Ascension of the Nephilim

The Golem King's expression changed to a rather complicated one as he heard Kyros's question.

"Is something wrong?" Kyros couldn't help but ask as he noticed that Petra had a bewildered look.

"The truth is... we don't know."

"You don't know? Erm... How long have you been here?"

"We do not know. This world is of endless darkness. We could not tell how long exactly, but it must have been centuries already."

"I doubt that with your intelligence, you weren't curious about it. You didn't bother to explore the deep areas of the mountain? I understand why you can't go up the mountain towards our place because of your vow as protectors... But surely you should be able to go deeper and explore the depths of this mountain, right? How else are your golems going to get stronger if not by going on some hunts?"

"We have explored it. It took more than a year, but we achieved it! We know that the monsters that appear beyond the city are of different races."

"So it's not just Lizards in here?" Kyros was amazed.

"Yes. You must have seen from Stoph's power that our Elemental Golems are quite strong. We've led an escapade to massacre the enemies that we have here long. At first, our enemies were orcs, and we routed them and even massacred them. And even when we searched every inch of the mountain, some orcs would suddenly appear out of nowhere."

"They just appear?" Kyros pondered.

"Could this be like some spawning ground?" Calaminus wondered.

"Spawning ground?"

"It's very common in the games of my other incarnations. Monsters appear on certain locations. Maybe this whole place is a dungeon-like structure that is commonly seen on many light novels. But if we were to try to replicate that, we still need to consider the energy source that creates these monsters..." Calaminus guessed.

"If it just spawns monsters, it wouldn't create things that are as organized as those Lizards were. The monsters have sentience." Kyros mentally argued to Calaminus. He turned back to Petra and continued asking.

"What can you tell me of the sentience and intelligence of the monsters? Do they seem unrelated to the rest?"

"When we wiped out the first batch of orcs, those that followed even asked us what had happened to the former group. We soon ascertained that the first orcs we fought and those that came later were related. So they weren't merely created monsters that the Nephilim Sealing Temple randomly spawns." Petra explained as he could guess what Kyros was considering.

"You've thought of that as well?" Kyros asked.

"Yes. We've interrogated a few. Some were sent here. Others would fall into some accident and awaken to find themselves here." Petra revealed.

"Are there any portals or such deep inside the Temple?"

"None. That's the thing. There is definitely a portal that sends monsters here. Some go in willfully, some by accident. But as to where they appear, it's pretty random. Eventually, we stopped our efforts in eradicating the monsters and focused on defending the city. Our efforts were wasted, and we lost quite a bit of the energy that the Gigantes Earth Core provided. If we kept an aggressive front, we would run out of life energy, and the monsters will overrun us."

"Then you switched from offense to prioritizing defense and hunting? That means the lizards weren't that many before."

"Yes. We often send out our squads to hunt for more monsters to kill to refuel us and act to make our Golems grow. Sometimes, monsters that are not lizards appear all by themselves. At times, they are a small group. Some are confused and uncertain where they are, while others know about us and the other races. These groups become our source of life and possibly food for the monster groups that eventually formed. The lizards managed to hide from us and gather through their burrow ability. So by the time we realized their numbers, we couldn't expend any effort to kill them all." Petra explained.

"I see. If that's the case, this mountain must extend a great distance."

"It does. It takes over a year to reach the end. During the age of orcs, we reached the end. Two of our Jeweled Golems were the ones that led the campaign."

"Those are the two inactive ones?"

"Yes. They had such low energy that we placed them into a deep sleep to be refueled. Since our life energy dwindles the more we move and fight, constantly exploring the Nephilim Sealing Mountain that goes on and down the depths is reckless. So we focused on hunting monsters and kept bolstering our numbers while bestowing energy to recover the energy of our golems."

"Then were you just in a war? The number of your Golems and the remaining energy of the Gigantes Earth Core looks terrible."

"Yes. We just did. The Lizard had a campaign against us these past hundreds of years. And frankly, we are losing. We estimate that we could hold this for a decade."

Kyros took a mental note. The Gigantes Earth Core stated that it would take them 182 years before they dwindle with their current upkeep. But if they were in battle, then the energy they would draw from the Gigantes Earth Core would only be enough for a decade.

Kyros was silent and began to think. The vision he saw earlier revealed a majestic war that involved all races, and even the gods and fallen took part.

"Could this Nephilim Sealing Temple be a gate to another world?" Kyros guessed.

"That sounds like the logical answer. Various races are trying to enter this plane, and we get to be the guardians. But how was it that this place never got opened in your previous life?" Calaminus wondered.

"We can only make guesses. There are too many mysteries here. But one thing is certain... We have a dungeon to conquer." Kyros sighed.

"Can you help us, Cornerstone?" Petra finally asked.

"Yes. This looks like a good place for the Steele family to grow. What I'm afraid of are the political mind tricks that occur and the betrayals of kingdoms. In this place, the Steele family can fight Fate together! Our knights can help in hunting and replenish your ranks as well as aid you in the wars to come!" Kyros declared.

"Good!"

"But...Petra. Regardless of what happened, your stupid Elemental Golem or Jewel Golem or whatever that idiot is... He nearly killed my family. Since I am the Cornerstone that you claim, I will demand three things. His current strength will be canceled and be brought back to a Soil Golem. Do not worry about his body. I can use all of it to make something just as powerful from it. And secondly, I demand that he becomes my summoned golem! And the third thing...!"

Kyros laid out his third demand as he noticed the approach of Avary through his Micro-Management skill...

Branze Steele was moving faster and faster. As the group moved, Avary continued to detail the features of Aron Steele, which convinced the group that they were, in fact, from the Steele clan!

Avary also mentioned all the knights and their respective prominent features. What was more, Avary was able to point out some things about knights, such as their personality and habits. Avary also praised the bravery of these knights.

Of course, Avary was still tied up and was being carried like a log. The darkness around him just wouldn't disappear, and so the group maintained caution when talking with Avary. But of all the things he said, the details of Lord Kyros Steele continued to amaze them.

Soon, the group reached a wide splitting path.

"Move to the right! But be careful! The Golems are there!" Avary warned.

He had told them that the Golems had the power and strength to challenge a level 30 knight.

As the group ran, Avary could see a bright light shining somewhere. The source of the light was still hidden as the tunnel turned right.

"It's that! That's the Golem City! It was dark before, but it lit up a bright orange glow when we reached that place!" 

Branze grew serious. He had fought a lot of magic users in his career as a knight. Though he didn't have Mana, he could tell that there was a thick amount of Earth energy.

But as they took the turn, they were startled as a line of golems were waiting for some twenty meters from where they were.

"What the...?!" Avary was stunned. 

Among the golems were three particularly powerful ones that Branze felt he had no chance of slaying.

A red golem emanating great fiery power stood. A green emerald golem also stood, and powerful poison energy that could corrode stone was there.

But the most horrifying one that had caused Branze to fall into a state of shock was the golem at the very center.

It was a large golem. Its body was made of metal, gold, and rocks that shined like diamonds.

"Humans of the Steele family, I believe?" The Golem King asked.

Branze and the mercenaries trembled at the sight.

But the bounded Avary noticed something, but before he could speak, the Emerald Golem approached.

His face looked extremely angry as if he would burst out and start killing everyone.

Each step he took caused the group to sense the poison.

The Golem walked and moved towards Branze.

Branze gripped his sword and shield. He could not abandon his brother and raised the sword and shield.

"Men! We fight!" Branze shouted as he raised his two weapons.

The mercenaries behind him were frozen from the sight of the golems and the green one moving forward. 

Avary wanted to cry out something, but the mercenary carrying him was so scared that it began choking Avary, making it difficult for Avary to say something.

He knew something weird had happened, for he could see another figure standing next to the powerful golems!

"Branze Steele?" The golem asked.

Branze didn't answer but smashed his sword to his shield, signaling to fight.

The emerald golem was shaking in anger. He heard someone behind him answer his question. 

"That's him! Do it! Do it now!" The voice demanded.

And so, the golem what he was supposed to do.

With great hate, he turned to Branze Steele.

"Please slap me, daddy!" The golem revealed the side of his buttocks.