Ascension of the Nephilim

The first thing the team did was wait at the pool that Kyros had discovered a while back.

Kyros finally dove into the pool. Kyros began to relax and allowed his body to fall into a defenseless state. Then, almost instantly, Kyros fell asleep.

Mezal and Branze were busy discussing things with Gojirrah about the world beyond them.

The other members of the Steele Family continued to train as they had a tense environment, learning of a possible battle that would erupt soon.

Aron watched Kyros, who was asleep, floating in the waters as he rested on a log he made.

Reptilia stood guard near Kyros and waited.

"I'm still shocked that Lizardfolks would have people as beautiful as you." Aron laughed.

"You are... Lord Kyros's uncle, Master Aron?" Reptilia asked, but her heart was racing.

"Oh? You don't have to be scared. I'm just casually commenting. I'm already engaged to someone else. Besides, you are a Champion. So it's not as if I can force myself to you."

"...I am bound to obey everything Lord Kyros wants."

"I really doubt he'd order you to do something like that." Aron chuckled.

"Besides. You should have noticed by now. Your chains aren't that tight. Haven't you noticed how Gojirrah is happily serving Kyros?"

"He is an exile of our land. He has no home here. I have my kingdom to serve. And I was forced to deceive many of them." Reptilia frowned.

"Liar." Aron laughed.

"Can Master Aron please tell me when I have lied?"

"I've lived a life of a disowned knight who has never found his home. Our Steele family has always been pursued and mistreated. It takes one to know one. I'm no genius, but I know someone as beautiful as you would not be assigned in lowly places such as this world. So why would you be sent here? No. You weren't sent here. You came here by your own free will. You fled from something or someone, right? Going here is very difficult for Champions in the first place, yet you took the risk. You desire to grow strong, and the honor you live by forces you to serve this kingdom. But that's it." Aron laughed.

Reptilia was silent.

"And from what I understand, that Kingdom isn't even a real kingdom but a gathering of lizardmen following the mighty."

"If you are trying to ease my pain in being forced to serve Kyros, please save our words, master Aron." Reptilia spoke coldly.

"You don't know what it's like to war against your own..."

"Own kind? Own family? Oh, but we do. I doubt Gojirrah has told you of Destiny and Fate. But you see, the Steele family has been cursed. We always fought to survive, overcoming the schemes of our neighbors and people we thought were friends. And you got caught up in this family. I'll tell you right now. What we will be fighting will not just be lizards and humans or our kin. It'll be the world itself. We are at war against the world itself!" Aron warned.

"The motivation and loyalty that you have for Kyros and the Steele family should be more than just your bound vows because I'm sure that you are like us. You are cursed."

"Cursed?"

"At first, it was just the Steele family. We were a mighty clan called the Olander clan. But we met betrayals, schemes, and attacks from all angles. All but the three of us survived. My father realized we were cursed with help from some shaman. But then the people we attracted, the knights you see before you, stuck with us because they never had anywhere else to go. When we lost most of our power, they continued to serve us. And even though they cannot be called knights, they decided to become mercenaries for hire serving us. I thought it was just a coincidence. I mean, as they say, birds of the same feather stick together. But then... Diana and the tragedy were approaching the Redblade clan. And then Martha Bowheart. And then that Orc called Grugnyr, who also seemed to have lived a cursed life. And after that, Gojirrah, who has clearly had a tough life. And now you." Aron smiled.

Reptilia raised her head for the first time and glanced at Aron.

"It seems Destiny has always been against us, and Fate is bringing us together. It's us against the world. If ever the day comes that you are freed from the chains that bind you to service, keep that in mind. Your family in Fate is with us. So what I'm trying to say is..." Aron locked his gaze at her.

"Don't betray this family. If you do, I won't even bother to kill you. You'll suffer more that way." Aron warned.

The power of the Sword expert was released, and the water rippled out as if something was being slashed on the waters.

"Sword Expert..." Reptilia felt the power of Aron.

Suddenly Aron turned around.

"Hm? A dragon is approaching." Aron frowned.

Mezal and Branze also stood up and stopped their discussion.

Kyros suddenly opened his eyes.

"What is this power?" Branze wondered.

"It's Aunt Martha. Interesting. So this is a dragon."

"Dragon? There is a Dragon here?" Reptilia was shocked.

"Gojirrah didn't tell you?"

"I thought it would be a nice way to improve her morale. So I decided to avoid telling her the details of what you were discussing and how we can receive the lineage of dragons." Gojirrah laughed.

Suddenly, the power of several Champions could be felt from the place where Kyros and the group were.

On the path outside, two power sources could be felt.

One came from the direction of the Golem City, and the other came from the direction that led to the mountain's exit.

"That was fast..." Aron was amazed.

"The advantage is that Faye joined us. It's different from a Life Compass, but mages use an artifact known as the Path Finder. It released a unique frequency of energy, and not only can it tell the direction, but it can also even sense the closest way to move towards it provided with the least obstruction. So even though it's their first time through the maze of this mountain, they can tell which path to take and avoid all dead ends." Mezal explained.

A large carpet could be seen hovering on the cave, and several people were there.

The Coven, Diana, Mechiel, and the surviving slaves sat down on the large flying carpet as it moved into the cave.

"Almost there..." Diana sighed.

"Finally... We'll all be together again..." Scarlet sighed.

Hunter was silent but kept smiling as he looked at his companions.

"Hems... Hemsey... We couldn't have achieved this with you two." 

Mechiel watched in amazement at the scene. But deep in her consciousness, the aspect of the Blood Calamity felt it.

"Destiny....? This girl is tied to that Nephilim!" The Blood Calamity sensed a strange connection between the two.