''d have to face this army behind us. No. We wait for them to get massacred, go back, and use my portal spell to get rid of the body."


    The Cardinal nodded in understanding and they watched as the battle quickly ended.


    The power of the Antibodies made was reaching Crown level and several minutes passed and the armies were eliminated.


    The messy, gory,nd was all that was left below as the Antibodies departed and zoomed toward the heart.


    "That should buy us some time." Nightwing smiled.


    "Will those... things attack the Fallen Spawn?"


    "No. The Fallen Spawn will have means to avoid shing with them. The Gigantes are clearly not allied to this Fallen Spawn. There should be some form of deal between them. But they are not obliged to help them. So that''s a good thing. As long as we pick our fight and try not to damage the heart in the uing fight, we should be fine." Nightwing began to move using Force Energy to fly toward the location of the battlefield.


    Krysta and Angelian followed.


    The group of demi-humans watched as the trio moved.


    "Thank goodness they are here..." A Commander sighed.


    "They must be from the Hignds. There''s no way that they would be that strong and smart!" The Golem Cardinal sighed.


    Nightwing flew and kept releasing holy energy.


    "Ugh... I hate this holy light." Nightwing sighed as they left.


    "...What you told them... is it true?"


    "About the Gigantes having a deal? Yes. And it''s moreplicated than what I told them. I''m sure that by the time we get to the Fallen Spawn we would have to fight those Antibodies."


    "What?!" Angelian and Krysta chorused in horror.


    "A Fallen Spawn of a Phaulos is not to be underestimated. They never hold their part of the bargain. So this Fallen Spawn wanted ess to the heart of the Gigantes. But do you remember the parasitic organs that he created? He must have tricked the Gigantes into making it so that he can control his Coins and Silver all over the ce. But it''s also an experiment. He tested there, and with that who knows what he can do to the heart? I''m betting that because of my little angel appearance, he will be forced to fuse with it."<novelnext></novelnext>


    "You mean, he will be a parasite of the heart?!"


    "That''s the worst case. This means, he can shoot us with all his strong spells, but if we fight back and attack him, then those Antibodies move."


    "The Gigantes was his goal all along! That''s why it''s been taking so long to finish his process!" Krysta understood.


    "Exactly. He wants to be the Gigantes and that needs a lot amount of energy. Not to mention, he''s very careful not to alert Fate or Destiny. So he''s gunning for the neutrals or the rejects."


    "These are all rejects?" Krysta was confused.


    "Master. When you said that you want to kill them, I don''t understand. They are strong. But how is it that all of them are not warriors of Fate or Destiny?"


    ? "They are barely passable if you ask me. Listen, Fate Challengers, and Destiny Challengers may not necessarily have high cultivation. You guys are so caught up in cultivation levels in this world. ''To beat a Champion, be a Commander. To beat a Commander, be a Cardinal.'' Or, at the very least be several levels higher than them. Those are all stupid. Angelian. I''ve defeated and killed people stronger than my original state when you met me."


    "But... You... tricked us. You got us to kill each other. And when we fought, you did have a power that could match Crown!"


    "Tricking you, yes. But it''s my power. [Deception]. You keep forgetting that I am a Fallen. And that was one of my most powerful spells, to be honest. How do you think I managed to trick the Antibodies into that attack? There is a power a work that you couldn''t see when I used it."


    "...I saw it. The ce around was... full of this unnatural power." Krysta added.


    "See! And as for my temporary rise to Crown. I did not have the time to contain that power as you did. If I had your advantages then, I wouldn''t flee even if I face a Conqueror. Heck, I could even kill one." Nightwing spoke as theynded over the huge corpse of beasts. He stabbed his sword and the blood began to spread out and was creating arge energy formation circle.


    Angelian was quiet. But she did agree. She had far greater advantages than Nightwing but lost.


    "Fate Challengers and Destiny Challengers are strong because of something else. They are favored, they are blessed. But mostly, they are capable of oveing the impossible. None of those freaks are any of those. So everyone here except for those I deem to live will be alive after this."


    Angelian remained quiet.


    "Can''t you use them as allies?"


    "Use Neutrals as allies? That''s stupid. It''s very difficult to turn a Fate Challenger and make it one of Destiny. But Neutrals are easy. Unless they are True Neutrals like dragons or this Fallen Spawn, they''re more likely to be ticking time bombs. My precious Mysterion is too dangerous to be entrusted to them. They can only be killed. Saving them will cost us greatly."


    Angelian was quiet and resisted the temptation to turn around and nce at the demi-humans.


    "But how can we fight several Antibodies or kill the Fallen Spawn if we can''t fight it?" Krysta asked.


    "That''s why I''m bringing all the armies up there to the heart. It''s a distraction. The only thing that can kill the Antibodies is the Gigantes itself. So while you fight a great battle against it, I will find a way tomunicate with the Gigantes. This means I might have to move up the heart and towards the brain of this Gigantes."


    "How much time would you need? Are you going to teleport your way there?"


    "I probably can''t. The Gigantes would have defensive measures against that. That''s why you guys need to keep fighting for hours... or days."


    "We won''t be able to hold on that long!"


    "Not you. Don''t worry. What do you think Sherah is doing?" Nightwing smiled.


    At the edge of the Swamnds...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The gigantic pig fell down as it squealed itsst.


    Therge Coin couldn''t even speak as it felt its blood being drained.


    Fiverge spiders stood next to Sherah as she led the team.


    "Another Coin down. That makes four of them..." Sherah smiled.


    "Prepare the spell! Let''s get thisst creature out and head into the Swamnds... Let''s hunt those remaining Coins!" A Cardinalughed.


    Everyone followed and began to prepare the massive teleportation spell that Sherah taught them.

 Chapter 481 Army Of Spiders

    With Sherah leading the group, the team was sessful and killed their first pair of Coins. Soon, two more pairs of Coins appeared in their anger and attacked the group.


    The Coins thought the army to be exhausted, but the truth was these humans, and other races still had enough stamina and some were still close to their peak forms!


    All because of Sherah.


    Sherah was now the leader that everyone followed.


    The Cardinals listened to Sherah who spoke of the tactic they would employ against the Coins.


    "Our goal is to kill the Coins of Mammon! Those beasts are killing others so that they could feed their master. Our strategy is to trick the Greedlores into appearing. It is these creatures who birth the Greedlings. That''s why I ordered everyone to conserve their strength and wait, feigning desperate weakness until the Greedlores went it for the kill. And when I killed those four, the Coin of Mammon had no choice but to appear."


    "I see. So we fake being defeated to make them appear? But what if they know of this n?"


    "They don''t My master has seeded in destroying whatever magic allows these beasts tomunicate."


    "Understood! We''ll follow as you have said. But we will need more of your blood spiders!"


    "Alright. But as previously arranged, you will have to pay for it. I can sense when my blood spiders die and when they feed you and restore your strength and stamina. The prices remain the same."


    "Alright! Let''s go!" The Cardinal led half the army to fight two of the Coins while another Cardinal led the other half to fight the other two.


    Monica stood next to Sherah. She called to remain in the middle and asked the two armies to buy her time as she would order her spiders to devour the corpses of the Coin and their respective army."


    "How are you? I can sense you growing strong."


    "I''ll be giving birth to another spider which will be my clone, Monica! That is magic that I should only be capable of at Crown! And even then, my clone will only have half of my power! But this one...! Thanks to his blood, I could create a perfect clone! And my children are growing at an incredible speed! I could even birth Champion-level Spiders now! With those two armies, I could birth Commanders!" Sherahughed.


    "But how? How can small spiders damage the Greedlings? The spiders are small and they don''t seem to have any form of power, at all! Their bites could not prate through the creature''s thick hide and ignored the spiders to fight on." Monica asked.


    "As I intended! If I created them to be more powerful, then those Greedlings and Greedlores would have noticed it! These are the spiders born from the blood of Master, the Fanged Fallen! They can drain the lifeblood of Greedlings and grow! They will be like Greedlings who will grow stronger as they dring. But these spiders don''t need to leave a puncture to absorb the blood. They have a special power of absorbing blood as long as they were near. Such is the power that Master Nightwing instilled in the spiders!" Sherahughed.


    "Amazing! So that means, you have been drinking the blood of those Coins since the start?"


    "Yes. Their size is their weakness! I have sent already hundreds of small spiders that were drinking from the Coin and on those Greedlores at the start! They didn''t notice since our allies have been fighting wildly."


    "The unsatisfied devourer will face the unquenched drinker. A perfect battle!" Monicaughed.


    "Exactly. I am able to produce thousands upon thousands of spiders that weakened the Greedlings even before they reached the front lines. But now, we must do as Master ordered. We have to send these bodies away with the same energy formation circle. He has burned the knowledge of this spell into my soul and with my spiders acting as the marking of the circle, we can teleport it quickly. I will need your help since this requires Light and Dark magic."


    "Let''s do it." Monica nodded.


    The entire army of corpses was teleported out and Sherah and Monica joined the battle of the two Cardinals.


    Sherah would use his spiders to sacrifice themselves to restore the stamina and power of his allies.


    The Coins could not understand how the army held on. They always appeared to be at the point of defeat but held on. Slowly, the Coins exerted more effort, but unknown to them, the spiders of Sherah were already drinking their blood!


    As the war continued, Sherah absorbed so much blood that her cultivation was already increasing and she was able to create stronger spiders. But she did not want to alert everyone else. As far as she was concerned, all who fought next to her, excluding Monica, would be her desert after the main course.


    With the power of Nightwing, the spider''s bite was able to inject a blood-clotting poison that weakened the Greedlings and even slow them down without them noticing.


    Sherah herself was getting ready to breach the next level of her cultivation!


    The pair of Coins soon saw that the army was about to copse and finally surfaced and attacked.


    The Cardinals leading the armies saw it and secretly sneered.<novelnext></novelnext>


    The final sh between them and the remaining Coins began.


    Meanwhile, at the heart of the Gigantes...


    The Fallen Spawn had ordered all his forces to gather at the heart.


    The Antibodies watched outside the heart and demanded answers and the Fallen Spawn had to appear and exin to the Antibodies least the Antibodies would wage an all-out war against all of the Coins and Silver!


    "You have already tricked us! And while your selfish ns gave advantages to this body, you are now abusing it! The pain this body felt when your Silver was destroyed was great! Leave the heart or else we will personally destroy it! Don''t think that this body will die without its heart!" The Antibodies spoke.


    "It''s a misunderstanding! We were tricked! A lost a Silver right before that attack was made!"


    "Liar! The forces released darkness that was simr to yours! How can such darkness belong to those foreigners?!" The Antibodies that led the negotiation roared at the Fallen Spawn.


    "I have not gone beyond our agreement! I have lost my link with all my Silvers and Coins because of the destruction of that tower! I honored my word and would never have destroyed it!"


    "Are you saying that I am a liar?!" The Antibody roared.


    "I merely am saying that I am innocent! That tower was my connection to all my Silver and Coins due to the poisonous air that limits magic inside this ce! Why would I destroy it? But to show my sincerity, tell me your demands, and I will agree to them!"


    "Seventy percent of the life energy and the bodies you gain here will be given over to us!"


    The Fallen Spawn clenched his fist. Normally, he would get the lion''s share and the rest would be given over to increase the life span and strength of the Gigantes.


    This was the agreement that the Fallen Spawn had.


    But now, due to the arrival of the Angel, the Fallen Spawn was already nning to imnt himself into the heart. He put on a facade of suffering grave losses.


    "I ept! Only help us in fending off the armies! Those that came here are unlike the past ones! They are strong and smart!" He pleaded.


    "No! You know that our life is limited. We will not waste our lifespans fighting all these forces! This is in line with our agreement. You were given that job and we would only act if the body is harmed! We will take care of the angel! Only that which has made arge wound will be our target! But anything else, you will fight on your own!" The Antibody answered.


    "Fine!" The Fallen Spawn agreed.


    The Antibodies departed and left the Fallen-Spawns army.


    "My lord..." A Silver spoke.


    "Our enemies are drawing near. It''s reaching the heart. It will take them several hours thanks to the bacteria beast that protects thend."


    "Gather everyone here. Although my link with the Silver and Coins have been severed, I can still tell that many or all of them are dead!"


    "What?!" The Silver was stunned.


    "We have no choice. I will begin the process of bing a Gold. And onceplete, I will attach myself to this heart. Protect me! Coins! Return to me!"


    "...Yes master." Many coins knew that their life would be forfeited but they all followed.


    Not just the Coins, but a portion of their respective armies would be devoured by the Fallen Spawn to transform into gold.


    As they began to merge, Nightwing watched from afar as he sent his shadow to scout ahead.


    "Perfect. The Fallen Spawn is preparing to fight a holy war and did not bother setting up spells to detect my shadows." Nightwing sneered.


    "This is the perfect opportunity. Krysta, Angelian. Go back and lead the army. I will go ahead and search for the brain..." Nightwing ordered as his form transformed into a shadow.

 Chapter 482 Army To Bypass

    "He will... what?!" The Cardinals listened to the n that Krysta told them.


    "He will infiltrate the grounds. Our main issue is those Antibodies. While they won''t attack us until we hit the heart, we will practically be in a situation where we would just be staring at the heart and fighting their armies. Something must be done to those Antibodies."


    "What does Sir Pdin hope to achieve?"


    "Get to the brain. Disable the antibodies for a time. If he seeds, we would have a few hours where we can attack the heart without fear of the antibodies reaction." Krysta exined.


    "Can we even hold out? The moment we cross that hill, we would be overlooking the heart. There are a few of us and an army of them! And you expect us all to hold the line?"


    "Just long enough to wait for the arrival of my allies. Don''t think you are the only one that survived. My allies were deliberately left back to fight the Coins. We destroyed that tower so that the link between the Fallen Spawn and his Coins would be cut. And now, they were massacred. We hold out and try to kill as much as we can."


    "They will suspect something. It''s insane for us to do that!" The Golem Cardinal concluded.


    "Yes. That''s why we have to make it look like we are up to something." Krysta revealed a strange crystal red sword.


    "What is that?" The Cardinal could sense a strange power in the sword.


    The de was made from the blood of many in creatures. But because Krysta now had a Devouring Core, she was able to draw in numerous souls of the Greedlings, Greedlores, Coins, and Silver that they had defeated.


    A strange power was harnessed in the sword. Nightwing had imbued it with his blood and with Krysta''s sword form and the new weapon was able to perform a unique cutting power.


    "I call this... the Darkness Severing de. A powerful attack that only damages the souls of those who. It cuts and devours." Krysta exined.


    "A sword that can cut the darkness? With that, we can hurt the Fallen Spawn!"


    "Yes. The greatest way to distract them is to make it look like we do have a n. Angelian will lead the way. She has a way of temporarily rising her powers to the Crown level. She will push forward at the right time and I will move to make an attack. If we can harm the Fallen Spawn, then they will take us seriously. Hopefully, our allies will arrive not too long from now." Krysta exined.


    "For now, everyone should take the medicine. We used a special power to harness the blood of the Greedlings. Their body and blood have great healing magic." Angelian then revealed several pills.


    When they were sending the monsters away through the teleportation magic, Nightwing had harnessed the blood of the beasts and created special dark red pills.


    The group of Commanders saw the amount prepared for them and was shocked.


    "How many... pills did you make?"


    "Enough for one army. Of course, we have to be very careful when to use this. I trust that everyone has high recovery of magic and force."


    "Yes."


    "Good. When our allies arrive, she can make more pills through the same method. At least, that''s what the boss told us." Krysta exined.


    "Alright. We move up now. Our mission is to fight, scare, distract and dy the Fallen Spawn."


    "Dy?"


    "He might be in the process ofpleting some spell and transformation. We have to stop it." Angelian exined.


    "Our scouts say that just above the hills, is a flying bat. Those flying things are also there waiting. The moment we head up, it''ll be war."


    "Great..." The Bee Cardinal sighed.


    "Rx. I''m here. The boss ordered me not to show my real form. But now, he told me to go crazy. I''ll clear the monsters up. This should scare that Fallen Spawn enough to take us seriously." Angelian revealed her wings and began her transformation. Her form began to change as she revealed a dragonic form.


    "A dragon!" A Commander eximed.


    Krysta was also amazed as Angelian''s form was constantly rising.


    "Not just a dragon..." Krysta quietly murmured. She could tell that the form of Angelian was something else. The features that were present in Angelian were things that she had witnessed in her time. No one else could notice it since nobody of such pure vampire lineage exists in the present.


    "I guess... I should have expected this if Nightwing is the Fanged Fallen. He is the first, so even something as crazy as a vampire dragon is possible..."


    "I''ll go ahead. Follow my lead. Don''t trail too far be


    But Angelian already flew up the hill and began to harness her Brute Energy.


    Beyond the mountain, the Fallen Spawn had started merging with numerous coins but was startled at what he sensed.


    A powerful surge of power that quickly raced up to Crown level appeared!


    "Impossible!" The Fallen Spawn cursed.


    The Silver was at the level of a Mid-Cardinal, but a Crown was rushing on top.<novelnext></novelnext>


    The Silver and its Greedvyrns were flying close to the peak of the hill and tried to pull back but...


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    A single punch created bending in the space in the sky.


    Wind and matter appeared to have been carved out at the terrifying punch that Angelian made.


    Her wings pped and sent force des that sliced through the Greedvyrns.


    The screech and screams of the beasts echoed out as the Silver and his few armies were killed.


    But even as Angelian fought, her attacks were careful not to hit any of the ground or the mountain.


    The Fallen Spawn saw it from a distance and could tell that Angelian was fighting in a very careful manner.


    "Attack her! Send your forces! That form is not a permanent form! She''ll end that form in a few minutes." The Fallen Spawn was ordered.


    The remaining Silvers roared and sent out their flying beasts.


    The Golem and the Bee Cardinal managed to reach the top and sent out their attacks.


    The Commanders and the Champions appeared andunched their attacks and the horde below.


    Krysta appeared and harnessed a powerful dark energy on her sword.


    She assumed a pose that gathered energy into a stab. The power of the attack was growing and was reaching a level that even surpassed Krysta!


    The attack and energy used up so much blood energy and finally, Krysta''s attack was at the level of a peak Cardinal!


    "Damn... This much and it consumed all the blood I stored inside the Devourer''s Belly! I have to replenish it with another mountain of blood to make this attack again!" Krysta cursed.


    "[Force Stab]!" Krysta shot a small stabbing attack that shot out a powerful energy aimed at Silver.


    The attack was so strong it would have critically injured or even kill a Silver!


    "Foolish! Let that attack reach the heart!" The Fallen Spawnughed and therge Silver evaded the stab.


    The attack continued and was headed towards arge mountain with a massive door at the center.


    It didn''t seem alive but this was the most sensitive area of the Gigantes. It was the heart!


    The Fallen Spawnughed andughed as the attack rushed toward the heart. He was hoping that this would have been possible. He hoped that they hadn''t figured out what he nned and that they would attack the heart.


    The odds were low. He had guessed that everyone present was in league with the angel. They followed his orders while the angel moved in secret. The dragon was careful not to attack the ground or hit thend as it would have harmed the Gigantes. But the girl made a fatal mistake and sent an attack to the heart!


    "You are all dead! That attack is enough to inflict damage to the heart! And the Antibodies will kill you!" The Fallen Spawnughed and turned to the distance in anticipation of the actions of the Antibodies.


    STAB!


    The energy prated and pierced through the heart.


    "AHHHHHH!" The Fallen Spawn shouted in pain.


    The attack disappeared but no hole or any damage was left on the walls of the mountain.


    "How...?!"


    The attack created a hole in the dark energy that was gathering in the heart. The Fallen Spawn was attempting his merge, but the attack disrupted it!


    The Fallen Spawn had made no defenses to hinder the attack. He nned to bear the pain but didn''t expect that it was a soul attack!


    The Antibodies watched stoically as they had detected no threat from the attack since the start.


    "It''s attacking that Spawn." One Antibody smiled.


    "Oh? Let''s see how this ys out. While the Spawn should win, his pesky spell is also annoying. If these foreigners are able to disrupt his parasitic attempt, then it will be very good for our master." The other Antibody sneered.


    As the battle continued, Nightwing changed his form and was like a shadow moving through thend.


    "Perfect... Just as nned. Now time to head to that brain."

 Chapter 483 Army Of Gigantes

    The battle against the army of the Fallen Spawn was at a stalemate.


    The Fallen Spawn feared the attacks of Krysta who was moving from one part of the battlefield to the next. She was looking for that crucial moment where she couldunch yet another dark devouring stab.


    The Fallen Spawn had to order his Silvers to keep guard and protect the mountain.


    They moved to shield the Heart from any other attempts for Krysta to make an attack.


    Angelian fought and killed a lot for a time and hid back down among the small group of forces who took their position on top of the hill.


    The Cardinals were in position and they kept shooting powerful attacks left and right.


    Angelian deactivated her transformation and fell behind the crowd.


    Krysta instantly gave her a pill that contained massive amounts of blood,pressed using the Spacepression magic of the Devourer Core.


    Angelian ate it and an explosion of blood surged out. Her vampiric powers that were aided by the Corruption of Tyrannus allowed her to instantly recover.


    Angelian herself was amazed.


    "Get ready. The Fallen Spawn willunch an attack now!" Krysta urged.


    "I know." Angelian nodded.


    "Attack!" The Fallen Spawn took Angelian''s weakness as an opportunity and ordered numerous Coins and one Silver to make their attacks.


    The Cardinals saw the tide of monsters led by the Coins.


    "Brace yourselves!" The Cardinal cursed. They were in no way capable of blocking the attacks of several Cardinal-level beasts along with an army.


    But as the horde neared, Angelian spread out her wings again.


    BANG!


    Her speed shocked everyone again and a Coin was instantly killed.


    Angelian pierced through the body of the Coin and shot toward the Silver where she delivered an uppercut.


    The head of the Silver blew off and it was instantly killed.


    "Impossible!" The Fallen Spawn shouted. He couldn''t understand how Angelian was able to recover so fast and release the power that would push her to Crown level!


    "How is she doing that?! She isn''t a creature of Greed! Her dragonic blood is tainted with something else! There is no way that she can recover just by devouring!


    "Retreat!" The Coins called for a retreat as they would die if they remained.


    BANG!


    Angelian chased another Coin and killed it with a kick that halved the gigantic Coin in two.


    The rest continued to retreat and Angelian''s form changed back to normal.


    She stood in between the two halves of the Coin and took a bite at the corpse of the Coin.


    She defiantly had her meal in her normal form and taunted the rest who was in full retreat.


    Angelian stood confidently, but the reality was, she was on the verge of dying. Her transformation was already eating her up, and she had to quickly eat the Coin she killed to keep up with the cells her body was devouring. Even the blood she just drank was barely enough to sustain her.


    The Fallen Spawn red at Angelian. But he then nced at the side. The attacks of Angelian had made powerful marks on the ground. It would have been ssified as ''attacking'' the Gigantes. But they did not move!


    "Those fools!" The Fallen Spawn made eye contact with the Antibody who spoke to him.


    The Antibodies sneered at him.


    "It didn''t hurt. Careful now." The Antibody sneered.


    The Fallen Spawn''s eyes darkened.


    "Coins. Order your Greedlores to hunt. Kill all the other organisms that live in this ce! We need more armies!"


    The Antibodies frowned as they heard the Fallen''smand.


    "You brat! Those creatures are vital for the growth of the Gigantes!" The Antibody shouted.


    "Well tough luck! We didn''t have any agreement that I would never eat them all!" The Fallen Spawn sneered and turned to the Coins.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Eat them all! Hurry! I can sense more foreigners arriving! Avoid the upper regions and don''t sh with those children! But everything else, devour them! They survived! And this means... everyone else is dead!" The Fallen Spawn was ordered.


    The Coins and Silvers were stunned. There were several armies back there. It sounded impossible that all would die in such a short period of time.


    "My Lord... What of the dragon?"


    "Send your armies and keep harassing them! Don''t be afraid! That dragon must be living on borrowed time! No power that allows her to cross realms can be done without severe bacsh! There is always a price to be paid! Send your forces! We wait for her to die and finish them off!"


    At once, several of the Coins moved out and disappeared underground.


    Krysta used her dark power to connect with Nightwing through [Dark Link].


    "Nightwing!"


    "I heard. I still have some of my shadow ghouls there. You guys have to hold. Sherah is close and her spiders will aid you. That Fallen Spawn thinks that only a handful of survivors will arrive and don''t expect an army. Sherah will surely give him a nice surprise." Nightwing smiled.


    "So we can win this?"


    "...No. You can only win this if you and everyone''s Fate Challenger will improve. The creatures that live hear up on the upper half of the Gigantes are shocking. It''s like there''s an entire kingdom of creatures here! If the Coins eat everything, you will face an army of Champions and dozens of Commanders."


    "That would kill us in an hour!"


    "And with the time we have, I will probably need you to hold on for at least two hours. You guys are Fate Challengers. Learn to challenge Destiny." Nightwing ordered.


    The line was disconnected and Krysta could only sigh.


    "Two hours?!"


    "Rx... Help is on its way. I can feel it. Sherah ising... And her army is not to be underestimated. I''ve never seen a Hive Queen as powerful as her." Angelian arrived next to her and sat down. She still pretended to be perfectly well and nced at the Coins and Silvers watching her.


    "Are you alright?"


    "I am... dying keep throwing more of those Greedlings so I can eat them..." Angelian answered.


    Krysta and the rest immediately followed. She was their hope of surviving the monster horde.


    Meanwhile, Nightwing sighed as he reached the higher parts of the Gigantes''s body. He was climbing arge mountain and knew that if he kept moving ahead, he would die.


    On the craggy cliffs of the mountain, stood numerous Cardinals. There was a strange darkness that covered the area and hid everything from sight. Even Nightwing''s eyes could not see through the darkness.


    All nced down and were ready to fight Nightwing.


    "Now what do we have here? I expected resistance and antibodies... but you guys aren''t creatures that are born inside this Gigantes, are you?" Nightwing was amazed at the sight of the creatures standing.


    "Foreigner. You shouldn''t be here." A strange rocky creature made of darkness and y moved closer and revealed his form.


    Nightwing saw the creature and recognized it.


    "Death and y? Interesting. You guys... aren''t you also Gigantes?" Nightwing smiled.


    The creatures all nced at each other.


    "You know about us?" The creature was surprised.


    Nightwing sensed the movements and realized that there was an army of this same creature hidden within the darkness.


    "This puts my chances of reaching the brain down to zero." Nightwing frowned.


    "Who are you and how did you know of our form? Not many can recognize us!"


    Nightwing was silent. He was currently assuming a form of a human with Pdin powers. He knew that assuming his Fallen form would only make give him trouble as the Fallen Spawn was now betraying the Gigantes.


    Nightwing turned towards the Gigantes who was speaking to him.


    "When the Ancient Gods created man, they took y and breathed it into their life. The Fallen tried to imitate this. They took y and breathed death upon it creating the beings known as the Gigantes. To think that this giant Gigantes is more than just one Gigantes! You are all hiding here?" Nightwing asked.


    "Who are you?" The Cardinals prepared to attack.


    "Before you guys do anything crazy, I think I am rted to, or is someone whomands a Gigantes." Nightwing raised his hand and harnessed the power of other elements.


    Five golems emerged from the rocky grounds of the mountain.


    "True Golems!" Several surprised voices eximed as they saw the golem that Nightwing summoned.

 Chapter 484 Army To Offer

    Ever since his awakening, Nightwing knew summoning golems instilled in his brain.


    The Hydra with numerous Elemental Cores allowed him to also borrow from his knowledge to summon these golems. Back when he had ''awoken'' in Luigi''s mansion, he had already in numerous tribes in the underground world and sacrificed them to create the powerful golems of numerous elements.


    But Nightwing''s summoning and method of creating these golems greatly differed from the ways that humans did.


    Humans would harness the power of ''life'' and instill it in the golem. This allowed the golems to move. But Nightwing''s method harnessed death.


    Death energy was used to create life. And this was very difficult that only a few necromancers could pull this off. If a necromancer could raise Golems, they would be considered geniuses.


    Raising the dead was easy for necromancers as the corpses was once a vessel of life. This made itpatible to instill death energy for reanimation. But golems were generally made from an inanimate objects. They cannot have a ''fake life'' or ''borrowed life''. Creating them requires the inanimate and the unalive to spontaneously develop life!


    And yet, Nightwing used an even more ridiculous method of birthing life from the inanimate using death.


    Each Golem that Nightwing created had different elements.


    Nightwing was showing off his ability, because only with such skills could he trick the Gigantes into believing that he was one of them. After all, Gigantes were beings made from the inanimate, granted death, and formed life.


    "Ugh. It''s harder without the Elemental Cores of that Hydra..." Nightwing sighed as he used up a huge amount of mana.


    The group of Cardinal Gigantes was amazed as they saw it.


    Nightwing smiled. If these beings were impressed, he knew he was moving in the right direction.


    "Impossible! [Gigantes Stone Shaper] magic!"


    "How did you have that power?!" Another Cardinal eximed as he jumped andnded next to Nightwing.


    "Surprised? Humans have always been able to create golems. But as you can see, I am more than a human!" Nightwingughed.


    "A Pdin that wields death? But even if you can, not many can sessfully and easily do what you did! Only those with special titles are granted the ability to summon that magic! Who are you? Which Gigantes do you serve?!"


    Many Gigantes began to also arise. Some appeared ready to fight.


    Nightwing noticed that many were guarded.


    "So the Gigantes are not all united race. I have to be careful. If I align myself with the wrong Gigantes, I would be attacked!" Nightwing thought to himself and analyzed the expressions of everyone.


    "Time to use the amnesia card." Nightwing decided.


    "... I wish I could answer your question, but the truth is... I don''t know. A spell has been ced on me and I have lost my memory. So I don''t know which Gigantes I serve. I do know of a title bestowed on me." Nightwing observed his status and read through his golem-rted powers.


    "I am called a Cornerstone," Nightwing answered as he found a title that stood out in his status window.


    "A Cornerstone?! Impossible! That title is the highest of honors only bestowed by the Gigantes God, Goliath!"


    The Gigantes around him all seemed to have dropped their aggression.


    Nightwing sighed in relief.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Speak truthfully! That title is not easily bestowed! Only one person has been given that title! And that person cannot be a mere pdin! Show us proof that you are indeed a servant of the Gigantes God! Or face our wrath!" A Gigantes appeared who was at the peak of the Cardinal level. He was the leader of the group.


    "That IS my title. I am not a mere pdin! How else could I raise these Golems with Death? And as for proof, aren''t these golems enough? How else do you exin my having control to wield and shape golems as I please? I could even give it sentience pushing them to a being closest to you. Are not Golems based on you, after all?" Nightwing challenged.


    "..." The Gigantes nced at each other but all remained silent and nced back at Nightwing unable to make any decision of what to do to Nightwing.


    "Then why are you here? Why ally with foreigners? What business does a Cornerstone have with us?"


    "Your little tenant has taken bold moves. While he did not sway out of your agreement, he has done traitorous things. He is trying to imnt himself into the heart of this Gigantes. I am offering you liberation."


    "Liberation?" The Gigantes sneered.


    "That little whelp is trying to take control of this body. But what is hepared to us? Not even Cherubims can im to gain full control of this Gigantes! While it is true that he is now a parasite in this body, he is like an annoying thorn on our side! That is the best that he can be! A whelp of Greed can never acquire us! And you do not know the story and the risk we take by allying with you! Your talks of liberation do not appease us, pdin!"


    "You call him a whelp, but I know your life is not even past three hundred years old. Do not im to be better than me. I can sense the death in you. You are the whelp. And a whelp like you should do better than to underestimate a Phaulos. That Spawn is a direct son of a Phaulos. He won''t be a parasite, he will be cancer to you!"


    "What do you know?!"


    "I know everything! I can even guess what arrangement you need. This body is weak. But I can sense the power that has shrouded this ce. Oblivion, right? Oh. You won''t remember this. You kids probably can''t even sense the shroud of Oblivion here. Your main body is hiding. Hiding from an enemy. It has miraculously acquired a string of Oblivion and has hidden from those chasing it. And thenes the most unlikely being. A Fallen Spawn of Phaulos who is not of Destiny! A divergent outcast who is a True Neutral!"


    "How did you know this?!" The Gigantes were shocked. Most mortals didn''t even know about Destiny, Fate, and True Neutrals! This was also the reason they were wary of Nightwing. The Gigantes feared allying with the wrong side. And both Fate and Destiny were their enemies!


    "I know more than you know! I know more about the war between Fate and Destiny! It is far more than what you think it is! I know that the spawn and this Gigantes body have huge bounties that both sides want dead. And so, you agreed. He can move out of the body and not draw rms from Destiny or Fate as a True Neutral. He leads armies into the body to be offered and sacrificed to help this body recover. In exchange, he is allowed to stay here and make whatever changes such as creating a fake temple inside the heart. But let me tell you this, he tricked you! He has long been looking for a way to find the favor of Destiny." Nightwing stabbed his sword down and released a projection.


    Krysta''s memory was revealed.


    Her vision, her family, and her life were shown. It was clear, her family was a family of Fate. Her memories revealed how the Fallen Spawn sought to kill her brother.


    "And that boy is Marked by Destiny! A young man, Fated to be a hero of Fate! This Fallen Spawn is not a True Neutral! He has been trying to gain his status as a hero of Destiny! He is probably a Neutral due to some powers that severed his connection. All of you, and this body, demanded the Fallen Spawn to offer an army as a sacrifice! But do you know, that you are the army that the Fallen Spawn ns to offer to Destiny!" Nightwing''s words caused the expressions of the Gigantes to change.


    "Who are you?!"


    "I am a Challenger!" Nightwing chuckled.


    "A Challenger?!" Everyone was rmed when they heard this.


    "Of who?"


    "Of the opposite side that this Fallen Spawn is prostituting himself to. A Challenger of Fate."


    "....Send...him... to me..." A strange tremor was heard echoing from the distance.


    The Gigantes were all startled.


    "Finally. Your leader is calling me. Grant me passage now."


    The Gigantes opened a path and Nightwing flew in.

 Chapter 485 Army To Hide

    Nightwing flew into the darkness that shrouded the ce and covered the many Gigantes inside. As Nightwing entered the realm, a strange darkness began to work on him.


    The Gigantes all observed curiously whether or not the darkness would kill him.


    Forgetfulness attacked Nightwing.


    He forgot many things and his very organs forgot how to work.


    As Nightwing sensed the threatening power, he simplyughed.


    "Oblivion... It truly is Oblivion. So that''s why this Gigantes has survived. It managed to harness an attack made by Oblivion! And he turned it around and made others forget about him!" Nightwing closed his eyes, and a darkness of his own began to appear.


    Kyriachos, the darkness so different that it had to be separated from all of creation, was Nightwing''s nketing power. It separated Nightwing from the rest of creation!


    All the Gigantes saw an eerie aura that didn''t belong to the world, and many marveled.


    Nightwing nced at the Gigantes around him and could understand how they survived.


    "No living creature should be able to survive in this ce. The Light and the Dark Dependent who clings to life would die. Even Liches and skeletons would forget the bonds of magic and be torn apart. Not even the Fallen Spawn''s minions would be able to stand here. But the neutral earth, and the Gigantes, which have no life, can stand. But why would Oblivion attack this Gigantes? Was this Gigantes pretending to be alive?" Nightwing pondered as he continued to climb to the peak of the mountain.


    Nightwing couldter see the end of the world, that was the Gigantes''s muscles or skin as he climbed higher.


    As Nightwing reached the highest part of the mountain, a massive hole directly above the peak could be seen extending out, and a feint purple light that glowed while amid Oblivion could be seen.


    "Amazing. This Gigantes managed to keep remembering itself." Nightwing flew up into therge hole.


    Nightwing flew and stood before a feint purple light. The source of this light was an Elemental Core!


    "A purple gem? A royalty among the Gigantes... But how can you exist in the source of darkness without being forgotten?" Nightwing asked.


    "What are you exactly?" The voiceing from the purple gem echoed out once more.


    The Purple Gem began to grow. Finally, it took form, and a shape of a man stood.


    "Greetings! I am Nightwing. May I know who your great name is?"


    "You still haven''t answered my question, Nightwing. I am Bomos. Now do me the honor of telling me your name! If not... I will kill you right here, right now!" Then, powerful earthen energy appeared as numerous gemstones that turned into massive stone spears.


    The energy and stones created were not normal as Nightwing stood before a peak Crown power! Even with Nightwing''s strongest defensive techniques and abilities, he would not be able to withstand a single one of these stone spears.


    "Bomos? That word means altar in thenguage where the gods and fallen get their names. So that''s why you can''t forget! I see... You must have been a pir or an altar created by Ancient God Petra! You are an altar of remembrance. A memory that immortalizes the very tale of Petra! You are not a heretic god but a being who only wants to endure. But it seems you''ve had your troubles and were caught up in the war back then. And now, you are simply striving to cling to your purpose. Barely an altar if you ask me. But... the very nature of your existence is strong enough to resist this little amount of oblivion to make you forget." Nightwing smiled.


    Bomos froze, and the whirling spears stopped.


    "You speak the ancient tongue?"


    "I know a bit of First Word. But I''m also smart enough to determine the meaning and implications of who you are! You are an altar of remembrance! You were a pir made by Petra and crafted to be an enduring altar that would stand as time passed. You weren''t even made to fight for Petra! This exins why you are a True Neutral."


    "You seem to know about the gods and fallen. Who are you?"


    "That''s because I am one. If I reveal my form, do you promise not to kill me? At least for two seconds until I can show you my two sides."


    "Two sides?"


    "Yes. I hope you''ll allow me two seconds. After all, what can I do? First, I must show you why I am also a True Neutral." Nightwing smiled.


    "Fine. Two seconds."


    Nightwing undid his Pdin form and assumed his form of great darkness and blood.


    Bomos''s eyes widened, and anger emerged on his face.


    But as the two seconds passed, Nightwing harnessed the darkness.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "[Skotos eis Phos]!"


    FLASH!


    Nightwing assumed the form of the Angel and stood before Bomos.


    "You...!" Bomos was shocked.


    Instantly, Nightwing undid his powers and reverted to the form of darkness.


    "That hurt! This darkness attacked me when I assumed my form in the light!" Nightwing eximed.


    "Darkness and light... Darkness to light... Are you... the Nephilim?!"


    "I''ve read about it in the records I can ess. But I am not sure. I am Mysterion. My purpose is to be concealed and revealed. That is the source of my power. Like you, I am concealed from the eyes of Fate and Destiny. And I would like to ask you to join me in this battle. If you want to exist, then siding with me is a good thing."


    "You are most likely the Nephilim! And if you are the Nephilim, you are of Fate!"


    "I am of Fate. That I will not deny. But Bomos, what will happen if End wins and everythinges to an ''End''? You think you can live? One of End''s strongest allies is the power of darkness that seeks to make things be forgotten. Do you think an altar of remembrance will be allowed to stand when all things demand to be forgotten or to End?"


    "What lies do you speak? That''s not what the End is!"


    "Oh really? Then what does it mean to have an End? Beginning seeks Eternity. End seeks the end of all things. Pausontai wants to stop time. What did you think the End was? Or what were you told it would be?" Nightwing chuckled.


    The expression of Bomos was of fear and confusion.


    "End... I thought End only wanted to win the war! To have control over everything! Are not the two sides battling ever since this world was created?! Both sides want to win and control this universe!"


    "No. End wants to end this universe literally. That''s how he gets stronger. The gods and fallen that serve him will grow stronger if they seed. You guys have been tricked. But that''s not surprising, considering both sides will lie to you to make you join them. Me, I don''t care about being a Nephilim. My past self hid my memories through Mysterion. I don''t want to join that battle. I just want to live and survive and not be annihted."


    Bomos was shaking. It did make sense! He had heard of those who sided with End. And because Oblivion''s attack constantly tormented him, Bomos could not forget the forgotten Fallen.


    "Both sides lie... Then why should I listen to you?" Bomos red at Nightwing.


    "Better me than that Fallen Spawn of Phaulos. You think the kids of Mammon are to be underestimated? They are all cunning and cruel. You already have seen the start of their n. They will take over you. You will be transformed into their minion."


    "And what will you do to me?"


    "Hide you. That''s my power as Mysterion."


    "Hide me?"


    "Yes. How about I hide you until the end of the time?"


    "Hide me?"


    "I know that you don''t join the war. So I''ll use my powers and hide you. My memories tell me I also have this to help you grow."


    Nightwing projected a strange image that was stored in his memory.


    Bomos saw a massive Core.


    "A Gigantes Core! And that of a supreme! That is a Gigantes God!"


    "Yeah. I figured it was a Gigantes God when those outsides told me a Gigantes God could only bestow my powers. But, sadly, I don''t know where that is. My past self locked that information and only gave me a glimpse of my power."


    Bomos was trembling. He was an altar of remembrance, but he also wanted strength and power. The Core could help him harness the power of a God! So even if the Core was alive and it could ultimately be another Gigantes, if Bomos would bear the power of the Core, it would still benefit him greatly!


    "If I agree... what do I owe you?"


    "I need a ce to hide my armies. I believe my past self is constantly hiding armies and should already have a few armies prepared. But in the battle against End, I''ll need to form as many as I can. If possible, armies unseen by the eyes of Fate and Destiny. And you just so happen to meet this criterion!"

 Chapter 486 Army Of Neutral

    "An army to hide?" The Gigantes repeated.


    "Yes. That''s just it. Hide my team."


    "Why?"


    "To surprise Destiny, of course. I am a member of Fate''s team. I understand that you don''t want to be involved in this. But Destiny''s forces will end in oblivion. No one will live to see you even if you somehow manage to endure, oh altar."


    "And why would I let myself fall for the same mistake? I made that spawn of Greed find his way here and look what that did to me?"


    "Are you seriously asking that? Or are you just looking to find a way to squeeze more benefits from me? The Gigantes Core is something far more precious than you. If you don''t want this agreement, then fine! I can search for other houses. I don''t really care what the Fallen Spawn is. I have ways to kill it anyways." Nightwing turned around.


    "Wait!" Bomos shouted,


    "Fine! I am trying to find a way to gain more benefits! Because even if I have the Core, I still need to live and eat! And it is only through this can we grow stronger! Do you think I''m giving birth to more Gigantes for the sake of it? No! They are born so that I can create a True Challenger!"


    Nightwing suddenly turned back to Bomos.


    "True Challenger? As in True Neutral? That''s possible?"


    "Hmph! So it seems that you are not omniscient as I thought you were! But given that you are of Fate, you surely wouldn''t know." But then Bomos was startled at what he had just said.


    "Wait... Then why did I tell you? You! You have tasted it, haven''t you? A world with no Fate or Destiny! But that''s impossible! You said you are of Fate... And yet..."


    "What are you talking about?"


    "True Neutral! There is a being that is equal to the strongest god or fallen in this universe. He is the reason why we haven''t taken any side. I''m sure I''m not the only True Neutral who has learned of End''s true goal, just as you have revealed! But why are there still many of us on the neutral side?"


    It was only then that Nightwing realized he underestimated the purpose and power of those who thread as neutrals. Nightwing assumed that a True Neutral had a mysterious purpose and future but did not stand on Destiny or Fate''s side.


    "So there is a deeper secret to you guys, huh?"


    "Yes! And what''s more, is that we are sealed from ever leaking this information! But I just did!"


    "I feel that being a clumsy talkative stone won''t make you identally leak this information."


    "Yes. But I just did. Nightwing. I don''t know what you are. But you are not of Fate. That I am certain you simply cannot be."


    Nightwing was silent, but he couldn''t understand the Gigantes''s assessment.


    "Do you know who this True Neutral god or being is?"


    "No. I just know... that if there is a being that can hide from the battle of End and Beginning against Fate and Destiny, it''s someone worth banking on."


    "I doubt he is hidden. You underestimate the End and Beginning."


    "Perhaps. But we serve someone who is at least on equal standing. You are our kin. This gives me confidence in following your arrangements. You yourself don''t know that you are of the True Neutral."


    Nightwing had an unsettling feeling. He knew that even his past self hated being kept in the dark. It was his nature to know the deepest truths to reveal them.


    "Then, if you trust me, we can make more deals... You want the same agreement that you had with the Fallen Spawn. Am I right!"


    "Obviously! I need to live! I am a Death Dependent. We need to have the dead here for us to survive! And not just that... If I can regain the power and ability to move, you will have a hidden mobile base! You seem smart enough to n how to move and be kept hidden from everyone. And you surely have ways to send more people to die here!"<novelnext></novelnext>


    "I do have a lot of enemies. And if you agree to have some battles happen inside this ce, then I am all for it! I can give you thirty percent of whatever spoils I send here. And if your body bes the battleground, I can give you up to fifty percent."


    "Deal. I won''t hesitate now. But what can you do with this Fallen Spawn? I need to see your strength."


    "I understand. Then tell your Antibodies not to interfere with our match. Allow me to hurt your body."


    "That would give you an advantage. I can agree, but only after informing Fallen Spawn of my deal. If you win, you get everything we talked about. But if he wins, he can have you. And... I will give him enough power to be a Gold of Mammon. My real goal is to create an army of neutrals. In the hundreds of years that have passed, several have died in thesends worthy of bing them. So I crafted them and allowed the Fallen Spawn to be a parasite so my sons could fight and sh with them and hone their powers as Neutral. Despite being Fate, you seem to be desiring the chance to hide from her. Then show me your power. If you do, then you might also take control with my army of Neutrals."


    Nightwing gave an understanding smile.


    "So this is True Neutral."


    "Yes. This is who we are. Everything has to be... fair."


    "Alright. Then I guess I''ll have to be more serious." Nightwing smiled.


    "You best hurry. My Antibodies have just given the announcement. If you move toote, your allies will be dead!"


    "I only have five allies here. The rest can die for all I care. And if there is a True Challenger among them, then they can be part of your army. Although... if they do die, then they aren''t exceptional True Challengers, to begin with."


    "...True Challengers are born in thousands and thousands of battles. They are those that survive on the edge of extinction without Fate or Destiny to guide them. So making them... will be very, very difficult."


    Nightwing frowned. For some reason, a figure of three people that he could not remember shed through his mind.


    "Hm... Interesting. I might have met people like those. And I have a feeling I already have an army." Nightwing smiled as he could sense that a distant memory lost in time and oblivion was telling him that he had met powerful True Challengers.


    "I''ll be back." Nightwing quickly charged out.


    CRASH!


    He smashed at the wall.


    "MOTHER FRAGMENT!"


    "You underestimate being at the epicenter of the power to Forget. So naturally, You forgot where the exit is. Don''t worry. For me, it''s a one in five tries." The Gigantesughed.


    Meanwhile, at heart...


    Krysta and Angelian were now together with the armies of Sherah and Monica. Huge spiders fought on their sides, and soon the two armies reached a stalemate.


    But now, no one was fighting. An Antibody was floating in between the two armies.


    The Fallen Spawn couldn''t believe what he heard.


    "What... did you say?!" The Fallen Spawn asked again.


    "Our Master has made a deal with the ''angel''. We will not attack if the heart is damaged. Our master is willing to bear the pain. And as for you, a portion of the heart will be given. It will be just enough to transform you into this gold. Best hurry, the Angel ising."


    The Fallen Spawn trembled.


    "Coins! Silvers! Attack! Kill them now!" The Fallen Spawn roared, and the Coins and the Silvers armies made their reckless charge.

 Chapter 487 Army To Devour

    During the hours that passed, the Fallen Spawn was betting on the mortal warriors to lose out on their strength. And when he was sure that he had exhausted the strength of Krysta, Angelian, and the few Cardinals, the Coins moved.


    The armies rushed without hesitation to deal the final blow.


    But suddenly, everyone revealed might and energy! Angelian was revealed to have been reborn and slew more Coins.


    The Fallen Spawn was shocked that everyone could still shoot out attacks and ordered his armies to surround the sides. Only there did the Fallen Spawn discover that another army had hidden on the other side of the mountain!


    With the hidden army discovered, Sherah led her forces and merged with the main army. The numbers had grown more than five times!


    The Fallen Spawn realized his mistake in forcing a battle of attrition and changed his strategy. He began to gather energy from the heart and devoured the remaining stocks of food they had spared to give birth to powerful Cardinal beasts known as the Greed Lords.


    Greed Lords had the strength that could even surpass Silvers. But unlike the Silvers and Coins that controlled an army, Greed Lords were individual beasts of Greed that would only use their powers to strengthen themselves.


    Greed Lords of ground and sky were born shortly as the army of Coins brought in the dead creatures that were allowed to live within the body of Gigantes.


    And these gigantic creatures of Greed charged to the frontlines of the battle. But Sherah also revealed her aces. An army of spiders finally revealed itself. Apart from the many spiders that would charge out recklessly, many were feeding on the dead Greedlings and Greedlores and began to glow with strange blood energy.


    It was inconceivable that a mere Hive Queen wouldmand spiders that could transfer blood to others and restore power. Only those with Greed would have had that ability high-tier vampires! Only those directly born from a Vampire Fallen could have to do this!


    Even with the Greedlords attacking at any opening they could get, the army remained standing.


    Drink and Devour fought. The injection of death energy empowered the drained soldiers. And just when the Fallen Spawn thought the death energy being injected into many humans would cause a bacsh, the humans remained capable of fighting and did not fall into a Mad Darkening state!


    Seeing that many mysteries and impossibilities were taking ce, the Fallen Spawn altered his strategy and created Siege Cultivators.


    But right before the battle began, the Fallen Spawn felt a severing power that pushed him out of the heart!


    It was then that the Antibodies moved forward and announced the change of the deal.


    Krysta and the rest realized that Nightwing had seeded in sealing a deal. With the Antibodies out of the picture, they had hope for victory.


    Pressed with time and the terror of the angel, the Fallen Spawn ordered an all-out charge.


    The army of Greedlings charged toward the small alliance of humans, demi-humans, and other humanoid races.


    It was not like the former attacks where all the Coins and Silver would use their endless children to wear the enemies out. It was now a charge that spared no limits. Following the will of their master, everyone was charging without any regard for their life.


    "Go all out!" Sherah shouted as she ordered the spiders to move out. The massive tarant''s lord emerged and moved at the front. Sherah knew there was no time to remain conservative. Even though she might lose all her children, she was confident that she would easily recover them.


    Monica fought with her best and stood at the front lines! Her mastery and forming power, thanks to the blessings and power of Nightwing allowed her to hold her ground.


    The spiders began to bite and drain themselves as they empowered all the strongest cultivators first.


    The Cardinals began to release the full force of their power. They were no longer afraid to inflict great damage on the ground and the mountainside.


    Explosions rang out all around.


    Angelian and Krysta also moved out and fought their hardest.


    Sherah saw the two and cursed. She knew that the two were fighting to save many.


    "Idiots! Lord Nightwing will devour everyone here!" Sherah cursed.


    But the two did not listen. Instead, in the hours they fought, the two desired to save everyone!


    The Greed Lords and the Silver fought against Angelian, and Angelian was being pushed back.


    Krysta did her best to assist Angelian, but her attacks could only annoy the Greed Lords and Silver.


    His body was flickering, and many of the fighters could see her body suddenly be transparent. She was trembling, and she had no choice but to release the power of Devour to eat away the corpses below.


    The battle raged wildly. But this was the chance that Fallen Spawn had. He could not merge with the heart before since there was resistance and Krysta''s attacks disrupted his attempt. But now, Krysta was overwhelmed with the battle that he could notplete it.


    The Gigantes also agreed to give the portion. The other mountain pushed out arge boulder from the heart.


    The boulder was full of life and death energy. And the Fallen Spawn began to merge with it.


    "I must hurry!" The Fallen Spawn moved with haste.


    The power of Greed was very, verypatible with the Gigantes. Greed sought out all the precious stones. And the Gigantes was a massive mine just waiting to be harvested. So, with the power of Earth and the Fallen Spawn''s power of great death, it began to form a new element.


    Gold.


    Angelian and Krysta tried to move and break through the ranks to hit the Fallen Spawn. However, they could sense that the Fallen Spawn was transforming into a force that would even be stronger than the individual Antibodies.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "I will devour you all! The Dragon! The Ghost! The Spider! I, Bar-Mammon, will kill you!" The Fallen Spawn vowed.


    "Angelian tried to charge through the ranks, but the Greed Lords all made attacks that sent Angelian flying and falling back.


    BANG!


    Angeliannded on the ground and could barely move. Spiders surrounded her, and Sherah herself appeared.


    "No..." Angelian cursed.


    "You idiot! Why did you do that?! These men are food for Nightwing! Why rebel?! You wanted to fight and save them before he arrived. Nightwing would have no choice but to fight them if they were strong enough!"


    "I just... can''t..." Angelian wept.


    With Angelian down, the Cardinals and Commanders were all forced to fight an all-out battle.


    Both armies were dwindling and dying out. The corpses were piling out, and Krysta had no choice but to hide and absorb more energy among the dead as the rest of the Cardinals and Commanders fought on.


    The Gold Fallen was taking form, and his figure was that of a thin man.


    He opened his eyes and saw the remaining armies.


    "Return to me... All shall return! All my armies! All shall be devoured and fed to me! Return to my belly from whence you came!" The Gold ordered.


    At the orders of the Gold, all the Greedlings, Greedlores, Greed Lords, Coins, and Silvers began to retreat!


    They all ran towards the Gold, who was now using a great power of [Devour]. All that moved within five meters of where he stood would suddenly vanish.


    It was like a small ck hole appearing!


    "Kill them! The more he eats, the stronger he bes!" Monica warned.


    Everyone began tounch their attacks and chase after the retreating armies of Greed.


    "Kill them! Don''t conserve any energy! Our master ising!" Monica shouted.


    "No! Everyone!" Krysta realized what was happening.


    But before she could speak, several spiders leaped over her and pinned her down.


    The army did not notice as they chased after the creatures of Greed.


    But the army of Greed was too fast, and the soldiers could not keep up.


    "It''s toote! Retreat!" A Cardinal saw that attacking anymore was useless, and they needed to conserve their strength.


    WARP!


    "No. Push forward! Attack with everything you''ve got!"


    Above the skies was a being of great holy energy.


    "Angel!" The Gold Fallen shouted.


    "Bar-Mammon! To think that I would find the first son of Mammon in this Gigantes!" The angelughed and held out his hand.


    Nightwing could see that he had another attack that he could use after offering the armies in the teleportation chamber.


    He held out his two hands forward and took aim at the ck Hole.


    Back in Middle, the Nephilim Sealing Fortress was glowing with light.


    "Master Kyros is using Holy Beam!" A mage apprentice sensed it.


    "Activate the Holy Enhancer! The experiment of the Emberdons should be activated!"


    The Fortress shed an immense amount of light and sent all the energy to the source.


    Back inside the Gigantes, Nightwing sensed the surging divine energy.


    "Now that''s what I''m talking about, old self!" Nightwing smiled.


    "[Holy Beam]!"

 Chapter 488 Army To Sacrifice

    A terrifying st that illuminated the entire insides of the Heart region shot out of Nightwing.


    The st contained massive power that the space itself trembled.


    The army that Krysta and Sherah gathered saw the beam of light and trembled.


    "GO!" A Cardinal shouted.


    "Kill them all!" Another shouted.


    Even Angelian was startled by the surging power that Nightwing created. She was still being pinned down by the spiders, but she stopped struggling.


    "This is... the power of Lord Nightwing?!"


    "Such pure power..." Krysta could sense the power more clearly. There was not a hint of it being tainted. It was the purest of the pure. Even purer than the light that the Grand Middle Kingdom would get. Krysta had experienced the First Ray, a special privilege granted to the elite. It was a chance to experience the greatest shining light equal to the Hignds light. With the strength and power of her former kingdom, she even had gone through that twice. But the light of Nightwing was at another level."


    "This is... the light of Soter!" Krysta could only make that conclusion.


    Angelian had also seen the true light of Soter. And sensing the [Holy Beam], she knew that only the Supreme Magistrate and Magic Master of the nes World, Magistrate Supreme Gandor Ellisium, could harness such pure power.


    Watching from the brain, Bomos was shocked at the sheer power that Nightwing created. He had sensed the real power of Nightwing and thought that Nightwing could only convert the energy from darkness and turn it to light. But this energy far surpassed the full strength that Nightwing revealed to Bomos.


    "This must really be the Nephilim! He is summoning a great power from an unknown source! Could it be... Does he have a Heavenly Abode that is connected to his soul? He must surely be a being of light and darkness! He must have sealed his other half in his Heavenly Abode, which is the source of this power!" Bomos began to guess how it was possible for Nightwing to have such power.


    The beam shot towards the devouring ck hole. But right before the attacknded, a powerful, strange force appeared before the ck hole that blocked the beam.


    An invisible wall of grey color appeared.


    "[Neutral Force]!" The shout of Gold Fallen could be heard from the ck hole.


    The wall stood, and upon receiving the attack, it did not explode but neutralized the power.


    The two energies fought, and neither was giving the other any advantage.


    "To me, my children! Hurry!" Bar-Mammon shouted.


    "Oh? What an interesting attack. I see... Since darkness would be torn to pieces, you used the element of the universe itself... Neutral!" Nightwing praised the attack as he continued to send out the attack.


    He saw the shifting directions of the army as it was passing to the side.


    "What are you waiting for?! Attack! Kill as much as you can! Drain your life force if you have to! But don''t give that Fallen Spawn any more food to eat!" Nightwing shouted and awakened the soldiers who were watching the fight.


    "Die!" The Cardinal charged out.


    "Kill!" The Commanders followed.


    Everyone did as wasmanded. They were using great attacks and threw away everything they had to kill as many forces of Greed.


    Several other Coins died, and even a Greed Lord fell.


    But as the group fought, Angelian was struggling.


    She could feel it. The immense thirst and hunger that her Lord had.


    "Lord Nightwing! I beg of you...!"


    STAB!


    A spider stabbed its sharp feeler into the back of Angelian and injected a paralyzing poison.


    "With your body, this will only paralyze you for a short time. But it will be enough! Angelian! Your loyalty lies with him! Do not warn or tell anyone!"


    Krysta was trying to devour energy to strengthen herself. But then Monica appeared next to her and used a strange Force Energy that was hindering her.


    "What...?" Krysta was confused. She felt a strange weakness surrounding her.


    "You devour... but not everything is good for you. When I found out what you are, it was easy. You use Force and Magic to create this body, and I''m a battle mage skilled at using both. It''s like your drinking poison." Monica smiled as she ced her body on Krysta.


    "You''ll probably easily block this in the future. But now, you better remain silent for what is toe."


    "You''re a battle mage! A knight and one who follows an Order! Does not your honor bind you to protect and prevent deaths?!"


    "Krysta, I am of Fate. That means I have always had my troubles. The Order of Mages and the knights I serve was ready to disown me. I learned much when Nightwing spared me and gave me the blood of my formerpanions. When I saw their memories, I hated them. I saw all the schemes and lies they followed as Destiny willed it. And the same will happen here. These people that you want to save will betray you. They are Destined too. His powers will always try to kill you, and these people will be the tools Destiny will use."


    "Until they do that... these people are innocent! Angelian is fighting for that same thing!"


    "That''s understandable. She lived an even more terrifying life than I did and was cursed with a powerful spell that locked her heart. But I guess that''s the side effect of having a heart born in her. [De-Heart] was destroyed, and now she cares. She''s still new to this. I believe Master Nightwing expects her to be like that. But me? I''ve stopped caring. Master Nightwing will lead us to allies who we can trust. That''s what he promised. A family."


    Krysta tried to struggle, but her energies were still being locked. Finally, she realized that she had vastly underestimated Monica. Only then did she realize what Nightwing meant by the strength and potential of those who had Fate Challenger.


    The army continued to attack the fleeing beasts that all rushed in to be eaten by Bar-Mammon.<novelnext></novelnext>


    The spiders of Sherah chased and drank many as they gathered more and more blood from the in foes.


    Seeing the spiders move, everyone did not hesitate. They were confident as the powerful beam of life continued to fight the Fallen.


    "Return! Gather together!" Nightwing ordered, and everyone quickly stopped and rushed back.


    Bar-Mammon only had a few hundred creatures left, and it was time for everyone to regather and hold their ground.


    Several strange white swords were moving around the area and were drawing a massive energy formation circle around the angel.


    "This angel is probably trying to create a powerful formation that will allow them to create a massive barrier. In that case... I must split myself into several forms! Instead of one Pure Gold, I''ll have to create several Impure ones and attack the formation on different sides to destroy it. After that, I''ll merge back and fight that angel!"


    As thest of the minions of Greed dove into the devouring ck hole, a strange light appeared as the ck hole transformed into something like a giant egg.


    CRACK! CRACK!


    The egg began to crack.


    "Everyone! Gather around and prepare to fight in a formation! The beasts that will emerge there will be far stronger than us! So I want you all to offer all your energy to me! Do not hesitate but pour it all out! Desire to kill that Greed Spawn!" Nightwing shouted as he stopped shooting the Holy Beam.


    A bright light shed underneath the ground, and the army of humans, demi-humans, and other races gathered into the light.


    They could feel an energy that was siphoning their energy. But no one feared, and many held up their hand to release their Brute and Magic energy!


    "Sherah! Your spiders send them out to refill the energy of everyone!"


    The spiders moved, and everyone continued to pour out their energy.


    The egg broke out, and five massive frogs leaped out.


    Nightwing saw the beasts and could recognize the energy.


    "Unholy? You have that?!"


    "The magic that can resist Holy because it is also Holy! Yes! If I eat you, I might even be able to harness Holy energy!" Bar-Mammon''s main bodyughed.


    BOOM!


    Their speed was so fast, and they all hopped into a formation that surrounded Nightwing and his army.


    "Everyone! Give me all your life!" Nightwing shouted.


    "Kill that frog!" The Cardinal cheered as he offered his energy.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The five frogs leaped out together as the light shed inside the formation.


    BANG!


    The five frogs crashed into each other as the expected resistance to the massive formation did not happen.


    The five frogs were rolling in pain as they all struck each other. And then, they felt a strange gravity pulling them down.


    "What the?! Where did everyone go?! This formation...! It''s a gravity-enhancing energy conversion circle!" Bar-Mammon cursed.


    STAB!


    The main body screamed as a dark red de stabbed through him.


    "No...! How?!" Bar-Mammon nced up and couldn''t understand what he was seeing.


    "A... devil?! You... are an Incubus?!"


    "An Incubus with an army''s worth of [Sacrifice] energy." Nightwingughed.


    STAB! STAB! STAB! STAB!


    Several Red des stabbed and struck the other frogs right in the heart.


    "No...! Impossible!"


    "You had an army to eat. And you divided that energy to make five forms. My army sacrificed itself and gave me one powerful form. Had you made one form, it would have been more enjoyable. Now... be mine to devour!" Nightwing licked his lips as he flew towards Bar-Mammon and reached out to the de.


    The blood began to be drawn out of the five frogs and a link of red chains began to appear.


    The howls of the five frogs were heard, but with Nightwing pinning them down with great gravity magic, they could not move.

 Chapter 489 Army Of Destiny

    The entire magic formation was a powerful gravity spell used to pin the five frogs down.


    Nightwing aimed for the main body and used his magic to attack the very soul.


    The other five frogs were struggling and squirming as their souls were attacked and devoured by the demonic darkness. Bar-Mammon created a soul and physical form that had Unholy energy. It was a form that was pseudo-Holy and could resist holy energy. But Unholy had a great weakness to darkness.


    And the attacks pierced through the frogs. Finally, the bloody des began to drink.


    The five frogs squirmed, but the gravity magic heightened their weakened state.


    Bar-Mammon''s main body did its best to resist. But he had divided his body, and he could not fight back against Nightwing''s singrity form that harnessed a grand amount of energy.


    The power continued to drain through, and seeing that his ns were working, Nightwing then held on to observe a strange item that was teleported to him.


    It was an arrow. But the arrow was made of light. It was physical and hard. But it had no other element or form other than light.


    "What the...?"


    When Nightwing used [Holy Beam], he received the item and could feel a message radiating from it.


    Nightwing took the time and observed the arrow. He was instantly able to sense the message from it.


    "An arrow of light? But I''ll need a bow..." So Nightwing thought to himself and could somehow sense a strange link with the source that shot the Holy Beam. He felt as if he could summon a bow anytime.


    "AHHHHH!" Bar-Mammon roared, trying to activate a ck hole to devour everything and turn his form into that of the darkness.


    Nightwing was awakened from the actions of Bar-Mammon.


    "[Skotos Eis Phos]!" Nightwing shouted.


    The attacks of darkness suddenly became light, and as the attack was from the inside, the forming darkness that Bar-Mammon was gathering was instantly shattered, and he squealed in pain. It was too strange! The elements switched instantaneously again! It was like turning water to fire in a flip of a switch. Bar-Mammon couldn''t believe it and gambled on it, but the light exploded inside.


    "NO! I CANNOT DIE LIKE THIS!"


    "You were too weak, to be honest. I was prepared to do a few more shocking twists in case you would have your counterattacks and counterschemes, but it seems the first scheme worked perfectly." Nightwing chuckled.


    "How...?! How did you invoke [Sacrifice]?!" Bar-Mammon demanded.


    Up the mountainside again, Angelian and the rest were teleported at thest moment when the frogs made their attack.


    Angelian couldn''t move. Krysta was frozen stiff.


    Monica and Sherah were no longer holding them down and were walking toward Nightwing.


    Angelian''s tears dropped.


    She had seen it all too clearly.


    Her heart felt the heavy weight of death. It was a strange and painful feeling.


    As the power of De-Heart vanished, the new emotions of guilt and concern for others heightened as she was somewhat new to the sensation. Her heart grew closer and closer to the point that she began to like her allies in the short time she spent with them. However, her heart could no longer discern clearly and wanted to save them desperately.


    But the moment Nightwing arrived and tookmand, she knew it was over.


    "You didn''t see what happened?" Nightwing teased.


    "I tricked you and them into thinking I was an angel. I had an interesting misadventure before going here. A Necromancer Sacrificed himself for that dragon! Could you believe it? That Necromancer gave his dark, filthy, selfish soul to Angelian willingly! All out of spite to kill me. So I thought that that was a perfect method to grow stronger. I''m trying to get to the Crown level as fast as I can. And this ce was the perfect chance!" Nightwing chuckled.


    "A son of Greed, the son of a Phaulos, was here! Light and darkness. Wicked and good. The prity of these things was perfect. The devourer and the savior. I told them to give me their everything. And they were willing. While it wasn''t perfect, I managed to harness what is half of the True Sacrifice. Many of them thought they would die as they drained their life of Force and Magic. It''s your fault for creating such a powerful form too! Had they not sensed a power that scared them, they might not have gone all out. And at that peak emotional state, I killed them all. And sacrifices happened! Too bad, this is only half of what true Sacrifice is. But this is good enough." Nightwing then increased the power as his body began to release tremendous amounts of blood.


    "AHHHH!"


    "Your soul... is mine!" Nightwingughed.


    "I... will not die!" Then, the main body opened its mouth and shot arge ck ball.


    The ball exploded, and arge mosquito burst out of it.


    Nightwing cursed, and a blood clone was about to leave when the surrounding Mammons began to explode.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Nightwing was caught in the series of explosions and coughed as he nced around.


    He turned towards the Antibodies, who were still in a daze at what had happened.


    A split secondter, they sensed themand of Bomos and then chasted after the fly!


    "Stop that fly!" The Antibody shouted as several sonic booms erupted.


    The Antibodies gave chase, but Nightwing could see that the mosquito was too fast.


    "Bar-Mammon focused on speed..." Nightwing sighed.


    "Idiots. If that mosquito flees, your secret will be revealed. Welp... I guess I should try this arrow." Nightwing closed his eyes and began to use the instructions in the link.


    The instructions were left by a woman who spoke respectfully to him. But this woman kept calling Nightwing ''Kyros.''


    Nightwing reached out, and a bow of light suddenly formed. But as Nightwing held on to it, he was shocked.<novelnext></novelnext>


    The power of the bow had powerful spatial energy. But instead of being close to the elements of darkness, the spatial powers were that of light!


    "Interesting... Bow Veiyos. This is her bow, just as that woman told me!" Nightwing smiled.


    Nightwing held the bow and aimed with the arrow of light that was bestowed on him.


    The mosquito was moving fast and had outrun the Gigantes'' Antibodies.


    Nightwing released the arrow.


    FWIP!


    The arrow vanished.


    STAB!


    The giant mosquito was stunned as it felt a strange sensation on its chest.


    Bar-Mammon nced down and saw the arrow''s tip protruding from him.


    "AHHHH!"


    The light began to spread, and he began to plummet down.


    The Antibodies charged in and caught Bar-Mammon.


    Nightwing raised his hand, and the arrow appeared back on his arm.


    Nightwing released the binding power as the bow and arrow disappeared.


    "That... was amazing. Too bad it consumes a lot of attacks... But still..." Nightwing pondered at the weapon and the transmitted message from the woman.


    "Cornerstone Nightwing." The Antibodies approached.


    "Our Master Bomos wishes to meet with you again." The Antibodies bowed.


    "Alright. Let''s wait for my clone. He is with Christopher." Nightwing exined as he turned to Krysta.


    "That''s... all you have to say?" Krysta red at him.


    Angelian couldn''t even look at Nightwing.


    "Ah, mydies. Such aplicated bunch you are..." Nightwingughed.


    Christopherter arrived and was amazed as he saw the Antibodies. Nightwing had finished sending out the corpses of the frogs but kept the main body of the frogs and the mosquito for himself.


    The group moved towards the brain, and Nightwing used his powers of Mysterion to cover the group.


    "Impressive. You stood before me as a Cardinal of the first level. Level 51. But now, you''ve reached level 55!" Bomos smiled.


    "Sacrifice. I got inspired by a recent fight and decided to test it. It worked."


    "It worked because of Deception. You have the power of Lies."


    "I do."


    "And... yet you are not a liar. How can you be so close to such wickedness and not be corrupt?"


    "Not a liar? He''s a liar!" Krysta cursed.


    "No. Not by the definition of my words, at least. Truth and Lies. Light and Darkness. You really are the Nephilim."


    "Yes. I probably am." Nightwing sighed.


    "You won the fight. Why so troubled?"


    "Nothing. I just met with my past allies. And boy... they are strong."


    "Strong?"


    "Yes. Very strong. Aside from those girls who are probably my wives, the mage has done tremendous research. I have people experimenting with Codes and Corruption and have melded them to their desires. In any case, I hope my recent fight impressed you, Bomos."


    ""Impress is a very... weak way of putting it. Bar-Mammon wasn''t even at a level that you considered a threat!"."


    "He isn''t." Nightwing chuckled.


    "Then I guess I should do more than just offer you a home. I want you to help me find and gather all those who are Neutral. I will agree to be your mobile fortress. But I also n to escape this battle and find more beings of True Neutral like me. "


    "Fine. But you must follow my ns perfectly."


    "Gather an army of Fate. I understand."


    "Yes. Gather a secret Army of Fate. I willmit great crimes that will make Fate seek me. But I n to create an Army of Destiny challengers!"


    "Destiny?"


    "Yes. I have already started some of it. But I nned to devour them and grow stronger. But now... maybe I can be a general of Destiny. And when I have gathered my forces, I shall use it to gain a seat among the Eldrich. And then.. I''ll fight my former allies!" Nightwing smiled.

 Chapter 490 Army Of Betrayed Traitors

    Breveros stood over the highest peak of the kingdom.


    It had been an annoying restructuring and power-grabbing due to the unforeseen events after the raid on a mysterious castle. Commander Tyrs leaked numerous plots that changed alliances and made everyone fight each other.


    The revtions and uncovering of many plots centered in one kingdom created an upheaval. Many groups were fleeing or fighting as numerous others secrets were revealed one after the other.


    But more things followed.


    Luigi had his team move out. Tyrs and Dario, the two persons of Fate the survived the massacre in the castle, did the bidding of Luigi and utilized the memories of the three batches of Commanders that were sent inside.


    Luigi twisted the facts based on the memories of many and released rumors that painted certain personas in a bad light by tying secrets from the memories of the dead. Some were true as they involved murder, while the others were clever, twisting the truth to make the good appear as the bad.


    Meister Strongholgen and Emperor Assassin were also sent out to kidnap and interrogate key individuals revealed in the memories of Menks. And they slowly unveiled more secrets.


    Because of this rising chaos, the Eldrich were slowly losing their grasp in many key cities and kingdoms.


    In the chaos of these events, everyone began to flee as their secrets were being made known.


    This also caused several powerful Cardinals to disappear mysteriously.


    In arge city with four massive towers looking over the city, Breveros stood on one of the peaks of the tower and nced at the city.


    "Not a bad view. To think I would easily be the leader of this city... That Incubus has left quite a troublesome path for us..." Breveros sighed.


    "I wonder what my little Incubus friend has done in the ck Bog Kingdom?" Breveros wondered.


    He nced afar and couldn''t help but feel excited in anticipation of theing battle.


    "My prince..." Several hooded figures arrived and bowed behind Breveros.


    "Report."


    "The chaos has subsided in most cities that we control. As you have suggested, we discarded many territories In the past weeks since the revtions. The copse has made many desperate, as you have envisioned, and has now moved to the several cities we control. An army is imminent."


    "Good... What of the backup from my brother, the King?"


    "Eldrich Emperor Bolerax Hiwind has sent several Demonkin of power tobat the pure Incubus. Cambions who have descended from Incubus and Sucubus-kin."


    "To fight fire with fire, and demonkin with demonkin... I''m unsure whether I should be happy for my dear brother''s support or be disappointed that he thinks I couldn''t get the job done." Breveros sighed.


    "What about the missing Cardinals?"


    "We''ve lost track of them. When the revtions of that Necromancer, Menks, came to light, many who were not revealed disappeared off the grid. They were probably afraid of being revealed."


    "It''s more than that. Looking at our intel, it made no sense that their allegiance was not revealed... In short... they were spared and given a chance to side with them. A cunning call. The threat of death and darkness that beckons them to hide." Breveros smiled.


    "Where would they be?"


    "Where else? The ck Bog Kingdom. What reports do we have?"


    "It''s been more than three weeks since Cracky Batcheeks moved in there, and the mist around thends had grown thicker. Reports of Cardinal and Crown level creatures have emerged. Our spies within thend also report a sudden loss of power. Numerous powerful cultivators up to Cardinals outside and inside the region have vanished without a trace. The Golem Cardinal was among them."


    "The Golem Cardinal? Well, that''s one assassination off our list. Cracky Batcheeks sure is busy. This means we have no time to waste. Call the forces, and we have to begin our mission! We march, infiltrate the ck Bog Kingdom, and search and kill Cracky Batcheeks!"


    But Cracky Batcheeks was no longer within the ck Bog Kingdom.


    They were moving within a thick forest in the northern hemisphere of the Uninvolvednds. The forest hadrge thick trees, and some trees were as tall as hills that covered the entire ce.


    But even in the dense and wide forest with monsters and beasts of high cultivation, Nightwing and the team walked fearlessly and were confident they wouldn''t lose direction.


    Nightwing was traveling with her team ofdies, a young boy, and a newpanion. He was a tall, burly man with stone-like skin.


    "You''re allies are beyond this thick forest? We''ve killed many beasts along the way and even found several bandits." The burly man spoke as he walked.


    "Rx! You might use your lifespan to move, but I can give you death energy." Nightwing sighed.


    "Master Nightwing. Creatures like Gigantes are very concerned with their death energy. They are like Golems. This one wants to conserve as much death energy as possible to remain functioning." Sherah exined.


    "I know. It''s just that I need a bit more trust. I''m just waiting for us to get to the mansion so that I can use my powers in sealed energy. The Eldrich is after me." Nightwing added.<novelnext></novelnext>


    After numerous preparations inside Bomos, Nightwing had left the ck Bog Kingdom and had been traveling again. One Gigantes was taken among the sons of Bomos. But to constantly hide it, Nightwing used the sage wisdom of one of the sci-fi movies he knew of.


    A certain robot had fooled a time-traveling device by wearingyers of flesh above it. And with the many flesh of Bar-Mamon, Nightwing crafted a flesh suit for the Gigantes and coated it with Mysterion and Oblivion.


    The result was the Gigantes that Nightwing named Arnold.


    With Arnold by their side, Nightwing was able tomunicate with Bomos.


    Bomos had wreaked havoc in thends, sent the Antibodies to attack numerous groups, and began killing many spies of the Eldrich that Nightwing had figured out based on the memories of everyone that Nightwing devoured.


    The group had been marching for days in the forest and found numerous Cardinal groups.


    The more they found, the happier Nightwing was and was content with the army of betrayed traitors gathered within thends.


    Arge camp was found, and numerous humans, elves, and some demi-humans were standing guard. But against the power of Mysterion and the darkness below the trees, the group moved in quietly.


    Krysta saw the men and frowned. She could sense the blood and death the men had caused as her power grew.


    "To think that these people won''t die..." Sheined.


    Angelian was silent. Though it had been weeks, and while she now could talk with Nightwing, there still remained the guilt of her failures in saving any of those who Nightwing killed and devoured.


    "They have a Fate worse than those who will die. I have to gather all of them and form an army. These traitors sold out their country and allies and broke vows. But now, they are found out, and the people who sold their country and allies have betrayed them. These betrayed traitors will make up my Army of Destiny. An army that is doomed to die. They are whetting stones to sharpen the des of my other allies. Of course, I hope to use this to break free from the controls of those two women. That way, I can have you, girls, for my harem." Nightwingughed.


    "Don''t include me, demon." Krysta cursed.


    "You have not done well with your promise to resurrect my family!"


    "I already told you... I need more things. Luigi is a Time Slime of great power. Reginald wields numerous elements. I need both if I want to perform [Resurrection]." Nightwing exined again.


    "Lies!"


    "Sister... Let''s just follow. Nightwing has already avenged our family, and we have seen our family''s and loved ones'' souls. [Resurrection] is not an easy spell and will surely cost great magic for Nightwing."


    "Indeed. I had to reserve a lot of that Sacrifice for those loyal men who died for our sake." Nightwing chuckled.


    "You demon! My parents would not want to-"


    "Your parents won''t want their legacies to be lost. They will gain power. Be thankful that those bodies were preserved since Bar-Mammon wanted to show proof to Destiny for his services. Of course, I already knew this, which was why I used [Resurrection] to tempt you." Nightwing smiled.


    The group moved and moved deep into the forest.


    "We''re here," Nightwing spoke.


    "Here? Where?" Monica asked. All around them was grass and trees with no mansion in sight.


    Angelian turned and pointed straight ahead.


    "It''s a time/space illusion spell. Luigi''s mansion is just right ahead. We just need the door to open." Angelian exined.


    "Ah... Little Angelian has started to develop that dragonic scent! Master... You must have quite a haul in your little trip." A slime suddenly appeared in thin air.


    "And these must be the two girls for your harem. Your taste is getting even more exotic, master." Luigi noticed the beautiful, monstrous spider with very seductive traits.


    "A Hive Queen. Where''s your army?"


    "Let''s talk inside, Luigi. We better not keep our guests waiting." Nightwing waved his hands, and a powerful light began to shine behind Luigi.


    With a sh of light, everyone vanished.


    The light and energy were so strong that they called out to those searching and waiting for Luigi''s mansion to appear.


    In the fading light, numerous Cardinals were already standing at the entrance.


    All were searching for means to enter the mansion that had appeared and vanished over the past weeks.

 Chapter 491 Enter The Mansion

    Nightwing stood with his team inside the majestic mansion.


    Everyone who hadn''t seen it was amazed at its spacious ce and grand form.


    Greeting the arrival of the team was Luigi, the Hydra, who is called Reginald, Tyrs and Darion, the Emperor Assassin Benjie Boy, and Meister Strongholgen.


    "Master." Luigi bowed.


    "Luigi. I love what you''ve done to the ce." Nightwing smiled as he nced at the mansion behind him.


    "Not bad." Krysta couldn''t help but praise.


    "It''s a living mansion. Like the Gigantes, this ce had to kill thousands to reach this level." Nightwing smiled.


    Krysta''s expression suddenly changed.


    "All cruel and wicked people. The improvements in this ce were from the groups that betrayed Emperor Assassin and Meister Strongholgen. Tyrs and Darion had a few groups included as well. Including the mercenary groups that attacked Darion''s former team and the toon responsible for killing one of Tyrs team." Luigi exined.


    Angelian was quiet and didn''t speak. But she could only sigh.


    "Are you OK with this?" Krysta asked the one person who didn''t see the killings as normal.


    "...I have to bear it. The reason why I''m so sensitive is that I have a heart now. I couldn''t give the names of the people I want dead." Angelian answered.


    "Oh. Them. They are all dead. I figured it out and killed them. Master Nightwing didn''t order me to, but I wanted to make portraits with living ghosts, so I had to kill a few more. I already deduced who your enemies were and had Emperor Assassin find those people who treated you harshly, stole from you, and desired to rape you. Hehe... They were so great!"


    Angelian''s mouth was left ajar at the words of Luigi. She was not prepared for the sudden massacre. She turned to Nightwing.


    "Not my fault." Nightwing shrugged.


    "As he said, I didn''t order it. I was going to, but not yet."


    "What are those... things?!" Krysta saw the portraits and could sense immense cruelty and pain in them.


    "Is that those portraits?" Nightwing noticed the numerous portraits that rmed Krysta around Luigi''s mansion.


    "Yup! With the added knowledge of Menks, I now have portraits that are dimensional houses of ghosts and ghouls. I made numerous portraits! Twenty portraits hold five ghosts. Five Bronze Portraits that could hold Champion level wraiths, Two Silver Portraits that hold Commander level wraiths!"


    "A Commander-level wraith? Impressive."


    "Yes. I n to make an army of them and cover this entire mansion with it, kinda like a mix between my mansion and Fortressvania. Get it? You might need tobine two copyrights to understand my n."


    "I get it..." Nightwing sighed.


    "I tapped into the power that my past self has made. It seems I already have a mansion with very formidable allies. They were studying Codes and Corruption and altering them freely. If they have such a scientist, then they will also have a team of powerful fighters off in their respective missions. That''s why I changed my mind. We won''t kill the gathering of betrayed traitors. Instead, we turn them into an army, destroy and threaten the Eldrich, and be admitted into their fortress. That way, I can gain their trust and ranking and lead an army to attack my former allies. I believe this was my past self''s n. We will continue to gather people of Fate and imprison those that we can liberate or meet as we march on with an army of Destiny."


    "Wait... That will undoubtedly push you up the hierarchy of Destiny''s forces. Wouldn''t that seem suspicious? You will meet powerful beings of Destiny if you n to create an army of Destiny."


    "There is a way now. I have a ce where I can harness Oblivion and make their identities forgotten."


    "Alright... Then what about Fate Challenger? The very nature of Fate Challenger will cause conflict if they are around those of Destiny Challenger! There is only so much that Oblivion and Mysterion can do!"


    "Yes. But I found something that even you don''t know. We can mask it with our little Gigantes friend here. I have killed Bar-Mammon. A son of Mammon, who is a True Challenger. And the Gigantes Bomos is also one. I have a spell made ready. It can create a coat of earthen power that will contain the very blood of Bar-Mammon, and the earthen skin suit we can wear."


    "True Challenger? Like a Fate or Destiny Challenger but for the True Neutrals?"


    "Exactly. That''s what I''m going to use."


    "Amazing..."


    "Yes. We need to create a few spells before we send the guests in. Resurrection magic contains the true souls and emotions of the dead. But I don''t want them to be given into Dark Maddening. No Pet Cemetery nonsense."


    "Resurrection, huh? The problem is the corroding bodies. Even if we can bring back a pure soul and bind it with all ourbined magic, the soul that has passed on will always look to escape."


    "Devouring Cores. Weaker ones than the ones I have with Krysta. It should be enough to contain the magic for decades. And I''m sure we''ll grow strong enough to make it permanent." Nightwing brought out numerous cores from the Silver and Greed Lords."<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Hm... It might just work. Devouring cores have a great time and space magic. We could bind it."


    "Make the preparations for the resurrection. I''ll start with the rest and turn them into True Neutrals. Arnold has already made numerous Once it''s ready. Then, we invite those people inside."


    "Ohh! Showing off your magic to draw in more followers! That should impress them and make them join!"


    "Let''s make a good show..." Nightwing smiled.


    Outside, all the camps and teams had gathered around were the shing lights appeared.


    Another hour passed, and almost all those waiting to enter the mansion had appeared.


    "How long will he make us wait?" A Cardinal Dwarven master frowned as he observed the trees.


    "Who knows? Maybe more areing. Even the mysterious Crown leaders have arrived." A Mage Commander had teamed up with him. But, unlike the dwarf, the Mage Commander was fleeing for his life.


    "And Cyclops Cardinal Barakan Doragan brought in quite a team... Cyclops and Giants are here!" The Mage Commander turned to the numerous giants waiting from afar. They had hidden underground with their earth magic and had now surfaced. But they seemed to have troubles as the roots of the giant trees made the underground region as confusing as the surface!


    "But if we wait any longer, I might be found by those who want us dead. We''re all criminals here. Apart from those who came here to seek opportunities and chances, most of us are here because we want to survive."


    "They won''te." A sharp voice was heard. Everyone nced up high, and a powerful Feather-Folk race arrived.


    "Crown Ikarod Featherking!" The Cardinal dwarf was shocked to see such a terrifying guest arrive.


    The outcast of the Featherking family for his highly treasonous actions of murdering one of his own family arrived.


    "Why would his kingship be among us lowly friends?"


    "Stop bootlicking. A cardinal like you ought to have some pride if you want to reach my level." Ikarodnded.


    "May this humble one ask what you mean by my... captors noting here?"


    "The lord of this castle has not appeared because he was giving us a way out. There have been numerous things happening in the ck Bog Kingdom. The deaths caused a change in the hierarchy and the chance for many to rise as the new lords. Because of that, neers in that region won''t have harsher treatment. I believe it was because the lord of this castle went there, making many believe that he, Cracky Batcheeks, is there!"


    "Cracky... Batcheeks?"


    "Who knows what mystery that Vampire holds? But my sources tell me he has gone there, so we would have the time to hide here. The light we all saw must have meant that he had returned! Await the doors to open."


    The group was amazed at the revtion. Many had renewed impressions towards the lord of the mansion.


    "Doragan... It''s been a while." Ikarod called out.


    "...I have never met you, oh mighty one." The cyclops bowed.


    "Not you, you whelp. I''m talking to your father."


    The group was stunned and nced at Barakan Doragan. But nowhere among the mighty cyclops was this giant''s father!


    Barakan was equally stunned. But he didn''t move or take any action after Ikarod called him.


    "Hm? Oh. Right. You wouldn''t move if it meant your life was endangered. Oh well..." Ikarod ignored the giant and gazed back at the forest.


    Suddenly, a bright light began to glow, and the features of the mansion started to appear.


    "So it''s finally time. We can finally enter this mansion!"


    The full features of the mansion appeared. However, it was less of a mansion and more of a castle as it towered over the trees.


    At the front was a sign that weed everyone who watched.


    "Who''s Luigi?" The Mage Commander asked as he read the sign.


    "I am." Augh was heard, and on top of the head of the Dwarven Cardinal, was a silver slime.

 Chapter 492 Enter The Body Of Death

    The Dwarven Cardinal and the Mage Commander nearly shouted in fright as the voice spoke.


    However, the Crown smiled as he saw the slime.


    "How impressive. I never thought that the lord of the mansion would be a slime creature of surpassingly powerful time/space elements.


    "Oh. You misunderstand. My master allowed me to name the mansion. But I am not the lord. I am but a servant.


    Luigi vanished and appeared on the ground again.


    Everyone marveled at how such powerful teleportation would spark no fluctuation or even the slightest ripple of energy.


    "You are quite amazing, my little friend. And that speaks miles for your master."


    "Oh, you have no idea." Luigi chuckled.


    "The master now bids his entrance. Just as Crown Birdy here said..."


    Everyone was stifled by the vulgar words of the slime. He called an exalted Crown a Birdy!


    But Ikarod did not even show the slightest expression but smiled.


    "Master went on a little trip to ensure you could gather here safely. He went on a rampage in the ck Bog Kingdoms and awakened numerous sleeping heritage."


    "Sleeping heritage? May this humble one ask what heritages there were? I lived in the ck Bog Kingdom for many decades. I have not heard of such a case." A Cardinal with the figure and form of a humanoid grasshopper respectfully asked.


    The space trembled, and a corpse of unknown beasts was brought out.


    It was like arge dog with many spines and stingers around its body.


    "This is a Greedling. Sleeping in the Block Bog Kingdom was the son of a Fallen Phaulos. Mammon of the Foul Fallens has an illegitimate son. Bar-Mammon. He was using that ce as a hideout."


    Everyone''s eyes widened at the sight of the strange beasts.


    The Cardinals could tell that there was a strange power inside the beasts.


    "Anyway... I am ordered to prove that this is real to you... Honestly, I don''t think people with my master''s strength have to prove anything... But I guess if you guys are looking for a good backer, then I need to show off a bit. "


    Suddenly, a projection of a grand image was revealed over the skies above.


    The image was so realistic.


    "You like it? It''s rendered in Unreal Engine." Luigi bragged.


    But no one cared for Luigi''s sidements.


    The watchers saw the numerous ships that dove deep into arge mouth. Then, the vision changed, and the battlefield was shown where the surviving groups fought against an army of the very beast that was revealed.


    "I hope some of you know or canprehend what that scene was. With many Crowns here... you should be able to tell me what." Luigi spoke again.


    "I know those groups... My time in the ck Bog Kingdom and the nearby regions made me familiar with them... Why are they all there?"


    "That... mouth!? Are you telling me that your master went in that mouth and came alive?!" A voice was heard.


    The massive club of Cardinal Barakan Doragan moved! It transformed from a weapon to a humanoid-shaped giant.


    "Living Crown Golem, Grandite Doragan. You actually moved." Ikarod smiled.


    Everyone was shocked as the entire cyclops, and giant race bowed.


    "What event is this thing that master Slime speaks?"


    "I don''t know the event. But that creature. That cave. I know. I sensed its presence but thought it was dead. Yet my kind would dare not desecrate the fallen. That was a Gigantes."


    "A Gigantes? I heard of those creatures of legends!"


    "And from its features, it seemed to be alive. It seems that the master of this castle is quite powerful. It''s enough to make me move. Surely, he has a Gigantes legacy?"


    "...Actually, we have a Gigantes serving him right now. Care to see?" Luigiughed, and a massive door appeared behind Luigi.


    The doors were so tall that they could easily fit two giants passing through. Finally, and slowly, the doors gave way and revealed the grand hall inside.


    A strange power was leaking outside. The power of terrifying holiness had amazed everyone.


    "What is that...?!" One of the Cardinals who kept a low profile could not help but exim.


    "Holy. But I guess those who have set off to be necromancers like you would be affected by it." Luigi hoped and hoped towards the inside of the mansion.


    "Are you guysing?" Luigi asked as he kept his cute little hops inside the mansion.


    Before anyone could process the revtion of a necromancer, a sh of light called out to everyone.


    The divine light was intimidating, but numerous blood and the bodies of many Greedlings were around.


    "That spell...! What kind of spell is this?! It''s using all elements!" Ikarod eximed.


    "Oh. Master is trying to resurrect the parents of an ally."<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Resurrect?! But why is he gathering so much light energy?! And how?! Wasn''t this lord a vampire?!"


    "Follow me and find out." Luigi chuckled.


    Everyone began to follow Luigi into the mansion.


    At the center of the hall was a bright pir of light. And inside the morning was a figure of a man.


    "Is that... Nightwing? Is he using... Holy element?"


    Everyone began to spread out and was still cautious. It was then that they noticed everything in their surroundings.


    The grand hall revealed intricate designs and frightening paintings that contained dark energy.


    "Ghosts?!" The Mage Commander shouted.


    "Worse! He is cultivating wraiths! Those paintings hold a strange power!"


    "Look at those engravings! What kind of energy formation circle is that?! It''s using blood as the transference of energy!"


    "Over there! That''s a Hydra!"


    "But aren''t they extinct?!"


    Everyone began to point and gawk at the numerous terrifying things when they noticed the surroundings.


    Golem Grandite had his eyes fixed on therge burly man.


    The man smiled as he could see that the Golem could see through his disguise.


    Ikarod was silenced at the beauty and grace of the winged woman that stood nearby.


    "That... it''s the daughter of Pyrekaiser Fafnir!" His shout rmed many, and they nced at the woman hovering nearby.


    "Begin!" A voice suddenly spoke, and the pir of light began to flicker. The whiteness of the pir of light began to fade. It was as if the light became impure.


    As everyone moved inside, they could sense the power.


    "Unholy...! This is Unholy! The power that the first Undivine revealed!" Grandite eximed.


    Everyone marveled at the mystery before them.


    "Every Mystery muste to light. Everything hidden will be revealed." Nightwing began to speak as he revealed his form as the light died out.


    At once, many women felt their hearts burn and tremble as they saw his form.


    "Incubus!" The men were startled. Those who could lust saw the demon and his deathly tempting form.


    Many felt a vast sense of insecurity, while others were awakened to desires they had not yet known.


    "What...?! An incubus?!"


    "Krysta. Christopher. It will be your heart that can call out to them. The power of Unholy can only draw them in. This process will also be useful for you. Your current form of neither life nor death will be Unholy. That way, you can wield the darkness and the light simultaneously. To create this [Resurrection] power requires you to have You have to teach them how to make your body. I have prepared the power of [Sacrifice] for you and your family."


    "I understand." Krysta nodded.


    Nightwing pped his arm on the ground where a strange mark was written. It was the very center of the energy formation circle.


    The magic circle was activated, and numerous pirs erupted.


    On the side were severalrge crystals with what appeared to be a man and woman inside!


    The Hydra released its power, and numerous elements began to shoot out toward Nightwing.


    "Time for me to show off as well."


    Luigi vanished and appeared right next to Nightwing, and a bright silver light began to shine.


    Nightwing harnessed great energy and began to break the crystal that sealed the soul and body of Krysta''s parents.


    Christopher watched to the side and could not help but feel nervous.


    "This crystal was a seal to cover the soul and body of your parents. It was supposed to be his proof of service." Nightwing exined mentally to Krysta and Christopher.


    "Breaking it will free their souls. They have nothing to bind themselves to in this world. And they will not ept the dead body of theirs. But don''t worry. The preparations are done. In theory, your parents should be able to live and cling to life. I will harness another Corruption and use it to trick the souls into thinking that the body is alive."


    "Theory?! You are not sure this will work?!" Krysta retorted.


    "Rx. I''m seventy-three percent sure. I''ve never used this power because it will age me. I might have to sacrifice an entire level. From 55, I''ll probably drop down to level 54. But it can''t be helped. What is this levelpared to making my girl happy?" Nightwing chuckled.


    Before Krysta could angrily retort again, Nightwing released the dark power.


    The Unholy became the light that would deceive the two souls. Instead of following ''the light,'' they would be led back to their bodies.


    "[Somatos Ous Thanatou: Anima]!" Nightwing released his spell.

 Chapter 493 Enter The New Era

    The souls of Krysta''s parents were preserved and concealed within a soul gem. This preserved the body and locked the soul that was trying to flee.


    But now, that crystal was broken! The souls had moved out.


    And so, Nightwing used Unholy light to guide the parents'' souls back toward the body. The souls thought it was already moving to a better ce but were actually traveling a circuit that led back to the body.


    And then Nightwing activated a certain power he had somehow known in his memories.


    Somatos Ous Thanatou, the body of death, was activated.


    The decaying and deathly power was so much that Nightwing''s cultivation dropped by one level upon casting!


    The bodies of Krysta''s parents received the power of Somatos Ous Thanatou, which was focused on a certain spell that only Cherubims and Celestials could perform.


    "[Anima]?!" The necromancer cardinal shouted in shock.


    "What''s [Anima]?" Ikarod asked.


    "It''s what they do when they clean your colon," Luigi answered.


    "That''s enema!" Reginald, the hydra, sighed.


    Many were shocked that therge hydra could actually speak.


    "Just kidding! I doubt a necromancer like you would know what anima is. It''s anguage known as the First Word, belonging to the dialect of the gods, after all. It''s where we get the word animate. But in this context, something is animated because, in First Word, Anima means soul. So, of course, the Body of Death will only awaken as if it had a soul. But that''s why Unholy is necessary." Luigi exined.


    "Anima..." Crown Grandite Doragan quietly repeated. He knew that the power that gave him life was from this very power.


    He nced at Nightwing and knew that he had to serve this man no matter what!


    The dead body was quickly given life. It was as if the body was alive and had a soul inside of it. A soulless body that could live, breathe, eat, and even move. But it was given to whatever desires the body had. This was the highest form of Resurrection that those who walked ording to the path of the Dark Dependent could make. It would resurrect the body but not return its soul.


    But now, Nightwing was leading the true souls back. Amid the Unholy, Nightwing used the true light of Soter. It was only for an instant to ensure that the soul would return.


    FLASH!


    The light shed out, and the body of the two began to fly up before everyone.


    The soul was connecting with it.


    "Krysta. Christopher. Open and pour out the power of your family. The Body of Death cannot hold the soul because of decay. Their shell must be renewed. And your power is the key!"


    Christopher nodded. All the time they''ve been traveling back, Christopher has done her best to practice the same power that her sister has achieved.


    "[Supra-Phisikos]!" Christopher shouted.


    Everyone saw the form and power that Christopher created.


    "What energy is that?! Is that magic? Or Force?!"


    Krysta moved to the center and was about to release the energy.


    "Nightwing. If I were to release my energy... you would have full ess to my soul." Krysta spoke with a nk expression.


    "That would mean... you would convert me to be one of your women. Was that your n?"


    Nightwing smiled.


    "No. I assure you. I have no such intentions. I am not just an incubus. If I can''t make you fall for me without using my lustful powers, I am an embarrassment to my kind."


    "...Liar." Krysta sighed.


    She then released all her power to bestow on her parents. She wanted to save her parents, even if it meant losing her life.


    Nightwing used their desire for Krysta and made the energy inside of him follow.


    "[Sacrifice]!" Nightwing released some of the souls he had harnessed and poured out their sacrifice.


    Everyone marveled as the body of death of the beautiful couple floating around began to warp.


    "What magic is that?!"


    "Their body is changing! At first, he made a body of decay. But now..." Ikarod observed.


    Krysta used her soul to release a grand power. She could see the power of Nightwing, but it didn''t ever touch her soul.


    Suddenly, Krysta saw herself in the great skies where the wind blew.


    "Where...?!" Krysta was shocked. She saw an endless sky with white clouds blowing all over the area.


    "My Child. You have finally awakened my power." A voice was heard.<novelnext></novelnext>


    Krysta turned around and saw a woman of great beauty. She had the clouds as her dress, and a whirlwind was a chariot.


    "Who...?"


    "I am Pnevma Ss. The breath of life."


    "Pnevma?! The Ancient God?"


    Pnevma chuckled.


    "Oh... That''s so sweet. But I am just a Greater God. I am the mother of all that have wings. But you guys really had me worried. You were thest of my descendants. Thank goodness Fate made such strange preparations."


    "Where are you?"


    "Well, technically, I''m dead. But you can''t really kill the wind, can you? I fought, died, and dispersed my life everywhere. But I have witnessed it all, for the wind moves freely. I even know the real identity of that Nightwing you serve."


    "You''ve seen the demon?!"


    "He''s not a demon, dear. His is a nice guy. Nicer than most of the people you''ll ever meet. He is the Nephilim, and you are called to arise with him."


    "A nice guy?! Pnevma... He killed-"


    "I know what he did. I have seen it. The moment I found him, my air was always around him. I have seen all his journeys. He even reached the Forgotten Pages and made me witness gods and fallen that even I did not have the power to know or perceive! That man has three souls. Right now, he is using one of his souls, the darker one, as part of a grand n to aid Begining. I know it''s not to your taste. But he is the hero of Fate and the chosen Champion of Beginning. And honestly, he is doing very, very well. Far more than most of us expected. He could be the switch that will change the flow of war. So stand by him. That is my request as your ancestor."


    "That I really am a descendant of you?"


    "Why do you think Destiny wants to kill you? It was a brilliant 4D-Chess on Wisdom''s part. I''m sure she and Fate worked this out. They positioned you in a ce and time where Destiny could kill you. But then hide you and send you to the future where you can grow. In Destiny''s mind, you''re dead. Anyway, the breath of life will be bestowed on you. This is how you managed to keep that form, [Supra-Phisikos]. Because your power is the breath of life itself!"


    "Then my parents and I should fight alongside Nightwing?"


    "Yes. Do not worry. If you''re afraid of bing part of his harem, don''t be. You are too weak... Sadly, our heritage is not that strong. Those that walk the codes of Zh and Xermolipi stand to be the strongest contenders to win the Nephilim''s heart." Pnevma chuckled.


    "Zh? Xermolipi?" Krysta was confused.


    "You''ll find out soon enough. Now, let''s end this. I will take this time to speak to Nightwing personally. So arise my descendant. Arise and fight! For the Battle against End draws near!"


    And with that, Krysta saw a bright light.


    Nightwing then found himself in the heavenly skies.


    "You must be... Pnevma." Nightwing nced at the beautiful woman clothed in clouds.


    "No. I''m Yuri."


    "Yuri?!" Nightwing was stunned. He thought that this goddess would be Pnevma.


    "Yuri-tarded." The goddessughed.


    Nightwing''s mouth fell wide open as he fell for that prank.


    "Surprised that I can make that joke? It''s because I am Pnevma. The wife of Cminus."


    "Cminus? The Time God?"


    "Yes. Luigi."


    "What?! Luigi is the time god?!"


    "Wow. You really did a number on yourself, Kyros. I remember everything that you have forgotten. But I guess you have your reasons, so I''ll shut up and not speak anymore." Pnevma chuckled.


    "You married... Luigi?" Nightwing couldn''t believe it.


    "Yes."


    "Willingly?"


    "I get that all the time." Pnevma chuckled.


    "Yes. Willingly. He''s a goof. But he''s my goof. It''s up to you whether you tell him. I''ve been around you and have seen your adventures because I had locked on whatever powers I had to stick to Cminus. You''d be surprised how much you''d miss his entricity." Pnevma smiled.


    "..." Nightwing didn''t know how to process things.


    "But anyway, I must speak to you about the New Era you are about to enter."


    "New era?"


    "Yes. Your past actions and how Histerion has finally decided to join the side of Beginning are forcing the battle of Middle. You have nned well and have begun to build up powerful forces and are creating another one now. Your n to infiltrate the side of the Eldrich will definitely be helpful. Destiny''s forces will begin slowly pouring in to prepare them for the Era of Middle. Wars and civil wars will start, and those of Fate and Destiny will show themselves and make their respective stands. In some ces, Fate will win, but most of the time, they will lose. And that is where youe in, Nephilim!"

 Chapter 494 Enter The Eldrich Circle

    Nightwing listened as Pnevma revealed theing era.


    "Era of Middle? Is that just a title, or is it like a destined or fated event?"


    "It''s the era when Destiny and Fate will finally start waging war with each other. You could say that everything that has been happening between the two forces has been the two recruiting or stopping the other party from recruiting. But now, events will pit the two Challengers against each other. Those without alignment will be tools to force the fight between the two groups."


    "I see. This means a lot of bad blood is bound to happen. The events that I''ve foreseen will truly happen."


    "Yes. Destiny and Fate cannot coexist together. Your n is risky, but if you seed, you could deal a terrifying blow to the forces of the Eldrich. They are the main forces of Destiny here. And for some reason, I know Wisdom values the nesworld as a very important. This was why you were sealed in this ce, and why many of Fate''s allies hid or died here."


    "Then that changes things. I''ll need to infiltrate the Eldrich armies deeper and masquerade myself as a powerful Fate-ying cultivation... Do you have any suggestions?"


    "You''re asking... me for suggestions?"


    "Is there a problem with asking for your suggestion?"


    "Kyros. Nightwing. Or whoever you want to be called... I''ve seen your ns. You''re definitely the son of Wisdom. So why the hell would I suggest it? Do you want me to embarrass myself?"


    "Um... I just thought... since you know... you''re a goddess..."


    "I am not a daughter of Wisdom... I wouldn''t know. In any case... stop bullying my little descendant. Besides, Mechiel or Scarlet''s rage is building, and they are bing angrier at the passing second. So it''s going to be you who will suffer in the end. Besides, those two are great beauties. Zh and Xermolipi... Their very core Code and Corruption lives on these two."


    "I do not doubt that those two are top beauties. But they belong to ''Kyros''. I am Nightwing. I can sense the other souls in me. But I am my person in this trinity. Together, we are the Nephilim. But I am not Kyros. And I would not allow myself to be conquered by these women."


    "Ah... I forgot you are a trinity. How annoying. I can''tprehend your thoughts. Just don''t try to fight against yourself."


    "I have no intention. But I will be Nightwing. Away from this Trinity."


    "Whatever floats your boat. Say hi to Luigi for me. I really miss him."


    "It must be true love if you really love him."


    "It is. That goof is more charming than you give him credit for. But do remind him that he is married."


    "I will."


    "In any case... I bid you farewell, Nephilim. I''ll be watching, but there is nothing much I can do until Krysta''s family ascends to the Celestial realm. Till then, continue to fight to the End. And I like Kyros better. You should learn from his good deeds."


    "If he''s as smart as me, he knows I would be this cruel."


    The vision faded, and Nightwing saw himself back in the room.


    Krysta was also alerted.


    It was as if the entire vision took less than a fraction of a second.


    The power of the wind began to surge.


    The breath of life had appeared and with [Supra-Physikos] began to appear as the bestowal of the goddess began.


    Krysta felt lighter and could feel the wind. She was one with the wind and could sense iting and going. And then she could sense the breath of life in his parents.


    "Mom... Dad... You are the wind." Krysta whispered.


    Suddenly, the eyes of the two opened!


    Their souls resonated, and as they received the Sacrifice of Souls, the body of the two began to reform. It didn''t have a deathly aura. It, in fact, harnessed a great amount of energy.


    The wind blew and a hurricane formed around them. Arge vortex of wind awakened.


    "Impressive heritage... But it''scking... Allow me. The breath of Ss will do well with the light of Soter." Nightwing called out the link to the Fortress. But this time, he summoned the light he sensed in his first connection. A light of healing and restoration was found within the Fortress.


    The True Holy Healing that was in the Fortress had already improved. The Emberdons who had be Liches continued to improve on this power so that they could unlock the potential of everyone and clear out the meridians and other hindrances in cultivation.


    A light appeared on Nightwing''s arms, and he shot it out to the vortex of wind. The great light source spurred the awakening heritage of Krysta, Christopher, and their awakening parents.


    And there, wings began to appear!


    Ikarod sensed the great power and felt a vast inferiority.


    "Transfiguration! I have read of that power...!" Ikarod froze. In the records of his family, there spoke a legend where one of their ancestors, now heralded as the greatest member of their family, was bestowed this power and wielded the great light.


    Krysta and Christopher began to panic as they could sense a strange sensation at their back.


    There was a pain, but it quickly passed.


    The two didn''t understand and nced up.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Mom! Dad!" Christopher cheered and began to tear up.


    Angelian, Monica, and Sherah were also amazed at what they saw.


    "But how?" Anglian couldn''t understand.


    "By the Undivine, I call you! By Mysterion, I enshroud you. By Soter, I bind you! By the power of Thanatou, I im you mine!" Nightwing dered.


    But his words did not use any of the Words of Power that he would use to call out the power of the universe. Instead, the power that Nightwing invoked was deception.


    Those meaningless words echoed out and amazed those watching.


    "Arise, my Unholy Angels!" Nightwingughed as the light, and the wind expanded out and exploded.


    BOOM!


    Four winged beings stood.


    Christopher just noticed that he now had wings.


    Krysta''s parents had their eyes opened, and they nced at the room with a confused expressions.


    "Mom! Dad!" Krysta cried as she flew to their embrace.


    Christopher did the same.


    "I have kept my promise. And you will now be my ve. You have no choice, for I have bound you!" Nightwing called out to Krysta.


    Christopher was confused. But before he could react, he heard the voice of Luigi.


    "Just y along, guys! Master still has an image to protect."


    Christopher and Krysta nodded.


    "Now... Go and talk with your resurrected parents. But as discussed, your souls are mine!" Nightwingughed manically, and the four left to the side.


    Nightwing watched as the group left. Krysta nced at Nightwing and had such gratefulness.


    "Where are we...?" The winged man with a stern and cautious expression asked.


    "I''ll exinter, father." Krysta led the group away.


    Nightwing turned his attention to the gathered group.


    "Greetings! I am-"


    "I will serve the great lord!" Ikarod bowed immediately.


    "Damn it! I wanted to do that!" Grandite Doragan cursed and made a huge leap, andnded in front.


    THUD!


    Grandite had his face nted down and was kowtowing before Nightwing. He made a full kowtow to show that he was more serious than Ikarod.


    "Idiot, son! Bow before your ancestor!" Grandite shouted.


    Barakan quickly followed, and he and the giants and cyclops all leaped and bowed before Nightwing.


    "Oh? Why so excited to bow to me?" Nightwingughed.


    "You have the words of life... Where else can I turn?" Ikarod asked. The lost legacy of his people was here!


    "You can bestow life! Even the Gigantes follow you! Why would I, a humble Golem, not serve you?" Grandite asked.


    Everyone else began to approach and bow.


    It was too awesome and inspiring. With the two Crowns bowing in servitude, what else could the rest do?


    Nightwing smiled as his ns to recruit them worked perfectly.


    "Do you all know why I have recruited you?" Nightwing asked.


    "Please enlighten us, master," Ikarod asked.


    "Whether you know it or not, you are strong but are unaffiliated. Some of you are even betrayed by the former secret masters you serve. I am targeting those secret masters of yours. The Eldrich have arrived in this nesworld. The outcast race that was once driven away is here. And some of you know this. Many of you don''t know you have indirectly served them. As for me... My goal is to enter Eldrich''s circles. They n to enve this world. And I want a piece of that pie!" Nightwingughed.

 Chapter 495 Enter The Lowlands

    The Londs had been in utter chaos over the past months since Kyros had left the group.


    The adventures of the teams of Kyros were easy and a rxing vacation for all of the troops if not for the thousands and thousands of dead enemies they left in their wake.


    Mezal wrote their exploits'' records and left them in a strange magic pir. Images and recordings could be disyed in the pir, and those who touched it could scroll over the events to see what had happened.


    On that day, Hunter had returned to the Fortress after their escapades and began to read through the records of Mezal.


    "Enter the Londs: Rise of the Steele Kingdom. Book Seven of Mezal Steele''s records."


    "The situation in the Londs could be summarized into this short phrase: Fate has established its roots in thisnd."


    "The Steele family had done great things in thisnd. And as an old man who thought I''d die as a Champion, it is fitting for me to speak of my family''s glory in the Londs."


    "The orcs that were supposed to be the minions of Destiny to push through thesends were halted. They were being driven back and could not gain footing as several human kingdoms had suddenly risen to great power in the Londs. But, of course, this was only possible because of the Steele family and the Coven of Nephilim. So we were the hunters of those who are people of Destiny."


    "The Londs was now under the thumb of four major powers who formed a powerful alliance. The Vaux Imperial Kingdom, the Addorant kingdom, and a new kingdom have positioned themselves in Airom had have begun to deal with the kingdoms in the Middle where I, Mezal, resided. The fourth power is the Mage Alliance negotiating with Battle Mage Commander Relik to return to the Mage Alliance as its nominal leader."


    "The magical knowledge that the Emberdons presented created such great astonishment that many who saw the most basic of magic knew that the Londs could contend with the Minds with this knowledge. Of course, this was all because of the efforts of the Library of the Nephilim, which we have now upgraded to level 2. Since Relik was the former mentor of the Emberdons, it only made sense to crown him as the Mage Alliance head. In a short span of time, Relik also grew in great power. He would stay in Middle for weeks and be more powerful. He was already close to bing a Cardinal!"


    "Now to the two kingdoms... The Vaux Imperial had my son, Branze Steele. With him inmand and with his ever-growing miraculous power, he has been crowned the Supreme Commander of the Alliance. His shield could block several Cardinals easily. His wife, Diana Steele, was equally terrifying. With him and his astute strategies, they easily won and pushed back the orc armies. One could fight over a hundred with the strategies and traps they ced. But the biggest reason our advances were fast and swift is Wings of the Nephilim, who had to hide their true name and went by a rather humble name, the Wings of Steele. Their jet-propelled and powerful bombardment magic practically made the other mages worship the Steele family, and many wanted to join our family. We recruited those with Fate potential using the Emberdon''s Fate detecting device... But we only managed to find four recruits!"


    "It was reported to me that the other kingdoms were secretlymunicating with the members of the Steele family. After our adventure in Future Middle, we have over a dozen mages who were home-grown servants. And it seems that the kingdoms and mages offered great wealth, beauties that will make the hearts of men leap, and other things to these servants of mine. Howughable. If they only knew the battle that''s transpiring and how all these material gains seem like nothing in theing time of the Middle. All my servants were Fated to be Challengers. These house-raised mages onlyughed at the offer of these foolish lords. Yet many were desperate, and this would result in illegal means. But against Foresight, what can these people do? The Steele family continues to hold knowledge of the jet technology that is born out of my grandson''s disgusting intelligence and the entric thoughts of Cminus. With this, we have be the real superpower in the region. Fortresses fell in the wake of their flight. And when an Emberdon ride along with these mages, victory and mass destruction was assured."


    "But in all of this victory, Branze and Diana were bored. They couldn''t find an enemy that exited them until the Necromancer, Lorjdenheign, was forced to appear from the Dark Sea. Yet his Cardinal powers could not block my son''s and his wife''s twin shields, and he was forced to retreat. For some strange reason, Branze did not think that Lorjdenheign was of Destiny despite being a Challenger. He was not a Fate Challenger, nor was he of Destiny. UPDATE: ''Nightwing'' hadmunicated to the Emberdons and told them to war every one of the New Era. He also told of True Challengers, which were those who had the power simr to us Challengers. Branze and Diana are searching for this fighter to capture."<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Now, as for the Addorant Kingdom, they were losing the war against a coboration of orcs and undead. No doubt the Dark Shine kingdom is behind the sudden appearance of powerful dark dependents. The vampires had gued thend, and the undead horde was moving everywhere, spreading dark energy that withered the crops. But right when things looked bleak, the small group of thirty soldiers led by Aron and Martha arrived, and they easily turned the tide in a few skirmishes."


    "Their group targeted the strongest soldiers and fighters of the orcs and undead and used guerri tactics to kill orcs. The soldiers of these thirty, being our servants, could hold their ground against Champions for so long, and their leaders called themselves the Elite Four. They had agreed to use the talking dogs of the Emberdons, Edward, and Alphonse. Surprisingly, they have proven to be very useful in wars and skirmishes as they could sense and smell the enemies three times better than Martha, who has dragonic blood! They could smell an orc for over ten kilometers. And with that, hundreds of orcs would suddenly vanish at an instant in their patrols, and outposts would suddenly turn empty."


    "I ordered them to use this tactic, and they killed more orcs and hid the heads in Martha''s dimensional space. And when the Addorant kingdom was in an intense battle as the orcs and undead had no choice but to send the attack, I made them appear and kill the strongest Commanders and Champions. So the Addorant kingdom saw their saviors. And two of them were disowned archers of the Bowheart family."


    "The disgraced Martha and Myas were already famous since they had made their appearance as part of my Steele family in Airom when all those kingdoms met with us. So naturally, they were very wary of Martha. Was she there for revenge for her family? Was she here to brag andugh at them?"


    "Of course, none of them expected Martha to use dimensional magic that threw the heads of the thousand they slew along the way. Aside from those they killed on the battlefield, the scene of Martha showering her ''gifts'' to her kingdom was reportedly a very cool scene. This is ording to Gregory. In any case, her power disy was only second to what Aron revealed. A single sh that slew hundreds, maybe thousands, were engraved into everyone''s memory. Myas tells me that the eyeballs of the Bowheart Patriarch nearly popped at the action of the man who was said to be Martha''s husband."


    "Little Gregory also fought and challenged the strongest Champion and easily defeated him. He then challenged a Commander and forced the Commander to get serious. But, of course, with the recent army of Mammon that Nightwing sent, Gregory could kill two of those Commanders now."


    "To summarize, Myas Bowheart was crowned as a princess. His fiance, Gregory Porter, thest surviving member of thete merchant group, was supported by many merchants who knew him through the trades in Airom. Martha and Aron Steele had moved instantly, but Myas led the kingdom to prosperous victory."


    "Lastly, a new kingdom of Orcs that had once been destroyed has risen from the ashes. While there was a princess and a king crowned, the advisor was the most feared man and was considered the real king of this kingdom. Grugnyr of the Thousand Deaths was famous for single-handedly defeating an army all by himself. His power was shockingly high that he could be content with Commanders! Grugnyr''s rivalry with Gojirrah and Hunter has undoubtedly be very useful, and it seems that Grugnyr has an ancient heritage that has yet to awaken. But all in all, these four kingdoms are linked to the Steele family. And so, in this pir, I described the glory, however fleeting and quick this might pass. At least, within the Londs, Fate had won."


    Hunter finished browsing through the contents on the altar.


    He nced to the side and turned to Mezal.


    "Do you like it?" Mezal asked with his eyes full of anticipation. He had been reciting the entire text written on the altar since he had memorized it by heart.


    "I honestly would have liked to read it on my own and not have you read it to me..." Hunter sighed.

 Chapter 496 Enter The Gunpla Collection Room

    Mezal nced at the altar and raised his hands.


    The room trembled, and numerous altars appeared.


    "I have prepared many records for ouring fights!"


    "Master Mezal, you seem to be rather obsessed with this. Your magical powers have increased as well."


    "Drop the master. I am no longer your master since you are an adopted son. Call me papa if you want." Mezalughed.


    "...No." Hunter disagreed.


    "In any case, this isn''t magic. This is the magic of Soul power. I have found ways to harness the power of a shaman from the books of the Nephilim Library and have studied it. As for my obsession, it''s a side-effect of experimenting with Brimstone. The joyous desire to record things, which is Histerion''s desire, has affected me. But my vanity has affected it, so I want to journal and detail our adventures."


    "Will my journeys will also be recorded?"


    "Yes. You are a Steele. So what of the developments in Middle and Reptilia and Gojirrah''s ce?"


    "We only scouted the regions to see the state of the on the other side. It''s very... weird."


    "Weird?"


    "I guess we Fate Challengers are just used to it, but when we entered that other ce... it was so... light. As if there was no pressure or burden around us. Here in Middle, it''s thick. Up in the nesworld, it''s even thicker. The armies we fought there seemed to have no alignment. Once we could kill the lizard lords, the nations instantly slipped out as the people we elected into the castles, and political chambers easily gained power with little interference. It was like whatever we do. The enemy would just bow down and let us kill them!"


    "I see. So it seems we can feel the powers of Destiny and Fate that skirmish against each other. Although, most mortals in this realm won''t ever have a chance to see it. Then we should As expected, the nesworld is a significant ce in thising wars. Not just because it holds a time and space entry to Middle, but it seems to be at the crossroads of the battle." Mezal assessed.


    "What of your conquest?


    "Throughout the past months, we have been moving back and forth between the two ces. We realized that recruiting more lizardmen on the other was easier. There were some human kingdoms in that other world. But the continent we were in had only a few humans. They all submitted and served us. So we were moving back and forth, recruiting there and attacking in Middle. The Emberdons have been helping us in some of the attacks. But it was all to test their new weapons."


    "I noticed. I haven''t delved into the details since my attention has been on the Kingdoms of the Londs."


    "They... sort of created a gue on one of the enemies we faced in Reptilia''s home."


    "...A gue?"


    "Yes. A dangerous illness that could even afflict Commanders."


    "What sort of gue was that?"


    "A gue of hemorrhoids."


    "..." Mezal''s mouth was left wide open.


    "What...? Why? What inspired them? Cminus?"


    "Yes. They said that they asked Cminus for ideas from his entric otherworldly incarnations. Cminus said that there was a gue of hemorrhoids in a book called the Bible. Cminus gave a full disclosure stating that this Bible is an ancient book and said that the gue was that of emerods. Regardless if it was hemorrhoids or tumors that inspired the Emberdons to make that weapon."


    "Was it any helpful?"


    "The enemies surrendered and pleaded for the cures after two weeks. As a result, most of our front-line soldiers constantly fighting the undead hordes north of here are from that kingdom that surrendered."


    "Whatever works, I guess. So you havee here to report your sessful conquer of the Alpha Draconis Kingdom?"


    "Yes. Gojirrah is named king since my wife doesn''t like to be queen."


    "Why?"


    "Er... Because I didn''t want to be crowned king. It felt weird to be a king of lizardmen."


    "You have a good wife, Hunter." Mezal chuckled.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "So this means that Commander Komodo had also submitted?"


    "Yes. The Cardinal that he served retreated, and many other Cardinals gathered together to band as one kingdom. They thought that with their strength, they could easily conquer Middle. They were powerful Lizard Lords that could easily kill the former Komodo. Now, as an ally, we have been training him to fight. He often spars with the three of us."


    "...I''m guessing you are applying Martha and Aron''s training methods."


    "We are."


    "Poor guy."


    "Not just him, but many former Champions are growing up, and they are following us not because we conquered them but because we made them see a new standard that they want to pursue. Gojirrah is epted as king because he defeated a Lizard Lord that was a High Cardinal in the Battle of Heroes and was hailed the After Toilet yer."


    "The what? Wait... Then again, I don''t want to know the history behind that. It would just soil my records." Mezal shrugged.


    "After the defeat of one Lizard Lord, the rest of the Lizard Lords allied with each other... and with the Undying Lands. No doubt a work of Destiny. That''s the current enemy we face right now. All surviving Lizard Lords have banded up. And we sense a powerful gathering of Destiny''s chosen champions from the other worlds that are connected. And... by some mysterious means, they are growing as strong as Crowns!"


    "Oh? A Champion battle between Fate and Destiny approaches. The Lizard Lords was a way of Fate to pit us against strong enemies. The Nephilim Sealing Mountain is constantly opening up its portals to bring us challenges that could equal the Minds now."


    "I wish Lord Kyros would be back. But now we face him to be our future enemy." Hunter sighed.


    "That''s exactly why Kyros left. If we stand by his side, we will never really blossom. But now, we are forced to fight. This gathering of Destiny is a battle that will appear to be between Destiny and Fate. But now, the other person of Kyros, Nightwing, has rified that we can masquerade as True Challengers."


    "How do we masquerade as True Challengers?"


    "Two beings are known to be of the True Neutral alignment. Dragons and Gigantes. And we have both. If we present ourselves to have this great power, it will only seem that we are Neutrals just living to fight against Fate and Destiny."


    "So, we are to force our lizardman friends to be dragons?"


    "That would be too rming. Airom is a battlefield between gods and dragons, after all. We use some parts of that, but not enough to draw attention to the gods and fallen. We can use the newest rooms built in this Fortress!"


    "Is it the new hall in the west wing?"


    "Yes! The Gun Collection room!"


    "Gun?"


    "It''s short for Golem Uniform ting. It''s a very interesting power that can help our army grow. We will be equipped with the Golem''s armors atmand. Right now, we only have a few suits that give five people the power of five golem uniforms. Wind, Fire, Lightning, Water, and Ice. If you equip those, you have the armor of a Golem! Use them to fight the iing army! This also gives you the power to scale up to five levels!"


    "Five levels?!" Hunter was amazed.


    "Yes. So use them properly. The more forces of Destinye, the better. We must kill them all and use the advantage of being forgotten in this battle of Fate and Destiny to our advantage."


    "But... if that''s the case, I would need to conquer kingdoms that have Fate. I might even have to kill Fate Challengers to deceive the enemy and present myself as a True Challenger!"


    "Yes. We will be going with the conquering route. We attack and imprison both Fate and Destiny''s people when we win. Have Reptilia make preparations for it. You came here to ask for help, but this is your battle, Hunter. You have to find a way to survive and win this. The Gun ess is all that I can offer since we have not yet found a way to deploy it outside of Middle."


    "Understood. Those suits will be helpful if we trick the enemies into more Battle of Champions. But if an Eldrich appears, we might not have a way to defeat them."


    "You have to hold your fort for at least two months. By then, Branze should be able to resolve all problems in the battles in the Londs. By my calctions, an Eldrich should have already made its way here!"


    Hunter sighed and walked out. He knew that a bloody battle was over the horizon.


    Back in the Minds, a full army had marched off out of the eastern side of the Uninvolved Lands and was headed towards the ck Bog Kingdom.


    Watching the parade of forces marshaled, Nightwing and a small team stood in the shade of harnessed Oblivion.


    "Let''s move deeper. Now is our chance to scout how strong the forces remain!"

 Chapter 497 Enter The Tower

    The army of Mind men and creatures marched and formed ranks. It was a grand army that was formed to have the capacity to conquer kingdoms.


    Champions and Commanders marched out, leading their troops while Cardinals led the way.


    At the forefront of this army were the Crowns tasked to lead the group.


    They marched off towards the ck Bog Kingdom to wage war. The crowds cheered as this army moved out. The ck Bog Kingdom was a scourge of corruption and evil that allowed criminals to take refuge. While it was awlessnd, many angry victims wanted this country gone so that justice would finally happen.


    It was a great cause that received the votes and support of many other kingdoms. However, the revtion of Commander Tyrs of secret treacheries involved thisnd, and many agreed that it was cancer that needed to be removed.


    Breveros watched from his high tower as the army left. He stood, and his figure could be seen from the town below.


    Unknown to him, a group of people was watching the parade. They stood in the shadows of the alleys but were unnoticed.


    The power of Mysterion and Oblivion was moving about.


    Nightwing and a small team watched the parade and observed the tall tower to see the new leaders of the Kingdom.


    They had gathered information and ascertained that the Eldrich had taken over.


    After learning that Eldrich had marshaled an army to attack the ck Bog Kingdom, Nightwing knew the purpose was to kill him.


    "They took the bait... We now have the perfect opportunity to enter that tower!" Nightwing smiled.


    "You knew this would happen?" Monica asked at the side.


    "An Incubus is a fearful thing. I caused you even to attack your allies, remember? I expected movement. But this Eldrich is cautious. Very cautious. There is a strange power around him. The monsters he fed on that tower was not just food or nourishment. He is fighting some sort of disease or curse. My bet is that he is cursed since the powers of Destiny are slightly distorted."


    "He''s unlucky." A man next to Nightwing answered.


    The man had a strange golden glow emitting out of him and stood next to Krysta.


    This man was a master of strategy and was renowned in the Minds for his daring resolve to even attack the Hignds in one skirmish during the forming years of the Uninvolved Lands.


    Kilian Sword Saint, the Sword Strategem, was Krysta''s father.


    "Luck?"


    "I''ve met them on my battlefield. This person bears the exact opposite of my old rival in the wars back then. He had the power of luck. But since that Eldrich has a curse, I sensed that luck was working everywhere against him. So he has bad luck."


    "Why would someone curse him with bad luck? Eldrich should have close ties to the Fallens!" Nightwing frowned.


    "Ikarod. Have your men figured out the name of this elusive Eldrich?"


    "Not yet. But my eagles are all poised with their eyes set on a target who has met the man. They will ambush him and find the name, oh mighty one."


    "Heh. Mighty one. Is that what you''re calling me? Well, this mighty one will need all the help he needs to defeat this cautious Eldrich. And not just him. He has a few Crowns hiding in that fort." Nightwing smiled.


    "How strong are they?" Krysta asked.


    "Several Crowns are present in that army. A few more are left to guard the forts. But one leading this army and two others who remained to guard the fort are probably High Crowns!"


    "A High Crown?" Monica asked.


    "Crowns that can challenge Conquerors. In most cases, High Crowns be Conquerors within a decade." Krysta sighed.


    "So they are strong." Sherah frowned.


    "I have a High Crown potential," Angelian added.


    The group nced at Angelian. The girls have all seen the extent of her power and fear her.


    "This is why my strength, defense, and speed stats reach up to two-hundred pointspared to those at my level," Angelian revealed.


    "This is quite troublesome. Master... You said ''probably.'' Does this means that you cannot tell if they are strong Crowns or are those who have proven to be High Crowns?" Arnold the Gigantes asked.


    "No. I''m sure that they are High Crowns. But the leader in that tower... His power levels are hidden. So I can''t tell if that person is a High Crown or if the stats of this person would have three to four hundred points higher than the regr cultivator!"


    "You can''t mean...!" Angelian was shocked.


    "That''s right. That Eldirch probably has Victor''s Crown potential!"


    "A Victors Crown?!" Ikarod eximed.


    "How strong will that be?" Monica asked again. But this time, there was fear in her voice.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "If a cultivator uses all forceful means to increase their power and levels even when they are way out of the potential that their body, talent, and innate physique gives them and reaches Crown, these people generally have around 520 points in the strength stat or around 400 in his magic. Those considered Genius with a Crown potential would have around 600 points in strength and 500 in magic. High Crowns will have up to 700 and 600 points, respectively. Angelian''s peak strength right now could reach 500 points even as a Cardinal. That would allow him to sh with the Antibodies barely. But it would be no contest if that Eldrich is a Victor''s Crown. His stats would be several hundred higher!" Nightwing exined.


    "Get back!" Nightwing took a step back and used the darkness of Kyriachos to separate them.


    "What a cautious man... Was this Destiny''s n? He cursed this Eldirch to make him strong? That feels like Fate''s doing!"


    Up the tower, Breveros nced at the area where he sensed something.


    "My paranoia is back. There''s clearly nothing there... Of all the times to fight an Incubus, this curse would resurface again now! Bad luck follows me... Now even I''m not sure if this army is enough! It''s annoying to fight an Incubus..." Breveros sighed.


    Behind him were decaying beasts and monsters that were hunted nearby and were feeding him with death energy. He had fought Crowns in the past week to establish his position, and as a Dark Dependent, he needed more death energy to recover his used-up powers.


    As the dark energy entered him, Breveros activated his magic that allowed him to quantify and add his strength through a magical interface known as the Stat Board.


    The Stat Board, which was visible only to him, appeared.


    ---


    Breveros Hiwind


    Race: Eldrich


    Age: 186


    Level: 63


    ---


    Corruption:


    Greater Blessing of Thanatou


    ---


    Strength- 813


    Magic- 881


    Dexterity- 856


    Vitality- 842


    Intelligence- 591


    Force- 523


    Fallen Source- 421


    ---


    Active curses:


    Curse of Desidamonia


    ---


    Breveros frowned as he watched his stats. It had been silent and wouldn''t usually appear, but the curse had surfaced again.


    "Desidamonia... Just which Fallen is this? But at least now, I know the name!" Breveros clenched his fist..


    "If this curse surfaces now, my ns have bad luck all over them. What do I do? Will this attack fail? Is there an assassination attempt?" Breveros began to ponder and worry.


    Breveros suddenly took out a special message talisman that could reach the distant borders of the ck Bog Kingdom.


    "Anything suspicious to report? Is the incubus still there?" Breveros asked.


    "My Lord. The teams of the kingdoms that had scouted thend with us have reported having entire patrols vanishing mysteriously. Also... we found a strange hut where an altar to Cracky Batcheeks is engraved!"


    "Cracky Batcheeks? Is he really the incubus, is he taking advantage of the chaos and is challenging the incubus, or are they working together?" Breveros began to second-think everything he thought he had ascertained.


    As he continued to ponder, Nightwing''s team had already begun to enter the tower where Breveros stayed.

 Chapter 498 Enter The Lucky Door

    The team of Nightwing had secretly entered the tower through spatial magic.


    Nightwing had searched for the darkest areas of the tower. With the power of Kyriachos, he could seek out the most isted darkness in any space. And when he found the spot, he used the separated darkness to peer into it.


    The portal was notrge. It was only asrge as a person''s head. But it was enough.


    Angelian''s head peered out of the portal.


    She closed her eyes and used her dragonic scent to scout.


    "It''s clear," Angelian spoke.


    The portal grewrge, and she stepped out.


    The others began to move.


    Ikarod, Arnold, Kilian, Krysta, Luigi the Slime, and a many-headed lizardman moved out of the portal.


    "Is it this simple? We walk in this tower somehow?" Krysta asked.


    "Master... This seems too good to be true!" Finally, Reginald, the Hydra, spoke. He had assumed a smaller form that allowed him to infiltrate the team.


    "That''s right! We shouldn''t underestimate it! Jiraya infiltrated a tower, and look what happened to him?"


    "Whose...? Never mind. Cornerstone. What do you think?" Arnold asked Nightwing.


    "I''m not sure. There were... hindrances!" Nightwing frowned.


    "It''s luck. The powers of luck are working against us. Trust me. I nearly died fighting luck! Thank the heavens. It''s on our side now." Kilian answered.


    Nightwing was quiet as he had minions of Destiny with him. So be he could not understand the luck he had.


    "Why? Why would luck choose to help us? The reasonable exnation is that Fate seeded innding a curse on Destiny... But a curse? Foresight and Challenger could easily outdo it. So why is this curse affecting him? He will not be allowed to soar and grow stronger, and his strength will be limited!" Nightwing began to ponder on the mystery.


    "Does luck make things... this easy?" Nightwing asked.


    "There was a situation like that... But now that I think about it, it only happened once in my battles with him that he got so lucky! He was never that lucky after. This does seem a little strange. The luck that I fought against wasn''t this convenient. Could it be? Beginners luck?" Kilian pondered.


    "No. I don''t think beginner''s luck applies here. Keep your guard up. There might be something that may happen here. It could be a trap!"


    The group began to move quietly up the tower.


    The area where they emerged was on the underground floors of the tower where supplies were set.


    But there was nothing in the kingdom''s vaults interested them, and the group moved up quietly.


    Unknown to the group, strange magic was at work.


    At the center of the tower was a massive detection device. When word of an Incubus was present in the nesworld, the Eldrich knew that any infiltration made inside their forts would be deadly.


    So the Blessing of the son of Tyrannos, the first son to change, was in ce.


    The Corruption Aso, the Altering Fallen, was set within the tower.


    While the person wielding this power only had a small droplet, the person could detect any changes that urred within a certain range.


    As such, the moment the portal opened, and when Angelian took a peek, the sentry guard had already detected Angelian.


    Seven Cardinals were present as they were not allowed to join the expedition. They all waited in the room, praying that someone would dare appear.


    The Cardinals had been very frustrated these past few days. They were strong. Even stronger than many Cardinals. But they were not assigned to war. They had been looking for opportunities to showcase their might and power.


    But on the first major incursion with a powerful enemy, they were not sent out but ordered to stay.


    But then, the Cardinal wielding the power of Aso stood up!


    "Amazing...!"


    "Intruder?" One Cardinal asked.


    "Yes! Lord Breveros was right!" The Cardinal sneered.


    "Hmph! What n! Let''s go!"


    "Inform Lord Breveros! We will deal with the pest! The power of Aso is within this tower! We can toy with them even if they are Crowns!" One of the Cardinalsughed as they moved towards the area and prepared the stage.


    Breveros continued to sit at the tower''s peak and was alerted of the trespassers.


    "Oh? I was right!" Breveros smiled as he heard the report.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "I can''t stay unlucky forever! Through bad luck, I could never rise and even challenge my brother''s future! With such a sad Destiny, I could only lower my head and never have the rise my brother had. I was so unlucky that I couldn''t even fight or plot against my brother! But it seems my intelligence is now enough to fight this foe!" Breverosughed.


    "Lord Breveros... What shall we do?"


    "Send them high up close to me! I''ll toy with them! Then, all of you, be in a position to fight! Use the energy conversion circle to wield the power of Aso and cast [Ever Changing Illusion]! Separate the team and start by killing the weak ones!" Breveros ordered.


    "Yes! Lord Breveros!"


    "Recall all guards. Let''s not shed unnecessary blood. They will fall for our trap!"


    Nightwing and his team were walking to a point where they lowered their guard. For some reason, no guards barred their way.


    At some point, Luigi became chatty and bored from theck of conflict.


    "This is boring." Luigi sighed.


    "For a Time God, you should have more patience. Aren''t you a being that stood before time?" Nightwing shook his head.


    Many were still amazed at this news. Many had very poor views of Luigi when they met him.


    "Well, it''s your fault, master! Honestly... making me forget who I am. And to think I''m married!"


    "I still can''t believe that the Goddess fell for you." Krysta shook her head.


    FLASH!


    Suddenly, a bright light appeared, and the area around them changed!


    From the rocky tower, the area became endless grasnds. Then it became the deep darkness of the sea. Then an endless blue sky.


    The changingndscape and space confused their senses, and everyone began to feel confused.


    Angelian''s dragonic powers were revealed as she managed to resist the magic.


    Nightwing was also undisturbed, but Reginald was so affected by the sensation of being whirled around like a stone attached to a string that he bumped into Nightwing, and the two stumbled.


    Breveros watched the scene and smiled.


    "My guest! How good of you to join me! It''s almost time for dinner! I can''t wait to eat you!" Breverosughed.


    Suddenly, six doors appeared before them. But, as the changing world kept spinning, the doors remained static.


    "Six doors for six people and their pet slime. How entric for someone that follows the bloodline of such foul beings!" Breverosughed.


    Nightwing nced around and saw the six doors. He then turned to Angelian and whispered.


    "Angelian. Guard everyone. I''ll go ahead." Nightwing answered.


    He could not see through the changing ce. He knew that with such a grand illusion, even those who were Conquerors would be affected!


    Nightwing moved and took the risk and moved towards the door.


    As he moved, Breveros chuckled as heughed at the pawn being sent.


    "Fools... Ever since I learned that Cracky Batcheeks was an Incubus, I feared that luck would y a cruel trick on me! So I schemed and schemed and studied every possibility so that Luck would not beat me! And now, the powers of Aso that created the illusion are a trick. Six doors to trick people into moving to different areas. In reality, there is one room. And that man will fight all my Seven Cardinals together!" Breverosughed.


    Nightwing nced at the doors and sighed.


    "This magic is too powerful. I can''t tell if this is real or an illusion!"


    "Young man! Do not be afraid! A minion should dive in without hesitation!" Breveros''s voice called out.


    "Minion?" Nightwing frowned and scratched his head.


    "Hm... I get it. When the magic appeared, Angelian resisted it and remained standing. But Reginald bumped me, so we stumbled together. I guess that made me look weak. And then, when the doors appeared, I whispered to Angelian to takemand. I guess he thought that Angelian was ordering me... Huh. Is it luck? Is this trap still part of luck?" Nightwing pondered.


    "Better y along..." Nightwing decided.


    "You think you can beat my master?!" Nightwing shouted.


    "You fool! Don''t think I have not heard of your master''s exploits in the Londs! Don''t think I don''t know how he used Subi to control those two kingdoms in the Londs! I know all about your master! And even if he sent his strongest allies here, you would all fall! I have made great preparations to counter your plot! So go! Pick a door! Pick any door! Pray that you will select the lucky door!"


    The wisdom of Nightwing began to churn as he started to understand what Breveros''s n was.


    "...You gotta be kidding me! How unlucky is this guy?!" Nightwing thought to himself and even began to pity the man.

 Chapter 499 Enter The Chamber Of Maidens

    Breverosughed andughed at how his ingenious n worked.


    He was meticulous in his nning as this was his only way to climb up thedder of sess. Had it not been for his sharp mind, he would not have been able to rise to the very position of power he was in. While he wasn''t as strong and renowned as his brother, he still drew a decent amount of respect, and his strategies and opinions were highly valuable to his brother.


    He paid careful attention to the news of the wars in the Londs. He saw how kingdoms grew strong and how armies made a push.


    The Lond kingdoms were even as bold as to im that they would move to the Minds!


    Under the pretense that many Mind nations were secretly aligned with the orcs, two kingdoms demanded entry to the Minds.


    And strangely enough, it was granted by the Princess of the Hignds!


    Princess Listrel Protos Endoxos had allowed the two kingdoms to move in, and she imed that her recent disappearance was tied to these two kingdoms!


    But Breveros knew that there was something more to this! He believed that the Incubus, Cracky Batcheeks, had met Listrel and influenced or tricked her into allowing these two kingdoms to start moving in!


    "You were sent here ahead of him, weren''t you?" Breveros asked.


    "While he moved to the ck Bog Kingdom, you were sent to assassinate me!"


    Nightwing ignored the ongoing monologue of victory and stepped into a random door. Nightwing knew that all doors would leave to the same ce if Breveros willed it. The doors were meant to keep everyone separated. While Nightwing had no means of seeing through the illusion, he was confident he didn''t need to.


    Nightwing lost all fear and worry as he confirmed what Breveros thought happened.


    Through luck, it was Angelian who peered into the tower first. Through luck, she remained standing when even he stumbled. All this made every enemy inside the fortress believe that Angelian was their leader.


    Nightwing stepped into the door and vanished into a pce of great ice! The cold wind surprised Nightwing as he could feel the sudden temperature change.


    "What an amazing illusion! It seems so real that it tricks the brain into thinking it''s real!" Nightwing praised.


    "This has got to be the work of a Code or Corruption... I have to find a way to get it from the enemy!" Nightwing decided.


    The room was divided into different elements, and several Cardinals stood there with their weapons drawn in their corresponding elemental affinity.


    Nightwing sighed in pity. He hoped it wasn''t the case, but seeing the enemies, Nightwing confirmed that his theories were right.


    Breveros sneered as he saw Nightwing enter. He stood behind the changing walls, unseen to Nightwing. Only the Cardinals could see him since they were controlling the illusory world.


    Breveros had no use for these strong cultivators even when three of the Cardinals were among the top ten strongest within Breveros''s control. They were the perfect counter for the ''assassin'' he believed Cracky Batcheeks would send.


    He gathered the strongest women and made them his guards to counter a subus. As a result, the entire tower had nothing but strong women!


    "Let''s see you seduce my servants, Subus! These are women of great might in the army!" Breverosughed.


    Nightwing could only shake his head.


    "He was very careful, but luck was against him. He trapped us and ordered his other servants to give way so we could easily march into the room where the trap was set. He prepared a tower to counter a subus... Did it not ur to him that it could have been an incubus if I could send an assassin? Why did he believe that it had to be a subus?" Nightwing secretly pondered.


    Then the faces of two great beauties came to mind.


    "Ah... Of course. The subus wives of my other self... Kyros! Because I managed to kiss other women, they are probably raising hell to get here. It''s possible that Eldrich''s widework allowed him to deduce this..." Nightwing sighed and raised his sword and shield. He was not using his dark form but was harnessing various objects of light to hide his identity.


    "Minion of the Subus! You look like a Pdin Knight! You are a fool!" One of the Cardinalsughed. The Cardinal is an Ogre Magi who wields greatva energy.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "A Pdin that allows himself to be corrupted by a subus! How foolish!" Another Cardinalughed. The Cardinal is a human necromancer with a terrifying frost gathering.


    The other cardinals, two vampires, a siren, a Grendelor, and a Shade-Human hybrid, all mocked Nightwing.


    "Not a Lich among them... If any of them abandoned the flesh, they would be able to resist my Incubus charms. I''m not lucky. Breveros is just so unlucky. I wonder why Destiny would do this. I have used Mysterion to hide my presence as a Fate Challenger so that Destiny might have underestimated the threat. In reality, Destiny still wants this man alive but has no desire to give him more power than he should... Why?" Nightwing continued to ponder as he took several steps closer. He didn''t even have his guard up as he was confident in the opponent''s bad luck.


    The walking Pdin, that looked dazed and distracted, confirmed what Breveros and the cardinals believed.


    "What a stupid puppet..."


    "Ugh. Men like him, who chases every skirt, are useless."


    "Let me bite him." One of the Vampires smiled.


    The ice of terrifying energy gathered around Nightwing.


    The power surpassed that of Crowns! Nightwing could even see the limitations set by the gods and devils to add great limits to the powers beyond Crowns appear.


    Nightwing felt the cold energy appear and freeze him in the legs.


    "The ice is real. That Cardinal must be using her magic against me. But the illusion makes it look like I am being attacked with Crown-surpassing energy." Nightwing did move and pretended to have been frozen.


    All of a sudden, Nightwing began to panic.


    "What?! Where?! No! Please! Don''t kill me! My queen! The enemy is here! My queen!" Nightwing shouted and pretended to call out to Angelian.


    "You fool. That subus was a beauty. It even made me hate myself." The Vampireughed as she approached.


    "What?! Impossible! Even women fall to their knees at the sight of my queen!"


    "You still call her your queen? She robbed you of your thinking and made you move in here! Perhaps to spy on what lies ahead! But this ce''s powers are too great for [Shared Vision] magic! As for your queen, we have already made preparations! The wisdom of our lord made us use a very simple yet powerful method that could easily defeat the powers of your queen''s charms!" The vampire began to lick her lips as she approached.


    "Not bad for a human! You''re quite good-looking!"


    "Ah... that method." Finally, Nightwing realized what it was. He could see the strange gazes of the vampire and could tell that this vampire didn''t want just to drink his blood.


    "He probably ordered them to take alchemy pills to make these Cardinals develop an intense desire for a male partner. He fought fire with fire, lust with lust. Admittedly, he was careful. Had Angelian not peeked out of the portal I made, and had not I stumbled, then he would have doubted that the enemy was a subus. When they confirmed with certainty that a Subus would be their enemy, they ate the pill of lust. Idiot. That Eldrich made me, an Incubus, enter a chamber of maidens so aroused I ought to bonk them and send them to jail." Nightwing sighed. He could easily take control of the group andmand them to fight Breveros at this rate.


    "If I were to pretend to desire a seat among Eldriches, I shouldn''t kill too many of their minions at this stage. I guess I''ll have to kill the one with the greatest potential in Destiny." Nightwing nced at the others. For some reason, a strange vision would appear when he nced at the siren.


    It was as if he could see strange memories of how the siren caused great deaths and devastations. But in this vision, she was already a Crown. And the forces of the Hignds were in retreat at her power. In this vision, he could see an older man who looked like him challenge the Crown to a fight and was nearly defeated. The siren had a power simr to Subus, and her voice would drive people mad.


    "...Why does my past self have visions of the future?" Nightwing frowned. He realized that Kyros was hiding many mysterious things.


    "I guess it''s his way of telling me I should kill that girl... Too bad... She''s quite beautiful. Not as beautiful as Angelian but more than Monica, Krysta, or Sherah. I guess I''ll have some fun first." Nightwing sneered.


    The vampire approached.


    "Wait! Please! Before you kill me! You are right! She did betray! That bitch tricked me! Please! Let my death have meaning! Please! It will be beneath you, but let me kiss the siren! It will frustrate that bitch to see how I wanted another more than her!" Nightwing pleaded.

 Chapter 500 Enter The Trance State

    Nightwing''s proposal stunned many of those inside the chamber.


    But seeing the expression of hatred and frustration and how Nightwing''s yearning eyes spurred the lust of the siren.


    "What? No! I-"


    "Let him through. Give him what he wants! Besides... he wants me more than you!" The sirenughed.


    Her form dispersed into water, and a frozen pir of ice appeared right in front of Nightwing and shattered into pieces revealing the siren''s form.


    She was beautiful.


    "Not bad!" Nightwing thought to himself.


    "You!" The vampire grew angry as the siren appeared in front of Nightwing.


    "My Lord Eldrich... Won''t this act frustrate and anger the Subus? This will make her impatient and hasty! She will try to kill me for her pet lusted another! Don''t they despise that?" The siren ignored the vampire and called out to hermander.


    Breveros thought for a bit and agreed.


    "She is correct. Let it be. I know you all want to y with that man. Start with the one that this pdin yearns for. It will weaken the subus''s spell and make the pdin want all of you." Breveros answered.


    The siren smiled with her teeth shining brightly at the vampire.


    The vampire was enraged.


    Ignoring the vampire, the siren moved towards Nightwing and gently touched his face as she peered deep into his eyes.


    But at that moment, a powerful force began to work. The siren felt the true power moving out of Nightwing.


    Everyone else also sensed it. Their lust was increasing.


    Nightwing suddenly reached out to hold the siren, which felt fear. It was as if a ravaging monster wanted to devour her. But in this fear was a strange excitement!


    The appearance of Nightwing quickly transformed.


    [Skotos Eis Phos] was stopped, and the darkness within began to creep out.


    His armor, sword, shield, and very form turned dark as blood began to seep around him.


    The entire room turned red with the shing blood, and Breveros realized what had happened.


    "Get back!" Breveros ordered.


    But all the women stood frozen and marveled at the sight.


    The siren was in ecstasy as she was closest and was being forcibly pulled closer, and Nightwing''s lips pressed hard on hers.


    Nightwing enjoyed himself, as did the siren.


    The siren''s muffled moans echoed out.


    Breveros cursed and activated the spell he set on these women since he discovered that he would face an Incubus.


    "[Somatos Ous Thanatou: Necros Andrekelo]!" Breveros used the power of Corruption to seal the women''s thoughts and make them like mannequins!


    Thedies around Nightwing were all affected by lust and would have betrayed Breveros. But this spell sealed the thoughts, emotions, and consciousness.


    The women quickly retreated as the changing ice world began to spin, and a powerful blizzard suddenly appeared and confused Nightwing''s senses.


    "Impressive! You have such a quick reaction! To think you injected thick death energy into them! I saw the eyes of thatdy turn dark. If I were to guess, it''s puppetry magic using the Fallen Thanatou''s corruption." Nightwing chuckled as he stood boldly to face the blizzard.


    Breveros still could not believe it!


    "The Incubus! You! You''re here?!"


    "Yes. I''m not in the ck Bog Kingdom. I managed to find some new and strong allies there. They are the ones raising havoc in my name." Nightwing chuckled.


    "You tricked me! You used that subus...!"


    "Subus? No. She''s Angelian Fafnir. She does have my blood, but she''s not a subus, but a very hot Quarter Dragon. You were fooled because you were unlucky. And honestly, you were so unlucky that I actually pity you! Why did you assume she was the subus and I was but a knight she seduced? Was it because I identally stumbled? Was it because Angelian''s head was the first to move into this ce?" Nightwing taunted.


    "What?!"


    "I can sense a curse of bad luck on you. I wonder why? Regardless, you will die here."


    "You fool! I still have the upper hand! I control the formation now! The women you seduced have no way to break out of [Necros Andrekelo]! Now feel my wrath!" Breveros shouted as the death energy began to gather around Breveros.<novelnext></novelnext>


    The seven women moved and positioned themselves in front of Breveros. There were numerous circles on the ground and they took their respective positions. They poured out Force and Magic energy into the formation. The changing illusory power was starting to take physical form! The illusion was not perfectly real!


    "You will die with this! Luck may be against me, but I have still outsmarted it!"


    "No. Let me guess. You made thedies stand in front of you to fill in the formation of the energy conversion circle creating this illusory spell, right?"


    Breveros saw the formation, and it was, indeed, as Nightwing said.


    "What?! How did you know?"


    "Because you''re unlucky. You see, that subus in the Londs that you heard about? They are actually my wives or something. I''m not really sure. And they have vowed to kill with their own hands whoever I kiss. So it''s a powerful curse of jealousy. But since that siren is a Cardinal and they think I will block their attacks, they had to prepare a powerful attack. So I bought them time to cast this spell."


    All of a sudden, the space in front of the formation flickered.


    The power of darkness began to gather, and two palms took form in the air in front of the siren.


    From its palms, it moved upwards to form the hand.


    The hands were white as crystal and was very smooth. There was thick seductive energy gathering around the two arms.


    The forming hands continued to gather more darkness, and the shoulders of the Two arms were forming.


    And then the neck appeared.


    The neck slowly took shape, and Breveros saw the two lips of two women.


    Breveros couldn''t move, and he couldn''t think. It was one thing to see a subus, but now he saw two. Two subi bear the very Code and Corruption from which all forms of beauty sprang.


    Mechiel and Scarlet''s avatars took form. The curse they ced on Nightwing had allowed them to project their bodies near Nightwing.


    Their anger was great, and they watched the siren, who had now regained her consciousness since Breveros entered into a trance and lost control of the spell.


    The siren screamed as she saw the two beauties. To everyone else, the two women had shocking beauty. But to the siren, who was the recipient of her wrath, it was utter terror.


    The siren tried to gather magic and force, but because of [Necros Andrekelo], her body was not responding as the body seal, which gave Breveros full control, did not dissipate.


    "No! Please! He forced himself on me!" She pleaded.


    "Then why did you use your tongue?" Scarlet raged as she raised her palm.


    Mechiel did the same.


    The two swung their arms down.


    SPLAT!


    The siren turned to mush as the two ps reached her.


    Blood and gore exploded as Scarlet and Mechiel''s soul projection vanished.


    STAB!


    "AHHHH!" Breveros shouted as a sword stabbed through him.


    Nightwing was already behind him.


    "I have to say that you sure are careful. You even masked yourself with great magic and powerful enchantments to hide your true form. If you fought, people wouldn''t even know you''re an Eldrich unless they kill you and remove your mask!" Nightwing chuckled.


    "How...?"


    "You didn''t notice? The spell disappeared when you saw those two! Beautiful, weren''t they? I honestly envy Kyros. Such great beauties surpass the members of my harem. Oh? This attire... Are you of royal descent? A royal member of the Eldrich, huh?" Nightwing noticed.


    "Master!" The Cardinals called out and turned around. But they could not move. They were still weakened from the bacsh of the sudden cancetion of [Necros Andrekelo].


    "Idiots... You call me master... yet your eyes... are on him! Do you want to call those two women again?!" Breveros raged as he saw the expressions of the cardinals.


    Angelian and the rest arrived and began to draw their weapons.


    "Don''t kill them yet. I want a seat in the Eldrich. If we kill the top Cardinals of this army, we could get in trouble. So tell me, royal Unlucky Eldrich... What is your name?"


    "Master! My people have just received word. He is Eldrich Breveros. The younger brother to the king of the Eldrich!" Ikarod revealed.


    At the mention of the name, Nightwing''s expression suddenly changed. He felt a familiar sensation and saw small visions of another timeline.


    "What... the?" Nightwing couldn''t believe it. He quickly took off the mask to see the face of Breveros.

 Chapter 501 Friends With Breveros

    Breveros Hiwind, the unlucky Eldrich, knew he was going to die.


    The sword stab had a peculiar power draining his blood and releasing his death and dark energy.


    All because he dropped his guard when two subi appeared. The Subus''s power was so strong that even the changing power of Aso couldn''t hinder the appearance of the two women.


    The power that bound the subus to the incubus was terrifyingly strong! Breveros realized that it wasn''t just any subus that he saw! Those two must have received power from a Code or a Corruption!


    "How... careless of me..." Breveros sighed.


    He reflected on his mistakes and those that Nightwing revealed.


    "No. He was right. I was... unlucky. Why? Why am I destined for such weakness? Why is my destiny to be so... unlucky? I had the power to challenge the strong! Even my brother... But I am always..." Breveros began to curse at his Destiny.


    "Atst... my toil has ended. The bitterness of my constant unlucky strikes will finally end. I won''t have to fight it..." Breveros smiled and weed death with an embrace.


    "So... Hi! I''m Nightwing. Now that I proved that I could kill you... Is it possible that you can put on a good word for me? I want to join the Eldrich ranks." Nightwing smiled as he removed all of his attacks that were about to kill Breveros.


    Suddenly, arge pile of dead Champions and Commanders appeared.


    "These were some of your people I hunted down to feed myself. Seeing as you are a Dark Dependent that uses Thanathou''s Corruption, you should be able to heal yourself, right? Er... I can create a blood formation that will allow you to absorb all of this and survive if it''s not enough." Nightwing began to offer. His back was sweating.


    Nightwing was cursing himself.


    The moment he saw the face of Breveros, he had several memories of how Kyros and Breveros fought together and faced Brimstone beasts in a post-apocalyptic world. Nightwing wasn''t sure whether this was a future vision, a vision of an alternate future, or some scenes from a past life long ago!


    "I nearly killed a person of Fate! This is wild! A being of Destiny that will turn to Fate! Beyond the memories of Kyros, this person''s peculiar state is necessary for me to research! One blessed with Destiny, but one who is blessed only to be a minion of a leader of Destiny! But this guy proved too strong that it threatened the elected leader of Destiny and now has be the target of Destiny!" Nightwing began to understand the state of Breveros.


    "...What? What are you saying...? You don''t want to kill me?"


    "Kill you? What makes you think I want to kill you?"


    "WHAT MAKES ME THINK?!" Breveros erupted.


    "You created a multiyered plot to deceive me, drive my armies away from me, entrap me with women who could kill me if they saw your face, you killed my Siren Cardinal using two subi to put me in a trance, and stabbed me with your Blood de that contains strange powers that rendered me paralyze and useless! That''s what makes me think that you want to kill me!"


    "...But did I?" Nightwing asked again.


    "That''s not the point! What is it that you want?!"


    "As I said... I want to take a slice of the pie in the Eldrich New World Order that you want. You are of Royal blood! I can tell! I wish to meet your father, Tempest Hiwind, and the current king of the Eldrich, Bolerax Hiwind." Nightwing spoke the names of Breveros''s family.


    Breveros''s expression changed.


    "You... know my father and brother?"


    "I just heard of them through the enemies I fought. You may have heard of my escapades in the Londs. Truth be told, I just awakened then. I was too weak. And knowing that your erm... forces will most likely want to eat me, I presented myself as a human and changed the situation in the Londs. But... I lost."


    "You lost?"


    "Yes. There is this family that managed to defeat me in my newly awakened state. The Steele family, once an insignificant speck of warriors with one Champion, but now..."


    ? "I''ve heard of their recent exploits. It is said that the Steele Family has the strongest military force in all of the Londs. Not in numbers but in the quality of their soldiers. Captains capable of killing Champions. Champions that could bring down Commanders... And not just regr Commanders, but people with high potential to be Cardinals!"


    "Yes! Them! Tell me, Breveros. What do you know of Destiny and Fate?" Nightwing asked.


    "Destiny and Fate? You mean the two Gods that dictate the flow and future and the lives of all mortals?"<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Yes. A person is usually on one side of the two. The Steele Family is Fate''s Chosen Champion. And so, they will naturally be opposed to you who walk ording to Destiny."


    "Oppose us? So Fate and Destiny are at war!"


    "Yes. It''s like a war between the two sides. It''s something connected from ages long ago. As for me... I am a survivor. I am neither of Fate nor of Destiny. I am what you would call a True Neutral."


    "True Neutral? Are you... rted to dragons? The most ancient records of the Eldrich speak of dragons."


    "Not rted. Most Dragons are True Neutrals. But not all True Neutrals are dragons. They can be other races or beings. Like a Giant, a gigantes, or... in my case, the two forces were trying to kill me. So now, I''m picking a side. Since I lost to the champions of Fate, and I want to kill them, I am aligning with Destiny. But, of course, I have other desires, and bing an elite member on your side is the best option."


    "So... You really had no intentions to kill me?"


    "Well, honestly, I was nning to kill you but realized that you are of royal blood. Since you are the brother of the Eldrich lords, it would have certainly spelled trouble for me."


    "That''s true..." Breveros nodded. He stood up and nced at the Nightwing team holding down the women.


    "Will you release them from your control?" Breveros asked.


    "I can. But they will still be attracted to me. It is my nature. I can tell my team also to let them go. But you have to promise not to attack."


    Breveros harnessed the power and suddenly sealed the magic and force of the women.


    "Is this enough?" Breveros asked.


    "How bold of you. Unfortunately, you are leaving yourself vulnerable!"


    "It might be because I think my luck is turning." Breverosughed.


    "I do have a question about that..." Nightwing revealed a very curious expression.


    "Why are you like that? You are of Destiny but instead of helping you... Destiny has cursed you to be unlucky!" Nightwing frowned.


    Breveros''s expression changed.


    "What? This bad luck is because of Destiny?!"


    "Yes. It''s bizarre. I''ve never seen anything like you!"


    "This... I honestly don''t know! I know little about Fate and Destiny. I have felt Destiny''s power in my life. But I didn''t know much about the wars between the two sides! Much less why Destiny would y around with me."


    "...I think I can answer that question. But I will need every detail of your life. I don''t need to know of your power and all that. Just tell me what happened. Tell me the events that bad luck attacked you."


    "Why would you tell me all this?" Breveros gave a suspicious nce.


    "I want to be part of the Eldrich''s circle. Bing friends with the prince is the easiest way." Nightwing chuckled.


    "...At least you honest. Fine. But we shall talk after I recall the army. We can talk about it while I revoke my orders. I have to report to my brother anyway."


    "What are your ns after this, anyway?"


    "I can''t tell you yet. Not unless you are approved of our circle."


    "Alright. But in your report, do inform your brother of the Steele family. We need to move against them!"

 Chapter 502 Friends With Neighboring Planets

    The dark moon over the nesworld had numerous changes. Portals were present inside the deep structures and had numerous masking powers that blocked the sights of even the gods and fallen!


    Standing there was a gathering of the Eldrich leaders.


    In the circle of seats, a few seats were elevated as thrones.


    Seated to the side was an old eldrich of unfathomable powers. He was not an Eldrich noble by blood but is the King''s, right-hand man.


    Next to him was a green-eyed Eldrich with the force of a Cherubim. He had a noble lineage and sat with a sour expression. His son, a Crown, had died in the nesworld, in by Lea Olethros.


    Below him were the avatars and clones that those who infiltrated the nesworld left behind.


    "We are here to discuss the future ns that we have set. It seems that we have sesses and failures on numerous sides. I am growing impatient. Let us talk about the progress. Thest time we met, some had volunteered to take care of numerous problems that gue the advancement of our ns." The green-eyed noble spoke.


    "Indeed. I agree with Lord Desertlord! It feels as if nothing was gained!" A giant dark Serpent slithered to the side, coiled up, and listened to the meeting.


    Next to the serpent was a Skeleton Eldrich, who kept quiet. A Vampire with Crown powers was also among them.


    "Which is why... I am here." A handsome eldrich with green eyes, frost and wind swirling around him, says among the Eldrich.


    "Our King... Lord Bolerax!" The group bowed.


    "Let''s start with you, Elderich skeleton Terrobim."


    "I... have nothing but failure. The advancement in the Dark Shine Kingdom has met many... problems. First, the refusal of the Nethends to join or help us. Even when I tempted them with the Half-Fallen Princess, they did not listen! I couldn''t understand why! The return of Princess Lea Olethros created a strange reversal of roles among many! And her father follows her words as if she was a Fallen!" Terrobim reported.


    "I tried my best to press on the Dark Shine Kingdom to send more forces and spies and conquer cities in the Londs with hopes to force the human kingdoms out of Airom. But a strong, powerful group known as the Steele family has hindered my advances! I even sent one of my bones to raise an army of undead there and attack the Addorant kingdom! But they were all massacred and in!"


    "And the orcs?"


    "I tried to spur more orcs, but many orcs have betrayed their nations and served the reviving of a dead nation! Their royals are worthless, but the Commander that leads this kingdom, Grugnyr, is smart! And he is not the worse of the lot! Branze Steele! A name that is resounding all over the Londs has dominated it! I cannot attack and conquer it for now! And the support of the Hignds is huge! They allowed dwarven empires to be rebuilt inside the Londs, and they are arming the coboration of human kingdoms! Now, I am creating a means to summon myself there with all the bones I sent in. But it will cost me greatly!"


    "Our ns to invade Airom from the Dark Sea using the Dark Shine have failed. And our ns to create an undead army in Middle have also failed. Isn''t that your report, Crown Vampire Einsen?"


    The Vampire bowed in embarrassment.


    "Don''t tell me that the humans in Airom are taunting you with their Celestial Golem?"


    "That... is one of the issues. It''s one of the reasons why I cannot attack personally. But the main issue is the rising lizardman kingdom! Alpha Draconis, it calls itself. It has drawn many alliances and in some of my strongest elites!"


    "Einsen. By strength, you would not be allowed to sit here. You have shown great tact and Foresight in many cases, which allows you to sit among us. And now, you''re telling me you cannot move?"


    "I feel that... Someone with greater Foresight is there. Somethings happening in Middle that is hindering me from making my advance."


    "Hmp. You both are lucky that even my brother failed. Well, he failed, but what we gained through his defeat could be counted as greater sess." Bolerax sighed.


    "Lord Breveros has failed? Was it... something unlucky again?" The old eldrich asked.


    "He was unlucky. The moment my brother stepped foot in the Uninvolved Lands, thanks to our magic and weaker cultivation levels due to his many unfortunate incidents, he met an Incubus."


    "An Incubus?!"


    "Yes. One with the powers that could perhaps be charted back to Xermolipi!"<novelnext></novelnext>


    "An Incubus with the Corruption of Charm in the nesworld?!"


    "It''s not surprising. We have long sensed that Xermolipi''s legacy is somewhere in the nesworld. This man likely found it. This is also the man the Greater God Sheolrah sought for. Cracky Batcheeks. In any case, this man forced my brother to dy searching and release the seals of the Half-Fallen Princess. And he defeated my brother. But it seems his intentions in attacking us was only to get our attention."


    "So he wishes to join us?"


    "Yes. He offered me quite an interesting proposal. One that will naturally help resolve all our dys. He can attack the Londs and drive the people out of Airom. And he ims that he has a way to create a portal that will bypass the Golem Celestial!"


    "Impossible. We have tried to create teleportation magic from inside the strange pocket realm where the Undying Lands are and move our forces to the nesworld! All have failed!"


    "Yes. But remember that this Cracky Batcheeks did appear in Airom? He managed to sneak in before the Golem Celestial was awakened and left a blood clone inside. He ims he has seduced some princesses that will allow him to create a physical portal line from Middle toward the nesworld. He is quite skilled in spatial magic and energy conversion circles that he said he could create a permanent portal at great cost."


    "...That is possible. A physical channel will bypass the magical barriers. But whye to us? Doesn''t he know that a Greater God is looking for him?" Desertlord agreed.


    "He didn''t know Sheolrah was chasing him." Bolerax had a strange expression as he recalled his conversation with Nightwing.


    "He suddenly took my brother hostage when I spoke of it. He didn''t give me any room to negotiate. There are... other interesting things he told me about the Greater Gods. Apparently... there is a war going on between them. And it has spurred my interest. For now, I have no ns of telling the Greater God that we have found the being she sought for."


    "My lord. Is he an ally? Something seems rather... suspicious with this Cracky Batcheeks." The old eldrich spoke.


    "Indeed. My King, is this man of Destiny?" The green-eyed Elderich noble, Desertlord, asked.


    The others had curious expressions when they heard this question. They didn''t understand what this meant.


    "...No. But he is also not of Fate. He called himself a True Challenger."


    "True Challenger? There is such a thing?" Desertlord asked again.


    "It seems so. In any case, we must get my brother and aid them in conquering the Minds. This Cracky Batcheeks was defeated by Steele and wants revenge. He also revealed he knew of the portals in Minds. So we help him open the portal and bring my brother back here. And this is why we need to send several people with great ties to Destiny in the nesworld again. This Incubus is the key to leading us back to Xermolipi. That is a Corruption we must aquire! We will need this Incubus alive."


    "But the Hignds have activated that spell! So the nesworld now will sense if an Elderich or those with our marks enter!"


    "That''s why we don''t send our forces! Instead, I called a meeting with the others nearby and revealed the legacy of the Half-Fallen. It''s about time we be friends with the neighborings, who were always being pushed around by the strongest in this system. If Necros Olethros don''t help us even if we speak of that legacy, then those of the others will! They will be the ones to aid Breveros. For the Minds, those who are Conquerors should be enough!"


    "Conquerors in Middle... That will indeed ensure our victory!" Terrobim agreed.


    "Yes. Though the Steele family is strong, they aren''t strong enough to defeat Conquerors!" Einsen also agreed.


    "For now, all of you is to find a way to stop your respective enemies. Airom is getting stronger. The lizardman army in Middle should not be any stronger! If you cannot fulfill your missions, weaken your enemies and force a stalemate! We wait and see if this Incubus is worth the trouble! Now go!"


    "By yourmand!"


    The avatars and clones of the serpent, the vampire, and the skeleton disappeared.


    "That Breveros... Why is he always unlucky? To think he couldn''t even create a clone to warn us immediately!" Desertlord sighed.


    "My King... Is this alright? Will Lord Impyernos agree?" The old eldrich asked.


    "I spoke to my father. It seems that the legacy of Xermolipi is very important to Lord Impyernos. This is Lord Impyernos''s order. Because of that Greater God Sheolrah, who broke through the barriers all those months ago and disrupted the barrier, the bacsh he received was lighter. So he can afford to make this attack. Come. Let us call on the leaders of each and offer our friendship."

 Chapter 503 Friends With The Eldrich

    Back in the Minds...


    Nightwing was secretly cursing at what he found out.


    "A Greater God is after me?!" He cursed.


    "...You seriously didn''t know?" Breveros was next to him. His wounds were starting to heal, and no sign of him being held captive by Nightwing was seen.


    The two were even casually drinking tea when Nightwing told Breveros to call his brother.


    "No! But it''s good that your brother won''t sell me out!"


    Breveros was silent. He knew there was a deeper reason why his brother allowed this.


    "It should, Lord Impyernos. He has been looking for the Charmed Fallen. This man has it. It will lead us to her." Breveros quietly thought.


    "Well, congrattions on bing friends with the Eldrich. That''s a task that was believed to be impossible."


    "You think I would be happy? A Greater God is after me! Damn it! When did she appear? What did she say?" Nightwing asked.


    "She gave us vague details. Only your name was mentioned. Cracky Batcheeks. It''s good that you now go as Nightwing. That will surely... throw the Greater God''s search." Breveros chuckled.


    Nightwing was not pleased with the sarcasm of Breveros.


    "Hmph! At least for now, your kind won''t betray me. Who else knows that Greater God Sheolrah is after me?"


    That Greater God breached the barrier and threatened the kings of the nesworld. Both Hignd and Nethend are after you. After breaching it, this Greater God rushed in to speak to our leaders and the nearbys. He spoke to my father and brother, the leaders of the Eldrich race. I was not there so I don''t know the details."


    "Really?" Nightwing sneered.


    "He didn''t speak to the real leader of the Eldrich? Lord Impyernos?" Nightwing frowned.


    "...You know of his name?!" Breveros was stunned.


    "I have the legacy of numerous Fallens. I also have some of their memories." Nightwing answered.


    "...Then that exins it. As far as I know, no one else knows about his existence except for my family and the most trusted members of the Eldrich. We hid his existence for a long time so no one else would remember him. And those who know have sword a great vow that we cannot even mention his name to those who do not know!"


    "I don''t know anything about him other than his name and position. So then this must be a Fallen, right? Is this the secret to your strength? You have a legacy to a living Fallen?"


    "Yes."


    "As far as I know, I heard that you were all banished from this ce and would have no means to enter the nesworld. But with a Fallen, I guess it''s possible."


    "There is a way to slip into the nesworld by piercing through the barrier. The concern is only to create a powerful force to protect those inside of it. But since not even Celestials can resist it, you will need a great amount of energy to shield it. Lord Impyernos has developed a way. But now, that way is not viable since the Hignds have already discovered and in a few of our forces."


    "Is the Nethends involved?"


    "They used to be. They once agreed to allow one of our Elderich generals to be reborn into the Nethends. It costs us great riches to pay for that, but that one was in when Princess Listrel discovered him. But this method of breaking the barrier was our own way. Truth be told, Lord Impyernos needed to gather more energy and it would have taken us decades to send more and more of our forces inside. But Greater God Sheolrah has been moving in and out of the nesworld in her search for you that it weakened the shield for a time. It''s still something that no Celestial can handle, but for Lord Impyernos, it was enough to send some. He located the entry points that the Greater God used and made his attacks on that precise location."


    "So it''s tailgating. Otherwise, it would have taken you a long time to do this. I''m guessing a few decades would have to pass until he would be sent in."


    "Yes."


    Nightwing fell silent and began to think. Breveros quietly waited to the side.


    "Could it be...? Sheolrah is here to look for a specific person. But why is this Greater God searching for this name? Considering Luigi''s entricity and his other identity of bing a Time God, then Cracky Batcheeks may have been the identity that Kyros chose! My past self may not be a god who was sealed so long ago, but he awakened recently! It could even be months since my awakening!"


    "When was it that you heard of Cracky Batcheeks?"<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Err... I don''t know the exact dates, but it was several months ago. That''s when the Londs moved to chaos with Airom at its epicenter."


    Nightwing''s expression changed.


    "That''s it! This Kyros must have awakened only recently! He is just like me. He must have woken up with a weaker body! And he is responsible for all the changes there. There are still many mysteries, including my future vision of Breveros. Then Kyros may have lived multiple lives with the Time God, Cminus, who now calls himself Luigi!" Nightwing began to look at the map of the Minds and the Londs.


    "How many Elderich will your brother send?"


    "I doubt he will send many. This nesworld is very sensitive to Eldrich. The more of us there are, the easier we can be found. I, myself, used Aso''s power to change my form. But this power cannot be deployed en mass. My brother will most likely use the neighborings. They have already nned to reveal the legacy of the Half-Fallens. But the Nethends didn''t bite the bait for some unknown and bizarre reason. So he will trick the others tounch an attack. Lord Impyernos will open the barrier once more, and these neighborings will send their elites inside. As for the number, it should be over a dozen or so."


    "Over a dozen? I guess that''s quite an achievement. Ho strong will they be?"


    "I''m guessing they will send teams of Conquerors."


    "Conquerors? Why didn''t you send Conquerors at first?"


    "We were confident that our missions would be sessful. But, as I told you, everyone sent here failed their mission. Me included. So it''s time that they will send stronger ones. But as they have failed... then we have no choice. The bacsh of the barrier bes stronger depending on the cultivation levels. But if those others agree, then they can send a team with magic that contains all the Codes and Corruption of the Celestials."


    "So I have a team of Conquerors following me around? This should be an interesting war. I can finally annihte those pesky Steele family!" Nightwingughed.


    "Make your preparations. For now, our goal is to conquer the Minds! I''ll be off. I will find you. Do not follow me." Nightwing ordered and portaled out to rejoin his allies.


    The group was waiting along with the women caught in Nightwing''s trance. They all gave blushing looks but Nightwing ignored all of them.


    "Let''s go." Nightwing tore another portal, and everyone left.


    "It seems that we will have Conquerors as allies." Nightwing sneered.


    "Oh? What does my lord intend with this power?"


    "Conquer the Minds. Ikarod, go and bring the rest here. This will be our base of operation! And I want your respective armies also to move in!"


    "Yes, Lord Nightwing!"


    All members of Destiny left the group, and only Nightwing and his allies remained.


    "Luigi. It seems you made quite a mess in this timeline!" Nightwing frowned.


    "What? What did I do?"


    "It must be rted to that other me," Nightwing spoke.


    "The other you, as in the ones who those subi love? Your good guy self?" Krysta asked.


    "Yes. Though I''m not sure about the ''good guy'' adjective. I think I have uncovered most of the major bits the past self did. That past me decided to trick Fate and Destiny through Mysterion and Oblivion. He wanted me to fool Destiny and make the perfect spy to destroy the forces of Destiny from within. Since we are one body, he knew I would figure this out eventually. Luigi! Since you are Cminus, then it''s possible that you performed some time travel magic with this other me. And this happened not more than a year ago! That means Kyros''s rebirth altered the timeline and gave Destiny their chance to enter the nesworld earlier than the original timeline! This Breveros would have originally entered the nesworldter. But now, the ripple effects of his actions have made things move in advance. I''m guessing when he started hearing about Eldrichs, he knew that something had happened because these Eldrich''s shouldn''t arrive within decades! Taking advantage of this, he used his powers to seal himself and make me appear so that I could gather the forces of Destiny under my banner. And we would lead this army to fight the team that Kyros made!"


    "An army with Conquerors? That''s quite a force! But, even if we are inside this army and can sabotage it, it can''t be enough! Even the Minds have never seen such forces! Their heritage is too low to support multiple Conquerors!"


    "That''s exactly why this n will work. My betrayal will be at the right opportune moment. But beyond that, my team will have the strength to, at least, challenge Conquerors. This will ensure that Fate will win the war in nesworld! I guess it''s time to contact them..." Nightwing chuckled and closed his eyes.


    When he harnessed Holy Beam, he felt the link with the Fortress. Though it was blocked and only a portion of his power could be used, Nightwing could send messages to the ones who spoke to him earlier.


    The Nightwing''s message resonated with the Emberdons, and Kyros''s main forces all saw the message.


    "Everyone. I am friends with Eldrich. We will make you face an army with Conquerors. Get ready. See you soon. May you survive this tribtion!"


    The message was shown and everyone who was part of the main team froze as they read it.

 Chapter 504 Friends To Kill

    Some of the members of the Coven froze as they read the message of Nightwing.


    Martha frowned. Grugnyr cursed. Gojirrah sighed. Aron smiled. At the same time, Mezalughed at the message.


    "Emergency meeting!" The Emberdons requested and sent the message to the rest.


    This was a simple message sent through the Fortress. While long-distancemunication was not yet formed, a magic known as ''text messaging'' was invented so that they could see simple, short messages like this.


    Everyone moved to the energy formation circle they had built to connect to the Fortress.


    "Nice! The signal is getting better! Ourst call was very blurry." Aronughed.


    "We switched our lines to something different. Through alchemy and this Fortress, we created a long ss line connecting this ce to Airom. We call it fiber optics." Demerus gave a confident thumbs up as the appearance of each one of them began to appear one after the other.


    "Why are you guys acting so casual?! We can barely fight Crowns, and he''s throwing Conquerors at us?!" Grugnyr shouted as he saw the casual conversation of the group.


    Hunter appeared and sighed.


    "On myst journey with Lord Kyros, I had to punch the gigantic Crown form of Oblivion as a Champion. So I guess this sort of makes sense now." Hems chuckled.


    "The gap between Crowns and Conquerors is quite high." Mechiel appeared.


    "In myst memories, I already had the energy and strength of a Cherubim. So I know the great gaps between."


    "It makes sense. Besides, with the Fortress, we can easily level up. War is on the horizon, so it''s easy for us to collect the body and energy of our foes. Then, we just have to kill our ten thousand." Aronughed.


    "Nothing about what we go through is normal or makes sense. I''m surprised Lord Kyros didn''t throw a Cherubim into the mix." Martha sighed.


    A hologram appeared, and Diana and Branze appeared. They were in the Seat of Command, the most secure chamber in the newly constructed Airom Fortress.


    "Part of Mysterion is to hide our strength. If we are too strong, Destiny will act to obliterate us. Since Kyros has hidden our memory of us, he has only a small chance to alter the future. Sending Crowns to kill Crowns would make his cover blown. But sending Conquerors to squish bugs is a different story. Before Kyros awakened his Nightwing side, he already believed we would have the power to do this. Therefore, we need to always act outside of the norm. Reaching the level of having Conquerors strength is quite a task, but we have been fighting foes of equal gaps since before." Branze exined.


    "It is as my son''s aid." Mezal added.


    "But let''s remember. It''s Nightwing leading them. So he must have some n to sabotage it from the inside."


    "But he won''t do it outright. So we still have to act as if he won''t help us. Obvious help will reveal his status, and we will get the wrath of Destiny with all those previous curses locked on all of us." Reptilia chided in.


    "Right... All those curses that mark us to die will return if we slip up. Although I''m not scared of it, it will be an annoying thorn on our side." Mezal nodded.


    "Since when is a curse of Destiny that ensures the death of the Steele family considered ''an annoying thorn''?" Martha frowned.


    "I''m part of this family too, and I don''t want some stupid curse after us. I''d rather die fighting Nightwing." Martha eximed.


    "And that''s exactly what Nightwing to do. He has friends to kill. So we better gear up. I''ve already charted a n of attack, and it''s good that Scarlet and Mechiel are pushing their forces up to the Minds. But we have to go above and beyond in this one. Martha and Aron. You go to the Dark Sea and search for the location of the Charmed Fallen and Tiamat! Puff now has mastered a way to transform into a human thanks to the Emberdons."


    "What? Are we going further south? Shouldn''t we drop whatever we are doing and send forces north to the Minds?"


    "No. We need those legacies if we want to kill Conquerors. They are the greatest priority."


    "How do we go back to the Minds for the war?"


    "Princess Lea Olethros. Find a way to contact her. She has two portals to move you through the Londs quickly." Mechiel answered before Branze could.


    "Will she help us? Those portals are like the biggest secrets to the Nethends! And besides, she''s like the princess of the Nethends and all..." Aron wondered.


    "She likes Kyros. You''re his uncle. She will help." Mechiel chuckled.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "It is as Mechiel said. As for the rest of us, we''re going to look for the Code of Daradiel and the Corruption of Hydron."


    As the team of the Nephilim made their ns, the strongest cultivators of the nesworld were also faced with numerous threats.


    The nesworld was the strongest in the Sol Star System. Despite the darkness of the region is profound, this rose to its strength because it wielded the very element that could directly sh with the darkest darkness, and that was light.


    The Sol Star gave light to the nesworld and was said to be Astra''s gift to Dentro that all of his nts would have a star to nourish them in the vast cosmos.


    The light strengthened the nesworld, creating a massive magical barrier that protected it from invaders.


    All home-born natives of the nesworld could easily move out of this barrier, but none of the foreign bodies could enter it.


    When the Eldrich was first thrown out of the nesworld, both Protos Endoxos and the Necros family banded together to make the nesworld identify the Eldrich as foreign and prevent them from entering the great barrier.


    But now, it was revealed that several Eldrichs have somehow found a way to enter it! And there were numerous forces that managed to move inside the nesworld.


    Because of that, Ss Soter and Gandor Ellisium have been tasked to search for the means of entry. But even after so many months, they came up with nothing.


    At the very peaks of the Hignd, the sun shone brightly on the numerous towering fortresses and the massive World Wood Trees in the area that flourished.


    But at the great castle at the highest branch, in the peak twig of the nesworld, was an observatory that constantly had its eyes set on the heavens above and the Nethends below.


    Gandor Ellisuim and numerous people continued to monitor the world. Princess Listrel had arrived and given the news about the Eldrich. And this made the Hignds go on full alert. The Eldrich had made its way into the nesworld!


    "The first Eldrich that we learned to have entered the nesworld was the one that Princess Listrel killed. Eldrich General Argos must have been someone who gained entrance through the dark rebirth method of the Nethends. But this rebirthing is a risky method. I doubt the nobles and elites will try this. Eldrich Argos must have been the one to lead the Dark Shine kingdom to begin their conquest of the Londs. But two more have been found now. Princess Listrel slew another one, a weak Cardinal Eldrich. Listrel also reported seeing Princess Lea fight against another Crown Eldrich and slew him. But their bodies do not show signs of Dark Rebirth... And their cultivation is rather high to reach that level. So then what is this new method? And why did they start using it now?" Gandor Ellisium closed his eyes as he meditated and used his powers to quickly scan the nesworld. He was looking for high-level energy fluctuations and other energy anomalies.


    Then found two strange areas where the energies were acting weakly.


    "One above the Hignds? But... how?" Gandor began to think.


    It was then he remembered their guest.


    "Greater God Sheolrah! That''s it! The Greater God charged inside and smashed through the barrier to demand us to look for Cracky Batcheeks! That''s the first! Could it be...?" Gandor took a closer look at the next barrier that covered the region above the Minds.


    "As I thought! It was damaged! But that''s impossible! This means that Eldrich has something at the level of a God or a Fallen to help him! Impyernos? Is Impyernos alive? I must report this to my King at once!" Gandor stood up.


    "Magistrate Supreme! We detect severals on the move! They have suddenly dispatched their forces and are using interster warping to send several men toward the Brek Fiasco!" One of the mages assisting Gandro eximed.


    "Brek Fiasco? Could it be? An interster raid?" Gandor frowned.


    "We must inform the Otherworldly nes Fortress. Create a link."


    "Yes, Magistrate." The mage agreed.


    The magic connected the observatory to the floating Fortress that stood on one of the highways for ster trade urred.


    This was the Otherworldly nes Fortress that Pyrekaiser Fafnir guarded. He was at constant war with the Eldrich''s many dark forces and the Nonary beings that were spurred to war.


    "Pyrekaiser. Are you there?" Gandor called out.


    "I see it, Gandor. An attack could be imminent." Pyrekaiser watched the numerouss begin to send warp paths toward the.


    And suddenly, the ck Moon, hidden in the shadows that the nesworld cast from standing in the light, began to activate its warp paths.


    "So the Eldrich will take part, huh? It looks like we''ll be getting busy."

 Chapter 505 Friends With A Fallen

    Pyrekaiser saw the team and set out to move out. Hemanded his three Cherubims and several Conquerors to prepare for battle.


    As Pyrekaiser was in his chamber, another man simr to his appearance approached.


    "Brother. Is it wise to meet them inbat?"


    "Since when is it foolish to meet foes inbat for us, Fafnirs?" Pyrekaiserughed.


    "You only have the strength of a Cherubim now. So you created a lesser dragon down to the nesworld."


    "I lost the connection with my daughter in Minds. A daughter who has the full bloodline of mine. You can''t expect me just to ignore that. Besides... No Celestial could kill me even if this form. Even the Eldrich Lord will have troubles." Pyrekaiserughed.


    "I guess I should join you in battle..." The other man sighed, turned around, and left the room to prepare forbat.


    "A lesser dragon, huh? So that''s what it was! Still, that''s a very inefficient method!"


    The man was stunned to see a strange, robbed man standing before him.


    The man harnessed his Brute Force but was suddenly paralyzed.


    "Im...possible...! Paralysis... magic? On my dragonic lineage?!" The man was surprised.


    "Rx. Pyreking Fafnir, brother of Pyrekaiser. I am Supreme Magistrate Gandor Ellisium. I came here to inspect the migration of those neighborings personally." Gandor released the magic that bound Pyreking.


    Pyreking was stunned.


    "So it''s Supreme Magistrate Gandor! I apologize for not recognizing you. I shall inform my brother."


    "He already knows. My, how pitiful. Someone who had the potential to be as strong as Pyrekaiser. And yet you can''t do half of what he can since that Eldrich attack." Gandor sighed.


    "Are you here to tease my brother, Gandor? Or are you here because you''re worried I am not strong enough?" Pyrekaiser approached.


    "None. I am here to give your orders to resolve our many issues. That''s why I used magic to awaken the Spiritual Avatar in this fortress."


    "Hmph. These issues are as good as resolved."


    "Impyernos could be alive."


    "What?!" Pyrekaiser was shocked.


    "I solved the riddle of their entry. Greater God Sheolrah had entered the nesworld several times to seek Cracky Batcheeks. I believe that the Eldrich used a raw method to send those Eldrich that Princess Listrel found. Only Impyernos is strong enough to create an attack that would breach the shields of the nesworld and send a team inside. And they might be doing it again. Thatary gathering is not a ster army to fight and attack this ce. It''s a raid party!"


    "You mean this gathering ofs will be to send a raid party? That''s ridiculous. Even if Impyernos can create a shield, the most they can send is Conquerors! So why would theses agree to send their team on a suicide mission?"


    "I''m guessing it has to do with what is discovered in Airom. But there may be other reasons why they are gathering to send a team.. That''s why we need to send someone strong to the Minds."


    "My brother? He is still a Cherubim. Thews prohibit it."


    "Not if you take back your two levels of Celestial power that you used to heal your brother."


    "...So you knew."


    "Obviously. Why would the great Pyrekaiser be wounded inbat and lose two power levels? We all knew. Moribius knew, Ss knew, the king knew. We just didn''t worry about it."


    "...If I take away these draconian cells in my brother, he will die."


    "Not if we imbue light magic in him. His level will drop to Crown. But even as a Crown, most Conquerors won''t be a problem to him."


    "You think I haven''t tried asking Ss Soter for that? She said that such magic would be costly and drain her."


    "She''s just ying hardball to force you to pay up. But you don''t know her weakness. I do." Gandor smiled.


    "Her weakness?"


    "Observe." Gandor''s avatar raised his hand, and the fortress began to use its magic to create a link to the nesworld.


    "Pyrekaiser? If it''s about your brother..."


    "It''s me, Ss."


    "Gandor? Why are you there?"


    "Impyernos is alive. He is taking advantage of the weakened barrier of the nesworld that has been breached by Greater God Sheolrah. That''s how those Eldrich arrived. As such, I n to send Pyreking Fafnir to the Minds. His cultivation will drop because Pyrekaiser will retrieve the two Celestial Levels he gave. But you need to heal that and stop the darkness from guing him.


    "No. That darkness is a power of Thanatou and Astheneia. It will cost me great amounts of pain to heal that, which was why I asked Pyrekaiser to pay up and brave the Sol Star to get a sk of its light."


    "Oh,e on! At most, it will just weaken your power by half a level! It''s not that bad!"


    "No! I refuse."


    "Fine... I didn''t want to do this, Ss. But you leave me with no choice. Esmeralda! If your sister agrees, I''ll agree to go on a date with you. Not an avatar, the real thing. I promise."


    "What?!" Ss eximed.


    "ERMAHH GREATERGAHHHHDDD!" A shrill cry of great excitement was heard in the background.


    "SISTER! AGREE! AGREE!"<novelnext></novelnext>


    "ESMERALDA! CALM YOURSELF! I WILL LOSE HALF A LEVEL IF I-!"


    "YOU ARE RUINING MY LIFE! I HATE YOU!"


    Pyrekaiser and Pyreking had their mouths wide open as they heard two girls in a shouting contest.


    "Ss''s weakness is that she has a very spoiled little sister. So if she doesn''t agree to my request, her sister will gue her forever. And to Ss, having her younger sister''s tantrum equals losing two levels." Gandor chuckled.


    "I''ll create a portal for you two to go. Get healed, get your powers back, and send your brother to find your daughter."


    "...You also know about my daughter?!" Pyrekaiser was surprised.


    "What do you think I''m doing there in my observatory?" Gandor chuckled.


    "What if they attack?" Pyrekaiser asked.


    "They won''t. At least not yet. This gathering is to abrupt! There were no movements before this. They are gathering to negotiate something. They even chose a that was situated in the middle. Brek Fiasco is where all the neighborings gather to meet each other halfway." Gandor gazed up towards the and frowned.


    "What spurred them to gather?" Gandor wondered.


    Brek Fiasco was a dark that could not even get any light from the Sol Star. It was a full of Dark Dependents. There were very few humans in this ce, and these few were only in Brek Fiasco by migration or warping.


    The darknd was dry and dark. Very few water sources were present, and only the Dark Dependents could thrive on this.


    But now, all the nearby forces on thes that wanted to breach the great barrier of the nesworld were gathering.


    In the Penultimate Fiasco Fortress, where the kings and queens of this lived, were numerous portals activated to receive the iing guest.


    One after the other, the portals began to sh out as the armies of darkness moved into the.


    Numerous Elderich arrived first.


    They had thergest delegates that arrived.


    Races of all forms of darkness gathered. Skeletons, liches, demi-humans, half-demons, pit lords, and many more gathered.


    Those of the lighter shade of the darkness were also present. Goblins, ogre lords, dark elves, arthropodians, and lizardfolk were also there.


    There were nearly 20 others and other dwellings close to the nesworld. To those who have reached the Conqueror levels, they would have the power to conquer the skies. And so, known only to those of such levels in the Hignds and the Nethends, was an inteary war. Some ster skirmishes between thes would im certain floatingnds where rare magical nts and items could grow.


    But for the longest time, the strongest in this region was people hailing from the nesworld.


    If not for the equal power of the Hignds and the Nethends that shed and fought against each other, these otherss may have already been conquered!


    And so, the threat of the nesworld was one of the reasons the invitation that Eldrich gave was answered.


    The Penultima Kingdom had brought all of its strongest warriors up. Their armies were close by to answer should there be any threat to this gathering.


    There were Cardinals and Crowns that numbered by the hundreds. Conquerors were also many. And finally, several Cherubims were standing to represent some of their worlds.


    Each brought Conquerors and Cherubims as part of its escorts.


    The Eldrich king, Cherubim Bolerax Hiwind, arrived.


    Many gave respectful and fearful looks at the Cherubim.


    RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!


    A surging power from the skies above could be felt as a terrifying being was making his entrance.


    And finally... a Celestial appeared!


    BOOM!


    The warp beam mmed on the ground and created a strong impact.


    The Cherubims of thes used their powers to block the shockwave.


    "Cherubim Emperor Bolerax Hiwind. Let''s get down to business. What makes you think you can breach the barrier of the nesworld?" A man with a strange pale green aura approached. At closer inspection, the atmosphere was actually the souls of countless beings. Their face and heads could be seen forming and vanishing around him as the man approached.


    "Soul Lord of the Million and Conqueror of Dark Yantze. Your presence is a gift." Emperor Bolerax Hiwind stood up to greet the arrival of the Celestial.


    Many of the Cherubims of differents were respectful to the only Celestial who arrived.


    "Enough of your futile greetings. How can you assure our entry?" The Celestial known as Soul Lord demanded.


    "Me."


    It was a faint whisper. No one knew from whence it came. But the voice echoed all over the.


    A gripping fear was felt, and the Celestial Soul Lord was faced with tremendous power that he stumbled down.


    "... Impyernos! Lord Impyernos! You''re alive?!" The Soul Lord trembled.


    "As you can see, unlike all of you, our Eldrich race is still friends with a Fallen." Breverosughed as everyone began to bow in fear of the Fallen, who they thought had died.

 Chapter 506 Friends To Invite

    The voice of Impyernos and the power that appeared frightened everyone. Unlike the eras past, the gods and fallen were busy with their war, and Greater God Sheolrah was the recent god to have visited. Apart from her, there was no one else!


    Even the nesworld did not have such backing!


    "Is this enough proof that we can send you to the nesworld? Friends. I called you all and gathered you here to invite you in a joint expedition which our Eldrich race can provide!" Bolerax smiled.


    Everyone was silent.


    "And... you just want to give us the Half Fallen? Sounds too fishy."


    "There are numerous Half Fallens in nesworld. We can afford to lose one. Besides, your respectives may not take it anyway."


    The Celestial frowned.


    "While the presence of Lord Impyernos is an honor, I expect a Celestial to talk to me. Is your father in attendance?"


    ? "I wouldn''t miss our chance to see each other again, Xs." Then, a voice was heard, and the power of a Celestial appeared.


    Thick energy filled the entire room of the gathering armies.


    "Royal Father..." Bolerax bowed.


    "Eldrich Ancestor. Tempest Hiwind. It''s good to see you still alive."


    "Greetings, Celestial. And to all of you. Greetings. I trust that you here aremitted to attacking nesworld. But... I have already passed the mantle of leading my race to my son. I''m sure many of you have faced his wrath and schemes."


    "Ah, yes. If not for your wise decision to stop and not meddle with my bottom line, I would have dealt with you personally, follower of Kako." Xs gave Bolerax an intense look.


    "You would fail, Celestial Soul Lord." Bolerax did not show any weakness andughed back at the Celestial.


    "I am inclined to agree with my son. You picked the right path! Because you stopped, I had to find another Celestial and entice him to war to sharpen my son." Tempestughed.


    Xs''s expression darkened.


    "Isn''t that right... Celestial Tathar Malwasul?"


    The space bent, and a dark elf with hairs of ck mist appeared.


    "I am here... as agreed upon. And with Lord Impyernos, I have no doubts in the ns." The Dark Elf spoke angrily.


    Everyone was confused. The implication of Tempest''s words was that this Celestial was defeated by Bolerax!


    "What? You mean to tell me...?" Xs was surprised.


    "I wish it had been you. The cruel and wicked means of that boy will shock you. Why else would Tempest pass on the crown to his son if he did not have the means to fight back?" Tathar answered and spoke no more.<novelnext></novelnext>


    The expression of Xs changed. He could not im to defeat Tathar inbat. Tathar was known as the Spatial Emperor. He was illusive, and his powers to control space made him known as the Unwounded Celestial!


    "Now that I have everyone''s attention and respect... We are all here because we want two things. First is the Half Fallen legacy. It''s so enticing that it brought you all here. But I am here to tell you that this was just the bait. It is true. We will tell you evidence of it. But the other reason why we plotted to lure you all and even made Lord Impyernos prove his existence is that we want to take the nesworld." Bolerax spoke.


    "Take the nesworld?! Are you mad? Even if Lord Impyernos is alive, he would have to exhaust unbelievable energy to take out the nesworld!" Xs eximed.


    "Yes. That''s exactly our problem. Within this region, no other has the rich resources of the nesworld. They have the Sol Star that lights the top producing the strongest of Celestials. Pyrekaiser Fafnir, whose Celestial might could moves! Gandor Ellisium the one that can toy with other Celestial magic users! Then there is Ss Soter. Who among the dark can resist the light of Ss Soter? King Elistre Protos Endoxos could fight and kill all Celestials on yours at once! Even my father wouldn''t be so arrogant in front of that king. And then, we have those of our color who will not side with us. The Grendelors have sworn fealty to theirnd. They hate outsiders even more than their hate the Hignds! While we have secured certain deals, they would never side with us and might even betray us!"


    Everyone was silent at the mention of the Grendelors. Despite being of the light, the numerous kingdoms had more shes with the Nethends rather than the Hignds. This was because, to Dark Dependents, the more you eat, the stronger you grow.


    "Nether Detestable Alucan Fangsword, the Devourer of Darkness. How many of your families has he devoured? More so, their king. Necron Olethros! Those are hindrances that stop us from performing our goal."


    "I thought we were here to discuss a n to enter, take the Half Fallen and leave the nesworld. Yet now you speak of all our greatest foes as if we are to war with them! We will not partake in invasion!" Celestial Tathar frowned.


    "You will. Because Destiny has given us a chance! We can finally take this andunch an invasion!"


    "Invasion? If Lord Impyernos is alive, I know you have already sent numerous Eldrich there! And if you are here now, it can only mean... that they are dead!" Xs shouted.


    "Cherubim Bolerax. I, who studied the powers of space and time, know that the nesworld is very tricky to enter. You can only afford to send Crowns and those weaker at your current level. And they would need to change their forms if they are Eldrich''s because of the curse. So the power of Aso is necessary lest the Ygrdassils ozone attack them. So you gathered us all because you want us to go there instead of you?" Tathar red.


    "You have my respect, but don''t test my bottom line!"


    "Tathar is right. I know of your n. The nesworld has numerous portals. You want to open them! But I also know that opening them requires that part of the nesworld be weakened! To use our darkness to corrupt thend so that these seals that prevent all those portals created millennia ago could be broken! Even if your methods for raiding the nesworld can reach Cherubim, it will only end in a massacre!" Xs roared.


    "I have called you all here because we have found entry to the nesworld. A new means to enter is made open to us! If we have the strength to open the door, we could move in! Such knowledge was too good for us! We thought, should we not also call our friends and invite them into the world to bypass the barriers and destroy the nesworld from the inside?"


    "Another entry point?!"


    "There lies a mysterious world within the nesworld. A world within the world! It seems to be a pocket dimension of another realm. And that world has portals leading to the nearbys here!"


    "An entrance to another world within the nesworld?" Xs frowned. He had never heard of such things.


    "Yes. We were at first suspicious of this strange realm. But apart from Lord Impyernos, we have gods and fallen supporting us. A Greater God known as Rhykestorn Ever has contacted Lord Impyernos and helped us make it possible to move within this world known as the Middle. The team we are building will not awaken the portals in the nesworld. At least, not yet. Our goal is to go to the Londs. The region which both the Hignds and the Nethends promised never to send beings above Crowns. And our target is a ce called Airom!"


    "That sounds good and all... But there is no proof of your ims." Tathar argued.


    "Ah, but there is... Let me ask if this is familiar to many of you... There lies a portal in your world. A mysterious portal with intense limitations. But that limitation recently weakened. Now Commanders and Cardinals could move in. A ce where there lies a Golem Celestial!" Bolerax smiled.


    There were some Crowns who heard it and were surprised.


    "My lord... You know?" A Crown Lizardman asked.


    "Yes. That ce is currently set in your world. The portals will soon change, and other worlds will be connected to them. But that very ce I spoke of is where you lizardmen have been trying to take over! That is Middle! The very same world that connects to the nesworld!"

 Chapter 507 Friends With Cracky

    The discussion began to focus on the secret portals that the lizardmans knew.


    Many began to demand the lizardmans why they kept this knowledge a secret.


    The lizardmans were one of the weakers, with their strongest warriors only at Conqueror level. While they produced more Conquerors, the world was incapable of producing Cherubims and Celestials. So while the lizardman world was more advance than the Minds and the Londs, it could not have much the power that the Hignds, the southern regions of the Dark Sea, or the Nethends!


    With so many Cherubims nearby, the Lizardman leaders of the world began to spill everything they knew about the portals.


    "It wasn''t really a huge concern at first! We didn''t care when we found out! None of us even visited the region where these portals are! There have been few portals that we found in our ce. But so what? Have we ever destroyed the limits of these portals? No! We eventually just ced guards near the region! As long as the portals would not allow anything above Cardinals, we weren''t worried! These portals allowed weak cultivators to move in and out, and there were political and practical regions not to guard these ces! We didn''t know about Middle and certainly did not know that beyond it was the nes World!" Conqueror Lizardman Leader Guy swore.


    "Lies! Leader Guy! You wanted to establish a trade with them!"


    "We were not the only settlers of thisnd! Orcs, goblins, humans, and Dark Dependent Practitioners use the undead! We thought this world was leading to one of the nearbys or that yours have been connected to it! We didn''t know that those golems were guarding an exit! We thought it was just a cave!" Leader Guy swore again.


    "He is not lying." Bolerax stepped in.


    "None of these races knew of was beyond thend. In fact, check all your portals. Maybe a few among you have a portal leading to that very ce! It was only when the humans of the Londs discovered the real value inside the Airom that they discovered this world and found the means to control the Golems!"


    "What?!" Everyone eximed.


    "Yes. You heard me. There is a way to gain control of a Golem Celestial!"


    Everyone trembled. A level 90 being was something that was out of reach! Any one of theses would offer what they had to have such power!"


    "But no one knew that. They feared the Golem Celestial. What can mere Champions and Commanders do? But these portals have suddenly weakened. So this also is one of the benefits of our raid. We head to Airom and starve out the humans! These are mere Lond beings. And the Nethends and the Hignds had a rule that neither group could send forces beyond the Crowns there. So if we send our team, we would have little trouble."


    "Those agreements will surely end if they discover a foreign threat inside!"


    "Yes. But there is anotherw at work." Bolerax smiled.


    "The Hignds and the Nethends have cursed the regions to ensure it. No force greater than Conquerors can move into the Londs. This isn''t even a secret among them. It''s just we never knew about it because none of us would ever dare to invade the nesworld."


    Everyone began to talk with one another.


    Slowly, the n to raid the nesworld was getting more and more enticing for everyone.


    The chance to control a Celestial Golem could change the hierarchy of the nearbys!


    "...We would still be outnumbered." Xs was finally assessed.


    "The ranks of Conquerors are the peak of many nations. On somes, a Conqueror would mean one of our own lines. Against all the Conquerors of the Hignds, it would be chaotic. You are the only ones who can truly benefit from this!"


    "We, too will be sending our Conquerors. And my brother is already down there. We cannot send anyone anymore as we also have our bottom lines in our defenses. So we need backup. We do know more than you. But those things that we''ve revealed to you are true. The Half-Fallen race is truly a dare. But even if it''s not, you already have confirmation that a Golem of Celestial power is there. Leader Guy, tell them about those ''special golems''." Bolerax smiled.


    Everyone turned to the lizardman.


    "...There were numerous golem forms. But among them were a few powerful golems-wielding elements. At first, they were only at the level of Champions. But now, one of them had peak Commander strength within a span of months!"


    "Months?! Just months to scale those levels?!" Xs eximed.


    Even Tathar was surprised. Even the best would take years for a Champion to be amander! A decade to scale the ranks wasn''t even considered slow! Yet months passed, and a Golem became a Commander who was a step away from bing Cardinal!<novelnext></novelnext>


    "What are its limits?! How did that happen?" Tathar asked.


    "We don''t know what its limits are! But these creatures grow at an incredible rate. Faster than any dark-dependent creature we have seen! When these reports were released, we began to think of ways to breach the portal. But we cannot find a way to lower the restrictions."


    "Can these... golems be... celestials?" A Conqueror asked.


    "The more important question that you should ask is if other Dark Dependents can use these methods." Bolerax smiled.


    Everyone became silent as this thought became engraved like a parasite in them.


    "Then what is there else to talk about? But, first, tell us the strategy of our entry."


    Bolerax smiled.


    "We enter through the Minds. That region has the weakest shields and is the easiest entry point. My brother is also with an Incubus with powers possibly from the lost Corruption of Xermolipi. So be careful in sending your women. They might note back the same."


    "An Incubus?! How certain are you that it''s of a lost Corruption?!"


    "I trust Greater God Sheolrah visited each of your regions. I suggest you dy any ns to inform her of any information. That Subus is probably the same Cracky Batcheeks being sought! Whatever is happening down in the nesworld, it must be something involving numerous heritages. Cracky Batcheeks, the rise of the Steele family that I''m certain is being reported to the Lizardkin... the power of these Golems, and who knows what else? I know that all of you have found inheritances and other destined legacies for your tribe. You all have awakened one recently, correct?" Bolerax gazed at everyone.


    Some could not hide their expression of surprise that Bolerax knew.


    Others were stunned that they were not the only ones who had found something.


    "We are at a tipping point of history. A great and important battle that will dictate the state of this universe ising! You can tell Greater God Sheolrah that you found Cracky Batcheeks and be rewarded by her power. Or you can hide it, and we can im these heritages and create a second Heretic War where a few among us will rise to be gods or fallen!" Bolerax dared everyone.


    Down in the nes World...


    "And that is the n." Breveros exined with intricate detail what the ns were.


    Nightwing even gathered a lot of information about the Steele Family, the Emberdons, the Lizard kingdoms, and the current state of the Londs.


    Nightwing nodded in understanding, but he could not help but continue to feel sorry for Breveros.


    "What an unlucky guy. He just told me the ns of the Eldrich..." Nightwing sighed.


    "Nightwing. I told you my ns. What of yours? Your two subus had taken control of these kingdoms and forced them towards the Minds. You seduced Princess Listrel to make these Lond nations rise with permission, correct?" Breveros asked.


    "Yes and no. I couldn''t control Princess Listrel. As if my darkness could permanently taint Protos Endoxus. To simplify what I did, I simply asked her a favor. She agreed, and that''s the end of it. As for that two subi, it''s a trap for the Steele Family. Suppose I can make them think that they have a backing of an army behind them. And soon, when our forces arrive, the Minds will team with them to fight our forces. But at the right moment, I execute themand."


    "A killmand! To kill them from within!"


    "Yes. My subus will lead all those men to their deaths by betraying their allies! I call it, Order 66!"


    "I see! What a cunning n! As expected of someone who defeated me!" Breveros approved.


    Nightwing smiled and nodded, sighing at how unlucky Breveros was.


    Order 66 would be the trigger he gave to his allies, who would sabotage the army of Destiny from within!

 Chapter 508 Friends With All Sides

    Breveros was in constantmunication with Bolerax, and the information of all their enemies was made known to Nightwing.


    As thes formed their team, Nightwing already had the list of all the names of those who would be sent to the nes World.


    "Only two women among them... How sad..." Nightwing sighed.


    "Like any of them would dare to send powerful female cultivators with an incubus here." Breveros gave Nightwing an annoyed look.


    "What else?"


    "You''ve been pressing me with many questions already... If I didn''t know any better, you n to betray us."


    "Of course, I''ll betray you! I''m friends with all sides. So I''m going to use my powers to make Angelian send a message to the clone of her dear old dad here."


    "...What?" Breveros frowned.


    "Think about it. I leak information that some of thoses are nning to send a raid party here. They will send amand to the forces of the Middle to guard the locations where they will go with powerful cultivators. Conquerors or Crowns will be there to ambush the iing alien invasion. I''m sure you''re smart brain can follow what I''m getting at."


    "I see. We ambush those who ambush the aliens."


    "Ambush-ception! Exactly. We can clear out several of the stronger cultivators in the Mind regions, and we will have more freedom! An ambush will force them to bring the bare minimum lest they fear being detected. Which is harder to kill, a Conqueror in his fortress or a Conqueror on the field?" Nightwing chuckled.


    "And because of this ambush, we will also give the impression that we already have a sizable force in the Minds!"


    "That''s not all. I''ll make it look like our target is one of those ancient portals. So they probably know about it anyway. But if we leak information that the said target is in the eastern regions of the Minds, to that World Wood Tree where the elves stay, we will redirect their forces and focus."


    "The question is if this double agent will be believable! If they don''t trust her, then this information we leak could bite us back. My brother, the king, will not risk such dangerous and reckless actions."


    "Did you tell anyone that I am an Incubus?"


    "No. Why?"


    "I showed myself to you and your forces when I slew those people in the ck Bog Kingdom. But apart from you, everyone else thinks I am just a vampire. And that means they don''t know what methods I used to trick Angelian. Angelian." Nightwing''s voice boomed out and echoed around the tower.


    The women who served Breveros heard the call and could not help but tremble and long to be called.


    Monica and Sherah sighed as Angelian''s name was called, and Angelian happily left.


    "You summoned me, my love?" Angelian arrived with her eyes of great longing.


    "Check what binding I ced on her." Nightwing chuckled.


    Breveros held out his hand.


    "[Dark Soul Guage]!" He activated the spell and searched for any bindings to her soul.


    "What?! None?!" Breveros eximed.


    "All my women do not have any soul restrictions or binding contracts. That is the true terror of being an Incubus like me." Nightwing smiled.


    "I see! We imnt a weaker one in her! One that is fading out!"


    "Yes. I will pretend not to know of Angelian''s true lineage. You see, she was cursed with [De-Heart] and won''t even fully trust her father. So, I''ll use [De-Heart] as an excuse for Angelian not to tell her secrets to me. I used magic to lock her soul, but since she is of dragon lineage, the restrictions slowly began to fade as her body grew. I will make it look like I fed her highlypatible beasts that spurred her growth."


    Breveros listened to the details and could find no ws.


    "This could work..." Breveros smiled.


    "Alright. I''ll need a device that will allow Angelian to send a message to her father. It has to be of the highest level of secrecy, and others should not hear it to make it seem true. Is there anything in the Minds that will be like this?"


    "Yes. This kingdom''s Message Transmitter is capable of sending out. This is one of the reasons we chose this ce as our base. It''s secure that not even the Hignds can easily intercept it." Breveros answered.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Alright. I''ll send the message to Angelian. We still need to create chaos in the Minds. So send the army that was supposed to go to the ck Bog Kingdom to head further out to the East."


    "Fine... You want to be left alone. So be it. But Nightwing, betray us, and the Greater God Sheolrah will know. My brother is using those foreigns so that we can afford you betraying us. Do not underestimate us!"


    "Why would I betray you?" Nightwingughed as he left.


    Breveros couldn''t help but nod, for there was no apparent reason for Nightwing to betray them.


    As Breveros left to lead the army, Nightwing found the Message Transmitter room.


    Numerous magical devices were in ce, and people were doing their reports.


    Everyone turned and saw the newest VIP of the kingdom.


    Due to Breveros''s preparation, all those working were women, and their hearts were instantly swayed at the sight of Nightwing.


    "I need to use the Message Transmitter. Please give us some privacy."


    "Yes, Lord Nightwing." The women bowed and left.


    "I''m surprised you didn''t kiss them." Angelian chuckled.


    "And drive those subi angry? No way. Besides, they aren''t worth the trouble. You have a dragonic bloodline and high defenses now. So you could resist their attacks, you know?"


    "...I would die because I don''t think my lips would part if it were to meet again... Let''s resolve the issue with your ex-wives, and I can agree to it..." Angelian blushed.


    Nightwing chortled as he moved toward the main device.


    "Impressive. This is using a channel array to send sounds. It also has numerous encryption to alter the message until the receiver receives the device and the magical codex decrypts it. Rather primitive for its technology but good with all these magical locks. Now for the message..."


    "What exactly do you n, Lord Nightwing?"


    "The goal is to defeat as many of Destiny''s forces. First, you will speak to your father and set a time to meet. And then, you are to meet with him directly. But in your message, you must ask to have someone to meet him with."


    "Who?"


    "Princess Listrel Protos Endoxus."


    "The princess?"


    "Yes. Based on the information that Breveros provided, the actions of Listrel and Lea indicate that they met with me. When Breveros was talking about these two, he spoke of a rather peculiar event where the news and events somehow buried the importance and value of these two. It''s as if they were forgotten. I''m sure Kyros had something to do with it. And if Kyros is anything like me, people who meet me can only die or be an ally. Those two are definitely thetter. But I''m sure Kyros would not have the power to make the entire universe forget about them. Mysterion and even Oblivion at our level could not be used like that. So I began to think and tie up the pieces. The key is the Time God Cminus or Luigi."


    "I''m the key?" Luigi suddenly popped up on Nightwing''s shoulder.


    "Yes. What happens if you time travel? What happens to that timeline? Can your powers create multiple timelines where multiple gods and fallen exist? In that way, wouldn''t you be the strongest god who could create numerous timelines and alterations?"


    "Of course not."


    "That''s right. So something happens to that timeline. And the vision I saw of Breveros answered it. It answered many things about Kyros. First, Breveros was in a timeline that was being destroyed. That''s why in my vision, Breveros was older and more powerful. But the power he revealedcked the power of Gods and Fallen. It was as if he had to create and figure out the power outside the blessings and corruptions! So my vision revealed a future, Breveros. One where he is our ally! And it fits. Breveros is too strong that Destiny has to weaken him so that no one can contest Bolerax. That''s why there was another Breveros. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Reginald is also like Breveros."


    "Me?" Reginald suddenly appeared next to Nightwing in a human form.


    "Yes. You are not just a Hydra but an Okto-Khefali. And the reason why you have more heads than eight is that Kyros managed to merge your two different timelines and make each other a separate entity. Both of you are one, but it is also different. If I''m a Trinity, you are a Duality. And with that in mind, I n to do something that only Kyros and his allies can help. And that is to kill future traitors!"


    "So you want me to tell my father and Listrel to gather a group of people who will betray our side in the future? Will they know?"


    "The chances of it are high. But even if not, Listrel, who has met Kyros, surely knows about Destiny and Fate. She could probably sense who is of Fate and is of Destiny. I''m sure she''ll figure it out. These are surely people of Destiny. And those are the people that I will let Breveros ambush! Angelian, tell your father and Listrel to gather the strongest people in the Minds. Those that are of Fate and who are our allies, send them to the east. But those who are of Destiny, send them to thending zones of the aliens!"

 Chapter 509 Friends With The Darkness

    In the borders of the Uninvolved Lands was a secret chamber deep underground. A seal was made to enclose this underground chamber, and only those of dragonic line could open it.


    Inside was a Lesser Dragon.


    While Lesser Dragons would have the strength of Champions and Commanders, this Lesser Dragon had the might of a Crown!


    The lesser dragon clone is Pyrekaiser Fafnir. He sat at the ce where he told his daughter he would wait should troublee.


    Next to him was a Crown. Yet her power had developed tremendously, and it was even believed that she could challenge Conquerors!


    "You were... very quick to return here, Princess. Who exactly is this Kyros?"


    "I want to say, my husband. But it seems that the rivals have increased. Your daughter is with him, right? From the words of my allies, I heard that Kyros was now an Incubus and had given in to his dark side. I''m not sure if I should pity or envy her." Listrelughed.


    Pyrekaiser frowned.


    "Princess. If this Kyros has done anything to her-"


    "You will do nothing. Right now, your Lesser Dragon clone is only a Crown. You will die if you face him. Even with your experiences. Trust me."


    "You hold him in great regard."


    "You have no idea what I''ve seen."


    "You still won''t tell us what happened. When you came back, many of us were horrified that we somehow forgot about you after thinking you were dead. We know it was a Corruption or a Code, and yet you deny it."


    "It wasn''t exactly Corruption. It was just the after-effect of what happened to me."


    "Still... You speak of the grand war between Fate and Destiny but refuse to tell anymore."


    "Because if I told you, it would create a ripple, and that god and that fallen would notice something. My father trusts me. That''s all that matters."


    "Still... if my daughter is in any form of-"


    "I''m not hurt, father." Angelian suddenly appeared.


    "What?!" Pyrekaiser eximed.


    "How did you appear...! You escaped my senses!"


    "Of course, she would. That was Oblivion, wasn''t it? How did Kyros or Nightwing harness that...?"


    "Princess Listrel." Angelian bowed and greeted the person in the higher position.


    "Hm? You seem rather... joyful. Of course, those cursed with De-Heart won''t be like that. I''m guessing you were healed." Listrel smiled.


    "He-healed?!" Pyrekaiser eximed.


    "Charm can break the coldest of hearts. You''ve also gotten stronger. Even at your level, you could take on Cardinals." Listrel smiled.


    "I am still far from your strength,dy princess." Angelian then turned to her father.


    "Father. I''m happy to see you. I guess I have a lot of apologies to make." Angelian smiled as she approached.


    Pyrekaiser was stunned. He saw the cold-hearted daughter of his approach him with a warm smile.


    The Lesser dragon form of Pyrekaiser was monstrous. Yet Angelian showed no disdain and held on to her father as she finally began to weep.


    Pyrekaiser trembled.


    "I should have sent... my main body here!" Pyrekaiser held back.


    "De-Heart was removed? What did he do?" Pyrekaiser then nced at her daughter.


    "...You''re still a... virgin, are you? Or have you given yourself to him?"


    "Rx. I doubt those two will allow Kyros to get all handsy to the women. They would probably kill the girl even if he kissed them."


    "We... did kill a Cardinal that way." Angelian nodded.


    "Well... spill it out. You told us a message that he would be a double agent to help us kill Destiny. So what is the n? Pyrekaiser told us that there is a gathering of aliens intending to attack the Minds."<novelnext></novelnext>


    Angelian nodded.


    "Yes. Lord Nightwing is with an Eldrich Breveros now."


    "Breveros? The brother of the Eldrich king? That same man? This presents a good chance to kill him!"


    "Oh? Interesting. Pyrekaiser. I use my authority to say to you. You cannot harm that man. He''s an ally. I hope this Nightwing remembers."


    "He has seen some vision. But I am under orders to only reveal things depending on what you know. He has forgotten the memories of Kyros and only sees a few bits. He has a few guesses and assumptions..." Angelian asked.


    "Pyrekaiser. Leave us. We will call you back. There are things that you are not allowed to know. Those who have Mysterion or have vowed under his banner can know, but those of Fate and Destiny cannot know."


    "As you wish." Pyrekaiser nodded and left the room.


    "What''s his guess?"


    Angelian began toy out his guesses and talked about how the Time God Cminus created a world to be discarded and tried to fit Breveros into the world.


    "As expected of Nightwing. He is still a part of Kyros. He''s got it right. It was a world to be purged by fire. A world where Kyros fought what he said was the most frightening Fallen he faced. He is called Oblivion. Even I can''t remember the real name. But that''s what happened. As for the mystery of Kyros, he lived two lives." Listrel began to exin how the world they were in was the purging and disappearing timeline and fought a future form of Breveros.


    "But, of course, he wasn''t one of Destiny or Fate. So honestly, I''m not sure if Breveros should stand by our side."


    "Destiny is limiting Breveros''s powers. He was so strong that he would havepeted with Bolerax. So Destiny made him very unlucky. It was a curse of great power. We easily defeated him because of his bad luck."


    "I see... Destiny disowned him and made Breveros neutral... I guess that''s alright. In any case, what ns does Nightwing have?"


    "He needs the forces of Destiny to enter the nesworld and fight his former allies. The goal is to kill as many forces of Destiny. We will ambush the team you send to fight the iing aliens and kill them."


    "I get it. Send a team of those who betrayed us in the future. I already have a list of those here in the Minds. And I''ll throw in someone from the Hignds. I''m sure Nightwing is strong enough to handle a few Conquerors now?"


    "Yes, Princess."


    "Good! Then our n is set. By the way... How is Nightwing treating you? As Kyros, he was rather strict and stoic since his heart was still for Mechiel. But if Nightwing is the Fallen soul, I expected him to have more fun with you."


    "...I did notice that he''s slightly different. He wants to get close, but at the same time, I can''t help but sense him trying to... push us away. He took drastic actions to draw us. But he... is never consistent."


    "Oh? Well, given Mechiel''s status as the true bearer of the Charmed Fallen, even if Nightwing is an Incubus, he can never break away from her chains. Tell him that. Kyros''s allies are going after the legacy of the Charmed Fallen. I don''t want Mechiel to win since I still want Kyros for myself. So tell Nightwing to get serious, or he will be toyed with by the Charmed Fallen."


    While the two met, Martha, Aron, and Puff, in a lizardman form, left a carriage driven by orcs.


    "Thank you, dear friend! Thank you for not selling us out." Aron chuckled.


    "Thanks for saving me, taking care of my debt, and killing my pursuers. I will do as you suggest and head to that orc kingdom near Airom. But will you be alright? The Steele family best be careful in wandering the dark."


    Aron turned to Martha, who was closing her eyes.


    The power of the Dark Link resonated, and I searched for it.


    Far away, in the Dark Seas kingdom, Lea was there and turned to the side.


    "A member of the Coven? She''s calling me..." Lea closed her eyes and responded to the call.


    Martha opened her eyes.


    "She found us. She seems to agree to meet with us."


    Aron smiled and turned back to the orc.


    "Don''t worry, dear friend. We can travel through this darkness. Because we have friends in the darkness." Aron bid his farewell, and the three began to move out.


    "...I sense several powerful dark powers zeroing in on my location." Puff reported.


    "Oh? So the hidden powerful beings know that one with dragonic lineage is here?"


    "Yes. It''s proof that they have unknowingly taken the blessing of Lord Tiamat."


    "Ignore Tiamat. It''s going to be heavily guarded. We search for the Charmed Fallen. And with you as bait, we are going to have a lot of foes to train with." Martha moved onwards.

 Chapter 510 Friends In Heaven And Hell

    The region that connected the Londs to the Minds was the Boundary of the Great Divide.


    This was home to the Vaux Imperial Kingdom, considered the strongest kingdom of the Londs.


    And now, the kingdom that was once tasked with keeping all other kingdoms from passing through the Great Divide, which led to the Minds, was now changing.


    There were too many political changes that have urred in the past month.


    The empire itself was changing, and the power struggle in the kingdom became so immense that high-ranking officials would die one after the other in a week!


    No one knew what had caused the series of betrayals that opened the way for the Steele family to take root and reim their lost heritage in the empire.


    But in reality, it was caused by two women who took control of the men.


    Originally, these two would have fought each other. But now, they united for amon cause.


    Mechiel used her powers and appeared before the elites of the kingdom. However, she never made a public appearance and would only agree to meet these men in enclosed areas.


    The kingdom never imagined that she manipted and caused the great Vaux Imperial kingdom to y their own forces.


    It was through her that Branze was named the Supreme Commander of the Alliance. Although he had the people''s support for his amazing powers, he was not noble or a royal. He was from the family of the infamous nder n, believed to have brought devastation just a lifetime ago.


    Even though many of their past now had evidence to suggest that the nder wasn''t as cruel and evil as they once were believed to be but had a legitimate reason, the numerous high-ranking officials still despised having a former nder as the head.


    Mechiel twisted the hearts in Vaux Imperial Empire and prepared the ground.


    Scarlet was even more aggressive as she kept moving in between kingdoms as many began to prepare a contingency escape route with the war on the Londs rising to the max.


    With the discovery of Middle and the Golem City, it was clear that the Hignd and the Nethends would im it. The war in the Londs was expected to have Conquerors on a frequent basis.


    And so, the royals began to create forts near the Boundary of the Great Divide, allowing Scarlet to infiltrate the Kattarax and the Lorem Ipsum kingdom.


    With her within the web of power, she caused these kingdoms to lend aid to the Steele family.


    Branze then untied the alliance and had been training the army with his superior cultivation knowledge thanks to the Library of the Nephilim.


    The power levels of the Lond human kingdom were skyrocketing in many areas.


    Energy Formations circles, magic, martial fighting techniques, Blessings of Codes, and Corruption were also multiplying.


    Scouts were sent out to numerous ces in the Minds but were now met with resistance.


    Inside arge building where the Supreme Commander of the Alliance resided, numerous important people gathered.


    Branze, Diana, Scarlet, Mechiel, Avaray, Grugnyr, and Stellya Emberdon met physically for the first time in months.


    "So... we fight against an insane army... And we need to be able to push back Conquerors. What do we do now?" Grugnyr asked.


    "Why are we even going against Lord Kyros..." Avary sighed.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Everyone. Focus! We fight a terrifying enemy! Please be more serious!" Scarlet eximed.


    "Please. You''re just worried because Nightwing has been kissing other girls. Why are you mad? It''s not even Kyros! It''s Nightwing! I don''t get what a Trinity is, but that wasn''t Kyros!" Stellya frowned as she turned to a very impatient Scarlet.


    "It''s probably his body. That''s what a Trinity should be, I guess. But Scarlet, you should calm down. If Nightwing is abusing our beloved''s body he would have started kissing more and let us kill him. I can tell he kissed that girl so we would kill him." Mechiel added.


    "...Unlike you, who doesn''t love him and can''t stand the thought of having someone who chases after you turn away, I won''t allow my beloved to be given over to any other woman! This Nightwing might cause more gaps in Kyros''s hearts to sway! She might make Kyros long for more women! I already have you and those two princesses to worry about!"


    "That''s honestly to your advantage. You don''t know the ties we had formed in the past life. But now, with the Charmed Fallen manifesting in me, he needs to make me desire him. You alone can''t defeat me. He is letting Nightwing take the lead to weaken the curse and keep me enticed to chase after him and make his heart more vulnerable to you. As they say in the Londs if you want to chase and capture chickens, don''t chase them while they are free. Chase them when they have owners who leash them. A vulnerable Kyros is easier for you to take than one dedicated to me. As for me, his little actions of severing hearts are really working! I have grown strong as my heart is dedicated to acquiring more power and have reached the peak of Commander. But the Londs have too little for me to im the Cardinal levels." Mechiel sighed.


    "And that''s why I gathered you all here. I received a message from Pyrekaiser Fafnir."


    "The Champion Supreme Pyrekaiser?!" Avary eximed.


    "Yes. He''s with Princess Listrel. We now know the ns of Nightwing. He will be sending the Eldrich here with cultivators from another. That is the Conqueror army that we have to face. Now... Our issue is that we need resources to boost our strength. The Londs do not have this. Even if we exhaust the whole supply of this kingdom, we would only reach Cardinals. And our goal is Crown!"


    "Crowns just the minimum. Even with our Codes or Corruption, the Crowns cannot rise to defeat Conquerors. Even if we be Victor''s Crown, who would have three to four hundred stats higher than those who are Crowns and would be at the very peak level, a High Conqueror of the first level alone will still have stats that would be two to three hundred higher!" Mechiel added.


    "I know the difference of power between the two in my past life. If we want to have a chance to face a single Conqueror, we should reach the mid stages of the Crown to fight! But this only applies to a few of our families. Branze, Mezal, Aron, and Martha would fall into this category. Lady Diana, I fear that your current strength is enough. You need to reach the peak stages of Crowns to hold your own against a Conqueror!" Mechiel spoke.


    Mechiel''s tone was very respectful and showed no arrogance. On the contrary, her words were of pure concern despite the effect of the Charmed Fallen''s arrogance and self-centered vanity.


    Diana smiled and nodded.


    "Was I really good to you in your past life that you can''t even try to be arrogant towards me?" Dianaughed.


    "I would have died for you, mydy. And even now, I will." Mechiel gave a warm smile.


    "Hm... I wish you really loved Kyros. That way, I would root for you." Diana chuckled.


    "Mo-Mother... What about me?" Scarlet asked.


    Diana sighed and turned to Branze.


    "Dear, just tell them your ns."


    "As Mechiel said, Crown is the bare minimum of what we need to be. Keep in mind we still have to keep hidden from Fate and Destiny. While those two are having this chess match, we are outside the board, and our actions will surprise both. Thankfully we have friends with the Hignds, and my son''s other person or soul, Nightwing, is also an ally in this undertaking. We can y both sides, thanks to our friends in heaven and hell. Princess Listrel said that Nightwing met with Breveros and discovered a secret. It seems because Destiny knows the future, he knows who will be a threat to him. And sometimes, this means his own people."


    "I see... Bolerax was set to be the Eldrich king. But Breveros was too strong!" Mechiel realized it. She had already noticed Breveros''s power in the Unrecorded Pages.


    "Yes. And this revtion can be to our advantage! We pick a Kingdom that we know will betray our cause in the future. We lead them to fight Nightwing. Destiny will favor Nightwing, who has presented himself as a True Neutral willing to fight for Destiny. This will cloud the future sight of Destiny!"


    "That is if Nightwing seeds. Can Destiny be easily fooled?" Grugnyr asked.


    "Kyros tricked Histerion and Oblivion. And if Nightwing is the Fallen soul, then he can easily do that and trick Destiny. If he is with Breveros, then Bolerax must have been convinced." Mechiel answered.


    "Exactly. Kyros has nned to give Destiny a false future. Since he awakened, his victories were always rted to this. He was a blind item that Destiny kept trying to attack and kill because he was the only thing that he couldn''t see. But imagine if Kyros''s Mysterion was used to deceive?"

 Chapter 511 True Neutral

    Ever since the hiding and forgetting of Kyros, a great change in the history of the world as they knew it urred, and no one noticed.


    Because of Lanthanou''s curse that sealed all memory associated to Kyros, the Steele family''s rise and the battle in Middle had changed ording to the memory of the world.


    In the Great Realms beyond time...


    Destiny stood and watched the events with several Fallen Gods next to him.


    Thora, the Watcher, and the Fallen of Aging nced at all creation, adding age, entropy, atrophy, and decay.


    Her hair had grown long to signify that the End had been moving on by centuries.


    Next to them was a Fallen with a very poor, ugly, and wounded form.


    Lanthanou, the Fallen of Oblivion, was in constant wars with the God of History, Histerion.


    "Finally... End is now approaching at a faster rate." Thora sighed in relief. Her hair has suddenly gotten shorter.


    "No thanks to you, Lanthanou!" Thora turned to the old man and cursed at him.


    "You should be thanking me! For all we know, I could have sealed another son or disciple of Histerion into the Forgotten Pages and thrown it to Oblivion! It could have been the Nephilim! The champion of Fate! And now even Fate has forgotten about this champion!" Lanthanou defended.


    "The Nephilim was a risky gamble that Fate threw out with her allies. But that champion is nothingpared to having Histerion as our enemy!" Thora argued.


    "Destiny. What if your ns? Have all of Fate''s movements been stopped?"


    "We had to usher in the Era of Middle, and it will soon arrive... But with this, we finally have secured End. Fate''s strange powers have led to the many rising Challengers who survived my scourge. But nevertheless, I know the future, and those destined to lose will lose." Destiny bragged.


    "Oh, stop acting so high and mighty! You even used Lord Pausontai to help you! And wasn''t it you who dragged Lanthanou to clean up something that led to Histerion taking their side?!" Thora cursed again.


    "Just as Lanthanou said, it must have been something important! Who knows? Maybe the important victories that Fate had were tied to the Nephilim! Without him, I can easily kill the greatest champions of Fate faster!"


    "And which of them are the greatest champions?"


    "The at the most important ce in this battle! In nesworld! Where Present Middle is! The era of Middle seems to spiral with these champions close to the center of events! They were surely the allies of the Nephilim! But we slew the Nephilim, and even though Lanthanou made us forget them for a while, I found them! And this set in motion the truth!"


    "How did you see that? I am watching over them, and I cannot see any signs of Fate among those champions! Present Middle is at the hands of a weak n. Are you saying that the strongest Champions of Beginning will be connected to those Commanders? This... pathetic Steele family?"


    "Their name hints that they are connected to Hyperion Steel!"


    "Yes. But what can these mere Commanders or Cardinals do? Send a force to kill them."


    "It''s not that easy. Fate''s a tricky one. She has been blocking my entry point. But do not worry. I figured out how Fate''s attempts were unnoticed by my minions in the present. She has used quite some means to give them power and hide them! That Steele family managed to conquer my Cardinals while they were Champions in Middle! And now, I''m sure! They must have found the heritage of Fate herself! One among them holds the power of Fate! Whether or not he or she knows it!"


    "An incarnation of Fate appeared before them? That will assure power and survival. But that still doesn''t exin how they have hidden their Fate Challenger in our eyes. All of Fate are cursed. If they are of Fate it would have been clear as the world would quiver and find them!"


    "The fact that this Steele family was at the center of Middle''s awakening is proof that they are of Fate. To be specific, Fate hid them as True Neutrals! She used many lost legacies of the gods or fallen from long ago that didn''t want to be part of this battle! The lord of lies is with them, after all! Unfortunately, his power of lying is probably hiding the True Neutrals!"


    "I see... True Neutrals will be hidden from our war and will not urately depict the future."


    "Exactly! Isn''t that why we either sealed, befriended, killed or allowed them to flee?"


    "But lying is not enough. You cannot lie to the word forever. The Lord of Lies has great limitations now, ever since his betrayal. Something else is hiding them. How did you figure this out and find them?" Thora asked.<novelnext></novelnext>


    Destiny smiled.


    "Because another True Neutral appeared. One who found Xermolipi''s Corruption. A True Neutral vampire that fled. I''m guessing a descendant of the Fanged Fallen. And since his father died, he had to flee from our power and became a True Neutral. So now he found Xermolipi''s Corrupt and is doing his best to join our side."


    "What if it''s an evil scheme to deceive us?"


    "One who has Xermolipi, the Charmed Fallen? Why would Xermolipi betray us? On the contrary, up to her supposed death, she was a staunch supporter of our alliance."


    "...Fair enough. One who has Xermolipi cannot resist her. She who wants to be the only beauty in all the cosmos will seek our side..." Thora nodded.


    "It''s a good thing your ugly." Lanthanou also nodded.


    Thora red at Lantahnou.


    "Thora. I will need your help again. This Nightwing has set a n, and Impyernos, a Celestial Fallen, will invoke a spell to break through the nesworld. I was hoping you could alter thews so that the barrier of the nesworld will not recover quickly and will allow Impyernos to send soldiers to this Nightwing. Nightwing will lead the charge to kill all these champions of Fate!"


    "Using True Neutral to kill True Neutral. A fitting end since you discovered them because of True Neutral. I shall aid you." Thora turned her eyes, nced at a specific ce in time, and focused on the nesworld''s protective barrier.


    The gathering in space began as many aliens of Conquerors might be prepared to attack the world.


    Down in the Londs...


    After much political discussion, a small delegate was sent out to the Mind kingdom of Ever Day. It was the Kingdom of constant Light as it was in a position of the nesworld that Light would constantly hit.


    A caravan was moving out to meet the King of this kingdom.


    It was heavily guarded as the Supreme Commander of the Alliance of the Londs was there to request aid from the king.


    Inside, Branze and Diana waited as the otherpanions arrived.


    WARP! WARP!


    Mechiel, Scarlet, and Stellya appeared inside the carriage. An energy formation circle was drawn to make them teleport.


    "How is it?"


    "We should have support to meet the king now. Move without fear."


    "Good. Now, our n is to keep ourselves under Fate''s radar. We stick to appearing as True Neutrals. We cannot act out to reveal these kingdoms as enemies. Princess Listrel warned us of this. Nightwing''s n cannot be revealed and his standing as a True Neutral must be preserved at all cost."


    "So what is the n? Why are we headed to this Mind kingdom?"


    "Because we will use them as bait, a whetting stone, and a force that will dy the Conquerors. Mechiel. Scarlet. Infiltrate these traitorous kingdoms and prepare our way. Stellya. I need the connection to the Fortress to beplete so that we can use the Nephilim Storage Space to use its dimensional power to take away items. We use these nations to fight back against Nightwing and his hordes through misunderstandings and personal vendetta. And when they are about to have their grand fight, we steal and take everything this kingdom offers." Branze smiled.


    "So we squeeze these kingdoms down to thest drop and abandon them to be destroyed by Nightwing... Sounds like something Kyros would do."


    "I am his father in his past life. He must have picked up some things from me. If exhausting a kingdom in the Londs can only take us to the peak of Commander, let''s try a Mind kingdom. They should have the resources to help us be Crowns, right?" Branze chuckled.


    "Interesting. We annihte forces of Destiny and make it look like a ripple effect of this True Neutral. We steal the resources of this kingdom using the Nephilim Fortress and use that to grow stronger. In my memories, I recall three kingdoms nearby who would betray the side of the Hignds." Mechiel smiled.


    "Those are our targets. Nightwing shall conquer three Kingdoms! And we shall ransack them during the chaos! Stellya! That''s why you are here! You will apany Mechiel, and Scarlet to prepare the escape warp pads so we can steal their resources at a crucial time!"

 Chapter 512 True Power Of Charm

    The Mind Kingdom of Ever Day was the first kingdom beyond the Boundary of the Great Divide and was directly south of the main entrance of the Walls that Endured which would lead to the Hignds.


    The kingdom was situated inside arge white mountain called the Ever Light Mountain. The stone of white had a great power that could contain the light of the star, and because the ''shade'' of the Ygdrassil Tree couldn''t cover this specific spot, it always had the light shining on it. So the evening woulde only once in a few weeks. But even then, the light of the Ever Light Mountain would be so bright that it seemed like daytime.


    Because of the constant light, Ever Day was considered one of the strongest kingdoms within the Minds.


    Through the charms of Mechiel and Scarlet, the group of Branze was easily epted, and the kings and queens of this magnificent kingdom would meet with them.


    Soon the carriage was about to approach grand halls, and they would soon step out in view of all the kingdom.


    Branze could sense strong power around the kingdom and be satisfied.


    "Conquerors... I could sense at least two. Many others are Cardinals! This kingdom will do perfectly! But, of course, you two have to y your parts well. Our sess will lie on the both of you." Mezal smiled.


    "Can you two charm a Conqueror?" Diana asked the two.


    Scarlet had a dark expression.


    "I don''t think I can. I haven''t tried. But the powers I have only increase the stronger I be. While our beauty will definitely affect their beauty, the power of Charm will not fully affect them. With Cardinals and Conquerors, the best that the two of us can do is attract them or gain our favor. But they will have control of their minds." Scarlet answered.


    "I''m confident I can make them betray each other. But, my dear Scarlet, Charm is not just the power to lust. It''s who we are. That''s why you are weaker than me." Mechiel chuckled.


    "What do you mean?"


    "I guess a copy of Zh can never fully grasp the power of Charm."


    "So you are confident that you can give us the ce, position, and authority we need to be able to steal all those items and force them to war?" Branze asked.


    "Of course. Do you know the best way to attract a man, Father-inw?" Mechiel asked.


    "...No. But ... I mean, I''ve never tried to attract a man before."


    Diana chuckled.


    Mechiel was not insulted and also chuckled at Branze''s joke.


    "There goes Father-inw with his unexpected timing of jokes. I sure did miss this." Mechielughed.


    Branze was caught off guard.


    "You''re even hitting on father-inw?" Scarlet frowned.


    "Ask them if they feel that way..." Mechiel shook her head in disappointment towards Scarlet.


    "You still don''t know how to use Charm properly. I forget that you are younger than you look. And I am older than I look. I guess a child like you can never have the heart of a woman. Mother, where you offended? I am teaching my little rival here how to use it." Mechiel asked.


    "...No. That wasn''t flirting at all! It was innocent! That felt..." Diana had a bizarre expression.


    "Very daughterly." Branze continued.


    "Exactly." Mechiel smiled and turned to Scarlet.


    "Scarlet. You don''t have to attract them immediately. Charm can take time. Charm can take various forms. I am using Charm towards them, but not in the way you limit it. It''s not just lusting. My Charm could hinder lust. After all, it would be awkward if I were with Kyros and gave unnecessary emotions to his rtives. When we infiltrate those ces, you don''t have to use your powers to tempt them to go after you. Let me show you... how!" Mechiel smiled as she stood up and pushed the doors of the carriage.


    It was exactly at that moment that they arrived.


    Outside the carriage was a grand gathering of many royals, nobles, and important personage of the kingdom.


    But this gathering was formed to mock and scour at the arrival of the Lond escort. As this Lond alliance desired to send forces to this fortress to be trained, the leaders knew that there would be requests for support and for this kingdom actually to send support.


    Kyros had known the great arrogance and scorn that the Mind kingdoms of Central Mind had for the Londs. This was one of the causes of its defeat. The Minds refused to aid the Londs since many in the Londs were people who had fled from the Minds for their crimes. As such, they saw the Londs as a region of corruption.


    Even with themands of the Hignd Princess, Listrel Protos Endoxus, the support that the Mind lent was only from a few of the weaker kingdoms and cities of the Minds who sought to establish trade.<novelnext></novelnext>


    But the strongest kingdoms sought it below themselves to participate in a trade deal with the Londs.


    The carriage opened, and everyone waited to see the despised creature whom they all nned to mock.


    But then, Mechiel''s beautiful and wless face appeared.


    There was stunned silence.


    The heart of the women yearned to have the beauty of Mechiel.


    The heart of the men yearned to have Mechiel.


    But in their yearning was a strange conflict of emotion.


    Her beauty did not inspire lust. It inspired admiration.


    Mechiel''s expression was serious. Her poise was full of grace and elegance. It did not have the arrogance and superiority that she would always wear. Instead, her form suddenly transformed into that of a respectful and dignified princess.


    She looked back to her onlookers. And when her eyes met theirs, it was clear that she was a woman of many troubles.


    The power of Charm was erupting. No one could feel it because the power to draw the hearts of her watchers was not an obvious weapon that was hacking at them. It was a cunning power subtly moving toward their hearts, ready to make the stab.


    At that moment, many men who yearned for Mechiel only had one thought.


    The desire was not lust but chivalry. It was not the desire to take but to protect.


    "I have to help her..." Many began to think.


    Scarlet, Branze, and Diana saw Mechiel''s lonely walk and couldn''t help but be moved.


    "It seems its possible. What a cruel power. Diana."


    "I know. She has been using her powers on us. Her Charm. Right now, I can''t help but feel that she has to be the one who will win Kyros''s heart!"


    "Don''t forget that this Charmed Fallen will simply toss our son away if she gets him. We have to resist." Branze warned.


    "No... That''s real." Scarlet spoke softly.


    "Real?"


    "She''s... asking for help. Asking us to save her... from bing the Charmed." Scarlet felt a great pain in her heart. And she could understand the emotions that everyone felt but could not fathom.


    "She wants Kyros. She truly loves him. But she''s trapped in the kind of Fallen she is destined to be. Something has changed in her..."


    "Are you... sure?"


    "Yes... She''s trying to tell us something that she can''t even understand. Her heart is divided. She has this true love. And yet... She cannot truly give love because of what she is. Father, mother... Mechiel is dangerous. She could truly be one of Destiny soon! We have to do something...!"


    "... I''ll inform the rest. But right now, I think we still have time. Do not underestimate my son''s wisdom. He must have known this, which is why he went to such a drastic extent to seal his memories. It''s his way of keeping Mechiel in line. Let''s keep this in mind andplete our mission. Kyros has fought so hard to make Mechiel his. If there is someone who can save Mechiel''s conflicting nature, it will be Kyros. Scarlet, we will walk on ahead. You should follow. Can you use the same power that Mechiel is using?"


    "I can try, father."


    "... You should do better. Mechiel''s Charm is too strong, that I am annoyed that you are calling me father." Branze sighed as he left.


    Diana gave Scarlet a somber look as she followed Branze.


    And the two trailed behind Mechiel.


    As the Supreme Commander of the Alliance revealed himself, none of his supposed scoffers could mock or scorn or mock him. But everyone held their peace.

 Chapter 513 True Innocence

    The lonely walk of Mechiel set the tone that those who nned to attack the family were all silenced.


    The eyes of everyone were glued, and many even began to have trouble breathing.


    It was so breathtaking, and many even dropped whatever they held in their hand.


    Branze and Diana made their march following the same somber appearance of Mechiel.


    Scarlet watched inside the carriage and waited. She knew her moment could note with Mechiel still in the lead. She had to gain support and could not help but think about what she could do.


    "I''m such a child...! That Mechiel is too strong!" Scarlet cursed. She realized that Mechiel''s power was stronger, and she was also overpowered and tricked bying out second! The power of Charm could draw and make impressions. But when two Charm powers are vying for supremacy, what would happen?


    What Scarlet believed was that the first power of Charm would be able to take root in the hearts of those who see it first!


    Charm''s power was a flower, after all. If this power takes root in the heart of someone, it would be difficult to rece or nt another rose in it.


    In the garden of the heart, only one flower would blossom and grow strong. Other flowers could take root, but they would just be secondary treasures that would even be thrown away if necessary.


    Even if Mechiel''s strategy was superior, Scarlet believed she would still gather the hearts of most of her enemies.


    Scarlet didn''t leave even when Mechiel was out of view and when Diana and Branze were halfway towards the pce entrance.


    "Mechiel uses pain and despair to present herself as a damsel in distress. This adds numerousyers of desire to save her! She''s using the innate desire of a man to be the hero! To be the knight that rescues the princess! I can''t follow in her footsteps as she has already overpowered that spot. And using lust will be useless since many Cardinals are watching... Mechiel chose a dark dress to present her doomed and sad life... Then I must do the opposite! I won''t be a second option. I''ll be a whole new alternative!"


    Scarlet''s power began to surge out as her vampiric blood spread on her gown.


    "Zh. You were jealous of the Charmed Fallen. But you can never beat her by bing her! Do not follow the same mistake again! Right now, Mechiel is tempting me to take the same steps as she did! But we can''t do that! We must not be her! We must still be ourselves! We cannot win if we try to be Mechiel! We have to be Scarlet!" Scarlet made a wish, and the power of Zh began to tremble.


    "[Skotos Eis Vos]!"


    From the darkness of Scarlet''s bloodline shone a bright light.


    The gown transformed into a pure white.


    Scarlet did not wear a sullen face or a pained expression. Instead, she chose purity. The white color that would shine and the innocence that revealed vulnerability.


    "Mechiel can be the woman that everyone wants to save! I''ll be the woman that everyone wants to protect!"


    Scarlet took a step out, and her power radiated out.


    There was a shining light that glowed as the sunlight of thend reflected itself. The light was shinier than the white walls that made up Ever Day.


    "Hm?"


    "What''s that?"


    "Someone else is in that carriage?"


    Scarlet stood on the grand red carpet leading inside. She looked afraid and fearful.


    "Ki-kind sir... It is my first time in this ce... Was it my time to move out and walk? My two lords told me to wait ande out when they were quite a distance..." Scarlet asked the Cardinal closest to the area.


    The Cardinal watched, and his breath was taken at the beauty before her.


    "Gracious Princess, do not doubt your deeds. We will all wee you and not find fault over the mere mistake of stepping out. True innocence should only be met with grace. Go. Your lords await you!" The Cardinal answered warmly.


    Scarlet smiled with delight as she regained her confidence and held her head up.


    "Tha-Thank you, kind sir! May I know this lord''s name?" Scarlet asked.


    The Cardinal took a deep breath and approached. He revealed such grace in bowing before thedy.


    "Cardinal Reverend Van Gormedom. At your service, young princess."


    "Ah! A cardinal reverend?! Forgive my presumption in calling your great name with such-"


    "Rx, my princess. I would dare not take insult at such innocent and harmless words. Be on your way. I would have loved to ask for your name, but thews of thend that summoned you have invoked you to present yourself inside the royal pce."


    "I... thank you, Cardinal Reverend."<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Cardinal Reverend? Call me Van. Now go, dear princess. And if trouble finds youter, just call on my name, and I will be there to dispel your troubles." Van gave Scarlet a message talisman.


    "Th-this?! I am but a mere handmaiden and cannot ept-"


    "It is my gift to give. Please do not break my heart by rejecting this gift."


    "...Then I shall dly ept! A thousand thanks, Cardinal Rev- I, I mean, Cardinal Van! I shall make haste now! Thank you!" Scarlet epted the message talisman and bowed. And then she dashed Branze and Diana!


    She had a very happy and innocent face, and her fears earlier were removed.


    Many saw that smile and could never forget it.


    The desire for Charm was written deep into the hearts of many.


    They all had the same thought.


    "I must protect that smile!"


    "Pr-Princess! Don''t run! Just make a march!" Van called out again as he was shocked at the sudden sprint.


    It was as if Scarlet was electrocuted, and she nearly stumbled due to her heels.


    She turned around and began to bow and panic as she apologized to everyone, saying sentence after sentence exining that she was just trying to catch up and was saying sorry to each and everyone nearby.


    "Princess." A man suddenly appeared before Scarlet.


    The man wore bright armor. He was a Cardinal Pdin of the Kingdom.


    "It is not your fault. Error on their first attempt is often forgiven. And the innocent that falls for it again is not to be med. If you find our ways to difficult, then allow me to escort you." The Pdin smiled.


    Many Cardinals and Commanders were all secretly murdering the Pdin in their mind.


    Even Cardinal Reverend Van frowned and got annoyed at the gant entry of the Pdin.


    "Tha-thank you...!" Scarlet had a look of awe towards the Pdin.


    The Pdin''s heart began to beat fast as he saw Scarlet''s amazed and almost attracted eyes.


    The Pdin began to sing praises to himself in his head.


    "Damn good! You did damn good, Rh Paraveux! Don''t mess it up! That other beauty will have all the big shots chasing after her! But don''t let this one slip!" Rh said to himself.


    "Mydy, allow me to escort you." The prince offered his hand, and Scarlet held on to it.


    The two began to walk the red carpet and began chatting.


    Many people became envious of the Pdin.


    "May I know... what the name of this kind sir is?" Scarlet asked.


    "My dear princess, please do not be rmed. For I do not hold rank as important to me." The Pdin spoke firmly.


    Many rolled their eyes as this Pdin would throw a tantrum if people called him by a different rank or title!


    "I am Cardinal Pdin Rh Paraveux."


    "Oh! Another Cardinal! Forgive this innocent one. We don''t have Cardinals where I am from. I thank Sir Para... er... Paravoh?"


    "Paraveux... It''s much more difficult to spell than to pronounce, my dear princess. But please, I do not take such petty things in mind. Call me Rh." The Pdin smiled.


    Other Cardinals wanted to smash Rh Paraveux, who would often correct them and make the ''uh'' sound at the end of his surname.


    With Rh in hand, Scarlet began to walk and was full of smiles as she nced around the look and gave humble bows to any who met her eyes.


    At the very front, Scarlet could sense some of her power being siphoned away.


    "Impressive and smart. As expected of Scarlet, the new avatar of Zh. She is starting to grow stronger... So this was your n, Kyros? You even thought of a way to force us to work together..." Mechiel smiled and finally entered the throne room.

 Chapter 514 True Shield Expert

    Mechiel reached the throne room, and all the royals were containing their emotions at the sight of the beautiful woman.


    But the woman seemed so distant that it was as if there was no hope in her tribtions.


    She arrived and gave a low bow, and waited. She didn''t even turn around and kept silent.


    She had respect and did not speak, for she was not the person whom the king of Ever Day would meet.


    "Ahem... Please introduce this... Pr-princess." The king reminded the herald.


    The herald was awakened from his trance.


    "This is... erm... Lady Mechiel Steele. Daughter-inw to the Commander of the Lond Alliance, Branze Steele."


    "Daughter-inw? You are not even a princess?"


    Mechiel kept her head low and shook her head.


    "This lowly one is married to the son of my lord, your majesty."


    "...Then it seems that Branze Steele is quite blessed to have such a lovely daughter-inw as you."


    "...Your grace... my arrival brought only despair. My love has been taken from me, and I have caused my lords to lose their son."


    "Was your husband... kidnapped?"


    "Yes, my lord. But please, await my lords to arrive so they can speak of these things. I am in no position or authority to discuss such grave news about the Eldrich and their ns."


    "Grave news?! The Eldrich?!" The king eximed.


    But Mechiel only bowed her head and did not answer.


    The king had the power of a Conqueror and was one of the Minds'' strongest cultivators.


    "What news do they-"


    "Royal Father. Please wait. That woman clearly does not wish to speak of these things. Let us wait for Commander Branze to arrive." A Crowned Quick de Pdin spoke to the side. He was the Royal Prince of the Kingdom.


    The king perceived that his boy was clearly smitten and could only sigh.


    "Then I shall await Commander Branze." The king answered. He had a strange expression on his face as he could feel pity for the girl rise.


    "Let us hope that that woman''s husband is indeed dead. She will make a fine wife to our son." The king sent a secret message to the queen using a powerful link that the two share.


    "Yes... I was thinking the same thing. That girl... she seems so... troubled. I pity her. If she marries our son, she will see brighter days."


    "As do I. This woman is quite loyal to the family. Such beauty, and she could have chosen to be married elsewhere. Let''s persuade his inws to form a political marriage with us. "


    "Indeed. I can sense that another woman of great beauty is also headed here. Themotion outside is quite annoying and is causing jealousy and hate to rise." The queen frowned. Her power in the Light allowed her to sense emotions.


    "And yet this widow did not cause such emotions?"


    "...No. It''s a very interesting reaction. It''s as if everyone outside pitied the woman in some form of unity. Her beauty is terrifying. But her pain is so visible that no one would dare to add any more sorrow to this woman but desire to save her."


    "Let''s hope our two sons will not fight over her. How beautiful is the other woman?"


    "You''ll see. Herees the Commander of the Alliance."


    The moment Branze and Diana stepped into the throne room, they could see everyone looking at Mechiel. Some were even tearing up or weeping.


    The two intentionally stopped and turned around to wait for Scarlet. They dared not approach the throne and talk to the king without their two assurances on disy.


    Soon, bright white rays of Light appeared inside the throne room.


    The Pdin that escorted Scarlet bade farewell as he returned to his ce with many of his peers gnashing their teeth, and some even threatened to kill him! But the Pdinughed it off as he left.


    Inside the throne room, Scarlet finally showed herself to the peak experts and people of power.


    She wore an innocent, easily intimidated, and even trembling look. She nced at the throne and panicked, not knowing what to do or where to stand.


    The onlookers were so affected by her vulnerable and confused disposition that they began to point to the girl where to stand.


    "Here? Over here?! Stop! There are so many of you pointing!" Scarlet wept in confusion until finally, with a sh of Light, a handsome young man stood next to Scarlet. He had the outfit of a high-ranking Bishop, but his outfit had a robe of many colors. He was the Crown Magistrate and Bishop of the Light.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Mydy. Please stand here." The second prince of Ever Day appeared.


    At that moment, the king and queen of Ever Day smiled as they saw their other son move.


    "Problem solved. It looks like our sons have made their picks." The king sent his wife.


    "Indeed. We better give this Branze Steele a show of true power. He might be so used in victories in the Londs and thinks that the support of the Hignds will grant him any favors in this ce." The queen chuckled.


    "Of course. I nned to do that." The king smiled.


    The king turned to Branze and Diana standing next to him.


    "You must be Commander of the Alliance, Branze Steele!" The king spoke. The power of the Conqueror quaked in the room, and it was as if it was pressing down on Branze.


    It was a show of superiority. Massive Force energy pressed on them.


    BANG!


    The powers shed, and the king was surprised that the two chose to defend themselves.


    "Oh?" The king smiled as more of his powers were pushed down.


    "[Shield of Steel]!" Branze and Diana spoke together and used the powerful spells they had been practicing. They raised their shields. As the Conqueror''s power plunged on them, they used their strongest spells.


    The Code of Steel appeared, and the Force energy of the two expanded out.


    BOOM!


    The two Crown princes moved near Mechiel and Scarlet and used their powers to defend the sh.


    "Shield Experts! Impossible! Since when do the Londs hold Shield Experts?!"


    Everyone else in the throne room also used their powers to block the rippling sh between them.


    "Impressive. As a Commander, you can withstand Cardinals... I wonder if we push it up a notch! Since you dared to resist, then let''s go all the way! Allow me to test your durability, Steele!"


    The king raised his hand, and a faint Crown appeared above him. Martial power created arge avatar of Force Energy. The avatar held a gigantic two-handed sword and prepared to swing it.


    "Tell me, have you two seen such use of this power?" The king chuckled.


    "My king!" A royal advisor eximed.


    But Diana and Branze stood firmly.


    "We''ve killed arge Crab Commander in Middle with the same technique as this. So allow me and my wife to embarrass ourselves with our technique! Mechiel! Scarlet! If you will."


    "Yes, Father-inw."


    "Yes, lord Branze!"


    Mechiel and Scarlet began to gather the elements around them.


    The Crown Princes were stunned to see the elements that the twodies gathered.


    "[Celestial Guard]! [Holy Strength]!" Diana and Branze shouted as the power of two more Codes appeared.


    The Celestial Code and the Code of Soter shone forth. The power of the celestial elements and the strong will of Light empowered the two.


    A faint crown of Light appeared behind Diana and Branze, and their form was coated in a strange armor as Gennaios Steele, and a Shield of Burden that was Katara Steele''s form appeared.


    "Impossible?! Crown level?!" The advisor shouted.


    "Impressive! Very impressive! A true Shield Expert has visited Ever Day! Let''s test your might!"


    The king smiled as he saw the amazing powers. It was no longer about dominance. It was curiosity and a warrior''s delight to fight!


    BOOM!


    The martial avatar swung its sword and shed with the Shield of Steele.

 Chapter 515 True Lies

    The two forces that shed were at the levels of Crown! Such disy of force was notmon, and the power of the Crowns that appeared was breaking the threshold of a level 1 Crown!


    Thews of the nesworld began to limit the power of the two, but yet, the two powers disyed no signs of decay as the two attacks met!


    The impact caused the entire castle to tremble, yet the powerful material gave no signs of the structure and integrity of the castle from ever wavering.


    The shield of Steele appeared with cracks forming around it.


    Diana and Branze were trembling as the shield they created broke and caused a bacsh of power that wounded them.


    "Great King of Ever Day. Please be a bit more lenient to us, your humble guess. It''s not like we both can easily harness the power of a Crown and resist it." Branze immediately spoke as he remained standing.


    The crowd was startled to see that the two still stood before their king!


    They were of the Minds! The Londs would have Commanders at best! And yet, while using their powers together, these four had managed to resist a power of a Crown!


    "Hahaha! Well met, Shield Experts! I am King Ian Brightsun! Imend and apud your strength! It seems that the two of you are truly meant to be! Forgive me for thete notice. But it seems that the wife of the Supreme Commander of the Alliance of Londs is also not to be looked down on and would even match the beauties here! And, of course, your two... daughters-inw are vastly superior to our princesses!" The kingughed as he stepped down. The gigantic, two-handed sword-wielding avatar dispersed.


    It was only then that the four bowed to the king.


    "Ah... You resisted a Crown, and you still bow."


    "We, your humble servants, simply needed to prove with our strength that we can stand least the news that we deliver will be heard by deaf ears."


    "...Ah, yes. Your daughter-inw speaks of a kidnapping that involves the Eldrich!"


    "Yes, my king! It has to do with Middle. The strange world that we have reported."


    "Most of us were not interested in the ims of these Golems. Rumors of a Celestial Golem have reached us. But of course, we did not give serious thought to it. A Celestial Golem is not easily created. We, in our vast wealth, can only support the birth of Conquerors. So why would a Celestial Golem that could be controlled appear in the Londs? It was too good to be true! Perhaps you can enlighten me."


    "It is too good to be true. Thisnd, known as Middle, has numerous portals leading to others. Some of which are the neighborings of the nesworld! The Golems that you have heard about are truly at that level. But as far as we know, there is no way of ever controlling the Celestial Golem, and its armies. We can add and help them get stronger, but the use set in their life is to stay guard for this ce. We discovered many strange things that tie this Middle to the nes world. It seems that even in times past, our little is of great importance to the gods and fallen!"


    "Gods and fallen are interested in the nesworld? Do you know how manys there are in the universe, Londer?" One Crown Pdin spoke to the side. His expression was that of suspicion and anger.


    "My King... These two dare to resist your attack. Instead, they have shown nothing but arrogance and suddenly spurt out wild theories." The Crown Pdin added.


    Branze and the rest immediately knew that this person was of Destiny.


    "Yes. A war between the gods and the fallen are urring. The Eldrich race that wants to reim the nesworld is but a tool by these gods and fallen. My son fought and infiltrated the ce behind enemy lines but was captured."


    "You imed he was kidnapped. But now, he was actually captured? You speak so tantly, not respecting the king before you!" The Crown Pdin inquired again.


    "Your majesty, must we entertain this treason?" He turned to the king.


    "You dare put my husband''s sacrifice in vain? Do you know what he had to go through and what he is going through now if he is alive?!" Mechiel suddenly erupted.


    The pain in her eyes was reflected clearly, and many were moved.


    "Your majesty... There is a reason for our words. We did speak lies. But only to reveal the truth." Branze exined.


    "Truth in lies? Your y of words does not impress us, Londer. Get out with your true lies!"


    "We dare not say that he was kidnapped least the Nethends will send more forces to im Middle in the Londs. We do not have the firepower to fight them. The Hignds knows as we had met Princess Listrel by chance when she was lost in Middle. She helps us because we have helped and even saved her."


    "...You saved Princess Listrel?" The king raised his eyebrow.


    "From the Eldrich. This is why we were allowed to have this meeting, your grace. Why would the Hignds allow a few londers to move to your great estate?"


    "I see. That exins Princess Listrel''s favor."<novelnext></novelnext>


    "Then you are here to request for soldiers to take over Middle, correct? You want us to save your son if he is indeed alive? Do you realize what you are asking?" The Crown Pdin pressed.


    "...No. We are here to inform you of what my son discovered. The Eldrich ns to send a secret force of aliens through a special power that can destroy the protective barrier that covers the nesworld. An army consisting of Conquerors will being here."


    After Branze spoke, silence followed.


    The king, the princes, and all the nobles, including the Crown Pdin, couldn''t believe what they heard.


    It was as if everyone was not sure if they had heard the report correctly.


    "Conquerors?!" The Cardinal Pdin Prince was the first to confirm and eximed loudly.


    "Yes, your majesty! A team with Cardinals, Crowns, and Conquerors will be sent here. They willnd within the Minds and will begin their conquer."


    "Impossible!" The other Prince reacted.


    "Princess Listrel sent us here because she believes that it is possible. She spoke of an Ancient Eldrich being. My son was captured but could send this information without alerting the Eldrich. Therefore, a breach will be made, and these armies will fall. I am here because Princess Listrel trusts this kingdom and wants this kingdom tounch an ambush against the raiding parties of the Eldrich."


    "Wait! That doesn''t make sense! Why would a raid be sent here?!"


    "The goal is still Middle. There are various limitations in the portals of Middle. It cannot send powerful cultivators through. My family has managed to secure it and use the Golems to stop all the forces from moving inside. Hence, they n tounch an attack from the outside. They have another ally. An incubus on the west. Someone called Nightwing?"


    The expressions of everyone suddenly turned ugly.


    "Nightwing is an incubus?!" The King eximed.


    "...Oh? You know him? We don''t know much about the name. But my son''s information speaks of him bearing a Corruption of power. He is the reason why the Eldrich is sending their forces here."


    "They have an incubus?! This is bad! If Eldrich is aiding an incubus, then this should be a powerful incubus! That''s the reason for the strange changes in the West!" The King eximed.


    "Advisors! Verify this information! I want proof! If this is true, then war approaches the Minds! An Incubus could conquer an entire nation! The Minds have ughtered subus and incubus and even asked the Hignds to help us! If one were to rise and be aided by the Eldrich, then we risk losing this kingdom!" The kingmanded.


    "But my lord! Such ims are insane! Why do we trust these people?"


    "Because our princess trusts them." A voice was heard, and several powerful Crown energies appeared, walking past the doors of the throne room.


    Two men stood. Both bore the mark of the Hignds!


    "That Hignd mark! It''s that family!"


    "Knights of Protos Endoxus!" The Crown Pdin was also amazed.


    "Your majesty..." A Crown Mage walked bearing the mark of the Holy Family.


    Next to him was an elf with the powers of the Crown.


    "I am Merik. And this is Tathar. We are retainers to the High Princess, Princess Listrel Protos Endoxus." The Mage introduced.


    Hidden amongst shock of everyone, Mechiel was also startled.


    The likeness was very simr. The elf, Tathar, looked exactly like one of the Celestials that waged war against the Hignds. A Celestial of another which served the Eldrich! Celestial Tathar Malwasul!


    "Impossible..." Mechiel thought to herself.


    "How could it be him?! Did that Celestial manage to send spies into thisnd?! A spy serving Listrel?!"

 Chapter 516 True Identity

    Mechiel had recalled the many lords and Celestials that were among their forces. In the future, the portals leading towards the nations were opened and the force from the Dark Sea made a conquest up north. At that moment, the decay in the nesworld was so great that the power andws that limited those above Conquerors ended.


    And there, the Vampire Queen Mechiel, who had already risen to great prominence and power, had equal standing to meet many of the Celestials.


    The Celestials were all defeated and served the Eldrich. And Tathar Malwasul was a powerful elven mage of a nearby.


    But now, a weaker form of this Celestial stood before her. The elf was not even a mage but followed a different cultivation path! This Tathar was an archer with great powers of Holiness, as opposed to Tathar''s great power in Space/time magic.


    And this powerful enemy was reported to the king of Ever Day.


    "Why is he here?! I told Listrel and Lea all traitors when we were in the Unrecorded Pages... But I never expected that Tathar Malwasul managed to create a clone and send it here!" Mechiel frowned.


    "Yet how is he able to hide all aspects of Destiny? Why is this man standing like a totally different person here?" Mechiel pondered. But she had seen and experienced many impossible things. Kyros himself has found a way to divide his soul and create another person. in fact, Mechiel even believed that a day woulde when Kyros and Nightwing would be different people.


    "There have been several miracles that I witnessed that surpass my understanding. But I must not be too hasty! That man is clearly Tathar. But is he Tathar Malwasul that I know of in the future? Or is this man born from a Code of Corruption? I even sense Fate Challenger in him! Regardless, this elf''s true identity should be rted to that Celestial of Destiny! Therefore, I must ascertain if he is that person, a severed form like Nightwing is to Kyros, or an offspring!"


    The two stood at the center of the throne with everyone in total silence.


    "Your Princess has confirmed that a great army is moving towards her. The Uninvolved Lands is now under the control of the Eldrich and the Incubus known as Nightwing. War ising. And your kingdom is called to fulfill its oath. The army will draw out the enemy. But more forces of great power are arriving from the heavens. Conquerors and Crowns areing. Each kingdom in Central Mind is called to attack the location where we believe these enemies will fall. You have seventeen hours to prepare. The drop is expected to happen anytime. We need your forces ready to ambush."


    "Is... this an order from the Hignds?" The Crown Pdin asked.


    "It''s not. This is but a suggestion of the princess, who cannot secure a direct order now. But should you chose not to, not only will you have Conquerors and Crowns to fight, but all of the Uninvolved Lands spilling with all the powerful cultivators that thesends have deemed wicked. So it''s really up to you." Tathar chuckled.


    "We came here to meet with Commander Branze Steele. We need more details about what your son informed us. Once the information has been verified to be true, and the attack does ur, he will be granted royalty status to the Hignds for stopping an invasion of the Eldrich." Tathar added.


    At those words, almost everyone reacted and could not help but utter the sounds of shock.


    "A royalty status of the Hignds?!" The Crown Pdin, who was clearly of Destiny, eximed in envy.


    The status of such a person would far exceed the kings of the Minds!


    "And since he is married to you, that will make you a royal as well,dy Mechiel." Merick bowed. He kept his eyes from meeting the eyes of Mechiel in fear of what Listrel warned him about.


    "Which will automatically make the Steele family valuable members of the Hignds. You won''t be Royals, but you will be granted a ce up there." Tathar added.


    "I... I am unworthy!" Branze bowed.


    Diana also followed.


    Everyone nced at this family and was thankful they did not mock or attack them as they originally desired! They would be members of the Hignds and live in the richest plot ofnd in all of the nesworld! In thosends, bing a Crown is almost expected! Even the worst and dumbest cultivators would naturally reach that level with the presence of the great light!


    "Of course you''re unworthy...!" The Crown Pdin was doing his best to contain those words but found himself whispering them anyway!


    He realized what he had said.<novelnext></novelnext>


    "You are unworthy! It''s all thanks to the brave sacrifice of your son! May I know this future noble''s son''s name?" The Crown Pdin asked.


    "Kyros Steele. We have no details as to his survival. There is little hope of finding him alive. I beg his majesty to heed our advice!"


    "The Hignds wills it. And the natural course of things demands that we indeed take action." The King answered.


    "Good. I still bear orders of great importance. May we speak to the king alone? And would the guest from the Londs remain?" Tathar asked.


    "...May I ask what our lord has to-"


    "Shall the king''s advisors leave us now and not pry their noses into the affairs of Protos Endoxus?!" Tathar demanded.


    The Crown Pdin was silenced and retreated back.


    Everyone else left the room, and only the king, queen, and their two sons remained.


    "I will be frank. Our princess ordered us to appear after the Steele family because we were tasked to discern who the traitors in this kingdom were. The true purpose of our visit is to warn your family of the pending massacre that will blot Ever Day off the map of Minds!" Tathar spoke frankly.


    The king, queen, and princes were once more shocked at the sudden deration of Tathar.


    "My lord...?! What grounds do you have for-"


    "What evidence? Our princess found it, nearly losing her life. You will recall that there was a time when she was forgotten. She disappeared for several months, and that should have brought panic in the nesworld, but instead, we moved on with our lives. Even her royal father did so. Can you exin why that happened? Why did no one care when she disappeared?" Tathar asked again.


    "Please educate this fool." The king bowed.


    "Because of a spell. A powerful spell. The Eldrich not only have the power to breach the barriers that protect the nesworld, but they have a powerful spell that alters memories. It was as if... Princess Listrel was not a priority. We moved on with our lives when she lostmunication. We knew she was in the Londs, but suddenly, we moved on with our lives. In those moments, Princess Listrel acted beyond what we couldprehend and found secrets floating in the world of dreams and the illusory realms that even Celestials would notprehend. But there, she found the secrets. There is no solid evidence for our ims. But you can know if this is true if the forces you deploy to y the arriving forces will be ambushed."


    "We will be careful that this-"


    "You don''t understand our point, your majesty. Even in your best preparations, you will still be ambushed. That is because the traitors of this kingdom are so many that the Hignds believe this entire kingdom will fall. These are hard words to believe. But if your forces will somehow be ambushed, take warning from this and find a way to flee. Flee and request refuge to the Steele family. The Celestial Golem in Middle will be your best protection." Tathar exined.


    "...I thank the kind lord for this warning... But, nevertheless, I refuse to believe it."


    "We expect it to be so. The burnt hand is the best teacher. Make your preparations. Make them fail, and have your team be ughtered. But here is an order that I will give, assign that Crown Pdin who interrupted me to take part in this mission. I''m almost certain of his treachery. Send him to fight, and do not allow him to have ess to any important information with this mission. His might as a Crown would make him a good choice to be part of this team, after all. The Conquerors and Crowns that will arrive would be in a weakened state since they will be falling down as thews of the nesworld''s gravity will seal their abilities of flight."


    "...So they will be weak?"


    "Yes. The ambush should eradicate them. And if you seed, your kingdom earns the wealth of all the Conquerors and Crowns you kill, as well as rewards from the Hignds. But... heh." Tathar chuckled.


    "Princess Listrel is sure that the team you send out will be massacred! Since you won''t believe me, then bear the pain of such loss when it happens before you!"

 Chapter 517 True Intentions

    The Uninvolved Lands were slowly being conquered.


    The sudden downfall of many kingdoms and how betrayals urred one after the other happened so fast and so swiftly that many of the people of the kingdom didn''t even know who their current leaders were.


    Without wagging wars, kings and queens were all killed, and no factions were born from the death of the former royalty.


    It was all because of the march of one of the western kingdoms who imed to be marching off to attack the Uninvolved Lands to deal with a powerful and ancient being. Some reports state that it was an ancient vampire. Others rumors spoke of an Incubus who also was responsible for the changing tides of leadership across all the Uninvolved Lands.


    But most of them believed that the Eldrich had taken hold of the Uninvolved Lands.


    The Minds were moving their forces towards the western regions to counter the expected overflow of armies. However, reports and data from the spies all confirm that the Uninvolved Lands were finally bing more and more involved with all the chaos urring.


    The reality was even greater than this. With Nightwing aiding Breveros, they had pulled all kingdoms within the Uninvolved Lands and were now stronger than ever!


    Numerous powerful kingdoms were meeting to form an alliance. Every Day, which was in the central region, even moved to aid the western kingdoms. Many other powerful kingdoms of Central Minds joined the march and were moving their forces across the great distance.


    But as for Nightwing and Breveros, they had onest issue to deal with.


    The ck Bog Kingdom still remained isted and was still the most uninvolved nation in the region. Despite their best efforts, many groups of power still continue to rebel and refuse to give in to the mighty forces.


    Most of the groups were even actively recruiting and conquering.


    Breveros waited at the massive mountain range, and finally, Nightwing arrived with his team.


    "You sure took your sweet time. But still, I''m impressed. You took over those kingdoms that I couldn''t take in the short time I have over due to their chaotic politics."


    "It''s easy to take over an organized kingdom since you just need to know who to take control. In other kingdoms where all sides are equally strong and equally hate each other, it''s difficult to find footing. Such is the case for these nations that now sends their forces with you, and the ck Bog Kingdom is an evenrger example of this. Too many powerful groups and the interest to grow stronger. I believe these groups have enough Crowns to threaten a Conqueror!" Nightwing smiled as he stood next to Breveros to watch over the great mountain range.


    "Entering the mountains is even difficult. Each of those peaks would have thick miasma and dangerous wild beasts at Commander to Cardinal level monster kings. Sending in a team of spies with a Cardinal leading would only yield a thirty percent survival rate. An army cannot fly over or scale the mountain due to the area''s wild beasts and poisonous clouds. Even the teams I sent to spy on the actions inside haven''t reported back! How did you manage to move in and out? Does your incubus power work on the beasts?" Breveros gave Nightwing a strange look.


    "Please. Do you think the Charmed Fallen would do that? I have my dignity. Our entrance is quite easy. We went in and out a secret path. But it''s a very dangerous path. Another True Neutral resided here and had morphed the region to this fitting ground. Don''t you see it? All the terrain advantages were by design!"


    "It was by design? You mean this mountain region is..."


    "Yes. The very ce was full of dangerous things that would make other nations refuse to live inside the region. This made it a ce for those who had little to lose. Centuries pass, and a kingdom of vile, power-hungry people emerge. And as crimes are endless, the people from the Hignds and Minds would flock inside. Defeated families who lost their bid and became fugitives, and even fallen kingdoms would flock inside this ce. But it was all so that the designer would always have food to eat. In a ce where murder and deaths ur daily, who would care if one or two would go missing?" Nightwing exined.


    "What was in there?!"


    "My former boss. Another True Neutral and the one who bestowed the mark of Fang on me. This is why people mistook me for a vampire in the Londs."


    "The Fanged Fallen?! That''s your former boss?"


    "No! If It was, I wouldn''t have managed to break free from her control. It''s an offspring. I don''t know the name of my former master. She was very careful as a True Neutral. I''m guessing Fate and Destiny wanted her."


    "She? Is your master a woman? Then you broke free due to the Charmed Fallen!"


    "Yes! I tricked her into sending me out on a mission and acquired the powers of the Charmed Fallen in secret. I left her a ve and wanted toe back and take away her army. Sady, I failed. I won''t say my real form and identity as I, too, am being sought by two sides. Until I win enough favor from Destiny, I''ll keep this identity of mine a secret. But in any case, we fought, and I used my powers that practically ced her army against her."


    "She controls an army?! Why didn''t you tell me this?!"


    "A Darkling army." Nightwing used his powers, and a dimensional gate was opened, and a Darkling corpse fell down.<novelnext></novelnext>


    Breveros was amazed at the beast that he saw. It was a creature that served Fallens!


    "A Darkling!"


    "Or whatever that was! It was like a Darkling but had vampiric powers. She had thousands upon thousands!"


    "So that''s the secret of the ck Bog Kingdom! A clever Fallen spawn crafted the natural defenses! Then what of her army? Why are we here?"


    "I defeated her. I''m no longer bound to her. She had no choice because I would have be her master. What is left inside is a shadow of her army, which is good for us since we could move inside and capture more of these darklings. They would make good spoils for our Dark Dependent team. There is a passageway that allows us to move through the mountain and into the ck Bog Kingdom."


    "Brilliant! Then let''s go!" Breveros urged the team.


    The unknowing army of Breveros was led right into the path that the Gigantes had opened.


    The Gigantes corpse made up most of the mountain range. It had used its power to erge itself and made the region as the Spawn of Mammon had suggested long ago.


    And he could alter his body and open a small path covered with the bog covering the region. In the midst of the thick bogs was a small valley amidst the two cliffs. It was as if a powerful de sliced the entire region as the mountains parted cleanly, allowing a path that was ten meters wide.


    Many of the strongest fighters of each kingdom were amazed at the path that they saw.


    "This path... If we had known about it earlier... we could have invaded the ck Bog Kingdom!"


    "No. This ce only opens if my master needs to." Nightwing answered.


    Everyone was quiet. They feared Nightwing and the mysterious Fallen-Spawn he defeated.


    "This is it?" Breveros asked as he saw the long, deep, and misty path.


    "Yes. As you have heard, the locals have never seen this path before. I managed to open it thanks to the blood of my former master in me."


    "Form ranks and be on guard!" Breveros ordered.


    The armies were already ready as they were told of the path they would move into.


    Nightwing led Breveros, and the army marched right inside the misty path.


    But at that moment, Nightwing was sneering. They were walking for the trap.


    The army that they had gathered in the Uninvolved Lands was too strong! And adding with the survivors left in the ck Bog Kingdom, Nightwing could afford to lose a quarter of the gathered armies. And so, the true intention of Nightwing was to feed on these powerful elites! So, not only would those that survive be stronger, but Nightwing would also have a huge amount of corpses that he could devour to make himself and Kyros''s allies stronger!


    Ever since they left, Nightwing had worked with the Gigantes and created his own form of Darklings. The two terrorized the ck Bog Kingdom, and a gue of greed affected thends causing even greater turmoils that forced betrayals and a copse of all the powers inside.


    Nightwing had used the strongest trait that made the ck Bog Kingdom strong. It was a ce where greed was immense, and everyone wanted to grow stronger. And harnessing the power of Mammon, Nightwing brought out a curse that increased the greed in thend, which led to many betrayals.


    And when treacheries were made, he sent out the Gigantes to ravage cities and guilds. The power struggle that made thends strong grew intense as disciples betrayed their master in greed. Thend grew weak. The Gigantes moved, and they fed the Darkling vampires. Soon, a Darkling vampire army had formed, all with the enigmatic blood of Nightwing.


    And this army was buried underneath the path that Breveros led the army through!


    "I guess I''ll take away a quarter of all these armies..." Nightwing''s mouth was getting dry, and his appetite was growing due to the feast before him.

 Chapter 518 True State Of The Kingdom

    The army formed ranks that had numerous sses and fighting types.


    With the Minds, they had ess to more blessings that allowed them to have more diverse sses.


    Magic Defenders and Magic des, which are Mage hybrids with swordsmen and knights, were the mostmon. In the Minds, many could afford training in magic, and it was considered weak to have no ess to such spells.


    Ragion Spell Masters, Magic Lancers, Tri-Element Mages, and many other sses are not present in the Londs. And theposition of the army was unique since itbined numerous kingdoms and had a very diverse set of fighters and mages.


    Such an army would threaten even the Hignds.


    Many scouts of different forms and power, from mages to ninjas, to race-specific sses, moved ahead of the army.


    The team of Nightwing watched, and Angelian could not help but praise the diverse powers of endless possibilities.


    Nightwing felt d¨¦j¨¤ vu as they marched forward. He could not help but think that he had experienced something simr before.


    "...Are you sure that your master has left this ce?" Breveros asked once again.


    "For the thousandth time, yes!" Nightwing impatiently answered.


    "She is a True Neutral. She needs to hide from the gods and the fallen. Ipromised her, and she would need to hide elsewhere. I threatened to reveal her location. If she stayed here, then she would be a target! We could go here and fight to defeat or devour her! She has no reason to stay!"


    "My concern is with the Darklings! What happened to her army? How sure are you that they are not here?"


    "Because I saw what they did. My former master left, fearing that she would fall for my charm. Her armies and those flesh golems were left on their own. I''m guessing that without her, it probably caused havoc. But the ck Bog Kingdom is too strong. The wild monsters above thends are too strong. The kingdoms and forces there are also strong. I would imagine that the ck Bog kingdom is now fighting the remnants of this army. Hunting them down to feed their Dark Dependent needs."


    "I guess that makes sense." Breveros agreed.


    The team marched, and they found several more of the Darklings in the area. Finally, they found some of the Fleshy Golems that Nightwing spoke and slew them.


    Unknown to them, these were creatures that Nightwing had ordered to prepare beforehand.


    Bomos, the Gigantes leader, had crafted the earth using the flesh within the Gigantes body that Bar-Mammon had corrupted.


    The cancerous parts were crafted and made into fleshy golems. But many more remained in hiding.


    "Hm? The scouts!" One of the cultivators at the front could sense the scouts returning.


    "My lords... A team of several dozen is headed back here. Most are humans and elves. A few orcs dwarves."


    "What? How did they discover this path?!" Breveros was stunned.


    "...It''s probably a coincidence. Or it was already discovered. When I opened this path, I did not have the powers of my master to close it back. So it''s possible that this ce has already been discovered." Nightwing frowned.


    "Discovered?! Then we might have to face an army on the other side!"


    "Are you chicken?" Nightwingughed.


    "...My lords! These people do not seem to be from an army. They are very weak and seem to be fleeing for their lives!" The scout reported.


    "...Then let''s capture them and see what''s happening. It seems that they found this ce by chance." Breveros ordered.


    The vanguard assumed their defensive positions, and a few minutester, the sounds of people running could be heard deep within the thick mist.


    "Halt!" Breveros shouted.


    "Who''s there?!" The rushing men shouted back as they heard Breveros.


    "We are the Unified Uninvolved Army! Speak your name and affiliation!"


    "Unified Uninvolved Army! My lords! It''s me! Don''t attack!" One of the voices shouted.


    "You know them?!" Another voice spoke.


    "Yes! I never told you, but I''m from the outside! Shut up and sit back!" The first voice angrily cried.


    "My lords! I am Gemelon of the Stalkreach kingdom! A resident of the Dreadmarch region! Should any of Stalkreach know of a Cardinal Magic Blitzer Yelegor, he can rify my identity!" The man shouted.


    "He is one of my spies." A voice spoke.


    "Cardinal!"


    "Gemelon. Move closer. You and your allies. Move closer so we can see you outside of the mist."


    Several men appeared, and they had horrifying states. It was clear that they had not eaten for many days, and their attire was very torn. Nevertheless, it was clear that these men managed to escape from a captor.


    "You were prisoners? Which group captured you?" Cardinal Yelegor asked.


    "Cardinal! No group captured us! A strange urrence has happened in thesends! These people next to me exined! The cities nearby are all decimated! Monsters of dark form are there..."<novelnext></novelnext>


    "They''ve already killed them! Look!" Gemelon''spanion shouted and pointed to the corpse.


    "The Darklings?! The flesh monsters! Cardinal! You''ve killed them?!"


    "We''ve killed a few on the way here."


    "A few?! But how?! Cardinal! There is an army of them!"


    "What?! An army?! Impossible!" Nightwing suddenly moved forward.


    "These things could never be an army! They eat and feed, but they were never too strong to take on the full ck Bog Kingdom!"


    "They came right after the former Crowns of this region killed each other! There was a great war between the factions!"


    "Killed each other?! Why would they kill each other?!" Nightwing cursed.


    "We didn''t understand it either! All those powerful groups went to war, and at that time, many attacked the monster king''s nest! These creatures took advantage and began to attack the scattering monster horde from a dead monster king! But the many groups inside were too busy fighting each other that by the time they noticed these creatures, it was all toote! Many cities have fallen!"


    "Then how did you survive?! Where were you kept?"


    "Nearby! We were inside a cave, and those fleshy golems were slowly eating ourpanions! We managed to escape because of a battle that urred nearby. We believe there was a Crown who was trying to get to the other side!"


    "Enough!" Nightwing shouted.


    "This is too dangerous. Breveros. It seems that my master may have pulled off somest annoying prank."


    "Annoying prank? The massacre and potential downfall of the ck Bog Kingdom are but a prank to her?!"


    "She had to do that! She wouldn''t dare make this ce fall under my control! We don''t have a choice! We have to go in there and eliminate this darkling gue! If not, we risk being attacked by them! If we move in, we could save and call to service all those in the ck Bog Kingdom topensate for the forces we lose in this expedition!"


    "We don''t have the luxury of time! The drop will be happening soon!"


    "These things look for blood. I have the blood of my master. They wille here if I leak out my blood. But this means we face a horde!"


    "Let theme! Even with their numbers, we can defeat them!" One of the orc kingsughed.


    "You just want more food, dark dependent." A pdin frowned.


    "Ha! You''re just afraid that we dark dependents will get a little stronger than you!" A ck mage who was the prince of another kingdom and one of the few Dark Dependent Crowns in the Mindsughed.


    "Lord Nightwing. Do it. Let that armye. The strength these creatures have shown is not that all too great. Besides, these could be great cultivation resources for Lord Eldrich Breveros!"


    "Wait." Breveros frowned.


    "Wait?"


    "My luck isn''t good! I mean, look at the true state of this kingdom?! It''s definitely because of my luck!" Breveros cursed.


    "What?" Many became confused.


    "Nightwing, don''t do it. My luck has always been bad. And even now, I have a bad feeling about this."


    "So we don''t do it and hunt for these things one by one? You know we can''t leave even a pack of these dogs alive! If we hasten to the location where those ambushes are set and attack the ambushes, we risk being attacked as these things could be creatures with Crown strength!" Nightwing warned.


    "Master Eldrich, you should be more confident in yourself! I am not a Dark Dependent. But I still know the value of these corpses. It will greatly help as a source of food for the army, a source of cultivation materials, alchemy, magic, and level up for many of our teams." Another king spoke.


    "...Fine. Do it. I just hope my luck isn''t bad." Breveros sighed in defeat.


    Nightwing smiled and made a small cut on his arm. He then began to chant as the small droplets of blood rose up and became a faint red mist.


    "Alright. Get ready. They should being here now..."


    "We have a narrow path, so we only have to defend at the front and the back. Unless these creatures will leap over us from the mountains above. Let''s rearrange our forces and-"


    RUMBLE... RUMBLE... RUMBLE...


    As they spoke, the ground suddenly began to tremble.


    Nightwing''s expression suddenly became ugly.


    "What''s going on?!" Breveros shouted.


    "Everyone! Watch the ground! This ce has be theirir! They''ve been hiding beneath us the whole time!"


    All at once, hundreds of Darklings suddenly surfaced out of the dirt. The formations of the army became useless as the creatures jumped out of the ce where the United Uninvolved army stood.

 Chapter 519 True Neutral Creation Experiment

    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    "Enemies under us!" The many generals of the army screamed as the ground opened underneath them.


    Darklings and red spiders of gigantic forms began to break out of the ground and attack the soldiers.


    Almost everyone suddenly moved out to fly, but a strange gravity suddenly appeared.


    This was the same power that the Gigantes had. The Bar-Mammon, the Fallen Spawn, had created certain death traps inside the Gigantes, which prohibited flight. This forced those inside to fight the armies of Darklings and Darklords. All that Bomos had to do was alter the position of his body so that those traps would be directly under them.


    The intense devouring power that made gravity harsher forced many to plummet down and were attacked by the creatures.


    All of a sudden, hundreds died from the ambushes within the army.


    Flight was not an option so everyone focused on fighting.


    Through the sacrifice of these hundreds, the rest had found their footing and position and began to fight.


    Nightwing and the rest began to fight.


    Nightwing kept on cursing at the traps and turn of events.


    "You stupid Breveros! How unlucky can you be?! These things should never have power! Why the fragment is your luck so ugly?!" Nightwing eximed.


    Breveros had a very ugly expression. Even the others were looking at Breveros with a strange expressions. But little did they know the power of lies and deception was rippling out and affecting everyone.


    No one considered how suspicious Nightwing was, as everyone thought this was all through the bad luck of Breveros. Breveros had also admitted his bad luck and even warned everyone about it!


    Within the battlefield, certain people of importance needed to be captured. Nightwing needed them alive so that he could drain their knowledge and memories to learn their powers.


    Nightwing had immense knowledge and ess to a treasure trove of information. These were all from the books of the Nephilim library. But the Minds held powers and treasures that exceeded the books, and Nightwing wanted to gather the information for these things and learn the new powers. Nightwing also knew that Kyros''s allies would need these.


    The different sses that the Minds had were unavable to Kyros''s allies. This was one of the concerns that Princess Listrel told Angelian, as Listrel had seen the strength of Kyros''s allies and knew what they werecking.


    As the chaotic battles urred, some of the Antibodies of the Gigantes were waiting underground.


    They suddenly released their thick energy.


    The power of Crowns could be felt from the ground below.


    "Damn! It''s them! The Stone Kings!" Nightwing made a made-up ss as he harnessed his powers.


    "Breveros! Your luck better get better! I''ll distract those Crowns so they will not reach this area! Command the forces to go into the region! Our losses can be replenished by the survivors inside! Since they betrayed each other and now face a cmity that can exterminate them, they will join us in desperation! My entire team will try to stop the Darkling Kings! My charm can keep them at bay!" Nightwing shouted as he pressed his hand on the ground and pretended to cast a miraculous earth spell.


    "Where are you going?!"


    "To fix your bad luck! Where else?! Everyone! Move back! I am drawing one of the Stone Kings up here! But there should be over a dozen of them!" Nightwing shouted.


    "Dozens of Crowns?!" Another Crown cursed. He thought this skirmish wouldn''t be so dangerous that his life would be threatened. But if there are dozens of Crowns,


    BOOM!


    A massive force shot out like a volcano and caused a ripple of energy that caused nearly half of the army to lose their bnce.


    Arge stony creature, an Antibodies inside the Bomos, rose to the ground. It had the powers of a high-leveled Crown. And it was not just a regr Crown. The energies it released made this Crown, at the very least, a High Crown!


    Everyone was shocked at the scene.


    "Gotcha!" Nightwing roared and jumped on the Antibody, and numerous powers of great darkness appeared.


    He leaped bravely toward the Crown, and a strange power began to appear.


    "I have your master''s blood! Obey me!" Nightwing shouted as he and the Crown were starting to sink into the massive sinkhole where the Antibody came from.


    An energy battle began as the two forces collided and resisted each other.


    "Fly, you fools!" Nightwing''s voice could be heard as he sank with the Antibody.


    "Follow our master!" Monica shouted.


    She gathered the teams of the giants, who all thundered and leaped down the hole.<novelnext></novelnext>


    Krysta and her family leaped down and gathered many other groups of Champions and Commanders that had chosen to follow Nightwing.


    Sherah also led her team, which also had Ikaros and his forces.


    Everyone jumped down, and sounds of a great battle and lights could be seen.


    But suddenly, the hole was closing up!


    "Don''t retreat! Trust in our leader!" Angelian shouted as she flew down the entire area closed up.


    All of a sudden, the energies of the Crowns that were rising had suddenly slowed down as muffled explosions could be heard underground.


    The armies were relieved at the power and began to fight and kill the hordes of creatures around them.


    But all of a sudden, several arms erupted from the ground and grabbed a few of the most powerful Cardinals in the army!


    "No!" The shouts and cries echoed as they were suddenly pulled into the ground that opened up.


    Then everyone remembered the words that Nightwing spoke.


    "Fly, you fools! Nightwing was warning us!" One of the stunned Cardinals cried out in surprise.


    "My king! That was my brother! Urge the Crowns to attack and dig a hole!"


    "You fool! Thend itself has powers that we cannot match! We won''t be able to scratch it if the ground resists!" A Crown shouted angrily.


    "Everyone! Charge forward!" Breveros ordered as he led the way and attacked forward, and soon the army followed.


    The group tore their way forward and slew all the beasts.


    The tremors and sounds could be heard from time to time, and some earthly hands would often appear and pull some poor soul. Commanders and Champions would get pulled, but all the Cardinals and above were now guarded against this and would forcibly fly up whenever they sensed the slightest fluctuation. The Cardinals could fly for a few seconds, while the Crown could fly higher and remain in the air for nearly a minute.


    But as this army moved ahead, the allies of Nightwing, who jumped down, were stunned to see the sight.


    CRACK! CRACK!


    The Gigantes were using the raw force of his hands to concentrate power in a singr point and press down on the back of Nightwing.


    "That''s the spot..." Nightwing was rxing as the Gigantes massaged his back.


    Ikarod and Grandite Doragan, the two Crowns in Nightwing''s armies, were shocked at the warm wee several Gigantes had at Nightwing.


    "This...! I thought we were going to fight!" Ikarod was amazed.


    "Fight? Didn''t Master Nightwing already speak of this ce? He conquered here and even got a Gigantes ally! Why would he be fighting?" Sherah frowned and mocked Ikarod.


    "Cornerstone. The Cardinals have been captured. More of those you have marked has been brought down here." A Gigangtes spoke.


    The groups were amazed that so many Gigantes stood nearby. Many were Crowns. But some had the power of Cardinals.


    "Do you see them, fes? This is my true army!" Nightwing lied andughed out, adding fear and respect to everyone.


    "I am here to use this army to take over the world! If the Eldrich is weak, I''ll take them over too! Do you believe me?!" Nightwing asked.


    "Yes!" The forces cheered with excitement.


    They had seen miracle after miracle. Finally, in the past week, they who were traitorous with no kingdom to call home are now able to openly walk and march alongside the armies of the kingdoms who wanted them dead.


    Nightwing was able to unify thend. He used the Eldrich to strike fear. His charm to force more kingdoms to his fold. And he threatened annihtion and the pampering of the beautiful, powerful women of thend who were drawn by his power.


    But it was all simply a part of the n! They were all just tools to be used.


    "Alright. Send the next set of visitors. To my people... As promised, I am here to settle some old score." Nightwing smiled.


    Several figures were brought down and earth.


    Some were Commanders. Others were Champions. But the people who were brought down were familiar to Nightwing''s allies. These people betrayed them when the news of coborating with the Eldrich was initially leaked to the surrounding kingdoms.


    These were the very people that wanted the army of Nightwing dead!

 Chapter 520 True Conversion

    The appearance of many hated enemies suddenly shocked everyone present.


    Everyone saw the culprits, or at the very least, people rted to these culprits finally appeared.


    "These people...!" One of the Commanders that followed Nightwing saw them.


    "Oh...? Brother?" Ikarod had a look of delight.


    Many Featherf-folk had joined Nightwing''s army, and all had murderous intentions for Ikarod. But as Ikarod followed the terrifying Nightwing, they could only look in hatred and could not touch him.


    But now, the crown prince was before Ikarod!


    "My lord truly values me! To think that he would grant me the joyous treat of vengeance!"


    Several Antibodies of Crown power were pressing their hands on a Cardinal and stopping the Cardinal from moving.


    The Cyclops Barakan Doragan was shocked as he saw the Cardinal.


    "Well... if it isn''t Cardinal Terrdon!" Barakanughed.


    The club behind him trembled, and the form of Grandite Doragan.


    "Terrdon. yer of Giants. But I know you as the murderer of my wife." Grandite''s booming voice was heard as Terrdon quivered in fear.


    He couldn''t understand what had happened and saw many others there with him.


    The captured people began to shout and panic, but the sounds of the battle and the muffling powers that hid the sounds prevented their cries from working.


    Even the powers of message talismans were not working in the underground.


    "I believe it''s time for you to settle old scores and grudges. While some here are not the ones you want to kill, you can still kill them and keep their heads to show to the one you really want to kill. But s, we don''t have time. And despite my subus state, I hate if you disgrace their body. So kill them and settle the anger in your heart. You can make them suffer. But do not cross this line and abuse them. My women will not be happy. Are we clear?" Nightwing ordered.


    "Yes, my lord!" The followers cheered.


    "Good! Now. I shall use my powers to draw in their souls. Don''t mind the darkness creeping around." Nightwing closed his eyes and spread out his power. But unlike what he said, the power he sent out was not to be used to draw the soul. Instead, it was the power of Oblivion that he was channeling from within the mind of Bomos.


    The truth was, there was a covering of Oblivion around the cliff of the mountain, and it was as if everything within the region was cut off from the rest.


    This was Nightwing''s first experiment in how to alter Destiny.


    Bomos was an inspiration to Nightwing. How did this stone manage to survive and remain undetected from Fate and Destiny throughout the years? Why did none from either side find him? And how do other True Neutrals exist without being threatened to join a side or forcibly dragged into the conflict between these two?


    Nightwing believed Fate and Destiny would use a True Neutral as a shield or sacrifice, but they somehow could not!


    And so, Nightwing used Oblivion and his Mysterion to perform a certain experiment.


    What would happen if Destiny and Fate could not see certain events in the life of the people whose lives they controlled? Such magic was initially thought impossible, but Nightwing now had a faint power of Oblivion that was cursed in Bomos.


    Destiny may have done it to spite Petra and ensure that the Gigantes would be forgotten and no altar to tell of its deeds would remain. But now, Nightwing was able to channel it. His other half, Kyros, has fought and even cultivated in Oblivion!


    Nightwing concentrated the Oblivion toward the area around them to hide the events from the eyes of Fate and Destiny.


    Mysterion appeared as well.


    "This will be hidden so that it will soon be revealed to light. Mysterion can only conceal as long as it will be made known."


    The miracle of concealing was made once more.


    Nightwing''s eyes were locked on the people who serve him. They killed and were satisfied, and their loyalty to Nightwing rose by numerous folds.


    Ikarodughed as he plucked the wings of his brother, who was screaming and pleading.


    The Cardinal was being crushed by the massive weight of Grandanite Doragan, who wasted his energy actually to move to press his weight on the Cardinal.


    "I never knew she was your wife! I''m sorry! Ahhhhh!" The Cardinal pleaded and pleaded.


    SPLAT!


    The cries began as people were tortured and killed.


    Nightwing walked around the group who slew their enemies. But in the midst of this, the powers of Destiny still remained among everyone.


    "Seriously? Not even one of them changed?" Nightwing frowned as he nced at Grandanite and Ikarod.


    These two were exceptional Crowns with potential. But even when Nightwing was able to bring people who these two wanted to kill the most and would have undoubtedly increased the level of loyalty they had to him, the stain and stench of Destiny still covered them!


    Nightwing sighed.


    "So it''s not like how I expected it to be? Huh... I''m not used to being wrong. I wonder..."


    He could see that Destiny still had control over all of them.


    "Hmp... I guess this experiment is a failure... But I guess it''s not easy to turn those of Destiny into True Neutrals." Nightwing sighed.


    But at that moment, Nightwing felt a strange change in the air. No one else could feel it. But Nightwing, who was so attuned to Fate and Destiny, could see a physical manifestation that no one else could.


    A Mage Commander burned the person he hated the most in front of her. It was his own wife. The wife who sold him out to spare herself from pain. This woman also proved a harlot as she instantly ran to another lover when the Mage Commander was confirmed to be a traitor.


    As he burned his wife and wept in hatred, Nightwing could tell that Destiny''s grasp on him was slowly fading!


    Nightwing smiled as he saw the changes.


    "Ah... So it does work! Destiny sees the future of these people and arranges events to force them to fight for him. But this Mage Commander should be wavering because of what I did... Then this will be perfect! I can create spies of Destiny! Those who Destiny thinks are on his side but are actually on my own!" Nightwingughed as he walked towards the Mage Commander.


    The magemander was on his knees as he wept and slew the woman he loathed and the only woman he ever loved.


    "Such pain..." Nightwing approached as he raised his hand, and drew arge amount of blood from the woman.


    The woman kept screaming and died the moment Nightwing took some of her blood.


    "...Thank you, Master."


    "Mage Commander Estus. I pity you. Betrayed by your wife and even sold herself to another. But is this the end of your vengeance? I think not. I know your hatred grows for that family. That royal lineage that your wife sold herself to was not just a convenient escape. That Ragion had been sleeping with your wife for a time. Hm... You have been away from your home numerous times, correct? Ragion had been having an affair with your wife and would even hire your wife as one of the scouts in his missions. It''s very well hidden."


    At that moment, Estus trembled even more.


    "Your wife was only looking for an excuse to run to him. It was a perfect arrangement. The Ragion is a High Noble and a Cardinal. She made it look like she forced herself to reveal vital information to be a mistress of the Ragion. The Ragion, who was already married, would be forced by his father, the king, to take his wife. The arrangements were well hidden. But your wife has loved another for a long time. Do you wish to see her memories?" Nightwing asked.


    Estus trembled all the more, and a sharp pain pierced through his chest.


    "No... I do not wish to-"


    "And be hindered by this trauma? No. You have to see it." With a tap of his finger, Nightwing passed on the woman''s memories.


    Estus saw it all. The meeting of the Ragion and the woman for the first time. Estus was just nearby the first time the two saw each other. It was clear that the Ragion prince found the woman attractive. And Estus could see that his wife locked eyes with the Ragion.


    The horrifying memories continued in a blur. Estus saw the many meetings that his wife orchestrated to be with Ragion. After many meetings and the first night together, they began to arrange a n to hide the secret. The Ragion Prince could not afford to reveal this secret as his wife was the heir and princess to the throne.


    Layers andyers of cover-ups made others think that Ragion''spanions in his missions and the quest were different.


    And finally, the revtion of Estus''s servitude to the Eldirch was made known!


    Estus''s wife rejoiced and arranged the n to go over to the king and queen. She held important details as to the trades and contacts of Estus that would unravel even more atrocities to the throne.


    The princess was not happy, but she had no choice. And so, Estus''s wife, who was a scout by her ss, became the Ragion Prince''spanion since then.


    The princess only thought that her husband was only fulfilling the oath that was charged to him.


    Estus puked out as his anger could no longer tolerate the betrayal.


    "You killed your wife. But I will tell you now. She was a useless and poor excuse of a woman. If there was a fault that you made, it was that you pursued a useless woman. If I were you... I''d go after a princess." Nightwing chuckled.


    "A princess?" Estus was confused. But suddenly, a strange and powerful lust was building inside of him. In his own eyes, the Princess was far more beautiful than his wife. Moreover, the wife was elegant and held a great air of ss.


    Unknown to him, the lust of an Incubus was being sent into him.


    "Follow me. And I can give you that woman! Death is far too good for that Ragion! Take the kingdom from him! Take his wife and strip him of all powers he has!" Nightwing chuckled.

 Chapter 521 Mystery Challenger

    Nightwing stood before Estus and saw the eyes of the pained Mage Commander. His eyes were gaining vigor and life. There was purpose once more, and a strange desire was building up in him.


    The memories Nightwing extracted from the woman and showed to Estus were true.


    Nightwing sighed that he had not found the powers of God or Fallen that deal with dreams and memories so that he could shape the memory into a form of his own. But Nightwing had an idea on how to lure the Commander to his side.


    "The soul of your wife is quite interesting. She lived quite an immoral life. Did you know that the nature of this universe is only to have one partner in life? Some too many curses and terrors stand along the way when one indulges in the immoral ways of life. Even if I dare not to make the vows of marriage to my women, at least these curses apply. But now, the soul of your dearly roasted wife is tainted and could be used as a spell."


    "...A spell?"


    "Well, what would be more painful than for that prince to suffer twice as much as you did? If you want vengeance, then allow me to turn this soul into a curse."


    "A curse?"


    "A love curse. A powerful charm will inflict him. He will mourn and be a struct with great pain once the death of his new wife is revealed. But also, the curse will make him fall desperately in love with the princess. He would fall twice as hard and love that woman twice as more as you ever did to your wife. And that''s when we take that wife from him!" Nightwing gave a sinisterugh.


    Estus''s fingers dug through the soil as he grasped at it and desired vengeance.


    Finally, Nightwing could see it clearly. The future of Destiny is changing!


    "Amazing! This is why we were created as Mysterion! Destiny sees the future, and we hide the present and be destined to reveal it soon. This man is the first of his kind! One created not of Fate or Destiny! Neither is he a True Neutral! He shall be the first of my own kind! A Mystery Challenger!" Nightwing could feel his powers trembling.


    "Mysterion. A Code and Corruption. The coalescence of two contradictions! But now, it''s more than just that! I have finally reached a stage that can truly affect the ns of Destiny. And not only that, I can finally create an army of my own that will not be of Fate! This man has a future not seen by Destiny, a present not guided by Fate, and a state not seen as Neutral!" Nightwing was very happy at the birth of a being whose life was not in the hands of other gods or fallen! Nightwing would be the true wielder of the man''s life!


    "My master! I will serve you forever!" Estus cried out. Little did he know that what he said was a Word of Power. It was a vow that the heavens had to honor.


    Many nearby had heard the words of Nightwing and were amazed at the honor bestowed.


    Some grew envious of the prestige.


    "Why are you all looking at me like that? What do you think I''m here to take? This reward I gave to Estus only has to do with his vengeance. Do you think his position as a prince is great? Fools. I have just shown you that I can turn kingdoms. The forces that serve me are marvelous and plenty. Only Eldrich poses a challenge to me! A time ising, and it shall surelye, that the positions and authority that you long for are nothing decorative titles. What is a king if I can remove his crown and head from him?" Nightwingughed.


    Many were amazed at Nightwing''s words.


    "I agree with my lord!" Grandanite moved closer.


    "The Gigantes that serve him have heritages that surpass mine. And all serve willingly! Apany of Crowns follows him! And this is not the tip of his ns!" Grandanite dered with passion.


    All of a sudden, massive red spiders appeared. Under them, the ground became dark. but


    The group was shocked at the number of spiders approaching. They began to move closer.


    Everyone was rmed and readied their weapons.


    "Rx. It''s just my babies." Sherah spoke. Numerous spines appeared behind her, and six long ligaments, like the leg of the spider, lifted her.


    Everyone was startled at the sight of Sherah.


    "...A Crown?!" Ikarod was amazed.


    "Oh? You must have killed a lot here, Sherah."


    "My lord has granted me permission to y and feast. I hope you are not too mad." Sherah approached and embraced Nightwing.


    "Oh, you know I can''t stay mad at you!" Nightwing smiled as he patted her head.


    "You really know how to spoil a girl," Sherah whispered seductively.


    Despite her grotesque features as the spider part taking form, the deadly powers of the blood of an Incubus had caused her to retain a very sexy appearance.


    Every man couldn''t help but tremble and stop themselves from lusting for the woman of their master. On the other hand, the women were enraged and extremely jealous of Sherah.


    The spiders moved out and devoured the corpses.


    Ikarod watched and couldn''t help but be amazed. Many of the giant spiders were already reaching the level of Champion!


    "And this is why Hive Queens were once hunted down and exterminated in ages past. Yet, this is their potential."


    "...Impossible! I''ve studied the biology of these creatures! Why are her spiders growing stronger!" One of Ikarod''s allies, an alchemist, eximed.


    "A dark dependent spider. You forget who her master is. His blood changed them."


    Sherah was taking pride as she embraced her master.


    "Sherah. You''ve had your time." Monica frowned.


    "Get away from him..." Angelian ordered.


    Krysta could only sigh as her femalepanions began to crowd over Nightwing.


    "Are you sure you are not under her spell, Krysta?" Killian asked Krysta.


    "No, father..." Krysta assured.


    The spiders began to move and eat the spiders. Some of the men stopped torturing their enemies and decided that death by a swarm of spiders would be a better sight.


    As everyoneughed and mocked their enemies, Nightwing could only sigh.


    "All that, and I just managed to convert one. Oh well... At least I know it''s possible. Kyros will need to turn his allies into Mystery Challengers if he wants to win this war... Now how do I change the state of my women?" Nightwing began to ponder.


    "Everyone. I hope I have satisfied your... vengeance." Nightwing called everyone''s attention. But he could see the selfish hearts of everyone remained unchanged. Only Estus was truly moved.


    "I guess it''s hard to turn degenerates into loyal followers. Ikarod and Grandite have shown no changes... I guess. It would be better if my men faced defeat and near extermination with Kyros''s allies... This means they will have to fight against those mages who spoke with me. I wonder how Kyros turned a team of Lond Mages to have greater knowledge than the Hignds?" Nightwing pondered.


    "Alright. Everyone. Do not resist. Since we dove down here, it would seem unwise to resurface without any wounds. We need grievous wounds. So... allow the golems to hit you. Bomos. Attack them."


    "What?"


    "Master?!"


    "Wait!"


    "AHHHH!"


    The pounding began underground.


    Some were too scared that they fought back.


    Nightwing ignored the rest and turned to one of the Gigantes.


    "How goes the forces up there? Do you have an army to send it?"


    "Of course. With Cornerstone being able to take away the cancer of Bar-Mammon inside the body and create Darklings, these creatures raised hell above and devoured many cities. That army can inflict heavy losses to the remaining fighters above." Bomos answered.


    "Great. As discussed, you can take thirty percent of all the energy. That includes the Darklings that will be purified in their deaths. It would have been a lot of work if I had to purify it. Giving them life was easier. And now, those up there will kill them and purge the corruption upon death."


    Above the ground, the armies of Breveros were rushing forward with haste.


    An army of Darklings was being defeated, but the main problem was the problem from below.


    A Ragion Cardinal broke through the line and couldn''t help but feel pain in his heart. He gritted his teeth and moved forward. He saw his concubine pulled down to the ground with a powerful hand. He was too far to save her.


    "It seems that bitch is dead. Good!" The King, a powerful Battlemage,ughed as she saw the woman that demanded marriage die.


    "Her deal was useless as the one we wanted dead had already be too strong. This is fitting for her." The kingughed as he used his powers to maintain flight.


    As Breveros fought on, he could hear screams and cries from the ground below.


    He could only hope that Nightwing was alive.

 Chapter 522 Mystery Of The Bad Luck

    Breveros used a mighty gale magic that blew away a wall of Darklings, and the group managed to pass through the valley finally.


    "We''re out! Charge forward!" Breveros roared.


    Some few golems blocked their path on thest leg of the journey, and some powerful darklords appeared.


    They hadrge forms and long spines that shot out to everyone nearby.


    The Cardinals fought them, but as they battled, the arms appeared from the ground, pulling many more down.


    Breverosmanded the team to make haste and released his aces. The power of Crowns exploded out and attacked the ground wildly, killing beasts and allies at some time. But the mountain side between them endured the quaking powers. Clearly, they were not in the middle of a normal mountain.


    Because of the dangers of the underground fleshy golems that would pull from the ground below, even the Crowns couldn''t fight properly. Everyone under the Crown level was not paying full attention to the battle.


    Breveros was outraged as he saw the numerous deaths that took away a quarter of the armies he gathered.


    The moment they charged out of the valley, many arms began to pull down in haste, and the upper halves of the golems appeared as they used two hands to bring down some more of the men.


    Champions and Commanders were pulled down as everyone rushed with all their might to go out of the ursed valley.


    The moment they stepped out of the valley, Breveros instantly noticed it.


    "Fly! Get out of the valley and fly!" Breveros ordered as he soared up the skies.


    An angry roar of strange sound could be heard echoing out as the hands and golems began to appear, which was one step away from leaving the valley.


    Golems and strange fleshy creatures appeared and tried to block the path, and the soldiers began to attack with all their might.


    Explosions resounded, and the battle escted as many angrily sent their attacks to the ground or the mountainside to close the gap.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The explosions resounded as those yet to emerge began to leap as gravity returned.


    All that passed through the valley quickly flew and noticed that the power of whatever strange form was limited at the edge of the valley.


    The armies began to cross and fly out, and those that had passed it began to group and huddle up in the sky.


    Numerous darkling beasts charged and flew into the sky, surprising the armies.


    But without the dangers of the golem dragging them down the ground, they all were able to fight.


    Minutes passed as the remaining armies swiftly charged out of the valley, and the arms that dragged them down appeared much faster. It no longer concerned the cultivation levels of the soldiers but sought to drag down as many as they could.


    A Ragion Prince stomped on the face of the golem that emerged and attempted to pull him down, and he flew up.


    His wife, the princess, sent out numerous spells to throw back the golem.


    "Husband!" The Princess called.


    "Are you alright?"


    "...Yes." The Ragion cursed as a strange mark was left on his legs when the golem grabbed him. He felt a strange emotion surge out, but as a Ragion, he had to control his emotions as they were the basis for his strength and power.


    He began to take deep breaths as the pain of seeing the woman he loved was pulled down to the ground. But since he still had a facade to y, he never showed intense emotions of anger and sadness but bottled it all up. He couldn''t tell that his surging emotions were part of a malevolent curse.


    "Husband! You''re leg!" The Princess approached.


    "...My Princess! Thank you." The Ragion''s depression and sadness were quickly reced with warmth and relief as he saw the Princess who cared.


    His thoughts were spinning as he saw the beauty of the Princess and realized that this woman truly cared.


    "I''ve lost her... But I still have someone in my life..." The Ragion prince realized.


    "Assume formation! I want a full report on the death toll! We have to keep moving!" Breveros''s voice echoed out. Thest toons of the armies were leaving.


    As they left, a Cardinal was dragged by many stone creatures and the darklings leaped at him.


    "No!" The Cardinal shouted as he was barely a step away from leaving the ursed valley.


    But his figure quickly disappeared, and the horrified soldiers sent out their strongest attacks but to no avail.


    Several powerful Crowns appeared with the fleshy human form andughed as they raised its arm.


    A strange rumbling urred, and the cliffs of the mountain began to close up. Vicious sounds and howls could be heard as a swarm of darkling creatures rushed out.


    "Fly back and remain in formation!" Breveros ordered.


    The mind army switched to aerial battles and moved out ordingly, with each being in a position to send out their attacks without hitting those in front of them.


    Many darkling beasts continued to charge and attack, but without the tight corners of the valley and having no arms to pull them down, the darkling creatures were easily in.


    BOOM!


    A sudden boom resounded, and the side of the mountain suddenly opened up.


    A Cardinal cyclops emerged wielding arge staff that was releasing Crown-level power. The cyclops had no arm as it desperately charged out.


    Many followed next to them, and all had wounds, crushed limbs, and bite marks all over them.


    Soon, the core team of Nightwing appeared, and several of the wounded soldiers were pulled down!


    As the group rushed out, shes of dark red lights could be seen within the cave, and finally, Nightwing appeared. He had one wing and a leg missing as he flew out and could barely maintain flight.


    Angelian flew in and caught him, and soon, many others appeared.


    Ikarod didn''t have an arm with him as he appeared.


    "Nightwing! You''re alive!" Breveros cheered.


    SLAP!


    Nightwing smacked his wing on Breveros''s face.


    "How unlucky are you?! What legacies did the army of darklings find that allowed them to awaken masters Mountain Golems!" Nightwing cursed out.


    "It was impossible for them to awaken! I had to face several Crowns inside!"


    Breveros''s expression was dark. He felt immense humiliation from Nightwing''s action. But he knew that if he fought Nightwing, it would affect the other kingdoms following them. He could see that many of those that Nightwing managed to save were nobles and rtives of the kingdoms, and many were flying closely to express their gratitude to Nightwing.


    "This is uneptable! We need to get to the bottom of this! Why are you so unlucky? Breveros! Open your soul to me! If we don''t get to the bottom of your bad luck, I don''t think we can leave this ce alive!" Nightwing cursed.


    "You dare!" An Eldrich roared and stood next to Breveros.


    "I dare?! I risked my life and men inside the belly of that mountain! If not for my charm and blood that made all creatures have murderous intent, we would have all died! Look at us! It''s a miracle we are alive! You have this army because of me. And now that this army faces extinction because of you, you deny the chance to dispel it?!" Nightwing argued.


    "Lord Breveros''s soul is-"


    "Enough!" Breveros shouted to silence his ally.


    "Nightwing... Can you figure out the mystery behind my bad luck?"


    "...Yes. I am a True Neutral. Don''t you know we are the absence of Luck and Bad Luck? Only a True Neutral can discern your state. And I bestow my nature in you. I might be able to remove or seal it!" Nightwing answered.


    "...Continue our retreat. We look for the surviving nations here. I want the Eldrich to create an elemental barrier to protect Nightwing and me." Breveros decided.


    "My prince!"


    "Do not argue! This Bad luck has followed me and forced me to lose power and opportunity. And now, i threaten you all. There shall be no discussion. Follow my orders." Breveros insisted.


    The Eldirch that followed Breveros were silenced. Instead, they all red at Nightwing.


    "Chose your strongest ally to guard-"


    "No. I feel that my luck could harm him. We do this alone."


    "...You bastard! You sense that you could die in this!? I would die too!" Nightwing angrily roared.


    "You just said that you would die if you didn''t seal it. So deal with this, Nightwing." Breveros red.


    Nightwing had an ugly expression at first.


    "Fine. Let''s do this..." Nightwing flew closer.


    "Create the barrier. Eldrich Zaggin, take control of the army." Breveros ordered as he flew towards the center.


    Arge space was provided at the center of the army as the group moved out.


    Soon, arge dark sphere was created with Nightwing and Breveros inside.


    "Do it," Breveros ordered.


    Nightwing nodded and raised his arm. The power of the shaman was appearing.


    "Let''s see what mystery attacks you, Breveros." Nightwing reached out, and the power of Mysterion was encroaching on Breveros without his knowledge.

 Chapter 523 Mystery Of Breveros

    The scheme of Nightwing had finally paid off. He needed to see the soul of Breveros so that he could slowly instill the power of Mysterion inside.


    Inside the dome, Nightwing was using the excuse of calling out his power to cover the entire ce with Mysterion and Oblivion.


    Inside the cave, Nightwing had requested to harness a greater amount of Oblivion and took a huge lot as he knew he would have the chance to deceive Breveros into doing this.


    Breveros was a powerful magic user who could draw out his soul. As Eldrich, they were well-versed in the many disciplines and teachings and had a deeper inheritance. Breveros was slightly learned in the areas of the soul and could allow his soul to appear and even be in contact with other things.


    Nightwing''s Shaman powers were appearing, and Breveros felt amazed.


    "As expected of someone who has heritages from two Fallen..." Breveros could only sigh in envy.


    But the truth was, Nightwing''s power as the Shaman was not so strong that it could alter or scan the soul. The level of shaman knowledge Nightwing had was the same as Kyros. And the knowledge that they had was from the Nephilim Sealing Fortress allowed several advanced Shaman techniques. But it wasn''t as powerful that it could alter the very essence of the curse. And yet, the foundation of Shamanic principles that Mezal knew and the additional powers that Kyros discovered and trained in within the Unrecorded Pages had allowed them great and precise control.


    Breveros was impressed at the foundational elements that Nightwing revealed.


    And this made him believe the ims of Breveros even more.


    Nightwing''s hand moved towards Breveros''s head. This was where the soul was for Eldirch races.


    Nightwing touched it and summoned his shamanic knowledge that, caused Breveros''s soul to tremble.


    "Do not resist if you have the means to resist. I need to scan your soul with my power. And if the power inflicting you with Bad Luck is strong, I will have a hard time fighting it. I may not even survive." Nightwing warned.


    "Do it," Breveros answered.


    Nightwing then channeled his powers and used the shaman techniques.


    It was simr to how he harnessed the power of Sacrifice as Breveros had his guard down.


    And now was the time to enact his n.


    After confirming that it was possible to change the person''s allegiance from Fate and Destiny, Nightwing knew that his n to convert Breveros had a high chance. If he could arrange his deception and the visions that Kyros showed of this otherworldly version of strategy would work for Breveros, who had an alternate existence that fought and followed with Kyros!


    And Nightwing intended to use that to confuse Breveros and slowly drag him to a position of the forced alliance.


    Nightwing began to send out his power.


    The power of Mysterion moved along the soul, and Breveros sensed it.


    He trembled as he felt the strange, foreign, and ufortable sensation entering his Spirit.


    "I am giving you a portion of my power. The power of the True Neutral should trigger your powers and the curse. This power will make you stronger. Do you understand what I am doing?"


    "Yes. By giving me power, you are forcing the bad luck to act out." Breveros answered.


    "Correct. Absorb this power for now..." Nightwing ordered as he kept pouring in a soul-changing power.


    Breveros truly felt stronger. As the seconds passed, he could not help but feel that his bad luck was disappearing.


    But then, a trembling was urring in Breveros''s soul. The power of Destiny was somewhat corrupted, and Breveros was feeling an ufortable sensation. It was as if he was not supposed to be doing this.


    Breveros resisted it and resisted it, and his body began to tremble.


    "Resist it! I''m getting closer!" Nightwing lied and used his power of [Deception].


    But Breveros sensed such a great ufortable feeling that he began resisting the powers.


    "It''s... too... painful!" Breveros cried. He couldn''t understand what form of sensation it was, but the pain was the closest thing he could associate it with.


    Breveros began to fight back, but then a strange vision appeared.


    He saw himself fighting his brother and father in a strange world. He saw himself as weaker in cultivation but stronger in technique and control. So he used the powers that he had. But these powers were outside the realms of his Corruption.


    He saw his allies and couldn''t help but be amazed that these allies were of Fate! The sensation was clear, and he felt a strange sense of belonging as he fought a powerful Fallen with an appearance he could not even remember.


    "Ahh!" Breveros shouted, a sharp sensation enveloping his soul.<novelsnext>please visit </novelsnext>


    "Resist it! Something is...."


    "Ahhh!"


    BOOM!


    A shock wave knocked Nightwing back as the essence of Destiny tried to fight back.


    But even as the immense bacsh caused Nightwing to cough blood, he was still happy. Destiny was unaware of what had happened, and the events inside this dark sphere were kept a secret.


    Breveros was still in pain and was gasping for breath. The pain had manifested physical wounds as he coughed out blood, and scars, cuts, and burn marks covered his arm.


    "...You! Who are you?!" Nightwing shouted in shock as he approached Breveros.


    "What was that vision?! What was happening?! That world...!" Nightwing approached and demanded as he held Breveros by his cor.


    "I... Don''t know...!" Breveros shouted back.


    "Tell the truth!" Nightwing roared.


    "I am! I don''t know! That''s why I asked for your help!" Breveros shouted back.


    Nightwing''s frightened expression remained, but he tried to calm himself down.


    "Wasn''t this your suggestion to figure things out about my affliction?! Why ask me?! I am more confused than you are!" Breveros shouted.


    Nightwing fell silent and let go of Breveros.


    He moved back and began to think as he closed his eyes and surged his power out.


    "What are you doing?" Breveros asked.


    "Searching the area. A portion of that energy was released. You unconsciously managed to cleave away from the power of Destiny when you rejected the True Challenger''s power."


    Breveros recalled the strange sensation that entered his soul.


    "You felt it, didn''t you? The power of Destiny in your soul? The curse that covers it!"


    "What was it? Why was that powerful curse there?"


    "I had a feeling this was the case. Legend tells of some who were of Destiny who became True Neutrals by mysterious means. You see, that''s almost impossible. You can''t just switch sides like that." Nightwing exined.


    "What do you mean?"


    "You... are too strong. Destiny has set his champion in the ce of your brother. The problem is that you were too strong. You would have risen the ranks and even outmatched your brother. Did you see it?" Nightwing asked.


    "...A battle. What was that battle? I was there! And...!"


    "For me to guess what that was, I need to exin the truth. Here''s what I know about the battle between Fate and Destiny. It''s an all-out war where only one side remains. The battle is so vast that it controls the lives of all mortals. In this battle, many are just useless bystanders, while others, specifically, the Challengers, are called to stand up and fight." Nightwing began to exin.


    "Challengers? Destiny Challenger? The Eldrich''s most powerful nobles have this strange skill. We were told it''s a blessing of the Fallen called Destiny. But I don''t have it."


    "Well, actually, you do. It''s a weird one, though. Anyway, the battle between these two and their challenger is a war across time. These two beings live outside of our time. Fate controls things from the past to set and prepare things to happen in the future. Destiny''s power is to see and arrange things from the future. It saw something in you and gave you an inverse Challenger. It''s this curse, the bad luck, that limits you." Nightwing exined.


    "It cursed me... because it foresaw me going against my family?!" Breveros was shocked.


    "I don''t know. I am a True Neutral. I do my best to hide beneath the eyes of Fate and Destiny. It was very difficult for me to hide, and I had to work next to someone so that my activities would be hidden. I don''t have time to exin that. But you are an anomaly. If I were to guess, Destiny needs only one Eldrich champion here, for it may lead to divides in the future. Do not underestimate this war, Breveros. When you see things from the perspective of those who know the true nature of the universe, even your goals to conquer the nesworld seem insignificant. Whatever the reason, you are of Destiny, but it hates you." Nightwing warned.


    Breveros''s expression darkened. Rage and confusion were building up.


    "You should... rest. There are just too many mysteries about your status. It''s the first time I''ve seen it..." Nightwing sighed and turned away. He needed time for Breveros to brood and rage in his state so that Breveros would desire to be ''converted''.


    As Nightwing nned, Breveros was about to explode in his rage because of the mysterious curse of Destiny.

 Chapter 524 Mystery Of The Thirst

    For many days, the armies moved within the copsing kingdom of the ck Bog Kingdom.


    Under the lead of Nightwing, they moved out and destroyed several important ''nodes'' that Nightwing found.


    Nightwing imed that the Half-Gigantes Flesh Monsters had overtaken thend and used its powers to create underground tunnels and bases within the ck Bog Kingdom.


    Nightwing imed that these creatures were transforming the underground regions, feeding off the mountain range like a parasite, and creating these canals to send out an army.


    Nightwing''s solution was to starve out this beast and stop the means it had to feed itself.


    The Giants that followed Nightwing all spoke of the same monstrous beasts inside. They spoke of the Gigantes of legends, which was said to be the source of their power.


    They spoke of how powerful the Crowns were and survived due to the blood of Nightwing, which prohibited all of the creatures in the stone from killing them directly. Yet, thews allowed these beasts to rip and tear them as long as they remained alive after the attack.


    Nightwing''s limbless army was treated as heroes for dealing with and rescuing many of their allies.


    Mage Commander Estus was even thanked as he managed to save several noble knights dragged down by the same kingdom where the Ragion was Prince.


    The Ragion pretended to act in a neutral state. Though he despised Estus for marrying the woman he loved, Estus had no fault or revealed no hatred towards Ragion Prince.


    On the seventh day of their journey, they found yet another massive mound of earth that had appeared.


    Nightwing used his powers to lure the stony Half-Gigantes out, and they all easily defeated it.


    These half-Gigantes only had Cardinal level strength and were easily in.


    In reality, these creatures were just some of the Cardinals they had captured, and Nightwing used the Necromancy of Mengks to bestow life and handed these corpses to Bomos, who moved out and prepared the next ''nest'' for Nightwing to attack.


    Each time they attacked a nest, they would y thousands of Darklings and kill a ''half-gigantes'' before a massive earth spell would appear, and everyone would retreat, fearing the power of the creature that Nightwing called a ''Mountain Deity'' that his master sealed.


    The spell was just actually Bomos eating the Darkling spawns. As these Darkling Spawns were just the cancer of Bar-Mammon, the creatures still followed the agreement that Bar-Mammon had with Bomos and remained neutral and did not attack Bomos or any of the Gigantes creatures living inside, such as the Antibodies. But Bomos could not absorb them as they had to be killed.


    The Darklings have attacked many cities and have even grown in number. And so Nightwing used this n to make the army of Breveros kill the Darklings, allowing Bomos to absorb them.


    Breveros gained nothing, but Nightwing was curing the Gigantes of the cancerous parts and gaining an army worth of energy to absorb.


    At the destruction of thest nest, the Ragion Prince had shown great valor again as he tore through the front lines.


    Unlike the previous asions, the earth spell did not appear since Nightwing knew that he had to give the army some corpses to escape suspicion. However, if every battle ended with nothing to gain, then Breveros would realize more sinister ns at hand.


    Everyone rejoiced and was going through the spoils. The meat of the Darkling became popr as its taste was great.


    The entire army took the camp and rested as the feared appearance of the stone golem did not happen.


    Nightwing exined that they were too far away for the Mountain Deity to attack them.


    "Prince Tauror." Commander Estus approached as the battle ended.


    "Hm? Traitor Commander Estus? Are you here to express your anger towards me for marrying your wife?" The Ragion prince frowned.


    "Traitor Commander? Fair enough, considering what I did. But now, your masters serve the Eldrich too. I believe my traitorous title is outdated."


    "I still find it... baffling. Your master is a very capable man. Why would he pick you?"


    "I see that my Prince hates me. Is it because of my slutty widow and how she forced herself into your family? I apologize for whatever pain that slut caused that might have strained the rtionship between you and the Princess. But I am here to tell you I saw her die there. I guess, since you are his husband now, you should know. She has been reported as missing, right? So I''m here to confirm her death." Estus answered.


    "...You didn''t try to save her?" Tauror asked. But he was refraining from showing any of his anger and emotions. Instead, the pain of realizing that the woman had died was piercing his heart.


    "By the time I saw her, she was dead. And besides... You don''t know what horrors lie down there." Estus raised the stump of his right hand to show.


    "We would have been dead without Lord Nightwing''s blood." Estus sighed.


    While the two were talking, the Princess of the kingdom was nearby. But her attention was on Estus.<novelsnext>please visit </novelsnext>


    She couldn''t understand what she was feeling. There was an unquenchable mysterious thirst that she had. Despite being a noble Cardinal of great power, her eyes often looked after this young man who moved freely within the army. Estus would visit them these past days, but all of those times, he would never speak to the princess but only to someone close to the Princess.


    She longed to see him. Hear him and even smell him.


    But the mystery of her thirst was caused by several small spiders injecting her with another potent poison of Estus''s blood mixed with Incubus magic on her while she would be in the heat of a great battle.


    Prince Tauror offered a few more apologies which he spoke behind gritted teeth.


    "I have to say... I understand what she did. I hated it. It broke me. But knowing that slut... Has she already moved on you, my Prince? Granted, you have a wife far more beautiful than her, but that woman was very persuasive. I guess she had numerous lovers."


    "And why... would you think that?" Tauror asked.


    "Whenever I return from my missions, she pounced at me. I never believed her to have cheated on me because of that... But now I understand. She was cheating on me, and those crazy nights together were the answer. She had multiple partners, and they might have never been satisfied by whoever her partner was. I''m guessing her lust was bottomless. Or... rather, I''m just that loaded. It''s probably why she chose you as her target. She associated yourrge frame as a Ragion and hoped it would be as... grand as my staff." Estus shrugged.


    Tauror was pretending to dig through the ground for more corpses, but the rage and anger in his heart were leaking out. His pride was affected by Estus''s words. He thought that he had given that woman the time of her life. But now, it seemed that he was wrong! Was he inadequate that she would leap to Estus after such a mission?! The thought gued Tauror.


    "At least... I have my princess. My true love!" Tauror consoled himself and turned to his princess.


    But as he gazed, he saw the direction of where the Princess was looking.


    "Princess! Forgive me! I didn''t know you were here!" Estus eximed.


    "Did you hear our talk?! Forgive me. My widowed wife has ced your family into such inconvenient circumstances." Estus bowed.


    SLAP!


    The Princess pped Estus.


    "Pam! What are you doing?!" The voice of the king boomed.


    "That is Nightwing''s Commander!" The King roared in anger.


    Estus did not evade the p but gave the Princess an apologetic look.


    "Princess, King Omar. Do forgive me. I am a branded traitor, and my wife caused problems in your kingdom. In truth, Lord Nightwing sent me here to apologize. Now that we are all unexpectedly working together and must be united under this darkling and Gigantes gue, he wishes to resolve all possible hatred within the team. I am here to offer myself to be beaten up by any of you for my traitorous actions and the problems my wife caused to your family." Estus revealed.


    "Oh? Then let me punch you!" Tauror smiled as he moved closer.


    BOOM!


    But at that moment, Ikarodnded in front of Tauror and blew the ground, causing Tauror and the nearby officials to be thrown off.


    Estus flew towards Princess Pam from the impact of Ikarod''snding.


    Pam was pressed under Estus, and for those short seconds, she felt such bliss. Under her skin, her blood quivered as she touched Estus.


    The spider''s poison was working and triggered a reaction of great lust upon contact, bringing her to the point where she almost climaxed.


    "Estus! You idiot! Get up!" Ikarodined as the wind drew Estus back.


    "While Nightwing wants to resolve these issues, he still has a reputation for carrying. Estus is one who had made grave offenses to your kingdom. And as your kingdom is one of the stronger and more numerous ones in this unified army, we will hand over Estus. But he cannot be killed, and his punishment will not be public. It will be within the camps of Nightwing, so we can assure that Estus will not be killed. Select one among you who has the highest grievance with Estus and send that person to our camp, where Estus can be punished for an entire day. We will offer you privacy so as long as Estus remains alive. You can cut his limbs for all we care. We can regrow it, anyway."


    Estus trembled in fear but did notin Crown Ikarod''s words.


    There was silence, but then, a surging power of numerous elements sted out.


    Princess Pam used her Cardinal magic to enshroud her.


    "That bastard is mine!" She roared angrily.


    "He betrayed our kingdom and sold our secrets! He spied on us! And his wretched hag of a wife dared to taint my husband! And now, this buffoon dared to touch me?!" Pam roared.

 Chapter 525 Mystery Over Destiny

    Somewhere in the Dark Sea...


    In the belly of a mighty beast were several individuals.


    Lea was rxing and enjoying the acid bath she was taking.


    "Ah... This is nice. Something that can give me warmth and rxation..." Lea smiled.


    Martha was at the side and was constantly meditating and discovering the power that dragonic blood could make.


    Aron was also in a trance state as he fell into meditation after facing something that not even True Cut can sever or wound the enemy.


    Aside from them were threerge cocoons which housed several Cardinals. These were the guards and servants that was called to serve Lea. They had fought several powerful cultivators, and Lea used Martha and Aron to take care of a certain enemy that was important to Destiny''s forces in the future.


    Cardinal Cruel Cort. A vampire of great heritage. Despite being a Cardinal, he had the power of a Crown and had great Dark and Fire magic. These two elements were on different spectrums of power. The fire was close to Light and shouldn''t work together, but the special heritage of this man allowed him to do so.


    The battle was difficult that Martha and Aron realized what a powerful champion of Destiny was.


    Even with Puff, the three gained no advantage, and it was Lea who appeared at thest second in an ambush to wound him grievously.


    They had to ensure that the Vampire could not see or sense Lea since they were certain Destiny''s eyes were watching.


    Martha killed him and allowed his belongings to be seen by his allies. Within his belongings was proof that Cardinal Cruel Cort was in league with the Dark Shine Kingdom was quite a distance away, and that there were orders on how to prepare for the Dark Shine kingdom''s invasion.


    The revtion caused the Edge Regions of the Dark Sea to go on a hunt.


    Yet the minions of Destiny were busy hunting for the assassins that killed Cardinal Cruel Cort.


    An army chased them underwater but lost sight of them.


    Unknown to them was a strange, leech-like creature that was a meter long.


    But they did not know that this creature was actually Puff!


    Using the power of Mysterion, Puff had been changed to appear like a strange gigantic worm monstrosity, and the energy of its dragonic form was hidden. Unfortunately, at the level of those in the Edge Regions of the Dark Sea, they would not be able to identify the dragonic heritage but mistake the beasts as a strange leech and ignore it in their search.


    But the group was deep inside the belly of Puff. Puff''s stomach having the powers of another spatial realm, the group managed to escape the trackers and spells used to find them.


    The inside of the stomach was arge world depicting the true size of Puff''s actual Wyrm form.


    And there, Lea and the group were recovering and meditating on the spoils they received from the dark castle of Cardinal Cruel Cort.


    "You two better get stronger. If I use my powers anymore, then Destiny will know that I am helping you. I''m sure your Foresight told you that." Lea chuckled.


    The two were silent as they continued to meditate on their failures.


    "Of course, your cultivation level is really the problem. Although Kyros did fight a tremendous enemy whose cultivation levels were far higher, and we managed to win." Leaughed.


    But the two kept quiet.


    "...I''m bored. Hey, Dragon. How goes the swim? Can I go out now?" Lea asked Puff.


    "...Lady Lea. There are still many men watching. So to not make it look suspicious, I am traveling at a very slow pace.


    "Ugh... This is boring!" Leained and turned to the two members of Steele.


    Martha and Aron took the battle as their defeat and were in a very solemn state of actually losing.


    Lea nced around and sighed.


    "I guess I should call you Aunt and Uncle if I am to be Kyros''s bride..." Lea chuckled.


    The two didn''t respond.


    Martha sessfully controlled her evolution and now had a dragonic form that could harm peak Cardinals.


    Aron was entering a unique state of his entire body, bing a sword.


    Nearby, a strange tower with antennas began to glow.


    "Hm? Hey! Kyros seems to be shipping you another load of cultivation energy." Lea called out.


    But the two were still meditating.


    "...Why is Aunt Martha still a virgin? Do you have issues with your sword, uncle?" Lea called out.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The evolution process Martha turned to chaos as her evolution passed through the limits and forced Martha to start evolving uncontrobly.


    SLASH!


    The Sword Force of Aron shed out, and Puff groaned as the sword shed within him.


    The entire ce trembled.


    "You!" Martha red at Lea.


    "I''m waking you us since Kyros has the next batch of energy. If it''s any like thest, you guys could increase your levels in the Cardinal stage, and we could hurry. But we have to hurry and get back up to the Minds after all!" Lea eximed.


    Martha and Aron''s expressions changed as they saw the tower.


    "Go first. Your forced evolution looks like it could kill you." Aron offered.


    "Thank you, husband."


    "...I hope you''ll sleep with uncle after this." Lea chuckled.


    Martha frowned and moved towards the tower to absorb the energy.


    The shock of energy not only surprised Martha but even the other teams.


    The level of the Steele families forces was rising, and they were bing an army of Champions.


    Back in the Minds....


    The team of Nightwing continued to travel inside the ck Bog Kingdom and managed rescued numerous teams who were barely surviving, and all instantly vowed service to Breveros. However, Nightwing decided that the Eldrich would be a more daunting tool to force the survivors to join them, as they were familiar with their notorious status of the Eldrcih of being the race exiled out of the nesworld.


    Many powerful survivors with Cardinals and Crowns were added to the team. As a result, Breveros estimated that their entire army would still grow strongerpared to their original numbers when they arrived.


    The information that everyone gathered indicated that a massive kingdom had been built as several Hive Queens had brought theirirs into it. This massive fortress was quickly created as all the group''s races gathered in desperation.


    Scouts report that a massive gathering of Darklings was headed towards the region and believed that an all-out war is happening since their arrival brought great change, making the fleshy golems desperate.


    Of course, Nightwing already knew this since the Darkling gue that was brought was his doing.


    The night arrived, and since the darklings were difficult to see, the army had made its fortification and lighted the area.


    Nightwing was scouting the area as he was tasked and sensed someone approach.


    "Breveros. Have you finally decided?" Nightwing asked.


    Breveros appeared, and he had a serious expression.


    "Nightwing... What exactly is a True Neutral?" Breveros asked.


    "...Simply put, we are Mystery." Nightwing instantly used [Deception].


    "Those on our side do not abide by the rules of Destiny or Fate. We don''t know who the first was, but it was said that the Heretic Gods were the ones that allowed us to escape the two. Instead of being people seen by Fate from the distant past or observed by Destiny in the far future, we chose mystery."


    "...If I be like you, will I... face and fight my brother and father like in that vision?"


    "...Who knows. But that vision you saw was a vision that Destiny had seen if he didn''t intervene. He changed your future because you would have been so strong that they would go against them!"


    "...Or that they were afraid of me." Breveros''s lip twitched as he spoke. But he saw the faces of his father and brother in that vision. They leaked of immense killing intent.


    "What was that world? That world of fire and ash that burns my face if I think of it?"


    "How am I supposed to know? But most True Neutrals try to flee from that. As for me, I decided to go out and side with Destiny. But honestly... that vision that you saw... It perplexed me. What was the end of that world? Was there even life? I wished to rule the world... But that vision..." Nightwing used his acting skills and abilities.


    "...It was terrifying. I cannot understand why my brother and father would choose that."


    "Maybe that''s why you had that fallout in the first ce. And so, Destiny sought to inflict you with bad luck so that... oh... Nevermind. That would be too presumptive of me to say." Nightwing chuckled and decided not to finish the sentence.


    "I know what you are thinking. Destiny cursed me so that I would remain weak. And when the timees for my rebellion... my father and brother could easily kill me!" Breveros spoke with immense anger.


    "Well, what can you do? Right now, your brother and father are stronger than you."


    "Then I chose mystery! Nightwing! Hide me from Destiny''s reach!"

 Chapter 526 Mystery That Births Freedom

    The decision of Breveros was what Nightwing was waiting for.


    He needed Breveros to make the decisive decision and request to remove the curse so he could again go through the agonizing process and resist it.


    Nightwing used many schemes and poured the power of Mysterion and Tyrannos into the soul of Breveros.


    Mysterion was the force that Destiny fought against, for it attempted to cover and hide Breveros. Tyrannos was to give Breveros the rebellious spirit of defiance and wrath.


    True enough, Breveros fell into uncontroble rage and anger the past days.


    He was bipr and would remember the embarrassing moments that limited him.


    He even suspected that perhaps his brother and father were behind the sabotage of his illustrious would-be career.


    The cultivator and fighter within him were awakened. The power of Tyrannos did not change him but heightened his pride of his. He found out he had potential and was failing at it!


    It was a cruel truth. He believed that many of the cultivation mistakes that made him slower than his brother were his fault. But he might have been unlucky!


    Were the potions made by those powerful alchemists mixed properly? Were the magical cultivation fruits liberated from the worlds below properly ripped? Or did some worm of some sort eat it? Was the energy formation circles that were used correctly? Or did the experts make a one-in-a-million mistake?


    Breveros was questioning his entire life. He thinks that even his decisions in the past and how they were all interconnected keep him weak and give him bad luck.


    But now he found out that he was actually strong! And not just strong, but stronger than his father and brother!


    He who once epted his ce was now raging at the heavens.


    His decisive choice was set as he could not bare it much longer. Unknown to him, it was this same rage that Tyrannos had felt when he discovered the things of the universe and the limitations given over to him.


    "You choose Mystery? Do you know what you are asking?"


    "Of course!"


    "I don''t think you do. Do you understand the strange, skin-peeling, soul-quaking, malevolent sensation that will be harsher this time? And do you know that this will put you in a position of this war that pits you against Destiny? It''s one thing to be like me, a True Neutral. It''s another to disavow Destiny." Nightwing asked again.


    "Disavow?! Am I not the one that Destiny disavowed? When we fought, I lost without even wounding you! You are but a mere Cardinal! My real power would have been enough to end you! I have great potential, but I was defenseless when I saw your woman because of my unlucky state! I would have died against you!" Breveros brought out his rage.


    "...True. I have a few tricks up my sleeve, and you didn''t even make me use them! The truth was, I felt a prodding to kill you. But I realized that it was a way of Destiny... You were already discarded then..." Nightwing agreed.


    "All because of the choice you will make in the future... This wille to pass. And frankly, I''m not sure whether I should do this now! Because this ultimately puts me in the position of bing an enemy of Destiny! I am trying to escape this war or move out of the crosshairs of the war by bing Destiny''s ally. But it seems I was met with bad luck in meeting you! Such bad luck that it will force me to be Destiny''s enemy anyway!" Nightwing cursed.


    "My bad luck is forcing you to be an enemy to Destiny?!"


    "Yes! You see, I have no choice but to ally with you! And in this specific circumstance, I need to hide or remove my bad luck to survive the current cmity. But doing so will make me Destiny''s enemy anyway!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "So you are... refusing to hide me in mystery because it will make you an enemy to Destiny?"


    "How can I refuse?! I will still die here because of your bad luck! Who knows what will happen?! Will I face a Protos Endoxus the moment we leave this region?! This was the n all along! I thought I could have fooled Destiny and joined his team. But I was foolish to think it would be this easy! I will end up bing his enemy, still! Don''t you see? I am in a ce where I have no choices!"


    "So you will help me?"


    "Yes! But I can''t stay for too long in this ce! They will eventually find out! And you have no choice but to go with me!"


    "How long will it be until my brother and father betray me?"


    "...It won''t be immediate. There will be years that will pass if I am sessful. My power of True Neutral is Mystery. I cloak things for a time, but the rule is... it has to be revealed soon. Or rather, there should be an intention to reveal it. It cannot work if the hidden one does not want to know the secret. I do not conceal. I conceal so that it will be revealed. Mystery that births freedom. That is the Corruption I walk in!"


    "...I have to reveal this. My brother and father deserve to know. In the end, they are only used by Destiny... But as my path will eventually lead to betrayal, I wille clean and escape. I need Mystery to free the chains that limit me!" Breveros sighed.


    "Whatever. I don''t really care about you. I care about myself. If you are going to pull me with you, then I need to know your secrets! Do you understand? I need something that can help us flee! You are still able to gain ess to it!"


    "What do you need...?" Breveros asked with hesitation.


    "I need information and power. I know about Impyernos. But knowing about him is not enough! I need something else. Who are the Fallens or Gods that you serve and the Corruptions and Blessing that you have? If we want to survive this, we must take as many things as possible!"


    "You want to steal some of our heritages?" Breveros frowned.


    "And whose fault is it that we havee to this?! Do I want to do this?! You imbecile! No! But when I went down there and saw the great power of those Mountain Deities that my master sealed, I was shocked! Do you know how lucky they were to be free like that?! They must have found apatible heritage somewhere within the ck Bog Kingdom! We were supposed to only get in here and defeat the divided armies of the ck Bog Kingdom and press on to the Minds! But now we have all of this!" Nightwing roared in anger.


    Breveros was quiet. He was still considering the events. Was this the n of Nightwing all along? But the vision was very clear. The world he saw in his memories was very pure. There were no Blessings and Corruption. There was just a battle. It matched the words of Nightwing that spoke of a strange future.


    But the greatest proof of Nightwing was the bad luck he faced all his life. He didn''t understand it. And it was only then that he realized his father did not invest a lot to understand the mysterious curse behind him. Also, Lord Impyernos, being a Fallen, would have known this! Yet he never spoke or brought up the strange case!


    Yet, he could not abandon his family when the choice was offered.


    "Chose another way. I will not betray my family or reveal the heritage we have. I will flee with you and help you flee. I will spy to set us free. But no more." Breveros answered adamantly.


    Nightwing sighed.


    "See, how unlucky I am?! This was Destiny''s trap! He used a pawn like you and made you miserable all to bring out a man like me... Whatever the case... I will fight Destiny! Fine. I''ll cover your bad luck in mystery. But you will see that not only Destiny, but even your family will also abandon you!" Nightwing spoke harshly and walked away.


    "He still won''t do it, huh?" Nightwing thought to himself.


    "Huh... And here I thought it would be enough." Luigi spoke as he listened. He had been within Nightwing''s attire and was like a Time Core that Nightwing freely used in his previous battle.


    "Well, considering what we saw and how only Estus was drawn to our side, I''m not surprised. I guess it''s time to nt the seeds of doubt. Breveros is willing to betray Destiny. But not his family... Then we just have to nt the seeds... Kyros''s allies must be strong to survive the cmity. I have helped them, but they have to find a way to conquer Crowns, and Victor Crowns at that, if they want to survive. So Breveros must lose to them. And imagine what Breveros would hear if he heard the Steele family speaks of a deal between Destiny and Fate and how his family betrayed him!" Nightwing chuckled.

 Chapter 527 Mystery That Hides Lust

    The campaign to gather the survivors across the ck Bog Kingdom continued. The progress was slow as there were constant battles and wars, and they were all carefully moving from one ce to another.


    Soon, the group reached one of therge cities that was overrun. The few survivors hid in the secret chambers and barricaded themselves and were on the brink of death from starvation. The group''s arrival made the few dozen mighty Cardinals vow to serve the Eldrich immediately.


    Thest leg of the journey towards the main city was at hand. Nightwing led the group in a circle to kill more of the stone flesh golems, but his real n was to absorb the corpses and blood hidden underground secretly. He then ordered Bomos to move as a mountain size arm rose from the ground to tten the armies of Breveros.


    But Nightwing flew at the center, and while the arm continued and struck Nightwing, wounding him severely, the arm broke down and copsed.


    At the defeat of the hand, the armies rejoiced and praised Nightwing''s bravery once more. But Nightwing took no pleasure in the sacrifice and demanded great offerings, and each kingdom gave out a portion of their wealth to Nightwing.


    With their victory, Breveros made the army stay in the fallen kingdom. It had walls and guarded gates with only a few tunnels easily barricaded once more. The armies needed to rest for thest leg of the battle they would face.


    The kingdom was in ruins, and people were busy excavating and taking out what they could, and gathering the spoils.


    As for Breveros, he found a tall tower and realized that it had the power to send long-distance messages and receive messages as well.


    Breveros entered the depths of a copsed tower. But his men carefully repaired it to activate themunication array to link with the Eldrich.


    Nightwing watched as the group built it and noticed the ingenious powers used to make it.


    "So it''s basically like a satellite... This tower is being transformed to receive a specific signal." Nightwing observed.


    Nightwing saw Breveros approach.


    "The Array Tower will be rebuilt, and I can finally contact my family. Unfortunately, because of our current situation, we must dy the scheduled raid..." Breveros spoke.


    "I feel that this is still part of Destiny''s n. Or... it could be Fate now. After all, more dys here means more time for Fate to prepare. There is a possibility that our bad luck right now is caused by Fate to dy our intention. My master said that the nesworld is very important to Destiny. It''s a highway path for future wars. It is said that the battle between those two groups would be centered here. Report what you have seen, and feel free to exaggerate it. If they send us more help or grant us good things that we can use to survive or flee, then take it. That''s not betraying them, right?"


    "...I know." Breveros frowned and turned away.


    "Frustrated that I am constantly demanding your family to pay for your bad luck? Get over it. This is all your fault!" Nightwing shouted at the hearing of people nearby.


    The Eldrich that guarded Breveros all frowned as they heard their master being humiliated.


    "I''ll leave you in charge," Breveros spoke.


    "I refuse. My powers are reaching their peak. I have to leave for a while and release the lust in my body. Otherwise, this entire camp will be affected." Nightwing turned around.


    "Fine. Assign someone capable. I will be preparing the spell to call my family." Breveros walked into the door of the tower and closed it.


    Nightwing observed and sighed.


    "Hmp. It won''t be enough! I need something to trigger and force him to make some small demands. I won''t leave this ce empty-handed! I guess I have to use that route." Nightwing frowned and turned to his allies.


    "Angelian! Spread the word. Tell them the Incubus ns to release his lust. Then, I will head twenty kilometers south. Tell everyone to stay away from that region."


    "Release your lust? Is that even a thing?" Krysta asked.


    "For normal Incubus, yes. For me, no. I am only using Charm as an embodiment of my body. This is to draw her out."


    "Her?" Angelian asked with an annoyed expression.


    "Another Eldrich who has been spying over this ce. She did well to hide from Breveros. But she overestimated herself and thought I wouldn''t be affected. I''m sure that kiss was deeply engraved in her heart. Kilian. I leave you in charge. It''s time to reveal the lust hidden in mystery." Nightwing immediately, he flew away, not waiting for Krysta''s father to reply.


    But as Nightwing left, the team was confused.


    "Kiss? Who else kissed Nightwing? Mechiel and Scarlet murdered the only woman he kissed!" Monica frowned.


    "Whoever it is, I''ll kill her myself." Sherah also raged.


    Angelian was also clenching her fist, and the dragon''s power was appearing.


    "Calm down,dies. I think I understand." Kilian Sword Saint answered.


    "You know about it, father?" Krysta asked.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Sort of. Nightwing is announcing to awaken the lust of that person. I know Nightwing has not kissed anyone else. That means the most likely candidate was the woman he kissed. But this one has a purpose. He needs to spur Breveros to act. This means among the women serving, Breveros is a puppet of sorts. An Eldrich must have the power to take over control of these women." Kilian deduced.


    "In any case, let''s do our job here. Angelian, do asmanded. Find the weakest, troubled, and pained souls around here, and I believe that we would have another night of fornication like thest. Let''s proceed as nned. Right now, we already have several women in power for our easy exploitation. This will be another opportunity to increase it." Killian answered.


    As Nightwing flew, a tremendous sensation of lust was unsealed. The Mysterion that held it in vanished and all women were affected. The powers awakened and triggered their lust. And many of the women who had spent a night with the minions of Nightwing were quivering in longing desire.


    Many women in the camp were startled as they felt their lust burn.


    Princess Pam felt the surging heat that caused her to remember.


    On that day, she appeared to meet Estus to punish him for his crimes against the king. But that was not what had happened. Instead of Estus getting punished, the distinguished princess was the one that was punished.


    She gave in to the lust for the entire day and was conjoined in great passion. But her lust never died out. Estus had be the man that she longed for. The strict and holy princess had never fallen into the trap of great lust.


    She never even felt such lust when she spent time with her husband. But, since the experience, Pam could not. The nectar of lust was just too sweet for her.


    "...I have to find a reason to meet with him again!" Pam cursed as she sat up from her bed. She was at a noble''s house. When they arrived, they took the opportunity to get some rest in proper houses.


    "Pam? What''s wrong?" Prince Tauror was next to her.


    "Nothing, my love." Pam smiled and embraced the man.


    Tauror smiled and embraced back. The death of his paramour made him depressed, and he spent time with Princess Pam all the more.


    Tauror made a deep sigh.


    "Ever since Pam went in torture Estus, she has returned with great love andfort. And every night, she would long for me." Tauror smiled and felt at the ease of the love he now had but once took for granted.


    As for Pam, she was acting doubly sweet towards Tauror because of the guilt she felt after that day. She was also paranoid that people would guess what had happened.


    But now, the triggering call pushed her beyond her limits. Even after making love with Tauror, it wasn''t enough.


    Not only her, but the ripple of power awakened the women who served Breveros.


    Somewhere in the dark moon watching the nesworld, Eldrich felt her bones quiver.


    She recalled thest time Nightwing kissed her. The act brought uncontroble lust to her, and she had a hard time resisting it.


    "That... brat!" She raged. But she couldn''t waste this time. It was a possibility that would not happen again!


    Nightwing arrived in the area, and his blood dug into the ground creating an energy formation circle hidden within the soil and was heightened with blood magic.


    The move was costly, but since Nightwing had absorbed the blood of many darkling beasts and the people that were secretly killed.


    And so, the trap wasid. Nightwing assumed a monstrous form thatbined the form of Mammon, the dragonic blood he had, to appear like a Fallen.


    The form of the Fanged Fallen had appeared.


    Nightwing then waited as Darklings appeared. He had been calling them to himself, and Nightwing began to fight the Darklings and massacre them as he drank their blood.


    A few minutester, Nightwing sensed the arrival of a woman.


    His beastly monstrous form stood as he continued to pant.


    The area was full of the power of Charm, thanks to the blood offering hidden below. And since Nightwing stood at the center, the woman who arrived thought it was Nightwing''s power.


    The lust she had felt drew her without fear.


    "Are you sure you want to approach me? Thest time we kissed, your tendrils died." Nightwing red as the woman approached.


    Yet even with the warning, the Cardinal woman moved closer wearing an arrogant smile.

 Chapter 528 Mystery Of The Vines

    During their kiss, Nightwing had already identified the source of the woman. He knew that these women were not in vampires, dark elves, or humans. They were all nts.


    During Kyros''s time inside the Unrecorded Pages, he received the power of the World Wood Tree andmuned with the elves who''s life were born of the tree. The women were of simr form and had simr life energy. But, while each had a soul, Nightwing could see it wasn''t a whole soul.


    The woman approached, and although she was secretly surprised that Nightwing had figured out h


    All the women were interconnected through some strange magic.


    Nightwing could even see the shadow of the powerful Cherubim Eldrich cast over the Cardinal woman.


    "Interesting...You know of my power?" The Cardinal approached. While the Cherubim was able to maintainposure, the Cardinal approaching Nightwing had grown restless, and her body was in intense heat.


    "I am a True Neutral, and my former master was a powerful Vampire Ancient. Of course I would know of all the flowers and nts. The moment our lips touched, I could tell what powers and race you are made of. I know your kind. You''re not the first I met. A Dryad of Yggdrasil who is connected with Dantro. Xermolipi of the Flowers. And, of course, I know the mystery of the Grapevine. You are a descendant of Ampelos of the Vines." Nightwing turned to the woman.


    "Oh? You know that this is a mere tendril?"


    "Yes. So your true vine is up there with the Eldrich... But why spy on Breveros? Are you after the throne?"


    "Everyone is after the throne. But, I wish to be more. I came here not because of lust, Nightwing. I want to know... where is the power source of the Charmed Fallen?" The woman asked. Vines began to grow around the area she stood as she stepped forward.


    "I don''t know." Nightwing answered.


    "Lies! You have-"


    "You think that this is the full power of the Charmed Fallen? No! Fate has it. Think back to when your Tendril died."


    "Those two? Weren''t those two your wives?"


    "Obviously, I lied. How was it that they had such power and more Charm than me? I have gained a portion of the Charmed Fallen''s power. That''s why it killed your Tendril when we kissed. I hated that I would corrupt myself with women. They are my enemy. Fate has that power now."


    "Fate?! What do you mean Fate? The Greater God Fate is dead!"


    "Oh. You seem to know more than poor old Breveros. She''s not dead. And she''s more than just a Greater God.


    I found a temple in Airom and fought against a being known as the Blood Cmity. She had found some of the Xermolipi''s power. Since my master was the Fanged Fallen, this Blood Cmity easily fell at my hands, giving me the power of Charm. But then... I wanted to take control of this Temple when the Steele Family arrived."


    "...So you truly don''t have it! They took it from you when you were weak!"


    "I wish that was the case. But no. Those brats are strong. I had nearly recovered to my peak and lost against them. Two of their daughters acquired the legacy of the Charmed Fallen. But that amount was only half of what it was."


    "Only half?! You only have one-third of a half?!"


    "If I had the full legacy, you would be spilling your secrets and finding a way to enter thend for me by now." Nightwing chuckled.


    "Then where is the other half of that legacy?!"


    "I know that the Charmed Fallen''s true power is somewhere here. I can sense it. It''s one of the reasons why I want to gain a foothold in the Londs and why the Steele family is erasing cancer in the Minds." Nightwing answered.


    "They want to go to the Dark Sea! The half legacy is on the southern regions of the nesworld!"


    "Yes. But I can''t go there. The seeds of Fate are so many there! I will need an army if I want to find that legacy. So I headed up here. I wanted to build an army, conquer the Londs, and have a force to invade the Dark Sea. Now mydy, do you want this legacy? I can help you, only if you help me!"


    "Oh? Using your charm against me?" The womanughed.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I''m really not. In truth, I don''t care for the legacy of the Charmed Fallen. It''s too... girly."


    "Girly?!" The woman was enraged at the term.


    "Yes! It''s girly! Get offended over myment, snowke! But I don''t want such powers! Right now that I am weak, I am only using this to protect myself from falling into the lustful power of those Steele Daughters! I want powers of decimation and destruction! The Fangs of the Fallen! The Wrath of Tyrannos! The Darkness of Kyriachos! I don''t want to be some metrosexual, smooth baby-faced KPOP icon!"


    "...? I don''t understand..."


    "The Path of the Charm is a path of beauty! And it despises macho, muscr, terrifying forms! I cannot be a terrifying beast if I absorb all of it! So I''ve been looking for the perfect ally to host these powers! I gathered a few capable women who would take over this power. But as you can see, the bad luck of Breveros is too much! At this rate, I won''t survive this. So I have no choice. That''s why I drew you out."


    "This was all part of your n? So you don''t need to release the lust?"


    "Oh, I need to. I''m a stupid Incubus now! It has its perks, but I am a conqueror! So tell me... Do you want it? Obviously, you are a better contender! And besides, Breveros''s bad luck is your good luck."


    "What do you mean?" The woman asked.


    "The Throne. There is a way to gain the throne of the Eldrich. That''s what you want, right? That way... can you be with Lord Impyernos? I have a feeling that he is your target. But not to make him your husband. You want to conquer him!"


    "...You''re spouting insane lies."


    "Xermolipi of the Charmed... The Foul Fallen of Lust. Mammon of the Coin. The Foul Fallen of Greed. But you have both, don''t you? You who is a daughter of Ampelos of the Vine. The Foul Fallen of Gluttony!" Nightwingughed.


    "They don''t even know about your heritage, right? If I go back there and tell Breveros about you... I wonder how he would react? You don''t have the power to kill me here. And you certainly don''t have the power to survive up there! If Bolerax moves, can you even fight back? You, with an iplete heritage, will be wrenched off the ground, and your vines will be cast to the mes!"


    The Cardinal woman''s expression turned dark.


    "But now... you''re lucky. There is a way to survive this. Breveros could be the key. He has a mystery as his future now because of what I did. You see, his bad luck is not just some curse. Destiny cursed him. He is too strong and could have the power to challenge his brother and father."


    The woman''s expression gave a confused expression.


    "Desinty cursed Breveros? Why?"


    Nightwing then began to exin what happened inside the dark dome, how they saw a strange future, and what they found about Breveros.


    The woman was amazed.


    In the dark moon, the true vine of the woman, Cherubim Reisling, was shocked at what she heard.


    But it all made sense! Breveros was expected to rise easily to the levels of Cherubim. But he has yet to reach Conqueror and only had a Crown!


    "Destiny knows that Breveros won''t ever be the conqueror that Destiny wishes. And so, he was cursed with powerful bad luck to limit his rise and the power he would have. Right now, I offered him the power to hide this curse since we are dying here. You have seen the terrors here that nearly killed me. And more will arrive! I have a feeling that an army awaits us outside! So I have no choice but to seal his bad luck with my power. But doing so will make him an enemy of Destiny. As you can see, Destiny trapped me with Breveros. I wanted to be his ally, but he made me meet Breveros to make me his enemy constantly! Yet even with this future, he won''t betray his family. So I was forced to call you out."


    "...So it''s possible for me to be the queen of Eldriches if I use Breveros."


    "Yes. And if you have the Charmed Fallen, you could conquer Lord Impyernos. Help me. You have some power up there. Frustrate Breveros and y the part of the manifestation of his bad luck and push him to a corner. If you make it look like his family belittles him without them knowing... then he will snap. And if that happens, he might reveal to me the secrets of the Highwind!"


    "This n sounds brilliant. Only if you weren''t lying, if you are tricking Breveros with such cunning, won''t I be a victim of anotheryer of schemes? What makes you think I will believe you?"


    "Then nt your soul-binding vine in me." Nightwing offered.

 Chapter 529 Mystery Of Becoming A Slave

    The Dark Dependents and the Light Grown would often use powerful restrictive spells that they ced on ves.


    The Light Grown uses numerous methods and takes up the power of Vows. This was to be willingly taken by the vowing party as they willingly submit to another.


    The Dark Dependents have numerous methods which enve the other person and are more forceful in enacting theirs.


    As the Daughter of Ampelos, Riesling naturally could perform the [Soul-Binding Vine], a constrictive spell thattches and chokes the soul of the constrained one causing great pain and even death should the recipient not fulfill his bargain.


    Reisling''s eyes widened as such an offer was difficult to pass! However, if Nightwing allowed the Soul Binding Vine to be coiled around his soul, Resiling could ensure that no lies would be made! What mystery was there that Nightwing would be willing to have such bindings?


    "You... are willing to take the Soul Binding Vine?"


    "Yes. The conditions are that I must fulfill my promise. Nothing more, nothing less. I vow to give you enough power to rise against the Highwind family and even conquer Lord Impyernos. I will do so with the utmost effort, and I vow never to betray or kill you. In return, you help me turn the Bolerax Family against Breveros. You will also help me flee from the battle of Destiny and Fate. If I don''t do my part, the Soul Binding Vine will kill me. If you don''t do your part, then the vine dies. That will give me a chance to betray you and sell you out. Of course, it won''te to that because you can help me." Nightwing smiled.


    Reisling was quiet and began to think.


    "The Soul Binding Vine is not easy to destroy. Unless his soul can cut these vines with a powerful heritage of a god, he would never break free... The Fang and the Charm can''t do anything to it... And even his powers in the light. This means he must be serious with his offer. No! More than serious, he''s desperate!" Reisling sneered.


    "He wants to live, and Breveros is making it difficult for him! It must be true. The horrors I see that he faced are quite treacherous. That Mountain Deity should be more powerful than a Crown. That arm seemed to have the might of a Cherubim!" She recalled the arm that Nightwing took. The blood of his master must have stopped the arm from harming or killing him and halted the attack.


    "...Is Breveros so unlucky that Fleshy Golem can be free?" Reisling then realized the dangers of Breveros.


    "So slow. You finally understand why I''m so desperate. That''s exactly what I''m scared of. If that fleshy golem breaks free, it can kill and make your invasion even more problematic! Don''t you understand why it dares not emerge?"


    "Wait! Is it as strong as a Celestial?! The limitations of the Minds forbid power to appear above a certain level! Are you saying that it''s that strong?!"


    "Who do you think my master was? A mere vampire? The Fanged Fallen''s daughter is obviously equipped with powers and has prisoners far beyond yourprehension! I survived because of Charm! She could not kill me, and she fled! So I want to hurry and leave here before things turn wild. I will probably take Breveros with me. He will be a strong True Neutral. But right now, he has fears and limitations that hold us back frompletely making him sever the ties of Destiny and his family! And time is not what I have!"


    "I see... Then I ept your offer! Let us make a deal, then! I shall ept your words, vows, and my vine''s limitations! Then, by the power of Ampelos, I set thews of the binding vine!" The Cardinal woman moved and offered her hand. Vines were appearing around her hand.


    Strange green words were appearing, and it was the conditions of the contract as the soul-binding vine began to write thews. Finally, the proposedws of Nightwing appeared.


    Nightwing read the terms and conditions and was satisfied with thews. Reisling did not alter or change anything and reached out his hand to touch the Cardinal woman.


    The moment they touched, the Cardinal woman felt a strange sensation affecting Resiling.


    The power of lust was amplified, and Reisling tried to break away.


    "What are you doing? Complete the spell!" Nightwing frowned.


    Reisling cursed. She did not expect the power of lust to be so potent.


    "[Soul Binding Vine: Meinate]!" Reisling shouted as the vine coursed toward Nightwing''s soul.


    Nightwing sensed the soul vine inside.


    But unknown to Reisling, the Soul Seed of Nightwing trembled and became hungry. Nightwing had noticed his foundations and had discerned what Kyros had done. Luigi''s Soul Seed form was also inside him, allowing him to wield the darkness easily.


    But the Soul Seed of Kyros was that made from nts. The Soul Binding Vine was food to it.


    "This Soul Vine should be nourishment and can help me solidify the Soul Seed. Unfortunately, the mystery of my Trinity limits me from harnessing the powers of all my soul. If I can create a vine that will create a link from the Darkness region where the Soul Seed was nted and allow me to connect with my human self. This will further weaken the remaining curses in my body and allow me to harness the neutral soul!" Nightwing smiled. He knew that the real body of the True Vine was at least a Chruebim. Such a powerful cultivator will surely grant him a strong vine!


    The vine wrapped around Nightwing''s soul.


    "It''s a bit big... I may need to cut this offter on... Thankfully, the power of True Cut can easily be used to sever this." Nightwing hid his smile and revealed a pained expression.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The soul binding wasplete.


    Reisling tried to pull back her arm, but Nightwing did not let go.


    "What are you doing?! Unhand me now!"


    "Little vine, do you really think I would befortable with you holding such power over me? I will use your lust against you! This is my insurance of surviving this in case you thinking of betraying me!"


    "Stop! If you kiss me, you will be killing me! Thews prohibit you from killing me, and I to kill you!"


    "Yes. But you did allowws for us to hurt each other. For example, the power of Charm will rage if I kiss or caress... But what if I attack?"


    With a swift motion, Nightwing threw his palms out, grabbed the Cardinal''s chest, and forced her down with great strength.


    BOOM!


    The ground trembled as the woman was pinned down.


    But instead of pain, the Cardinal and Reisling felt ecstasy.


    "AHHHH!"


    "I can probably only do several attacks until those two realize what I''m doing. So I guess I''ll make it count!" Nightwing smiled and opened his mouth as he bit down on the other side of the Cardinal''s chest.


    The ''battle'' continued and escted as the Cardinal was being thrown and struck in the most indecent of ces.


    The attacks had power, but only below a Cardinal''s defenses. As the fight continued, the Cardinal woman lost the number of times that blow caused her to tremble. But not in pain.


    Nightwing could sense the hatred of Mechiel and Scarlet and stopped.


    "...Hm. So they can sense it if I ever feel something. Interesting. The curse is on me and not on the women." Nightwing noted.


    "Thank you for your time. I hope you will do your best. Breveros will soon call you up there. Be sure to do something about it. Anything to help me but push Breveros away, do it. I trust you know what to do." Nightwing left.


    The Cardinal woman couldn''t move.


    But above the nseworld. The real body of Reisling was also affected.


    The Tendrils she sent could choose to ry or not ry the sensations and pain.


    But Reisling was too weak to resist. She allowed all sensations to be passed on. While she wanted it to stop, she never found the strength to resist it.


    She quivered from her throne as she gazed on. She was able to prevent herself from making any sounds, but her passion and desire were building.


    Her anger was also to the brim at what the Incubus did to her.


    "Why are you looking like that?" One of the Eldrich seated on another throne asked.


    The group of Eldrich was once more convening. Normally, the other factions took no interest in the ns of Bolerax. Many factions were against entering the nesworld once more. But when they learned that Lord Impyernos was alive and about the n to raid the ce, many began to agree, and these Eldrich Nobles were now waiting to meet with Bolerax.


    "Elders... I am annoyed. I''ve been reviewing all the information so far. And my eyes have realized that we have been acting with severe limitations. So why is this Breveros still allowed to hold power?" Reisling challenged.

 Chapter 530 Mystery Conversations

    Reisling''s sudden outburst suddenly surprised many of the Eldriches nearby.


    Reisling Grapevine was one of the most powerful factions within the Eldirch groups. They had a special Corruption that only their kind had.


    "Why does the great daughter of Grapevine speak of this wild usation?" Another Eldrich frowned. He was a member of the Highwing n and the current Eldrich mediator.


    "At first, many of you sit on your high seats, disinterested in serving the cause of the Highwind. And many of you continue to take advantage and set your eyes outside. But now, that chance and hope have appeared, you suddenly aim for the positions of the Highwinds?" The Eldrich noble red.


    "I do not care for your heritage. Call it bad luck, but I hate Breveros Highwind! Your family ims Breveros is a man of great wit, skill, and magical affinity. Yet he is nothing but a lowly Crown! Your family imed that he would have the power to be a Cherubim and the same potential as his brother, the king! Yet have any of these ims evere true? He is but a Crown and is now defeated by an Incubus! You demand to take ownership and control of sending out your forces denying the other families assistance, but what has happened? Wasn''t the n that hemunicated five days ago? What was the cause of this dy?" Reisling challenged.


    The Eldrich was caught off guard and fell silent.


    Breveros had said they could find towers within the ck Bog Kingdom as many kingdoms use it tomunicate with numerous kingdoms around thend. And if it were done silently, there would be a way for Eldrich to adjust it andmunicate with them. Breveros said that he would have more than enough time toplete it.


    But instead, they were dyed for five whole days.


    "He could be dead for all we know. The Breveros have taken hisst bits of crumb from the Eldrich! Creating a Conqueror is already so difficult for us! We, the other nobles, pay tribute to the king. And that we did. Yet you waste all these to Breveros!"


    "And what would you have us do, Reisling?"


    Powerful energy swirled, and a massive force shot down on Reisling.


    BANG!


    "A Grapevine should do best and hang on the rails that the husbandman cultivates, lest she is cut off and cast down low." Tempest Hiwind appeared as the force of the wind pushed Reisling down.


    Reisling was attacked, and the power of the strongest Eldrich pushed her down.


    "You dare to insult my son?"


    "You''re son... that is full of bad luck?! Do you think that I am here... because I want to?! I want to spare the Eldrich race!" Reisling suddenly stood up and resisted the winds.


    The howling wind and the force continued to cut her and made numerous marks on her body. But she continued to force herself up.


    "I... who never take part on the matters of war and have not taken my seat in this circle... why do you think I am... oh royal father to the Emperor?!" Reisling shouted back.


    "The power of the Grapevine awakened! I know what lies within your son! You dare to hide it?!" Reisling roared in anger.


    Tempest Highwind was surprised at the rage of Reisling.


    "Father. It seems that she found out something. Perhaps, the spirit of the grapevine told her." A voice was heard, and seated on the highest seat was the emperor of the Eldrich.


    Everyone began to bow.


    "Hail, King Bolerax Highwind!"


    Even Reisling kneeled out of courtesy but resisted the wind powers.


    Tempest Highwing nced at the woman and couldn''t help but wonder what she meant.


    "Tell us. Eldrich Noble Reisling Grapevine. What have you found?"


    "A Spirit has spoken. The drunken sprees of the world and its mindless ramblings have reached my ears. A plot made by gods and the fallen. A battle between the Greater Gods and the Fallen!"


    Bolerax''s eyebrows were raised. He had heard of this battle between two forces from Nightwing. And now, someone else knows about it!


    "We are... in an era known as the Era of Middle. A war is appearing, and many forces are moving and acting. It spoke of a secret. An attempt to curse our family! And Breveros is that curse!" Reisling dered.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Nightwing had told Reisling everything about the curse within Breveros. He also spoke about how the entire Eldrich was part of Destiny and that he, a True Neutral, was seeking refuge and offering Destiny an olive branch. However, now the bad luck of Breveros is forcing Nightwing to remain an enemy to Destiny.


    She didn''t know that her conversation with Nightwing was hidden from Destiny.


    As Nightwing''s power grew, his control in Mysterion also grew. As a result, the god seals and curses were now being weakened constantly. Nightwing was growing stronger as a Cardinal, and his strength meant the curses were weak.


    And Nightwing experimented to see how exactly Destiny could work. Nightwing sought to cover the entire lives of people from Destiny. But it was too impossible to do so. Yet, he confirmed that hidden important events were powerful.


    Nightwing didn''t need to hide people from Destiny. He could change the course set by Destiny by hiding only the smallest of moments.


    The unseen minutes that Nightwing talked to Reisling were a trigger that would thwart Destiny''s n. Destiny has deemed Brevero''s life a constant slope of failure. But this time, Nightwing was hoping for it! He hoped that Breveros would further be weakened or stripped of his position!


    "I don''t know what I heard! It could have been a whisper of Destiny for all I care that one given over to wine had allowed me to see it!"


    "How is my brother a curse?" Bolerax asked.


    "My king, how can he not be? Failure after failure. Scores of bad luck in his cultivation journey. I ask you this... why is he so unlucky? And why hasn''t anyone considered checking if he is cursed or attacked by such bad luck?"


    "You''re iming it''s a power? I don''t sense any curses from him! And not just me. My father and many other nobles here have done their best and found nothing."


    "That''s my point! What if... is it not a curse? But a blessing? Our blood and power are traced back to numerous powerful Fallen gods. We know that we are driven by Destiny though we cannot pierce through its mystery! What if it was Destiny who cursed Lord Breveros?" Reislin asked.


    In the realms beyond, Destiny and Fate were constantly making a move after move as the Era of Middle approached. The battles they had spanned across the universes, and Destiny would hear every direction and would see the future that Fate kept trying to change.


    "More gaps? What exactly is she trying to achieve? Was it her who gave this Reislin a vision? Does she think that Breveros is a hidden champion of mine and is trying to sabotage him?" Destinyughed as he saw the future.


    "Fool! I want Breveros to be weak! If he is weakened, it will only be to my benefit! What a fool you are, Fate! Even with Histerion fighting for you, you seem to be losing your wits! Has Foolishness defeated Wisdom?! You''re full of holes now, Fate!" Destinyughed.


    The ears of Destiny listened well to the conversations of all his minions. It heard the present and could see the future. But because of a conversation hidden in mystery, the calctions that Destiny thought would be were far, far from what would really happen.


    The power of Destiny moved within the room of the Eldrich, and they made their decisions based in the favor of Destiny. Their Foresight aided them in choosing the right future.


    But these futures would be very, very different. All because of a few mysterious conversations.


    On the other realm, back with Beginning, Fate continued to move. But her strategy was different. She was pushing pressure on the nesworld.


    "Is this not enough?" An Ancient God stood by her and frowned.


    "The seeds we''ve been reserving are now being used to fight a failed battle!"


    "Trust me. Our losses should be fewpared to Destiny after this. Wisdom told me! The Nephilim should be there in the Minds. The changes are too weird! If the Nephilim''spower is as Wisdom guessed, then Destiny is losing sight of the future!"


    Back on the neworld, a magical array was finally created.


    Breveros managed to connect to the other world.


    "Brother? Is that you? Are you alive? What happened?" Bolerax suddenly asked.


    Breveros sighed as he heard the concerned questions his brother. For a slight second, the hatred he had for his brother disappeared.


    "If Destiny has chosen my brother as his champion for this war, then ultimately, Destiny did this. My brother should not have any idea of what is happening." Breveros told himself.


    Unknown to him, the discussion following Reisling''s deration turned to many nobles siding with Reisling as Destiny urged them to further strip Breveros of his titles!

 Chapter 531 Enraged Eldriches

    Breveros stood down in the massive tower and heard the concerned question of his brother.


    "My king and brother. I am alive. I am sorry for the dy. The entire region of the ck Bog Kingdom has changed. This ce was their of Nightwing''s former master. But great changes, shocking and unbelievable changes, have urred and altered the veryndscape of the ce."


    "What happened?"


    "The master of Nightwing had fled, fleeing the power of the Incubus. I was given to learn that the former master of Nightwing is a powerful vampire that descends from the Fanged Vampire itself. She had an army. But because of her weakened state and her nature as a woman, she feared the new Nightwing and severed ties with their master and servant rtionship. But..."


    "But...?"


    "Thi-things happened that has caused the hidden monsters of thisnd to gain power. When Nightwing''s master left... the chained monsters were freed. Darklings."


    Breveros brought out a memory-storing talisman, and the projection of the army of Darklings appeared.


    Everyone was shocked. The Darklings proved that there was a powerful Fallen or Fallen Spawn in the area. Only their darkness could breed such creatures of ck energy!


    "Darklings?! But why is your vision showing you an army?! Did that Incubus lead you to a trap?!"


    "No... The Darkling armies should have been massacred. Thend of the ck Bog Kingdom is so powerful that even their monster kings could kill them. But... A war urred within the ck Bog Kingdom. Many of the strongest began to wage war and fight each other, and the Darklings grew in number amid these gang fights."


    "A gang... fight?! Impossible! Even if there would be these creatures, there are Crowns in ck Bog Kingdom!"


    "There were... this. Creatures of fleshy powers that were hidden inside. They broke free, perhaps because the Darklings grew too strong. We would have died if not for the Incubus, Nightwing. His blood protected his forces since there was a vow that all creatures cannot attack the servant of the Fanged Spawn." Memories began to appear.


    Many of the shes that Nightwing had to take with his team were revealed.


    The brave sacrifices of Nightwing were shown as he blocked and used his majestic strength to defend therge palms and arms of the giant that brought down to attack.


    Everyone could see a power that could match and even kill Crowns falling as a mountain of an arm appeared. Nightwing would meet it head-on and force the falling mountain to refrain from utilizing its strength.


    Nightwing bravely took the attack and was blown down. But because of the forceful canceling of the attack, the stone arm was weakened by its pressure, and the army''s attacks worked on it.


    Nightwing was barely alive and would rush towards the Darklings, which were not fully in, and let Nightwing eat them.


    The holy energy from various sources cooked and prepared the Darklings to prevent Dark Maddening as Nightwing ate them to regain strength.


    This vision was shown numerous times, and Nightwing might have eaten an army''s worth of Darklings to grow strong!


    But as Breveros was showing this image, unheard on his end was Reisling.


    "I told you! I told you! Look at what his bad luck has brought?! What are the odds of this happening? Those visions I saw from the spirit of wines were true! This Breveros is clearly hindering us!" Reisling shouted.


    Even the two Highwinds watching could not defend the state of extremely unlucky circumstances unfolding before them.


    "See this...! That Incubus! Was he not said to be... a True Neutral? We have scoured our history, and the legends are true. It speaks of these obscure people we should be wary of and treat as enemies! Looking at the wars and conflicts that we''ve had, we must have fought two members who are True Neutrals in the past! Those two of dragonic lineage that we fought! But the Fafnir family got their hands on its body and became one of the strongest families in the neworld now. True Neutrals are formidable enemies with unimaginable lineage. And see you here! We have found one, one that our Lord Impyernos seek! The power of Charmed! And yet! See there! The power of Bad luck! The curse is attacking potential allies!" Reisling didn''t give the Highwinds their chance to defend themselves and brought out all usations.


    "...Now that it''s pointed out. Why is Breveros so unlucky? Why can''t he be... even a Conqueror? All noble lineages have the chance to reach this level! I feel we made the wrong choice to send him down there. We should have sent someone better if we want the curse of the nesworld that limits the powers in the Minds and the Londs. Didn''t we also lose several Eldrich members before this? Weren''t they... allies of Breveros?" One of the Eldrich recalled a certain detail.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The group turned silent.


    Reisling was surprised at what was happening. But she then noticed what everyone else was now feeling.


    Destiny was moving through them. Foresight was changing.


    "...Father." Bolerax spoke softly. He could feel it too.


    "I know, son." Tempest realized it as well.


    Before them, the Noble Eldrich was acting wild and angry. Many were now using Breveros of many of their bad luck.


    The Eldrich, who lost a Crown son, was the one who was very adamant and was shouting the loudest.


    Eldrich Noble Desertlord, paid the excruciating price to send his son down to the nesworld to seek and y the princess of the Nethends, Lea Olethros. Since the chance to acquire such a legacy was present, the Eldrich acted swiftly. Desertlord''s son was at the level of Crown but was easily in by Lea Olethros, who had just returned from the Unrecorded Pages and had a massive leap of power.


    But it was a mystery as to how Desertlord''s son died! He had a power that was the weakness of Olethros!


    "My King! And Royal Emperor! Is this true?! Is Prince Breveros cursed with such sour luck?! I cannot believe that that would happen to them! Was my son''s death also because of this?! Is my luck being affected by this?!"


    "My King... It is suspicious that such a foul turn would befall Prince Breveros. We have to make ns." Another Eldrich noble spoke.


    "You fools! We have to act fast! But look! There is a chance that they will not make it out alive! If they leave that ce, will they not be attacked by armies of the Hignds?!" Reisling asked.


    Many frowned. It was an impossible incident, but given the peculiar circumstance before them that they witnessed, it seemed that everything was possible.


    "My king. We have to address this. We all know Prince Breveros is strong. But unlucky. But now, it is affecting our ns! Does lord Impyernos know of this?"


    The enraged challenges grew more and more, and Bolerax could only sigh.


    Breveros did not hear everything that was transpiring on the other end. But he kept on reporting and gave out the full reports of what they had gained. On his end, he was emphasizing the good news. They found great forces that were now willing to fight them. Despite the losses, they now have loyal servants who follow them, and the armies of the Uninvolved Lands could now be theirs because of this event.


    Breveros had seen the good despite the mess and was busy reporting this. But bad luck befell him as his arguments and presentation were being ignored.


    "Breveros." Finally, Bolerax spoke.


    "My king..."


    "You are to be stripped of your ranks. Move out of this temple, and we wish to speak with Nightwing."


    The cold voice of Bolerax pierced the heart of Breveros.


    Somewhere in the harsh pain of his brother disgracing him of his ranks was intense, immeasurable anger.


    The anger of Tyrannus was exploding.

 Chapter 532 Enraged Bolerax

    The words of Bolerax came with no exnation. The anger of the many Eldriches was great, and they were pressuring him to strip Breveros of his position quickly. Bolerax was also disappointed with how his brother presented the projection of memories which made Nightwing the hero of the party.


    "Nightwing? You want me to leave this temple for your talks with him?"


    "I have something to confirm. Besides, he looks like the leader of your group. You seem to have failed to grasp the propermand of your army. And Nightwing is the key to surviving theing battles. But then again... How unlucky are you?" Bolerax asked.


    "What kind of luck do you have that makes monsters arise? Of course, you''ve always been unlucky. But this is... a different level."


    Breveros remained silent.


    He could hear the rejoicing of a woman screaming in the background.


    "Good! Get him out! Get him out! He has taken over the resources of our race! We could have made two more Conquerors or another Cherubim! But it was all wasted on him! Now release the scourge!" The woman cheered.


    "...Eldrich Noble Reisling? I have no quarrels with her. Why is she...?" Breveros frowned. He couldn''t understand but realized this was again because of his bad luck. Something inconceivable must have happened that made her against him.


    "Silence! Reisling! Do not forget you still speak to the prince!" Bolerax shouted back,


    "Breveros. We are stripping you of your authority. The power of the Corruption Aso, the Altering Fallen, will be returned. Send some of your forces to return to the portals and bring back that Code. That will be yourst order as a High General of the Eldrich." Tempest spoke.


    "...I understand."


    "Know that this is not an easy decision, son." Tempest ignored titles and addressed his son directly.


    "Son? You still call him son?! And prince?! Have I not made myself clear on the vision that I saw about Breveros?"


    "Silence!"


    "...Vision?" Breveros asked.


    "You have a curse of bad luck. And it will cause some issues, brother. This is why we have no choice but to make this decision."


    "If it''s a curse, why can''t we find a way to remove it?" Breveros asked.


    "You cannot remove it. The power that lurks behind it is too strong! So unless Lord Impoyernos is to step in, this curse will remain." Reisling added.


    "...I will ask Lord Impyernos to see through this," Tempest promised.


    "In any case, we wish to talk to Nightwing. Reisling, and other nobles, a powerful Incubus is to enter. Do not underestimate him. I would urge that you leave."


    "Leave? Because Breveros lost to him?" Reislingughed.


    "I don''t think he is that strong. Tell me, Breveros. How was it that he won? Was it because... you had bad luck?!" Reisling used.


    "...You overstep, Reisling!" Tempest shouted angrily.


    "I will admit that I overstepped and will dly kowtow to your son, Royal Father. But only if Breveros tells me, he was defeated in sheer power and skill and not because of his bad luck!"


    "I lost because Nightwing is cunning! He-"


    "As if I''d believe you, Breveros! Send one of yourpanions! One of the Eldrich or Eldrich servants that fought with you against Nightwing!"


    "Is this necessary? I understand my bad luck, but should people not take my words seriously?! I am still a-"


    "A gue and curse upon the Eldrich. Send someone who fought! Bring in Eldrich Urrobor!" Reislingmanded.


    She nted several vines around Breveros and knew how the battle went.


    "Reisling! You-"


    "Is it too much to ask, Royal Father? My King? Is Urrobor not sufficient? Then ask anyone. Anyone who can confirm his statement!"


    "...Fine. Breveros, just do as she said and send in Eldrich Urrobor or Gannite."


    "Eldrich Noble Verentor Enupnion. I would trouble you to perform ranged hypnosis." Eldirch Reisling asked another noble.


    "What?!" Breveros shouted.


    "Why? Is there a problem? I want to find the truth of your defeat. Is it such a scary thing to have your Eldrich officers be hypnotized?"


    "Just do as she said..." Tempest sighed.


    Breveros was quiet and held his message talisman to call forth the Eldrich outside.


    Once themunication tower was fixed, they all left as it was a discussion among the leaders.


    Two Eldirch appeared and bowed as they stood in themunication tform.


    "Urrobor. Gannite. Tell us something. How did the battle against Nightwing proceed? How did you lose?" Bolerax asked ahead. He red at Reisling and Verentor Enupnion before they could speak.


    "...My king?" Urrobor was confused.


    "...We did not fight Master Nightwing, my king," Gannite answered.


    "What?!" Many shouted in surprise.


    "You... didn''t?"


    "No. We were sent to fight the foes of the ck Bog Kingdom."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "...Tell me the full details of the battle." Bolerax frowned. When he contacted Beveros, he didn''t know how he was defeated as Nightwing was already negotiating.


    At that moment, Breveros felt like there was arge hole in the middle of his chest as his bad luck was revealed.


    The Eldrich all began to mor as they learned of the bad luck.


    Many began to defend that based on the information presented. They would have done the same thing. Othersughed at the idiotic act of Breveros to surround himself with women against an Incubus.


    The divided discussion continued until, finally, the enraged Bolerax called for one of the women to testify.


    Breveros sighed and thought briefly before deciding to send a random fighter to his team.


    As bad luck happened, the woman selected was a Tendril of Reisling.


    Reisling resisted herugh. But based on what she had seen, she knew the odds would favor her because Breveros was unlucky. The power of Destiny was calling for Breveros to drop from his position of power. There were close to ten, but Breveros selected the one in her control!


    The woman stood before the tform and bowed. She was trembling in fear.


    "Cardinal... Why are you afraid?"


    "...The pressure of standing before the great nobles and the great king is too much for me." The woman answered.


    "She lies. She''s afraid of what Breveros will do to her if she reveals any truth. So we''ve called for the Eldirch assistants and now her. She probably understands what risks her life faces by being here." Reisling answered.


    The woman trembled all the more.


    "See?"


    "...Breveros. You cannot kill her. It seems that this one will require hypnotism."


    " Oh, never mind. This stupid curse is to be med!"


    Breveros left the tower.


    "I wonder if Nightwing is done. That explosion of lust has vanished. I guess it''s good that he is being summoned to lead this army." Breveros consoled himself.


    As he opened the door, he could see Nightwing flying towards him.


    He had a strange glow around him and was panting.


    "Are you done?" Breveros asked.


    "...Yes. How was the call?"


    "I was stripped of every rank I have."


    "...What?! Why?!" Breveros shouted.


    "I don''t know. But an Eldrich Noble was celebrating on my exit. It sounded like they were pressuring my father to deal with this." Bolerax turned to the side.


    "Eldrich Noble Verentor Enupnion. Hypnotize her to answer our question as urately as possible."


    "Yes, your grace." The Noble bowed, and the Eldrich stood and harnessed his power.


    Lights and twirling energy began to appear. Despite the cultivation of being a Cardinal, and the rotation of the lights, the woman was falling into a trance state.


    Enupnion had the blessings of Ypnos. And with it, he harnessed the powers of directing dreams.


    The Cardinal quickly fell into a slumber.


    But at that moment, Reisling used her path. The Tendril became her mouthpiece!


    "Cardinal. Answer as honestly as possible." Bolerax took over the interrogation. His anger and rage towards Breveros''s luck were already at their peak. He found out that the battle that Breveros lost was clearly out of luck! He could have fought and in the Incubus but fell into a series of bad calls that led to him being ambushed.


    "What can you say about Breveros, your prince."


    "A very unlucky person who will doom us all." The Cardinal answered.


    Breveros trembled and was shocked that this woman would even have such conclusions!


    "We are done..." Bolerax answered.


    "Breveros. Call Nightwing. We wish to speak to him."


    Breveros quickly left as he was drained of all his life. He could feel his brother''s anger and how his bad luck was now being focused on him.


    Breveros emerged out of the Temple and saw Nightwing arriving.


    "...More bad luck?" Nightwing frowned.


    "...I''m being stripped of my authority. But it seems that you will be the leader of this army."


    "You clearly don''t see a trap. Destiny is behind this. He is forcing my hand. I used to have the advantage. Because with you as my hostage, I had leverage over them. Now with you being seen as a liability, I am forced to keep this army intact. If I fail, I will be killed. If I seed, I will immediately meet Eldrich. Destiny is tying its leash on me! As the saying goes, keep your friends close, your enemies closer." Nightwing sighed as he walked towards it.


    "...I can give you the power of Aso." Breveros decided.


    "...Let''s hope it''s enough." Nightwing moved inside.

 Chapter 533 Enraged Dreamer

    At the departure of Breveros, Bolerax didn''t have the face to ask thedies to leave. It was proven that the Incubus wasn''t as strong as he appeared, but Breveros was lucky.


    But as they waited, Reisling couldn''t help but feel a great desire to see Nightwing with her own eyes. She also nced in anticipation.


    "The problem is those other nobles. Nightwing is cunning. He won''t leave this opportunity to waste. Those women will definitely seek him out!"


    Nightwing stood at the tform and saw Bolerax Highwind''s and Tempest Highwind''s projections.


    But Nightwing closed his eyes and used Mysterion.


    "Why don''t you all show yourself?" Nightwingughed as Mysterion altered the power and revealed all that was hidden.


    That which was hidden was suddenly revealed. The limited scope of the vision was disyed, and Nightwing saw all those seated.


    Breveros had not seen or heard of the others, but Nightwing now could.


    Several women were among the Nobles, and some were not too strong.


    "The power Charm... Cloaked in Mysterion." Nightwing harnessed the power.


    At a nce, none of the women were affected by Nightwing. To them, he only ''looked'' attractive. But there was nothing more behind them.


    Yet in secret, the power of charm was creeping in.


    Time and time again, it would happen. People would meet someone and have no obvious reaction. But soon, the beauty, the charm, the voice would creep in and give birth to fatal attraction.


    Unknown to them, Charm was working with Mystery.


    Nightwing saw the familiar faces and the features of the king and the Emperor.


    Bolerax was surprised that the devices were hijacked and the limitations were widened.


    "Impressive. So you do have some talent. I thought you by luck."


    Memories of Kyros fighting them appeared once more in another world, and Nightwing was impressed at the power of the two.


    "King Bolerax Highwind. And the former king, Tempest." Nightwing gave a respectful bow but refused to bow any lower. It was a bow of equals greeting each other.


    The Eldrich nobles all frowned at the sight.


    "You dare to greet the king like that?" An Eldrich Noble argued.


    "You are stronger. But I guess in ten years. I will probably be stronger than you two. And that''s a vast estimate. After all, I was not even a Captain when I awakened from my slumber!" Nightwing chuckled.


    "Your growth is impressive. But your power is but an ant now."


    "Power? I have knowledge, information, cunning, wit, and luck. Those are my power."


    "Quit dreaming! Power is power!"


    "Power is power?" Nightwing chuckled.


    "And yet, here I am. Called into this tform, not as a ve. Don''t think you scare me. I''ve seen the Golem King, Celestial Petra. I have seen the Okto-Khefali. I have seen Fallen Spawns of direct descent. I have met Bar-Mammon. I have served the Fanged Fallen''s daughter. I have seen the daughters of Pneuma. I have fought against the mages of Astra and survived the sons of Steel. Yet here I am! Growing more and more powerful and surviving Conquerors'' attacks. Can any of you survive the attack of a Conqueror when you were a crown?"


    "That arm withheld its power!" The Eldrich argued.


    "No. My bloodline power which prevented it from killing me, was the power that held it back. That is my power. If you were here and faced Breveros''s bad luck, you''d have died. In any case, if you look down on my advantage, I have yet another power. Flower power!" Nightwing held out his hand, and a rose began to form from his blood.


    The moment it appeared, everyone held their breaths at the sheer beauty of the rose.


    "The power of the Charmed Fallen. Power is power? If we met, old Cherubim, you wouldn''t be able to kill me! I could even make Lord Impyernos order you to kowtow! That''s my power." Nightwingughed.


    The Eldrich were silenced by the arrogant ims. But no one could counter his ims.


    "Now... What exactly am I dealing with? Why is Breveros so unlucky? I mean... I could have defeated him. But it was too easy! I wasn''t even wounded!" Nightwingughed.


    "...We don''t know."


    "...You freakin'' don''t know? Have you any idea of what I''m going through here?!" Nightwing raged.


    "Don''t you know? A True Neutral? What we only know is a vision. Eldrich Reisling has seen a vision. His bad luck has just been pointed out to us."


    "Lies. You are not idiots. The bad luck has always been there. Why wouldn''t you have noticed?" Nightwing asked.


    The question caused a flicker upon Destiny.


    Destiny stood in the realm where he was and sensed the changing future. The single question was so important that it changed the future by a great mile.


    "Hm? A True Neutral?" Destiny frowned.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "...It hides from me. What an interesting power..." Destiny pondered. But the future he saw did not greatly affect the future of his minions. There was just a strange fallout that many of the weaker families would rebel but ultimately be squashed. In the current future, the conquering and raid into the nesworld will unify the alliance ofs. So while the Eldrich would have some infighting, the forces itmands would still grow more because of the alliance.


    Destiny ignored it and turned back his attention to the sprouting seeds of Fate, which were creating diverse challenges.


    The simple question that Nightwing posed nted a seed of doubt. The power of Lies was being used.


    "So gullible. So focused on Charm and Fang that they aren''t careful or guarded in whatever powers I have!" Nightwing thought to himself.


    "We truly didn''t know." Bolerax defended.


    "I would say it was our bad luck that we didn''t notice," Tempest added.


    "Hmp. Whatever. I even theorized that someone among you nted this to limit your family''s growth... Whatever."


    Tempest froze for a second but dispelled his reaction.


    "In any case, I demand support. This series of bad luck is just too much to face! We need help!"


    "We know. This is why we are going to send you help." Tempest spoke.


    "Oh? Really?"


    "An incantation. A spell that will help you in future battles. The legacy of Ypnos."


    At that moment, Verentor Enupnion stood up from his seat in anger.


    "Royal Father. What is the meaning of this?!" The Eldrich Noble shouted.


    "Rx, Enupnion." Tempest frowned.


    Bolerax was initially silent as he was also surprised by what his father spoke. But then he realized the action.


    "Father... You think The Enupnion family cursed brother!" Bolerax realized it. The passing statement of Nightwing must have triggered something! Bolerax stood up.


    "The Half-Fallen Prince. One who has a lineage rted to the Fallen Spawn. You im to have seen a Fallen Spawn. But what powers did you acquire from them, I wonder?"


    "...Not much. Obviously, I only met the guy thanks to master." Nightwing answered.


    "Then here is another chance for you to call out the power. The body of the Half-Fallen Prince is there. The Half-Fallen Princess has a different lineage and is somewhere in the Minds. The Half-Fallen Prince is on a hidden dimension."


    "King Bolerax. I feel very ufortable that you are leaking knowledge only the Enupnion and your family knows! That heritage is ours!"


    "It''s not like we are giving it to him. Teach him a spell. Teach him to call out and use the power of Ypnos to create dreams and nightmares!"


    "The spell calls out and works with other powers! This is the Charmed fallen! He might be able to find it!"


    "Find it? How can you find the darkest darkness? The resting ce of this prince is impossible to find even for most Gods and Fallen! And even if this incubus can locate it, nothing can resist its power! If this Incubus dares to venture into that darkness and face the cloak of Ypnos''s power, he will fall! Only a supreme will can resist the order of Ypnos! Verentor Enupnion! Obey your king!"


    Verentor Enupnion did not hide his defiance and continued to stand up with eyes ring at Nightwing.


    "...Enupnion? That means to be in a state of Ypnos... The Fallen? Ah. Dreams. That''s your power!" Nightwing chuckled.


    Everyone was surprised at Nightwing''s sentence.


    "You... speak the First Tongue?" Tempest asked.


    "I was trained by my former master. Now, what spell does the dreamer have for me?"


    "...Everyone. Leave." Verentor Enupnion ordered.


    "Go." Bolerax also gave the order, and everyone left.


    Only Bolerax, Tempest, and Verentor remained.


    "Now tell me. You don''t have to keep ring. Why so serious, dear dreamer?"


    "This spell is MY heritage! To think it will be tainted by an incubus halfling!"


    "Just tell me the spell." Nightwing chuckled.


    "It''s not a spell. It''s a ritual. A ritual to call out the dreams of this Prince. In it, you can summon his nightmare. If performed, those that dream nearby will be taken into the dream and will face its horror. Those who are below Commanders are sure to die. Cardinals will be affected and caught in a trance state."


    "Oh... What a powerful weapon!" Nightwing praised.


    The enraged Eldrich began to tell of the ritual, but as he spoke, he never knew that Nightwing was on cloud nine. With his wisdom, Nightwing knew where the Half-Fallen Princey!

 Chapter 534 Enraged Breveros

    Verentor Enupnion gave the secret of the ritual and how to perform it to Nightwing.


    The spell required a specific dark region at the depths of the ground. It had to be a ce where the light has never shown.


    Yet in the massive size of the Mind regions, Nightwing was confident he could find it.


    "...And once you do that, the soul of the Half-Fallen Prince will move. His presence is powerful, for he has the strongest legacy of dreams. If you are sessful, the wick of the me will turn ck before disappearing. And in that way, the spell, [Dream Caller], has worked. Everyone within twenty kilometers will be affected by this magic. They will fall into the nightmare world of the Dream Caller."


    "[Dream Caller]... What interesting magic."


    "But it has to be made within ces where those elements are present. So it will be up to you to find such ces."


    "I have a few ideas." Nightwing smiled.


    "Nightwing. You cannot tell my brother about this." Bolerax ordered.


    "I can''t?"


    "Yes. You must not speak of your ns to my brother from here onwards. We do not know what the source of the bad luck is, but based on what''s happening, we must consider all known lore about bad luck. And one which could affect you is if you jinx yourself. If bad luck follows Breveros, then knowing what he will do should affect it. All his life here, his bad luck has always only affected him. He was not affecting anyone else. But now that he was the army''s leader, it brought him bad luck and affected the army. I don''t know what heightened the cause of his bad luck. And I need you to figure it out. If you do, you will be rewarded."


    "No. Sounds troublesome. Do you think that a little dream will help this army survive? Lea Olethros and Listrel Protos Endoxus may as well be on my doorstep."


    "Why are you afraid of both women? You''re an Incubus!"


    "Not with their heritage! They have awakened the source of their power. The wretched Steele family offered it to both parties to kill me. Why do you think I lost against them? The heritage that those two acquired could resist the Charm!"


    "Impossible! How can they resist the Charm?"


    "I could only guess. When I used my powers on those two, it felt like I was... tempting a tree! From what I can tell, this Yggdrasil, the nesworld, gives them power. And it... loathes me!"


    "WHAT?!" Tempest and Bolerax eximed in shock.


    Even Verentor had a stunned reaction.


    "Impossible! The curse that we made has severed it!" Tempest shouted.


    "Curse? Sever?" Nightwing gave an intrigued expression.


    But the Eldrich ignored him.


    "That magic was impossible to destroy! It sounds as if... it''sing back!" Bolerax shouted.


    Nightwing pretended to give an intrigued and confused look. But Nightwing actually understood what they were talking about. In the purging mes of the Unrecorded Pages, that seal must have been broken and allowed the Trees to act. The two gained their powers through the World Wood Tree of the elven race, which allowed them to get in touch with the source power of the Tree.


    "So the Eldrich did do something! It was weird that I naturally knew the lineage of the two. Kyros wanted me to know it. But why did history suggest that the Eldrich were the first? Now I understand. It must have been Ypnos! The Fallen did something! Why would such a powerful legacy lie here!" Nightwing hid all these thoughts to himself.


    "But that makes sense! How else would the Desertlord''s son die against Lea?" Verentor added.


    "...It seems we have to hurry. Whatever means they must force the inheritance back, it should not reach fulfillment. Our invasion is at a critical juncture. Nightwing. Great rewards await you."


    "Oh, if only. But as a True Neutral, I have my suspicion. In the end, what can I do if Destiny does not want to ally with one of the different stances? Perhaps meeting Breveros is its way of killing me and discarding me. But know this... I have survived more terrifying lineages. My master chose to hide. But I was bored and wanted to be free. But my freedom will note easy. If you choose to betray me and renege from your promises, the consequences will be your heads!" Nightwing began to move away from the tform.


    The three were surprised by Nightwing''sst statements. He was bold and arrogant and could feel his pride.


    "...This man is something." Tempest sneered.


    "We must have our countermeasures ready. This man will easily change sides. He isn''t after power. He is after something more practical. Survival. We must send more Eldrich Nobles to head down there in the raid." Bolerax suggested.


    "Agreed. Gather all the Eldrich nobles. We need to send more Crowns!"


    As Nightwing left the room, Breveros was there.


    Ever since he was ordered to leave unceremoniously, his rage was building. The anger and pride of Tyrannus were growing.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "...What''s themand, General?" Breveros contained his anger as he saw Nightwing.


    "What do you think? I was ordered to keep my ns hidden from you. They said if I do, I might jinx it."


    "...So we believe all superstitious beliefs. Am I like a ck cat or broken ss that is an ominous sign of disasters?"


    "Well, aren''t you? Beyond that... is what I feared. They knew about the curse. They seemed to have known. Your family did not say it out loud. But the many Eldrich forces have long noticed it. Granted, since they aren''t idiots."


    "...Which exins Eldrich Noble Reisling''s unfounded hatred. It wasn''t unfounded at all."


    "I could guess what they were thinking based on their expressions. So tell me, how many resources have you used up?"


    "...Enough to rise a Cherubim or two Conquerors."


    "...Dude."


    Breveros''s expressions were slowly turning ugly.


    "And since I want you to betray them, I am reminding you that you wasted that great amount of resources not because of yourck of skill, but if it was granted to you, you could have found great power to change the future of your family and have the power to rise against them. Who knows? You could have inherited Lord Impyernos''s power."


    "...Enough. So the nobles hate me?"


    "Hate you? They want to kill you! Look at thatdy! She kept it in, and like a volcano, she exploded. But this time, Reisling had a vision of what you are doing. Breveros! It''s happening now! Your family is slowly being isted from you! And the Nobles will send more Crowns here. Thank the Fallen. They could help us. But I sense that these Crowns will be sent here to kill you!"


    "Reisling must have convinced the Eldrich nobles... How unlucky of me." Breveros could only shake his head. But inside, the anger and rage were boiling up.


    "You''re lucky that I found something. It could be possible to hide you now."


    "Aren''t you afraid of telling me your ns? I might jinx you."


    "Don''t underestimate my power. Your luck has been hidden now as long as I am around. Your streak of bad luck has ended."


    "Then... why was I... so unlucky just now?"


    "Don''t you see? That wasn''t bad luck! That was being attacked by Destiny!"


    "Then it has... already started?"


    "We don''t know what''s going up there. But expect your family to try to fight you."


    "...I still will not betray their legacy."


    "I respect that despite how stupid it is. Luckily, you can help me get one."


    "Get one?"


    "A spell has been handed over to me. A spell that uses the Half-Fallen Prince here. The Dreamer."


    "They gave that spell?"


    "They were forced to. I threatened that we might face an army after this. But since you are already hidden in Destiny, your bad luck won''t bring us to such terrifying situations. We just need to keep putting that power in our soul. And with this spell ready, you have a mission, Breveros."


    "A mission?''


    "I want to see it. Your true potential. The potential that made Destiny curse you! im the power of Ypnos!"


    "im the power of Ypnos?!"


    "Yes! I have yet a few aces up my sleeve. They think that the power and true body of the Half-Fallen Prince is beyond our reach. But I can send you to the ce where his body lies! The only question is if you are strong enough to im it!"

 Chapter 535 Enraged Darklings

    Thest surviving city of the ck Bog Kingdom faced a terrifying battle.


    Despite the thousands and thousands of the strongest cultivators fighting and defending the city, they were slowly being wilted down.


    When the conflict began due to the power of Greed, Bomos had led his Antibodies and assaulted cities and brought them down with great ease. Overall, the darklings had eaten hundreds of thousands at the start, and they began to attack and obliterate the remainingnds.


    The Monster Kings on the top of the mountains lost their armies, and the ones that had sentience fled to the cities where the other races dwelt to survive.


    But now, with most of the ck Bog Kingdom devoured, there were millions of Darklings, and all began to attack this great city.


    Once in a while, the ground beneath would open up and devour the piles of corpses. Many surviving races thought it was the Flesh Golem''s way of clearing out obstacles for the rest of the forces. But it was actually Bomos feasting on the beasts to grant him strength.


    Of course, as per their agreement, Nightwing would take a huge percentage of all the corpses.


    The cancerous parts of Bar-Mammon only crafted several hundreds of Darklings. But with them feasting and harnessing the lifeblood of many in the ck Bog Kingdom, it made them rich and full of nutrients. And the final step was, of course, to have them fight against powerful foes.


    Hordes and hordes of Darklings continued to pour out. But while the Crowns would have enoughbined power to massacre the millions with their superior might. The strongest had no choice but to conserve their energy. Many survivors had reported how their cities became decimated. The Cardinals and Crowns would use their power, and when they had very few left, a gigantic arm would appear and m down on them and slew some of the strongest.


    Those that survived had fled and told of the evil plot of the Flesh Golems, which waited to strike when they weakest.


    Those that heard of how the ambushes urred were careful in using their attacks.


    Sure enough, the same ambushes urred as they defended the city. And so, the Crowns would only attack if necessary. But after a massive attackunched by the Crown, the ground would reveal many golems, the Antibodies that would y many of the strongest Cardinals and retreat back.


    Their forces were dwindling, and even the Crowns were drained of all their strength. The emerging mountain-sized hands, the appearance of Crown-level Golems that would appear out of the ground, and the Darklords that were now among the horde of Darklings surrounded the entire city.


    Worse, the anti-flight magic suddenly appeared to ensure that no one could retreat or flee from the carnage.


    Below, the entirend was now the body of the Gigantes. This was once his glorious body before the war that was waged long ago, and he was severed from his connection to the Pir.


    From then on, Bomos had very limited abilities, and making his body move was very taxing. Finally, he spawned sons and allowed the body to produce antibodies to have more control, but his control was limited even then.


    But Nightwing could grant Bomos more control over his own body, and thus, he could move and even cause the Gigantes'' body tounch attacks! He sat at the same brain of the Gigantes, which had now moved directly under the city. The power of Oblivion continued to surround him, but this time, a strange floating matrix made from blood, flesh, and stone was taken from the Gigantes itself.


    It created an energy formation circle that allowed Bomos to cast the spell, [Anima]. Through the power of [Anima], Bomos was able to control the Gigantes corpse even more and was controlling it.


    The battle was immense as Nightwing had ordered Bomos to let out the full force of the Darkling''s rage.


    For the past five days, the darklings had been attacking with great hunger. Finally, there was nothing left to eat in the region, and every beast was led to this city through a device that Nightwing had to name the Psi emitter out of exhaustion from Luigi''s rants.


    The enraged millions poured into the cities and overwhelmed the guards.


    Bomos continued to monitor the battle above and had his forces appear one after the other. This was all at the order of Nightwing, and he had gained quite a lot.


    "Amazing. To think I would have Crowns absorbed. My power has returned! If I couldbine myself, I could leave and go towards the Nephilims Sealing Fortress where this Golem King, Petra, hides." Bomos thought. Was it possible? The body and core? Were they one? The temptation was too much for Bomos to resist.


    Nightwing had even given him details about the Gigantes Earth Core and suggested that Fate had hidden the body of the Gigantes God Petra this possibility, and it made Bomos excited.


    Nightwing had told him that another legacy of Petra was left behind. So it wasn''t a coincidence that a Golem King named Petra would exist. And it had a Gigantes Earth Core!


    Petra and Goliath were two of the few Heretic Gods that managed to rise to Godhood. There were strange mysteries about their past, and Bomos, an altar of remembrance crafted by Petra, may have left other legacies.


    But moving and transferring his massive body required a lot of energy. But now, his energy was being replenished as the deaths of the Darklings and cultivators were being drawn in by the thousands.


    A spider began to crawl into the underground region. The darklings and the golem ignored it as its blood andposition were mixed with Bomos''s blood.


    The Gigantes sons of Bomos approached it and listened to the new instructions.


    "Father... it''s time."


    "...I see." Then prepare the way and draw the Darklings towards their area.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Thest city fought on as many sides of their walls had copsed. The Crowns wereunching attack after attack as many Antibodies were fighting above ground.


    Suddenly, a strange tremor was heard as five massive pirs broke out of the earth. It was as if five mountains rose around the city.


    The city dwellers began to panic and scream. Many even regretted their life. They were all here because of sins; some even raised their families.


    They saw the five pirs with strength that made the Crowns tremble.


    "What are those pirs!?" A crown cursed.


    "Those aren''t pirs." The queen of the kingdom saw it and could tell what it was.


    "What are they?"


    "Fingertips. The monster is beneath us. And its real size is farrger than we thought. We are at the palm of its hands!"


    The tremors grew stronger as the fingers pushed upwards.


    Many even abandoned the front lines and rushed to their families.


    "We must break out of this city! We will surely die here!" A Cardinal spoke to the Crown, who was the city''s leader.


    The Crown looked around her and epted her death. She could onlyugh and recall that her life was full of failures and bad luck. She once was a Princess of a Mind nation in Central Minds. But the plots thrown at her came one after the other, and a new family took over and disposed of her life. She looked at the man she now called husband.


    Another Crown had received tremendous wounds and was on the verge of dying.


    "Husband... I''m sorry. I told you that you would face battles and difficulties. I said to you that wherever I go, I''m always the only one left alive. She held the man.


    "...My wife. Do as those cardinals said. I will use thest of my power to create a powerful attack that will strike those my soul deems its enemies. It will give you time to flee. Please. I am dying. Allow me to set your path. You are always stronger than me. And though I lie here on my deathbed, I won''t regret even spending a second with you." The man smiled as he held the woman.


    "My queen!" A Cardinal shouted.


    Above one of the fingers was arge winged beast of pure red.


    The moment itnded on one of the fingers, the upward push stopped.


    "Citizens of the great city! Fight on! Help hase!" Nightwing''s voice echoed everywhere, and numerous attacks suddenly appeared.


    An army suddenly appeared from the horizon and began to push forward.


    Nightwing then used his power and raised his hand.


    A massive red ball appeared.


    "Citizens! Do not resist the blood! This is my blood! It has the power to stop the flesh golems from attacking you!"


    The city''s leaders saw it and could recognize many Crowns fighting alongside theing army.


    "Is this... real?"


    "My Queen! It could be a trick! What if that blood is poison?!"


    "...Do not resist it." The queen decided.


    "We are all going to die anyway. So let''s gamble and hope that his words are true." The queen answered.


    Nightwing wielded the massive ball of blood and threw it forward.

 Chapter 536 Enraged Golems

    The massive ball of bloodshot towards the air.


    Everyone couldn''t sense any power from it.


    But with everything going on around them, the people could only be wary.


    Boom! Boom! Boom!


    Suddenly, various angry roars were heard as the Fleshy Golems suddenly emerged from the ground and charged at the survivors with all their might.


    Numerous Crown powers suddenly surged out of the area.


    The fleshy golems even flew and arced back to deliver a powerful blow as they gained momentum.


    The five fingertips were also trembling with even greater might. A huge earthquake was starting as the entire city began to shatter and break, with faults and cracks appearing all over.


    "The giant is enraged! That blood is making them go crazy!" A Crown shouted.


    "No! Their panicking! There''s something in that blood that they cannot resist! Everyone! Fight back! Don''t let the enraged charge fool you!" Finally, the queen realized what was happening.


    The Crowns and Cardinals cursed and began to fight back or defend.


    "Everyone! Allow that blood to fulfill whatever purpose it intends!" The queen shouted.


    The massive ball of blood flew and flew over the city and exploded.


    SPLASH!


    The blood ball that had be a thick mist spread and covered the entire city. Every being that took fought against the Fleshy Golems, and the blood coated the Darklings.


    As the blood mist spread, the Gigantes and the Antibodies made their attacks.


    But the power they wielded suddenly diminished right as they made their attacks!


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    A Crown defended the Gigantes attack, and he was knocked back. But as he stood up, the cardinals to his side were also thrown back.


    "What?! They held back?!"


    "They held back! Fight!"


    "My blood will prevent the Fleshy golems from killing you! It will attack but cannot kill! Fight on!" Nightwing shouted.


    The Cardinals saw that the flesh golems had fearful expressions and began to retreat.


    "It''s working! Fight on!" The Crowns all began to cheer.


    The chants of a fight were heard as they could see an army of mighty Crowns, Cardinals, and Commanders ying their way through the battlefield.


    "Husband! Hold on!" The queen pleaded.


    "...The blood! It''s healing me! It''s taking away the curse from long ago!" The Crown king was amazed as he could feel the various curse being taken away.


    Nightwing had sensed two fighters of Fate locked within thend.


    "Finally. I can sense over a dozen warriors of Fate! Good!" Nightwing watched as the fighters pushed back and slew more and more darklings.


    Cheers were heard as the blood was also causing their wounds to heal, and they managed to repel the darklings and dark lords.


    Without the life-threatening attacks of the Flesh golems, everyone could see a significant change.


    The more daring ones even charged at the fistunched against them, and the golems would retract their attacks at thest second.


    "Focus on the darklings!" The cries ofmands were heard as the hordes were being blown back.


    "The blood! It''s restoring my strength!" More began tough happily.


    "Don''t hold back! They can''t kill you! Kill the darklings and push back! The army ising!" A Crownmanded as he forced an Antibody to retreat.


    The antibody quickly dove down to return the body of Bomos.


    Many others followed the lead. The massive fingertips began to sink down, but an enraged howl was heard, creating a tremor around the city.


    "It''s retreating! Those stone beasts are retreating!" A Cardinal cheered.


    The queen nced at her husband.


    "Husband... Are you alright?"


    "Go! If you fight, you can save more! If you can go over and call that winged man who threw the blood, I could recover."


    "I understand. Don''t die on me now! We still have hope!"


    "I won''t! Now go!" The husband smiled.


    The queen moved out, revealing her lightning power that began to shoot all over the field.


    As the wars pushed back, Nightwing was flying, and Breveros, who could now fly, met him on air.


    "The anti-gravity field is gone!"


    "Looks like I was right. The flesh golems were focusing their power to set up base here. That''s why the golems could easily move out of the ground here! This was its main meal!" Nightwing smiled.


    "Should I move now?" Breveros asked.


    "Go. Breveros. This Battle will test your luck. Let''s see just how bad your bad luck was, and let''s see how you can fight without the bad luck! Our sessions have allowed you to be hidden more from Destiny. You''re looking like a True Neutral now! Now go and kill those Darklords."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Breveros nodded and flew to the sky.


    His spell would summon a tremendous wind so strong andpact that it would be as if a mountain had fallen over the darklings. But as Breveros flew up there, his thoughts began to wander.


    He had lived following the techniques and teachings of the Highwind family. But now, his desire to break out of his family''s path and the secret rage and disappointments he felt as an outcast stopped him from using that technique.


    "It wouldn''t work anyway. I need an attack to drill down and attack the Darklords that could hide underground and into the passageways that the flesh golems created. I must cause my wind to be free..." Breveros spoke softly.


    "Free? Could I be free?" A strange thought surfaced as some strange, strange power began to whisper to Breveros.


    Nightwing could see it. Because he was exposed to Pneuma, he could see a being flying over Breveros.


    "What''s that?" Nightwing was amazed.


    "What''s what?" Angelian asked.


    "...No one can see that?" Nightwing was confused.


    "...I see it," Krysta answered.


    "I... don''t. What do you see?" Sherah asked curiously.


    "Master. I think only the three of us can see that. It''s probably... a wind god!" Luigi exined.


    "A son of Pneuma!" Nightwing understood.


    Breveros saw the form of wind that stood above him.


    "Who...?"


    "Freedom... Do you... want freedom? The wind seeks freedom. We go where we please. We fight where we please. We want to move freely... and we do not ever want to end... By us and through us... do people breathe? We are life... and we will always fight... on the side of life... Warrior of Destiny... Do you wish... to be free?" The strange power asked.


    Breveros was in a trance and felt his body harnessing with great power.


    "...Yes."


    "Then arise... Arise and fight... for the Battle against draw near. Arise and break free... from the chains... that bind you. Say my name and call out my power." The form of wind disappeared.


    Nightwing, Krysta, and Luigi were amazed at what they saw.


    Nightwing became curious as he yearned for the power of the wind. So he extended his hand and closed his eyes.


    He then spoke a name.


    "Shazam."


    But nothing happened.


    "...Master, that''s not his name,"


    "Well, he didn''t say the name. And I wanted that power! So I had to try something!"


    "Idiot. That was probably Pneuma''s son."


    "Pneumonia!" Nightwing shouted again.


    "Right. Because the wind god would definitely be a disease." Luigi sighed.


    Breveros nced at the armies below, and he raised his hand.


    "[Xifos Tou Anemous]!"


    A massive tornado suddenly took form in Breveros arm.


    The wind gathered and continued to swirl, and Breveros wielded a gigantic sword.


    "Sword of Anemous..." Nightwing tranted.


    "Strange. If I''m a time God, why don''t I know the name of Anemous?" Luigi wondered.


    Immediately, Breveros shed down.


    The tornados moved like a sword, but as they struck the ground, several tornados that acted like tendrils began to shoot out and move.


    The wind drew the beasts, and blood began to stter in the air as the creatures sucked into the vortex were all ripped and sliced apart.


    The golems that shot up to fight it were blown away.


    Nightwing saw the marvelous attack and could hear the faint whisper speaking through it.


    "Nephilim. This power proves it. I was skeptical and unsure at first. But the mystery of Breveros and his uncertain stand as a Destiny Challenger is this... Those who meditate in the wind and find its greatest purpose are those who desire freedom above all. Your lies and deception have pushed this Breveros to desire freedom. In some ways, Breveros is my descendant. He has received power from the lost god who sought freedom, and he stopped being a god and became the wind. My son, Anemous."


    The voice of Pneuma whispered to Nightwing. Under the powers of such a gale, Pneuma could finally ry the joyful deration about Breveros.


    The Eldrich servants of Breveros were amazed at the power of their young lord.


    They marveled and praised the power, not knowing that what Breveros had gained would amaze even Impyernos.


    "Is this alright? Won''t Destiny see this?" Krysta asked.


    "I doubt it. First of all, no one can see Anemous. He isn''t a god anymore. And besides, I used that blood spell to cover this ce with my blood to shroud it in mystery. So while Destiny should be able to see it, this Battle will be vague to him, at the very least."


    "What do we do now?" Monica asked.


    "Let''s all fight and gather more darkling corpses. Reginald,e out and y!" Nightwing summoned the hydra, and everyone began to fight.

 Chapter 537 Enraged Goddess

    The team of Nightwing began to move.


    A giant Hydra appeared as Nightwing opened a portal.


    The eight heads of the Hydra had the might of Cardinals each, and they began to bite and gnaw at the Darklings.


    The spider army of Sherah appeared, and some of the Spiders now had Commander strength! They were as big as horses and fought the darklings bite to bite.


    Angelian flew and revealed her might that could easily bring down a Cardinal.


    Krysta and her family rushed forward and revealed the powerful attacks that made even some of the survivors recognize the Sword Saint attacks.


    Monica''s war skills were growing by leaps and bounds. But, being the weakest of Nightwing''s women, she had asked Nightwing how she could help.


    Nightwing had given her a powerful heritage. She was being transformed into a Daywalker Vampire. Generally, Daywalkers were weaker as they contained both light and darkness. But with Nightwing''s many marvelous magic, she harnessed light and shade.


    Commander Tyrs had finally be a Cardinal. He stood with Monica and fought on. His powers as a Knight had also evolved with the abilities of a Force Pdin. They had incredible defenses to tank Cardinal-level attacks and enough sword strength to critically wound a Cardinal above his level.


    Together with Monica, the two could push back and be the core of their formation.


    Benjie Boy, the Emperor Assassin, and Dwarven Meister Strongholden now had incredible teamwork. They could take on several Darklings of peak Cardinal level.


    The Emperor Assassin was blessed with a low-quality Time Core that Nightwing had created based on Luigi and Bar-Mammon''s core. Nevertheless, the materials were present, and Nightwing crafted one that allowed the Emperor Assassin to perform teleportation.


    Dwarven Meister Strongholden had a strange stone armor that made him look like a golem. Nightwing had learned of the GUNPLA armor that Kyros''s allies had and crafted his blend using the Gigantes Flesh. A strange integration enabled Meister Strongholden to harness earth energy in his attacks.


    His hammer was also powerful and close to the quality only the strongest Cardinals could. As a Dwarven master, he crafted powerful weapons that the team had equipped.


    Finally, he was the other survivor of Nightwing''s massacre. Commander Joshua quickly rose through the ranks and was bestowed with many pills and pseudo-Dark Dependent cultivation.


    He was now a Battle Mage and even had a low-grade Lightning Core, which Nightwing promised to improve if he had shown the aptitude of being a Battle Mage.


    The newest member, Mage Commander Estus, had a lot of magic and powers that he could now harness. He had a decent foundation. But now, the power of Astra was what he was meditating on, and numerous elements were being used all at once.


    Next to the main team were the other allies, who were people of Destiny.


    Ikarod and his team were the strongest of the team. As a Crown, Ikarod appeared to be the secret weapon of Nightwing.


    Cardinal Barakan Doragan wielded his father, the Crown, as a club and tore down the ground with every pounding attack.


    The group was fighting as fast as they could as Nightwing had promised to ''keep what they killed,'' and the energy of the dead would be theirs to improve their levels.


    These two were so strong that most of Breveros''s armies feared them. Of the women of Nightwing, only Angelian and Sherah were considered strong. The Assassin Emperor was the one they feared the most.


    But unknown to them, Nightwing''s real team were these people of Fate.


    Nightwing watched the battle.


    "...At this rate, Ikarod and the Giant team will be massacred by Kyros''s allies." Nightwing sighed.


    "Is that a problem? I thought that was the n!" Luigi asked.


    "It is. But... this is also a contest. Who can form a better team? Is it me or Kyros? Besides, given enough time, I probably could turn these Destiny folks to my side. My many experiments with Fate, Destiny, True Neutral, and Mysterion are giving me satisfactory results. Look at Breveros!"


    "That''s true." Luigi nodded as they observed Breveros bring down hordes of beasts.


    "Angelian..." Nightwing called out telepathically.


    "Yes?"


    "Dive underground and move out. Listrel and his forces are close by. Go to them and report our progress. Wait for mymand."


    "Understood."


    Nightwing used his powers as the battle progressed to create a massive blood spike that struck a Darklord.


    The hole opened up, and many cries of the Darklings could be heard as it revealed a nest!


    "Angelian! Move in and kill them! A Flesh Golem is down there! Chase it and kill it!"


    "Yes, Master!" Angelian followed orders and dove down into the hole as Nightwing, and the rest guarded the hole and fought and killed.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The Tendrils of Reisling was also fighting and following Nightwing''s orders. But Reisling could not help and watch as Breveros revealed his true might.


    Back on the moon, Reisling''s main body marveled at the power of Breveros. She knew the spells of the Highwind and found that this control and use were vastly different from the Highwind spells.


    "So this... is Brevero''s true power. What incredible control! He was cursed and could not fight, but now that Nightwing is removing the curse, his true might is here! The n could really work! Breveros could rise against the Highwinds, and I could be the queen!"


    The armies fought on, and the battle wouldst another day as all the millions of Darklings that gued the ck Bog Kingdom would finally be killed.


    Meanwhile, down in the Dark Sea...


    The forces of Destiny were slowly being massacred. Numerous Cardinals had already died at the hands of these assassins. And the biggest problem was that they would disappear!


    An Underwater kingdom, the kingdom of Yktheis, home of the Smander and Newt creatures, was ced on high alert to find any traces of anyone who would approach.


    Lea wore her disguise as they continued to swim around one of the rooms of this city. They had entered the cities with disguises. Lea and the rest appeared as serpents. Martha is a sea crocodile race. Aron was hiding inside Puff, who also appeared as a crocodile. But as Lea''s powers released a familiar aura, Aron and Martha moved out and gathered information to find the possible location of the Charmed Fallen.


    "Things would be easier if I could reveal my identity," Lea grumbled.


    "Princess Lea. You know why that''s not possible. If you n to work, then we should remain anonymous. Your father is nowmunicating with the Protos Endoxus and has verified that your story and the story of Listrel are true. But themon popce cannot just easily unite the two forces. Right now, if we want to stop theing invasion of Edlrich and all the other forces, we have to be careful. Numerous members of your father''s allies are already dying one after the other, and Destiny''s forces are taking control of the Nethends. So this mission is of grave importance. Not just for your... husband, but for the Olethros family." One of the guards tasked to apany Lea exined.


    "I know... it''s just... too boring!" Lea sighed.


    WARP!


    Suddenly, Martha and Puff appeared inside the room.


    Puff immediately opened its mouth, and Aron emerged from the spatial dimension inside Puff''s stomach.


    "Oh? Back already? And here I thought finding the location of a lost inheritance that no one has heard or has any idea about would take you at least five days." Leaughed.


    "It was easy," Martha answered.


    "Branze and father gave us some ideas. The Pit of Drowning."


    "...The Pit of Drowning? Even Crowns don''t venture down there."


    "That''s where it is," Martha answered.


    "How sure are you?"


    "There''s a local legend here," Aron spoke.


    "A local legend?" Lea frowned and turned towards her attendants.


    The two shook their heads.


    "The Trench of the Antipathy within the region that we know as the Pit of Drowning is the most likely ce where she is." Martha rified.


    "That''s the deepest trench in this region. It''s a dangerous ce full of will abyss fiends, wild Shades, and the like."


    "The legend of the Pit of Drowning is that a minor fallen of the dark waters drowned an entire underwater city and created the Trench of Antipathy in rage because of a subus stealing away her Fallen lover."


    "...I haven''t heard of that legend. And you think that this legend is tied to the Charmed Fallen?" One of Lea''s attendants asked again.


    "Yes. The Charmed Fallen has enraged numerous goddesses and fallen because of her beauty, which lured many men. It''s also possible that the Fallen Hydron was here precisely because of that."


    "Hydron...! The Fallen, who ourdy takes her power from!"


    "Yes. Zh wouldn''t be the only goddess that hated her. And it''s strange that the death of Xermolipi is bound in secret and mystery. And why was Hydron here? I believe that many would seek the demise of the Charmed Fallen."


    "So the Trench of Antipathy is...?"


    "Possibly a seal or prison for the Charmed Fallen. If it''s not Hydron, we should consider other gods or fallen."


    "Thssa..." Lea answered.


    "The goddess of the ocean? But she''s not the husband of Hydron in the history of the gods!" The attendant frowned.


    "And now we know why. Thssa and Hydron were probably... together until the Charmed Fallen took away her man. Alright. It looks like our next mission is to dive into one of the most dangerous ces on the nesworld!"

 Chapter 538 Enraged Charm

    The Trench of Antipathy was one of the most dangerous parts of the nesworld.


    Noted Dark Dependent schrs, historians, and folk-keepers talk about how this was one of the deepest parts of the nesworld. It was said that it had a powerful gravity force. The dark energy water was so potent it would ''choke'' people and make them unable to breathe. Even creatures that don''t breathe in oxygen would sense a strange choking feeling as it triggered the death energy that stopped life. Even those of the Grendelor race would fear moving down the dark trench.


    Martha, Puff, and Lea had arrived and were swimming over the sea. The attendants opposed exploring the region since even Crowns could die. But Lea refused to listen.


    The group swamped deep towards where the darkness was. Soon, the attendants of Lea and Aron could no longer take the darkness. Aron had shown great resilience despite not being a Dark Dependent. He used a power of the Light Grown known as [Storing] to allow him to hold his breath for days and even weeks. But in this situation, the light energy in his was being eaten away. He had no choice but to hide inside Puff.


    As for Lea''s attendants, the darkness was too strong for them that it was choking them up.


    Martha, Lea, and Puff were the ones who could swim into the dark sea until they approached the dark trench.


    A massive trench was found at the bottom of the sea. It was evenrger than the entire underwater city. And even with the eyes that could pierce through the darkness, a strange power covered them and prohibited the three from seeing through it.


    It was as if a strange ck goo was covering the outeryer of the crack. But upon closer inspection, it was just darkness and had no liquid form.


    "Dark water... I can breathe underwater and use Skotosynthesis through my vampiric powers. But I sense that Dark Maddening would happen. And the darkness would clog my body and prevent me from breathing even through Dark Dependent means..." Martha frowned. She was a Cardinal thanks to the many offerings of Nightwing. But even then, she knew moving down would be insane.


    "The darkness is interesting. But this abyss is something I''ve trained in. So it seems you were right. People im this is a naturally formednd in the nesworld. But I sense two curses!"


    "Two? There are two powers?"


    "The first is a curse of dark waters. It''s an imprisoning curse. Whatever''s down there has been cursed, and the abyss binds it. The other curse... is Oblivion!"


    "The god that causes us to forget! Of course! That''s why the legends cannot even name the paramour of the Fallen!"


    "Yes. She''s only referred to as a subus. But can subus steal a Fallen? This power is sealing every memory of her. Mechiel told me when she received the power of the Charmed Fallen. She felt her rage. Kyros guessed that since the Fallen desired beauty, she was deceived by End and promised to be the only beautiful woman. But it brought about a conflict. For if End were to happen, then nothing memorable must remain. And so, Oblivion was kept hidden. And when they had full use of her, she would be cast out and sealed to be forgotten."


    "So this means... that the Charmed Fallen is our ally?"


    "No. An enemy. But also the enemy of our enemy. If even Mechiel is starting to act all weird despite her past with Kyros, then we can only imagine what it will mean for us. There is also... the Blood Cmity inside of her. Who knows? These two may someday separate. But in any case, we still have our goal. We need the Charmed Fallen if we want to fight Nightwing. Besides, Nightwing feels like a dangerous being. My main issue is that he isn''t Kyros, but he is. A being that harnesses the soul of a Fallen will house many powers. He has already eaten a son of Mammon. Do you know what that would do to a Fallen?"


    "...Right. Maybe this is why Kyros opted to have the darkness appear. He separated his soul so that it would be this incarnation that will take all the darkness."


    "That''s probably it. In any case, let''s get ready to dive down." Lea spoke as she raised her hand.


    The power of dark water gathered around her and created a ball of darkness that covered the three.


    Slowly, they began their descent.


    "They say a Crown could not survive this ce. Let''s see if it applies to me!" Lea shouted as she swam down with great speed.


    The moment they entered the darkness covering the top of the trench, a powerful gravitational force suddenly sucked the group.


    Lea sensed the power and frowned as strange darkness attacked her.


    Though her shield had not cracked or weakened, a strange mental detachment made her feel lost. Thoughts and consciousness began to drift away.


    The abyss began to gather, and her mind felt like copsing.


    "Lea! Focus!"


    Lea jolted awake as she felt two hands hold onto her.


    "You... can resist this darkness?!" Lea was amazed.


    "This is the darkness of Lord Kyriachos. I was in his realm for millennia."


    "I was also brought there. My shared power with Puff allows me to resist it. Besides, I am a descendant of Kyriachos through my blessings."


    "...So I can''t do this alone. I can create this field that protects us, but my mind cannot remain intact in such maddening darkness."


    "We all need each other. Isn''t that what Kyros thought you? And it''s not just the Olethros and the Protos Endoxus. As those who are called to arise with the Nephilim, we will have to brave the powers of gods and fallens together!"


    With the power of the three working together, the group was able to navigate down the dark pits.


    Lea could feel that the abyss was creating vortex and bubble rings. The power and concentration of these rings had unbelievable force.


    "We have to evade these bubble rings!" Lea ordered.


    Martha and Puff continued to harness their power to keep Lea''s consciousness and concentration unaffected as they dove deeper into the sea.


    The death energy increased as they sensed many souls who perished from attempting a journey down this trench.


    "We''re getting closer! I am sensing a strange gathering of energy down there! It''s like an elemental core!" Lea spoke.


    "...Not an Elemental Core. I can feel it. The separated darkness is causing the power of Kyriachos to tremble! It''s a dimensional gate! It''s a doorway to a Separated Realm!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Master. That''s also incorrect. I know what that is. A Dragon Seal! Could it be...? Lord Tiamat?!"


    "It''s not Tiamat. Its darkness is different. But I see it now! It turns out that we were all correct. It is an Elemental Core, a doorway to another realm, and a dragon seal. That''s what this thing is! It used a Dragon Seal to seal a great Core that has the time/space power to send one into another realm! This is what it takes to seal the... Wait... What was sealed here?! What were we after?!" Lea cursed.


    Martha, Puff, and Lea all stood there with great confusion. They were unsure of what and why they were there!


    "What were we after?" Martha asked Puff.


    "...? I don''t know. We were looking for... something?"


    Inside Puff, the attendants and Aron watched from the vision of Puff and were confused.


    "What are they doing? Why are they talking about forgetting?"


    "Madam Lea! You are here to free the... Why can''t I say it?" The attendant was amazed.


    The others also tried and realized that while they knew they were after the Charmed Fallen, they forgot how to say it."


    "I see. The power outside is more potent. Since Puff is a magic dragon with great resistance, the effect of Oblivion is weaker here. This could be troublesome..." Aron frowned.


    Lea and the three were looking at each other.


    "Let''s just try to break it." Lea decided. The two nodded, and they all began to focus their power.


    But as they raised their hands, they could didn''t know where they would attack as they forgot where the seal was!


    "...What the fragment?!" Lea cursed out angrily.


    "It''s Oblivion! It''s affecting our thinking!" Martha cried out.


    "What do we do?! If we harbor thoughts of attacking it, we forget!"


    "The power of this Elemental Core is not space or darkness! It''s Oblivion! It''s an oblivion core crafted from the heart of a dragon and sealed whatever is inside that thing in an oblivion realm!" Lea deduced.


    "How can we break this thing?" Puff asked.


    "Martha. I can see it, and I remember what you are looking for. And I can attack it. Puff is causing the spell to weaken the effects of Oblivion. "


    "...Master Aron. Please don''t gut me from the inside." Puff pleaded.


    "And no offense, but while your True Cut is formidable, an attack at your current level against this thing is useless. This thing is quite sturdy! It would take ourbined attack to weaken it." Lea rejected.


    "No. I don''t need to attack it through conventional means. I remember what''s in there, and I think I can weaken the seal." Aron smiled.


    "How?"


    "Puff. Open your mouth when I start shouting. I will harness my power!"


    "What power?"


    "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me... That''s a lie. We all know this. That''s what I intend to use! Words that cut and enrage the heart!"


    "Words? You n to shout at it?!" Lea was amazed.


    "My words cannot wound Puff. But with True Cut, it can reach the thing sealed inside. Get ready. We cannot attack it from the outside, but if the thing inside fights and weakens it, we might have a chance."


    Aron took a deep breath.


    "WAKE UP, YOU FAT PIG! OBLIVION MADE US FORGET YOU AND TOLD US THAT THE CHARMED FALLEN IS MAMMON''S TWIN SISTER!" Aron shouted.


    ...


    Nothing happened.


    "...What was that?"


    "Huh... It didn''t work." Aron was amazed.


    "I was sure that True Cut was..."


    RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!


    The seal began to tremble.


    "The Charmed Fallen!" Martha, Puff, and Lea eximed as they remembered.

 Chapter 539 Enraged Lanthanou

    ?


    The power of Oblivion had sealed the Charmed Fallen, and his magic was swirling around the area. If someone wishes to attack the orb, they would forget the attack the attacker has or the very purpose they were there. It was a cycle of confusion, and those who managed to reach the ce would eventually forget the Dragon Elemental Core Portal Seal itself and begin wandering around. Eventually, the person would have to flee and return as the ce was draining all life forms.


    The dragonic properties of the seal would eat away all forms of light and death. Neither the Light Grown nor the Dark Dependents could stay.


    The soul of the Charmed Fallen was within the orb. Although her soul was starting to win against the power of the Charmed Fallen refused to forget her own beauty and name, as it was her power, she fought and wouldter find a way to be freed from the chains.


    But the destruction of the seal would also wound and eat away a huge portion of her soul. By the time she met Mechiel in the alternate timeline, she would have already be so weak that she only afflicted Mechiel like a soul parasite. As Mechiel had the power of the Blood Cmity, the two souls would fight, and while the Charmed Fallen would win, she became so weak that she hid inside Mechiel''s soul.


    At present, Xermolipi still has great power. She could even hear Scarlet''s dreams and appear towards her. But when Histerion finally took sides and fought against End, Oblivion had no choice but to enhance and speed up all the gods and fallen he had sealed and made forgotten.


    And so, even the Charmed Fallen was losing herself in Oblivion.


    Until Aron''s words cut right inside.


    The taunt caused the Charmed Fallen to be jolted awake.


    "Lanthanou!" She raged in such great anger that she recalled the name of Lanthanou.


    The power of remembering was the weakness of the seal, and since the Charmed Fallen recalled the very name of Lanthanou, the seal trembled.


    In the great space beyond, beyond the realms of the pages of the current timeline, Lanthanou suddenly stood up.


    "Who dares?!" He cursed.


    But at that moment, the space before they purged open, and a strange light that took the form of a woman appeared.


    "Hello, Lanthanou."


    "Beginning!"


    "Histerion. Move out." Beginning ordered.


    Behind the portal, an old man moved out.


    "Someone is starting to remember! Aid that person before Lanthanou kills him!" Another voice called out behind him.


    Suddenly, all of the reality stopped.


    Pausontai appeared along with End.


    "What''s this? You want to fight?" End asked.


    "Just enough to distract Lanthanou. Beginning chuckled.


    "A god or Fallen has remembered! Obviously, we won''t let this chance slip!"


    "You think you can stop us? I have grown stronger, Histerion." Pausontai dered.


    "You whelp! I wrote your name when you were born!"


    A st of Brimstone erupted and shook the realm above other realms.


    End, Lanthanou, and Pausontai were shocked to see the tremendous power of Histerion.


    "I write history! You cannot pause true history, Pausontai!" Histerion roared.


    It was a battle between The Beings Who Were. They were the greatest and most powerful Gods. Beginning and End were fighting in that realm.


    And so were Lanthanou and Histerion.


    Lanthanou sent his name being recalled and cursed.


    "That bitch! I have to act now!" He raged and used his powers to trigger a kill code within his soul.


    "Those who say my name shall feel my wrath!" Lanthanou took advantage of the Charmed Fallen''s actions, and the power of Oblivion was summoned to attack the Charmed Fallen within the core.


    "I am Xermolipi Phaulos! The Charmed Fallen! And I will not be forgotten! Much less be remembered as a fat pig!" Xermolipi roared with all her might to resist the powers of Oblivion.


    "Fat pig?!" Lanthanou was confused at the words of Charmed Fallen.


    Martha, Lea, and Puff were trying tounch an attack on the seal outside the orb. But the powers of Oblivion would cause them to forget the full form of the attack.


    They could onlyunch attacks that were at the level of Champions! And these attacks couldn''t even dent the seal.


    "Husband! Do it again! But you have to make more powerful taunts!"


    "I understand!" Aron nodded and closed his eyes. Within the teachings of the Library of the Light were the descriptions of many gods and fallens. Out of all of them, Aron was intrigued by the name of Tyrannus. He was a warrior and fighter, and his hunger for murder made it possible to kill gods and the fallen!


    He had experienced the taunts of Kyros during their training and was enraged to the point of losing focus. But because of that, they all began to learn how to use taunts to annoy and enrage their enemies.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Aron tried his best to imitate the raw taunts of Kyros through Tyrannus. Tyrannus was the first dragon. And dragons were known for their very deceptive, maniptive, and enraging tongue.


    Aron opened his eyes.


    "Xermolipi! You were not even beautiful! You only stole that beauty from the real goddess of beauty! In reality, you are ugly! You were a devourer like Mammon! Heck, you might have been his wife! A swine that sought to be beautiful? Please! You are ugly! And the world has its new goddess! Goddess Zh appeared ever since you were lost centuries ago!" Aron shouted again.


    The words cut right through the heart of Xermolipi, and her most hated possibility emerged. Goddess Zh, who became a being simr to her, had be the next goddess! In the dark world, she could not tell how time had passed, and she feared that she had been inside the depths of this darkness for so long that she raged all the more.


    "That...! Mother Fragment!!!" Her roar echoed out, and the massive Dragon Elemental Core Portal Seal trembled.


    "Now!" Lea shouted, and all of themunched their attacks.


    They dared not touch it but used ranged attacks of all forms. Martha used the Bow, Puffunched a Breath attack, and Lea used the Abyss waters around to create a giant drill and attacked it.


    The three attacksnded and released powers that were on the Commander''s level!


    "More!" Lea shouted.


    "Xermolipi! You''re so ugly that not even the god of Oblivion could make you forget how ugly you were!"


    "It''s working!"


    "Xermolipi! You''re so ugly that Kyriachos hid from you! Guys! Help me! Just y along with what I said!" Aron spoke to his friends.


    "Xermolipi! You''re so ugly that Bow Veiyos learned to move and invented the concept of travel to get away from you!"


    "Ohhhhh! What an ugly Fallen!" Martha eximed.


    "Xermolipi! You''re so ugly that Hyperion severed all the universe to get away from you!"


    "Xermolipi! You''re so fat that Mammon had three wives when he married you!"


    "We make fat jokes about Mammon, but Mammon makes fat jokes about you! Oh, snap!"


    "Xermolipi! You''re so fat that Histerion had to write your name on two scrolls!"


    "Bruh..." Lea, who understood the concept of scrolls due to her adventure in the Unrecorded Pages, could not help butment on the severe burn from Aron''s words.


    "Lea! Focus! The seal is getting weak!"


    "R-right!" Lea harnessed her power and could now call upon all her force.


    A Crown appeared over her head as the Abyss sensed the call of a queen and heeded her words.


    The dark waters gathered around her as she created a dark serpent.


    Martha and Puff alsobined their powers.


    In the great darkness, Martha took out the power of the first Fallen she received.


    The Separated Realm appeared, and the great power of time/space was harnessed.


    She took out a Bow and harnessed the energy on her arrow. A faint Crown began to appear over them as theirbined might allow them to reach that level of power.


    Inside the seal, Lanthanou and Xermolipi were fighting a very chaotic battle. The spells of Lanthanou were attacking Xermolipi so much that he was being pushed back by Histerion in their battle above.


    Xermolipi was so angry that she wanted to break free regardless of the cost.


    Her soul began to leak out all the power it had to fight, and Lanthanou was fighting back.


    "You damned flower! If you want to die... then die!" Lanthanous shouted, and his power attacked Xermolipi.


    Doing so allowed Histerion tond a blow on him.


    Xermolipi saw the power of Oblivion appear. It was a power that branched out of the End himself. Utter nothingness!


    "This is your end!" Lanthanou shouted as his form appeared within the seal.


    The darkness struck Xermolipi, and she began to cry out. Her death approached.


    But at that moment, the attacks of Lea and Marthanded.


    Two Crown-level attacks shot and cracked the Dragon Elemental Core Portal Seal.


    BOOOOM!


    The seals broke and crumbled, and the Oblivion energy that was about to kill Xermolipi dispersed. The soul of the Charmed Fallen was free!

 Chapter 540 Enraged Gods And Fallens

    ?


    Somewhere in the Minds...


    Many kingdoms of the Minds had started to move and surround the entrance that led to the Uninvolved Lands. The greatest obstacle that appeared before them was the Branching Barrier.


    Itprised five different kingdoms that lived over the mountainous regions of the nesworld''s twigs and leaves. It was a natural fortress and many massive plots ofnd because the Yggdrasil''s des of leaves would branch out. Cities would stack up on each other on every part of the leaves.


    The Uninvolved Lands resisted pressure from the kingdoms because of this great barrier. Even with an army that could take flight, the arrangement of the cities that hid and ovepped over other des of leaves prevented it from bombardment from above. And using magic or force to fly up would exhaust the armies.


    The kings of Central Minds had ordered their best generals to move and im thends. Many more who wished to impress and im the hearts of Mechiel and Scarlet joined in the escapade.


    But amid the movement, the four disappeared. The forces searched for Mechiel, but their king told them that the four had to leave because they knew that their presence would cause conflicts.


    The two princes of Ever Day agreed as they both feared that many men would try to woo Mechiel and Scarlet.


    As the angered men shouted and demanded to know where Mechiel and Scarlet were, the team of Branze was already nearing the Miasma Mountain Region.


    This was the same ce where Kyros would meet Daradiel.


    At that moment, Scarlet felt great unease, and she felt threatened. She turned to Mechiel.


    Mechiel could feel it.


    "...The Charmed Fallen. She''s free!" Scarlet realized that Martha and Aron had seeded.


    But surprisingly, Mechiel was not happy.


    "...? You''re scared?"


    "...Kyros had made preparations so the Charmed Fallen would not devour me. In the Unrecorded Pages, he used the Dryad''s power to trick the Blood Cmity. The Blood Cmity is a daughter of the Charmed Fallen. She has faint traces of her power. I devoured her to develop my resistance. I gained the Charmed Fallen''s power, allowing me to resist the remnant soul. But even then, it started affecting me. Now, it''s a live soul, and I can''t even fight the remnant urges... I can feel it. It''s calling me. Her soul... is terrifying. It''s weak... it won''t be able to devour me, but... I probably will lose myself!"


    "What will happen if you lose yourself?" Diana asked.


    "I..."


    "It will be mostly the same. She will still pursue Kyros or Nightwing. Currently, my son is the most eligible bachelor the universe has seen. Who else could fight Histerion, Oblivion, Destiny, and so many more and live to tell the tale? And your soul can never disappear. Because if the Charmed Fallen does that, Kyros will her and torture her soul. As much as possible, she will keep your soul alive and only influence it." Branze exined.


    "How do I get stronger to resist this?" Mechiel asked Branze.


    "You will need more Blessings or Corruption. The easiest will be if we have the Corruption of Pride. Like Gluttony and Lust, this Foul Fallen could help you in resisting as you would see yourself above Kyros. But for now, I think meeting a Greater God is our best bet."


    "Daradiel..." Mechiel uttered the name of the god they were setting out to meet.


    It wasn''t only Mechiel that reacted.


    Many gods and fallen trembled as they sensed the call of the Charmed.


    "The Rose is alive...? What happened? What magic made me forget her?" Daradiel wondered. He could only sigh. He sensed great danger at her awakening.


    "If she''s alive... then this spells trouble for our side. As I recall, Xermolipi is aligned with Destiny. Oh, Fate... Do you have counter-ns for this?" Daradiel wondered.


    "Xemolipi...?!" Impyernos was rmed at what he sensed.


    "She really is... in the nesworld!"


    On another beyond the gxies where the nseworld lived, in the depths of a massive that was made of mostly water...


    "How?! How did she escape?!" A Heretic Water God awoke in anger. She was a dragon who had defeated and acquired the Code of the Ocean, the Heretic God who fell in love with the Fallen Hydron.


    The entire rumbled as the Water God soared toward the nesworld.


    "... Sheolrah?" The Water God sensed.


    "Is she behind this?!" The Water God flew with great rage.


    Sheolrah sensed the awakening of the Charmed Fallen and frowned.


    "The Charmed Fallen?! She''s in the nesworld?!" Sheolrah cursed. But then, she felt numerous powers approaching.


    "Damn it!" She cursed and flew towards another energy.


    "Heretic Water God Thssa! Why do you bare your murderous intent to me?" Sheolrah shouted as she flew. She didn''t fear a Heretic God and was enraged at her being marked for no reason.


    "How many gods and fallen are hiding around this region?!" She cursed and flew to meet the angry Heretic God.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    As the world reacted to her return, the Charmed Fallen was actually very, very weak. She was close to dying.


    She saw the three before her and charged for possessing the strongest one.


    But as she moved, she sensed the world grow angry.


    Lea Olethros had awakened her true power and was integral to the nesworld. All who were nts and flowers hated the Charmed Fallen for killing their Orchid Goddess.


    The Charmed Fallen saw a massive God standing and watching over Lea.


    "Oh? You''re pitiful soul desires to take over her? Why don''t you try? I couldn''t kill you before because of your beauty, but such a weak form won''t affect me."


    "Dentro!" Xermolipi eximed.


    "The nesworld is an important Yggdrasil, little flower. Don''t you dare... corrupt it!" The anger of the nesworld resounded, and Xermolipi retreated.


    Lea awakened from her trance.


    "That power...! Do it again! Possess me! Quick!" Lea begged.


    Xermolipi cursed and had no choice but to target the weaker woman.


    Her soul shot towards Martha, and Martha didn''t resist. As Xermolipi was about to enter her soul, she heard Martha mutter ''what an idiot''.


    Xermolipi''s soul shot deep into the heart of Martha and found endless darkness.


    Xermolipi was confused.


    "What?! Was I sealed again?! I swear I entered the soul of the woman! Why am I back here in the darkness?!" She cursed.


    "Hey." A terrifying and angry voice called out.


    Xermolipi felt great fear, fear that she had never felt before.


    "... Lord Kyriachos?!" Xermolipi eximed.


    "Did you just... try to possess my descendant?" Kyriachos frowned.


    "D-Descendant?!"


    "A mere chick like you!? Did you think my power is so easy to allow itself to be tainted? Martha!" Kyriachos called out.


    Martha''s soul was suddenly brought to this ce.


    "Hmm? Oh. I''m here again! Great Fallen guy, Lord Kyriachos! How''s it going? I knew this would happen when she tried to possess me. My Foresight in Fate was telling me that it would all be alright. Thanks for gifting me your power. I really improved."


    "Yeah. I could sense your power! Anyway, I am only able to call you since you are in such a dark ce. I sense powering from those Beings that Were. You guys have been busy."


    "Yeah. Kyros fought against Histerion inside the Unrecorded Pages but eventually worked together to fight the Fallen, who is the aspect of forgetting. We call him Oblivion."


    "Wow! Do you realize how many amazing things that sentence carries?! The Unrecorded Pages! And he actually fought and lived against Histerion and that Lan- Lan... whatever his name is. I keep forgetting if I say it. Anyway, that''s amazing! Even I can''t do that!"


    Xermolipi trembled. Among the Greater Gods and Fallen, she did not fear any. But Beings that Are was at a different level! None of the Beings that HaveCome could fight any among the Beings that Are.


    And what was even more terrifying was that Kyriachos was addressed in such a friendly and borderline disrespectful manner! And Kyriachos didn''t get angry!


    "Anyway, this flower is a bit troublesome to eat. But I think I can kill her and give you a very tiny amount of her power." Kyriachos offered.


    Xermolipi trembled.


    "Thanks, Greater Fallen guy. But... I think we should not do that. You see, this Fallen is very important. When Kyros was in the Unrecorded Pages, we already met the weakened soul of the Charmed Fallen. It''s veryplicated, but you see, while she is an ally of End, she apparently will be our ally."


    "...I get it. In the Unrecorded Pages, a very tiny portion of the soul of Xermolipi remained and wasn''t transferred. Her vanity to be remembered kept her there. But it made her angry."


    "Yes. Before she possessed us, we actually broke open the seal to free her from Oblivion."


    "And that''s how you treat your savior? Possessing them?" Kyriachos red at Xermolipi.


    Xermolipi was crying. What kind of freaks did she meet?! The first one she tried to possess angered Dentro, but the second one was even more terrifying!

 Chapter 541 Return Of Folly

    ?


    Xermolipi trembled as Kyriachos nced at her.


    This was the being who many attribute to be the Lord of the Fallen. It was by his power that Tyrannusmitted murder. It was by his nature that the Fallen Phaulos was born. What was her charm to this man who had separated himself from the entire world?


    Xermolipi was never afraid in most moments of her life. The undeniable and uncontroble lust that she feels drives her. But before Kyriachos, what were her emotions? Fear gripped her heart and even stopped her power from appearing as she stood before the Lord of the Fallen.


    Even when Xermolipi understood that she would not die, she was still unable to manifest her charm.


    Martha began to exin what Kyros had seen in the other world. She spoke of the End and Oblivion and how the remnant soul of the Charmed Fallen was so enraged that it decided to ally with and allow Mechiel to wield her powers.


    As Xermolipi listened to Martha''s outrageous tale, a mixture of fear, disbelief, and hatred rose over her. The story and ending of Fate were far different than what she heard. She was among the original Fallen and had known the true battle between Fate and Destiny. The lover that she stole away from Zh and many others who pursued her told their side.


    Many from Fate and those on Destiny''s side had pleaded to join their side.


    In the end, Xermolipi made her decision. She chose Destiny. But hearing the future set for her, she raged.


    "Lies! This is not true! Is this the lie that Beginning spread among you? Is it not because the Being of Falsehood stands with you that you create this insane version of what will happen? This is not true! Beginning wants to end it all! As it was in the beginning, she wishes to bring everything back into one connected entity! Does not Beginning want unity to merge everything even before the First One Severed cut himself off? Isn''t oneness the goal of beginning?"


    "...What? No! That''s not what Beginning wants! Why do you guys believe such a wackadoodle exnation?!" Marthaughed.


    "It''s easy. Destiny knows the future. They just have to make one lie at a time with their knowledge of the future to make things more believable." Kyriachos answered.


    "No! That is not true! Lord Kyriachos! I respect you and even fear you! But do not be swayed to the side of these unity freaks! You are, after all, the Lord of Darkness! They have the liar!"


    "Great Gallen Guy, Kyriachos. I am curious too. You im that they make one lie at a time... But how are these lies supposed to hold support? How can such lies work against Gods and the Fallen? And isn''t the Charmed Fallen correct? I am with the Nephilim. I am almost certain that his real father is a liar! He could even be the lord of lies!"


    "Hm... that''s not urate. If anything, Kyros''s dad is the lord of Falsehood. He and Truth are a Duality. Two, that is one. One cannot exist without the other. For something to be true, there has to be false. The answer three or any other number must be false for one plus one to be two. But yet... until this world achieves Eternity wherein all dualities will now have their final state, truth and falsehood have yet to be decided. Who decided that the fire was hot and not cold? Who decides what is and what is not? Who decided that creation was one at the start? And who decided that the world was cut off and divided? Destiny has Truth because every beginning must have its end. Kyros''s father can lie because he is a falsehood. But he must stand with the Beginning so that the truth about all things having their beginning and end must stop. It doesn''t mean he is the father of lies. Lies are improper representation, distortion, addition, and subtraction of whatever is true. Someone on Destiny is a true liar. And he has lied to all of Destiny''s allies."


    Xermolipi trembled as she heard these words.


    "That is a lie! You cannot fool me! I have seen proof of this! Isn''t this why Fate and Beginning killed Hyperion Steel?"


    "Fate didn''t kill Hyperion Steel. It was End''s team who did!" Kyriachosughed.


    "You do not have proof!"


    "Well, I have." Martha smiled.


    "I am married to Aron Steele. A descendant of Hyperion. He has seen the vision and has the power of True Cut. How did you think we managed to awaken you from your seal? How do you think those insults reached you? True Cut was harnessed along with Tyrannus''s power to get those words to reach and enrage you!"


    Xermolipi recalled the painful wounds that struck her. The words that cut deep into her were still stinging as her anger and rage were still inside the depths of the conflux of her emotions.


    "True... Cut?"


    Kyriachos raised his hands and revealed the memories of Martha that showed Aron in his fullest form when they trained in the temple..


    The avatar of Hyperion had cut through the realms to make an appearance. Even when Aron had yet to reach Crown, he could still bring out this aura and make his powers unmatched among his peers!


    "...No! Impossible!" Xermolipi cried as she saw the power of Hyperion.


    "Face it, brat. You''ve believed a lie. But, honestly, I don''t me you. Your enemy is a liar."


    "If you don''t believe me, stay with us. We have the perfect person who can bear you and be your medium. Mechiel has the soul of the Blood Cmity and has even gained a remnant of your soul. If you don''t believe, then believe in yourself. Go and merge with Mechiel and see the memories you had in the Unrecorded Pages."


    Xermolipi fell silent.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I can help with that. And just so that you won''t try anything funny on my descendant, I''ll seal you in so you won''t be able to move. Your soul is so weak after fighting Oblivion that you won''t be able to survive unless you be a soul parasite." Kyriachos waved his hand, and the darkness began to bind the souls of Xermolipi to Martha''s.


    The process was very fast. Unlike the case with Puff, who had a more stable soul, the state of Xermolipi was simr to that of Cminus and Kyros when the Nephilim awakened.


    Martha smiled as she felt the power connection.


    "Interesting... This is Charm? I already have a feint amount through the Coven''s power. But now, it seems it''ll even increase. I''m sure Scarlet will be happy."


    Xermolipi was shocked as she could feel her power surging from Martha.


    "...Freaks! What freaks...!"


    "Anyway, Martha. Before you leave. I have bad news. Speaking of Dualitys, another member of the Duality beings is finally moving. Whatever the Nephilim is nning, you need to hurry it up. Complete it within the next two months."


    "Why? Which Duality is moving?"


    "Well, since you freed Xermolipi here, the memory of many Gods and Fallens about her naturally returned. Those who had been in her spell longer remembered her. But now, the cry of beauty, a damsel in distress, will cause many men to move. This is so stupid that it has called out the Duality and enemy of Kyros''s mother. I believe you have guessed her to be Wisdom? Now that I also remember bits and pieces of her through you, I can tell that the stupidity of this universe will spur him to act once more."


    "Who is this?" Martha asked.


    In the realms beyond, the team of Histerion was being driven back even after Histerion managed tond several attacks on Lanthanou. But all of a sudden, Histerion felt strange.


    "Hm? I made a mistake in writing?!" Histerion was confused. It was impossible! He was the Historian of the world! How could he make such a careless stroke? But his joy became his undoing. He was so joyful that he fooled around, and this mistake allowed the side of End to make their counter and drive the team back.


    "Hello, boys and girls!" The chuckle of a young boy was heard as he floated and appeared.


    "I''m back!" He announced.


    "...Oh? It''s you! To think you''d be so strong that you''d make me make such a foolish mistake." Histerionughed and prepared for another attack.


    But a portal opened, and Wisdom immediately released a majestic power that pushed back and created gods and fallen avatars that made its attack.


    End and his team moved back as the attacks approached the young boy.


    But the young boy pped his hands, causing the avatars of many gods and fallen to suddenly attack each other.


    The power of wisdom that called out numerous powers was used against her as the many gods and fallen who hated each other began to attack each other. But the driving power was not anger. It was simple stupidity.


    Wisdon''s eyes turned serious as she red at the trickster of the universe. However, it was the being that enraged her the most. Her Duality and greatest rival.


    "Folly."


    "Wisdom? Is that you? How fun!" Folly crackled a strangeugh.


    "We''re retreating." Wisdom ordered.


    Histerion and Beginning began to retreat.


    "We have done our purpose. It seems one who Oblivion sealed has been freed. But, though she is of Destiny, that child will not take her imprisonment lightly." Wisdom answered.


    "Are you so sure, Wisdom? I''m back. People are bound to do crazy things!" Follyughed.

 Chapter 542 Return Of The Other Guy

    ?


    Nightwing was standing over the highest mountain that overlooked the Mind regions.


    It had been days since they left the ck Bog Kingdom with their armies.


    Thest kingdoms that did not aid Breveros in the campaign against the ck Bog Kingdom stood their ground. It was thend of sprouting leaves and branches of the Yggdrasil. And these nts were so small, and the twigs were so young that the form was actually visible to those living nearby. It created a uniquendscape that could be seen in only a few ces of the nesworld.


    Nightwing had been watching the movements of the Mind kingdoms and could sense the growing power of the Subus before him. But now, he nced up and could sense that a startling power was affecting the world.


    "What is this... insanity?" Nightwing frowned.


    The power created a vast trembling throughout the world, and all that was Wisdom was being attacked.


    At that moment, Nightwing felt a great pain appear on his forehead, and it was being sealed.


    The seals of his body began to resound as the source of it had returned.


    "Folly! These seals... are the seals of Folly!" Nightwing realized it and felt his power being attacked.


    "I must resist it! Folly is attacking me! But why? Why didn''t it attack before?!" Nightwing cursed as he resisted the power.


    In the realms above, the young boyughed as he sensed it.


    "Oblivion... You must have felt it, right? Right? It hurts being burned by Histerion, but you must have remembered it, right?"


    "...The Nephilim!" Oblivion remembered.


    "That''s right! That''s right! Wisdom has been trolling you guys by the nose... But that''s why I waited for foolishness to shine! Thankfully, that girl that gets everyone''s motors running woke up, and the power of folly I stored in her would urge my return. Wisdom sealed me after I sealed that sted being, the Trinity. Or have you guys forgotten about it?"


    "Trinity? How can a Trinity be born?" End frowned.


    "You guys think of only two points. Beginning and end. Love and hate. Wisdom and Folly. But in my Folly, I managed to hide right before you started your n, End. Right when Oblivion shrouded the world, and Histerion tried to write what he could remember... I was outside of this Universe. I was in that world, that which has attained Eternity and that which has ended. You said I was crazy..."


    "You were. You died." End frowned.


    "Which was Wisdom''s n. You see, to stop the dual points of the Universe, Beginning and End, she harnessed numerous powers, including falsehood. And so... she needed..."


    "Trinity!" Destiny echoed out in shock.


    "Exactly! She needed to turn this Universe from the point of Duality and make it a Trinity. Instead of a linear point from beginning to end, she created a cycle!"


    "Life... Death... and Reincarnation!" Thora also appeared and spoke in surprise. She had seen this cycle in the human world.


    "You''re saying that this cycle that applies to a very small portion of souls in this universe...!"


    "Was created by Beginning and his team. Their secret weapon. Creating another member of the duality. Beginning, End, and Rebirth!"


    "This... Why have we forgotten this?! Why would we allow Oblivion to make us and even himself forget this?" Destiny couldn''t understand.


    "Duh! Because you used Oblivion to seal it! They had a spell, the power, and were building it to alter the world. We all needed to forget. That''s why we trapped Histerion''s daughter and forced Histerion to take action. When we were weakened, Oblivion used his powers to seal all of the memory of this world. But Wisdom wouldn''t let you and made her preparations as well. She hid the power of this third person, but before she couldplete her spells, you alsounched your attacks!"


    "We tried to kill the child. But obviously, we failed." End frowned.


    "Not exactly. You seeded. That''s why Destiny sees our victory, and you saw the End. That being they created was weakened by many curses and was forgotten in time. Yet the gods and fallen that are dead still whisper from the After Life Realm and speaks in riddles. They had seen this being when he was formed. A champion that should he rise would give Beginning her shot of victory."


    "The Nephilim... So that''s it. The whispers spoke of him..."


    "But you guys should be thankful. Because when I died, I was also reborn! I was confused about how this was so... I was weak and had very little to work with. I needed gods and fallen to do stupid things. But Wisdom was keeping them all in line. But that girl was awakened, and it drove many gods and fallen mad! Their madness caused my return! And with it... we can find him!"


    "You can find the Nephilim?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I just need to look for the smartest being in the mortal world. The one with the least folly. And we can make our attacks. Now''s the time since ol'' Wisdom and Beginning still don''t know about him. But if we all work together, we can kill. Since he''s a mortal, he could die if we cause the curse to attack him! But, if he survives, he will be too weak. So we just need tounch an incurable curse on him that not even Beginning''s team can cure." Folly chuckled.


    "It''s good that you have returned, Folly." End chuckled.


    "I told you. I will be the one that will create chaos in the world. A world of order and wisdom is boring! So let''s cast that spell! But those other guys know we would be doing this and are probably preparing to counter our attack. So let''s keep our curses not too deadly. The greater the power we send, the easier Fate, Wisdom, and Beginning will see it and block it. They don''t know where the Nephilim is because of Oblivion, and I have used my Folly so that Wisdom won''t remember her son easily. So don''t curse him that assured him of his death, alright guys?" Folly smiled.


    "Understood." Destiny answered.


    "I''ll start! I call on the Curse of Folly! Let the wise be dumb and the calm be made reckless. Let impulse take over calmness!" Folly raised his hands, and a strange power began to glow.


    "I call on the curse of Destiny! Let He who is Hit be Destined for Trouble! Let the World Hate Him and Curse Him!" Destiny shouted.


    "I call on the Curse of the Pause. Let his works be hindered, and may he be dyed. Let him be sealed time and time again!" Pausontai suddenly appeared and spoke his curse.


    "I call on the Curse of Oblivion! Let him forget who he is, who he was, and who he will be! Let the world''s knowledge of him fade to obscurity!" Lanthanou spoke his curse ording to what was possible. Since they could not kill the Nephilim and needed to be wary of him, Lanthanou only cursed him so that some of the Gods would remember.


    Thora tried to use her power, but she could not find the Nephilim.


    "...This man!" Thora was angry as her power could not reach her. She was the goddess who watched and the goddess who caused decay. But her eyes could not find the man of great Wisdom.


    "Leave it. The Watcher cannot see what is hidden. I shall use my Curse." Endughed.


    "Let the victories and the constant sess that he has felt end. Let there be toil and hardship in his steps. Let the works of his hands meet their end!" End spoke.


    Follyughed.


    "Now that''s a cruel curse! I guess this should be enough." And Folly sent the power to attack the smartest being alive.


    Back in the nesworld, Nightwing was struggling with his urge to fight Folly. He could feel his intelligence and wisdom were being devoured.


    Suddenly, the world paused.


    Nightwing felt great fear as he recalled this same sensation.


    But at that moment, he felt a power moving out of him.


    Nightwing was startled initially but calmed down as he realized who it was.


    He allowed his body to perform Blood Clone to split and create another form of himself.


    He felt the power sap out of him. All the light source in his body was drained, and all that remained was the darkness.


    Finally, the power of Folly attacked him.


    There were no explosions and shockwaves, but the curses on Nightwing''s body grew immense.


    He suddenly felt heavy, and his consciousness was drifting to darkness.


    "[Phos kai Skotos]." The blood clone spoke, and a figure appeared.


    "...Kyros...! You... traitor!" Nightwing gritted his teeth as he saw the figure appear and understood the n.


    Kyros stood close by and harnessed his power to keep Nightwing''s soul from being sealed in Oblivion and Pausontai.


    "Cminus!" Kyros called out.


    "On it, boss!" The power of Time began to reverse and turned back time as much as it could. The full power of the curses stopped, and Nightwing stumbled as the world moved once more.

 Chapter 543 Return Of The Curses

    ?


    The power of the most powerful Gods and Fallen had activated a curse to attack Nightwing.


    It found the smartest being whom Folly could sense and zeroed in their curses on that one being.


    The power of Pausontai tore through the realms. While Beginning, Fate, Histerion, and many others began to hinder the power of the curse being delivered, it still managed to reach the mortal realm and attack Nightwing.


    But as the power of Pausontai appeared, the power of Time surged.


    Even though there were allies next to him, the power of pause had made them unaware of everything,


    Nightwing saw it because of the counterpower of Time. A tremendous amount of power was collected from such a great power source.


    "All those things that Histerion gave us are being used here... I guess you were right. So instead of giving me my form back, it''s better to use this power to counter a god-level spell." Cminus chuckled.


    It was all ording to the ns of Kyros. Time had paused, and it created a trigger to force Kyros to use his Soul to appear.


    Nightwing had long known of this seal and didn''t know how to activate it. Unlike Kyros, Nightwing does not know the Soul Console nor did he know how to code. It was the one knowledge that he didn''t have ess topared to Kyros. And this was what Kyros used to his advantage to hide numerous truths from Nightwing and enact the n that was set ever since Kyros had escaped from the Unrecorded Pages.


    The curses began to attack Nightwing, and Nightwing knew.


    "You.... jerk...! You plotted this!" The pained Nightwing felt pain as curses bombarded his soul.


    "You should understand by now why I had to do that," Kyros answered as numerous paths and powers appeared and allowed his body to stand up and take form.


    "...You! We are... supposed to be... one!" Nightwing was angered.


    "We are. That''s why I''m doing this. You know that you are the better person to bear the seals. I was the original one cursed. If their curse had attacked me, it would have made the restrictions heavier, and we would have died. But of course, there was no way for you to agree with this... So I had to do it this way."


    Nightwing was losing his vision, but suddenly, a strange power began to glow from within him.


    The terrifying curses suddenly turned light, and Nightwing''s consciousness began to return.


    He could see Kyros''s expression revealed immense pain and understood what was going on.


    Kyros was drawing out some of the pain, and while Nightwing still bore most of it, Kyros took some and prevented the full effects of the curses from sealing Nightwing!


    Time suddenly continued, and everyone was startled to see Nightwing create a clone.


    "Master Nightwing?" Monica asked.


    "...You''re not Nightwing! Who is this?" Krysta sensed it.


    Nightwing coughed up blood as his power began to weaken.


    Everyone was shocked as they saw Nightwing weakened.


    "Leave me. Much is to be discussed with this fool. But he is me. My other self. Go!" Nightwing ordered.


    [Oration activated.]


    Everyone was shocked at Nightwing''smand and hesitated.


    "You guys should go. Your boss is not feeling well." Kyros spoke.


    Krysta could see a strange power in him. Monica, Sherah, and even Angelian could tell that the ''blood clone'' was not Nightwing!


    Despite their confusion, the group slowly left.


    "...At least you know how to bear the weight." Nightwing finally spoke.


    "...I already bore these curses once. So I''m not doing it again." Kyros answered.


    "...Once? Didn''t you bear it twice?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Kyros smiled but did not answer.


    "...What? You mean...!"


    "When I awoke, I had a great affinity to the light. I thought it was because of the Celestial Code, but let''s be honest. How can one harness the light even with the Code? If you are the Fallen Soul. I am the Ancient God. The first one, the one whose memories you are seeing, is the one who has yet to awaken. The third person of our Trinity."


    Nightwing began to think but noticed a strange power of constant strange thoughts entering and hindering him.


    "...Ugh. I can''t believe I''m this slow. Is this the effect of Folly?"


    "Sorry about that. I''m only drawing out a small portion because, naturally, I''ll be the one leading this body again. And I can''t do that with a lot of Folly in me. This Folly is really smart despite his name. He should be as smart as our mother. But... he is given in to his foolishness. The effect on us is making us dumber and unable to see basic truths and act on them."


    "I can''t believe thoughts of bedding those girls are affecting me. It''s as if I would be willing to throw away their lives for my selfishness. But, of course, it also makes me want... to kill you." Nightwing red at Kyros.


    "Let me rify what I know and why I sealed your memories."


    "You better. I''m turning into dumb and dumber here."


    "...You can''t turn into two of them. Pick one. Jim Carrey or Jeff Daniels."


    "Just get on with the story, smarty pants."


    "Alright. The fight in the Unrecorded Pages and my talks with Histerion made me see two members of a Duality. I''ve already heard of this Duality through Kyriachos. Beginning and End. Fate and Destiny. Histerion and Lanthanou. Soter and Kyriachos. The more I saw, the more I pondered on what we were. We are a trinity, but I can''t fathom what we are. One conceals, the other reveals. I am obviously the one that reveals. As for you, you managed to do what I could not. Conceal. I cannot wield the power of Oblivion like you can, who used it to conceal things."


    "So that''s why you went to the trouble of ''awakening'' me. You prepared that tower and sacrificed an entire kingdom to be devoured to create my darkness. You broke free from the bonds of Destiny, and you wanted to fully conceal yourself, which was the source of the curses that afflicted you and your family. The Steele family."


    "They''re your family too, you know? But yes. I did that to maximize the benefits and traps that we could make. But with what I know, I was afraid of one thing. The other member of the Duality of our mother. Folly would naturally side with End because even if he knows the truth, he will choose to destroy the universe in his folly. I was wondering why he had not shown himself. I mean, Destiny knows we''re smart. If he wants to stop us, he needs to use Folly."


    "You assumed that Folly did what Folly does best. He did some stupid stuff that either left him in a near-death state or that him to disappear from this universe."


    "Exactly. You still have some INT with you! Good! Anyway, I was afraid that if there was one thing that could find us again, it would be Folly. After all, Mysterion and even using Oblivion could hide us from all these curses, but Folly will sense the smart ones and attack them. If he was to return, our powerful intellect would be the one thing that would reveal our location. Even if they don''t know about Kyros or the Nephilim, they couldunch an attack to target the smart one."


    "...You deduced that Destiny caused the curses in our bodies? I was under the impression it was Fate who did it, in coboration with many other gods and fallen. How did you conclude that End''s team cursed you in that past life and sealed you in the Nephilim Sealing Temple?"


    "Think about the curses we have now. [De-Smart]? That''s definitely Folly. We were sealed in a Temple and kept away from the world for hundreds of thousands of years. It''s definitely a curse of Pausontai. [De-Spacito] is a time curse, but why would Cminus or Luigi curse us with this time spell?"


    "Luigi? You got your memories back?"


    "Yeah. It was fun thinking I was a slime." Cminus cheered.


    "You also met my wife. That''s awesome!"


    "Never in a million years, even with my wisdom, would I believe you were married to such a beautiful goddess." Kyros shook his head as he remembered.


    "Yeah. I found it hard to believe too..." Nightwing shook his head in disbelief as well.\


    "In any case, we saw the curse of Fate in us, but until I grew stronger, did I realize that there was a curse of Destiny in it. Who would be powerful enough to make our body, which has the blessings of many gods and fallen on Beginning''s side, to make us not see the curse of Destiny."


    "Lanthanou." Nightwing realized it.


    "Yes. So I knew that these curses could return should Folly return. And I nned on bringing him back."


    "How? How could you forcibly... oh. The Charmed Fallen."


    "Exactly. Folly guides the Fallen Phaulos. He could even be their ancestor. It might trigger his return if I could force gods and fallen to act in Folly. And my existence had to disappear, and by disappear, I mean really disappear."


    "Because if you were ''present,'' the curse would attack the two of us. You timed for the moment when the curse was already sent and removed yourself from me." Nightwing red at Kyros.


    "Hehe. Don''t be mad. If anything, you''re only mad because of Folly! Without it, you would be very impressed with the n I came up with!"

 Chapter 544 Return To Slumber

    ?


    Nightwing sat among his allies within a dark dome. He had to discuss everything that he had experienced and the mysterious disappearance of his other half, which was called ''Kyros.''


    Within the dark dome of Mysterion and Oblivion, Nightwing spoke to his true allies, those whom he had called, and revealed everything.


    "As part of a trinity, and because of our true mission of fighting against End, there were many... forces that we have to face. Kyros, my other part of this Trinity, had devised a multiyered plot to prevent the curses from afflicting us. All three of us." Nightwing exined.


    Angelian, Krysta, Monica, and Sherah listened.


    Krysta''s parents were now among the most trusted allies as they had shown great power, and the lost arts of the Sword Saint Family were revealed.


    Commander Tyrs, the survivor of the massacre, and Joshua, now on Commander level, listened.


    And finally, the Emperor Assassin and Dwarven Meister Strongholden stood by to listen.


    Only Mage Commander Estus was not brought in as he was still not ready to learn the truth about Fate and Destiny as it was not yet revealed to him.


    Reginald had now recalled his true memory as the Okto-Khefali. It assumed a human form and listened to the exnation that Nightwing had. Among them, he understood the most and was amazed at Kyros and Nightwing''s capability.


    "That... is quite a tale. You speak of Gods and Fallen that are gods to the gods and fallen, I know!" Eugene was amazed.


    "That is the real extent of our battles. Breveros is the one who is supposed to be called to our side. The blessings of Anemous should help him turn from being that of Destiny to a True Neutral. But even then, it''s still possible that all of this would fail, and he would return to Destiny. Heck, probably most of what I tried to build would fall. Including all of you." Nightwing frowned.


    "This other you... He knew that the curses would return. How?" Krysta asked.


    "He''s as smart as me, and he had more information. He deliberately hid numerous things from me, including my own abilities. All to prepare and trap me for this! He could not sacrifice his own team, so he released me, knowing that I would build my own. As someone born as an Incubus form, this was my nature and my leaning."


    "You''re not really an incubus?" Angelian asked.


    "Yes. That was part of the lie. I thought that this was my primary form! The trap is very annoying. I''m a bit dumb now, but knowing he trapped me in my prime form gues me!"


    "But why would he trap you? I thought he was part of you?!" Monica asked.


    "Haven''t you been listening? Nightwing won''t agree to this crazy trap! That was the point!" Krysta argued.


    "Right. I''m never allowing myself to be the prime target of every curse. Because he is a part of me, he knew I wouldn''t agree to this. If the roles were switched, I would have done the same."


    "But I don''t understand... Do you mean to say that you and Kyros were freed just over a year ago? But only Kyros was awake the entire time, and you had no memory?"


    "That''s another concept regarding our Trinity. He knew how to awaken and draw me out because this is his power as part of the Mysterion Trinity. The first part of the Mysterion Trinity is to conceal. That is my power. Kyros had another aspect. To reveal."


    "To reveal?"


    "Yes. He needed to be the first to be born because he was the revtion. The Nephilim was concealed. My power was used to seal the Nephilim and hide it from all the gods and fallen. But for us to be free from the seal, we needed the Kyros. The one that reveals."


    "But how did he hide things from you?" Angelian asked.


    "Another part of the Mysterion Trinity lent Kyros his power. We call him the Keeper."


    "The Keeper? As in, he keeps the secrets?" Krysta asked again.


    "Yes. Two parts of the Trinity arranged things for me to bear the curse because I had to conceal it. When I fall into slumber, I will work with the Keeper, who will store and keep the curses. He is also why most of Kyros''s memories and powers were not passed on to me. And all of this, I would take the bulk of the curse. Considering I lost to two persons of my Trinity, I find it eptable. The only person that should be able to beat me is two versions of me. It''s annoying, but it makes sense."


    "How bad are the curses?"


    "All of you could die. Many of the curses can be countered. The most annoying ones are [De-Smart], [De-Wise], and [De-Spacito]. It''s cursed by Folly and Pausontai. It''s so strong that even though I have the blessings of the Time God Cminus and arge portion of his soul is in me, it still halved my speed by more than half. I won''t stand a chance fighting Crowns again."


    "That''s cruel! I can''t believe he would do such a thing to you!" Sherah cursed.


    "...I''m not so sure about that. Honestly, it''s better this way." Krysta answered.


    "Better?! Krysta! How dare you?! Our master is-"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "No. My daughter is right. These curses could havee at anytime. Had it been at a time more inconvenient than our current situation, Kyros or the Mysterion Trinity would all die."


    "Yes. Honestly, I hate it. I don''t really me him. He is right. If the curse is to be hidden... it has to be me. Of course, I would have never agreed to this. If I knew, I''d do everything to twist the things and fight hard against them. But he needed the curse to be sent out early. I even suspect him to be taking a very dark path."


    "A dark path?"


    "...A path where everyone dies."


    "What?"


    "The Mysterion is a power to conceal, keep, and reveal. He could do that with souls. I have to say. I thought that this boy scout wouldn''t do such crazy things. But it could be his path."


    "He wants all of his allies to die?"


    "Including all of you. That''s the only way to defeat the biggest curse that afflicted us. The Curse of End."


    "A curse sent from End himself! So it''s like a death sentence if you are afflicted by it."


    "Yes. It''s a very nefarious Curse. Even if I seal myself, this curse will still take effect and slowly attack Kyros. But, me sealing myself should buy us enough time to seed in our current mission and wipe out many of Destiny''s forces... This gives us an advantage over what is to follow when the Curse of End takes full effect. It''s not just a death sentence..."


    "What does this curse of end do?"


    "It ends things." Kyros suddenly appeared.


    "It ends victories. It ends with sess. It even ends life. It''s an assurance that whatever we are, we will end. And unlike the other seals, which can be broken, this one can''t. It will only end when we end." Kyros exined.


    "Done with your little meeting?" Nightwing asked.


    "Yes. I updated Listrel with our ns and told them that the curses we managed to escape from had returned. And it''s more powerful than ever. So we have to fuse now. The longer you stay awake, the more this curse leaks out."


    "...You two still owe me."


    "Think of it, that you are Jesus. You are bearing the sins and curses of the world for the good of mankind."


    The rest were confused at Kyros''s strange words.


    "Whatever. But Kyros... Take care of my allies. Treat them as you would with your Coven and the Steele Family."


    "...Oh? I didn''t expect you to be this sentimental."


    "...What can I say? I''m greedy because of Bar-Mammon." Nightwing then turned to his allies.


    "Dear friends. I used you. I took you as part of my team for my benefit. But I do care for all of you. It''s been fun with you guys. But this is a necessary part of our journey."


    The allies of Nightwing bowed, and some even began to shed tears.


    "Until I awaken again, we may not see each other for a while. Or... considering this crazy man''s n, he could be nning for your deaths."


    "So you''re still smart enough to notice that, huh?" Kyros answered with a nk face.


    "Do you even have the n to resurrect them? Soter''s power is not enough."


    "Nightwing. I survived the Unrecorded Pages and fought against Lanthanou. And we survived the curses of the most powerful gods and fallen. I don''t know how, but I assure you, it can happen. And until I find a way to preserve their lives and hide them in Mysterion, I will do my best to keep them alive. But no promises. You know what challenges we face, and you should understand that I''m risking my family as well. The curses of Destiny and their deaths will return."


    "I know. Let''s get this over with. Wake me up when these curses end."


    Kyros flew towards Nightwing, and with a sh of light, they fused.


    Nightwing was no more. And Kyros had returned.

 Chapter 545 Return To The Original Form

    ?


    It was time to take action. The natural fortress of many twigs and branches that made numerous levels had been fortified as an invasion was expected.


    After all the preparations, ''Nightwing'' called for a meeting of all the forces and leaders they had acquired in their campaigns. All the kingdoms of the Uninvolved Lands had representatives who met with Nightwing. All the strongest cultivators at the peak of being Cardinals and Crowns were invited to gather in this meeting.


    Naturally, ''Nightwing'' and Breveros were the leaders who continued to discuss the strategy for fighting the armies.


    As they had positioned themselves in one of the highest peaks of budding leaf, they could see the full view of the enemies thaty before them.


    At the entrance of this grand defendednds were the armies of Central Minds. The armies that were gathered were vast, and many. It would result in a grand battle between the two Mind forces, and Crowns were certain to appear.


    Many sat and grumbled as they watched the army. Most med Breveros for his poor luck. However, they were more open after what had happened. Though they had witnessed the power of Breveros, there were whispers within the crowds, and many considered Nightwing to be the real leader.


    The Eldrich assistants of Breveros would often rage and threaten them, but the arrogance of the people of the Uninvolved Lands rose even higher. It would belittle Breveros and the Eldrich openly.


    "You speak of power, but if not for Nightwing, we would have all died! So what if Breveros unlocked a new power of the wind? If not for Nightwing''s blood that stopped the attacks of those Fleshy Golems, we would all have died! Can Breveros counter the strength of a Conqueror? That giant could easily kill Crowns!" One of the kings mocked Eldrich.


    The assistants and guards of Breveros were shouting in rage, but Breveros was silent. He didn''t care anymore.


    He was immersed in the wind and the concept of freedom. He saw the reactions of these people as an expected and unreasonable targeting of himself because of his bad luck. Breveros desired freedom.


    True freedom to be unbounded by Fate and Destiny.


    "So... our main concern is the gathering armies," Kyros spoke.


    Breveros turned to Kyros, as did the Cardinals, who were tendrils of Reisling.


    They couldn''t point out something odd and different with Nightwing.


    "For those wondering, I have merged with another clone I sent into the Minds to spy and corrupt many. He was masquerading as a Pdin and was using powers of Light."


    "Using the light?"


    "Yes. I used the power of my master, the Fanged Fallen''s daughter, to create two incarnations of myself. One held the darkness and appeared as Nightwing, while the other took hold of the light." Kyros exined.


    "Light? How is that possible?! An Incubus can''t use light and harness it! Much less be a form of it!" One of the Eldrich frowned.


    "That''s because I''m not an Incubus." Kyros smiled.


    [Deception activated.]


    "The tale of the Subus is that one of the Gods had taken a liking over a daughter of the Charmed Fallen. But the nature of this being was too corrupted and full of lust that it would cheat. So one of the sons of Ss did something unbelievable. He used his powers to imbue and rebirth the Subus as a being of the light. But, of course, this tale didn''t end happily as the being formed as a woman clothed in light but still had her lustful desires. This being, known as Lilith, struggled, for though she had loved the son of Ss, her lust could not be controlled. She slept with so many beings. Gods and fallen alike. When the son of Ss found out, it drove him mad. As a being of Ss, he could tell that Lilith truly loved him. And was the first to defy thews of marriage."


    "What?! The first Fornicator is a son of Ss!? I have never heard of such absurd stories!" Chrislie Sword Saint, the wife of Killian Sword Saint and the mother of Krysta, reacted. She was a priestess to Ss before her death and resurrection.


    "That''s not exactly something that the church of light can tell in their stories, right?" Kyros sneered.


    "Serpentari Ss. That''s his name, ording to Ss and Soter, hidden in the legacies of those who walk. He took back Lilith, who showed sorrow in her deeds against Serpentari. But it was all a facade. Sce cultivated the love of Lilith all to prepare for his reprisal. Knowing how he transformed the Subus into Lilith, he became the first Incubus. But not of the darkness, a being lust which is of the Light. He took on a new name, Lucifer."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Deep within the soul of Kyros, Nightwing opened his eyes.


    "... Lucifer? Is that where I draw my power?" Nightwing thought.


    "Or am I Lucifer himself?" Nightwing pondered.


    "That''s a possibility," Cminus exined.


    "An Incubus that could use light and harness Skotos Eis Phos. That''s what Kyros thinks you are, and they used this knowledge against you. It''s possible that just like the duality of gods and fallen, the trinity that forms the Nephilim are three different souls. But we have no evidence to prove this." Cminus answered.


    "... Lucifer. He was a being light and concealed this light to be darkness... So Kyros thinks, this is who I am... Then what of Kyros? Who is the darkness that sought to be light? If my essence is that of Lucifer, a naga, then what is Kyros?"


    "We don''t know yet. I guess we''ll find out soon." Cminus chuckled.


    "Lucifer?! The Morning Star is a son of Ss?!"


    "One of the strongest of Ss''s sons if you ask me. Ss, Kyriachos, and Tyrannus blessed him to make this possible. As Lucifer, he took on multiple wives and was even pursued by the Charmed Fallen."


    "The Charmed Fallen pursued him?!"


    "Lucifer dared not to take her as one of his mistresses. But many Subus was drawn out and pursued her. Lilith could only watch in horror as the man she started to truly and faithfully love had be a scorn of all creation. Thews of the gods and fallen have been set. But Lucifer ragged against this and tried to take numerous wives. Made vows to all sorts of many women and received the curse of all beings for breaking the most sacred point of all. The highest act of Unity that can be achieved ever since Hyperion severed all creation. Marriage. This is why, even as a Naga, the sun of Lucifer, I dare not to take more wives." Kyros exined.


    Many who had numerous wives were confused by Kyros''s statements.


    "What punishment is there to take many wives?" A king asked.


    "For you? Nothing. This only applies if ones seek to be a god or fallen. Mortals need not worry. But as my eyes are set on bing a heretic, I cannot taint myself with any other rtionships."


    The women of Nightwing felt a strange pain as they heard this.


    "A naga? That''s your heritage?"


    "The firstborn among Nagas. That''s the heritage I had when I was sealed and awakened. Those that walk the path of Lilith be Lamias." Nightwing turned into one of the strongest Cardinals that survived the Darkling scourge. She was a Lamia.


    Her heart quivered as she saw Kyros''s gaze.


    Her fiance saw her expression but dared not to show any form of hatred against Kyros.


    "Now that I have exined my original form and dispelled any suspicion... I need you all tounch an attack. Brevero will remain here. Despite his bad luck, unless the entire leaves fall, you guys ought to survive. I will take my team to call out the reinforcements of the Eldrich. As you know, we n tounch an invasion. And this team will most likely face an ambush. Our goal is to ambush those who n to ambush our team. So the strongest in this ce should go with me to fight and massacre the teams. Who will go?" Kyros asked.


    Almost everyone shot their hands in the air. They dared not stay with Breveros.


    "It''s touching to see some loyalty. But I cannot bring all. So I will select those who are strongest. Those covered with Destiny''s power will join me in this battle." Kyros answered and began to call out the names of those who had powerful blessings from Destiny.

 Chapter 546 Return To Previous Struggles

    ?


    The warriors of Central Minds gathered and formed ranks.


    Among them was a surprising character who appeared and took charge of many nearby kingdoms.


    Princess Listrel Endoxus sat on a throne and watched the gathering of forces.


    Below her were numerous guards and warriors with the highest cultivation. Most were Crowns and guarded Listrel.


    A carriage approached therge building that was erected for the Princess.


    Many of the guards drew their weapons.


    "Let them in. Those are my special guest." Listrel smiled.


    The guards resumed their formation.


    Branze and Diana left the carriage and saw the many guards who were princes and political figures in the Minds.


    They were all fawning up to Listrel. The rtionship between the Minds and the Hignds was slightly antagonistic. But Listrel moved as an ambassador and imed that she was looking for a suitable candidate who she would marry.


    And so, despite the Minds'' history of waging war towards the Walls That Endured, many began to fawn up to Listrel with the prospect of bing the ruler of the nesworld. However, it was known that the king did not have a son.


    And so, everyone became suspicious when the groups heard that Listrel would meet with a diplomat whom she had personally summoned.


    They saw Branze and immediately assumed that this man had a special rtionship with Listrel and hated him.


    But then, two figures emerged from the carriage.


    Two breathtaking beauties. One who was scorned by the world, and the other, who was innocent and had a wonderful smile.


    Every one of the Crowns who saw the two couldn''t even breathe.


    "...Oh? It seems that you can now stand beside me." Mechiel secretlymunicated to Scarlet.


    "I have been thinking deeply about what you said."


    "At least you managed to catch up. It will be dangerous if Uncle Aron arrives and bestows on me the power of the soul. I''d probably lose myself. You have to stand and contend with me and steal away Kyros if possible. I won''t be the same after this, Scarlet." Mechiel voiced out with deep emotion.


    "...I understand." Scarlet maintained her smile but knew Mechiel was pleading for Scarlet to grow more powerful.


    The group walked towards the halls of the building.


    "Leave us," Listrel ordered.


    And all the men left, and only those who served Listrel stayed.


    "...Princess Listrel. Could your trusted men be ordered aside for now?"


    "What?!" Tathar and the rest frowned at Mechiel''s bold request.


    Listrel raised her eyebrow and looked at Mechiel.


    Diana, Branze, and Scarlet were equally surprised at Mechiel''s request.


    "...Why?"


    "It pertains to my memory in that world."


    "...I see. Leave us."


    "Princess."


    "Tathar, I am not so weak to fall against them. Even if they attack me together, my current level could already match Conquerors." Listrel sighed.


    "...I understand." Defeated by Listrel''s arguments, Tathar left with the others.


    "Do you need me to create a sound shield?" Listrel asked.


    "Yes. And I think Father-inw and Mother-inw should also create a force shield to surround everything us."


    "So wary." Listrel chuckled and used her powers to create a powerful wall of mirrors that guarded every inch of the building.


    The people outside were amazed at the creation of mirrors and marveled at the power of Listrel.


    Even Listrel''s guards were amazed.


    "Father, mother..." Mechiel turned to Branze and Diana, who also created a powerful dome of Force wall over them.


    "There... Now, what exactly is causing you to demand such... precaution."


    "I dared not to tell you this by other means, Listrel. But that man that serves you... The one called Tathar. He looks like Tathar Malwasul. A Celestial that served under the banner of the Eldirch." Mechiel exined.


    Listrel''s casual expression turned to shock and then to anger.


    "...He''s a spy?"


    "I don''t know. We never met in the past life I lived. I also don''t sense any form of energy from Destiny from that man. He could be a True Neutral. In any case, you should have felt the power of Destiny returning now. I can sense that the powers that want to kill me are slowly catching up. So who knows what will happen?" Mechiel exined.


    "Have you met with Kyros?" Branze asked.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "No. He couldn''te. But he made a powerful attack yesterday. It was at a Crown''s level and came swiftly. To the rest, it only appeared like Nightwing shot a powerful earthen meteor from the heights, but I knew there was more to it. And here it is." Listrel then revealed an Elemental Core.


    "That''s... Eugene!" Scarlet recognized the one core of the Okto-Khefali.


    The core took shape as Listrel gave the power of life to it, and a golem stood.


    "It''s good to see you,dies." The golem spoke.


    "Eugene. How''s my husband?" Mechiel asked.


    "Nightwing or Kyros? Nightwing''s asleep now. Kyros is in control." Eugene exined.


    "Finally..." Scarlet sighed in relief.


    "What happened?"


    "Well, it''s a long story..." Eugene then began to tell the tale.


    He told of the duality, the fears and worries of Kyros, and finally, Eugene told of the n that Kyros hatched. He exined how he used Nightwing to hide the numerous curses, which was bound to increase again.


    "Once Folly returned, it would have been possible to sense him, and all the gods and fallen would be able to increase the curses," Eugene exined.


    "So... Kyros knew more about duality and knew that while Mysterion and the Nephilim Sealing Temple had hidden him from the gods and fallen and that their curses could not attack him, it was only a matter of time that they could..." Listrel understood.


    "The issue is Oblivion. We were forgotten. Fate''s team acted like a protective nket that halted any curses Destiny could send. But now, Fate has forgotten about Kyros as well. Through Folly, they located the Nephilim and attacked him. Amazingly, he figured out the one thing that could attack him. So this means we only have little time until the curses of Destiny return to us, with a vengeance."


    "Yes. Kyros also warns everyone... Because of the Curse of End, you could all die now."


    "So right now, we should be... faced with the same challenges as before? We''re back to the previous struggles of fighting against Destiny..." Diana sighed.


    "Right. And it will slowly get worse. But, for now, we have the advantage of the situation and should make the most of our current n and kill as many forces of Destiny as possible." Eugene answered.


    "Alright, then. Tell Kyros of Tathar''s current situation. Mechiel, has Kyros met Tathar in hisst world.


    "Not that I know of..."


    "...Then it''s better that Tathar will go with Kyros. But what is his n? The number of forces that we gathered could deal with the army he brought if they went on the offense. The Mind forces I brought here have already erected a paling that will hinder teleportation."


    "Kyros will release a massive army of Darklings to attack your forces. The battle will be intense, and you should all release Crown attacks. One of the palings must be deactivated to create a small gap. It has to happen in a fraction of a second. Just enough time to send Kyros and his team behind enemy lines."


    "Simple and effective. Alright. Tell Kyros he can begin now."


    "He already started... You also should move your base a bit. This ce is within range of his cannon."


    "What? How?! At this height, any magic or physical attacks would sh with the wind resistance and fall far out. How could it reach here?"


    "Breveros has awakened a Code of the Wind."


    "So it''s going to be simr to the Unrecorded Pages where the wind was very little, allowing us to make those ranged attacks using arrows..." Listrel recalled.


    "No. It''s much worse. Breveros did not take away the wind resistance. He is blessing the mortar weapons to gather and be pushed by the winds. You''d need Crowns to deflect these attacks."


    TANG! TANG!


    Listrel heard many ringing metals outside as numerous people began to attack the erected ss wall.


    "This sounds fun. So I am now going against that Breveros? Alright. Resume your stances. Let''s execute this mission beautifully."


    At once, Listrel, Branze, and Diana undid their spells.


    As the domes that covered them were removed, they could see a massive boulder falling on them.


    "Branze. Diana. Help me block that. This is annoying. Breveros has a height advantage." Listrel moved out, and the two followed.


    The trio saw the massive boulder.


    "Something is inside it..." Listrel sensed.


    Many Crowns began to gather, and everyone had an ugly expression as they attacked it.


    But a thickyer of wind that was at the level of Crown defended against their attacks.


    "Branze. Diana. Pass on your Force energy. Let''s make one hell of a shield!" Listrel smiled.


    The light under her feet created a strange heat and drew an Energy Formation Circle.


    Everyone was amazed at the precise power and speed that created it.


    "Wow. You''re this good!" Branze was amazed. He had studied energy formation circles and knew how difficult it was.


    "I''ve been around Kyros. I''m trying to catch up." Listrel smiled.


    Branze and Diana gave their Force energy.


    Listrel wielded it and smiled as she nced at the iing meteor.


    "[Emperors Shield]!"

 Chapter 547 Return To The Fortress

    ?


    The massive meteors were mere stones and ores from the top of the gigantic sprouting twig. But to those within thends of the nesworld, it was a gigantic beanstalk peaking up to the heavens. It was twice as high as the World Wood Tree, and the winds were terrifying above. So the heights were not good forunching attacks.


    The many elements that existed above made throwing rocks or arrows impossible, unlike in the Unrecorded Pages, where many elements had died out.


    Listrel met the power of the falling stone that would have surpassed themon force of those who were Crowns.


    With the help of the Force energy from the two members of the Steele family, thebined power of Gennaios Steele and Katara Kyriachos is imbued in the light of Listrel Protos Endoxus.


    A massive shield formed above, and a vivid Crown appeared above Listrel.


    But what was surprising was that a barely visible Crown was superimposing Listrel''s crown.


    "...It can''t be...! Those two?!" The nearby Crowns saw the power.


    "A true Shield Expert! Those two are powerful shield experts!"


    Many surprised cries could be heard as Listrel blocked the attack.


    BANG!


    The massive meteor faced an unbending shield. The shield had properties of mirrors, and a white light was reflecting the light to push it back.


    "What are you waiting for? Attack it!" Listrel ordered as the Crowns began to shoot their attacks at the meteor that had lost momentum and force.


    The nearby Crownsunched their attacks on the side.


    As the attacksnded on the side of therge meteor, the hollow core was revealed, and the meteor cracked and broke like ss, causing an army of Darklings to appear.


    At once, the ground trembled and many darklings rose up from the ground.


    The armies of the Uninvolved Lands also charged out as smaller meteors fell down and smashed on the ground, and the vanguard of the Mind armies was in disarray.


    "Stand firm!" The leaders of each respective team weremanding their forces to fight as Cardinals and Commanders took their fighting up front.


    Ikarod smiled as he flew around and watched. The Darklings were terrifying foes. But now, under the revived spells of the Necromancers, the Eldrich, and the powerful blood formation that Nightwing created, they were able to revive over twenty percent of the in Darklings to be used as suicidal cannon fodder.


    The armies of the Minds were forced tounch their attacks, which allowed the Uninvolvednds to move in position and cast their own spells.


    The meteors of great size that traveled longer distances were further diminishing the wary guards of the army.


    Ikarod held a massive club and hurled it down, mixing his attacks with many other air-to-ground attacks.


    Amid the attacks of Cardinal level was a club being thrown, and as it reached the barriers erected to resist it, Grandanite Doragan emerged, and a stony giant appeared that hammered down on the Cardinal-level barriers.


    BANG!


    "Crown sneak attack!" The cardinals shouted, but it was toote as Gradanite''s fist reached the ground.


    BOOM!


    The earth shook, and arge crevice formed from his attack.


    There was panic and chaos, and many of the Crowns who were watching from the back began to speed off to the front lines.


    As this was happening, Listrel had retreated back. As the one with the highest rank, she was naturally urged to head back to a safer ce.


    Listrel moved and found the object that they were looking for. Unfortunately, it was one of the paling energies that prevented teleportation of all forms.


    "Tell Kyros that I''m going to deactivate it now!" Listrel spoke.


    "I will tell you when. Don''t waste a single second, and activate it after! They will teleport through this ce to an area where Kyros prepared!" The Earth core of Eugene urged.


    "I understand."


    "...Now!"


    FLASH!


    Listrel followed and quickly activated and deactivated it.


    Not a second passed when the paling lost power and returned. And with the chaos, no one was able to notice it.


    "It worked."


    "...Alright. Mechiel, Scarlet. I''m sure you want to go and meet him. Too bad I have to be here. Butdies, the women of Nightwing will fight you to their deaths. So we cannot meet him yet."


    "That''s right. We''ll be heading back, but we cannot appear yet." Branze added.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Why?" Scarlet frowned.


    Mechiel chuckled.


    "You think thedies of Nightwing will give you a warm wee? They have people of Destiny, and even if Kyros or Nightwing were to stop them, they would order the hordes of Destiny they brought tounch attacks at us."


    "Exactly. There is a battle that requires Kyros and his team to be in their prime. And many minions of Destiny are with Kyros. So, regardless of your emotions, meeting with Kyros will result in a battle. And they need all the strength that they need."


    "Let''s just regroup with the rest. Martha and Aron are set to return. The Steele family and the Coven will be united once more! And now that the Emberdons have perfected the spatial portals to teleport us, we can finally return back to the Fortress! I want to take a bath at the rumored hot springs section that they created." Diana smiled. She was excited as she had missed everyone.


    "I heard the Library has improved. They should have more knowledge than the Hignds! The trade deals with Minds have now brought the fortress at par with Mind fortresses in terms of defenses!" Branze cheered.


    "So, what exactly is our n? We''re not going to join with Kyros when the Eldrich sends their teams from outer space?" Scarlet frowned.


    "The n is that Kyros will ambush those that n to ambush the arriving forces of the Eldrich. Then you could ambush Kyros''s forces. In any case, target those of Destiny. Those are the targets."


    "...Fine. The rest of the Coven and the Steele Family is arriving in the Minds. This will be a great battle."


    "I will warn you. Expect the unexpected. Remember that Folly has returned. Even with your preparations, Kyros is expecting the Minds to lose. It will be your family that will stop the army and wipe them out."


    "We know."


    "Tathar!" Listrel called out as a strange energy formation circle suddenly appeared.


    "My Lady!" Tathar appeared through a portal. He was on the front-lines fighting and was called back.


    His appearance was unkempt and poor.


    Mechiel saw Listrel summon Tathar and knew what Listrel had nned.


    She nced at Listrel, who also gave her a meaningful look.


    "You look like my summon saved you." Listrel chuckled.


    "The damned creatures that master Kyros brought with him was... shocking, to say the least."


    "That was Nightwing. But now, apany Mechiel and Scarlet. And... please don''t fall in love with Mechiel and Kyros." Listrel raised her eyebrow.


    "... I will try my best, mydy," Tathar answered. He dared not say that it would be a crazy suggestion. He knew that being with two subi was a dangerous business.


    "At least you are honest. Go. A huge battle that will wipe out the forces of Destiny is about to ur. If we are victorious, we will be able to achieve great sess that will strengthen our position and stop that future where our world is doomed."


    "I understand, my Lady."


    "Go! I shall remain here and keep the forces at bay and ensure the teams of Destiny and the traitors of the future in the Minds will slowly be wiped out. As for those that have prepared the ambush, wipe them all out. Not one should survive!"


    Meanwhile, far inside an underground river...


    FLASH!


    Nightwing stood with his team next to him.


    The strongest warriors of the Uninvolved Lands stood behind him.


    "It... worked?" A Champion of Destiny, who was a Crown, was amazed.


    "Without Breveros''s bad luck, anything is possible. Let''s go!" Kyros smiled.


    The group began to move out.


    Suddenly, Nightwing stumbled.


    "Lord... Nightwing!" Angelian reached out and caught Nightwing.


    Nightwing was stunned as he realized he was awake.


    But a few secondster, he realized what had happened.


    "...Damn that, Kyros! He is switching to me so that Destiny will send even more forces inside! Switching to when he needs Destiny to be powerful and switching back if he needs Destiny to be weaker!" Nightwing cursed.


    Krysta recognized Nightwing and could feel seeping curses.


    "...What''s going on?"


    "Everyone. Do your best to survive. That Kyros is taking advantage of the curse of Folly to make me his pawn!" Nightwing frowned.

 Chapter 548 Return Of Impyernos

    ?


    Thessh flew with incredible speed as Sheolrah tried to stop her.


    The rage of Thessh allowed her to push through numerous barriers that divided the gxies.


    But even though Sheolrah was already from nesworld, she just couldn''t waste too much energy to block her raging charge.


    "Stop! Stop! Thessh, I can help you!"


    "Sheolrah! You must have sensed it! Do not stop me from entering the nesworld!" The goddess roared as her power was gathering to break into the nesworld.


    "I will not let you do this! You who have decided not to participate in the war must stay back! I am searching for Daradiel! If you bring your power into the nesword, Daradiel could mask himself with your energy! He is the Celestial Code! The power of Water will hide him, and I will lose sight of him! Stop your charge and help me first! If you do this, I will help you find her!"


    "As if I care for your little squabble against the Ancient Gods! I am here for Xermolipi and Xermolipi alone! And do you think that I am the only one who seeks her out? Her power is weak! Now is the opportunity for me to devour her and be the Flower of the Universe!" Thessh shouted.


    "I will help you." A voice spoke out.


    A lone figure appeared in the darkness.


    Dark fire and the ck wind blew around him.


    "Eldrich Fire and Void Wind. The Eternal Hell me. Impyernos! You are still alive!" Sheolrah was amazed as she saw the power of one that was left in this gxy long ago.


    "No thanks to you! You abandoned me to a battle against the one who could end me! I have cut all my ties from you, Rhykestorn Ever!"


    "You speak of betrayal?! You murderer! You betrayed him! You are the one who killed my husband!" Thessh roared.


    "Not me, Thessh. At least, not just me. As you know, I have long pursued Xermolipi. Rhykestorn and Sheolrah tricked me and pitted me against your husband! They told me of how the affair of your husband and Xermolipi continued. Several of us fought and were wounded. I was even thought of as dead! But I will tell you now, Xermolipi... Do you think that it was Hydron''s own fault that he fell for Xermolipi? Wasn''t he the one who tried to keep away from that Flower? Flowers absorb water, after all!" Impyernosughed.


    At that moment, Sheolrah''s face changed.


    "What usation are you throwing out, Impyernos?!


    Thessh was confused and then realized that the evidence of her husband''s unfaithfulness was all presented by Sheolrah and her allies!


    "You...! You dare wreck my marriage for your wars?!" Thessh raged as she harnessed the power of a great sea that sted toward Sheolrah.


    BOOM!


    A-sized ball of water flew toward Sheolrah.


    But Sheolrah roared in anger and revealed the power of the reverse star.


    A gigantic dark star appeared and resisted the seas.


    "Waste your attacks here, Sheolrah. You may be stronger than Thessh and me, but many gods and fallen are headed here. Thessh... Do you even have the luxury to fight? Honestly, I don''t care if you im Xermolipi''s powers as long as she bes mine! In the chaos that is to follow, Daradiel may flee!" Impyernosughed as he flew towards the nesworld.


    The two fighting goddesses chased after Impyernos as they sensed many gods and fallen who were fueled by Folly to find the beautiful woman. And there were the jealous women who hated Xermolipi but desired to be the next Charm.


    They were still far away, but Thessh realized Impyernos was right. She could not afford to waste any more time.


    Impyernos was gathering his power and took aim in a certain direction.


    But suddenly...


    "[Asteri Trogo]!" Sheolrah roared as the space before Impyernos transformed and was like a mouth that bit down.


    Impyernos saw the darkness of space copsing like a mouth. Such was the power of Sheolrah, the Dark Star.


    But Impyernos was the eternal fire, the me that scatters but could never die!


    "[Pyre to Aeonios: Diaskorpizo]!" Impyernos''s body shed and spread like fire and wind, scattering all over as the dark mouth made its gnaw.


    BOOM!


    Sheolrah flew and appeared in front of the nesword. Sheolrah hovered over a weakened barrier and nced at the two.


    "You two damned fools! Daradiel has important information that we seek! He knows the Nephilim! I will stop you and keep him sealed in this ce!" Sheolrah raged as she fought the two.


    Impyernos chuckled. If his n worked, he could send in arger force before the powerful shield of the neworld would recover and seal the team he was sent inside.


    He harnessed his power and saw Thessh doing the same.


    "I will be the next Charm!" Thessh shouted andunched her attack toward the barriers that protected the nesworld. She had sensed a recovering crack within the ozoneyer of the nesworld andunched her attack there.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Sheolrah charged forward and harnessed her power to block the attacks of the water and the eternal burning winds of Impyernos.


    The battle between the three created a great disturbance down in the nesworld.


    They could feel the energy raging above Central Minds from the Hignds to the Nethends.


    In Central Minds, the kingdoms were scrambling to rearrange their men.


    The sudden attacks at the front lines sent many reports to Central about the terrifying battle that was waged.


    But even as the terrifying attacks began, the armies could not spare their armies to retreat to the west as the reports of a battle raging between a god and a fallen were urring over the Minds.


    This all proved the report that Branze and Diana brought.


    Many of the Minds were gathered towards the center, and many of those who were of Destiny were sensing a strange danger that was telling them to flee. Yet they could not. The allure and beauty of Mechiel and Scarlet were present and urged these many men of Destiny and future traitors to remain and fight for the chance of iming the two as a wife.


    Mechiel and Scarlet had made these promises to numerous people and even allowed others to spy on them as they gave these statements making the rumors spread among those guarding the locations where the said drop would be.


    As everyone started to move, Branze and Diana left Mechiel and Scarlet as they sent a message to the Emberdons.


    The path towards Daradiel was gued with many eyes of Destiny. While Fate had done a great job in stopping the minions of Destiny and even Sheolrah from ever finding the location of Daradiel, Destiny had also assured that the path towards the Greater God would be impossible to pass through for those of Fate.


    But now, the shifting chaos and how many more forces were called to the locations of the dropped gave Branze a chance that he needed. He had even given up on acquiring the Celestial Code as the path towards it would surely be seen by Destiny. But now, the path was clear. And it was just in time for theing conflict.


    Branze and Diana arrived in the hidden cave, where they made a base in their attempts to sneak into the poisonous region where Daradiel hid.


    They began to draw the intricate energy formation circle, which was exhausting their mental limits.


    But they had to do this to send the team in!


    Finally, the circle wasplete!


    Diana and Branze stood on two small circles at the outer rings.


    The power of great holy energy appeared as they summoned the light of Soter!


    FLASH!


    The light fueled the energy formation circle and became a beacon that allowed another team to lock on their location.


    BOOM!


    The space around them rumbled, and the underground cave began to copse. The power they used brought down the entire mountain where they hid.


    Branze and Diana quickly raised their shields to carry the copsing mountain.


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, another force aided them.


    A golden giant of a man that held arge shield stood over Branze and Diana. But this time, an old man was found in between the two.


    "Son. Daughter. You two have grown stronger and more powerful." Mezalughed.


    "Father. Your soul powers of a shaman are now shockingly strong." Branze praised.


    Next to Mezal were the Emberdons. But now, all of them were in human form!


    Each was glowing with a powerful element and was full of the light energy of Soter.


    Demerus, Ressi, Faye, Triona, and Stellya raised their staves and created a powerful Force energy simr to barbarians.


    Though many of them had be liches and had their elemental affinity, they were now experts in creating Force barriers simr to a Force Pdin.


    "We made quite a noise. Is this alright?" Demerus asked.


    "If you saw the chaos outside, you''d understand. The awakening of the Charmed Fallen seems to have some effects on the gods and fallen. Folly guides them, and they try to get into the nesworld. So after we fight against the forces of the Eldrich, we may have gods and fallen as our enemies."


    "Then let''s revive Daradiel. Let''s see what gues this god and how we can save him!" Mezal sneered and led the way.

 Chapter 549 Return To The Source

    ?


    "Hurry!" Branze shouted as they moved towards the misty region and did the uphill climb.


    The Minds was home to a massive mountain range that released a thick mist of poisonous clouds. This region was one of the things that hindered the light from entering the Londs. It extended right below the region of Central Minds and was just beyond the boundaries between the Londs and the Minds.


    But only the valleys and mountains were passed, and this region was known as the Poison Peak Mountain Range. There was great mystery regarding the nature of this ce. Even Kyros didn''t know the truth of this region in his past life, and he could not make any certain guesses of what mysteries the ce held.


    The mystery of how it protected Daradiel from Sheolrah was also unknown to them, and Branze investigated all of these to understand the region''s secret.


    "Why did you go to all that trouble even though Kyros already marked the location of where he met Greater God Daradiel?" Demerus asked.


    "Demerus, you have forgotten that the past has already changed. Ever since our adventures began, the journey that Kyros had affected Sheolrah and Daradiel''s fight. Destiny and Fate are working to outsmart each other and stop the other from seeding. Fate is hiding Daradiel, and Destiny is seeking him out. The odds that the location where Daradiel is hiding has changed are very high. So it''s not about simply following a map, but understanding why Dardiel can hide within this region." Branze answered as they continued to hike.


    The mountain''s gravity and energy made the flight a very tiring skill to maintain. It is said that even the light from the celestial body is being pulled down by the mountain to create the strange poisonous mist.


    Everyone was moving as fast as they could. The living Embderdons were struggling the most as physical resistance was weaker. Demerus, Triona, and Ressi were undead despite their already human-like forms. So they do not get tired. But Faye and Stellya were still human and even used their magic to resist the mountains pressing weight to fight their exhausted body.


    "Come on! All of you have taken secondary jobs already and are fighter-mage hybrids! So you guys should be able to resist it!" Branzeined as their ascent needed so many breaks because of the exhausted Emberdons.


    The group continued their ascent and finally reached a point no Commander or Cardinal dared to cross.


    The mist was getting thick and covering the entire peak.


    Demerus saw the mist of many colors. It was moving around, and it never seemed to stop moving.


    It was as if the wind was constantly blowing around, and the Mist was alive.


    "Are you sure it''ll work?" Diana asked.


    "You can''t kill what''s already dead. So this spell we prepared is designed to temporarily transform you to a dying state and uses the Shaman''s power to make it work. Kyros said the same thing. He survived because he was in a state where he was technically dead as he was preparing for [Death Stance] when he entered the depths of this ce." Demerus exined.


    "That doesn''t help at all. Being undead or dead doesn''t make us immune to all forms of poison!" Diana asked.


    "Because this doesn''t look like poison. I am a person whose elemental affinity is Entropy. And this energy is far from the poison and decay."


    "Then what is it then?"


    "It''s an Unlife spell. Not a spell of death but of life. This energy devours and feeds on light. It''s a strange power. When Nightwing brought forth those creatures of Mammon, he gave us a unique power that we have been analyzing." Ressi approached the mist and reached out.


    "Ressi. Be careful." Mezal answered.


    "I am. The power that we received, we used to scan the region using the alchemy and energy formation circles we invented, hoping to find an element of simr fluctuations. We could tell that it was Holy. But a different kind of Holy. Lord Branze. You spoke that you tried to investigate the region to find out the truth. We thought it was just curiosity, but if you believe that this entire region could now be the hiding ce due to the changes of this future, then we can tell you the source of this power and why we think being undead works. The power is simr to the magic that Bar-Mammon was trying to gain. Unholy."


    "Unholy? If you im this magic mist is unholy, then give me proof?"


    Ressi stretched her hand into the mist to touch it.


    As she did, a fluctuation and ripple appeared around the Mist as if it was water urred.


    Everyone who was there had studied the books of the Fortress and would even spend time reading in their free time. They knew that the fluctuation was a certain elemental reaction.


    "Elemental eptance. Your powers...! Matched with the Mist!" Branze was amazed.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Not just matching... That ripple. It looks like the Mist is just moving everywhere, but most of it is a divergence! There is a barrier of some sort here!"


    "As we expected. This ce isn''t some form of misty ce with some curse or a battleground. It''s something ced here." Demerus smiled.


    "From here on, it''s easy to understand the power of the mist...: Faye began.


    "This is why the light of the Celestial Body is drawn into it. Unholy is a reanimation of the Holy, as Undead is a reanimation of the dead. Both use the same concept, but creating this effect is vastly different. Through the Nephilim''s powers, the Fortress that produces a great amount of energy, and the darkness that Nightwing has been feeding all of us, allowed us to perfect this research. Most Skeletons and Liches perform the shaman magic of binding to transform into a stronger mage. The reason why we have our physical form is because of Unholy." Faye exined. She was still panting and tired, but she spoke so fast that no one could interrupt her.


    She then took a step forward and did something even Ressi didn''t. She walked into the thickest part of the mist.


    The mist spread out as if a drop of water had added to the ocean of misty waters.


    The power of the Mist began to empower Faye, and she was quickly recovering her body.


    "You''re recovering?!" Diana was amazed.


    "Unholy is feeding her body. Faye and Stellya may not be Liches like us, but they are practically one. While they still feel tired and weak, a ce like this mist is the perfect ce for them to fight. And because they have taken physical sses, they could even create shields and sword attacks simr to the Steele family." Triona chuckled.


    "Yes. In that regard, they are stronger than us. As Liches, we had to cultivate numerous things to replicate the creation of the force. But the Unholy Liches can easily draw in energy like this. It''s perfect for our n. The misty mountains extend over towards the ces where the enemies are said to drop. If we find out the source of the Mist and if we can move it..."


    "Move the Mist?" Branze frowned.


    "What? Is it too impossible to ask?" Demerusughed.


    "He''s right, Son. We are the fighters of the Nephilim. If we can''t do this, we''ll die. So we better find that source."


    "...Fine. But Daradiel takes precedence. The battle draws near, and we''ll chase after the shot in the dark after we have our Code. Cast this Unholy spell on us."


    The five Emberdons steeped into the mist, and a ripple appeared as each stepped inside.


    "Perfect. This will allow us to constantly imbue Unholy over the three of you." Demerus raised his hands, and the rest of the Emberdons followed.


    The group was coated with a massive amount of energy, and they had Unholy.


    Mezal saw the power and smiled.


    "Interesting. So Unholy is the basis of Shaman Power." Mezal stepped into the mist without fear and entered it without any problems.


    Seeing his father walk in, Branze followed. Diana also did the same.


    "It''s working. Let''s go. Can you all fly?" Branze asked.


    "Yes. It seems that the Unholy area has no gravitational interference." Demerus nodded.


    "Alright. The best way to draw out Daradiel is to use the Celestial Code." Branze answered.


    "Use it?! That will draw Sheolrah here!" Triona eximed.


    "Exactly. We just need to use the Celestial Code for a short time to find out where Daradiel is. And once we do that, it will force Sheolrah here. This ce is a ce of Fate. In short, whatever God or Fallen who is sealed or died here is one of us. With all the chaos and advantage we have, now is the time. We unleash the power of the Celestial Code and let it move out. A power like that will cause the Code to return to the Source." Branze exined.

 Chapter 550 Return Of The Eldrich

    ?


    The group moved in for a while and was headed towards where Kyros said Daradiel would be. But as they moved, they realized that Branze''s prediction hade true. However, the power was no longer there! Dardiel was elsewhere!


    "Everyone. We have studied and seen the power of the Celestial power. The mist should have hindered us, but now with our Unholy form, we are able to use it to our advantage. It''s safe to say that Daradiel isn''t where Kyros said he would be on this map." Branze pointed to the map as everyone gathered.


    "So we should use that method!"


    "Yes! Assume formation! We have to be quick! Once the Celestial powers appear here, they will surely be sensed by the rest of the gods and fallen!" Branze ordered.


    "We used it in the Middle, and that masked the energy because of the seals that divided the worlds! But now, here in the nesworld, it will surely rm many! Use it and maintain the form for half a second! It should be enough for us to sense the direction of where Daradiel is hiding!"


    Everyone nodded and prepared to cast the magic.


    Demerus mmed his hand on the ground, and an energy conversion circle began to form and created numerousplex rings.


    The Emberdons moved to their respective position.


    Mezal, Diana, and Branze saw the formation and could easily identify where they should be.


    Every member of the Emberdons was in position and released their respective elements. But their power was geared toward the creation of three simple elements.


    The Earth gathered. The Fire raged. And the Wind blew. The three elements werebined andpressed, and finally, they created a celestial ground. A piece of rock appeared with all three elements as one.


    It was as if the Emberdons were creating a new.


    As a celestial body was created out of nothing, a ripple spread across the world.


    Daradiel sensed the power so close to him.


    "Finally." Daradiel smiled as he sensed the power and responded by releasing the energy of his Code.


    One second was all that they needed as the energy reacted, and they sensed the direction of where Daradiel was. The energy was east of where Daradiel would have been in Kyros''s life.


    "Go!" Branze shouted, and the Emberdons released their power to cause everyone to gain the power of flight.


    At that moment, the battle above the nesworld took a surprising turn as Sheolrah sensed the direction of where the Celestial Code.


    The Hignds had all their forces and teams ready to intercept and create anotheryer of shield to protect the iing attacks.


    Even as the gods and fallen increased, the Hignds was confident that they could block it.


    Gandor watched the battle in the throne room of the king. Ever since the battle began, Ss Soter, Gandor Ellisium, and Pyreking Fafnir watched.


    The king watched with an ugly expression.


    "Gandor. Are you sure of this n of yours?"


    "Princess Listrel says that Fate and Destiny are fighting and that Destiny will find a way... If one Impyernos or the Water Goddess attacks, we could block it. But if the three were tounch an attack... the barrier would break. So, the message she gave to us that could not be unsealed suggested that we do not aid the nesworld''s barrier from resisting the attack."


    "And that would break the barrier of the nesworld and causerge holes to appear for months! Why are we allowing this? Thes could invade us! The Eldrich will return!"


    "I agree with Listrel''s n. Of course, I think this was made by that man, the Nephilim. He delivered a message that will change the direction of the future, and I rmend following it. Listrel said that the message was covered in power called Mysterion and could hide things from Destiny."


    "Does it make sense to follow this n?"


    "If I were this Destiny, I''d make all three of those gods attack at the same time. That will drain the resource of the Hignds. We would be drained, and the invasion would continue. So rather than block it, we should only create a weak shield and let them pass. And instead of defending, let''s focus on the purging spell to attack the three. It won''t kill them, but it will weaken them!"


    "We will be fighting against Sheolrah." Ss Soter frowned.


    "You''re the priestess of the Church. Why aren''t you happy that we would be going against such a dark power?" Gandorughed.


    "Listrel is confident and told us this n. It doesn''t matter now if we attack Sheolrah and take a more active role and side with the Ancient Gods. This war is just a small part of the real battle. So if we want the nesworld to survive, we trust the Nephilim." Gandor exined.


    "...You seem to have trusted this man."


    "You''re daughter is very prideful. Lea Olethros is the same. Yet both have bowed to serve Kyros. Let''s trust the man that won the heart of your daughter, my king." He observed as the battle between the three gods continued.


    "...I understand. But what would force these three fighting gods to unite and attack the nesworld? Are you sure that all three would attack together?"


    RIPPLE!


    "That energy!" Gandor eximed.


    "A is being born! The Celestial Code! Greater God, Daradiel is still alive!" Ss Soter also saw the power.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The power instantly disappeared, but everyone could tell that it was from the Minds!


    Sheolrah was in the midst of battle when she sensed it.


    Impyernos was frightened and thought that Daradiel was searching for the Charmed Fallen.


    "The Celestial Code!" Thessh also sensed it.


    "If he gets the Charmed Fallen, then we will have to fight them both!"


    Thessh shouted and saw Impyernos aim his attack toward the nesworld.


    Sheolrah and Thessh shot their attacks toward the nesworld to break the great barrier.


    A powerful light appeared and rebuked the powers of Code and Corruption.


    But the two were shocked that Impyernos did not release his attack.


    He raised his arms and triggered the spell he had prepared long ago.


    From the dark moon of the Eldrich race, the depths of the erupted.


    The fiery energy from the core of the moon revealed the eternal fire and the enveloping wind of Impyernos as it shot towards the Minds.


    The two goddesses realized that Impyernos was sending an army inside on another location.


    As two powerful attacks were unleashed, the barrier that covered the nesworld trembled and began to copse.


    Impyernos saw it and rejoiced.


    "The raiding party is now an invasion! My descendants! The Eldrich has returned! We can finally burn this damned tree!" Heughed as he dove in.


    Thessh and Sheolrah followed.


    "Will this really work?" The king of the nesworld saw it and followed the message that he had heard sent by Listrel.


    Gandor and Ss were preparing their spell, which would attack the three gods. The power that they wielded was only at the Celestial level and shouldn''t be able to wound a god or a fallen.


    But the king touched Peak Twig of the nesworld.


    "Arise, nesworld. The Nephilim is here. The era of Middle is upon us. I, Elistre Protos Endoxos, guardian of the light, call you to save us."


    Far in the depths of the Nethends, where the king of the Dark Dependent stayed, Necron Olethros was also holding on to the Lowest Root of the nesworld. He channeled his power and whispered to the root.


    "Arise, nesworld. The Nephilim is here. The era of Middle is upon us. I, Necron Olethros, Droplet in the Soil, call you to save us."


    The two kings did as they were told long ago. Ever since Listrel and Lea arrived and spoke of the true nature of their races, Kyros theorized that the two could trigger a reaction from the nesworld should they work together. And Kyros told the two princesses that the two kings could try a chant.


    It was shot in the dark. But Dentro was alive and well. He even protected Lea Olethros!


    Ss Soter and Gandor Ellisium used the spell. It was a life-detecting and targeting spell that used the life energy of the nesworld itself to attack.


    The light from the leaves of the nesworld shot towards the three invading gods and fell.


    Impyernosughed and crafted a shield to protect himself from the attack.


    Sheolrah and Thessh did the same.


    "You dare attack me and revoke the vows of neutrality in this war?!" Sheolrah roared in anger as she saw the attack approach.


    But as the light approached, a faint avatar of Dentro appeared.


    "You dare invade my... avatar? Do you not know the old advises that the gods and fallen speak of when ites to war? Never... attack a god or fall in his realm!" Dentroughed.


    "What?!" Impyernos eximed.


    BOOOOOOMMM!


    The powerful attack struck the three, and their shields and defenses copsed.

 Chapter 551 Fall Of The Gods

    ?


    The three beings that surpassed Celestial could shatter worlds ands. But the nesworld was special. Unlike any other Yggdrasil, this was a tree nted by Dentro. But it was only now that the three finally understood what this Yggdrasil was. It was the body of Dentro himself!


    The attack mmed on the three who were waging war and had to use a powerful attack to resist the barrier of the Yggdrasil. This barrier had troubled the gods and fallen even during the Heretic Wars.


    The attack mmed on the three entities, who began to fall into the nesworld with grave injuries.


    Everyone from the Hignds to the Nethends could feel the air tremble. Powers and strange cataclysmic events began to ur around the nesworld.


    Oceans created storms and whirlpools. Volcanoes erupted, and earthquakes around the world began. Strange anomalies began to ur all over as Codes and Corruption were damaged.


    Destiny saw the three fall and was shocked at it. But the workings of Fate were quickly moving.


    "That bitch!" Destiny cursed as he saw the wound, and the future visions of their deaths were quickly shown.


    The death of the three would add a severe blow to the ns to conquer, and even End was displeased.


    It was one thing when the mortal champions of Destiny died. It was another when a God or Fallen would be wounded! And this time, three had fallen!


    "The Nephilim and Fate have tricked us with this scheme. But not to worry. The End has been set. My curse lies within the Nephilim. His End wille soon." End answered as he watched from the end of time.


    Destiny hurried to arrange the future.


    "Oh, don''t worry about that! I can help you!" Then, a young boy appeared andughed.


    "Three fallen gods... Get it? Fallen Gods?" The young boyughed.


    "How is this good, Folly?"


    "Oh, rx, Destiny! This only means my power is ready to work! The Greater Gods are bound to do something foolish! The Celestial Code appears, and three powers are weakened! It''s about time for us to clear out several Greater or even an Ancient God from the armies of Beginning!" Follyughed.


    "You want to turn the era of Middle to include God and Fallen?" Destiny frowned.


    "It''s the foolish thing to do! But I''m sure you can find a way, old man Destiny!" Follyughed.


    "Besides... Fate did a number on you now. Look at the victories in the nesworld. Many unnatural cmities have happened because of the wounds those three received. And these cmities are giving Fate''s team an advantage! You have to go for gold and not remain the cautious gambler!"


    "Right... And I have to take advice from Folly!"


    "It ain''t folly if you know the End!" Follyughed.


    Destiny smirked as he heard Folly''s answer and began to see through the many possibilities and started to work and prepare for the battle.


    Down on earth, the cataclysms and changes in the world caused a trembling in the misty mountain regions.


    Branze and the rest were rushing towards the direction where they sensed the Celestial Code call them.


    The group flew towards the peak of a mountain, but then the mist began to clear out for unknown reasons caused by a raging wind that suddenly blew.


    As the group flew up, the strong wind swept them down, and they all fell into a crater at the center of the mountains.


    But even as they were being blown helplessly by the wind, the group did not panic.


    "...Fate?" Branze was confused as to how Fate was able to summon a gust of wind that pushed them out.


    "Is it Pneuma? The Goddess that Kyros spoke of?" Faye wondered.


    The group fell into the mountain as the power of Unholy was clearly shown. It was no longer a mist but a vast nket of aurora that covered the mountain.


    "It''s the source of the Unholy! Dardiel is where the Unholy poweres from!" Mezal could sense many cries of the souls calling out.


    "If Undead is the power to reanimate the dead, this is the raw form of Unholy! The power that reanimates life!"


    The group fell into what appeared to be an ocean of aurora, and power began to pull them. The team felt as if they were swimming in a mighty ocean current.


    They traveled with great speed, falling deeper and deeper into the mountain.


    "We''re about to crash! Emberdons! Cushion our fall!" Branze ordered, and the Emberdons began to harness great wind energy together.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    A few secondster, they fell from the underground tunnel and into a wide open dome where the light was bright.


    They saw themselves falling into and with thick, tall grass.


    "[Wind Bed]!" The Emberdons chanted together, and a soft, repelling cushion of wind was formed that broke their speedy fall.


    THUD!


    The group fell to the ground and into the thick and tall grass.


    "Where are we?" Diana was the first to stand and nce around the area.


    It was a wide and massive grasnd, and it looked like there was a blue, bright sky above them instead of a mountain.


    "The aurora of energy is covering this ce! This entire garden is grown by... Unholy?!" Triona marveled as she looked around.


    "This is one of the reasons why the nesworld refuses to die out, even though Impyernos, the Eternal Fire, wanted to burn it down eons ago." A voice was heard, and a handsome man with three colored gems, one on his forehead and two on each of his forearms, spoke.


    He had green and red hair and was seated on a strange rock at the side. His body was glowing with a faint golden glow.


    "Greater God Daradiel!" Branze called out.


    Everyone else bowed as they saw the man.


    "Hm? The boy who spoke to me a while back isn''t among you. I guess you must be that boy''s allies! Two sons of Steel, a daughter of Katara. And it seems that Astra has found new descendants. To think these old Codes and that Corruption would appear. These were legends even among us gods, you know?" Daradiel smiled.


    "Greater God, wee to you in a most urgent matter. Surely, you have sensed themotion above! War ising. The Era of Middle is approaching. And this is not just the petty squabble between the Greater Gods and the Ancient Gods! This is a battle between Beginning and End! That boy you saw is the Nephilim, and we are called to fight with him!"


    Dardiel''s expression changed as he heard the words of the group.


    "The legend of the Nephilim and theing war is true? I see. Now I understand what Fate was ying at..." Daradiel spoke.


    "I have sensed the war above and could feel the changes happening. The nesworld lost its barrier. And now, the Eldrich race that tried to burn down this tree in ages past is preparing to return. A full invasion is expected."


    "We have sought your power in this moment of need! We need the power to fight armies."


    "It''s not just armies. Impyernos, Sheolrah, and Thessh has fallen here. My friends, if what you say is true, then your battle is going to force you to fight these beings! The Minds will now change. Despite being wounded, I can sense Impyernos breaking the curse of the nesworld that will limit the entry of Conquerors in thisnd. Is the Nephilim ready for that?" Daradiel quickly questioned.


    "No," Branze answered immediately.


    "Our current might could reach the levels of Crowns. But if Conquerors of Destiny appear, then we will surely die."


    "Then borrowing my power is not enough. You will need to stop Sheolrah and Impyernos."


    "Greater God, you misunderstand. Our goal here, while we desire to acquire your powers, was not to just im it; we are here to revive you!"


    "Revive me? I''m pretty sure mortals like you have no means to help me recover. This entire abode of Unholy power was a pleasant surprise that Fate prepared for the preservation of the Yggdrasil that you call the nesworld and for me to stay alive. In truth, I should be dead. The source of Unholy is from an unknown God and keeps me alive here. But even its powers are fading!"


    "Then we shall bring you more light! Emberdons!"


    The Emberdons were already in formation as they had spread out in the wide open space nearby. Their staves struck the ground, and the power of Astra appeared.


    "[North Star]!" The five activated and created a guiding star to appear above them.


    A faint crown appeared over them as theirbined power could now create star energy.


    Daradiel was amazed and impressed at the power but could not understand why they did this.


    "Guide the way and bring the Fortress here! Let the light of the North Star guide the Nehpilim Sealing Fortress in its exodus from the seals that bind it! Remote teleportation spell! [Astra: Methistemi]!"


    A powerful light exploded out as the power of Astra was summoned again.


    A massive towering castle began to appear from the ground and created a fortress.


    The Nephilim Sealing Fortress has been transferred into the mysterious Unholy garden!

 Chapter 552 Fall Of The Army

    Those within the Londs and the Hignds could see arge beam of light. It was a light that was sent down into a certain area within the Minds.


    But as the beam was being sent down, an army of Mind forces watched and prepared for the ambush.


    The light drew near, and the Mind Generals gave the orders to attack.


    Magic cannons were shot, and powerful energy conversion circles were used to amplify attacks.


    Crowns appeared over the ce as the strongest fighters of the Minds sent out their attacks that flew to the heavens.


    "Unleash hell! Don''t let the Eldrich and those other otherworldy races enter!"


    As the attacks were sent out, the falling army panicked as they saw the ground lit up with power.


    "It''s a trap!"


    But then...


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Explosions urred below as Nightwing and his team began to move.


    Nightwing saw the light and the forces that were gathered.


    "Damn! It''s not going to be enough! Everyone! Fight with your life at stake! I can feel End''s powers!" Nightwing warned as he flew up, and a faint Crown appeared over him.


    Nightwing cursed as he saw the pathetic Crown. It was far different than the powers he could usually create.


    "Daradiel better be revived!" Nightwing cursed as he flew and began to attack.


    Seeing the explosions on the ground, the raiding party had more confidence.


    "We have allies! The Incubus is down there! Something must have happened, but this will not be a massacre! Army of Impyernos! We still have this fire energy that is sending us! Form an energy formation circle with your body! We will send this hellfire me and burn them all!" An Eldrich Noble dered.


    The destruction of the shield that protected the nesworld differed from the intended n. They were supposed to only create a crack, but Destiny and Folly had halted the shield from reforming.


    The first batch of forces from the dark moon was being beamed down through the burning attack.


    It was all part of the n. The strong Conquerors and Cherubims assigned to guard and wage war on any interster threat could not intercept theing mes despite knowing it beforehand.


    As the three gods fought over the space beyond, the explosive powers were too dangerous for Celestials, let alone Cherubims.


    Impyernos had cleverly timed his attack, making it impossible for the forces of the Hignds to intercept the drop.


    The pir of fire carried the powerful warriors who had long lusted over the rich resource of the nesworld. Light and Darkness, death and life, and the resources brought about by the rich presence of both energies were what made the nesworld the strongest or celestial body within the region of the gxy.


    But even as the forces were being sent in, the Eldrich King Bolerax and his royal father, Tempest, saw the chance they could never have.


    "We can send... everyone! Prepare for the invasion! We have to establish a base in the Minds! Send out a scouting party first!" Bolerax quickly ordered.


    "A scouting party? How many men?"


    "Teams of two hundred with cultivation levels of Cardinal leaders. They will aid the main force that we sent down. This is the perfect time to invade the Mind kingdoms! We need to build a base of operations!"


    "Yes, my king!"


    The armies quickly prepared for an invasion. The spells that were used were ancient magic that used wind and fire. Without the barriers, dropping more and more forces was now possible!


    "...Son. Prepare to invade yourself. Now that Lord Impyernos is in the nesworld and since the Hignds has foolishly wagged war, another god, and a Fallen, this is the chance for our Lord to use his eternal fire to harm the nesworld. The curses that limit power within the Minds will disappear soon. Monitor the many secret portals that lead inside the nesworld! They should also be opened soon!"


    "Yes, Father! I know what to do!" Bolerax made his preparation.


    A war of Celestials was blooming on the horizon!


    As the Eldrich and the nearbys discovered the mystery and prepared for a full-scale invasion, Daradiel was amazed at the appearance of the Nephilim Sealing Fortress.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    These were the soldiers and servants that belonged to the Nephilim''s forces.


    In all battles, the number of fighters has increased by nearly fifty men. All of these recruited members were those who were Fate Challengers!


    Those that were supposed to die were spared and hidden in Mysterion. More than half of these men had their deaths fakes and now had a family inside.


    "Lord Branze! Lord Diana!" A Commander greeted them as she approached. The woman was once a servant of the Steele family and had shown aptitude in battle as a Swift de. With the number of her kills and how she slew warriors of Destiny, she was able to quickly rise through the ranks and reach Commander.


    She then turned to the golden man and bowed.


    "Greater God, Daradiel, I presume?" The woman bowed.


    "This is the strongest among my soldiers. A servant of the Steele Family who used to water our horses." Mezalughed.


    "I can see the workings of Fate. You have an impressive fortress!"


    "Cminus calls it the Heavenly Abode of the Nephilim. More urately, it is part of the Nephilim."


    "I can see it. The blessings of many gods have created this! I can see the architecture of Cminus himself!"


    "...Cminus made this?" Branze asked.


    "Yes..."


    "...Was his memory altered? But now that you mention it, that makes perfect sense..."


    "It''s not just Cminus. I can sense many giving their powers to strengthen this. Ss and Soter''s powers are here. Astra. Zh. And many more! They all gave their power to Oikos, who crafted this home."


    "Oikos?"


    "Ancient God Oikos. The Realm God. He created the space of this Universe. And he is the very god that my allies are protecting."


    "There shall be time for that tale, Greater God Daradiel. Naturally, we will have to carry our burdens and fight our enemies. But know that your enemies are only a small ripple in the battles that we have to deal with. In any case, we need you to return to power. You have seen the power of the gods and fallen that fuel this Heavenly Abode. While it cannot heal youpletely, it can help you restore your power to stop Impyernos."


    "Your guess is correct. Lead me to the altar of this Heavenly Abode." Daradiel smiled as if he had hope.


    "There is a huge amount of energy stored inside the Fortress to heal. But we know it won''t be enough to heal a god."


    "I will need an avatar to help me draw out my power. The curses that Sheolrah did to me ced my body in a state of death. If not for the Unholy energy, I truly would have died. So my power cannot be released in this body. While the Fortress can heal me, it will take a massive amount of energy to get me to a stage of being able to fight. So if you want me to help in theing battles, I need something that contains and draw my power. Can this Fortress do that?"


    "I''m afraid not..." Branze frowned.


    The Emberdons suddenly zoomed and stood before Daradiel.


    "We don''t have one, Lord Branze. But we have several experiments that could harness and contain such energy!"


    Branze was amazed, and his expression brightened.


    "Our studies of Golem technology have allowed us to create several Golems that couldbine into one. Golems that can share the load of such energy!"


    "You do get that I am a god? A Greater God. No mere golem can contain my energy."


    "Right! But a Golem that is connected to this Heavenly Abode could! The Fortress cannot draw out your power. But we made something that can connect to the Fortress and another source. Originally, we made this Golem to be able to contain and ess the power of this Fortress. Only Kyros can send out powerful attacks such as Holy Beam, which gathers energy. But thest two spells sealed in the Fortress, Holy Wave and Holy Cow, cannot be brought out by normal means. The body of the caster must be, at least, a Crown! So not even Lord Kyros could do this! But this Golem can! It connects and uses the Fortress itself to help carry the power! But if you can possess the Golem..."


    "Then I can use it to connect to the Fortress and cast my power... But this is only possible depending on the extent of my healing. Heal me first! Then let''s talk!" Daradiel nodded.


    "Let''s do both at once! Teleport the Golem to the main healing altar!" Demerus ordered.


    With a wave of their arm, the group was instantly brought inside arge room where the main core of the Fortress was. But now, a giant yellow golem with numerous chains on its arms and legs stood at the center.


    "Behold! The Golem that can harness and release the power of a god! From thenguage of the First Word, which means to bring out, Exodus, we name this, Exodia!"

 Chapter 553 Fall Of The Harem

    ?


    Therge yellow Golem was created with several different parts.


    A sealed left and right arm, a bounded body, and chained feet that were tied into the Fortress.


    Dardiel saw it and was amazed. He could sense the power and design of it and how it was interconnected to the Heavenly Abode.


    "What an amazing piece of work! This is clearly a replica of a Gigantes! Golems can''t bear a god''s power, but Gigantes have be Heretic Gods and proved that they could gather the eternal power of us gods! This could work!" Dardielughed.


    "Exodia was designed to bring out the power of the Nephilim Sealing Fortress. We designed it to release the godly powers of Kyros that have been sealed in Mysterion. But with a little tweak, it should be able to release the power of an actual code. Let this be your temporary body, Greater God Daradiel."


    "If you can heal me. The workings of my soul are too much. It would have taken years for my body to be renewed so that I could cast the simplest of spells. So let''s see the healing first."


    "Then I would ask Greater God Daradiel to board Exodia. The Fortress will heal you and try to help you merge into Exodia."


    Dardiel nodded, and his ethereal body moved towards Exodia.


    ----


    Greater God Daradiel''s soul detected.


    Obliterate soul to absorb Celestial Code?


    ---


    Branze began to sweat as he saw the prompt that appeared. He nearly confirmed it in his haste to heal Daradiel.


    Mezal and the rest also saw the prompt and were amazed.


    "I think if we could capture an enemy god or fallen, we could assimte its power here," Faye suggested.


    "It makes sense. When the Blood Cmity''s body parts were taken, the Temple, back then, was able to extract the Charmed properties of the Blood Cmity, which would be a very, very small percent of the actual Corruption that was still plucked out and bestowed on Kyros. So we could harness this power if we can bring the weakened Gods or Fallens of Destiny here."


    "How is that possible?" Triona asked.


    "It''s either Ss or Soter''s power. The binding powers of unity could be the cause of this." Mezal guessed.


    "You saw a prompt to destroy my soul and absorb my Code?" Daradiel asked.


    Branze nodded.


    "Interesting. Let''s hurry. If we can get Sheolrah and Impyernos''s code, we could be unstoppable!" Daradiel chuckled.


    Branze turned his attention to the prompt and rejected the offer.


    ---


    Heal Greater God Daradiel''s soul?


    ---


    Branze selected yes.


    ---


    Insufficient energy to heal the soul.


    Unholy energy was detected outside. Allow Fortress to draw out Unholy energy without weakening the stability of the Unholy Abode?


    ---


    Branze saw the prompt and quickly confirmed and made preparations to heal Daradiel.


    "This ce... is an Unholy Abode?" Branze was amazed.


    "Yes. This has been my suspicion from the start. But the God of Fallen who used this ce seems to have died or is not here. But this abode is directly linked to the nesworld. It seems to gather certain souls and store them here. I did a few experiments, but not all souls seemed to go here. I''m guessing that the God or Fallen did something around thesends to absorb more souls for Unholy Energy to fuel this ce."


    "It may have been feeding through those who died in this ce. So many experts have tried to move in here after all." Stellya suggested.


    "That''s possible. But this only means that healing Daradiel has a higher chance now!" Branze turned back to the prompt and selected Yes.


    A trembling within the region began. Then, a tremor urred over the mountain range as the Fortress began to absorb the Unholy energy. The more it absorbed, the more the region began to quake.


    ---


    Warning!


    The energy required to heal Greater God Daradiel is still insufficient!


    Allocate avable resources to weaken seals and curses?


    ---


    Branze confirmed once more.


    A sh of light urred, and a vast amount of Unholy energy began to gather.


    It was as if the group could hear the voices of a multitude as the Unholy energy began to gather.


    "Souls? Are there souls in here?! What is this ce?" Branze eximed.


    ---


    Soul of Coven member, Hemsey retrieved.


    ---


    Branze and Mezal trembled as they saw the notification. They couldn''t believe it! The soul that they thought to have dissipated into nothingness was here!


    Hems was in the Minds and tasked to meet with Aron''s team. He was still in a teleportation pad Listrel had revealed to them and was waiting for Aron''s arrival. He sensed it. The soul that was dead had returned.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Hemsey?! You''re back!" Hems fell and trembled.


    Hunter was on the wreckage of another fortress they had brought down elsewhere. They had returned to the Middle as the war within the world was getting more dangerous.


    He was already at Cardinal level, and he sensed a strange tremble.


    "Hemsey?!" Hunter shouted in shock. He could clearly feel the power of his brother tremble.


    Martha and his team were running from an army. The allure of Charm had somehow caused many in the Dark Sea to be naturally drawn out. It was like Martha had arge target on his back.


    Lea was annoyed as her cover was blown, and many servants of the Eldrich were attacking her. The group was forced to change their identity, and Aron could only fight from inside Puff, who would unleash ''breath attacks'' but came in the form of massive shing attacks.


    But in the heat of their escape, Martha and Aron sensed it.


    "...He''s alive!" Martha''s eyes teared up. Hemsey had sacrificed himself to save her and died as his very soul was eaten by the Dracanae cells birthed from Puff''s original body.


    Aron alsoughed out in great joy.


    Back in the Fortress, another prompt appeared.


    ---


    Souls of the passed Steele Family retrieved.


    ---


    Mezal trembled in joy as he saw the notification. So these were the souls of the in family members of Steele! The servants also sacrificed their livese to save Martha in the dracanae pit! He even hoped that the souls of those who died in previous battles were there!


    ---


    Soul of Priestess of Fate and Shaman Queen Esther Steele retireved.


    ---


    "Mother?!" Branze shouted out loud.


    "My... my wife!" Mezal saw the name and quivered in joy.


    And then, he quivered in fear as he realized what he had done and how enraged his wife would be.


    A strange apparition appeared in front of him.


    "My, my, my... You seem to be having fun with a lot of women!" A beautiful young woman appeared.


    Everyone was amazed at the appearance of the woman.


    "My wife! I''m so d that you are alive!" Mezal trembled in fear.


    "Mother! This poor excuse of a father has been living the life of a lecherous old man! He seduced princesses, married queens, and even those young enough to be called his granddaughter!" Branze snitched his father out faster than Tekashi 6ix9ine could snitch out another rapper.


    "Oh?" Esther''s expression turned strange, and her face warped into that of a horrifying ghost.


    Her eyes turned like dark holes and were like two dark barks. The rest of her face disappeared.


    "My wife! I did no wrong thing!"


    "You were making a harem of Lond queens and princesses. You developed a corrupted version of Charm or Zh''s power to attract women." Branze added.


    "UNFILIAL SON!"


    "Unfaithful husband." Branze shot back.


    "Unfaithful?! Your mother was dead! And I was lonely!"


    "Wrong. I''m the Shaman Queen. I was just in spirit form! Which means I was alive, and you were just horny!" The ghost of Esther charged at Mezal and released the power of a Cardinal!


    BOOM!


    Mezal held on as his shield appeared.


    The beautiful angelic arms of Esther had turned into horrifying ws that reached out.


    BOOM!


    The power of the two Cardinals reacted.


    "Using Shaman arts against me? The Shaman Queen?! Foolish!"


    The surrounding Force Wall began to crack as the power of Unholy turned into nefarious darkness!


    "From now on, you will no longer have any harems!"


    BOOM!


    Mezal was knocked out of the Fortress, and the spirit of Esther chased after Mezal.


    "AHHH!" Mezal began to use his powers to block the attack as the two fought.


    Diana was horrified at what she saw.


    The Emberdons gulped. Some of them had openly revealed their willingness to marry Mezal.


    The absorbing energy was reaching its peak.


    "Enough! This is enough!" Daradiel spoke and jolted Branze awake and quickly stopped the absorbing process.


    The massive Yellow Golem, Exodia, moved!

 Chapter 554 Fall Of The Stars

    ?


    Nightwing and his team could attack and kill many in their ambush. They timed the attacks right when everyone was focused on attacking the falling mes.


    Four Crowns were killed, and Nightwing quickly devoured their corpses!


    Ikarod and Grandanite Doragan ambushed the Crowns as they were able to sneak in.


    Many of Destiny''s strongest fighters who survived the Uninvolved Lands were also assigned to take out many others.


    The n of him ambushing those who were to ambush the arriving fleet had worked, and their initial volley of attack eliminated many warriors of Destiny.


    They sent attacks and slew many of the most prominent members of the Mind Kingdoms who were key members of the future betrayals and those who would serve the Eldrich.


    But this attack was a desperate attack to save the falling forces of the Eldrich. Nightwing was forced to reveal his location too early. His perception and Wisdom were greatly lowered, and even the timing of his attack was too wed.


    Though they had such a great start, the powers of End quickly appeared and worked against them.


    Nightwing felt a great hindrance in his fighting ability that he couldn''t even make a good decision in his battle.


    In their battle, they were quickly surrounded as many fighters of the Minds appeared behind them and to the side.


    Mechiel and Scarlet even intervened and tried to secretly help Nightwing. But the decisions of Nightwing didn''t make any sense to Mechiel and Scarlet. If it were Kyros, he would have understood the intention. The result was that the forces that Mechiel and Scarlet manipted with their beauty ended up shing with the forces of Nightwing!


    "The curses of Nightwing are too strong." Mechiel frowned as the chaos caused the forces of Nightwing to lose ranks.


    Krysta, Sheolrah, Monica, and Angelian were all called to move closer.


    The four women didn''t understand Nightwing''s decision but knew that Nightwing was acting in fear.


    "Master Nightwing! Send us to the front!" Krysta argued.


    "You could die!"


    "And you''re not thinking straight! The attacks were too early, and now we are surrounded! Mechiel and Scarlet''s ns are backfiring because of it! Allow my father tomand the army!"


    But then, several Crowns began to appear over the heavens.


    Abination of Crown attacks was shot toward the location where Nightwing was!


    Ikarod and Grandanite were elsewhere and saw the attack and cursed.


    But at that moment, a strange power returned.


    Daradiel had released his powers and sent them out. He bestowed the power to all who were owners of his Code.


    The Celestial Code rippled, and Nightwing sensed it.


    All of a sudden, Kyros appeared.


    "Just in time! My n worked!" Kyrosughed as the Celestial Code returned to him.


    The elements heeded his power, and his sword appeared.


    A clear Crown appeared over him.


    "[Celestial Shield]! [Star Severing sh]!"


    A shield blocked one attack, and a sh was sent to another.


    The shield manifested and blocked the Crown''s attack causing it to explode over the fighting forces.


    The attacks of a powerful Crown could clear mountains and change the terrain. The massive sh of powers instantly slew Commanders, and Cardinals were injured from the explosion of the attacks.


    The other sh sent out a cutting path that shed through the grounds killing many along the way.


    "The Curse is far worse than I estimated." Kyros sighed.


    Krysta sensed the change.


    "Kyros?"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Yeah. Nightwing has it rough. But this was necessary. I had to force him out to defeat so that we could im victory at the right time. I trusted Fate would do something to help, and by the look, it''s working. I''ll cast onest spell before I leave." Kyros harnessed the power of the Celestial Pdin.


    "[Celestial Guard]! [Blood Recovery]! [Might Aura]!" Kyros used the strongest spell and buffs that he could use. With the full return of the Celestial Code and how Daradiel was able to channel out the power through Exodia, Nightwing finally received the great blessing spells!


    "Destiny never knew all of these abilities! So even with End, these abilities should be able to allow us to win!"


    The spells blessed all of Nightwing''s first allies and those who were true of Fate.


    "This battle is meant to kill all of Destiny''s forces that Nightwing recruited. So naturally, it will endanger you. Fight and live!" Kyros ordered as the light vanished and Nightwing regained control.


    "DAMN HIM!" Nightwing roared in anger as he flew up.


    "Killian! Takemand of everyone! You''re the leader now!" Nightwing had no choice but allowed Killian Sword Saint to be the leader.


    "Understood!" Killian answered and leaped to the sky as he shed out an iing Cardinal. Then, with Might Aura, Killian felt his powers increase by thirty percent, which gave him enough raw force to challenge theing Cardinal.


    SLASH!


    "Angelian! Fight and clear a path out! We''re moving out of this ce! Sheolrah, send your forces at the back to fight the hordes of Scarlet and Mechiel! Monica and Krysta support Angelian!" Killian gave a series of orders to restore the organization of his forces.


    Back in the Fortress, Daradiel could sense how his fusion with Exodia allowed his energy to be summoned and drawn out.


    "Good! Just in time... Branze! I can send some of your men to warp towards where the Nephilim is! Who shall go? I will also- who is that? Is that a Shaman Queen?!" Daradiel was amazed as he saw a woman who was shing and attacking Mezal.


    "Ermm... Ignore them. It''s just an old married couple resolving some things. In any case, we Emberdons should move out." Triona spoke. She was terrified of the Shaman Queen and had been flirting with Mezal numerous times. Would she be the next scratching post of the Shaman Queen? She knew that she had no authority to evade as this woman was the Matriarch of the Steele Family!


    "Are you sure? Someone has to stay here. I can sense several powers opening. Numerous meteors will fall into the nesworld as the others have noticed the disappearance of the barrier. They will send a first wave! And I n to bring them here. You all will be forced to fight beyond your capabilities, but I can see that this Fortress is well-equipped!"


    "Hm? In that case, The Emberdons should stay-" Branze spoke.


    "Demerus can stay here! All of us... women... can go to the Nephilim! That''s right! Send the girls! Demerus can handle and control our experiments here, right Demerus?" Stellya added.


    Faye rolled her eyes as she knew what the two were afraid of.


    Branze gave them a meaningful look but epted.


    "Fine. Our mages are strong enough to fight anyway. I guess father and mother could stay here. Daradiel, send my wife and me along with the women Embderdons. We wish to aid in the massacre in the Minds."


    "Alright." Exodia closed its palms in prayer.


    The power of Celestial energy began to appear as a portal opened up.


    "Go! Aid the Nephilim!"


    The women Emberdons charged in, and the portal closed.


    "Prepare for war! I will move the Unholy Mist to be concentrated on the sides. The weak amount left will disperse. So I n to move it to surround this ce and seal any means of escape. This will force us to fight the army. Are you ready?"


    "Army of the Nephilim, are you ready?" Branze called out.


    The nearly two hundred warriors who guarded the Fortress all cheered bravely.


    "Good! Now it''s time to awaken my Code! The power of the Celestial shall appear once more!s who invade the nesworld! Be warned! For Yggdrasil has a new ally! As the nesworld kept me alive, I will keep it alive! You chose to fall as stars! Then fall into this ce! Astra! As you have borrowed my powers, I call on yours! Let the stars fall! Let it fall here in this ce to be food to this Unholy abode! Be the whetstone to sharpen the sword of the Nephilim!"


    Demerus heard the Word of Power and could feel an immense power surge out.


    Daradiel took control of the Fortress and caused the Unholy mist around the area to surround the ce and prepared a clear sky above to wee the falling stars.


    "Prepare for battle! Deploy the Golem and the Gun!" Demerus ordered as he flew over his flying ship, and the Wings of the Nephilim squadrons appeared.


    Cannons, ballistas, and many other weapons of war were being prepared at the side.


    Daradiel harnessed his Code, and Exodia wielded it.


    "Falling Stars that rain down! Fall to this pit! Fall into this trap! Fall to your deaths! I, Greater God Daradiel, will ughter you!" Daradiel dered, and with his Word of Power, the many magics that were sent by the nearbys to send meteors which they would ride to enter the nesworld, were now being drawn into the Unholy pit where the Fortress stood!

 Chapter 555 Fall To Their Deaths

    ?


    Their n would take advantage of the Eldrich''s attacks and how they will face the ster defenses of the nesworld.


    Many of the Eldrich moved and tried to enter the nesworld through the Nethends. But they were shocked to see that the defenses were even stronger!


    "What happened?!" An Eldrich was confused. They had manage to infiltrate and bribe many of the ster guards, but now, they could a massive energy moving to fight against them.


    "Where is the energying from?! What happened to our nted teams?!" An Eldrich continued to send a secret code where their nted spies would fight within and cause a chaos so that their approach and entry will remain undefended. But no confirmation was heard and a massive energy was meeting out to attack them instead.


    "Maybe they died!"


    "Impossible! We have managed to nt several Conquerors and two Cherubims! The battle should explode out!"


    "The answer... is simply. I ate them. All of them. I was too troubled to decided which was an ally, and which one was a foe." A voice called out and at once, the Eldrich team that was headed at top speed were frozen in fear.


    A single man appeared. He looked like an ordinary man, except that he had a tail appearing behind him making him a Grendelor.


    "That form! The body of a man, the tail of the Grendelor!" The Eldrich trembled.


    An Eldrich noble flew out to the front.


    "The Grendelor halfbreed. You are the strongest vampire in the nesworld. Alucan Fangsword, the Devourer of Darkness!"


    "...And I don''t care who you are." Alucan smiled.


    "You know the saying... Never underestimate a Celestial! Fangsworn! You have made a mistake ining out here without an army!"


    "...But I have an army. I devoured all of the ster guards."


    At once a powerful darkness manifested over the space around them. An ocean of darkness appeared.


    "WHAT?!" The entire Eldrich army was surprised.


    "Do you like it? Her majesty the Princess taught me this trick. Who knew that I could fuse my darkness to the water! And now, the souls of those I devoured, and their sadness and pain as my power continues to torture them allows me to enhance the power of their souls."


    Ocean had covered the entire Eldrich army.


    "Cherubims! Fight with me! Everyone else concentrate your attacks on a single point to escape!" The Eldrich noble roared.


    "Oh? You know, we Dark Dependents can wield incredible power the more we devour. And while we waste our lifespan at each use, the energy I have devoured is not small. Are you sure you want to resist?" Alucanughed.


    "Your bluff won''t work! Even the darkest beast cannot massacre their own kind!"


    "True. But what if... I knew the future? Do you know what her majesty said when she saw the future? She said, ''the ster guards of the Nethends were utterly useless in theing invasion.'' Now they''re not! They will serve the king! All hail Necron Olethros! All hail, Her Majesty, Lea Olethros! All hail the nesworld! The Hignds and the Nethends!" Alucan spoke with passion as his eyes glowed with blue power.


    "Behold! The power of the Ster army! Now my oceanic weapon! [Abyssou Trogo]!"


    The dark waters copsed and turned into a massive gnaw that bit down on the Celestial.


    BOOM!


    The horrible screams and pleads of mercy could be heard as the torrential waters crashed down and bit at the army.


    They were all dead.


    Alucan Fangsworn remained and nced at the space before him. As a Celestial he could sense things that were tens of thousands of kilometers in the empty space where life was not present.


    "Another one, eh? Oh well... I managed to gain more energy in killing them now. I should be able to gift my Lord Necron a lot after this." Alucan chuckled and sped off in another direction.


    Meanwhile, the ster battle over the Hignds and the Minds were also bing chaotic.


    Gandor Ellisium continued to give orders and stopped the invading armies with his masterful tactics.


    One the skies above, Pyrekaiser Fafnir, a mere Cherubim, stood before the front lines to fight the Celestials.


    But even then, the Celestials could not even wound Pyrekaiser.


    "Deploy!" An orc magi of the Conqueror level dered as the massive pods they used were full of people.


    Therge device they used to enter thend was a meteor that would smash into the nesworld and destroy everything around it, except those riding it. It was a raw method, but it was an efficient method.


    Conquerors and Cherubims all moved out of the sky.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The destruction of the barrier came too sudden, but yet, thes initiated a n that they always had.


    Knowing that the Eldrich had long nned to invade the nesworld, the others have already made their preparations of how to invade the nesworld and establish a world crossing portal.


    "Deploy!" On another, the samemand was ordered.


    In the heat of the battle, Gandor sensed it. Several meteors were being sent out.


    "There they are. The raiding party. They came just in time when the Celestial Nobles of the Eldrich are fighting. I guess we have to use a portion of our [Omega Beam] to block it." Gandor frowned.


    But suddenly, Elistre Protos Endoxus who was seated at the throne and wasmanding the Yggdrasil to fight, could sense a strange feeling.


    "...Odd. It''s as if the Yggdrasil is telling me... to let these meteors pass!" The king frowned.


    Gandor heard it and turned to the king.


    "Then his majesty should heed it."


    "...You think so?"


    "Your majesty, the information that Princess Listrel gave was vital. We have seen the proof and the Nethend King, is now, our ally. The Yggdrasil views the two of you as it''s guardian and protector. If the tree tells you that, it is best to heed with."


    "What if it''s a deception? A plot made by the enemy?"


    "I do not think, that his majesty is easily deceived. If the Yggdrasil is telling his majesty to allow these invaders to enter, then they are falling to their doom. Majesty, Princess Listrel tells us, that the battle of Middle is starting. Not just these armies, but gods and fallen will soon fight here. We must strike a devestating blow to the enemies. Even if it means allowing them to fall." Gandor answered.


    The king fell into contemtion and nodded.


    "Fine. Then let us allow those meteors to fall. And Gandor... What is Ss Soter''s sister doing here? Priestess Alea Marie Sovanto... Why are you here?" The king asked and watched a beautiful girl constantly tugging on the arm of Gandor. This was the same sister of Ss Soter that Gandor offered to go on a date so that Ss Soter would heal Pyreking Fafnir.


    "Er... Right. Your majesty, she''s no longer a priestess... She''s... and we''re... I mean..."


    "My King! We''re getting married! I''m pregnant!"


    "What the fragment?!" The king eximed.


    A mighty beam of light shot towards the throne of the King as Ss Soter appeared.


    "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"


    As the King had to dive in and stop the two from waging war, the meteors that were being sent towards the nesworld all moved with great haste.


    Each massive meteors continued to hurl itself downward.


    The power to enters was dangerous. It would take a battle against the ster guards of the nesworld and would face the wrath of numerous


    With the formation that they assumed, the team was able to perform the power to recreate the Celestial Code.


    The data the Emberdon''s had to work on was Kyros who had shown them what the Celestial Code looks like. It was the most basic form of the grand power that could create the celestial bodies of the heavens.


    As Astra could call on the power of the Celestial Code, Daradiel used the power of Astra and manipted the movements of the stars.


    The celestial bodies of the meteor began to tremble and they flew with great speed.


    It was far faster than the normal power and the Yggdrasil quivered as it also used it''s power and own gravitational force to lead it into the Unholy Abode that was fueling it''s power.


    Inside the meteor, the energy formation circle led by the Cardinals were sensing the odd changes and tried to redirect the direction of the power.


    And a strange power was trying to chip away the meteor!


    "Harness the power and keep it stable!" The Crown shouted.


    Down in the Unholy Abode, deep inside the Nephilim Sealing Fortress, piloting Exodia, Daradiel could sense the resistance.


    "As I thought... Meteors are called shooting stars for a reason. They are not celestial bodies but belong to Astra''s power. I guess redirecting it and weakening them is the best that I could do. Demerus! Prepare for war!" Daradiel ordered.


    "You heard the Greater God! Everyone! Get ready! Cardinals and Crowns areing! Activate the Vanishing Fortress Protocol! Mages! Prepare the [Supernova st] and I want the Wings of the Nephilim airborne immediately at the dispersing shockwave! Gun team! Standby for deployment!"

 Chapter 556 Fall Of The Dark Star

    ?


    Many meteors were rushing with great speed, and it seemed as if the world would end with meteors and many powers falling from the heavens.


    The Hignds fought the ster war, but surprisingly, it did not fully use its capabilities and would only attack its rays with very conservative means.


    But the Eldrich King Bolerax watched as the battles continued and had a strange expression.


    "What are they doing? Meteors are moving in by the droves and not using any of it! They used a strange power that attacked Sheolrah, Lord Impyernos, and that water goddess. Could it be that that attack used many of their stored suns?"


    "It could be that they are preparing it for the main army. They are waiting for us to make a move." One of the Eldrich nobles suggested.


    "No... Something''s wrong. Observe the course of the meteors. Where are theynding?" Tempest asked.


    One of the Eldrich used a strange power thatbined numerous Codes and Corruption to let them see the future manually.


    [Numerology] used the power to calcte and predict the future and would take the most of Destiny''s Foresight to see the power of the future.


    At once, the Eldrich could see the course of the meteor.


    "They are headed for... the Poison Peak Mountain Range! Most of the meteors that the others sent out are moving toward that direction!"


    "...It must be the God that Greater God Sheolrah was searching for! The Greater God Daradiel!"


    "He is in the Poison Peak Mountains?"


    "Wait! I see something! We have to send our meteors now!" The Eldrich nobles called out.


    "Now?" Tempest frowned.


    "My King! As the meteors fell, another power appeared! It was the power of great darkness! Greater God Sheolrah is also calling for meteors! And Sheolrah is hiding in the ce where the Half-Fallen King is!"


    Tempest and Bolerax''s expressions changed.


    "Destiny is giving us this opening! The Half-Fallen King will give us such power! If he is awakened..."


    "Our entry is almost secured! Send forth our meteor! All Eldrich Nobles below Conqueror will ride this ship andnd to conquer!" Bolerax gave his orders.


    Down on the Lond region just south of the dividing boundaries that covered the entrance to the Minds, Sheolrah used an ancient heritage she found when roaming and searching for Daradiel.


    Her power and Daradiel''s were powers that could manipte Astra''s Code.


    Astra was the light-giving star, and Sheolrah was the dark-devouring star. She had pursued Daradiel''s Code as it would greatly benefit her. In her search, she found the remnant power that the Half-Fallen King worshiped. The power of the Phaulos that could help her grow stronger was there!


    The power of Gluttony, the twin brother of Greed!


    The power of the Dark Star and the power of a great hungry, devouring power was trying to wrestle control from the star. But Shoelrah was losing power. She was too weak to draw in the stars.


    "Curse you, Daradiel!" She raged as she hid within the forsaken Temple.


    But then, she could feel it. A power that resonated from the Eldrich.


    "The Eldrich?! They know that I am here?!" Sheolrah was stunned, but her expression quickly changed.


    "Then let it be so! If you save me, I will let Lord Rhykestorn Ever name you the rulers of thisnd!" Sheughed as she harnessed her power.


    The meteors lit up the sky, and Nightwing and his team desperately tried to flee.


    They were in the middle of a battle and were being attacked by the Minds and those who served the Eldrich due to numerousplications that arose throughout the battle.


    Many of those who arrived lusted after the power of the Charm, while many gave usations that Angelian was the daughter of Pyrekaiser and sought to kill Nightwing, using him of being a traitor.


    With Nightwing''s attack that used the Celestial Code, many more began to fight Nightwing.


    There were many who were stopping their forces from attacking Nightwing as it was illogical for Nightwing to attack and put himself at risk to save their arrival, but the power of Folly was afflicting many.


    Nightwing could see that Kyros''s allies were there and that the battle would be on equal standing. And so, he ordered his team to flee.


    Over half of the men that followed Nightwing had already died as they fled the chaotic war.


    Nightwing used numerous dark powers and created teleportation energy conversion circles that could teleport the team forward. But even though Nightwing''s blood power could easily draw or write the Energy formation circle instantly, there was a vast amount of magic in the area that made teleportation unstable. Many times, Nightwing would crash into a magical blockade.


    Three times, he killed the closest minion of Destiny that followed him in secret after tricking them into performing sacrifice just as he plotted when he fought against Mammon. But the power of Folly caused Nightwing to fail, and twice did the sacrifice spell to fail. Nightwing finally seeded and created a portal that sent them to the far southern region, close to a mountain range where the Poison Peak Mountain range would begin.


    WARP!


    The group fell.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Everyone of Nightwing''s loyal allies had no strength to keep fighting. Angelian had a severed tail, and her right hand was missing.


    Sherah had revealed her insectoid form, and many of her ligaments that appeared like a spider were ripped off.


    Nightwing saw the ce and copsed.


    "Finally... Any more, and we would have... died." Nightwing sighed, and he couldn''t move. He had to seek out the path that Fate had prepared for him. But with the many curses that attacked him, Nightwing had a hard time figuring out where Fate was leading him too.


    As he was about to close his eyes, he felt a chill run up his spine.


    "You killed him... Didn''t you?! You killed my lover!" A Cardinal Amazon shouted in rage.


    Nightwing turned his head over to see the woman. Amazons were the ones who had vowed not to have a male partner. But this one had! And Nightwing killed him!


    "He also killed the two Cardinals! I''m sure he did! He recovered power by drinking their blood!" The Cardinal Amazon used.


    "I did that... So that we could live!" Nightwing answered angrily. But it was only then that he realized his folly in his angry and hasty answer.


    "He admits it!" The Cardinal Amazon shouted.


    "...But we''re alive. He did tell the truth." A wounded Crown answered.


    "I agree. Who cares what he did? We are alive thanks to them!" Ikarod was too weak to stand up and was seated down.


    "Put your spear down, Cardinal." Grandanite Doragan spoke. He had numerous holes in his golem body but still stood over the Cardinal.


    Only five cyclops survived the war, and among them was his son. But even then, Grandanite chose to be loyal to Nightwing.


    "A dying rock wants to lecture me?! Who''s with me? If we kill him and his allies, we can not only acquire his power, but we get so many things! If this Angelian is who those aliens im to be, we could demand a ransom from Pyrekaiser Fafnir himself!"


    Many began to reveal a sneer as they heard this.


    Nightwing cursed. He was too foolish to think that his actions would go unnoticed. But even if Kyros were to take over, they still shared the same body and was too drained to fight. And those that could stand, including Ikarod and Grandanite, were ultimately people of Destiny!


    Many of the surviving members were all nodding in agreement.


    "...Father. Their words make sense." Barakan Doragan spoke to his father.


    "Crown Ikarod." Some of the surviving followers of Ikarod also pleaded.


    Nightwing turned to everyone else. No one could move. Sherah has ordered her army to flee, but while they could disperse into small spiders and flee, they were too far to help!


    Nightwing could already tell what the two Crowns would decide.


    "...As if I''d betray him!" Ikarodughed.


    "Foolish son! I have my pride! The master I selected, I will serve!" Grandanite answered.


    A scuffle began as the Cardinals attacked Ikarod and Grandanite to pin them down.


    "Don''t kill them! Put them down! You! Sons of Grandanite and allies of Ikarod, sit down! We won''t kill them but do not help them!"


    "Fools! Fight!" Grandanite shouted.


    "Damn you cowards!" Ikarod cursed as he saw his allies sit down.


    Nightwing was surprised that the two would choose to ally with him!


    But the two were easily defeated. But they were not killed as killing them would turn the Cardinals, Grandanite''s son, and Ikarod''s allies, against them.


    Ikarod''s allies and the Cyclops did not help their father but watched with worried expressions.


    The two Crowns were too weak to fight back and were being held down with many spells and techniques.


    Many nced at Nightwing with excitement. Nightwing could see the hope of absorbing his Incubus powers!


    "Why... did Fate bring me here?" Nightwing couldn''t understand. He could have sworn this was where Fate wanted him!


    SLASH!


    A powerful cutting sh erupted and sliced through the entire area and slew all the minions of Destiny that were standing up.


    "Well, this is new... I''m saving you, Kyros!" Aronughed as he appeared.

 Chapter 557 Fall Of Kingdoms

    ?


    The ambush attack of Aron instantly killed all the forces of Destiny.


    Next to him, Lea and Martha stood by, along with a tall lizardman.


    "...Aron Steele. His wife, Martha Steele. And you must be the Grendelor. Lea Olethros. Princess of the Nethends." Nightwing identified each one of them.


    "So this is why Fate led me here... So you guys would save me... At least I know my Fate Challenger isn''t all that going." Nightwing sighed.


    "Well, actually, it''s a mess. There were many moments when the path was open. I mean, Foresight can''t show it to you, but you should have been smart enough to dive in." Aron answered.


    "That''s right! Kyros! I mean, Nightwing... There were many moments when logic would tell you that this was the right thing to do. But I have a feeling you were solely relying on Foresight when you were fighting. That was... well, foolish. Why were you not thinking on your own?" Martha asked.


    "I mean... I can act foolishly, but you? The standards for you are up in the heavens, Nightwing." Aronughed.


    "Don''t me him for that. Don''t underestimate the curse that is Folly. In my perspective, I can see that this is a terrifying curse! I must say, Nightwing, the curses you carry are truly dangerous! For Kyros, navigating through that battle would have been a walk in the park. And I have heard that you are as smart as him. But that was very messy. You couldn''t think properly, can''t you? You fell into desperation and without Wisdom, you clung to Foresight."


    Nightwing fell silent as Lea pointed out what had happened.


    "Oh? Why are you sulking? I was actually praising you! I am saying that such curses would have led me to a team wipeout. As you were fighting, I could feel the target of Destiny focusing on you."


    "In any case, your n worked. Many champions of Destiny have fallen. When I killed them, I felt Destiny''s anger." Aron chuckled.


    "Yes. Nightwing, You truly did well. I would have died in your ce. You even managed to save your true allies! Although, I am curious why these two and their followers are still alive. They reek of Destiny." Lea answered.


    "It''s because they are a unique type of people called Destiny." A voice spoke as Kyros appeared from a pool of blood.


    Nightwing had been drawing in the blood of those that died, but Kyros used it to create a blood clone.


    "Kyros! It''s been a long time!" Aronughed and hugged him.


    "Master Kyros. I''m d that you still have Wisdom."


    "Husband." Lea made a daring smile and approached Kyros to embrace him.


    But suddenly, a strange force appeared between the two.


    Lea turned to Martha.


    "What gives? Aren''t you already married! And this is your nephew!" Lea frowned.


    "It... it wasn''t me! The power surged out from me but...!"


    "It''s Mechiel and Scarlet. Mechiel through the Charmed Fallen, and Scarlet through the Coven." Kyros answered.


    "Let''s not tease them now, Lea. We still have a lot to resolve."


    The rest of Nightwing''s team was confused at how these people addressed him.


    "You!" Nightwing cursed, but he was too weak to stand. He nced at Kyros who made him walk through the bloody battlefield.


    "Don''t me me in your Folly, Nightwing. If you died, I would have also died. I trusted you to be capable of navigating through thatbyrinth of death."


    "And so... you tricked me to do your dirtyundry!"


    "...Dirtyundry? Don''t you mean ''dirty work?''" Kyros chuckled.


    "...RAAAAA!" Nightwing was too enraged and weakened that he felt his mind whirling in confusion.


    "Lord... Nightwing? What is this?" Ikarod was confused.


    "No need to hide things from them, Nightwing. I''ve been trying to figure out their specific state. They should have a condition in Destiny that is simr to Breveros. I believe what you have long figured out but never voiced to Breveros what he is."


    "The Eldrich are Dark Dependents... Obviously Breveros is a meal prepared by Destiny to strengthen Bolerax. I know and Breveros must have sensed this as well." Nightwing continued.


    "Yes. A person with a specific bloodline whose purpose is to be food that the main power will soon devour. This is also why Ikarod and Grandanite and their sons or allies live. They are mere food. Destiny will try to spare them, as you just saw earlier. They sided with you, but they were not killed."


    "What are you talking about?" Grandanite booming voice echoed.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Angelian. Won''t you be so kind as to exin these to them? The faster they learn their destiny, the better."


    "Don''t you dare talk to her!" Nightwing raged.


    "Huh. You really do like your girls... It''s a good thing we''re a trinity, then. This means we can really live separately. Right now, I''m just a clone, but it''s nothing a little True Cut can''t solve."


    "You would kill me if we separated!"


    "Now that''s just Folly talking. Angelian, if you will." Kyros raised his hand and used a powerful healing spell.


    Angelian recovered and could stand.


    She red at Kyros angrily for what he had done to Nightwing.


    "You really are beautiful." Kyros smiled back.


    Angelian felt her heart quiver at Kyros''s words. A strange power affected her, but she quickly rejected it.


    "You dare!" Nightwing was so angry that he stood up and weakly walked toward Kyros.


    "Rx. I''m only doing that to frustrate Mechiel."


    "Then go to your bride! Don''t you dare touch what is mine!"


    "Is that Greed? You need to strengthen your will, Nightwing. And you don''t get it, do you? Now that there are two of us if the Charmed Fallen''s soul fuses with Mechiel, she is more likely to charm the both of us. It is better for all our women to go after the two of us. The Charmed Fallen won''t let go of either of us. And if we want to win, you to have whoever you want, and me to have Mechiel, then we need to split her targets and threats." Kyros exined.


    Nightwing fell silent as his expression changed.


    "I am... still not out of her paws?"


    "You''re the weaker one. She''ll target you for sure."


    "And I''m assuming you have a cure for this?"


    "Yes. The next part is prepared specifically for you. You survived that terrible tribtion, and all that curses, but more terrors woulde. And there is the Charmed Fallen. In this situation where ns and schemes will fail you, you can only rely on brute power. Everyone... I''ll need your help. We will be massacring several of the Kingdoms of the Minds. Kingdoms who will enact grave sins in the future."


    "These are the kingdoms that are destined to be traitors, right?" Lea recalled the tale that her sister told her in the Unrecorded Pages. Minds were given their freedom and autonomy and even waged war against the Hignds on asions. But the biggest taboo that any Mind Kingdom wouldmit was to side with the Nethends in times of war. In Rachel Olethros''s tales, the Eldrich had be the rulers, and both Necron and her served them for a time. She saw how Mind Kingdoms betrayed the Hignds.


    "Yes. These are the kingdoms that will ally with the Eldrich. No doubt, even now, they are trembling because of the meteors. The destruction of the barrier would make them weak. So while the armies are out fighting, we kill the entire kingdom and devote everything to destruction. In this, Nightwing has to grow stronger! But since he will lose, we will be the de to aid him in getting stronger. One way to surpass Destiny is to quickly get stronger to the point that he''s preparations cannot keep up."


    "You want to offer... an entire Mind kingdom''s popce to Nightwing?" Aron asked again.


    "The Era of Middle Approaches. Gods and Fallen are rushing here. The battlefield will be the nesworld, and that ce called Middle will soon reveal its secrets. We have to be as strong as Cherubims if we want to survive battling against Gods and Fallen. I can already see the battle that Demerus and Daradiel have. They are doing their part. Destiny expects us to go there and help them. But no. We have to do something that he won''t expect."


    "And massacring an entire kingdom''s popce, which Destiny believes to be outside of our moral limitations, is the answer..." Martha couldn''t help but speak.


    "Wait! This is insane!" Krysta shouted.


    "The Hignds will never agree to this!"


    "...The Hignds have, daughter," Killian answered and pointed up.


    "They allowed the meteors to fall. I was once invited to the Hignds in the era when I was alive. I saw its defenses. The Hignds did very little to defend. They have been following Kyros''s or... princess Listrel''s suggestion. I believe that if Kyros does this, they will not me Kyros. They will only grit their teeth and turn away." Killian answered.


    "I don''t know why you, Light Grown, feel disgusted by this. My father already ordered Alucan Fangsworn to eat to his heart''s content." Lea shrugged.


    "So let''s go. We don''t have any time left. We attack the closest traitor kingdoms. The kingdom of Azafego."


    "With just us?" Monica was stunned.


    "The Emberdons are here. And so is my father. They will help us. Don''t worry. This is easy. Nightwing, do you know how to do it? The Blood Cmity spell?"


    "...Yes. Let''s do this." Nightwing''s mouth became parch as the thirst of tasting such blood enticed him.

 Chapter 558 Fall Of The Paling

    ?


    In the far corners of the Universe, the Greater Gods that sided with the Ancient Gods watched as battle after battle exploded within the universe.


    Be it the gods and fallen that served Rhykestorn Ever or those that sided with Bow Veiyos and the surviving Ancient Gods, chaos broke the order and forced the war between gods and fallen or the gxies that were divided.


    Next to the Ancient God Bow was another being. He was like a shining conflux of emerald and ruby light that whirled like a tornado. At the center of this was his being. He stood like a man and had numerous mouths and ears all over his body. He was thest and surviving son of a being that was beyond the Ancient Gods, the being known as Truth.


    He was the most guarded of the Gods, for through him, the victory of their enemies could not reach its fruition. For the most part, they were unable to escape the Ancient God who knew.


    He is Akuo Logos Soter, the Ancient God of Hearing and Speaking.


    Through him, all that has tongues found knowledge. By him, all things can hear.


    All that is truth and the utterance of things were to his knowledge. And while there were ways to prevent him from hearing, with all creation as his ears, it was very difficult for him not to know.


    But now, the chaos of the worlds and the many battles was like a loud ringing sound that became noise to him.


    The power that he was giving to Bow that allowed Bow to hear was failing.


    "How can such chaos ur?"


    "Something is happening in the realms beyond us. Those that had passed on are raging in their power... A grand battle is happening. The whispers and words of the gods and fallen that have long passed are speaking. The Heretics are moving. And at the center of it, all is the nesworld."


    "The nesworld? That''s where Daradiel is. Can you not hear his words?"


    "My ears cannot reach them. A spell that devours and absorbs is there. Greater God Sheolrah keeps my ears unable to hear the events in the nesworld clearly. I heard a war ur between Sheolrah, Impyernos, and Thessh. But I cannot make out any of it..."


    "What of you? Why has your power waned, Martys?" Bow turned to another.


    It was a woman with many wings that grew out of her body. Each wing had eyes, but she had no eyes on her face.


    Martys Ss shook her head and sighed.


    "My eyes as a Witness to this Universe are being shrouded by another power. And this power does not belong to any of our current enemy. Something or someone is shrouding my eyes. I feel that I even forget what I see... There are powers that I never thought were present are returning. Bow. As you know, many things of the past have been removed from us. The truth of the Beings that Were and the Beings that Are are returning. A battle that makes our battle for survival against Rhykestorn and Thanatos Kyriachos look like a mere puny pawn is slowly unraveling itself. I have witnessed the changes in the world. Bow... the Death of the Time God and his revert could be the center of all these events. It is as Fate nned. This is what I have witnessed."


    "She speaks of what I have also heard. An Era is Coming. The Era of Middle. And at the center of it, all is the nesworld."


    "The nesworld again? Is that not where Daradiel is?"


    "That could also be where Cminus is. The powers of time surge mightily over there." Martys added.


    "I have also heard faint whispers of Cracky Batcheeks, the name that the new host of Cminus spoke of there. It seems that Fate and Destiny are leading a fight there. Bow, should we move there?"


    "No. It''s too dangerous. Here in the Celestial Heavens of Ouranous, we are well-guarded."


    At that moment, a strange voice appeared as Akuo Logos heard great cries. His ears were focused on the nesworld, but the harnessing of the Word of Power, whose powers are rted to that of Akou Logos, exploded out. And it was all using the power of the Celestial Code!


    "A massive amount of Word of Power that harnesses the Celestial Code! What''s going on?" Akou was confused. It was impossible for the Code of Daradiel to be mastered by many in such a short span of time!


    The Word of Power drew Akou Logos''s ears closer, and he heard it clearly.


    It was as if a hundred Cardinals and even a few Crowns were perishing, and the cries of the departed had reached heaven and drew Akou Logos''s curiosity.


    "Die! Die! Demerus! Your formation is quite grand! To think you could harness my power! The blessings of Astra are not wasted on you!" A loud and cheerful cry was heard as the power of the Celestial elements attacked the iing forces.


    "Be warned! The next meteors are far stronger! We would have to fight some more, and you may lose your men!" The voice called out.


    "Servants of the Nephilim! You heard him! Let those who can Challenge Fate arise! I wish for all to live, but those who die will be absorbed in the pool of power! You have heard that the souls of the former allies of Kyros and Mezal, those that have long passed, are here! So fight with all your might! Give your lives to this cause! The power of a Greater God, Greater God Daradiel, is here to empower you!"


    "Daradiel!?" Akou Logos suddenly called out.


    Martys was connected with Akou Logos and managed to zero in and see the form of Daradiel.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    He wore massive yellow golem armor and harnessed the power. Unholy energy surged around him. The powers that he wielded were not impressive, considering he was a Greater God. But for one that is dying, to have found such means was nothing short of a miracle.


    Daradiel heard the faint call.


    "Ancient Gods Akou Logos! Martys! Bow! Are you there? Can you hear me? The Nephilim is here! He has arisen, and hispanions are here! I am with his allies! Those that are descendants of Astra! There are others here who wield power! You must head to nesworld! The battle of the entire universe will be here! The Charmed Fallen is here! You have to help us! Sheolrah is greatly wounded! The nesword has a shocking secret! It could be the avatar of Dentor! He attacked Sheolrah, Impyernos, and Thessh! The Nephilim''s allies n to kill all of them, and with their previous feats, they have fought against Destiny, Pausontai, a forgotten fallen whose name we do not know!" Daradiel pleaded.


    BOOM!


    "Here theye! Demerus! Get ready to."


    At once, the signal was cut off as another power began to devour the sounds and sight.


    "Sheolrah! Her power of the Dark Star is devouring even sight and sound!" Martys shouted.


    "Bow!"


    "...I know. We have to go there. Our advantage is that the chaos that is causing gods and fallen to act foolishly is due to the Charmed Fallen! Now we know what''s causing it, and this could give us the advantage to move without fearing attack. Then let''s go! Remove the paling that blocks the path between dimensions. Greater God Pleoh!"


    "Yes, Mother!"


    "We set sail for the nesworld! Gather all the Greater Gods! We prepare for war!"


    As the universe fell into confusion, Rhykestorn Ever and many other Greater Gods were convening at a meeting to stop the oddity and actions of many gods and fallen.


    Their lord, the First Fallen, Thanatos Kyriachos, was also present.


    "The Charmed Fallen lives? That bitch is causing problems again!" Thanatos shouted. As someone who cannot love, even the sensations of lust escaped him.


    "Both our allies and enemies are being drawn into that world, but a war is starting to erupt." A Fallen spoke.


    "How many of the Ancient God''s allies have we killed?" Thanatos asked.


    "...That''s the problem. Despite being lesser in number, those of the Ancient gods has yet to face any losses! Many of the hidden Heretics and the New Gods and Fallen have emerged. Those on our side that have been tainted by the lust of that woman are now in marital disputes with their wives!" A Greater God answered.


    "Rhykestorn! Get your damned men to calm down! The barriers of the Divide are cracking and breaking! If it keeps up, many shields will break!"


    "Lord Thanatos, the barriers will not break unless the Heaven''s Barrier is opened or broken. The Divide will remain." Rhykestorn answered.


    "LORD RHYKESTORN!" A Celestial appeared in the grand hall of the gods and fallen.


    "I trust you have important news to deliver if you barge in here too."


    "The Heavens have opened! The Great Ark of Pleoh is pulling the Heavens! It''s moving!"


    "WHAT?!" The Gods and the Fallen all eximed.


    The barriers of the Divide began to fall one after the other. The known realms now had a road that would create chaos.


    The Heretics saw the opened path, and many beings that were thrown at the far reaches and fringe regions of the universe were now moving.


    Down in the nesworld, the team of Kyros had reached the first kingdom that they nned to massacre.


    "After this, we use a warp pad to head north. The strategy is to attack the kingdoms in random session to confuse the Minds on who we n to attack. This will be the first. Nightwing, are you ready?" Lea asked.


    "Yes." Nightwing answered.


    The group charged into the kingdom that had very little defense.

 Chapter 559 Fall Into The Depths Of The Ocean

    ?


    Martha, Aron, Angelian, Lea, Monica, and Meister Strongholden ran with all their might. Behind them were the Cyclops that chased after them. Several spiders and Sherah followed closely behind. Nightwing was standing over one of the Cyclops, and the Emperor Assassin stood on another.


    "Help!" Martha shouted and shouted toward the kingdom.


    "Save us!" Angelian cried as well.


    Lea pretended to stumble down and made Meister Strongholden run back to save him.


    "Capture the Princess! Do not make him enter the kingdom!" Nightwing shouted.


    He nced at his cheat sheet.


    "YOU shout and use [Deception] to make the Kingdom think that YOU are chasing after Lea and the team. Shout ''Capture the Princess! Do not make him enter the kingdom!''" Nightwing checked the item off his checklist.


    "YOU shoot dark attacks and DO NOT AIM TO HIT YOUR ALLIES¡­ Do these things have to be in all caps in this cheat sheet? I''m not that dumb!" Nightwingined and harnessed the power of his attack.


    He sent out a st of darkness that exploded to the side.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    On the walls of the kingdom, there were several guards watching over the running women. They saw that the women were dangerously beautiful. Especially Lea and Angelian. Their beauties caused the guards to believe that they were, in fact, princesses of another Mind kingdom.


    "Open the gates! Are you blind?! They are definitely princesses being chased!" The Cardinal guarding the fort gave orders. He was the highest-ranking man with the strongest Cultivation in the fortress as all marched off to war.


    The Cardinal saw the beauties and couldn''t help but recall how all those powerful fighters were bending over backward to im the hearts of those two stunningly beautiful Lond women. Mechiel and Scarlet were well known that even pictures or recordings of them sold at extremely high prices! But now, there was a chance!


    "Knight in shining armor¡­" He could not help but mutter out loud, drawing the strange looks of the team hemanded.


    "Er¡­ I mean, Knights, shine your armor with holy as the enemies of darkness approach!" The Cardinal ordered.


    "And open the gates!"


    The gates of the massive walls that stood as tall as a mountain began to move up.


    "I am curious. Could you cut the walls?" Lea asked as they approached.


    "Yeah. But it''s pointless. The cut will be paper thin. And that doesn''t do anything helpful." Aron answered.


    "I see¡­ Well, let''s go crazy. I''ll flood the kingdom with my ability. And ever since that water Fallen fell, I felt my power increase." Lea revealed a small drop of water. But it contained a massive amount of water that was somehowpressed in a dimensional realm.


    Lea then harnessed the energy. She had absorbed a sea''s worth of water in the Dark Sea and managed to contain it in her power.


    She had the Corruption of Hydron and had the power to devour waters of vast amounts.


    The group moved through the gates. Lea immediately threw the droplet toward the center of the kingdom.


    "[Pgei Tes Okeanos]!


    The power of a Crown appeared as the drop flew towards therge pce and into the rooms inside.


    BOOM!


    It was like a massive explosion made of water urred, creating a devastating st that destroyed the entire pce as the waters flooded over the kingdom.


    The Cardinal was shocked and turned around as he saw the pce unleash an ocean inside.


    "What happened?!" The Cardinal eximed.


    He turned to his allies and realized that his vision had begun to spin. He then saw the lower half of his body as he was spinning in the air.


    Aron had flown up and made a powerful sh that severed everything within five hundred meters of his sh.


    The entire army above the walls of the gates was killed.


    Nightwing''s allies saw the massive attacks and were shocked.


    "As expected of the Queen of the Nethends¡­" Ikarod and his team watched as they flew from afar and began to dash closer.


    "That attack was an attack that contained a sea! No Crown could block that attack unscathed. But our mission begins now! Attack the Crowns that survive!" Ikarod ordered as they flew down.


    As the waters swept through thend, a strange dark power was moving within it and weakening the light.


    Those who had a cultivation at the Champion level and those who were lower were killed by the sudden st.


    Commanders were wounded, while a few were struggling to remain alive, and only Cardinals managed to block the attack.


    The waters were trying to rush out on the various exits within the kingdom. But with Lea''s power, the waters began to plug the holes using the stones and structures that were blown away.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    At the entrance, the waters gathered and did not spill out of the exits as the team of Nightwing had all arrived.


    Krysta watched in horror as an entire kingdom sank into the water instantly.


    "I''d say eighty percent of those who lived here are dead." Lea made her estimate.


    "Kill the remaining twenty percent. Killian. Bring your wife, Krysta, and Christopher to the pce. Find the throne of the king and see his belongings. You will see what sins this kingdom has." Nightwing ordered and began to spread out his blood into the dark waters below and began to seek out those who were dying.


    The Crown-level attack with no warrior strong enough to resist or block it had killed close to a million people. The cities were full ofughter, and marriages were being held when all of a sudden, the kingdom fell into the depths of the ocean.


    Ikarod had a Crown cultivation, and against the dying Cardinals, they were easy picking.


    A dark spell began to appear as Nightwing''s power merged with Lea''s sea.


    Lea did not even take any for herself but allowed all the energy and life to be given to Nightwing.


    Killian and his family swam deep into the waters. Lea had marked them, and the waters were friendly and even aided them in swimming.


    They soon reached the pce and could see the strongest cultivator within.


    He was a high-ranking Cardinal, only a step away from bing a Crown. But Killian and Krysta could tell that he was weak. His strength should have sufficed to survive the sea, yet he died.


    "What do Kyros and Nightwing want us to see?" Krysta didn''t understand.


    Killian, however, had an ugly expression.


    "The Light quivers. The darkness of malice is here." Killian spoke.


    Chrislie and Christopher followed Killian as he swam into the depths of the pce.


    "Why is the darkness of the Abyss rushing out of there? What''s in that room?" Krysta asked as she could feel great death energy leaking out.


    "Wrong. That''s not the Abyss powers of Lea." Killian answered.


    "That''s the death energy that this kingdom has been gathering. I see what this kingdom has been doing now." Killian moved inside the room.


    A strange ball of flesh was seen.


    "What¡­ is that?! Why is it simr to the flesh of¡­ Mamon?!" Krysta eximed.


    "This is a gift. A gift that this kingdom was preparing. They were creating pills using the life of many humans here so that they could gift them to a Dark Dependent. An Eldrich servant, perhaps. This is proof that Nightwing wanted to show us this kingdom''s atrocity."


    "How¡­ is this made?"


    "This isn''t just mere flesh. The Dark Dependents eat the power of death energy. But the greatest source of death energy would be those that are alive. You kill them, and that energy is yours to have. The stronger the being, the greater the amount. This is roughly enough energy that could turn a Death Dependent Caridnal to step to be a Crown or for a Crown to level up. And I doubt this product ispleted."


    "But what does this have to do with all the innocent lives that-"


    "Life offering. That''s what this kingdom called it." A voice spoke.


    The group turned and saw Kyros and Lea arrive.


    "Life offering?"


    "I''ll leave it to Princess Lea to tell you what that is."


    "Oh? This is quite a treasure. As Killian said, it''s enough to level a Crown. But making this is difficult. I''d estimate¡­ Several thousands of lives were used to make this so that it could contain such energy. Too bad I hurt it with my attack. It''s dying and is beyond healing. More food for Nightwing, I guess."


    "No. This one goes to the Fortress. They need the life energy for their ongoing battle." Kyros approached and used his power to transport the ball into the Fortress.


    "The kingdom funded this. People can willingly draw out the life energy in them to make this. Part of the taxes of this kingdom is to offer up the life energy you cultivate. And this kingdom was feeding the Eldrich."


    "Right. This is far beyond the reach of my father''swork. We only have Lond spies to help us nt spies andworks. But reaching the Minds would be hard. Only the Eldrich could reach here."


    "...Why are you showing this to us?" Killian asked.


    "Although you have been submissive, Nightwing is not that dumb to know that you despise these methods. He wanted me to show you. You hold to the old ways. But light and darkness do not equal good and wicked."


    "...We will serve Nightwing even if it means massacring kingdoms for his power. We know what''s at stake." Killian answered.


    "Good." Kyros turned around and left.


    "...But this eases our conscience," Killian spoke as Kyros left.

 Chapter 560 Fall To Rise

    ?


    The Fortress of the Nephilim was now damaged in many locations.


    Sections of the walls had fallen, and nearly a hundred of the men that had been recruited died against the hordes of alien invaders.


    A grand formation stood beyond them as the wounded Crowns of the meteor gathered to create a Magic Fortress.


    It stood in opposition to the Nephilim Fortress and was powered by a formation using Cardinals and Crowns.


    The people that arrived within the first two meteors had fallen and died, but theyid the foundation for the other meteors that arrived.


    The tide of the battle was turning as thest of the meteors arrived and was not blown to bits by the Nephilim Fortress''s Holy Beam attack.


    The armies of the aliens also created a barrier that kept the Unholy energy at bay and formed ranks of war. Though they did not charge recklessly, they continued to harass and shoot their attacks at the Nephilim Sealing Fortress.


    Many Siege cultivators quickly took their positions.


    The battle was now between two fortresses trying to outgun and destroy the shields of each other.


    The Fortress was quickly using up a lot of the resources they stored. The healing had been used numerous times.


    Mezal had used the healing tform four times, and Demerus twice.


    Many alien races could fly, and with their number, the Wings of the Nephilim had to retreat from their previous bombardment. The battle was a stalemate, and more meteors were falling down.


    Daradiel was starting to get worried. Two more meteors approached!


    BOOM!


    "AHHH!" Mezal crashed andnded in the Fortress. Mezal was at the front lines, and his shield was blocking the attacks of powerful foes. He was the only one capable of moving out of the Fortress and would attack using his meteor ability to crash into the enemy fortress, acting as a human siege weapon.


    But now, a Crown had regained much of his strength and sent a counterattack. Had it not been for the shamanic powers, Mezal would have died.


    "...Hahaha! Thank you, my wife."


    Esther appeared next to her.


    "I only saved you because death will be an easy escape!" Esther cursed.


    "You and Demerus don''t seem too worried. I can''t see a way we could win this. Another star will fall soon. And there is yet another, who has numerous Crowns!" Daradiel spoke.


    "Are you sure that we can beat them? Are you sure we can survive this?"


    "Oh, we are. Daradiel. We''ve fought Destiny more times than you have. We know how to outsmart it. Right now, you are just a big gun that the Nephilim can fire, and your Fate is bound with us. The key to winning Destiny is to always have an ace up your sleeve that you don''t know you had!" Mezalughed.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Like me?" Esther Steele asked.


    "Of course, my love! My eternal rose! My sunshine!"


    "Quit it. Don''t think our little fight has been settled."


    "Little fight?" Demerus quietly muttered. Mezal nearly died, and they had to use the healing of the Fortress to rescue him from death.


    "Exin what my grandson is doing."


    "Demerus had been inmunication with the rest of the Nephilim and was assured that help was bound to arrive. But as for the specifics, we don''t know. Still, Kyros knows that we need something that will help us with this. And from what I understand, his actions are now difficult for Destiny to perceive because of Mysterion. So even though the curses have returned and our mark of Destiny is stabilizing, Kyros can still help us, and he surely will."


    "Help us? Against our enemies, we''d need the energy that an entire nation of men could produce! How will Kyros do that?" Daradiel asked.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "If I could receive a great source of Life energy, I''d be able to use the Unholy and create resurrected bodies of those enemies of ours who died. I can also bring back some of the fallen members of the Steele family. When I died, I had the Path of Foresight and was considered a Seer! To think that you would have irvoyants for your average members and you yourself are a Seer! Regardless, they are the ones who could greatly change the flow of the battle despite being weak. Some have died, but I can still use Unholy to resurrect them!"


    "Of course. The Steele family''s knights and champions are all Fate Challengers! Just wait, my love. Our grandson has tremendous ability. While most of us have risen in the Path of Foresight, Kyros now has reached the level of True Understanding. He would be A Messenger of Fate now. I''m sure that whatever he is nning will naturally cover our weaknesses. Who knows? Maybe a source of tremendous life energy will be sent here to the Fortress soon."


    ---


    The Fortress has acquired Bountiful Life Ball.


    Assimte to recharge Fortress?


    ---


    A notification suddenly appeared, and Mezal smiled.


    "See! We now have a great amount of Life Energy!" Mezal chuckled.


    Esther saw the notification and was amazed.


    "H-how?!"


    "I told you. He is a Messenger of Fate. You and I are at the peak of the Path of Foresight. But Kyros should be in the True Understanding realm. Right now, he is no longer just a Fate Challenger. He is a Fate Oveer!" Mezalughed.


    "Then this is our chance! Demerus! Is there a way to change the formation to make me the center of the Energy formation circle? I will use the Fortress''s power to revive the fallen!"


    "Of course. Shifting Energy Formation Circle!"


    "Make Greater God Daradiel the second minor circle! Husband! Use your shaman power and be thest circle! We will be calling the dead and restoring them through Unholy! This Bountiful Life Ball is a horrific item! Whoever made itmitted countless crimes. I can feel the souls of babies inside of it! Now their souls will be freed to rest, and the flesh will be used to cause the return of yourpanions!" Esther shouted, and the formation appeared under her.


    The power that was summoned suddenly created a strange Crown. It was a Crown of Thorns and blood.


    "Fate has spoken! Fate has decreed! From the bruised steel that is hammered and struck shall be metal that will not bend and break! A sword will rise from the steel! A shield will form from it! To equip the Nephilim and to be its weapon! Many shall arise to fight the Nephilim! And Fate has in many and killed so much that they may escape Destiny! But now, the time to arise hase! Arise of sleeper and let the light of Soter fall on you! You who fell to be hidden, arise and be seen! Arise and fight! For the battle of End approaches! These are the words of Fate! And let the power that Fate kept awaken! Fated to Die! Fated to Rise!"


    The flesh ball trembled as the chant of the Word of Power that Fate herself had stored inside Esther.


    Mezal heard it and marveled.


    "So that''s why you died...!" Mezal realized the mysterious death of his wife.


    But now, it gave rity.


    Those that died long ago, and those that died just recently, the souls began to return.


    Flesh came alive, for the power of Fate aided in their resurrection.


    "[Prooridzo: Anistemy]!"


    The power surged out, and the entire universe felt it.


    A power of Fate had erupted.


    Bow sensed the power.


    "...Full speed ahead." She drew her bow and began to attack.


    With the power of the two Ancient Gods next to her, Bow could hear and see the Gods and Fallen all over the universe. And she began to shoot her attacks that would fly with speed, power, and devastating uracy.


    The Ancient Gods were moving to war!

 Chapter 561 Rise Of The Fated Dead

    ?


    The fortress itself was glowing with great energy that the walls and portions that were damaged were slowly returning to it''s full might.


    The Holy Shield around the Fortress began to glow a bright and powerful light.


    The Crowns saw it and ordered everyone to stop attacking as the attacks were bouncing back at them!


    "Hold your fire men!" A Crown who used fusion power to fuse his body with the corpse of an ancient dragon spoke. He was the strongest among all Crowns.


    "That magic cannotst! Reflect magic of pure light without form? I''ve heard of mirror magic, but this is different. Wait and prepare to attack. This is theirst deperate attempt to survive. When the walls go down, I want everyone to attack with all their might! Do not be deceived with the restoring power! It''s all a facade!" The Crown ordered as the great light appeared.


    Mysterion and Lies were spreading out as an effect of the power.


    The Shamanic spell that Esther Steele used was a power that contained great deception. But now, Mysterion was blocking it from the eyes of Destiny and even Thora.


    They did not know what was happening inside!


    Over the years of their lives, the Steele family had a powerful group of soldiers that served them.


    Mezal was their leader, and together, the team of Captains made a name for themselves within the Londs taking on dangerous quests. Their number grew and Mezal was the nominal leader of this mercenary group that had some fifty men.


    But Fate was cruel that while they had went as far as survived a Commander in their Captain levels, they remained unknown and their adventures only kept to their selves.


    The team that Mezal formed was a powerful group, each Captain able to fight off a Champion one-on-one.


    But soon, they died. And the only memories of their might, remained with Mezal.


    In theirst days, Mezal pleaded with these friends of his to give up and leave. They were not part of the notorious family of Mezal''s true ancestry. But his friends all dered that they were part of the Steele and made a vow of servitude.


    Mezal wept when they did this, and wept harder the next few hours when they were all dead.


    But now, the power of Fate that called out the souls of the dead through an ancient spell made by the shamans had spared their souls.


    Even the dissipating soul of Hemsy was spared and drawn in before it dissipated.


    But now, the grand spell of the Shaman used the Unholy, the Holy, and the Life energy that was present and created a resurrecting spell.


    Many who just died were suddenly awakened in shock as they saw themselves back in the Fortress.


    Men after men, woman after woman, all who died serving the Steele family were being restored!


    Hemsy opened his eyes and it was as if the memories of the Steele family''s adventure after he died was being sent in him.


    Hemsy lived as if he knew every detail that the Fortress had recorded.


    "Amazing¡­" Hemsy could not help but tear up to how far the Steele family went ever since he died.


    Mezal trembled as he saw the faces of his familiar friends. He could never see them as his knights.


    The bewildered and amazed expression of the three remained. The power they received was surging and they were surprised that their cultivation were already on Commander level!


    "Puck! Samer! Flint! Wergon!" Mezal moved to greet the four. They were the four leaders whomanded the mercenary group.


    An Archer, a Ravager, a Berserker, and a Mage. These were the four friends that Mezal teamed up with.


    Their appearance and weapons were the very ones they had when they died!


    The four saw Mezal and smiled.


    Mezal rushed to them, but they bowed.


    "It''s an honor to serve you again, lord Mezal!" The four greeted in respect. They had seen the memories and embraced the vow that they made.


    Mezal ran to them and began to weep.


    "Not a good thing to show to your allies, boss!" The Archer, Puckughed.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Right! We''ll reminisce next time! There''s a battle ahead! Give me more of those weapons you acquired from your killings! I''ll paint the town red with my de!" Samer the Ravagerughed.


    There were many more servants who returned, and those who died long ago were reborn. Yet all of them received the blessing of Unholy and their cultivation reached to new heights. The weakest ones were Champions!


    Suddenly, numerous strange apparitions appeared as five shaman souls appeared.


    Mezal was shocked as he saw the familiar faces.


    "The spell worked!" One of the five, an old manughed.


    "And now, our powers have been unsealed. But it seems that the Nephilim did so much more! Behold! A Greater God is there! And see the power of their team! Your son-inw has Foresight that is higher than mine! Just a bit, and he would reach the realm of True Understanding!" Another spoke.


    At the center, was an old man who looked fondly at the wife of Mezal.


    Esther bowed before the five.


    "Elders. Father, Mother. The n of Fate has worked."


    "Oracle of Fate, Esther! You have done well. But now, let''s finish this. Mezal, it''s good to see you." The old man smiled.


    "Father-inw! Shaman Elder Mordecius Caius!" Mezal approached.


    "Do not bow before me, Mezal. You have far surpassed me now. We have made the vow of Steele. We are part of your family, as servants. So do not bow. Although, I hope my daughter will continually torture you for bing what you are now." The man red.


    Mezal felt his knees weaken as he nced at his wife who was approaching.


    "Let''s deal with thatter. Husband. Behold the army of the Nephilim! The Steele family has lost so many through the years. But Fate has set your blood to be the generation in which the n to serve the Nephilim will happen. The moment Cminus moved back in time, the ripple of Fate altered this timeline and made preparations to store all souls. And now, your army is ready."


    Behind her were all the fallen groups that the Steele family had. Many were even unkown to Mezal for they had made their vows to the Steele family through Aron and Branze.


    "Mezal!" Greater God Daradiel called out.


    "The protective spell will fall. I sense the enemies outside preparing for a full scale invasion to attack! You have to overpower them! With the great power of life, I can bestow the Earth to increase the defenses of several who could be the vangurds. Have them use the Gun and I will increase the defenses so they could block the attacks of the Crown!" Daradiel ordered.


    Mezal nodded and turned to everyone.


    "Friends! Warriors! Champions! And those who were forgotten along the way! This is a moment that I treasure deeply in my heart. You are all members of the Steele family and even though many of you are unknown to me, Fate has bonded us all together. But now, this great reunion is not something that should cause us to pause. We have an army. And we have to invade! You have seen our memories and I cans ee that many of you could hardly believe this all! But I tell you, it is all true! The battle between Beginning and End continues and is reaching a crucial point! The Era of Middle is here! We go out and fight these foes who are beyond us! But we will not stop our march here! We go and wage war to armies of the Eldrich! Demerus! Activate Mobile Fortress Protocol! It''s time to move out!"


    Demerus nodded. This was one of their greatest projects. Using the power of Astra and the Celestial Code that could move great rocks ands, the Emberdons created a miniature form and applied it to the Fortress.


    "Everyone! Please organize yourselves into groups! Follow my instructions!" Mezal quickly gave orders and arranged the entire army into order.


    The number of the Steele family had reached a poption of 600!


    Outside of the fortress, the army of the alien invaders were all prepared to make their attack.


    "They will brace for our first attack! So make sure that your first attack will kill them all!"


    The light began to fade and the army all were ready to pounce.


    But suddenly, a massive wall emerged out of the lights as the Fortress of the Nephilim moved!


    "[Holy Wave]!" Daradiel used Exodia and brought out the potent life energy that was just absorbed.


    BOOM!


    "Attack!" The Crowns of the alien races gave the orders and their attacks were all sent out.


    Theirbined power surpassed the Holy Wave attack of the Fortress in energy and blew through it, but the Gun team were coated in great earthen energy and took the remnant energy.


    Suddenly, an army of fighters charged out of the moving Fortress and many even used the walls to make a powerful jumping attack at the enemies.


    "What?! Their number doubled!" A Crown cursed as he saw the Champions and Commanders charge in!

 Chapter 562 Rise Of The Planted

    ?


    The power of the Nephilim''s army brought out a heavenly attack of Celestial bodies and stars.


    The Cardinals with Gun armor had defenses that could resist the weakened attacks of the Crowns that fought and won over Holy Wave.


    But they threw themselves like meteors using the power that Mezal had perfected.


    Human Seige attacks were used as these brave men dove into the thick of the battle.


    Daradiel''s power was released, and numerous calls of the Celestial Codes appeared.


    The shaman family of Esther also fought on and wielding the Unholy energy around them; they released attacks that could threaten Crowns!


    Expecting an all-out defensive formation, the aliens were unprepared, and the swift attacks of the Nephilim''s armynded first.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The shamans summoned the physical bodies of the fallen, and Cardinals of the enemy were raised to life to fight their allies.


    "Secret spell of the Lord of Lie! Grand Confusion! Kill your friends!" Mezal shouted as if he was spouting Words of Power.


    The summoned Cardinals began to attack and fight, causing some of the fighters to be confused.


    This was not a spectral form; it was their physical bodies that fought!


    The lie of Mezal added confusion among the defenders, and some even guarded against their allies.


    Demerus saw it and finally released the secret envoys they had been spreading into the ground, hiding within the corpses and shadows.


    It was deliberately kept secret and not used. But as the connection between Kyros and the Fortress increased, so did its power.


    Demerus had secretly created a shade army!


    The shades were being sent and injected as dark energy was sent out as Dark bolts that struck the corpses of the alien army.


    Now, these Dark shades hidden in Mysterion were summoned to light through Holy Wave and began to ambush many.


    Their number was too few and would not have made any effect if used in any other situation, but the timing was just right.


    Fate had gifted Demerus great Foresight that he had finally reached True Understanding surpassing even Mezal!


    Thebination of all events led to the quick copse of the front lines and created a reaction of the aliens fighting one another.


    As the copse of the front lines appeared, several individuals saw that death would finally crush them. And they all fought desperately. But at that moment, a strange power was urring.


    For in the realms beyond time, Destiny saw the events urring as the turning point of many battles urred.


    His battle against Fate was not a linear battle. It was a battle of countless possibilities. Both were acting to outwit the other. Fate would predetermine the lives of his people to push them to be in certain ces. Destiny foreknew those whom he has chosen.


    Fate creates and hardens the life of a person to make him surpass them, whereas Destiny already knows who would be the stronger ones and pick them.


    The battle of the two also spanned across time, for Destiny could see how Fate would act, while Fate could predict what seeds Destiny would reap and which one would nt.


    Fate made her move and used [Prooridzo], but now, Destiny would make his counterattack.


    He knew who would be sent down to Earth, and he could tell that a grand battle would ur involving these people. So the seeds that were nted in certain individuals would now be activated.


    Destiny held on to his power and caused it to explode from the End of time.


    "[Proginosko]!" Destiny activated the power.


    Those whom Destiny had foreknew were suddenly awakened.


    Back in the nesworld, the alien army that was being demolished suddenly were all dying even before the army of the Nephilim could attack them.


    Numerous aliens that fought in thend actually had a terrible secret. They had acquired a terrifying demon spell that even the Fallen Spawns sealed in manys across the gxy.


    This demon spell was not of Fate, Destiny, or was not Neutral. They were the remnant of hate that remained when Gods and Fallen died. The hatred and poisonous emotions of these beings were so powerful that they had lived. Life to desire the destruction of anything.


    But this instinct for pure destruction was obviously a weed power to Desinty and End, who sought to End things. Despite not controlling these things directly, Destiny simply arranged events based on the future he knew and nted the seeds that would cause these dark gues to be dormant within these souls. These people had found tremendous legacies that they kept hidden all their lives. But these were all part of Destiny''s n to contain the anger. But now, in theirst moments, they all lost control, causing the evil within them to erupt.


    "Fate built her team through great tribtions and made them ovee great power, but I, Destiny, have nted seeds that would boom into existence! They shall be the blocks and hindrances that will End the plots of Beginning! So go... Be a gigantic obstacle that Fate and Beginning are to face! Arise my hidden seeds and sprout your terror!"


    A putrid, dark, sticky ooze that seemed like blood exploded out of the dying Cardinals and began sweeping and attacking the rest. It took in the hatred, anger, resentment, and negative emotions of these beings and fed on them to be stronger.


    Demerus saw the sudden explosion and quickly ordered a retreat.


    "Impossible! The Velyosomai were in them?!" Daradiel cursed.


    The ck ooze instantly spread and constantly grew in size and began to spread so fast that it was going after the allies of the Nephilim.


    "Defend!" Mezal shouted as he harnessed the power of the shaman and the Unholy energy to create a massive wall.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Many within the Fortress knew what thismand meant, and Demerus quickly acted.


    All were empowering the Holy Shield of the Fortress.


    BOOM!


    The ck ooze met the powerful light of the Fortress, and the two began to fight.


    "What is this?!" Mezal shouted.


    "The Abomination! It is the resentment, hatred, and anger of all gods and fallen! Those that had passed away!"


    "Then why are they still here?!" Mezal shouted in desperation, but the ooze suddenly began to absorb the power of Unholy!


    The souls of those gathered fed the ooze and caused the entire mist to retreat back.


    A dark ball was gathering from the back as the power and energy that surpassed the Crown was being harnessed.


    "That¡­! That might be reaching Conquerors!"


    "That attack is not just an ordinary Conqueror-level! It''s a High Conqueror-level attack!" Daradiel cursed.


    "Does it have an elemental weakness?" Demerus asked.


    "My power can''t fight it! It''s the power of resentment and hate! If we can harness emotions, then we can!"


    "Emotions?!" Mezal was startled.


    WARP!


    Suddenly, the Fortress''s main portal chambers were activated.


    Hems appeared.


    "I was ordered to return!" Hems shouted.


    "Great timing! Hems! Take position! Use your Brimstone powers and summon all the remaining Brimstone that Histerion left in this Fortress!"


    Hems quickly moved, and Daradiel was shocked at the being that he saw.


    "A man made of Brimstone! Impossible!"


    "That is a disciple of the God of the Scrolls! We will be using joy to purge this abomination!"


    Hems reached the energy formation circle just in time as the ocean of ck oozeunched its first attack.


    The Holy Shield of the Fortress gave a powerful orange glow as it resisted the ck ooze.


    BOOM!


    The two powers shed, but the Fortress was quickly diminishing in energy.


    WARP! WARP!


    At the moment when the shield was just about to give in, two women flew to the front of Fortress and stood right next to where the shield blocked the ck ooze.


    Heightened by the joy of Brimstone, the ck ooze began to tremble as the many emotions of the souls it had just devoured were losing anger as it saw the two radiant beauties.


    Mechiel and Scarlet were using their power to the greatest extent.


    Their very own life energy was being drained.


    The ck ooze trembled, and the shield was starting to push back.


    Demerus redirected the energy of the Brimstone.


    "Daradiel! Use Holy Wave again!" Demerus ordered.


    Daradiel followed suit, and his powers of Earth and Firemuned with the Brimstone energy, and the power of Brimstone rippled out of the Fortress.


    "[Holy Brimstone Wave]!" Daradiel shouted as Exodia began to crack and disintegrate from the purging fire of Brimstone.


    The wave shot out and purged the entire region burning the ck ooze and destroying it''s energy.


    Destiny watched from the realms beyond and had a nk expression.


    "Choosing these Fated as your only champions? Wouldn''t Wisdom tell you not to put your eggs in one basket? Are all those other battles merely a diversion to make me spread out my forces and not target that gathering of Fate Challengers?" Destiny pondered as he saw the result. In the many battles between him and Fate and the activation of their spells, Fate won one battle but lost a thousand.

 Chapter 563 Rise Of A Princess

    ?


    A certain kingdom close to the battlefield of the alien invasion was now in full evacuation.


    Carriages and flying magical transports were moving out and were headed towards the Londs.


    But in the middle of the evacuation, a powerful explosion of water urred again.


    BOOM!


    Just like before, the water exploded in the middle of the kingdom. And the full, undefended force of a Crown that could clear a terrain appeared, and the waters surged.


    But apart from that, darkness crept and devoured the water.


    The carriages from the outside received massive attacks as well.


    A giant Wyrm appeared and wreaked havoc and easily slew the Commander''s forces.


    The Cardinals tried to defend against them, but powerful fighters moved to assassinate them.


    A power that the Minds once feared drew its des as the Sword Saint Family had crept into the ranks of the carriages and were instantly killed.


    It was too easy for the group.


    Nightwing''s power to hide them had reached tremendous levels as he caused the team to disappear and only have their shadow remain. But in such chaos, where many nobles were fleeing with their lives after seeing meteors fall, the team easily did so.


    The ocean of water swept out and began to return.


    Lea''s powers and control were also reaching new levels.


    The queen of the Nethends had revealed her might, and it was as expected of one of the supreme cultivators within the nesworld to easily kill such a massive amount quickly.


    But unlike before, the team stayed only a short time. Lea quickly gathered the ocean she sent out and called it back. Nightwing was now able to help as he used his dark powers to draw in the Abbys.


    And after procuring certain important proofs of their treachery, Nightwing left.


    Numerous orbs that recorded ns, deals, and trades were acquired. They have found various recording stones in thest kingdom, and Nightwing also took a few in this one.


    "Why are you even getting those things?" Lea asked.


    "Proof, of course. No matter what, we are still killing crowds of great numbers. I don''t want to make the King of the nesworld think I''m just being greedy."


    "Ah... Of course."


    "Have you read them, Killian?" Nightwing asked.


    Although Nightwing had already shown horrifying proof on thest kingdom, he still showed Killian another set.


    "I trust you now. You don''t have to show me this."


    "It''s not that. I just want to make sure that it''s enough proof. If you think it''s enough, then maybe the king will think it''s enough."


    The Mind kingdoms were kingdoms of purity and without shame. Those in the central Minds did not practice any dark arts or magics of the Dark Dependent. And yet the first kingdom they attacked and slew with dangerous magics proved that they were a terrifying, wicked kingdom. Now, proof of the second was shown.


    The second one, the kingdom, was revealed to also be in bed with the Eldrich as secret shrines andmunication towers were created within the light.


    Altars and tall buildings were within numerous parts of the kingdom. Dark magic was being made. It was a pir of light that would shoot out toward the heavens and shoot down.


    But even with the alien invasion, they didn''t use it. The truth was that this was all part of a scheme. It was to create a powerful attack that would damage the barriers from the inside when the time woulde.


    "This thing was used several times in Kyros''s life. When the invasion of the Nethends began, this weapon attacked at a very crucial time and weakened the good guys, and killed numerous armies."


    Krysta couldn''t help but feel that the kingdom that they slew deserved it.


    The more they talked about it, the more clear that the great majority of the people took part in the rituals and gained benefits of power, wealth, and food from the Dark Dependents.


    The group was headed to another kingdom, and as they approached, Krysta couldn''t believe the horror stories that Nightwing spoke along the way. His memory and Kyros''s memory were now one, and he could ry the story to Krysta.


    "In short, these kingdoms had to betray the Minds and the Hignds because by then, they were so dependent on the Eldrich''s team that they couldn''t ally with the Minds. So despite not having any cultivations for Dark Dependents, Dark Dependent, or specifically, the Eldrich ways of Dark Dependent were their way of life." Nightwing exined.


    "But impossible! The crimes they did...!"


    "Are no less than the crimes of the Nethends!" Angelian eximed.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Hey. That''s an unfair statement." Lea frowned.


    It was then that Angelian and Krysta recalled that the Princess of the Nethends was with them.


    "Yeah. We''ve been there. Calling them evil is too much. I mean, brushing aside those that wanted to kill us because of our alignment in Fate, the Dark Sea0 was surprisingly... orderly." Aron added.


    "Indeed. I thought a Dark, Dependent society would be all about eating and killing." Martha confessed.


    "That''s wrong. We can''t eat and kill everyone. The rules state that we can only eat and kill those of equal standing to us. Thews my father set in ce ensure the safety and protection of the weaker ones. If you even look at our society, it has been a strategy of many of the Dark Dependents to feign weakness to be protected."


    "Being weaker is better?" Killian chuckled. Since the revtion of the sins of the first kingdom, he had be more open-minded.


    "Think! You guys are so judgmental about our ways. We are cruel to our enemies, and yes, we see others as food, but if we ate all, how can we survive? There had to be a way to create a bnce in society. If the people in our kingdom know they are food, why stay?"


    Krysta didn''t have an answer.


    "Think about it this way... Who would serve a powerful Dark Dependent if this dark dependent would eat them anytime? You think we could build kingdoms and attract people to live in that kind of society?"


    "...Errr. No." Krysta answered.


    "Finally." Sherah sighed.


    "I''ve been trying to exin that to her, but she still looks at me like some beast driven by hunger." Sherahughed.


    "Well, to be fair, the strongest Dark Dependent she met is Lord Nightwing. And he did massacre thousands and thousands for himself. And we belonged to the Uninvolved Lands. I heard from many of my dark-dependent peers that it was morewless to be a dark dependent in the Mind than it was to be in the Nethends or any kingdoms of the Dark Sea." Monica added.


    "A Dark Dependent is not alone in the Dark. That is the saying that we repeat in the Nethends. We are strong because of this unity. We have found ways to live without killing mindlessly killing. Is our society more brutish? Yes. We kill and fight more openly. But skotosynthesis gives us food."


    "What about crimes? Killian asked.


    "Obviously, crime happens as people murder and devour each other. But such things are easy to determine, and murder is very easy for the Dark Dependents to figure out."


    "How so?" Angelian asked.


    "Dark Dependents can easily use their souls to leave curses or blessings. It''s the same reason why Menks used to sacrifice to increase your power, Angelian. But the act of murdering another, whether by assassination or in secret, gives the Dark Dependent soul to mark the killer. In the soul realm, it''s easy to find out who killed you based on intent. My father isn''t named Necros for nothing. His magic makes it extremely difficult to hide your crimes. And that spellbinds the whole Nethends. Although now, he''s breaking it since he knows who the traitors are and is massacring them." Lea exined.


    "Then¡­ there are few crimes of murder and killing?"


    "We do have avenues for that. Formal challenges, writs, contracts, and a lot to settle those. You are free to kill as long as it is within thews. Deaths happen by the hundred, but it is usually at the level of those who are Champions and Commander. But even then, everything is done in order. The Olethros need a kingdom to survive. And my father made sure that the fears of being eaten or absorbed would not be shown. We must serve its people. Believe it or not, when I talked with Listrel about our princess duties, she told me that my kingdom had done a better job keeping the peace. She calls it the Inverse Rule. Those in the Light hide in their darkness for their crimes. But we, in the Dark, have nothing to hide and will dly show our desires in the light."


    "...That makes a lot of sense." Aron nodded. He had lived a life in the Londs where the Steele family was persecuted by those who allegedly belonged to the light.


    "That¡­ that¡­!" Krysta was amazed.


    "It''s true. Of course, in the Light, being righteous means a level of righteousness that the wicked can''tpare to. The King of the Hignds is a righteous person. He has my respect for that." Nightwing added.


    He had grown more powerful and regained his Crown-level form.


    "As do I. Strangely enough, ever since Listrel and I told our fathers about the war, Father and King Elistre Protos Endoxus have be¡­ best friends." Lea had a strange expression.


    At once, the team suddenly stopped as they could not understand what power they instantly felt.


    A beam of darkness had shot out of the sky close to the third kingdom.


    A gigantic crown appeared over the sky.


    A hand suddenly appeared over the skies. It was a hand of bluish skin and wasrger than the kingdom that Kyros set out to destroy.


    The moment they saw it, Kyros couldn''t help but feel envious. The massive blue hand seemed... perfect.


    "Envy... That is the power of a Fallen!"


    "Water... I sense it! It must be that goddess!"


    "Hahahaha! Xermolipi! I finally have the power that can challenge yours! My envy has now be my strength!" Augh was heard all over the nesworld.


    Like Sheolrah, Destiny led Thessh to a certain area where she unraveled a heritage only the Eldirch knew. The power of the Half-Fallen Princess has awakened.

 Chapter 564 Rise Of The Nephilim

    ?


    ns that were to be trampled by another n.


    This was the type of strategy that Fate and Destiny had against each other. They prepared a vast amount of ns, and each could easily be turned or thwarted should the other party gain any advantage over the other.


    Two were ying with incidents, idents, and gambles that could easily backfire against each other.


    For Destiny, the Half-Fallens that were sealed in the nesworld was one that had a set Destiny on who would acquire them. It would have been the Eldrich that would have acquired this power as they were the ones that sealed in and knew the way to free this power from awakening again.


    But now, this n was thrown out, and another reced it.


    A being that had no connection or ess to that power was given the Destiny to awaken as one of Destiny''s many fail-safes.


    Thessh, the goddess of oceans, had managed to gain the power to do this despite being a True Neutral!


    Her disposition was important and had to be True Neutral so that the power of Fate may not work against her. But the old score she needed to settle, her war against the Charmed Fallen, was the trigger.


    Now that the current status of Xermolipi is unknown and it was seen that her current host is an ally to the Nephilim, a counter n was initiated.


    Destiny favored Thessh to gain a power that was meant to be her weapon to win a fight against a traitorous Xermolipi.


    Thessh was angry and envious, and a power simr to Zh was right before her.


    Zh Ss derived her power from Zeal. She was zealous and passionate about her being and became impassioned about the one the Charmed Fallen took away. And though God had passed, the Zeal of Ss remained. It was even more enduring than the grave and death itself!


    But Thessh saw another power. One who was born of the very entity that was of the same kind as Xermolipi.


    Cmity saw it, and he recalled this being that was unique in that she was an entity born of many contrarieties.


    "Strong yet fragile. Dainty, yet wrathful. Enduring and beautiful, yet her true power is of decay!"


    "Why do I feel jealous? Which Corruption is that?" Lea asked.


    "Not jealousy. Jealousyes from Zeal. Zh was passionate about her husband. Yet her jealousy was rooted in something that was hers. She was jealous that what was hers was taken. But this power is the coveting form that spurs the souring of emotions and the decaying of morality. Envy!" Nightwing corrected.


    The great hand began to p down on the kingdom despite receiving various attacks from the people. Unlike Nightwing and Lea''s Crown attack, this hand didn''t hide but relentlessly moved to attack.


    BOOM!


    But the attacks were all in vain.


    The devastating pnded and slew many.


    The residents of the kingdom could not flee, and only those at Commander levels and higher managed to evade the giant arm that attacked.


    The power of devour appeared, and everyone within several kilometers of the hand began to wither.


    "How?! That''s the power of devouring! Is that Gluttony?! Is he back?!" Angelian was shocked.


    "No. Envy was born without power among her siblings, the Phaulos. She saw everyone and raged. That rage became envy. And she acquired a portion of all the powers of the Phaulos Fallen. And ever since then, any enemy that she would envy, she would gain a portion of the power."


    "Then how many powers does she have?!"


    "Well, the good news is, that''s not that many. Unless she envies it, she won''t have it. She grew envious of her brothers and sister and got their powers. But not all Gods and Fallen she meets harness her powers." Cminus exined.


    The giant, beautiful, and perfect hand rose back up again and pped the same location once more.


    It didn''t seem logical for the arm to do that, as there was no target.


    "What''s the bad news?" Nightwing asked.


    As the giant arm pped down, a strange power appeared.


    Time began to wind back, and those that survived the p were suddenly drawn back to their position. But this time, they could no longer evade the attack as time continued.


    BOOM!


    "Er¡­ She may have taken a liking to my power." Cminus forced augh.


    Kyros and Nightwing separated as the two stood next to each other to watch the battle.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "It won''t end with her. I can feel it. Gods and Fallen are making a move and charging toward this ce. Middle is being forced so fast! ns that were taken ounted for are moving. The era of Middle is surelying! The world of Middle, that future where we once were, will soon manifest here!" Kyros spoke.


    "So Destiny is forcing us to fight and kill Thessh¡­ It''s actually tempting. We gain her power; we gain the powers of many!" Nightwing answered.


    "Well, her current form is still¡­ an infant. A Fallen, but an infant. I guess this is the good news."


    "What''s the bad news?" Cminus asked.


    "...To fight it¡­ I might have to reveal my powers. All of my powers."


    "What?!" Aron and Martha both eximed.


    "We cannot let this goddess grow any stronger. She can find us all. The Covenant has the power of Charm. And those that have followed Nightwing will also be targets." Nightwing exined.


    "Master, what do you mean you must reveal all your powers?"


    "It means what it means. Kyros and I have always kept arge portion of our powers hidden. Hidden in Mystery. The curses that bound us, all except Folly and End, could now be destroyed. But we chose not to." Nightwing exined.


    "Because we wanted to be hidden. Fate has set us on a path to win even while we were weak. Revealing our true power allows Destiny to estimate our strength and what is needed to fight it. Right now, all circumstances, all these battles, and victories and defeats of Fate and Destiny are forcing the Nephilim to reveal itself."


    "This is insane! You guys are already going all in?!" Cminus eximed.


    "Destiny is not giving us much of a choice. And Fate¡­ has gambled too much on us to win that she has lost so many battles. All those training, all those impossible scenarios, all the life that we lived were forcing the battle towards this level!"


    "But you can''t kill Thessh! She is a Fallen! And now she has found another Fallen power that has imbued her own!" Cminus argued.


    "The curse of Dentro that radiates on the Minds was not an ident. It was here by design. Fate is forcing a battle where those gods and fallen thate here can only harness so much strength. This gives us a chance. Don''t you see? Fate orchestrated a battle to keep us in this weak form because she was going to push our strength to soar towards the roof and reach Celestial in an instant!" Kyros answered.


    "This is it¡­? This is the final battle?"


    "No. This is the start of the Middle. It looks like the End, but I feel that Fate is telling me we are still far from battling the true end. But this could be the final battle of the war that you remember, Cminus."


    "Rhykestorn Ever¡­ The Greater God uprising! It''s going to end?!"


    "One way or the other. Either in our victory or defeat! Aron! Martha! Prepare a spell! I want the Fortress and the City brought here. Tell Demerus and the rest. They know what this battle means."


    "Yes! Lord Kyros!" Martha answered. She could tell that Kyros was scared and serious, and she immediately acted.


    "Nightwing¡­ We have to work together. Darkness and Light. I know you were secretly trying to create a body when you devoured that kingdom. Did you seed?"


    "Of course. And it wasn''t a secret. I just didn''t say because I''d know you find out. Let''s do this, then. You purge, I devour!"


    Two Kyros appeared, and each had a different form.


    A bright light of holy energy revealing a grand light that shone like the sun appeared as Kyros transformed into his angelic form.


    Nightwing stood next to him with such pitch-ck darkness that his side was night.


    The two powers began tobine.


    The nesworld began to tremble, and all of the Nephilim''s allies were in the locations they had heard thest call.


    "Activate the teleportation sequence!" Demerusmanded.


    Mechiel and Scarlet, Branze and Steele, and the rest of the Emberdons all began to answer the call.


    The Fortress suddenly emerged as it warped out and surrounded the Nephilim and his allies.


    Thessh sensed the power appeared.


    "Xermolipi!" She roared.


    But at that moment, a strange power erupted within the Fortress of the Nephilim.


    The seals and curses were all being removed.


    The Rise of the Nephilim has begun!

 Chapter 565 Rise Of The Night

    ?


    In the realms beyond, Wisdom moved and spoke to a mysterious man. Unlike the rest, he had a figure that resembled an ordinary human and did not have any powerful presence surging out of him.


    Wisdom nced at him and felt that her heart would break, for she knew that the time hade.


    "...It is starting." She called out to the man.


    "I know." The man answered as he nced at the infinite distance.


    "...I dreaded this moment."


    "... I know about that too." The man answered.


    Wisdom approached the man and held the man from the back.


    "It''ll be alright." The man answered.


    "If it''sing from you, then things wouldn''t be alright." Wisdom answered with the joke that she often made.


    "Things won''t be alright. The battle will happen as you have predicted. And the casualties will be great. Gods and Fallen shall fall. But things will be alright because I''ll be there. I''ll change the truth to falsehood!" The man raised his hand and used the power of falsehood that warped the time/space continuum of the entire universe.


    The lies and falsehoods that he had prepared were finally activating.


    Falsehood opened the portal and prepared to enter Middle.


    "Pseudos..." Wisdom called out the name of Falsehood. Only she knew the name of this man, for he was hers.


    "I''ll go ahead, Sophia. See you soon."


    Sophia, who was Wisdom, smiled and closed her eyes to harness the power that would put Pseudos at the perfect time for their n to appear.


    A sword appeared on Pseudo''s arm as he jumped into the created portal.


    The moment he stepped in and traveled into the inter-dimensional vortex.


    But as he moved in, he could sense several powers working against him.


    "Thora... theia... It''s good to see you." Psuedosughed as he stood up and appeared to be surfing through the vortex of space and time.


    Two beings that stand with End appeared as they saw the vortex open.


    Thora had extremely long hair, much longer than before, because of the current battles of the world. But her hair was starting to decrease at an rming rate.


    Next to her was another woman. She had a bright halo around her andrge wings with many eyes. Rings and wheels surrounded her. She was the duality of Pseudos. The goddess and being that manifested all that was true!


    "You won''t escape my eyes this time! I will not let you obstruct the End!" Thora red at Pseudos.


    "All this because I rejected you?" Pseudosughed.


    "Falsehood! It''s not toote for you to stop this! Join our side! Stand by me and abandon that woman!" The goddess called theia shouted.


    "For the goddess of truth, you yourself should know that I can''t stand by you. Imagine Dualities marrying themselves!" Pseudosughed.


    "Pseudos! I know the truth! I know you are already dead! Do not do this and fade into nonexistence!"


    "Isn''t that what End wants?" Pseudosughed.


    "He wants us to be all-powerful! If this universe ends, we will be free!"


    "Now that... is a lie!" Pseudosughed as he charged forward to face the two beings obstructing him.


    A battle in between the threshold of time began.


    Back in the nesworld, the attention of Thessh had turned over to the appearance and awakening of many powers.


    Night and Day stood inside the Fortress as their power began to surge.


    The curses that bound the Nephilim were being removed.


    The Nephilim Sealing Fortress was now removing the seals that bound him.


    Magnificent signs and wonders erupted above the Fortress at the destruction of each seal.


    The binds that chained the devil and the god were being cut off.


    The weakness and curses that kept the Nephilim from ascending and hid him from the world were now removed.


    All of Creation felt the power return as a new Code and Corruption, the Duality of Mysterion and Revtion, had appeared.


    Inside, Kyros and Nightwing were both rising through their levels, surging past the Cardinal levels and reaching the realm of Crowns. But even then, their levels kept increasing.


    Tworge Crowns appeared and formed majestically over the Fortress.


    Kyros and Nightwing felt their power grow.


    "Uncle! Sever the powers that bind us! By cutting us, we officially be a true Duality!" Kyros ordered.


    Aron approached and could feel his power surging.


    "Good! I''ve always wanted to cut something!" Aron approached as a faint Crown appeared behind him.


    "I am Aron Steele! Descendant and Wielder of the Code of Hyperion! Let the Concept of Cut sever the chains that bind the two! Let Mysterion and Revtion be separate!" Aron shed out.


    The powerful sh that he made, which should have severed the Fortress in half, didn''t release any energy, but Kyros and Nightwing felt the power sh through their souls.


    They were free!


    BOOM!


    The power surged as Nightwing and Kyros warped and flew over the fortress.


    "Oh? I feel that I''ve reached enough power that is nostalgic for my former life. This means that I have officially crossed the 1000-point stats!" Kyros smiled.


    "Cminus. Show me our stats. For some reason, I can''t ess mine."


    "It''s not actually your stats; it''s the stats of the two of you. I guess that''s a Duality for you." Cminus answered and disyed the stats of the two.


    ---


    Kyros / Noxus Soter Vasilius Tyrannos Kyriachos Steele Sofos Pseudos


    Race: Nephilim


    Soul Age: 18


    Bone Age: 19


    Mortal Level: 60


    ---


    Awakened Codes:


    Steel


    Astra<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Celestial


    Soter


    Ss


    Pnevma


    Petra


    Dentro


    Revtion


    Sofos


    Cminus


    ---


    Awakened Corruption:


    Fanged


    Hydron


    Charmed


    Gluttony


    Kyriachos


    Mysterion


    Pseudos


    ---


    Strength- 1235


    Magic- 1021


    Dexterity- 1235


    Vitality- 1405


    Intelligence- Backtrack a bit and read his name and his awakened Code. Do you see the word ''Sofos''? That''s the Code of Sophia, who is Wisdom. Mother Fragment! No wonder this guy is smart! I feel dumb for even putting Intelligence in his stats!


    Soul Force- 1231


    Ancient Source- 1362


    Fallen Source- 1362


    ---


    "Noxus? Is that my name?" Nightwing was surprised to see his name.


    "Nice! The Night! You''re like Batman! You''re not the sidekick! Night has risen! Congrattions, Nightwing! You have received your full power. We are perfectly equal now." Kyros chuckled.


    "I doubt I would lose to you know, Kyros. The Opportune Time and the Night... That means the third in our Trinity should be Day."


    "Right. So this is who we are. Whether night or day, the time is now! Jealous that I''m still at the center, Noxus?" Kyros chuckled.


    "Why would I be? I''m Batman."


    "...Yeah? So what? You''re not Nn''s Batman. You were once a pretty face-lover boy. That means your Pattinson''s Batman!"


    "Still cool. I don''t feel insulted." Noxus shook his head.


    "...He''s right. That Batman is really cool." Cminus agreed.


    "...The gods should have named you Twilight," Kyros grumbled.


    "Who are you?!" The voice of the giant Thessh boomed two gigantic hands erupted from the ground.


    "You didn''t attack us immediately despite having the power of devour. Does that mean you''re scared of us?" Noxus sneered.


    "Then you are my enemy! You are the one who has the power of Xermolipi! Hand her over or face my wrath!"


    "You have the Seven Sins. The power of Fallen Phaulos. And that is a tremendously terrifying power. But you don''t have this!" Kyros flew up above as the grand light began to shine.


    The power of creation appeared as Kyros wielded the power of Ss and Soter to spark true creation.


    The bright light vanished, and Kyros hovered with a strange ss in his hand.


    "What''s that?" Thessh frowned as she couldn''t identify what Kyros created.


    "A smoothie." Kyros chuckled and drank through the straw of his ss.


    POW!


    A powerful hand surfaced from the shadow of Thessh''s true body deep within the remains of the tomb where the Half-Fallen Princess was sealed.


    Noxus had used his ability and warped directly under her through Kyriachos and made a powerful uppercut using his shield.


    Thessh''s true body pitifully flew up in the sky as Kyros zoomed in, wielding the sword.


    The two gigantic arms still moved and made a pping attack at Kyros.


    "[Celestial Guard]!" Kyros shouted as powerful earth energy surrounded him.


    Noxus charged toward Thessh''s true body, who was still unable to recover from the attack that further wounded her body.


    But as Noxus flew, a strange power suddenly stopped him as he was being drawn down.


    "Greed?" Noxus identified the power and nced at the source.


    A familiar Fallen stood up and was wielding the power of the Dark Star and the power of Greed.


    "Sheolrah. As expected, you''d also be here!"


    "You are the ally of Daradiel! Where is he?! I will kill him!" Sheolrah shouted in rage.


    "Here I am, Sheolrah!" Exodus appeared over the fortress.


    Next to him were the Core Members of the Nephilim.


    Daradiel continued to use the Exodus to wield his very weak soul form and would allow him to fight.


    A battle involving Gods and Fallen was to start within the nesworld!

 Chapter 566 Rise Of The Rock

    ?


    With the arrival of Sheolrah, Kyros had to retreat.


    The power of the Dark Star and Greed was pulling Noxus to the ground, where ck tendrils continued to bind him. But Noxus did not have an ounce of fear.


    With two Goddesses nearby, Kyros and Noxus took out a sword and a shield. These were the swords of the same form. But now, instead of having a sword with two forms, both had wielded the opposite element.


    As Sheolrah hovered over thend, the ground quaked as thousands and thousands of beasts dug out of the ground.


    The entire mountain range was covered with powerful Darklings and Darklords that harnessed tremendous gravity.


    This was far stronger than the ones inside Gluttony.


    Noxus was bound to the ground and saw the creatures appear and frowned.


    "So many..."


    The moment they drew it out, Sheolrah recognized that they were one. She could even sense a familiar power in the cloak that they wore.


    Thessh''s true body and the gigantic porcin-skinned giant with arms now revealed an upper body of great seductive curves rose out of the mountain.


    Her true body hovered above. Her main body was no longer the gigantic size of what was once an ocean but now had a small size.


    Sheolrah also now had a human size as the curse of the nesword attacked them.


    Only Daradiel, who rode the giant golem Exodus was of size.


    Sheolrah saw the form of Daradiel and could gauge that she was stronger than him. But the mysterious fortress and the strange golem that Daradiel wore made her feel wary.


    There were two beings of Light and Darkness fighting against Thessh and had Codes and Corruption with him.


    "Cracky Batcheeks! So you are the bearer of Cminus Time!" Sheolrah finally recognized Kyros.


    "Sheolrah the Dark Star. It seems that Destiny has led you two to incredible heritages. The Half-Fallen Spawn has the power of Jealousy. And not the twin brother of Gluttony, the Half-Fallen prince of Greed. Pawns of Destiny who serve End, I am the Nephilim. A Champion of Fate to fight for Beginning!" Kyros introduced himself.


    "What nonsense are you spouting?" Sheolrahughed.


    "He''s right." Cminus made an appearance as his figure hovered over Kyros.


    "Cminus!"


    "Let me tell you a secret revealed to us on my journey. A great upheaval is happening to the heavens. The war we call Greater War is only a small portion of the future. Those strong enough to take part in this conflict where the Greater Gods and many Fallen have banded to fight the Ancient Gods are just a small droplet in the real war and battle that is happening. I saw it with Kyros when we crossed time. You sure know about the minor world known as the Middle. It is a strange realm that contains a battlefield of the future. It contains time as well. It is where the past, present, and future will all meet to battle! Have you not felt the return of Hyperion Steel? A power long gone has returned. Many others have found its power. And right about now, you should be done. Right, Noxus?" Cminus asked.


    "Yup." Noxus pped the dark ground that held him and tore open a strange portal.


    The portal tore open and made a space of the same earthenposition as ''that ce.'' Noxus used his power to turn the ground below him into an extension of that realm. Ever since his adventure with Bomos and the Mastery of the Celestial Code, Kyros, and Nightwing could now alter the ground freely.


    Noxus tore a portal to that ce and altered the ground so that the very ce he stood was also made of the grounds around that city.


    With a plot ofnd nted, he could finally move!


    "Golem King Petra! Megapunch!" Noxus ordered.


    A gigantic fist rose from the darkness that Noxus created and punched out at Sheolrah.


    The fist began to show cracks and bonds, and its power greatly weakened.


    It had the strength of a Celestial, but entering the nesworld, the curse that limited power was binding it. But the moment it appeared and had Celestial powers, to the point that it smashed the bound Greater God was so fast that the attack was on the Conqueror''s level.


    "No!" Sheolrah panicked and quickly defended and summoned a star.


    "[Skotos Astares]!" Sheolrah brought out the power of the dark star and resisted the gigantic rushing fist.


    BANG!


    The great impact created a massive shock wave that the Minds could feel.


    Far out to the west, Bomos sensed the power that resonated with him.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "...Ancient God Petra? No... It''s weaker. But why does it have my master''s power? Is my master... truly alive?" Bomos sensed it and began to move.


    It had sought to remain silent and only assisted Nightwing, but now, the call of its lord gave it hope. He was an altar of Petra, but now he sensed this familiar source and moved to meet with the power.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    The war that was taking ce near the borders of the Uninvolved Land erupted as a massive figure, the Gigantes, revealed itself!


    "My master calls! Do not dy me!" The power of Conqueror surged out, and the nesword began to limit the power of Bomos. But Bomos did not care and continued his march.


    His Antibodies and the Gigantes that were all cultivating inside of him all marched out.


    The armies that guarded the Uninvolvednds already had low morale as many had seen the life talismans of their loved ones vanish.


    "Something happened to my family! The meteors that fell might have in our home nation! Stay here if you want! But I''m going back to my family!" Finally, a Cardinal could not take it anymore and began to hurry as the lines copsed.


    Breveros nced in the direction where the battle was.


    He could see a terrifying power fly up to the highest point within the nesword.


    "That power is Sheolrah! But it seems Nightwing''s allies are far greater. But why do I feel if I go there, I will be devoured by my family?" Breveros watched as the power of the dark star began to descend.


    Back where the battle was, Sheolrah was knocked up towards the sky and was unconscious from the sudden attack. She would have died, but the power of Rhykestorn Ever erupted, giving her a second life!


    Sheolrah opened her eyes, and she could see that she was falling with great speed.


    "...Damn you! Dentro!" She cursed as she realized Dentro was using whatever remnant power of the nesword to pull her back with a great gravitational spell.


    "Darklings... Go!" Sheolrahmanded as she free-fell.


    The Darklings were enraged, and the massive army dove toward Noxus.


    "The Nephilim Sealing Fortress! The Golem City of Petra! The Union of the two powers!" Noxusughed as he spread the earthen power that transformed thend into the ground of Golem City.


    The portal opened, and numerous powerful Golems emerged.


    BOOM!


    Mardock moved from the fortress to be with his peers.


    The Emerald Golem of Entropy stood, and behind him, the Ruby Golem Stoph appeared.


    A Yellow Topaz Golem that wielded lightning and an azurite golem that wielded water also appeared.


    And two more Golems burst out from the ground. With the progress and wars that the Golem City faced in the Middle, they had acquired tremendous energy. Now, Petramanded six elemental golems!


    A bright diamond of light and an onyx of great darkness appeared.


    Iron Golems began to appear one after the other and ran toward the approaching horde.


    The elemental golems had attacks that were equal to Cardinals, while the golems of iron were as strong as Commanders!


    "I am Petra! And all who invade my city will feel my wrath!" Petra''s voice boomed over thend as the head of the Golem King appeared out of the portal.


    "Take care of them!" Noxusmanded as he flew up.


    Thessh was shocked at what she saw. The golem that appeared out of nowhere was far stronger than her body! She quickly retreated but saw two charging at him!


    The night and the day were moving at him with extreme speed.


    "We have to kill her and get her power now, Noxus! They areing! Destiny is moving!"


    "I know!" Noxus answered as the two harnessed immense energy to attack Thessh.

 Chapter 567 Rise Of The Highlands

    ?


    The whole nesworld was in an uproar.


    The King of the nesworld was wearing his holy radiant armor and was going through a spell that would put his strength on the peak of Crowns.


    Gandor Ellisium was also doing the same, and the Fafnir family had been deployed to act.


    "The Greater God had died and has now been reborn? This is truly annoying! A Greater God''s death means that the nesworld will be the center of the conflict toe! We have drawn the wrath of Rhykestorn Ever! We made his wife lose a life! This is going to be very troublesome! Gandor, what of your clone?"


    "He is... caught in a bit of a fix. I doubt he cane back here alive. But he can deliver an important package. I just hope that this little package will be helpful."


    "A package?"


    "A young man. It''s a long story. But I believe he could be of help in theing wars." Gandor exined.


    "In any case, my clone has seen and can confirm the movements we felt. The Greater Gods and the Fallen, as are the Ancient Gods, are moving here. They are all moving to the nesworld with great speed. Forget days; they''ll be here in hours!" Gandor exined.


    "And the Eldirch?"


    "The awakening of Greed and the Code of Sheolrah''s power has aided Impyernos in casting the ancient spell. Descending Moon. It''s the entire that is moving in. Our ster forces will be using all the energy it has to destroy it. It''s good that we saved most of our attacks when the first one entered. But expect the Highwind family to infiltrate thend. They will surely use this to head to the major battlefields and awaken those Half-Fallens!"


    The King could only sigh.


    "Problems after problems. Soter. What do you see?"


    "Darkness, my King. But with a small ray of light. Our future is grim. Both we or the Nethends, are Destined to fall here. The power of Fate rages against Destiny, but all I see is a small ray of light."


    Gandor heard it and fell into contemtion.


    "Kid... Is this what you meant?" Gandor wondered.


    "...Then so be it. Ever since we heard the truth from my daughter and learned about the battle that extends beyond the Greater Wars, I felt fear and had a greater understanding of my vast and infinite smallness of myself. We fight against Gods and Fallen. Those who bore thoughts, emotions, time, truth, movement, and reality itself. To think that the Gods and Fallen we knew about were not even the strongest gods. And now, for some strange reason, Destiny has moved its wheels and is rushing in to kill us all and enter the Era of Middle. Based on my daughter''s words, it had been just over a year since the Nephilim awakened and rose to Crowns through Fate. Shocking as it sounds, we now see that it is not enough." Elistre Protos Endoxus could not help but stand and watch his kingdom.


    "If the sun is to fall and all die out, we have to let that ray of light survive. This goes beyond the nesworld now. We fight to preserve our future! We fight so that the End will note! We fight against Oblivion, Decay, Stoppage of All, and we fight against End!" Elistre raised his sword, and all the knights followed.


    "Set us out to battle! Everyone! You have your assignments! Gain a foothold in the Middle and prepare for the evacuation of our people. They shall stay on the Walls that Endured that stand on the edges of the Minds. The curse of Dentro will be the greatest protection. Celestials will be Crowns. But in thatnd that weakens us, we would have the power to fight the gods and fallen who will be cursed! They will be at their weakest! Arise! Kingdom of the Light! Arise! Hignds and Fight! Rise not the highest point of the nesworld, but rise and take hold of what we are Fated to do! Arise and save the Nephilim!" King Elistre Protos Endoxus dered, and all the Hignds trembled.


    "Activate the warp pad!" The Kingmanded.


    Gandor harnessed the great power of the Light and activated the great warp spell.


    The armies of the Hignds were being sent down into the Minds as the rain of meteors continued.


    The first barrage was drawn in by Mezal, and they fought over the Misty regions. But with the thousand victories of Destiny, a mass invasion was now starting.


    A grand war against the Minds had begun.


    WARP!


    King Elistre breathed Mind air for the first time in hundreds of years.


    Beyond the Walls that Endured, King Elsitre and an army of Holy Knights, Mages, Sword Masters, Archers, and all sorts of jobs and sses are deemed to be the strongest ones in the nesworld.


    "Make haste! We make a charge for the Nephilim!" The king ordered, and his army flew out.


    The speed and order of the flight allowed the group to cross many mountains and would soon bring them over the many battles that continue to rage over the Minds.


    "My lord, sending us over that mountain range will bring us directly to the top of the battlefield. Are we not to head over to Kyros as fast as we can?" One of the generals who fought next to the King asked.


    "This is still my kingdom! I can feel the pains and cries of the people as their blood is spilled into thisnd. Let us be what we are and give them hope!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    The army flew over the mountain and used various spells that countered any of the limitations that limited flight around the region.


    The Seal of the King could suppress all magic as the Hignds made them.


    With powerful speed, they flew over the mountains and saw the war below between the Mind residents and the alien invaders.


    The flight of the army was so eye-catching that all of the warriors nced up.


    Some of the highest ranking Cardinals of the alien forces and some of the Eldrich saw the man and recognized him as the King of the nesworld.


    "Don''t look at him!" The Cardinal shouted.


    But then, the King shed with great light, and it was as if he was the sun.


    The eyes of the enemies who looked with evil to the king had their eyes burned out, and those who were of Mind felt their strength recover.


    "Aliens! Wee to my Kingdom!" Elistre moved forward as a massive Crown flew above him.


    "AHHH!"


    Many foes who saw the light were burned up as their eyes began to consume them.


    "Fight on! Warriors of Minds! Your king will help you!" Elistre shouted, and many began to shout and rejoice.


    A great distance from this battlefield, the battle between Codes and Corruption was intensifying.


    Sheolrah had regained her power and tried to hover over the sky as her darkling army fought against the golem. The Golems were strong and sturdy and would not copse under the swarm attack of the Darklings.


    Though she was revived, fear was kept in her heart as she observed the Golem King, that had the power of a Celestial. But it had be dormant and quiet, and none of its power could be drawn out.


    The elemental golems fought at the forefront and ravaged the beast in their charge.


    The Fortress of the Nephilim warped close to the hole where the golems appeared.


    Exodus floated over the Fortress, and amazingly, all the dead Darklings would disappear.


    Sheolrah sensed the power that warped the in Darklings as it was sent to the Fortress, and its energy and essence were being absorbed and converted into energy that fueled and healed the Golem.


    "Impressed? This Fortress harnesses both life and Darkness. A Heavenly Abode made by Oikos himself! Designed to be the fortress of the Nephilim and his allies! Once we kill you, we will take your corpse and take your power for our own!" Daradiel smiled.


    "This battle will not be thest of me, Daradiel! My prior death has alerted Rhykestorn Ever! You will see his wrath soon! He will kill you, and I will be the Prime Celestial Power in this universe!"


    "If you win!!" The gigantic Exodia flew up and began tounch its attack as the two fought on.


    Suddenly, a ming portal opened up on the other side of the battle.


    Impyernos appeared with skeletons of several half-fallen serving him.


    His anger and rage had increased after what had happened. And in this, he found a suitable power that helped him grow stronger.


    Yet another of the Fallen Phaulos that was sealed in thend appeared.


    "You will all face the heat of my Wrath!" Impyernos dered.


    But as he appeared and prepared to wage war on the battlefield, another team was already ready.


    "Let''s see if your fire can melt our steel!" Mezalughed, and the Steele family stood beside him.

 Chapter 568 Rise Of The Descendants

    ?


    Impyernos was full of rage and anger, and it empowered the mes and wind.


    He was the ember that would keep burning in the world. Through him, the fire would endure as the winds would rage. But the power was only able to burn and keep burning due to his great rage. The anger he felt when he was scorned by Xermolipi. He was the foremost among the mes. The Ember that Started it all. Many Gods of fire were ze and heat. But he sparked the fire.


    But now his Wrath grew more and more intense with the power of Wrath.


    Along with Thessh and Sheolrah, another Half-Fallen Spawns was awakened, and though they had not taken the full dosage of the Foul Fallen''s power, it was enough to create a massive change in their power.


    "You? You are not worth my time, Steele!" Impyernos red at the one that could threaten her.


    "You! Daughter of Olethros! You are mine!" He was weakened, and his powers had dropped below the level of Conqueror. He was cursed, and she was blessed. But, as the one blessed by Dentro, Impyernos could not keep himself from directing the heat of his rage toward her.


    A massive Crown appeared over his head, and a gigantic de of fire tore toward the sky.


    "[Pyre to Aonian: Machairan Distomon]!"


    A ming sword, a raging sword, an unrelenting sword towered towards the heavens.


    With that, Impyernos made his move and shed down.


    But Lea Olethros stood at the walls of the fortress andughed, not bothering to use her power of Water to quench the raging mes.


    "If they im to fight you, they shall fight you. Do not underestimate them. They are the Descendants of those who would rise with the Nephilim!" Lea chuckled.


    Branze and Diana stepped forward.


    They could feel the power in them when the Nephilim rose. The limitations of their power had been unchained along with the freedom of power as Mysterion became Revtion and revealed the Descendants of those who stand with Beginning.


    As Impyernos shed down, he could swear that the forms of the two changed for a split second.


    Gannaios Steel and Katara Kyriachos''s figure was superimposed on the two.


    Two Crowns, only slightly smaller than the massive one that Impyernos released, appeared.


    At once, the two quickly learned the Word of Power that the gods and fallen used.


    Branze and Diana knew what spell to use. By channeling the Holy Barrier of the Fortress, the pair was able to replicate a power thatbined both.


    The Path of Gannaios is to be a shield, and Katara is to bear burdensbined as they would be able to stand their ground against the powerful de of fire.


    "[Thureos tes Phos: Phroureo]!" Branze and Diana shouted as a massive shield resembling an ancient tower stood before them and blocked the sh!


    "Impossible!" Impyernos saw how the strange light stopped the raging sword and prevented the fires from burning inwards.


    "[Machairan tou Hyperion: Apokopto]!"


    "[Machairan tou Pneumatos: Apokopto]!


    Two loud cries were heard, and Impyernos saw two small men running from both sides.


    The moment the sword was swung down, Aron and Mezal had warped towards the side of Impyernos. They were fearless and trusted that Branze and Diana would do their part.


    To the father and son, the sheer excitement of cutting down and wounding a Fallen was exhrating!


    One wielded a powerful sword that called on the First One Severed.


    The other used the power of the shamans and called on the power of Pneuma.


    A sword of steel and a sword of the spirit. One to mutte the flesh, and one to strike the spirit!


    But a Fallen was still a Fallen, and Impyernos saw the split-second attack. To him, those attacks were too slow. But with his power sent out, he could only escape.


    "[Pyre to Aeonios: Diaskorpizo]!" Impyernos used his evading abilities and was sent scattering all over the ce as fire and wind exploded out.


    "You were running away from me?" Scarlet suddenly appeared and had a pouting look.


    The appearance startled Impyernos as he thought that Xermolipi was standing before him!


    SLASH! SLASH!


    "AHHH!"


    The two swords struck out the dispersing mes that appeared frozen in space.


    The fire retreated, and Impyernos''s real form appeared with two wounds on his shoulder and his leg!


    WARP! WARP!<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Several powers warped around him as the members of the Coven appeared.


    Diana and Branze charged forward, but the angry Impyernos gathered the dispersing mes to shoot them out. He only recalled less than half of his body, but nevertheless, a massive amount of fire and wind pushed back against all around him to attack and purge all who were around.


    But the Coven did not retreat.


    Their charge was founded on the trust of their allies and in themselves.


    Even against a Fallen, they did not hesitate but trusted in their capabilities to see the flow of the battle and use their Path of Foresight, which was at the Seer level.


    Avary, Gregory, Hunter, Grugnyr, and Reptillia charged forward, revealing a Water Core!


    Their adventures in the manynds and how they were sent on individual missions made them face Commanders and Cardinals alone. They were forced to grow, and the power of their fangs improved.


    But when Nightwing devoured Gluttony, things changed even more.


    Their Fangs had awakened, and the blood that they drank gave them power and energy.


    The four had collected and amassed a huge amount of blood from mages, and their current form was simr to Vampire Ancients.


    They had already reached the same level of power that the vampire who served Heralcus had.


    But when Nightwing took over and fed them with the darkness, their vampiric powers had increased so much, and the power of a Fang had taken over.


    They were as strong as Eredus and could wield a powerful amount of water.


    "[Hydor hos Potamon]!" The group shockingly called out the power that Hydron had given to Lea.


    Lea smiled as the Fortress glowed behind her and bestowed on them the power to call on the sea.


    Rivers of water shot out and formed five heads of what appeared to be the water heads of an Okto-Khefali breached out of each of them and received the blow of fire.


    Scarlet also joined the group andmanded the seas of Hydron to follow her. She had Zh''s code, and her jealousy that the rest of the Coven could summon waters allowed her to summon it.


    "[Zh hos Potamon!] Scarlet shouted and used another Word of Power!


    The water elements quivered and obeyed the beauty, and arge Okto-Khefali jumped out of the hands and attacked Impyernos.


    To the front, Hems was running at full speed and had a fist full of molten mes.


    "Even Ace died! How much more, you! [Armageddon Punch]!" Hems hurled a powerful fist at Impyernos while resisting the mes. The purging brimstone of Histerion was not so easy to outburn.


    Impyernos was forced to add more defense while defending at the back.


    He knew he barely had a second to flee as Aron and Mezal would make yet another attack, and he had to quickly overpower these fools, but the half-seconds were well used, giving Impyernos not enough time to respond to these attacks.


    "Hey."


    Impyernos heard the voice of the one he sought. But while the one calling out to him was the real Xermolipi, he knew and had learned from the wounds that he should not be distracted.


    Impyernos focused his will in those half seconds and readied his attack that would overpower all.


    But then, he heard a strange cry.


    "Arsenokoites! Peripiro Sodomon!" Hemsey made up a strange phrase based on his knowledge of the First Tongue.


    The rough trantion of this phrase was ''Man bedder, piercing Sodom.''


    "Wha-what?!" Impyernos felt a chill run down his spine and forced more energy to attack the area directly behind him.


    Hemsey was not even in an attacking pose but only yelled the attack and prompted a ming farting counter, but it did not hit Hemsey.


    Impyernos was too focused on the call of Mechiel, and the dispersing powers that he made caused a copse in the attacks.


    The waters pushed inwards towards him.


    Mezal and Aron made their sh once more.


    Impyernos had no choice but to disperse himself once more, but a bright barrier manifested around him, sealing him in the ce.


    [Thureos tes Phos: Pyrgos]!" Branze and Diana shouted and created a cylinder barrier that surrounded Impyernos as a tower appeared.


    BOOM!


    All the attacks reached, and a massive st of fire urred, but all those nearby Impyernos had warped out to safety.

 Chapter 569 Rise Of Planesworld

    ?


    Impyernos saw that everyone attacking him had teleported to safety through a spell.


    "The ground! Blood was forming underneath them!" Impyernos cursed as he recalled thest seconds.


    The first sh happened so fast, with manyyers of skills happening one after the other.


    Impyernos realized that those who fought against him were serious in believing that they could take down a Fallen.


    "You arrogant fools! You think that wounding me with that scratch is proof of your power?"


    "Proof of our power? We''re not delusional and obsessed with whatever others think of us. We don''t care if you think we are weak or strong. We just want to kill you!" Hunterughed.


    "Yeah. Call me weak if you want. I''m just happy that I wounded a Fallen!" Aronughed.


    "And Hemsey! That First Word was brilliant!" Mezalughed.


    "Well, I read what I could in the Temple. I thought that since most of you had grown strong, I could say something simr and scary. I already had names for my attacks, but when you guys all started to use Word of Power, I decided to throw one too." Hemsey chuckled.


    "It''s called the Fortress now, Hemsey." Hems corrected.


    "Oh. Right! The force of habit. Thanks, molten brother."


    Impyernos was all the more enraged at the casual conversation of the group.


    The team was slowly walking towards Impyernos again.


    "Don''t think you can have the same smug appearance this time!" Impyernos began to ze as his Wrath increased and caused his fires to rage stronger.


    "Now that is a challenge! But you''ve already shown us too much of your abilities. Mechiel, you will be needed."


    "Of course." Mechiel smiled and moved out. The soul of Xermolipi began to appear over Mechiel.


    Impyernos saw the form, and his Wrath began to wither.


    "Can''t stand being mad at me, I see. That is the power of beauty!" Mechielughed.


    "You! You''re not her! Impossible! How are you able to hold her soul back?!"


    "Maybe I''m just more beautiful. Did you think about that? I am my own woman, Impyernos. Whatever image you had of the perfect woman, I can surpass." Mechiel smiled a devilish smile that caused the mes of Impyernos to flicker, and his wind blew stronger, taking out some of his fire.


    A strange light appeared over Impyernos''s head like a crack on it.


    "A wise choice. You are forcing your seal to crack so you can reach the Conqueror realm to fight us. Because of Mechiel, you would be forced to hold back anyway, so you increased your strength. Let''s make this interesting, Impyernos!" Branze began to march together with Diana.


    But in reality, Mechiel was already wrestling in her spirit. Though Xermolipi made no effort to take over Mechiel, the mere weight of her soul was enough to


    Xermolipi had chosen not to take over Mechiel because she felt a strange power working beyond.


    Fate was around her, and she knew that she would die if she changed. The Daughter of Zh stood close by, always ready to stab her heart, and Mechiel would not defend against the attack.


    So she chose to do nothing but watch the memories of Mechiel.


    She saw herself in that alternate future. When the timeline they lived in was deemed useless and sent to be burned by Histerion, the soul of Xermolipi, who wished not to be forgotten, left a sentient power. The lust and demand of Xermolipi to be remembered was so strong that her previous incarnation refused to be forgotten. Although she would be reborn, it would be a different her, and this Xermolipi refused to ept it.


    It lingered in the purged world. Her Corruption remained and fell into the mes of Histerion and was sealed up in Oblivion.


    "... This memory! Martha truly spoke of the truth! End wanted this!" Xermolipi''s anger was triggered. She was deceived, and her soul could not take it. Many men of godly or fallen forms were caught in her web of lies. But she was caught in a web of lies by the men whom she vowed to soon rule over.


    "Will you both fight for us then? The Charmed Fallen''s power to them is nothing but a toy. You''re like a prostitute to the gods and fallen." Mechiel spoke softly.


    "You dare negotiate with me? You are but a sampling!"


    "And you are but a lingering soul! You cannot even grow more powerful unless I allow it!"


    "And you cannot defeat the enemy before you unless I aid you!"<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Aid? Is that why you resurrected one of your daughters in me?


    "How did you know I''m alive?" The Blood Cmity spoke in surprise as Mechiel addressed them both.


    "Naturally. Xermolipi will try to use you to help her gain control of this body. You have fused with my soul core and, in some ways, represent the darkness within me. All the desires that the curse of Xermolipi resides in you. I cannot part with you, for you are me. The two of us are now one. Yet ever I will acquire more power from Xermolipi, I knew it would give life to you. I''ve already known that you would return soon. Kyros told me. And now, that man I met gave me the inspiration of how to break free from you. That was a most wonderful gift!" Mechiel answered.


    "What man? Who did you meet?" The Blood Cmity frowned.


    "Hm... You''ll find out about itter. In any case, we have a battle to fight."


    Impyernos saw the powers that stood against him. He could y an army of Cardinals. But against these few Crowns who shouldn''t have been a problem, Impyernos found himself fearful of his death.


    His Wrath was abated, and he had no choice but to use certain magic.


    "Let my people be gathered! Let the kin be brought together! By my wind, let all who call on Impyernos be gathered as one! [Pyre to Aeonios: Sunago]!" Impyernos pped his hand, and a powerful wind began to blow around them.


    The ster wars above the nesword were already in chaos. But a massive finger-shaped tornado suddenly tore from the heavens above and down below and pierced through the barriers of the nesworld!


    The gigantic tornado pierced down the Minds, and it was as if the skies above were covered with arge funnel of wind.


    "He couldn''t direct his Wrath to us, so he redirected it on the nesworld. He created a funnel that could quickly gather his group!"


    The massive tornado uprooted many who were battling around the region.


    Armies were being pulled up and could now be seen above the battlegrounds of Thessh, Sheolrah, and Impyernos.


    But the bigger danger was from the peak of this tornado.


    The Eldrich race was moving down!


    "The Eldrich! They are makingndfall! It looks like Destiny is going all in!"


    "We can''t deal with that army, though. Whatcha gonna do?" Aron asked his brother.


    "We don''t need to deal with that."


    A strange figure emerged from the ground, and a tree suddenly grew amid the Fortress.


    Lea was seated at the center where the Nephilim was once sealed, and the tree grew in front of her.


    Another figure warped out. It was Listrel!


    "Mighty Dentro! The wind and fire rage! It seeks to destroy your Tree. The Nephilim has arisen, and he has revealed the many things which were sealed. Arise, Dentro! Arise, O nesworld! Let the Dryads and Druids that care for you be gathered!"


    Power began to merge within her as the gift of the Dryad began to consolidate and grow.


    "[Sporos tou Ouranou: Sunago]!"


    The massive nesworld sensed the prayers of the two awakened it.


    The earth trembled, and a massive warp spell within the nesworld began to activate over the Minds.


    The armies that were within the Minds were brought together. Those that were not of Fate were left to their ce.


    The King of the nesworld had sensed the call and stood up and watched the massive portal.


    On his other side was the King of the Nethends.


    "We''ve been enemies for a long time, but I must say, it''s good to see you!" Necros Olethrosughed.


    "It seems the great battle is being forced. Let''s fight with all that we have! The nesworld shall rise, and the fire and mes that attack it will be quenched! The light shall pierce through the rotting powers that seek to cut it down! From the leaves on the highest heights of the Hignds to the dark soul that cultivates the roots in the Nethends! Let us stand united!" Elistre Protos Endoxus shouted.

 Chapter 570 Rise Of The End

    ?


    The kingdom of the Minds, led by the King of the nesworld, and the Nethends stood side-by-side together.


    The ground quaked as the power of the nesworld brought everyone together.


    But above, the wind gathered massive storms, and strange celestial objects appeared in the sky.


    King Elistre Protos Endoxus nced at the heavens above and knew that a powerful foe was appearing.


    "Such marvelous allies my daughter and his husband have. To think they would hold off against a Fallen and a God!"


    "Your daughter''s husband? Kyros is Lea''s husband."


    "Rx, dear friend. There''s two of them!" Elistreughed.


    The winds gathered and formed as several figures began to appear in the heavens above.


    The entire nesworld began to release a powerful red aura that covered the Minds. There were too many strong cultivators, and everyone''s power was dropping down to the level of Crowns.


    But as the powers awaited their corresponding enemies, the battle on the three different sides continued.


    Sheolrah fought against Daradiel as an army of golems faced an army of Darklings.


    The spells that were used to gather the great winds only opened a window of opportunity for the Coven and the Steele family tounch their attacks at Impyernos.


    On the other side was the Fallen Thessh, who, despite having a very diverse set of power that harnessed all of the Phaulos Fallens, was constantly attacked and harassed by Kyros and Noxus.


    Light and Darkness worked together, for whenever Kyros would use his powers to create a pir of light, the casting shadows would appear opposite of where the light was, and there Noxus would be.


    And so, Thessh was constantly being attacked on front and back, leaving Thessh to be constantly on the offensive.


    "Hurry!" Kyros shouted as he charged ahead, and the Celestial Code headed his light.


    "What do you think I''m doing?! Cooking rice?!" Noxusined as his darkness appeared, and Noxus became like a shade, and only the red burning eyes and his opened teeth with the Fangs of the Fanged Fallen could be seen.


    Noxus dove in, and his de was the de of the Fang. The power of Gluttonyplimented this power, and Thesah feared the dark de over the light.


    But suddenly, everything stopped.


    The entire universe was silent.


    From the furthest reaches of the gxy, where Bow Veiyos raged as her bow shot at the other side to keep the Fallen and the Greater Gods from reaching the nesworld to the depths of the small dome world known as Middle, where the Nephilim Sealing Temple once guarded.


    Everything stopped.


    The concept of Time itself halted.


    Things simply paused.


    A being stood above the nesword and nced down on the world.


    The power of the Time Continuum Entity appeared, and Kyros and Noxus could move. But it was as if they were within a raging river, and every movement they made would go against this powerful current.


    "Ahhhh!" Noxus shouted.


    "Pausontai! Why are you...!"


    "You were about to seed. That''s why." A sinister smile appeared over the horizon. A being so big that it made the nesworld look like an ant was watching from afar.


    "END!" Kyros and Noxus shouted in shock.


    They saw the grand power of their enemy that surpassed all imagination. Never before has Kyrosid eyes on such unbelievable and inconceivable power.


    Histerion was only a Clone. Oblivion''s incarnation was only a Crown! Kyriachos was chained. Hyperion was dead. Everyone else was but a wisp of what they were.


    The Greater Gods and Fallen that they fought were all cursed in thend and realm of Dentro and allowed themselves to be afflicted by Dentor''s curse.


    But this being was the End. And with him was Pausontai.


    A raging fire that was of Brimstone began to purge its way through Time and Space.


    A portal was opened above the nesworld, and a majestic woman appeared.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "End! How dare you! How dare you appear in the Era of Middle!" Beginning raged.


    "Why? Because it''s against my very being to appear here? It''s crazy, isn''t it? I, the being of End who can only exist in the End, would appear in the Era of Middle right before it starts! Is it annoying that the ultimate enemy appears at once? It''s stupid if you think about it!" Endughed.


    "Beyond stupid, for End to appear in Middle, it''s foolishness! Appear, you spoiled brat!" Beginning demanded.


    A young boy appeared next to Pausontai and keptughing andughing as his powers made the ultimate prank.


    "Trolololol!" Follyughed as he watched Beginning, and the beings who sided with her all appeared to have ugly expressions and tried to breach the realm they were in.


    But the conflict and power necessary were too great for Beginning to appear right even before Middle began.


    End nced at the Nephilim.


    "You were about to win. And that couldn''t happen. So I put an End to your victories. When you were about to breach it, my power was activated. But instead of working through any or all of the children of End, it worked in Folly. And so, the being who was supposed to be at the End could appear here in Middle. This is all your fault, Nephilim! Had you fought in defeat, you would have lived longer!" End sent out a minuscule portion of his power.


    "It... can''t be!" Kyros shot in anger.


    "How can we just... die like this?!"


    "You think it''s easy? You think it''s possible? Do you think defeating End will be like those stories that Cminus showed you in those alternate worlds? Do you think the main character would just have to get stronger and shoot a powerful beam or attack a god and win? You don''t fight against such weak beings, Nephilim! You fight against us, a manifestation of what is and what is toe! You fight against the End! And you cannot escape your End. Try as you might with your skills and power. The End is the End. And so, in this whole battle, you raged against Destiny with Fate and Wisdom. I cared not for whatever victories you think you had. You only dyed the inevitable. But now, the End hase. And there is nothing you can do about it! You... are finished! [Teleo]!" And with hismand, a great power that was never before seen since the Beginning appeared.


    It was The End.


    A strange light of red hue shot from the great heavens and moved towards the nesworld and parted into two small streams of light that targetted Kyros and Noxus.


    End could not End anything else except for the one he cursed.


    The power of the end shot towards Kyros and Noxus in a very simple manner.


    Kyros and Noxus made their guards and activated their strongest power to empower their des.


    Revtion and Mysterion took form, and the two prepared to fight back.


    WARP!


    A portal opened just behind Thessh, who stood between Kyros and Noxus.


    End saw the power appear but was not impressed.


    "This is your counterattack? Sending Pseudos to save them? Pseudos, who I''ve already ended long ago? So be it! Pseudos! You have my curse! Expose yourself to my power and taste true End!" Endughed as Pseudos ran towards Kyros and Noxus right as the beam shot at them.


    "Cminus! You can stop lying now! Kyros! Noxus! Send him to me!"


    Kyros and Noxus started running toward each other and passing behind Thessh.


    The power of End passed through her, and it was her end.


    Kyros and Noxus ran with all their strength as they drew close to one another, and the beam of the End approached.


    With sword in hand, the two stabbed each other!


    STAB! STAB!


    A de of light stabbed into Noxus, and a de of darkness pierced through Kyros.


    The two reached out toward Pseudos, who was using his power to pull the two.


    "[It is not the End]!" The power of Falsehood exploded out and resisted the power of End, stopping the power for a time.


    "Futile! [Tetelestai]!"


    "I''m sorry, old friend," Pseudos spoke softly.


    "...Nah. It''s all good, fam. It''s all good." A quiet response was heard as a bright light shed out when Pseudos touched the extending arms of Kyros and Noxus.


    Behind Kyros and Noxus, the power of End had already made contact with them.

 Chapter 571 Day

    ?


    A young boy, barely in his teen years, sat down, and his arms were trembling. He was hungry and tired and nced at the long line of ves that would be forced to work inside the mines.


    The massive mines of the Dunchars Mountain were a riches source of metals to create high-grade weapons that could be used by Commanders! But such a potent ce with mysterious powers and magic leaking out to the top of the mountain would oftentimes invite wild beasts and monsters.


    He looked around and saw a massive carriage with a family.


    It was one thing that he longed for. He never had a parent. He grew up in an orphanage, but soon, the orphanage was caught in a terrible battle and killed most of the people that closely resembled what a family was.


    He moved from whatever work he could find but was eventually rounded up by a great mogul and sent all the hands, even those of young age, to work in the mine.


    The carriage stopped, and the noble moved out.


    It was the Duke of Ressongraze.


    A rich young noble on a carriage arrived and saw the long line of people.


    "Wow, Papa! All these people work for you!"


    "Yes! Our little mine is now officially chosen to be a distributor to the Tri Union! We would soon have resources to stand among those groups! And perhaps, your papa will be the first Cardinal to grace our Kingdom in three hundred years!" The Dukeughed.


    "Tri union? What''s that, papa?"


    "You see thoserge round things in the sky? Those twos, along with ours, make up the Tri Union! And now, thisnd that your papa discovered has resources that make those kingdoms, far stronger than ours, want what we have!"


    "Do thoses have those who are Crowns?"


    "Not just Crowns! But Conquerors! Each has at least one Conqueror! I believe that even a Turtle-Back that is far away that we only see them like a star also wants our mysterious ore!"


    "A Turtle-Back?! You mean those drawings in the old book about having a on the back of a massive turtle are real?"


    "Yes! It''s all real! Even a that is a tree exists! We call that a Yggdrasil!"


    "Amazing! I want to go to a Yggdrasil and that turtle!"


    "We''ll see! If your papa bes a Cardinal, I could take you out of this!" The Duke vowed.


    The young chained boy dared not to look at the passing Duke for fear of being misunderstood.


    "Emeros!" One of the guards called out.


    The young boy stood up and dragged the long chains that bound his hand, and headed for the table where the guard was.


    A strange bracelet was ced on his arm.


    "You will stay in room 106." The guard answered, and Emeros reached out to take the key and move on.


    He walked on into the mines. The guards that stood were said to be Champions.


    Emeros was surprised that Champions, usually lieutenants and important people in the war, would be mere guards here!


    Emeros walked onwards and found his room. As the tools would be given tomorrow, he still had time to rest for a few hours.


    He saw the bed, which was cloth ced over hay piles.


    But it was a far better bed than the ones he rested on most of his life.


    He fell on it and rested. He had marched a long distance along with the other ves and drifted into sleep.


    All of a sudden, his vision took him to a strange realm.


    He stood at the center, and around him, the three hands were reaching out for each other.


    The hands approached him, and the three hands somehow reached deep into his body.


    He looked around and was confused. But for some reason, he recognized everyone, and beyond that, he understood what was happening.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Kyros was stabbed by Noxus, and Noxus was stabbed by Kyros. But in doing this, they brought an end to themselves.


    Two of the Trinity would die, and only one remained.


    They knew what to do instinctively and threw out thest portions of their dying soul to Pseudos.


    Pseudos reached the hands of both and acquired thest soul, thest member of the Trinity.


    Under the influence of Falsehood, time began to move back once more as Pseudos and Cminus began to use up their souls to turn back time.


    At that moment, Beginning and her allies also broke out of where they were and forced their entry into the Era of Middle and fight within the present.


    Mysterion and Revtion made onest hurrah as their powers concealed and revealed with their souls as sacrificial offerings.


    Kyros and Noxus breathed thest portion of their souls and slowly began to disperse.


    Darkness filled the entirend, and Emeros was confused.


    He then saw himself in his cell. But this time, his mind was bursting with strange thoughts. Memories worth a lifetime were being engraved in him.


    A man stood next to him. And Emeros recognized him.


    "...Father?" Emeros trembled.


    "Emeros. My youngest. It''s up to you to save your brothers now." Pseudos spoke as he sat down.


    Emeros wanted to ask what was happening, but the information and memories continued to move in.


    But Emeros was scared. He was a boy. He was an ordinary, mistreated, unlucky boy who lived a lonely life.


    He could tell he was not anything like his brothers.


    He couldn''t even understand what his brothers were doing.


    "To fight and defeat End, it was necessary for our ns toe to an End." Emeros began.


    "As you''ve seen in the vision, fighting End is not...easy. It was impossible. Even if all the Gods and Fallen in creation were to stand and shoot at something, how can you shoot something that is the end? In some ways, he doesn''t even exist. His very being is a contradiction. The End that Exists. The End that takes form... The End that Doesn''t End. Everything maye to an End, even the Beginning! But he would remain." Pseudos exined.


    "Father... if even you are that... What exactly is all this? Why am I seeing this? Who exactly am I?"


    "Wisdom and Falsehood fell in love. It was at that time that the Beings that Are and the Beings that Were were slowly forming. End and Beginning, though they were the first to appear among us, they were thest that many of us discovered in existence, which led to a great war. A war that most of the Fallen and even the Greater Gods have forgotten. When you three were born, the necessaryponents and powers were bestowed on you. The darkness of Kyriachos to hide, the light of Soter to reveal, the will of Tyrannos who would rage and fight, the Steel of Hyperion to be his weapon and cut and wound the gods and fallen that would fight him. The Nephilim would naturally have the Wisdom of Sophia to understand, and he would have my Lies to keep him hidden. But even with this power, we knew we would fail. And so we bound two of the souls. Mysterion and Revtion and bound them as one. Everyone knew that I gave birth to three sons, and they assumed that the Trinity was in you. But it was all a lie. A lie forged by me and your mother to hide thest member of Trinity."


    "Me? I''m thest member?"


    "Yes. You were not even sealed. Though you were part of this Trinity, we ced you within the unremarkable region where not even Fate and Destiny care. This ce is just too weak and too far!"


    "So that''s why... I don''t have parents."


    "Yes. I''m the worst father in existence. I sealed my boys and thest one I threw out, devoid of any power. You have ten years, son. Unlike Kyros''s first time travel, this one is quite different. I sent you back to the same timeline. Ten years from now, that battle in the Era of Middle will ur. And you have to get there and save them!"


    "Ten years?" Emeros was startled.


    But then, he recalled the power of his other incarnations. Kyros and Noxus were both amazing and caused the entire nesworld to quake with their Wisdom and their power.


    "...I guess, if I have those powers, it is possible. They found miracles and means to do the impossible along the way! Then I shall as well!" Emeros gripped his fist. All his life, he was a weakling and a ve. But now was a bright future that would mark his rise. He was the third member of the Nephilim!


    "Wait for me, world! The Ascension of the Nephilim shall bepleted!" Emeros vowed.


    "Err... Yeah. About that. Part of this entire scheme was to keep you out of the radar. So... you don''t have any powers at all. Not the Fanged, Charmed, Celestial Code, or Mysterion and Revtion. You don''t have your mother''s Wisdom or my lies. You are one hundred percent human. It had to be this way to deceive End and all his allies."


    "Wha-what?!"

 Chapter 572 Day Of A Human

    ?


    Emeros was shocked at his ''father''s'' deration.


    "I... I hope you''re lying, Dad! That seems...!"


    "Impossible. I know. That was the point! Using thest powers of Cminus that hid inside the Fortress, I turned back time through a lie. From their perspective, I tried to save your two brothers and failed. The moment they came into contact with End''s power, it would seem they had seeded in putting an End to them. But as a Trinity, you have the advantage of needing to be killed three times before you truly die. This is also the reason I can''t cease to exist. As long as there is Truth, there will be Falsehood. To permanently End me, Truth has to die!" Pseudos exined.


    "But... But why would I have nothing that my two brothers have? Why would I be born in weakness?!"


    "Emeros. This timeline is not an alternate timeline. It''s not the same as when Kyros and Cminus reverted to True Time and created a timeline that was meant to be burned. This timeline is the very same one where Kyros is yet to be born. Therefore, you cannot hold any power that will draw any suspicion from End''s team. To them, you are just a human!"


    "So I just have Fate Challenger?!"


    "You don''t understand; you were born to be nonexistent. Neither Fate nor Destiny nor even True Challenger!"


    Emeros felt ill as his stomach turned. He was a power-hungry man, and the appearance of a Fallen and the powers that were shown to him sparked his appetite for vengeance on everything that had happened in his life.


    "Is that even possible? I can''t have Foresight?!"


    "It''s not that you can''t have; you''re not blessed! Fate and Destiny Challenges and those that are strong enough to threaten or change both, the True Challengers, have the blessings and empowerment from Gods and Fallen. But let''s be honest, in the grand scheme of things, many mortals are only moved by these people. They are affected by whatever actions and schemes are thrown and created. But you, you don''t have any of those. To use Cminus''s terms, you are an NPC."


    "An NPC? Basically, I''m like some monster creep meant to be in by the heroes?!"


    "Well, no. Creeps can kill the hero. You''re basically some dude that dies in a cutscene."


    Emeros trembled.


    "Then all I have... is wisdom? Or do I have your power?"


    "No. You don''t have any! Almost all the powers and blessings were given to your two brothers. Well, they are not technically your brothers; they are still you. But we cannot make this lie if you are strong. That''s why your mother intended to make you human. Mysterion and Revtion are in you. You are the mystery revealed. Hidden and unnoticed. Seen yet unseen."


    "What does that... even mean?! Almost all? You mean to say I still have a Fallen or Ancient God in me?"


    "Yes. You are the awaited inheritor of Vasilius. The lost Ancient King. He was the God who became the first king to rule over a society. But he has died, and his power is in you."


    "So I can get that power? Where is it?"


    "We don''t know. Part of this n was to keep ourselves from knowing where the inheritance of the Saint in Light is. It''s up to you to go find it. It could be on this or another. It could be a gxy away for all we know."


    Emeros trembled.


    "Father! I am just a young boy! If you cannot give me anything, how can I do this?!" Emeros shouted.


    Pseudos smiled.


    "Kyros was created to be the strongest among you. Noxus was to be his shadow. And you were to be the weakest, insignificant, and the very one who will save both. Emeros, I''ll tell you honestly. We don''t know what the future is here. Kyros and Noxus were to be the bright target that End would try to attack. In reality, we never expected End to move now, and we were caught off guard when we sensed their movements. We thought this battle would happen after the Era of Middle, but Folly is the only one who can outmaneuver your mother. Because you are nothing, Destiny and Fate do not apply to you."


    Emeros raised his head a bit.


    Destiny and Fate was the great problem that Kyros and Noxus had to fight and constantly outwit. But if these two powers were not attacking him, then it could be possible to live on!


    But then, Emeros realized something.


    "Wait! Then... my life! When these memories of the two... I thought that Destiny marked his curse on me!"


    "Destiny didn''t mark you with his curse."


    "Then was it that god of luck?"


    "Actually, Desidamonia is a Fallen? And no. It wasn''t him."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "But... I lived a very... miserable life, father! What caused that?"


    "You are an orphan born in a country full of strife, corruption, and immorality. A weak one with no backing to support you. Everything you experienced had nothing to do with any gods or fallen. You were just living in tragedy."


    "Living in tragedy?! That was it?! Then what was the point of it all!? Everything I experienced, all those pain and suffering?! They held no meaning?!" Emeros shouted with all his heart, pouring anger and agony.


    "There was. It was to make you the most inconspicuous candidate for being a part of the Trinity. The one born ahead, kept by the power of Vasilius, appeared in a ce where many babies would gather. It was all designed. Your anger and vengeance and the arrogance that was naturally instilled in you from this hungry soul kept you alive. That was our n. All for this day. The day of the human, Emeros, to take wings and be a Nephilim." Pseudos exined as he approached.


    "My son. I am sorry. This was the only way to defeat End. You are outside everything that we all see, including End. No one knows who you are and where you are apart from me and Vasilius. Not even your mother knows this."


    "What if... I tell an ally that I am a Nephilim? What if..."


    "Even if you tell them that you are the Nephilim, no one will believe because my power marks you with it. Even if you find some god, fallen, or any descendants and ally and tell them that you are the Nephilim, my power will work, and they will see it as a lie. You can im their blessings, but they will never believe you if you are a Nephilim. In fact, it would be so suspicious to them that they might kill you."


    "Dad... I''m just a kid, then. Yet... yet all this."


    "My son, you are not just a kid. Kyros and Noxus were born with great power. But if you can reach their level, you will do something far greater than they ever did. This was what we created to be. Not Destiny. Not Fate. Just you. Be strong and force yourself to a level where you can battle True Challengers, even though you are not one."


    "But how? What do I have to be greater than those two?!" Emeros wept.


    "You have their memories."


    "I can''t even remember half of their memories! I don''t have Wisdom!"


    "Then find a way to remember it." Pseudos smiled.


    "...Find a way? How?"


    "You have to figure this out on your own. I can''t help you with everything, Emeros. I won''t stay here too long. In fact, this incarnation''s End ising."


    "You-you''re leaving?!"


    "This form has died. Falsehood will continue, but this body will fade away. Only if you revive Kyros and Noxus and be the Nephilim will it be possible for me to exist again."


    "Then how can I live?! Who will guide me to survive if you leave, father?!"


    "Find someone to guide you. Find a True Challenger or someone of Fate. You can hide under them for their protection and growth. Remember all those beings that Kyros met and subdued? In this region, if you find a Crown that has be some ghost or lingering spirit, they can help you." Pseudos exined.


    "...How? Where can I find one like that?!"


    "Well, I''ll tell you a secret. There''s a powerful Crown in the debts of this Mine. He served as a Conqueror. A powerful Conqueror. That''s the reason why this mine is full of such mystery. If you go in there, you will find it."


    "The depths of this mountain?! But Father! Beasts that even Champions can''t kill live deep down this mine!"


    "Then get stronger! Emeros! You have to find a way to be strong! Your brothers were so powerful, and their allies were strong, and their weapons were provided for them. But you...! You will have to walk this path counting your stats, numbering it every step of the way! Clinging to items of magical power and switching from weak metal to stronger ones!"


    "But... I don''t know how to do that! I can''t! Their memories are vague! I can''t remember everything as they can!"


    "As I said, find a way. Find a way to remember. This day is your start. The three of you must take flight and take form!"


    Emeros copsed on the ground in great fear. The task ahead was too much for a mere man!


    Suddenly, Emeros felt a strange warmth cover him. It was a bizarre form of warmth that soothed Emeros''s soul.


    Pseudos raised his hand and a strange form appeared and was embracing Emeros.


    "Mother..." Emeros, who knew no embrace of a parent, felt his mother''sforting embrace.

 Chapter 573 Day 1

    ?


    The strange embrace caused Emeros to calm down. The vision he had seen was terrifying, and the demand was too high. In the myriad of emotions that Emeros felt, he somehow felt a great sense offort.


    Emeros fell asleep.


    Yet even then, Pseudon could speak to him.


    "It''s one of the few things I could give. Theforting hug that your mother passed on. It won''t make you stronger... but I hope it can help me, and she apologizes for everything we put you through." Pseudos smiled.


    "The me now is already dead. Yet, in my lies, I divided my form into many weaker incarnations. I took Some weak forms in the hope that I would meet you. But for this to be kept hidden, these incarnations of mine won''t remember themselves to be me. But they will sense some strange form of familiarity to you." Pseudos exined as his form began to fade.


    A small, faint power began to cover Emeros.


    "Your brothers conceal and reveal. You are the reason why secrets have not been known, and that which was revealed has not been hidden. You are the Keeper. But you are not just that. You have the power that we hope could defeat End. Of course, knowing now would be too soon. Figure it out. We know you can. As ast gift, I will give you a small increase in your stats, and your mother''s Wisdom will allow you to gauge the stats of items and enemies. This is actually quite overpowered. Your brother didn''t need it since he was smart enough to easily know the stats of the enemy."


    Pseudos held Emeros''s head and slowly vanished into nothingness.


    Emeros felt the energy envelop him. The love of his parents for all three of them surrounded him, and he felt his body being strengthened.


    As Emeros fell into a deep sleep, he saw a strange vision.


    It was a familiar fat man standing in a vast field of white.


    "Hey, guys." Cminus smiled.


    "Kyros, I guess... this is it. It seems that I''ve been lying to you the whole time. I''ve known of the n of Wisdom for a while, and we knew that I would have to die, and I mean, really die... It sucks, I know. But this was the n. Time has to End for Eternity to be born. Our enemies thought that Time has to End for End to win, but it''s quite the opposite. Time limits creation. It binds them and allows decay. I have to go for it to continue. Now you may ask, why would the entric God do that? Well, one is my wife. I want her to be alive. And the other is another woman who I love so much. In her is the power of Free Time. My daughter is out there. Emeros. It will be up to you to find her. Like you, she was born into a ce where Fate and Destiny''s war do not wage. Even I don''t know if she''s alive. But I trust Wisdom''s arrangements." Cminus smiled, and his gaze locked straight to Emeros.


    "Kyros. I hope you''d be alive and get to hear myst goodbye. I... well, it''s been fun. It was a wild ride, and I know my deathes like a shock to you. A part of the real me didn''t want to make ourst gamble on you. But having half of my soul sealed in you and watching you grow just got me thinking, damn... This Nephilim really is our hope to conquer End!" Cminus smiled.


    "I know leaving you unceremoniously like this sucks... But at least I could im that I saved the awesome Kyros! And not just him, even great Noxus too! We made a great team, right?" Cminus smiled with tears in his eyes.


    "I''m sorry for being such an... annoying person. I couldn''t help it! With what a great future you hold, I''m sure the three of you could do it! Be the greatest beings of this Universe! Ascend, oh Nephilim, and be Eternity! Save my family! And do tell my wife... to remarry. I mean, if she can. I doubt that she can move on from all this." Cminus bragged as he showcased his fat body.


    "And when you do, all that I can hope for is that for all the jokes or weird things I said, you''d at least remember me as your corny, don''t-know-how-to-read-a-room friend. Thanks, Kyros! Thanks, Nephilim! It''s been so much fun! Time to say goodbye! Get it? Time?" Cminus chuckled as the white light faded and turned to darkness.


    Emeros''s soul saw the darkness, and one of the two small memories and souls that apanied him became heavy.


    "Such a corny goodbye, Cminus. Thank you." Emeros believed he spoke on behalf of Kyros and cried out what Kyros wanted so hard to say as he said goodbye to the first friend he made in his rebirth.


    Emeros dreamed of strange dreams from all the battles once more. And then he woke up.


    Emeros saw the dark room deep inside the mines and nced at the ceiling.


    A part of him didn''t want to move as he still couldn''t believe it to be true. Many things were engraved in his mind, and the very same system to gauge the Wisdom of his mother was in his thoughts.


    "Stats..." Emeros called out, hoping that nothing would appear.


    ---


    Emeros


    Soul Age: 12


    Bone Age: 12


    Level 1


    Strength: 18


    Magic: 11


    Dexterity: 15


    Vitality: 18


    Intelligence: 134 (ssified as ''Smart'' in most kingdoms)


    Second Source: 11


    ---


    The stats appeared, and a huge pressure crushed Emeros''s heart again.


    "It''s real..." Emeros sighed. He felt a great weight surround his body, and he didn''t want to move, knowing what he had to do.


    "What do I even do...?" Emeros felt a great sense of frustration. He cried at the pitiful stats he saw.


    Kyros had the strength that reached the thousands! His shes could cleave mountains! But now, Emeros had 18!


    Emeros struggled and pushed himself with all of his might. He didn''t want to move and wanted to lie down and be a useless miner that would work. His mortality told him to live his life. If he fights End, he will most likely die. So why not die as a weak mortal? Why struggle?


    These thoughts filled Emeros, but then he remembered something.


    "... Revenge. Revenge for my friends at the orphanage! Revenge for those who used me of all those things!" Emeros kept thinking about those, and he finally sat up.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    He was panting, and his body was sweating. But his rise caused him to abandon the mortal thinking that afflicted many.


    "I have to move! This is the first day of me being a Nephilim! At the very least, I will have my Revenge!" Emeros vowed and walked out of the room.


    The mines were still quiet as Emeros had walked up earlier than the rest. He walked deep into the mines, and some parts were not even lit up yet.


    Emeros took a torch and remembered Kyros''s memories of how he fought against the lizardkin and the lizardmen in the dark maze.


    "Hmm...? Hic.... You''re already... up?" A drunk man moved closer.


    Emeros saw the uniform and knew he was a Captian level.


    "Captain. I got bored. I guess I wanted to move out and explore the mine."


    "Explore... the mine? You''re crazy. Even if there are many Champions patrolling this ce... the numerous exits in the vast mountain ranges open this ce up to a lot of vile monsters, kid! What are you, level one?"


    "Then... wouldn''t all of us just die here?"


    "No idiot! You can- hic... work your way to the top! The more stones you harvest..., the more money you can get, and you can make requests to our in-house... Hic... in-house mage! You can also... bring in the monsters you kill... and have him... hic... extract the energies for level up... with-hic... fees... And kid... get your weapon in the armory! Don''t go exploring until you have at least... hic... threepanions..." The drunk captain moved on and began to hum an odd tune.


    Emeros set out for the rooms and began to pay attention to the signs he found along the way.


    He headed towards the armory, where azy, fat man watched and gave him a sword and a helmet along with some leather armor and boots.


    Emeros nced at the item and could feel his mind surging.


    ---


    Sword?


    Attack: 10


    Durability: 4


    ---


    Leather Helm?


    Defense: 10


    Durability: 3


    ---


    Leather Armor?


    Defense: 10


    Durability: 2


    ---


    Emeros nearly wept.


    Kyros and Noxus''s sword had an attack of 128 when he and Noxus fought in the end.


    Their armor, the Wings of the Light and Shade, had a defense of 127.


    "Even the Steele family servants had defenses that were high!" Emerosined.


    With no choice but to move on, Emeros walked and saw the sign that pointed to the other area.


    "Energy Formation Circle expert..." Emeros read the sign and realized that it would be the mage expert who would convert the energy from the dying beast and go through an expensive magical process of leveling up.


    But another thought entered Emeros''s mind.


    "A potion! A memory-recalling potion!" Emeros recalled amon potion that was being used by many aristocrats!


    Emeros walked in the direction of where the mage was.


    Guards were standing at the side and were tasked to protect the mage. They stopped Emeros, and Emeros left his weapons and moved into the room unarmed.


    Soon, Emeros reached therge hall and a cozier room with lights and strange magical items that created a cold breeze radiating from within.


    Emeros saw numerous drawings of energy formation circles.


    "Huh? Aren''t these... downright useless?" Emeros couldn''t help but voice out. He knew nothing about energy formation circles, but he could remember the numerous times Kyros and Noxus would write them out.


    "WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" An angry scream was heard as a sleepy figure emerged from the pile of pillows at the side and ran towards Emeros.


    Emeros shouted in shock and tried to escape, but the man was too fast as it grabbed on Emeros.

 Chapter 574 Day Ahead Of Him

    ?


    The man that burst out of the pillows had just woken up.


    And the first thing he hears is an insult to his work!


    The man pounced at Emeros angrily and, with one hand, carried Emeros high up the ground. Emeros unconsciously cast a gauge and saw the man''s stats.


    ---


    Grumpy man in his Underwear


    Level 19


    Strength: 51


    Magic: 56


    Dexterity: 85


    Vitality: 51


    Intelligence: 81


    Force: 0


    ---


    He had the strength and could have easily killed the boy.


    But his pride stopped him, and he lifted the boy in anger.


    "How dare you?! What do you know about Energy formation circles?!" The man charged.


    Emeros didn''t know anything about the energy formation circle theories. But from his memories, he knew why Kyros''s energy formation circles were far more powerful.


    Kyros and Noxus always made energy formation circles from the very center and would spread out. From what Emeros could see, the energy would surge from the center and expand outwards. But this strange energy formation circle had an energy flow that was practically chaotic!


    "From the center...! Draw... from the... center...!" Emeros answered as he barely tried to force out his words.


    The enraged man heard Emeros''s words and suddenly stopped.


    "...Draw from the center? Wait... How did you know how I drew? You can see mana? That means you have mana!" The mage stopped and took out a strange stone, and ced it on Emeros''s hand.


    Emeros could feel the stone call out his mana. He didn''t want to be suspicious, so he resisted the pull of mana.


    The stone gave a strange glow, and a number appeared.


    "Oh? This high? Four mana points?! That''s amazing!" The man eximed.


    "I only had 1 when I was level 1! The highest number of someone naturally born to be a genius mage was 5. You... you would have great potential as a mage!" The man stopped.


    "And you even know about Energy Formation Circles?" The man ced Emeros down.


    "I-uh... I don''t know much about that. I just watched my former master do it."


    "Former master? You had a master?"


    "Er... I was his ve, my lord!" Emeros bowed.


    "...Did he train you in magic?"


    "He... wanted to. But he died. During the war." Emeros''s voice turned sad.


    "...Ah. Haven''t we all lost something from that stupid war..." The mage turned around.


    "So... your master always drew things from the center? Why?"


    Emeros shrugged his shoulders.


    "I don''t know. But whenever he activated it... the magic would... shoot out. I can see the magic flowing here. It doesn''t... seem to have any direction or a path to follow. It wastes energy."


    "Huh... I would never have known about that. Interesting." The mage began to sit down and use a strange device to engrave an energy formation circle on the stone. His expression had changed from anger to enlightenment.


    "The ore here provides me with materials to create these energy formation circle tablets where I can practice it. I may look like a mage, but I''m not even a champion! I''m actually someone who self-studied it."


    "You... didn''t go to mage school?"


    "To be precise, I got kicked out, and I''m banned. Why do you think a mage would work in this mine? My only ie would be from the soldiers nearby or from the miners who want to level up! But do you know how many monsters I need to kill to reach the next level? At my level, absorbing what the miners bring in would not even give me any increase in my experience unless they killed a strong beast!" The mage began to rant.


    Emeros watched as the mage worked and couldn''t help but notice that even the center of the energy formation circle that the mage was making was inefficient. Kyros would right and stack several strange symbols on top of each other whenever he made his.


    But Emeros couldn''t remember any exact details and nced around, hoping to see if the mage would have that potion to help in memory recall!


    But the mage had very few potions, and Emeros could tell they were for health and mana...


    A small energy formation circle was made, and upon testing it, the mage was astounded as he could see a glow appear.


    "...It worked! Damn! I was so stupid! This could change the oue! Hahahaha!" The manughed.


    "Kid! My name is Mage Perment! From now on, if you could bring in some monster to kill, I can give you free level-ups up to level 4!" Perment chuckled as his expression was full of glee.


    "Uh... Tha-thank you, Mage Perment!"


    "Do you remember anything else from your master?"


    "Erm... if you have those potions that could help one recall, I probably could help you out more!"


    "Eh? A memory ess potion?! That''s expensive! Only nobles and aristocrats can afford those!" Perment frowned.


    "I-uh... I misspoke!" Emeros bowed.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "Eh, forget about it, kid. What you did was like giving me a second life in my upation! Look, the mines should be opening soon. Where you here to get some health potions?"


    "Yes."


    "Alright. And since you have magic, I''ll give you these Fire Ore bombs. It should help you kill a few beasts. Pour in some of your mana if you can and throw it. It isn''t much. But monsters lower than level 5 would get hurt or be killed! And be careful! I can''t help you out there, kid. Miners tend to steal each other''s monster kills. Every day chump would fight and cry about how his kill was stolen from him. You better be careful out there..." Perment handed Emeros three fire or bombs.


    Emeros dly received them.


    "Get back here when the mines close. I must talk with you more to learn more about your master! If one sentence is this much gold, I believe that whatever practices your master did would help me!" Permentughed and sent Emeros on his way.


    Emeros walked out and couldn''t help but feel a strange feeling.


    "...I made a friend? I guess this is what it means to be outside Fate and Destiny. If this was Kyros, that mage would have tried to kill him or imprison him!" Emeros trembled at the thought and moved toward the mine.


    As he returned, he saw a long line on the armory and knew that he was among the earliest who entered the mine.


    Several people were picking their partners, with many other kids begging and pleading with the adults to take them.


    At first, Emeros frowned as he could not activate his gauge spell.


    "Hey! Move it, kid!"


    A man walked and bumped into Emeros, who stood still. As Emeros turned, he saw the stats when they collided.


    ---


    Man


    Level 3


    Strength: 9


    Magic: 0


    Dexterity: 13


    Vitality: 9


    Intelligence: 23


    ---


    Emeros blinked. He saw the stats of the man at level 2 and couldn''t believe it.


    "People are this weak...!" Emeros thought to himself. He had never seen stats and only saw Kyros as a reference.


    "...I think Kyros started at level 1 with his strength stat at 50! What kind of a freak was he?! And I thought 18 would be standard level 1! But... won''t this mean that I have stats that are at least... three levels above this guy? The stat average of my strength would be at level 6!" Emeros tried to do some calctions in his head.


    Emeros shook his head and thought that if that man was at level 3, he should have enough strength to take on the beast in the mines alone!


    "I guess Dad did give me something awesome!" Emeros took a pickaxe and went his way. He took some of the miner''s bags and began to march off.


    "Hey, kid! Stop! Don''t go all by yourself!" A soldier shouted, but Emeros paid no heed to the man.


    "Stupid kid..." The soldier shook his head but ignored Emeros.


    Emeros could see several miners hammering away at various ces in the tunnels and paths.


    But Emeros was confused.


    "Why aren''t they... mining where the mana gathers?" Emeros was confused. But then he recalled that even Perment was surprised at how Emeros could see the flow of magic. Then he realized something.


    "Could it be? The mana flow I''ve been seeing deep inside the mines isn''t visible. Now that I think about it, I''ve never seen such thick energy gather before. This should be my mother''s wisdom that gave me a gauge. Now that I think about it... how can I gauge things by touching them? Maybe I can sense mana in a more sensitive manner!" Emeros realized it.


    Emeros went to a spot where he could see mana gathering near the surface.


    It was high up, so Emeros piled some stones nearby.


    Many of the onlookers saw Emeros and were confused by his actions.


    Emeros pretended that he was having a hard time lifting the rocks but was quietly cing it one piece at a time and finally stood over it and struck the pickaxe on the wall.


    DING! DING! DING!


    After several strikes, a strange red orb fell.


    It was simr to the Fire Ore Bombs that Perment gave him, but this one had a rich energy around it.


    The rock fell to the ground.


    Emeros saw the rich man and knew what he found was profoundly different from what the others would usually mine.


    "This stone looks expensive. I might have gotten a week''s sry already! And I still have the whole day ahead of me!" Emeros thought.


    And many who saw the bright rock full of glow caused their greed to surface.


    Emeros picked up the stone.


    "Hey, kid! That was my spot! You got there first! Give me that stone!" The man who Emeros bumped into earlier thundered close to him.


    "What? No way. We don''t have spots here! I got here, moved the stone, and hit there. This is mine!" Emeros answered defiantly.


    The man was angered at Emeros''s answer.


    Unknown to him, Emeros was chanting something in his head.


    "Please attack me. Please attack me. Please attack me... Yes! He attacked!" Emeros cheered as the man ran towards him.

 Chapter 575 Day Of The Monster Passing

    The enraged man used his fist and made an attack.


    The first flew as fast as the man could throw it, but Emeros could have easily evaded.


    Yet Emeros chose not to evade but raised his two arms with some leather armor covering his arms.


    POW!


    The sound of the crisp punch was heard, and everyone saw it.


    "Stupid kid. That man''s level three!" The guard saw the man rushing at Emeros andughed at the poor luck of the stupid kid he had seen earlier.


    Emeros was pushed back and stumbled. He had blocked the attack with his two arms and couldn''t help butin at the pain. He knew that if he had taken this attack before, he would have been killed.


    "It hurts!" Emerosined. He thought that his added stats would have allowed him easily resist the attack.


    "But... Kyros''s former life spoke of rules that if the strength of my enemy is far weaker than my vitality and Force, plus my body armor, the attack would have been reduced far weaker!" Emerosined as he slowly stood up and could still feel the sting.


    "Give it to me!" The man roared again.


    Emeros held on to the stone he found and red at the enemy.


    "I guess I''m not that strong. Damn... Kyros had it good! Fifty points at level one?! He practically had a Commander''s potential since the start!" Emeros turned to his enemy.


    His arms stung a little, but thest time he recalled getting hit by someone on level 2, he couldn''t walk well for a day!


    "If only there was a way to calcte hit points. I know Kyros, in his first life, counted it. But the new Kyros had so many regeneration and techniques; he didn''t bother to count... What a cheat!" Emerosined.


    ---


    Adding Vitality points! All beings within range of Emeros''s levels or who are two levels higher will now disy Vitality Points.


    Emeros current Vitality Points: 259 /280


    ---


    Emeros was surprised that the attack was registered.


    "...Interesting." Emeros turned to the man that was headed toward him.


    ---


    Man


    Level 3


    Strength: 9


    Magic: 0


    Dexterity: 13


    Vitality: 9


    Vitality Points: 190


    Intelligence: 23


    ---


    Emeros saw it and was curious just how strong his fist would be.


    He ran in anger, like a little boy who had lost his temper.


    "You still can move?!" The man roared as he tried to catch Emeros''s wild punch.


    As a thirteen-year-old boy, Emeros looked weak and pathetic, and the man who was confident in his level wanted to catch the punch.


    POW!


    "AHHHH!"


    The man felt pain as his arm was fractured from the punch.


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 55.1


    ---


    More than one-fourth of the man''s vitality was taken away from a single punch. And Emeros didn''t even use much of the Force energy and only used five points!


    The man was limping back as he clutched his arm.


    Emeros saw the man backing away, and everyone nearby was surprised.


    "You idiot! I trained as a Barbarian! I have Force!" Emeros ran and made another punch on the stomach.


    POW!


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 48.3


    ---


    The punchnded on the stomach, and the man was on his knees immediately.


    "Anyone else wants to take away what''s mine?" Emeros turned to the rest and now had a sword in hand.


    Two punches brought the adult man to his fours, and it didn''t seem like he would recover from the pain anytime soon.


    The rest of the onlookers were amazed at the disy of might.


    The soldier continued to look at Emeros. But this time, instead of disdain or disgust, there was another hint of anger in his eyes.


    Emeros had seen those looks all too well in Kyros''s former memories.


    "That guy is jealous of me? I guess I have to be careful... Although Destiny isn''t trying to kill me, and Fate aren''t pulling pranks, my actions would still draw attention. I guess I have to be more careful from now on... But I wanted to hunt monsters..." Emeros frowned.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Suddenly, three individuals approached him.


    Two were teenagers. One had dark hair, numerous scratches over his legs, and was about Emeros''s age. The other one was at least seventeen years old and stood close in height to thest one. Thest one was a middle-aged man with only one hand.


    "Looking for trouble?" Emeros asked.


    "No! Young hero, Emeros! We wanted to volunteer our services! Even if you are strong, these mines are full of monsters, and you could get attacked! For a small fee, we will help you carry all that you mine! After all, the rare stones are found in the deeper parts of the mine!" The one-armed man answered.


    "No one wants to go with us since we''re kids. We hope you would." A young boy answered.


    Emeros thought for a bit and saw the nearby wheelbarrows.


    "I guess I could use a hand." Emeros smiled and turned to the one-armed man. But then he realized what he had done.


    "Er... I mean... I could use... some help!" Emeros chuckled nervously.


    The one-armed man smiled and could see that Emeros had a rather good disposition.


    "It''s ok, Young hero! I get that a lot! My name is Wesret."


    "I''m Don." The older teenager answered.


    "Philip." The teenager who was about Emeros''s age also answered.


    "Alright. Let''s go!" Emeros nodded, and the group moved on.


    "There''s a lot of losers who might try to take away my stone. So let''s go deep into this ce. Needless to say, if you betray me, I''ll kill you. Also, Mage Perment, who is in charge of giving us level-ups, is my friend. I''ll convince him to give you Gus a discount." Emeros spoke as he walked on.


    "Master Emeros. This is your first day here, right?" Don asked.


    "Hm? Yeah. Why?"


    "We don''t go deep into the mines. Not today. Today is a day that we miners call ''the Monster Passing.'' This entire undergroundbyrinth is not just a mine, but it''s a passageway connecting two monster forests. A lot of monsters will me moving around that ce, and it will be dangerous!" Wesret exined.


    "?!" Emeros''s eyes lit up.


    "Then we have to go. It might be dangerous, but if you guys listen to me, we could just get a level up by the end of the day!" Emeros eximed.


    Everyone''s eyes lit up.


    "You mean it?" Philip asked.


    "Well, those at level one will surely get to two. But I''m not sure how the rest will. I haven''t had the chance to level up yet."


    "What?! Then that strength! You said you were a barbarian?!" Wesret confirmed.


    "I er... am! I just trained in Force."


    "Wait...! You can use Force Skills?!" Don eximed.


    "Not really, skills. I just now how to bring it out." Emeros could not help but think back to Kyros''s endless amount of Force skills, from defensive walls to shes, and Emeros sighed in envy.


    "Amazing! You must be a son of a noble!" Wesret eximed.


    "...The war took it all away," Emeros answered as he walked on.


    The three were silent at Emeros''s words.


    "Now, follow me! Let''s go monster hunting!" Emeros dered.


    The three looked at each other and smiled. The prospect of having a level-up was just too tempting!


    Deep into the mines...


    The mana that flowed caused the path to having some low glow in it, allowing humans to see slightly even without torches.


    On the outskirts of the path, several small, thin, yet grotesque creatures as tall as small children were running with great speed.


    On the other side of the wide path, hiding behind the stones, Emeros and the rest watched the group.


    "Imps!" Wesret identified the beast.


    "Low level and weak. But they are too fast for us! They have dexterity equal to level two men! And with their numbers, they could easily kill us!" Wesret frowned.


    "Reukyeds ytek ummisds!" The strange creature cried out to the rest.


    "Big imp trouble?" Emeros had vague memories of the many tongues that Cminus taught Kyros. But he kept this trantion to himself.


    "Young hero! We can''t fight this!" Wesret spoke.


    "No, we can. We just do as nned! Everyone! Don''t you have someone you want to kill? Is there something that you want to avenge? Aren''t we all ves not of our choosing? When I was sent here, I vowed to fight my way out and be stronger. If we can''t win against Imps, we won''t win against the people we want dead!" Emeros urged, and he walked out to the open.


    Wesret, Don, and Philip were stunned at Emeros''s words. As they saw Emeros walk out, it was as if they were looking at the back of a royal prince. A strange desire was lit up.


    "...Alright. If he''s confident, let''s do our part too!" Wesret smiled.


    Emeros stood out in the open, but the imps didn''t take notice of him yet.


    Emeros had collected several stones along the way and took one from his backpack, and aimed.


    As an orphan, he had spent a lot of time skipping stones on the waters and had a good aim in rock throwing.


    The rock flew with great speed...


    SPLAT!


    The stone sank deep into the head of an imp and killed it instantly.


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 220 (CRIT!)


    ---


    Emeros had charged up the stone with all his force, covering it with 11 points! With the hit striking a vulnerable part, the imp quickly fell.


    The others saw it and were enraged and chased after Emeros.

 Chapter 576 Day Of New Beginnings

    ?


    The imps saw the one that killed their friend and shouted in anger. They all ran towards Emeros.


    "What an aim!" Dan praised.


    "Look! They''re all attacking! There must be a dozen of them!" Philip whispered.


    Eleven imps ran at them at a fast speed.


    The three allies of Emeros saw the charge and could not help but freeze. The sight of a man fighting against hordes of creatures would have made any other man faint.


    Yet, for some reason, Emeros could remain standing against the Imps.


    Emeros had seen worse monsters than before. He had seen things from the perspective of Kyros and Noxus and how they battled gods and fell. What was thatpared to a group of midgets?


    SMASH!


    The rock struck another imp on the head.


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 86.45


    ---


    Emeros frowned as his attackcked Force. Out of the 11 Force points, he was only able to release 5!


    The imps continued to charge, and Emeros threw another rock again.


    SMASH!


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 83.6


    ---


    Despite the decaying value, the stones that Emeros threw weakened the imps and caused them to remain on the floor, squirming from the injury they received.


    The imps were gaining ground, and Emeros switched to his sword.


    It was an unfamiliar sensation because it was his first time holding on to it. But the first-person memory of wielding the sword from Kyros and Noxus remained.


    Emeros poured out Force to his sword and concentrated as the imps drew near.


    "Now!" Emeros shouted.


    His friends moved out of the darkness, and Philip was on top of therge rock they hid behind and began throwing more stones at them.


    THUD! THUD!


    Two stones struck the bodies of the imps as Don''s throw missed.


    But the three quickly threw another stone.


    THUD! THUD! THUD!


    And another, and another.


    The appearance of the three startled the imps, and the group was divided as those that were struck began to run back.


    Emeros took a deep breath and ran forward with sword in hand.


    "Just like... Kyros!" Emeros tried to recall the memories of Kyros and how he handled the sword. His memories included faint sensations of the Force energy.


    SLASH!


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 246


    ---


    The sh had easily sliced off the head of an imp.


    Gauge quickly activated at the creature''s death.


    ---


    Imp


    Level 2


    HP: 120


    Strength: 5


    Magic: 0


    Dexterity: 10


    Intelligence: 11


    Vitality: 5


    ---


    But Emeros did not release the Force energy but tried to contain it on his de. He felt some of the Force leak out and hurriedly


    swung the sword again.


    Another imp tried to block the attack with his small spear, but the sword cut through it easily.


    ¡¤?¦Èm SLASH!


    The arm of the imp was cut off.


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 70


    ---


    Emeros shed out again, and his sword spun.


    Three of the imps that surrounded Emeros all dove together and made their attacks.


    Emeros began to swing his sword wildly to block, but a spear drove into his leather armor.


    STAB!


    ---


    Damage received: 32


    Vitality Points: 233 /280


    ---


    Emeros''s health had steadily recovered since the punch of the level three man.


    Emeros stabbed back at the imp.


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 134


    ---<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    Emeros was stabbed in the side of his torso, and the attack he could exert was weakened.


    But Emeros ran towards the imp as he pped the spear to the side.


    His sword stabbed through the imp, and with the imp as a meat shield, Emeros tacked the other.


    STAB!


    Thest imp saw his two allies die and retreated.


    Emeros picked up the spear and hurled it at the imp.


    STAB!


    Thest of the imps that attacked Emeros was dead. But the fight was not over.


    Emeros quickly ran toward his allies and threw spears and rocks. Some of the imps that got hit by the thrown stones were also.


    Three imps


    Wesret was at the front and was shing wildly with his right hand.


    Dan was also fighting while Philip remained up the rock and kept throwing stones to slow the other members.


    But now, Emeros had arrived, and they soon killed the imps.


    Wesret had some small cuts as the spears grazed him in the battle. The group sat down and was amazed at what they did.


    "That... that was crazy! We almost died!"


    Emeros was also seated and began to think about what they had gone through.


    "So this is... what it means to be weak. I can clearly see it now. My allies don''t have fighting experience. Against small imps, it was already a deadly battle for them, and they would have died if I was not around. So the poor can''t level up. Fighting imps would already be suicide..." Emeros reflected.


    "I wonder if this could help you guys level up..." Emeros thought out loud.


    "What? You want to use these imps we killed for us to level up?"


    "I''m... kind of strong. As you can see, that imp stabbed me, and it didn''tnd a deep wound." Emeros revealed his side. He was bleeding and kept applying pressure to his side.


    "I need you guys to level up more."


    "Why?"


    "To help me, of course. Guys, stick with me. Today is a day of new beginnings for us ves!" Emeros smiled.


    He was a pitiful young boy. But now, he had just defeated eleven imps. And while this aplishment was nothingpared to his brothers, it was a great start. He was human. And for poor ves like them, this feat that they pulled off was worthy of songs and praise!


    My vitality is high due to my barbarian training, so this wound should close by tomorrow. Put all the imps on the cart, and let''s head back." Emeros ordered.


    Back near the parts of the mines where the ves worked...


    A man seated at the side still had not recovered from the attack. He could not work, meaning a day''s worth of work was taken from him.


    The man kept cursing at the ''Barbarian Boy'' who people now called him.


    "I hope that kid... dies!" The man had heard that Emeros and three others had moved deep into the parts of the mines, and even though the guards stopped them, they insisted and went on.


    "Hmp! What''s a barbarian ve going to do? He overestimates himself! He justnded a blow on you without your leather armor, and he''s bragging like a king!" Another man spoke.


    RATTLE... RATTLE... RATTLE...


    The sound of a wheelbarrow could be heard, and suddenly, four people appeared within therge part of the cave where most of the ves mined.


    Don was proudly pushing the cart, and it contained a pile of imps!


    Emeros was walking next to him and was holding onto his side.


    "They... they killed that many monsters?!" The man who just spoke about Emeros eximed.


    The one that Emeros punched had a stunned look too.


    Emeros and the rest moved by them.


    Emeros picked up a small stone and threw it at the man.


    "Here. I injured you and cost you a day''s work. Don''t steal my stuff, and we''re good." Emeros warned.


    The man was stunned as he saw a small magic stone!


    It was worth around two days'' worth of wages!


    Emeros walked on ahead, and it was only then that many noticed several bright stones mixed in the usual ores that were found.


    "We''re done for today. I believe thiss us three days'' worth of wages each?" Emeros approached the guard that called him a stupid kid.


    "And from who did you steal this, kid?"


    "The imps? Or the stones?" Emeros frowned.


    "Both!" The guard shouted.


    "Who cares? People steal from each other here every day. But suddenly, it''s an issue now?!" Emeros red at the guard.


    "If it were just stealing, then yes! But I''m sure you killed to get these stones!"


    "That''s right! We killed eleven! Eleven imps! Is that a crime?" Emeros sneered.


    The guard was raging.


    "Let''s go. He''s not worth our time. He doesn''t have the authority to stop us. As I said, Mage Perment is my friend." Emeros urged his friends to keep pushing the cart. They were afraid of the guard, but Emeros showed no fear.


    The guard was startled when he heard Mage Perment. He was a level 19 mage! He was close to reaching Captain level!


    "Lies!"


    "Then call him if you don''t believe me!"


    "Now you''re just making stuff up! I''ll arrest you right now for spouting nonsense!" The guard reached out and pulled Emeros.


    Emeros paused for a bit and smiled as he drew his sword and pointed it at the guard.


    "You dare to draw your sword against me, ve?!" The guard shouted.


    "I''ve just killed nine of these eleven imps with my friends. Want to see how I killed nine of them?" Emeros challenged.


    "You!"


    "Based on your strength... you must be level 4! Let me tell you a secret... my strength is a little higher than level 4 because of my barbarian training!" Emeros chuckled and held onto the hand of the guard.


    The strength of Emeros pressed on the hand of the guard, and the guard could not yank back his hand.


    "You! Everyone! Look! He-! He is-!"


    "I''m what? Holding your hand? Unless you caught me on a real crime, move away!" Emeros shouted, and the guard could not help but step back as Emeros released his hand.


    The guard''s expression had changed from anger and now revealed slight fear.


    Emeros led the group on as they passed through the doors.


    As they walked away, Emeros could not help but tremble in excitement. He had always wanted to do that against his bullies!


    "So this is power? I might just be addicted!" Emerosughed.

 Chapter 577 Day To Scale Two Levels

    ?


    In the room where Mage Perment sat, he was amazed that Emeros returned so soon. It hadn''t even been half a day, and Emeros had returned!


    "You killed... all this?" Perment was surprised to see Emeros return so soon with a cart full of corpses.


    "...What level are you?" Perment asked.


    "Level one. But I was trained as a force used by my master." Emeros answered.


    The friends of Emeros were also shocked to hear it.


    "What?! Are you still level one?! You could slice an imp with one sh!" Wesret eximed.


    "It''s a knight''s cutting skill. My former master used to experiment on me with his energy formation circle. It hurt, but he said my strength should be level 3."


    Perment nced at Emeros with a mysterious look.


    "Your master must be someone awesome."


    "He truly was. At level one, he was fighting foes far greater than what a team of level 10 people had. I think he had a Cardinal''s potential. He had some special heritage which I didn''t understand..." Emeros sighed.


    "A Cardinal''s potential at level 1?!" Perment was amazed.


    "He must be some rtive to the gods or fallen!" Perment was amazed.


    "I... don''t know."


    "He must be someone rted to a being outside of our sr system. The far descendants of gods and fallen would have higher potential. People born with forty stats higher than the rest of us mortals..."


    "My master did say something about a Yggdrasil."


    "A Yggdrasil? I heard of that. But I''m too poor to learn about it. But from what I understand, people living in these Yggdrasil often have a much better heritage than we have. So that''s probably why you naturally saw the weakness in my energy formation circle. Do you know any more tricks?" Perment asked Emeros.


    "Yes. But, Mage Emeros. I do hope that you will help us level up. Think of it as an investment. I want to grow stronger! I think if we both work together, we can all benefit from this. The stronger monster we kill will soon reach the point that it could help you level up. Besides, the deeper we go into the mine, the more resources we find." Emeros then brought out a strange stone.


    "What?!" Perment was shocked as he saw a magic stone.


    Magic stones were very rare. Normally, people who mine one instantly give it to the guards and encash it as it would help them get a week''s worth. Emeros offered severalmon ores and a few magic stones that would have paid his team for a few days. But the truth was, he had more.


    "How?!" Perment eximed.


    "My eyes can see mana flow. I might have downyed it earlier, but I could see it within the mines. And I know that more powerful gems are inside."


    "Amazing!"


    "And... Mage Perment. My master has once talked about... a Low-Grade Elemental core. He had a form."


    Perment trembled as he heard it.


    "Low-Grade Elemental Core?!" He shouted.


    "Mage Perment! Not too loud!" Emeros covered his mouth.


    "You- you know how to create one?!"


    "No. But he showed me. That''s why I need those memory-recalling potions. If I can get my hands on one, we can start!"


    "...There is one outside! An aristocrat is here with schrs to study the environment of this mine... We could steal one from them!"


    "Is it that expensive?" Emeros asked.


    "Didn''t your master use them?"


    "..." Emeros looked back and recalled the INT stat of Kyros and Noxus.


    "He was so smart it was infuriating. He didn''t need it." Emeros answered.


    "He must have really been someone with a divine or fallen lineage! But anyway, these medicines are not exactly expensive. Most aristocrats brew their own. They get the material needed from a rare slime called Ethriope Slime. It''s very rare, but once you can capture one, you can make as many. So aristocrats and schrs invest in capturing one. If I have one and I sell it, none of my peers will buy it unless I lower the price by a lot! So the only people willing to use it are desperate people. Like the ones going through a test. But it''s hard to get a hold of a cheap one!"


    "I understand. So rich families have a lot of it and monopolize it, but poor people like us will have a hard time buying them due to avability, and if one appears on the market, it''s expensive. What an interesting setup. The rich don''t want the poor to surpass them, and they made it hard for us to ess these things." Emeros understood.


    "...Wow. You don''t talk like a ve. You understood the gist of that?" Perment was amazed.


    Emeros could only smile. The truth was, he was less than a ve. But the recent memories he received have greatly changed his manner of thinking.


    "My rtionship with my master isn''t the conventional rtionship," Emeros spoke.


    But then he noticed the odd look of Perment.


    "It''s not sexual. I meant he was treating me more of an apprentice and guinea pig." Emeros red.


    "Errr... That-that''s not what I thought! What exactly are you using me of? A-anyway, let me see all the ores you have...


    Emeros brought out all the magic stones.


    "...You didn''t use the fire bombs I gave you?" Emeros was amazed.


    "I was saving it for stronger monsters. But I overestimated myself and got this wound."


    "Hm? Take a small sip of this potion to increase your healing." Perment offered.


    "Thank you." Emeros sipped.


    "Let''s talk more about business then. Can you help me create it? Low-Grade Elemental Cores?"


    "Yes. But for now, we can aim for Inferior ones. Elemental Cores need to be constantly recharged before they can be used. From then, we can dive deeper into this mine and gather more materials to slowly build the foundations to make a Low-Grade elemental core. But I need to level up! And my friends will need to grow!"


    "Fine. I won''t ask you to pay any fees for that, and I can help you reach high levels. But... I can''t make it too obvious. People are watching. I''m here in this deste mine because I have people I angered. So we must find ways to work this and make it more believable. If people find that I favor you too much..."


    "It''s alright. We can talk and whisper at the hearing of others and make it look like we''re doing some deals that are making me shell out a lot. You can say things like ''if you want to see your dear sister'' or lie."<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "...That could work! In this ce, having a rtionship not founded on bribery or threats is more suspicious than trades of equals. We can do that!" Perment smiled.


    "For now, help me with my level up. We can use these monsters and even these ores. We''ve collected a lot. We can give all the monsters to my team, but let''s use this ore for me."


    "...Eh? You can use magic ores to level up?!" Perment eximed.


    "...My master could. You mean to say... it''s not possible?" Emeros had recalled how Kyros used the knowledge he acquired from the Library of Nephilim on the spells to do that.


    "...No! I have not ever heard of it! Magic stones like this have no life in them! It cannot empower us!"


    "I know. That''s why we use a Dark Dependent form."


    "A Dark Dependent form?! You mean... use ck magic!?"


    It was then that Emeros realized just how poor and uneducated his world was.


    "And Kyros thought the Londs had it bad..." Emeros thought to himself. If this ce called Dark Dependent ''ck magic,'' it meant that there was a huge stigma against this magic.


    "...He had an energy conversion circle that could turn that dark energy to fuel the death magic."


    "Is it safe?" Perment asked.


    "He said it wasn''t an issue. He said something about how this world is not ready for it due to the stigma. But in reality, even Pdins could level up for twenty levels, and there would be no consequences."


    "What about the Dark Maddening?"


    "...Dark Maddening only happens when absorbing the life of great dark beasts. Although, I guess Master knew how primitive this was, and your means would be too... stupid."


    "...Do you know that spell?!"


    It was a very basic formation, and Emeros could recall one of the more important parts of it.


    "I think so."


    Emeros drew on paper what the energy conversion circle looked like based on the many memories of Kyros. Kyros had kept drawing and improving this during his time in the Unrecorded Pages to draw out the power from the Brimstone beast. Emeros decided that he needed magic stones to increase his mana. Since his body naturally had no mana, he needed magical sources for his level-ups. He could not provide this. And so, Emeros mined several powerful stones that he saw with his eyes as they went back.


    And so, with Kyros drawing repeatedly, this memory was more engraved on his mind.


    "Wait a minute... You mean... Energy conversion circles need to have a flow of mana to make it move differently?"


    "Yes. Depending on the purpose and use. This one was something he always had me draw, so I know a bit about it. But it''s not exactly perfect. It''s been a while since I had to draw it. We can use it on me if you''re not confident."


    "...You''re insane, kid. You trust me?"


    "Well, I can tell to some extent if it''s wrong or write. Draw it first."


    Perment quickly got to work.


    Soon, the energy conversion circle was created and slotted on arge gap in his room.


    Emeros observed it and could see how the energy flowed.


    "...I guess it''s safe?" Emeros hesitated for a bit but sat down on the b.


    "Are you sure this is good?"


    "Er... What''s the worse that could happen?" Emeros asked.


    "...I don''t know. I''ve never worked with ck Magic forms!"


    "What if we try with one stone?"


    "It doesn''t work that way. It has to start with arge amount of energy to activate it."


    Emeros took in a deep breath.


    "It should work. Load them up, and let''s try it." Emeros spoke as he sat at the ce where the energy would be sent.


    "It''s your funeral, kid! Brace yourself!"


    Perment began to use the spell to activate the circle.


    The light shed, and the energy surged out.


    ---


    Level up!


    1-> 3


    Strength: 18-> 24


    Magic: 11 -> 13


    Dexterity: 15 -> 25


    Vitality: 18 -> 24


    Intelligence: 134 (ssified as ''Smart'' in most kingdoms)


    Force: 11-> 13


    ---


    As the light shed, Emeros quickly felt his strength increase.


    "That...! Emeros! The response! Did you just level up twice?!" Perment eximed.

 Chapter 578 Day Of Perment鈥檚 Prominence

    ?


    Wesret, Don, and Philip left the mage''s room with a dazed expressions.


    They continued to hold onto their hands in shock. The power they felt was surreal.


    They all had raised their levels by two.


    Poor ves like them could only dream about it.


    ves don''t have this luxury. And even in the dangerous mines they served in, not just the ves but even the guards were considered expendable. So these ves could never believe they would one-day scale two levels simultaneously.


    In the earlier battle, he had nearly died, and Emeros rushed him and saved them with his stone and spear throws.


    With their unwounded form and the fast speed of the imps, even if there would have been a dozen level-one ves, they would find themselves losing at least two or three persons!


    But now, the three ves not only survived a battle of eleven, they even left the room with their levels increased by two!


    The moment they left the room and only walked several paces, they could already see the guard waiting for them at the door which led to the mage''s rooms.


    It was the same guard that they saw stop Emeros at the entrance.


    Many other guards stood by him and were curious.


    They had heard of a man who was so strong that he managed to take on eleven imps with only three other allies that were level one! This youth managed to slump a level 3 ve with a single punch and could harvest precious mines!


    And many became envious of this boy.


    A faint glow would remain when a person has sessfully leveled up. Depending on the process, the magic involved to create a level-up, the glow would vary in color.


    And the three ves had that faint light of red as they left the room.


    "All of you had a level up?!" The guard could not ept it and cursed. Even with eleven imps, only one of them would have leveled up!


    But as he approached, he noticed that their eyes were red, and they had a look of terror on them.


    "What happened?" The guard asked.


    "We were... forced to a contract with the mage," Wesret revealed a mark on his arm.


    "We are to..." Philip began as he tried to control his sobs.


    "Fight with... Emeros and kill deep into the mines. If we disobey, this mark will kill us."


    "A ve mark!" The guard was shocked. He had heard that this was the usual practice that mages made. But the appearance and expressions of the ves showed that they were tortured and forced to receive the mark.


    "Why?"


    "Emeros... is on a suicide mission. That idiot kid should have just rolled over and died!" Wesret eximed in anger.


    "He gave us all the imps power to increase our levels to fight to help that stupid brat...! Deep in the mines!" Philip couldn''t take it anymore and began to throw up.


    The guards were startled.


    "It looks like that kid... is in for some trouble."


    "Hmp. No wonder. I guess he must have been taking some weird drugs. He''ll be dead soon!" The guardughed and left.


    As they left, the ves all nced up.


    "That was... disgusting! What did that mage make us eat!" Philip cursed as he began to put ice on his lips.


    They had eaten something spicy and disgusting that made them have odd expressions they wore when they left.


    "Why couldn''t master Emeros just bribe the guard as he did to that level 3 ve!" Donined.


    "It wouldn''t work." Emerosughed as he appeared.


    "Master Emeros! I-I didn''t mean-!"


    "Rx! I''m not offended. We''re both ves in this mine. And I have to apologize for making you eat those spicy things!" Emerosughed.


    "Anyway, the ve thought he was strong and tried to steal my ore. He was greedy, but I showed him that I was stronger and not be taken lightly. I gave him that ore to settle our differences. He probably won''t go after me or bear a grudge and may even ask to join us. He will think in his greed, I could be reasoned with, and he could gain something from this. Greed is easy. But that guard, he was envious. He was jealous of me. I could see it in his eyes. He didn''t want what I have; he hated that I have what I have." Emeros exined.


    "You seem to be an expert on jealousy." Perment emerged.


    "Not jealousy. Jealousy is from Zeal. You are jealous of one passion that you are protective of. This was envy. The desire for things not owned. I have... seen it with my own eyes." Emeros smiled as he recalled the Jealous power that Thessh had when she wielded the power of the Phaulos Gallen.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "For a kid, you sure sound very wise."


    "You can thank my master. Before him, I was... pretty dumb before everything else." Emeros chuckled.


    "In any case, the guards will definitely spread that rumor. You three, go to your ces. Emeros. What we will be doing will be incredibly reckless. My advice is that you present yourself as someone who was an apprentice of the master. We tell a story about his betrayal before his death and how you ended up here. But if all goes well, we might have a potion that can help you recall a lot more."


    Emeros nodded.


    Each went their way.


    The rest moved back to their ces while Emeros and Perment were seen moving out.


    Emeros was chained, and Perment pulled him like a dog on a leash.


    The guards all saw it and didn''t ask questions as to where the mage would bring a mere ve.


    A carriage awaited Perment, and the pair rode it to leave for town.


    "Who is this man that we are going to meet?" Emeros asked.


    "An old enemy. And this is exactly why I chose him for this deal. He will maltreat me and insult me. But in the end, I will have thestugh!" Permentughed as he held on to the drawing of the formation that they had created.


    The energy conversion circle that I made is moreplex and was actually inferior to the ones that Perment knew. In fact, if he used this energy conversion circle, he would draw out less energypared to using his original circle. But as Perment knew that the trick was to cast out an expanding energy that would run in a spiral, he could now draw out 10% more energy even if he used the inferior energy conversion circle!


    The pair arrived at the house of a Baron Mage.


    Many guards stood by and had their hands on the hilts; even archers were aiming at him like an enemy.


    Perment moved out, pulling the chain that brought Emeros out.


    Perment held arge round object covered in cloth.


    The Baron and owner of the household appeared. He was arge, bearded man holding arge staff. But unlike Perment, he was a Captain Mage!


    But as mages, the Baron that waited for them knew that it was an Energy Conversion Circle.


    "Stop. You go that far. Now tell me, what is this ''new formation'' that increases the energy drawn out by ten percent!" The Baronughed.


    "It''s right here in this energy conversion circle. To prevent all the information from leaking out, I made several alterations that will obscure the power this can do. I won''t waste words, Emeros. Bring out your bag!"


    Emeros ced his bag down and brought out the corpse of one imp. They used ten of the eleven imps to increase everyone''s level.


    "Here is an imp. Present the corpse of another monster that, if added, will only be almost enough to cause one level-up. And present a ve among you who has not been bestowed any energy. And I will increase his level!" Perment eximed.


    Everyone was amazed.


    "Baron Elford! You said I wouldn''t amount to anything! But today is the day that I rise to prominence! Before you, I will sell an energy conversion circle that will be the talk of this kingdom!" Perment challenged.


    Emeros was quiet. But he could feel a great hunger for vengeance in Perment''s heart, and his hatred towards this Baron was immense.


    "And I am showing this to you because I want you to be the first to see it! You will benefit greatly from this, for I have no standing. You could earn, but I want you to swallow your pride and tell others about a miracle in the discipline of Energy Formation Circles! This is but the least of my creation! And all my notes have been burned and are all in here!" Perment pointed to his head.


    The Baron was stunned as Perment spoke with grand ambitions. Perment was an angry, bitter man whom he had silenced numerous times throughout his life. But now, Perment was back to im such things.


    "...Then let''s see! Bring out another imp corpse!"


    "Another Imp? You know that''s not enough! I''d need to increase the output by another twenty percent!" Perment voiced out.


    The Baron sneered, but before he could say anything...


    "Alright. If it''s to show you, I''ll exert some effort!" Permentughed.


    "...What?! You...! You can do it?!"


    "Of course. I''m selling an energy conversion circle that can do 10%. But for me? That''s not the limit!" Permentughed.


    "Then prove it!" The Baron frowned.


    "Alright." Perment took out a hammer and began to hit the covered te where the energy conversion circle was drawn.


    TAP! TAP! TAP!


    "There! Now, this should reach twenty percent. I''ll just remove itter. Bring out your ve! It''s time to level him up!"

 Chapter 579 Day Of Neutral Meetings

    ?


    The actions of Perment were not just weird. It was crazy.


    Baron Elford saw the strange actions of Perment.


    "Hahahahaha!" A loudugh was heard, and two Mage Captains appeared.


    One was a fellow Barons of the kingdom, and the other served directly or was employed by powerful organizations as Captain.


    Theirugh echoed out, and Perment noticed them.


    "Baron Carlisto. Mage Captain Torman of the Viscous de Mercenary Brigade. It''s so nice to see such familiar faces." Perment smiled.


    Emeros could tell that these two had done great harm to Perment just as Baron Elford did.


    "It seems that Perment has finally lost it! Hahaha!" Carlistoughed andughed.


    Torman had tears in his eyes as he was also bending inughter.


    "This...! Elford! When you told me that Perment wasing, I didn''t care to go here. But you insisted! This is a great show!" Carlistoughed.


    Elford, on the other hand, was slowly bing angry.


    "Perment! You called me here! Made me abandon my responsibilities and waste time for this... this nonsense!"


    THUD!


    Perment mmed the energy conversion circle te on the floor.


    "Bring our your energy receiving te and send your ve to stand there. I will show you that it''s possible to do it!" Perment smiled.


    "And if you two are not convinced, how about this if you win, I will sell myself to any of you as a ve. Do what you want to me! Kill me! Torture me! Whatever you please. A mage captain ve is quite lucrative, right? But if I win, you will pay me a hundred gold each and memory recollection potions or an engraving memory potion! But aside from that, I get to p your arrogant, ugly, despicable faces three times and spit on your faces!" Perment shouted.


    The three mages were enraged when they heard this.


    "A dumb, worthless, poor excuse of a mage dares to make spout such words!" Carlisto roared.


    "We shall see who is dumb and worthless. Are you man enough? I''m putting my life on the line for this while you''ll only waste a few potions and coins and receive the p and spit you long deserved! Of course, because I''m in enemy territory, we would need to go through the Vow Binder spell!" Perment ignored Carlisto''s anger.


    "You dare to mock me?!" Carlisto roared as he raised his staff. The power of a captain''s magic appeared.


    "Wait!" Baron Elford tried to stop Carlisto, but it was toote.


    A fireball shot out towards Perment, but Perment smiled and raised his staff.


    BOOM!


    A powerful shield appeared that contained great energy and matched Carlisto''s spell.


    "My elemental affinity is water. A Water Shield can easily douse your mes, Carlisto. Especially since it''s... at the power of Captain!" Perment boasted.


    "Captain?!" Baron Elford was shocked. The expenses that needed to be spent to turn one from level 19 and step into the stage of Captain were immense. Baron''s wealth was the mere minimum. In the poor kingdom that they were in, all who could reach Captain would be captains and leaders of teams and could avail for nobility.


    Banished to the mines with very few people hiring him to draw out the life essence, Perment was practically doomed to remain at level 19 all his life. The level of monsters that the miners and guards would grant him would only be level 5 at most. And to him, the energy had practically no effect on him as he needed more potent life to breach the bottleneck.


    Emeros nced at Perment''s stats once more.


    ---


    Perment


    Mage Captain


    Level 20


    Strength: 53


    Magic: 58


    Dexterity: 88


    Vitality: 53


    Intelligence: 93


    Force: 0


    ---


    Perment revealed all the magic ores and magic-containing potions, nts, and even pills and asked Emeros if it was possible to draw out the energy in them. Using nearly all of his wealth in magical devices, they broke through thest bottleneck and allowed Perment to reach level 20!


    The three Captains were shocked at Perment''s power.


    "Well? When I said Captain, I didn''t joke. If I fail to increase the level of your ve to level 2, then I will be your ve! You could p and spit on me all you want!"


    Carlisto and Torman nced at each other. No matter what, the price of having a ve that was at level 20 was quite rare! In their world, a captain ve was rare! Only the strongest elites and those of higher nobilities could afford such ves!


    "Carlisto! Torman! Let us agree with him! I will each pay you a handsome sum and divide the price of having a ve worth his value if you agree." Baron Elford insisted.


    "What if you lose?"


    "Do you really think I would lose?" Baron Elford snickered.


    He then moved closer to the two and whispered.<novelsnext></novelsnext>


    "I have a servant that is suffering from a certain disease! I purchased her with the intention of training her as an archer! She once belonged to the archer family of Artenask."


    "Artenask? Those were a bane to our kingdom during the war. I heard all of them were killed." Torman recalled his dealings and encounters with that family during the war.


    "I found one of their members. But her disease makes it difficult for her to grow stronger! I invested an entire team to help her grow three levels, but she did not gain even one! And then I found out she suffers from a curse. The priest believes it''s the curse given by the gods to punish them! I was warned to get rid of her, or I would face the wrath of the gods! The disease is called Life Draining Nerves. The very anatomy of the girl rejects life magic!" Elford revealed.


    "Life Draining Nerves! To think I would actually meet a person with such diseases!" Carlisto eximed as he heard of the deadly disease.


    "Let us observe the ve first," Torman ordered.


    Baron Elford called out the ve.


    "Serena!" Elford called.


    The moment Elford called out the ves, the nearby guards did their best to hide their mirth andughter. This was the ve that everyone called the dead girl, for she could not level up!


    Emeros and Perment did not hear what the three talked about. But they noticed the strange expression that the rest of the guards had!


    "Something''s up..." Perment drew closer to Emeros.


    Emeros nodded as they waited for the ve to appear.


    A young girl who appeared slightly older than Emeros walked out of the crowd. She had numerous scars on her face and had a very unsightly appearance.


    "Master. You called for me?"


    "Come here!" The master angrily called her.


    But the moment she drew close, Emeros trembled.


    "...True Neutral!" Emeros was amazed. To think that he would run into a True Challenger so quickly! Less than a day after his arrival, he would already meet someone with this curse!


    The young teenager moved closer and stood before them, and bowed.


    The two other mages moved closer and began examining her, touching her hand to check her pulse, and using Gauger Stones to identify her current stats.


    ---


    Serena


    Level 1


    Strength: 3


    Magic: 0


    Dexterity: 5


    Vitality: 3


    Intelligence: 35


    Force: 0


    ---


    The mages found several scars that were known to appear whenever someone with Life Draining Nerves would have as the traces of their nerves and veins would leave scars all over the body.


    From the looks of it, she had received three attempts to increase her level. But even then, there was no sign of surging Force or Life from within the body of the girl.


    "So she does have it! This woman is less than worthless." Torman turned in disgust.


    The ve girl was quiet and did not react to the words she had heard all her life.


    "Mage Perment. Do you trust me?"


    Perment was surprised at Emeros''s question.


    "Yes."


    "Then find a way to get that girl. I can sense... a strange power within her." Emeros spoke.


    Perment was stunned. But as the wonder boy had already given him so many benefits within a day, he was naturally inclined to trust.


    "Mage Perment!" Baron Elford finally called out.


    "Prove to us that you can do what you im. But I will ask, if I make you a ve, you can reveal everything you think you uncovered to me, correct?"


    Perment was more wary now since it seems that there was something wrong with the girl.


    "...Yes. But allow us to check the girl first." Perment negotiated.


    "It''s clear from everyone''s reaction that something is wrong with that girl!"


    "You could say that. But this is an easy task for you. You see, this girl has attempted to level up three times! This means her body is close to reaching level 2!" Baron Elford smiled.


    "...What?!" Perment eximed in anger. This was an upfront lie. If she could have leveled up, she would have!


    "Mage Perment... I can see it." Emeros spoke in a low voice as he stood behind Perment and hid from the sight of the Barons.


    "She needs Death Energy, not life. The Dark Dependent Form will work on her!"

 Chapter 580 Day Of A King

    ?


    Perment was startled at the words of Emeros.


    "Are you sure?"


    Emeros recalled the memories of Kyros and Noxus.


    Kyros had to work with his Coven and gather vampires of such powerful bloodlines that they appeared to be humans but were so much more.


    Noxus was surrounded by Dark Dependent cultivators despite being in the Minds. In this world, such knowledge of using the Dark Dependent form and finding people who should use Dark Dependent magic was practically impossible to find.


    But Emeros knew certain that this young girl would be one of her.


    "Yes. And... I think she''s strong. Those with rare diseases like that often have a reason why they need Dark Dependent form! Find a way to take her as your ve!" Emeros answered.


    "Send her to me!" Perment demanded.


    "Go." Baron Elford ordered, and the girl walked towards the group.


    Perment observed the girl and couldn''t understand the strange scars that she had.


    "Are you sure?" Perment whispered to Emeros again.


    "I''m certain. My master had a simr condition. This means we trick them. The problem is, we don''t have any more stones to use...."


    "...Then we''ll y dumb." Perment decided.


    Serena remained silent as the two talked. She couldn''t understand, nor did she care about the conversation.


    "What is wrong with this girl?" Perment asked.


    "...You tell me! Aren''t you... a Captain?" Carlisto sneered.


    "...You! Fine! If you want to hide your secrets, then I will add insurance to mine! I need energy and magic stones! If you want to continue with this wager and offer me a defective girl with affinities that you know I would never know due to myck of knowledge, then I will ept if you give me a fighting chance! I will overload the energy conversion circle to use much more energy!" Perment demanded.


    Elford sneered. A few stones were far less worthless than having a Captain ve!


    "Fine! But take it as payment instead of my gold if you win!"


    "What?! Those stones would cost you five to ten gold at most!"


    "Then take the ve if that''s not enough. You sell yourself as a ve to men, and if you win, you get my ve!" Elfordughed.


    At that moment, Perment gave a lewd look at Serena.


    The three mages looked and couldn''t help butugh. Serena was an ugly girl, but it seemed this poor and deprived man who lived in the mines where no women worked was all pent up!


    "Then... this ve and fifty coins!" Perment finally decided.


    "I agree. Give me... Five low-grade magic or energy stones!" Perment ordered.


    The baron made the orders, and the stones were presented.


    "Now, who shall be the Vow Binder holder?" Torman asked.


    "It shall be neither of us three or any other mage apprentice you have! It will be this ve of mine! He has barely enough mana as a level three boy!" Perment shouted.


    "Oh? What a nice apprentice you found in the mines! Fine!" Carlisto immediately agreed.


    "Carlisto?" Elford frowned.


    "It''s fine." Carlisto smiled as he turned to the other two.


    "I mastered it!" Carlisto gave a devilish smile behind the two.


    The two were amazed. They knew that Carlisto was researching the Vow Breaker spell!


    Perment was surprised that Carlisto quickly epted.


    "They agreed immediately?!" Perment frowned.


    "...It seems they have something else up their sleeve. A spell that breaks vows?" Emeros asked.


    Perment''s expression changed.


    "A Vow Breaker spell? Then if that''s the case, at least one can break free from the vow! We have to... stop!" Perment asked.


    Emeros frowned. Victory and gold were at hand, and a True Challenger would be among the prize. He couldn''t ept it.


    He clenched his fist.


    "Kyros... Noxus... What would you do?" Emeros asked himself.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>


    The two had abilities of great magic that could break through any enemy that fought against them. Their powers, Codes, and Corruption could do great things!


    "...If only I had that power!" Emeros felt despair.


    But then he recalled something.


    "Wait! I do have a power. Vasilius! The king! The first king to rule a society! If they bind themselves to me on a vow, won''t that give me power and authority over them?" Emeros realized it.


    Perment was thinking of what to say to back out of the agreement.


    "Perment. It''s a gamble... But there''s a shot that we can do this. I don''t know what you are willing to risk. But I''m willing to risk my life for gain. If we retreat now, then we will keep on retreating. I''m human. But my master, he was something divine. And I know what set him apart from all who are like us, losers, and those that are to be trodden on by the strong, was that they kept fighting despite the impossible odds and won. My master may have ced a powerful spell in me that I don''t know how to activate. It may seem crazy that we risk being ves for such gains that we can ept elsewhere... But if we want to rise and challenge the gods, let''s first learn to challenge the rich! Perment. This day has been a day of many surprises. Will this day be a day that we cower like the weak? Or is this a day that we stand as a king?" Emeros spoke with conviction.


    Perment was stunned.


    But the words of Emeros had a strange power. It encouraged and strengthened Perment.


    "...Then so be it. Honestly, I can''t think of what to say to back out now after all my arrogant ims and how I mocked them. A part of me would rather die than retreat. So if it''s death, let it be! Glory or very! Let''s do this! I''m betting it all on you, kid!" Perment smiled.


    Meanwhile, the three mages saw him hesitate.


    They noticed his expression and thought that Perment might have figured out their scheme.


    "Did he... find out?" Elford asked.


    "If he did, he would surely retreat. We must press on! Not after the insults he made!" Carlisto urged.


    "Fine then! Let''s do this!" Perment suddenly shouted.


    "Good! We ept. But let''s sweeten the pot all the more! That ve of yours! Add him to the vow! A level three who has mana of four points is quite rare! Each of us will pay the full market value if we win. That means an additional 30 gold each!" Elford offered.


    Perment was surprised.


    "ept it. It''s fitting that I will be part of this." Emeros answered as he continued to stand behind Perment to hide his mouth and expressions from the view of the mages.


    "I shall chant and make the vow!" Perment made the magic vow as he drew it on the air, and Emeros moved to stand in front of Perment with his backid bare to Perment, who engraved the vow.


    Carlisto was hiding his glee as he saw it. The vow-binding spell was utterly weak!


    "Now, all the Vow Takers... make your mark!" Perment made a small cut on his finger and pressed at the spell behind Emeros.


    The three mages approached Emeros and did the same as they gave aughable stare at Perment.


    "Now show us your capabilities, Perment!" Elfordughed as they took a few steps back.


    Permentid out the covered energy conversion circle on the floor and made Serena stand on the other te where the magic would be ced.


    "Since you give me a defective woman, I must make alterations."


    Perment dug into the covers and madest-minute changes to the te, and applied the Dark Dependent Form. The changes were very little, as only the central portion of the circle was the change in the form. The Life Grown form would require the magic and mana to bloom outwards; the Dark Dependent Form needed the magic to surge in the energy conversion circle to spiral towards the center. The magic stones would be ced within the whirling spiral and go through the many runes that altered andmanded it to change.


    This skill was very easy to master. But as the energy conversion circle that he brought was deliberately defective, he would need to pour out all of his mana to make the spiral effective.


    "Let''s begin!" Perment shouted.


    Everyone watched, and all the mages and the baron''s men were already sneering at the good show about to start.


    Perment mmed his palms down and shouted as he poured out his mana and made a spiraling motion from the edges of the te, and surged toward the center.


    The mana of Perment passed through many magic stones and brought along its magic, and finally...


    BOOM!


    A pir of light shot upwards and then disappeared as the formation te was devouring it.


    Another light appeared on the te where the energy was converted.


    Serena was already crying because she feared the pain that had afflicted her three times. The light shed out, and Serena felt pain.


    Her fear got the best of her, and she shouted out.


    But then she realized that the pain onlysted for a while, but a great warmth followed.


    The energy of Death entered her body and began to fuel her body. Within her body, the light energy worth three rounds began to resonate with the appearance of the Death energy, and it began to flow through her body.


    She felt all her nerves tremble as the meridians began to quake and react with the passing energy.


    The light of the pir vanished, and Serena was standing in shock. Three shes of light appeared, and she was coated in a clear golden glow!


    She attained not one but three level-ups!

 Chapter 581 Rule Of A King

    ?


    Everyone was shocked at the scene. The girl that everyone considered a worthless waste of space had actually surged three levels just now!


    The three mages had their mouths opened wide as they saw the girl suddenly rise through the ranks and attain a level up.


    Perment had used the energy stones and the corpses of the beast and bestowed it all on Serena. But as to why the girl rose three levels, he didn''t know!


    The girl was amazed at what had happened, and tears fell down her eyes.


    She nced at the Mage before him in adoration.


    Perment''s expression was that of relief, and he sighed.


    "It... it worked!?" Elford eximed.


    "Three... levels! I saw three shes! She leveled up three times!"


    "Remove the Dark Dependent Form or overwrite it!" Emeros reminded Perment, and Perment sprung to action.


    He quickly went under the covers and began to alter the formation again.


    "Serena!" Elford called out.


    "...Yes Master!" Serena stood up and turned around. Even though there were numerous scars on her face, her skin somehow began to glow, and she seemed more pleasing than she once was.


    But as she took a step forward, she suddenly stumbled down and began to cough and cough.


    She began to cough out blood, and soon, she was vomiting it!


    "Blood! She spitting out blood! The effects of that conversion te are dangerous! Perment! What is the meaning of this!"


    Perment was stunned. He was no doctor. He didn''t know why she was coughing blood. No one ever did!


    Serena was coughing and was full of dread as she saw the blood appear. She didn''t understand why. But in the previous experiences she had, even as painful as it was, it never caused her to spit blood!


    The three began to throw usations and demanded answers.


    "Calm down! Look at the blood!" Emeros whispered as he saw the blood.


    Perment nced down and saw the ck blood.


    "That girl is just afraid! Calm her down! If you can show her that she''s alright, you can prove that we did it! Do not... falter. You must appear as an expert now! Otherwise, they will wiggle out of this deal!" Emeros urged.


    Perment took courage and walked closer.


    "Are you three... idiots? Look at this blood! It''s dark and impure. Isn''t this the same blood that we spit out to remove all impure elements, impure curses, and diseases that afflict us? My conversion circle has not only raised her level, but I have also cured her!" Perment smiled.


    "And if I recall correctly, by virtue of our vow, this ve is now my property!" Perment reached out his hand.


    "Serena. I am your new master now! That blood is nothing but dirt. Stand and sense your new power!" Permentughed.


    Serena was startled as he heard Perment speak. Then she realized that she was in no pain, and she slowly stood up.


    "Congrattions on leveling up. You are now level three!" Perment smiled.


    "... Master!" Serena bowed.


    "I apologize for my cries. I was... surprised. But as you said... I feel better! And stronger! Thank you for taking away my affliction!" Serena worshiped.


    Perment saw the reaction and calmed down. He began to nce at the three with a more confident smile.


    Emeros, however, knew that this was just half of the battle. If the Vow Breaker spell were to be activated, it would render everything they achieved worthless! The enemy would be able to twist things to their liking. They could even kill or be silenced!


    "Pay up now! Give me my gold! Give me my potions!" Perment demanded. He dared not ask for the faces of the three to be pped just yet.


    The three nced at each other. They had seen the events y out and could see that the girl had shown signs of a level-up.


    "It''s all a trick! This is all a trick! That girl has not leveled up yet!" Elford eximed.


    "This was all lights and tricks! Bring out the stat measuring stone!" Elford demanded.


    The girl was weak and young. Even with her level up, the poor treatment she had received made her frail and weak! Elford realized that if the strength of the girl could not match level three, he could still wiggle his way out of this!


    The guards quickly appeared and handed the stone over to Elford.


    "Serena! Come here and-"


    "Baron Elford! I am the owner of this! Do not order my ve!" Perment stepped forward.


    "She is not your ve until I see proof!" Elford shouted back.


    "He is right! The vows we made allow the use for reasonable examination to verify the validity! We are not convinced!" Torman demanded and moved to make wild gestures and to brandish his staff with Elford.


    But in reality, both were buying time and making a scene for Carlisto to activate the Vow Breaker.


    Emeros and Perment did not know who among the three would have the Vow Breaker. They even assumed that all three had them!


    Elford began to angrily wave his staff towards Perment and Serena to distract him.


    Even Emeros was rmed by the two.


    Suddenly, he saw Carlisto move nearby and raise his hand.


    "Break!" Carlisto shouted and surprised everyone.


    "No!" Perment eximed, but it was toote.


    Themand of the Vow Breaker was activated.


    Carlistoughed as he seeded.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>


    "I broke it! Let''s now... huh?!"


    Carlisto saw that he was no longer in Baron Elford''s residence.


    He saw a Throne!


    Seated on a Throne was an ancient king that looked like a human.


    "Who is this that vows and does not fulfill? Who is this that dips his blood on the back of my Prince and now wishes to stab the same back with a de? You have vowed, and your King has agreed! Henceforth, all those who vowed to you will lose the chains that bind them. And all the vows you''ve broken will be reformed! This is my ruling! The Rule of a King has been invoked!"


    A decree was made, and a strange power surged as the Word of Power created a ripple of energy. Numerous lights and Vows began to manifest in the air.


    Watching the scene, Emeros saw the decree move out of the man. He was seated on this throne, but he could not move. But he knew he was watching this from a different perspective.


    The vows that appeared numbered by the dozens. And all began to break one after the other.


    Binding vows of servitude, vows of payment, vows formed out of deception all began to appear one after the other.


    Emeros realized that he had a reason for mastering the Vow Breaker spell.


    Two vows began to take form as the others were broken, and it all began to fall to him!


    The next moment, Emeros saw himself in the same field again.


    Carlisto had a dazed expression that turned to confusion.


    "What...? Happened?" He nced around, unaware of what had happened.


    Perment shot back and stood next to Emeros with his staff at the ready.


    The two other mages all harnessed their magic.


    "Heed your vows!" Emeros spoke the words to activate the vow.


    "Ahhhhh!"


    The three mages all slumped down on the floor in great pain.


    Emeros saw the scene and was amazed. This was the first time he saw such magic. Not even Kyros in his two lifetimes saw this.


    Emeros was shocked at the power of the Vow.


    "Car...listo!" Elford shouted in pain.


    "Why?!" Torman also shouted angrily.


    "Ahhhh...!" For some reason, Carlisto was suffering severe painpared to the other two.


    Emeros could sense that he held power over them through the vow and stopped the attack.


    The pain that the three felt disappeared.


    They all nced at each other in shock. The Vow was unbroken, and they were at the mercy of the ve if they would not follow the demands!


    Perment was surprised. The impossible had happened! Emeros managed to resist the spell!


    "Master! The Counter Spell you ced on me worked!" Emeros fell to his feet as if he was drained of all energy.


    "Counter... Spell?!" Elford eximed.


    "Good! Emeros! The vow states that I can p them!" Perment charged forward and made a kick at the downed mages.


    POW!


    Torman ate dust as the kick picked up a lot of dust.


    The strength of Captain Mage was not something to be underestimated.


    Torman flipped back and fell as the attack caused fractures and cracks.


    Emeros could tell that the unguarded Torman received an attack that would have shaved off nearly a quarter of his vitality!


    POW!


    POW!


    Two more kicks were sent, but the two Captain mages were ready.


    The Baron''s men all charged forward.


    "Heed your vows!" Emeros shouted, and Elford began to shout.


    "Ahhh! You idiots! Get back!" Elford shouted as immense pain jolted him.


    The guards were startled and began to move back.


    "...You! You said... p!" Carlisto cursed.


    "Oh? Who said that that was it!? That was just payback for tricking me! If I had not known the affliction of this girl and how to heal her and had ced a counter spell to your vow breaker, I''d be dead right now! I''d be your ve, and you would have forced out everything I know!" Perment shouted at Carlisto as he moved closer and kicked him again.


    POW!


    "Now, I will do my p! Stand up and receive it! The p and the spit!" Perment demanded.


    The three mages trembled in anger. But they had no choice but to stand or they would be punished by the curse of the Vow.

 Chapter 582 Rule Of The Wise

    ?


    The three mages had no choice. Both red angrily at Carlisto, who was the cause of this.


    Perment moved closer toward Carlisto.


    "You... The one who always looked down on me and mocked me. You even framed me for a fault that I didn''tmit! You and your stupid family! A poor boy with no support became a scapegoat for the idental murder of an experiment gone wrong!" Perment hatefully red at him.


    "Of everyone here, you are at fault. For a while, Elford and Torman only acted as witnesses to my crimes; it was you who framed me. And even now, you tried to work your way through lies and deceit! You tried to put a Vow Breaker curse! If not for a counter curse that I found in the arms of a dead mage in the depths of the mine, I would not have survived today and would have been brought to shame!" Perment shouted.


    Carlisto stood quietly but kept a hateful star at Perment.


    "But now, you won''t be able to do anything! I''ve just done the impossible! The deal stands, and the energy conversion circle te will be handed to Elford. Should you scheme against me, you would never find out the secret! So go on! Try to tell your family to abduct me! Do you think I wrote the form somewhere? It''s all in here!" Perment pointed at his head.


    PFFFT!! SLAP!


    A spit and a p urred, and Carlisto stumbled back and quickly began to make his counterattack.


    But at that moment, the pain repeated, and Carlisto stumbled in pain.


    "Ahhhh!"


    "Fool! I have yet to ask for payment. And it shall be made before I leave!" Permentughed and walked towards Torman.


    "Torman. Captain Torman! To you, I was just an ant that you had no problem in using. We had no quarrels. You weren''t tied to Carlisto''s family, but for money, you chose to put an innocent name to shame. All for your promotion... If you three can''t figure out the form for this, another member of the army, one opposed to you, will have it! And I will make sure that his rise will be your downfall! As you made me my downfall a mere business transaction, so will you fall because of my business transactions!"


    PFFFT! SLAP!


    Torman stumbled down from the p. But his eyes remained wide open from the threat that Permentid out on him. No matter what, the impossible had urred.


    "Senior Apprentice... Elford." Perment smiled as he walked over to the Baron.


    "You were quite the senior. The genius who everyone loved. It would have been so disappointing to me if I had not seen through your facade what you did to me. I always saw you as a maniptive man who only appeared to be thew-abiding hero. But in secret, you sought self-gain and glorification the most. This is why I chose to sell this to you. This formation te is a marvelous one. With a few alterations, I outwitted you. You gave me a ve with a deadly cultivation-halting disease, but the answer was simple! Like a needle, I pierced through her flesh and forced the energy and opened up her body to the power!" Permentughed.


    "I increased the energy of having your peak to have a thirty percent increase! That is my power! That is my wisdom! Can you figure it out, Senior Apprentice? Can you finish this puzzle? Surely you can! Surely you can work it out!"


    Elford was quiet, but his fist was clenching so hard. He wanted to hit the man but had to contain it, knowing any actions would result in his torture.


    PFFFT! SLAP!


    Elford took the p and did not allow himself to stumble. The full force of Perment was resisted. The rest hardened their face with their vitality but did not hold a firm stand and fell back to decrease the damage they would receive from a Captain''s p.


    But Elford resisted it, causing more harm to his face.


    He spat out blood and nced back at Perment.


    Emeros now understood Perment''s hatred in his heart and how he was simply a toy tossed by the strong. To mages, the wise are those who rule. Emeros now fully understood the full worth of what he gave Perment. With the innovation of an energy conversion circle that increases the energy for level up, it would cause a chain reaction that could forever change the state of a kingdom!


    "To think... these things were basic knowledge to Kyros and Noxus. This must be so weakpared to the nesworld! Is this because the people here are not descendants of gods and fallen?" Emeros thought.


    Elford stood there and spat more blood as he remained stalwart and had a nk expression.


    "Are you done?" Elford asked.


    "No. My dear, Elford. No. I''m just starting! This is the day of my prominence, remember? You cannot solve my puzzle. And when I reveal this to another family, they will soar, and I will be considered the smartest and best of your generation! It will no longer be you!" Permentughed as he walked away.


    "Who would take you seriously? Which family would listen?!" Elford challenged.


    "That... my dear senior Apprentice is your time limit. It won''t be glorious for me if I immediately find someone. You will have time to try and unravel my mystery! If you do, then the fame and glory will be yours! But if you don''t, I will shout from the highest heights of this kingdom that the ss idiot was actually smarter than the genius Elford! Your prominence will turn to shame!" Permentughed as he walked away.


    "Send the payment within the next minute to us, and it must be delivered by a weak ve and let no one follow him. We will take the money and potions from him and leave. All your forces shall remain here. My ve will activate the curse if we see anything. I will hand over the te only after we are three kilometers away from here." Perment announced as he walked towards the carriage.


    "Let''s go." Emeros spoke to Serena, and she followed Emeros toward their carriage.


    The group left immediately.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>


    A minuteter, a ve ran towards them in a horse and gave the carriage the money and potions to them as they left. But Emeros did not hand over the formation te just yet.


    They walked a distance and soon handed over the te.


    From afar, the men of Elford could see the signal, and the three mages saw the mark disappear. Both sides have fulfilled the vows, and the vow curse mark faded.


    "I... don''t understand! That boy! There was something about him!" Carlisto shouted.


    "I will remember this failure, Carlisto. Mark my words. You cannot run to me for aid. So be sure that no trouble befalls you!" Elford answered.


    "We still have to figure out the formation te. That Perment seemed rather arrogant." Torman answered.


    "Bah! What does that idiot know? He said he acquired a counter-curse spell through a dead mage! That formation must be based on this! I refuse to believe that he is anything more than a lucky idiot who found some formation te that had the energy conversion circle drawn on it! He was never smart! That was your assessment, Elford!" Carlisto argued.


    Soon, the ve arrived with the formation te and presented it to them.


    They removed the cover over the te and saw the drawn energy conversion circle.


    Their mouths fell down as they saw the horrifying, ugly, and full of ws te that they saw. The center also had a bizarre letter that they had never seen before.


    "What... is this?" Torman eximed.


    "This cannot be the te!" Carlisto shouted.


    "It is. The Vow disappeared. We all saw that vow! He had to give the formation te that he used!" Elford''s expression turned sour.


    As the three mages began to discuss what the formation te had, Pement and Emeros returned to the mine.


    Emeros had wounded himself and even asked Serena to punch him to make it look like he had been through something terrifying.


    But even as Serena pounded Emeros, she was surprised to know that the real person she would thank was Emeros! Perment wasn''t the master, and it was Emeros''s knowledge that helped them achieve this.


    Perment had been crying the entire time they went home.


    Emeros was also surprised at Perment''s reaction. He realized that Perment did not simply hate these men. There was no arrogance in Perment''s reaction as he continuously thanked Emeros for the opportunity.


    "Kid... You will never know what burdens you freed. It''s not just my own. But the hardship of my wife is being resolved!"


    "Your wife?!" Emeros was stunned.


    "My wife, a superior mage far better than me, has been thrown to the Dark Prison. None of those three were the primary people responsible for her chains, but they were important tools! I know I have a shot at proving my wife''s innocence!" Perment exined.


    Emeros smiled.


    "Thank you for putting your hopes on me. I would not have the opportunity to discover just... how much hope for a better future I have. I guess I, too, now have my chances of avenging those who had in the people I love."


    "Take these potions. The red ones will allow you to preserve what you do know. The two blue ones will help you remember things. Take the blue potions first, and then the red ones. I hope tomorrow we make more miracles!"


    "I will. Serena must remain in your care, Perment. But I hope you can remove the ve seal from her. I don''t want us to be a group of ves. We should all be free!"


    "I was thinking the same thing!" Perment smiled.


    Serena was surprised at the two. She realized that the lewd looks of Perment earlier were just part of a scheme, and these two weren''t as evil as they were.


    The two parted ways as Emeros returned to his cell. He made it look like he was tired and wounded, and the guards didn''t say anything but many sneered at Emeros''s poor state.


    But once in his cell, Emeros took the blue potion.


    "Kyros... Teach me more!" Emeros spoke as he drank down the bottle.

 Chapter 583 Rule Of Foundations

    ?


    In one gulp, Emeros drank the blue potion. He did his best to not waste even a drop so that he could maximize what he would remember.


    Many scenes began to appear as if the days of Kyros and Noxus shed out. There were numerous days in Kyros''s life when he ''learned'' much. In Kyros''s past life, Celestial God Daradiel taught him much about how he could surpass his current limitation. When he died and was transported, there were the years that Cminus lectured Kyros.


    But the day of Cminus''s long lecture was too unpredictable. The issue was that Cminus would spend hours talking about useless things like search engine optimization and the DCics continuum in an event called Crisis on Infinite Earth. While there were nuggets of gold in that, Emeros had no time to scour through the exact moment of time.


    The Blue potion could bring him to a memory he sought, so instead, Emeros chose the day when Kyros read through the books in the Library of the Nephilim.


    The Library of Light, which held knowledge about Codes and Corruption, was useless to Emeros. And no information was ever revealed to Kyros about Vasilius.


    Kyros might have figured out who Vasilius was, but as Emeros could only ''see'' and have a sense of emotions of Kyros, he could not dive into Kyros''s thoughts.


    And so, Emeros saw the day when Kyros started to read through the level 1 Library of the Nephilim.


    Without the potion, the memories of this day were very difficult to recall because Kyros was too smart. He didn''t ''read'' the book. He just skimmed through the pages one by one and instantly confirmed what he had already known naturally or based on what Cminus had taught him.


    And unlike his memory regarding energy conversion circles which Kyros and Noxus did very often, Emeros had only vague memories of recalling Kyros reading through certain pages that day.


    But in one day, Kyros read through numerous books rted to cultivation, energy conversion circles, alchemy, Force skills, Magic rules, fighting techniques, weapon forging, artifact forging, and so on.


    Emeros began to try to recall as much as he could, and nearly two hours'' worth of memory was remembered of that day. The memory was boring to Kyros, who had already developed the foundations in his past life. Though he had cultivated in a wrong way in the earlier years of his life, and thanks to his high stat, and Cminus''s lecture, he already knew what not to do and what to do.


    These two hours were useful to Emeros as he recalled the rules of cultivation.


    "This is it! The foundation to cultivation! I now understand it''s rules! Inheritance is everything...! Kyros had a tremendous inheritance. The nesworld, up to the Londs, are all descendants of Gods and Fallen... But this ce... only has humans? Then I have to find a way to increase my inheritance! If I can''t, I won''t be able to safely step into the next stage!"


    He then recalled that his father spoke of a being that lurked in the mines.


    Emeros now knew that reaching the Crown stage was not simple and no amount of monsters can ever help them scale through the levels. They had to gain these inheritances of the bloodline to grow further.


    "That Crown! I have to reach him! He could have a way for me to increase my Inheritance!" Emeros learned a basic truth that Kyros practically didn''t care for.


    People of astounding inheritance surrounded him. The people of the nesworld are descendants of the many gods and fallen that fought there. They had Dentro, the Phaulos Fallen, to the Eldirch beings. But even without it, Kyros had the bloodline of several powerful Gods! The Steele Family had the power of Hyperion Steel and the many blessings that the Steel Gods had!


    "There must also be a bnce! Light and Darkness! Death and Life! A body can only grow with these two working together. Life for the Soul, and Death for the Body if I am to be a Life Grown. And vice versa for the Dark Dependent. But then... there is the Hybrid ss! A pathway that is stronger and worthy of a Nephilim but very, very expensive. Kyros had the Temple and the Fortress for the earlier periods of his time, and the Emberdons helped him expand his research! But for me, I need to take the hybrid path! I need resources that would bankrupt the Lond Kingdom in the nesworld if I want to reach Champion!" Emeros eximed.


    But as Emeros recalled two hours worth, the potion''s effect started to dissipate.


    Immediately Emeros drank the red potion to remember what he had seen.


    A strange energy began to flow within Emeros''s head. He couldn''t see it, but his eyes were glowing. And these were notmon effects to a man using these potions.


    "Two hours worth, and all I remembered were Cultivation Principles and basic fighting techniques!" Emeros cursed as he nced at the two remaining pair of potions.


    "I overestimated these potions! I must be wiser. Kyros read the book of cultivation, and I think I got the most important aspects that can help me level up properly up to captain level! But to survive here, I''d need to remember the books in Energy Conversion Circle... and the Book of Job sses!" Emeros decided.


    He drank the blue potion again, and two hours'' worth of time about Energy Conversion Circles was recalled.


    "... What a discipline energy formation circle is! Two hours wasn''t enough for Kyros to go through those books. I only acquired half of the basics!"


    Kyros was slower in reading these books and even began to experiment by drawing things to the side to update his knowledge on this. Emeros was even amazed as he had learned more from Kyros''s experiments than from the books!


    "Two hours wasn''t enough! I''d need at least two more potions to truly remember everything. But if the mere power that my suggestion in using mana flow paths has already aided Perment this much, then what I do know now would be a grand treasure that could alter the future of this kingdom, no! This! This should be enough. Now I will have to look at the Book of Job sses!"


    Emeros decided.


    Taking thest potions, Emeros drank and recalled everything, and his eyes began to glow all the more.


    He drank the red potion, and a strange power began to circte within Emeros''s mind.


    "Ah...!" Emeros felt a strange headache as a wealth of information began to fill Emeros''s head. But now, these weren''t just memories.


    ---


    Knowledge Assimtion activated!


    Emeros''s Intelligence stats are +163 points!<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>


    Gauge ability level up! Skill has be Greater Gauge!


    ---


    Emeros felt a strange familiar warmth.


    "...Mother..." Emeros could not even think or meditate on what he had just learned through thest two hours'' worth of memory, but he fell asleep as the warmth of the familiar embrace made his dream.


    ...


    ...


    ...


    SPLASH!


    Emeros jolted awake.


    "I don''t care if you''ve been beaten! No one skips work!" The familiar angry guard was there and had thrown water over him.


    Emeros red at the man, but as he nced at him, a strange set of ideas now filled his head.


    He knew that this man was someone who was training to be a Swordsman. But from the way he carried the bucket and how he stood, Emeros knew that there was an injury on the man''s right arm. But this injury was not an external one. It was internal!


    "You... actually tried to be a magic de?" Emeros was stunned as he connected the dots. A look of amazement appeared on Emeros''s face.


    "How... arrogant are you? Why did you overestimate yourself? No one in this kingdom should have seeded in doing that! All Magic des are from other kingdoms!" Emerosughed.


    "Wha-What?!" The guard was shocked.


    Emerosughed and got up.


    "I may be a suicide soldier that Perment has. But thest he needs is for me, his money-making, life-risking toy, is that I would die or be weakened by ipetent soldiers like you. He told me about you!" Emeros sneered.


    The guard''s arrogant face changed. He had volunteered to be the one to wake up Emeros and yearned for the satisfaction of throwing water on Emeros''s face. But now, his legs were shaking. Just how powerful were the connections of Perment to be able to dig up things from his past?!


    "These health potions have caused me to recover. But they are effective only while I sleep. I''ll inform this Mage Perment." Emeros walked confidently out.


    The man trembled.


    "Bring me my allies yesterday and send them to mage Perment. And I''ll let this sin slide. You! Failed Ravager!" Emeros called out to therge man. He wore bandages on his two hands, but Emeros could tell that it was out of shape. He could tell that this man had gotten injured from training as a Ravager and fractured his arm. Ravagers usedrge swords, and this man received an injury rted to how he wielded a sword incorrectly and must have blocked an attack. The weight of therge sword pushed back and must have fractured his forearm.


    The guard trembled at Emeros''s mocking address.


    "Give me four guards meal! And only the good stuff!" Emeros demanded as he marched off.


    The other guards were confused as to why the ones that Emeros insulted were frozen stiff.


    One of the guards secretly observed Emeros.


    "Trying to gauge me with that iplete eye? You''re a failure as a True Aim, and you even try to use magic? You will never be anything more than a guard here. You''re eye must be stinging now, right?" Emerosughed as he walked out.


    Thest guard was a True Aim who failed to set the foundation of his eyes and make thempatible with Force and Magic. And this man recklessly tried it. Emeros knew that this man must have found a scroll or a secret tome and taught to learn the skill without foundation.


    The guard trembled as he heard those words.


    "What did I say? Do you wish that I would tell Mage Perment and take care of you? He knows everything about you!" Emeros threatened.


    "We apologize! Have mercy!"


    "Just get my demands done! Taking care of you is troublesome and annoying. Don''t cross the line, and you can all sleep soundly at night!" Emeros marched off.


    The guards moved as they went to aplish what Emeros ordered them to do.


    But as Emeros marched off, he couldn''t believe what he could now do! He spent the night trying to retain his memory, but now these recalled memories didn''t remain memories. It was now knowledge!

 Chapter 584 Rule Of Cultivation

    ?


    Perment was worried since Emeros had not appeared yet. It waste even for the ve miners to move out, and this meant that he would be punished by the guards.


    "Let''s go. I''m starting to get worried."


    Serena nodded and walked out.


    The moment the group stepped out, they saw Emeros being escorted by numerous guards.


    "What did you do?!" Perment''s reaction was to immediately scream as he saw Emeros surrounded by guards.


    "Master Mage Perment! Here is Emeros, safe and ready to serve you. We have also brought him meals for him to grow strong!" The guards bowed.


    "Oh, great and strong, Mage Perment. Please forgive your lowly servants and take these offerings. They are some of the ores we found in the mine." Another guard appeared.


    Perment''s expression changed.


    "Mage Perment! Your other ves are here! We wish you good tidings and praise your skills! May you conquer and grow!" Another guard eximed.


    The three ve friends of Emeros had strange, confused expression as they were treated like precious people.


    "...Master. I had sessfully threatened them. The failed Magic de and these other failures whom you have made extensive background checks will now cooperate."


    "...G-Good. Guards. My ve will die when I say it will die." Perment made an unknown threat as he turned around.


    "Come. Let''s have our meeting..."


    The group walked into the room, and the doors were closed.


    "What... was that?" Perment asked.


    "Memories of my master''s lessons." Emeros smiled.


    "But that is a tale for another time. Today, Serena should go with us to fight in the mines. Mage Perment. Do you have the weapons?"


    "Yes!"


    Perment opened the nearby door and revealed an array of weapons.


    Last night, he left when it was dark to buy armor and weapons and discreetly moved them inside.


    Swords, shields, bows, and spears were beautifully arranged.


    Several chain mail armor of varying sizes was alsoid out. Helmets, greaves, gloves, and other armor apparel were there.


    "This cost me more than a hundred gold. But this should do! This should get you deep enough into the mines to harvest more magic stones for your next level."


    "No. I was mistaken. The rule of cultivation is the bnce between death and life. We need these two energy for people of our level and our race. Life and Death must be wielded. Otherwise, we tip the bnce off and suffer hindrances that will stop us from cultivating. Luckily, my poor knowledge of using the Dark Dependent form was only used to raise our team by a few levels. If there is too much, there would be irreversible side effects."


    "What?! So it''s possible for the Dark Maddening to happen if we keep using the Dark Dependent Form?!"


    "No. Dark Maddening only urs if we take certain creatures like shades. And the side-effects are not that. Actually, for you, you need to focus on Dark Dependent! You''ve been using Light Grown forms all your life. If you keep using Light Grown, the potential of your growth will be in danger. That''s why very few have surpassed the Champion level in this kingdom! And you, who had nothing but life, have a very ky foundation! You probably will have a peak level of Commander using my knowledge of energy conversion circles."


    "Commander!? Why do you say it like it''s a bad thing? Do you realize how impossible reaching a Commander is?!" Perement eximed.


    "I know in this kingdom, being a Commander is great. But when my master told me about it in the past, I had little knowledge of the ways of this world. I didn''t know that Commander is the peak here and that only the richest of the rich can reach that level. I grew up knowing that Commander is weak!" Emeros revealed.


    "Weak?! How are they weak?"


    "...My master was a Crown," Emeros revealed the peak level of Kyros and Noxus.


    Perment and the rest were all shocked, and their mouths were open.


    "I didn''t understand it then, but looking back on our memories, I can tell that my Master wasn''t from around here. The way he talked and his knowledge of cultivation was very different from this ce. And honestly, my master could have easily reached Conqueror level. He was already close. If he had been given more time, he would have surpassed the Conqueror level and entered the Cherubim, and maybe be a Celestial. But..." Emeros trailed off.


    The group was dumbfounded. How strong was his master? No one could imagine how strong the crowns were!


    "Conqueror... There is a level above Crowns?!" Perment was stuck on that knowledge.


    "What about us?" Wesret asked.


    "Yeah... Young hero. What level can we reach?"


    "If we have a good foundation, Cardinal."


    "A Cardinal?!" Philip trembled.


    "Yes. But let''s not get too ahead of ourselves! We still have a lot to do! Mage Perment! I will teach you what I''ve learned through those memory potions. And everyone, please listen. I will need all of you to be masters at this as well. Energy Conversion Circles are reliant on three aspects."<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>


    "Three? Not two? Oh right... The flow of the mana!" Perment realized that what Emeros taught him yesterday was the third aspect versus what he had learned in school.


    "Right. This ce only has two. But the three are Glyph Engraved, the Movement of Mana, and the Formation Circle." Emeros pointed out.


    "From your practice, I can tell this kingdom has invested in Formation Circle."


    "That''s right. I studied in one of the most prestigious Energy Conversion Circles and knew about Formation Circles! I may be weak at a lot of things, but in terms of knowledge of Formation Circles, I was equal to Baron Elford, the genius of the school!" Perment bragged.


    "Erm... how do I say this? Those form and formation circles that you memorized? They are trash. Basically, with this form, you guys were trying to cook fish using lightning energy on a stone pan."


    Perment''s face turned red. His pride was insulted, and he felt those harsh words more painful than arrows to the heart.


    "The three aspects of Energy Conversion Circles must work together. Yesterday you have already realized the Movement of Mana could increase the Formation Circle. And frankly speaking, I can see that you are very good at it. For now, I''ll draw an Energy Conversion Circle. These are the basics. Try to understand it and see why the Glyph Engraved by my master is vastly different. I will only give you the basics piece by piece. Only when you can make reasonably good exnations for these simple theories will I tell you the next? You im to be a genius, then prove it to me!"


    "...Understood!" Perment gripped his fist.


    "The rest of us... We will stay deep into the mines and probably stay inside for several days."


    "...Master? What about the monsters we kill? We have to bring them back?''


    "No, we don''t. It would be very suspicious if we keep leaving Perment''s quarters with a level-up. I can harness mana. I''ll just borrow a Formation te and a receiving te, and I will bestow the level up inside the mines!"


    "...He''s right. If you keep going back here with numerous monsters, it will spread rumors and unwanted attention. Worst case, it would alert the other owners of this mine."


    "Other owners? This ce is not owned by Duke Ressongraze?" Emeros asked.


    "He is. But as this mine is now being eyed for the harvest of the rare Mythril metal and various magic stones, a suspicious group of ves bringing in numerous monsters could raise the suspicion of the Tri Union. Other miners will soon be sent here. The adventurers and guilds have also been summoned and will be here within the next week."


    "So we have a one-week''s head start! Everyone, we must reach at least level ten in one week!"


    "In one week?!" Wesret eximed.


    "That''s impossible!" Perment also gave his unfiltered opinion.


    "It is. Leave that to me!"


    "Heh! You seem confident! It''s those eyes and look that you made yesterday. Alright. I''ll believe you!"


    "Just do your part. You keep studying here and start your n to contact other mages who could back you up by selling altered and improved versions of the energy conversion circle that you have. But, of course, leave out the Movement of Mana!"


    "I know what to do!"


    "Fighters, let''s prepare for our departure! Get the wheelbarrow and hide the armor inside. Only pick one weapon and cover the rest in the wheelbarrow and cover it our mining equipment. Having strong weapons here is eye-catching enough. But a full set will surely spread rumors."


    The group set out and pushed their wheelbarrow barrow and moved deep into the mines.


    The other ves saw the swords and the shield that these ves had and could not help but look in envy.


    But no one dared to stop them. With the rumors of Emeros''s connections and the deadly mission he had, they didn''t want to get in between whatever dark secrets Emeros and Perment had.


    Deep in the mines...


    The magic of the cave illuminated the darkness of the cave with such lights that it was easy to see even without torches.


    But as the Day of Monster Passing was now underway, a team of imps numbering over thirty was rushing to get to the other end of the underground cave with haste. Among them wererger imps that were a head taller than all the imps and had more muscles and strength.


    Behind the stones, on the other side of the wide branching path, Emeros and his fully geared allies waited.


    "Serena. Philip. Are you confident in using these bows?" Emeros asked.


    "Yes. My father was a hunter. He taught me how to shoot!" Philip answered.


    Serena only nodded to confirm.


    "Ma-Master Emeros... There are over twenty of them!" Wesret''s voice trembled.


    "Actually, thirty-three. But don''t worry. We can bring down the numbers. And don''t forget... I''m here!" Emeros smiled as he leaped out of the rock and shot the first arrow.


    FWIP!


    Serena and Philip moved out and shot their arrows.


    FWIP! FWIP!


    "ROAR!" A gremlin shouted as an arrow struck it''s shoulder.

 Chapter 585 Rule Of Selecting Jobs

    ?


    SHLUCK!


    The arrow pierced through the Gremlin with incredible power. Emeros had harnessed all his Force energy to the bow and released the arrow. Even though it struck the shoulder, the arrow prated the Gremlin''s shoulder and attacked an imp!


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 539


    ---


    Emeros smiled as he nced at his weapon.


    The arrows of Emeros had killed the foes. His bow was a basic bow with numerous levels of tightness where the bowstring could be adjusted ording to their levels. Emeros noted that the arrows were even more primitive than the ones in the Londs, which could at least alter the tightness of the bow and could allow level three to level 15 people to use it to maximize strength efficiency. The bows of this kingdom could only max at level 9, and he had to purchase another kind of bow that could help fighters increase their strength and power at higher levels.


    Emeros was even reaching the maximum pull when Emeros poured out his stats. He could tell that with his Force that allowed him to draw the bow in a full arc, his current strength and force could equal a level 9 bow user with optimal force and strength!


    The bow had a higher attack damage valuepared to his previous equipment. And against the barely armored Gremlin, it easily sliced through it!


    The imps and the other gremlins saw it and shouted in anger.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    But by then, Serena and Philip had released their arrows.


    With an improved Gauage, Emeros could now see how many points his allies were inflicting.


    Of the three of them, Philip was the most skilled as he would be able to shoot well and had a good rhythm. All of his three shots struck at the torsos of his targets.


    The increase in level and the powerful bow they now had were far more powerful than the ones they had. The swords and bows had an Attack damage of 16 points! While it was weakpared to Lond standards, in this ce and against a very weak enemy, it was deadly!


    An arrow struck the arm of an imp and knocked back the Imp.


    The attack would have pierced through the Imp and killed it if it hadnded in a more critical area.


    s, the damage of the arrow that struck the arm only dealt 36 points.


    Serena was the one who made the attack and was displeased by herck of aim.


    Their attack on Philip could easily make 135 points if the arrownded on the head or torso.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows struck down its foes, and Emeros''s attack would pierce through and attack one behind on his second arrow as he managed to imbue it with force.


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 539


    ---


    His force continued to decline on the seeding arrows.


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 392


    ---


    "Eh? I guess I don''t need to use Force at all! My strength and weapon damage is enough to kill this foe!" Emerosughed.


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 290


    ---


    Emeros wasn''t using the full extent of his strength, yet his attacks would still pierce through imps.


    Together, the three managed to kill twelve imps, including three gremlins.


    Emeros was also able to hit the bodies of each beast, and his four shots managed to hit on his targets and even attack the foe behind him.


    Serena was the worst of the group as one of the three shots she made hit.


    "Serena. Calm down. Our trap is set. We will win this. Rx, and don''t let the intimidating number scare you!" Emeros ordered.


    Serena trembled, but her shots only missed again.


    Emeros aimed at Imps, and his powerful attacks would pierce through, sometimes wounding two Imps due to his high strength stat.


    There were still twenty-one that remained and were five meters away from where the team was.


    As the imps drew closer, a thin metallic wire was stretched out slightly above the ground. On the far end were two spears pinned on the ground. The charging horde of imps ran and tripped over the wire and began to crash upon each other.


    CRASH! CRASH!


    The sounds of shrieks and screams could be heard as the horde became entangled and intertwined as they fell upon each other.


    This was the opportunity that Emeros needed. He brought out three Fire Ore Bombs and poured out his mana on them, and threw it at the center of the pile.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The deafening explosions echoed through the chaotic scene as Emeros''s Fire Ore Bombs detonated amidst the tangle of imps and gremlins. The force of the sts rippled outward, sending bodies flying in all directions, creating a shower of blood and flesh with shrieks and wails.


    Thepanions of Emeros were all shocked at the scene.


    "See? I told you to calm down." Emeros chuckled.


    Those unfortunate enough to be caught at the center of the explosions were instantly consumed by the fiery inferno, their screams drowned out by the roaring mes. The intense heat and destructive power of the Fire Ore Bombs turned the area into a smoldering battlefield, leaving behind a charred and smoky aftermath.


    Emeros took his sword and walked forward.


    The smoke dissipated, revealing the carnage left in its wake.


    "Team! Time for us to train in closebat! Move!" Emeros ordered as he charged ahead.


    The first ones to do so were Wesret and Don, who were prepared for a closebat fight. Thest time they fought, they were scared and inexperienced. They were only at level one and had poor equipment.


    But now, they were geared with decent equipment for defense and offense.


    Wesret, the seasoned one-handed warrior, shed out with all his strength.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>


    SLASH!


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 166


    ---


    The head of the Imp flew off from the attack of Wesret.


    "That... that was too amazing!" Wesret grew confident and began to attack.


    Don charged wildly and made stabs with his spear by delivering swift and calcted blows to the disoriented creatures.


    STAB!


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 112


    ---


    Don had the least strength, so Emeros gave him the spear, which had the highest attack power.


    But as the imps were wounded from the st, the attack still killed them.


    Serena and the rest rushed forward and made their attacks.


    Like the rest, their attacks and shes easily killed the imps.


    An imp ambushed Wesret by charging on his armless side, and Wesret made poor evasion as its attack struck his armor.


    DING!


    The attack of a low-leveled imp on Wesret was weak!


    Wesret was startled and only felt a slight pain despite the stabbing attack. The armor had decreased a huge amount of the damage!


    ---


    Damage received: 31


    ---


    Wesret grimaced in pain, but he had suffered more wounds


    "Haha! This armor is strong!" Wesretughed and shed back.


    SLASH!


    The imps were all in.


    Emeros and the rest continued to fight and attack, and finally, all the imps and gremlins were killed.


    Wesret was kneeling down, and Philip took out one of the health potions that Perment gave them, along with the supplies for the trip.


    The health potion was poured over Wesret.


    Even though they had wounds, the sess of the battle was clearly seen in them.


    Emeros walked over and found one Imp who was barely alive from the st.


    The Imp was shouting in a strange screeching voice that the rest heard.


    "Reukyeds ytek erreho!?"


    When Emeros took the potion, it also affected his other memories, and some were also being absorbed. He already had some memories that he understood what the Imp was crying about earlier. But now, Emeros could understand what the Imp was saying.


    "Reukyeds ytek erreho!?" Emeros asked again.


    The words he spoke were, ''Big Imp, where?''


    "Terros! Terros!" Emeros demanded that the imp point in the direction as he stabbed a small dagger in its arm.


    The Imp screamed and pointed in the direction it was originally headed and began to shout more of its strangenguage.


    Serena and the rest were surprised that Emeros could somehowmunicate with the beast.


    The Imp screamed as Emeros asked some more questions and finallyid the Imp to rest with a stab to the head.


    "Master..." Serena approached.


    "I''m not your master." Emerosughed.


    "Mage Perment said that you are. In any case, we are all indebted to you. Mage Perment said that he should be treated as one of us ves, and you are our leader."


    "Mage Perment sure knows how to butter me up." Emeros chuckled.


    "May I ask what master said to the imp?" Serena asked.


    "That''s your question? How DO you know how to speak Imp?!" Philip asked.


    "Imp speaks the same tongue that many monsters speak. You might not have noticed it, but gremlins, imps, and many demon races speak the same. My master taught me how to speak, and I managed to awaken them through the potions. Anyway, I asked the Imp where the ''big boss'' is."


    "The... big boss?"


    "A Demon Imp. The leader thatmands this imp army. We will naturally be marking it for our hunt." Emeros smiled.


    "Wha-what?!" Don was shocked.


    "A demon lord?" Wesret, however, sounded excited despite being the only one who suffered a wound.


    "To think we would be fighting hundreds of these. Oh well... We already killed a lot and only got one wound for it."


    "This wound is nothing! It will heal. But a Demon Imp sounds like good prey to be the start of the new chapter of our lives!" Wesret chuckled.


    "In any case, I observed you guys in this battle. I have already considered your habits, stats, innate skills, and even each of your personalities. These three things are important. The rules of selecting what job sses go beyond dreams and desires. You could dream of bing a swordsman all your life, and with training, it coulde true. But the previous factors that I mentioned all contribute to this. Meaning, you could have been a better spear user or mage. So I will ask you once if you have a dream job ss you want to pursue. Be it a knight, a swordsman, a mage, or whatever, you may pursue it. But you can also follow my advice and take the job that I think best suits you."

 Chapter 586 Rule of Potential

    Chapter 586 Rule of Potential


    The team was startled at Emeros''s words.


    "Master. You seem to be looking far ahead into the future. We are ves and never dreamed of being swordsmen. It was too impossible!" Don smiled.


    "We leave the decisions to you, young master." Philip also added.


    Don and Serena both nodded to agree.


    "Good! For now, gather up all the corpses, and let''s retreat back to that ce near our area. We will absorb the bodies of these imps and burn or bury the remains!" Emeros ordered as the group moved.


    They piled all the corpses on the five wheelbarrows that they had. It was with these wheelbarrows that they hid their weapon and armor using dirt.


    As the group moved back, the discussion naturally went with the jobs they had.


    "Well, I only have one arm. So unless I have an advantage in magic, I will most likely be a swordsman." Wesret bitterly sighed.


    "No, not exactly. My master taught me a technique for gauging one ability. I will now tell you your stats and what I think you are good at. You are level 3 with the following stat points: Strength: 10, Magic: 1, Dexterity: 14, Vitality: 7, and you have 1 point in Force! This is quite good, with an interesting spread! You have Mana and Force, and your strength is a point higher than the average. Most people at your level will have a strength stat of nine! Your vitality is slightly low, but it''s because you have an arm missing. Still, my rmendation is that you pick Knight as your job!"


    "...A Knight? Master! I have only one arm! A one-handed swordsman is possible but a Knight? Am I supposed to only bare a shield?!"


    "You''re thinking is too shallow. We have a mage serving us. And with my memories returning, it''s only a matter of time before we find ways to regrow your arm!"


    "Regrow my arm?! That''s possible?! I haven''t heard of such magic!"


    "Not in this kingdom. But I think it''s fairly easy. These stats of yours are good enough for a job ss that my master took in his younger years. A variation to the Knight as it uses Force-like magic. The Force Pdin!"


    "Pdin?! Isn''t that the legendary lost job this only saw nearly half a millennia ago?!" Wesret eximed.


    "My master knows how to make one. And you have its foundation. For now, you fight as a swordsman, but your training will always be that of a knight! And soon, a Pdin! You have that potential. Aspire to be one!" Emeros smiled.


    "Master! Please do not speak of such things and offer me delusions!" Wesret pleaded.


    "Delusions? You misunderstand. The kingdom is verycking in perception. They look at stats and do not see the possibility because they have limited knowledge. The first few levels you gain and the first sets of stat you acquire can be studied to determine potential! I am not giving you false delusions! I''m not calling you a genius that appears once every thousands of years. I''m saying that you have a stat that''s average and that you should work hard to acquire it! But with my knowledge and your willingness to take up this job, it is possible! Or do you underestimate me?" Emeros asked back.


    "I... No! Never!"


    "Then pursue it! This is the best possible path you can take! Not only for you but actually for me! I am asking you to be a Pdin to be my shield!" Emeros encouraged.


    Wesret was silent, but his heart was racing. Emeros chose a job for him, but this job was a job of dreams!


    "...I am willing! This will be my dream, master!" Wesret vowed.


    "Good!" Emeros smiled. He could not help but recall how Kyros had found his shield and a family through the Steele family.


    "Kyros had a sharp sword and an unbreakable shield. These allies... must be them!"


    "A pdin...!" Wesret repeated in an excited voice.


    "Master...? What about me?" Philip couldn''t help but ask.


    "Philip. You are level 3 with 8 Strength, 2 Magic, 16 Dexterity, 9 Vitality, and 1 Force! You said you''re father was a hunter, and you inherited your family''s profession. You have high dexterity for your level, wielding a higher magical potential than Wesret, and you also have Force!"


    "Then... A Magic Bowman?" Philip guessed.


    "Why stick with archers? You have the potential to be a deadly force afar and near, and your dexterity is good! My master spoke of his early life on how he had Dexterity to outss and overpower all monstrosities that faced him. Just like Wesret, let''s aim for a job of legend. One that uses bows and swords with the expert ability and incredible speed. A ninja!"


    "Ninja? What''s a ninja?"


    "This ce doesn''t even know about it. But it''s an amazing job. Don. Level three with the stats, 7 Strength, 3 Magic, 13 Dexterity, and 7 Vitality. No force points."


    Don was stunned to hear his stats. It was lower than the rest, with only three magic points as his advantage.


    "...S-so a mage?"


    "Don. You have had afortable life. Wesret and Philip were always on the field. Young as you are, you only became a ve a few months ago, right? But don''t despair. Mage is the path you should pursue; honestly, I can tell you''re smart. Given a chance to grow and the right opportunities, you could surpass what Perment has reached!"


    "So... I should find my elemental affinity and pick which element to master?" Don asked.


    "Oh wow! Like Fire Mage Champion Xerov of our Kingdom!" Wesret praised.


    "No. Let''s not aim for a specific element. Let''s aim higher. Aim to be a Dual Wielder, or better yet...A Triune Master!"


    "What? Master... Is Triune Master...?"


    "Yes. Another job was lost to this ce, which means what it means. A mage who has mastered three elements!"


    "...Is that possible?!"


    "Yes. Just like Wesret and Philip, we will need a lot of luck and opportunities. But let''s go for those lofty dreams!"


    "I will! Master!" Don eximed.


    "Finally, Serena. You are already at level 4. 14 Strength, 4 Magic. 21 Dexterity, and 15 Vitality. This growth shows you have good potential for magic. Four points at level 4 is a huge thing in this kingdom. Remember that the Baron wanted me to be his ve as well? That was the reason."


    "...Then master desires that I be a mage?"


    "No. Your magic is good, but so is your fighting potential. You would be best suited as a Battle Mage that emphasizes heavily on magic and a few on Force and attacks, or a Magic de, which is a sword expert that uses magic to empower the sword."


    "...Master has not mentioned my Force stat. Is it because I have none?"


    "Yes."


    "Then why should I take these jobs geared towards that?"


    "It''s simple. Because your Force stat isn''t exactly zero, it''s just unusable. Like the rest, you will need a lot of luck to find it. But frankly, if we do find that miracle, you will be the strongest one here in terms of potential."


    "What miracle do I need?"


    "Serena. Your disease is not a disease. You seem to have a bloodline of a Vampire."


    "...!" Serena was startled at Emeros''s words. But her shock was not at Emeros''s ims.


    "Master... You...! You...!"


    "Oh, so you know you have a vampire''s blood?" Emeros asked again.


    Serena was amazed.


    "Master, you truly don''t... seem bothered by it!"


    "Why would I be?"


    "Because... I''m a vampire?"


    "Yeah... About that. I didn''t want to frighten anyone, but the bloodline of my master made vampires scared of him. Either that or worship him. And it''s not just vampires, mind you." Emeros recalled how Fallen-Spawns, Gigantes, Okto-Khefalis, and even the Blood Cmity fought and were defeated against Kyros and Noxus.


    Serena was shocked.


    "Woah... Master Emeros! You''re master was that kind of being?! He wasn''t human?!" Don asked with eyes full of marvel.


    "...He surpassed humanity. He seemed human. Although... yeah. He was also inhuman." Emeros recalled Kyros and Noxus''s different forms.


    "Wow..." Wesret was also amazed.


    "...So, does your master also drink blood?" Serena asked.


    "Well, he didn''t need to like vampires do. But he has taken in things that go beyond blood. Do you know of those dark creatures told in our children''s stories? The Shade?"


    "Those shadow creatures that cannot die by sword or spear?"


    "Yeah. I remember my Master ate them for breakfast. And I''m being literal here." Emeros spoke of Kyros''s first awakening after meeting Cminus.


    "Wow..." Philip''s eyes brightened.


    "Don''t get lost in your dreams yet. You must train, train life you''ve never done before. The potential I spoke of can be changed. For now, our goal... is to train so hard and so great that our stats will be twenty points higher than the average man of our level!"


    "Twenty points? What do you mean, master?" Wesret asked.


    "Using your level three stats as a basis, a level 3 man will, on average, have 9 points in Strength. What I want you to have, is 29 points!"


    "Twe-twenty-nine?!" Wesret eximed.


    "Yes. But I don''t mean it now. Our goal is to have that stat average before we reach level 30. Or before you reach a level, we be Champions. But the earlier we do that, the better!"


    "Why?" Serena asked.


    "It''s part of the basic rule to asses the potential level a person can reach. Your body can only be stronger based on its base form. If your body has immense strength and can wield more strength, surpassing the Champion stage would be possible. But you can''t be a Commander if you have a strength that cannot surpass what Champions have. You have Commander''s Potential if you are 20 stat points higher than the average! You can train and reach level 40 without issue!"


    "...Then the goal is to have a plus 20? I see..." Don nodded.


    "That''s just for Commander. To reach level 50, you must have a Cardinal''s potential. And that''s up to 40 points higher! There are higher levels, but it''s pointless to talk about it. By the way, I''m only five points short of reaching Commander Potential. So you guys need to catch up!" Emerosughed.

 Chapter 587 Rule of the Glyphs

    Chapter 587 Rule of the Glyphs


    The group retreated far back that few monsters were known to pass by. But the team still had to keep away from where the guards were. Emeros had found a small tunnel down in the mines that led to an abandoned shaft due to monsters attacking the region again and again.


    The long shaft extended deep into the cave and had many precious stones. But the bones of the dead were also there, scaring miners and soldiers from being here.


    The shaft was around four meters wide, extended deep, and ended at an unfinished tunnel.


    Yet this abandoned region was perfect for the next stage of his n.


    Emeros had taken out the formation te andmanded the rest to mine at certain specific spots that he could see were surging with magical properties.


    While the rest mined, Emeros began to draw a new formation te based on the knowledge that he now knew.


    At the center, Emeros had to engrave the Glyph, which calls on a specific power. Perment had used strange Glyphs that Emeros couldn''t recognize. And since his knowledge was from the Library of the Nephilim, which introduced all the Glyph that called on the power of many gods or fallen, the fact that Emeros couldn''t recognize what the kingdom used meant they were using a far inferior form that called on another power source.


    But upon testing it, Emeros was confused as to why the Glyph only gave a faint light. The Glyph used by Perment could draw out greater power.


    "Why? Is this region so far away, or is it because it isn''t blessed by these gods that I can''t call out to its power?" Emeros frowned.


    "Kyros had altered the Glyph on his return from the Unrecorded Pages to that of Dentro because he already found out that the Glyph engraved would work stronger if he called on the name. And right before End appeared, he and Noxus used Dentro and Daradiel''s Glyph... So it seems that a god''s presence works. Then what power does this ce call upon it? Energy Conversion Circles call upon the power of the ce... But what could work?" Emeros taught.


    Suddenly, he recalled the scene when Mage Captain Carlisto was summoned to the throne room of that king. A certain emblem appeared.


    Emeros thought for a bit and decided to try it.


    "The Glyph of Vasilius." Emeros drew it out.


    As he touched the formation te, the te trembled in power!


    Emeros retracted his hand.


    "...Woah. That reaction!" Emeros cheered.


    Emeros quickly wanted to test it out. He knelt over the Receiving te and had the Formation te in front of him.


    "Are you... sure you know what you''re doing, Master?" Don noticed that Emeros was going to use the formation te to draw out the energy.


    "...I think so." Emeros ced eight imps and two gremlins on the formation te and some stones they had mined along the way and pped them on the te with his mana.


    FLASH!


    Don closed his eyes as Emeros activated the te without warning.


    The rest stopped mining as they saw the light and turned to Emeros.


    ---


    Absorbed 260 Life and Death points!


    ---


    Level up!


    Emeros Vasilius


    3 -> 4


    Next level: 433/814


    Strength: 24 -> 28


    Magic: 13 -> 14


    Dexterity: 25 ->31


    Vitality: 24 -> 28


    Intelligence: 297-> 298


    Force: 13 -> 14


    ---


    The power of great light appeared. It was a light that Emeors had seen numerous times in Kyros''s memories.


    "Soter...?!"


    The light of Soter was clearly called upon!


    The energy and efficiency of the formation spell changed, and from what Emeros experienced from Mage Perment, he knew this new energy had increased by nearly two-fold!


    The imps and gremlins would not have been enough! Because Emeros had the added blessings from his father, his level requirements were much higherpared to the rest. But now, the energy he received was simr to what the Temple did! Its quality was subpar to the Temple''s actual light, butpared to Perment''s magic, it''s two times stronger!


    "...The light of Soter! I actually summoned it! Is Vasilius a son of Soter?!" Emeros couldn''t understand it. But the Glyph worked!


    What''s more, the stat increase had also surpassed the normal points that it would normally have bestowed! Emeros gained 4 points in strength and vitality in this level-up when normally it would have only given 3!


    "These stat increases...! If I can maintain it... then! Wait...! That means...!" Only now that Emeros understand the disgusting advantage Kyros and the Temple had. Just by using its powers, Kyros was practically growing at a rate that would give them a Cardinal''s potential!


    "But this is good! With this! I can ensure that everyone will reach their Commander''s Potential! I have increased my knowledge and gotten better resources, so we can finally use this!" Emeros decided.


    "Don! You''re up first!" Emeros called out.


    A few minutester, Don, Wesret, and Philip had all leveled up, and Next level: 321/716


    they felt a strange energy within them.


    With that, the team had its level-ups.


    ---


    Wesret


    3 -> 4


    Next level: 321/716


    Strength: 10 -> 13


    Magic: 1 -> 2


    Dexterity: 14 -> 20


    Vitality: 7 -> 10


    Intelligence: 49


    Force: 1 -> 2


    ---


    Philip


    3 -> 4


    Next level: 289/706


    Strength: 8 -> 11


    Magic: 2 -> 3


    Dexterity: 16 -> 22


    3 -> 4


    Next level: 242/683


    Vitality: 9 -> 12


    Intelligence: 39


    Force: 1 -> 2


    ---


    Don


    3 -> 4


    Next level: 242/683


    Strength: 7 -> 10


    Magic: 3 -> 5


    Dexterity: 13 -> 19


    Vitality: 7 -> 10


    Intelligence: 54


    Force: 0 -> 1


    ---


    Emeros used his gauge on them and could see the increases. He revealed the stat increase to the team, and everyone was excited.


    "Alright! I didn''t expect us to solve our Commander Potential problem so soon! But now, we have to fight stronger enemies. One of the reasons why people have a high level of cultivation is because the quality of beasts and monsters they fight are so strong!" Emeros recalled the Darklings that Kyros and Noxus fought. They were creatures twisted from the Fallen Spawns. Though they were weak and only acted as basic food for Kyros and his armies, in a ce like a kingdom, they would greatly empower the people!


    If he had a hundred corpses of those beings, they could already reach a Cardinal''s Potential!


    "Wow!" Don was amazed. He had noticed that Emeros was too strong, as his cuts could already slice through the imps. But now, he feels that he will soon be able to do that. Serena even had a higher stat than them, but the hope of catching up was now there!


    "Master! This is amazing!" Wesret praised.


    "Master, if I may ask... How strong was your master? I could tell that Mage Perment''s spell had not only helped me level up, but it was far more nurturing and powerful than the ones this kingdom had. If so, what was the potential of your Master?"


    "Him? On his peak...?" Emeros thought for a second.


    The old life of Kyros didn''t count. He practically forced himself to reach higher levels and had vastly low stats. It was simr to leveling up without having any potential at all! But in his second life, right before his death, the level 60 Kyros already surpassed the level 99 Kyros of his original lifetime.


    "Obviously, he didn''t start out to have such huge bonuses. I remember he naturally had a Cardinal''s Potential where he had a forty-point advantage."


    "F-Forty?!" Wesret nearly choked.


    "Master! That means at level one, he could already defeat level ten soldiers!" Philip eximed.


    "Yup."


    "But... wasn''t he a Crown? How is thatpared to someone who doesn''t have any of these potentials?"


    "He was a Crown. But as I said, his potential was far higher than that. But before he died, he had a High Conqueror''s potential!


    "Then that means he could have beyond the Crown level of myth?!" Wesret eximed.


    Even Serena was enthralled.


    "Master! How much of a difference would that be!? Let''s say someone has that High Conquerors potential and is at my level! How much increase would I need to have that potential?!" Don asked.


    "It''s impossible to have a High Conquerors potential at level three!" Emeros chuckled.


    "Perhaps, when you''re level fifty or so. But, if we are to use level three as an analogy, then you''d need to be seven hundred points higher!"


    Everyone marveled at that strength. Having three digits as a stat was already a dream in this kingdom!


    "Do you guys understand now? Master taught me a lot of things. If I can remember half of what he said, then reaching Cardinal is possible!" Emerosughed.


    "ROAR!" A loud cry was heard as several howling and enraged sounds were heard.


    The ves all ran back and gathered to draw their weapons as they stood at the end of the mine shaft.


    Emeros could see a crowd appearing at the end of the shaft. Imps and Gremlins of great number had arrived.


    "Master! We''re trapped!"


    "This was my n. Rx. You guys need to be more confident in your strength. You''re at level four now! And you have strong weapons and armor! A weapon attack stat of 16 and a defense stat of the same is with you. Use this opportunity to learn how to bring out your force." Emerosmanded as he took the bow.


    Philip and Serena also picked up their bow.


    "Let''s go kill some imps!" Emerosughed as the imps and gremlin all attacked.


    Emeros gathered his Force energy. At this enclosed and tight path, his arrows would surely hit another behind!


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    The team shot their arrows at the horde. Their strength was stronger, and the base damage they could do could easily pierce through the arms of the beast.


    The arrow that Emeros shot had an incredible force that ripped through the body of the gremlin, and a huge hole could be seen as the Force covering it added more energy to the attack. But after the initial piercing momentum, the arrow continued and pierced through another Imp.


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 318

 Chapter 588 Rule of the Hell Path

    Chapter 588 Rule of the Hell Path


    The arrows of Emeros contained power and strength that far surpassed what people of his level could do. And Emeros was still not a bow expert! He knew many parts of his technique were wrong, and his memory only gave him a sense of how to shoot, but his routine and technique were less efficient.


    Still, he managed tond his attacks.


    Emeros aimed for the head where no defensive armor protected them, and the arrow pierced through the head of the first creature and damaged another.


    He would have been one of the top levels in the army that Duke Ressongraze would havemanded.


    Serena and Philip''s arrows, though not as impressive as Emeros, could still one-hit kill an imp with their stats and the strong weapons they had.


    "Don''t be afraid! Your weapons are very strong! These imps and gremlins won''t be a challenge to you!" Emeros shouted.


    But as the monsters approached, Emeros noticed that the imps and gremlins approaching appeared to have better gear, the only avable armor they had appeared to be the skins and bodies of other imps!


    "Don! Wesret! Join me as the vanguard! Philip! Serena! Keep shooting from the back!" Emeros ordered as he stepped forward and continued to rain his arrows on the enemies.


    Because of the piercing state of Emeros''s arrows and the instant-kill arrow attacks of Serena and Philip, the dead imps began to pile up and were adding obstacles to the imps, making it difficult to run through the area.


    "Keep it up! Wesret! Don! Start throwing rocks at them!" Emeros ordered as he ducked and began to tie a fire or bomb on the side of an arrow.


    His allies all acted ording to his order, and the pile of dead monsters had now be a small mound that made the gremlins struggle to push through.


    Emeros finally stood up and shot his arrow right as his mana began to envelop the fire or bomb.


    FWIP!


    The arrow shot through one of the imps and pierced through it and pierced another.


    BOOM!


    A small explosion urred again as the st caused the imps to stumble, and the mound of corpses copsed, giving the rest better aim.


    "Keep shooting! But the advance on mymand! We will fight them in closebat!" Emeros dered as the group made its march.


    Emeros gave specific instructions as to when they would advance and when they would shoot.


    After several steps, it was time for them to engage in closebat.


    "Attack!" Emeros charged forward. Wesret and Don followed.


    Serena and Philip also began to reach for the swords and spears on the wheelbarrow nearby.


    Emeros envisioned the attack that Kyros would usually do with his sword and with his foot. In thetter parts of Kyros''s life, his movements used numerous abilities and skills, that Ravagers, Blitzer, or Quick des. All of his movements easilybined these things.


    Emeros focused on using a Blitzer dash and sh attack.


    Force energy empowered his legs allowing him to dash forward with great speed.


    Blitzers usedrge swords like the Ravagers. But the key difference is that Ravagers focus on damage and defense, while Blitzers abandon defense for speed. Though they are not as fast as Quick des, their training andbat style is to move with intense speed.


    This ss wasughed at and mocked on the where Emeros was. To Emeros''s knowledge, no one would take a Blitzer job. But this was because the foundation of the kingdom was weak.


    In the nesworld, Blitzers go through strength training, and the added speed was meant to increase the damage of their attack. It was a beautiful harmony where Dexterity and Strength would unite in union.


    Emeros made a wild sh and managed to use his sprint to deliver a powerful attack.


    ---


    Blitzer Skill: Wild Spinning sh learned!


    ---


    SLASH!


    The de sliced through an imp, but using the speed and velocity of his charge, Emeros was still able to rush and continue the same sh.


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    ---


    Damage Inflicted: 335


    Damage Inflicted: 313


    Damage Inflicted: 293


    Damage Inflicted: 242


    Damage Inflicted: 206


    ---


    The notifications all appeared and revealed the damage of his one sh. This was the power of a Blitzer job!


    Three Ims and two gremlins were caught in the attack and killed three instantly.


    Thest one who took the attack was an Imp, and Emeros''s sword was stuck deep inside its chest, and the Imp was screaming in pain.


    The Blitzer''s attack could tear through mobs, and if Emeros had arger de, he would have been able to kill more.


    But Emeros''s spinning sh had lost velocity, and many imps were on his side and attacked him.


    STAB!


    SLASH!


    Wesret and Don attacked from the side to kill the enemies that were about to attack.


    Philip and Serena followed.


    Emeros quickly retreated and prepared for another round of his Wild Spinning sh.


    The four now had higher dexterity and were moving and reacting faster.


    "Concentrate! Your increased Dexterity stat will help you avoid all the attacks! And though these imps are more armed and armored, you still have the better equipment!" Emeros shouted.


    "Switch!" Emeros shouted. His allies retreated, and he ran forward to perform Wild sh again.


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    The rows of monsters fell as Emeros could see the roughly same amount of damage and did his spin.


    But then...


    THUD!


    Emeros felt a strange sensation as he felt that the foe before him The vitality and armor of the Gremlin were stronger!


    The sword was lodged in and didn''t even kill the creature! The was not an ordinary gremlin.


    The vitality and armor of the Gremlin were stronger!


    The sword was lodged in and didn''t even kill the creature! The Ravagers Wild Spining cut had abruptly ended!


    "Quick! Retreat!" Emeros shouted as he kicked and pulled the sword engraved deep into the strange, wooden body of what appeared to be a ''gremlin.'' He quickly threw a small fire or bomb and pulled his allies, who were about to make an attack.


    True enough, the gremlins were faster! Faster than Emeros''s team!


    BOOM!


    The fire ore bomb exploded, but these Gremlins retreated and avoided the attack.


    The Gremlin that Emeros attacked with the Wild Spinning sh was thrown toward them.


    "They''re not gremlins!" Emeros warned.


    The Gremlin that died from the st began to change in appearance as a strange illusion magic altered its form.


    The Gremlin had noticeable ridges and bumps with a leathery feel. But this creature was more like wood!


    "What the...? That''s a Puk!?" Emeros was stunned.


    "What the puck?" Serena repeated.


    "A stronger form of Imp! Everyone! Get back!" Emeros used his guage to bring out the stat of the Puck he just killed.


    ---


    Puk Stats:


    Level: 7


    Strength: 21


    Magic: 3


    Dexterity: 29


    Vitality: 21


    Intelligence: 33


    HP: 300


    Defense Points: 17


    ---


    Emeros''s hands trembled. This stats were high! The enemy was strong!


    The smoke and dust settled, and now, the magic that made them look like gremlins disappeared.


    The monstersughed a sinister chuckle.


    "These tricksters!" Emeros cursed.


    He saw a row of Puks standing before him.


    The magic disappeared as the Puks all formed ranks. They stood up and were even taller than the Gremlins.


    But a strange creature could be seen marching from the back.


    The creature was a head taller than the Pucks and had a height that wasparable to a tall man. It had horns like that of a ram and twirled into a spiral. It was covered in fur and was pitch ck.


    It held a grotesque sword that had teeth like a saw.


    Emeros saw the beast and couldn''t help but tremble. He had vastly underestimated his enemy. He thought that the Imp Demon would onlymand these few creatures and would send dozens of gremlins and imps. But it seemed that the Imp Demons'' followers were not just level 1 creatures. It had a vast army with numerous races and imp breeds!


    The creature before him was at least level 10! It had stats that surpassed what Emeros had!


    Emeros knew that this was a dangerous state. There were still crowds of Pucks surrounding the creature, and Emeros feared that his team would not be able to win.


    The creature nced at the humans and growled in anger.


    "Idiot imps and gremlins cannot kill humans? Useless!" The creature spoke in its tongue, and Emeros could tell it was the same impnguage.


    "Rot Fiend! Mage among them!" A Puck answered.


    "Yes. Bomb magic. I saw." The creature answered.


    Emeros was quiet but was thinking of ns as he slowly ordered his team to walk back.


    "Get the oil potions..." Emeros quietly ordered.


    "Kill-"


    Emeros quickly ran forward and threw a rock at the creature.


    SMASH!


    The tall creature pped at the stone to send it back.


    The rock flew with great speed, but Emeros was ready and swung his sword to deflect the rock again.


    DING!


    "Smart. You thought it was a bomb and punched it back." Emeros spoke in the same tongue as the creature.


    He needed to buy time, and this was the solution he thought of. He then gave more quick orders to the rest of his team.


    "Speak you, impnguage?"


    "Yes. And if you want to fight, we can kill and wound you! Retreat!" Emeros shouted back.


    "Retreat?" The goatughed.


    "Rule of Hell Path, no monster retreat! We fight! We eat! Or we die! If humans want war, then Imp Horde will give them war! After we kill you, we shall invade the humans who dared attack the Demon Imp''s Army!" The goatughed.

 Chapter 589 Rule of the Strong

    Chapter 589 Rule of the Strong


    Emeros was scared.


    His powerful attack was not enough to kill a single Puk due to its harder defenses. And there was an even stronger creature that stood before him!


    If this creature were level ten, his dexterity would be far faster than his group''s! A team of level 4 ves who don''t even have the proper training for their jobs could never outmatch the enemy before him!


    As such, the entire stock of weapons that Emeros nned to use against his enemies was being prepared.


    Emeros''s gauge powers identified the goat creature as a Chort!


    Chort


    Level: 10


    Strength: 33


    Magic: 7


    Dexterity: 44


    Vitality: 31


    Force: 8


    Hit points: 440


    Defense points: 24


    ---


    Seeing the stats, Emeros quickly made his decision. There were no other options left.


    "Now!" Emeros shouted.


    His allies also threw out things while Philip and Serena reached for their bows again.


    The goat creature pped at the iing thrown items.


    Kraaack!


    But the goat creature was surprised as the one thrown at it wasn''t stone! His p didn''t return the items but broke them, and a strange liquid was sshed on them.


    The Puks also punched or pped back, but now the same liquid was sshed on them.


    And while everyone reacted to the potions on oils that were hurled at them, Emeros discreetly threw the bomb by rolling it on the ground.


    BOOM!


    VOOOSH!


    The fire ore bomb exploded, and the mes caused the oils to burn.


    "ROAR!"


    The imp creatures roared in pain as the fires began to spread.


    "Attack!" Emeros shouted as Philip and Serena began to shoot arrows.


    Wesret and Don ran and kept themselves close to the walls as they charged, and Emeros dove ahead.


    Therge goat creature roared in pain and ran forward to escape the mes. But as it opened its eyes, Emeros had already made his wild swing.


    SLASH!


    ---


    Damage Inflicted: 133


    ---


    The cut shed out and struck the arm of the creature that held its weapons.


    Emeros made a quick turn of his sword and prepared to sh down as a follow-up.


    But the high dexterity of the Chort was far superior. It used its other hand to block the sword strike and make a powerful pping attack.


    SLAP!


    ---


    Damage received: 92


    ---


    Emeros''s attack didn''tnd as the p was sent. First, he was sent back, and the enraged creature made a wild swing again with his sword.


    Emeros raised his sword to block, but the attacknded and sent him flying back.


    ---


    Damage received: 133


    ---


    Emeros was sent flying back and crashed into the walls.


    ---


    ---


    Damage received: 36


    ---


    Emeros slid down and didn''t get up.


    "Master!"


    The shouts of his allies were heard as they ran towards the fiery hordes to fight.


    More oil potions were being thrown into the mes, but the Puks began to run through the mes and attack.


    Emeros only had 119 out of his 380 hit points. This equated to him having less than a third of his life taken from him. The truth of the numbers that could be seen on the stat points meant Emeros had numerous wounds and some bone fractures.


    He saw his team charge desperately to fight against the Puks that began to swing their des and clubs.


    Wesret desperately tried to block, but he was quickly overpowered.


    "They''re too strong!" Wesret shouted.


    FWIP! FWIP!


    The arrows stuck the beast but the higher defense and vitality points allowed these burning creatures to press on and were only enraged by the attack.


    Emeros trembled and realized he was too stupid. He thought he would be as awesome as his brothers but realized that he was just a man. His little stat increase could not help him against these higher-leveled imps!


    His vision darkened as his hope vanished.


    But at that moment, thest magic of Cminus activated.


    Emeros saw a familiar figure standing in front of him as time slowed down.


    "Giving up already?" Kyros asked.


    ''K-kyros!"


    "...So Cminus is dead, huh? With hisst gift, he bought me some time. But don''t get your hopes up. I''m not here to fight. I''m here to talk and encourage you. A small portion of my soul is saved like memories so that I can talk to you."


    "That''s it?! Talk?! You can''t save me?!"


    "Remember what dad said. You have to have nothing and only the bare minimum; otherwise, they will find you. Besides, you don''t need to save. Maybe some pep talk, but you can defeat these guys!" Kyros smiled as he nced at the creatures and observed every one of them.


    "Defeat them?! We are three levels lower than these beasts! And there are dozens of them!"


    "Yeah... This scene looks very nostalgic. Fighting a horde of low-leveled creatures in a cave with some allies..." Kyrosughed. He recalled his adventure against the lizard creatures that attacked him.


    "...You were strong. Your stats were too high at that time! Your attacks could practically kill a beast, and you had the Temple! That item-retrieving trick! And the Steele Family were all battle-hardened fighters! I have ves!" Emeros eximed.


    "You were a cheat by all standards! You didn''t even care about the stats of your enemies because you had it all! I... I barely have a Commander''s potential! I don''t have strong allies! And I don''t have your magic!"


    "...I was in the Unrecorded Pages where all my advantages were negligible. And despite my advantages, Fate and Destiny had a cruel way of pushing me toward even greater danger. When we were brought in Middle, we fought against Commanders and Cardinals with a few teams of Champions. Our advantages were never enough to push us through our problems. What you have before you is cause and effect. Fate, Destiny, not even True Neutrals have anything to do with what you face. Besides, I''ve lived an even crueler life than this, Emeros. In my first life, I was even weaker than you!" Kyros smiled.


    "Is that why you''re here?! To tell me that you are better than me?! Go ahead! It''s true! I was scared when I found out what my mission was! I thought I had it good! But I was a fool! I fought against some weak-leveled creatures and thought I was awesome! But I''m not! I''m weak! Go ahead and tell me that you are better than me!"


    "You''re wrong. I am not here to brag. What''s the use of bragging? If you die, we all die. I am here to tell you that you should be better than me and that you could. You don''t have a choice, Emeros. You see, the rule of the strong is simple. It''s the ability to keep pressing forward and the courage to keep fighting. You are far smarter than these imps. You are far more experienced, thanks to our memories." Kyros knelt down as he extended his arm to Emeros.


    "...So that''s it?" You''re just here to tell me... to get up and fight?"


    "That''s what strong people do. Emeros. The reason you have only Vasilius is because you are king. And if we are thebination of several powers, then your power as the king means that you were destined to be the core and the savior of our trinity. You are stronger and more overpowered than you think. You are unseen to Fate and Destiny. The Nephilim were raised to be hidden, not in the light nor in the shadows that are cast behind the light. You are not "You weren''t born without powers. You were born without obstruction, End cannot End something he does not know. That''s even in the picture. And that''s why you are strong!" Kyros reached out and held Emeros, who did nothing to Kyros''s extended arm.


    "You weren''t born without powers. You were born without obstruction, End cannot End something he does not know. That''s who you are!"


    "...You''re lying! I''m weak! Two hits from that Chort, and I''m dead!"


    "You''re strong. That''s why you are our hope, Emeros. You have to go through this. You have to fight and get beaten up, and you will lose allies in all of your fights. You will struggle as a mortal because you are mortal. But you are also a King! You are sure to rise! Noxus and I were bound in Fate and Destiny''s battle. End will find u! But he won''t find you. And trust me, that''s a better advantage than everything me and Noxus has! Oh, King! You will surely wear a Crown! That''s the power you have! A king may die, but only once he wears a crown! The power in you is set! You won''t die until you have one! But for now, you have to get up and fight! You are King! One who is destined to rule! So rise and start ruling!"


    With a strong pull, Kyros pulled Emeros up.


    The moment Emeros was on his feet, Kyros disappeared.


    Emeros moved fast and reached out for a potion on a wheel-borrow and quickly drank it.


    He then sprinted towards the battlefield and saw his allies struggling to fight.


    But at that moment, time seemed to have slowed down.


    Even Emeros''s movements seemed slow for his head.


    Emeros was shocked at what he saw.


    "I didn''t give you powers." Kyros''s fading voice could be heard.


    Emeros was startled. He realized that he had a few more gifts given to him.


    "This was already in you through Cminus. You still have the remnant powers of a Time God. A Time Core is within you! You just needed a little push to use it. Now go!"


    "[Pronto]!" Emeros shouted as he could see time moving slower.

 Chapter 590 Rule of Group Combat

    Chapter 590 Rule of Group Combat


    The power of Pronto was a time spell used on a person''s perception.


    This was a skill that Kyros had invented with the help of Cminus. Due to the curse of [De-Spacito], Kyros had always had a faster perception, which made his Dexterity stat naturally higher.


    The spell which triggered the appearance of Kyros''s soul was simple. But it required a lot of mental and psychological hurdles to achieve it. It needed great courage and will to force the perception to tip out of the bnce.


    The moment Emeros saw time moving slowly, he realized he had activated this power.


    Emeros quickly scanned the battlefield.


    The fiery mes that the oil had spread had engulfed many.


    While Wesret and Don were at the front of the group, they faced a single Puk who had chosen to ignore their burning bodies and attack the humans.


    Most of the Puks were charging at Philip and Serena at themand of the Chort.


    Philip and Serena were shooting and slowly retreating as several Puks ran at them in great rage.


    They were shouting and calling out to Don and Wesret to retreat.


    Emeros saw the path and knew how to save all.


    Emeros moved through them and felt like his body was extremely heavy and hard. But the sudden slowness of time allowed Emeros to know where to move. He took out a dagger and had his sword in hand. He slipped through Serena and Philip and passed by them.


    His body felt heavy, and moving it took a lot of effort. Emeros knew this was the effect of trying to move outside of his own mental perception.


    The Puks reacted as Emeros approached them and swung their weapons.


    Emeros easily avoided them by tilting his body as he dove deeper into the group of beasts.


    The Puk''s speed couldn''t keep up with Emeros''s perception.


    Emeros kept his body low and began to stab and sh at the foot or knee of the short beasts.


    Quick stabs through his dagger and continuous momentum on his sword as it made shallow wounds on the foot. Emeros couldn''t utilize even half of his strength due to the strange effects of Pronto. But he didn''t need tond powerful attacks. His weapons of good quality could allow him to inflict wounds that would slow the enemies down.


    SLASH!


    STAB!


    SLASH!


    STAB!


    ---


    Damage Inflicted: 86


    Damage Inflicted: 83


    Damage Inflicted: 81


    Damage Inflicted: 85


    Damage Inflicted: 79


    Damage Inflicted: 88


    ---


    He had studied the rules of groupbat for Quick des and Bltizers. If they couldn''t defeat the monsters in one hit, then they were to slow them down. Quick des and Blitzers were meant to be rescuers within the group.


    The group of Puks couldn''t surpass the speedy and sneaky charge of Emeros and received wounds on their legs that caused some to stumble and others to reel in or grimace to the side.


    Emeros then saw his two allies, who were knocked down. It was good that both faced only one Puk as the rest had run toward the archers.


    Emeros hurled the dagger in hand and shed his sword at the one attacking Don.


    STAB!


    SLASH!


    ---


    Damage Inflicted: 132


    Damage Inflicted: 112


    ---


    But attacks were made on the head of the Puks, and Emeros didn''t stay to aid his friends more. This was the most that he could do as there was a bigger monster that he needed to kill. This was another mission that Quick des and Blitzers were tasked to do. Find the strongest enemy and attack them!


    Emeros ran towards the enraged Chort, who was still covered in mes. His face was still on fire, and the Chort was still trying to pat and extinguish the fire.


    It then noticed Emeros.


    "You!" The slow cry of the Chort echoed, and he swung his saw-de at Emeros.


    Emeros kept the powers of [Pronto] active but knew he was reaching his limits.


    He reached into his pocket for thest Fire Ore Bomb and began to pour out mana on it as he ran deep into the wild swing of the Chort.


    The fast swing moved too fast that Emeros knew he would not make it. He tilted his sword and aimed for the arm of the Chort. With his perception, Emeros stabbed his sword toward the swinging arm of the Chort.


    STAB!


    Emeros used one hand to hold the sword, and as his other hand held the fire ore bomb, it was acting as a lock to keep his other hand from drifting and resisting the swing of the Chort.


    The force of the Chort''s swing was still moving forward, and Emeros kept pressing the sword forward to stop the swing.


    SNAP!


    The sword broke from the force of the swing. But it was enough for Emeros to charge closer, and without hesitation, he directed the broken sword straight toward the face of the Chort.


    "Roar!" The Chort shouted in pain at the attack.


    Emeros stabbed the broken sword on the upper lip of the Chort.


    STAB!


    The wide roar of the Chort and the stab kept the mouth open as Emeros quickly lodged the Fire Ore Bomb in the mouth.


    Emeros pushed it hard and even used the force of his arm to push himself down.


    Pronto ended as Emeros fell to the ground.


    The angry Chort''s sideward swing was pivoting to be a downward hack.


    But as he raised the saw-de, the fire ore bomb detonated before the Chort could spit it out.


    BOOM!


    The head of the Chort burst into two as the upper cranium flew off the head.


    The Chort stumbled down, but Emeros spared no wasted seconds, grabbed therge saw-de that the Chort carried, and sprinted back towards his allies.


    Don and Wesret survived the Puks despite havingrge wounds, and Emeros quickly hacked them with his new weapon.


    SLASH! SLASH!


    Emeros didn''t even bother to take note of the math and kept attacking and hacking at the enemies.


    He attacked the Puks that were attacking Don and Wesret again and ran towards those headed for Philip and Serena.


    Philip had remained shooting at the back while Serena was forced to fight in closebat to dy the iing Puks.


    But now, Emeros was able to rejoin the group and strike the head of the foes.


    Some of the more burnt ones finally died at Emeros''s attacks.


    Wesret and Don stood to guard Emeros''s attacks but noticed that the Puks and Gremlins behind them were starting to retreat!


    "I''ll guard the back! Go!" Don shouted, and Wesret immediately rushed back to kill the rest.


    Soon, the mes from the oil died out, and what remained was Emeros and his exhausted and wounded allies.


    Several shes and strikester...


    THUD!


    Thest of the Puks fell, as did Serena and Philip.


    Don and Wesret were petrified and stiff, with their hands gripping their weapons tightly.


    "We survived..." Serena eximed.


    "Let''s go back! That was... that was...!"


    "We can''t." Emeros panted and stood up.


    "What?!" Everyone else eximed.


    "That Chort made his deration. It seems that we triggered something we shouldn''t have. That Chort said that the Demon Imp ns to send out his armies to attack the mine."


    "Attack the mines?!"


    "Yes. If we return now, and the demon imp sends the army, we would all be implicated in this. The best thing we can do is hidden within the deeper parts of this subterranean world. I n to make it look like that we were caught up in the monster''s war and we had no choice but to hide. It''s less suspicious than going back and allowing imps to move in. The mine won''t fall. At least... not with the strength and level of the soldiers guarding there."


    "But... we can''t stay here! It''s too dangerous!"


    "We don''t have a choice! If we go back, we be the prime suspect. Even if we wait for some time and then go back, we still will be treated as suspects!"


    "But... but...!"


    "Philip! Calm down!" Wesret shouted.


    "The enemies we just fought were all stronger than us!"


    "They were all level seven. That taller goat creature that I killed was level ten." Emeros revealed.


    Everyone was startled.


    "Help me get to put them, and let''s quickly absorb the life energy out of them. And then we get out of here. I estimate that each of us should grow by at least two levels! This will help survive."


    "But where can we hide?" Philip asked.


    "I remember what my dad said; this region was home to many hermit alchemists and mages before this became the route of the monsters. We could find one of their old homes there... If we barricade it with stones..." Don suggested.


    "Great suggestion Don! Let''s do that! For now, bring all the corpses. It''s time for us to get stronger."


    The group began to move and clear the corpses.


    Emeros began to use the formation te and started drawing out the energy from the beasts.


    By the end of the ritual, everyone had grown by two levels, except for Emeros, who grew by one level.


    The team quickly departed.


    "Master... Is it alright? You only grew by one level!" Serena eximed as they quickly left with their wheelbarrows and the corpse of the Chort, and several Puks.


    "I''m still stronger than all of you. It''s enough. You guys need to get stronger now! You guys need to train while we hide!"


    Emeros and the group moved deeper into the mines. Emeros and Philip went ahead while the rest hid somewhere Emeros sought one of the old houses and rooms the previous mages had.


    Twenty minutes into their exploration, Emeros came across a strange pir of stone that was glowing with magic.


    "A spell? A mage must be in there!" Emeros eximed. He pressed his hands into the stone pir and sent out magic.


    The mana flowed towards the stone pir, and Emeros could map out an energy conversion circle hidden within the stone''s dusty and dirty sides.


    Emeros made his magic flow through it, and the strange rolling sound was heard. A small door opened, and a pathway was revealed.


    Emeros brought out one of his magic stones and poured some magic into it, and it became a light source.


    Together, he and Philip moved inside.


    They found an old house with a skeleton corpse seated.


    "This ce will do! Let''s go get them!" Emeros decided.


    The group managed to bring the team and discreetly bring their wheelbarrows without attracting attention. Numerous sounds of battles and growls could be heard in the distance.


    Soon, the group moved inside the room, and Emeros used another mechanism of magic that closed the room.

 Chapter 591 Training Sessions

    Chapter 591 Training Sessions


    The home of the mage had everything that they needed to survive. There was a well inside that connected to an underground river. While the room had no other food sources, the mushrooms had grown in abundance, and with the remaining spices that the mage had, the group could cook a meal that was better than what they would get as ves.


    The room wasrge and clearly crafted. The mage that lived there was not just a simple hermit. It was clear he was rather rich.


    The group was resting inside therge room with lights of its own through some magic stones. They talked and tended to their wounds and gave Emeros the space he needed.


    Emeros was in the other room and had finished observing the corpse. He was now reading through the journal of the corpse.


    Serena watched from a distance. She couldn''t help but look at the man and recall how he had fought earlier.


    She knew that this young boy was strong. He had defeated a level ten Chort and saved his team from a party of strong Puks.


    Somehow her heart was restless. Since their freedom, she has had great hope for the future of her life. And now, she was at level six! With this master of hers, she knew they would easily reach the captain''s level!


    Wesret noticed the nces that Serena had on Emeros and moved over to the seat next to Serena.


    "You best stop that... Aside from his very young age, you know that our young master will be someone great. Nobles, kings, and queens will soon be after him. Women of great beauty will soon be throwing themselves at his feet." Wesret smiled.


    Serena was startled.


    "I..."


    "I''m just telling you now. I''ve been a ve for so long and have met amazing people in my past service. I have even seen Knights and Champions! But none is so smartpared to Emeros. In a few days, I, a level one, had reached level six! Will I be a Captain by the end of this month?" Wesret chuckled.


    "I know... When I served Baron Elford, I had seen the monsters needed to raise a man to levels five and six. I also was there when they were talking about energy conversion circles. I know my master can do something shocking and increase the power of how much energy is drawn and converted in those formation tes. That alone would make him a famous and legendary man in this kingdom. Even Mage Perment believes that and told me..." Serena sighed. She couldn''t help but reach to her scared and ugly face.


    "I just... can''t help but..."


    Wesret chuckled.


    "Master... You seemed immersed in that book." Wesret called out.


    Emeros was awakened by Wesret''s call.


    "We found someone amazing. This was Mage Rorcrast. A Level 27 dual-elemental mage."


    "Level 27?! He is nearly a champion!"


    "Yes. Look around you. This ce doesn''t look like a cave den. It looks like a room that elites could afford. Mage Rorcrast had stories simr to Perment but had no enemies who plotted against him. He managed to make a name for himself despite the little support he had. And he stayed here in search of a being of great power."


    "A being of great power?"


    "I heard from my master that something hides within these caves. A powerful being that could be a crown." Emeros recalled what his father told him. A Crown that was a servant of a Conqueror lived in the mines.


    "Mage Rorcrast lived here to figure out this mystery. This was before the monsters were passing here. How bad was it on the first day the Monster passed here?" Emeros asked.


    "It created quite amotion. The monsters attacked the mines a few years ago with armies moving out. The kingdom dispatched Champions, and even a Commander was here! The warsted for months. Did this man die at that time?"


    "Yes. He saw the hordes that were passing and the wars between beasts. He was trapped here. He tried to break out finally when his food supply was low. But he got poisoned. He records arge venomous snake that attacked him on hisst attempt to escape. It weakened his vitality, so he went home and wrote his goodbyes." Emeros then turned to thest page.


    "To the one who finds my journal... I wish that the legacy of my work would not fade to nothing. Within this underground world are four other mages who have hidden themselves and escaped the injustice of nearby kingdoms. But s, the other three are dead. Their life talisman had all shattered. We all hope that all our efforts to uncover the mystery of this mine will be forgotten. The source of where the monsterse from is within a strange world deep under this! And now a path has been opened, and all the creatures and monsters are emerging. My theory is one that the four other mages also share: the monsters that we live and thrive in the many monster territories are but survivors of an exodus. They came from the depths of this earth. And now they areing out!" Emeros narrated.


    The team was confused.


    "Wait! That doesn''t make sense! Isn''t this ce a path that connects the monster territories in this region?!" Wesret asked.


    "It doesn''t seem to be the case. Monsters are emerging from this ce. Think about it! The chaos and wars that urred were all because of the monster kingdoms. The fallen Esfork Kingdom grew weak because the monsters in the monster territories have be wild and attacked us!" Emeros recounted his experience that led to the death of the orphanage that raised him.


    "Right... I heard of that! The monsters attacked cities and towns, and the army couldn''t handle both. The kingdoms took advantage of that and attacked the Esfork Kingdom!"


    "People must have med this path that was discovered. I remembered that there was a huge earthquake that affected many kingdoms. I didn''t know about this ce, but was that the time that the monsters appeared in this ce?" Emeros asked.


    "Yes! That was exactly the time! The kingdom scouts reported that the earthquake must have opened this underground region!" Wesret recalled.


    "Then that was it! The earthquake didn''t just open a path that connected the two monster regions that the Dividing Line Mountain Range separated; it opened a new path from under the earth! This means the imp invasion will be far more terrifying than we thought! The monsters must have stopped attacking the humans and had been preparing for an invasion!"


    "What do we do, master?"


    "This means that the invasion of the monsters would have happened eventually. But this gives us an interesting opportunity! For now... we stay here and hunt. I have already sent a message to Perment using the Message Talisman he gave me. He can get this book and reveal what Mage Rorcrast found out about this ce if the usations about us get too wild. With thisb, I think I can make use of it to create more potions. Right now, the important part is to train you guys..." Emeros turned to the rest.


    "Train us?"


    "Your stat growth is also dependent on your training. If you push your body beyond the limits, you tend to have higher stats in specific areas. But we don''t have the right equipment and time right now. The best I can do is train you to get used to fighting against someone faster than you. The dexterity stat is a very important stat because we can hit and not get hit by strong enemies. We will practice with that. From now on, we will be spending a day here training, and the next day we will go out to hunt and attack more monsters."


    "How will we train in dexterity?"


    "We fight. I will fight all of you! This will also help you guys practice some basic attack moves. shing, blocking, evading... mostly the skills that frencers like you need to master to develop the foundations of the jobs you get in the future. Get the spears that the imps had and break the tips to make them wooden poles. We will fight with those!" Emeros ordered.


    The group started to pick up the small spears and began to use their swords to cut the tip and turn it into a blunt weapons.


    "Master... Please go easy on us."


    "I can''t. We have to get strong fast. Besides, if you guys get stronger, our training sessions will finally start to help me!" Emeros exined.


    Everyone had a serious look on them and held on to their weapons tightly.


    Emeros recalled the early stages of Kyros. His main advantage was his speed.


    "Kyros was able to train his allies to get used to fighting against fast foes... He''s smart, and he must have been on to something. Then this should be my goal for now!" Emeros decided.


    Everyone soon had their sticks ready.


    Emeros picked up his stick and was ready to fight. His gaze turned serious. Beyond training the rest, he had to train himself.


    He began to swing the stick and check on its stats.


    ---


    Broken Spear


    Attack: 6


    Durability: 3


    ---


    With a low attack stat, Emeros knew that the damage would not be too great on his allies even if hended three of four hits.


    "Everyone... I will attack you now!"


    Emeros charged at Wesret. He didn''t use [Prontp] but relied on his dexterity and made a powerful attack.


    Wesret was startled and tried to block.


    But Emeros suddenly, too, sidestepped and leaped at Philip.


    SMASH!


    Philip was sent tumbling down.


    Emeros smiled and saw Wesret charge to his side.


    SMASH!


    Serena managed tond a hit. She had attacked Emeros from the back!


    Emeros saw starts, and before he could recover...


    SMASH!


    Don''s attacknded.


    SMASH!


    And finally, Wesret.


    Emeros staggered to the side, but Philip had recovered, and as he hadn''t noticed what had happened, he leaped up and swung his stick on Emeros.


    SMASH!


    "Master!" Serena panicked as Emeros slumped down.

 Chapter 592 Training To Deceive

    Chapter 592 Training To Deceive


    His fourpanions beat up Emeros, and he stumbled face t on the floor.


    "Master! Are you alright?!" Serena rushed over.


    The rest also followed as they saw their master stumble down.


    The group quickly flipped him over and was even more horrified at what they saw.


    Emeros was wearing a strange smile, and saliva was dripping off of his mouth.


    "Good night, big sis..." Emeros gave a strange smile as he nced upwards at the ceiling.


    "Master?!" The group began to shake him to wake him up.


    But at that moment, Emeros''s dumb expression was all to hide his n. He gazed to the ceiling of the cave and finally saw ''it.''


    Everyone kept shaking Emeros, and his eyes started to focus.


    SMASH! SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!


    Emeros quickly took advantage of their concern and revenge-smacked his allies with quick strikes.


    The four were hit in the face and stumbled backward.


    "Lesson 1! Do not be overconfident! An enemy struck down may not be defeated! Always double tap!" Emeros stood and lost all the embarrassing moments it once had.


    Emeros then observed his team''s stats as he pretended to pace around, carefully observing everyone.


    "As you can see, my speed is very, very fast! I allowed you to hit me!" Emeros exuded the mannerisms of a superior expert giving strict training to his pupils who were still on the ground from the sudden strikes.


    Emeros then observed his team''s stats as he pretended to pace around, carefully observing everyone.


    Emeros''s eyes faintly glowed as he watched the stats of everyone. His powers of Wisdom were updating the stats that he knew.


    ---


    Serena


    Next level: 1399/2188


    Level 4 -> 6


    Strength: 14 -> 23


    Magic: 4 -> 6


    Dexterity: 21 -> 33


    Vitality: 15 -> 24


    Intelligence: 35


    Hit Points: 340


    Force: 0 -> 3


    ---


    Wesret


    Level 4 -> 6


    Next level: 1384/2173


    Strength: 13 -> 20


    Magic: 2 -> 3


    Dexterity: 20 -> 30


    Vitality: 10 -> 17


    Intelligence: 49


    Hit Points: 200 -> 270


    Force: 2 -> 4


    ---


    Philip


    Level 4 -> 6


    Next level: 1388/2178


    Strength: 11 -> 17


    Magic: 3 -> 4


    Dexterity: 22 -> 33


    Vitality: 12 -> 18


    Intelligence: 39


    Hit Points: 220 -> 280


    Force: 2 -> 4


    ---


    Don


    Level 4 -> 6


    Next level: 1345/2163


    Strength: 10 -> 16


    Magic: 5 -> 7


    Dexterity: 19 -> 28


    Vitality: 10 -> 16


    Intelligence: 54


    Hit Points: 200 -> 260


    Force: 1 -> 2


    ---


    Emeros kept nodding and nodding as if giving strict observations on them, but then he turned his attention to thest stats he managed to gather through his Gauge technique. His use of Gauge on his allies was all part of the cover-up to hide the fact that he has already used guage on ''him.''


    Emeros was horrified at what to do and began to think about what he could do.


    "Stand up! Now! I can see that you are all too slow for my little trick. So now, we will do a rotation. I will face two of you, and the other two will fight each other. The rules are you are not allowed to block. This is a practice of dexterity, so I want you to evade each other or me. The one that scores the first hit wins." Emeros gave the rules and pointed at Wesret and Don, who had the lower Dexterity stats among the team.


    Emeros raised his stick as he faced the two. Emeros needed to practice his use of Pronto as well.


    The two had slightly angered expressions for how Emeros did them dirty on thest attack.


    "Let''s go! Keep moving at your fastest pace! Otherwise... you''ll get hit!"


    And so, the training sessions for increasing dexterity began. Emeros focused on controlling his [Pronto] and conserving mana when he used it. He would only activate it at a split second to quickly evade and ensure attacks. His dexterity was at 37 points and was only four points faster than Serena and Philip, who had the fastest Dexterity stat.


    Against Don and Wesret, Emeros did well.


    The two were defeated within a minute, and Emeros didn''t use [Pronto].


    But against Serena and Philip, he used up all his mana and got struck and beaten by the surprisingly coordinatedbo of the two.


    SMASH!


    Emeros was knocked down.


    At first, the two were unsure if this was another trick made by Emeros, who was ying possum again.


    The two approached, and suddenly, they saw Emeros make an unconscious jolt.


    And like good students, Serena and Philip double-tapped him in fear.


    SMASH! SMASH!


    Emeros was unconscious for a full minute.


    The moment Emeros opened his eyes, he sat up on the cave wall. He almost jumped out of his body in surprise but suddenly slumped down again.


    "Master! I''m sorry! We-"


    "N-no! That was good!" Emeros forced a smile as he held on the back of his head.


    There was blood.


    "Ma-Master!" Serena saw her hit was too strong and that Emeros was bleeding from the back.


    "I''m alright... I''m... alright." Emeros chuckled with a slightly nervous tone.


    "Let''s continue with the next training... It''s training my master taught me to increase dexterity. Juggling!"


    "Juggling?" Wesret echoed.


    "We have a great advantage now! We can improve our dexterity. We tried tobat it, but we had a hard time adjusting to it. So we''ll do juggling. Now... erm... sorry, can you sit next to me while I draw how you guys will do this juggling thing? And hand me that parchment of papers." Emerosughed.


    The group worriedly sat beside Emeros and gave Emeros the paper and the pen.


    Emeros began to draw on the parchment and was using his blood.


    "Alright. So we juggle weapons like this... and this..."


    The group had strange expressions as they nced at the parchments.


    "So my master was struck with a strange curse. His perception was slow. It was a spell called [De-Spacito]. But he managed to ovee it in his youth by training like this. Right now, your suddenly, someone who hasn''t seen the person for a long time arrives, they see the profound changes in the person. Your sudden level-ups are a precious example. To make an analogy, it''s like being with someone every day that you don''t notice that the person has been gradually gaining or losing weight. And Then suddenly, someone who hasn''t seen the person for a long time arrives, they see the profound changes in the person. Your dexterity is like that..."


    Serena''s eyes were glued on the parchment as Emeros kept writing.


    Everyone else also had the same expression.


    "Erm... So you mean, because we leveled up several times, we would actually see the difference in Dexterity."


    "Right! Your body automatically adjusts to perceive things faster. But it can be honed to another level. It''s scarce to level up multiple times within a short while. One or two is possible, but leveling up from one to six is pretty umon unless someonees from an affluent background. My master used a simple trick to train. Juggling! I want you all to juggle like this and keep your eyes on the weapon. Concentrate! I will try to disrupt your focus. For now, clear out the room. Move everything to the side and leave a wide space for you to practice juggling."


    The group began to lift the numerous pieces of furniture and even removed the nts and weeds that started sprouting, as well as the nts that grew.


    Emeros tried to stand up but sighed and sat down again.


    "I can''t move. Ugh. Philip! Get me that formation te. I will study the Dark Dependent method of raising Serena to the next level. After all, you vampires are very picky!" Emeros decided.


    Philip gave Emeros the formation te and moved to his position to juggle.


    Everyone started to juggle and had serious expressions as they watched their weapon fly high up in the air.


    "Ahhh!" Don shouted as the sword fell, leaving a small cut on his arm.


    "Be careful!" Emeros warned.


    "Grab a healing potion and keep it near you," Emeros ordered, and the group went ahead and followed.


    They continued to juggle, and Wesret was the first to notice it.


    "It''s... amazing! I can actually feel the improvement in my perception!" Wesret praised.


    TAK!


    A small stone was hurled at him, and he panicked as the sword fell.


    "Focus! Harness that dexterity to react ordingly!" Emeros called out as he finished working on the Formation te.


    "Serena, you lucky girl. With this Dark Dependent Form, we could make you rise in level far quicker!" Emerosughed. But then Emeros suddenly started coughing, and blood came out.


    "Master!"


    "Rx! It''s not the injury. This one is from that time..." Emeros took off his clothes, and behind him was the Vow mark left.


    "Master... What''s that mark?" Philip asked.


    "The Vow mark of my very. As you know, I broke free through a Vow Breaker spell that my former master ced. But... these vows are quite resilient!" Emeros sighed.


    Emeros used a mirror to observe his back and tried to draw it on another formation te.


    The rest continued to juggle, and soon, everyone was too tired to continue.


    "Wow! My dexterity has increased!" Don was amazed.


    "Let''s continue training in Dexterity tomorrow. Now that you have noticed the changes, you can train in it. Tomorrow, we''ll redo our fighting training again!" Emeros spoke.


    The group moved to the side and found a ce where they could fall asleep.


    The group drifted and drifted, and soon, everyone had fallen asleep.


    Emeros was knocked out due to his wounds and had already shown signs of groggy. But now that everyone was asleep, ''he'' acted.


    From the dark stctite of the upper ceiling of a cave, a strange wooden figure emerged. It looked like creeping branches, and finally, its figure, a wooden creature with a grotesque humanoid form, began to descend. Its main body had five hands and looked like a tree branching out. At the top of this creature was a small ugly head.


    Its descent was slow and careful that it didn''t make any sound.


    But as it moved down, it did not notice that everyone was wide awake and was ready to attack.


    Since Emeros had observed the corpse and studied the books, it knew that they fell right for a trap!


    Emeros allowed himself to be hit by his allies the first time, so he had an excuse to look at the ceiling without drawing attention. He even made an idiotic expression to hide that he used Gauge on this beast. Emeros then initiated a n to draw the creature out. He used the training to deceive the creature and make the creature think that everyone would be too tired!


    Everyone had covered their faces and pretended to hide their faces in the darkness, but everyone''s eyes were wide open.


    They were all waiting for Emeros to give the signal.


    Emeros tried to rx his body. He was the most agitated. Even when he wrote about the creature to his friends, he did not tell them that this creature would most likely be at a Captain''s Level!

 Chapter 593 Training to use Force

    Chapter 593 Training to use Force


    Emeros had already suspected something in the room when he saw the mage''s corpse. It wasn''t a natural death. It was a Dark Dependent''s spell! And a very advanced one at that. It was a spell that called forth the soul.


    How a mere mage like Rorcrast would have the power of shamanic and Dark Dependent means simr to the Skeletons and Liches who abandon the flesh, Emeros could only guess that it is connected to the Crown.


    But when Emeros saw the corpse and confirmed that it was a Dark Dependent spell that caused the Corpse and not that it died of anything, he read the journal, and there felt dread.


    Why did his journal detail his poisoned death? And it was very specific? It was as if he wanted the readers to believe he had died!


    At first, Emeros thought that it was to fake his death. But the room itself was strangely habitable. Magic lights worked, and potions and other precious magical stones and ores that were rare in this mine were found inside!


    As Emeros continued to read the book, he was certain that this room was a trap! A trap designed to lure and lull human adventurers to sleep!


    Everything inside the room was perfect to be a secret hideout. Many books and interesting studies were present that would entice mages to read.


    Emeros felt that this trap was too dangerous, and so he decided to search for the hidden adversary using his [Gauge] skill that he received from his mother, Wisdom.


    But it would seem suspicious if Emeros would suddenly use Gauge up the ceiling, so, Emeros plotted and made the act of getting hit and falling t on the ground so that his allies would flip his body.


    The quick moment he was flipped, he used Pronto and gauged the ceiling. He saw the creature being identified by his skill and quickly stopped using it.


    ---


    Deadwood Troglodyte (Mage Rorcrast) detected.


    ---


    The notification confirmed his worst fears. And so, Emeros devised a n. He was sure that the creature was observing them, and the fact that it did not immediately attack was because it was conserving its life. Emeros knew that to Dark Dependents, movement and using his powers would shorten his life span.


    And as the enemy was a high-leveled mage, Emeros decided to use his special powers.


    The Captain Mage that created a vow on him was easily defeated because of the mysterious power that Emeros had in him. Vasilius was Emeros''s only weapon.


    If he could force this Dark Dependent mage to establish a contract, a forceful contract on him, then they stood a chance to survive! If they tried to leave, the creature might attack and pounce on them, fearing its prey would leave.


    Emeros then fed false information to Mage Rorcast to force this Deadwood Troglodyte to prioritize making a contract with him.


    The first was to reveal himself as a wise mage who knew ck Magic and even called it by its true name. The phrase Dark Dependent form alerted Rorcast''s attention and desired to know more of its secrets. Emeros also made mentioned of how everyone grew five levels within the span of a few days!


    This ced Emeros''s value very high! Rorcast had to capture and spare Emeros!


    Emeros then revealed that there was a Vow marking on him. This would make it easier for this mage to create a new vow and bind the human. But then, Emeros revealed that he had a Vow Breaker!


    Because of this spell, Rorcast should conclude that attacking Wesret, Serena, Philip, and Don had to happen after Emeros was forced into servitude. Should this tree try to ambush everyone, it might awaken Emeros, who would use the Vow Breaker spell that Emeros intentionally mentioned being within him.


    And so, despite the possibility of being attacked by the rest, which would shorten his lifespan, Rorcast acted on securing Emeros as his ve.


    The wooden arm of the creature reached out and tapped on Emeros''s body as it tried to make Emeros move to reveal the mark of the Vow on his back.


    A faint glow appeared on the tip of this creature''s twig-like fingers, touching Emeros''s back.


    The vow had begun!


    But at that moment, Rorcrast''s entire tree-like body suddenly froze as it saw itself in a strange realm.


    Emeros tried to act and inform his allies to initiate the n, but he was once more brought into this strange world where the great king was summoning the Deadwood Troglodyte.


    "Who dares?! Who dares to steal the memories of my Prince?! You wish to enve my heir and take his memories?!" The booming voice of the king echoed in the vast kingdom as the Deadwood Troglodyte was shocked by the scenes before him.


    "As you have desired to take his memories, then your memories shall be taken by my Prince! Let all your secrets be given to him, and all you know to be given to my Prince! This is my ruling! The Rule of a King has been invoked!"


    Emeros suddenly saw himself back at the cave.


    CRASH!


    The Deadwood Troglodyte fell from the top of the cave as his wooden body lost grip on the ceiling and fell.


    "Now!" He shouted and took the ''potion'' that he had everyone take and threw it to the Deadwood Troglodyte.


    SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH!


    The Deadwood Troglodyte was still in a daze as he felt a strange power rip out what he knew, and it was all being transferred to Emeros!


    But because of this, he couldn''t move for a time and then felt a sharp pain in his head.


    Emeros shoved a small Fire ore to ignite the mes.


    VOOSH!


    The entire body of the tree was suddenly engulfed in mes.


    "Ahhhhh!" A piercing cry was heard as the Deadwood Troglodyte shouted in pain.


    When Emeros had pretended to be wounded and asked for everyone to sit next to him, he informed everyone of the lurking predator. In the parchment, Emeros instructed that everyone was to take the remaining oil sks that they had.


    Don then intentionally wounded himself, which gave everyone an excuse to get the potion without rousing even a hint of suspicion.


    The Deadwood Troglodyte regained his senses, but the sharp pain constantly attacking his mind hindered his focus.


    It roared angrily and saw the group throw more oil sks at it.


    "You... pests!" The Deadwood Troglodyte swung its arms as its body began to twist.


    FLASH!


    But all of a sudden, a strange binding energy appeared!


    Emeros had his arms on the Energy Conversion circle, and the Deadwood Troglodyte realized that a Formation te had been kicked beneath him.


    When Emeros pretended to get hit, he revealed to the rest that he was bleeding at the back of his head. But the truth was, the blood was from a cut he secretly made on his palm.


    While appearing to work on the Formation te, Emeros was actually drawing another Energy Conversion Circle at the bottom using the blood from his hand. It was a basic Energy Conversion Circle found in the book of Emeros. A binding spell was made.


    Emeros also recalled the binding and Sealing spells that the Nephilim Sealing Temple had when it sealed Kyros. Though Kyros was free, the remnants of that energy conversion circle remained on the floor of the Temple.


    "Please work!" Emeros pleaded as he poured out his mana into it.


    The Deadwood Troglodyte turned stiff, and his movements greatly slowed down.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! STAB!


    Emeros''s allies began to hack away at the beast.


    "Ahhh!" Wesret shouted as he swung his weapon again and again.


    The group did not make wild attacks. As Emeros instructed, they had to focus and make powerful attacks since their enemy would have high defenses. They would have over fifteen levels apart, and weak attacks would do little damage.


    Emeros wrote that they should not wildly swing their des but focus on the quality of their attacks instead of the quantity.


    "Fight! If you don''t kill it, we die! Release everything! Release your Force! We will die if you can''t! Make every swing count! Train yourself to keep bringing out your Force!" Emeros shouted.


    With their life on the line, everyone struck the monster with all their might. Their damage would be very small, and so Emeros instructed them that even with the pitiful amount of force that they had, they had to shell it out.


    The attacks had managed to sap out the small amount of force that they had which increased the actual damage that they could make.


    Emeros saw a small branch of the Deadwood Troglodyte and reached out to touch it with one hand while his other hand kept pouring out mana into the circle.


    ---


    Deadwood Troglodyte (Mage Rorcrast)


    Dexterity: 81


    10:14


    Level 23


    Strength: 71


    Magic: 71


    Dexterity: 81


    Vitality: 91


    Intelligence: 154


    Hit Points: 745/1090


    Armor Rating: 26


    Force: 31


    ---


    The stats were shown, and Emeros could see what every attack would do against the Troglodyte.


    ---


    Deadwood Troglodyte damage received: 18


    Deadwood Troglodyte damage received: 15


    Deadwood Troglodyte damage received: 17


    Deadwood Troglodyte damage received: 16


    Deadwood Troglodyte damage received: 39 Per second (Burn)


    ---


    Emeros''s expression turned grim. He could only hold the creature for nine more seconds!


    But his thoughts remained focused, and he did not panic. He then learned more about the strange potions and magical items inside this chamber.


    "Philip! Get the green potions on that shelf and throw them at him!" Emeros ordered and pointed in a certain direction of therge room.

 Chapter 594 Training of Wills

    Chapter 594 Training of Wills


    Acquiring memories allowed Emeros to urately learn of the one weakness the enemy could be affected by.


    The power of Vasilius that made its vow allowed Emeros to quickly remember everything about the room.


    Despite his transformation and how he became a Deadwood Troglodyte, Rorcast remained a powerful and brilliant mage.


    Several mixtures within theboratory could still be used and were recently mixed. He needed to give the impression that the ce was rtively new. But now, his impressive mixtures would be used against him.


    Philip made a quick sprint as the Deadwood Troglodyte began to quiver and resisted the seal with more intensity.


    Emeros felt the mana drain out of him, but he held on.


    The Deadwood Troglodyte focused whatever remaining strength he had to attack Emeros. It was only now that he realized that Emeros was using sealing magic. He thought it was due to the vision but realized that there was a seal under him!


    "YooOuuu... BrRraAATtt!" Mage Rorcast finally spoke in a human voice.


    Rorcast''s speech was sluggish and slow, but his body began to tilt to prepare an attack on Emeros.


    His slow reaction time stopped him from hitting the others who were attacking and withdrawing to prepare for another huge attack. But against an immobile Emeros, his attack wouldnd.


    He swung his slow arm moved, but Serena jumped in and swung her sword to stop the attack.


    SLASH!


    The two attacks met. The slow speed meant that Rorcast could not bring out the full power of his attack, and while it had overpowered Serena''s attack, his wooden arms had very little velocity and power when they struck Emeros.


    A weak p reached Emeros, but Emeros pressed his body low and did not let go.


    Emeros bore the pain of the strike. He knew that his n was a sess! He managed to hold on and pour thest remaining mana on the Deadwood Troglodyte just in time for Philip''s throw to hit therge body easily.


    SPLASH!


    The green potion sshed on the middle trunk portion of his strange tree body. A poisonous acid began to burn down on his body, and with thebination of fire, it turned to mes into blue fire!


    "AHHHHH!" Mage Rorcast''s pained scream was heard.


    "Attack that area!" Emeros ordered.


    SLASH! SLASH!


    Don and Wesret aimed their weapons at where the green vial hit and their cut managed to cut deeper into the blue mes!


    "Ahhh!" The Deadwood Troglodyte shrieked in pain as the Entropy Potion added poison to his body.


    "Get back!"


    Emeros was finally out of mana, and he quickly jolted away and ran to the other side, where he saw another useful object of alchemy.


    His allies ran back as the monster realized that it could now move and began to il his branch body around.


    WHIP! WHIP! WHIP!


    The wild swings made whip sounds as Rorcast gained control of its movements. Many mes began to die out, but the blue me on his front chest remained.


    He was enraged and chased after Philip, who was now grabbing another potion simr to the first.


    "I''ll kill you!" Rorcast used its roots that were like feet and moved with fast speed.


    Philip still had another means of hurting the Troglodyte, and he was the target.


    Yet even before they initiated this n, Emeros had already instructed the group to strengthen themselves. If they tried to leave the room, they would force Rorcast to attack. Their only choice was to fight back. Emeros instructed them to train their will and courage.


    They spent hours hurling the swords to get a glimpse of the creature above them and remained in constant focus. They dangerously threw swords and trained to catch them despite knowing there was monster of death above them. All of this was to forge their bravery and courage. Emeros told them that he had a n, but everyone must be ready to die.


    And that moment, everyone was ready to die.


    Serena and Wesret made their decision to die and charged forward.


    Don also ran forward and delivered an upward thrust.


    Rorcast swung its arm at the three.


    Facing their death and the constant training of Dexterity, they somehow seeded and aplished the first step that Kyros mastered to ovee [De-Spacito] in his first life.


    Time seemed slow as they approached their death. Serena and Wesret could somehow see the arm swinging with an attack that would surely kill them both. But at that moment, they had such rity.


    The stressful training of juggling swords while knowing a monster was up there sharpened everyone''s focus, and they attacked the branch.


    Their three attacks struck iing wood whip, but these three were quickly overpowered.


    SMASH!


    Despite the weakened state of the Troglodyte, the swing inflicted more than 230 damage to the hitpoints of the three, and they were all smashed to the wall.


    The desperate attack that the three gave Philip the time he needed to throw the bottle.


    SPLASH!


    The bottle erupted upon impact, and the fiery contents spread on the right arm and caused the Troglodyte to stumble back.


    "AHHHH!"


    In anger, he dove forward and twisted its body to make a wild swing and kill Philip.


    "Die!" Emeros shouted as he appeared at the side of Rorcast.


    Rorcast was startled and used another branch of his arm to swipe down and p Emeros.


    But as he did, Emeros''s eyes were glowing with mana.


    Right after he retreated, Emeros grabbed a nearby potion which he was sure to be a mana-restoring potion of Rorcast and drank it quickly using [Pronto].


    With his mouth drinking the remains of the potion, he ran towards another ce that he knew would have a helpful item.


    He took a pouch that contained ck powder in it.


    Emeros had the memories of the mage and knew that these were powerful alchemy used to corrode and burn through stones! This object allowed the mage to make the room in the first ce!


    He took it and quickly rushed back.


    He stabbed the sword through the three pouches so the pouches would be skewered at the edge of his de and ran to attack the area where the first green potion was thrown.


    Rorcast''s p did not hit Emeros, as Pronto was barely enough for him to see the attack and make the dodge.


    STAB!


    The sword stabbed into the area, and the pouch of powder was pushed right into the burning body of the Deadwood.


    BOOM!


    An explosion urred, and the body of Rorcast was blown into two pieces.


    Emeros and Philip were also blown back from the st.


    The blue and yellow mes were scattered all over the room, and the two burning halves of Deadwood were at the center of this room.


    "Philip... Potion! Heal them!" Emeros pointed to another drawer where he knew the potion would be.


    Philip had little wounds, and he ran towards the cupboard and found numerous bottles.


    He took as many as he could and rushed back to his allies.


    Emeros forced himself to move and put out the fire all over his body. He was weak, but he did his best to act normal so that Philip would prioritize their other friends.


    The upper body of the Deadwood Troglodyte was on the ground near Emeros.


    Its head and body were squirming, but it did not have the strength to il its wooden arms.


    "You... brat...! Who... are you...!?" Rorcast asked as his life faded before his eyes.


    "You will never know... Rorcast. You prepared quite a trap. You even lied about your level to make whoever discovered yourir remain here. But if you were really level 27 and had more knowledge about Soul transfers that skeletons and lich used when they abandoned their flesh for magic, we would have surely died." Emeors spoke as he turned his eyes to Philip and kept using a gauge to determine the safety of his friends.


    "You... really have my... memories...!"


    "I am your prince. It''s your fault for acting too greedy. But I guess... I should thank you. All my knowledge was from my memory of when he would read books. But now, I have a Captain''s knowledge of being a mage..." Emeros chuckled.


    "You still had it wrong. But this time, everything you know and worked for is right up here. Alchemy, Botany, energy conversion circles, and Captain-level magic. I must thank you! But most importantly, you have the information I need to get to him. The Withered Feather!"


    "...You will... never... find him!" Rorcast cursed.


    "I''ve killed you. I''ll kill the other two, and his seal shall weaken!"


    "You... will never tame him!"


    "You forget... You are talking to your prince!" Emeros forced himself up and walked over the head with his broken sword.


    Emeros swung the sword and struck the head repeatedly with the sharp side of the broken de.


    SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!


    Rorcast didn''t even have the strength to scream as it died.


    Philip watched as Emeros released his remaining strength before copsing to the side.


    "Master!" Philip ran towards Emeros as Emeros''s vision faded.

 Chapter 595 Training To Be A Prince

    ?


    Emeros saw himself standing in a strange hall. He sat on the Throne and watched over the great cosmos with all of creation before him. Beings that Were Are and Who Has Come were all over this majestic tapestry, and even the dead were present.


    Time was much moreplicated in this realm as there was no time. What there was were the Three Seasons. The Duality of Beginning and End were the two seasons that marked the start and finish of the universe. And both Beings were headed towards the center where the Present Season approached Middle. But within the Present were two events that had been revealed.


    The death of the Nephilim persons, Kyros and Noxus, urred at the edge of the Present, where Middle was, but right before it was the season of Emeros.


    The grand universe was like a moving tapestry that moved towards the center.


    Emeros saw it, but his mind could not contain what he had seen, and he fell into a terrifying headache.


    "Before Beginning and End, before Truth and Falsehood, before the era when Hyperion severed the entire world, I was King." A calm voice spoke.


    Emeros heard the voice, but he felt his entire body trembling at each word as it contained great power.


    "I was the King of all. Since the start of that time, I have decreed that my world will be Eternal. Other created Universe will have a King, but its reign will end. But I will rule through all time. My Kingdom will never end. My glory will know no bounds. I purposed in my servants the battle to conclude the conflict within. And you, the Nephilim, shall arise."


    The entire space began to spin, and Emeros was being drawn into the vortex.


    "I am a King. But I chose to abandon my power for I yearned Eternity. Nephilim! Do not cower, and do not let the darkness of the End distort you! The true heir remains the heir even without power! I, Vasilius, King of the Universe, decree that a time ising and now has arrived, that my Kingdom, the Kingdom of Eternity, shall arrive!"


    Emeros felt the words he had just heard vanish, and his mind could not contain this knowledge. It was something that he could not process even as he listened.


    "I speak in thenguage of the heavens as someone who stands before and after time. And you will not remember this. But your heart and body will know. And now, I bestow your inheritance hidden before the world began."


    Emeros felt a sharp piercing pain on his forehead.


    "The power that I used to protect you, the Rule of Kings, is bestowed to you. It is a power that surpasses all bonds andws. A king is a man of his word. Though you cannot abuse and change thews and binds offered, any attempts to destroy, abuse, or cheat on a vow can be returned in full force."


    Emeros somehow understood the rules andws. The previous encounters were when the Baron and the Deadwood Troglodyte attempted to alter vows and were met with severe consequences.


    "I also bestow on you the im of Kings! You are the king of this world! Any unimed object of power, gate, seal, or sealed inheritance will be yours to im! You who have nothing must live and see life to im everything. A true king is not someone who sees himself above all. Only by bing like the weakest can you rise and wield power as the greatest. Arise and fight, my Prince! Arise and im the inheritance of this world! Arise and Challenge End! Arise and im Eternity!"


    The entire world began to light up, and Emeros was being hurled back into the season where he lived.


    He crossed the gxies and soon found the tri where he stayed, and then...


    Emeros opened his eyes, and he could see the dark ceiling of the cave.


    "...Where?" Emeros was confused as he saw the room.


    "That... vision! Was it real?!" Emeros pondered. He instinctively brought up his stats to check the recorded skills.


    ---


    Skills:


    im of Kings


    Rule of Kings


    True Recall


    ---


    Emeros saw his stats and realized the truth of his being.


    "...Then the Nephilim is not just the offspring of Wisdom and Falsehood! We are... the inheritors and Prince of Vasilius!" Emeros was startled. He realized that yet another power worked beyond what Kyros and Noxus knew!" Emeros was amazed.


    Emeros nced at his arms and tried to call out the two powers he gained. But there was no reaction, and no energy was summoned.


    Emeros sighed.


    "I guess this power is not something actively called upon, but this power is tied to my identity!" Emeros suddenly had some sense of confidence.


    "Interesting... Pseudos and Sophia deliberately divided the power bestowed to Kyros and Noxus and gave me nothing. But if Vasilius''s statement was true, he is a being that stands even above Wisdom and Falsehood! My parents may not have known what the power of Vasilius was. Or, they were convinced that this power was the weakest as the inheritance of Vasilius was lost to their knowledge! But the truth is... I have the greatest inheritance of all my brothers!" Emeros grew excited as he realized this.


    He stood up and felt a rush of confidence and purpose.


    "I am training to be the Prince of this Universe. My weakness and everything I will learn here will also be the knowledge that Kyros and Noxus will soon have. And when our collective experience and knowledgebine, perhaps we will be worthy of bing the Prince of Vasilius!"


    Emeros walked out of his bed which was separated from the main room with thick curtains.


    As Emeros moved out, he saw that the room was clean.


    Philip and Serena were awake, cleaning and putting out the fires and damage in the room.


    Wesret and Don were at the sides. They were conscious, but it was clear that they were heavily injured.


    "Master Emeros! You''re awake!" Serena ran weeping as she saw Emeros emerge.


    But as she drew near, she realized what she was about to do, made an awkward stop, and went down on her knees to bow.


    Emeros saw it and recalled the words of Vasilius.


    "You bow now, but we are equals, Serena." Emeros smiled.


    "I believe... that I will soon be king. But it will not because of mere titles or the power that I wield. It will be because... you see me worthy and bow willingly, even though you know that we are equals. Stand up. Right now, I don''t think I have that in your hearts. And if you guys ever bow to me, I hope it will be because you think I am worthy of it apart from my power, rank, or prestige." Emeros exined and helped Serena up.


    Serena tried to keep herself kneeling.


    "Master! I already see...!"


    "You still call me master. This means we are not equals. Stand, Serena. I will not ept this bow." Emeros pulled her up.


    Serena stood up and couldn''t help but sense a strange charisma from Emeros. He also spoke with such authority that he made her ept Emeros''s words.


    Emeros then turned to the rest.


    "First of all, I have to apud us. We killed a level 23 Deadwood Troglodyte, Mage Rorcast." Emeros smiled.


    Everyone was surprised.


    "That was really a level 23 creature?!" Don was startled.


    "You still doubt it? We nearly died from one swing of its tree body! If we didn''t work together and attacked his swing, we would have surely died! Well, maybe Serena would live!" Wesret chuckled.


    "Serena''s vampire lineage was induced through the Dark Dependent form, and that attack which nearly imed her life aided in awakening her vampiric qualities. But what''s interesting is that your lineage is quite impressive. I thought you were a turned vampire, but I''m now starting to think that you are a Bloodline Vampire! That recovery that allowed you to nearly heal all your wounds is not a normal vampire. If you feed, even those scars on your face will vanish."


    "Feed?!" Don gulped.


    "Oh, rx, you big coward! Stop being a kid! If Serena wants to feed, she can feed on me! She fought with us with great bravery!" Wesret chastised Don.


    "Actually, if Serena does feed, it would take all your blood to make her recover." Emerosughed.


    "We will go out and hunt. The n worked better than I thought. The Vow Breaker easily dispelled the Vow Binder spell he tried to use on me, and his demands were used against him. He wanted to know everything that I knew, but the spell my master used was so powerful that the Vow Breakerforcibly took the memory of this creature and gave it to me! And it''s the reason we are alive now. I instantly knew all the potions and powders that this mage had made before the trap. And that was what we used to kill it!"


    "So that''s how you knew about the potions!" Philip eximed.


    "But it all wouldn''t have been possible without everyone''s assistance! And now, I know of the underground region! We have quite a mission toplete and are pressed with time! The others must have sensed it! They will be cautious, and even I don''t know what they will do!"


    "The others?"


    "The greatest secret that Mage Rorcast has is that he and three other mages are the ones that opened the portal that caused the monsters to appear here. It was a part of a seal! Three more creatures of equal power to Rorcast remain!"

 Chapter 596 Training To Be An Alchemist

    ?


    The underground world was now more chaotic than it was before.


    Scores and scores of Imps and Gremlins marched off toward the direction of the mine.


    Many troops and groups of beasts were guarding the area.


    The rush of imps seemed endless, and the sounds of battles could be heard from afar.


    Emeros had secretly scouted the region with Philip and Serena and determined the current state of the mine.


    Mage Perment also sent Emeros an important message to refrain from returning. And even the n to deliver the book had to stop with the interference of Mage Rorcast.


    There were also battles urring all over the region, and monster screams, and howls could be heard as the imp army was now trying to take over the region.


    Dozens of imps and gremlins continued to attack arge mantis. Five of the mantis had died from the attacks of the gremlins and imps, and only therge mother mantis was present.


    It fought and easily defeated the imps and gremlins. But the wounds it took were piling on it, and it was bleeding in many areas thanks to the powerful attacks of the team.


    But the mother mantis fought, forcing the Puks to take action and join the battle.


    Emeros, Philip, and Serena were all covered in a strange paint that camouged them within the cave and masked their scent.


    They managed to move through the underground world, looking for enemies to hunt or capture. But with the chaos, finding a battle they could exploit was easy.


    The Puks and the giant mantis began to fight.


    FWIP! FWIP! FWIP!


    Arrows were suddenly shot toward them.


    But these arrows now had poisons soaked on them and even had powerful entropy poison and causing the mantis and the Puks to suffer in pain.


    Emeros ran, and he was carrying therge saw-de of the Chort.


    It was inefficient to use this weapon, but at the death of the Deadwood Troglodyte, Emeros could level up to level 6 and now could wield the massive weapon with speed and efficiency.


    Emeros ran, and as he was about to reach the Puks, he spun around and shed therge saw-de.


    SLASH!


    The wide sh didn''t slice the three puks in half, but it left a deep cut as the saw teeth left a horrifying and gut-dropping wound.


    Emeros ran deeper into the middle of the battle and aimed for the giant mantis, which was already covered in wounds from the Puks.


    "[Pronto]!" Emeros activated his spells as the mantis stung its two sickle arms.


    Emeros evaded it, slid down the mantis''s body, and made a saw cut right in the insect''s abdomen.


    SLASH!


    "ROOOOOARRR!"


    The mantis screamed and quickly tried to escape. But the wound it received was causing its insides to spill out. It had received too many wounds that its chitin army had vastly weakened.


    STAB!


    Philip had jumped in. He could kill the remaining imps and stab the mantis in its head. It was too afraid and in so much pain that it didn''t notice Philip waiting.


    The mantis couldn''t roar and sumbed to its many wounds, and it stumbled down.


    THUD!


    Emeros turned to the side and saw Serena drinking the blood of the Puk as she bit the creature on the neck.


    The Puk''s lower body was barely clinging to it and had no strength to fight back.


    Serena had to use a knife to open a wound and drink the beast''s blood.


    She had already tasted Emeros and Philip''s blood and didn''t hesitate or was disgusted by this bite.


    She realized that her appetite for blood was increasing.


    She easily drained the blood of the creature and felt a strange energy flow within her.


    Emeros was quickly cutting the mother mantis''s bodies into smaller pieces.


    "Load them up. This will be great as a source of food for us. Mage Rorcast loved mantis meat when he was still human."


    "This mantis was big! What was the level of this beast?"


    "Level 12. But it was too weak thanks to its fight with the imp army." Emeros exined.


    "We can''t bring them all back. We only have three wagons... What about the other corpse?" Serena asked. There were dozens of imps and a few mantes. It seemed like a waste to leave them.


    "Take three mantis, four puks, three gremlins, and a dozen imps in one pile so we can drain the energy. We''ll absorb it here." Emeros ordered as he took the formation te.


    The imps, gremlins, puks, and even the young giant mantises had all their energy drawn out and bestowed to Serena and Philip. Surprisingly, Emeros''s spell was so fast that it was already over.


    "We leveled up!" Philip cheered.


    "The Deadwood Troglodyte already had given us more than 300 experience points each. But it wasn''t enough to help us reach the next level. But now we can. Load up the remaining corpses. I still need to harvest the moss growing here. The ones that the mantis feed on can be used to create healing herb mixes." Emeros ordered.


    With the memories of Rorcast, Emeros better understood the entire underground region. The great amount of mana now appearing all over the mines was causing many magical herbs, mushrooms, and other nts to grow.


    The Mantises took refuge in the ce as herbs fed it. But this spot was often a battlefield as many monsters would challenge ownership.


    But thanks to the battle, Emeros had easily found many corpses to make them reach the next level.


    Emeros observed the stat growths of each as he harvested the moss on the walls where the mantis fed on.


    ---


    Emeros Vasilius


    Level up!


    Level: 5 -> 6


    Experience: 932/1432


    Strength: 32-> 37


    Magic: 15-> 16


    Dexterity: 37-> 44


    Vitality: 32-> 35


    Intelligence: 298 -> 379


    Force: 15-> 17


    Hit points: 420 -> 450


    ---


    Serena


    Next level: 1399/2101


    Level 6-> 7


    Strength: 23 -> 27


    Magic: 6 -> 7


    Dexterity: 33 -> 39


    Vitality: 24 -> 28


    Intelligence: 35 ->39


    Hit Points: 340 -> 380


    Force: 3 -> 5


    ---


    Philip


    Level 6-> 7


    Next level: 1388/2032


    Strength: 17 -> 21


    Magic: 4 -> 5


    Dexterity: 33 -> 39


    Vitality: 18 -> 22


    Intelligence: 39 -> 41


    Hit Points: 280 -> 320


    Force: 4 -> 5


    ---


    Emeros was pleased with the progress of the group as their stat growth was above the normal range. Even Philip, who had weaker strength, now had grown up. Serena''s stats continued to excel morepared to the rest who were humans.


    The group quickly retreated. But now, they were dragging a wagon that had a pile of beasts above.


    Emeros would often scout ahead and throw rocks to lead the imp monsters away and would even harass local monsters with arrows while crying out in imp tongues.


    The monsters would then attack the nearby imps, and Serena and Philip would sneak ahead in themotion.


    Like this, the group was able to return to Rorcast''s room.


    Don and Wesret were immediately treated with the moss after it was ground and mixed with some healing potions.


    They were applied all over their body, and they began to grow.


    After they were treated, Emeros used the formation te and increased the two levels.


    ---


    Wesret


    Level 6 ->


    Next level: 1384/2093


    Strength: 20 -> 25


    Magic: 3 -> 4


    Dexterity: 30 -> 36


    Vitality: 17 -> 20


    Intelligence: 49 ->51


    Hit Points: 270 ->300


    Force: 4 ->5


    ---


    Don


    Level 6 -> 7


    Next level: 1345/2163


    Strength: 16 ->20


    Magic: 7 ->9


    Dexterity: 28 -> 33


    Vitality: 16 ->19


    Intelligence: 54 ->56


    Hit Points: 260 ->290


    Force: 2 -> 3


    ---


    The two felt the energy flow in them and was heightening their recovery rate. Some of the fractures were quickly mending.


    "Today, we eat and recover. If possible, I want you guys to continue the juggling exercise. I''m sure you''ve noticed that it helps. Don, I need you to start training in your magic. You should have enough magic now to use the formation te to absorb enemies and to open this door. We will train you in that, and I need you four to go out and gather some more resources."


    "What will you be doing, Master Emeros?" Wesret asked.


    "I need to start working on what I know. The knowledge of Mage Rorcast has aided me and helped me understand a lot of things that my master ranted about." Emeros exined as he began to chop up the body of the mantis.


    "You four will be my hunters and harvesters. This will also act as training for you. We need to increase our levels. If we are to take down the rest of the mages that opened the seal, we have to get ready. The imp horde over this region is acting as our cover and is preventing the three other mages from going here. But we may need to stay here and level up and increase my potion crafting skills. I need to put what I know to practice and create those pills..."


    "Those pills?"


    "Yes. The other three mages are just like Rorcast. They are nt creatures due to the legacy they found here. This was also the first curse of the seal. In order to open the demon gate, they had to assume the forms of demons. They are stronger now. We won this round by luck. Your shes and attacks were doing 15 to 18 damage on his hit points."


    "Fifteen to eighteen? That sounds small."


    "Yes, it is. Rocast''s health was over a thousand!"


    "So even if we manage to level up, we still can''t attack the enemy. We need weapons! No wonder the sword I used barely made a wound on his wooden body!"


    If the weapon''s quality was better, then my attacks would have done more damage!" Wesret recalled.


    "That''s what we need. And going back to the vige is dangerous. Mage Perment messaged me not to go back just yet. The town considers us the primary suspects, and Mage Perment is actually scheduled to face trials and is being treated as the primary cause. That''s why I need to hurry up. Unless we create the potion, people will use us of being servants of the demon even if we can present Mage Rorcast''s body." Emeros thought.


    "So even mage Perment is imprisoned?"


    "Yes. No doubt this is the work of the Barons we met. And now, the guards that we insulted are adding more fuel to the fire. So my n is to create the potion and make it look like Mage Perment made that. I will also deliver the book to him to present Mage Rorcast''s journal. We have five days to prepare. And then, to save Mage Perment, we have to return!"

 Chapter 597 Training To Be Assassins

    ?


    The appearance of the imps and gremlins had caused the mines'' operations to halt.


    Many miners had died from the sudden attacks of the imps.


    A day after Emeros had in the Chort, numerous squads of imps and gremlins had attacked, and it led to a great battle that summoned all the guards to focus their forces at the front.


    Dozens of the guards were even killed when the Puks appeared, and Perment had to move to the front line to fight.


    The response time was too long, forcing Perment to stay at the front lines.


    The guards proved to be utterly useless as many turned cowardly, and many had to flee.


    It was only when Perment stepped up and killed guards who were retreating and threw his authority and vowed their deaths that he managed to force many to fight.


    ves and guards began to fight back. Perment even began to use the gathered mines and the in beasts to start increasing the levels of the ves and fighters, which became anotheryer of enticement that made many want to fight.


    Perment only had a small group of reliable men who arose at the asion, and they used explosives to bring down some of the sides of the cave to force the monsters to pass through one small path where Perment focused his attention and the guards.


    He needed to buy time andmunicated to Emeros through the message talismans warning them not to return.


    The cowardly guards all med Perment and Emeros for being the cause of things. Perment denied it, but it would be too suspicious if Emeros and the rest were to return.


    Several adventurers and mercenaries had arrived and fought on the front lines, providing stability to the battle. With their arrival, the hordes of imps, gremlins, and puks were defeated and pushed back.


    At first, the confident team of mercenaries and adventurers wanted to explore the inside of the mines and pushed back.


    They had an average level of 13, with the leaders all at 15. They charged inside the caves and started to hunt the beast. The Puks were no match for them, and the fighting grew intense. The mercenaries could easily kill the Puks with their stronger weapons and numbers in one or two hits.


    The archers, mages, warriors, and even the barbarians all fought,ughing at their foes.


    On the night of the second day, they even made a killing and asked Perment to grant them experience.


    Perment did so, but he was terrified at the reports that Emeros kept sending him.


    He had learned of the monster inside the room and that Emeros nned to kill him. But Emeros was very grim in his report that he told Perment to leave if they did not call within the next day.


    On the third day, one of the mercenary groups was massacred. How such a powerful team could be killed was unknown, but they never returned.


    Soon, another group reported seeingrge goat monsters at level 10. With the hordes of imps and puks, it was now a threat that the mercenaries could not take.


    Many ves and the guards tried to flee on the third day. Morale had risen but had now plummeted at the deaths of a mercenary group. But as the group left, several powerful Captains were positioned at the exit. Barons and Viscounts were present but made a decree that no one would leave the mountains under the ims of an investigation!


    In the next days that followed, the cave was practically inessible, and more and more ves and guards were being sent inside.


    Even the mercenaries and adventurers could not move in!


    Perment couldn''t understand why until Emeros guessed the scenario.


    "Duke Ressongraze is the one who is assigned to manage the mines. This means that his sponsors and partners from this kingdom, and even those in the Tri Union, would demand their money back or stop paying for the operations of the mines if this is found out. I believe Duke Ressongraze is keeping the news sealed so as not to scare the investors and is trying to find a way to resolve the issue. Right now, they think this is just the Day of Monster Passing. But soon, when they realize that there is an army of imps down here, they will look for someone to me."


    Perment listened to the message sent through Talisman, and his heart clenched. With the current state of the mines, it would only be a matter of days until the Duke would look for a scapegoat to answer for his failings. And with Baron Elford outside, it was only a matter of time until the mes wouldnd on him.


    It was a week since Emeros disappeared that Perment received a terrifying message.


    "We will make amotion and open one of the sealed paths. Run towards us when you hear it. Do not hesitate. You will die if you keep staying there!"


    The message was a dire warning, and Perment received it just in time, and the message talisman crumbled to ashes as it had already used up all of the core energy.


    Perment read it and was startled. He was now among the front lines. Many of hispanions were ves and low-level guards. Some of the mercenaries and adventurers had died since then.


    Perment didn''t understand why there was such danger in his area. But he waited. And prepared to run.


    He watched the dark end of the mines.


    The two paths had been covered in stones, and in the week that passed, the imps and gremlins had little sess in clearing it out as the soldiers and ves would just pile more stones and push them in to keep the paths sealed.


    "Emeros must have found a way to create explosives. But will it be strong enough?" Perment frowned. He didn''t understand why there was such amotion.


    On the other side of the sealed tunnel.


    Imps and Gremlins were constantly whacking and striking and picking up the stones. asionally, the stone wall would copse as the humans on the other side would pile more stones and push them. With the elevated pathway, the stones often fell on the imps and gremlins'' side. But they kept on trying to dig a way out.


    Several puks were ordering the imps and gremlins to do their jobs.


    But unknown to them, Philip and Serena slowly crawled above the ceiling and clung to the stctites. They slowly moved and managed to keep a tight grip on the rocks above through a strange glove that they made which had hooks from the fangs and ws of puks and gremlins.


    The pair wore boots that also allowed them to cling to the ceiling.


    And aside from that, their strength stat had grown as they managed to achieve another level up in the past days of their hunting.


    Emeros, Don, and Wesret waited on the far end of the tunnel.


    "Remember. Aim for the jugr. We have to do this quietly. It''s a good thing that we''ve been training as assassins for the past few days. Everything that you''ve learned... apply it!" Emeros reminded.


    The two nodded as they saw Philip and Serena prepare to start the mission.


    The two moved in position and quietly took a sip of their potion. Their vision changed as they could now see heat.


    This was the potion of life detection.


    A simple potion that affects the eyes of the drinker so that they can see life. But the side effect was that their vision would be very distorted.


    With their sight changed, the two brought out a round ball.


    Using a bit of mana that they could now summon, it heated the core of this ball, and a small fire ore began to heat up.


    The two dropped the bomb, releasing a thick coat of smoke that quickly engulfed the area.


    The imps and gremlins were surprised that the area was suddenly full of smoke and heard themotion and started to cry out from afar.


    But with their backs turned towards the tunnel, Emeros and the rest appeared and stabbed at their throats.


    STAB! SLASH!


    Don and Wesret also moved with great speed, cleaving the heads of the creatures.


    Some of the imps and gremlins ahead heard the addedmotion, but Emeros and the rest began to throw knives made from the weapons, des, and fangs of the monsters they killed.


    STAB! STAB! STAB!


    Serena and Philip moved out of the smoke, and the two groups made a pincer attack to wipe out everyone.


    It all happened very fast, and no imp, gremlin, or puk could make a loud cry.


    "Good work, team. Now set the explosives. We don''t have much time." Emeros ordered. He had witnessed a terrifying scheme at y. The imp army was magic capable. And a dark trap was set to eliminate the barricaded human army from within.

 Chapter 598 Training To Be A Blitzer

    ?


    The monsters were all dead in an instant. The assassination worked!


    Philip was still trembling. The operation was a very risky attack. If they failed, not only would they face being surrounded, but the chances to save Perment would be gone forever.


    In the past days, they hunted and killed with tactics to kill the enemies silently.


    With their camouged outfits, scent-hiding alchemy, and high dexterity, they could easily kill numerous gremlins and imps.


    Even Don, who had the lowest Dexterity and Strength stat, could secretly kill a small group of imps and gremlins.


    "We have to hurry..." Emeros ordered.


    The team quietly moved and went to work.


    Don pushed the wheelbarrow that brought in many of the powders that Emeros used against the Deadwood Troglodyte and brought it to the end where the cave was


    Emeros was busy gathering the experience of the in creatures. Instead of using a formation te, he found a way to use his powers. In the weeks that passed, Emeros realized that as Prince, he had a strangemand and authority over those he had conquered.


    It was one of the many things that the vision of heaven and meeting Vasilius gifted him. This allowed Emeros to draw out the experience necessary through a single touch. Emeros had gloves that were inspired by a certain memory of Cminus, where the energy formation circles were drawn into a pair of gloves.


    The light flowed from the gloves as the energy was absorbed, and it was gathered into a Life Orb. These were used to gather life energy that would be used to bestow to another. Now, Emeros had a quick way of gathering energy. It was slightly weaker and could only gather eighty percent of the energy, but in missions that demanded quick actions like this, this would help them quickly gather experience and not waste their kills.


    The alchemy tools were set, and Emeros had rushed back to the end.


    "Get in position!" Emero ordered as he rushed back towards the wide tunnel where he knew those monsters would gather.


    During the past days of their assassinations, they constantly moved behind enemy lines to observe and find a way to help the humans. And there, they had uncovered a secret magic that the imps used. The mercenary group that charged inside was there.


    Perment had informed Emeros that a mercenary group had been captured, and Emeros nned to save them to give some support to them. But when Emeros saw the depths of the Imp''s barricades, he knew it was impossible to save them. The group was captured by high-leveled monsters that were stronger than the Chort!


    Short goat-like creatures like the Chort fought and captured the group of skilled hunters. Emeros saw the battle but could not help as there were even stronger creatures.


    The Kallikantzaros were smallerpared to the Chort, but they had levels that ranged from 13 to 16.


    Worst still was an evenrge goat demon. The Krampus! These monsters had levels that were over 20! And there were three of them.


    The scouting mission was risky. But Emeros had to see what exactly the imp creatures wanted to do.


    The mercenary were all thrown into arge bone cage full of the corpses of imps. They were given weapons and food to regain their strength. The mercenaries knew that they were only being kept alive for entertainment or to fight a strong beast, but they all stood their ground and prepared for the monster that would enter the cage.


    But the monster was not outside of the cage. It was already in it!


    The Krampus cast a strange spell using energy formation circles. It was clear that these Krampus had dark-dependent spell formations.


    Emeros was shocked. He now understood why the three other mages and even Mage Rorcast dared not to venture out of thend! The imps were far stronger and more powerful than previously estimated!


    Emeros couldn''t see the spell up close, but he noticed the death and dark energy within the corpses. Soon, a strange energy awakened, and all the corpses began to merge andbine. The gore and blood all crashed upon each other and horrified the mercenaries.


    Soon arge, eyeless, grey creature was born out of the corpses. It stood two meters tall and almost reached the top of the cage. It had no eyes but only arge mouth and a strange nose, and disfigured ears.


    The creature was at level 20, and it had speed and power.


    Emeros was able to gauge it through Wisdom and discovered its name.


    The Imp Troglodyte!


    The mercenary group didn''t stand a chance and was massacred.


    And that was only using nearly thirty corpses of imps.


    Inside the mines, the corpses of the Imps and gremlins were all buried in a pit.


    If ten of those creatures emerged, then the defense of the mines would soon copse.


    Emeros used various tactics to move across many of the beasts. As he entered therge hall, he immediately began to scale the wall so that he could see as far as he could.


    Though the magically dense area would create fog and limit his sight, he didn''t need to see. He just needed to see the familiar magical spell that gathered once the spell was cast.


    But as Emeros climbed the walls and was high enough to see the magical spells nearly a kilometer away.


    But this time, Emeros was startled.


    A vast power was surging out.


    "...A Champion?!" Emeros trembled. Something else was there.


    ---


    Demon Imp Lord


    ---


    Emeros could only see the name from a distance and froze in fear. He didn''t know what this creature was capable of.


    But at that moment, he watched as numerous Krampus arrived, along with an army of monsters. Chorts, Kallikantzaros, and Puks all followed this creature, and they all marched as the gathering of monsters started.


    Emeros discreetly began totch on the walls and use ropes to tie him up. He prepared tools to keep him up the walls for a long time and waited as the monster gathering brought up the best of the Imps Lord''s Army.


    On the other side of the mine, the ves and soldiers all sat down in silence. As everyone was trapped inside the mine and would face death if they left, it was only a manner of time that they would die.


    Perment couldn''t look at the eyes of the soldier. Most med him for the tragedy. But he knew that though the imps did attack, Emeros only made things better as they forced the imps to move ahead of schedule.


    All the items that Perment deemed important were with him. The rest were all used up in the battle, anyway. But Perment''s thoughts continued to what horror and monsters awaited them.


    "What trouble would happen here that would lead to the death of the people here?" Perment wondered.


    It couldn''t have been an invasion. The defenses were strong, and even two Mid-Ranked Captains were present.


    Perment continued to think when he sensed a strange ripple of magic.


    Many of the apprentice mages noticed it.


    The two captains noticed the ripple of energy.


    "What was that?" The swordsman asked.


    "Something''sing! Everyone! To your positions!" The Captain ordered.


    The ves and mercenaries positioned themselves next to the stone barriers.


    Archers and spear-wielders took their positions.


    Most of the ves had a long spear to attack, and the others used bows.


    All eyes were on the path.


    The mage captain even prepared a spell to shoot at the iing horde.


    But suddenly...


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    The ground began to open up as the graves where the imps and gremlins were thrown into all began to open up, and a huge creature emerged.


    Perment saw the monster and was startled.


    BOOM!


    A loud explosion was heard on the west path. Perment heard it and reminded himself of Emeros''s strict instructions.


    An imp horde charged at the front, and the tall, eyeless creatures began to fight at the back. The entire mine was in chaos as the Captains started to give orders and attacked the eyeless monster.


    A wide swing met the few ves that ran to attack it.


    The ves were not blown back, but their entire bodies shattered as if they stood before a cannon.


    A horrifying and gory sight shocked the few soldiers and mercenaries, and the Imp Troglodyte charged for them.


    Perment didn''t stay and watched and ran towards the dust and copsed stone.


    Perment passed through dust and smoke and found Philip.


    "Philip!"


    "No time to talk! We have to get out of here!" Philip shouted, and the group ran off.


    "Wait!" A cry was heard, and as Philip turned, he saw two ves running!


    It was the same man that tried to bully Emeros and, with her, was a middle-aged woman!


    Philip didn''t have time to care for them.


    "Just keep up!" Philip shouted, and the group ran.


    Serena, Don, and Wesret were waiting at the end of the tunnel where the paths forked.


    They saw the additional followers but didn''t mind.


    "Mage Perment! Don''t use your magic just yet. Leave the fighting to us. It''s going to be a wild battle with the imp army crawling around this area!" Serena instructed.


    "Where''s Emeros?"


    "He went ahead! Let''s go!" Serena answered, and the group moved to the right and followed the path.


    Along the way, there were many corpses of the Imp and gremlins.


    "Emeros killed this?!"


    "No. We killed it along the way. Quietly and made sure their blood wouldn''t spill. This is the path we took to get to that closed area. If this was Master Emeros, you''d know."


    Soon they reached arge area where numerous halves of imps and gremlins were scattered.


    Emeros would make a powerful dash and use the power of his speed, and therge sword could cleave three Puks in one attack.


    Perment and the two ves that followed were amazed at the whirling de of death that Emeros disyed.


    Two Puks and one Chort fought against him, along with dozens of imps and Gremlins.


    But the speed and swing of Emeros were just too fast for them!


    Perment knew how strong the Chort and the Puks were. A level seven and a level ten monster could easily kill dozens of ves!


    SLASH!


    The Puk had onerge cut on his side, and his vitality was low.


    The second swirling sh of Emeros cleaved the Puk in half!


    And yet, y fought the three while being surrounded by Imps and Gremlins!


    "What magnificent... swordy!" The man who ran with them praised.


    "Master Emeros has been training as a Blitzer during these past days. He''s finally getting the hang of it. Let''s go! We fight and push through!" Serena ordered, and they charged ahead to aid Emeros.

 Chapter 599 Training To Find The Sealed One

    ?


    Emeros constantly ran as a Blitzer would and would use Force to push and stop himself on his charge. His movements were very unpredictable, and he never moved in a straight line.


    The imps and gremlins could not keep up, and Emeros would always attack the most unexpected target in the circle.


    Every attack he made on the Puks dealt nearly 200 damage unless Emeros aimed for the head or any other vital parts, which would double the damage he could make.


    The Chort saw his toon quickly being eliminated and charged in.


    Emeros suddenly kicked the ground and let out his force to make a sudden sprint toward the Chort.


    The Chort was surprised that Emeros aimed for him!


    Emeros moaned through the Imps and Gremlins and made a quick sh.


    SLASH!


    ---


    Damage Inflicted: 154


    ---


    The fast des quickly cut and slid to the side as Emeros switched from making one cut and would dash low in the direction of removing the lodged sword and escaping.


    The Chort roared as he attacked to block Emeros''s escape, but Emeros reached ahead as the massive club of the Chort fell.


    Emeros used [Pronto] to make his reaction times faster, and he pushed on the club and quickly shifted from a forward sprint and made a quick leap back as he made a spin.


    His sword shed out, and the tip of the sword swiped at the left eye of the Chort before cutting a Gremlin into two.


    Emeros ran once more, tackled an imp, and pushed away from the Chort, who made a wild attack that brought down some of its allies.


    The Puks and the other gremlins ran back to chase Emeros, who quickly moved through them.


    FWIP! FWIP!


    SLASH! SLASH!


    Philip took out his bow kept shooting at the gremlins and imps with speed and great rhythm. These past days, his skill had increased and he was movements were more smooth.


    The rest had run up ahead and began to make strong shes.


    Don raised his hand, gathered the power from a fire ore, and drew it out.


    "Fire Ball!"


    BANG!


    A fireball shot out of his hands and shot towards a Puk and blew off its face.


    "A mage?!" Perment shouted as he saw Don use magic.


    "Impossible! How can he cast a spell like that?!" Perment couldn''t understand how Don did it.


    Wesret charged in and used quick stabs at the heads of the gremlins.


    Serena''s des could cut through Imps and make wild swings like Emeros.


    The Chort saw his allies being massacred and was about to give the orders to retreat.


    But suddenly, Emeros appeared behind him as he made quick dashes when the Chort was distracted.


    The sword of Emeros was glowing red as the fire ore slotted to it awakened the fire energy!


    The Chort swung his weapon, but Emeros knew the Chort''s attack happened toote. He kept pressing forward and swung his sword on the torso of the Chort.


    BOOM!


    A powerful me erupted as the sword struck the Chort and caused the opened wounds to be burnt and burst out.


    When the mes died out, therge burnt wound of the Chort was left at the torso of the Chort, and the Chort stumbled down.


    The rest quickly rounded up the surviving beast and killed them all.


    Perment was impressed with how strong the group was in just a few days.


    The two ves that followed had their mouths ajar at the scene.


    Emeros began to touch the corpse of the Chort, and the energy was quickly drained.


    Serena took a few weapons from the Puks, which were better weapons, and tossed them to the ves.


    "We move now!" Emeros drained the energy from a few more Puks and gremlins and ordered the team to move.


    The group left as themotion was heard.


    More and more people tried to escape on the path where Perment and the rest left, but they were all cornered as the army of the Imp Demon Lord made a push towards the exit of the mines.


    In the secretir of Mage Rorcast, Emeros, and the group had finally arrived and hid.


    Perment was amazed at the room. In the past days, Emeros had worked on his experiments, and it was now ab full of rare ores, nts, fungal roots, mushrooms, and even the organs and parts of certain monsters.


    "What happened?" Perment asked.


    "This room is the house of Mage Rorcast." Emeros handed a book.


    "He and four other mages were rivals who had unlocked the truth about this mine. They set out to find out the cause. This ce is not where monsters pass from the different monster kingdoms outside this mountain range. I''m sure you''ve seen imp breeds you''ve never seen before, right?"


    "Yes. Those tall goat monsters."


    "There are two more breeds that haven''t shown yet. One is a level 20 monster that can cast spells."


    "...What?!"


    "Yes. This is proof that this mountain is not just connected to different exits. There is a portal here that leads to another world. There was a seal that stopped this portal from opening. But Mage Rorcast and the rest tried to open it, not knowing the consequences of their ns."


    "...This book doesn''t say it!"


    "Rorcast intended it. He was here. He was using this ce as a trap to lure in powerful mages that would investigate the region. The seal ced a curse on them and made them monsters."


    "Is there proof of that?" Perment asked again.


    Emeros pointed at a tree that was cut down. But when Perment looked at it carefully, he was shocked to see that the face of Rorcast was there!


    The two ves saw the beast and gasped in horror.


    "The seal had a powerful curse that turned Rorcast into a Deadwood Troglodyte. He was probably new to the dark-dependent life. He probably tried to hunt, but there were just too many monsters in the area. And he was a potent energy source that would make him the target of many other monsters. For example, the Demon Imp Lord. The leader of the army that is invading the mines!"


    "A monster army?! If you found out about it, why didn''t you tell us? We could have fled!"


    "As if you''d believe the words of a ve. Don''t forget we are all ves and outcasts in the mines. Master Emeros guessed that everyone was ming us for the monster invasion! Didn''t you all use Mage Perment?" Wesret sneered.


    The man was silenced by Wesret''s question.


    "If we returned, we would have been med. You don''t know what nobles think. Duke Ressongraze had great ambition with this mine. I heard him talk to his son outside before I was sent in here. This gave him wealth and power that would make him more powerful than the Zarefard Kingdom! Didn''t he silence everyone who left and barricaded the entrance?" Emeros then asked.


    "But you could have warned us! Everyone''s probably dead now!" The woman shouted.


    "Warned you? Hordes and hordes of imps were moving. You should have left. It was not our fault. The Duke kept everyone from leaving the mines. We were busy trying to stop the invasion and hunted several toons of Chorts! We were trying to buy you all time! The imp army was on alert and would not recklessly attack because we''ve been taking down toons of imps!" Wesretughed again.


    "Indeed. It''s not our problem anymore. We did what we could. We were careful since you would all me us and say we are the cause." Serena answered.


    "Well, we did start it. We took out a group of gremlins and imps. The Demon Imp Lord probably thought the humans were on to his n and carried out the ns earlier than intended." Emeros shrugged.


    "So you were the cause?!" The woman shouted angrily at Emeros.


    SLAP!


    "You fool!" Serena pped the woman.


    The p was strong and caused the middle-aged woman to spin and fall.


    "You!" The man shouted angrily and ran to the woman, but Don appeared and grabbed him by his neck.


    Don was still short, and his extended hands barely lifted the man off the ground.


    But the strong arm of Don was choking the man.


    Serena pulled the hair of the woman up.


    "Did you not listen to what Master Emeros said? We only forced the Demon Imp Lord to send his troops even if he was not yet organized. The imps had long intended to attack you! Our attack meant they were forced to send whoever they could afford!" Serena eximed.


    "Level 3 ve. Get your woman in order. And don''t disrespect your seniors." Don said as he threw the man to the side.


    CRASH!


    "...It seems you guys have changed and have gotten super strong." Perment chuckled.


    "This tree was a level 23 Deadwood Troglodyte. We killed it. We''ve also killed a lot of other monsters in here."


    "So, a seal that opens a portal to a secret world of imps?"


    "Not just imps. There are many monsters here. From the different races, we believe four portals opened up here. And there are four monster kingdoms."


    "Four monster kingdoms?!"


    "Then you guys are nning to close this seal?"


    "...Not yet. We''ve been training to open another seal!"


    "What?!"


    "The seals are one of three seals. Once opened, it cannot be closed unless we have the power of a Crown. A powerful Celestial created it. And in that, it sealed a being that is said to be undying. And right now, we are searching for this being. Rorcast''s books call this the ''Sealed One''. So, if you want to close these portals, we have to find this Sealed One and ask it to close them!"

 Chapter 600 Training From The Bottom

    ?


    Perment, and the two ves who were Tyra and Brent, were amazed at the room.


    The room had numerousrge swords that the Chorts would use. It had various weapons, such as spears and the like.


    The group was also crafting their arrow using a piece of the Deadwood Troglodyte as the arrow shaft and used the sharp arrowhead-shaped teeth of the Puks.


    Surprisingly, this was stronger than the arrows that they had.


    The room had corpses of other giant beasts, and a meal was prepared with a meal already ready to serve.


    The group ate to recover from exhaustion while Emeros and the rest were busy.


    Emeros had immersed himself in creating more potions thanks to the Puks he had killed.


    Tyra and Brent couldn''t help but be amazed at their new strength.


    Their levels were raised to level 5 through the energy Emeros absorbed from their killings.


    Tyra was level 1, and Brent had been level 3 because his former master had invested a bit in him.


    "Check your stats there," Don said while juggling some swords.


    The group was confused about why they were, but Perment saw where Don quickly pointed to before catching his sword.


    There was a strange energy crystal surrounded by numerous energy conversion circles drawn around it. It was ced on a pedestal.


    "A Level Assessment Orb! But those Energy formations circles are simr to what you showed me... but the details are..." Perment was amazed.


    "It was a risky mission. We tricked the mage and made him think that I knew a lot about dark magic, and he was moved to try and enve me. But the powerful bacsh of the master''s countermagic caused me to assimte with Mage Rorcast''s knowledge. I erm... I think I''m smarter than you, mage Rorcast. In any case, check your stats." Emeros chucked as he began to work on his potions from the organs and parts of the monsters he had just in.


    Tyra and Brent reached out and held on the Level Assessment Orb.


    ---


    Tyra


    Next level: 763/1301


    Level 5


    Strength: 13


    Magic: 2


    Dexterity: 21


    Vitality: 13


    Intelligence: 35


    Hit Points: 230


    Force: 2


    ---


    Brent


    Next level: 766/1321


    Level 5


    Strength: 16


    Magic: 1


    Dexterity: 23


    Vitality: 15


    Intelligence: 31


    Hit Points: 250


    Force: 2


    ---


    Perment


    Mage Captain


    Level 20


    Strength: 53


    Magic: 58


    Dexterity: 88


    Vitality: 53


    Intelligence: 93


    Hit Points: 630


    Force: 0


    ---


    The three of them saw their stats projected from above.


    Emeros nced at the stats.


    "Hmm... I can''t tell. I guess, just as how hard it is to determine the IV of a Pokemon at low levels, I can''t tell what your innate stats are." Emeros began to mumble.


    "What?"


    "Erm... Sorry. Don''t mind my ramblings. But Perment. Your strength, dexterity, and vitality stats are abysmal. Considering you trained as a mage, it''s expected. But I can''t afford you to be that weak. I''ve expected this, so I have been trying to create a potion that helps us rebnce your stat. But... this poison might kill you. So we''ll have to take some time in drinking them." Emeros exined.


    The potion he had made was a famous poison within the kingdom. Mage Rorcast knew of it.


    "What potion is that?"


    "A De-Leveler potion."


    "A de-leveler?! That''s poison!" Perment eximed.


    The poison was a cruel punishment that would drain the man by several levels. And that was a very harsh punishment for many whose lives depended on their levels. Unlike Emeros and his team, who had hunted and found means to survive the battle against monsters dramatically, most low-leveled adventurers would take months and even years for a level to grow. And at higher levels, it was even harder! Only aristocrats and rich nobles could afford such levels, but a single level would mean a great amount of resources from the Captain level.


    "You want me to take a De-Leveler poison?!"


    Emeros shook his head and went towards the Level Assessment Orb and held on to it. He used a secret spell to hide his real intelligence stat, which was 386, so it wouldn''t shock the rest.


    His stats were then projected above.


    ---


    Emeros


    Level: 8


    Experience: 3732/4732


    Strength: 49


    Magic: 21


    Dexterity: 63


    Vitality: 48


    Intelligence: 123


    Force: 22


    Hit points: 580


    ---


    Perment saw the stats and was shocked.


    The two other ves were also amazed at what they saw.


    "The new form of bestowing experience will allow us to naturally increase the stats per level. My master did a lot for me. My strength stat is already close to yours. But look at my magic and force stat. At my low level, my magic stat is already close to your level, and I am not even at level 10, where the magic stats double in growth. Not to mention the magic jump that urs if we consolidate my Magic Core."


    "So... you mean, if I take this potion, you could help me regain my strength?" Perment asked.


    "Yes. The danger is that we have to use this potion several times. You need to be as low as level 14 for your stats to be eptable. I am trying to give you a Commander''s potential. Don. Show him your stats." Emeros called out.


    Don followed and caught the swords and held the Orb.


    ---


    Don


    Level 8


    Next level: 3677/4432


    Strength: 24


    Magic: 10


    Dexterity: 40


    Vitality: 24


    Intelligence: 58


    Hit Points: 340


    Force: 4


    ---


    "This is Don''s stats. Originally, because of his innate physiology, and since he is the youngest, he had a Strength, Dexterity, and Vitality stat that was below the norm thatmon physical fighters had. But now, if we rate Don''s stats, he could pass to be a fighter ss. Yet among the group, Don has the weakest physical attributes but has the highest ss. If he creates a Magic Core at level 10, he would have a Magic stat that would be 27 at level 11. How much was yours?" Emeros challenged Perment.


    "...Twenty-four," Perment answered. This was one of the few things he had in equal numberpared to his other peers who were now Barons or Captains because of the family backing. Perment had the potential, and this was his boast. But now, he saw Don, who not only had a far better potential as a mage than him, but he was also a fighter!


    "...So I''ll take the potion now?"


    "Not yet. We still have a few things to do first. I''ve made some gloves for you to draw out fire energy from ores easily. I even made the Fire ore bomb into a one-time fireball st that you could use. Dan can cast it now."


    "You''re making him a battle mage?"


    "I''m making everyone battle mages. Well, right now, they are training as assassins. So assassin mages." Emeros chuckled.


    Phili, Serena, and Wesret showed off a unique glove that Emeros gave them, and all were creating a light fire.


    Serena''s magic was the first to die out.


    "Tsk."


    "Serena. Your affinity is water. Don''t be bothered by that. Keep practicing, but you''ll see a great difference if we find an ice ore." Emerosughed.


    "We''re all training from the bottom here. Right now, two levels should help you train your dexterity. But we can be stronger than the average fighter because we are training at the bottom." Wesret approached the two and handed themrge swords.


    "Since you followed us, we will help you. But you have to promise us to swear fealty to Master Emeros." Wesret warned.


    The two were quiet. Though they had heard the exnation of what Emeros did, they were still wary and med Emeros for all their friends'' deaths.


    Wesret frowned as he saw the eyes and was about to reprimand them.


    "Ignore them, Wesret. And you guys should stop it with the demanding of fealty." Emeros chuckled.


    "In any case, we can proceed with the next part of our n. Invading the main camp of the Imp army!" Emeros dered.


    "What?!" Perment was shocked.


    "To quell the anger of our new friends, we need to force the Imp army back. In the past week, we went deep to the south and hunted among another monster kingdom. Orcs." Emeros pointed to the side.


    There were strange skin masks and thick hide armor nearby.


    "We will wear them and use the Puk''s magic of illusion to make our appearance more monstrous. This will make us look like orcs to the imps. While you guys raid, I head over to the den of the Imp Demon Lord and try to see if there is anything that I can steal. We will also be burning their camp. The Imp Demon Lord is from the portal and is one of the generals that the Imp kingdom sent here for the invasion. But since the portal only opens on certain days every month, then they need to stock for food and all that. We burn the supplies; we might stop or pause invasion." Emeros exined.


    "And with an orc costume, the imps will... me the orcs?" Perment asked.


    "Exactly. Put on the costumes. We leave in an hour. I''llplete the Puk''s magic potion, and we''ll attack the base! Wesret, teach the two to train their dexterity. Perment. You can read through the books of Mage Rorcast for now..."


    The group made their preparations.


    An hourter, five men left the room with an orc-like mask and costume.


    Two more emerged, and unlike the orc costume, they had strange attire made from various monsters, such as the mantis.


    "Let''s go!" Emeros ordered as he set out.

 Chapter 601 Attacking The Demon Imp鈥檚 Camp

    ?


    A massive city was being built within the depths of the underground world, far away from the ce where the miners had reached.


    Imp kind of all breeds was erecting wooden houses and walls and crafting weapons.


    Emeros watched the remaining forces left to guard the base and could count them by the hundreds.


    The group hid themselves on the tunnel''s curve but peeked out to see the challenges they faced.


    The group saw the creatures that Emeros spoke of.


    The Kallikantzaros oversaw the building as Puks, Gremlins, and Imps were all ving away at their orders.


    "We''re going to attack that?!" Perment asked.


    "Yup. Underneath my orc armor is a gremlin attire. I will use the chaos of our fight and pretend to be a fleeing gremlin." Emeros exined.


    "You want us to fight against all of that?!" Brent asked again.


    "Should I start with a spell?" Perment asked.


    "No. That will draw more enemies. We will pretend to be some wounded, lost orc and make it look like we are marching to our deaths. That way, the small fries will be sent first. Everyone should hide their strength until necessary. Perment, only use your magic when you are retreating. The goal is to trick the enemy into underestimating us and kill whatever he sends." Emeros took a strange red mushroom and began to coat it in his armor.


    "Pick some of these and do the same," Emeros ordered.


    Soon, everyone had bloody appearances.


    "Follow my lead, and when I shout it, you repeat these words: Grembrokoro."


    "Grembrokoro?" Perment repeated.


    "Yes. It''s an expression that means, heart stop in orc and elvennguage. Used as a battle cry, it means, until death."


    "Imps understand thatnguage?"


    "No. But when we fought against the orcs that are now these masks, they shouted the same thing. It should be enough to make the enemy think we are real orcs. Make your voice sound hoarse as you shout it to make it believable." Emeros took the vial out and drank the potion.


    The power of Puk that once masked them among the Gremlin began to surge out as an illusion began to mask his body.


    With the potion and the costume, he looked monstrous.


    The others did the same.


    Brent and Tyra took the potion, and their monstrous form was hideous and grotesque.


    But Emeros liked the appearance and knew it would pass off as some monstrous mutation, and he marched out of the curve of the tunnel and into the open tnd.


    He walked with wobbly legs, and it looked like he would copse anytime.


    The rest followed and pretended to limp, and Don even stumbled over.


    The imps noticed the group of monsters and saw that they were orcs!


    A Kallikantzaros walked closer andughed at the pitiful appearances.


    In impish tongue, hemanded a group of Imps and Gremlins to attack the orcs.


    "Grembrokoro!" Emeros gave a loud shout, and the rest followed.


    The Kallikantzaros heard it andughed as he was ready to watch the show.


    The imps and gremlins were excited to get their hands on the weak, pitiful orcs.


    Emeros wobbled forward as if he was about to make a fainting swing.


    The Gremlin ran, but as Emeros wobbled, he suddenly stepped forward.


    SLASH!


    The Gremlin was a thorn in half.


    Simr scenes urred as the others made a single attack on the foes.


    Tyra was the one thatnded the weakest blow. She was still not used to her new strength and had barely adapted. But since she had been forced to fight over thest week, the fear and terror she used to feel had vanished.


    Brent managed to cut an Imp''s head clean off its shoulder and was amazed.


    After the sh, the group reverted to the weak and exhausted steps.


    The Kallikantzaros had his mouth wide open as he saw the team he sent be in so easily.


    "Grembrokoro!" Emeros shouted again.


    "Grembrokoro!" The rest followed.


    But the group made their wobbly steps.


    "Keep moving closer and closer. We need to be able to attack the front lines!" Emeros spoke


    Several Puks were sent this time to lead the attack, followed by a dozen made up of imps and goblins.


    Emeros made a charge at one Puk, and Perment ran towards another.


    SLASH!


    The two puks that the two-faced were instantly killed with a sh on the head.


    Serena, Wesret, and Don took the vanguard while Philip began to shoot from afar.


    "Just guard our sides! We''ll take care of this!" Wesret ordered to Tyra and Brent.


    But even with a dozen, the group was easily eliminated.


    Emeros ended the battle by copsing.


    The rest followed and was on the ground.


    "Grembrokoro..." Emeros made a weak cry,


    "Grembrokoro..." The rest followed with the same level of enthusiasm.


    The Kallikantzaros was confused at the scene.


    A few gremlins saw the chance and cautiously approached.


    Some more Puks saw the gremlins approach, and they followed closely.


    Emeros and the rest struggled to stand up. They were crawling forward.


    "Get ready. We''ll dive right into the group. Cover me, and I''ll switch costumes." Emeros instructed.


    "RAAAA!" The Gremlins saw the struggling movements and ran ahead.


    But the group struggled, and Emeros managed to stand and make a weak sh even while the Gremlins were far away.


    The gremlinsughed and charged forward.


    SLASH! SLASH!


    Emeros suddenly picked up speed and ran toward the Puks.


    The power of his skill was now more refined, and his sh had a greater increase from the velocity of his attack.


    SLASH!


    The Puk was quickly sliced off before it could react!


    The allies of Emeros also ran from the ground and charged towards the camp entrance, where many imps and gremlins hade to watch the show.


    Emeros gathered Force on his feet and used the technique that Knights use to make a charge.


    BANG!


    The stomp exploded, and Emeros shot out and easily surpassed the speed of the rest.


    Emeros ran, and instead of using the sword to sh, he held it and pushed back many of the puks at the front.


    The strong and sudden tackle, coupled with Emeros''s explosive steps that hurled him faster, allowed him to crash into the group.


    The rest followed quickly.


    Philip began to use his arrows and shot at the Kallikantzaros while it was distracted.


    SHHHLK!


    The arrownded on the Kallikantzaros''s head and caused it to scream as the battle in the front began.


    The rest arrived and mowed the imps and gremlins at the side.


    Perment arrived faster than the rest, and with his powerful strength, he cleaved down the puks.


    More and more beasts moved out as numerous Kallikantzaros ran from the side to surround the group.


    But in the falling bodies and blood, Emeros had already removed his orc costume and now wore the skin mask of a Puk.


    He snuck out of the battle and pretended to be one of the wounded Puks that ran back.


    With blood covering his body, none of the other creatures took notice of the shrieking Puk that was screaming ''I''m dying'' in Impnguage.


    Seeing that Emeros had sessfully moved inside the camp, the rest were now on full retreat.


    Philip was strafing arrows and attacking the rest as they retreated. His attention was focused on assisting Brent and Tyra, who were in trouble with Puks.


    The two managed to run back while the rest defended, and they received numerous attacks. They would have died if not for the thick chitin costume that added anotheryer of armor!


    "Grembrokoro!" Philip shouted as he kept shooting to pin down the monsters.


    BOOM!


    An explosion urred at the center thanks to a Fire Ore Bomb that was left.


    Emeros now knew how to create the basic weapon and even created a new type of Fire Ore Bomb.


    The explosion left thick smoke that filled the area as the group escaped.


    "Kill!" The enraged Kallikantzaros that had an arrow stuck in its face and was among the ones blown back by the fire or bomb chased after the fleeing orcs in rage.


    Meanwhile, inside the camp...


    Themotion had drawn the attention of many, and as an explosion sounded out, more were drawn to the back.


    A Krampus cursed as he heard the explosions and moved to check themotion.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    More explosions were heard, and more powerful Imp races moved at the back.


    Imp Troglodytes of massive forms also began to move.


    Emeros had worn the orc mask again and moved in stealth to hide from all the guards moving through and fro.


    He sawrge swords and weapons and swapped out his own for a stronger one.


    He also found a long spear with a higher weapon attack than the rest.


    But Emeros needed to raid their of the Demon Imp lord, and he could see therge tent up front.


    Guarding it was a Krampus!


    "It seems I need to draw that one out or kill it..." Emeros plotted.

 Chapter 602 Attacking a Krampus

    Chapter 602 Attacking a Krampus


    Perment and the rest was able to quickly retreat close the tunnel where the curb was. Their advantage was that the path was narrowing and the enemy army had a narrow path to attack.


    The fire ore bombs proved helpful in the fight, and Perment hadn''t even used his own magic.


    The st would give the team a time to regroup and for everyone to touch the dead monsters.


    Everone had a glove that allowed them to absorb experience and mana. But the two gloves were not the same. While one absorbed energy for experience, the other did not drain experience but mana! The energy conversion circle was a Mana-Siphon spell they made in preparation tounch another alchemy tool that Emeros created through the memories of Rorcast. The memories of Rorcast merged with the memories of Kyros and the two allowed Emeros to have a vast wealth of information.


    With the knowledge of Rorcast absorbed, Emeros began to understand the mystery behind the spells that Kyros or Noxus used in their battles and why these specific magics were created.


    The magic drain had many limitations and as Kyros and Noxus were Dark Dependents, drinking and absorbing blood were faster ways to attain their goals.


    And the rest had high mana regeneration that they didn''t need tto drain magic. Not to mention the fact that most of the enemies who were descended to Fallen Spawns or Gods had resistance to these spells.


    Yet, to the mortals like Emeros and his band of humans, this spell would revolutionize warfare.


    Perment saw the rest move and absorb and could not help but praise Emeros.


    In normal situations, it would be impossible to absorb the energy of all these creatures. And while Emeros imed that the life energy was far weakerpared to using formation tes, it was still extremely helpful.


    Perment also followed and he was able to absorb a lot more energypared to the rest.


    During the entire progress of the battle, Perment was able to absorb many of the monsters they killed through another energy conversion circle through two gloves on his hand. But unlike the rest, Don and Perment had a special glove that absorbed mana and stored it in a slotted magic core.


    With a firm foundation, and the dark magic of Rorcast, Emeros was able to create an enhanced version of the Fire Ore Bomb. The more mana it had, therger the explosion.


    As the monsters crowded, Perment decided that the time to use it was now.


    At first, Emeros used regr Fire Ore bombs which drew more enemies to them.


    And when there were many, Rorcast used the bomb that Emeros created.


    "Get ready!" Perment warned.


    He threw it as far and as high as he could and it fell in the midst of the imps and gremlins. The smarter ones ran away to escape the st radius but...


    BOOOOM!


    It was simr to a magic attack of a fully charged, peak Mage Captain exploded out.


    The mana that the ore had was at max, with a capacity of 100 mana!


    And that force made a powerful boom that even caused Perment and his allies to stumble down.


    The explosion shook the ground and incinerated those at the center clearing the entire area from imps and goblins.


    The massive st had stunned the imp armies and even a Kallikantzaros was trembling as the explosion caused him to fly forward.


    Perment was the first to be surprised at the power of the attack.


    "Woah." Don was amazed.


    "That was a powerful attack!" Serena spoke as she moved closer to kill the Puks that were thrown near them.


    The Kallikantzaros''s burn wounds on his back charred his body. If not for his high vitality, he would have also been consumed by the fire. He saw Wesret approach.


    "You''re the second Kallikantzaros that we killed. Who would have thought that now, there would be five of you dead!"


    STAB!


    Brent and Tyra were both standing in shock at what they saw.


    "Hey you two! We didn''t bring you here to gawk! Start killing!" Philip shouted.


    The two realized what they were doing and began to move.


    "Grembrokoro!" Brent shouted as he moved to kill.


    The two were starting to marvel at the means of Emeros.


    Many of the imps and gremlins were still confused from the st. The attack urred right at the center and caused many to be blown back.


    Don prioritized the Kallikantzaros and the Chorts as they had massive sources of mana. He still had another bomb and knew that this would be helpful.


    The imps were unsure of whether to atttack. Most of the higher tier monsters were at the front and had died in the st.


    Serena took advantage of the confusion and ran as he picked up a body of a Chort to absorb and smashed it on a surviving Puk.


    Wesret and Philip also ran.


    Philip now used two des and fought up close. His superior speed allowed him to kill just as fast as Serena.


    "Grembrokoro!" The group shouted as they fought on.


    The explosion attracted many of the stronger breeds.


    Puks, Chorts, and Kallikantzaros were all rushing forward.


    Back near the center of the camp, the person that was left to guard the entire camp was starting to get worried.


    He was one of the five Krampus that the Demon Imp brought with him to this newnd.


    He saw the explosion and was starting to get worried as he looked on ahead and tried to see the progress of the battle.


    Nearby, Emeros was hiding on yet another tent and saw the barrels of supplies and the many strange containers that the imps had.


    There were also cages where fat pigs were ced.


    Emeros prepared a numerous alchemy vials and ced them in unstable conditions. He used the firestarters, cinders, and other mmable objects within the camp of the imps.


    Each spot had vials that would exploded on different times. Emeros had calcted the timing of the st and quickly worked.


    Small bombs exploded at the distance and Emeros knew that his team had ran out of Fire Ore bombs. They still had one more Fire Charged Ore Bomb that would leave a great wreckage and he knew that they would use it soon. But Emeros had little time remaining. the entire camp was starting to get worried.


    He was one of the five Krampus that the Demon Imp brought with He needed to kill the Krampus, take whatever he could inside the Imp Lords tent and run back as this team won''t be able to hold off after using the second bomb.


    Emeros managed to make all the preparations and rushed back to where the Krampus guarded.


    The Krampus was far weaker than Mage Rorcast. But this creature was still strong and Emeros guessed that the Dexterity of this creature would be so fast that even with [Pronto], Emeros would not be able to fight it toe to toe.


    So instead, Emeros nned a distraction that would surprise the Krampus and lower his guard.


    Emeros poured out a vial of poison on the tip of the spear that he had acquired. The spear was strong and was made using the bones and fangs of different beasts. And Emeros waited. He knew the time for the vials to explode would happen soon.


    The Krampus''s eyes was locked ahead and he was enraged that no one had returned to report the full number of the orcs that attacked the camp. The response of the assigned lieutenants were slow.


    "Where are they?!" The Krampus shouted in Impnguage.


    Emeros heard it and could discern what he wanted. The genius of having only a few team that appeared weak dyed the response of the leaders. They thought that killing the team was easy and ended up losing a lot of forces. As such, the Kallikantzaros attacked and sent his Chort but were all killed in the st.


    Now, the new leaders arrived and were still uninformed of what exactly was happening.


    Emeros was ready to pounce. It was time for him to move!


    BANG! BANG!


    Small explosions was heard and numerous fires suddenly appeared to the east side of the camp.


    The Krampus was surprised and turned to the east as he saw the mes.


    "What?!"


    At that moment, Emeros ran as small explosions and fires continued to erupt out on the east side.


    STAB!


    ---


    Damage Inflicted: 332


    ---


    Krampus


    Level: 21


    Strength: 61


    Magic: 51


    Dexterity: 91


    Vitality: 63


    Force: 8


    Armor Ratings: 29


    Hit points: 468/800


    ---


    Emeros was stunned. The spear attack was directed at the neck of the Krampus. Any normal creature would suffer instant death or paralysis as it''s nerves would be cut off. But the Krampus only received damage that not even halved his life.


    Emeros had [Pronto] activated and as his spear stabbed out, he made a quick kick to pull himself back as the beasts was still alive!


    As Emeros kicked, he quickly took another small vial and threw it at the Krampus.


    SPLASH!


    The liquid struck the Krampus who had now turned around in range and summoned fire to attack his foe. But as he summoned his fire magic, the fires spread and began to cover his body. Green me appeared and it blinded the Krampus.


    It made an angry roar and wanted to shout out to call his allies, but...


    STAB!


    Another stab prated the neck. The Krampus couldn''t see well and the poison had already inflicted some paralysis on him.


    The Krampus didn''t die but his health dwindled down to 109!


    With such damage, the Krampus felt weak and Emeros did the final blow.


    STAB!

 Chapter 603 Attacking the Other Mages

    Chapter 603 Attacking the Other Mages


    Emeros spared no time and absorbed the energy of the Krampus as he dragged the body inside the tent.


    The moment Emeros entered, he scanned the room for any object.


    The first that he saw was a dark orb ced on the pedestal.


    "A Dark Core!"


    Emeros was shocked. Dark Elemental Cores were objects of power and magic! There were numerous ways to imbue and merge with these.


    Kyros had numerous powerful cores, including the Cores of the Okto-Khefali. As for his allies, the Nephilim Sealing Temple had ways to provide the team with such cores.


    When Kyros was separated from his team, the Emberdons improved the form of the Dark Core using their special knowledge and the knowledge given in the Library of the Nephilim. When the Temple''s level was increasedter, they improved the Cores to the Mid-Grade level.


    Emeros knew for certain that this was a very unique item in this part of the world.


    The world did not use Cores but often stocked magic through other means. The Fire ore bombs and other materials were what the kingdom used in recement of this magic technology.


    With Emeros''s knowledge of Mage Rorcast, he knew that even Champions don''t use Cores but would often find numerous magical stones known as wizard stones that can contain magic.


    But Emeros knew better. If Emeros could find a high-quality Wizard Stone and a Soul Source, he could create an Elemental Core!


    Never did Emeros think he would find an Elemental Core!


    "Why did the Imp Demon leave it here? Unless..." Emeros observed the orb and noticed many dark bindings on it.


    "A devil binding spell... This orb only submits to one who the Fallen bestows it... Oh, wait... This ce shouldn''t have Fallen. Then a Fallen Spawn or the Spawn of a Fallen Spawn. But if it''s bindings and vows... then..." Emeros confidently reached out to the orb.


    The orb began to tremble as Emeros held it.


    The binding spells of the powerful demon were enraged as a hand not worthy had touched it. But as it rebelled, the spell realized that the holder was not a stranger. The inheritor, the legacy holder, the Prince, was touching it!


    The orb trembled in submission and suddenly began to merge!


    Emeros was surprised. He had read about how people would merge with the Elemental Cores in Kyros''s life.


    In Kyros''s first lifetime, he absorbed Cores and knew how to bring them out. The rest were taught how to, but Emeros didn''t have time to practice.


    But the Core merged within Emeros''s body, and he felt an energy surge. This was the power and energy of the orb!


    ---


    Dark Houdou Core obtained!


    ---


    Dark Houdou Core


    A magical elemental core with a sealed Huodou Soul.


    Provides Dark Fire Elemental Magic.


    Effects:


    +20 to Mana to Core user


    Minor Fire Resistance


    Minor Dark Resistance


    Spells:


    Dark me Maniption


    Dark me Weapon Enchanting


    ---


    Emeros saw the stats and couldn''t help but tremble. He was taking more steps to be closer to Kyros!


    "Of course, that freak naturally had Fire and Dark Resistance... I''m still far off. It seems that this orb only provides me with the ability to wield dark me. But this also opens up a whole new avenue of spells... However! I don''t know any of the specific dark spells that this can be used! If only there were a book or something! But Imps don''t have books, do they?" Emeros sighed.


    He then turned to the side where a pit wasid. It looked like a bed.


    Next to it was a strange book glowing with magic energy.


    It read, Grimore of Imp Devilkin Spells.


    "...So they do have books!" Emeros praised.


    Ores!


    "Wizard Ores! If I use the smelting powers of this, I could create a He took the books and quickly scanned for whatever there was left. He found precious ores which he could identify and seven Wizard Ores!


    "Wizard Ores! If I use the smelting powers of this, I could create a Wizard Stone!" Emeros was delighted. He took the basket and began to make way his way out.


    As he left, he saw several Kallikantzaros approaching.


    They saw the wounded Puk and were enraged as he was leaving the tent of the Demon Imp!


    "Krampus mad! Fire there! He shouts for you, but you have no answer! Order me to take things out of the tent because fire!" Emeros spoke in Imp''s tongue and mimicked the Puk''s voice.


    The five Kallikantzaros were startled at the words and saw the fire behind them.


    Without thinking, the rest ran towards the me. The fire was intense, spreading fast, and they no longer bothered what the Puk was doing.


    With that, Emeros made a run for it and found primitive backpacks used to carry baskets. Emeros covered the basket he was carrying with a lid nearby and went his way out of the camp.


    At that time, Perment and the rest had already retreated. They had already used thest bomb as Emeros lit the mes.


    Because of the massive explosion, those at the front line didn''t notice the fire behind them until the Kallikantzaros decided to make a report to the Krampus.


    Hordes of imps and gremlins chased Perment and the rest. Everyone was wounded and ran towards the ce where a trap was prepared.


    A barrel made with a mmable liquid that Emeros mixed was spilled and lit up, which created a wall of mes that blocked the path of the imps.


    The path back was a long way off as they had to run to the underground river nearby and take a deep breath to remove the stench.


    And then, they made their way back to the secret base.


    Several minutester, the group was now hiding back at the secret base.


    Brent and Tyra were exhausted and could not move from the fight. They had numerous wounds, and they even ran out of potions.


    But what horrified them was Serena. They saw her bite and kill many monsters and drink their blood.


    Serena did not sit down but, like the rest, followed on their training of juggling small rocks with des.


    "You guys should also continue in training. Our stats can increase to the next level as we push them to the limits. Vitality will increase if you keep tiring yourself out. Dexterity through this. And the daily battles are strength training. Get used to these tiring activities." Wesret told the two.


    Perment nodded and began to practice his juggling. He was the most exhausted among the group as he was not used to physical battles despite his high stats.


    The doors soon opened, and Emeros walked in carrying a bag.


    "How was it?" Perment asked.


    "I could only burn so few. But I think I took out a third of their food and burned some weapons and armor. I also painted numerous orc words on the walls to make them believe that the orcs did it. So, I''m sure that the war between the orc and the imps will start soon. This region will be free¡­"


    "So we can leave this mine?" Brent asked.


    "And then what? Be killed? They still think that I am responsible for this. I made it look like I was using Emeros for some secret mission and did many sketchy things. No doubt, reports of me smuggling weapons inside are heard. Most likely, we will still be med as the cause of this!" Perment shook his head.


    "But¡­ we did stop the battle?! Shouldn''t we be rewarded?!"


    "Naive little girl. You two suspected Emeros and me to be the cause of this. Would you both forgive us so easily? Now that many have died? Not to mention, I already have enemies, and many would me us for ruining the Duke''s business and the hope of this kingdom to be one of the best in the tri."


    "Exactly. We can''t go out yet. Our n is to hunt the remaining mages. And if possible, capture at least two and present the corpse of the other two along with their books."


    "This should be easy. You''ve already killed one, and we are now at the stage where we can challenge and wound level twenty creatures!" Perment smiled.


    "It won''t be that easy." Emeros shook his head.


    "It won''t?"


    "These four mages were all cursed by the same power source and have be the new seals. And because of that, they know that one of their own has died. They are surely preparing and will be acting more aggressively. And yet, we must attack them. And unlike those other levels of twenty creatures, the remaining ones are quite strong. Worst, they may have sought an alliance with each other."


    "Then¡­ this is a very dangerous mission. We won thest time through sheer luck. But against two or three together, we won''t be able to do much." Serena spoke.


    "And that is why we need to prepare. First, we must go on a hunting expedition to explore the other regions and find out where they are hiding. This means we might have to explore the other monster kingdoms here."


    "So this was the n! You want to explore the orc region!" Perment realized it.


    "Yes. With the chaos in that region, we should be able to sneak in!"

 Chapter 604 Attacking the Mines

    Chapter 604 Attacking the Mines


    The massacre in the mines spilled out, and even the guards outside of the mines had to retreat. The appearance of the Imp Troglodyte caused the front lines to copse and led to the deaths of nearly eighty percent of the poption.


    The guards that waited outside had to push back as a group of ves fled and led the Imp Troglodyte out and fought the guards.


    The Champions assigned to guard the kingdom eventually had to retreat due to the dangerous number of enemies that appeared, along with some mages.


    Worse was the appearance of a powerful Imp Demon!


    Its appearance led to the critical injury of one of the Champions that guarded the exit.


    With this, the secret of the troubles at the mines had spread all over the kingdom.


    And when many high officials, investors, and rulers of other kingdoms demanded an answer, Duke Ressongraze then revealed the criminal responsible.


    The disgraced mage, Perment, was at the center of this scandal.


    Baron Elford and Mage Captain Torman stepped up to testify about theirtest interaction with Perment. They hid the truth about the energy conversion circle and spoke of a dark spell that led to the death of Carlisto.


    It had been a week since the massacre, and now an army had been pushing back to gain back the lost region.


    For some reason, the imp hordes had moved back and disappeared. The scouts had noticed signs of a huge army inside, and there were attempts to build a new barricade inside the cave.


    But for some reason, the entire army retreated with haste.


    No one knew why this was so. But in the current circumstance, the mine could not function.


    Duke Ressongraze looked exhausted and irritable as he watched the army guard the ce.


    The scouts he sent had returned.


    "Report!"


    "Sir... This mine has transformed. The imp''s retreat is due to war against an orc army!"


    "An orc army?!" Duke Ressongraze shouted in surprise.


    He couldn''t understand what had happened. The initial team that explored the mines found very few monsters and found a few paths when the mana within this underground region grew.


    But now, the monsters of different breeds and kinds were now inside!


    "Yes, your grace. Our scouts further explored the region and noted that the underground world is wider than we thought. To the west, the once empty path leading to western mountains now has a lot of goblins!"


    "Even goblins!"


    "The East has lizardman beasts. The same ones in the Waterscorn! We don''t know how they got here!"


    The reports instilled greater fear and pain in Duke Rossengraze. Although the prime offender was Mage Perment, he was still regarded as the one at fault and had to answer for not warning of such a threat! Now the three nearby kingdoms where the mountain range underworld led to were all in danger of war!


    "Duke Rossengraze!" An angry man arrived.


    "Count Werryz..." The Duke turned and found a count of another country.


    While the Duke held greater power, the Count Werryz of the Flying Continent held greater power. They had Cardinals in abundance, and their leader was a Crown!


    In terms of power, Count Werryz could y several Rossengraze!


    "I need the report! When can the mine resume operations? We have expended a great deal of money on this!"


    "Apologies, Count. But the situation in the mountains is far greater than we thought. It is home to not only one but four monster races! All of which brought an army! Among them are Lizardman beasts!"


    "Lizardman beasts?!"


    "Do you have recordings?" The Duke asked his scouts.


    The scouts all revealed their recordings, and a small projection of the image appeared from the magical device.


    The expression of the Count turned strange as he saw it.


    "How is it possible?! The Waterscorn pushed the lizardkin folks so that they would have no being above Cardinals! Why would they even be here!" The Count frowned.


    "I need a gathering of all my sponsors. Count Werryz. We''ve invested too much to let this mine go. Is it possible that this mine is under attack by another?" The Duke used the shocked expression of the Count and made an even wilder question.


    "That...!"


    The Count had not considered it. The mine would elevate their''s status and strengthen the kingdoms'' quality. It was an unprecedented development that could alter the hierarchy of the Tri.


    "...Then we need tounch an attack on this army. If your theory is true, then something could be at stake here."


    "The public will panic. If the people hear that lizardkin is here, then panic will appear. And... maybe the Waterscorn will use us of opening an illegal portal!" The Duke countered with many possibilities.


    "...Then we have to attack the mines and eliminate all! You speak of rumors that the source of all this trouble is a rogue mage?"


    "Yes."


    "Find him. Soon, the other nobles from others will be visiting here! If you cannot find the mage, discover what is happening inside! Surely, a portal to another world is there!"


    "Then aid me! We have to attack the mines! I need... Commanders!"


    "...That will be difficult. Movingmanders would instill suspicion in the rest. I will plead to my Duke to send Champions. But you have better resolve this! Our advantage could turn into a curse!"


    Meanwhile, deep inside the underground world, in the far western cave...


    The massive underground world had humongous pits that endlessly fell into the dark abyss. Manyyers and levels of the underground world remained.


    But what was surprising was that in this strange drop to the abyss was a small tunnel that could not reach it. It was impossible to spot. Emeros knew about it from the memories of Mage Rorcast. Rorcast did not understand most of what the ruins he found spoke of. But Emeros knew.


    Emeros and his team had to climb down using the vines of the in Mage Rorcast. The vine tied to a massive stgmite was covered so that monsters passing through the cliff won''t notice it.


    What waited for them was a small ruin! It was a temple crafted in the middle of the cliff. Its dimensions were of perfect shape, and numerous pirs stood by.


    And even though they had dropped nearly twenty meters down the cliff, they had to move and cut out some of the pirs that had fallen over in time.


    Everyone finally had an opportunity to rest. Most didn''t care about the ruins and the altar. They saw that it was abandoned, old, and did not reek of death and bones. The past week was exhausting, and they hadn''t slept in the past three days due to the many dangers that chased them.


    Don was already asleep.


    Perment could not give in to the fatigue. Though he had higher vitality, what kept him awake was the mysteriousnguage written in. He was amazed at the strange temple and could not understand what the markings were. It was written in a strange unknownnguage.


    "Whatnguage is this? These hieroglyphics seemed so different!" Perment frowned.


    "It''s Elven."


    "Elven? What''s elven?" Perment was confused.


    Emeros ignored Perment. Either the Tri did not have an elven race, or Perment was too weak and unlearned to know.


    "This ruin speaks of... an abode," Emeros answered.


    "What''s an abode?"


    "My master spoke of it. Powerful beings from Crowns and onward could harness their great magic and create an Abode. It is a reflection of their very power. It is said that gods and the fallen would all create temples of worship for themselves. But a powerful Celestial was a man of great ambition. He crafted an Abode that became the envy of Gods and Fallen. And so this magnificent Abode was destroyed, and only the remnant of his power and might remained."


    "Where is this abode?"


    "We are living in it. This madman used threes to create the abode." Emeros revealed.


    "What?! When?"


    "Eons ago. Who knows?" Emeros could only answer.


    "It seems that this is the reason why abodes were no longer allowed. Apart from the Nephilim, I have not seen another Abode that harnesses the powers of the gods and fallen. And why do I feel that the mystery of this abode is connected to him? Is this abode rted to the God Oikos? Only someone who is the God of the Abodes could craft something so grand. Or could it be rted... to Vasilius?" Emeros wondered.


    "This is insane... The threes are simply a house for one man?"


    "...This is way beyond us. We are here for something else. Through Rorcast memories and " Emeros moved to a pir at the center.


    "This? What''s this? What did he learn from here?"


    "It was a ruse. The book was a fake and was only meant to keep possible mage explorers to stay and study and spend the night before Rorcast would eat them. This ce tells us a key point where a great amount of mana would naturally surge out of the ground."


    "Where is it?"


    "We had been in one of them. It was the very secret base of Rorcast! That''s why Rorcast''s secret base never decayed or lost its magical power because of the thick mana surging through it."


    "What? Then why did we go here?"


    Emeros took his hand and began to draw a strange curve. He drew a quarter circle that intersected the dot at the very circle of the pir.


    When Emeros drew it, Perment instantly understood.


    "An Energy Conversion circle?!" Perment eximed.


    "Correct. This ce is an energy conversion circle. In Rorcast''s memories, when he figured out the mystery of this ce, the other mages also managed to figure out the circle through another pir they found somewhere deep in this underground world. Four key energy points in a massive conversion circle were the first seal. One was the very ce where Rorcast was. Three others remain. We will use this map and the other pirs to map the entire region. If it''s an energy conversion circle, I would be able to estimate where the other three seals are!"


    "And those three seals are potential hideouts of the other mages!" Emeros eximed.


    "Correct!"

 Chapter 605 Attacking the Shades

    Chapter 605 Attacking the Shades


    Four more days have passed since Emeros, and his party found the secret temple in the middle of the cliff''s drop.


    Except for Perment and Emeros, everyone was back up the cliff and were on their hunt.


    They were attacking the strange creatures now born from the death of orcs and imps.


    The imps were said to have been creatures infected by the blood of demons. Inparison, orcs were born from the corpses of demons whose vile energies created a new life.


    Blood and body were fighting and were being spilled in the mana-fillednd causing a foul beast of strange form to take shape.


    The darkness that spread was thick and potent, and the malice and hatred of the two races were reacting to the magic of this underground world.


    And because of that, creatures of terrifying power that had never before been seen in the Zarefard Kingdom had now appeared.


    This creature of malevolent and cruel form was the very first foe that Kyros fought when he had awakened.


    A Shade was there!


    The dark creatures known as the Shades began to appear from the numerous battles in the past weeks.


    All that time, the party of Emeros was using the battle to absorb energy from the corpses when they had the chance, and in a few days, they managed to cross their levels past level 10!


    Emeros had warned the group of them and told them that these creatures are very hard to kill since they have little physical form.


    A tall shade with an orc''s height and body wandered around the dark. It had just awakened and taken shape and moved to seek a prayer to prolong its life.


    It then saw Brent standing up in the distance.


    Brent was trembling as he held his sword that would be useless against it. Though they had seen many of this, it wasrger and stronger than the rest!


    "I can''t believe that we have to attack these things!!" Brent cursed as he roared and made wide sword swings to draw the beasts.


    The Shade''s dark mouth opened as it roared and charged at Brent.


    The Shade was born but had to feed itself due to theck of darkness in the cave. There were little parts that were not illuminated due to the mana that seeped out and needed to keep feeding to survive. It was hungry and desperate and flew like a shadow moving through the ground.


    Brent held his ground and waited as the beast drew closer and pounced on him.


    "Throw the Portable Kingly Ensnaring Ball now!" Brent shouted.


    Instead of fighting these creatures, Emeros began to create a strange round orb made of the magic ores found deep inside and crafted them with energy conversion circles. At the center was a mark that Perment didn''t know. He could not craft the word even though he formed it perfectly.


    But, of course, he could not. Only the heir could craft the ''King'' glyph and cause it to have power.


    These stones would be used to catch the Shade, a potent energy Emeros required.


    Serena suddenly appeared to the side just as the Shade was about to attack. Their previous experience told them these creatures would retreat when they sensed these balls. And thest time they attacked and tried to catch one, they had numerous wounds.


    But now, they revised their strategy and used bait instead! Serena waited until thest possible moment, sprung out with her high dexterity, and threw a ball glowing with red and white energy.


    The dark Shade sensed the energy and began to flee. Even in its hunger, it recognized a power that could tame it!


    But it was toote; the ball reached it, and the binding of the king called the restless vagabond.


    The red and white ball fell and quivered as the fire and holy energy contained the Shade that tried to flee.


    But after several attempts to escape, the binding finally took ce, and the dark creature gave in to the king''sws and submitted in servitude.


    "Good job! That creature was probably level fifteen based on its size!" Wesret praised.


    had." Don frowned.


    Brent was trembling. This creature was terrifying. They could not block its attack or hit it with a swing of their weapons!


    "Why did you shout the full name?" Philipughed.


    "You could have just said, throw it... But you had to shout the entire name that Master Emeros bestowed on it."


    "I don''t know! I panicked! You try to do that and stand while a terrifying dark monster can''t hit charges at you!" Brentined.


    "Oh,e on! In the past week, you''ve had the same training and experiences we had." Don frowned.


    "Not exactly. They have never been ced to the point of near death like when we fought against Rorcast." Wesret answered.


    "We have been at a point where we needed to move or die. They always had a safety." Wesret exined as he held the ball.


    Brent frowned.


    "I don''t say that to put you down, Brent. Your time wille. With everything here, we all will be faced with that choice. That moment whether to move forward or retreat. It does things to you and changes you." Wesret added.


    "In any case... we''ve used all our Pokeballs," Philip revealed.


    "Pokeballs?"


    "POrtable Kingly Ensnaring ball." Philip emphasized the letters.


    "We should get back. The battle between the orcs and imps has paused. Emeros''s guess that the human mines would be moving here is happening now. It seems it''s finally time to move. Let''s get back and make our reports." Serena spoke.


    The group returned down the cliff, and Emeros greeted them.


    Perment was still in bed and was convulsing.


    "Is... he alright?" Serena asked.


    "No. He''s drinking his second potion. His level is now down to thirteen. I guess this should be enough for his climb." Emeros calcted.


    "Master, will we do the same thing soon?"


    "Yes. But from what I can tell since you guys already had grown from the start, the increase will only be by several points¡ªabout one or two level differences. But for Perment, it will be massive. More than five points would increase. What the kingdom doesn''t know is that for those with innate dispositions to certain stats, drinking this poison could be beneficial, although it''s very costly." Emeros exined.


    "They don''t have these gloves or the highly effective energy that my energy conversion circles have. So the option to train their bodies through De-leveling is not the question. But with our advantage, we can kill, gather energy and help others level up easily, making this a very lucrative option for us."


    Don was already juggling as they talked. The rest was also doing it.


    "But master Emeros. Why did we do this now? Shouldn''t we have done this to Perment after we defeated those mages?" Tyra asked as she was juggling three daggers. As the days passed, they were more and more impressed with Emeros and had reached the point where they had high respect for him.


    "This is for Perment. Experience matter. You''ve been with us for more than a week. But they grew more at the same time Don and the rest had. We experienced greater hell. Now, you two have it much easier. This battle will be a terrifying fight that could wipe us all out."


    "Why are we forcing ourselves to be in this great danger?" Brent asked.


    "...My master said that the difference between great people like him and the rest is that those who are powerful overcame powerful opposition. I didn''t understand it at first, but now I do. The more I tried to walk the path of my master, the more how much of a monster I realized he was. I am not making you champions or heroes. I aim to make all of you capable of standing against gods and fallen." Emeros answered.


    Brent was amazed at Emeros''s answer.


    Emeros collected the stones and could not help but feel excited as he saw the number of Shades the team had captured.


    Fifteen balls were given to him.


    "Are there more of the shades?" Emeros asked.


    "There should be more on the battlefield. The imps have retreated, as you have guessed, Master. The kingdom is now attacking the imps. The two-pronged attack forces the Imp Demon to be on the defensive."


    "Oh? Then we have to move tonight. This will be the opening we needed!" Emeros eximed.


    He had already determined where the hideout would be. Emeros knew the guarded mages would use their magic to hide the base.


    Rorcast would hide the secret base he had whenever other monsters were present. But since he needed to draw humans inside, he often left just enough energy so that magic-capable men could find the secret entrance to trap and devour.


    But now, the mage would certainly hide all traces. It would be impossible to find where the base was, but Emeros had spent thest week deciphering the possible location where the secret base was. But the problem was, it was right in the middle of the battlefield of the imps and orcs!


    "Are we ready for it, Master? We are only at level eleven! Brent and I are still at level ten! Even with Perment at thirteen, if the Mage is as dangerous as you think he is, one or several of us may die in this!" Tyra asked.


    "It''s fine. It''ll be dangerous, but this won''t be a suicide mission." Emeros smiled as he held out the Dark Core of the Imp Demon over the Pokeballs.


    Dark energy began to surge out as the Dark Core absorbed the Shades!


    Emeros watched as the Dark Core was drawing out and sealing the Shades.


    "Kyros... I''m one step closer to you now!" Emeros smiled in glee.

 Chapter 606 Attacking the Vinewood Troglodyte

    606 Attacking the Vinewood Troglodyte


    Mage Vortefier was a respected mage in the Zarefard Kingdom and the Tower Sword Kingdom. He was a known Captain, but luck was against him. He faced trouble after trouble, for those above him envied his potential. In the end, he met three other mages with whom he shared a kindred spirit.


    All of whom were also known as powerful mages but were shunned by the elite.


    Together, they shared what they had learned in their adventures about a mysterious grand temple that the ancient text and hieroglyphics they discovered referred to as an ''Abode.''


    The knowledge they all shared surprised each other as there were many simrities and links, and soon, they uncovered a secret underground world of ancient times.


    At the time, the mines were very small, and most of the underground region of the cave was not yet opened.


    The four had to find ways into the depths of the mines and saw the massive space that could fit an entire kingdom with all of its territories.


    Each of the four continued their exploration and found four temples that mapped out where the points of energy were.


    All four worked in their respective ces and tried to undo the seal and free the magic. In the legends, those exposed to this magic would be more powerful.


    And indeed, they grew more powerful. But a terrifying curse befell them when they opened the seal. It opened the portals, and the army of monsters began to pour in.


    Emeros continued to tell the story of the four mages to his team as they moved toward the location. The empty underground world was now peaceful as the orcs and the imps were recovering from the battles they waged.


    "Amazing... To think there was such a story behind this mine!"


    "Indeed. If Perment had explored the inside of the mine, he would have died." Emeros spoke with certainty.


    The group looked at Perment, who was still shaky as he walked.


    "Are you sure you''re alright?" Wesret asked.


    Perment had a slightly pale expression. Two poisons that caused him a drop of nearly ten levels were dangerous if not for Emeros.


    "It''s fine. I''m getting better thanks to all those potions I took..." Perment sighed as he walked ahead.


    "But master, did Rorcast know who was the strongest among them?" Serena asked.


    "As mages? I think they are all equal. But they''re not mages now. Four Troglodytes were born from four different wood. Rorcast was probably the weakest with the high requirements that he had."


    "What do you mean?" Perment asked.


    "Each of them transformed into a Troglodyte with specific hunger. One needed blood, the other needed flesh, and another needed soul, while Mage Rorcast, who became the Deadwood Troglodyte, needed mana. Of course, these are all guesses based on the appearance and features I saw through Rorcast memories."


    "Mana? So Dark Dependents need to refill their batteries, and Rorcast needed mana?"


    "Yes. He became a rotting Troglodyte made up of vines and branches. It needed to keep feeding on magic or mana as a deadwood troglodyte."


    "Then... he has the easiest job! The mana here is rich!"


    "For survival, yes. While the magic within the mines could sustain his life, it was not enough for him to grow stronger. So although he was as great as the other four, his specific situation of needing magic caused him to be weakerpared to his peers. And so, Rorcast made a plot to target mages and magic users. But because of how few there are, he ought to be the weakest."


    "He did kill a few Captains. I recall many mage Captains bing lost in the mines. We all assumed they met a monster stronger than him. So it was Rorcast!"


    "Yes. Now we''re going after this one. I just hope... oh crap." Emeros saw it from afar.


    The group was quietly walking through a wide open space. They all had camouged outfits that would make them nearly invisible if they ally down.


    But Emeros had stopped as he looked ahead.


    He pointed to a certain ce far ahead. To the eyes of everyone else, nothing was there.


    "What''s up?"


    "Nothing above indicates that there is a secret room up there. But if I follow the energy conversion circle, the point where the second seal would be is over there. Therefore, the mage is hiding under that ce."


    "Did the mage seal the hole?"


    "Yes. Using his vines. It''s the perfect cover. The battlefield will be chaotic, and he could send his vines out to drink the blood or open the hole to bring in the corpses."


    "So if we go there, he will know we are around... So I guess a surprise attack is out of the question." Don sighed. He was hoping for a surprise attack. This was how they defeated Rorcast.


    "That''s not just our issue. The location where the power source is ayer deeper than where we are standing. The mage borrowed in there and made a home. But I never would have guessed that the power source would be right in the middle of this ce! Looking at the state of the battlefield, it seems we made a grave mistake in forcing the war between the imps and the orcs! The worst possible Mage is here!" Emeros cursed. The position of the mage was right in the middle of the battlefield.


    "What''s wrong with the state of this battlefield?" Wesret asked. He could see corpses, discarded weapons, and even limbs spread around the area.


    "...No blood. I can''t smell any blood here!" Serena answered.


    Perment was the first to realize what this meant.


    "The Troglodyte that feeds on blood is right under the imp and orcs'' battlefield?!" Perment eximed.


    "Wait! You mean to say that the vine that drinks blood is the one right under this ce!?" Philip eximed.


    "Yes."


    "Should we retreat, master?" Brent asked.


    "No. This momentary peace between the orcs and the imps won''tst long. The orcs will soon discover that the humans are attacking and continue the war. If we ignore it, we could end up fighting a Champion!"


    "Then we have to attack it! Don''t we have bombs!? We put it in there, toss all the bombs inside, and blow it up!"


    "It will alert the orcs and the imps. Besides, we need whatever this mage has or what he has learned." Emeros rejected the ns.


    "Then what do we do?"


    Emeros thought for a bit.


    "I need to fight using my strengths... And my strength is that...!" Emeros decided on his actions.


    "Here''s the n..." Emeros began toy out the ns for the team.


    Several minutester, Emeros walked towards where the vine was.


    "I have Mage Rorcast memories. I know the secret to this ce." Emeros suddenly spoke in a loud voice.


    He watched carefully at the ground.


    Suddenly, some movements urred as several snake-like things began to creep out.


    "Mage Vivindel. The Bloodvine Troglodyte. I know the secret to the Abode. I know the name of that glyph which you all cannot read. And I know the way to open the seal. Only those who are ck magic experts or who know the dark-dependent form can break this curse!" Emeros mmed down a formation te as the vines were moving toward it.


    Emeros channeled energy to it; the form was the seal breaker spell he had created.


    The entire secret base of the Mage trembled as energy and magic within began to shake.


    The vines suddenly stopped.


    "Kill me, and you lose this knowledge. This formation te is iplete! Vivindel! I am here to propose equal trade. You and I will team up to kill the other two mages, and I will unseal the seal without killing you! You can bound a vow on me to do this!" Emeros called out.


    There was silence for several seconds, and soon, a trembling urred. Vine after vine began to seep out, and soon, the shape of a human emerged from the vines.


    Emeros saw the vine but knew this was not the true vine form of the Troglodyte. Emeros had seen through Noxus''s memories about an Eldrich with this power.


    "You are the ones that killed Rorcast?"


    "Yes. He nned to kill me. So I killed him first." Emeros chuckled.


    The eyes of the mage nced around the area, and he could see that his allies were a distance off.


    "How brave of you to decide to go here alone." Vivindel extended his hands, and numerous vines shot out from his figure.


    The vines began to wrap around Emeros, and he was being pulled in.


    "Bravery and intelligence are two different things. I''m not brave; I know my information will be useful. What a curse, right? Those that break the seal would be the second seal. But what if... I can take it away?" Emeros asked.


    At that moment, a strange suction of energy urred.


    The dark energy was being sucked out!


    Vivindel was stunned.


    And then, fire energy began to glow out of Emeros''s hands.


    The vines retreated as they were hurt.


    On one of Emeros''s hands was a surging energy of darkness. On the other was a bright orange me.


    "It seems you are capable. Hmp. Then again, you did kill Rorcast."


    "I want to open the seal. You are the strongest one. I nned to kill you, but now that you have absorbed an army of imps and orcs, you should be close to being a Champion, right? Let''s make a deal. Make a vow with me!" Emeros offered.

 Chapter 607 Attacking Through a Vow

    Chapter 607 Attacking Through a Vow


    The n was risky. But Emeros decided to y with strengths.


    His power was in the mystery of Vasilius. And he didn''t know how to actively use these powers other than being able to find incredible relics which demand spells, incantations, or be a legacy inheritor of an item.


    With foe close to a Champion, this was the safest way that Emeros could think of.


    Emeros decided that the only way he could defeat someone as strong as this was to make a vow with it that would be to their benefit.


    But Emeros knew that there was a strict rule that his vow had. He could not move against a vow but only follow what the vow states. There was a strange honor that he had to uphold by fulfilling his end of the vow. Just like the other vows that Emeros had, he could only take advantage of those who tried to make a breach of contract or enforce a Contract of Unequals.


    But these limitations could be to their advantage. He had to risk a way to trick the enemy into some vow that would be to their advantage when the fight started.


    Vivindel watched curiously at Emeros.


    "A vow?"


    "So you won''t kill me, of course. I''m an alchemy master, and I could trick Rorcast to death. As you can see, I''m just a level ten youth. Tricking Rorcast was easy. But I decided to have mercy on you. After all, I still have a lot to learn in this world. Other than what my master told me of the Crown that is hidden here, I know very little."


    "You''re either very brave or very stupid to do this. You don''t seem like a son of a noble, and yet¡­ your methods and magic are something that even I, Vivindel, cannotprehend. And there is the mystery of why you know so much about me. Where did you acquire your power?"


    "My former master was a Cardinal who lived outside of this. Sadly, he died as the many enemies across the stars chased after him. I was lucky enough to take a few bits of his legacy. Including a Vow Counterspell, activated when Rorcast forced me to offer up my memories to him."


    Vivindel''s eyes widened.


    "So that''s how you knew about us. An interesting spell that is spoken of by the remnant tales of those who practice ck magic."


    "Yes. My master was such an expert, and he thought me well." Emeros revealed a strange darkness emitting from his palms.


    "And I am certain that this spell could be of great use to you. But I need to make a vow that puts at equal. If I am to work with a Troglodyte, I need assurance of my survival. My allies must also be spared!"


    Vivindel was curious about the boy. Not only did he have this ancient and lost magic, but his other arm could wield fire through gloves. There was an even greater mystery in the gloves of the boy and greater possibilities. In the kingdoms of this, they all used formation tes. Creating energy conversion circles from small signs was impossible! And yet, there it was before him! It turned the novice into a mage that can cast and wield fire!


    The magic in the gloves alone was a goldmine of possibilities.


    At once, numerous vines sprouted upwards and bloomed, revealing a body of orcs.


    The orcs looked as if they had an average level of 10. Equal to the Chort creatures of the Imp family.


    Nine orcs appeared and guarded the area.


    "In case your allies try anything¡­" Vivindel smiled.


    Emeros frowned as he saw the number of orcs. Hesitation appeared.


    "...Fine. Since you are bold enough toe here, then enter my chamber. I can see your allies are still there. This process of making vows will keep me preupied."


    Emeros nced around.


    "You buried several corpses here. But these corpses are alive and preserved. You have quite a collection of monsters¡­" Emeros observed the nk expressions of the orcs and could see a vine protruding out of their backbones and into their brains.


    Like a puppet master controlling his marites, Vivindel had captured and turned several orcs to do his bidding. Emeros knew that there would be more inside.


    Emeros took a step back in fear and showed hesitation.


    "If you retreat now in fear, I will kill you. I doubt you''ll return, and even without your memories, I can benefit from all the marvels that your body has." Vivindel''s vine body began to pull back and disappear down the ground. A hole was visible as the vines opened a path down.


    The orcs nearby all began to draw their weapons. Ready to attack Emeros.


    Emeros nced into the distance and could see his allies running. They stood a distance as the orcs watched them intently.


    "Stay there! Don''t attack!" Emeros called out. He turned to the hole and jumped in.


    But as he jumped in, the vines coiled at him once more.


    CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!


    The vines constricted and choked Emeros. Emeros struggled as he was lifted, and his clothes were all being ripped apart.


    "...You broke my potions!" Emeros shouted as the vines quickly undressed him.


    Emeros''s back was revealed, and Vivindel could see the fading vows made on his back.


    "You made quite a bluff. Vow Counter? It seems that whatever power was instilled in your body is gone. I cannot sense any vow-breaking or counterspells now. A pity, boy. Because you killed Rorcast, you got arrogant. I can Rorcast tried to alter the previous vow bound on you and made it so that you would reveal everything." Vivindel observed.


    Emeros was struggling, but he hoped that just like Rorcast, Vivindel would force a vow.


    "Tell me everything you know, and I won''t kill you in the most gruesome deaths! I will even allow you to serve me! Of course, you can never kill me! For I will be your master!" Vivindel demanded.


    "That is my offer. Take it or leave it..."


    Emeros felt a strange anger in him. Not of his own. But he knew that the power of Vasilius was angry.


    "Please... spare me!" Emeros pleaded. But he didn''t agree to the offer.


    "Do not resist this, and I will not kill you!" Vivindel raised his hands.


    Emeros cursed. This vow was more generous than what he believed Vivindel would have. But this also meant...


    FLASH!


    "What?!" Vivendel saw a bright white world, and a Throne appeared.


    At once, Vivindel saw and of white.


    Vivindel felt a massive pressure coiling around it.


    Before him was a grand throne and a smaller throne next to it.


    "A little vine dares to take a king and coil its hideous paws to me? You offer to spare a life when this king can demand yours?"


    Vivindel was confused and saw Emeros seated on the throne.


    "As you have desired to spare his life for knowledge, so shall yours be spared if you offer knowledge! And as you haughtily dered that my Prince cannot kill you, so shall you be unable to kill him! This is my ruling! The Rule of a King has been invoked!"


    A split second had passed, and both returned to the world.


    Vivindel stumbled down, confused about what had happened.


    Emeros quickly triggered the fire energy and shot upwards toward the vines that covered the ground.


    VOOOSH!


    The shattered potions spilled strange mixtures that even Vivindel was not sure about. But it had a very simple property. A mmable liquid created a powerful purple me that ate through wood!


    The fire was painful, and the vines all began to make way.


    Vivnd was confused and saw Emeros run towards him with his hands extended.


    BANG!


    A fireball struck Vivnd, and the vines covered the True Vine.


    Arger vine-form of Vivnd appeared, and as he was about to make an attack, a searing pain in his soul erupted as he broke the vow and desired to kill Emeros!


    The orcs above began to also stumble down as Vivnd lost control of it.


    At once, the team of Emeros saw the slumping orcs and quickly ran and jumped down the hole.


    Perment jumped down and hurled a giant axe of a Kallikantzaros.


    Emeros caught it and swung the axe as he ignited it, creating a purple me over the de of the axe.


    KERCHUNK!


    "You!" Vivnd roared but felt another searing pain.


    He controlled himself, and many vines pushed against Emeros instead of pping him. Emeros stood in front of his allies, and any attacks Vivnd intended were drastically limited as he could not kill Emeros.


    BANG! BANG! BANG!


    The entire team shot out fireball after fireball at Vivnd, and Perment shot outst and created a fireball of twice the size and power of the rest.


    BOOOM!


    Vivnd had no choice but to retreat as he abandoned numerous vines as they were on fire.

 Chapter 608 Attacking the True Vine

    Chapter 608 Attacking the True Vine


    Vivindel was surprised at the sudden progression of the events he saw before him.


    He was shifted into another world and was caught off guard. He felt pain when he unconsciously attacked to kill Emeros.


    And now, he was struck with many fireball attacks, and some parts of his vine body were burning.


    The fire magic used was unnatural. It had a strange element that allowed it to remain and keep the ciders of fire ready to be born.


    All of Emeros''s team used a unique fire ore as the base to cast their magic. This fire ore would not just drain the magic stored within, but its very body would decrease at each use.


    Vivindel''s knowledge taught him that the more fire attacks he received, the more dangerous it would be, as his body would be in a constant state of fire that would be risky if the battle was prolonged.


    He gathered his senses and concentration after retreating tounch a counterattack.


    Emeros was right in front of him with the sword swinging.


    "Die!" Emerosughed.


    SLASH!


    The close-ranged sh dug deep into his body.


    Emeros never had such intentions. Ever since he found the rules of the vow, he fought, keeping in mind the limitations of the vow he made. Emeros could not kill his enemy, but he knew that the enemy could not kill him or face the vow''s effects.


    "Attack!" Emeros shouted as he ran towards Vivindel and harnessed more fire energy. Emeros was using his own body to block the view and senses of the rest as he kept shooting fireballs at him.


    He knew his measly fireball attacks wouldn''t kill the enemy after three or four shots.


    "AHHH!" Vivindel tried to resist the pain as his vines sent out, but the pain was so intense that he lost concentration, and the strength of his whip had lowered to less than half of its speed and force.


    Emeros saw the attack and stabbed his weapon on the iing vine and caused it to halt.


    SLAP!


    The whip of the vine still pped behind Emeros, but it didn''t hurt as much as an attack from a possible champion had.


    Emeros, however, knew that the vine was part of the main body!


    Damage received: 139


    Damage inflicted: 34


    ---


    The notification of the attacks never appeared, and he couldn''t even use his powers to assess and gauge the enemy''s life and stats. But this vine had it!


    Emeros used his ability and gauged the stats of the vine.


    ---


    Vinewood Troglodyte (Mage Vivindel)


    Level 29


    Strength: 106


    Magic: 82


    Dexterity: 132


    Vitality: 110


    Intelligence: 154


    Hit Points: 1023/1310


    Force: 6


    ---


    As Emeros expected, the monster was strong and had benefited from having its base right under the battle zone of two warring races.


    "Attack this vine!" Emeros shouted as he drove his sword down and stabbed the ground to pin the vine with his other hand shooting another fireball attack.


    BOOM!


    "Ahhh!" Mage Vivindel shouted as the rest attacked the vine that Emeros pinned down.


    The team hacked out and cut the vine from the furthest area possible, and the entire vine was cut off.


    "Behind!" Wesret shouted.


    Brent, Philip, Don, and Tyra all quickly followed Wesrte to fight the orcs that were being controlled by the vines.


    They all charged and made their attack and began to fight the orcs and activate the fire on their weapons. The des had been coated with an oil that gave it a hot, ming form.


    Perment and Serena fought with Emeros to bring down the beast.


    Emeros charged in and saw the empty husk of vines wood, and Emeros took it and used it as a shield.


    He knew what his main role in this battle was.


    Emeros watched as the vines would whip out to attack the rest, and he would moved towards that direction to block the attack of the vines that would strike his allies.


    But with the husk shield, the attack of Vivendel didn''t grow weak.


    Emeros knew that this would happen and abandoned the shield.


    At the drop of the shield, Vivendel felt a powerful st in his soul, causing his body and even the orcs to stumble and tremble in pain.


    SMASH!


    ---


    Damage received: 277


    ---


    Emeros was thrown back and fell. If not for the sudden soul shock, he would have received an attack triple the damage.


    Everyone took advantage of this moment and made attacks on the orcs.


    Perment brought out arge stone and began to chant words.


    The fire gathered swiftly, and a beam of fire shot through the body of Vivindel, where the cinders from the previous attacks were made.


    ---


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 342


    Damage inflicted: 21


    Damage inflicted: 22


    Damage inflicted: 24


    ---


    The fire began to burn around Vivindel, and Serena tossed a sk of oil on the body of Vivindel.


    VOOOSH!


    The mes burst out at the breaking oil, and the entire body of Vivindel was on fire.


    "Ahhhh!" Vivindel wildly flung his body, but Emeros had arrived and stood in front of his allies with a bottle of potion drank to thest drop.


    Vivindel was cornered and couldn''t retreat. He saw the two behind Emeros prepping for another round of ming elements and alchemy. Strange mixtures of powders and other potions were in their bag.


    "Throw it!" Emerosmanded, and the vine quickly retreated and scaled to the top of the ceiling as it hurriedly tried to escape.


    FWIP!


    Philip was prepared and had his bow on hand. The n was that everyone would fight the vine, but Philip would use an explosive round to blow it if it tried to escape.


    BOOM!


    Vivindel fell to the ground, and many vines quivered and trembled more.


    ---


    Damage inflicted: 187


    Damage inflicted: 35


    Damage inflicted 33


    Damage inflicted 33


    ---


    The fire spread out all the more due to the explosion, and the many coverings that protected the True Vine were revealed.


    Caught in the mes, Vivindel had no choice but to cut itself off the burning body.


    A small red vine sprung out like a snake and escaped.


    "There it is! The true vine!" Emeros shot out a fire attack at the fast creature. Unlike the Deadwood Troglodyte, the true body of Vivindel was a small red vine hidden in coats of vines and trees. But now that the mes of the outer body were reaching deep within its own body, Vivindel felt fear. Its bloody vine was very weak against mes.


    It began to jump all around as Emeros kept shooting at it and dove down the creeping vines of the entire room. Its fear of the fire made it move erratically, not knowing that Emeros was not aiming for it.


    STAB!


    A painful monstrous screech echoed out.


    Serena stabbed her weapon deep down the vine creep.


    "I can smell you a mile away!" Serena smiled.


    "A... vampire!"


    Escaping through its vines was the best escape for this beast, but its blood form gave it away.


    "Mercy! Mercy! I will submit it! I will heed!"


    "Make a vow with me! Vow to serve me and tell me everything you know. And I vow to Dexterity: 63


    spare you and help you remove the taint of the curse. You will be as my allies are!" Emeros shouted as his hand gripped the long red vine.


    "I... ept!" The ming body of Vivindel trembled.


    "Do it! Make the vow on me!"


    At that, the vine reached out and touched Emeros on his back.


    FLASH!


    Emeros stood away as the small, snake-like vine rose and bowed humbly.


    Recalling the strange vision, Vivindel knew it was folly to trick Emeros and quickly submitted the offer.


    "Master... I serve."


    Emeros, on the other hand, had a sour expression as he watched the stats of the vine.


    ---


    Vinewood Troglodyte (Mage Vivindel)


    Level 12


    Strength: 26


    Magic: 53


    Dexterity: 63


    Vitality: 22


    Intelligence: 154


    Hit Points: 112/321


    Force: 6


    ---


    "Why... are you so weak?"


    "...Master. The body I cultivated was abandoned!" Vivindel spoke with shame.

 Chapter 609 Attacking All Portals

    609 Attacking All Portals


    A day had passed since the defeat of Vivindel.


    The group of Emeros was once more at the secret home of Mage Rorcast.


    But unlike before, the moment they entered, a vine had sprung up and saw the petrified body that was preserved.


    "Rorcast..." Vivindel saw the body.


    Emeros had gained a better understanding of Vivindel''s form.


    Unlike the Deadwood Troglodyte, who had a tree-like body of rotten and petrified wood, Vivindel was a vine that needed to grow and get stronger. It was a creature that could gain level fast through feeding and building up a body.


    It was a parasite that would feed inside and use the blood to extend its creations and make puppets. The more it fed, the more of the nt body it could grow.


    And so, Vivindel created an amazing armor of nts and creatures and even managed to reform its body.


    "Feeling sad for your friend?" Emeros asked. He was the master of Vivindel. Now, Vivindel''s vine had grown sturdier and had a coating of green that covered the red true vine.


    "I would say respect. Master, you know that our circumstance was forced. Rorcast and I... were forced to fight. We who are the second seals..."


    "Of course. I understand. Two groups of people, without any other option, face themselves in a battle for survival. In some ways, we are just like animals and monsters, are we not?"


    "...Is it true that you can free me?" Vivindel asked as he looked at the petrified corpse of Rorcast.


    "Yes. There is a way. But it''s going to be very hard. I need the knowledge of a Champion to do this."


    "A champion''s knowledge? That of rare supply. You know for yourself the great gap to cross once bing champions? It is like you would need to be-"


    "Born again. Either that, or we kill three of four champions for just one to grow strong. Trust me. I know." Emeros recalled the life of Kyros and his friends in the nes world. A greater number of people in the Londs had the chance to scale the heights and be Champions and even scale higher to be Commanders because their body was built differently.


    "You know an awful lot more than Roracast."


    "Naturally. My master was a Crown."


    "A Crown?!" Vivindel eximed.


    "Keep up, old man," Perment muttered as he rushed to set the books and belongings that the human Vivindel once made.


    Over the past day, Perment had be obsessed with the books and was reading through them.


    "That man... is quite a gifted alchemist," Vivindel noted.


    "That''s why I''m leaving it all to him. The teachings of my master are but memories. While I do boast some gifts, I would need to make an effort to make this mastery into something else. Besides, there are other avenues that need to be settled. The Paths of Creation are Alchemy, Enchantments, cksmithing, and Energy Conversion Circles. I have memories for all and have found a way to retain them. But it takes fortitude and wit to push it even further. And that is why you are here, Vine. I turned your attempted envement into a chance of servitude because I need you."


    "What was that white...?"


    "Do not speak of it again. That is an important secret that I have to keep to myself." Emeros answered.


    "Master. About what we talked about..."


    "Why do you think I''ve been lost in thoughts? If what you said is true and the war in this ce will soon halt, and the attacks will focus outside the mountain, then there will be little chance for us to find and undo the seal. Especially if we need to do the unsealing on And since you determined that there is a time limit until the seal wears out and kills you, we only have two years to open the seals in a way that won''t kill you." Emeros sat down on a chair of Rorcast and was lost in thoughts.


    "How sure are you that we can survive?"


    "The seal, as you have noticed, arerge energy conversion circles. It hides a ce, a fortress deep within this ce. And with it, a powerful resident. My master spoke that something simr to his power is in here. A Crown."


    "A Crown?! Impossible! There is Crown here? Master! I''m already harboring doubt to your master. But now this ce seals one? Do you know how strong one is?"


    "If you only knew..." Emeros chuckled.


    "There is a sealed Crown in here. But we can never know its exact state except for what we already know. This sealed fortress... do you have any guesses where it is?"


    "Judging from the portals... this Mage hid a crown inside the path of crossing portals to other ces. Possible regions of the threes that no man has ever journeyed. It could be a simple massivend underneath our earth as the Hallow suggest is true."


    "Exactly. At the crossroads of several portals lies the sealed Abode. I have deciphered the wording and can tell you with certainty that this portal connects to different regions on this. Two from this and the other from the other twos of this ce. This goes to prove that the theories of the Hallow are true."


    Vivindel was amazed.


    Even Perment, who was busy, stopped and nced at Emeros.


    "And that seal stops them from spilling out?" Vivindel asked.


    "Yes. The hieroglyphs you found spoke of a grand rebellion. A rebellion that sought to bring down the rule of a mighty king. A king that once ruled over this nation. The text speaks that this King divided the humans as they were the only race who willingly served him. And he sealed four kingdoms in other ces. These were the monster races. Though many of them still live among us, in forests and magical regions, the truth is they have a kingdom. Apart from the monsters were the humanoid races. They originally hated the King and lost through conquest. But they were given mercy and allowed to live here. And so the kingdoms of the elves, dwarves, and all Green-Kin were allowed to be here, although the humans ruled over them for a time. But thest narrative speaks of the humans who worshiped him, turned against him. In the end, this King disappeared." Emeros ryed what he knew.


    Vivindel was stunned. Among everyone, he had seen the strange throne, and he recalled what that King called Emeros.


    At once, Vivindel realized how dangerous it was to talk more on the matter of that vision.


    "Vivindel, you and the rest came here to chase after the treasure of legends. You believed that your shared knowledge had allowed you to find the tomb of the Unknown King. And you were right. This King forgave the sins of humans long ago. But hisst curse was that those who seek to find the Abode of where his bodyys will also bring out the curse of the four kingdoms."


    "...So we''ve opened up hell?"


    "Not yet. The openings are intermittent and inconsistent and can only allow so much. If the seals are properly moderated, we can control the portals from our end."


    "And to moderate it, you would need us, the four mages who opened it. That was the curse!"


    "Yes. You are also the keys to the Abode. To undo it, you four need to step inside the portal that opened and then, the path towards the Abode."


    "We are the keys?!"


    "Actually, it''s your heart." Emeros then revealed a strange wooden object.


    "That is?" Vivindel couldn''t identify the strange object before him. It looked like a powerful magic ore, but it was made of wood.


    "This is the heart of Rorcast. Your heart has also changed, Vivindel. It will now look something like this. It has life and mana. Given a little more time, magic, and effort, this could be an Elemental Core."


    "An elemental core?!" Everyone eximed. Those were words of great blessings. Having one would almost assure them of being Champions!


    "Yes. And with all our dilemmas, I can''t seem to resolve them here. To get to that Abode, we have to attack all portals at once! The seal requires all these hearts to pass through together. Only then, the way will be opened."


    "Is there a time limit? I''ve noticed irregrities with the portals. They''ve been opening and closing faster than before."


    "Yes. We have five years. Within that period, we must muster an army to attack and invade the monsters. Only then can we sneak in and head to the portals. Right now, it will be difficult to move in and find the mages. Especially with the war going on. They may be forced to reveal their secrets since they know they would be trapped here."


    "So we''re moving out?"


    "Yes. We now have another monster to face when we leave. No doubt we will be treated as traitors and harbingers of destruction... Prepare yourself for the monster that is politics!"

 Chapter 610 Attacking the Imp Army

    Chapter 610 Attacking the Imp Army


    Two more days had passed since the group had explored the area.


    Philip and Serena were tasked with scouting the region and found numerous skirmishes between the humans and the imps.


    They took advantage of it and began to act as scavengers and plunderers of the battle.


    But on the third day, Serena proposed a wild idea.


    Although Emeros told them to rest, the group grew restless and started to hunt more of the imp brigades. They even saw several skirmishes between the humans and the imps.


    Wesret led the group and fought a hard battle without Perment or Emeros.


    But Vivindel went with them in the form of a whip.


    Serena had greatpatibility in using it and together.


    "Are you sure about this?" Brent asked.


    "Why are you worried? Master Emeros permitted us."


    "When you said we would attack the imps, I thought you meant to attack a small brigade. Not meet the army of the imps!"


    Before, they were a full-scale offensive led by humans. The peace during the past days and the scouts'' reports spoke of war among monsters. And so, an offensive was made. But the imps met them at the wide opening of the underground world. And so, two armies positioned their toon nearly a kilometer long, and all fought together.


    "Master told us to show ourselves now to the humans fighting in this region. There is a skirmish; the humans are losing, so why not help? This will make things easier when we finally go back here. Are you scared?" Philip chuckled.


    "...Scared? What is this? My first day with you idiots? I''m just worried we might have interpreted Master''s words wrong."


    "You need to work on that INT stat of yours, sir Brent." Don chuckled.


    "Master wants us to do things he cannot do. He focuses on magic while we bring home the life energy for his next level up. We''ve been consistently defeating him; he needs to level up. We''re already used to his speed." Don added.


    "If all of us fought him." Serena corrected.


    "Yes. But Master is keen to learn how to fight against groups. His discipline as a swordsman is very unique. I heard Ravagers are poor swordsmen... Ha! Tell that to the swings of our master!" Wesret chuckled.


    "Are you ready, Vivindel?" Serena asked.


    "You don''t have to ask. I''m thirsty. Whip me out, and I''ll drain the lifeblood of them!" Vivindel answered.


    The imps and the humans were fighting in a dangerous battle.


    The regr imps and Gremlins had now be cannon fodder. But their numbers were still dangerous to the human soldiers.


    Most of the army was made up of Pucks and Chorts.


    Several Troglodytes were right at the center of this group.


    Kallikantzarosmanded each group, and the leaders of this skirmish, the Krampus, were fighting against the Captains at the center of the charge. The aim of the attack was to break through the center and block the tunnel, which was the fastest way to leave the region.


    If this were closed, then the armies of the humans which has spread themselves out would have no way to escape and fall as they would be trapped and surrounded.


    With that, Vivindel had instructed them to support the eastern nk and remove the pressure so the humans could push toward the center.


    And the dagger that stabbed at the side allowed the soldiers to push ahead.


    The group attacked and had the element of surprise.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Two explosions urred as the group used fire or bombs.


    The ranks at the side fell, and like a dagger, the team charged in through the gap.


    She held a sword and a whip. But with Vivindel, this whip didn''t need much control. Serena only pretended to swing the whip, and Vivindel did the rest.


    Wesret ran and dove deep into the ranks making quick stabs and attacks.


    Don, Brent, and Tyra supported Wesret and Serena''s hasty assault as Philip positioned them and used bows up close range, supporting everyone as fast as he could.


    "Who are they?!" A soldier noticed the group enter and quickly began to dive deeper.


    The group only killed who they could, but the main goal was to disrupt, wound, and support the soldiers by weakening one line of foes.


    BOOM!


    Explosions urred on several points as Serena and the group advanced.


    Serena and the rest were unstoppable despite their few numbers and levels.


    Soon, everyone even revealed using fire magic!


    "Who are they?!" A Captain was amazed as they saw the whip strike and caused a Kallikantzaros to fall.


    The morale of the soldiers increased. The battle at the center was to their loss as the Krampus had used several.


    They stood their ground and even slew several Chorts and a few Kallikantzaros.


    With all of their experiences, the group was hardened and experienced. Their dexterity was at its peak as they had constantly practiced and even would fight against Emeros.


    Though Emeros was faster, the group could always defeat Emeros in a mock battle, frustrating Emeros more and more.


    WHACK!


    A Kallikantzaros missed Wesret, who easily dodged it by stopping. This was a Quick de''s skill!


    "Halting de! That''s a Quick de tech! Is that a Captain?!"


    "Too slow!" Wesretughed as his faint charge worked and pushed his de directly into the neck of the Kallikantzaros.


    STAB!


    Emeros had fought them with numerous tricks and fighting styles that Aron, Branze, and even Kyros had in his days as a Pdin. The fighting stances and techniques were passed on to his memory. Since the Steele family was such a prodigy in the de that they could harness numerous fighting styles of knights, Emeros was naturally able to teach them.


    The Quick de''s technique required a higher Dexteritypared to his opponent. Halting de stopped exactly before an attack after a powerful sprint. It also required tremendous leg work. The advantage of Emeros''s allies was that they raised the levels at such a fast speed. They understood the vast difference in the new power they gained and, with it, familiarized how to use dexterity and,ter on, their strength.


    Wesret''s one-armed form aided in aplishing technique as he had less weight to push back.


    The Kallikantzaros tried to counter, but a serpent-like whip shot to the wound on the neck.


    From afar, it looked like the whip just struck, but Vivindel had bit and sucked out arge amount of blood.


    Losing his strength, the Kallikantzaros copsed.


    BOOM!


    Another bomb exploded as Don threw another mixture of alchemy. Vivindel''sb had abundant it in the far corners of the room, and they all converted most into weaponized tools.


    Wesret charged ahead, stabbing the Chorts and Puks.


    Some died, and those that survived sumbed to the strange poison that the de had.


    Serena''s whip was strong, and Vivindel would bite andtch on to the foes and weaken them by sucking out their blood. Serena alone slew two Kallikantzaros in this manner as she fought with a sword and a whip.


    The eastern nk advanced further as Serena and the rest fought deep toward the center. The advance became like a wave that rippled from the east end to the center as the Captains took advantage of the change in formation to their advantage.


    Morale was high as the warrior cheered, seeing the Kallikantzaros die.


    Serena deduced that it was time as they dove deeper into the center.


    Four Krampus were busy fighting at the center as they tried to push back the Champion and his Captains.


    With the eastern side pushing forward, the Captains began to pressure the imps toward the center of the army.


    Serena knew they were far enough.


    They had used up all the resources when they attacked the Imp army, but Vivindel''s stock was slightly better.


    She quickly hurled a sack of rugged cloth towards the center.


    The Krampus sensed its sheer power and quickly panicked. But it was toote.


    BOOOOOM!


    The power is as strong as a Champion Mages fireball attack erupted at the center.


    Imps, Gremlins, Puks, and Chorts could be seen flying from the center of the explosion.


    Everyone was confused at what had happened as the explosion silenced the entire area.


    BOOOOOM!


    Another st right in front of the eastern side exploded again and brought down another toon.


    Two wide gaps in the imp army could be seen.


    The imps and humans had paused in confusion.


    "ATTACK!" A young soldier roared as he suddenly charged and attacked a Kallikantzaros.


    SLASH!


    "ATTACK!" Another soldier followed and attacked.


    Soon, two more voices were heard, and the rest of the human army began to attack.


    "Fight men! Victory is here!" The Champion Knight roared out, and everyone was awakened from their shock.


    The war continued.


    The Captain on the eastern side realized that this was all due to the mysterious group that made their ambush. But they were nowhere to be found!


    "What?! Where did they go?!" The Captain was confused.


    Among the soldiers that fought were Serena and the rest. They were the first ones to make a wild attack at the Kallikantzaros. Their previous outfits were deceptive covers. But taking the thickyer of hide and leather was the standard uniform of soldiers. During the explosion, they removed this covering and acted as soldiers.


    Now, as the battle continued, Serena and the rest discreetly retreated and began to absorb the life energy.


    "Let''s fill all these magic orbs! We could all gain a level up after this!" Wesret spoke greedily.


    Feigning that a fellow soldier had fallen, the team divided themselves into different areas and absorbed the life energy of Chorts and Kallikantzaros.


    Vivindel was also busy feasting on the blood of both humans and imps.

 Chapter 611 Rising in Levels

    Chapter 611 Rising in Levels


    The humans won the battle.


    The assistance of the mysterious group of fighters who broke through the side ranks and slew their way toward the center created a critical copse to the battlefield.


    As the soldiers had pushed back the forces, they had the rare opportunity to pull back all the in forces to help their forces level up!


    Since the corpses were often rich sources for level-ups, it wasmon practice that an army would retreat at a vital point of the war so that the deaths left behind would not be too many. And toons would often harass the victors to ensure the army would not return the corpses left behind.


    After all, if the army won the war and acquired the corpses, it meant level-ups for the enemy and could raise the quality of the soldiers.


    The imps had always been able to harass the humans as their Krampus could cast ranged magic.


    But the surprise bombardment left several Krampus dead, and at the vital point, the Imp Demon had to appear and drive back the Champion Knight so his forces could escape.


    The copse of the eastern imp line and the destruction of the central portion of the imp army allowed the eastern human toons to break through the center and even aid in the west side.


    It was a total victory for the humans.


    The imps did not expect alchemy magic equal to a Champion Mage to appear.


    Since their enemy was only a Champion Knight, the area attacks of the human army were limited.


    But now, the imp army had to retreat to reposition the remnant army to the Imp Lord''s defenses to guard the fortress.


    And so, hundreds and hundreds of Puks and thousands of imps and gremlins were being brought back as many Captain mages began to quickly draw out the energy to fuel the fighters'' might.


    A huge pit of corpses being burned was next to the mages who kept extracting for the experience.


    But there was a mystery as the mages found many Kallikantzaros and many Chorts and Puks empty of energy!


    These dead, empty creatures were believed to be drained by the Imp Demon, who used its dark magic to empty the troops of whatever energy it had to keep the levels of the humans low.


    But the amount of dead all empty creatures belonged to the eastern nk where massive losses first urred.


    "We believe the Imp Demon was secretly draining them on the east. But when the alchemy attack urred, the walls copsed, and the Imp Demon had no choice but to abandon his ns. This is why those at the center and the west are all full of life energy." A mage reported to the Champion.


    The Champion nodded and was satisfied with the exnation.


    "ording to thews, appropriate the portion set aside for me. Has the Captain on the Eastern toons been rewarded?"


    "Yes. He should be rising in his levels as we-"


    BOOM!


    Massive energy erupted around as a Knightughed and released his Force Energy.


    "Champion! I''m finally a Champion!" The former captainughed.


    He was so happy at his newfound strength. His men charged forward after the massive explosion and were credited for boosting the team''s morale. But when asked who the soldiers were, no one admitted to it! These soldiers were believed to die as they charged ahead and were at the front lines when the battle continued.


    Because of this, the Captain, the head of the group, was awarded honors and granted a massive boost of energy that finally pushed him through thest hurdle.


    "I vow to find out who the dead soldiers were! And I also vow to properly thank those mysterious humans who charged bravely into the army!" The captain vowed.


    He had seen the attack of the brave troop and how they used alchemy to blow the center. They faced a possible massacre but now gained their first major victory!


    As the humans reveled in their victory, Emeros was also giving his allies a bestowal of energy.


    Perment, who was already a Captain, had dropped down to level 13 due to the poisons he took. But now, he managed to raise it all again. Some portions of his strength and vitality as a captain remained and were empowered. His strength stat soared and had even surpassed the current state of Serena, who was a vampire.


    His force stat was also awakened through a strange energy conversion circle that Emeros invented with himself. It was a Force Training Circle. The process was painful, but the once zero stat of Emeros had instantly caught up.


    ---


    Perment


    Mage Captain


    Experience: 17,983/23,102


    Level 15


    Strength: 53


    Magic: 48


    Dexterity: 87


    Vitality: 53


    Intelligence: 94


    Hit Points: 630


    Force: 15


    ---


    Serena was the strongest among them and was prioritized the least among Emeros''s allies.


    But as she crossed level 10 and was empowered thanks to a dark alchemy pill that Emeros created using the Dark Core he had. And so, Serena''s magic stat soared. Her Force stat also increased through the Force Training Circle, surpassing most''s average stat.


    ---


    Serena


    Level: 14


    Experience: 17,003/18,076


    Strength: 52


    Magic: 21


    Dexterity: 84


    Vitality: 59


    Intelligence: 71


    Hit Points: 720


    Force: 19


    While Serena became a potent Battle-Mage Vampire, Wesret also had incredible progress.


    Wesret benefited greatly from the Force Training Circle. It was discovered that many of his meridians were damaged and blocked by dark energy. It was believed that the environment and the diet he consumed had all high dark energy, and Emeros used his Dark Core to remove these dark points through an excruciating process.


    With it cleared, Wesret became a powerful Force user, reminding Emeros of the monstrous Steele Family.


    ---


    Wesret


    Level: 15


    Experience: 18,009/23,021


    Strength: 50


    Magic: 12


    Dexterity: 80


    Vitality: 48


    Intelligence: 63


    Hit Points: 580


    Force: 33


    ---


    Philip was the fastest in stat among all of them. Even though Seren''a dark dependent advantage could not defeat his dexterity, he could easily juggle ten swords and hold a conversation.


    ---


    Philip


    Level: 15


    Experience: 18,021/22,962


    Strength: 47


    Magic: 13


    Dexterity: 88


    Vitality: 47


    Intelligence: 70


    Hit Points: 570


    Force: 13


    ---


    Don was starting to be a proper mage. Vivindel and Perment imed that he was a genius given his stats and the fact that, unlike Perment, he wasn''t a Captain and dropped back several levels.


    He wasn''t like Vivindel, who was forcibly converted and had a high magic stat. He was a human with a great affinity for magic.


    With the life energy that had the magical bodies of Puks and Kallikantzaros and Emeros''s Dark Core, he created a Magic Pathway Clearing Pill. Unlike Serena, who could easily grow with Dark energy, humans needed their pathways cleared. Among all who took it, Don received the greatest benefits.


    Perment''s life-long practice had already made his pathways of magic clear. Don, however, took it the first time and had surprising results. His magic doubled to what it should be if other mages were at level fifteen.


    Don


    Level 15


    Experience: 18,044/22,943


    Strength: 47


    Magic: 36


    Force: 11


    ---


    Dexterity: 75


    Vitality: 47


    Intelligence: 91


    Hit Points: 570


    Force: 11


    ---


    Tyra and Brent also had their own transformations, given the time of their service. Tyra was training to be a Scout, a hybrid archer, and Swordsman. While Brent, who was amazed by Barbarians, was trying to be a specific discipline of Barbarians with great defenses and powerful attacks.


    ---


    Tyra


    Experience: 17992/22,911


    Level 15


    Strength: 48


    Magic: 9


    Dexterity: 79


    Vitality: 48


    Intelligence: 53


    Hit Points: 580


    Force: 17


    ---


    Brent


    Next level: 18,039/23,019


    Level 15


    Strength: 50


    Magic: 7


    Dexterity: 71


    ---


    Vivindel was not granted any levels. Emeros saw his form as something that could be Vitality: 53


    Intelligence: 54


    Hit Points: 630


    Force: 23


    ---


    Vivindel was not granted any levels. Emeros saw his form as something that could be improved through alchemy and other branches of creation. The True Vine needed to be strong. Emeros had seen the power of powerful Vines among the Eldrich and could tell that the most important task Vivindel needed was to improve his base form.


    Emeros only grew three levels but used all the new advantages he had acquired to turn himself into a powerhouse. The Dark Houdou Core allowed him to wield Dark Magic and Dark me Magic, which aided in the creation of numerous pills that helped his team soar in strength.


    ---


    Level: 13


    Experience: 15,321/19,023


    Strength: 73


    ---


    Magic: 36


    Dexterity: 95


    Vitality: 71


    Intelligence: 412


    Hit points: 810


    Force: 43


    ---


    Emeros opened his eyes after draining thest bits of energy, barely enough for him to rise to level 13.


    Emeros couldn''t help but smile.


    "Kyros... I''m close to catching up to your starting point!" Emeros thought.


    Kyros had over fifty points per stats. Kyros hid it from the rest but faced foes of high levels that made his starting point barely enough to go through the battles.


    But now, Emeros had stats that were twenty to forty points higher than what the average levels were!


    Emeros turned to his allies, who were all resting from their battles and adjusting to their new strengths.


    "We leave tomorrow and finally go to town. Everyone get ready."


    "Master. What about me? Do you have a way to improve my base power?"


    "Yes. The solution I made is ready! You will spend the night dipped in it. It will be a painful process, but it will strengthen the core of your True Vine. All the blood you absorbed will be used to make a whip."


    "That magic is amazing!"


    "Indeed it is. My master was skilled in creating it. These are called Blood Weapons. Once you can master it, you must teach Serena."

 Chapter 612 Rising Political Conflicts

    Chapter 612 Rising Political Conflicts


    The ashes of the battlefield continued to burn.


    The process of drawing out the energies of these corpses took an entire day with over a hundred mages and ten Mage Captains working non-stop.


    The imps tried to harass it, but the barricades and the blocked entrances stopped the forces from moving in.


    The soldiers continued to create more barricades, and a wall stood over thergest entrance as the soldiers built a massive tform, and many archers stood over it.


    But as they were constantly working, numerous torches were seen from afar.


    Although the cave was already well-lit due to the luminous mana lights, the group still brought their torches to show their faces.


    The faces of humans!


    "Humans!" An archer eximed.


    The cry alerted many as they all approached to see the humans that had arrived.


    The Champion Knight watched and saw a familiar group.


    "It''s them!" The Champion eximed.


    Since the day before, he had tried to inquire of the soldiers nearby to find out just who it was that saved them in that battle.


    He found more information about the team.


    Two women, a one-armed man, and three other men with weapons that the Imps used attacked the side.


    Leading the way was this same group of people. Behind them, two others followed.


    "Orders, sir?"


    "Orders? Those people saved us in our battle! And if you try to fight them, go ahead. That alchemy weapon they used would be like taking a Champion Mages charge fireball attack!" The Champion frowned.


    The soldiers lowered their weapons as the group approached.


    The group that approached was obviously powerful. They had easily broken through the ranks of the imp army and caused a copse within the defenses of the imps with their use of alchemy weapons. But they had in several Kallikantzaros!


    The team approached as many began to draw closer.


    The Champion Knight, who led the entire army, had also arrived.


    "Flintwick. Is it them?" The Champion asked.


    "Yes, Champion Worths. It''s them. Two more follow them. Based on their appearance, it looks like they could be Mage Perment."


    "...This will be problematic. Our orders are to arrest them at once. However, they did save us from that battle¡­" Champion Worths pondered.


    "We cannot treat them as criminals. But inform the Duke. Mage Perment and his group of ves have returned!" Worths ordered a scout who quickly left and rode a horse to deliver the news.


    Since yesterday, the investigation of the Champion had already led to assuming that their saviors were none other than Mage Perment. The one-armed man and the youthful team of ves were the needed evidence.


    The two Champions stood at the front.


    Champion Worths was still the army leader, and Champion Flintwick was now his second inmand.


    "Mage Perment?" Worths asked.


    "...Here. It''s been a while. But the troubles of the monsters have kept us from returning." Perment smiled.


    "You were inside the mines and knew you were being used of having caused all this. We are ordered to arrest you."


    "Will you?"


    "We will keep you here, and we have already informed our allies. But we are not ungrateful for your support. We do have questions."


    "Indeed. And we have answers. The reason I left was to gather the evidence of my captivity. No one would believe me without proof. Not I have it. That''s why I have returned."


    "Having no evidence is the least of your worries. You still have a lot to answer for. We, soldiers, do not harbor ill will. But our respective lords and masters want your head. The rising political conflicts that arose are great. The masses demand an answer, and you would be the scapegoat. With respect to how your men bravely saved us, I advise you to turn back."


    "I assure you, Champion. They don''t have a case. And we will not be the scapegoats. I am not so shortsighted to trust in mere evidence. I have all that I need to ensure my survival. And you are mistaken. This is not the first time we saved you. Who do you think forced the Imps and the Orcs to fight? Now, how about a drink?" Perment chuckled as he revealed a wine bottle.


    While the team mingled with the humans, the reports quickly reached outside, and many powerful figures of kingdoms were all called into action.


    Duke Ressongraze, the Duke of a fief that bore his name, sat in arge tent withrge circles over his eyes. He hadn''t slept well in the past weeks. Their dreams of his and his rise to power were all shattered to bits, and all his investors demanded their money.


    The Duke needed a scapegoat. He needed someone to be med for the cmity that followed. His name wouldn''t be written in history if the true cause of the curse was captured.


    Perment, the entric mage reported to be a bad seed of one generation of mages, had numerous conflicts. He would be killed even before a trial.


    "Let''s go! Perment is here!" The Duke ordered.


    And with him were two familiar mages. Baron Elford and Mage Captain Torman heard the news that Perment was alive!


    Elford and Torman nced at each other and nodded.


    Both moved out.


    "My Lord..." Elford spoke.


    "I know!" Duke Ressongraze shouted irritably.


    "We will first find out theplete pattern of the Energy Conversion Circle!" The Duke answered as they went on.


    On the high pce of the Zarefard kingdom, above the lofty towers that were erected over the mountain, was the Supreme Throne.


    A lofty name for a lofty kingdom that built its ce among the stones to challenge the heavens.


    Their kingdom was the strongest Kingdom among the soil. But they were simply not a match against the Flying Kingdoms that were seated above the floating continents.


    The news was quickly delivered. From the mines, the message rang out and reached the king.


    King Vergos stood up. His expression and features were as bad as that of Duke Ressongraze. His kingdom, which would have ascended higher than the floating continents, was now plummeting and had to pay what they had promised after enjoying the benefits they had reaped on the initial deals.


    "Summon the court! And bring that stupid mage here!" The king howled.


    The messenger nodded and left.


    "...Call them. Inform them that we have the culprit!" The King ordered.


    Word of Perment''s surfacing had spread. The angry nobles quickly gathered to see the execution of the one who brought the cmity to theirnd.


    As all the nobles moved, the mines were unusually quiet.


    The two Champions had not allowed anyone else moving in the mines to speak with Perment.


    They were having a drink.


    The two champions marveled at the tale that they had heard.


    "So that thing...?" Champion Flintwick turned to the unusual creature that was among the corpses that they brought in their wagon.


    "Is Mage Rorcast. They were opening the portal to another world. You''ve seen it, haven''t you? Races that are not native to our. This ce did not simply open up and reveal a secret underground world. There are portals connected to it. And the longer we wait, the more of those thingse in. Do you think the Demon Imp is the strongest one? More wille soon. As the path of the portal widens and the power it allows increases. Commanders and Cardinals of the Imps, orcs, goblins, and lizardmen. All wille in soon." Permentughed as he drank his bottle.


    "Impossible!"


    "We have proof. The books and diaries of two of these former mages we fell. Rorcast and another called Vivindel."


    "Vivindel!" Champion Flintwick eximed.


    "I know of him! He was a notorious mage who vanished!"


    "Four of them are here. Outcasts of different kingdoms. We met so long ago. They have spoken of a power they discovered here before the monsters appeared. I was found numerous exits and very few beasts. He did not make any further examinations to protect the investment and the assurance of his power. But here is the truth. There invited. But soon, my studies led me to assume that a dark danger was appearing here. I was toote. The seal was already opened when the Day of the Monster Passing began. We fell for the ims of the Duke."


    "...In an attempt to protect the mine. He gave a false report."


    "Yes. Then, he must have noticed and scouted the area and found this beast. He also found numerous exits and very few beasts. He did not make any further examinations to protect the investment and the assurance of his power. But here is the truth. There is no Day of the Monster Passing. There is only a Day when the Portal opens. And now, four doors to four races are opened."


    "...Will there be more?" Champion Worths asked.


    "No. Four Portals are Four Seals that were opened by Four Mages. My friends, this isn''t a coincidence. A mysterious power is at work that brought four mages here, and not a fifth or a trio. Four was necessary."


    The two Champions were lost in thoughts. They could not believe what they had heard. But they had no choice but to believe it, for they had seen the horrors before their eyes.


    "Master Mage Perment. You best leave this ce. I can help you escape unnoticed." Champion Worths decided.


    "General!" Champion Flintwick eximed.


    "The leaders and rulers will not believe you. Nor will they listen. Your death and the death of your allies have been decided. The kingdom will not im fault for this. They will im that you are the cause."


    "Be it as it may¡­ I have to go and meet them." Perment smiled.


    "Don''t you understand? You will die?"


    "I will not. And I will not die." Perment smiled back.


    Champion Worths saw that he could not persuade the Mage.


    "Then I bid you luck that whatever you n will work." The Champion answered.


    "It will," Perment asked as he drank the bottle empty.


    On another tent, Emeros and the rest were resting.


    "Are you sure about this?" Vivindel asked as his vine body rose next to Emeros.


    "It''s the fastest way. I need to enter a very prestigious mage school. My body can grow fast as long as there are monsters to kill. But my magic and knowledge will soon grow stagnant." Emeros nodded.


    "It''s quite a daring n. Even I dreamed of going to that school long ago. And even now, elder mages of ournd have dreamed of studying in the mage towers that hover over this ce."


    "And that is where I need to go. Our time is short. We have to take risks." Emeros answered.


    "You are¡­ quite a person, Master Emeros. No mortal would risk their lives just like this."


    "I have to. And you as well. We cannot remain normal mortals." Emeros watched in the distance waiting for the kingdom to arrive and arrest them.

 Chapter 613 Rising Terrors

    613 Rising Terrors


    Perment and his friends were quickly arrested.


    The two Champions could only watch as Perment was dragged off. But Perment had given them specific instructions that they had to follow.


    Also, every member was already chained up. Everyone formed a long link of chains as they were all connected one after the other.


    It was a strange order to put all their belongings on a certain surface.


    Perment was dragged off, and he did not resist. The guards that captured him had beaten the group, but all silently allowed themselves to be arrested.


    There were very few survivors from the mine. There were several who survived the attack of the Troglodytes, which caused massive losses to the soldiers guarding, and the moment they saw Perment, they all cursed and began to throw things at him.


    But the group ignored it and would sway or swerve to avoid some of the hard things thrown at them.


    Arrested and chained, the team of Emeros was brought out of the mines, and a ship awaited them.


    "I''ve never been on a flying ship before¡­" Perment chuckled.


    Emeros nced at it and knew this ship was far different from the flying devices in the nesworld. This shipprised the unique metals and ores of the floating continent.


    Large flying ships of great steel carried up through magic floated over the kingdom. These ships were from the Floating Continents and used the unique metals and ores that made up the Floating Continents. Very little magic was used to propel these things upwards, but generally, they were used to move forward or increase their density to float lower up the skies.


    The ship brought them high up into the tall mountain and arrived at the grand dock of the kingdom.


    Emeros and the group were escorted out, and many noblemen worldwide were present.


    Emeros saw gs and banners that were famous all over the ce. Even as a ve, Emeros knew these banners from the nearby kingdom.


    His hometown was invaded by several of these kingdoms, and a particr g caused him great anger.


    The Esfork Kingdom had suffered many cmities. The appearance of the monsters in the underground region, which is connected to the mine, caused an additional expense of resources. And soon, led by the kingdom with the coat of arms of three serpents, the kingdom of Anacordan sent their forces that broke through the main defenses of Esfork, securing its destruction.


    Emeros saw the other kingdoms thatmitted grave crimes against Esfork.


    "Vallenberg. Nogros. Pamidian." Emeros saw the various gs and the high nobles that carried these gs.


    All of them looked with detestable and disgusting smiles at them.


    "These are the idiots who caused the great disturbance in the underground world? They are the ones why our kingdom suffers?" A Count raised his eyebrows and noticed the destitute appearance of the group.


    "Hmm? Wasn''t Perment reported to be a Captain? He''s level fifteen!" A Viscount asked.


    "Most likely, his crazy experiments got the better of him." Baron Elford answered as he gave a haughty look at Perment.


    But Perment did turn to Elford and did not show any fear but only smiled.


    "Where is Mage Captain Carlisto? He seems to be missing, Baron." Perment chuckled.


    Elford trembled as he recalled the tragedy that surrounded Carlisto, for it was terrifying.


    He had made several profitable deals, but suddenly, all those who had vowed to him or with him were freed from all vows!


    And with the vows of destruction, Carlisto quickly began the target of many angry merchants, and even Elford and Torman dared not intervene. They themselves had ckmailed and tricked several of the poor folks and many other knights, which would nevere to light because of the vow. They knew full well what freedom to many would mean for them.


    It was onlyter that the brutally tortured body of Carlisto was found. His family was also killed in the most horrifying of ways.


    It wasn''t difficult to connect that the Vow caused the strange events that followed Carlisto. He had imed to have a way to break a Vow, but all of Carlisto''s vows were instead broken!


    Elford and Torman did not act as Perment, and the rest were brought inside the throne.


    The King''s Throne was not the most prominent one. The others had floating seats hovering above. But with one look, Emeros could already tell the ranks of kingdoms.


    Even though the one sent was only but a noble, their ranks were already higher than the king!


    Greeting the prisoners was Duke Ressongraze of the Ressongraze fief was present.


    Many nobles serving the Duke were also present as they watched the prisoners arrive.


    "Mage Perment. You are hereby sentenced to death for your crimes-"


    "I''ve done no crime." Perment answered. He was not shouting, nor was his voice soft. Just enough to overpower the words of the Duke.


    "SILENCE!"


    BOOM!


    The shout of the Duke, which was that of a mid-leveled Champion, shot at Perment, but at once, a strange power appeared as lights appeared on the shirt of every member of Emero''s team. The chains that linked them all together also began to glow, and a circle waspleted as a strange vine connected and formed a circle.


    They had all be an energy conversion circle!


    BOOM!


    The impact of the st was countered, and the force of a Champion was sent back to them.


    Duke Ressongraze felt the full force of the attack, and it was as if he was hit by tackling Knight with his shield.


    BANG!


    He was sent flying back at once and startled everyone.


    The glowing lights remained as all members stood with nk expressions and the magic flowing through them.


    "They''re all¡­! They''re all mages!" Elford shouted in shock as the magical energies continued to move around a circle that appeared.


    A very intrinsic energy conversion circle was formed. There was no formation te to where the circle was drawn. There were only lines, chains, and people with symbols engraved within their clothes.


    And yet, a powerful counter was sent back!


    "All of you assume that I am the criminal. But had it not urred to you that I was stopping this damned thing? A thing that Duke Ressongraze and this kingdom ignored? They saw an opportunity to mine the rare magic metal and the many naturally forming stones in that area without any fear or proper exploration of why it suddenly appeared?" Perment asked everyone.


    "Silence!" The enraged and embarrassed Duke jumped up and, this time sent out a serious attack and threw a punch towards Perment.


    His fist gathered with fire and sent out the attack that made him a well-known figure within the Kingdom.


    "[me Punch]!" Ressongraze shouted.


    A wave of energy blew towards him, but Ressongraze resisted the energy and pushed forward and ran.


    The group quickly switched their circle and moved closer as Emeros stood before the Duke to take in the attack of the Champion.


    With everyone extending their palms forward, the energy gathered around Emeros to meet the punch.


    Secretly, the Dark Houdou Core was activated as it began to gain mastery over Ressongraze''s fire!


    Ressongraze didn''t have an Elemental Core, and no Code or Corruption benefited his strength.


    And because of that, against Emeros''s Dark Houdou Core, the fire quickly rebelled.


    BOOM!


    The me from the fire punch turned evil and attacked its own master.


    "Ahhh!" Ressongraze shouted as he was blown back from the attack.


    There was another round of silence as the group saw the sudden counter and the grimacing pain of Duke Ressongraze.


    "The Laws of Magical Birth within this world states that Causation, Rtion, or Stimtion. Yet we have not fully grasped why that mine, empty of magical form, suddenly had a surge of magic! Are you all idiots? No. I don''t doubt the esteemed mages around this room. All information about the mine has been kept hidden with a report that says the investigation isplete. Duke Ressongraze''s attack was a means to silence me! He knows that I have uncovered his foolhardy decision to im that the mines were safe. He even made a fable, a stupid conclusion, and an outrageous lie about the Day of Monster Passing! Is it a day when monsters use the underground region? How, then, do you exin the lizardman!?"


    "Lizardmen?!" Many nobles present, who were of other kingdoms, all eximed when they heard this.


    "Ha! I see that no reports have been left! Indeed! Lizardmans, which have never lived on our, appeared in that mine! Is it a coincidence that the magic appeared in the mines, and then an earthquake, and then monsters appeared? I''ll tell you the answer to this mystery! The magical source of the mine was an opened portal! Sealed ruins of ancient times belong there, and it has now been opened by four mages! But instead of dealing with the threat, Duke Ressongraze sought profit, not


    realizing the rising terror of his precious mine!"

 Chapter 614 Rising Volcano

    614 Rising Volcano


    The power silenced everyone.


    The argument angered many, but at the same time, arger group was enlightened.


    It did make sense. The Laws of Magical Birth exined how magical items would spring up or appear.


    Because of magic, monsters may be born. Changes of minor concerns and catastrophic births of great monsters that would threaten the kingdom would happen.


    The ground itself could change and give birth to miraculous things. nts coulde alive, and the souls of men would give birth to greater horrors like ghosts and zombies.


    But always, the effects of the birth of magical creatures, events, or things would have, Causation, Rtion, Stimtion, or abination of these three.


    "Shall I lecture everyone about this? The mine has no clear or established causation of magic. The earthquake opened the path, but the magic appeared only in the mine and not in the other areas. How could an earthquake cause it? Clearly, the reason for the earthquake should be investigated!" Perment voiced out.


    "But no such answer! Can anyone tell me now what caused the earthquake?!"


    There was silence...


    "I know!" Perment dered confidently.


    "I know of the power that caused it! Do you?" Perment challenged.


    No one could answer Perment''s question.


    "If Causation cannot exin it, then Rtion or Stimtion can! But even then, none of you can fully grasp how these two yed a role in transforming the mine into something so spectacr that it could catapult this kingdom and region into a very superior state that can challenge the kingdoms of others! The Kingdom simply dered it was safe to mine! But what ripples of magic have spread out that it changed the mine? Or what power stimted the magic in the mines? Should I discuss and exin what Rtion is?"


    "You!" The Duke shouted as he stood back up. He was wounded and angry.


    "You do nothing but lie and use us! If you are truly innocent of all this, show us proof!" The Duke roared.


    "The Duke speaks the truth! How dare you stand up here and sully my honor! Was it the Duke who did that? Was it, not the kingdom?! And friends, pay no heed to this swindler! For he has been swindling and tricking people all his life! His entire academy and the peers with him are even here to present their grievances to them." The King of Zarefard finally spoke.


    He stood up from his lofty throne with eyes full of hate. The king himself was stunned by the magic attacks that resisted the Duke twice.


    And in that moment of his surprise, Perment hasid out permanent suspicion to the king''s ims.


    Many from other kingdoms who invested in the Duke''s business ventures were promised money that would help them rise into power in their respective kingdoms. Some nobles of other kingdoms saw this as their way to rise into greater political power.


    But the words of Perment brought a great cut into their trust and confidence.


    "King Vergos, we, of course, believe your words over this wench. But we now ask your grace for a more substantial exnation of how the mines gained power." A Count of another kingdom asked.


    "Our concern lies not in the lies that this madman spout, but we fear the rumors that would spread from this madman''s words. It will be of great shame if such lies will enter the minds of everyone nearby and create amotion in thend. The promise of ascending and gaining power have lifted the spirits of the masses and those nearby." An eloquent Viscount exined.


    "You dare¡­ question my judgment? Do you think I would let an impatient and greedy Duke make such a half-baked promation?" King Vergos red at the officials.


    The respective investors both frowned at the answer of the king.


    "I wish that the good king would still answer the question." A voice spoke.


    Above them, the man seated on a floating tform asked a simple question.


    King Vergos''s eyes raged as he nced up at the floating throne.


    "And may I know, to which royal, honorable family do I speak?"


    Ever since the past week, many knew that this was a noble of a floating kingdom, but he never removed his mask. But now, he stood up and removed his mask.


    "The Royal Family of Fardur Powenquis. And might I ask the good king why the need to ask my name is such a pretentious tone?"


    At once, the king''s expression turned ugly. This was someone of royal lineage from the Floating Continents.


    "Prince Alistair! This king humbly apologizes for not recognizing your arrival! As you can see, such problems have arisen in my humble kingdom."


    "I am seeking the answers that my father would want to know. I am in no way doubting the king. But of course, many restless powers continue to ask. After all, if what that mage said is true, then¡­ it could greatly affect the rtionships of our kingdoms, no?" Alistair spoke.


    "Of course! Forgive my aggressive disposition. But the minds of the lesser and tainted pedigree often chase after odd rumors and old wives'' tales. I need a more... intricate exnation to deliver to my father, the King."


    "And you shall have it, my Lord. Simply put, this rascal is twisting truths and facts. Trying to impress us with his numerousplex exnation and no doubt uses magical knowledge, which he stole from many mages present. He is a thief and a scoundrel. And because of that, he had been performing strange magic throughout the year." The king began.


    The reports of the monsters inside therge underworld proved most of what Perment had stated. They knew that there was a portal of some sort inside. There was no other way to exin the presence of the Lizardman. While the news had been contained, they had already prepared their excuses.


    "No doubt this scoundrel is making up stories to elicit the fantasies of men who desire glory and honor. Such delusions of grandeur are but his tricks to derail support to my kingdom. The truth is that there are volcanic activities below the underworld region. That underground area connects to a deep pit ofva. A volcano thought to be dead! The earthquake that opened thends was nothing but the volcano bing active again." The king exined.


    "A volcano?" The prince asked.


    "Yes. Isn''t most of the ores found based on fire elements?" The king asked everyone.


    "Duke Ressongraze, I order you to exin the details to the lords and nobles present."


    The Duke had been healed by many mages, and numerous experts in the king''s court weremunicating with the Duke.


    The Duke stood up in pain and anger at Perment. But he kept his noble bearing.


    "It is as the king said. And the rumors about the lizardmen are true. We have captured several lizardmen to show it to you. As for their origins, they were within the magma world. Creatures that have been hidden for ages long past. It has happened several times in history. Did not the adventurer, Kormak, find a new species known as the Fishmen hidden in the depths of the Veerwood Sea? They exist, but we are just uninformed." The Duke exined.


    At once, several chained red and brown lizardmen were brought into the ce.


    They had a strange heat emanating from them, and their red and brown colors were very distinct.


    The strange species of creatures drew curious eyes from everyone.


    "So there you have it. Magical Causation, Magical Rtion¡­ Now, for charges against the king to twist lies that divide and stir chaos when the truth of a rising volcano exins it, I hereby sentence you-"


    "I don''t think that''s a valid answer. How can a simple volcano do that? No! Lords... You''ve seen the power that I wield. We resisted a Champion''s attack two times! Where have I gotten the knowledge to do this? I learned through the ancient powers that the underworld offers!"

 Chapter 615 Rising Magical Theories

    615 Rising Magical Theories


    Emeros and Perment had discussed in length what they could do in the discussion.


    Vivindel also offered his suggestions, but they were, nevertheless, astounded by the wisdom of Emeros.


    Heid out a n with multiple possibilities and what they could do. But the most basic plot for them to ovee the enemy was first to have a show of might.


    People listen to strong people. If they show them a powerful magic that surprises everyone, they would have a chance to voice out. The enemy would surely try to drown them out and instantly kill them. But knowing that numerous kingdoms and representatives would be there, Emeros had one bait to ensure they listened to them.


    "Ancient powers?" The first of the nearby nobles heard Perment''s deration.


    "You gained that power¡­!" Another also asked.


    "That strange energy conversion circle was learned in the underworld?" Yet another asked.


    "Where?!"


    "Who left that legacy? Where did you find those magical theories!?"


    "Tell us!"


    Amotion of voices followed as many were intrigued by this power. How can a mere Mage captain who had been thrown and assigned to the mines gain the ability to create such a magical circle? This magical theory would spark a total change in the understanding of the kingdom''s magic!


    It was known that mages assigned to very poor ces had not found a way to make their mark in the city.


    And now, this man with a few ves had found a way to activate a circle and produce a veryplexw that allowed them to resist a Champion two times! And the second attack was dangerous even for the Champion Duke, who needed medical assistance!


    "It''s all down there! In the runes! In the altars! In the secret chambers! But now, those imps and other monsters flood them." Perment began to answer the crowd.


    "Silence!"


    BOOM!


    Once more, Perment and the rest defended the sudden attack of the king as a force field appeared before them.


    "My king¡­ Such attacks are dangerous. You could kill your servant in your rage and seal the truth about the power and knowledge ripe for the taking down there¡­" Perment smiled as he looked at the king.


    Everyone also gave suspicious nces at the king.


    At once, everyone began to think that the sealing of the mine was not only because of the sudden appearance of monsters and the failure of investment. Could it be possible that the king was secretly hiding a powerful magical legacy that could change the power of thend?


    Many saw the magical conversion circle once more and were amazed. Many even realized the use of this. It had terrifying war potential. Its deployment was very easy! Normally, the group would spend several minutes and even up to an hour to draw an energy conversion circle that can be instantly used for defensive purposes!


    The Prince suddenly moved his floating seat and positioned himself to be directly above where Perment was.


    "King Vergos, this prince wishes to hear more about what this man has to say about the power and magic hidden in your graciousnd." The prince spoke and emphasized how the magic was on ''your''nd to state that they would still reap benefits from it subtly.


    King Vergos was enraged all the more by Perment''s annoying smile.


    The position of Prince Alistair was directly above Perment''s team. This made it difficult for the King to make sudden attacks that would injure or silence the group.


    The Prince also knew that the energy that the group released was substantially weaker than the first time they defended. This meant that the energy was running out!


    Several other figures began to follow Prince Alistair''s actions.


    "My king! I have studied the lives of thend and am an avid schr of the lost history. Yet this¡­ energy conversion circle that the group presented to us is shocking, to say the least. Perment is an unknown man who worked in the mines. Yet now, he has magic that will twist the heads of every schr and those who pursue this branch of Creation. I humbly request my lord to give them a chance to speak." A schr stood in front of Perment.


    This would shield them from the attack.


    "Get out of the way, Baron Yen. I am here to execute judgment! Do not be deceived! Everything that you see before you is not found within the runes. My kingdom has made several innovations in this area, and this scoundrel has been stealing from us! Several mages have made such a discovery, and this man took it! Take, for instance, the discovery of one of the barons serving Duke Ressongraze!" The King answered.


    "Indeed!" Duke Ressongraze moved ahead.


    "This discovery has been within our reach for some time. Baron Elford! Mage Captain Torman!" The Duke called.


    Elford and Torman appeared and stood in respect to the king.


    "Tell them what you reported to me¡­" The Duke ordered.


    "Yes, my Lord! Esteemed nobles! The power that they used is very familiar to us. It could be said that we invented them!" Elford announced.


    "Oh?" Perment sneered. He didn''t react angrily. He already expected this. When they appeared and offered the formation te thest time, it had unique markings. While many parts which would have exined the power were destroyed before he gave it to them, the foundation of the energy conversion circle, which used Dark Dependent forms, was left within the center.


    "I recall things were different. I offered you, and we even made a vow. I promised that if I could prove to you that my energy conversion circle could substantially increase the energy absorbed from the corpses of several creatures, you would give me gold and potions. I even won this ve, Serena. Serena, greet your former master."


    "Baron Elford," Serena vowed.


    "You im ownership, but that was mine!" Perment answered.


    "Lies!" Torman shouted.


    "You sent in a spy! A close friend whom you have manipted with your twisted words! Everyone in the kingdom knows what happened to Mage Captain Carlisto! He was a treacherous man who worked closely with us to help us uncover the truth of energy conversion circles! We have even discovered a series of special characters that can harness more energy. And even made a unique discovery¡­! Duke Ressongraze, my lord, please do the honor!" Torman paused and sneered at Perment.


    Perment gave Torman and Elford a suspicious nce.


    "We discovered the energy conversion circles work better depending on the flow of magic!" The Duke Ressongraze announced.


    Perment''s eyes widened. He was about to look in Emeros''s direction, but Emeros made a light whip to indicate not to panic.


    "Flow?"


    "Allow us to demonstrate. We already have it prepared for the lords to view. Watch and be amazed!"


    Several objects were quickly ced at the center.


    Arge formation te with strange characters that the team could not decipher, numerous imps, gremlins, Puks, and a few Chorts were ced at the formation te.


    "I would humbly call on a level seven among all of you. It could be your sons, daughters, or even ves. I would also ask the experts nearby to gauge if this can induce a level up if the level seven to receive this energy was at the very start of his progression?" Duke Ressongraze asked.


    "No. This iscking in several monsters. Maybe another few Puk would do." The same schr that stood before Emeors answered.


    "What if I can?" Duke Ressongraze smiled.


    The eyes of many marveled.


    "You can?"


    "Who will be the recipient?" The Duke asked.


    "Normally, such a level-up would be expensive!"


    "How about me?" A Knight Noble approached.


    "Ah, if it isn''t Baron Knight Merovus! The one trained to keep his body pure with great holy energy to be a Pdin! While I would wee you, I believe you are level 25!"


    "Yes. But you said that it''s the energy, right? My current experience points are at 148,022. I have kept a careful count of it. I need a bit more than a level seven because, with my training, my level requirement is 149,122. And that is over a hundred and thirty pointspared to an average level 27 man."


    "Such exceptional stats! You will be a great Champion!"


    "I humbly ept the Duke''s praise. Now, I believe the standard of the kingdom is that most humans would have a life energy that requires around 1,059 points to scale from level 7 to 8. Of course, special bodies like mine require higher experience points." The knight bragged.


    Everyone on Emeros''s team had stupid expressions on their faces. They had already talked about their stats and had wondered why each level cap was different. Emeros exined what the knight spoke of. But the knight was bragging that his level cap was 130 points higher than the usual levels.


    As for Emeros teams, everyone had over 150 points, while some needed nearly 400 points more than the standard!


    "Am I¡­ a monster?" Wesret asked himself. This knight was so proud of his state, but Wesret knew thatpared to an average level 15 who needed 22,680 points, he already needed 23,021 points! That was 341 points more!


    But then, he recalled something and turned to his master.


    Everyone on Emeros''s team also did the same. They knew that Emeros, as a level 13 cultivator, needed 19,023 to be level 14. But the standard average is that most level 13 knights needed is only 14,180 points! That was a great difference of nearly five thousand points!


    "If I''m a monster, is Emeros¡­ a god?"


    "So¡­ You need around 1100 points to level up, correct? And these monsters are not enough by your gauge, BaronYen."


    "Yes. Especially since the stats that Baron Knight Merovus need."


    "What if I told you these monsters would give 1,293 points?" Duke Ressongraze smiled.


    "What?!" An explosion of surprise was heard as many were rmed. The experience points that the monsters gave would only be 995 at most! But now, two-hundred points would increase! This would greatly change the pace of their level-ups!


    "I will show you the rising magical theories of the great Kingdom of Zarefard!"

 Chapter 616 Rising Vine

    616 Rising Vine


    Perment was amazed at the increase of power that they could achieve in such a short time.


    But he knew that many powerful and stronger mages had to work together. Perment realized that the possibility of his presentation being recorded through an image recording talisman was done in his presentation.


    He underestimated the barons, and he felt worried.


    But as he turned to the side, he saw Emeros calm and only made a meaningful smirk.


    Perment''s fears were dispelled. It seems as if this was all part of Emeros''s n.


    Emeros had recalled how Kyros and Noxus dealt and talked with all-powerful foes who wanted to kill him. And this sparked an ambition that Emeros wanted to reach and ovee. Emeros was pushing himself to reach the levels of Kyros. Although he had years until the event of Kyros''s death, he was a mere kid in a ce with very poor, and he needed to reach a level where he could toy with the kings of this lowly kingdom.


    The paths beyond Crown were too terrifying. It would take hundreds of years to reach that level, and he had a deadline of 10 years to save Kyros and Noxus.


    Emeros stood and bore the confidence that he had in his n. But at the same time, his heart was restless. For even though he had nned, he feared the unexpected.


    "Kyros and Noxus faced all this uncertainty and still won. There was something about them that allowed them to brave whatever obstacles. If politics cause me to tremble, how shall I save them? My n must seed! I must surpass these kings now!" Emeros thought as he nced at the Duke''s entertaining questions.


    Beyond the possible magical possibilities that drew in the mages of thend, cultivation was important to everyone. Might and Magic benefited from an increase in drawing points!


    "Then I shall take this opportunity that the gracious Duke presented to rise in the levels of mine!" The Would-Be Pdin smiled.


    "Then step up, noble sir! Everyone! Today, I gift my kingdom and this region the blessing of this powerful step to our advancement! This could change our standing! And I remind you that this was our magic! Perment may use his cunning tricks and imitate the more obscure magics we have uncovered, but this is the fruit of Zarefard''s study!" The Duke bragged as he gave the orders, and the team used their magic to create a surge of light.


    FLASH!


    The Knight who stood in the formation te received the energy, and his body began to tighten as his muscles and skin transformed.


    His body shed with a strange white glow. He was amazed at the reaction as it was the first time his body released the white energy.


    "Pdin!" Many of the onlookers saw the miraculous events and voiced out their astonishment.


    The Duke was surprised that the knight shed out a white light. He had not seen such reactions in the previous level-ups that they had made.


    BOOM!


    The knightughed as he allowed his trained Force energy to leak out as he let his strength and power wildly rejoice and leap out.


    The knight continued to delight in his mirth and held out a stone as he poured out his might and Force on it.


    The light of the stone shed out, and a number appeared.


    26.


    The knight smiled as he saw it.


    All the mages nearby couldn''t understand the scene.


    "But¡­ but how?! But how is this possible?! Imps shouldn''t even give him one point in his level-up!" A mage exined.


    "Duke Ressongraze! Exin how that happens! The imps do give experience points value, but this is a Captain! Won''t thews of Diminishing Empowerment apply? The imps were not turned into pills, no clear means to sustaining the energy was used¡­ how can the body of a level 25 knight ept the energy?" Another mage asked.


    The higher the level of a person, the more resilient he is in receiving energy. An imp cannot give half its original points when someone reaches at least level 10. It would take several imps for the energy to give a single point to a captain. And since the Baron Knight Merovus was level 25, the imps present should have only given the Baron at least 10 points!


    Duke only smiled. He was a proper showman. He didn''t reveal everything at once but used this miracle to build astonishment. He set the expectations, and when everyone thought there would be some special methods to imbue the imps so that thew of Diminishing Empowerment would be resolved, the process needed none.


    "Well, I can''t give out all our secrets!" Duke Ressongrazeughed.


    Everyone was amazed and talked with each other.


    Even the Prince who hovered above watched in surprise and amazement. He was not well-versed in the discipline of Energy Conversion Circles, but he knew enough to know that what he witnessed was amazing.


    He then turned to the Perment and was slowly drifting away.


    "Perment. What do you have to say for yourself?" The King asked.


    "Perment. You''ve done well." Emeros spoke.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, I am Emeros. A mere ve who has received¡­ a rather amazing legacy inside the mine. And now, I am the leader of this group." Emeros spoke.


    The crowd saw the child move forward, and manyughed.


    "Is this yourst ace, Perment?" The King sneered.


    "My king, what if I present to you, and everyone here, proof that my ims are true." Emeros smiled.


    "Proof? Truth? Perment. Silence your mad ve."


    "Mad? Well, you could say I am a bit mad. But if you acquired the memories of a powerful mage who was twisted, deformed, and changed by a Mage Captain, it''s natural to have these side effects. The truth is four mages from different kingdoms, who were all outcasts or lost in this race called life, have banded together and tried to uncover the secret of the underworld region. They found a way to unseal it. But in doing so, they awakened a dark curse. It twisted them and turned them into creatures of wood and vine. Beast of dark forms that make them far more grotesque than the other creatures down the mines." Emeros exined.


    "Ah¡­ Yes. That is a true exnation indeed. Tell me, young ve. What monsters are found deep within?" The King humored the youth.


    "Why don''t I just introduce him? Vivindel. Do greet everyone." Emeros ordered.


    "Master. Greeting everyone would mean nothing. I have several enemies here who were the cause of my former demise. I also know of the enemies of Rorcast. But your greatness would have already At once, Teryon moved towards Abner. The Siloam Tower was an independent region and had no 23:06


    proper representative. And so, no one sided with Abner as the notorious man had more enemies than remembered it." Vivindel appeared and floated above.


    It happened so fast, and everyone was stunned. No creature in thend or threes was like this. A vine that could talk!


    The nobles retreated, and many prepared to pick up their weapons.


    But the vines quickly whipped out from Emeros''s body. His entire body was cloaked with this vine and had now shown its length and size. It targeted some of those who were intent on attacking it.


    shes, fire, ice, and other attacks severed the vine''s body.


    But before the attacks could worsen, the energy conversion circle glowed out and caused many to retreat.


    "Calm yourself. The king ordered me to show proof. You raised your weapons to attack it. Of course, it will fight back. But here it is. One of the four mages I talked about. The infamous Vivindel. The Blood Alchemist." Emeros revealed Vivindel.


    The group was quiet and observed the strange talking vine.


    "Impossible! What creature is this¡­!" Baron Yen, the schr, was intrigued once more.


    "Friends and foes! It''s so nice to see you all! Mage Erwin. I will soon kill you when the timees. Mage Teryon. Your friendship is well remembered. And now, I believe I have solved who killed your dear friend, Jazmine."


    The mage Viscount of the Tower Sword recognized the voice.


    "Vivindel? It''s really you?!" Teryon eximed.


    "Yes. Apologies for my form. The curse beneath thatnd was brutal. For opening the seal, thend cursed us in the form of an ancient race known as the Tree Troglodytes. But in my new form, I am sensitive to the magic of nts and herbs. The killer of Jazmine was never found because it was an ingenious one. Among all suspects, none of them killed her. The real crime was caused by a party outside of our suspect list. Jazmine died of a strange poison that manifested orange and green puss. Only one fruit causes that. And it is found in Siloam Tower. And among all the mages there, only the Fungus King is capable of using it!" Vivindelughed.


    "Siloam Tower! The Fungus King! Viscount Abner!" Teryon suddenly eximed in anger and quickly raised his staff as energy gathered.


    The one called Abner saw the actions and chants and raised his staff.


    But a severed vine suddenly sprang up and coiled around him!


    "What!"


    CRACKLE!


    The ice of Teryon froze Abner.


    Vivindel''s head drew close as the vine gave a strange potion.


    "A blend of truth. With your eyes, the Fungus King cannot use his creations and nullify the effects of the Truth Serum." Vivindel chuckled.


    At once, Teryon moved towards Abner. The Siloam Tower was an independent region and had no proper representative. And so, no one sided with Abner as the notorious man had more enemies than friends in each region.


    Teryon shoved the bottle down the frozen mouth of Abner.


    "Did you¡­ kill Baron Jazmine Tress?"

 Chapter 617 Rising Genius

    ?


    The frozen man with the power of fungus was a renowned and feared figure in thend. Not many would dare to cast a spell against him lest he be attacked by the most dangerous of poisons.


    Even Teryon would not attack him unless something far greater than his life was stated.


    The attack that Teryon made based on Vivindel''s words sparked curiosity.


    "Mage Teryon! What are you doing?!" A knight of the same kingdom approached and pulled Teryon back.


    CRACKLE!


    A powerful ice ball shot toward the knight and sent him hurling back.


    "No one, stop me!" The mage roared in anger.


    Everyone was stunned. They could see that the matter was of great importance that not even the king could interfere.


    "How audacious!" The king roared in anger.


    But at once, the Prince jumped from his lofty throne and fell before the man.


    "Prince?"


    "Forgive his audacity, King Vergos. But I know a man of such crazed conviction. I ask that you allow this to y out." Prince Alistair answered.


    The king frowned. He was startled at the appearance of Vivindel, which would have proven Emeros''s ims. No one had seen such a creature. But if Emeros was right, then they were wrong. And he could not afford it.


    But Teryon cared not of these politics as he ran back towards the frozen form of Abner.


    "I can attest to the identity of Mage Vivindel. Only he knew of my troubles. My love, Baron Jazmine Tress, was known to a few people long ago. Vivindel was one of them! And let''s see if the Vivindel I remember was as thorough in investigating matters of death as I remember him to be."


    The potion was forcibly brought down the frozen body of Abner.


    "Tell me! Did you kill Baron Jazmine Tress?!" Teryon shouted again.


    The mouth of Abner was moving, and Teryon began to defrost it.


    "Yes¡­" Abner answered.


    "¡­.Why?!"


    "Orders¡­ By Count¡­ Hashik."


    Teryon trembled.


    "So¡­ it was him¡­ Yes. Yes¡­ It makes perfect sense now¡­" Teryon answered as he turned around.


    His face was full of rage, and many were rmed at his expression. They knew that even though his enemy was a Count, he would show the same craziness and anger today.


    "Were you in anyways involved in any attacks against Mage Rorcast, Vivindel, Peres, and Joab?" Emeros suddenly asked.


    "I was tasked by Viscount Rion to attack Vivindel, but he fled. I was once paid by an anonymous member of the Sword Tower kingdom to deal with Peres¡ªanother one from Nogros to frame Joab. As for Rorcast, it was Count Erbon of Zarefard kingdom who ordered to hunt him down. But they all fled and vanished." Abner answered.


    Emeros smiled. He had been asking Vivindel about the many urrence and deaths. He realized through his knowledge that the highest probability of numerous murders and deaths was caused by a fungus expert!


    And with this, it was easy for them to guess who the killer was. Emeros had Rorcast''s memories and had talked to Vivindel about what he knew and had determined that this was the one who caused the four mages to flee!


    "As you can see, my lord, Vivindel is only one of four mages. Four mages have a rtively unknown status within Zarefard. Only your respective kingdoms know of their names and infamy. I even daresay that Duke Ressongraze does not know of three of the four mages. Four mages, who, for their troubles, were outcasts simr to Perment. They were rising geniuses in their own right."


    "Perment? A rising genius?" Elfordughed.


    "He is. A mage who has greatly aided me in creating Energy Conversion Circles. Can you create a defensive link like he did?" Emeros challenged.


    Elford was angered.


    "But just like Perment, these rising geniuses had to fall as they threatened those in power. And they sought refuge in a cave. Their hearts are heavy with the desire for revenge. And all of them realized that there was a legacy inside. They shared their knowledge and power and opened the seal, hoping to attain the promised power within. But to im the power, a terrifying price must be done¡­" Emeros narrated.


    Everyone was now captivated by this story.


    "An interesting story¡­" The king began to p. But his expression was dark.


    "But this is another one of your simple schemes to twist things. Half-truths are spread across this tale. You found four mages inside and bent the story when it was you who opened it! And this little ploy is merely lies!" The King roared.


    "Oh? Then perhaps the king can use Abner to ring out more details! Let''s ask what other lies Abner knows about our beloved Zarefard kingdom!"


    SLASH!


    The ice crackled as the frozen body was halved from the king''s quick sh.


    Prince Alistair was in Emeros''s way, but Abner had no guard and was quickly killed.


    "Enough of this! You do not have proof to use me of my¡­!"


    FLASH!


    A bright light shone behind Alistair, and he was confused and quickly turned around.


    "I know that an unfair trial would be held for us, for we were already determined to be the traitors of thisnd so that the sins of this kingdom would be covered. I implore anyone to ask and contact the Champions guarding the mines now. They know and can attest that these things were once within the mines. Through the knowledge of that underground region and from what Rorcast and Vivindel had uncovered, behold, I have portaled the corpse of Rorcast!" Emeros stood over a dried-up corpse.


    Rorcast''s body was petrified and preserved. As such, the grotesque, humanlike form with the familiar features of Rorcast was presented.


    "Teleportation?! Through energy conversion circles with no tform and energy cements?" A mage eximed.


    "Look! They drank mana potions!" Another pointed out that each member had drank up their mana potion to teleport the corpse.


    "They im that Perment, or I, stole such magic. If true, forget about barriers allowing Captains to negate a Champions attack. Show me a portal that can warp items back and forth. Prove to me that you are the original users. We can do the very same trick you did, but even better! One thousand five hundred experience points would be the minimum!" Emeros dered.


    "Lies!" The King roared back. He wanted to attack, but Prince Alistair kept his position between the two.


    "I will not take such usation lightly! You stole from us, and that is the fact! These¡­ abominations that you im to be the former mages are all part of your web of lies! We created these circles! You have nothing to do with it!" The king shouted.


    "Indeed! You stole from us!" Baron Elford shouted.


    "You tricked us, and you used Mage Captain Carlisto!" Mage Torman added.


    "So you im that your magic is your own?" Emeros asked.


    "Yes!" Elford answered.


    "...Alright. I guess it''s eptable." Emeros smiled.


    Elford and Torman were about to shout another line of defense.


    "You¡­ agree?" Elford asked.


    "Sure."


    "So you admit that you stole from us?" The Duke asked.


    "Of course not. What I meant was, if I find my heritage, why can''t you find yours? Finding ck Magic forms is not that rare. If I find Holy forms of great purity, why should it be impossible for someone to find heritages from ck Magic?" Emeros chuckled.


    "ck Magic?!"


    "How dare you!"


    "Vivindel." Emeros asked.


    "It''s true. The core letter that they used is a dark magic call. A power that draws magic from a Fallen or a Fallen Spawn. We, the four mages of the apocalypse, had studied these letters and used them to empower ourselves since we were now dependent on ck magic. Master''s power that bound and defeated me is that of an ancient king."


    At the words of the ancient king, the Prince suddenly grew alert and turned to Emeros.


    Emeros noticed it and secretlymitted the reaction to memory.


    The rest reacted in anger at the usation of the nt.


    "Master. It''s easy to prove it. The light around Baron Knight Merovus has faded. Let him see if his progress in Holy energy has increased or weakened." Vivindel offered.


    "A brilliant suggestion!" Emeros smiled.


    Everyone was surprised and turned to Baron Knight Merovus.


    He was channeling his light to appear, and his expression was slowly turning uglier and uglier.


    "Duke Ressongraze! You destroyed my cultivation! My path to a Pdin has been destroyed!" Merovus suddenly exploded in anger and charged toward the Duke.


    But the Count, who was the actingmander of the Baron, stopped Merovus and bound him.


    "Stop!" The Count shouted.


    "No! He¡­! He¡­.! ck magic user! Foul creature! My sword will y you! st you! st this damn kingdom that practices ck magic!" The enraged knight shouted and howled as the Count held him down.


    Duke Ressongraze! King Vergos! What is the meaning of this? This man is a blessed noble who our king favors! He is a rising genius in our kingdom! Are you enticing us all to war?!" The Count shouted.


    King Vergos and Duke Ressongraze both had horrified expressions.


    The two turned to Elford and Torman.


    "You two! Exin! What happened?!" Duke Ressongraze shouted.


    "I¡­ I¡­! This¡­!" This! Torman didn''t know what to say.


    "It''s... it''s that man! It''s Perment! He gave us the wrong form! This was his energy conversion circle! He tricked us!"


    "My energy conversion circle? Didn''t you prove to everyone that this was your own? I don''t have anything to do with this." Permentughed.

 Chapter 618 Rising Star Of The Planet

    ?


    Merovus''s loss of holy power was caused by the dark-dependent methods used. And since the monsters were imps, the energy was already dark and thick and needed ways to filter out the energy. Conventional means of absorbing the life energy of a creature and turning it into what were generally called ''experience points'' had natural filtering processes.


    But the form that they used was a Dark Dependent one. And this brought a massive amount of dark energy into the body of one who walked as a Pdin.


    The light that glowed out of the Pdin was not a good sign. It meant the holy and pure energy cultivated for so long was leaving due to the high darkness. The knight could cultivate as a knight, but the path of a Pdin was practically over. He would have to redo his cultivation as a Pdin.


    Emeros had the means to reveal the dark-dependent form used. Still, it became several times easier, and the effect was far better than Emeros initially hoped for since a Pdin took this energy!


    Perment was now the one smiling at Elford and Torman.


    "That''s not my form. You im that I stole from you. That im is false. But if true, why are you using me of creating ck magic? I assure you, the energy conversion circle that we practice uses the power of an ancient king in this ce. Therefore, it''s far more holy than the rest."


    "Liar! You¡­ gave us this form! You are the ck magic practitioner!" Elford screamed. He saw the enraged looks of a Count and Baron Merovus.


    Baron Merovus was famed in the region, and although he was a Baron in nobility, everyone knew that his favor to the kingdom was great that he was practically at a Count''s level! And they had ended his career as a Pdin!


    "Perment! Answer me!" Torman shouted as well.


    "This is so pathetic. You all use me of stealing your knowledge. But now that it''s proven it''s ck Magic, you im that it was you who stole from us! Does that mean you admit that whatever remarkable findings you use were patented by me and my master''s findings?" Perment sneered.


    "Everyone except Serena and Tyra, remove your clothes and show the marks and engravings. Let''s prove to them that we have a heritage of light. And to further prove it, let''s use our energy conversion circle to purge the good Pdin of the darkness that infected his soul." Emeros ordered.


    Everyone followed and removed.


    Meanwhile, Baron Knight Merovus and the Count''s expressions changed as they heard the statement of Emeros.


    Serena and Tyra didn''t remove them as they were women. But Emeros only took advantage of this excuse because Serena''s form was a Dark Dependent.


    Everyone''s back and the front was shown, and everyone marveled. The energy conversion circles were like tattoos around the front and back.


    And Emeros was the center. The engraving letter of Vasilius was there.


    The Prince saw it and was intrigued. He used his eyes, which contained a special power, and could tell that Emeros was the one that held this all. The other pieces could be removed, and it would decrease the effectivity of the circle. But without Emeros, it would fail to function.


    "See this letter? It''s different from the ones they used. That Dark Dependent form uses an ancient being, a Fallen Spawn of Greed." Emeros exined.


    "Greed?"


    "Greed of the Fallen Phaulos. It was said in the legends that the evil desires of all mortals manifested through seven creatures. I have to say, though, I am honestly envious of the legacy that Duke Ressongraze and King Vergos have." Emeros smiled.


    "Do not associate us with these Baron''s folly! They presented this to us and did not inform us that they were ying around with ck Magic!" The king distanced himself from the two.


    "Oh? I thought this was¡­ ''the kingdoms'' magical theories? So it was just these two? These two who first imed we stole from them but now imed they stole from us? How suspicious." Emeros sneered.


    The King and the Duke had a very ugly look on his face. They don''t know how to refute and can only remain silent. They had to make it look like this was Elford and Torman''s invention.


    "Young hero, Emeros. Is it true what you said?" Baron Merovus approached and asked.


    "Yes. But Milord, I am not doing this for charity. I am here because I want to settle all ounts of my sins. Even if I have brought evidence after evidence to show that what I im is true, it''s still being refuted. If I seed in giving you a new life to your path, assure me that I can walk out of this ce alive, and no bounty will be on my head." Emeros answered.


    The King and the Duke were enraged at the words of Emeros, but the Count quickly stepped in.


    "If that is all, then we ept. We can invite you to our kingdom if you swear allegiance to me.." The Count offered. He knew a genius when he saw it. He knew that this Emeros and Perment were the true inventors of this magic, and he wanted it for his kingdom.


    "Forgive me for being blunt, milord. But I am a freeman. I was once in chains but found them too heavy. So I broke away from them. My stand and purpose in being here is also to break the chains that the king has set on me. For I was a mere ve in the mines before all this." Emeros added.


    The Count frowned.


    His gracious offer was actually turned down, and it was an insult to his authority!


    "However, it would be too presumptive of me to go with you as a freeman. But I think I have a solution. My form can help lord Merovus to have a purifying power. And while this is good, he would still have to re-cultivate as a Pdin. So, I have another solution. I will show you how to be a Pdin without having to go through the rigorous and difficult restrictions of the light."


    "What?!" The Count shouted.


    Merovus also had a bewildered expression.


    "...Insanity. This scoundrel is only a troublemaker! Such words-"


    FLASH!


    A white energy gathered on Emeros''s hand.


    "What?!"


    "Holy?! But how!"


    "No¡­! It''s not holy! But¡­ this power is¡­!" Baron Merovus was amazed.


    "Instead of gathering holy energy to be your power, I can teach you how to turn your force energy to resemble Holy." Emeros raised his hand.


    In the past days of his research, Emeros had revived numerous things that were engraved in his memory. The path of a Force Pdin was deeply engraved in Kyros''s memories, for he has trained as one. Through the use of numerous alchemy pills and the energy conversion circle drawn on himself, Emeros was able to train his body to create force energy that the Force Pdin had quickly.


    Emeros gathered all of his Force energy.


    25 points worth of energy appeared and surprised everyone. No one in the surrounding kingdoms had such an amount of Force!


    Even the prince from the Floating Continents was impressed as this was a stat point that was on par with the geniuses of hisnd!


    Emeros turned towards the in Abner, whose body was halved from the king''s attack. Two blocks of ice remained at the side, and this was Emeros''s target.


    "[Holy sh]!"


    SLASH!


    A power of white shed out and severed one of the blocks. The forced energy was pure and was almost like Holy magic!


    Crackle¡­


    The upper part of the ice fell down.


    The room was quiet as they saw it. It was as clear as light. The energy was simr to holy, but those who studied Holy, knew it was not. Yet its power was as strong as Holy!


    "I''ve embarrassed myself. My force energy is quite weak. But I believe you saw the white energy. It''s an attempt to turn Force Energy to be holy. This allows knights like you to pursue the path and practice of a knight without having to worry about what to eat, the environment, and so on. Basically, your cultivation will have to focus on increasing Force energy. I can enter your kingdom as¡­ a teacher if that offer is eptable." Emeros smiled.


    "We graciously-"


    BANG!


    "Oh no.! My floating throne lost power. I forgot to add more energy to it due to the awesome performance of this great, kingly, paragon genius, hero-child!" The Prince approached and smiled as he shook the hands of Emeros.


    The Count was under the massive floating seat and was pushing it up, but his strength could not lift the seat as if some power was pushing and pinning the Count down. He wanted to shout and answer Emeros, but the throne was crushing him down, and he could not speak.


    "Young child. What say you if you go to the floating continent? If you stay here, the usations and hatred you have sown here will chase you even if you hide in another kingdom. You have seen Abner, a hired hand to kill across kingdoms. But no one in thends above knows of you. I invite you¡­ to be a hired teacher in my academy! Being a guess and freeman in their kingdom is too mundane for the rising star of this! So let us go¡­ go to the skies, where you may rise with the greats!" The Prince smiled.


    Emeros turned to the prince and bowed. This was the very ending he had hoped to attain.

 Chapter 619 Rising Higher

    ?


    The King, the Duke, Elford, and Torman all had ugly expressions. The fact that such an offer by the prince was made indicated that he was believed. And they didn''t know how to argue their way out of the situation.


    "I graciously ept. But first, my Prince¡­ I would like to offer the Baron and Count my promises. For I know, the invitation extends to me. Yet my friends also need their ce. After all, the opened portals that the four mages opened can still be closed. Beyond our moral responsibilities of thisnd that denounces death and destruction unlike the Duke and King¡­"


    "Liar!" The King raged, but no one paid attention anymore.


    "...the portal that opens is also a chance to inherit the hidden abode of a mysterious king. A grand power far beyond anything our threes possess."


    "Let us discuss it privately." The Prince smiled.


    "In any case, I would trouble Baron Merovus to take his stand at the center of us. I may need to inscribe something on you. But I would also like to take this chance to solidify my backers. Baron Merovus. I will do this if you make a vow with me. A vow of equals."


    "A Vow of Equals?" Merovus asked.


    "That''s the term this country uses to make a vow of alliance." The Count answered. He was off the massive throne that smashed him and was doing his best not to re at the Prince, who caused the massive seat to plummet down on him.


    "Oh? Why not? But is it not beneath you to make a vow with someone as low as me? You are no longer a ve but a person of power, a young hero, Emeros."


    "Of course not. I walk the Path I call the Force Pdin. I have studied Pdin arts for many years. So I can tell when I see a Pdin of great talent. Team, surround him and assume the formation we did to block the Duke''s¡­ erm¡­ unimpressive attack."


    The Duke''s teeth were gnashing so hard that many could hear it.


    But as everyone was moving, Perment moved closer to Emeros.


    "Studied Pdin arts? You never showed that power down there¡­!"


    "I couldn''t do that yet," Emeros whispered back with some restrained chuckle.


    Perment was mumbling many strange and annoyed things. Because not just the strangers but Emeros''s own friends were startled at his capabilities.


    Emeros drew the Vow on his right arm, and it began to glow. The Count also removed the gauntlet of Merovus and drew the Vow on his right arm.


    "The Vow of Equals assures that the two of us see neither to be beneath one. It is a vow that promises as equals, we will also look out for each other. I am Emeros¡­ Steele." Emeros felt that using the name Vasilius would be too dangerous. So he chose the name of Steele.


    "I ept. From this day forward, we will now be Equals¡ªallies who will stand together. Your burden is my burden. Your concerns are my own. As Equals, we shall stand together no matter how vast the distance and difference between our power." Merovus gave his amazing demands that would force a tighter alliance between them.


    Merovus offered his arm as the Count drew the Vow on him.


    But drawn vows gave a strange glow of light.


    Emeros reached out to Merovus''s hand.


    At once, Merovus was sent into a strange white world.


    In front of him was Emeros, and the two continued to shake hands.


    "A vow of equals offered by a prince. And the lowly have epted. Such is the dream of Vasilius. A world not governed by a single king but shared by kings and queens of equal standing. Lowly one who has taken this vow with your prince, ept my mark." The strange being on a lofty throne raised his hand, creating a small letter that flew toward Merovus.


    At once, he was back in the throne room.


    Emeros was smiling at him and made a motion of putting his forefinger on his lips.


    Merovus was amazed. He could feel a mark form behind him.


    "Hail Equal! As promised, I will teach you my teachings. Team¡­ provide the energy from me. Perment, use the form and flow the energy as you would purge impurities in an alchemy bin. Vivindel, do the same." Emeros ordered.


    Perment nodded, and Vivindel suddenly extended his body and made numerous crisscrossing lines.


    "It''s easy to have a vine Mage Captain. It makes these magical circles easier to change. And Perment is also a genius in the energy conversion circle. I believe Elford and Torman stole the idea from Perment and found a hieroglyph written in the First Wordnguage of the Gods. I have seen their letter and can alter it freely. Combined with the legacy of the King, the Dark Dependent nature can change." Emeros smiled as he moved along the rest and drew on them.


    He then paused as he reached Serena and had a conflicted expression.


    "Young Master?"


    "Erm¡­ This formation needs me to draw at your¡­ chest." Emeros whispered at Serena and tried to hide his blush.


    "Master. My body is yours. You are free to do what you see fit to it." Serena whispered back. But her tone was very passionate and enticing.


    Emeros trembled. He had conquered great horrors in the mines, but he had never conquered such emotions.


    "Please be still, Serena." Emeros answered as he reached inside her clothes, Vivindel began to detach itself from the sides and covered the two. This allowed Emeros to draw an additional mark on Serena''s chest.


    "Master¡­ Don''t tell me you''re a virgin¡­?" Vivindel quietly whispered only at the hearing of Emeros and Serena.


    "What?! You''re the virgin, you stupid vine!"


    "Actually¡­ I have been meaning to ask if you could help me hire some... femalepanions¡­ well¡­ you know. I may be a vine, but I can still feel, and I do have ways to do that. And it''s been so long since I''ve had my fun..."


    "Hentai tentacle porn¡­!" Emeros could not help but have a strange, vivid imagination from Cminus.


    "What?" Vivindel asked.


    "Shut up and just keep us covered." Emeros threw away these bizarre thoughts.


    "...Master, just to be clear. Only you are allowed to make use of my body. Not some strange, old, creepy vine." Serena red at Vivindel.


    Once the task wasplete, the group returned to their respective position. Everyone noticed Emeros''s red expression, and many began to plot how they could honey pot this genius hero.


    "Equal Merovus¡­ We will begin by purging out the energy. I have used the same symbol of Greed that Elford used. But this is not ck Magic. Thanks to my light, I''ve altered it so that it is neutral. And we will use some of the rare ores we found in the mine." Emeros went over to the corpse of Rorcast and unearthed numerous precious gems hidden in the beast''s body.


    He handed the gems over to his team, who held to at least two each.


    "Why are they holding gems?" Baron Yen, the schr, asked.


    "Right. This is called the Conversion of Magic to Life. In this form, instead of using dead monsters, we will use ores to grant experience to him."


    "WHAT?!"


    The room exploded in surprise.


    BOOM!


    Without any more dys, Emeros activated the magic, and the energy between them all began to surge out.


    "Equal Merovus. I will purge the darkness within and let the fire from these ores burn it. It will hurt. Bear it! You will gain some experience and some resistance to fire. Learn from this, as you may also be able to harness the fire energy within!" Emeros warned.


    Merovus was surprised at the benefits and had a serious expression.


    The energy began to sweep through him, and this time, dark energy began to leak out as the light had once left him.


    Merovus was in great pain. Yet he contained the urge to shout and howl. This was because he could feel the darkness leave him.


    Many mages were actively using Gauge magic to see how much energy was being bestowed on the man.


    The process took nearly a minute, and Emeros removed his hand from Merovus.


    Merovus fell to his knees and began to pant.


    "Impossible¡­ Two thousand points worth of experience points!" A mage was shocked.


    At once, an explosion of questions, exmations, and some even ran back to contact their respective kingdom of what they had seen.


    Bestowing experience points always risked lives for fighters who had to fight. But if it was only magical ores and mines, it would be a different story. Acquiring magical ores was always easier than facing a herd or pack of monsters. Even in war, both sides would do their best to ensure the corpses would not be acquired!


    Ores were only used as supplemental energy to help the energy conversion circle function. But never was there a time that the energy would be used to grant experience points!


    Merovus slowly stood up and sensed the energy in him. he could tell he had gained a rather substantial amount. But there was something within his force energy that felt different.


    "I''m... now more resistant to fire!" He realized it.


    Prince Alistair was stunned. He had thought that Emeros would be a rising star among the geniuses of hisnd. But now, with his superior knowledge, he knew that he would rise even higher than those stars in his kingdom.


    "I must establish a deeper connection with this Emeros. He would be my path to kingship!" Alistair decided.

 Chapter 620 Rising Of The Slave

    ?


    The Duke saw the expressions and faces of everyone as they were enamored by a miracle that would change the lives of many. He knew he could not convince everyone that this was a trick! He, himself, couldn''t believe it!


    Capturing monsters and bringing back their corpses was a job for professional hunters and corpse trappers. With monsters grouping together, it would take a team of nearly a hundred men to bring back monsters that could be used for level-ups. This is why most nobles do not bestow experience to their ves. It was a costly investment to have one level up.


    But if it were magic ores, it would be a different story. People can invest in these at low levels to boost the warriors so they can venture out and fight the monsters at their higher levels.


    Those of noble backgrounds could have servants that would be level 3 or 4. It would also be useful for their vassals to grow in power like this as a safe option is allowed.


    Hunters and Corpse Trappers have their entire lives lined up with schedules as people often recruit their services. Many freemen would need luck and connection to even have a team. Other freemen banded together to venture out, but the losses in this scenario were high. Cases of a full wipeout would ur every now and then.


    But this could cause many groups to start growing!


    "The kingdom has made a rtively good push in the mine. My team helped the Champions drive back the army of imps. You can ask them if you don''t believe me. But that push already offers a great amount of resources. I will offer the energy conversion circles up for free study. But honestly, I doubt it would work. This key glyph is a mark that is only activated by someone that the king deems fit. I was lucky enough to acquire it along with my team. You can try to do this circle, but it won''t work." Emeros exined.


    This time, everyone listened to every word of Emeros, and many were taking notes.


    "This also means that the mine is the perfect ce to start it. The magic in it will naturally cause stones and ores to form. So the king will still be able to amass some of it and mine the special floating metal found inside. The terror in the mines is an opportunity. And while the threat and terror are real, it doesn''t change the fact that we must all pool our resources to fight in that area. The heritage that is within that ce is far more important and more powerful than we realize it. We could be¡­ the new rulers of this tri region. From what I see, I can tell that King Vergos was deceived by the Duke." Emeros began to recount the possibilities.


    The king listened and realized that he had not lost much at all. He would still earn as many were enticed by the power that Emeros had discovered. Instead of being condemned and attacked by the kingdoms and med for opening the portal, everyone would now work together to acquire more of the miracles that Emeros found.


    King Vergos gave Emeros aplicated nce. Even after his usation, Emeros still decided to spare him any further losses or shame.


    "You continue to lie, Emeros! The mines are safe!" The Duke shouted and argued at Emeros in desperation.


    "Are you really going to put on this lie, Duke Ressongraze? Apologize to us. Apologize to your king! You have deceived him!" The prince shouted back at the duke. Following Emeros''s lead and in an act of diplomacy to make the rtions between the kingdoms better, the Prince added a means for the King to cut himself from the Duke and make the Duke the scapegoat.


    "So it seems that only the Duke is at fault for this. Things would have been better if he went out and told us this." The King sighed as he made his decision.


    The Duke trembled as he heard the King''s decision. He knew politics, and he knew he would be the scapegoat!


    "...Duke Ressongraze. I will have this matter investigated." The King spoke.


    "It is good for the king to finally see reason. Has the matter been fully investigated? The portals are, as I said, my king." Emeros spoke. But this time, he addressed King Vergos as ''my king'' to show his allegiance.


    "You have plotted against me! You and Elford! I have found a lizardman from theva! They are not-"


    "The lizardman you, dear duke, have brought here has been cooked and painted. The easiest way to ascertain whether they are magma lizardmen is to open them up. We have a room full of schrs who can tell reptilian cold-blooded organs from those born to have adapted from heat." Emeros answered.


    "Oh? Then allow me!" Merovus quickly moved and shed the body of the lizardman to open it up.


    SLASH!


    The torso of the red lizardman was opened up.


    No blood was spilled, and the insides were indeed thoroughly cooked.


    "It is indeed cooked. I can even smell the burnt aroma. This lizardman is not adapted to living in a magma-filled world. It would even die there¡­" Baron Yen nced at Ressongraze and shook his head.


    "A mere Baron dares to make such a bold lie! I have found that-"


    "Silence. Baron Yen is a famed schr in their region! His books are famous even in the Floating kingdoms! How do you think a man not born of nobility could ascend to his level? Duke Ressongraze! Since you are still the owner of the mine, most deals will still push through because of you. But you will be held ountable for failing to do a careful study! Arrest him!"


    "No! I¡­!" The Duke resisted, but then, several powerful Champions appeared and quickly brought down and attacked the Duke.


    "To honored guest¡­ Today is a day of many revtions and twists. I apologize for myck of foresight and discernment. I will settle this with my kingdom. I ask all guests only to make their preparations to follow what Young Hero Emeros has asked. For the battles in the mines could be getting worse." The King answered.


    "Honored guest¡­ Everyone. As much as I would like to answer your queries and break bread with you, I am tired. I seek shelter and will dly pay for rooms and-"


    "I would invite the young Hero to our ship floating above thends. I understand that you have many things to¡­plete here. But I will ask you this for your safety. Currently, Champions and Commanders would kill to acquire your knowledge and power."


    "Then I shall oblige the Prince. I would ask you to bring my friends who journeyed with me. Their bodies have the marks and patterns of my secret. And though this vine is a Dark Dependent creature, one formed by ck Magic, within them lies the key to opening the seal towards the King''s residence. The corpse of Rorcast must also be preserved."


    "Then it shall be done. Arise, all of you. And journey with me."


    "Thank you, all honored nobles and kings. I promise to hold a session to discuss some things I have learned that will utterly change how you view energy conversion circles." Emeros smiled.


    Everyone''s expression changed, and all made calls. They needed their experts to be present!


    And so, Emeros and his friends were brought up the ship.


    He could only watch as King Vergos began to clean up after the mess that followed. Vergos watched and could not believe how a ve of the mines who was doomed for execution left the throne room more exalted than him.


    He also could not help but feel thankful that his kingdom''s wealth matters were somehow resolved. There would be problems, but it would be far lesspared to what was originally caused. Many nobles stepped forward to discuss the team that they would send.


    People could not help but grow excited. They saw a ve be a powerful man whom the Prince of the Floating Lands invited. Just what legacy would lie in that mine?


    But as for Emeros, he was happy. His ns had worked. The war against the four races would begin, buying him some time. But entering that world would be a treacherous battle, and he needed all the knowledge of magic and all the training he could get.


    "From ve, I am now like a prince in this region. But it cannot end there. I will attain that legacy! And I will meet that Crown! Maybe then, I would have a chance to save Kyros!"

 Chapter 621 Inheritor Of The Everything

    ?


    Emeros and his team were housed within the flying fortress.


    That night, the Prince spoke with Emeros about the details of the underworld region in the Zarefard kingdom. He asked about the Mine of Dunchars and why the magic in that ce was doubly greater than the rest. He asked about the Troglodytes that appeared.


    Emeros had the memories of Rorcast, and with the knowledge from Vivindel, he now understood the curse of the Imp''s blood and how it creates and breeds monsters of numerous forms. Imps were made from the blood of devils and merged with the soil of the ground. And so, depending on the soil or ground cultivated, it would give rise to all forms of Imp kind such as Puks, Chorts, and so on. As for the Troglodyte, it was formed when this demonic blood would gather inrge amounts. The blood would pull the bodies of imps and the soil of the ground ande alive, taking form a grotesque form.


    But Imp Troglodytes would only have a lifespan of two days, and the blood would vanish.


    As for the magic of the mines, Emeros had already exined that the entire underground world is a massive energy conversion circle, and the mines were one region where the point of magic was high.


    "So there are numerous ces of high magic concentration?" The Prince asked.


    "Yes. The ce where the portals are would have an energy conversion circle that would be twice in power. This makes that ce... a holynd. Even for the Floating Continents."


    "...Indeed. So it seems that my kingdom must send out an army. Of course, acting like that would spur other kingdoms of the Floating Continents. I will discuss with King Vergos how my kingdom can aid him. But this must be done in secret. The politics will be worse if several kingdoms of the Floating Continent take part in this..."


    The corpse of the Troglodyte had been brought, and it was an intriguing study done by many. For the Imp, Troglodyte had never appeared in the kingdoms before.


    The Prince asked Emeros, and Emeros was able to exin it easily.


    "The imps are believed to be made up of the lifeblood of Devils."


    "Devils? Like the Fallen?"


    "To be exact, Devils, what our calls those who are the sons of Fallen Spawns. If a Fallen has a son or daughter, and that offspring gives birth, they are called Devils." Emeros exined. This knowledge was not within the kingdom.


    Memories of Greed, Gluttony, Jealousy, and Lust, remained in Emeros''s mind. As a boy who had lived on a very weak, he knew the vast distance of power that these devils had over them. Should a Fallen Spawn be present in this Tri, it could mean total annihtion. And so, he knew that the ones that lived in the region were an offspring of a Fallen Spawn, or perhaps even a generation after it.


    Had it been a Fallen Spawn, it would have been more simr to the horrors that Noxus faced with all the Greedlings and Greedlords. The magic that summoned a Troglodyte through the blood of fallen imps and the dark magic that the Krampus could create were signs that the leader of the Imps was from these devils.


    He even suspected that the other races that appeared also had simr heritages.


    The Prince listened to Emeros''s exnation and was amazed at what Rorcast and the rest had learned.


    "So there are two more mages in there? This will be interesting."


    "And we must capture them, my dear prince. But this will be an undertaking that will take more than a year. Stronger imps will reside. The mana in the mines gives the creatures a way to cultivate their nts and till the soil. It will be a permanent bastion. And since the portals will open, they will always have more forces entering."


    Emeros didn''t bother to say the secrets he had known. A great conflict was bustling within him. He gazed out the window and kept the truth to himself. Although he wanted to warn the prince of the truth, he couldn''t.


    They were flying high up and overlooked the kingdom below. Even the massive mountain range that divided the kingdoms could be seen. Seeing thend and all the lives around this ce, Emeros could not help but feel a sense of pain, for he knew the truth and the terror that awaited.


    If his guess was true, then the threes face an incredible threat if the portal is fully opened. But in the perspective of Emeros, the invasion of the four races on a wasn''t that important. Even if millions and millions were to die, Emeros should not care. His heart was heavy, but he knew that if necessary, he would throw away all the lives here. He had a greater battle to face, and he needed to leave the.


    All that mattered was the path to the pce inside and the Crown within.


    And so, even though the humanity of Emeros hoped to save the, his mission prodded him to consider abandoning it for the sake of his goal.


    "I have no attachments that remain in thisnd... The only group of people he loved had been lost to me when the invasion attacked the orphanage. These new friends of mine will journey with me out of this. But even then... how can I... abandon this?" Emeros asked himself.


    "You seem... rather lost, young hero." The Prince noticed.


    "I am just tired, your grace. And worried. We don''t know what''s on the other side of the portal. The Imp Demon may not be the peak of their strength. I am honored by your invitation. But I decided to solidify my connection with Pdin Merovus so that they will have a ce to fight, grow stronger, and help push back the team. I n to head to the Floating Continent only with Vivindel. I have thought it over, and I have decided that my allies would do well to remain while I study up there."


    "...I see. You''re quite generous to think of this kingdom."


    "Hmmm... And to think I am trying to be more cold. But somehow, I just can''t help but worry. I feel that... I am responsible for their lives. Even though they should not care for it, what are these kingdoms? What are these people who mean nothing to me? Does his majesty have ever had this sense of responsibility that you shouldn''t be responsible for?" Emeors ask.


    "A curious question. Do you know that the Floating Continents are said to be responsible for the prosperity of this? We were supposed to be the model kingdoms to help grow the grounded kingdoms. Yet most of the time, we abuse these kingdoms. I would not have been sent if not for the conflict that damaged our money. You want to protect these people you should not be responsible for. While I am sent to care for people, who I honestly couldn''t care any less but am obliged to serve." The Prince chuckled.


    Emeros quietly watched thends beneath him.


    "I see this moral obligation as a hindrance... I hope to be as cold and calcting as the Prince..."


    The Princeughed as he heard Emeros''s statements.


    "What joy that I can be honest towards you. I can tell that you are a very smart and cunning person. Your ns on how you outsmarted a Duke and a King were very impressive. Not anyone could do that. Even I, myself, would not know how to have silenced them. I''ve seen honorable and righteous people die before the kings who use them. And even if you are gifted and have received such a legacy, you would need quite a wit to surpass such intricate situations where you could die. Most of them didn''t even understand what you did. The true treasure isn''t necessarily the treasure down there. Any fool could gain the knowledge that you have yet would die. But you... lived."


    "I''ve had a good teacher who had struggled through greater scenarios."


    "Oh? So that''s how it is... And who would be this great man that you call the teacher?"


    "He is long lost. As for his background... I prefer not to say."


    "How mysterious. But I am sure that whatever legacy you received wasn''t freely given, was it? You are either worthy of it or were destined to have it."


    "I''d say Fated..." Emeros reacted.


    "But you are correct, your grace. No one down there can gain the very same legacy I have attained. And no one can make me say it. I was bound by itsws that only I would have this knowledge. This is how I tamed Vivindel."


    Vivindel rose like a serpent with a whipping vine coiling up and bowed to the Prince.


    "I also gained Rorcast''s memories because he tried to take it from me. My Prince. You can send powerful people and have them try to take my memory forcefully or through Vows and Bonds. And they will fail."


    "...Are you confident in that?" The Prince asked.


    "Yes," Emeros answered without hesitation and looked into the eyes of the Prince.


    "...You should know that I''m asking this not to take your memories from you but to use you as bait."


    "...You want your enemies to do that to me and have me gain their memories?"


    "It will benefit you as well. Won''t that make you even more smarter."


    "It seems that your grace is keen on investing to me, a youth and a stranger."


    "You are a child, and your current knowledge only proves your ims. How can a mere child be so learned of numerous powers? Force Pdin? A Mage? Energy Conversion Circle experts? It takes a lifetime to master them. And you have shown the level in each area that surpasses the geniuses in my kingdom. This is why I took you. Of all the treasures and knowledge hidden in that underworld region, I''m sure you''ve already taken what you need. That''s why you left."


    "My Prince is quite smart to discern this. That is correct. The only treasure they can hope to acquire is if the portal is opened and they travel and find that secret pce of the long-forgotten king. I believe you took me to know more about this legacy. Perhaps you can even answer the mystery of that ce."


    "It is but an ancient legend in the history of the threes. It is said that these threes were once brought together for these three things to carry a Throne. A great Throne for a great King. An Ancient God! It was said... that his kingdom vanished almost overnight. In a time of great terror, horrifying beings of darkness tried to fight him. All we have left are stories and pirs that dere his great legacy. And a promise."


    "A promise?"


    "One day, an inheritor will arrive. And he will inherit everything." The Prince smiled as he observed Emeros intently.

 Chapter 622 Inheritor of the Promise

    622 Inheritor of the Promise


    Emeros was startled at the words of the Prince. He never expected that the truth about his being would be written in legends.


    He had expected it to be hidden in obscurity but underestimated the powerful kingdoms beyond.


    "Does your grace think that I am the inheritor?" Emeros looked amused.


    "It does seem that way. The truth is, everyone, is vying for that. Not just in the Floating Continents but even in the Continents Above the Sky. You see, further up the Floating Continents is another floating continent. Each has one, and there, the strongest peaks of the kingdom live. Crowns are said to sit on those hignds. And the legend of the Inheritor is deeply engraved in the romance of every member of these threes. And everything you described matches this legend."


    "...I do not know of such things, my Prince. All that I know is that I gained power and knowledge."


    "Shocking knowledge, to be precise. The Force Pdin is quite a way. You can harness Holy without being Holy. Such deeds seem miraculous."


    "And what will the Prince have of me?"


    "You assume that you will die in my hands and that I will find a way to im it? Wrong. I do have ulterior motives. But I cannot inherit what is destined-"


    "Fated."


    "...Fine. I cannot inherit what is fated to be yours. I will, however, ask you the same vow you offered to Merovus."


    Emeros was surprised.


    "A Vow of Equals?"


    "Yes. Do you not understand the implication of that? If I am right, and you are desti- Fated to be the king, your vow will throw me to prominence." The Prince exined.


    "...If that''s the case, then I shall ept it. But your grace should know the implication of this truth. I had never heard of this legend, and I had no knowledge of the legends in the Floating Continents and the Continents Above the Sky. Therefore-"


    "Obviously, knowledge and rumors of this will be kept hidden. Do not worry. Everyone present in that little show of yours will keep the secret. Information of everything you revealed will naturally be kept within this kingdom as they would only share the knowledge of it when all have equally grown stronger. So the events that passed will be kept secret in the Floating Continents. I, myself, will leave out key information. I will make Perment the center of it all. With your permission, of course."


    "As long as he is protected."


    "If we take the Vow of Equals, your allies will be my allies. I will naturally protect them. Shall we?" The Prince held out his hand with the vow already formed.


    Emeros saw it and hesitated. If he reached out, the vision of that world would appear, and the Prince will truly know the secret."


    "Add a use that we must protect each other secretly and do our best to save each other." Emeros frowned.


    "I agree. But my dear Emeros. If you are indeed who I think you are, you will suffer in this deal." The Prince smiled.


    Emeros was silent. The Prince was right. That use would force Emeros to shield the Prince. He could tell that the Code of Vasilius valued vows such as these. As the inheritor, he cannot turn back on his word.


    "...If your heart and actions truly show that you treat me an equal, then let it be so," Emeros added his use and extended his hand, and the Prince reached for the handshake without hesitation.


    Once more, they were in the world of great white horizons.


    The grand throne stood at its exalted height.


    Prince Alistair saw the vision and trembled.


    He wept and wept, for his suspicion was true!


    "The King... has returned! The King has returned!" Alistair fell and worshiped before the Throne.


    "You who holds my Prince in honor, by honor shall you be bound. The Vow you have made is solidified, and you will be judged by your words and actions. Stand by the Prince and inherit the gifts and powers that the Prince will bestow. This is my decree. It shall be so."


    The vision quickly vanished.


    At once, the Prince kneeled.


    They had been alone together as the Prince had expected an important talk.


    But now, the scene that would have caused all his subjects to explode in shock appeared.


    The vision was too grand. Alistair saw and felt great joy. Before him was the promised inheritor!


    Emeros was also unsure how to react when the Prince bowed to him. The Vow of Equals would have made them equals, yet this Prince chose to bow and honor him higher.


    "My Prince." Prince Alistair disregarded his title and called Emeros for who he was.


    Emeros could only remain silent and not know what to do. But somehow, he began to think that what Alistair showed was true loyalty.


    "The true Prince is here! The true Prince is here!" Alistair began to weep.


    "...Why are you... like this?" Emeros could not ignore the desperation of Alistair.


    "My prince, if you think the politics of the mortalnds are insane, it''s harsher in my world. I bear the title of Prince. But it is not a title of honor. It is a title of great terror for those who are weak. I am the least of brothers and would be the first to perish in theing bid for the throne. The life of my father is fading away. And his death will spark a battle in my family. The battle for the throne. I have but a few years left. My political power, intellect, and talent are all ipatible. And I don''t have enough power and control to let me leave. The people that I have to grow fewer by the second. And only those who took care of me since my birth and those who could not abandon me remain. Do you understand, Prince? That in you, I will finally have a shot!" Alistair raised his head.


    "So that''s it. You are gambling it all on me?" Emeros asked.


    "Yes. I will give you the tform and help you go to that ce. I will use whatever authority I have to give you what you need. As equals, that will be my role."


    "And my role is to save you. Quite a bothersome task you set me up."


    "My Prince, I told you that you would be the one who would be at a disadvantage!" Alistairughed.


    "So be it. Though you use me, I couldn''t have gone here without your help. I will need your connection to seed. And from the looks of it, we may need to trap people who will try to steal my knowledge."


    "Was it... him? Did Rorcast and Vivindel be what they are now because of that King?"


    "Yes... The truth is, I''m still unsure of what it means to be his inheritor. Even my parents don''t know."


    "Your parents?"


    "Alistair. You are desperate, and you have connections. You are also the smartest man that I can talk to. Even though you are the weakest of those who fly above, you are still one from above. So I will tell you everything about me. And in turn, I need you to help me craft a n." Emeros''s eyes looked serious.


    "I will do anything, my Prince. We are Equals, but you are still the source."


    "...Do you have a formation te that I could use?"


    "Of course..." The Prince nodded and took out a talisman.


    It wasn''t long after a knock was heard, and the Formation te was left in the room with Alistair and Emeros.


    "I shall you the true tale. Not of this Tri region. But of the Universe. Let me start from the beginning." Emeros held his hand, and the power of Dark Fire appeared.


    Alistair was amazed at the power that Emeros wielded.


    "The story does not begin with the King. Vasilius isn''t who my parents taught him to be. And by the looks of it, even my mother believed Vasilius to be a god. But he could very well be a God above all. But this story doesn''t begin here. It begins in a world far away from this ce. I do not know if you will even believe me. But you believe Vasilius and honor him as the true king. So, I will tell you what even my allies do not know. The tale of Kyros Steele... I shall start with that!" Emeros decided.


    Emeros talked and talked.


    He began from the Beginning and talked about End. He told of things that were too unbelievable for Alistair to understand.


    He spoke of a Trinity. Kyros. And Noxus. And the battle of End. And finally, he spoke of the appearance of his father and the power that he gained.


    Emeros created a powerful energy conversion circle using the power of Dark Fire alone.


    "Kyros and Noxus used their blood and mana to summon their power. Since they were their gods and fallen, they could summon the power by their name. Now, as someone who is an equal, you would have the opportunity to use the name of Vasilius. Just like Movers. Do you want power? This is the easiest way I can offer you."


    "What is this circle?"


    "I know that it''s quite rare. But with your wealth, you could use it to strengthen those who serve you. And this should help you gain more powerful followers. As long as you find numerous powerful gemstones and power and find monsters that can naturally summon elemental magic, you can create an Elemental Core with this."


    Alistair felt as if the world stopped moving.

 Chapter 623 Inheritor Of The Codes And Corruption

    ?


    Elemental Cores were not in abundance in their world. Creating one took a lot of work and effort.


    It was said that within the threes, only ten elemental cores would be created within a year.


    Different from the world of the nesworld, where legacies, Codes, and Corruption were abundant, there needed to be more means to create a core. Most cores in the region were usually of Low-grade form. Very few would have Mid Grade. And only the kings of the strongest kingdoms within the three kingdoms would have High-Grade Elemental Cores.


    But Emeros spoke as if the requirements to make a Core were not so demanding as their methods.


    "...Gemstones of power and monsters that can naturally summon elemental magic? What do you mean? Should I find legendary Gemstones like the Primal Rock?"


    "...I don''t know what that is." Emeros shrugged.


    "What stones do you need? What power or quality do they have to be."


    "I found a rather potent firestone in the mines. But what I need... is something stronger and far better than this. I''d estimate at least three times the energy and power of this one." Emeros took out a magical gemstone that he had found in the mine. It was the strongest ore type that he found.


    They were Fire Gemstones. Emeros used portions of this to create the powerful alchemy bomb they used in their battles.


    "You just need something three times stronger than a Fire Gemstone?!" Alistair shouted in shock. These gemstones were expensive if one was poor. But for Alistair, he could buy them inrge amounts and could even buy a mine for these. Finding something three times stronger was costly, but this was a great bargainpared to the former cost of making a Low-Grade Elemental Core!


    "Yes. I''d need enough to be around three times the size of this one. And we need a monster. The monster you need must match the elements of the stones you are looking for. So if you are using Fire Gemstones, you''d need a monster that uses a simr element. The stronger the monster, the better the quality. Monsters at the Captain level would create Poor-Grade Elemental Core. If they are at least a Champion and have the stones, we could make Low-Grade Elemental cores."


    Alistair trembled and fell to his knees.


    It was too amazing! Creating a Low-Grade Elemental Core would ensure some of his allies be Commanders! He only had one Commander serving him!


    "Of course, you will need to capture the monster alive. Creating them would seal the souls of the beast and turn them into Elemental Cores."


    "But how is it possible?! You can use... Captain level beasts?!"


    "It will be of poor grade. It''s half the power and half the mana capacity of the Low Grade!"


    "I have never heard of a poor grade! No one knows how to make it! Is it possible... to produce many of these?!"


    "I see. You n to outfit the weaker ones. Give them a chance to reach Champions... Yes. But I would need at least four souls of Captains to make one."


    "But my Prince! How is this possible? The kingdom has simr ways of doing it! But only those who are Sprites or Spirit Creatures could be used! And the chances of finding something strong enough to be a Core is hard to find! How can you use... any beasts?!" Alistair eximed.


    "The secret... is this." Emeros pointed at several strange glyphs that he wrote on the Formation te.


    "These are the markings of Greed and Gluttony. I am also using Noxus and Kyros''s power. Mysterion and Revtion. This will seal the soul of any monster into the Elemental Core. And with another Mark, we can store the power of various elements. Through the Code of Astra or the Celestial Code of Daradiel, I can make the soul have a way to replenish its energy by drawing from the wielder''s energy."


    "Are you certain that you can do this?!"


    "Find a creature of element and the stones of the same element, and I will show you. You have to capture a beast alive."


    Immediately, the Prince left the room and shouted like a madman calling his team to hunt beasts and monsters nearby.


    His shout andmands spurred the massive ship and forced it towards the dreaded mountain range where no humans could live due to the abundant monsters in thend.


    The ship moved close to a volcano where it was known that various humanoid creatures known as the Fire Spawn lived.


    The Commander that the Princemanded personally went down with a team of Champions. The ship shot waves of energy that eradicated the small colony of fighters. It was a massacre. The Commander was too strong for the group.


    Nearly an hour since the Prince had left, did he enter the room again and brought four bounded Fire spawns. Each at the level of Champions!


    Next to the Prince was an ore mine of the stones they had kept in the ship.


    "Champion Fire Spawns! And as for the stones, this is among my most precious stones. Behold, the Heart of the Volcano! A rare Fire gemstone found at the core of an active volcano! It is as you said. This fire gemstone is three times stronger than your Fire Gemstones. These Heart of the Volcano are used to create potent alchemy weapons that could create alchemy weapons that could wound a Commander if he''s careless! Such rare material is not easily found! Even among the Fire element ores and gems of power I currently have, this one surpasses it all! I have brought them here along with many zing Fire Gemstones found in this ship!" Alistair revealed the spoils.


    "Then I can create three Low-Grade Fire Cores. I will ask you to give me one, Alistair. My current Core is actually of the dark element. I wish to hide it. Having a Low-Grade Fire Core with me would be a good way to mask that power."


    "Done! The cost of our attack would not be worth a tenth if I gained two Low-Grade Elemental Cores! And if you prove this to be true... I would have the chance to fight back against my brothers and sisters!" The Prince answered.


    "Then let''s get to it! Alistair! Keep them bounded and bring one within the circle of the formation te. Kill them on mymand. Vivindel, help me keep the circle stable with your magic." Emeros gave the orders.


    The first of the Fire Spawn was thrown at the center.


    Emeros activated the circle, and a strange power could be felt seeping out.


    In his time within the Mines, he had tested and tried to harness the power of the Code and the Corruption of others. Kyros and Noxus could do so freely because they were gods and fallen and had the blessings of the many gods and fallen they met or devoured. Knowing the gods'' or fallen''s glyphs and marks would generally do nothing. Perhaps through Xermolipi could, the power be drawn out through attraction.


    As for Emeros, he used Vasilius as a way to mand'' the letters to work and draw power. He was the inheritor, and through Vasilius and the First Word crafted into the Energy Conversion Circle, Emeros could wield their power and summon a portion of it.


    Astra and Celestial, with Soter''s light, appeared.


    "Holy Fire!" Alistair saw the power and eximed.


    "Kill it now!" Emeros ordered.


    The Prince was a Commander as well. With a quick stab toward the heart, the Fire Spawn screamed.


    The light of the formation lit up as it bound the soul of the Fire Spawn.


    Mammon''s power was summoned, and the Fire Spawn''s fiery body imploded along with the zing Fire Gemstones and the Heart of the Volcano.


    The energy began topress as it took form.


    "Elemental Cores are said to be less of a physical object and more of a spiritual one! I have seen many rituals to turn a Sprite into an Elemental Core... But this! You turned the Soul into an entity!" Alistair eximed.


    Emeros was focused on his task. The power of Ss and Soter was giving life to the stone. And its life was far greater than anything the threes had seen. It was just a Low-Grade Elemental Core. But it was alive! It could still grow and reach Mid-Grade!


    The Fire Elemental Core stabilized as it floated above the Formation te. And at the center, the mark of Vasilius was engraved.


    "Low-Grade Fire Spawn Elemental Corepleted." Emeros smiled as he stood up and caught the fire core.


    "Imbued with great holy energy, this Fire core can also harness holy nearly twice as better than before." Emeros held out the Elemental Core and could sense the holy energy within.


    Alistair watched in amazement. The power of the fire was pure! It was true! It bore a resemnce to holy!"


    "This should be a good gift for you, Prince Alistair." Emeros smiled.


    "What...?! You''re giving it to me?" Alistair eximed.


    "Let''s trade that outdated Elemental Core. Give that one to someone else. This is better suited for you."


    "Indeed, it is! Indeed it is!" Alistairughed andughed like a madman. He had gained an Elemental Core! And Emeros could even make more!


    "Alistair. I''ve shown you my capabilities, not just for your benefit. But that you would believe my story. Now tell me, what can I do? I want to ascend in power so that I would have the opportunity to meet the Crown down there. I believe he holds more secrets about Vasilius."


    Alistair tried to calm himself down.


    "My Prince... by the way things are, I would rmend that you go to the Cloud Peak Academy. It would have been toote for anyone else, but you, you just might make it!" Alistair smiled.


    "An Academy? Why?"


    "Cloud Peak Academy will soon be vying for a bid to send a genius student to the Continents Above the Sky. My Prince, in this way, you could study and find connections to reach the Heavenly Lands! The greatest power within the Tri union!"

 Chapter 624 Inheritor Of The Fallen Kingdom

    ?


    It had been a week since the miraculous Appeal of the ve.


    The sight of how a ve stood up and used his amazing knowledge and cunning to dismantle the Dukes and King that wanted to kill him simply.


    This tale made the wicked Duke the cause of all the plots, and now Emeros was heralded as a hero.


    For a week, the ship of Prince Alistair stayed over thends and startedmunicating with Baron Merovus of the distant Umbraden Kingdom.


    The Count of Umbraden now delighted and formed numerous trade deals with Umbraden. All of them centered on Perment''s energy conversion circles.


    In the past week, the Count was amazed at the amount of knowledge that Perment had in creating energy conversion circles. His capabilities were not underestimated as he managed to create new forms of power.


    But strangely, if another were to use Perment''s circle, it did not work.


    Others tried to copy the energy conversion circle tattooed around Perment, but it still didn''t work!


    As such, Perment became the official energy conversion circle master that would create various energy fields, and he was scheduled to be brought to Umbraden with the rest.


    As for Wesret, Philip, Don, and Tyra, they were constantly being trained and were called to be the official knights serving under Baron Knight Merovus.


    But it was not only because they were Emeros''s friends, but Merovus was shocked at the group''s fighting capabilities. He believed that if these became Captains, they could challenge Champions!


    He, himself, was a man who dreamed of such heroics, and now he had a team who was strong enough to help him catapult his way to that level.


    For now, Merovus and the group were set on making a conquest tour to attack various races within the mines. With a small team, they would scout and wage war against all four races. The goal was to create chaos and conflict constantly.


    With the Puk''s strange magical abilities to alter their form and the corpses of various races that would be used, they could once again redo their invasion and act like other races.


    As for Emeros, Serena, and Vivindel, they were on therge ship that was headed up toward the Floating Continents.


    Prince Alistair stood by and listened as Emeros continued to exin many things about the nature of the Energy Conversion Circle. The knowledge he revealed would shock Prince Alistair as he realized that Emeros''s ways were at least on par with the knowledge and power used in the Continents Above the Sky!


    "There are also some elements that I can create with double the peak power. For Light and Fire elements, Soter will do. For Wind, Pnevma. For Time/Space, I will use Cminus. For Darkness, Mysterion. For Ice and Water, Hydron. For Steel, Hyperion. For Earth and Brimstone, Histerion. Vivindel, is marked with Dentro''s mark. This is why his growth and power are increasing. But I want a strong and tough true vine capable of harming and binding Champions."


    "Master aims to make me his weapon?" Vivindel asked.


    "A living weapon. Also, I need to create quick energy conversion circles. I''m not like my brothers, Kyros and Noxus." Emeros exined.


    Serena continued to listen. She was amazed at the true background of Emeros as she was updated.


    Since Emeros and Prince Alistair were talking openly about their respective secrets, Vivindel and Serena also began to learn the truth about Emeros.


    "And because of those glyphs and names that I could use to mark, those who have made their allegiance to me, or those that I mark with Vasilius, could harness these glyphs. I could theoretically create High-Grade elemental Cores. But... I need more knowledge. The memories I had of Kyros were only in the first-level books. That idiot was too smart. He could easily guess things three levels high. He probably needed the third level." Emeros sighed.


    "Then it shall be as I requested. Everyone isughing at me because I was requesting to have you be epted as a teacher. The good news is that my brothers allowed it to happen since they thought I''d gone mad. The bad thing is that you will face so many people who will look down on you, my dear Prince."


    "But I''m curious, why enroll me as a student and not a teacher?" Emeros asked.


    "In the Continents Above the Sky, the greatest profession that one can have is not being a king of a Kingdom. It is the lofty position known as the Great Pedagog. It is the supreme title that one can attain."


    "Pedagog? You mean... a Teacher?"


    "Yes. An important teacher. That title is extremely important. Not only in the Floating Continents but even in the mortal world. That Baron, Baron Yen, is a famous teacher vying to be a Pedagog within this lowly ne. Bing an aplished Pedagog will make you so influential that their words could condemn or raise this kingdom. Your Esfork kingdom''s suffering was caused by a Pedagog."


    "What?!" Emeros was astounded.


    It''s true. Pedagog of Orange Alchemy, Lord Barmivus Strekra Werembus, had taken a liking to the princess of your Esfork kingdom. But this old man only scared the young girl."


    At that moment, Serena, who was listening, felt a sharp pain in her heart.


    She began to tremble as she heard the story that she kept in her heart for so long.


    "Young girl?"


    "Indeed. A young girl whose beauty was said to shock those from the skies above. And so this beautiful princess was pursued by the Pedagog. But the girl kept refusing. The Pedagog went to the king and asked for this young girl to be his ve."


    "The king refused?"


    "Yes. The king refused. And with that, the Pedagog used his influence to attack and destroy the kingdom. On the day the kingdom fell, this Pedagog was reported to have paid a visit to the kingdom. In his rage, it was believed that he killed the girl."


    Serena was listening, and her heart kept thumping though she did not know why.


    Emeros noticed it.


    "Hm¡­ So that solves the puzzle, Serena."


    "Master?"


    "You''re stories were inconsistent when I asked you about your past. Dark Dependent, vampire girl with a scared face. Your figure and form look as if a strange curse inflicted you. But the curse was too outstanding for one created by someone within thisnd. After all, who can forcibly alter the body and make it Dark Dependent? And the curse itself was cruel. In thisnd that has no tolerance for ck Magic, you would be unable to grow. Your vampire form was only a half-step. You were half-human, half-vampire. But you wouldn''t enjoy each advantage. I pondered who would have such immense hatred for you, a mere ve girl. This person would have amazing powers. But why? Why attack a girl and create a powerful curse to make her life as miserable as possible? Why a girl of this ce? I had figured that you were someone of position or nobility. But even then, it didn''t make sense why someone who would be in the Floating Continents to have such immense hatred towards you." Emeros began.


    Prince Alistair was startled as Emeros spoke of Serena''s puzzling origin.


    "It can''t be!"


    "Now it fits. Princess Sirena Bar''gasha Esfork. Inheritor of the fallen kingdom of Esfork."


    "Master¡­ I didn''t mean to lie to you¡­"


    "Oh, I know why you did lie to me. I know why you did it. Ever since my miracles, you''ve kept this secret aside. And I kept pondering why. I''ve been generous to everyone. I even took Brent and Tyra and made them our allies despite the previous conflicts we had. Yet, you were silent. Now I understand. Your enemy was something that even the miraculous me could not fight back. Is that correct?" Emeros asked.


    Sirena trembled, and she bowed her head in agreement.


    "...My Prince. It is not surprising. You see, Pedagog Lord Barmivus Strekra Werembus is a powerful Pedagog that has gained recognition of the Continent Above the Sky. He is a Cardinal in power and stands among the very strongest Cultivators. He is one, vying to be another Crown of this region. And he supports my brother, Prince Magnus. And he is the one who many believe will assume the throne."


    "So you want me to walk the path of a Pedagog to help me rise through the kingdom''s rank?"


    "Yes. Your ability to steal knowledge and memories will help you grow. The school will have many brilliant minds. And if they see a young promising teacher with very little backing, what would they do?" Alistair asked.


    "Try to steal his memories... interesting. You call me your Prince, yet you toss me in the lion''s den."


    "Would you have it another way, my Prince?"


    "No. That is perfect." Emeros smiled.


    "Sirena. Wait for me. I will make you a Queen one day. Our kingdom will rise. And many will see you as the true beauty I have always seen in you." Emeros wiped the tears of Sirena.


    Sirena began to sob. Though the wounds on her face had gotten better, the curse of the Pedagog that robbed her beauty was relentless, and her face would not heal. And it wasn''t just the beauty. This curse robbed her ability to regain her strength or even live a slightlyfortable life. Her cultivation was over, and every hope that she had, vanished when the dark decree of the Pedagog spoke into existence.


    "My Prince... He is... too strong! I don''t know what Kyros or your brother Noxus had. But what I see is you...! I''m already happy with how I have been spared a painful life that is set to suffering. But he is powerful! Your thoughts will be known to him!"


    "You fear him, Sirena. But he is not invincible. I will not rush to kill him. But I will kill him soon. Not just because of you. But because he destroyed my entire kingdom!" Emeros answered.


    "In any case, it seems fated that the woman by your side who will act as your maid is someone who was the source of Esfork kingdom''s tragedy. It''s as if Fate is on our side." Alistairughed.

 Chapter 625 Inheritor of the Worst Class

    625 Inheritor of the Worst ss


    Above the sky was a majestd stretching over the.


    Emeros and Sirena watched from the main windows of the ship''s bridge as they saw the breathtaking view.


    It was one of three Floating Continents and was asrge as thends that belonged to two or three kingdoms.


    It hadrgend and great bodies of water, just like a continent. It was rich in resources, from its trees and nts to the growing ores and magical produce.


    Monsters of many kinds lived in various caves and underground mines in this ce and thus made the region a holynd for cultivation.


    Many from the mortal grounds privileged to live and stay in these holynds would raise their levels by three or four ranks.


    The flying ship of the prince flew over the continent and was headed straight for the highest peaks of the Skysol Kingdom.


    At the very center of the kingdom was a giant volcano that somehow glowed with a strange light.


    Emeros saw it and was amazed.


    "A Holy Volcano!" Emeros eximed in amazement.


    "Yes. This Floating Continent has three magical regions. Our kingdom, Skysol, has the Holy Volcano, Deo Vulcan. To the west of this ce is the kingdom under the ocean, Aquaris Oraia. A magical whirlpool endlessly swarms and empowers the region with magic and resources and acts as a defensive fort. Andstly, the kingdom of Diamante. It has the Diamond Hills, which we call the Crown of Heaven. Each kingdom draws power from their magical fortresses."


    "Are our Floating Continents as good as this?"


    "One is better, but the rest has rtively weaker inheritances. We approach Cloud Peak Academy. Flying in this region is prohibited, but as my ship has the mark of Fardur Powenquis, I am allowed. But keep in mind riding any other ship through this region, and you would get shot."


    Cloud Peak Academy appeared.


    The majestic academy was a castle that stood high on a gigantic mountain, second only to the Holy Volcano. It also had a vastke within the mountain.


    "This academy is a prestigiousnd. Of the three academies, ours is second. The Kingdom of Diamante holds the greatest amount of power since they have numerous Pedagog."


    "I thought your prince has a Pedagog supporting him?"


    "Just him. It has been made clear that his support does not epass the academy or the kingdom. We do have Pedagogs supporting us. We specialize in Enchantments as the Pedagog of Iron Enchantments supports us. As for Diamante, they have the Pedagog of zing cksmiths and the Pedagog of sting Energy Conversion Circles."


    "Oh? Circles, you say?"


    "A part of why I am bringing you here is so that you can teach us the ways of Energy Conversion Circles."


    "So your academy is not all about Enchantments?"


    "No. The Four Branches of Creation and even Cultivation are taught here. Many teachers are vying to be their own Pedagogs and study with the knowledge in this ce. Everyone tries to climb the stairs from where they are. I originally intended to recruit Baron Yen as a schr and teacher here. But he refused me. His eyes brightened at the thought of new monsters appearing underground, and he wished to capture the remaining Tree Troglodytes."


    "That man really is very simple and honest. You should still invite him here and show him monsters of interest."


    "You are interested in his schrly research? I just find it peculiar since you are living on a timetable to save your brothers."


    "For those who are of Light Grown, it really isn''t important. But as a Nephilim, I need to harness both the Light Grown and the Dark Dependent. And in the path of Dark Dependent is a pseudo-path of Creation. One that is rted to all the other four and requires it to be mastered."


    "All four Creations are needed for this?"


    "Yes. The very power that creates Golems and other creatures of summons. Summoning. And to do so, one needs a vast knowledge of monsters."


    "It seems our world is really poorpared to this nesworld."


    "You have no idea..."


    A servant of Alistair entered.


    "My king... Our request for Master Emeros''s entry has been granted. He is now approved as a teacher. But only because he will take the first Student Assessment Test in the next two weeks."


    "Take the Student Assessment Test in two weeks?! Impossible!"


    "What''s the Student Assessment Test?"


    "Every quarter, the students of the school are ranked by how well they grow and learn. The teacher must be able to teach the student a wide array of disciplines. Each quarter focuses on cultivation and a specific Path of Creation. I believe the current one is alchemy! But this test is also a test for the teacher. If the students have not improved, the teacher will fail. All students must show proper growth and improvement in cultivation and the Path of Creation."


    "I could teach them a thing or two. Although I don''t know how good my knowledge in alchemy willpare to yours, and since Kyros and Noxus really didn''t focus on alchemy because of the Fortress of the Nephilim and Noxus Dark-Dependent advantage... I still have the memories of Kyros reading through the alchemy books. It should be simple enough..." Emeros thought.


    "What ss will he be handling?"


    "The Vashura ss."


    "What?! The Vashuras?! But... but that ss has never been part of any assessment! The teachers never teach that ss anything?! And they have to pass the assessment?!" Alistair eximed.


    "Vashuras? Is that a... bad ss? I''ve read through the rules andws of the school. I haven''t read about the Vashura ss."


    "Because that ss is too unimportant. It''s a ss that treats the poorest families who paid the smallest amount of gold. It would also house mortals who had won the honor of being here from the mortalnds below! But this ss is ignored. They are mainly only given ess to the libraries and facilities, but no teacher would ever teach them anything. They also act as a punishment where the dullest and those who had failed or offended powerful families would be brought there! Without teachers, they are like lostmbs unable toprehend anything!"


    "And I get to teach that? My... my... my..." Emeros had an excited look on his face.


    "My Prince! I''m sure the cultivation part is easily resolved! But you can''t teach these students in two weeks'' alchemy! It''s just impossible! Unless you..." Alistair could only think of granting the knowledge of alchemy to them.


    "No. My kingly stature refuses to be like that. That is my treasure, Alistair. I can offer many things, but that one is mine alone. It is the gift of my brothers to me. I will find another way."


    "My prince! They made you inherit the worst ss as a teacher!"


    "It does make sense. I have no ss to teach. All ssrooms have their teachers. So they naturally will put me here. Alistair, the reason why this is so is because you are weak. Your name and authority are like trash to this school. They would have paid no attention to you if not for your royal blood. So if you want to help me, get stronger as fast as possible."


    Alistair was silenced by Emeros''s statement.


    "We are about tond. Prince Alistair, the orders are that you cannotnd, and only the teacher and his maid shall go."


    Alistair frowned.


    "Rx, Alistair. I am not so arrogant to think that safely navigating against the king''s scheme is simr to this, but nevertheless, I am not someone easy to push down. Let''s go, Sirena."


    "Yes, Master."


    The pair moved.


    "Master... If possible, could you call me Serena?"


    "Hm? Are you afraid that he will find out?" Emeros asked.


    "A little. But I like Serena. It was the name that I had when we met." Serena smiled.


    "Alright." Emeros answered as the doors of the ship began to open.


    The ship of Prince Alistair didn''t even dock but only hovered out.


    Alistair stood behind Emeros and could see three teachers waiting and frowned.


    "Be careful. One of those three serves on of my brothers." Alistair frowned.


    "I''m impressed that your father, the King, is very potent." Emeros chuckled as he walked out.


    "You''re the teacher?" One of the three frowned.


    "A boy? Is this a joke?"


    "Prince Alistair! What is the meaning of this!?" Another asked.


    "That is indeed a teacher," Alistair answered.


    "I''m assessed to be a genius that can easily surpass you three." Emeros smiled.


    Instantly, one of the teachers raised his staff and harnessed much lightning energy.


    "If you are the teacher, let me examine you here!"


    "Mage Andre! Wait!" One of the teachers shouted. But the other teacher had already taken aim at Emeros.


    At once, Emeros held out a strange round orb as Vivindel took form underneath him.


    Serena quickly moved into position.


    ZAP!


    A fire shot towards Emeros, and Emeros quickly blocked with the strange ore.


    The lightning energy vanished.


    The three were surprised at how the orb easily devoured an entire attack!


    Although the attack was quick and swift, it was still an attack that a Champion made. And since the Champions of Skysol could easily defeat Champions of the mortal regions below who were five levels higher, this attack was equal to a mid-level Champion!


    But it vanished!


    The energy conversion circle below was also radiating with great energy, even though it was some strange whip!


    The curiosity of the first teacher took over as he moved closer, and the other teacher followed.


    "Amazing! This thing... is like an Elemental Core... But it''s not!" The first observed.


    "Greetings, Teachers! I am Emeros Steele. I have impressed Prince Alistair, who believes I am worthy of this ce. You must be Master Teacher Zachery. I ask that you move to the side a bit."


    "Hm? Why?"


    "Well, ording to the rules, when a teacher tests another, the tested teacher can test the challenger back."


    ZAP!


    A red bolt shot out of the stone, zapped the teacher, and sent the mage flying.


    CRASH! CRASH!


    The teacher flew back quite a distance and began to crash and bounce on the floor.


    "Oh? He failed." Emeros chuckled.

 Chapter 626 Inheritor of the Heavenly Enchantments

    626 Inheritor of the Heavenly Enchantments


    The sudden bolt of lightning not only electrocuted the Mage champion, but Emeros''s actions shocked the two other teachers.


    The teacher was struggling to stand up and was suffering from immense pain. The bolt of lightning fired not only his body but caused all the potions and pills he had to be destroyed!


    One of the teachers rushed back quickly and gave the teacher a pill.


    But right as the teacher swallowed the pill, he instantly copsed and fainted.


    "What did you-!"


    "The rules of Cloud Peak Academy state that a teacher of the school will have the opportunity to test the teacher. He lifted his hands to attack me to test my defenses. I then went and tested his defenses. Master Teacher Zachery... Am I not a registered teacher of this school? Also, the rules state that the manner of the testing must be simr to the original testers in its form, weight, and level of pressure. Heunched a sudden attack on me. I did the same." Emeros smiled.


    The two teachers could not argue with his ims.


    "Besides. That attack was a reflection of his power. As you can see, this invention of mine could harness the energy and shoot it back. My quick deploying energy conversion circle with this tamed living vine that I have and my servant who was tatted energy conversion circles all worked hand-in-hand to send the counterattack." Emeros answered.


    At Emeros''s, the two teachers recalled the attack process and realized that the counterattack of Emeros was unique. Quick Deploy is a valued skill within the Floating Continents as it had powerful usage in warfare and battles.


    The method of Emeros was unique, and even the tool that Emeros used was very intriguing.


    The orb looked like an Elemental Core but wasn''t. How could it absorb and perfectly release energy?


    "What is that?"


    "I call it an energy capture orb. Of course, this energy can only absorb attacks once in a while. It also has an issue of requiring more energypared to the one that cast it. Its durability is also an issue, as it can only block attacks slightly higher than the quick attack of that teacher. Any stronger and this orb would have broken down and exploded, causing me more damage." Emeros sighed.


    "But as you can see if used at the right time, it could surprise even Champions. That means that Captains of this ce would have the opportunity to attack Champions and even kill them."


    "...Still, you nearly killed that teacher!"


    "Is he not in service to another brother of Alistair? I know a bit about politics despite my mundane upbringing. He would have made my life difficult in entering here even though I am more than capable of being a teacher here. Or is the secrets of my two objects not worthy of this? If not, I can take my energy conversion circle and leave. Perhaps the other academies of the other kingdom would be willing to ept me. I am certain the academy in Diamante would wee me with more honor bestowed." Emeros dared.


    The two teachers both frowned. Emeros was clearly showing his worth. But more curious was how he addressed Prince Alistair.


    "I am not here by orders of Alistair. We both made a vow of Equals, and he has prohibited me from calling him Prince. You can ask him if you wish. I can freely leave this academy, but I can bear some pressure here because of my respect and concern for the prince. But if my entry is forever closed, I will move on."


    "...I wonder what the prince is thinking. Nevertheless, it would be foolish of me to deny you entry. Those two things you showed are indeed marvelous. Also, tattooed energy conversion circles have not reached a stage where they can be deployed, and you have a servant capable of that. The Prince did well to hide your capabilities." The mage that rushed and healed hispanion spoke.


    "Indeed. I dream of bing an Energy Conversion Circle Pedagog. What you showed me is indeed amazing. But I will tell you now, even though you will naturally be epted into the academy, you will still bear hardships."


    "As long as it is hardships where I can prove myself, I will endure. My concern, and I bolted that teacher, is if my efforts will not help me."


    "Very well. I am pleased to hear that you will stay with us for a while. Teacher Emeros. This is Senior Teacher Zwelus. And the one that challenged you is Senior Teacher Artes. We wee you to our humble academy. Let us head towards the Headmaster''s Office to inform them of your arrival."


    Emeros followed the two teachers. With a wave of Master Teacher Zachary, the first mage suddenly began to float as they walked.


    The teachers toured Emeros, and he got a closer view of the kingdom.


    Emeros noticed the odd gazes that many had at them. Seeing a floating unconscious teacher while two prominent teachers guided a young boy looked bizarre.


    Rumors of how a new student attacked a teacher began to spread throughout the campus.


    As Emeros observed the academy, he saw it was a mage-dominant academy with schrs appearing everywhere. But at the far end of the academy, Emeros could see several tall buildings with a sword and shield. There were also other weapons appearing over them.


    "Oh? So this academy doesn''t host mages?"


    "Those with the aptitude often study here to dual cultivate their abilities and skills."


    "I see... This is good. I walk the path of a swordsman, after all."


    "A swordsman? I never would have taken you as the fighting type."


    "I am moderately good at using Blitzer and Ravager attacks."


    "Blitzer? Ravager?!" Senior Teacher Zwelus broke the silence. The Blitzer and Ravager sses were known to be one of the most useless sses on the. He couldn''t understand how such a smart boy took up such a ss.


    "Such an odd... preference you have, teacher Emeros."


    Emeros didn''t bother exining it. He knew why those two sses were deemed useless. The kingdom had no inheritances from gods or fallen that could turn this ss into something great.


    "It''s the ss I practiced the most. Of course, I would rather be a ssed Knight to support me in defenses whenever I use Quick Deployed Energy Conversion Circles."


    "Ah... That makes sense..." Master Teacher Zechary nodded.


    The group marched on and rode on majestic floating pods that levitated.


    "So this is one of the rare ores that keep the Floating Continents high up, huh?" Emeros was amazed.


    "It''s strange that a powerful and genius mage such as yourself is surprised by this. You are the first teacher of the mundane world... It''s somewhat exciting to see what will be of you here..." Master Teacher Zechary spoke.


    "I hope that the hint of excitement you have is not your anticipation of the chaos I may cause here..." Emeros smiled.


    "It is. I expected you to be kicked out at the steps. Now, you are about to meet the Principal."


    "Would it be alright for me to ask about the Principal? I hear he is the direct disciple of a Pedagog from the Continents Above the Sky."


    "Yes. Our dear own Principal. The disciple that Pedagog of the Iron Enchanments found in his visits to the Floating Continents. He did the impossible and reached the Second Level of the Pedagog Ranks. A licensed Pedagog from above born in thisnd is quite unique, teacher Emeros. Only two share that title. He is the Pedagog of the Fiery Enchantments, Pedagog Xr Burner! The inheritor of the Heavenly Enchantments!"


    "What a formidable title!"


    "Yes. Frankly, he doesn''t care about your entry. He expected you to be kicked out since Senior Teacher Artes intended that. Do not underestimate Pedagogs. They have superior intelligence like you''ve never seen before. Hearing their wisdom would shock you."


    Emeros did his best not to roll his eyes. After all, he had two brothers who were freaks in that area. Kyros and Noxus were so smart that they made Cminus, an Ancient God, look dumb!


    The group moved deeper inside the academy.


    Emeros could see that the very metals that were used were simr to the ones found in the mines. However, the ones found in the mines were more durable and theoretically would fly even higher.


    "No wonder that Mine caused a hugemotion. The ores could contain nearly twice the magic! In theory, it could cause interster travel with it! Is the three kingdoms thinking of leaving this ce?" Emeros wondered.


    He recalled the story of his father, who said that he was kept in the furthest, most deste region. It seems that leaving the Tris would even be a miracle in itself.


    Soon, they arrived at the door of the Principal.


    "Hm? That boy is still here? Oh. He managed to defeat Senior Teacher Artes in a challenge." A voice echoed out. The sound did not appear from any source but directly spoke to their thoughts.


    "Yes, Pedagog! Here is Emeros! He has shown impressive prowess and knowledge worthy of a Senior Teacher. It is, as Prince Alistair imed in his introduction."


    "So that brat wasn''t bragging, huh? But it will take more than a mere Senior Teacher to survive this era. Boy, I heard that you are skilled in Energy Conversion Circles. The Prince imed that you have an ability that could challenge Master Teachers. Prove it to me. Otherwise, you cannot enter this office and im your official license." Xr''s voice echoed out.


    FLASH!


    The three teachers vanished and appeared in the very room of the Principal.


    In front of his desk was arge space where an Energy Conversion Circle was drawn. This was connected to a subtle Energy Conversion Circle drawn underneath the marbled floor that Emeros and the two teachers once stood on.


    Xr was stunned, silent, and shocked as he saw the three appear before he activated the spell!


    Emeros walked out of the circle, moved to the desk, and took his license.


    "Thank you, Pedagog." Emeros bowed as the stunned Xr looked at Emeros.

 Chapter 627 Inheritor of Enemies

    627 Inheritor of Enemies


    Emeros stood up and had a respectful expression, not the same haughty expression he wore when he attacked the Senior teacher.


    Xr stood for a moment and began to use his intellect to figure it out.


    Emeros took the license and walked back. Unlike the first, there was nothing to gain in challenging the Pedagog. He had to impress and leave a deep impression on him and use the best of his abilities.


    The Energy Conversion Circle was buried in the ground. On this, such circles were heralded as powerful. But to Emeros, this was very basic knowledge.


    The Library of the Nephilim taught things about energy conversion circles in their most basic form. But ''basic'' in terms of what Gods and the Fallen practiced.


    Most energy conversion circles in the Tri were written on formation tes or anything of simr power. This is because their knowledge of the circle was within two-dimensional nes. The books in the Temple or the Fortress,ter on. Kyros used three-dimensional writing and a technique known as ''Realm Writing.''


    Heralcus, the Cardinal foe, understood its workings but could not deploy it as fast as Kyros.


    This was how his blood and other tools that Kyros had ess to could rapidly create it and outpace his enemies.


    Emeros saw the shocked expression of a man heralded as a genius in this Tri.


    They hadn''t discovered Realm Writing yet, which allowed Emeros to counter and trigger the energy conversion circle without directly touching or altering it. Vivindel only produced an energy conversion circle as they stood, and the two circles were activated through harmony.


    In the Library of the Nephilim, the lessons in circle creation delved directly to the level of Realm Writing. But to the Pedagog, he had just learned how to create ''links'' between energy conversion circles that had a way to make the circle move around on the Z axis of the three-dimensional nes.


    The vast level and differences between the two made the simple and small knowledge that Emeros had learned a shocking and profound mystery to Xr.


    "How?" Xr slowly asked as his brows were furrowed.


    "A technique that I would call Harmonic Activation. I created a familiar circle directly on top of it."


    "Impossible! How could you see it?"


    "My eyes have been gifted to see magical fluctuations easily, Pedagog. When I arrived, I knew there was an energy conversion circle there. I discerned that there was a portal and used a Quick Deploy method to recreate it. It was the same Quick Deploy method I used to test Senior Teacher Artes." Emeros exined.


    Xr was silent for a bit and began to watch the scenes. The entire interaction was recorded.


    "My chambers are set to auto-record and capture a holographic image of whatever transpires whenever magical or force energy is detected."


    "As expected of someone in power and has enemies line up. The Pedagog will greatly benefit from my teaching." Emeros smiled.


    Xr ignored him and watched the recording.


    As Emeros said, a small energy conversion circle lit up as Vivindel took form. Also, lights around Emeros and Serena shed as the magic activated.


    "So this is Harmonic Activation... It released a frequency, and when you activated the warp spell, it caused the energy within my circle to act out and prematurely activated its teleportation spell... Bravo. It seems that the Prince had some reason for his bold im. Since you have the Certificate, I wee you to Cloud Peak Academy as a teacher. Since you understood the rules of Test, I assume you''ve read the handbook of a teacher''s role in this academy?" Xr asked.


    "...Yes. I am set to teach, and I have to leave my mark in this academy to produce studies that are beneficial to the academy constantly." Emeros nodded.


    "How old are you?" Xr asked.


    "I will be thirteen next week." Emeros answered.


    "...Incredible! You are like a child born on the Continents Above the Sky! Who is your master?"


    "He... died. He robbed my memory to take away his truth to spare me from whatever conflicts might befall me due to my memories. Yet he harnessed the power that retained in me my knowledge of things although I have no memory of them." Emeros exined.


    Xr was now more intrigued with Emeros''s statement. No one in the Floating Continents could do that!


    "In any case, I feel regretful that I agreed to the arrangements. You are to inherit and teach the Vashuras ss. In two weeks, you will teach them and get them on par with the current standard lesson. In this school, if you fail a test, you have to seed in the next one and catch up with the lessons. This teaches our students to pursue the odds and face the pressure to make them worthy of those Above the Sky. But in your case, the students that you need to teach and make them pass are those who were never tested nor taught."


    "...It does seem like a challenge. But if I wish to help Alistair, I must be capable of oveing this."


    "Oh? Calling him by his name? I hazard a guess that you and Prince Alistair are equals!"


    "As expected of Pedagog. It is as you guessed."


    "Interesting. Be warned. Artes is not the only foe here. If you inherit the equal status of Alistair, then you will naturally inherit his enemies. As a Pedagog, I cannot interfere with many battles between teachers and Senior teachers. This is part of the training. Only the strong and the smart can rise and be among the clouds. The best that I can offer is to grant you ess to the training rooms for your students and their dormitories and approve any field trips that you may request."


    "Then I shall take this chance to request reservations for training rooms and a trip. I wish to bring my students to the Valley Below The Lake."


    "Oh? Normally, I would not approve of it. It''s very dangerous for first-year students and teachers below the Champion level. I''d like to see your current stats to gauge if you have the strength necessary to face the monsters that are allowed in there."


    Xr brought out a Level Assessment Orb and handed it over to Emeros.


    Emeros activated the orb. In the past days with Alistair, Alistair made his team hunt and capture various beasts and offer many gems of power to raise Emeros.


    But with the shocking demands of Emeros''s body, they only managed to give Emeros two levels and push him closer towards another level up.


    Emeros''s stats were being drawn out, but Emeros secretly activated another energy conversion circle on the palm of his hand that took away a hundred and thirty points from his intelligence and took away fifteen points for the rest of his stats.


    ---


    Emeros Steele


    Level: 15


    Experience: 26,837/28,161


    Strength: 73


    Magic: 37


    Dexterity: 97


    Vitality: 72


    Intelligence: 269


    Force: 20


    Hit points: 970


    ---


    "Impressive as always. And an Intelligence stat of 269. Not bad for your age. But it''s also not good in this academy as a teacher. Normally, teachers would have at least 300 points. Still, I guess you still have a chance to mature. Your Commander''s potential is also amazing. You should be better than many teachers here in terms of potential."


    Master Teacher Zechary and Senior Teacher Zwelus were both amazed at what they had seen.


    Emeros sighed in relief. To the Pedagog, it seemed that he sighed in relief of being able to reach their level. But Emeros was actually sighing in relief that his stats were good enough. With his stats, he was already someone who had a Cardinal''s potential!


    "Teacher Emeros is well-trained!" Zwelus praised.


    "Your stats are good... But it''s far from enough if you wish to bring an entire ss. Especially since this is the Vashura ss, they have a very low cultivation level."


    "I will manage. It''s part of the n to deal with the conflict of hearts that my ss suffers. No doubt my taking of their ss would cause amotion."


    "Ah... It seems Prince Alistair has informed you of the possibilities! Yes. The Vashura ss must really hate you. Because they are recognized as a ss, they are all scorned by the school and bullied. The past few days have been harsh on them. All of them had been beaten up to the very limit of what this school allows in conflicts and shes."


    "And I take it they are adamant to make me fail?"


    "Yes! Exactly. If you lose, then everything they are suffering for disappears. They return to their old life, but you will be kicked out because you have failed as a teacher. Do you now see the odds you must ovee, Teacher Emeros?"


    "My master seemed to have trained me to have a mind of an adult. This is a problem, and I was trained to solve it."


    Xr smiled.


    "Zechary. Make preparations for his entry and provide the rooms. Zwelus. Prepare for Vashura''s field trip to the Valley Below The Lake. And do not allow anyone to hinder Emeros from doing so. Emeros. This is as far as our help can bring."


    "I understand, Pedagog."


    "Now go. I''m confident... that you will fail. But I''m curious. I''m curious, and I anticipate your victory. So


    give me a good show."


    "Yes, Pedagog!"

 Chapter 628 Inheritor of their Anger

    628 Inheritor of their Anger


    A young boy slowly walked towards the ssroom that he was assigned to. Blood dripped down his mouth, and he spat out another spit full of blood.


    His name is Mackerel Silvos. The very same Silvos family that ruled the Umbraden Kingdom in the mortal realm.


    The past week started normally, and he went along with his day.


    Life as a Vashura, despite the constant eye-rolls of the elites and higher born, was not that bad.


    For someone who was of great chance, won numerous contests, and proved himself as one of the geniuses of the mortal realms, he had ess to the library and books within the academy.


    And while they had no teacher, he still received the allowance provided by the academy itself.


    The Vashura ss was not meant to be a dumping ground for the stupid and dull. It was a charity program provided by the Cloud Peak Academy with its aim to teach and allow the mortal realms and other smaller societies within the Floating Continent to grant them free chances to have students.


    But because of the culture and drive of Cloud Peak Academy that urges everyone topete and rise, it was natural to have such great scorn and mockery to those who would belong to the Vashura.


    Mackerel had learned a great deal of knowledge that would shock his peers in the mortal realm. It had been nearly thirty years since thest time someone from his kingdom was allowed to rise in the Floating Continents, and he was excited to go home. The scorning looks and how people would avoid them was a small price to pay for the knowledge he would learn.


    He even yearned to be more prominent than his kingdom''s rising Pdin, Baron Knight Merovus!


    But now, the beatings and attacks happened almost daily.


    And if he failed the Student Assessment test, while he wouldn''t be kicked out, he would lose a month''s worth of allowances!


    This meant he had to ratio whatever he would receive to support him for the next month!


    He gritted his teeth in anger, and he yearned to p the face of the stupid teacher who was said to take care of their ss!


    He entered the ssroom that was assigned to them.


    In the first four months of the school year of this academy, he only visited this room three times.


    He nced at his ssmates, many of whom he had met for the very first time.


    One thingmon was that almost everyone had wounds and injuries.


    Mackerel sat next to a girl with numerous p marks on her face.


    The boy barely recognized her. She was a beauty even by Floating Continent standards! But now, she looked pitiful and ugly due to the swelling of her face.


    But while she was beautiful, not even her beauty won her any favors. The highborns would never see her as a potential mate but only use her. And the academy''s women envied her beautiful looks but never lowered themselves to associate with her.


    This beautiful woman was spared from many hardships at first. But now, because the Vashura ss was given full ss status, many women attacked her for ''daring to dream of being equal to them.''


    Everyone sat there silently. All angry at the teacher.


    The door suddenly opened, and a maid with a disfigured and wounded face appeared.


    And the one that followed her was a young boy.


    So young! Younger than all of the students in the ss!


    Mackerel was surprised. He was the youngest boy in ss, fourteen years old! But now, someone who was at least a year or two younger than him arrived!


    He gazed at the younger boy who arrived.


    "I''m not the youngest in this ss?" The young boy was amazed. He thought he was the youngest one. Despite being from the mortal realms, he was proud to have been the youngest to enter. But now a kid who didn''t even look like a teenager arrived!


    "What''s with the maid?" Mackerel thought to himself as he saw the disfigured maid. But despite her poor facial appearance, her skin was white like porcin!


    "Ahem. My name is Emeros Steele. And I am your teacher." Emeros raised a certificate that only teachers had.


    The certificate radiated with a unique glow, and a seal began to float out, certifying the truth of Emeros''s ims.


    Everyone froze.


    A tall student seated at the back had to stop his hand from the murderous intent it leaked. Unlike the rest of the students, he didn''t have any wounds. But his hatred towards the teacher was immense.


    "And our first ss session won''t be here. We will take a ss field trip towards the Valley Below the Lake. We move now. Meet me at the entrance in thirty minutes and take all your belongings. We will be staying inside for about a week. Dismissed." Emeros then turned and left.


    Everyone was still shocked at what they saw.


    "...Did anyone use [Gauge] on him?" One of the students asked.


    "He''s the real deal. Twelve years old. Level 15. He has Commander''s Potential but is close to attaining a Cardinal''s Potential! Based on that alone, he would be a genius student in the top fifty of this academy. But he would barely qualify to be a teacher." The tall student at the back quickly answered.


    "He really... is the teacher! He is son young!" Mackerel eximed.


    "If we kill him down there... the Teacher''s Assessment is canceled. Our status plummets back down. We receive our allowances; practically all our problems would be over."


    "What?! Kill the teacher?!" Another student shouted in shock.


    "He is from the mortal realms. He wore no marks or emblem from any kingdoms or independent cities here in the Floating Continent." The tall student added.


    "So... he has no backing?" The woman with a swelling face asked.


    "He has. How else could he be a teacher? It''s probably of high authority. Perhaps a royalty of this kingdom? But regardless, he remains an unaffiliated teacher. Which means there are specific circumstances that limit the support of his backers." The tall student answered.


    "In other words... if he dies in the Valley Below the Lake, and we make it appear that a monster down there killed a barely teenage kid... there would be close to zero repercussions?" Another girl asked. Mackerel turned to her and saw that she had a bulging ck eye. This was the first time Mackerel saw her, and this wound made it difficult to gauge if she was beautiful.


    "Yes. If he dies there... there is close to zero chance of it being investigated." The tall student answered as he stood up.


    With him taking the lead, everyone immediately left their seats. Everyone except Mackerel.


    Perhaps it was his youth and the innocence that he carried. Perhaps it was theck of horrors that he had seen in his life. But the thought of killing the youth never came to mind.


    But now, the temptation to do so appeared.


    The youngest student saw everyone leave in amazement. And even the woman next to her stood up and left. He could tell that a great murderous intent that everyone had.


    At the appointed time, the students gathered at the cave''s entrance next to the academy''srgeke.


    "Let''s go," Emeros ordered and walked on ahead.


    Many students and teachers saw the ss move in.


    The onlookers sneered andughed at the insane actions of the Vashura ss. Although it was a rtively safe season, as the monster horde was expected to peak in two months, it was still extremely dangerous for students to go! Especially with a teacher who was not even a Captain!


    The students that followed Emeros all carried their staves. A few carried swords, spears, and arrows. But most of them were all mages.


    Mackerel carried his sword and shield along with the staff that he had and walked down into the mountain. In his mind, he didn''t know whether or not he would join his ssmates in the murder of their teacher.


    But his body knew the answer to what he would do once everyone started acting up.


    They walked deep into the cave, but no one acted. They were too smart for that. The teacher was the least dangerous thing down the cave. There were monsters of many kinds that were allowed to grow.


    This was a controlled region where monsters could grow and multiply and be hunted and killed for experience. The students of the academy nned to kill Emeros, make a scene to fight some monsters, and flee out of the ce.


    They entered the underground world full of trees and the light of theke above.


    Mountains that connected from the underground world up to the ground below created a miraculous work of nature, which everyone called the Valley Below the Lake.


    This was the main attraction, but the region was a forest with mountains and underground rivers and was said to have over three levels underground.


    A diamond crystal ceiling sealed the ocean from falling, and it was due to this unique environment that monsters up to Champion might grow in therge valley.


    They marched and marched deep into the forest, heading towards the valley. But the students were still careful as they could sense many creatures moving out and about.


    Soon, the group reached a clearing as the natural shrubs surrounding the ce were poisonous. Emeros led the ss into the clearing, and with his strange vine, he closed the gap and walked toward the center.


    "Alright. Now, we can fight. It''s fairly safe here." Emeros smiled.


    "...Fight?" The tall student asked.


    "I know you hate me. You were all bullied and suffered a bit. And with no one to throw out my frustration to, I naturally will inherit this anger. So let it all out. Try and kill me." Emeros smiled as he drew a sword, and Serena did the same.


    The ss was surprised.


    "What''s the matter? I could see it in your eyes. I''m not dumb. Killing me is the best choice you have. So let''s get it started!" Emerosughed.

 Chapter 629 Inheritor Of Enchanting Magic

    ?


    Emeros and Serena charged without warning and dashed towards the students.


    There were five captains, and the rest were nearly Captains in the ss.


    But Emeros went on the offense and picked the strongest one.


    The one at the back of the ss who was not wounded or bullied was clearly the strongest.


    Emeros used his Ravager and Quick de speed and zipped through the line.


    The students in front of Emeros either evaded or were blown back by the pping steel of Emeros''srge de.


    Therge sword was of intricate design, a gift of the Prince. Forged in the ship at the request of Emeros, who also revealed numerous cksmith techniques to the smithers. Emeros only had the theories but had no memories to put them into practice. Nevertheless, his little nuggets of gold, which he shared with the group serving the Prince, all became obsessed as they began to study the ways of smithing and enchantments from the theories that Emeros spouted.


    The sword was the culmination of the harsh deadline that Prince Alistair bestowed on his men. It was enchanted with mes and had a great quality metal. It could rival Champion-Grade weapons.


    BASH! BASH!


    Emeros tore through the non-captains with his sword swinging high, sending three students flying.


    The rest tried to rush back, but a whipping vine pped out.


    Serena also began to charge at the back and, with great herculean strength, lifted a man chasing Emeros''s back.


    She didn''t use her weapon but threw it up high as he charged, grabbed the man, and performed a move that Emeros called the German Suplex.


    CRASH!


    The head of the student smashed on the ground as Serena used it to keep her body from touching the ground.


    She then jumped backward and somersaulted to prevent another student from rushing in.


    But the ss had about twenty students, and they all began to try to organize themselves.


    Mackerel found his chance and ran towards Emeros as the strange vine was harassing others.


    But as he stepped forward, a strange energy gathered down the ground below him, and a pir of mana shot out like andmine.


    BANG!


    Mackerel was sent flying back, and suddenly, many explosions appeared.


    Arge glyph was glowing on the ground.


    "An Energy Conversion Circle!" The tallest student shouted as he saw the explosions rocking around.


    "No time to be looking around, Captain!" Emerosughed.


    The tall student drew his choice of weapon. A thin rapier appeared as he made quick stabs at the iing Emeros as he quickly retreated with skillful footwork. He was running backward but was still moving at simr speeds to Emeros!


    But even though he was five levels higher than Emeros, the fencing style thrust was clearly seen and easily evaded.


    Emeros then used hisrge de like a shield.


    The energy surged below him, and Emeros stepped forward as another explosion urred, sending Emeros running faster.


    The thrust of the rapier could not stop Emeros''s Charge.


    BASH!


    The tall student was knocked back and tried to recover his footing.


    "Chevik Hartrock. Son of the Hartrock family, who heads one of the independent states here in the Floating Continent. But you are now a failed elite. A fallen noble. After that bloody battle where your family''s enemies usurped the position of president, your standing here also dropped. Still... you rank at the top one hundred of this academy, correct?" Emeros smiled.


    The tall student, Chevik, spat out some blood and was enraged at Emeros.


    "You little brat!" Chevik roared.


    "Call me teacher when ss is in session." Emerosughed and began to charge at him, swinging his sword wildly as many other students shot fireballs at him.


    The sword shed out and absorbed the fire that the mages sent out.


    His sword began to glow red as Chevik arrived and made a dashing thrust.


    Emeros swung his sword and blocked the rapier of Chevik.


    BOOM!


    A fireball shot out, blew on Chevik''s face, and threw him back.


    He tried to recover, but the specific ground he fell on was surging with magic.


    BOOM!


    The ground erupted and threw Chevik in the air.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    The energy conversion circle he had created in his earlier visit was now doing as intended. The explosions looked random, but the truth was there was a pattern of attack.


    There was panic, and some students tried to leave the circle. But the energy gathered and exploded, sending the students rolling back towards the center.


    "Everyone! There is a pattern in this circle! I can''t figure it out, but if we try to run out of the circle, the energy focuses there! Half the team focuses on distracting the woman and that vine while they try to get out of the circle! This will give us a chance to attack the teacher! The Circle... The circle is resonating with the teacher! We defeat him, and we stop the circle!" Makarel suddenly shouted.


    "Oh? Someone gifted with the same eyes as me? No wonder you managed to crawl your way up here, brat!" Emerosughed as he turned over to Mackerel.


    "This is good! I don''t have time to pursue enchantments... You would be a good inheritor of my lessons and be my enchanter!" Emeros smiled as he observed the youth. The entire battle was a test to see if the geniuses could figure out the circle based on the fluctuations. But from the words of Makarel, he seemed to have ''seen'' through the magic.


    Emeros needed allies who would be supporting him and pursuing a path. He was not as smart as Kyros. And even Kyros relied on his friends to perfect and surpass the knowledge that they had found.


    The Steele family perfected all styles of the job-fighting ss and made new ones. The Emberdons focused, took care of all magical theories, and even assigned cksmiths and other experts they met through their journeys.


    And now, Emeros found a student worthy of being his enchanter.


    The students were all crying out and reforming their ranks.


    Emeros didn''t attack and called Serena and Vivindel back.


    "Now that I have the ss''s attention... Lesson one. Fighting against mobs!" Emeros harnessed magic and pressed his palms on the ground.


    The explosions stopped, but a red force field appeared and sealed the circle.

 Chapter 630 Inheritor Of A Dead Class

    ?


    The Sealing Fire Circle.


    It is a basic sealing spell that uses great fire energy.


    It is, in the words of Triona Emberdon, a pathetic and utterly useless spell.


    The magic was weak and could only be useful against Champions and those below them.


    But such a spell in the mundane world was a miracle.


    Emeros had already entered and arrived in this clearing and made his preparations to make the monsters avoid the clearing.


    With Vivindel, who was now a living nt, they nted and moved many poisonous nts and grew the rest.


    Emeros also crafted an intricate energy conversion circle by having Vivindel borrow down and fill the circle with the blood of some monsters that previously inhabited the clearing.


    Numerous ores were ced, but Emeros had made this circle bound to the Fire Elemental Core he had created.


    The energy would soon be used up, but as it stood, Emeros was in the schedule of his ns to teach the kids an important lesson.


    The students were allowed to regroup as Emeros waited.


    The injured and the bleeding students rushed back.


    The fighters who received painful wrestling moves from Serena began to crawl and limp back.


    Many took out their potions and pills, while others began to cast healing spells.


    But many were so close to fainting and neededrger amounts of healing.


    Serena stood next to Emeros and shook her head.


    "Master. These fighters can''t even fight me and are not worthy of my sword''s edge." Serenaughed as she caught a sword which she had hurled up.


    Three swordsnded, and Serena caught all.


    Everyone fighting saw the swords and was amazed. They all thought she was holding onto one sword!


    The fighters and the mages who had tasted Serena''s attacks knew just how strong she was and how she could sense and time her attacks using the swords. Many didn''t even know what hit them, but now they knew Serena had many weapons.


    "That was... the thing that fell on my head!" A mage student shouted.


    "Everyone! Focus! What is this circle!?" Chevik called out.


    "I still can''t believe it... But the fire force fields at the end... This is a Grand Fire Sealing Circle! Only Champions can cast this! How can you cast it?!" The woman with the swollen face shouted at Emeros. She had seen the fire force field used against them and had traumatizing experiences with it!


    "No! This is clearly an Energy Eruption Circle! You''ve seen those sts!"


    "You idiots! Shut up! You are all of the Floating Continent! Get off the books and see with your eyes! This circle is many things! It''s not just those two. It''s more! We are fighting against someone who can somehow draw and control the energy of this circle and freely use the fire energy! Be it as force fields or explosions!" Mackerel shouted.


    "Correct! Perhaps I should spare you!" Emeros''s voice was heard.


    They all turned to Emeros. They did not have confident, smug expressions, but all looked in fear.


    Emeros slowly moved, stretched his hands out, and drew out an orb glowing with red energy.


    Mackerel saw a red orb appear and was shocked at what they had seen.


    "Elemental Core! This entire energy conversion circle is being powered by that Orb! Impossible!" Mackerel couldn''t understand it. The sight had surpassed any basic knowledge of the energy conversion circle that they had read in the books.


    "How can an orb not in contact with the circle harness such energy?!" A mage asked.


    "What''s going on?! Who is this teacher?!" Another asked.


    "Come! Show me the full extent of your intent to kill! You me me for being a weak, useless person who never had any capacity to ovee your challenges? Then so be it! I know your plots and ns! You think you can get away from this suffering by killing me! But did you know... I can also kill all of you and resolve my problems! Who would care for the Vashura ss!? In such an incident, I can report that you all did not listen to or respect me and attacked me! If I inherited a dead ss and I myself leave this ce without any wounds, then I would absolved of all my troubles!" Emerosughed as the core on his hand shed with energy.


    Every student''s expression paled at Emeros''s words.


    "You... you can''t!" The other girl in the ss shouted.


    "Why? You wanted me dead! Don''t think I have not heard of your little talk in the ssroom!" Emerosughed as Vivindel floated and revealed a strange stone that suddenly projected a holographic image.


    "In other words... if he dies in the Valley Below the Lake, and we make it appear that a monster down there killed a barely teenage kid... there would be close to zero repercussions?" The very same girl that just cried appeared and asked the ss.


    "Yes. If he dies there... there is close to zero chance of it being investigated." Chevik''s voice followed, and his figure emerged.


    Everyone was stunned. Emeros had recorded the entire conversation without their knowledge.


    "I brought a ss here. They all attacked me, and I had no choice but to defend. I have proof. Problem solved. Thank you for making things easier for me!" Emerosughed.


    "Everyone! Defend! Form a formation! Magical shields at the ready!" Chevik suddenly ordered.


    The entire ss suddenly began to move.


    They finally showed their knowledge and prestige. While in the Vashura ss, being in the academy meant they had some sense of bravery, intellect, and powerful will.


    Chevik finally took the role of a leader.


    The entire team took a formation and arranged themselves into position.


    "Fighters! Begin to charge forward! I want two mages prioritizing shielding each fighter! The rest, divide yourself into offense and defense!" Chevik ordered.


    At Chevik''s words, several members began to move andmand others, and the team could quickly organize themselves and set up shields.


    A few stabbed their staves on the ground and used magic to repel the circle.


    Everyone had trained as mages and were drawing out their mana. Even the fighters at the front did the same.


    "Good... Now you are more organized... But ss is in session, and the teacher''s lesson for dealing with mobs is to create strategies that weaken the mob and strengthen yourself!" Emeros suddenly pped the ground.


    "AH!" The mages who were drawing or harnessing magic all began to shout one after the other.


    A powerful, draining magic was taking their magic.


    "Magic Draining Circle!" Chevik cursed.


    Everyone began to slump down.


    As their mana disappeared, the fire elemental core of Emeros merged back in him, and he gathered in his hands a massive fireball.


    Without staves, wands, or other magic-focusing tools and weapons, Emeros created a fireball from the mana of many.


    Mackerel saw the energy and quickly moved. With his sight that could see the flow of magic, he quickly stabbed the ground and released his force energy that caused an eruption.


    BANG!


    At once, the magic-draining effect disappeared.


    "Good work, student! You saw the magic going to me and decided to sever it! I apud you for your wit! But now... try and survive this!" Emeros raised his hand.


    Everyone quickly summoned whatever Force or Magic they could wield to create a defensive wall.


    "[Eldrich me]!" Emeros unleashed his attack.


    BOOM!

 Chapter 631 To Make You Stronger!

    631 To Make You Stronger!


    The power of a great dark me emerged and shot out towards the shields of the students.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    It tore through the shields that the team desperately tried to put up.


    Oneyer after the other exploded.


    They could have blocked Champions with the magesbining their defensive spells. But because of the magic draining, they barely had time to prepare and released a weaker shield.


    The ball of dark mes easily sted through the first threeyers of shields and prated deeper before exploding inside the formation of the students.


    BOOM!


    A dark fire shot out, sending the ss tumbling and rolling on the floor.


    Mackerel couldn''t see properly. The strange fire had a terrifying darkness that somehow infected his body.


    The darkness made him sluggish, and he couldn''t move.


    "AHHH!" There was also immense pain as this dark energy began to seep into his body.


    The other mages felt the same way. The light energy used to create force fields was difficult to channel.


    "Fire and darkness...! How is that boy... able to use two elements?!" Chevik didn''t understand how the fire attack had such potent darkness. They only saw darkness inbs or isted regions that were deadly to venture into!


    Chevik trembled, but then he saw Mackerel stand up.


    "Everyone! Stand! No one has died yet!" Mackerel shouted as his eyes began to glow.


    Emeros saw his eyes and could see that he was a magic mutation.


    "If no one died on that attack... it only means... that our teacher never intended to kill us! This isn''t a massacre! It''s a test!" Mackerel shouted.


    Emeros smiled as he saw Mackerel call out and rally his allies.


    Soon, everyone slowly tried to stand up, and the students realized that even at such a powerful attack, everyone miraculously survived! Even those closest to the fire!


    "H-How did he do it?" The woman whom Mackerel had sat next to in ss asked.


    "I saw it. The energy conversion circle absorbed the energy!"


    "What''s the meaning of this?!" Chevik finally stood up.


    "Well, I wanted to y around with you. You push yourself to hopelessness, but that freak with the good eyes ruined the fun." Emeros smiled.


    "Allow me to introduce myself finally. I am Emeros Steele. Your teacher and possibly the awaited Pedagog that can bring you all to greater glory." Emeros smiled.


    "Pedagog?!" A student eximed.


    "You dare im that such a title is yours for the taking?! A mere you dare to be one of the greats?!" Chevik roared in anger.


    "Why not? You''ve seen what I can do! I''m sure you are not so dumb that you couldn''t see the many impossible things I''ve had. Why do you think a teacher like me, as young as me, was allowed to enter? And have you not heard of the rumors of how I defeated a Senior Teacher?"


    "...Senior Teacher Artes have been spotted unconscious! Was it... was it you?"


    "If I said yes, would you believe me?" Emeros chuckled.


    "Why spare us?"


    "Perhaps it''s because I could almost sympathize with you. You see... I am not the genius that I am now. I am... a benefactor of great things. Things that I believe I am unworthy of. These are things that are too great for me. You are all brought here to this great school, but nothing is expected of you. And you expect nothing from you. I am annoyed with that. I, a weakling who only wanted a good life, being shoved with great responsibilities you wouldn''t dream of! I was stripped of all possible powers that I could attain and had very little hope to fight for!" Emeros spoke bitterly as he recalled his status in the mines.


    "I was given the least but expected the greatest. And here you are... students who could have risen from your very advantageous states... But remained like ves chained to their pathetic lives. Is it too hard to stand up? Is it too hard to risk your life for things? Is it too hard to take small steps, risking your life and limb for powerful gain?" Emeros asked.


    The students felt a sharp pain in their hearts. They all dreamed of great things before. But somehow, they lost sight of it.


    "But I am here to help! Despite your foolish attitudes, I intend not just to spare all of you, but to make you stronger! So, let''s continue with this lesson! You are a mage-majority team, and what you did was focus on defense, seeing my power. But had you focused on attack, you could have unleashed the magic you prepared to create a powerful attack. The training you have is pitiful! Don''t focus on defense! The mage rules that you live by areughable! Magic warfare is supposed to be ny percent offensive! You use offense as your defense!" Emeros chastised.


    He had seen the Emberdons fight. Magical warfare was simr even in the nesworld, where mages would create defensive shields to deflect. But the Emberdons had another method of fighting, which Emeros believed to be superior.


    "Offense?!" One of the students cursed.


    "Your magic was at the level of Champions! Our shields would have easily broken! And you drained us of magic!"


    "Yes! But thews of collusion would have held my attack for some time. As for the draining, it was because you created shields! If you focused on offense, you could have sent the attack out, albeit prematurely! With your number and range, It doesn''t need to be strong! My magic is condensed and solidified as one! I cannot block all that attack and would have been forced to use it as a shield!"


    The ss was silent. They had not been taught of that.


    "Listen now... we will continue to train with this. I have poisoned this area so the lowly creatures would not try to go here. Although I won''t kill you, don''t expect to leave here without having your limbs burned. I have a method to heal you so this little training session will be quite deadly. Serena. This will be training for you as well. Test out the fighting strategies of a Blitzer, Quick de, and Ravager. Find your focus!"


    "Yes, Master!"


    The circle began to light up with great energy as Emerosmanded it.


    The fire around his body appeared, and all his ss began to prepare forbat as they feared the dark energy.


    "The path of learning is through mind and body! So engrave the fear and pain today and be transformed into stronger ones!" Emeros suddenly ran with incredible speed, and Serena ran in the other direction.

 Chapter 632 To Make Elemental Cores

    632 To Make Elemental Cores


    It was around four minutester that the battle was over.


    The students were all slumping down in pain, and the entire fire energy conversion circle was now a healing circle, and everyone was resting in it while groaning in pain.


    They were no match for Emeros and Serena. Even when the ss of mages went on the offensive with spells and attacks, they lost due to the quick movements of the pair and their coordination.


    This was because both Serena and Emeros moved so fast! His steps were like massive leaps, and they zigged and zagged unpredictably and had various abilities that made them cross the distance.


    As mages, they tried to move far away from Emeros and Serena to channel their spell.


    But Emeros was just too fast for them and crossed the distance again.


    "...This is a Quick de?!" One of the Battle Mages, who was also a Knight, eximed as he saw it.


    "A Blitzer... He is using arge de." Another battle mage sat up and corrected.


    "No. They were both using a mix of all three... The speed of a Quick de even though he carried arge sword like a Blitzer, but when he grounded his foot, his attack increased like a Ravager attack..." Chevik corrected.


    "Correct. I used all of them. Tell me, are these three sses considered weak and useless in the kingdom, as useless as it seems?" Emeros asked.


    "...This! It is useless. The problem was that we were too weak. In the realms of Champions, a Quick de would not be able to do anything against a mage."


    "Really? I am weaker in terms of levels towards you. Yet I could outpace not just one mage but an entire mage ss. On thest battle, I didn''t bother to drain your magic. Sure, you were all injured. But there were twenty of you and just two of us. My vine didn''t even move."


    Everyone fell silent.


    "Is it possible... that what we were taught... was wrong?" The first battle mage asked.


    Emeros smiled.


    "Yes. This world values mages over any other jobs. Knights are generally only used for defenses and require magical equipment. But in reality, both paths can ultimately challenge each other equally. A knight could train to have the same destructive capabilities as a Mage. Their des could cut mountains and even worlds! The ability I showed you now will reach the Champion level when I reach the Champion. I could charge through a rank of mages before they could cast a spell. A few of you love the sword more than the staff. But this world teaches you to pick up the staff... A pity."


    "The sword... is as strong as the staff?" Chevik asked.


    "It could even be stronger. And I could teach you. Not just the sword! But the shield, the bow, the axe, everything!" Emeros smiled.


    "Even the paths of Barbarians?" One of the students asked.


    "Oh? You mock the barbarians, correct? This ss only appears in the mortal realms and is used by the weak ones. But their foundations are wrong. Their force energy does not have any legacy. A true barbarian would have a body as hard as a Knight in his full armor."


    "Impossible!"


    "...I could show you. But for now... let the healing begin." Emeros tapped on the ground, and the energy conversion circle revealed a warm light.


    "Huh? Regeneration?!" Mackerel was amazed.


    A strange light began to heal them.


    The healing circle was another unnatural power. How was this circle able to spur regenerative probabilities?


    The circle was Dark Dependent. ck Magic spurred the Death Energy in a person''s body to force healing. The result was that the body was healing itself like a dark dependent like a vampire would do. It drained the death energy of another to feed the group.


    Vivindel had drunk the blood of many beasts, using that energy to feed the group.


    But to the limited knowledge of the students, they only saw amazing healing.


    The emotions of the team were different now. They did not draw any forms of hatred or fear towards Emeros.


    In the entire progression of the battle, Emeros showed them things that they were unconsciously desiring to learn.


    Emeros could see that the student''s impression of him was changing as the students started looking at him with revered eyes.


    "Now... This was a test, as I said. And so far, four people have stood out. Battle Mage Quin. Excellent battle instincts. You seem to be a genius using the sword. My advice is to abandon the staff. Follow me, and I will show you the de''s true power."


    The battle mage was startled at the offer of Emeros.


    "M...me?"


    "You managed to counter me despite me overpowering you in speed. I tell you, not many can do that at your level." Serena spoke.


    "Next, Fire Mage Anna Brummer."


    The woman with a very swollen face was startled.


    "Despite being a mage whose internal affinity lies in Water, you wield the fire quite well. But sadly, this ce does not offer much for your abilities. Your mes manifest like water. Thatst desperate attack you made caused cinders to ssh on me as if it were water. Very unique." Emeros praised.


    "Cinders? But... the power of my mes diminish!"


    "Yes. The problem is that you have little stored energy. If we amplify it, we can increase it. And I''ll exinter what we can do. Next. Chevic Hartrock. Well, you would be the one."


    The ss turned to Chevik. He had always been the strongest one among them.


    "But people misinterpret your strength. And I believe you do, too. Tell me, what do you think is your strongest trait?"


    "Magic level?" Chevik guessed.


    "Magic level? My, how poor you guys are. Anyone can increase their magic levels. You''ve had better foundations, which makes your magic capacity two-fold greater. But that''s nothing. I can give Battle Mage Quin that in two days." Emerosughed.


    Chevik was surprised. He couldn''t believe that Emeros saw magic level and capacity as nothing!


    "Bodily strength?"


    "No!"


    "Magic affinity?"


    "Try again."


    10:35


    "...Courage?"


    "Charisma."


    "What?!" Chevik was surprised and a little offended.


    "You managed to convince everyone to try and kill me, and in the battle earlier, you managed to reform the group and get them in order. Everyone naturally followed you. And let me tell you, it isn''t because you are the strongest here. You have a knack for charisma."


    "Is... that even a strength?"


    "Oh, you have no idea." Emeros chuckled as he recalled how Kyros used charisma to deceive, trick, win over, and lead.


    "In truth, your power is one I desperately need. Most of my currentpanions do not have this. So it''s good to finally have one." Emerosughed.


    "And finally, Mackerel Silvos. Eyes that can see the flow of magic... and a mind of great discernment. I think it''s fairly evident what you are capable of. And so, you, Mackerel, will be the first to receive a gift..." Emeros then held his hand out.


    Vivindel rose, and it was as if it was trying to regurgitate something.


    "Made from Captain-level beasts. It''s not much, but it will get you going. A Poor-Grade Elemental Fire Core." Emeros offered to Mackerel.


    At that moment, all the students froze at what they saw.


    "Wha-What?!" Mackerel trembled.


    "I''ll teach you the method of assimting it like I did. I didn''t graft the core but absorbed it in my soul, as you can see."


    The Fire Core emerged from Emeros''s hand and caused everyone to marvel.


    "And for the rest, prove yourself and strive harder. Commit to my teachings, and when you are all ready, you will get a Core of your choosing."


    BASH!


    Chevik''s head smashed on the ground as he bowed.


    "I will follow the teachings of Teacher!" Chevik vowed.


    The rest instantly followed and kowtowed at him.


    Emeros felt a strange surge of power in him. It was as if his very spirit was pleased.


    Emeros was surprised but kept his thoughts to himself.


    "Good. We have one week. We need to kill a lot of beasts in this ce. I need as many Captain-level beasts as possible. And if you are willing, Champions. If you can offer me a Champion-level beast, I could create an Elemental Core of superior form." Emeros smiled.


    Everyone couldn''t believe what they heard andy there as they all answered in a chorus.


    "Yes, Teacher!"

 Chapter 633 To Make Courage

    633 To Make Courage


    The Valley Below the Lake expanded out and had numerous basins of water below. All were divided by the great diamond ss that kept the waters from falling in.


    But the entireke would create walls and mountains and reveal a great geography withkes, rivers, and waterfalls below it.


    But as the Valley held the most number of monsters who have made it their homes, the Vashura ss had to move towards the other regions and move deep undergrounds where various monsters constantly thrive and live, forming an ecosystem that leads to practically endless growth of monsters.


    The ss walked deep underground, and everyone was nervous. A day had passed since their defeat, and their first mission was as harsh as the challenge of fighting Emeros.


    The circle managed to heal them up to around eighty percent of their peak form. But the wounds were healed.


    Even the swollen features of the girl disappeared and revealed her beauty. Equally breathtaking was the other girl who had ck eyes.


    But now, their beauty could not be seen as they had looks of terror on them.


    Many were trembling with fear.


    They were prey ordered to walk into the den of predators.


    Everyone had their staves up and was ready. The battle mages had their weapons drawn as they observed the area.


    "Fear is the biggest issue that you have to face in life. The fear of stepping forward. And the fear that I am talking about is not necessarily about fighting monsters and stronger enemies... No. The fear of telling yourself, ''I can''t do this'' even before you try. This is why most of you did not pursue other fields or paths. Be it magic, alchemy, cksmiths, and so forth. And to be in this school, you should not fear facing any challenge." Emeros exined as he stood at the very center of the ss.


    "I once had this fear. Unlike those born into greatness, I was born with little to no benefits and only had a ten-point advantage over everyone else. Now, a ten-point advantage would be an amazing thing in the mortal realms. But that is nothing here, in the Floating Continents. Freemen have that. Yet here I am, a teacher who is a master over you. Here I am after defeating Senior Teacher Artes. Can any of you say that you can do what I do?"


    The ss was silent. Many had difficulty concentrating on what Emeros talked about and were still jolting at every movement of creatures hiding in the dark blue areas in front of them.


    "...No. I had a better advantage than a teacher. Yet I ended up a useless student." Mackerel answered. He was one of the few clinging to every word the teacher spoke.


    "Exactly. And one of the greatest distinctions between us is that... I had no choice but to make my step forward. You had the luxury of saying, ''I can''t do that.'' Had you had a different mindset, you would have had the courage to invoke thews of the school and challenge a student of the higher sses. But none of you thought about that. Even you, Chevik."


    "Teacher. If I did that, my life would be over."


    "Indeed. Courage and bravery are not enough to help you. I did not reach this ce through courage and bravery alone. I needed to be sure that I had to seed. And so cunning, wit, and charisma are also needed to make a stand. I had to develop both. But still, having the guts to stand before Prince Alistair and even the mortal kingdom''s kings and dukes would not be possible unless I dared to do so. And how do we make courage?" Emeros asked.


    "Through trials?"


    "Very good. But not just any trials. It has to present a high level of threat. Imagine being in constant terror and finding a way to ovee it. What are students of the Cloud Peak Academypared to being surrounded by hungry beasts with your weapons and staves not ready to shoot magic." Emeros exined.


    "But... teacher... we are on guard and ready to fight."


    "That''s the problem. That''s why the monsters lurking are not attacking us. Because they can see we are ready. So, let''s remove that hindrance, shall we?"


    Emeros used his sword and stabbed the ground beneath him as Serena jumped up as high as she could.


    The fire energy of the de was released and created a huge eruption of fire.


    BOOM!


    The circle, the student, made to guard all corners disappeared as the explosion threw them all over the ce.


    Serenanded and could see the student''s thumbing around.


    "ROAR!"


    Howls and shrieks of different beasts were heard as the creatures attacked the fallen students.


    Wolves, giant ants, and long-winding millipedes that had the sizes ofrge pythons all shot forward at once as they saw the chance of a lifetime!


    "AHHH!"


    The students all began to shout and scream as they saw the hordes of beasts running towards them.


    "Calm down. Fight them. It looks scary, but I''m still here to help you. Vivindel... Serena... Let''s get to work."


    The three moved and observed the battle as the students were all being attacked by various beasts.


    Magic and spells were being sent all over the ce. But as everyone was still trying to get back on their feet, many were forced to shoot half-charged shots.


    Mackerel and Chevik quickly moved to save theirpanions nearby.


    The two girls in ss were shouting asrge millipedes were trying to gnaw them and sting them as they held it back using their staves.


    The fact that they did not faint in fear was already a testament to how brave they were.


    Everyone fought with great fear, and Emeros would only save them when they were near death.


    The group progressed as they were slowly regrouping and now had formed a circle again as Chevik managed to regroup them.


    Yet the battle and the deaths of many beasts had drawn many predators who were now attacking and surrounding them, causing the fight to continue.


    "Hold the line! Mages! Concentrate firepower on thatrge wolf! It has to be the alpha of this pack!" Chevik shouted and pointed at thergest threat.


    The mages all began to harness their energy.


    "No, no. This won''t do. You can''t build courage like this." Emeros''s sigh was heard, and Mackerel saw an energy gather on the ground beneath them.


    "Magic Distortion Circle. Activate!"


    VOOSH! VOOSH!


    One by one, the magic energies that the mages were gathering all vanished one after the other, and the sudden drain brought the students down.


    Everyone felt pain as the magic energy they had suddenly turned wild.


    Vivindel had somehow formed a circle beneath them!


    "Teacher!" Chevik shouted and pleaded.


    "Now fight without magic. This should give you the confidence and courage." Emeros answered.


    "You''re insane!" Chevik shouted in anger.


    "True. But they are hungry. Find out which one you want to shout at now." Emeros pointed as arge wolf emerged from the distant darkness and ran incredibly fast.


    The ss all saw the monsters charging at them and all tried to get back at their feet and use their staves like clubs.

 Chapter 634 To Make Superior Commanders

    634 To Make Superior Commanders


    It had been an hour since the horrifying experience.


    The path back to the clearing finally met the tall shrubs of poisonous nts.


    Vivindel moved in and used its body, immune to the poison, to push the shrubs to the side.


    Emeros was the first to move in. He looked tired from all the fighting, but of course, he was without any wounds or injuries.


    Next to move in were the students who had bandages, and many were using their staves like walking sticks.


    Despite the durability of these staves, as many were made with powerful magical trees, some had clear dents and cracks, bite marks, and other signs of improper usage.


    Many ran into the clearing, dashed towards theke near the center, and began to drink it.


    The water had been purified and was glowing with light as it was changed to have healing properties.


    Many who were poisoned rushed in and abandoned the corpses they were dragging down and ran towards the water that Emeros promised would heal them and remove the agony of the poisons they received.


    SPLASH! SPLASH!


    "Ahh....!" Many relieved shouts echoed as the poisoned ones felt the water draw the poison out of their wounds.


    "Don''t drop your spoils! Remember! They will be bestowed to you, and you alone!" Emeros frowned.


    But his words were useless. Some of the students barely had stepped and dragged their monster into the clearing when they instantly copsed in fatigue as the psychological realization that they were safe had crept in.


    Chevik was among thest to arrive. Many of those still strong were dragging off the monsters they killed.


    Many insects, wolves, and even the alpha wolf''s corpse were brought inside the clearing.


    THUD! THUD!


    The two women of the ss were among those who copsed and fainted as they brought in their kills.


    Serena walked in as she was the vanguard. She dragged arge centipede corpse inside.


    "Sad to see that only two women are in this ss. It must be hard for women here." Serena sighed.


    "Actually, it''s the opposite. You see, the women here can throw away their pride and decide to have an easier life. They can apply to be maids for the nobles. While some hire manservants, staff, or bag persons, most men prefer to use their one slot for a follower to bring in beautiful maids. Of course, they have to pass certain criteria. These two could have opted to be maids, and they would greatly benefit from it. They would be allowed to listen in on three courses here. While they will not be tested and tutored, they will be guided and will enjoy greater benefits. But sadly... they are too beautiful."


    "Too beautiful?" Serena asked.


    "I''d wager that they would only be second to you in beauty, Serena."


    Serena blushed as she heard Emeros''s praise.


    "Master! I...! I am not beautiful!"


    "Because of the curse. But even then, remnants of your beauty still remain. Will fix that." Emeros smiled.


    "...What about them, Master?" Serena was too shy to pry any further and changed the subject.


    "The nobles often bring beautiful women as maids because the academy is full of the peak beauties all over the Flying Continent. But... everyone is a noble. Unless one is particrly strong, he could only dream of having rtions with the women here. And even if one is strong, the women here are strong enough and would have their pride. So, the nobles bring maids to be their... partners. It saves the nobles the trouble of facing any possible scandals of visiting brothels. And the city doesn''t even have one! If these two, Battle Mage Quinn and Fire Mage Anna, would move to the top, they would undoubtedly be the top-selling maids." Emeros shook his head.


    Serena''s expression turned dark as she realized what Emeros meant.


    "Such is the life of those who are not Nobles in this ce. It is also no wonder that these two refused to be a maid knowing that future and chose to be here for their pride. Am I right, Chevik?"


    Chevik sat silently and nced at Emeros. He gave a reluctant nod.


    Finally, thest groups had managed to move in. They were rushing and pulling with whatever reserve of strength they had.


    Vivindel even teased them and began to cause the shrubs to close up slowly and made the ones move in as fast as they could.


    "I''m... alive..." Mackerel wept as he dragged the creatures inside. He then stumbled down and could not find any strength to move.


    As everyone began to rest, Emeros began to work.


    Vivindel took many of the millipedes and poisonous insects and began crafting a strange concoction using a cauldron he had left behind.


    But as everyone was exhausted, a few moved closer to where Emeros continued working.


    They were the ones who had studied alchemy and were surprised at the unorthodox methods of Emeros.


    Soon, numerous dark round orbs appeared.


    "Have everyone eat this. It will make you all feel better and heal your exhaustion." Emeros began to pass around the small dark balls to everyone present.


    Even those who were unconscious were forced to eat the dark, round pill.


    Seconds after taking the pill, Chevik sensed his body being restored as his strength returned.


    He was amazed.


    "Teacher! What is this?!


    "This is a Dark Dependent ritual. Some would call it... ck magic." Emeros exined.


    Everyone was startled.


    "Teacher... knows of ck Magic?"


    "When one is to understand the great mystery, one must study all its aspects, not just the dogmatic narrow view of the Light."


    But before Chevik could say more praises, he felt a strange pain.


    Suddenly, everyone who ate the pill started to suffer and feel a strange heat within them.


    Those unconscious started to be roused awake from the pain, and everyone rushed towards theke.


    "Teacher! What is this?!" Chevik shouted.


    "I want to transform the ss and give you all a Superior Commander''s Potential. But to do that, we need to solidify our foundations. And this is the fastest and most direct approach. That pill was my recipe. A Dark De-Leveler potion!"

 Chapter 635 To Make An Impression

    ?


    Everyone panicked when they heard that Emeros made them eat a De-Leveler poison, and many started to curse and shout at Emeros. But Emeros was busy removing the oil and the wax build-up in his ears as he kept creating another batch of strange concoctions.


    "Why?!" Mackerel shouted angrily as he slowly crept closer.


    "Does any of you have [Gauge]? Can you look at the state of your decreasing stats andpare it to before? Your stats should be higher." Emeros asked.


    "Of course, it would be higher! It''s called the Remnant Stat effect! Most of us used it when we were low-level! But we are past level ten now! Thews of Diminishing Empowerment will remain! At our state, we would need monsters equal to Champions to gain any experience!" Chevik shouted as he tried his best to stand up.


    "Not really. The Laws of Diminishing Empowerment is because you can only absorb so much life energy or light energy from a monster. But that''s why I am using Dark or Death energy. Every single point will be acquired. Even if you kill imps, you''d still gain around 3 or 4 experience points instead of the zero." Emeros continued to make his brew.


    "...WHAT?!" Chevik somehow forgot the pain he felt.


    "You heard me. Serena has taken the De-Leveler potion twicest week, and she returned to her current level." Emeros exined. Serena also nodded.


    "...You mean¡­ Is it possible to do the Stat Revolving De-level trick even up to Captain?!" Chevik asked again.


    In the Floating Continents, having the younger or low-level ones take a De-Leveler potion wasmon practice. Compared to the mortal realms, they have more beasts to harvest, better experience absorbing circles, and overall, they were richer than even the freemen can afford using De-Leveler potions.


    Many would even go through the process twice! But this trick only works when they pass through the first hurdle of level 10. The experience points they receive from monsters diminish because of thews of Diminishing Empowerment, making the effort up to five times more costly if someone has reached level ten and uses a De-Leveler pill.


    "In theory, we can do this anytime. But of course, at Champion, the demand for energy to reach the next level is so high that it makes no sense to do so. But beyond that, is that the Remnant Stat effect can only do so much. For Serena, she won''t get any stronger if we use the De-Leveler trick again. We''ve already maxed the possible strength that a person of her level can attain through Remnant Stat. We would need other means to increase stat points. Hence, these other pills. And to kill more birds with this stone, I''m going to be going on a talk. You guys won''t be able to sleep through the pain tonight. And so I made a little something in this pill to help you retain everything I will be talking about." Emeros suddenly drew several pills from the cauldron. It was green and had a strange smell to it.


    Vivindel appeared, took the pills, and forcibly administered the pills onto everybody''s mouth.


    "Ahhh!" Quinn was scared of whatever Emeros was trying to feed them and squirmed. But Vivindel overpowered their weak and exhausted forms.


    "Now¡­ Let''s go ahead and talk about the theories that you know. I''ll talk all night as I continue to create more of these pills." Emeros paused and took one pill.


    "Hm¡­ As expected of the monsters here¡­ These pills can truly help clear my Force and Magic Channels." Emeros observed.


    "Now¡­ About cultivation. I will teach you all heretical teachings that would send a wild witch hunt against all of you. So this is for you to train in personally. This ce is not ready to ept the teachings of Dark Dependents. But basically, cultivation is not about gathering light energy to rise in levels and purge out the death energy. Force is better grown with Light, but magical foundations need Death Energy more. In some cases, people would even change their bodies to have pure Death Energy and assume the forms of Skeletons, and if they are strong enough, Liches. But that has its disadvantages. At your level, you need to know which part of your body is of Light Energy and which is of dark energy¡­"


    Emeros gave his lecture, and even Serena and Vivindel listened as Emeros gave his talks.


    This was slightly different from the talks he gave on the ship of Prince Alistair. As Emeros was talking to the Prince and the highest officials, his theories were too advanced for the two, and the two were advised not to listen, given the very advanced nature of the talk.


    But now, Emeros returned to the basics and discussed things as simply as he could.


    And so, a day passed. A day full of sweat, terrors, pain, tears, and great anger.


    CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!


    Everyone was jolted awake as Emeros used the cauldron like a bell. The group could not sleep until early morning when the pain had subsided, but Emeros suddenly woke them up.


    "Uh¡­" Mackerel felt a great pain in his head.


    Chevik was still groggy and confused as he saw the state he was in. Surprisingly, everyone was lying down on a strange bed made of nts.


    "Good morning! I went out on a hunt and found some nice Mad Ostrich Eggs. Breakfast is served!"


    Anna now had the strength to move and was about to shout angrily at Emeros. She somehow recalled being force-fed several dark ball pills and had to feel great pain. In her incoherent moments, she had thought that she was being rapped.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>


    "What did you¡­!"


    But then she stopped. There was a strange, vibrant glow around her body. She felt very light.


    "What¡­ What''s going on?!" Anna eximed.


    "Better? You had me worried there, Anna. Your reaction to my pill was strange. It turns out you had a strange blockage in your heart. Did you try to assimte with a pill to create your magical foundation?" Emeros asked.


    "...Yes! I was given a Fire Toad''s Pearl to improve mypatibility with fire. But that''s when I failed. My magical potential has halved since then¡­ And that''s why¡­ my family did not support me here and sponsored my elder cousin instead..."


    "Well, for one. Whatever that was, it wasn''t a purified Fire Toad with all the filth left in your body. But secondly, you are notpatible with fire but with water. Still, the incident forced you to improve your ability to wield ''fire like water.'' So I guess it''s good. In any case, I restored it and opened up your flow. By my estimates, you should have a magic pool that''s three times greater than ol'' Chevik here." Emerosughed.


    Anna was startled. But the magic she felt she could wield was several times more than what she could previously wield.


    "I won''t go to the specifics. But you all check your bodies. I''m sure you''re in for a little surprise." Emeros smiled.


    True enough, everyone realized that their bodies were now lighter, and though they had dropped several levels, they could not help but sense a strange improvement in their functions.


    "My eyes¡­! It''s¡­ seeing clearer!" Mackerel realized that his vision had grown even better.


    "Scouts eyes. I decided to help you set that foundation."


    "The magic flow in my body! It''s faster!" Chevik noticed the energy as well. He could now summon energy twice faster than before!


    "You had a lot of build-up of strange fluctuations in your body. Someone has been secretly poisoning you for a while now. Someone you trust. That''s why you probably failed and fell to the Vashura ss."


    Chevik froze.


    Emeros could not help but smile as he saw Chevik''s expression turn from shock to worship. His final n to make the ss loyal was to make an impression on them. But to do that quickly, he had to assess and find out the sources of problems that each student had and how to improve them. Since their cultivation methods were clumsypared to what Emeros knew, he was confident that each would have at least one or two problems they struggled with.


    But to heal them, he needed to assess their bodies and would need to feel and use [Guage] at a more closer level. He couldn''t do that as it would have been strange if he started groping everyone. And so, he nned to exhaust them and then drug them so that he couldter assess them.


    And while they could recall that Emeros was doing something invasive to them in their barely conscious states, the rejoicing of sensing the healing made them forget it.


    "My arm! It''s healed!" One of the Battle Mages realized that his left hand could cause magic to flow.


    "I fixed it."


    "Hm? No stiffness in my back when the mana flows!" A mage student realized.


    "Mana clog issue. Common, but yours was centered on your back."


    "My affinity with fire improved!" Another student wielded the fire.


    "You just needed the right medicine."


    "My cmydia! It''s gone! It doesn''t hurt anymore!" Another was turning in the other direction and was touching his privates.


    "Wait, what?! That''s what that was?!"

 Chapter 636 To Make Quick Work

    ?


    "It has been a week¡­" A man stood over one of the peering towers of the academy. His house had an excellent view over the entirend.


    The man had a serious expression, and after hearing all the reports, he finally determined that there was something strange with the new teacher, Emeros.


    Since returning to the Floating Continents, Prince Alistair had suddenly gained grounds and various lucrative trade deals.


    His strength has also increased, and more Commanders appeared among his ranks.


    It was reported that Prince Alistair had begun to secure equipment and materials for Alchemy, Energy Conversion Circle, Enchantments, and cksmithery.


    In the academy, reports of how Emeros could knock out a Senior Teacher were made known. Although Senior Teacher Artes had imed it was an ambush and a trick, the Crown Prince did not want to leave anything unchecked.


    His brother, who had no chance and was not even a threat in the race to kingship, was now making daring moves!


    Students who were nobles who sided with the Crown Prince were sent down to the region but couldn''t find the exact location of Emeros and his ss!


    Reports of strange mists, illusions, and even students that disappeared for hours and would resurface with no memory of what had happened urred.


    Crown Prince Rupert Fardur Powenquis was in deep thought. He had analyzed and anticipated the movements of those who wanted the throne. Still, the sudden actions of Alistair were the most significant and strangest wildcard.


    "Prince Rupert. It seems that the Teacher that Alistair brought is troubling you!" A young nobleughed.


    He was Rupert''s best friend and constantpanion. Like Rupert, they held a unique position known as Student Teacher. While they were students, their expertise in various fields made them capable teachers! The man was not a native of the Floating Continents but was the sworn brother of Rupert and a son of a noble in the Continents Above the Sky!


    "At first, when I heard that my brother wanted to register as a teacher in this school and that the teacher would be barely a teenager, he was making strange actions. I thought his action was caused by a secret alliance with another member of our siblings. But this Emeros not only passed the test that Artes gave, he even managed to convince Principal Pedagog Xr Burner to remain a teacher! It seems that my brother found someone of amazing talents."


    "...Ha! A teacher from the mortal realms? They might as well find the Heritage of the Unknown King if he wants to make that lie. Prince Rupert. It''s obvious what this is! It''s a farce. That boy must have been someone from another continent or even from the Continents Above the Sky to have such capabilities! Are we not as skilled and knowledgeable as him? We only retain our positions as students due to our master''s orders to learn and find the foundations that many Master Teachers have here..."


    "I have guessed that this boy is not of normal origins. But he did manage to convince a Pedagog! I need information. Whoever this boy is, likely, Alistair is not his master. Have we not heard of the reports that he doesn''t even call Alistair a Prince? He is a puppet. But who is pulling the strings?"


    "Why don''t we... find out? If the Prince is so worried, I can pull my strings!" The noble smiled.


    "You would enlist someone from yournd to deal with such trivial problems?" Prince Rupertughed.


    "Ah... But has not Prince Rupert determined that the cause of this is someone from my ownnd?" The noble smiled.


    "...Then so be it. Jezael, If you want to help, I won''t ask you not to." Rupert grinned.


    "It''s fairly easy. One of the physicians assigned to this school serves my family. He is quite good at assassinations. I can tell him to make quick work of this teacher."


    "It would be best not to assassinate Emeros, Jezael."


    "Of course, I know that!" Jezaelughed.<novelsnext>I think you should take a look at </novelsnext>


    "I don''t mean to assassinate. But we will have what we need and easily cross off this hindrance. He will have to secretly meet with Emeros. We''ve used him to draw out information. A secret magic that belongs to my family that we dare not publicize. But this man has knowledge and skill that would have made him a Pedagog! He is a master of Memory Sifting. Emeros won''t feel a thing or even sense it."


    "So... Pedagog levels up in the Continents Above the Sky are not the peak?"


    "Of course. One thing you must learn, Prince, and why we are helping you here, is that there are greater powers to which Pedagogs bow." Jezael smiled.


    "Then give the orders. I hope to find the truth of this matter."


    "As you wish, Prince." Jezael held out a small stone and transmitted a message.


    Within the hospital wing of the academy, where numerous wounded men were brought in to cater to those wounded in monster hunts, skirmishes, wars, and the like...


    A doctor was busy working and acting with great haste and precision.


    Suddenly, the talisman deep inside his brain began transmitting the message.


    The physician smiled.


    "I was very curious about that boy. This will be fun." The physician thought to himself as he carried out his task faster.


    In his break time, he would have to take a leisure stroll towards the Valley Below the Lake and capture a boy!


    Half of the students had returned deep inside the Valley Below the Lake, finally bringing out a beast that would have surprised most elites.


    Arge Millipede that had the power of a Champion was brought in along with numerous millipedes of great sizes.


    The appearance of the students no longer looked like mages. They had a strange armor made from the body parts, furs, and chitin armor of the monsters they killed. And all of them were showing off their Force energy.


    "Teacher... We have finally brought it down." The students bowed.


    Chevik was the leader of this group and was excited.


    "Good. You guys learn quickly!" Emeros was pleased.


    "To y a Champion with only ten students yet at Champion Level would ce all of you at the top 200 of this academy. But it''s still a long way to go! We have a week to train. But now that you finally slew a Champion, I should head back to town and buy what I need." Emeros stood up and closed the book he was reading.


    "Do what you want... Chevik. Ensure no student or teacher breaks the formations I''ve made."


    "Yes, Teacher!"

 Chapter 637 To Make Things Difficult

    Chapter 637 To Make Things Difficult


    Emeros emerging from the Valley Below the Lake entrance naturally spread out all over the campus.


    This was because everyone thought him to be dead, but now he has emerged, and from his appearance, he didn''t even look bothered, wounded, or distressed.


    In fact, he looked very calm and rxed, as if he had been on a vacation.


    His emergence to the exit quickly caused many groups to act.


    At a distance was a man wearing a physician''s coat.


    He stood atop one of the tall buildings and watched as Emeros made his way to town, though he was three kilometers away.


    The doctor''s eyes watched with surprise as Emeros began to walk.


    He smirked and turned around.


    "It seems that our target has left the cave. This will prove quite problematic." The doctor sighed.


    Next to him were several men, all wearing attires that proved they were medically trained cultivators. They all moved towards the balcony and used a telescope to see the man.


    "Is that the one that Prince Magnus wants dead?" One of the ''doctors'' asked.


    "Magnus? Oh. You mean Crown Prince Rupert!" The doctorughed.


    The rest were not amused, and all gave their Commander a hateful stare.


    "No need for the hate. I am not of the Floating Continents. You best remember it. I will not call any man the ''greatest'' in this continent. Only one is greatest on this, and he lies beyond the clouds." The doctorughed.


    "Nevertheless, Prince Magnus has that name, for he truly is the greatest in this ce."


    "Whatever. We have our mission. Tail that teacher and see what he wants to do in town. I''ll try to make contact with him." The doctor ordered as his figure suddenly vanished.


    The rest of the doctors began to jump off the building.


    Emeros was unaware of the plot. But around him, he could see many curious eyes watching him, and many still began walking towards the Valley Below the Lake entrance.


    Even Senior Teacher Artes appeared, gave Emeros a hateful stare, and walked toward the cave.


    Emeros only smiled at him.


    "Good, like trying to find them." Emerosughed.


    Artes ignored Emeros''s taunts and moved in. Many others followed.


    But as for Emeros, he cared not, for he was confident of the traps and formations he had created. It was a spell that used a branch of illusory magic that did not exist within the and even on the Floating Continent. He even asked Alistair, who imed that such magic was only avable within the Continents Above the Sky.


    It was a space-distorting spell that used a lot of dark spells. And as for the central power this spell was drawn out, he used his father''s name, Pseudos.


    Even Kyros and Noxus had yet to use their father''s name inbat. Emeros knew the name and managed to draw out a small power, less than a percent of that name, to create a lie. And on top of this lie, he created illusions.


    And with that, Emeros was confident that unless someone at the higher levels of the Commander or a Cardinal would arrive, that lie would not be uprooted and revealed.


    Emeros walked onwards and headed towards the busiest parts of town, where many shops and stores were in ce.


    The Floating Continents was not a peaceful region. Though many ceasefire agreements and only Limited Zones of War were allowed, more than sixty percent of the poption are involved or associated with war production and cultivation.


    Emeros saw numerous shops for alchemy, energy conversion circles, cksmithery, and enchantments.


    Mage stores could be found at every stone-throw distance. Peddlers who were high-level captains would sell theirtest kill of creatures to the mages walking in and around the street.


    Emeros saw the lively town and was amazed at the grandmerce of the ce.


    "This even surpasses the Londs of the nesworld. So this is closer to a Mind region." Emeros praised. He saw arge alchemy shop and sensed that the ingredients he needed to resolve his student''s concern were there.


    But before Emeros walked in, he noticed the odd stares many of the clerks and workers at nearby shops had. Even therge alchemy shop before him secretly nced at him using their peripheral vision as they talked to customers.


    "It seems¡­ that my notoriety has reached this ce. No doubt my miracles have alerted not just the people of the one called Prince Magnus but the others in line for the throne who want me dead. I wonder how many feathers I ruffled these past days?" Emeros chuckled and walked into the shop.


    "Hm? A mortal boy?" A voice was heard as soon as Emeros stepped in.


    "Get away from here, you peasant! Our shop only serves nobles and freemen! Leave!" A clerk instantly approached.


    "My good sir, I am a Teacher at Cloud Peak Academy. Do not look down on me because I am young or judge me by my appearance. I havee from the Valley Below the Lake and have only left the ce to purchase some ingredients." Emeros answered and revealed his badge.


    "Ha! A teacher?! You?! Your dark skin and your eyes that do not glow blue, green, or yellow? You are not of this Continent! You stole that! I should report you to the academy and the authorities! Get out!"


    "...Go ahead and report me. By decree of Prince Alistair Fardur Powenquis, I am a citizen of thisnd and teacher of the school." Emeros ignored the threat, but the clerk pushed him back!


    "Ha! Prince Alistair! This shop belongs to Prince Terenyos Fardur Powenquis! If you''re throwing out the names of Princes, pick one higher up the hierarchy!" The clerkughed.


    Emeros sighed.


    "So... it seems the others are now intentionally making things difficult for me. I guess this is expected. Fine... I''ll go with ''that'' route then." Emeros nced at the shop and observed the inventory.


    "I see. You''re the prime source of the Temperate Fire Wielder Pill." Emeros smiled.


    The clerk''s face sneered.


    "Yes. All mages buy from this shop! Our connections with the greatest hunter services that hunt the Quarter Lava Turtle give us this distinct opportunity! Were you nning to buy one for your... ''students''? Hahaha! Know that the likes of you will never find pills like this!" The clerkughed.


    "Alright." Emeros smiled and walked out of the shop.


    He took a deep breath and shouted.


    "For half the price of this shop''s Temperate Fire Wielder Pill, I will sell mine at half the price, with superior effects and longersting effects! Behold! The Greater Temperate Fire Wielder Pill!" Emeros dered as he released a great amount of fire energy on his hand!

 Chapter 638 To Make Pills For all to See

    Chapter 638 To Make Pills For all to See


    The fire appeared not on any staff or weapon. It directly appeared right over the hands of Emeros.


    The Fire kept burning and burning, and the hands of Emeros didn''t even show any signs of fire.


    His fire rose above the sky and rmed many who rushed to see themotion.


    Direct magic summoning on the hands or any body parts was dangerous for the mage users on this. They would have to suffer from the effects of the spell itself. This is why Fire was the mostmon pursuit of the mages and ice.


    They were the most essible magic types to contain within the body. Once elemental cores or any other magical recements, they used to be grafted and release the elemental magic.


    Most used staffs, wands, energy conversion circles, or enchanted weapons to harness the magic. But even with an external weapon to direct most of the magic, the spark or start of any magic had to begin inside the body where their mana was.


    And so, fire mages would purchase, by bulk, a Temperate Fire Wielder Pill to lessen the heat that the magical triggers inside the body would face.


    But of course, this direction was vastly inferiorpared to the likes of those in the nesworld. Even the Londs had better solutions to this with their heritages and knowledge on how to reduce the effects of the magic.


    Emeros''s body, which had merged with the Fire Core at a spiritual level, did not suffer from his own mes.


    The fire towered up high and surprised everyone.


    Emeros''s expression did not change as he drained his entire mana pool to create the fire that became like a beacon for the city and caused many to run.


    Many mages arrived at the scene in curiosity and saw the youth.


    Finally, Emeros stopped.


    "Impossible! Direct magic for nearly two minutes! And his arms don''t seem burnt!"


    "How did he do that?!"


    The crowd erupted in discussion.


    "This shop¡­ sells you Temperate Fire Wielder Pills at a high cost since it uses ingredients from the Unconquered Floating Continents where many monsters and beasts of all kin appear. But I have a form that can create a Temperate Fire Wielder Pill that would be half the cost and twice the power. It will alsost two times longer." Emeros smiled as he took out a single pill.


    During his time in the cave, he created numerous pills and miniature energy conversion circles in preparation for various situations and encounters in this ce. Since everyone hated him, he knew he had to bribe, tempt, or gift numerous things to multiple groups of people to keep the hatred off him.


    Everyone was silenced and amazed.


    "This is a ybook right out of Grandpa Mezal''s tricks. He managed to undo the hatred caused by Fate through great bribery and generous offers. And here, without Fate prodding people to hate me, this little pill ought to do the trick¡­" Emeros thought to himself.


    Many mages approached. With a city full of practicing fire mages, they were all amazed by what they saw.


    Many even approached closer and couldn''t believe it.


    The clerk who spoke to Emeros was stunned and silent.


    "It''s a trick! Do not be deceived!" The shop owner appeared.


    "Such a pill is impossible to create!"


    "Impossible? No. It''s possible. It''s only improbable that someone can make it. I believe you are the shop owner. Let me ask you this: Why do you think Prince Alistair offered me, a mortal realm youth, a position to be a teacher, not a student, in this school? And surely, the rumors of me winning the challenge of a Senior Teacher have spread! So why not?" Emeros asked.


    He used his notoriety as a way to boost the marketing of his product.


    "Bad publicity is still publicity¡­" Emeros thought and drew the attention and eyes of many.


    "If you wish to test it out¡­ why not take one pill? I offer one pill to anyone in dire need of it!"


    "Me!" Without hesitation, a tall mage appeared.


    Everyone saw the man and recognized him.


    "Close Combat Fire Hand¡­" Many murmurs were heard as the man walked towards Emeros.


    Emeros saw the fighter and was surprised to see a very unique ss. This man was clearly a Battle Mage. But his weapon of choice was his own fist!


    "It''s quite rare to see an expert of Force in this country. I''d figure all the strong ones are mages..." Emeros smiled.


    "You have good eyes." The man smiled.


    "I am called Goldas, the Close Combat Fire Hand. I am one the best in terms of Force usage in this kingdom. I buy pills in bulk and, in fact, one of the most frequent customers of this shop."


    "I am honored and humbled to have you as the tester."


    Goldas only smiled.


    As the shop owner saw who approached Emeros, he could not help but smile.


    Goldas, the Close Combat Fire Hand, was a frequent customer and the recipient of many advantageous deals. He was also one of the brand ambassadors of the shop!


    "Alright. Then take this pill."


    "Take? Why would I take that? Who knows if you stole that from this shop. If you im to be who you are, craft the pill here! You say it''s half the cost, show us! Prove to us that this whole show of yours is not just some borate scheme. You must have taken a special pill provided by Prince Alistair and is sent here to attack and wither down the name of Prince Terenyos!"


    The crowd all began to nod in realization. They all knew that the battle for the throne was intensifying.


    "I will take the pill, but I want you to make the pills for all to see! Right here! Right now!" Goldas demanded.


    At once, the crowd all had smiles. Those who could recognize Emeros and had heard ill news about him were all smiling.


    But Emeros looked around and only chuckled.


    "Fine. I''ll buy a cauldron¡­ and you¡­ I''ll buy the best ingredients you have!" Emeros smiled as he approached a hunter selling his wares.


    The hunter was surprised. He only sold creatures found nearby, in the Valley Below the Lake!


    "M-me?!" The hunter was among the few people allowed to hunt inside the Valley Below the Lake. Aside from limiting the number of people that track, as its primary purpose is for the students to train, the ingredients from the monsters found in theke were all subparpared to those in other locations.


    "Yes! I said that the cost of the pill would be half the price! And I''ll show it to everyone!"

 Chapter 639 To Make it Impossible for Others to Learn

    639 To Make it Impossible for Others to Learn


    A cauldron sat on the public squares. It took a few minutes, but many were curious enough and voluntarily offered their own ingredients for Emeros to use.


    Everyone was curious about what he would do.


    The physician watched from a distance. Eager to see the process. Alchemist were very secretive of their own process. They would guard their recipes and techniques and pass them down the generations.


    "So he has no choice but to ept the challenge and make the pill? His skills will be revealed¡­" The physician observed.


    And so, a small area appeared within the busy markets where Emeros stood at the center.


    Duels and challenges are expected within the city, but this one drew the attention of many.


    Among the crowd were the assassins that were sent to kill them. But they were all positioned at a distance.


    The physician that was assigned hadmanded them to stop.


    "Why did youmand us to stop, my lord? In this scenario, we can kill. We can kill him!"


    "...There''s something strange with that man. The magic that emerged from his body¡­ it looked¡­ different. And his body temperature did not even alter by a bit." The physician frowned.


    "Wasn''t it already exined? Goldes seemed to have hit the nail on the head! And perhaps, he used other means to create fire. He is quite the trickster, ording to the reports."


    "No. My eyes are trained to see the changes inside the body. I can assure you¡­ that fire came from within him. I can see the energy and heat from within and leave his palms. But no heat remained¡­ Let''s wait it out. I want to see just what this boy is capable of¡­" The physician frowned.


    Emeros continued to prepare for his pill-making.


    The cauldron was there, the ingredients present.


    They all saw Emeros do yet another peculiar thing. He drew an energy conversion circle inside the cauldron and at the bottom of it!


    It was confusing, and manyughed at the insanity that Emeros did.


    Many even saw the strange symbols and mocked Emeros as he was


    Emeros took out a mana potion and gulped it down.


    And then, fire emerged out of his hands once more!


    Everyone was startled. Was he nning on creating the pill with his bare hands?!


    Emeros ignored everyone''s voices, and a me appeared over his hand.


    The energy conversion circles began to light up.


    "Behold! My version of Vitalis Siphoning! The first step of alchemy!" Emeros began to use one hand to ignite the cauldron, and the energy conversion circle was strangely constantly burning with another energy source!


    The stages for pill making began with Vitalis Siphoning. This was extracting all elements from a monster, energy stone, nt, or any other object of alchemy.


    But Emeros skipped this step and tossed it all into the cauldron!


    "What the¡­?!" Even the physician watching frowned.


    The cauldron was heating up with little mes, and Emeros just wildly threw in all the monster parts of the millipede.


    But as the millipedes were tossed in, Emeros made a severe expression.


    "Mataka Shurlevy Dovalox!" Emeros shouted.


    FLASH!


    The cauldron lit up as if it found a source of heat.


    The chant had no meaning, and Emeros only used it to make everyone believe the incantation had its uses.


    "Impossible! Self-heating! Those energy conversion circles are¡­ generating its own heat!"


    "But how?! What energy source did it use!"


    "The fire! Look!"


    Emeros stopped heating up the cauldron, but the bottom part of the cauldron was still glowing red hot!


    This was a technique that the Emberdons used to save a lot of energy and resources. Their genius usage of creating what was known as the self-preserving energy conversion circles could be used for many practical spells. Heating, cooling, preserving,pressing, electrifying, and so on.


    Vitalis Siphoning was made possible because of the energy conversion circles. In very advanced worlds, and even in the world of gods and fallen, magics were automated due to the immense technology and learnednguage of the First Word.


    But automation was not enough. For Emeros to have done it, he needed something that could cause the automation.


    And while it would be triggered by an external energy, the energy that would continue woulde from the excess energy and waste of the burning ingredients!


    The secret was that the circle used was a dark-dependent circle able to consume and activate through Death Energy!


    Emeros only used fire to hide the darkness he was constantly using to empower the cauldron to eat the death energy and create an alchemy of great purity.


    Everyone who watched barely understood ten percent of what was really happening as Emeros began to toss the bones and parts of the creature.


    "Next up¡­ Vitalis Synthesis! Time to throw in my ingredients!"


    Emeros was using the poisonous millipedes and was throwing down all of its dangerous and highly poisonous parts!


    He even began tossing wolf parts and other beasts'' organs into the cauldron.


    The death energy empowered the heat as it became fuel to burn and kept the mes up.


    At once, he began to throw various things into the cauldron.


    "Ants to increase the earthy essence of the pill¡­ ground together with the Lake Crystals Shards¡­ Lake World Wolf Pelt to add more cool gathering energies¡­ Under Valley Flower Petals for that nice scent. Oh! Ice cubes! This will cool things up!"


    The people were confused by the bizarre actions and the random ingredients that he was throwing in. The ingredients themselves didn''t make any sense!


    "Throwing ice cubes?!" A mage had a confused expression.


    "I am making a Temperate Fire Wielder Pill¡­ So ice cubes should work, right?" Emerosughed as he toyed around.


    Many mages didn''t know how to answer Emeros''s counter as it was too stupid.


    But inside, the dark energy began to absorb andpress all the energy.


    "Energy Confinement! Vitalis Sealing!" Emeros began to harness all the magic energy he had and unleashed it.


    The magical powers surged and stunned everyone.


    "Is this boy a Captain?! The amount of magic he has¡­!"


    The seals in the energy conversion circle began to glow as certain letters were highlighted.


    "He''s using¡­ Energy conversion circles to perform all the steps of pill-making! Impossible! What energy conversion circle is that?!" Another mage eximed.


    FLASH!


    A cold light shot out as even the heat in the cauldron vanished.


    Emeros had reached his hand out as the light shot out.


    Three ice-blue pills appeared on his hand.


    "Behold! The Greater Temperate Fire Wielder Pill!" Emeros smiled.


    seriously. Perhaps Senior Teacher can vouch for me?" Emerosughed.


    12:50


    Zwelus rolled his eyes.


    The crowd watched in shock.


    The pill expelling out great energy meant that the amount of power that the cauldron contained was very high. This told the process of Vitalis Siphoning, Vitalis Synthesis, Energy Confinement, and Vitalis Sealing was done so marvelously that there was a significant excess of the energy gathered.


    "How was that possible?!" One of the assassins next to the physicians eximed in shock. He could not understand just how it was possible!


    "Heh¡­ He was forced to make a show in front of everyone. But he has perfectly hidden the process and secret of his alchemy making! Even I can''t understand what he did! What an interesting man!" The physician smiled.


    "He hid his process?"


    "Yes. I naturally know alchemy. I could be equal to a Three Star Alchemist here. He added a lot of useless and confusing things to make it impossible for other experts to learn his Alchemy Road."


    "Now¡­ Mister Close Combat Fire Hand. This is the pill." Emeros offered.


    Goldas was silent. But the strange coldness was unlike any other pill that he had taken!


    "That pill was made with poison! Toss that thing away, or it will kill someone! You all saw it! What kind of a pill is made without fire, without the process of mixing, grinding, and all those steps! He skipped all those steps!" The shop owner eximed.


    "No. He didn''t. Treat it as a gift to all of you." An alchemist moved.


    "...Senior Teacher Zwelus!" Many in the crowd shouted.


    Emeros saw the teacher and bowed. This was one of the teachers who met with him when he arrived.


    "Senior Teacher! How rare to see you here."


    "I heard you went out. I was concerned. But it seems that you are quite learned in alchemy." Zwelus smiled.


    "Your praise honors me. It''s hard being young. No one believes me. No one treats this pill I made seriously. Perhaps Senior Teacher can vouch for me?" Emerosughed.


    Zwelus rolled his eyes.


    "I didn''t want to. But it pains me to see such excellent alchemic skills go to waste. Everyone... What you have seen before is known in the alchemist world as Interption. It usually appears to those who are Three Star Alchemists such as myself."


    Everyone was startled at his words. Three Star Alchemists held an excellent reputation in the Floating Continents as they could create pills that would help one surpass the bottleneck of level 29 and be a Champion!


    "Impossible! That was an Interption!?" Another alchemist eximed. He was rather well known in the city as he was a two-star alchemist.


    "Alchemy and Energy Conversion Circles. He is quite skilled as a Circle Creator. But all my ims that astound you can be proven with a simple solution. Close Combat Fire Hand. Take the pill and show us its effects." Zwelus turned to the man.

 Chapter 640 To Make a Pill That Heals

    640 To Make a Pill That Heals


    Goldas looked at the cold pill being offered. He was somewhat hesitant. He knew that many poisons were used and wouldn''t have taken it. But now, a respected teacher had appeared and vouched for Emeros!


    "...Are you willing to put your honor as a teacher to vouch for Emeros?"


    "Teacher Emeros. Please respect the teachers of my academy. Obviously, I will put my license on the line for him." Zwelus smiled as he turned to Emeros.


    This teacher had shown great capabilities, and Zwelus knew his energy conversion circles skills were strong. The truth was, he had been looking for an opportunity to aid Emeros! He was confident that even if Emeros failed the uing test, Emeros was still bound to find a ce in the Floating Continents due to his capabilities.


    "Then if the teacher agrees¡­" Goldas moved and suddenly felt a message talisman tremble.


    He approached casually, and in his movements to take and examine the pill, he secretly reached for his message talisman to draw out the message.


    "Fire Hand Goldas. We will offer you a hundred pills every year for free, and you will have my support in your tasks. I''m sure you know what to do¡­" The voice spoke.


    The familiar voice rmed Goldas. This wasn''t just the shop owner. It was the Prince! Prince Terenyos of the Fifth Seat! He was one of the top five princes vying for the throne.


    With the Prince supporting him, Goldas went ahead to take the pill. He could use the excuse of the pill having poisonous ingredients to affect him and create a reaction.


    He took the pill with a severe expression and ate it.


    Everyone watched with anticipation as Goldas began to let the pill work its magic in his body.


    He could feel a tremendous cold sensation and was startled. It was noticeably different from the former pills he ate. He knew this pill was far more potent than the ones he used.


    But he had a deal.


    After making a stance of cirction, it was time to sell the act. But before he could pretend to feel sick, a strange pain emerged. It was as if needles were piercing him in numerous ces.


    "Ahhhh!" Goldas shouted and trembled as he stumbled down.


    The pains increased, and they moved on the extremities of his body. Every tip of his fingers, toes, palm, and joints felt great pain.


    Everyone was startled at the scene, and even Senior Teacher Zwels panicked and turned to Emeros.


    But he saw that Emeros was only smiling.


    At once, Goldas felt a nauseating sensation as something was being wrenched out of his stomach.


    He sat with a distorted expression and began to cough and spit out balls of pure ck.


    He stopped and rolled over as the pain moved to his legs.


    "Ahhh!" He shouted and shouted and felt that whatever was on his legs was being wrenched out.


    "What did you do?!" The shop owner eximed and rushed at Emeros.


    Alchemist who would identally poison or injure their clients were all despised within the kingdom.


    And seeing the sudden reaction of Goldas proved that Emeros had acted the fool.


    "You fool of an alchemist! What have you done?!" A man shouted.


    "He poisoned him! Quick! Physicians! We need physicians!" Another added.


    Many onlookers began to shout and me Emeros for his stupidity.


    Cries for physicians were made and soon, a certain Physician decided to take action.


    There were many things that he couldn''t understand. But what he did know was that Goldas was not poisoned.


    At once, he approached Goldas. He was the same physician ordered to assassinate Emeros, and he moved closer to observe Goldas.


    Emeros noticed the physician and silently watched the man.


    "Hm? That man¡­ He''s quite strong." Emeros silently assessed. There was something about the man that had such great power. This man was even stronger than the Principal!


    "Hiding his identity? Could he be¡­ from the Continents Above the Sky?" Emeros thought and ignored the many angry shouts.


    "Kill the murderer!" A voice cried out as the people began to grow more and more enraged.


    Senior Teacher Zwelus noticed that Emeros had a lost and dazed expression, and his heart feared the worst. He had vouched for Emeros, and Emeros had practically killed a man!


    "Imperial Guards! Arrest him!" The calls and demands grew louder, and the kingdom guards approached Emeros as the orders increased.


    But the physician was amazed at the state of the man.


    This wasn''t poison!


    "What happened? How could such a pill of poison create such a cleansing reaction?" The physician didn''t understand how this happened.


    The Imperial Guards stood before Emeros with their weapons drawn.


    "Do you understand your crimes? Masquerading as some expert and pretending to be an alchemist would have been fine. But a life has been destroyed before us! Fire Hand Gs has been a reputed member of the Mercenary Guards!"


    "Masquerading? I am an expert. And an alchemist."


    "You have caused Goldas to suffer from irrecoverable wounds!"


    "Will the physician confirm it?" Emeros sneered.


    "Enough! We have seen much of your stupidity! You are hereby ced under arre-"


    "Wait!"


    A sudden cry was heard.


    Everyone turned and saw Goldas standing on his feet. His clothes still had stains of dark, putrid liquid.


    He approached Emeros with haste.


    Everyone saw Goldas approach and was excited for the show that would appear.


    Prince Terenyos had been secretly watching from the window on the fifth floor of the alchemy shop. They sneered as he saw Goldas approach with haste.


    Goldas was now in front of Emeros, and he knelt down.


    "Great Teacher¡­ How...What happened to me?!" Goldas asked, and everyone nearby was startled.


    Zwelus saw the reaction and felt a great relief.


    The crowd was shocked at the strange actions of Goldas.


    "Heh¡­ It''s good you know how to offer proper thanks. You''re curious how my medicine managed to heal you?"


    "Yes! I feel¡­ strong!"


    "This is your true strength. What do you think those ck oozing, putrid things you spat out were?" Emeros asked.


    "I am uneducatedpared to teacher. I do not know." Goldas bowed.


    "That was all the filth you have been taking from the pills of this shop. The impure properties remained from the ingredients that made up the pill."


    "WHAT?!" Many of the mages shouted in shock at the usation.


    "Lies! How dare you!" The shop owner erupted in rage.


    "Arrest him!" The shop owner cried.


    "Arrest me? Why not you? Wasn''t it your pills that poisoned him?"


    "My pills never poisoned him!"


    "Then let''s see, shall we? Goldas. You undoubtedly feel lighter, correct?"


    "...Yes. I felt immense pain, but somehow¡­ I can feel my body surging with power. I feel¡­ as if I''ve leveled up three or four times! My might is rising!" Goldas began to hold his body, and the Force Energy began to emit a power pulse.


    "That''s your true strength. You''ve felt you face a bottleneck in your cultivation, correct?"


    "...This! Yes. I was reluctant to admit it... but my powers have been slowly decreasing, and I felt that my training had no effect."


    "It had an effect. Your brute energy was constantly growing strong. But your body was gued with all that darkness. I noticed that in you, and I made a pill that helps you get the temperate power you need to wield fire and heal yourself."


    "Teacher... made a pill to heal my secret disease?!" Goldas felt a wave of gratitude.


    "But how?" The physician moved closer to ask Emeros.


    Emeros turned to the man.


    "My dear physician¡­ Can you tell the crowd if there is a disease known as the ck Meridian Embolism?" Emeros asked.


    The group saw the physician.


    "Second Star Physician of Plenty! That''s Master Physician Valler!" One in the crowd recognized the physician.

 Chapter 641 Star Physician

    641 Star Physician


    Master Physician Valler. A Second Star Physician of All. Even Third Star Physicians respect him for his range. Most physicians who have stars focus only on a certain field of medicine. Whether it was internal medicine, Cultivator Medicine, Pre-Champion Medicine, Post Champion Medicine, or even those specializing in surgeries, neuro, or other fields.


    But Valler was known as the Second Star of All. All fields were his expertise, making him as popr as a Third Star Physician. In fact, he was expected to be one in three to five years!


    But, of course, Valler had a secret identity. He was born, raised, and trained in the Continents Above the Sky and trained in the most secretive ss not publicly known in the kingdoms, the Assassin ss!


    Valler smiled and approached Emeros. He never expected Emeros to ask him in the field of medicine.


    "It seems the Teacher is knowledgeable in the matters of the body. You believe that this man suffers from that rare disease?" Physician Valler asked.


    "Yes. But my knowledge in medicine and healing will notpare to yours, Second Star Physician Valler. Mine is selective. I only know this because this nation has plenty of Fire Mages. So naturally, to be a teacher, I studied possible diseases rted to that."


    "Then might I ask your reasoning why you believe this is ck Meridian Embolism?"


    Emeros took a deep breath to organize his thoughts. Kyros had read the first level of medication, spanning several books. But since the regenerative qualities, god-tier healing spells, and the presence of the Temple and Fortress''s healing powers were there, he never really had to practice it and only read it.


    "The first thing I noticed is that many mages have suffered from a disease that you all Mana Channeling Burn Out. This is where the magical pathways would have many injuries, and the heat often causes thrombosis. The medically approved exnation is that the fire energy that courses through their bodies is causing these blood clots and would require a man to take other pills to clear the pathways. The truth I believe to be the case for this man is that he suffers from this, but it is unique considering he is a Force Specialist. This also means that the medically approved conclusion is iplete." Emeros smiled.


    "Oh? You im to have lesser knowledge in the field of medicine but im that the medically epted exnation of this nation, no, the entire floating continents, is wrong?" Valler smiled.


    "Not wrong. As I said, it is iplete. The fire in the body will cause thrombosis, clotting of the blood vessels, and damage to the meridians and magic pathways. But that is not the only exnation. However, the Temperate Fire Wielder Pill has a darkness of its own. It seeps inside the body of a person. Not in the vessels, but it will seep and move into the body. Tell me¡­ has there been a slight decrease in the lifespan of mages over the years? Can a historian or schr tell me the peak point of the lifespan and when it began to drop, as well as the year when this store sold the pills?" Emeros challenged.


    Valler frowned and began to think. But all of a sudden, his expression changed.


    "It can''t be!"


    Though he was a secret spy from the Continents Above the Sky, he was naturally a master in the kingdom''s history. The simple historical corrtion that Emeros asked shook him to the core.


    "You¡­! You''re right! The decreases in lifespan only increase as the sales and use of this pill grow!"


    At once, the crowd exploded in a greatmotion. Valler was a trusted man, and his wisdom was treated to exceed that of Master Teachers! Even the Principal of Cloud Peak could notpare to him in assessments of medical anomalies.


    Prince Terenyos stood from his seat on the second floor and could not believe the assessment.


    "Master Physician Valler truly loves to jest! Isn''t¡­ isn''t the decreasing lifespan rted to all the pills we have¡­ we have¡­ many pills being created? And isn''t it the mixture of all these pills?!"


    The crowd began to murmur around them.


    "Yes. That is an epted medical truth. But the thing is¡­ the effects of your pills seem to go together with a noticeable increase in medical cases. Within the decade of its creation and the years of its mass use¡­ I can see a corrtion!"


    "Oh? I was worried that no one would know this. Because such a thing would have been known to the pill maker. So, undoubtedly, some cover-ups would be made. Perfectly, it was Physician Valler who spoke to me!" Emeros smiled.


    Valler tried to hide his reaction but realized that he had fallen for Emeros''s trap! That data was difficult to ascertain! The kingdom had indeed falsified the reason, but as for Valler, he had ess to the true records and the ck books of many corporations!


    "In mages, it''s not really noticeable." Emeros continued as he ignored Valler.


    "But to a Force user harnesses the energy within his body. The darkness corrupts it. I expelled all the darkness within his body."


    "Then¡­ the pills that I was consuming¡­"


    "Was slowly killing you and weakening you. You thought you met a bottleneck in your cultivation, but the pill weakened you. Now that around a fourth of the darkness has been expelled, you recovered quite a bit of energy¡­"


    "F-fourth?! That darkness¡­ was just a fourth of the darkness in my body?!"


    "Hmmm¡­ In this regard, I am unsure. I''m not a physician, and I do not know the exact recipe of their pills." Emeros shrugged. The truth was his pill already expelled over half of the darkness. But feigning ignorance created a better reaction as people began to worry about just how much darkness they had in their bodies!


    "I demand an answer from Prince Terenyos!" One of the mages shouted.


    "I, as well! Shop owner! You will pay for this!"


    "I¡­! I¡­! This is all a trick! This¡­ this mortal boy is only making it up! That strange process of making pills was like a magic trick! We are being deceived!"


    "I created three more pills here that were created together with the batch." Emeros smiled as he raised it up.


    "Anyone want to try?" Emeros asked.


    The shop owner nearly spat out blood in his weakness.


    "A grand usation, mortal." A voice boomed. It was the Prince!


    His powers were rippling out. The might of a powerful peak Commander was pressing down on everyone.


    Prince Terenyos could no longer ignore this matter as his name was dragged into the mud.


    "But what makes you so certain that your pill did not cause the darkness that expelled it? And is it not possible that the strength of Goldas is only temporary from taking the pill? How could such a stupid, weird, and downright useless process of alchemy work?!" The Prince demanded.


    "Why would I answer how? That''s my pill and my recipe. If I make a pill that adds an astounding Temperate effect and simultaneously expels the darkness this stupid shop makes, that''s my recipe. No doubt, this kingdom will deny all attempts to prove my ims. Already, you must have falsified records and dates of your release. But as Physician Valler stated, your pills came in range with this. If there are any doubts, and if any of you want a long life, thene to me. Let''s make a deal. I have a list of things I must buy for my beloved students. You will be the next to get my pill, and I will personally trade you these pills!"


    "Prince Terenyos! Show us the records of your study!"


    "How dare you poison people for gain!"


    Many nobles, especially those who had allied with factions against Terenyos''s group, began to speak up.


    "Great Teacher Emeros! What items might you need?" Another merchant flew and appeared before Emeros.


    "Let''s see¡­ A Purple Miasma Thorn Weed."


    "I can sell you ten bushels! All top quality! Only let me try the effect of the pill!"


    "Wait! I will sell it to you at a cheap price!"


    "Screw him! I will give it to you!"


    "I will give it to you and give you my daughter if you partner with me to distribute this pill!"


    The cries began to echo out.

 Chapter 642 Star Alchemist

    642 Star Alchemist


    The news spread out quickly about the events that happened.


    But the information that circted was confusing.


    One side would speak of a fantastic mortal genius who had possibly resolved an insidious alchemy fraud that shortened everyone''s lifespan.


    The other news spoke of the greatest conman in the Floating Continents of a mortal ying the expert.


    But even though many eyewitnesses spoke of this, those who heard the tale would not believe it.


    This was because Emeros was a mortal, and he only created twelve pills on that day using bizarre ingredients.


    He created three batches of pills that used locally grown nts and monsters found in the Valley Below the Lake. But each time he would make a batch of four pills, he would alter the ingredients and the process of it.


    With such a ridiculous foundation and the fact that Prince Terenyos also limited the news, it hindered the fame of Emeros.


    Valler was standing before two people who were startled at his report.


    Before him was the Crown Prince, Prince Rupert Fardur Powenquis. The man called the greatest and known in the Floating Continents as Prince Magnus. The other was the Lord of Assassin Valler, Jezael Crowlord.


    "An alchemy technique that even you can''t figure out?" Jezael was amazed.


    "Regarding alchemy, you would be equal to a Third Star alchemist here! That''s equal to a One Star Alchemist in the Continents Above the Sky! You are the Assassin of the Coated de! How can you not understand his methods? Does that mean...?!"


    "Yes. Because hebines everything, he would be a Star Alchemist back home! He uses a strange Energy Conversion Circle. And this boy... clearly has an Elemental Core! But his Elemental Core of Fire doesn''t seem to cause harm to his body! I cannot even locate where the Elemental Core in his body is!"


    "A Star Alchemist! A Third Star in this ce..."


    "Formidable... it seems Alistair has been secretly preparing for his counterattack!" Prince Rupert thought.


    "That''s not all... I suspect he has... another elemental core! He is using his Fire Core to hide it and shroud this power! I sensed another strange surge of magic would appear from his body. I cannot tell where... But I can sense it!"


    Jezael listened and was amazed.


    "You rate him quite high."


    "If you were there, you would think so too, my Lord. I couldn''t understand it. His knowledge and skills are different. He seems to hold little knowledge of what the Floating Continents has. In fact, I would even say his knowledge of this ce''s ways and paths is rather shallow. But what he has is a whole different set of expertise! It''s as if the foundation knowledge of his magic is vastly superior to ours! And so, the basic things that he has is equal to the superior things of ours!"


    "So his very body interests you."


    "It houses many miracles that I cannot understand. Master... His power in his body is enough to shake the stalemate in our home! This could be our opportunity to rise above all the rest!"


    "Kidnapping him would cause a scandal now..."


    "That is why I ask the Crown Prince to aid in attacking Prince Terenyos''s public image!"


    "...I see. You want me to stir the pot even more so that if we kidnap him, Terenyos will be the suspect!" Crown Prince Rupert smiled.


    "The Crown Prince truly is the greatest in thisnd to see that!" Valler smiled.


    "This will take at least a few weeks. But if you im that he is that useful, then we must see what his memory has as fast as possible. The earlier we gain new knowledge, the better. We have to bind him and make him our ve through that magic. His disappearance would be suspicious. He created quite a spark, and you helped him make it a huge thing."


    "I had to, my Lord. Prince Terenyos''s business is associated with many of your enemies. If we get this Emeros on our side, Crown Prince Rupert will have one less enemy."


    "...That''s true. So you exalt Emeros since he will be our ally anyway." Prince Rupert nodded.


    "Yes. I rmend turning him into a spy. Prince Alistair found this man, so there must be more to him than we know."


    "You have a very impressive subordinate, Jezael." Prince Rupert praised


    "The Creed of Crows and this man called Valler is not my subordinate, Rupert. Though he seems and acts as one, our positions are actually equal. He acts that way due to orders. In fact, they are actually of higher ranking than our family."


    Rupert was amazed.


    "Your... lineage does not bear authority?''


    "Power bears authority up there. And it is their Lord and master, who is my own Lord and master. The family of the crows have two faces. Since you will soon be part of my family, you will know this. My line, the Pedagog that took you in... We are but the face that is shown. But our family has deeper roots. Valler calls me Lord, for this is but his mission. But don''t think me to be higher than himself." Jezael smiled.


    Rupert''s eyes widened.


    "Valler. Go and do as you have suggested. For the Crow!"


    "For the Crow!" At once, Valler vanished and became like a blur of feathers blown off by the wind.


    The crow''s feathers flew out from the top of the tower where the Prince and Jezael sat.


    And soon, a crow appeared and flew out in the great distance.


    The crownded atop the rooftop of another high tower, and he reformed into a human.


    "Report," Vallermanded.


    "Emeros has been retaken into the school. He wanted to return to the Valley Below the Lake, but he had a crowd of great people who followed him. He had no choice but to retreat." The first assassin answered.


    "What of the news of his deeds?"


    "Prince Terenyos secretly activated a strange magic that destroyed almost every image-recording talismans, stones, and artifacts. We believe that Princess Yara, Prince Charlton, and Princess Lyra were all involved in this magic fluctuation that appeared. With no proof of Emeros''s magic, people now im this to be some crazy con and scheme that Prince Alistair plotted. Those who witnessed Emeros personally naturally refute these usations. They all believe that it was Terenyos who wiped all images. But most of the people in the city are suspicious of the ims. Since no record of his acts was done, and given his mortal standing, people are choosing to not believe the miracles of Emeros and called all those who witnessed it as fools who believe a grand con."


    "As expected. Prince Terenyos will naturally receive aid from those Prince and Princesses. Where is Emeros now?"


    "Our tracking has him inside the Principal''s Office earlier. But after a while, he left and returned to a private alchemyb. Our sources indicate he has reserved the room for ten hours."


    Valler smiled.


    "Perfect. A privateb, huh? It''s like he''s offering himself to us on a silver tter!" Valler sneered.


    Inside theb of the academy...


    Emeros had finished talking with many of the school''s teachers. It was chaos. Aside from Master Teacher Zwelus and Zachary, nearly all the teachers had requested to retract Emeros''s license for the absurd ims and scandal he had started.


    The teachers were now antagonistic towards Emeros and refused to believe Zwelus''s testimony.


    But Emeros was very calm and kept silent until the Principal dispersed the teachers and spoke to Emeros.


    Emeros remained undaunted by the pressure and trouble that the teachers pressed on him and requested ess to theb and brought all the items and materials he had ordered.


    But before he started to work, Emeros was once more bringing up the stats of a certain man he shook hands with.


    ---


    Valler Crowcrown


    Assassin


    Level: 38


    Experience: 523,109/571,831


    Strength: 158


    Magic: 154


    Dexterity: 181


    Vitality: 153


    Intelligence: 367


    Force: 142


    Hit points: 1630


    ---


    Passive Skills:


    Crow Transfiguration - 6


    Mana Recovery- 2


    Minor Fire Resistance- 6


    Stealth- 7


    Wind Wielder: 5


    ///


    Wind Controller- 6


    Wind Maniptor- 5


    ///


    Wind Resistance- 5


    ---


    Active Skills:


    Force de


    Force Shroud


    Greater Mana Recovery


    Gauge


    Silence


    ---


    Crafted Elemental Essense:


    Supreme Wind Magic Stone


    Heart of the Wind Elemental


    Low-Grade Wind Elemental Core


    ---


    Spells:


    Crow Transfiguration


    Feather Storm


    ve Bonding Seal


    Memory Sifting Seal


    Wind Cloak


    Wind Gust


    Wind sh


    ---


    Jobs:


    Alchemist- 6


    Assassin- 7


    Archer- 7


    Circle Specialist- 3


    Enchanter- 3


    Magic Physician- 6


    Poison Expert - 3


    Quick de- 6


    ---


    Emeros was rather amazed at the stats of the physician he had met. There was no one who was like him in the Floating Continent. Even the Principal had job levels that were 3 or 4, and this man had stats even higher than him.


    "This guy is definitely tied to those in the Continent Above the Sky. This makes him the perfect person to steal my memories! But the problem is that he is an assassin..." Ermeros frowned.


    "In any case... I better prepare. With his power, he will surely sift my memories and try to enve me... Let''s hope for the best." Emeros smiled.

 Chapter 643 Star of the Show

    643 Star of the Show


    The Continents Above the Sky had numerous families constantly at war over supremacy.


    The nations follow families of great power, all with their own terrifying secrets.


    The Crow family had their Murders in each and every country. What made them so formidable was their powerful spell to bind another in servitude and extract information. They were a vast family that even had ties outside of the!


    Valler Crowcrown had sessfully drawn out the knowledge of several of his victims and offered it back to the Crow family.


    And so, his knowledge and abilities allowed him to reach a stage where his knowledge and memories were plenty.


    To a Crow, a man with new knowledge was important.


    The academy carried on with it''s sses and talks about Emeros spread out.


    But unknown to both teacher and student was a stranger in their midst.


    Valler had the attire of a student and had taken one of the many identities a member of his assassin squad had created.


    All aspects of governance, the military, and even the school had assassins where Valler could instantly rece and assume an identity with the quick change of the mask.


    Valler walked the hallways as the night approached.


    "Hey, Rex! Don''t forget our meeting tomorrow! We''ll need to practice that spell!"


    "Practice? I''ve already mastered it, Jake. You study the Fire Mine spell! I''m all ready for the exams!" ''Rex'' answered as a student called him.


    Valler was prepared. Every day, he would read and watch about his spies'' interactions so he could instantly switch positions with a spy and not arouse any suspicion.


    Soon, the alchemybs appeared. The many rooms of various privatebs were set.


    A man sat at the entrance.


    "Rex... How rare. You have a reservation at Lab 3-B, right?"


    "Yup. My cultivation and spells are perfect. I don''t need to worry about them in theing exam. But I thought I''d try to apply for an Alchemy ss this time. So I better brush up my alchemy to get higher points!" ''Rex ''smiled.


    The man smiled. He was a teacher like Emeros and knew that Rex was ranked on the student ranking. He has a very impressive rank, being on the 165th among all students. This meant he was superior to more than 95% of the entire school! He had extensive knowledge of Cultivation and Creation.


    "...Be careful when you go in there, though. Your room is close by to that scandalous teacher."


    "...You are talking about teacher Emeros?"


    "Yes. He''s been there for the past hour. I''ve been hearing strange sounds in there."


    "Thank you for your warning. I''ll stray clear from his room."


    "His room is at 4-A. So go straight to your room. In any case, since you requested an overnight stay, my shift has ended. Keep safe." The teacher left.


    The empty halls left little sounds. No other student or teacher reserved that room that day, and ''Rex'' soon found the room.


    Out of all the possible means to infiltrate the room, Valler used the easiest one.


    KNOCK! KNOCK!


    "Teacher Emeros? I am sorry to disturb you. I am a student who has heard of your miraculous pills. My name is Rex Pv. And my family is the provider of one ingredient you failed to get earlier, the Lunar Glow Nectar."


    Some sounds were heard inside the room.


    "Erm... Come in. The door is opened."


    CLUNK!


    Valler opened the door and was stunned at what he saw.


    Three strange ores were present. Any student would not have known the significance. But Valler knew the ores were undergoing a metamorphosis and would soon be an Elemental Core!


    Emeros was inside aplex energy conversion circle. A vine had retreated and coiled around Emeros as a strange red light appeared.


    Emeros sat at the center with half of his body exposed, revealing a strange tattoo on his right arm.


    "Close the door. Do as I say if you want to have the pill." Emeros ordered with a cold voice.


    Valler did as ordered, and the doors were locked. But as he did, Valler''s heart was racing. It was just too easy and perfect. He had learned of the living vine that apanied Emeros and which was able to create quick energy conversion circles. But now, the two were in the middle of a strange spell.


    "Is that a...?"


    "Yes. A ve Mark. I am in the process of removing it. That''s what the ingredients are for." Emeros answered with haste.


    "But... from the looks of it, no one controls you!"


    "Of course, no one controls me. Prince Alistair helped me remove it! But this damned seal will make it easier for others to control me again. It''s not a regr mark. It was made by someone who you are not worthy of untying his shoe! Now be silent! We will talk once this is done!"


    Valler nced around. It was too easy! It was as if Emeros was handing himself over to be his ve. With the seal that is revealed and Emeros and his mysterious vine busy, he could take Emeros''s soul without any hindrance!


    Valler was starting to feel suspicious and secretly ncing around the room. But he was looking for traps.


    But Valler didn''t take long. As an assassin, he was trained to attack at the right moment.


    His cultivation soared. A power that Emeros had no hope of defeating. Apart from being a high-level Champion, Valler was close to attaining a Cardinal''s potential!


    He vanished, and with unbelievable speed that switched between his crow form and back to human, he stood next to Emeros and harnessed the power to take Emeros as a ve.


    The Seal of the Crow was the power, calling upon a dark force.


    It was all white.


    Once more, the world of great white appeared.


    Emeros sat on the Throne, but he felt tremendous pressure.


    He had considered the possibility of what someone far stronger than him would be like.


    But the Throne emitted great anger as a malevolent spell was used.


    "Who is this that desires to take the mind of my Prince? You who holds the powers of those rebels? Was it not enough that you abuse the gift I gave that you now desire to take the soul of my Prince and steal his memories and give it to your wayward family? As you have desired to enve my Prince, so shall be you his ve for an hour! And as you have desired to take his memories and offer him to your families, so shall your memories be given to his! This is my ruling! The Rule of a King has been invoked!"


    FLASH!


    The world of white ended.


    Valler was in pain and felt a searing headache as his memories were being taken.


    A strange glyph appeared on his body that was glowing. This was the glyph that the Crow had to take the memories of another! But now, it was being used in reverse. A strange glyph appeared above him as the word of the King floated above and began to draw out his memories.


    "Ahhhh!" Valler was shouting as he could feel a part of his soul being drawn out.


    Memories began to flood the mind of Emeros as he could somehow see things and learn many things.


    And it was not just Emeros, those who were marked suddenly gained insight.


    Valler stumbled down and was still in a daze. But as his focus returned, he quickly moved.


    With a quick punch, he threw a strike at Emeros''s neck.


    Emeros choked and stumbled down before he could say anything.


    With a great stomp, Valler moved out of the room and was starting to transform into a crow.


    KZZTTTT!


    But a great energy formed and sealed the movements of Valler as he felt a great chain of lightning coil around him and electrocute him.


    "AHHH!"


    Suddenly, a strange force field of yellow-green color surrounded and bound him.


    Valler couldn''t understand it as he recognized the spells. These were several Energy Conversion Circle trapping spells. But there was no circle in the room!


    But then, as he looked around, he suddenly saw it. An invisible circle is drawn with chemical reactions.


    The room had many cauldrons that were boiling and had devices. It wasn''t just several alchemy potions in the process of being made. An energy conversion circle used the magic reactions that caused a circle!


    "...You masked the chaos of this room and made numerous... diverting paths to hide a circle... But how?! A circle... cannot be created in such chaos!" Valler shouted.


    Emeros was still coughing.


    "Not... bad..." Emeros coughed and spat out blood.


    "You acted immediately to... get away from this room. You hit me... before I could give any orders. Because of your strength, the binding rules have great limitations... and I can only control you for an hour. So you just needed to be outside of hearing distance so that... you won''t hear mymands... And if you can''t hear it... you couldn''t have disobeyed me! But I''m still one step ahead of you!" Emeros sneered as he stood up straight.


    "Do not resist!" Emeros finally ordered.


    The resistance and defiance all disappeared as Valler''s body became stiff.


    "So that''s your n... It seems that the timing of my arrival here is not an ident. But you can''t do that without the Star of the show... The Gxy Opening Ritual was made for me! That event that happens in ten years has been arranged by the heavens for me to leave this gxy! For I... am Emeros Vasilius!"

 Chapter 644 Star Unsealing Path

    644 Star Unsealing Path


    Valler could not move and allowed the energy to ravage him.


    "Oh? I can''t order you to death?" Emerosughed as he felt prodded to stop the energy from coiling around Valler.


    A vine appeared and moved the cauldrons, stopping the energy, and Valler fell down.


    "Sit quietly," Emeros ordered as he began to make strange changes to the cauldron.


    "You made... an energy conversion circle using cauldrons?! That vision... you are... the legendary Inheritor!" Valler was shocked.


    "Yes. That''s why Alistair dares not to demand that I call him Prince but calls me that instead. As for the energy conversion circle, I''ve seen another make one using blood or darkness. This is nothingpared to what my brothers can do... The true form of Energy Conversion Circles can be applied to almost anything. Anyway, you have quite an interesting mission... The Star Unsealing Path. It is a miraculous moment to open up the stars and break away the force that hides this Gxy from the world. Truly, my time here is just at the right moment. Still, I would have to scale the impossible to get there. But you are too... weak. You think opening the Gxy will be good?" Emerosughed.


    Valler was surprised at Emeros''s words.


    "...What do you know about the gxy beyond?"


    "I am a Trinity. I have other incarnations that lived outside of this ce. You only have Crowns? No Conquerors and Cherubs? This will die if you do. Unless you have Cherubs that will cause Celestials to pause, you don''t have a future and will be captured. Take, for example, Energy Conversion Circles. The Londs have weaker and fewer resources, but their means are quite powerful, and they enchant weapons with them. You might have it better, but their foundation is more pure. As for the Minds, a single powerful Kingdom could already threaten all of the Continents Above the Sky..." Emeros chuckled.


    "Lies...!"


    "Hahaha... A frog in the well... But luckily, I''m here. And your memories provide my allies a good skillset to pass on to my friends. From alchemy to magic, energy conversion circles, battle techniques, and cultivation styles. My allies will do well to practice what you know..."


    Valler''s eyes widened as he recalled the im of the mighty King.


    The first to feel it was Alistair.


    He was in an important meeting as he began to discuss what they could do and how they would defeat the plots of the Crown Prince.


    But at that moment, the memories came rushing in.


    The life of Valler Crowcrown became his as the family''s secrets were revealed.


    "...Star Unsealing Path?! That''s the n! The Crown Prince is... just but a tool! But that n means... an entire Floating Continent will have to be sacrificed!" Alistair was shocked as he learned of the ns and the significant cost it would take.


    "My Prince?" One of his Commanders asked.


    "No...! Is this... what those freaks think about?! They do not care about us!" Alistair was shocked at the n.


    FLASH!


    A light shed, and Alistair saw that the message talisman marked with Emeros had finally dashed.


    10:20


    Alistair quickly harnessed magic and opened it.


    A light shed, and Alistair saw that the message talisman marked with Emeros had finally dashed.


    Alistair quickly harnessed magic and opened it.


    "You have seen it, right?" Emeros asked.


    "Yes!" Alistair answered.


    "I can''tmand him to die, but I canmand him to leak everything. Send your forces to surround him at the town hall. I have a n. We only have an hour. But let''s paint a death sentence over his head. And Alistair, it''s best that you take part in this matter personally. Do you understand?" Emeros smiled.


    "I do!"


    "Good."


    The call ended.


    The attendants and allies of Alistair were confused at the discussion.


    "I don''t have time to exin! We need to prepare forbat!"


    Back in the alchemyb, Emeros smiled as a stone withered into nothing. He had created a Message Talisman out of a few rocks.


    Valler had seen the entire process and realized that Emeros had not even shown half of what he was capable of!


    "Your memories will serve me well... And now, you shall participate in the grand show. I order you... to reveal everything that you know to Prince Alistair. He will be waiting at the town hall. He will try to kill you; you may fight back but cannot kill anyone!" Emeros gave his orders.


    Valler trembled. He knew what the events would lead to.


    "No...! No...!" He cried, but his body had already started to move.


    As Valler left, Emeros remained and could not help but smile.


    "Hmm... With the books in the Fortress, I should now be equal to a Physician and Alchemy of the Second Star in the Continents Above the Sky. I would be considered a Peak Star Physician and a Peak Star Alchemist. Not bad... I should be able to create more stable cores and create pseudo-elemental energies that my students could use. I should be able to create quite a lot with all these ingredients!" Emerosughed.


    Down the mortal realms, Perment was in hisbs and was surrounded by many of the alchemists of Umbraden Kingdom.


    But now, his expression was in a daze. There were strange memories that appeared and were quickly leaving him.


    Thest memory he saw was the deration that all of this man''s memories would be given to all of Emeros''s friends!


    "GIVE ME AN ENGRAVING MEMORY POTION!" Perment shouted and shocked everyone.


    "NOW!" Perment shouted as he kept concentrating on retaining all the information in his head.


    "AND GIVE EVERYONE ELSE THE SAME POTION!" Perment also demanded.


    Everyone began to move in confusion.


    "DO AS HE SAYS!" The cry of Merovus was heard outside.


    At once, the people panicked and quickly moved.


    The rest of Emeros''s allies were all suffering from the same experience as the memories were being ced upon them. But the power of this memory was not just a simple shback. It was as if the incident was being engraved as part of Valler''s soul was divided into all of them!


    Up in the Floating Continents, Serena continually trained the group to fight.


    But as the elites had soon seen through Serena''s battle style, they could already catch up and exploit her weaknesses.


    Serena stood as she was panting.


    Quinn, Mackerel, Anna, and another battle mage were testing their strength against Serena, driving her to the edge of a ''ring'' they drew. If Serena were to leave that ring, it would be considered her loss.


    Serena was being pushed back. The limits of her training and experience were showing. The students were elites and were constantly growing in the battle.


    Serena''s expression suddenly changed.


    "...Does any of you have an engraving memory potion?" Serena suddenly asked.


    "...? A Memory potion? I have one?" Anna answered.


    "Can I have it?"


    "Sure..." Anna handed her the potion.


    Serena began drinking it and focused on cultivation and assassin martial arts.


    Serena closed her eyes at the confused expression of the rest.


    "What is she trying to remember all of a sudden?" Quinn frowned.


    "She''s just buying time," Mackerel answered.


    "Her regeneration is quite high. Let''s give her a few more minutes. It''ll be more satisfying for us to win like this." Mackerel answered.


    The rest loved the idea and smiled.


    Serena concentrated on the memories and let the experience and training of the assassin merge with hers. She suddenly opened her eyes with an amused expression.


    "Can we continue now?" Mackerel asked.


    "...I know kung fu. Be careful." Serena gave a nk smile. But behind this smile were very murderous intentions.


    "...Whatever. Get ready, Serena! Before Master Emeros returns, we shall show him our growth!" Quinn smiled as the battle mage charged forward.


    But with a simple step and Force energy, Serena stepped forward and disappeared from Quinn''s sight.

 Chapter 645 Star Magic

    Chapter 645 Star Magic


    The mages fell and were bleeding all over.


    Serena''s skills had suddenly grown by leaps and bounds.


    And the more Serena fought, the more she grew immersed and amazed at the skills she discovered and applied.


    Her movements were slowly merging with the arts of the Assassin.


    "Flight of the Crow... Movement Form One!"


    The power of Force began to appear on the legs of Serena. It created a unique form as the force became like an umbre that could capture the wind.


    It was an art that took years and years of dedicated practice to harness how to create it.


    Champions were capable of flight either by magic or force, but the additional foothold allowed one to ''run while flying'' on the Champion stage, and perform quick getaway for those below it.


    Serena''s movements took to the skies, and with it, she outmaneuvered the students.


    "What''s happening?! Her fighting style changed!" Mackerel shouted. A powerful foot smashed on his face, but Quinn appeared and summoned a Fire Shield.


    BASH!


    "Focus! She''s stronger!" Quinn shouted.


    The four began to work together, but now, they were back on the defensive side. They had improved their dexterity, but Serena''s speed suddenly grew by leaps and bounds.


    Spells and skills were used to catch Serena as they forced their ns to take a more offensive form.


    Serena was in euphoria as she fought. At times, she felt that it was Valler controlling her body.


    Both experiences were merging. The foundation of Emeros in dexterity and power was adding up to her that she could outperform Crowlord assassins of her level.


    But as she began to cultivate the art of the crow, she felt a strange awakening in her body as her vampiric powers started to gain strength. The knowledge of harnessing the force and magic on all parts of her body started taking form.


    The Crow family was closer to the Dark Dependents than the Light Grown. And Valler''s method was removing the blockages that Serena could never ess.


    The power of the Vampire within her had awakened.


    A surge of strength appeared. She had already been the strongest one on the team. But now, the Death energy began to take form as she used the secret technique of the Crow.


    BANG!


    Quinn created a Fire Shield spell, broken through by brute force!


    Quinn was knocked out of therge ring in an instant.


    Mackerel shot a fire bolt, but Serena vanished and turned into a crow.


    It happened so fast that the rest didn''t see what happened, and all they could see was Serena vanishing.


    They were so focused, so determined to see even the smallest hints of Serena''s body, that they lost sight of her the moment she changed into a ck crow.


    SMASH! SMASH! SMASH!


    It happened instantly as they were all sent flying around.


    Serena stood in the midst of them and smiled.


    Everyone was out of bounds.


    "...How?!" Mackerel asked in surprise. How DID a mere memory potion change her?


    But before they could answer, a strange glow appeared. This was the energy conversion circle that Emeros created before he left.


    FLASH!


    Emeros stood in the midst of them.


    "Master Emeros!" The rest of the ss was amazed.


    Emeros emerged from the circle.


    "Oh? It looks like Chevic is not yet back. No matter. Mackerel, I leave you with this." Emeros handed out several strange orbs and energy cores.


    Everyone was stunned as they could not believe it.


    "Elemental Cores?!" Mackerel shouted in shock. He was ncing at the stones and could see their tremendous energy.


    "And... what''s with this cores?! Are they all using different elements?! Ice! Lightning! Entropy! Holy! Water!" Mackerel listed out the elements.


    "There are only three Elemental Cores there. The rest are pseudo-cores. It''s weakpared to the cores, which will help you master the element. Mackerel, I have to step back into the portal. I only opened a portal to deliver the items to you since the energy fluctuations will draw attention if I move out of the alchemyb. Use your eyes to determine which one at the top is mostpatible. Serena, oversee the process. You should be more knowledgeable with his memory than all of them put together." Emerosughed.


    "I thank you, Master, for such a gift!" Serena bowed.


    Emeros approached her and held out a strange scroll.


    "I also took the liberty of writing this. I gave a copy of this to Alistair, but if you read this, you will understand my intentions as to why I made these elements. And you should start teaching them."


    "Me?"


    "Why are you surprised? Is this not the only logical thing to pursue? Although you only recalled a bit, you do need to sharpen your mind, Serena. The path to power is not only limited to Force. You need to also be smarter. Can I count on you to do this? With you and that knowledge, I can now focus on several other important sidequests..."


    "...I will seed in this task, Master."


    "Good! Do or do not. There is no try. Keep that wise saying to heart. With what I face, you cannot afford to fail." Emeros stepped back into the portal and, with a sh, disappeared.


    Serena opened the scroll and immediately knew that it was a scroll with an energy conversion circle. This scroll allowed her to ''scroll'' to the side and view it as if it were a massive parchment.


    Serena instantly knew how to read it as theplex and highly theoretical equations shown that would have confused even the students were easily understood by her.


    "This...! The power of Astra! Amazing! This spell will turn the ss into a powerful team!" Serena instantly recognized it and turned over to the elements of the Elemental Cores and the pseudo-cores.


    Everyone was standing near Mackerel and pleading with the young boy to give them the Fire core.


    "...You guys don''t seem to radiate simr energy! I can''t give it to you!" Mackerel pleaded.


    "You frogs in the well!" Serena frowned as she turned over to the students.


    "You all desire Fire magic because that is all that you know! Lord Emeros has prepared an opportunity for all of you! A magical path that this Floating Continent has yet to see! And all you still desire is what you know!" Serena shouted.


    The students were stunned at Serena. Though she had proven to be stronger, she definitely was not smarter.


    "The magic of other elements is equally strong in fire! Lord Emeros is giving you all a chance. The strong ones can im the stones they want, butpatibility is still a great issue! Mackerel, trace the elemental affinity of the group! They will all train ording to their affinity!" Serena ordered.


    The ss was silenced as Serena was ncing at the scroll.


    "Emeros is not only making you strong individually. He is giving you a chance... You all have the opportunity to be a grand weapon! Together, you could challenge the Cardinals! This scroll contains a new magic that has never been found in these threes!" Serena answered as she found the central formation Emeros drew in the scroll and showed it to Mackerel and the rest.


    "Star Magic. The power to create a star at your fingertips!


    The equation and formation were shown, revealing that numerous elements were necessary to create it.


    "Emeros has proved to you that he can do the impossible! The question is, are you all willing to follow his orders?" Serena asked.


    The ss found themselves bowing to Serena.


    "We will obey!" The ss answered.


    "I will teach you what I know. This scroll tells a lot of basic and foundational skills on how to wield the element! I will teach you all that I can in ce of Emeros!"

 Chapter 646 Star Assassin

    Chapter 646 Star Assassin


    Alistair had to make the quick preparations. He knew the extent of Emeros''s control over Valler and knew what the ns would be.


    There was no time, and every action that they would do would create a severe reaction. Alistair continued to exin the shocking n that the Continents Above the Sky had and how a secret battle would start that would sacrifice billions of people as the powerful spell would ravage many kingdoms and cities.


    Alistair now knew that Crown Prince Rupert, or Magnus as he loved to be called, would be the end for the kingdom, and he had to stop the ns at once.


    The ship of Alistair drew great attention as it began to fly over the town square in the dark of the night. And they were hovering at a very low altitude, and many began to wonder what was happening.


    "But my Prince... That n is... insane! Are you sure you are not hallucinating?!" His trusted adviser stood by.


    "It was not a hallucination!" Alistair shouted back.


    At once, Alistair disappeared and appeared behind his adviser with a de at the ready.


    The adviser was shocked.


    "See that?! You have just ascended into the realms of Cardinal! And you have a Dexterity stat that was high! You did not see that movement technique! That''s because it was this assassin''s technique!" Alistair pointed the de deeper.


    "The Star Unsealing Path is an ancient weapon that was sealed within. It was said that invaders of all sorts and even the gods and devils we have in our myths have once tried to breach and take control of this region in a war long ago. The God-King that ruled over us and gave us this ce created a massive seal so that most Gods and Devils would not enter! And ording to the legends, the time to open the seal hase! Most of the Kingdoms in the Continents Above the Sky and those far above it who rule over thes have plotted to open the seal. They are confident they could conquer worlds where each kingdom will have its own!" Alistair exined.


    "But sire... The story is just too... strange!"


    "Strange?! A mortal boy rode this ship and crafted a Low-Grade Elemental Core that helped you ascend to be a Cardinal! What stranger things do you need to prove his power?!" Alistair cursed.


    "Prince Alistair. If what you said is true, these reckless actions could be detrimental. You say that the famous Physician, Valler, is a spy who ns to take control of the Floating Continents and move them in that specific order to create a grand Energy Conversion Circle... Even if that were true, forcing this thing to be revealed will brand you as the insane one. We are doing things outside of the ordinary by positioning our ship here. If Valler does appear, and we fight him and get a confession, we do not have the credibility to convince the public."


    "I know that! But we only have an hour! But it would be more disastrous if we ignore this! My concern is no longer my survival, the crown, or reputation! I want this Kingdom to survive! This battle and the confession will be incredibly controversial and would put my name in the front of all newspapers! But the message will also be delivered! People will hear of this strange n, which could spread through all Floating Continents! As long as that news gets out, the ns of these insane men will be hindered! And that gives my Prince the time he needs to move up there!"


    The two advisers were silenced by Alistair''s words. They could see his conviction.


    "You would choose to be... the mockery of the Floating Continents? And you will be at the cross-hair of our foes."


    "This will surely make the Continents Above the Sky act. But... I believe that Emeros ns to use the other kingdoms above. From Valler''s memories, I have a deeper understanding of the kingdoms above this ce. There are righteous kingdoms as well. In any case, prepare the arrows. We have to make it look realistic."


    Lights began to sh as the armed forces of Alistair appeared one after the other and caused amotion right in the city.


    Valler was already down the square and was trembling in pain. He tried his best to resist the orders, but it was useless.


    He had orders and had uses. He could no longer betray Emeros or inform his family of what would transpire.


    His orders was to tell Alistair the truth of everything!


    Many soldiers had gathered around the town and were confused at the bright lights andmotion the Prince was making.


    He would have already been arrested if it had not been for his name.


    "Alistair! What in the zes are you doing?! This is not the royal pce where you can parade your ship like that and party!" A prince stood up and was irritated. This was Prince Terenyos, who had also been within the district close to the academy.


    Alistair appeared as the ship opened and revealed a tform.


    Several magical talismans were disyed, and he began to call out to the city.


    "Valler! Physician Valler! You may have escaped, but we know you have been struck with the Truth Serum poison! Now tell us! Tell us your real identity! You dare to assassinate Teacher Emeros?! You fool!" The shout echoed to the city, and those up to ten kilometers away heard the full st of the cry and awoke many to sleep.


    "You did it in darkness, but we will announce your schemes in light! That Truth Serum will force you to speak! So show yourself and answer my questions! Who...are you?! And say it out loud in case I can''t hear you!" Alistair shouted.


    Many nearby frowned and red at the Prince.


    "Physician Valler? What business does this insane Prince have with him?!"


    "Didn''t Physician Valler help that Emeros? And now, Valler is an assassin?! What''s going on?!"


    Many below began to talk as they heard and gathered around the hall.


    Valler trembled as he heard the question and felt the prompt. He then took action.


    He needed to kill the Prince; otherwise, he would be forced to answer all his questions!


    BOOM!


    The might of a Cardinal erupted out and frightened those nearby. Such a power would rarely appear so quickly!


    "I am Valler Crowcrown! One-Star Assassin of the Crow Family!" Valler shouted as he shot out of the darkness and answered the Prince.


    The Prince took control of two cannons that he was armed with.


    It took aim for Valler.


    "Go! Defend me!" Alistair ordered.


    The guards of the prince leaped out to fight. It took courage to face the Cardinal, and even though Alistair told them he was ordered to not kill them, facing the pressure of a high-level Cardinal was no easy feat!


    The figure of Valler blurred as if he had vanished.


    Alistair watched and suddenly triggered the buttons, and the ship shot a strange energy.


    Valler evaded it with ease. Though the Prince could see him as he had memories and knowledge of the movement techniques, Valler was faster.


    And then, the expected result urred.


    SMASH!


    Valler crashed on the massive force field that suddenly manifested.


    Alistair then sent out a massive fireball at Valler.


    BANG!


    But even at thebo, Valler managed to escape and flee from theing attacks of the guards chasing him.


    "Hmp! I know your eyes can see magic! That''s why I masked it! Now tell me... Valler Crowcrown! Who ordered you to assassinate Emeros?!"


    "Crown Prince Rupert and Jezael Crowlord!" Valler answered back as he was trembling from the pain he received.


    He was about to move again, but then...


    "Stop. Focus on healing your wounds." A faint voice spoke.


    Valler recognized the voice of Emeros.


    And he could not move!


    Emeros sneered within the darkness.


    He watched and gavemands as he spoke directly to Valler.


    Valler did not understand how and was ncing around.


    "Do not give away my location. If you''re curious, I made a little mark on you. A message energy conversion circle. It acts like a message talisman, though it onlysts for a while. Now, be a bit more obedient. Your mission is to wound Alistair so that he cannot talk. You will have your chance. Fight well!"

 Chapter 647 Star of the Morning

    Chapter 647 Star of the Morning


    The rules of the binding process that bound both the Prince and the assassin were wretched but not too unfair.


    Emeros knew he could notmand the assassin to his death. For the King''s own attributes would never ept it. It was a fair treatment, an eye for an eye. It would not punish the offenders beyond the offended crime. Thew of bnce, the rule of the world, ensures things would go beyond the weight of the crime.


    And in thews that forbade Emeros was the fact that the offender had not desired to kill Emeros. And so, the rules stated that Emeros should havemands and orders that would endanger him or put him to death.


    And so, Emeros plotted a way for him to fight, ry all the information, and die without ordering him to die but ordering him to prepare to wound Alistair.


    The assassin used its powers linked to a Dark Dependent Ritual of releasing stored energy within the body to self-heal. Valler was quickly recovering from his wounds.


    "Men! Prepare to fight him! We cannot defeat a Cardinal on our own! The power and technique are unlike anything we''ve ever seen!" Alistair ordered.


    The entire ship was now bringing out the best of their men.


    Alistair knew they would have a battle that would continue for a long time, and many began to appear.


    Alistair was trembling. It was his first time seeing a Cardinal of such power charge at him. If not for the new knowledge that Emeros bestowed to create a powerful force field that could resist a Cardinal, he would have died!


    The shocking scene alerted everyone; many gathered nearby to watch while others were escaping. A Cardinal fighting at full force could easily deste the grounds.


    "By your own words, you confess that you are an assassin! That means... the truth serum worked!"


    Valler wanted to answer back, but Emeros ordered him to keep silent.


    "Do not answer unless you tell the truth about your ns for me, the punishment you will receive. An eye for an eye. You wanted my knowledge to be given to your family for their benefit, and now you shall share yours to benefit my friends." Emerosughed.


    "From which country in this sky do you hail, Valler Crowcrown?!"


    "I am... not of any continents of this sky!" Valler could not answer in any way. He tried to buy more time so he could attack.


    "Only attack if they attack first or if you''ve finished recovering yourself." Emeros spoke again.


    Valler was trembling as he tried to destroy the chains and power that bound him.


    "Not of any continents of this sky?! Could it be? He is higher?!" Many of the onlookers began to appear.


    Commanders and Champions watched from afar.


    "My Prince. They are on the move..." One of the Commanders reported.


    Alistair nodded. He knew he had little time left until they arrived.


    "Tell us your goal! Why are you here in our country?!" Alistair shouted once more.


    "To take control of this Floating Continent and to spur a grand war that will cause the Floating Continents to wage a Crashing Continent Battle!" Valler answered as his own soul felt a great pain. This was the deepest secret that his family tried to keep.


    Everyone was surprised as they heard it. Many were using various devices and magical means and could confirm that it was, indeed, Valler who stood there.


    But to desire a Crashing Continent Battle was absurd. The Floating Continents once waged war, and these continents would crash and tackle each other so that ground forces could happen. The effects of such war were devastating.


    "What for?! Why would you want this!?" Alistair knew what to ask. He knew Valler was doing his best to answer things and give away the minimal information.


    Valler cursed as he could no longer hide it.


    "Star Unsealing Path! The Crashing Continent Battle will allow the great Floating Continents to be formed!"


    "What is Star Unsealing Path?! What is sealed that must be unsealed?" Alistair quickly threw out two more questions.


    "This entire gxy has been sealed by the great king that ruled this ce! He sealed this ce to protect it! But beyond this gxy lies immeasurable treasure and resources! A power that we all could not imagine or ever experience lies there! The Floating Continents are the key to opening it! Whenbined, the Star Unsealing Path!"


    "That''s it?! For resources, you would cause this to happen?! But that doesn''t make sense!"


    Valler feared what answers woulde and hurriedly exerted effort to heal himself.


    "Do not increase the energy. A battle against them will be a drawn-out one. You have to pace yourself." Emeros ordered.


    Valler was enraged and had no choice but to lower the rate of healing.


    Alistair continued in his derations and query.


    By now, Valler could see the many magical devices recording his words.


    "You would entice the Floating Continents to war just for that?! You must be from the Continents Above the Sky! The Crow family... Then tell us, son of the Crow, why go through all this cloak and dagger? Why use this means to get what you want? We would have agreed to this if you were from the Continents Above the Sky!"


    "Because a majority of those above you will not ept this! This n would wipe out more than a third of the Floating Continents''nds, and they may fall!" Valler answered.


    The crowd was surprised, and everyone was talking about the strange ns.


    Many couldn''t believe what was happening.


    From afar, Rupert and Jezael had arrived at the scene.


    Rupert had an ugly expression.


    "...Why?! Why is he telling our n?! Jezael! What do we do?" Rupert asked.


    Jezael frowned.


    "...Kill Valler, of course. But let''s not act hasty. We have to detach ourselves as much as possible from this scenario. This little incident must be wrapped up as one of Alistair''s crazy schemes! We cannot afford word of this up there! This will already create some grave problems in our family!" Jezael cursed.


    "Kill him?"


    "We don''t have a choice. Whatever happened to Valler, the situation can still be salvaged. I could cover it up with false ims that an enemy of our family did this and used dark magic to turn Valler into this. After all, every family has great restrictions that forbid us to betray our own! He is doing this also proves that someone from the Continents Above has done great magic on Valler. Alistair''s backing is strong!"


    Rupert frowned. He was confident because aside from a Pedagog, he had Jezael and the Crow''s backing. But now, his greatest fear had appeared. Alistair would have the support of another!


    Rupert gave his orders as he held on to the artifact that allowed him to fly faster.


    "How dare you! Who are you to smear my name?! Are you an enemy of the Crow?!" Rupert''s voice echoed throughout the sky and surprised everyone.


    "It''s Magnus! Prince Magnus is here!"


    Magnus shot a powerful attack towards Valler.


    Valler saw the attack and did not resist.


    "Defend yourself and kill anyone who tries to attack that is not from Alistair''s team," Emeros ordered.


    BOOM!


    A massive explosion urred as Valler countered and shot back a dark crow that pierced through the power fire.


    But Rupert harnessed his energy, and a great heat gathered and exploded as if the sun had risen in the middle of the night.


    BOOM!


    The great fire exploded and burned the dark bird that Valler used to attack.


    Alistair was stunned at the sight.


    "So this is the power of my brother..." Alistair could not help but exim.


    The fire energy was like the sun. Prince Magnus was called the Star of the Morning in the kingdom. Apart from his positions that made him One or Second Star levels in various fields, his power was so bright it could call the morning.


    "He is a Cardinal... And not just any Cardinal... his potential is halfway to bing a crown! Impressive." Emeros praised as he watched the attack of Valler be eaten up by the sun.

 Chapter 648 Star Engulfing Phoenix

    Chapter 648 Star Engulfing Phoenix


    The magnificent light shed out, and the peak power of Prince Magnus was revealed.


    Everyone marveled at the sight of power, for it was the first time many had seen him use the full extent of power.


    Prince Magnus was just as old as Alistair, but their vast difference could already be seen. The man favored by the Pedagog and who was on his way to bing a Pedagog had now revealed the great power that he had.


    "Who is this user that dares to drag my name to scandalous ims and imaginary scenarios?!" The voice of Magnus boomed out of the city.


    The Star of the Morning floated over the city. It was illegal for Champions, Commanders, and, naturally, Cardinals to bring out their power like this in the town. But there was a threat and battle, and since the one doing it was Rupert, or Crown Prince Magnus as he was famously known. He would be exempted from thisw!


    Valler watched the power and was desperate to let himself die from Magnus''s attacks. But themands and orders of Emeros were forcing him to fight.


    A fiery yellow ball shed and shot a beam of blue light towards Valler.


    Valler''s figure vanished as he flew forward.


    Intermittent beams like small arrows sent by an army were shooting down from the skies and chased after Valler.


    But the beam of lights all missed as Valler was dashing to evade it.


    "Don''t evade to the direction where Alistair''s forces will be hit. Move faster and kill him in one decisive strike," Emerosmanded as he noticed the subtle movements of Valler.


    Valler cursed and had no choice but to move to the side.


    The attacks shot towards the distance, and many other houses were now being hit by the attacks.


    Rupert frowned as he sensed the grave danger and killing intent that Valler had.


    "What happened to him?! How could somehow, like the Crow family, suddenly turn traitor?!" Rupert began to make more severe attacks as he could no longer chase after the movements of Valler.


    Emeros watched the movements of Valler.


    "Move more to the north side. Fly lower so that the attacks wouldnd lower. Ok. Head west and evade there..." Emeros began to direct Valler. He was causing Valler to move towards the ces where Alistair''s enemies had buildings, residences, businesses, and other important deals that Emeros had learned through Alistair.


    Valler and Rupert did not understand this and kept on fighting.


    But even as the battle progressed, Emeros began to ponder just how to kill Rupert. Though Alistair could push back Valler, he had a ship and many Commanders to drive back Valler. On the other hand, Rupert fought alone but could still keep Valler fromnding a blow!


    The beams were shooting as far as the school academy, destroying many buildings and important ces as they fought on.


    Rupert was shouting in anger as he could not eliminate the pest.


    "I''ll help you kill him! Commanders fire at will!" Alistair finally ordered.


    Themanders had positioned themselves inside the ship and used their force and magic to fill its cannons. Amplified versions of their attacks were shot out, and they did not hold back.


    Rupert was confused about why they seemed to have desperately tried to kill Valler, but he did not refuse their assistance.


    The powerful attacks were missed as Valler began to evade even faster.


    "Valler! You dare try to kill the Crown Prince! Even though you lied that he ordered you to kill me?! Tell me the truth about your identity!" Alistair shouted out.


    "Without revealing me or leaving hints about me, Alistair, or any of my allies... answer his question and tell him the truth! Use the word ''someone'' if you need to talk about me as your original target, and use my name, Cracky Batcheeks when talking about the one who captured and bound you to this vow." Emeros ordered Valler.


    Emeros could not force Valler to lie and make absurd ims about the Crow Family. He could only make Valler remain silent in some cases. But Valler can only tell the truth as the vow of Vasilius was righteous, and the use was to pass on information that was true to all of Emeros''s allies. And so Emeros could only make Valler speak truths. And as a Trinity, Emeros was one and the same as Kyros and Noxus. He was also the very man that Kyros used as a persona. He was Cracky Batcheeks.


    "It''s... true! What I said is true! Crown Prince Rupert and Jezael had ordered me to kill someone! But I was captured by Cracky Batcheeks! He ced a powerful spell that surpasses the secret arts of my family, and I was ordered by Cracky Batcheeks to go here! But I am a member of the Crow Family whom Jezael belongs to!"


    The confessions continued, and this caused Rupert to even fight more wildly.


    On the other hand, Alistair didn''t know who Cracky Batcheeks was and was confused. Emeros only gave them a grand overview of the fundamental things that were. The minor adventures, including the odd name Cminus made, were never brought up.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Valler began to defend against the attacks of Rupert and Alistair''s ship.


    Emeros watched at the distance where Rupert flew from.


    By his calction, the bounding power of the king on valler would lose effect within the next minute.


    "Jezael would no act, huh? The best ending of this would be that he would vite the rules and reveal his real identity. I guess it''s time... to reveal that!" Emeros decided.


    When Emeros took the memories of Valler, he had seen many dark, horrifying, and gut-wrenching things about Jezael. There was also a dark secret that Valler had against Jezael!


    Emeros knew this could be an important triggering truth, forcing the hidden Jezael to act out.


    And so, Emeros began to instruct Valler to reveal these truths.


    "By revealing these intimate secrets, you will prove to Alistair that you are, in fact, a member of the Crow family!" Emeros gave his orders in full so that Valler could not waste any more time and use thews that bound him to his advantage.


    Valler trembled at themand. He was so busy with so many secrets that he did not realize that the malicious plots of Emeros would end with this revtion.


    "I am a member of the Crow family, and I know secrets only the family knows! Jezael has a small penis!"


    The deration was heard all over thend.


    Rupert and the Commanders of Alistair froze at these words for nearly an entire second.


    Only when Valler dashed deep to kill Rupert everyone started shooting again.


    Jezael was hiding on the other side of town and froze in shock.


    "Listen and record these truths to verify the facts! Ask any of the Crow family above and let them hear this recording if you want! Jezael has such a small weapon that even when he has raped countless women, these women wouldn''t show signs of being raped on their genitals! We joke about this andugh behind his back that he is the only man who can rape and not rape a woman!" Valler shouted.


    Alistair was shocked at first, but after careful thought, these memories were indeed given to him!


    "Wait... That means...!" Alistair recalled ''those'' memories.


    "He is not androgynous or suffers from any anomalies of the physical form! He just has a short sword! We secretly call him Toothpick behind his back! And...And..." Valler tried to resist the darkest secret, implicating not only himself but also his family...


    "His son... is not even his! His wife has been so lonely that she has slept with numerous men since Jezael''s Crow can''t even nest in her! I have also slept with her; his son could be mine!" Valler revealed the darkest secret.


    BOOOOOOOM!


    Jezael could no longer contain his anger.


    A massive bird, a dark Phoenix, flew out from the city. The size was sorge that it could easily have covered the Star that Rupert made.


    Emeros watched as the gigantic crow appeared and even engulfed half of the star that Rupert had made! One-half of the city was covered in darkness as the massive bird soared and prepared to attack.


    The Crowcrown assassins specialized in infiltration and assassination, while the Crowlords held the massive attacks. One was a secret; the other was the known power many families respected or feared.


    The famous power that everyone in the Continents Above the Sky appeared in the Floating Continents for the first time in three thousand years.


    The p of the gigantic crow''s wings began to create a gust that drew everything back.


    Valler had been so busy evading the other attacks that he was instantly caught in the vortex of wind.


    "DIE!" Jezael roared.


    "Say this truth..." Emeros sent hisst message as if the time would finally run out.


    As Jezael pecked down, Valler shouted.


    "Your Peck of the Dark Phoenix can destroy a mountain! But your little crow''s peck can''t satisfy a woman!"


    And then, Valler was free from the bondage and was no longer controlled by Emeros.


    BOOOM!

 Chapter 649 Star Fall

    Chapter 649 Star Fall


    The attack was massive and strong.


    Though Valler could have fought the massive phoenix with his art, he was weakened. He had wasted tremendous energy defending Rupert and Alistair''s ship.


    The attack of Jezael was also so strong, and he poured out all his attacks and instantly created arge clearing as the buildings were all blown away.


    Emeros was impressed as the great attack could barely prate through the ground.


    "The Floating Continents sure have some decent soil. I''m guessing the ground in the Continents Above the Sky would be superior and even equal to the ones in the nesworld... Welp, better get back and prepare my excuse..." Emeros disappeared using the same movement technique as the Crow and leaped out of the darkness.


    Rupert was left in shock as he saw the attack. One of the greatest secrets that they had was revealed.


    Jezael had an identity that removed all suspicion of his real family when he moved to the Floating Continents. He had a fake family, a fake intricate background, and an borate and unending string of events and evidence about his identity that would have made those on the Continents Above fail to figure out the truth.


    But the single attack that Jezael made in his anger was now the undoing of all his family''s ns.


    The dust and smoke that was kicked up began to fade, and the remains of Valler could not be found as it was crushed to pieces and smashed to pulps beyond any recognition.


    Jezael kept panting, and only a few secondster, he realized what had happened.


    "Prince Magnus..." Alistair began.


    "No. Why should I call you Magnus after all that has been done!? Prince Rupert! Answer me!? What was the meaning of that?! And who is this man that has vited thews of thend?! And who was that other man! If not for the aid of that family... which will possibly make me their puppet, my ally, Emeros, would have been dead! What is the meaning of this?! What exnation do you have for all the usations! Commanders! Broadcast all you''ve heard to all Floating Continents!" Alistair ordered.


    "The broadcast has already been sent, my Prince. By now, all those nations should be watching the news." The Commander smiled.


    Rupert trembled as he heard this.


    "Can you not see that this was but a plot?! Lies and insane derations have been made! Alistair! You have dared to"


    "Me?! An assassin with the might of a Cardinal was here! And you have a follower! The Crow family sure is strong! And you surely have a backing! What are their ns for this kingdom!? What was that shocking secret that he spoke of?!"


    "All of those are lies! None are true!"


    "Then who is that-!"


    BOOM!


    With a p of a wing, a dark wind shot towards the ship.


    A bright sh appeared and blocked the iing attacks of the dark phoenix.


    The entire ship trembled and began to quake as the energy that protected it disappeared. The ship began to explode on various sides as the energies blew one after the other.


    But even with the damage, Jezael was surprised that the ship managed to withstand the attack and protect Alistair! The power it disyed earlier was not yet its full might, and Jezael thought it would have ended Alistair!


    "You...! You tried to kill me!" Alistair shouted.


    "You dare humiliate me!" Jezael roared angrily as he gathered his energy. He was not acting in blind rage anymore but was now thinking. The best action to take, based on the chaos and revtion of his family, was the immediate assassination of Alistair. He had the connections, the ties, and the authority and may as well know more about the secrets of the Crow family. While kidnapping him was the better solution, Jezael knew that the other powers in the Continents Above would take Alistair away!


    Jezael gathered more energy as Alistair and the rest were all fleeing. The ship could no longer protect them!


    BOOM!


    A massive beam shot from the sky and exploded right in front of the ship.


    "What?! How?!"


    Jezael cursed as he was surprised that the family was acting so fast and deployed the Beam Transporter.


    Several people appeared. Three men, each wearing a Golden Shield, appeared.


    The three wore a star emblem with a weapon next to it. This indicated the might and power that they had. While the Floating Continents followed a simr format, the Star that these men wore indicated a massively vast levelpared to those of this ce.


    "Star Knights...." Jezael cursed. He was a Cardinal, but against a Star Knight, he would surely die! Jezael was not a Star Warrior or even a Star Mage of Combat!


    It was the worst family to appear. One of thergest enemies of the Crow! It was the Prostasyon family!


    Alistair saw the men and recognized them through Valler''s memories. But he kept silent.


    "Emeros..." He spoke out as he saw the family and then realized that he had to y out his part.


    "Wait! Emeros! Is Emeros alive?!" Alistair shouted to the three.


    "...Who?" One answered.


    "Were you the ones who protected him?! Where is he?!"


    "...What are you rambling about? Don''t use me of taking part in this. We are the Prostasyon family. And we are here because a bad crow is doing stupid things!" The tallest of the three answered.


    But at that moment, numerous beams began to fall from the sky.


    Some came from rays that shot straight down as if it was directly above them.


    Others appeared to have shot down from a far-off distance to the North and East, and the source of these lights could not even be seen on the horizon.


    Many lights appeared, and various teams of men and women stood at each side.


    All of them had various unique emblems of their family, but all wore a Star Symbol.


    These were peak fighters of their respective family.


    As the lights gathered, an old man sat on a hovering chair.


    "It seems my sons have pushed this kingdom to this scale." The old man chuckled.


    "You seemed... happy, oh King? Our kingdom is in grave danger. Never before have the stars fallen down like this."


    "I have lived my life and protected the kingdom. Why should I care if my sons and daughters chose to war and drag the kingdom to such suffering over this throne? My time has ended. I have done my part, and though I called for unity, my stupid sons and daughters sought power from above..." The King smiled as he watched the many people who could quickly destroy the kingdom appear one after the other.


    "You believe that plot created by those Above?"


    lights¦­¦Ïvel "My king. You still have responsibilities to fulfill."


    "I know... Let''s get this over with. Call the Pedagogs. All of them. And someone investigated what happened to that new teacher, Emeros.


    Meanwhile, Emeros had arrived again in the alchemy room and had already started his cleanup of any evidence.


    All that was left was to impress his visitors.


    And so, Emeros began toy out unfinished spells and damaged Energy Conversion circles.

 Chapter 650 Star of Combat

    Chapter 650 Star of Combat


    "Emeros!"


    The school principal, Pedagog Xr Burner, cried as they arrived in the alchemy room Emeros had reserved. The entire room was a mess, and Emeros was on the floor, unconscious and with many wounds.


    Behind him were six men of power. The Star of Combat, as they were called on the Continents Above the Sky, followed after the Principal. With a massive investigation underway and the arrest of Jezael, there were many loose ends to investigate. Naturally, when Alistair wanted to rescue the Emeros, many followed to chase after this investigation.


    As a Pedagog, Xr was one of the several people in the continent who had the rank and respect to be talking to them. As a Pedagog, he would be equal to someone of the One Star Rank.


    Alistair followed behind Xr but kept his distance from the others. He was only brought in here as he was the clear ally of Emeros.


    Alistair did not make any scene or cried out in fear. He knew little about the Continents Above the Sky but knew that putting up a fake act would even be more suspicious.


    A magic energy of great life energy appeared and began to nurture Emeros as Xr cast his light spell.


    "Impressive alteration of energy. The nt Life as Life, and Water for Death Energy." One of the Knights praised.


    "It''s as potent as my Holy Heal."


    Rupert watched from behind as he did not have the arrogance to show off against various families.


    "That is the new teacher? So young." One of the Star Knights asked.


    Emeros began to open his eyes.


    Without warning, he sprang up and triggered an Energy Conversion Circle that suddenly lit around the room.


    A vine moved swiftly and connected the missing dots.


    "SEAL!"


    A powerful gold force field suddenly appeared that enveloped almost everyone.


    KZZT! KZZT!


    "Impressive. Truly worthy of being a teacher!" One of the Star Mages praised.


    "What was that?! That was a powerful and quick formation deployment! It''s even faster than what I can muster!" A Star Swordsman turned to hispanion.


    "You dabble on energy conversion circle and are treated as a genius. But this is a genius who does not dabble in it. It seems that little Alistair has taken someone who has drawn the attention of one of us. It seems that the report is more usible than I think. Spit it out, Rupert." The Mageughed again.


    "A skilled youth. It''s most likely that this boy already had the backing of one of us." Another man wearing a different coat of arms from the swordsman and mage answered.


    He was a Star Battlemage and continued to observe the formation.


    Emeros kept a guarded and confused expression as he held his staff.


    "Stay away! Who are you all?! Who was that... assassin?!" Emeros shouted.


    "Emeros! It''s us!" The Pedagog Principal called out.


    "Emeros! It''s me! It''s OK!" Alistair also called out.


    KZZT!


    With a single press of his staff, the Battle Mage quickly disabled the energy conversion circle and caused Emeros to stumble.


    Emeros was shocked. And he was genuinely shocked.


    "So... even with what I know and Valler''s memories, I''m still far from them? It seems their knowledge surpasses the teachings of the First Level of the Library." Emeros thought. He had used this as an excuse to test and see the reactions of those who were Star of Combats.


    And while Emeros impressed them, it was nothing more and nothing less. He was only at the level of someone who could catch the attention of someone from the top.


    The Star Mage continued to discuss his theories with the rest.


    "So it seems that someone up there is truly involved here apart from the Crow. Most likely, the Crows are right. Someone is revealing the Crows to move." The Mage exined.


    "...And what of those ims that Valler made?" Pedagog Xr asks.


    "Xr, you are the Pedagog of thesends. Surely, you can guess which is truth and lies?" The Mageughed.


    "Then there is no plot... to kill us all?"


    "If there was, and someone did manipte this Valler, why im to make a plot that will destroy all of the Floating Continents? That will cause suspicion and fear among you all. And no doubt, the likes of Alistair will have his fears..." The mage nced at Alistair, and Alistair did not hide his re.


    "I know what I heard, Star Mage of the Above. That didn''t seem like lies to me."


    "It''s the perfect lie. You see, solely ming the Crow family for this plot of destruction is unbelievable. No family can have such power up there. It''s better to make a im that implicates all. But a lie is a lie. In any case, I do not need to tell you what is true or false. You have your master to tell you that, Floating Pedagog." The mageughed it off.


    "Hey, kid..." The Battle Mage held his staff.


    "Tell me the truth. Which family took you in?" The Battlemage suddenly cast a spell that surprised the other Star of Combat, and they quickly moved.


    But it was toote. The light had reached Emeros.


    "He-"


    BOOM!


    A strong st shot at Emeros''s chest and blew him back.


    "Ahhh...!" Emeros screamed in pain as his chest burst open!


    "Emeros!" Alistair shouted.


    BOOM!


    The Battle Mage didn''t even turn to the side and raised his staff as a fireball disintegrated on his team.


    "I didn''t attack him!" The Battle Mage shouted without turning to the side.


    "My spell worked, and it created a reaction. Whoever took him in made ample preparation and operated a spell inside his body! If he were to leak out the truth, it would kill him before it happens." The Battle Mage exined.


    "He was about to say it too... Interesting. Could it be the Herach family? The Hellion family? The Hembros family. Or the Herus family?" The knight turned to one of the Star of Combat, who frowned.


    The Battle Mage tossed a potion toward Alistair.


    "Heal him with this. We need him alive."


    Alistair quickly bent down and gave Emeros the potion to drink.


    Alistair was trembling. Emeros was close to death from the spell and couldn''t understand what happened.


    But as he fed Emeros, a daring thought surfaced.


    "Prince Emeros tried to kill himself to deceive these men!" Alistair thought.


    "With the memories of Valler, my Prince knows that the four families above have the same two letters at the start. And the four were divided into three kingdoms! The Herach and the Hellion served one kingdom, while the others were of different Continents!"


    Alistair could see the miraculous potion working within him.


    "A Second Life Potion. At least you know how to apologize." Xr had rushed to Emeros to heal him.


    "If he dies, the other culprit that trapped the Crow family will never be revealed. He must remain alive. Besides, while we know that the family secretly helping Emeros and Alistair is one of four families, itplicates things." The Battle Mage had a severe expression as he nced at the Star Archer.


    "...Are you suspecting me, Montgomery?"


    "Of everyone here, you were the least disinterested of the boy and his abilities."


    "Is that your basis? So the boy is young and can do some neat formations. I can break that formation as easy as you can."


    "Get him healed. Our investigation is over." The Battle Mage turned.


    "I need to collect everything in this room for evidence." The Star Mageughed.


    "No! Do not overstep your boundaries, Star Mage of Combat! Emeros is a teacher, and I would beughed at as a Principal if I let someone steal his prized works while I am present! You all may mock me! But I will bring this up so much so that my Pedagog Master will take action! He owes me that!" Xr burned with anger.


    "Hahaha. So serious! Rx, old coot. I was just joking!" The mage left as he gave another nce at the room.


    The groups left, and Emeros was rushed to the Hospital as school members ran to heal the teacher.


    The Star Mage of Combat and hispanion, the Knight, went this way, while the other Star of Combat went their own paths.


    "Well...?" The Knight asked.


    "That kid... is the real deal. He must be someone nurtured in secret by someone up there! While that Battle Mage didn''t notice, I could see the intricate works at hand. He knows a letter of the Lost King!" The mage lost hisughing and yful expression and, this time had a very dark and solemn one.


    "Tell our masters to watch that boy closely. We have to send our spies here!"

 Chapter 651 Class Challenging

    Chapter 651 ss Challenging


    The chaos on Continents Above the Sky created waves of talks, discussions, and even fights.


    The Crow family was denounced by many of the families and nations above and demanded the Crows for an answer.


    The Crow family was in turmoil as even the kingdom they served under and their allies denounced them. Those in league with them in secret were also outwardly severing ties from them.


    Trade deals and secret operations between the Crow and many of its allies were all put to a halt.


    Down on the Floating Continents, the chaos was less.


    The horrifying and unbelievable n regarding sacrificing the Floating Continents to open the Star Unsealing Path had spread out and was met with muchughter. Many across the Floating Continents saw this as Alistair''s desperate attempt to power grab and shake the race of the Princes and Princesses.


    The only significant difference was that the reports that Alistair had support from a secret family were the highlight of the events. Having a Pedagog as a supporter was vastly iparable to having the help of an entire family who constantly raised up Pedagogs in the Continents Above the Sky.


    And it was proven that Crown Prince Rupert and Prince Alistair had this support.


    But the fear around Rupert was still great. In Alistair''s case, the family supporting him was unwilling to openly admit it. In contrast, the Crow family and their Pedagog could no longer deny these challenges.


    Emeros was not allowed to leave as these events passed, and Alistair kept him for three more days. Theing exams had to be dyed as the school was investigated. And there, Prince Rupert''s ties to any of the Crow family were slowly uncovered.


    With Alistair, Emeros took advantage of the sudden support, alliances, and trade deals offered to the Prince.


    Alistair jumped from thest ce of this entire race into the top four potential candidates who could be king.


    With the deals made, Emeros couldplete his creations of numerous Pseudo Elemental Cores and was ready to give them all to his ss.


    Valler''s team of assassins was found as Alistair gave his suspicions on who surrounded Valler. In truth, Valler had hidden his evidence so well that finding the rest of the assassins would have been difficult, even for those from the Continents above the Sky.


    But all that Alistair did was nt false witnesses who would allege that they had vaguely recalled Valler''s interactions with several people.


    Alistair ordered his men to bring out certain names. Some would give a name, while others would go over and give several. A total of twenty-eight characters were submitted. This was more than the total amount of operatives Valler had. Only sixteen were true. But with those names, the investigation soon led to its fruits as marks and proofs of these men were found.


    The ties between the Crow family and Prince Rupert had stacks of evidence that even enforced a trial that would be held in the Floating Continent. At the same time, another would be made in the Continents Above the Sky.


    This event also secretly brought great relief to Emeros and Alistair. They knew that the grand n to open the seal would be dyed.


    While all this was happening, Serena was now instilling all she had learned from Valler''s memories to the ss.


    The fields in alchemy, energy conversion circle, medicine, and magic that Valler had were superior to what most teachers taught. It would have taken a Pedagog to outsmart the knowledge that Serena now had.


    Soon, Emeros gave secret orders to Serena to weaken the formation that prevented others from spying on them.


    The Star of Combat eventually had to investigate Emeros''s ss.


    Together with Emeros, the Stars went to investigate.


    And while the group of Stars drew curious stares at Serena, eventually they left and carried on their investigation, finding no links to the ss of Emeros to the mysterious family that saved Emeros.


    The ss watched as the Stars left, and they were all shocked as the mere presence of these men suffocated them.


    They were, indeed, worlds apart!


    Finally, Emeros was with his ss once more.


    "Good job, Serena. I''m sure you have worked hard. And you guys have properly merged with the Elemental Cores and Pseudo-Cores I gave. But now, I have something for the rest of you." Emeros smiled.


    He dropped down the bag he carried and revealed the many objects of magic he would give out to the rest of his ss.


    "I thought it would be impossible to offer you all this, but now our advantage is set. You will now have your own Pseudo Cores and Elemental Cores."


    The rest of the ss all trembled as they saw it.


    "Those who have sessfully merged with the Cores and Pseudo Cores guide your ssmates as they start the process. We have to finish this within today. Now... The exams have been dyed due to the investigation. We should have, at minimum, four additional days. Serena hasid the foundation of learning, and I can see that all of you have been keen on understanding everything she has learned."


    Everyone nodded. As of now, all saw Serena not as a mere maid by Emeros''s side. She had shown them greater heights in the Paths of Creation, Cultivation, and Combat! And what surprised them the most was Serena''s incredible gift of assassination. She could now knock out all of them, and the entire ss no longer stood a chance against her!


    "Originally, I nned to teach most of you and have them pass while the rest will perform a Student Challenge."


    Everyone was surprised as they heard this.


    "A Student Challenge?" Quinn asked.


    "Yes. All of you couldn''t learn things fast enough to pass the exams. So, I opted to teach who is smart enough and have the rest of you challenge a student in a fight. ording to the rules of the Academy, students may choose to challenge any other to switch rankings. Originally, it does not apply to you. But now they have made you an official ss through me, which opens this opportunity to you. Even if you were to fail the exams, challenging a student will push you up the ranks, and you will acquire enough points to rank you up the list. With this, the n was for you to challenge students at the five-thousand ranking, and this should put you from the bottom twenty-thousand and amass points enough to put you in ten-thousand. That would have secured your studies here." Emeros smiled.


    "Of course! That works!" Chevik eximed. He was once a student of high ranks when a series of traitorous and unfair events dragged him down to the Vashura ss. His current status had stopped him from this. When Emeros was assigned as a teacher, Chevik would challenge weaker students, but the teachers all prohibited him.


    But now, the status of Emeros was great! He could now fight for this!


    "So... Master, you n for us to aim higher?"


    "Yes. How about... let''s take over the top one thousand?" Emeros smiled.


    Everyone was startled.


    "Top one thousand?!" Mackerel eximed.


    "Yes. You won''t be challenging individual members. We will challenge... a ssroom!" Emerosughed.

 Chapter 652 Class of Trash

    652 ss of Trash


    The four days passed quickly.


    The events around the entire world were affected due to the Crow''s families revealing connections and illegal activities.


    And aside from that, those who knew of the Star Unsealing Path grew wary. Alistair''s bold actions had drawn the kingdoms and families to get to the bottom of things.


    Those who were against the Star Unsealing Path began to move out on many Floating Continents, and some were even called to investigate the mystery of the mortal worlds.


    The Mines of Dunchar and Zarefard kingdom were on the checklist that many of the families in the Continents Above the Sky had to check to see the connection of the mysterious family that saved the life of Emeros.


    Perment received instructions through Alistair that they had to do everything within their capacity to impress someone so that they would be brought to the worlds above.


    But as for Emeros, his concerns and challenges had to be in the Floating Continent, and despite all the chaos, all that mattered now was the test.


    Emeros had emerged from the Valley Below the Lake with his ss.


    Today was when most activities could resume as the investigation of the many Stars of Combat had ended.


    School had continued, and so, the day of Examinations had arrived.


    Emeros led the way. He was now garbed with a dark purple cloak, revealing purple armor underneath. He didn''t even have the appearance of a Mage but looked like a Battlemage.


    Among them, Serena had a beautifully adorned, dark armor like Emeros.


    Behind him were his students. But unlike before, when his students did not adhere to any code of uniform, Emeros took advantage of the rules. They decided that since his ss was official, he could assign a color of his own for his ss.


    The colors that the entire school had varied in shade and brightness. And Emeros decided on a color that drew the shock and hatred of many.


    Of the colors present, the fewest was the purple shade. For this was the colors that only the elites wore. The shades of purple grew brighter and were adorned with many other colors.


    But now, the Vashura ss, considered a ss of trash people, wore dark purple shades as they marched in the school.


    The most prominent one belonged to Mackerel, who had a strange orb on his neck and wore a unique mask covering his entire face and gems covering the eyes.


    All the students scowled as they saw the very arrogant march of this ss


    The entire school had thousands and thousands of students who dreamed of wearing a shade of purple, but now, this student dared to wear it.


    "How dare you disrupt the sanctity of that color?!" An enraged student shouted, and many in his ss followed.


    "Remove those cloaks!"


    "You trash students!"


    Cries of anger resounded as many had just finished their exams.


    However, the Vashura ss ignored the angry students. They kept on their path towards the ssroom where their exam was designated to take ce.


    As the ss walked, a group of students stood at the pathway headed to therge building where the exams would be held.


    Several second-year students blocked the path, and all had their weapons drawn.


    "Is it not illegal to carry arms in such... threatening manner here on the school grounds? There are neither causes, challenges, or any circumstances that would grant you the opportunity to do this." Emeros answered back.


    "Silence, you uncultured student! You are just a mere stupid youth who has found some backing, and you think of yourself as some big shot! You remain as weeds meant to be thrown to fire in this school!" The student shouted at Emeros.


    The student then turned to Mackerel, who had the most different outfit.


    "Teacher Emeros! You are a teacher here, so in due respect of this, I will not say any more than necessary or insult you. But I will say this! It is very offensive to us, those that have passed the tests, to see people like this babbling idiot wearing cloaks and armor that only the worthy can wear!" The student shouted.


    "...Erm. I''m not Teacher Emeros. I''m Mackerel, a student of Vashura. That is Teacher Emeros." Mackerel pointed at Emeros.


    "Calling a teacher names and disrespecting him in public. What was it now? I was a weed that found support? You even dare to mock the Prince, I see..." Emeros smiled.


    The student was surprised, but before he could say anything, Emeros stabbed a green staff on the ground, and suddenly, the team shot numerous vines on the floor and quickly strangled the youth.


    CRACK! CRACK!


    The sounds of bones breaking could be heard as vines that were as thick and tall as trees had constricted themselves like a python.


    "AHHHH!"


    The shrill cry of the student echoed out, and many of those standing were scared.


    Emeros nced at the other students.


    "TEACHER EMEROS!" A loud cry was heard as a middle-aged man arrived at the scene. She was flying using a strange device and had numerous energy conversion circles written over her weapons.


    She had a Champion''s cultivation and could even do flight.


    "You dare attack my student?!"


    "You dare sully my reputation by having this boy badmouth me by ident? Is it that, or have you not informed your students what I look like? I bested a Senior Teacher, and you don''t even give that due respect? I gave him punishment due to his limits. His bones can heal. They were only crushed. As for you, if this was out of carelessness and you had not told your students about it, then you must do better. But if this student was intentionally set to insult me, then let''s settle this now! Challenge me in any field, Senior Teacher Crea. I will defeat you." Emeros answered boldly as the vines continued to grow, and the cries of the student kept ringing.


    Crea was suddenly trembling as she felt a thick killing intent on her.


    She hesitated. The truth was that she was not not in any of Emeros''s statements. It wasn''t a trap, and it wasn''t totally because she failed to tell the students. The reason was she was unaware of who Emeros looked like! She heard about him but never really bothered to talk about it.


    Emeros only became the topic because of the assassination. But since then, Emeros has not made public appearances!


    As for Emeros, he had grown profoundly in thest week since the incident with the Crow family.


    His cultivation was the same, but the knowledge of Valler, the skills and talents of a Star Assassin, and the amplifying factor of his experiences and expertise allowed him to finally glimpse at the thoughts and style of Kyros and Noxus.


    Emeros watched the teacher and constantly nned and plotted what to do ording to her actions.


    The Senior Teacher continued to re at Emeros.


    "You will fail this exam." The teacher dered.


    "Is that a challenge?" Emeros smiled.


    "I don''t need to. I''ll just wait and watch your fall." Crea turned around, and with a wave of her palm, a concentrated spinning saw of fire shot out towards the vines.


    But suddenly, the vines opened up and retreated back to Emeros, forming his staff.


    Crea saw it and frowned as her attack didn''t even hit Emeros''s strange magic, condensed in a staff. She had heard of reports that Emeros was a master in energy conversion circles. They should not challenge him inbat unless this skill is not to be used!


    "Hmp. hical paths such as that nt pet you have will not reach the summit. Now give me back, my student!" Crea called out.


    THUD!


    The vine was undone and returned to Emeros as a staff.


    The student fell, and it was clear that his bones had been crushed.


    Crea took him and flew off to the medical bay. But as Crea left, the remaining students did not yet move. They were not ordinary and would-be heroes in the mortal world. Despite seeing the ill fate of their ssmate, they remained and turned to their targets.


    "Oh? Even after seeing your ssmate curled, you still block our path. Do you want to learn about respect?!" Emeros''s voice caused the students to tremble, and they bowed respectfully.


    "Teacher is strong. As a teacher, the shades of purple are for you to wear. But the Vashura ss they insult our dignity. You know that we view them as the rejects of our school! They may be dragons soon, but now, they are mere hatchlings in your care. I hope the teacher will allow these humble students to expand the horizon of your ss." One of the students asked.


    Many eyes watched from afar and observed the mysterious ss of Emeros.


    Emeros smiled.


    "Go crazy. ss, you heard them. They are challenging all of you! Attack them!"


    BLAST! BLAST! BLAST!


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Without warning, all of Emeros''s ss attacked the bowing second-year students.

 Chapter 653 Class of Mystery

    653 ss of Mystery


    Everyone was horrified at the sudden deration.


    The bowing students didn''t have a chance to prepare as the Vashura ss quickly brought out their spells and shot the attacks without warning.


    "AHHH!"


    "My arm!"


    "It burns!"


    Fire spells of numerous kinds shot out and attacked all twenty-three students that barred their path.


    Some students managed to jump away from a direct hit but saw a staff in front of them.


    "methrower!"


    VOOOOSH!


    "AHHH!"


    The students of Emeros were fast. Despite being mages, they could quickly cross the distance with strange fire-bursting techniques that caused them to be shot at the front.


    Quinn and Anna took the lead in burning the rest of the students, who managed to evade the initial torrent of mes.


    Barely three seconds passed, and all the second-year students were down and screaming in pain from the fire burns.


    The students and teachers watching the scenes were all shouting and calling out Emeros and his ss for their insidious tricks.


    "Students, dose them. We''ll bete for the exams." Emeros ordered his students.


    Several students moved forward and began to channel energy, while others cast. A strange dark-blue water sshed down on the suffering students trying to put out the fire.


    The appearance of the water allowed many to recognize it as the water energy of theke.


    SPLASH! SPLASH!


    The students stood over and sneered as they saved the lives of the students.


    "Teacher Emeros! You immoral man!" A teacher flew off with staff and used magic to move towards Emeros.


    "How dare youmand your students to"


    BOOM!


    Suddenly, an Energy Conversion Circle appeared on the ground as the vines of Emeros created a powerful circle. Emeros wasted no more time and shot a massive fireball at the flying teacher.


    CRASH!


    The teacher slumped down on the ground and was trembling.


    "A teacher, with staff on hand. Shouts out to me and calls me an immoral man. It''s pretty obvious that he was bent on attacking me." Emeros chuckled.


    Many shouted to disagree, but Emeros ignored them.


    A projection appeared, revealing Emeros''s perspective as the teacher flew towards him.


    Magic was clearly being manifested, and the weapons were drawn out.


    "I have proof. If anyone has anything to say, stand before me and let me assume the same pose this teacher had. If you im he was not attacking me, I will recreate it for you, and you must not defend as I approach. This is a challenge. If anyone speaks usations, let him be challenged in that." Emeros sneered as he tapped the staff, and the energy on the ground grew intense.


    The voices died down. Emeros had just attacked a teacher. And no one would dare put themselves in the same scenario. In their deepest thoughts, they knew that what the teacher did was suitable grounds for the other to make his defense.


    "Hmm? No one will challenge me in this? You all know I''m right!" Emerosughed.


    "ording to the rules, I have justification to attack back. I am busy today, and my students will miss the exams as they have only ten minutes to reach the ssroom. Should anyone stand before me and block my path, I will treat it as an attempt to dy me and my ss even more. You have been warned." Emeros answered coldly.


    A Master Teacher under the service of the Pedagog of the Crow watched from a distance. Because of the recent investigation, he could not move or do as he pleased. Next to him was Artes and another Senior teacher.


    "[True Gauge]." He cast the spell to observe Emeros.


    ---


    Emeros Steele


    Level: 15


    Experience: ???


    Strength: 60+


    Magic: 66


    Dexterity: 60+


    Vitality: 60+


    Intelligence: ???


    Force: 20+


    Hit points: 600+


    ---


    The Master teacher frowned as his True Gauge could not assess the other stats properly and only gave him a range of Emeros''s stats.


    "A [Guage Block]... This kid really has good items. His stats are also impressive! But he seems to be focusing on being a force user..." The Master Teacher thought to himself.


    "Master Teacher. His Magic is only at 66... How did he defeat Senior Teacher Artes? And even that Teacher Senior Teacher is a Champion! He would be ranked a Senior Teacher in the next assessment, yet the attack brought him down!" A Senior teacher at the side asked.


    "That''s because of the Circle. It nearly doubled the spell. And what''s frightening is how fast he can deploy and use it..." The Master Teacher assessed.


    "He truly is on the pathway of bing a Pedagog in Energy Conversion Circles... Look. I can''t even use True Gauge on his students!" The master teacher frowned.


    Artes was surprised and also used his Gauge ability.


    "How generous... Everyone must have a Gauge blocking ability that limits the use of Gauge." Artes frowned.


    "He has too many secrets. Artes. You have to act. While the rest of us cannot take action, you have a grudge against him. Use it." The Master Teacher ordered.


    "By your orders," Artes answered back as he leaped.


    "Resorting to unfair tricks and ambushing teachers! Is that the type of person you are?!"


    The enraged cry echoed out, and all could sense the thick, potent power of a Champion.


    Senior Teacher Andre Artes was flying up in the sky.


    "Senior Andre Artes. Are you here to rechallenge me?" Emerosughed.


    Andre Artes was angry, but he was ordered to not rechallenge Emeros. At least, not yet.


    "You are a disgrace to us teachers! You tricked me! I demand a challenge!"


    "I refuse." Emeros sneered.


    "WHAT?!"


    "I already defeated you. On what grounds are you challenging me?"


    "Based on you breaking thew and ordering your students to attack that ss!"


    "What crime did theymit? The Second Year Students asked to fight, and I responded that they could go crazy. That was the signal that they could have used to fight. Is it not written in our rules that thebat between students may begin once the teacher agrees? I told them they already had permission."


    "You know as well as I do what transpired! Your students ambushed them!"


    "Ambushed? It''s such a strange term. Is it my students'' fault that they can cast spells with little charging, chanting, or channeling time? If they have found ways to surpass the three of the four C''s of spell casting, then it is their strength. It is their enemy''s folly to keep their heads bowed down."


    At those words, many of the enraged students suddenly realized it. It was indeed shocking! The students instantly cast out spells, although they had shown no signs of using three of the four C''s. Only some of the students at the top two-thousands had this capability!


    And yet, none of the Vashura ss was chanting to borrow power from the Universe, no magic fluctuations were detected gathering through channeling, and no one was charging the magical energy in their body!


    Had any of these three appeared, the second years would have defended the attacks!


    "How...?!" One of the students finally realized it.


    Andre Artes froze. He did not know how to respond to Emeros''s answer.


    It was, indeed, a miracle! A student had often used this as an excuse tond a powerful blow.


    "Now, unless you have good excuses to challenge me, I, the winner of your challenge, is busy." Emeros walked on.


    "That brat...!" Artes wanted to fly and st Emeros.


    "Andre. Stop. Don''t make any more problems. These students... They are not normal. Those spells that they cast... I didn''t pay attention to it at first, but now... I feel like it''s as if they all have Elemental Cores!"


    "What!? Impossible!"


    "That is the improbable exnation. How were they able to summon elements without 3 of the four C''s. And if it was because of thest C, Circle, we would have seen marks of an energy conversion circle shing out."


    "So what do you propose, Master Teacher?"


    "We have to learn how to retreat. Prince Magnus is now in a dangerous position. We cannot act in haste. This exam will reveal more about Emeros and his ss of mystery students..." The Master teacher ordered.

 Chapter 654 Class Examinations

    654 ss Examinations


    The teacher who had brought her student to the clinic arrived and was horrified to see her students'' burnt and trembling state.


    "WHAT HAPPENED HERE?! EMEROS?!" Crea cried out.


    But Emeros was nowhere near.


    "Teachers! Why did you allow this?!" Crea demanded, and the teachers began to exin. There was no loophole to exploit to me Emeros and caused Crea to shout and charge for the examination areas while the others stopped her.


    Her enraged cry echoed outside, but Emeros and the students arrived at the waiting area along with other students scheduled to take the exams.


    The exams were done ording to batches. Each batch of students was ranked ording to their level and ranking within the school.


    The difficulty of the exams was adjusted to the capabilities of each batch.


    Each student can take as many exams as needed within five hours. They could move from one room to the other and take the exams.


    The students waited while many red at the arrogant attire of each student.


    "How bold, Teacher Emeros."


    The teacher that approached was familiar.


    "Senior Teacher Zwelus. I didn''t expect such an incredible teacher would be on thest bracket of students."


    "I''ve decided to do something else. It''s one thing to help students be geniuses when they are already equipped. I wanted to put my title on the line, help students at the bottom of the pool, and see if I could help them reach the top ten thousand." Zwelus smiled.


    "But of course, you, Teacher Emeros, have more problems. If you wear robes of that color, am I to expect your students to miraculously pass?"


    "Probably a few. But as a ss, they are bound to fail." Emeros chuckled.


    "Oh?"


    "But don''t worry. They''ll stay in school, and I will remain a teacher."


    "Are you also prepared for our teacher''s exam? They truly made it annoying. But, interestingly, I will feel like a student."


    "...What?"


    "...You don''t know?"


    "No."


    "Everyone is trying to keep you from gaining more positions here. I believe I''ve already told Alistair this personally. For him to forget..."


    "Hmm... It''s possible that someone altered his memory. The vows that we took are not easily broken. With what I know about the Crow family, it could be a simple memory-altering or a memory-removing spell that makes the target forget for one second."


    "What?! Is that possible?!" Zwelus asked.


    "The reports that Alistair sent should have detailed it... Or was it changed without us knowing? Hm... 15:14


    Interesting. But anyway, the Crow family can steal memories from another through a secret spell. Though I''m not sure if other families have such abilities. If not a spell rted to memory, whoever made Alistair fail to tell me either has to stop themunication or make us forget. So, either a memory or silencing spell that can seal sounds... Other subtle ways could keep me from getting this information..." Emeros smiled.


    "It seems a lot of forces are at work here... Who of those Stars of Combat did it, I wonder?" Emeros thought.


    "This is bad... The contents of the exams are quite broad and diverse! And to you, the level of exams that would be given would be higher and more difficult! The teachers will be tested one at a time! And finally, the students be the criteria for us to pass!"


    "So my students have to pass the test?" Emeros frowned. There would be a problem in his ns if the passing rate was considered.


    "Not just pass, but how high the student excelled!"


    "Oh... Then there''s nothing to worry about." Emeros smiled mysteriously.


    "Students! Go into the rooms. The exams will begin at once! Teachers, your test will happen in the Higher Hall of Knowledge."


    "Teacher..." The students of Emeros bowed.


    "Go. Test yourself and see the limits. Remember, if any of you impress me, a great gift will be given to you." Emeros smiled.


    The ss ran on their way and went past the first hall.


    Many rooms were present.


    "Exam room is full! Students take the other exams first!" One of the checkers announced that the first room of Cultivation was full.


    Many students began to line up on it. But upon checking, Mackerel realized that the students would have


    Mackerel frowned as he saw it.


    "So it''s not just about us taking exams... This is a race to get the easy exams first. These students have decided to make the Cultivation Theory exam one of their tests since it is easy..." Mackerel saw it.


    "Then I guess I have to y with strengths... Teacher Emeros told us the n and how we could beat it, but since everyone hates us, we will face obstacles every step of the way. So the best thing to do is for us to pass as a ss even if our n is to challenge another!" Mackerel thought to himself and moved to other rooms.


    The students would move from one ssroom to the next ording to their schedule and take the exams among different types of exams.


    The subjects of the exams covered numerous fields.


    There were Cultivation Exams that epassed numerous Paths of Cultivation. Cultivation levels, techniques, and other battle-rted lessons were there. The exams were divided ording to battle types, Force, or Magic and would have further subdivided into job sses.


    These exams were geared for students who wanted to be Star of Combats of the Floating Continents. Like the other Stars, a single star of the Continents above the Sky would equal a three-star Star of Combat. And this was the mostmon path that most students took.


    The other exam type was Creation Exams, which focused on the Paths of Creation. The exams were subdivided into several different kinds of Creation. Alchemy, cksmith, Circle, and Enchantments.


    Each Path of Creation would have numerous types of exams in specializations.


    Thest category was the Culture Exams. These epass the Paths of Culture, from art, history, business, economics, and other schrly exams, covering many unrted to Cultivation or Creation.


    Mackerel quickly ran to the Energy Conversion Circle examination rooms.


    He saw several rooms and found the exams of Magical Pathways in the circle.


    Without hesitation, Mackerel entered the room.


    The checkers were students of higher years who had to be of high ranks and know how to take the test. The checker nced at Mackerel and frowned.


    "What is a Vashura student doing here? Get out!" The checker mocked.


    Mackerel knew this would happen and already did as was discussed.


    "By ordered decree of Teacher Emeros, I invoke a Teacher''s Judgment to scan this Checker of abuse, negligence, and down-right stupidity to not know that we, the Vashuras, were to take the test." Mackerel held out a strange glyph, and it began to resonate.


    The glyph was a teacher''s emblem and acted to quickly inform the higher-ups. But these were only granted to a few students.


    Around therge hall, the other students were also doing the steps that Emeros ordered them.


    The other teachers outside were startled as the calls for Teacher Judgment began to ring out, one after the other.


    The teachers were all amazed.


    "Er... Teacher Emeros. Those Teacher''s Judgements..." Zwelus was confused. Every teacher can acquire three emblems that they could gift to their students. But now, the calls and requests for a teacher''s Judgment were as many as Emeros''s students!"


    "Right. I knew this would happen. So, I replicated the Emblem. All my students have one." Emeros smiled.

 Chapter 655 Class Tests

    655 ss Tests


    Every teacher was shocked.


    Replication of emblems was challenging to manage and very pricey!


    It required enchantments, energy conversion circles, and cksmith skills to make. That was three of the four paths of creation!


    "You.. created...?!"


    "Let me go sort things out first." Emeros smiled as he walked towards the ssroom.


    All the checkers were frightened stiff at what had happened. Many had just witnessed how the teacher, Emeros, broke the bones of a student who called him names. And many had heard of the news of the zing barbecues that his ss had made. Many vowed to invoke retribution in the tests!


    But now, all the students had used their Teacher''s Judgment, and they trembled.


    "You! How do you have twenty emblems?!" A teacher demanded.


    Many others drew closer, examining the scenario.


    "There are no existing rules against this, fellow Teacher." Emeros smiled. There was an emphasis on the use of ''fellow'' to indicate equality, which caused the teacher to tremble in anger.


    "Create one? Disregarding the high chances of your lies! Those emblems are official school equipment! No rules against owning emblems are set, but creating imitations of the school properties are-"


    "Is this an emblem?" Emeros raised his hand.


    On his hand is a strange glyph made of wood.


    "This is not an emblem of the school. I merely crafted the spells that the emblems have and replicated them. It acts only as an Energy Conversion Circle and Enchantment spell that I gifted to my students. Are therews against these?" Emeros smiled as he poured mana inside the glyph.


    The same reaction appeared.


    Everyone trembled. But they couldn''t understand how the wood managed to do what only those emblems could do and resonate with the school.


    "Answer me. Did Imit a crime in doing this?" Emeros asked again.


    No one could reply.


    Emeros ignored them and moved towards the ssroom.


    Several Third-year students were watching and didn''t know what to do.


    Emeros''s young appearance didn''t make him look threatening, and merely stood by.


    "Teacher Emeros... Teachers are not allowed to."


    CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!


    The three students were wrapped in the vines, and their bones cracked.


    "AHHHH!"


    "A call for Teachers'' Judgment are important events. And you three stopped twenty of them."


    It happened so fast, and the broken and crushed bodies of the three were tossed to the side.


    Emeros ignored them and moved into the hall. As he entered the hall, he found the checkers already outside, trembling in fear.


    The students of Emeros had their hands out. Although they were not harnessing energy, the checkers lost their esteemed forms. Still, they were harnessing magic while Emeros gave them casual waves.


    "Get back! Get back!" One of the checkers shouted.


    "Are you threatening my student?" Emeros asked.


    The students all saw Emeros and quickly dispersed their energy.


    "Teacher Emeros! I...! I...!"


    "Teacher Emeros! Command your students to"


    "So you do know me. And you know that these are my students?" Emeros frowned.


    "Eep!" One of the students realized his mistake.


    "Hindering another student from taking the test...? Hmm... And it seems it''s a collective effort. This test sets my future, and you are hindering it by stopping my students from taking the tests. I, Teacher Emeros, give judgment. ording to the school rules, for disrespecting a teacher through feigning ignorance of my ss, for deliberately stopping a student from taking a test, for working as an organized group to bring one ss down, the total points that each student receives is thirty points! Furthermore, all the ssmates in their respective sses will receive a minus point of half of what they have for acting as a group to undermine an entire ssroom!" Emeros dered.


    The school began to glow as it epted the orders of Emeros.


    The students all had horrified looks. Thirty and fifteen points were vital for this exam! It was impossible to im all thirty points, and they will surely drop in the rankings!


    "Furthermore, since it is exam period, the overall increase in points of my students will be calcted, and a further subtraction of your scores will be added on top of the thirty, and your ssmates will receive half the deduction of what you get. So, pray that my students don''t do well. Now, carry out your duties! Dismissed." Emeros shouted as he turned away.


    The checkers all copsed.


    Zwelus watched from the outside and chuckled as Emeros approached.


    "Did I impress you, Senior teacher, Zwelus?"


    "Yes. One of the hindrances has been beautifully removed. But there are more toe, Teacher Emeros. The feathers you ruffled are quite... problematic."


    "The feathers of that Crow still are the problematic feathers. As for the rest, no one in the Floating Continent can outmaneuver my counter ns."


    "We shall see. We also have our own examinations." Zwelus gazed up.


    "It should be any time now..." Zwelus waited as more and more teachers were allowed to enter the hall.


    Teacher Crea arrived and was shouting from afar a few minutester.


    Emeros only smiled and gave casual responses to the challenges of Crea.


    Meanwhile... inside the ssroom.


    "Done." Mackerelpleted the exam as the energy conversion circle assigned to him for the test had been fixed.


    The Energy Conversion Circle was resolved and even surprised the checker. Not even a Third Year student could be that fast!


    Mackerel left the room.


    "The teacher said that the entire ss is ranked for him to pass. So if a student can ace and earn many points and increase the ssroom''s rank, he would have this stage cleared. Before fighting a ss, we must do our best to be seen as worthy! I have to take advantage of this! He has allowed my eyes to evolve! I will not fail, teacher!" Mackerel decided as he ran off towards another exam in the Energy Conversion Circle.


    BOOM!


    On the other end of the room, Chevik easily defeated the second-year student.


    The Cultivation Battle Technique for Force Users was a contest of strength. But Chevik knew that his opponent would use all of his power.


    Yet, against the battle technique of Chevik that was refined from his fights with Serene and Emeros, he had grown strong.


    "You... cheated...!" The second-year student cursed.


    "Shall I call the teacher once more?" Chevik revealed the glyph.


    "You said that if I defeated you in a contest of Force, I would receive full marks..."


    "You... were just evading my attacks and...!"


    "You didn''t specify that I had to meet your cultivation strength head-on. My movement techniques require force." Chevik demonstrated as his legs began to release a powerful force of energy.


    Emeros hadbined the Crow''s knowledge with the various movement techniques that Blitzers and Ravagers used. These two jobs were not present even in the Continents Above the Sky, so the checker faced a totally different form of warfare.


    "Well? Will you grant me my score? Or shall I call my teacher?"


    "You... receive full points..." The checker trembled as he marked the paper with a perfect score.


    "Thank you." Chevik smiled and left the room.


    When he went out, he saw Quinn and Anna leaving their respective rooms. The three shared a meaningful look. All had the same thing in mind.


    Mackerel was already starting his second exam, and Chevik saw it.


    "That freak''s already in another room, huh? I, his senior, can''t leave it all to him!" Check rushed towards another cultivation room while Quinn and Anna visited their respective ssrooms.


    Outside, the doors to the second floor were opened. A tremendous pressure appeared and pressed down on all the teachers.


    Many of the teachers quickly fell to their knees as the pressure mounted. Only the Senior Teachers could remain standing, and even Emeros had to use his staff to keep himself from falling.


    "Teachers. The Teachers Examination has begun." An ancient voice was heard.


    Several Pedagogs could be seen standing above. And with them were three middle-aged men who hovered above the sky.


    Emeros could feel a powerful energy from the three men flying above.


    "A Cardinal with a Crown''s Potential..." Emeros saw them.


    "So it is true... The ones presiding over this exam are the Pedagogs. And the guests here to observe our test... are Two Star experts of the Continent Above the Sky!" Zwelus was fighting the urge to gaze up at the sky as the pressure of immense gravity pressed on him.

 Chapter 656 Class Essay Strategy

    656 ss Essay Strategy


    The opening of the ceiling, which led to the next floor, was a marvelous sight to behold.


    The work was purely created by manipting Earthen magic, allowing the stones to open up and reveal a grand sight from above.


    Energy conversion circles were formed and created a seal that increased gravity and caused magic and force to weaken.


    Many of the Teachers had stumbled down, and even a few of the Senior teachers managed to stay up.


    The two Two-Star experts watched and did not have impressed expressions.


    "This... this is unfair!" One of the teachers cried.


    "What kind of tests is this that pits us as equals with Senior teachers?!" One of the teachers shouted and turned to a Master Teacher watching from outside.


    The Master Teachers were at the peak of the school''s hierarchy and moving closer to bing Pedagogs. As such, they were not included in the test.


    The Master Teacher that the Teacher called out to turn red as this teacher spoke of something foolish.


    "Foolish! The Pedagogs and the Two-Star Experts, those two Great Ones, would not be so dull to create such a test!" The Senior Teacher, who was the senior disciple of the teacher, corrected.


    "What?!" The teacher was amazed.


    "This is a grand spell!" The teacher argued.


    "Foolish one! Open your eyes! Some Seniors are struggling, but some teachers remain steadfast!"


    The teacher turned and saw it. He recognized that some teachers stronger than him would fall while some weaker teachers would rise.


    "This is part of the test! Figure it out!" The senior cursed.


    Zwelus then chuckled as he turned to Emeros.


    Emeros needed his staff, but he did far better than other teachers.


    "Teacher Emeros. Since you are the one everyone looks down upon, would it humor you to exin what you see? Your expertise in Energy Conversion Circle surpasses even Senior Teachers here." Zwelus smiled. He was seeking an opportunity to let Emeros shine.


    "This energy conversion circle harnesses great earthen power. I can see many symbols and calls on earth. It gathers the energy of the Floating Continents maism and intensifies the gravity within this point. The Two Star experts of the Continents Above the Sky are controlling the energy. But this is not all. The great Pedagogs of ournd have added a unique power and created an Enchantment caused by that great artifact at the center."


    "Oh...? Impressive that you could see the artifact." One of the Pedagogs smiled as he tapped towards the empty space next to him.


    A strange ripple appeared as he did, and a floating transparent golden stone with a glyph at the center appeared.


    "Earthen Spirit Artifact!" Many of the teachers recognized it.


    Emeros also saw the enchantment and was amazed.


    The legacy of Enchantment was believed to be lost. Even in Kyros''s first life, no powerful enchanted 16:22


    artifacts were equal to this level. There were numerous levels of enchantments. But Alchemy, Energy Conversion Circles, and cksmith could create and replicate most lower-leveled forms. But a natural Enchantment would have a life and knowledge of its own.


    In Kyros''s second life, several powerful Enchantments were met. The Nephilim Sealing Temple and its upgraded form, the Fortress, was a powerful Enchanted Abode. The weapons of Kyros and his allies were Enchanted items that had not been awakened. But perhaps the greatest example of the Path of Enchantment was the Gigantes race. They were a race created through Enchantments.


    But now, Emeros saw an enchanted object and could not help but grow curious.


    "Was this path sealed when King Vasilius sealed this world? No matter. This path of power should be revived and brought back to mortal hands! Kyros will have it, and I will take this power!" Emeros decided.


    "The Earthen Spirit Artifact is the perfect artifact to designate and direct the gravity being released by the Two-star expert. It can gauge our strengths as the Energy Conversion Circle has the Gauge spell written over it to identify our strengths, force levels, and magic." Emeros exined.


    Zwelus, who was smiling, was now surprised. He was amazed at how clearly Emeros was able to exin the circumstance.


    "And you must be Emeros. The boy who is pretty much at the center of this entire debacle. I charge you, young one. Speak the truth and answer me! I invoke the call for truth! Are you from the Continents Above the Sky?" One of the two Two-Star Experts asked.


    A great power shot down and convicted Emeros.


    "No," Emeros answered.


    But as he spoke the words, a strange remnant power in him grew ufortable.


    And then, Emeros was freed from the nefarious binds that had secretly enveloped him.


    Emeros realized he answered without thinking. In fact, if not for that power that grew ufortable, he would not have learned that he was being drawn in by a secret power.


    "He''s... not!?" One of the Pedagogs was amazed but did his best to hide his surprise.


    Emeros had a serious expression.


    "That man... he was using a strange magic. A power that urged me to speak the truth. It bound me to speak the truth far stronger than any elixir of truth. So, this man must be of a powerful family. As the Crows could make ves, this family has this power to urge them to speak the truth!" Emeros trembled.


    He wanted to move away, but gravity was pressing down on him so that even his magic and force could no longer circte.


    "Hmp. Not of the Continents Above the Sky? Liar! Tell me this! Where does the heritage of your strength trulye from?" The Two-Star Expert changed his question. He wanted to learn where Emeros was.


    Emeros felt the urge to speak, but Emeros recalled the figure of his father. It was as if a spirit of Pseudos trembled.


    Behind the question of the man was a drive for Emeros to answer what the questioner truly wanted to know. And this question was designed to drive out the truth of Emeros''s power.


    Emeros felt his mouth open as he was about to speak the name of Vasilius!


    "No!" Emeros struggled internally and tried to draw out the power of Kyros.


    Within his body were many tattoos of circles and glyphs. The letters of Pseudos, Sophia, and many others of the known gods and fallen were written. But as of this moment, the ones that shone the most were Pseudos and Cminus.


    "Notwithstanding that, your question epasses a vast and deep history of many families and names; the inexplicable and unavoidable truth that exins my powers'' essence and core attributes cannot be easily discerned in a single sentence or word. Nay, it would even require a look at three lifetimes. And possibly more before these three lifetimes came to be. The answer lies in the past, the present, and even in the future. It''s an answer that spans from the beginning to the end. So, this question requires an in-depth analysis and must be viewed not by the current lenses that our society has. Perchance. We must look beyond ourselves and outside the known views of whatever legacies this region has unknowingly established. The massive magnitude of secrets and truths is not enough to be answered by the countervailing desire of a simple worded answer..." Emeros began.


    Harnessing the power of Cminus, Emeros began to prolong and lengthen his answer as Cminus would do when writing a thesis or an essay that requires a word count. This was the basic strategy forpleting ss assignments in one of the worlds where Cminus was incarnated. And now, Emeros brought it to this world!


    As Emeros began to answer in truth, though, in a long-winding and confusing pattern, thanks to the glyphs of Cminus and Pseudos, the old man above was running out of mana from the powerful charge that used up soul energy!


    "For example, a single word, such as the egg. What makes it the egg? Is it the yolk? The shell? Or the egg? Are they not all parts of one whole? Together, we find that this trinitarian element of the yolk, the shell, and the egg makes up the egg. But each of those elements is called part of the egg. We see an eggshell, we say, it''s an egg. We see the white of the egg. We say it''s an egg. We see the yolk of the egg, and we say, it''s an egg. In this concept, the trinity is revealed to be a relevant consideration when trying to define the egg. Therefore, in attempting to define the root causes, legacies, powers, and principalities that somehow define my current level of knowledge, we would have to look across the universe. What made me? Love. The love of my father and mother. And why-"


    "ENOUGH!" The Two Star Expert mmed his staff, generating a powerful gravitational pull that caused Emeros to fall.


    But numerous vines shot down and became like branches that held Emeros standing up. It was as if Emeros had be a tree.


    "Those damned brats! My master was answering their question truthfully!" Vivindel spoke in rage but only sent this hateful message for Emeros.


    Emeros wore a shocked expression. He seemed lost and confused.


    The Pedagog ally of this expert observed Emeros.


    "...Incredible. A spell that made him answer in truth. First was the attack that nearly killed this boy. Now this... Whoever took in that boy has knowledge about the family''s secret abilities. First Crow, and now, our own." The Pedgagog watched.


    The Two-Star Expert pretended to be enraged by his long answer. He had also guessed what his Pedagog junior already thought. His spells would lead him nowhere.


    He could only re at Emeros and secretly ponder who is the power behind the enigma that is Emeros.

 Chapter 657 Class for Teachers

    657 ss for Teachers


    Emeros was on the verge of tumbling down.


    The angered Two-Star Expert had pressed down a greater attack on him.


    But suddenly, the energy around Emeros vanished as Emeros regained his footing.


    "Why are you so serious? You asked a question, and he simply gave an annoyingly long answer?" The other Two-Star Expertughed as he harnessed the energy.


    "Giving into your anger and impatience is very unlike you. Is there something more to this?" The other Two-Star Expert asked.


    "Forgive mypanion, Two-Star Expert of Combat, Pedagog Ilevas. I am a Two-Star Expert of the Circles, Pedagog Veynir. Well, truth be told, neither of us are official Pedagogs. But in thisnd, we would be considered as one." Veynir chuckled.


    "Now, my dear students. It''s time for us to begin this lesson. A lesson geared for teachers. That skilled brat already gave away most of our secrets. So you all have an advantage in being able to clear this trial. If you fail, it''s on you!" Veynirughed, and with a wave of his hand, the energy fell on Emeros, but it was again back to the original amount.


    "So go and clear this! Show us what the Floating Continents has to offer!" Veynirughed.


    Ilevas was quiet and watched from the side, giving Veynir a meaningful look.


    "I have a question. This test... does it rank our capacity based on our performance? Or is simply passing the trial enough?" Zwelus asked.


    "Your performance will naturally help you. Your experience and battle in this will be beneficial for you to scale greater heights. But beyond this natural growth, you can impress the Pedagogs and us both here. That Emeros is quite talented. And since whoever is helping him has not yet made his appearance clear, Emeros is ripe for the taking. But now, if you prove you are better than this mortal-bound child, we might have to pick you." Veynir smiled.


    "Good!" Zwelus chuckled as he raised his staff.


    Numerous fire ropes shot out and coiled at the Earthen Spirit Artifact.


    "Oh? Fire with form and physical strength...." A pedagog at the side smiled.


    "Senior Teacher, be careful. Mana has weight, too." Emeros warned.


    Zwelus was surprised as Emeros gave him a meaningful look.


    Zwelus knew that Emeros wouldn''t say such things casually. He gazed up and calmed himself down. The allure to impress had made his heart grow haughty and impatient.


    Many took advantage of Zwelus''s hesitation and tried many different things at that moment.


    One used a forceful burst of mes to push himself up. Another used a fire shield and was generating energy to st herself upwards.


    Force experts began using numerous techniques as the attempts to rise up began.


    CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!


    One after the other, those who made their moves began to fall as they encountered greater troubles at the top.


    Zwelus saw it all and frowned. He realized that this was an exam to make them all improve themselves.


    Zwelus began to pull as the fires that coiled at the artifact began to lift him.


    But as Zwelus rose, the weight in his body increased.


    With a firm tug, Zwelus lifted himself to great heights along with many other Senior teachers battling it out.


    SNAP! SNAP! SNAP!


    The fire ropes could no longer take the weight and snapped as Zwelus fell.


    CRASH!


    Zwelus coughed up blood and nced to the side as those others who attempted were also in pain from the fall.


    Zwelus lifted himself up and saw Emeros standing without the staff as he nced upwards.


    Senior Teacher Crea was at the side and could not understand how Emeros could now stand.


    "You have already solved this puzzle, Teacher Emeros?" Zwelus asked.


    "It depends. What exactly should I solve?" Emeros smiled and asked back.


    "What do you mean? Didn''t you already advise me of the issue with mana? Is that how you can stand?"


    "Hm? The issue with mana is not my issue. It was yours. You used quite a bit, so I warned you. Teacher Zwelus. This test has no one right answer, as you may know. I am solving my problems. You should do the same." Emeros answered.


    Zwelus fell into deep thinking.


    Crea heard Emeros''s conversation as she tried to stand. She had a contemting look on her face.


    "Hm... But to impress those old farts, I have to do something..." Emeros thought.


    "Maybe... destroy the circle? That ought to shock them." Emeros thought and observed the formation and the spellbound in the enchanted object.


    "Hmm... With so many participants, I can''t do my n. The chaos of the swirling magic is too much. They have to get out of here or clear the test if I want to shock them and do the counter circle." Emeros thought and nced around.


    CRASH!


    Zwelus fell again.


    "Hey, teacher Zwelus. I want to impress those guys up there. But to do that, there should be less chaos in this ce. Could you tell the rest to give me some time? I promise that it will also benefit them."


    "...Teacher Emeros. Everyone is trying to impress them. If you want this area cleared, then start helping everyone!" Zwelus answered with a slightly irritated tone in his voice.


    "That''s a great idea!" Emeros eximed.


    "See, teacher. Your problem is mana. You''re a powerful mage but constantly carry the magic around you. This ce is designed to be a test for us. But since we have not been taught about this, the test is how we ovee and how fast we grow. In your case, training yourself to be without mana would be the key. You have great volumes of magic, and you constantly let it all out."


    "I have to... hide my magic?"


    "Yes. At your stage, you are constantly wasting magic just by standing. But like my students who can cast out and release the magic at the least possible second, you can make quick attacks, defenses, and so on if you refine your concentration. Like those two Two-Star experts. If you had the same power and volume of energy as them, then this entire formation would onlyst an hour or so. But their refined and controlled usage allows them to keep this up for days!"


    "So it''s the same with you?"


    "No. As I said, my issue is different. It''s the same as with Senior Teacher Crea, Teacher Pors, Teacher Vertik, Senior Teacher Tedd, and Senior Teacher Lesly." Emeros pointed to several teachers.


    The teachers he named all turned to Emeros and saw him calmly walking around the room without issue!


    "Same issue as me?!" Crea cursed. How was Emeros having the same issue as her and quickly resolved it?! It was an insult to her skill and ability as a Senior Teacher.


    "Force. We both have high Force amounts. You are a battle mage and have high Force and Magic. That''s why you stumbled down while many of your peers at the same cultivation level as you can stand, Senior Teacher. Force and magic have weight. And you''ve been releasing more Force than ever, correct?" Emeros asked.


    Crea was startled at Emeros''s words.


    "But... I won''t be able to stand at this weight with Force!"


    "You have been fighting with Force and Magic since the start. But with your physical strength stat, you only need around ten percent of your Force to fight back." Emeros exined.


    At once, the other teachers who were named by Emeros were now able to stand up!


    Crea saw it and gritted her teeth as she followed suit. It was embarrassing that she, a Senior Teacher, would stumble when most Senior Teachers resisted the gravity.


    "Good! You can stand. Now, guys, I need you all to clear the test. If I want to impress those guys, you guys need to leave out of this circle. Pors. You could easily clear this test by using your fire burst ability. Just circte the magic around to y with the equilibrium of magic. This is also a great trick to fly out. Do what Senior Teacher Hector failed to do. Hopefully, if he sees you pass the test faster, he''ll listen to me. Next... Teacher Vertik. Your feet are injured with some poison. If you weren''t, this test would have been easy with your movement technique. But you over-strained it. Luckily, it''s not yet in a critical state, and I can heal it. Do you have a cauldron? I''ll whip you up a pill to heal you."


    "A cauldron?!"


    "Equilibrium of magic..."


    The two teachers had their own reaction, but Emeros called out another.


    Senior Teacher Tedd. That technique you used to create wind has more magic than actual wind energy. Yourws of creation are poor, considering that the source of your wind magic is a Hurricane Eagle. Give me the heart of that creature, and I''ll enhance it so that more wind would appear. But you''d need to pay me for this. And it ain''t cheap!"


    And so, Emeros began to teach, make deals, and resolve the issues of each teacher. He was the teacher, and his ss were all teachers.

 Chapter 658 Class to Attend

    658 ss to Attend


    A senior teacher crashed down again. It was too embarrassing! He had fallen thrice in his attempts.


    Originally, this was supposed to be the norm for all who took the test.


    The teachers would have undergone hours of this ordeal to see if they would improve or change. The test was designed to be disgustingly brutal to see how the teachers could take this opportunity and grow stronger.


    This Senior Teacher was even opposed to Emeros, but now, the great temptation to ask for his help was there.


    BOOM!


    An explosion of Magic and Force suddenly appeared as Senior Teacher Crea managed to break thest levels of the obstacle and became the second to pass the test!


    Zwelus was already on top and was panting as he gave a wry smile to Crea.


    Crea walked out of the circle and copsed on the floor.


    Her Master Teacher watched her arrival with aplicated expression.


    "Crea... He..."


    "I... know master. He used me. I was his foe... and now, I am here. But... he was right."


    "..." The Master Teacher could not speak anymore and allowed Crea to rest.


    Less than ten minutes after the exam began, two had passed, and many of those Emeros gave instructions to were already progressing and were flying higher!


    Emeros had been wandering side to side, giving instructions to those willing and hints to those who were cautious.


    "Ugh!" A teacher fell. But despite falling down, the teacher stood back up with a face ready to rechallenge it!


    The senior teacher, who also crashed down, was enraged as he gazed at the teachers reaching higher heights than him!


    Emeros walked to the side, teaching another, and finally, the senior teacher could not take it anymore.


    "This is an outrage! How... dare you!" The senior teacher walked towards Emeros, teaching another teacher.


    "Dare me what? Am I breaking any rules, Senior Teacher Biren?" Emeros asked back.


    "You...! You are..." Biren couldn''tplete his sentence as Emeros was indeed not doing anything that goes against thews set.


    Master Teachers were prohibited from teaching their disciples. But a fellow teacher could freely give their advice to each other!


    "This is... this is not the purpose of the test!" Senior Teacher Andre Artes was used.


    "Ah, Senior Teacher Andre. I see that your magic abilities can''t even bring you to the third of this ce. Suppose it was me and other Teachers already crossing thest third of the height. In that case, I''d bury my head in embarrassment as your face was smashed on the ground when I shot you with magic." Emeros chuckled.


    "You brat!"


    "What is the purpose of the test?" Emeros asked immediately.


    "Do you know what the Great Ones and the Pedagogs have in mind for this test, Senior Teacher Artes?" Emeros smiled.


    Artes was silenced. He wouldn''t dare answer this question. He dared not assume what they were thinking through this test.


    "Oh? So you don''t know. I know." Emeros smiled.


    "You know?"


    "I know for me. I know that my mysterious backing is making everyone curious. And this test is a way for me to prove to them why I was selected by this mysterious master, whom I am not perfectly certain of. All I can do now is to prove my abilities as a teacher. And teaching teachers is a good way to prove it!" Emeros exined.


    "Of course, this test will certainly be different for all of you. The Master Teachers and the Pedagogs and Principals are involved in creating this test. So there could be a specific purpose to everyone."


    "Then you have caused everyone to fail! You didn''t give them a chance to learn!"


    "They did learn. They learned humility. They learned to listen to someone who was beneath them. And because of that, they also learned many things about their abilities andpleted this test several times faster than you two will. As teachers, we should also be good students. They listened to a boy barely in his teens. Imagine how humbling this is? But as they ate their pride and humbled themselves, they were ahead of you. If the two of you are humble enough, I could teach you." Emeros chuckled.


    Artes and Senior Teacher Biren froze at those words.


    Emeros didn''t waste any more time on the two teachers and continued to teach another.


    "Alright... Teacher, what you need... erm... wait. We have people who are not humble listening to our conversation." Emeros leaned in and whispered his teachings to the teacher.


    Artes stomped off angrily, and Biren turned their attention to the heavens as he made yet another attempt.


    Senior Teacher Tedd and Teacher Lesly had once more fallen on the ground. They witnessed the two senior teachers making their angry exit. They only saw the two teachers, Pors and Vertik, received instructions from Emeros and had taken the medicine crafted.


    Vertik was still trying to recover, and Pors had reached an enlightened state and was seated as if in a trance.


    Emeros had already stopped teaching them, but for some strange reason, Crea, his enemy, had received a more in-depth teaching.


    "Why did he teach Senior Crea enough to help her ascend?" Lesly asked.


    "An example. He wanted to show everyone that his teachings really work..."


    "But why her and not us?"


    "Because... we are neutral in the political battles. If teacher Emeros shows that his instructions could make his enemy pass, then we could trust his teachings. Now it''s Crown Prince Magnus versus Prince Alistair... So if we want to help, we must make a stand." Senior Teacher Tedd answered.


    BOOM!


    Tedd and Lesly saw Pors challenged the heights once more.


    Force and Magic created a powerful explosion that lifted Pors up high. It was a simr application of magic to Senior Teacher Hector.


    Pors flew and used it again, feeling the energy, and exploded. But unlike Hector, Pors spun like a hammer flung into the air!


    "Use my mana to shift the weight of my body and use it at an equilibrium!" Pors eximed.


    BOOM!


    Once again, he allowed the explosion to happen at his feet as it fell. Suddenly, the weight disappeared and helped him fly up as he tossed his Force and Magic, making it appear like his body arced.


    Hector couldn''t take the strain of constantly releasing explosions up the straight flight. Still, Pors was POW!


    11:08


    BANG!


    moving up the sky like a hammer bouncing from one impact to another. His movements would fly sideways giving his legs and arms rest to activate magic.


    His fall''s distance was lesser than his ascension through this technique.


    BOOM!


    With onest explosion, Pors reached the top!


    The group was amazed at what Pors did.


    BOOM!


    An explosion urred, and next to a cauldron, Teacher Vertik could be seen flying through the air with his famous Sky Dasher skill returning to power!


    Vertik ran not in a straight line up but ran and stepped on the magic circle itself! A power that made him famous was his ability to step on magic!


    Vertik ran, rising up the formation circuit until he reached the top!


    SKIIIIDDDD!


    Vertikughed andughed as he saw his legs function.


    "Impressive. You have a unique repelling magic that is innate to yourself. And you have used it quite formidably!" A Pedagog smiled.


    "That was truly impressive. Tell me, who is your Master?" Another Pedagog asked.


    The teachers at the bottom were stunned as they saw the Pedagogs move.


    "Teacher Emeros! I am humble!" Senior Teacher Tedd ran towards Emeros and bowed.


    "I am unlike these arrogant men who mock you! I want to learn. You are clearly superior in wisdom, and my advantage is that I was only born sooner. Teach me..." Tedd answered.


    Biren and Artes nearly stumbled on the words of Tedd.


    "Tedd! Where is your honor?! Where is your pride as a teacher!" Artes called out.


    "Teacher Emeros! Teach me!" Lesly also pleaded.


    Soon, many others also followed.


    "This... This...!" Artes fumed in anger.


    "What has be of the teachers of this academy?!" He roared.


    BANG!


    Senior Teacher Lesly smashed the face of Artes with her staff.


    "Quiet!"


    "You! How dare-!"


    POW!


    BANG!


    ZAP!


    Attacks from different teachers were shot at Senior Teacher Artes and Senior Teacher Biren.


    "Shut up! We have a ss to attend! Now, teacher Emeros... Teach us!" Senior Teacher Tedd begged.

 Chapter 659 Class Clown

    659 ss Clown


    In the next hour that had passed, many teachers had learned many great things, and their rise towards the heights was improving more and more.


    Four others had assailed the great heights and were talking with the Pedagogs!


    Emeros''s teachings were amazingly efficient and helped many rise up and reach the halfway point of the trial!


    But even as the teachers and Senior Teachers moved, certain teachers had an exciting way to improve their abilities.


    It was all novelty ideas, a new approach to the matter.


    Emeros had numerous ideas from what he had seen and experienced and even applied knowledge that the Floating Continents did not know.


    Movements of mana and force, imitation, wielding, and divergent evolution of the magic they had were applied.


    The nesworld was already a realm of many diverse talents.


    Emeros had seen the divergent powers that Listrel and Leah had with their abilities and even understood the concept behind it.


    The Steele family had a remarkable ability to manipte Force and could easily alter their force to imitate the strength of various paths.


    With this memory and Emeros''s growing knowledge, he could offer numerous advice to all the teachers who asked.


    But what he did was make an implication and only lead them towards the right path.


    CRASH!


    One of the teachers, a battle mage, was amazed at what had happened.


    "Force and magic... I could create... a balloon like this!" The teacher was amazed.


    Many of the Master Teachers were also amazed by what they saw.


    Many Pedagogs soon revealed themselves, and several One-Star Experts of the Continents Above the Sky had also entered the halls.


    They were once uninterested in the scene, but now, with the unique talents that appeared, many were moved by the abilities presented.


    The shocking appearance of these people made Principal Pedagog Xr feel as if his heart would leap out from the scene.


    Not all One-Star Experts were Pedagogs, but all Pedagogs were One-Star Experts. And many were growing interested in the actions of the teachers who were starting toplete the test as their abilities began to grow.


    Many One-Star Experts even had their eyes set on those who had not ascended past one-third of the height to the next level!


    The teachings of Emeros had already evolved as Emeros himself was immersed in his teachings.


    "So this is what it''s like... Teaching students didn''t feel like this... There were many limitations to what they could do, and their control and innate understanding of their powers had not yet reached the level where they could follow their own path. These teachers already had a path to walk on! I''ve been teaching in error! I should teach them... to find their own path!" Emeros began to understand more as his lessons became more experimental.


    Emeros had seen what true power could be and what possibilities awaited them. The greatest limitation of the nesworld was that it relied on the blessings of Gods and Fallens. But this ce didn''t have that. And Emeros knew that it was possible to acquire such power without the blessings as Kyros proved in the Forgotten Pages.


    "This world has lesser heritagepared to the nesworld. But this is their advantage! They have reached this level of power without all of that! And here, among the teachers and geniuses of the Floating Continent, they can already form new powers on their own!" Emeros was excited, and his expression changed as he talked and instructed the other teachers.


    But as Emeros and the other teachers delighted in this, a few could only crash and hurt themselves.


    All but twelve teachers were taught. And these twelve teachers refused to learn from Emeros as they were allied with the Crown Prince!


    They were shocked that their contemporaries who were beneath them suddenly gained the attention of many who even surpassed the Pedagog that supported the Crown Prince!


    The more they saw the One-Star experts and Pedagog move out and show interest, the more they felt the urge to impress them.


    "That''s it! I''ll cross it in one go!" Andre Artes couldn''t take it anymore and braved the skies.


    Lights and glows shed as he tore through the weight that tried to pin him down.


    Without slowing down, Senior Teacher Artes rose up as he broke through the many obstacles of magic.


    Pills and potions were used as he began to show the power of his own creations to cross the heavy skies.


    Finally, he reached the top just in time as the energies he used to carry him were drained, and he crashnded painfully as the loss of the intense gravity made him fly out of control.


    CRASH!


    His head prated the thick walls, and he had to pull his head out of the wall and reveal a bloodied face.


    Bearing the pain and exhaustion, he went towards the Master Teachers allied with the Prince.


    All were quiet. They knew that Artes couldn''t impress anyone, and he had no choice but to use this method to reach the skies.


    Artes sat down quietly, trying his best to remain awake.


    "Wow. That was quite strong!" One of the teachers below was amazed at the power that Artes did.


    "Indeed. This is one important lesson that everyone can learn from." Emeros spoke with a serious tone.


    "If you have money, you could forward. Look at him, he used great pills and potions, and exhausted energy orbs, ores, and stones to the point of disintegration. Let this be a lesson to all of you! If you are untalented, short-sighted, dull, and do not have the patience to improve your own skills and ovee whatever obstacles thate your way, you better have money!" Emeros sneered at the end.


    Many teachers tried, but failed, to hold theirughter.


    Even those who had reached the top looked at Artes in disdain.


    Though Emeros had taught them, it was their efforts and ingenuity that brought them there. Emeros''s assistance was not just a one-time lesson. It was a lesson that they could use and apply in the future! Their skills increased! So everyone who had reached the top had the moral high ground, for they rose up through their efforts.


    Artes spat out blood in his anger as Emeros continued to make a mockery of his actions.


    "Anyone can climb this height if he has money! But do you think it will impress anyone? Please. Those up there are all far richer than Senior Teacher Artes! What can his country bumpkin savings do against the great wealth of those above? Ignore them! Let''s continue with your lessons. Leave the ss clowns to their clowning!"


    "You!" The Master Teacher next to Artes stood up in rage.


    "You teach others, but can you cross the great distance?! You have low cultivation! Far lower than all the rest! This little plot of yours to draw attention is an excuse since you have no power to raise this! Maybe you are asking others to help you since you have helped many to rise up! I apud your eyes! But even we, the Master Teachers, would never hand over such easy paths to the ones we teach! We know what it means to advise our students and not help them out by handing everything to them! Do you think you''ve done a favor to these teachers?! You have weakened their future!" The Master Teacher shouted.


    Emeros''s expression turned nk. There were truths in what this Master Teacher said, but more lies than truth.


    "Everyone. I need you up there in ten minutes. Otherwise, don''t me me for causing you to fail along with the ss clowns." Emeros answered coldly as he turned around and began to channel magic. He began to write something in secret on Vivindel''s body as it began to expand.


    At once, all the remaining teachers turned severe and began to make their attempts to rise up to the second floor.


    They knew what Emeros was implying. If he moves, the test would be over. Therefore, Emeros was doing something no one else dared to try. He was going to destroy the examination circle!

 Chapter 660 Class Dismissed

    660 ss Dismissed


    THUD! THUD! THUD!


    Thest three teachers that Emeros taught finally arrived at the top just in time.


    They were so scared of being unable toplete the test that they even worked together and supported each other as they ascended.


    The manner in which they managed to work together was inspired by Emeros, who muttered about a strange phenomenon known as the Elemental Wheel, which allows elements of different types to work together, and they managed to create a very small fraction of this phenomenon.


    The magic of Fire, Lightning, and Wind worked together and allowed them to create a rising vortex of elements.


    The three looked at each other, still shocked at what they had just aplished.


    "Did... Did we just be best friends?" One of the teachers asked.


    The senior teacher who was with them could onlyugh in agreement.


    What they did was profound and magnificent and even intrigued many onlookers who saw the marvelous workings of the elements.


    "Elements... can work together? Which family does this Emeros belong to? How does he know about such novel theories?" A One-Star Expert was amazed.


    "The secrets that the family that took him are deep. This is probably why it doesn''t casually show itself and stand up to speak of their support for him. Because many of their secrets are being revealed. Who''s to say that it''s not your family?" A Pedagog asked.


    "Indeed. Who is to say... it''s not your family..." The One-Star expert softly pushed back and gave the pedagog a strange look.


    Down below were eight teachers still struggling to move up the skies. A few have managed to climb the heights, but only after using the same means that Artes did. But two Senior teachers remained below and were still trying to scale the heights.


    Emeros smiled as he walked toward the exhausted teachers.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    At once, Emeros shot numerous attacks at the teachers, and they were all burned by fire.


    "AHHH!"


    All copsed to the ground and felt the great weight pressing down on them.


    "Atrocious!" A Master Teacher shouted.


    "How dare you attack a teacher!" Another shouted.


    "As this test will rate my ability on how well I perform, I nned to break this formation. But I can''t do that with so many teachers flying around. Besides, there were no rules that indicate I can''t attack them." Emeros smiled.


    "You trick them! You made them waste their energy with your so-called time limit and exhausted them so you could attack them!" Another teacher roared out.


    "You... tricked us!" One of the teachers, who was now pressed to the ground, cursed.


    "Yes, and no. I truly intend to break this formation. I didn''t trick you there. I also nned to attack you since the start since you would not take me as a teacher. But as for how you wasted your force and efforts to go up there and made you easy prey, that was on you! Aren''t exams like these expected to have attacks?" Emeros asked.


    The teacher could only give a hateful re.


    "Brat. You think you can break this formation?" The one called Veynir called out from above.


    "I made this Circle. I am not a Pedagog by title, but in power and skill, I am more. And Ilevas here is a Two Star Expert in Combat. His control of Force and Magic is beyond anything that you can imagine. The magic and power that we have is even more than twenty times what your frail body contains!"


    "The mistake is using a Circle with an Enchanted object. The issue is the fusion. You''d need cksmiths to perfect this formation. Or am I wrong, Pedagog Veynir?"


    "Oh? Indeed, that would be a w. But you''d have to be at our level to be that." Veynirughed.


    "Not necessarily. Exploiting the weakness of an energy circle formation is an art. Power helps, but it is only about fifty percent. Even on my low level, I could counter and disrupt an Energy Conversion Circle if I take advantage of the ws.


    "Oh? Tell me, what are the ws of this formation?" Veynir asked.


    "Flow. Concentration. Union. Stability." Emeros listed the four aspects he found.


    Veynir''s expression went dark.


    "Oh? Why do your ims sound so... arrogant?"


    "Arrogant if I fail to prove it. Let me first demonstrate the flow issue." Emeros smiled, and suddenly Vivindel appeared below him.


    At that moment, the remaining teachers felt an unbelievable weight press down on them. It was as if the weight had doubled.


    Veynir was shocked as he saw that the central part of the formation suddenly lost energy.


    "This magic is not a magic that increases gravity. It''s a flowing magic, like water, that fills this entire container. And if we touch it, the magic will increase the gravity." Emeros revealed.


    Many among the teachers were surprised.


    "Oh? You''ve guessed that. But considering that you do have backers from above, I guess knowing that is too easy for you, isn''t it?"


    "Yes. But that''s rted to the issue of flow. The reason why many who seeded in reaching the top did so by helical ascension is because I made them go against the flow and follow a counter-clockwise rise. I''ve noticed it. From the top, the flow spirals downwards. Finally, just before reaching the bottom, it is dispersed at the center to create a gravitational pull at an invisible point above me. This formation that I nted created a magical shield in a dome shape that touches the point of magic dispensation. Because of that, the energy that flows slid down and created a point of protection here. The gravity does not affect me, but now, those at the sides will suffer even more." Emeros exined as he casually walked around and took out a fruit, which he tossed a few times and bit down.


    The Pedagogs and Master Teachers were amazed at Emeros''s actions.


    But what was amazing was that Emeros managed to deploy a powerful formation that could counter the area where Veynir deployed his circle. It was extremely difficult to deploy a process on top of an existing circle, and only those who were at least a One-Star Expect of Circles could do so!


    Veynir watched and gritted his teeth.


    "Whoever is backing you is quite loaded. To have made you memorize these circles..." Veynirughed.


    Emeros chuckled.


    "I have indeed memorized it," Emeros answered honestly. It was true. The magic dome that he deployed was a basic protection circle that the Library of the Nephilim taught. It was basic, but considering the significant disparity among inheritance, what was simple to Temple was profound in this world.


    "Nevertheless, seeing that weakness took skill. And I will give you that..." Veynir frowned.


    "Yet, that will only give you a bit of freedom. You have dispelled the gravity there, but if you leave the zone, a gravitational force that was twice the power of what you had would attack you."


    "And that''s where the issue of Concentration happens. The gravitation vortex spins and gathers at three points in this entire circle and acts as a limiter. It limits the amount of magic that flows downward, which adds the challenge of having more gravity the higher we go. Everyone was avoiding the center region, for they must have noticed that that''s where the magic gathers and increases. This was another mistake. For the center is the weakness!"


    With a p on the ground, Emeros began to channel energy. A needle magic shot upwards and moved past the magic dome of protection. It stabbed at the invisible center where the magic was filtered and dispensed.


    STAB!


    The first point of concentration was attacked!


    A cracking sound could be heard even though that ce only had magic.


    Some teachers even fell through that area and didn''t find resistance. But now, Emeros''s attack struck the area, and a sound rang out as if there was an invisible ss!


    "This circle will now break! ss, you are now dismissed!" Emerosughed as he channeled the magic to move further on to the second concentration point!

 Chapter 661 Passing the First Exam

    661 Passing the First Exam


    The barrier magic altered its form as Vivindel easily adjusted its vine body to reshape the position of his vines, and Emeros began to summon a different word engraved in his body.


    Dentor was called, and the barrier rose like a tree, bursting with life and challenging the heavens!


    The shape of the dome became like a pyramid. It rose towards the second barrier and caused the invisible gravity magic to slide to the side!


    As it extended upwards, it was like arge sword with a pyramid-shaped tip.


    "How is his barrier able to move so fast?!


    "Impossible! He managed to repel the gravity magic!" A Pedagog shouted in shock.


    At once, the concentration point broke down, and all the magic being held back fell down all at once!


    BOOM!


    Ilevas saw it and frowned. He began to activate the secret art that heightened gravity. The Earthen Spirit Artifact was the resonating tool to amplify the element. To the knowledge of everyone else, it was Earthen magic. But the true power of gravity belonged to the realms of Time/Space magic!


    The Earthen Spirit Artifact resonated and unleashed a terrifying power of gravity that shot down!


    "Impressive magic, Teacher Emeros! But your ascension stops here!" The Two-Star Combat expert dered.


    The weight of the magic was now stronger. It pushed down on everyone, and even the teachers nearby were being pushed down the floor.


    "Ahhh!" A teacher cried as his body was digging down the hard floor.


    The pyramid began to slow down as its peak could no longer rise.


    But Emeros did not panic. He knew what element to use as he could easily determine the power.


    FLASH!


    His Elemental Fire core shed, and everyone could see it.


    "Fire?! He has an Elemental Fire core?!"


    "As expected of someone with our heritage... But what can fire do against this?" Veynir chuckled as he began tomand the circle to empower and strengthen the pouring of gravity.


    Yet as the Fire Elemental Core within Emeros''s soul glowed, no one could see the engraved letters of this core.


    A word within the core began to glow.


    [Histerion] began flicker!


    Emeros raised his hands and shot a ball of fire.


    The power of Brimstone shot up and devoured the Gravity magic, and it purged the elements approaching.


    BLAST!


    An explosion urred and devoured the gravity.


    "WHAT!?" The two experts controlling the formation were shocked.


    But Emeros took advantage of the gap and shot as fast as it could.


    The gravity poured down on him and shot out once more.


    The sword rose higher, and Emeros was also rising as the vine staff he held was extending and pushing him upwards.


    "Spin!" Emeros shouted, and the rising sword spun around as it deflected the magic!


    A spark could be seen as the spin of Emeros caused the gravitational magic to be thrown at the side.


    "I see! This is why he needed all the other teachers to stop moving and finally decided to help most of us get up here! It''s the chaos of the magic!" Senior Teacher Zwelus eximed.


    "What do you mean? Crea asked.


    "The Earthen Spirit Artifact was designed to shoot its magic and attack everyone inside the formation! Because of this, the gravitational energy was always swirling about and had chaotic movement. But now that only a few remain, and Emeros is the main target, the gravity magic was stable and had a simple downward flow!"


    "And he created a spin to deflect it! So if there were many of us attempting to rise up at the time he would perform this, this spin wouldn''t work because of the great resistance!" Crea understood.


    Emeros rose higher and higher, and another round of Brimstone energy gathered.


    BOOM!


    The second st shot ahead and destroyed the second concentration point!


    "Veynir! Let''s teach this brat a lesson!" Ilevas began to gather Force and Magic, as did Veynir.


    The Earthen Spirit artifact was thest concentration point and the source of the gravity magic. But with the prompting of the two experts, it glowed, and it shot gravity magic of condensed form.


    A yellow crystal-like beam shot down towards Emeros.


    Emeros revealed a sword, and suddenly, the circle around him glowed as he imbued it with Force Energy.


    This was the moment of truth. Summoning magic was easy as the heritage of thends had excellent knowledge of magic. But Force was a different story.


    Emeros closed his eyes as the vision of Kyros appeared.


    Kyros was a ster swordsman who could cut mountains.


    The tattoos around Emero''s body began to glow. He wore clothing that hid this reaction, but if one could see, they would know that the letter that was now burning was the name of one powerful God.


    [Hyperion] began to glow.


    "[Force sh]! Emeros shouted as he shed the sword.


    The power of True Cut was unleashed.


    At the point where miracles were necessary, Emeros seeded in creating one!


    SLASH!


    The Force sh created a force energy that cut through the sword of gravity magic and struck the bottom of the Earthen Spirit Artifact!


    SLASH!


    A strange sound, like the cry of a child, was heard as the Earthen Spirit Artifact began to quiver.


    The Energy Conversion Circle that contained and amplified the energy inside the Earthen Spirit Artifact began to grow unstable.


    The energy that Ilevas was feeding on the artifact began to attack it.


    The magic and force all rumbled within the artifact, and finally...


    BOOM!


    A bright light shed as the Earthen Spirit Artifact exploded.


    Ilevas and Veynir, who stood within the formation, received a backflow of energy and were thrown out of their ces.


    CRASH! CRASH!


    And then, there was silence.


    Everyone was shocked at what they saw. They couldn''t believe it. Two Experts using a formation were thrown back by a mere boy.


    "Unity... The energy conversion circle was not ''one'' with the artifact. It was conducting the energy with it. Once the pathways of conduction were attacked, it would create chaos within. If this circle had been forged with a cksmith, there would have been no problems.


    And as you can see, the energy within the artifact was never stable. The dissonance of energy led to it erupting and copsing from the very powers that created the gravity." Emeors spoke all this in one breath. He was panting and barely able to stand.


    "That... was insane!" Emeros could barely hold himself. He was scarcely able to stand and was only supported by Vivindel.


    His arms and legs all had numerous wounds as the power of True Cut shot out wildly and even wounded himself!


    His entire body was also suffering from significant burns as the power of the Brimstone purged his own body!


    He was without Force and magic. His entire body was suffering from grievous wounds.


    Emeros had taken several pills to recover and replenish his own body.


    The two experts floated above him and had an angry expression.


    Of the two, Ilevas was enraged.


    That artifact was his own weapon that he used to create gravity. The price of that artifact was immeasurable!


    Pedagog of the Enchantments, you wouldn''t even be an expert inbat! If your 14:25


    brother was here, I''d be afraid, but you? Ha! Go pick up the scraps of your artifact! And "You dare to destroy my artifact!" Ilevas roared as he soared with great speed and power towards Emeros. His entire body was coated in dark energy as he flew with immense speed toward Emeros.


    But at that moment...


    BOOM!


    Several powerful shields and magics appeared, but only the first one was necessary.


    "Ilevas. Didn''t you listen? The artifact was not broken by the teacher. You and Veynir broke it yourselves. Such a lesson should be important to you. I, myself, now have an idea how to defeat members of your family..." A woman chuckled as she stood in the way of Ilevas.


    "Two Star Expert of Combat and cksmithery! Pedagog Elizabeth!" Principal Xr eximed. He had moved to block the wild attack of Ilevas along with a few others, but the woman managed to block the entire attack with her bare hands!


    "Elizabeth! Move away!"


    "Or what? You''ll disgrace the name of ournd? Don''t embarrass yourself. Without that artifact, I could break every bone in your body." Elizabeth chuckled.


    Ilevas was fuming in rage, but he had no choice but to retreat.


    "Veynir! You will pay for my losses!" Ilevas roared.


    Veynir was in no mood to adjust to Ilevas.


    "Oh, shut up! You were the one who volunteered for this test! My loss and wounds are because of the frail form of your earthen artifact! If not for your brother, Greater Pedagog of the Enchantments, you wouldn''t even be an expert inbat! If your brother was here, I''d be afraid, but you? Ha! Go pick up the scraps of your artifact! And you owe me for my wounds!" Veynir showed no fear and fought back.


    "Are you alright?" Elizabeth ignored the two and turned to Emeros.


    "Yes." Emeros nodded.


    "Huh? No resistance? Weird. Earlier, in that formation, I had a hard time lying." Emeros gave a suspicious expression.


    Ilevas froze as he heard it and turned to Emeros in shock.


    Many saw the reactions and took careful note of the scene.


    Elizabeth chuckled.


    "Idiot." She mocked Ilevas, who now realized what had happened.

 Chapter 662 Passing a Message

    662 Passing a Message


    The reaction of Ilevas surprised many, and many began to guess just what powers this family has.


    Everyone watching was amazed at the sudden appearance of many experts!


    Those who had appeared as they were impressed by several of the teachers were not even half of the real number.


    Now, with the mirror spell broken as many charged to stop Ilevas, the entire hall had many experts watching.


    Enraged, Ilevas suddenly released a tremendous energy as arger artifact appeared behind him!


    BOOM!


    Elizabeth was blown back as a powerful force threw her and those who stood before Emeros.


    Emeros felt like an invisible giant was reaching out its massive hands to crush him!


    Elizabeth tried to fight back, but the power that Ilevas released was peak leveled and came without any warning.


    CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!


    Numerous lights appeared and broke out as if the edges of the second hall were made of ss.


    Figures and magic emerged and shot toward the wild movements of Ilevas and tried to stop the giant.


    But at the same time, there were a few that revealed a powerful artifact like Ilevas and fought those around him.


    Emeros saw the powers erupt, and the two massive hands of the invisible giant pped out toward him.


    BOOM!


    An eruption shook the second floor as the powers collided.


    Emeros had truly thought he had died and was surrounded by vines and tried to bring out all the force and magic he had at thest second. But now the attacknded as he opened his eyes.


    Elizabeth and Principal Xr stood in front of him with defensive spells readied. But those two shields were not used.


    In fact, all magic and force had disappeared.


    "Aren''t you all... a little too hasty? Where is your honor?" A man asked as he stood above and brought out yet another artifact.


    Emeros saw the artifact that had somehow drained the entire room of magic and force as it began to glow.


    "Act like this again, and I will release all the magic and force gathered on you!" The man warned as his energy dispersed.


    Emeros and the rest saw the room with so many experts.


    "Since when did they... all arrive?" One of the teachers was amazed as he saw dozens more appearing from the broken shards.


    "Oh? You had to move... And here I thought I would witness either the death or the proof I needed. But with what I saw, I can be sure he isn''t." A young and handsome man appeared. He had a saintly aura, and a golden glow was around him. Among everyone, he was the first to gain control of magic even when the others could not yet.


    Many of the female teachers and even master teachers couldn''t help but nce at the young man who had a very divine look.


    "Still, how embarrassing for you, Ilevas. Such immoral and dishonorable actions!" The young manughed.


    "I don''t need some pretty boy Pedagog to tell me what to do! This brat broke my artifact!" Ilevas answered angrily.


    SLAM!


    Ilevas''s face was suddenly facing the ground.


    "By the rules of a Two-Star expert of Combat, you''ve insulted me, which gives me the right to defend my honor!" The young golden manughed as he appeared behind Ilevas!


    "How dare you! You''re not a Two-Star-"


    BANG!


    At once, the young man appeared next to him and pped the other expert whoined.


    FLASH!


    All of a sudden, he appeared back to Ilevas and stomped down.


    BANG!


    The stomp was so strong that it caused Ilevas to fall down to the floor below!


    "Teleportation..." Emeros saw the spell. It was a unique way of teleporting that didn''t exist in the magic of the nesworld or thought in the books of the Nephilim!


    "Space didn''t shorten as he took the leap. No portal was opened to cross the space between. How did he appear there?" Emeros was amazed as he nced at the golden child who suddenly vanished.


    He then appeared next to Emeros as he turned to address the crowd, including the man who had the magic and force-draining artifact.


    "While I do not have the official title, my true identity will grant me the same ss. In fact, I don''t care about the rules. He insulted the great me... In any case, that was a rather impressive show, young one! You have shown to have the capacity to reach our level." The young men smiled.


    "Your level?" Emeros was confused.


    "Yes. Do not be fooled by the title of the Pedagog. There are greater powers that make Two Star Pedagogs merely the start of one''s journey. People think you are from the family above, but they have grossly underestimated your true heritage. Although your foundations are iplete. It''s as if someone from Heavenly Triangle is helping you." The man smiled.


    Everyone was shocked when they heard the words of this man.


    "Heavenly Triangle?!"


    "Pedagog Dermion is from...!"


    Emeros listened but knew that if it was ''that region,'' he had finally met someone from the peak of the Tri union.


    As the memories of Valler gave him ess to many secrets, Emeros had a glimpse of the greatest power. It was the peak where the threes openly gathered together and shared their knowledge. They were detached from all affairs and encouraged wars to develop cultivation and powers.


    The Pedagog system was their tool to push society constantly to a higher ne of understanding.


    Heavenly Triangle spoke of the massive plot ofnd that floated between the threes where the descendants of the lost king dwell.


    Even Ilevas didn''t dare move as he pulled away in shock.


    "Of course, in my case, I didn''t need to go all that trouble to destroy that." The man smiled as the floor suddenly revealed a massive Energy Conversion Circle.


    At once, strange energy began to rise up as all the magic was being repelled.


    Emeros saw the spell and was amazed. It was a simple power that would cause magic energy to rise up.


    "A Four-Dimensional Energy Conversion Circle..." Emeros could not help but be amazed at what he saw.


    It was a profound art that even he couldn''t see through how it happened.


    But as Emeros saw the power of the circle form, he could feel it. The rules within the diameter of the man was altered. It was as if, within the dimensions around him, he held mastery over it.


    Emeros was looking around, and the man noticed it.


    "Impressive! You''re looking at the right ces! To think that some of the mystery of my power would be caught by you..." Dermion smiled.


    "What is this power?" Emeros asked.


    "Domain. It seems your knowledge is leading you to understand this power. But it''s not enough. I wonder why someone from the Heavenly Triangle would get entangled with the lower nes..." Dermion continued to observe Emeros.


    Emeros remained quiet. He did not expect to meet the peak in such a short time.


    "No matter. There is a test at hand, and I won''t help you. Truth be told, Ipleted the mission set to me and would have faked my death. But with the recent reports, I was tasked to pass on a message to everyone here. Hence this grand reveal." The man smiled.


    "A message?" The man who had the artifact that drained magic and force approached.


    "What message do you have, oh heavenly warrior?" He bowed humbly and did not have a shred of arrogance that he had shown earlier when he stopped the battle.


    "Open it." The man smiled.


    Everyone nearby was stunned.


    "You have our support." The heavenly man added.


    The room was silent. Many murmurs were heard.


    But this was terrible news for Emeros! He knew that this meant that those truly responsible for the attempt to open that gateway were someone from the Heavenly Triangle!


    "As for you, I can see there is some mystery in you and found it worthwhile to meet with you. You see, I am sure that you are not from us. At most, you have some scattered knowledge taken from our libraries. At best, I can confirm that you really should be from the highest of the lower nes... Nevertheless, carrying this identity is useless for me now. You have spurred my interest. Should fate lead you up the world, then let us meet again." The manughed as his entire form changed.


    Strange wheels within wheels began to appear as his figure also morphed. He was not a man but a beast who stood and had strange forms. It was as if there were three heads around him.


    Emeros watched as the man rose and disappeared like fading light.


    Emeros recalled the memories of Kyros and the rest and how they held their powers. Emeros realized that not they or the gods and fallen they fought had this power!


    "Could it be? Lanthanou used his power to seal this entire set of skills? This region is isted and weak, but it also has room for many marvelous powers, such as soul binding! And now this...! Domain!" Emeros trembled. Though danger was present, he just now realized that he could greatly help in the future battle if he acquired this!

 Chapter 663 Passing of a Pedagog

    663 Passing of a Pedagog


    The power and mystery of the man amazed everyone as they saw him vanish.


    The Continents Above the Sky boasted of being the kings of each. But unlike their rtionship with the Floating Continents, the Heavenly Triangle was more secretive and mysterious!


    The contacts they made with any of the continents below that have been known to the public were only two incidents in the past two hundred years!


    And the third instance was for them informing everyone to ''open it.''


    Emeros stood there, hiding the expression of wariness and fear. With those words, his attempts to create chaos that would dy the attempts to open this were all for naught. Now, even the kingdoms that do not want to open the seals would falter.


    "I have to act quickly! My timetable just shortened...! I have to resolve the issues in the Floating Continent! No matter the consequences that follow, I have to act wildly!" Emeros cursed and began to think.


    "...Vivindel. Bring out the following stones. I have to use them all up."


    "What spell are we going to use?"


    "The one thatbines all..."


    "That spell?! Master, can your body handle it?"


    "I''ve recovered a great deal of mana through the pills. You also need to help me bear this spell."


    "...Yes, master."


    The entire room was silent and in a daze at what had happened.


    Two-Star Experts were not the peak in the Continent Above the Sky. Only Three-Stars would have the chance in their lifetime to meet someone from the Heavenly Triangle. But now, they all witnessed one. The identity that the man had was rtively famous, yet no one found his true identity in all the years.


    This begged the question, just how deep have these people infiltrated their own families?


    "Ahem... Did I pass?" Emeros asked.


    The Two-Stars, the Pedagogs, and the other teachers were awakened by their amazed expressions.


    "Yes." The man with the magic and force-draining artifact spoke.


    "Then those below failed." Emeros sneered.


    At once, the crowd burst into discussion.


    "This test was not supposed to primarily be a pass or a fail. It was a way for us to help the teachers grow." A Pedagog spoke up as he stood in front of Emeros. He was hidden among the crowds, for there were too many amazing people who appeared, but now he had surfaced.


    Emeros turned to the man and recognized him.


    While others were more powerful and intelligent, this man had another kind of power.


    Political power.


    "Pedagog Lord Barmivus Strekra Werembus. It''s natural for you to say that. Those below are all supporters of the Crown Prince and, by extension, your members. They have failed. This test cannot continue. They had their chance with humility had they heeded my advice. And as I have aided enemies up here, I would have aided themselves." Emeros did not mince words as he challenged the great Pedagog directly.


    Principal Pedagog Xr felt his stomach lurch at the words of Emeros!


    "Did I... hear things correctly? Did you use me of being biased, you brat?" Barmivus''s expression turned angry.


    "Save me your intimidation. Who in this room has been invited to head to the Heavenly Triangle? Did you not just hear the words of that man? Your political power in the Floating Continents, where you are vying to be king of another nation or whatever lineage you have, is not worth weighing on me! That man also confirmed it! I have a heritage from the Heavenly Triangle! I am not someone your family can dare intimidate! I have been patient all the while, but the attempt on my life just now and how you have witnessed the Heavenly Man defend me and attack the one who tried to kill me proves my worth!" Emerosid out the facts all at once.


    With the words of that man, Emeros could no longer waste time. He needed to keep ascending to stop the dastardly ns to open the portals. If the Star Unsealing Path were opened, then the powers that do not exist in this region would return.


    They will be sensed by Beginning and End. Fate and Destiny will start working here. And as it stands, Emeros was not yet confident that he could survive when Destiny would bare his fangs against him!


    Emeros store closer to Bermivus without halting.


    "Well? Answer me, you overrated Pedagog! Pedagog Lord? You even give yourself this name! I can see clearly now. You are a Cardinal, but you wouldn''t be able to defeat a Two-Star Expert of Combat that are Commanders, wouldn''t you?!"


    At once, Pedagog Barmivus rushed in and grabbed hold of Emeros in anger.


    "Stop!" The man frowned, and his artifact spun again.


    But resisting the draining Force and Magic, the sheer physical power of Barmivus resisted the weight and draining energy, and his hand grabbed Emeros by the neck as he lifted the boy up.


    "You brat! You''re not strong enough to defend yourself against me without Force and Magic!"


    "Ac...tually..." Emeros spoke as he tried to pull himself outwards.


    Inside the vines of Vivindel, many slotted materials are carefully hidden. The concept of cksmith was used, and Vivindel had be a living Slotted Staff.


    It was the perfect opportunity to use that magic. The enemy, despite being a Cardinal, had no Force or Magic guarding it.


    And as for the magic used, it was engraved in Kyros''s memories. It was a memory of how Champions created a spell they could handle by borrowing the powers of many. As for Emeros, he had crafted numerous stones of varying elements. Though these stones were not Elemental Cores, they could contain elements and be recharged through alchemy. They contained an attack enough to match a champion full attack!


    All the stones lit up, and the two elemental cores inside Emeros followed.


    Emeros raised his hand up and could barely do so. He took aim at Bermivus, whoughed at him.


    "You really think that your frail form can harm me?!" The Pedagogughed.


    Emeros began to channel the power in his memories.


    Back when they first entered Middle and fought against the Necromancer Cardinal and the numerous Commander forces, the Emberdons created a powerful spell that used Astra''s Code. Emeros borrowed a portion of this and changed the power from a supernova''s explosion into a single concentrated fireball.


    "[Star Burst]!" The moment Emeros spoke the name of the attack he created, the Word of Power was called.


    Astra and Daradiel''s power was summoned and created the attack.


    The power that was supposed to be hidden was summoned through Emeros, the Third part of the Nephilim Trinity.


    While it could not call out the power outside, it drew the energy through Kyros as Time began to connect with thest power that Cminus had.


    Borrowing from the future, Emeros took the power in the past and shot the attack.


    A re shot out. It contained the energy of Fire, Earth, Light, Brimstone, Water, Lightning, Time/Space, Darkness, and Entropy.


    Itbined a Champion''s worth of energy from several stones and added the power of Emeros''s two Elemental Cores.


    BANG!


    Arge hole was left in the chest of Barmivus.


    At once, the strength that Barmivus had over Emeors disappeared.


    He fell down backward, and Emeros also stumbled down with great weakness.


    Vivindel suffered as most of its body was used up in the spell.


    "NOOOO!" Many roars were heard as they confirmed the passing of a Pedagog.


    FLASH!


    At once, a bright light formed around Emeros and created a pyramid shield.


    BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!


    Many met the attack of the shield and failed to even crack it.


    "What a cunning brat. You saw through my lies. You are right... The Heavenly Triangle is very much interested in you. Live on for now. But this will be thest time I will help you!" A voice was heard as many of the people allied to Barmivus attacked in revenge.

 Chapter 664 Passing Numerous Tests

    664 Passing Numerous Tests


    The words that were left behind caused everyone who was enraged to be silenced.


    A pedagog was an important aspect of the society of the Floating Continent and the Continent Above the Sky. It was easier to be a three-star expert at any path than a pedagog since thetter needed advanced knowledge on numerous paths and a focus.


    Only then could a cultivator be a teacher and earn the title of Pedagog. Because of this high demand, there were only several thousand Pedagogs among the billions who resided on the Continent Above the Sky.


    And now, a Pedagog who was expected to reach Two-Star had died.


    The shield that Dermion summoned to protect Emeros remained erect and protected him.


    Those who wanted to protect Emeors even crashed on this shield.


    But with Dermion''s announcement, the attacks stopped as the allies of the enraged ones began to prevent them from attacking.


    "Enough!"


    Magic and Force were drained once more as the one controlling the artifact had an enraged expression.


    "Before us all, Pedagog Barmivus had shown intent to harm Emeros, a student of the Floating Continents. He even issued a challenge to Emeros in his mocking words. His death is easily ruled as Death By Challenge. None of you can refute this! Barmivus held on to Emeros and mocked him even though my powers drained magic and force from him!"


    The room was silent.


    "Whatever political changes the Floating Continents have, or whatever rage the family of Werembus may throw, it is irrelevant. All of you may bear your fangs at Emeroster. But now, unless you want to draw out the rage of Dermion, keep silent! He concludes the first test! I willmunicate with all who have the authority to represent their families and work with Principal Xr to prepare for the teachers'' final exam! Xr. Preserve the corpse of Varmivus. I''m sure the kingdom where he hails as king will want to retrieve the body."


    Xr bowed as the light shield vanished, rushed to take the body, and gave orders to officiate the procedures. He handed Emeros several pills, but Emeros fed half to Vivindel.


    Both began to recover from their severe wounds.


    "You, brat! War will be upon thesends because of you!" The man with the draining artifact cursed at Emeros.


    "And my death was the other choice? An arrogant Pedagog who isn''t even an Expert in Combat tried to kill me, and I challenged him with the strongest attack that I was gifted with!" Emeros hatefully answered.


    The man watched Emeros and could tell the severe injuries that he had.


    "Hmp! Then you better hope the King will be merciful and heal you from those wounds. The tests will continue. That is if your ss has proven worthy of it!" The man answered as he flew out and passed through therge open windows now revealed as the magic field covering the second floor began to vanish.


    Emeros copsed, and Xr held him. Then, she began to cast special healing magic and fed Emeros more pills.


    "That was... too... awesome!" Xr spoke under his breath.


    Emeros was surprised.


    "I was originally going to y things neutrally. But that Pedagog you just killed has been a thorn in the side of many. He is constantly growing in power, and he has political backing. We could never reach him or kill him. But now, his death has happened, and the many powers trying to get a footing not just in this kingdom but in the other kingdom will surely break into chaos! Prince Alistair will most likely be the strongest one within this kingdom now. I believe the words are now spreading even as we talk. War will surely happen." Xr smiled.


    "You seem... excited that war is going to happen."


    "We all are. The terrible curse of the Floating Continents is that you have a wholend of people and a great poption constantly boasting of power and falling into their selfish schemes. In our school, I have seen how politics, wealth, and power have twisted the next generation''s minds with trendy and apparently righteous beliefs. They are a self-centered generation full of delusions that put them high on a pedestal. But war will be the equalizer."


    "You''re not at all worried about the losses?"


    "The most dangerous type of war will be the Crashing Continent Battle. That usually marks a full-scale invasion against both sides. Obviously, the goal is to prevent that. As was revealed by Valler, we don''t want that to happen. And now, rumors of this dark n to open the Star Unsealing Path thanks to Prince Alistair''s recordings."


    "But do not underestimate the words that Dermion left. He spoke of opening that Path... Which means they will be more involved in this and will surely hasten to push for a Crashing Continent Battle."


    "The man''s words are indeed terrifying. But nevertheless, this will still take time. Just like this continent, the death of Pedagog Barmivus will create an immense political battle. Prince Alistair also spoke to me before this about another n he has. He wanted me to pass on this message. Iughed at his ns as they were insane. But now... seeing what you''ve done..." Xr turned to the dead body of a Pedagog.


    "You defeated Three Pedagog-level individuals in this exam! That crazy might work!"


    "What n?" Emeros frowned.


    "We''ll talk about itter. What matters now is to recover you for the test. After all, your students will likely fail, and we must find a way to resolve this. I''m sure you already have your ns."


    "Do my students need to pass now?"


    "For our n to work, yes. They have to."


    "I originally nned to have them challenge a high-ranking ss once they fail."


    "That would have been possible before. But you''ve killed a Pedagog! You have more enemies now who will go out of their way to make your life harder. The Crown Prince''s allies will be enraged, and while they will lose the race for the throne, you will be their primary target. I think most of them would even go to great death-defying lengths just to harm you. And so, your students will probably fail this exam. I will argue that you''ve only been a teacher for two weeks and push for a study on the rate of improvement your students have."


    "Hmm... I''m not sure. I have seen my students'' eyes, and they have been pushing themselves to pass this exam as a ss. While certain individuals may fail, some will likely seed. Severalpetent and gifted students could get very high grades. And I did teach them numerous foundational teachings. But as to how effective the new foundations are, I do not know. My only issue is that the testers and checkers assigned will mistreat them. " Emeros frowned.


    Meanwhile, the students taking the tests were generally unaware of everything happening.


    Mackerel walked out of the seventh room, where he had received perfect scores, leaving the students and testers in shock.


    "Too easy... I can''t believe Teacher Emeros was right. Most of these tests, forcibly destroying the formation results in our win..." Mackerel sighed as he saw other students leaving the rooms he had just done.


    "Well?" Macekel asked one of the students. He had told them to try his methods as he passed by them.


    The energy conversion circle test was a true current identifying test. They were to find the first current that the circle was made.


    "It worked! The foundations of these formations are weird. It was advanced butcked many of the things Teacher Emeros showed. We could destroy it by simply moving our energies backward!"


    "Yeah! I was skeptical, but we both took this test and used the energy crystals to overload the circle wall, make a backflow, and shoot directly toward the finish line! Wepleted the test within ten seconds!" Another student reported with glee.


    "Quiet, you idiot!" Mackerel silenced the two.


    "Remember, we must hide the Soul Merging that hides these crystals within us... Now go and tell everyone you find of this trick. And for those taking the cultivation ssroom, the students can be overpowered. The juggling and dexterity training that Teacher Emeros and Teacher Serena gave us made them look as slow as snails. Don''t be intimidated and hit them in their private parts when they attack! They all use the movement technique, Shadows of the Void, so with our training, we all have a thirty percent chance of winning if we hit that part on the first flight." Mackerel reminded.


    The students nodded and went ahead to report the findings.


    BOOM!


    A ssroom broke down as the mes forced everyone to leave.


    Quinn left the room and shook her head.


    "What an idiot. His mes had no foundation. He wanted to battle who could cast the magic faster, and he lost..." Quinn chuckled.


    "Hm... This method works. Instead of casting a spell, we''ll shoot out more mana using that basic magic throw training that we received and cause the opponent''s magic fireball to explode as the energies grow chaotic... I should tell others about this..." Quinn decided and went on her way to find ssmates.

 Chapter 665 Passing Too Perfectly

    665 Passing Too Perfectly


    Since the school sought to be a birthce of Pedagogs, teaching was a vital lesson and practice that the students needed to develop.


    The second-year students had a tremendous gap in terms of knowledge and strengthpared to the first-year students. They were tasked to be the checkers and in some exams, the examiners of the first year. This was also one part of the exam for them.


    They were expected to surpass the first year by many miles, and it was an internalpetition for the best ss of the first years to try and gain a perfect score on the tests.


    But now, a small rouge group of students were passing andpleting the tests with incredible speed!


    The Energy Conversion Circle exams now had eight students who hadpleted the tests at record speed!


    The numerous tests and how students can take time to wander also allowed ssmates to help and warn each other of the other tests. However, as most tests involve practical actions and applications, a student can only pass on a theoretical clue on how to pass. But they never imagined that a simple hint of ''moving backward,'' which by all logic would have been dumb advice, would have be so effective!


    BOOM!


    "Arrggghhhh...!" Another second-year examiner was struck in the groin and curled down to a ball.


    "Is this my victory?" Mackerel asked as he drew his fist back.


    He fought against one of the strongest second-year students. His opponent ranked among the top one hundred among the second-years. He was heralded as one of the students with the potential to reach the fastest speed in the academy. His current speed could even confuse third-year students! All because he was a technique genius and had perfected numerous movement techniques.


    "... You cheated!" The second-year examiner eximed.


    "How exactly? Didn''t he challenge me to the fight, and I followed the rules?"


    "You!" The second-year students could only point at him and curse.


    They feared the emblem Mackerel held and the scene of Emeros breaking the bones of third-year students. They practically caused another ss to drop because of the expected decrease in the points they would suffer.


    In fact, since the news of the Vashura ss now seeding in many tests spread out, the student and the ss from which Emeros made a decress to deduct points are expected to drop more than thirty ces in their ranking!


    No one could fight that.


    "What do we do?" A second-year student asked the ss president.


    The student that was struck in the groin was crawling back. He was the ss president.


    "That... bastard!" The president began to stand up.


    "What way or cheat did you do?!" The ss president erupted and boldly used.


    "I will give you a chance to take back those words." Mackerel held out the emblem.


    "My emblem can be used many times, you know?"


    "So what?!" The second year held out a brighter emblem with a golden coat.


    "A Master Teacher Emblem!"


    "Try to call on your teacher! You underestimate the exam they have! Master Teachers, on the other hand, are free!" The studentughed as he pressed on the emblem and invoked the call.


    "By ordered decree of Master Teacher Desyerto! I invoke a Master Teacher''s Judgment! The Vashuras are conniving and using strange techniques to take advantage of the ss! Now they have bested our ss six times and gained high marks! An impossible feat for a ss at the bottom! We request guidance and instruction to see through these lies and tricks! Fellow students! Follow me as we see through the lies!" The second year cried out, and his voice was carried by the power of the emblem and rang across the examination chambers.


    Mackerel''s expression turned ugly. He knew that the teachers'' exams would even be longer than this!


    Numerous ssrooms were also following at once as five more Master Teacher''s Judgment had been invoked!


    The other students who heard the requests also began to do the same thing. These students treasured the Master Teacher''s judgment and wouldn''t use it for trivial matters. It was often used to spare their lives when the sh between these important and more powerful students was used.


    But now, they had been humiliated as the tests in which they acted as examiners were all easilypleted by the Vashura ss.


    One after another, the calls rang out.


    Emeros heard it from the floor as he was recovering.


    "Master Teacher''s call? What''s going on?" Xr frowned.


    Emeros also sighed.


    "This means that my students are doing well. Too well..."


    "What? Your ss is doing... too well?" Zwelus was amazed.


    "No worries. This problem is easy to resolve. I just have to be more... intimidating." Emeros smiled.


    Emeros stood up, held on to Vivindel, and used their link tomunicate.


    "Have you recovered enough to create a sound-amplifying formation?"


    "Yes. I have managed to recover some of the blood I''ve burned up with those pills." Vivindel answered.


    "Good." Emeros leaped down the hall to the surprise of Xr.


    The teachers below were discussing in great detail what to do now that the Pedagog was dead. He was an important lifeline for the prince and, therefore, for them!


    "Idiots! Get out of the way!" Emeros shouted as he fell towards them!


    SMASH!


    "Dodge!" The Senior teacher cried.


    The teachers were nearly struck by Emeros and jumped off to the side.


    "What are you still doing here?!" Emeros roared in irritation.


    "YOU!"


    The teachers roared and were about to attack when Xr and several othersnded to defend Emeros.


    The teachers were starting to hesitate to see the defenses.


    But before Xr could answer, the vines of Vivindel had already taken root.


    "A mere teacher dares to attack me?!"


    The voice of Emeros boomed all across the school.


    A magical formation that allowed Emeros''s voice to be heard up to two kilometers away was activated.


    "I have killed Pedagog Barmivus! You think I can''t kill you?!"


    Everyone in the school heard it.


    "...Teacher?" Quinn was surprised.


    Chevik was also astounded as he heard it. He was the one who spurred a Cultivation examiner to use the Master Teacher''s Judgment.


    "Ever since I stepped foot in this school, you all have made it difficult for me! But now, a Heavenly Man, someone from the Heavenly Triangle, supported me twice, and I have killed your precious Pedagog! Where is your backing?! Where is the crown prince?! If he continues to hinder me, I will use all my connections to kill you all! Anyone who dares to treat me wrong and my students, I will kill as I did to Pedagog Barmivus! And let''s see which support you have!"


    The voices shocked the entire school as the news that was supposed to quietly spread had suddenly been made known.


    Xr couldn''t help but smile as he realized Emeros''s words. It was a cry of anger. A cry of exhaustion. A cry of someone far beyond the edges of their sanity.


    "Who dares to hinder me?! I will kill all of you as I killed a Pedagog with my hands!"


    The voice cried out.


    "You! You want to feel it, too?! That spell? Which of you three?!" Emeros demanded.


    "Ahhh! I will go! I will go!" A teacher pleaded.


    "Principal! Stop this madman!" A Senior Teacher cried and pleaded.


    Those words echoed across the rooms.


    The students holding the Master Teacher''s Judgment emblem noticed its light snuffed out. This meant that the Master Teacher they were calling refused to heed their call!


    The students who lifted their challenge all shook in fear.


    "Oh? Teacher killed a Pedagog. Wow. That even amazes me, his student!" Mackerelughed.


    "Is it... Is it...?" The ss president of the second-year examiner couldn''t believe what he heard. The voices of the teachers pleading and arguing could still be heard. None denied the fact that Emeros killed a Pedagog!


    "I wonder if this is true." Mackerel held out his glyph once more, slowly glowing with a pale purple light.


    "Stop! Stop! We will recant our request to invoke the scores! You passed! You passed!" The student cried.


    Simr scenes were happening across the examination floors.


    Even the Vashura students who were suffering greatly from the unfair treatment of their examiners found themselves going through the normal tests!


    Fear had crippled the second-year students bent on embarrassing Emeros''s ss.

 Chapter 666 Passing is Impossible

    666 Passing is Impossible


    Emeros was now resting and recovering. It was revealed that the next test would continue the next day and wait for the student''s exams to finish.


    Xr began organizing and gathering the teachers to prevent the exam results of the Vashura ss from being tampered with.


    Knowing that Emeros had gained confidence in his ss''s results, Xr only did his part to minimize any tampering that would surely ur.


    Emeros sat down, and with him were several teachers who used to be neutral or had antagonistic leanings. But now they waited with Emeros not because he killed a Pedagog but because of his support.


    Emeors saw the powerful men and couldn''t help but feel nostalgic.


    "Kyros and Noxus were always surrounded by powerful allies... Was it like this?" Emeros thought as he watched the teachers silently wait along with him.


    "May I know how the Student''s Examination is ranked?" Emeros asked.


    "...No one exined it to you?!" Senior Teacher Zwelus was surprised.


    "I recall Teacher Fred being tasked with delivering this message to you. I guess he never left." Senior Teacher Crea chuckled.


    "Let me exin. The students have individual rankings, and the ss has a ranking based on the total points of the ss."


    "So it''s not an average? What if there is a superior student in the mix?"


    "Then that superior student is expected to help the rest up. We are called to be teachers here."


    "I see... Then what is the passing score that we need as first-year students?"


    "The passing score for your ss will probably be set to that of the lowest ss, which is 1135 points. Your ss has to reach this point system. The Vashura ss is ranked at the bottom- the ss ranks 234 at zero points. As a reference, the first-year ss ranked 233 has a current score of 547."


    "Wait...!" Emeros perked up.


    "They have 547 points already?!"


    "That''s from the previous test. Their ss needs to acquire 500 more points."


    Emeros felt as if his stomach vanished.


    "...It''s... it''s that high?!" Emeros reacted.


    "...Err you... didn''t know? You seemed confident, teacher Emeros." Zwelus asked.


    "I knew it would be hard, but that''s freakin'' impossible! I didn''t prepare for this since I didn''t know it would be this great!" Emeros eximed.


    Everyone was silent. The biggest issue was that Emeros didn''t know the rules. Otherwise, he would have prepared.


    "Curse that Teacher Fred! Who is he?! Is it you? You look like Fred!" Emeros scanned those nearby.


    "Er...! Teacher Emeros. None of us is teacher Fred! I''m Bobby!"


    "He was one of those who did not pass. He was the clean-shaven one among those you threatened earlier, " another teacher added.


    "Damn, that teacher!" Emeros cursed. He was starting to get worried. "How is the point system scored during the test?"


    "Each test has a point system, and it varies. Some will grant you a perfect score of ten, while the others could grant you hundreds, depending on how youpleted it."


    "And the second-year students'' examiners put in the points, correct?"


    "Not exactly. A magical codex records every student''s actions. The examiners are merely confirming what the codex sets. The second-year examiners input their judgment regarding the methods and means, whether the student cheated or got lucky in the test, into the Codex. For example, in a cultivation test where the test is a battle, the examiner can only input how long the studentsted, what techniques were used, or, in rare cases, how long the examiner fought until he lost."


    "But that is just for one test," Zwelus added.


    "While they can individually fail the test and get low marks, the overall counting is the total points for all tests they took. Of course, the students get deductions instead of additions for every failed test."


    "So the more the test they take isn''t the answer?"


    "Originally, it was. But with the new rules, it isn''t."


    Emeros felt his vision darken. He had heard the students nned to take numerous tests to gain points!


    "And the codex assesses this pass or fail?"


    "Yes. In the case of a cultivation battle, the Codex assesses it as it also has detailed information about the examiner. So even if a student lost the fight, if the Codex sees the student worthy enough given their levels and strengths, it will grant a pass to the student. I believe the highest record score was a Third Year student who defeated a Fourth Year student. He acquired twenty-three points in one test. The highest marks possible for that battle. This student wouldter be a Pedagog and is now a Two-Star Expert of Combat serving in the army in the Continents Above the Clouds."


    "It was strange that Pedagog Zedos was not here during this test... Perhaps he has a mission." Zwelus sighed. "Twenty-three points in a single battle... I doubt my students could get that... I haven''t seen the nature of the tests after all..." Emeros started to get worried.


    "How many students does Rank 233 have?"


    "They have thirty-three students."


    "Thirty-three?! I only have twenty-three students in my ss! I need each student to earn at least 50 points!"


    "That''s why you were expected to fail, Teacher Emeros, " another teacher added.


    "Fragment! Fragment! Fragment! I knew it would be hard, but this is ridiculous! Passing is impossible for me!"


    "No matter. I''m sure Principal Xr can negotiate this. This is your first test. It''s illogical for you to be ranked ording to that standard. We will make our petition." One of the teachersforted.


    "Will it even work? A lot of master teachers hate Emeros. Principal Xr can only do so much." Crea sighed and shook her head.


    GONG!


    A massive sound shook the entire school.


    "The First Years'' Exams are over. It is now time to rank the ss, " a Master Teacher announced.


    All the students and teachers began to gather once more in the massive hall where the teacher''s examinations were held.


    Emeros followed the teachers who were with him and couldn''t help but tremble with nervousness. His ascension to the highernds required sess and miracles. But the timetable for thesends was growing short, with the Heavenly Triangle''s desire to open the path!


    Emeros watched in horror...


    "As you know, the magical codexpiles and resonates with every student codex to rate it. Principal Xr has ensured that the Codex is not tampered with. So the results of this are sure. First Years, see the results of this test for your eyes and ept your faith! And for the lower sses who have not yet reached the 1000 points mark, the passing mark is 1135. Should you fail, you will be given one more chance or fall to the Vashuras." The Master Teacher nced at the Vashura ss at the side and sneered.


    "Does he know...?" Emeros trembled.


    "Teacher Emeros, the Master Teacher, is only taunting the ss. No one knows the results until the Codex calctes and disys them, " another teacher encouraged.


    But everyone was quite worried. Emeros had allowed them to work with those Beyond the Clouds, and they did not want to see him fail.


    "Still hoping for a miracle?" A cold voice spoke.


    Emeros turned, and there he found several teachers, Senior Teachers, and Master Teachers.


    Emeros frowned.


    "Which one of you is Fred? How dare you leave out important information to me!"


    "Hmp. Will you threaten us again? You boldly shouted and threatened many. But now, we see you as you really are." A Master Teacher stepped forward, obviously filled with rage.


    Emeros frowned. It was too fast. If the Master Teachers were scared of him earlier, why did they have courage now?


    Pedagog Bermivus was his ticket to a good life! But now, it was alling crashing down, with his foes emerging from all sides.


    "Threaten? That teacher failed to perform an important mission. I shall challenge him and kill him!" Emeros eyes grew intense.


    "Fred is recovering from his wounds. You should fight with me. Haven''t you killed a pedagog? What is a mere Master Teacherpared to that!"


    Emeros frowned as the enraged teacher stepped forward with his energy gathering.


    "I''m also recovering from my wounds. Or does he admit my superiority?" Emeros challenged back.


    "Oh, I assure you, he is a better teacher than you! His ss, the Fire Heart Passion, is ranked in the top 40 among the first years! Your students won''t have the qualifications to be on the list after this!" The Master Teacher walked on andughed.


    "I can''t wait to see you fail!" The old man''s voice rang out, but Emeros remained silent. He could not refute the man, knowing his ss was in danger.


    He nced at the ss on the other side of the hall, who also had nervous expressions.


    "Those four ought to have passed and perfected some test... The Master Teacher''s Judgment was probably because of that... But even if they score over fifty... we''ll still fail!" Emeros cursed.

 Chapter 667 Passing is Too Easy

    667 Passing is Too Easy


    The students and teachers gathered in the grand hall as the initial announcement rang.


    The second-year students also gathered close by. Normally, they would be uninterested in this. But a certain ss had garnered great hate as the students had offended many. The magical projection was also being shown all over the school, and even those in their fourth and fifth years were watching.


    The news of Pedagog Bermivus''s death spread like wildfire. It became a hot topic, and everyone became interested in Teacher Emeros.


    Many did so in anger, while others were astonished. No one in the kingdom had ever been significantly favored by a heavenly man.


    The Master Teacher unsealed the power of the Codex, and the magical Codex whirled with great light.


    Suddenly, the lights exploded, and the Codex disyed a holographic image that shed above.


    The Master Teacher read the projected words.


    "3,213. True Legends ss. Formerly Ranked 1st among first years, new rank: 1st."


    The numbers disyed were shocking to everyone. It showed the total points, the ss name, the former rank, and the new rank.


    A list of all thirty-three students and their respective points was shown. The highest was 93, while the others averaged 60s.


    "Hmp. You still need to rely on me to win." A tall, fair-skinned woman frowned and nced at her ssmates, who were all bowing in shame.


    "Oh, not bad! Not record-breaking, but not bad." Zwelus smiled.


    The ss named the True Legend retained their ce, and all cheered.


    "Next ss..." The Master teacher tapped on the Codex.


    "3,201. Over Mana ss. Formerly Ranked 3rd among first years, new rank: 2nd."


    Another ss rejoiced loudly, while another began to groan in defeat.


    "Next ss: 3,197 Meta Mages. They were formerly ranked 2nd among first years, but their new rank is 3rd."


    The Meta Mages were not excited and continued to curse andin as they noted their individual records. Although they were only short by four points, almost every student had regrets about the exam.


    Emeros watched in amazement. He could see that the points the three sses had acquired had increased by over 2000 points!


    He silently watched and turned to his ss, who looked nervous.


    "Is 1135 points possible? Such a great gap..." Emeros could only watch helplessly now. He cursed himself and even vowed to try and be more serious in teaching the students.


    ss after ss was named. The most surprising was the twenty-fourth ss, who suddenly shot to the top ten!


    "2,122. We''re Doing Our Best. Formerly ranked 24th. New Rank: 10th! My congrattions on a shocking leap!" The Master Teacher shouted.


    There was a great eruption of cries, and many lifted three students above their shoulders.


    The points showed that two students had over fifty points!


    "Amazing improvement!" The Master Teacher cheered.


    Meanwhile, Mackerel turned to Chevik.


    "You think you can earn fifty points?" Mackerel asked.


    "I don''t know. I was only a student for three months before I was tossed into the Vashura ss. I never even made it through the tests," Chevik sighed.


    Everyone was nervous.


    Though theypleted and perfected several tests, that could only award them ten points!


    The list went on and on. The differences between one rank and those lower were not so great. Some had less than 30 points difference. This continued from the 15th spot down to the 40th.


    Teachers, senior teachers, and master teachers all appeared in the sses named to congratte or reprimand their students. Some of the sses mentioned belonged to teachers standing around Emeros. But with respect to Emeros''s worries, they did not move.


    "1,729. Fire Heart Passion. Formerly ranked 42nd. New rank: 41st!" The master teacher announced as the ss cheered. Though many sses had leaped ahead, they had surpassed many and still acquired 41st ce!


    In ce of Teacher Fred, a Senior Teacher walked up.


    "See, Emeros? The very teacher that you want to kill is far from your level. Many sses taught by senior teachers have made great leaps. And Teacher Fred has led his ss valiantly in fighting thispetition!"


    "Master Teacher Desyerto, is it so nice to taunt a young teacher who has barely been given a month to teach his ss?" Crea''s Master Teacher finally spoke out.


    "Master Teacher Verde!" Zwelus and Crea voiced out.


    "Hahaha! This teacher has in a Pedagog! Surely, such miracles are not beyond his reach!" Desyertoughed.


    "This school challenges the genius and the prodigy! With too much power, a higher standard must be ced! That is only logical! Therefore, Emeros should be held ording to the miracles he has made! But s, not even the heritage he received from the Heavenly Triangle or the Continents Above the Sky has helped him catapult his team! If I had the same knowledge, my ss would easily enter the top fifty!" Desyerto boasted.


    "Right!" "Exactly!"


    The other teachers behind Desyerto also taunted.


    "With such heritage, I would have easily ascended to the heavens!" Another teacherughed.


    The teachers around Emeros were silent and could not argue. They did have some valid points! Emeros was believed to have a great heritage.


    Emeros was trembling in anger. He opened his mouth wide to answer but then froze.


    "Oh? Cat got your tongue, Teacher Emeros?" Desyerto challenged.


    The restughed, but then they noticed it wasn''t just Teacher Emeros who had his mouth wide open. All the teachers behind Emeros and even the Master Teacher of Crea, Master Teacher Indon, were also petrified in shock.


    "Hm?" Desyerto was confused.


    "One... One..." A shocked voice echoed out behind them, and Desyerto turned around.


    "1,725 points! Vashura! Formerly ranked 234th! New rank... 42nd!" The Master Teacher announcing the results was in stunned shock. "Impossible!"


    "WE DID IT!" Chevik shouted with all his might, and the Vashura ss all rejoiced with him.


    "Master Teacher, do not lie to us! How did this ss earn such a high rank? Show us the student scores!" Dessert couldn''t ept this.


    The Master teacher tapped it again to disy the student scores.


    The projection showed the names of all the students and their respective scores.


    ---


    Mackerel- 197


    Chevik - 172


    Quinn- 151


    Anna - 144


    Levert - 90


    Stephen- 87


    Ovicious- 81


    Estes- 79


    Arvius- 66


    Brendon- 66


    Penn- 61


    Weirsbe- 59


    Eriner- 58


    Crowden- 57


    Vert- 57


    Mordred- 56


    Artinus- 37


    Reinand- 37


    Joey- 36


    Tenor- 35


    Philemon- 34


    Asius- 33


    Hadan- 32


    ---


    The scores all appeared and caused even the first ss to widen their eyes.


    "Over a hundred points?! Four students of the Vashura have acquired over a hundred points?!"


    "The one on the first spot! He nearly has two hundred points! He is even more than twice the points of the First Year Prodigy Lefrea!"


    The tall, fair-skinned woman of the True Legends ss trembled at the score of Mackerel.


    Emeros quickly stabbed the vine down the ground and pulled as the vine began like a giant slingshot.


    Like an angry bird, Emeros shot himself out, and the vine on the ground also coiled and wrapped around him as they flew towards the First Year Students'' location.


    Emerosnded on the ground and ran towards the excited and rejoicing ss to celebrate with them.


    "CHEATERS!"


    "EMEROS CHEATED!"


    "INVESTIGATE THE EXAMS!"


    Cries of anger were heard as those who hated Emeros began to cry out.


    The Master Teacher, holding the Codex, began to tap it profusely, and numerous details began to be projected on the halls above. This time, the projection covered arger area, as all the details were magnified.


    The Plus and Minus system was shown at once.


    Those who scored thirty points in the ss could only bow in embarrassment.


    "Don''t be sad! We barely had the chance to pass on the tricks on the other exams..." Chevik smiled as he passed them on.


    "There are so few minus points... I thought you all nned to take as many tests as we could." Emeros asked Mackerel.


    "We did, Teacher... but when we started to figure out the tricks, Chevik instructed us to wait, and our ss only took the exams that had a trick revealed," Mackerel exined.


    Emeros saw that the ss only had a few minus points andughed.


    "Master Teacher Desyerto! Isn''t passing this exam... a little too easy for me? Where was the challenge?" Emeros mocked.


    "You cheater!"


    "I didn''t cheat. You said it yourself! It''s because of my heritage! I killed a Pedagog! Even a Master Teacher is not at my level!" Emerosughed again.

 Chapter 668 Passing through the Records

    668 Passing through the Records


    The entire school was in an uproar as they saw the results.


    The Vashura ss, the trash of the school, the ss that was supposed to be their charity to the mortal world, broke numerous records in their first test.


    They passed many established records. Unlike the previous record-breakers, they were the Vashura ss!


    A score of 1,700 points on the first tests of the first year was unheard of. The first test and the first semester were supposed to be shocking experiences that would make the students realize how little they knew and push them to study. Even the first-ranked ss of the first-year students only had 1,200 points!


    The 500-point gap was difficult to cross, and this was one of the schools'' highest records for the first test!


    Even more frustrating was that four students had crossed the one-hundred mark! No ss in history has done this!


    Mackerel reached the top five students in the school''s long history!


    The rest were in the top twenty students!


    Emeros wasughing in great delight. His tears were falling in the joy that he now had.


    "I demand an investigation! How can four students reach over a hundred points?!" Master Teacher Desyerto demanded.


    "Master Teacher, didn''t you just say it? It''s obviously because of my heritage and superior knowledge! I did kill Pedagog Barmivus! He was so arrogant! Who asked him to hold me so close while a Two-Star Above the Sky drained his force and magic? What an idiot!" Emerosughed


    "We demand to review the exams!" Desyerto ignored Emeros''s taunts.


    Many teachers began to voice out the same sentiments.


    "Silence! This is a record-breaking achievement, and it will naturally call into question the four individuals who broke the records. Let''s see the tests where they were given full marks..." the Master Teacher announced.


    BOOM! BOOM!


    Several shock waves and explosions were heard as many Experts and Pedagogs came flying inside the grand hall.


    The tests had attracted many and made some curious to see the potential of the four.


    After all, those who reached the top twenty in the school''s history had be Pedagogs and Two-Star experts in the Continents Above the Sky and were taken in by many families. It was the perfect time to choose a disciple.


    The appearance of the Great Ones, who were clearly interested in the test, made the students envious, as they were flying directly above the ss of Emeros!


    But it wasn''t just this. The rest of the ss had high points; even the lowest was over 30 points, which was a high score! Those points were the average students in the top fifty ss would have scored on a first test!


    The Master Teacher willed it. The Codex disyed the types of tests that all the ss had.


    It was a grand list of each student''s exams and the points they amassed.


    It was shown there that, aside from the top four, most students had numerous minus points across the board but suddenly had perfect scores in magic-wielding, energy conversion circles, and some cultivation and fighting tests.


    But it was revealed that most of the ss took only fifteen different types of tests, while the top four took over twenty!


    "Energy Conversion Circles... Magic Wielding... Cultivation tests..." Crea read Emeros''s students'' tests.


    "Aha! Look! All the students have perfect scores on the Energy Conversion Circles tests!" Desyerto pointed out.


    Everyone saw the scores and was enraged.


    "Cheater!" Many voices were heard. Those who failed the tests led the way.


    Many Master Teachers also voiced out.


    "Silence! You are quick to use, but who has conquered an Energy Conversion Circle that uses an artifact here?" Emeros challenged.


    There was silence.


    "Can any master teacher confidently say they can achieve victory against the two-star experts of those Beyond the Sky? If I can, won''t my students naturally be able toplete the formations that you have made? Show me the exam types, and I can surely tell you what my students did! Unless Teacher Desyerto can show us how to easily surpass the challenge and break down the artifacts and formations made by two-star experts." Desyerto had an ugly look on his face.


    The students began to murmur as they saw Desyerto''s expression.


    "Is it true, then? My teacher said that Teacher Emeros really did that! Now we know that it is true!" One of the students whispered.


    "It''s got to be true! Look! Master Teacher Desyerto can''t even deny it." Another student pointed out.


    "You and your students are different people!" Desyerto shouted.


    "You, yourself, boasted that if you had the same advantages I had, you could lead a ss into the top fifty. I am better than you. That''s why my ss reached the top forty and is only a few points from the ss of Teacher Fred. And since Teacher Fred has not delivered the report of the school''s tests for the Students and the teachers, I would have scored better and reached the top thirty!" Emeros sneered.


    "I demand a review! Look at the Formation Circle Energy mapping tests! All of the ss received perfect or near-perfect scores! While four geniuses may appear, how can all pass?!"


    Desyerto''s words drew many nods and agreed reactions among the rest of the students.


    "Within our midsts are honored Two-Star experts of various formations! Pedagogs who are One-Star experts of those Beyond the Sky or equal to Three-Star Experts here in the Sky! They will surely reveal the cheats you have! Have you not created a glyph that reflects the effects of a Teachers Judgment Emblem?! You weremunicating with them, weren''t you?!"


    "How? I was busy taking the tests and killing your precious Pedagog Master?" Emerosughed.


    Desyerto grew red in anger.


    "Besides, if that was true, the Two-Star Expert, Pedagog Ilevas, would have noticed it. After all, that formation blocked all telepathicmunications! Or are you questioning Pedagog Ilevas''s works?" Emeros challenged.


    Pedagog Ilevas was among those who arrived. He only nced at Desyerto and Emeros, and it wasn''t clear if he favored one over the other.


    Desyerto could only swallow his words.


    "My ss must have found the weakness of this. Aren''t they allowed to help out the ss? I''m guessing it was Mackerel who found the weakness of the formation and told the rest. It''s that in and simple- just like that circle that they easily broke," Emeros sneered.


    "You dare! You brat are lucky that Senior Teacher sious is taking the Teachers Exam for second-year teachers! If not, he would have rebuked you to your face!" Desyerto raged.


    Emeros had a strange look on his face.


    "Now that you mention it... why are there too few teachers who took the test with me." Emeros scratched his head.


    Almost everyone was startled at his words.


    "Ahem... Teacher Emeros..." Zwelus arrived. He had been crossing the distance since the announcement.


    "The teacher test we took was only for the teachers who have first-year students. Before our test began, each teacher went to their respective examination centers. The second-year, third-year, and fourth-year teachers are in different venues and take different exams. It''s been reported that the exams have just concluded," Zwelus exined.


    "Oh..." Emeros nodded in understanding.


    A message talisman lit up.


    "Master Teacher Desyerto! The Second-Year teachers have concluded their exams. They are headed here!"


    Desyerto sneered.


    "Then we shall see! Teacher sious is on his way here! He will tear away your smug face and reveal the trash that dares to make it look like gold!" "Let hime. We all took simr tests, and we finished our hours ahead. This means that this sious is quite slow." Emeors mocked.


    "Who dares to call me slow?!" A man shouted in anger as he arrived, flying in.


    "You? A mere captain with some good tricks?!" sious challenged.


    "Enough of this. You! y the students'' exams. I am curious how they passed. Since the creator of this team is here, he can observe and see how the students really passed. Show me a close-up look of the formation and then show the students who are the top eight within Emeros''s ss." Ilevas finally spoke and called the Master Teacher handling the Codex.


    "Ye-yes, Pedagog!" The Master Teacher bowed and began to demonstrate everything ording to Ilevas''s instructions.


    The projection disyed the tests


    "You! The one called sious! Exin this exam!"


    "Yes, Pedagog! This is a standard energy path-finding exam. The goal is to sense the Circle''s energy route and disable the core. It tests their magic sensitivity, area mapping, magic resistance, and concentration. The perfect score ispleting the test in eighteen seconds," Ivs noted.


    "Sixteen. There are parts of the mazes that can be bypassed." Ivs added.


    "...I am humbled by Pedagog''s correction."


    "Nevertheless, this seems like a good test worthy enough to be made in the rudimentary test for people Beyond the Sky!" Ivs nodded.


    sious felt his heart pound at the praise.


    "Now... let''s see how these students pass."

 Chapter 669 Passing Through a Backdoor

    669 Passing Through a Backdoor


    At themand of the Pedagog, the projections of the students'' tests were finally shown.


    The top eight of Emeros''s ss were shown.


    Everyone watched as the students held on to the energy conversion circle''s magic deployment orb located outside the circle. This is where the students would pour in their magic to find the pathway to the circle.


    Two seconds passed, and unlike the rest, who suddenly forced their way forward, the energy of these students stayed where it was.


    The moment Emeros saw it and saw the flow of energy, heughed.


    "Hahahahaha! So that''s how you did it! Brilliant!" Emerosughed and praised his students.


    Everyone was confused as Emeros was giving high-fives to Mackerel and the rest.


    In the several seconds that made the teachers and the students all frown at Emeros...


    DING! DING! DING!


    The test of the four was suddenlyplete.


    Everyone was shocked and turned back to the screen, where they saw a strange phenomenon.


    The four didn''t follow any of the trail, and the magic energy just somehow vanished, causing the light energy at the heart of the circle to suddenly light up, indicating they hadpleted the race.


    "What?!"


    "How?!"


    Ilevas saw it and frowned as he quickly observed the others.


    The footage of the other four slowly revealed how they suddenly passed, even though no magic had forced its way forward to find the path. "There! It''s clearly cheating!" Desyerto shouted.


    The teachers in the second, third, and fourth years were by no means better than those in the first years. However, the first years were said to be the easiest to teach. The teachers of the higher years were admired as they had to build upon or change what the first years had. And as teachers had different focuses, the students'' foundations would vastly differ from what the teacher would teach.


    As the saying goes, tearing down and rebuilding the academy was easier than building upon another foundation.


    These teachers had little allegiance to Emeros. In fact, most, if not all, hated him. News broke out that many teachers in the first years had been approached by several experts Beyond the Sky because of Emeros''s odd teachings.


    The loud chorus of cries came from these teachers as they called out the man.


    The remaining few who held out judgment against Emeros were also now frowning at the cheat.


    "Revoke the scores! They cheated!"


    "A disgrace to this school! How dare a teacher teach his students to cheat!"


    But Emeros simply sneered.


    "Cheating? How? How would I do that? I was facing the tests and helping other teachers pass and eventually had to fight an arrogant, stupid, but thankfully, now deceased Pedagog!" Emerosughed.


    This caused many teachers to re at Emeros and curse at him all the more.


    "This test aimed to assess the students'' magic sensitivity, area mapping, magic resistance, and concentration. My students have done superbly and found the fatal w of this circle. It is so weak it makes meugh!" Emeros taunted.


    "If you want, present me your circle, and I will dismantle it in one second!" Emeros boldly called out.


    "We don''t need to! Your treachery is already proven in the way you-"


    "Pedagog Ilevas. Do you want to know the answer?" Emeros called out to the Pedagog.


    Ilevas frowned.


    "From your circle earlier, I''m sure you have your guesses. But your suspicion forces you to disbelieve it because if your guess is correct, then all my students would have that, and that is impossible, am I right?"


    Ilevas''s frown turned into a shocked expression.


    "It can''t be! How?! It''s impossible! Not even for the Heavens!" "Improbable, but not impossible. You have undoubtedly found all the information about me, along with detailed exnations of my life in the mortal realm. The answer is easy. I made one."


    Ilevas trembled.


    "You made one?!"


    "It''s only logical if you think about it..."


    Ilevas trembled.


    "Pedagog? What is he..." Desyerto asked.


    "Silence!" another Expert shouted. He was also skilled in Energy Conversion Circles and made the same guesses as Ilevas.


    "May I know the name of honored Pedagog?" Emeros bowed.


    "There is no need to bow among equals." The Pedagog spoke.


    "I am a One Star Expert of Combat and Expert of Magic, Tykor-Forge. I may not be as skilled as Pedagog Ilevas in Circles. But I guessed the same thing he did. And I understand perfectly what you mean..." Emeros smiled.


    "Then, two honored Pedagogs who have seen through my ways... if you help me rify this confusion and keep my secret, I could share it with you." Emeros smiled.


    The two Pedagogs trembled.


    "You... would?!"


    "I helped teachers pass. Be it they were friends or foes. If the ones who sent me down there have bound me with great secrets and forced me to live in this memory-less state, I will find allies on my own. I may be from the Heavenly Triangle, but currently without support. Naturally, I would not be arrogant enough to do this. So, it would be better if I had people from different families helping me. Besides, from what Valler revealed to us in secret, I know your two families are actually allies." The two narrowed their eyes but said nothing in response to this.


    "You. Follow his request. Bring out or create the same circle you made. In fact, make it harder by three folds. Ask your Master Teacher to help you and have five other teachers defend the circle. He will break it in less than five seconds." Tykor-Forge spoke and shocked the rest of the teachers.


    "Le-less than... Fi-five...?!" Senior Teacher sious felt a severe blow to his pride. Wasn''t he just praising his test? Now, his ingenious energy conversion circle would be broken in less than five seconds? This harshly attacked his pride as a teacher and an energy conversion circle specialist!


    "My thanks..." Emeros bowed.


    "Hurry!" Ilevas ordered impatiently.


    The teachers began to scramble and prepare for the tests. Desyerto dared not to make any more usations but waited.


    Soon, arge te was brought inside, with several magic deployment orbs ced in front of Emeros.


    Desyerto, several other senior teachers, and sious stood on the other side while Emeros waited.


    "Hmm... With this enemy... I guess I only need three seconds to break this." Emeros taunted.


    The six teachers were all enraged at his words.


    "Let''s stop him! Flood the circle with our magic! Let''s make it a brick wall and push him back to the abyss!" The teachers shouted as they began to charge magic and held onto the circle.


    Emeros tapped on it and began to count...


    "One!"


    All the teachers simultaneously released a powerful surge of magic that empowered the energy conversion circle. Unlike the ones the students took, this one pushed a great amount of energy toward y.


    "Two!"


    "Pour it all in!" Desyerto roared, and everyone sted their mana toward the circle, pushing it back toward Emeros.


    Emeros tapped on the magic deployment circle and barely poured magic in as the teachers roared and charged their magic.


    But it was all part of a trick.


    "I win..." Emeros sneered as he rode on the strong magical current sent by the teachers.


    BOOM!


    FLASH!


    The circle shook, and the lights at the center lit up, indicating that the magic of Emeros had triggered it andpleted the test.


    The teachers were shocked and stunned at the scene and didn''t understand how the circle failed.


    Ilevas and Tykor-Forge began tough out loud.


    "Idiots! You feel for his trap! Hahaha!" Ilevasughed.


    "That was a good show! Hahaha! They tried to stop him and ended up proving his prophecy! Idiots!" Tykor-Forge clutched his sides as heughed andughed.


    The six teachers were confused and didn''t understand what happened.


    "Honored Pedagog! Please enlighten us...!" Master Teacher Desyerto asked.


    "It''s simple! The moment the students of Emeros saw the test- I believe it was the one called Mackerel- they instantly understood the weakness of this formation. Since the goal was only to light up the center, they took a straightforward yet unimaginable method!" Ilevas exined.


    "Simple...?"


    "Yet unimaginable...?"


    The teachers repeated.


    Everyone was also curious, including the other Star Experts Beyond the Sky.


    "Even I didn''t know of it until the students revealed it. I calcted that the best time was sixteen seconds. But with that method and their cultivation level, I would say seven seconds would be a reasonable score. However, they did discover a NEW method. So, I would grant the one who did it first an additional ten points. Since he told the ss, the other students won''t get any scores." Ilevas added.


    "A new method?! What method is that?!"


    "Didn''t you just show it? You pushed a lot of magic as you fell for Emeros''s taunts. And that surge of power broke through the walls of the circle," Tykor-Forge exined.


    "The walls? That means...!" sious eximed.


    "Exactly! The way to pass this test was to use massive energy and move the magic backward with great force! Ram the wall, destroy it, and use a backdoor to the center!" Tykor-Forge exined.


    "But... but... Pedagog! Isn''t that cheating!?" Desyerto asked.


    "Cheating? He just showed us all a new way to destroy a formation. In fact, you could say this will change how energy conversion circles are used in warfare! Emeros has already cleared one of the requirements of a Pedagog! Create or discover something new. This method is unique, but now it''s possible! And what is interesting is that his students discovered it, too!"

 Chapter 670 Passing Through Small Gaps

    670 Passing Through Small Gaps


    allmand them to arise. Perhaps this is what my goal is as the third person..." Emeros quietly reflected.


    Tykor-Forge slowly approached Mackerel.


    "The legendary eye that can see magic..."


    "I do not dare im that I have legendary eyes. But I have eyes that can see through magic, as Master Pedagog guessed..." Mackerel bowed.


    "To see that the flowing magic is not a circle... not even one-star experts can see that up there. You know that the general knowledge and level of what is here above is three steps? A first-year up there would equal a third-year here. That''s the general consensus; even the experts here are rated simrly. You could be great. I can take you as a direct disciple." Pedagog Ilevas offered.


    Everyone who heard it, teacher or student, felt envious of such an offer. They also saw Mackerel differently.


    Mackerel was also shocked at the offer. He took a few deep breaths and answered without even turning to Emeros.


    "Master Pedagog, I am very honored, but I have to decline. I wish to stay with Teacher Emeros."


    Ilevas did not seem offended and only smiled.


    "Fair enough. Your teacher is quite amazing. But I won''t be second to him if we talk solely on eyes."


    Emeros nodded and didn''t argue. He knew that Ilevas was telling the truth. The magical formation Ilevas created was impressive, given this ce''s limited knowledge andck of foundation.


    "Forgive me, Pedagog, but I disagree."


    "Hm? You disagree?" Ilevas frowned.


    "You guessed my ability correctly. And I do not underestimate that. I kept this a secret. And you found it instantly. Teacher Emeros also did. But you missed out on one other thing. I was not the only person who discovered this. The ss perfected different exams because another among us had a keen understanding of such things. You have seen that student''s exam and haven''t seen through this student''s ability. Teacher Emeros has. And this is why I would humbly ask to stay in his tutge."


    "Another student?!" Ilevas nced back to the screen and couldn''t tell.


    "You mean to say... there is another among you who took the test for the first time andpleted it at such speed?!" Ilevas asked.


    "Yes, Pedagog."


    Ilevas was amazed. He nced around and carefully observed the other three potential candidates. Yet he could not see which one it was!


    Finally, Ilevas turned to Emeros. He had seen their conversation and knew that none of the students had told him specific details about how they had passed the test.


    "Who did it?" Ilevas asked.


    "That would be, Joe."


    "Joe?! Who is Joe?!" Ilevas returned to the screen and read through Emeros''s list of students.


    Many others did the same thing."


    "Joe mama. Hahaha."


    Nobodyughed.


    "Er... Sorry. I just.. that was the perfect time to... erm... it was obviously Anna."


    "Anna?" Ilevas turned to the woman.


    "You... You discovered it?" Ilevas asked.


    "Erm... Yes. I felt that... Teacher Emeros... Could you exin it to me? Could you exin how it felt?"


    Everyone was surprised at the absurd request. Why was Anna asking Emeros what she felt?!


    "You felt another road. Like there was a leak. The truth is, your approach seemed simr, but it was different. You only told the students that there seemed to be ''another'' path because you felt it, didn''t you? Your magic spread through the circle and found the gaps thatmon knowledge wouldn''t find. Mackerel knew there was no beginning and knew it would create a backflow. You felt a gap since this formation still needed to be a circle and that there were pathways which normal mana can''t slip through." Emeros exined.


    "Ye-yes. That''s right! There were... odd gaps that were so small. But I did feel it." Anna found the confidence to im the once unbelievable sensation that she wouldn''t dare bring up.


    "Gap? What gaps?!" Ilevas was surprised.


    "It''s almost impossible to sense it. But her unique magic affinity allowed her to feel it. Mackerel saw, she felt. You see, this formation has no circle. The ones in the exam also have the same thing. But, because of the strain of being used in exams, the constant mana being sent in had to go somewhere. It would do the phenomenon of Circle Mackerel and even Anna unknowingly taught students to ''breakthrough'' the beginning 14:43


    and get to the end. But Anna did so differently. This is because she can wield fire as if it Tunneling. The magic would seek the center no matter what. That is the nature of the Circle and why it should be created as a circle. This is another weakness of this kind of formation. No circle, no flow, and if I were to guess, these examination formations would have to be repaired every fifty or so tests, correct? "


    The teachers and senior teachers who were responsible for handling the exams nodded.


    "I believe the ones my students used had to be reced after about a dozen tests... Mackerel and even Anna unknowingly taught students to ''breakthrough'' the beginning and get to the end. But Anna did so differently. This is because she can wield fire as if it were water. And that water easily found the gaps, the backflows, everything. Shepleted the exam by passing through these small gaps that mana would not ordinarily pass through unless they became so small that the wielder couldn''t sense it. But if you can wield it like water, that''s a different story."


    "Fire like... water?!" Ilevas was amazed at the concept he heard.


    "Yes. You could get another Energy Conversion circle like the ones they used to take the test. It should work as long as these boards are used at least ten times. Anna couldplete it in five seconds- three if an older formation is used at the high forties." Emeros exined.


    "A circle... It starts where it ends, and ends where it starts..." Senior Teacher sious muttered.


    But as Emeros exined, his heart was pounding hard.


    "A Circle. A cycle... Beginning and End. To bring the End back to the Beginning. Opportune Time... Kyros. Noxus, which is Night. And I, Emeros. The Day. A cycle..." Emeros tried to hide the shing insights in his head.


    "But... something is off... Fire like water? Impossible!" Ilevas frowned.


    "It''s the same thing why the others passed." Emeros chuckled.


    "You...! You can''t mean...!" Tykor-Forge was also shocked.


    Emeros only smiled.


    "...I believe this proves that Emeros won by skill. Continue with this ceremony. Unless you think that our judgment is insufficient, you would have to look at every one of Emeros''s tests?" Ilevas challenged.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!