Ascension of the Nephilim

When Kyros explained his third demand, Mardock charged and wanted to kill Kyros.

With a simple slap, the king sent Mardock flying.

"Cornerstone, my concern is that this body that Mardock has. It won't be easily formed." Petra explained.

"Don't worry. I hold another power apart from this. You have seen how I could casually bring out items from thin air. Stoph and your golems could attest to the miraculous power of it."

"Indeed. Cornerstone can pull weapons out of thin air, and he could even make objects disappear." Stoph confirmed.

"Trust me, but the body that he built over the years will definitely be something that can still help you. Beyond this city, towards the place where we came from, is another legacy of the beings that created this place. The Nephilim Sealing Temple!"

"That has been mentioned by the beings that created us. It is one of the things that we are also protecting!" Petra was amazed.

"That place is linked to me and allows me to draw the magic out of it. And so, even if Mardock loses his body, it won't be much of a loss!" Kyros smiled. 

He had seen how the Temple used some Clay Golems and crafted an Earth Core. He knew that if he were to acquire such rare materials made from the Emerald of Mardock, he would receive powerful weapons, armors or may even find a way to upgrade Mardock's core. In truth, the core that held Mardock's life was his true purpose.

Kyros aimed to study the mystery of magic itself. Due to his proficiency in combat and the use of the sword, Calaminus decided not to teach him mortal arts and magic but focused on teaching other fields like blacksmithing, alchemy, and so on. But luckily, the Temple offered a means to fill that gap. The Nephilim Sealing Temple's Library would help Kyros. And with the Magic Lock curse removed, and De-Magic weakened, Kyros needed Elemental Cores. 

Instead of further strengthening his sword, Kyros knew that his advantage of being a Nephilim would be in the magic powers that he could wield.

Petra pondered for a bit. Apart from killing Mardock, Kyros wanted Mardock's soul to be his. But then Kyros retrieved the Earth Core.

"I made this. And if I have Mardock's core and his body, I could even strengthen Mardock's core. But even if that's not possible, I can still have special uses for it!"

[Oration skill activated.]

Petra held the Earth Core and could sense its peculiarities.

"Then the first two demands are not true demands." Petra guessed.

"Correct. They seemed costly, but it will benefit you and this city more than what you can imagine. Hence, my third demand. That is my real demand. Mardock will live, and it is even possible that he will grow stronger if the core is with me. So since that is the case, I demand his pride be attacked!" Kyros smiled.

And with that, Petra agreed. And this led to the weird scene before Branze Steele.

Branze Steele gazed with a ridiculous expression.

The golem before him was mighty. Yet now, it offered his side to Branze.

"He's not doing anything. You have to convince him!" A demanding voice was heard from the back.

The Emerald Golem's intestines turned green in regret. If he had known this would have been the ending, he would have not only allowed Aron to go down safely, but he would treat Aron like a Diamond Golem!

"Ple-Please... Slap me, Daddy." Mardock said once more.

Branze didn't want to slap a poisonous, mighty golem that could end him in one punch. He turned to Avary.

"What in Planes World is going on?"

Avary had seen Kyros standing alongside the three golems at the front. He even saw Scarlet and Gregory at the side. But those figures were dwarfed by the golems. Branze and most of the mercenaries saw the King Golem first.

Its large and tall frame and the dangerous powers he released made the group forget the rest.

But Avary's thoughts were on Kyros and the rest. When he saw them, he realized that Lord Kyros must have done something. And while the situation seemed confusing, he wanted to get to Kyros and his friends as fast as he could.

"Just slap it!" Avary finally exclaimed.

"Like hell, I'm slapping that!" Branze shouted.

"Is that Branze Steele?" Petra asked Kyros.

"Yes. That's my father." Kyros affirmed.

"Father?!" Petra was shocked. 

"That is the Cornerstone's, the Awaited One's father?!" Petra thought that the people arriving would be the vassal force or reinforcements of the Steele family. Petra wasn't stupid and could easily piece things together. He had noticed that Kyros never meant the Steele family to be his blood family. How could a being that preceded them be someone of noble birth?

Kyros was also the acting leader of the group who led the team and even negotiated with him. But when Kyros affirmed that this man was his 'father', Petra knew that he could not afford to be disrespectful.

With haste, Petra ran with a speed that was unfitting for his frame.

"Good sir! Good morning! Or Evening! I am Golem King Petra, leader of Golem City. We welcome you to Golem City! Please accept the humble apology of Mardock for his harsh and cruel treatment of Lord Aron Steele. May you smack his buttocks with such force that it will dispel the anger in your heart."

"What the fragment?!" Branze exclaimed.

Seeing the three-meter tall golem speak with such courtesy and offer the green golems behind confused him all the more.

"If you feel threatened, here..." Petra's large figure held the side of Mardock so that it could not move.

"Do it! Feel free to do it!" Petra urged all the more.

Branze turned once more to Avary. For some strange reason, the dark shadow was now in the form of a young boy.

"Do it!" Avary called out. 

"What?!" Branze was even more confused. He could tell this boy was Avary from his voice, but why was he no longer covered in a strange dark power like earlier?

"Do it!" Avary urged again.

"Do it!" Stoph chanted, and some of the Iron Golems did so also.

"Do it! He hurt Uncle Aron!" 

[Oration skill activated.]

And with that, Branze gave in. 

SLAP!

Branze smacked it so hard that cracks were appearing. Due to the pilling pressure, confusion and frustration, he released his full might and even used Force energy.

Mardock held down his painful scream.

"Oh. You guys feel pain?" Kyros asked Stoph.

"Yes. Our bodies do feel pain through the magical energy in us. It tells us if we are losing energy." Stoph explained.

"Smashing smack worthy of being Kyros's father!" Petra praised. He was truly astonished as he didn't expect a mere human could do such damage.

Almost instantly, Petra reached out and broke the neck of Mardock.

His jewel body crumbled like broken stones.

Branze was horrified. That Emerald golem was so strong that even his full power could only do so much, and yet, to this tall monster, it was as easy as killing chickens?!"

Petra picked up a green orb that looked similar to the Earth Core of Kyros.

"Is everything to your liking, Cornerstone?" Petra turned to Kyros.

As Petra turned to Kyros, Branze couldn't help but turn his attention to where this large golem looked.

Kyros approached and took a good look at Branze Steele.

Kyros felt his emotions well up now that he could take a close look at his father.

Memories of that day surfaced.

Kyros recalled rushing towards the ancestral home of the Steele Family to see many dead orcs piling like a mountain. But at the very top of the mountain was the figure of his worn-out and dead father, who had died from multiple stabs, arrows, and attacks.

Branze's dead eyes seemed strange. For it was the eyes of a father looking proudly at his son. The orc that managed to finally kill Branze boasted that while the knight was strong, he was a delusional idiot. Instead, Branze kept hoping that his son would return as he was confident that his son could easily survive the war. He fought hard to stop the horde, hoping that his son would arrive and the same not only him but also his family.

Even to his last breath, Branze gazed on the distance, waiting for his son. His eyes were never disappointed, nor did the shine of his eyes lose hope. It was forever hoping and proud of the man he called son.

Kyros would never forget those eyes.

"Lord Kyros!" Avary shouted in delight and awoke Kyros from his daydream.

Branze realized that the man that Golem King respectfully addressed as Cornerstone was the same Lord Kyros who his brother adopted on his behalf. And the only thing Branze could think about was how amazing Kyros was.

The Golem King Petra could easily conquer the kingdom he served with such great power. And so, it would only be natural that Branze would have deep respect to Kyros, who managed to make this Golem King someone who would greet the guest.

Branze also felt a mixture of hope as he knew this Golem would change his family forever. And so Branze looked at Kyros. And that look was one that was swelling with pride. He didn't care who this boy was. He would forever be proud to call him a son.

As if Destiny willed it, Branze gave Kyros the same look that he had on that day.

Kyros felt his knees weaken from the sight. His entire body was trembling. But he did not dare to stumble. He vowed that never again would he show himself to be weak before his father.

As Kyros took each small and slow step, he recalled the vision he saw and remembered the words the great multitude spoke.

"Awaken O Nephilim, and conquer Forward!"

"Awaken O Nephilim, and preserve Today."

"Arise and challenge what is to Be."

"Arise and challenge what is to Come."

"I will preserve today!" Kyros vowed in his heart.

"Whether if it's Fate, Destiny, or even death itself! I will not allow things to end up the same way they did in the past! I will save my family! I will save my men! I will save Mechiel!"