Ascension of the Nephilim

Aron and Branze were stunned at what they heard.

"This Temple is created by several Gods and Fallens. Airom Logat has the Blood Calamity's sealed body. It's clear that both regions have something about them that makes them special. We've seen the amazing things the Temple can do. And the Seal of the Blood Calamity was also formidable. But we have never understood what the power source of both seals was. Especially this Temple. What powers this Temple?"

"Wouldn't you know? You're dad said you're the one sealed in this Temple, right?" Aron asked.

Branze and Kyros looked at him.

"He's the one sealed in this Temple?!" Gojirrha exclaimed.

"Wha-what?" Aron asked at Kyros and Branze's questioning look.

"I mean... I know dad must have figured this out, given how smart he is. But there's a reason why I haven't been saying anything. You should have just respected my privacy and kept your mouth shut, uncle. It's very rude. Even Grandfather didn't pester me."

"Seriously, brother." Branze shook his head.

"What the fragment?! What's the matter with that question?! So what if I'm rude!? I just found out I'm descended to a sword god! I'm sure that whatever secrets you have, it can't be different than what we have, right?"

Branze and Kyros continued to give Aron a discriminating look.

"Brother, we weren't sealed, were we?"

"Well, no. But it can't be that different, can it?"

"I formed a dark core. It should be superior to the Earth Core or the True Entropy Core that you saw." Kyros harnessed dark energy on his hand.

"Woah." Aron marveled. He had felt powerful darkness before him.

"This darkness is too amazing! It's like I'm standing in front of the dark abyss!" Aron added.

"Whatever I am, I can convert this energy and turn to the opposite. You guys have Hyperion Steel's Code, and while I also have it since he bestowed to me a part of his blessing, I can do other things like this. [Skotos Eis Phos]." The darkness became light.

Kyros stood up with a powerful, potent light energy. The darkness was like a shadow, and it moved like fire around Kyros. But now that it was light, it made Kyros look like an angel.

Aron, Branze, and Gojirrha had their mouths wide open.

"I don't want to talk about my secrets." Kyros sternly warned his uncle as he dispelled the light.

"Anyway... I found a dragon egg in Airom Logat. They were among the rocks being mined. Most of the miners and even the Champions guarding the mountain must have no idea what those things were. But I'm sure some of the orcs know. The dragon egg was being guarded by a heavy escort. While they also carried a lot of precious ores, I believe that it was only a cover. The higher-ups of the orc kingdoms know what they found. And honestly, the humans should have figured it out soon. But Airom Vagat doesn't have any of these dragon heritages. I believe this is because of this Temple. It must be absorbing the entire mountain region."

"So the Lizard Lords are after this. Gojirrha, you said that many changes are happening within the Lizard empires in this place?"

"Yes. Several Champions have arrived. And by the looks of it, more is coming. We don't understand what's going on, but these Champions are taking over the group. Rumors are that Commander level warriors are to appear here. And that was thought to be impossible."

"Look's like Fate's Challenges are coming. Fighting Commanders sound fun, too." Aron laughed.

"Although Fate is currently not attacking us, it seems that whatever traps it has set will still be sprung. This Lizard Lord challenge took a while to bear fruits, but it looks like it's still coming despite Fate's promise of not intervening and making our life difficult..." Branze started to ponder.

Kyros was about to say something, but then his expression changed.

He immediately read the chat group, read Martha's team's updates, and even started rereading the discussion.

Hunter kept detailing what they were doing.

Back in Airom Logat, the group was able to follow the call of the Dragon egg and found themselves facing the wall.

The slaves carried a few torches that allowed them to see, but Martha and the rest led the way with their vampiric eyesight.

"It's leading to this wall. This should be your time to shine, Mardock." Hems chuckled.

Mardock nodded and began to approach the wall.

"Please channel your mana into that Core to help me." Mardock requested.

Hems poured all the magicMagic he had.

"... That's it?" Mardock frowned.

"Erm... Yeah. Sorry. I only have sixteen magic points." Hems laughed.

Hunter and Hemsey reached out and poured out their magic as well.

"Since we don't have any use of this yet, might as well..." The two chuckled.

Mardock sighed but finally decided to move and harness his energy on the wall.

"When we get back, let Cornerstone recharge me of more energy. These battles you all had me do have made me expend quite a bit of my power."

The wall began to crumble as Mardock touched it.

"Entering the wall." Hunter sent a message and took a picture of Mardock breaching the wall.

Kyros was conflicted. He figured out something from what his father said. There were several peculiarities in the events that Martha reported.

"Should I let them...?" Kyros frowned.

Kyros began to hesitate and pondered on the best course of action.

"I have to, sooner or later..." Kyros decided.

"Lord Kyros. We have found a wide chamber leading deeper into this cave. Mardock had to break through a few meters worth of rock to reach it." Martha sent a message.

Kyros sighed.

"Alright. The Dragon Eggs are different from other eggs. I dropped a few drops of my blood, hoping that the egg would absorb it. These dragon eggs don't hatch from being incubated or nested, but they must be exposed to any compatible energy source. Of course, it isn't like just throwing the egg into the fire, but it must be placed into something that it can absorb. Try to find some dragon corpse and put the egg inside of it. Dragon graveyards are usually the birthplace of many dragons as the energy of the dead dragon is left on the corpse and fossils of them."

"Can we sense these energies? I can't feel anything."

"No. We can't detect it or harness it. That's why you guys have to be careful. Touching or stepping a dead dragon can be lethal if the dragon has cultivated to higher levels. The remnant energy can kill an average man. Being exposed to it can already harm people because of the radiation. Have the slaves move cautiously. You guys probably won't be affected, considering your current form. But be careful, nonetheless." Kyros detailed the information regarding dragon eggs.

Martha confirmed and began to call out to her companions.

"Slaves. Stay back and remain in that spot. If this room has dragon remains, you could be killed by the radiation." Martha warned as she started to move deeper into the room.

The three H also followed Martha and moved into the room.

The dragon egg began to tremble slightly.

"It's here! It's moving, and the call of this egg is starting to get stronger!" Hunter could feel it.

The rest also began to search carefully. They could feel the strange premonition becoming stronger and stronger.

The group moved deeper and deeper into the path that they could not even see the slaves or the light of their torches.

Soon, the sensation that they were feeling was getting stronger and stronger.

The group reached a dead end and found nothing. Suddenly, the call from the egg vanished.

Martha motioned for Hunter to give her the egg. She held it and began to concentrate as she tried to use her Foresight to understand where the egg is leading her.

And then she frowned.

"Lord Kyros. May I call?" Martha sent a message.

Suddenly Martha received notifications that Kyros was calling her.

"Aunt Martha." Kyros spoke after Martha confirmed to answer.

"Lord Kyros. It's strange. I tried to use my Path of Foresight, but when I held on to the egg, I could sense that something is telling me not to hold on to the egg."

"Ugh. I knew this would happen. I was hoping this wouldn't be the case, but it looks like the worst-case scenario has happened. Be careful. The premonition you are getting isn't a call of Fate. It's a call of Destiny. That egg is leading you to a trap."

"This is a trap of Destiny? But I thought that you said Destiny couldn't act for a time."

"No. What I meant was that whatever plans Destiny had, was hindered. But Destiny ought to have laid many traps. That Dragon egg is probably one of them. Despite how amazing a dragon is, a dragon egg should not and cannot have the powers to broadcast faint whispers and allow those who are on the path to becoming Fate Challengers to hear it. The Blood Calamity can. We do know the origins of that egg. It must have been exposed to the Blood Calamity, or that egg is being used by Destiny as a medium to trick us. Destiny could have even used the blood I fed it to awaken a stronger."

"I'll retreat then."

"It's too late. If the call of the egg disappeared, it means that you are where the egg wants you to be. Aunt Martha, I knew this, and I purposely allowed you guys to be trapped. I sort of figured this out, and I was conflicted in sending you inside. But Aunt Martha, I won't always be there to protect you. Since you bear the name Steele and is a member of my Coven, you have to overcome the trials of Destiny and Fate. If you do win this trial, then the rewards are also great. I'm sorry for doing this, but the Blood Calamity was too strong for me! You guys don't have the luxury of time. You either get stronger now, or you will die in the future. I did this because I know you have a higher level in the Path of Combat. Fight the enemy. Defeat Destiny and get back here. All of you." Kyros suddenly ended the call.

Martha was shocked as she read the words of Kyros. But she did not panic. She had done the same to the three H.

"Lady Martha?" Hunter asked as he noticed Martha's peculiar expression.

"Be careful. We might die here today. Destiny... You must be watching. Hit me with your best shot!" Martha shouted, and the power of Fate Challenger rippled out.

CRUMBLE! CRUMBLE! CRUMBLE!

An intense vibration occurred as the floor beneath them started to cave in.