Ascension of the Nephilim

The group was shocked at Kyros's declaration.

"What exactly is our plan, Lord Kyros? I thought we're here to stop an enemy group that Fate has sent to attack is." Scarlet asked.

"That is the goal. And to do that, we have to draw in as many people to this place. And do just that, we need to fake the presence of an Ancient Vampire."

"I don't understand how that can help us, Lord Kyros. I thought you said that Fate would bring many enemies here." Scarlet asked again.

"Exactly. And that is why we need more people. If we have several kingdoms or nobles coming here, which Fate has set to be our enemies, then the best thing we can do is bring more people here. That way, many neutral groups can even be our allies. If the people that go here are hostile to us, then it's alright. Because with so many opposing factions, they'd end up fighting each other. And I can also perform that plan."

"That plan?" Scarlet asked.

"Wait! I know! It's the plan you explained back then! The plan to make money!" Hunter recalled one of the schemes Kyros revealed.

"That's right. We can perform the plan I had back then on earning money by offering some of these groups a chance to level up by paying the right price. Hostile or not, the chaotic environment of having several groups will somehow create peace. Especially with the plans that I made Father and Uncle prepare. If there are neutral groups drawn by the clamor we create, then I am even thinking of not giving them a steep price but will only hire them to help us."

"I see! These people will be our shield! Something that is not within our families' power but can help us in terms of military power!" Scarlet understood the plan.

"Right. Since they are not part of our family and may even betray us, they will still act as a temporary shield to buffer the incoming threat. There is more to this plan, but this is what you guys need to know. And so, we plan to create dark chaos over this region which will alert as many as we can." Kyros explained.

"Lord Kyros. We do not know if we can create vampire familiars. I know that among the vampires of the Blood Blade clan, only a few had the power to create familiars. They even used that magic on us kids because they probably couldn't create a stronger force."

"Leave that to me. While others can't, I'm confident that I can create more minions. Besides, they won't be vampires. I plan to have you create ghouls." Kyros smiled.

"Ghouls? My Lord, you can create ghouls?" Avary was amazed.

"Yes. I don't know how many I can make. But I'm sure I can make at least ten. We'll be focusing on quantity instead of quality. Hopefully, you guys can also create a few ghouls. You have my blood, after all. This brings me to the next order of business. We will be splitting up here. So I have to test that ability."

Kyros gave the orders and began to test his communication powers through his ability, Micro Management. He was curious whether this ability was something he could do within the Nephilim Sealing Mountain, so he tried to do it now.

The group still had confused expressions. They felt a strange prompting, but as they were confused, they hesitated. But then... Avary reacted. The first to follow was Avary. Scarlet and Gregory followed shortly, and lastly, the triple H knights did so as well.

"What's it like? You received my message and followed it. What do you hear?" Kyros asked. He had given the instructions for the Coven to raise their arm.

"We... don't hear anything. We just have this strange feeling that prompted us. When I saw Avary do it, I decided to follow." Gregory explained.

"Yeah. I followed their lead too." Hems answered.

"Was it you, Lord Kyros?" Avary asked.

"Yes. Avary, how was that order compared to when I was telling you which direction to take when you fled."

"I knew it! It was you even back then! Now it's a stronger sensation. Back then, I felt that it was some form of gut feeling. But when I found myself reaching closer to the temple, I knew that I was being led by something."

"So it's not a clear instruction but more of an impression..." Kyros frowned.

"Yes." Avary answered.

Kyros then continued to instruct more specific questions to Scarlet. It was a simple instruction wherein Scarlet would tell Hunter, 'High-Five' and have scarlet raise her right arm to make Hunter give her a high five.

Scarlet had a confused expression and raised her hand towards Hunter but couldn't say the words.

"I feel like I should say something." She said to Hunter.

"Hm... So it's not that clear, huh? But at least I know that I can give simple commands to the group." Kyros noticed that his previous orders of what direction caused Avary to move in the right place. And right now, Kyros could make more clearer orders. Since Kyros and Calaminus leveled up, then Kyros began to think that the clarity was related to either Calaminus's soul or his own.

Hems suddenly fell on the ground and rolled over to face the sky with the ground on his back.

"Erm... Hems? What are you doing?"

"I'm following your orders, Lord Kyros."

"But I didn't order you to do it..." Kyros was bewildered.

The vampires looked at Hems with a weird expression.

"Erm... Then this feeling that I have it's...?"

"Something you just thought in your head. Don't be an idiot." Kyros facepalmed.

"I... I was sure it was from you!" 

"Just what exactly goes in that head of yours, brother?" Hunter couldn't help but ask.

"In any case, this allows me to command you guys to make certain actions. I won't be giving you a lot of complex orders but only a few. In case some of you make strange actions because they thought it came from me." Kyros gave Hems a straight look.

Hems turned away in embarrassment.

"Since I can't clearly communicate telepathically, let me explain the other reason why I brought you up here and why we are to drink lots of blood. It is to make you stronger. Aside from Uncle and Father, I plan to focus on making you guys stronger. You will be a separate force within the Steele family. After all, you are all part of my Coven. And so, from now on, you all have to train in the ways of controlling dark energy." Kyros then harnessed the dark energy from his sword as a Shadow Ghoul became pure energy.

"This should be within your capabilities. It may seem difficult to master. But you have to learn it. And my plan is to fill you guys with blood. Hopefully, the more Death energy you have, the easier it is to master it."

"Blood? Death Energy?" The group began to discuss with each other.

"No time now." Kyros did not explain. As a master warrior who fought mages of all races, he had a superb understanding of elemental magic and its association. Calaminus also filled in the gaps about the theories on what the elements really are and how they affect the world.

"We'll talk when we have time. There are several towns and camps of mercenaries and knights nearby this place. Avary and team, you guys attack the insignia of the families you find in this town. H knights, you go to the camp near the bottom of this mountain. And if you find a family that is wicked or has been known to be practicing some injustice, drink their blood. This is part of your training. You have to find ways to kill as many as you can efficiently. You must also capture a few knights and bring them to where I'll tell you to go. These captured knights will be the first group we will experiment with to turn into an undead warrior. Is this clear?"

"Yes, Lord Kyros!" The Coven responded.

"Then go!" Kyros gave the orders, and the Coven moved.

As the Coven moved out, Kyros closed his eyes and tried to sense the power of the dark.

The Cloak of Darkness and the Sword of Ten Thousand Grudges had grown stronger. And Kyros had also broken one magic seal and weakened another. The innate power that was shared among his two weapons, the Heart of the Fallen, could now be harnessed. Kyros planned to use this to give him an appearance worthy of the enigmatic Cracky Batcheeks.

"Umm... Yeah. Before you do your power-up thing, I have a question."

Kyros rolled his eyes in disdain as Calaminus's soul appeared before him in his old man attire.

"Aren't you worried that Fate will inform the Gods and Fallen? You have been making a big clamor using Cracky Batcheeks." Calaminus asked.

"Why will Fate inform them? Fate will move and give me problems, but only according to the amount of power I have. That's why I planned to lower it to minimize the chances of those beings to know about me."

"You think Fate will stop them from knowing about you?"

"Yes! Leveling up my Fate Comprehension helped. Think about it. Fate is working to make me something that can challenge and surpass it. And right now, I have Success Limiter and Apathy of Fate. It will stay at that level. The fact that I sensed Fate sending armies to this place proves it! It could have warned the Greater Gods and Fallen after me, but it didn't! Just as how some coincidences and accident occurred to send me enemies, coincidences and accidents will also protect me from these Gods and Fallen."

"Hrm... Interesting. After going through hell, you're learning how to take advantage of Fate."

Kyros ignored Calaminus and closed his eyes to harness the dark energy of the Sword and the Cloak.

The Heart of the Fallen was activated. In the dark of the night, it began to harness the dark energy.

The Shadow Familiars, with the help of the Shadow Cloak skill, began to merge. The fusion of the two and the Heart of the Fallen fueling it with more darkness created a strange black substance. 

[Heart of the Fallen skill, Form of Darkness acquired.]

The darkness finally took form, and a strange black, liquid substance covered his entire body. It was as if Kyros was wearing living armor.

"Let's do this!" Kyros smiled as he was satisfied with his new look.

"Cracky Batcheeks will finally make his appearance!" Kyros laughed.

"You should really consider merging this Form of Darkness with a spider creature."

"No. Don't get me in trouble." Kyros shook his head.

He could see that Avary's group has reached the town that was a stone's throw distance from where they were.

"Down the mountain, I go." Kyros ran.

Further down the mountain and near the entrance to the mountain region, a group of knights walked. The team consisted of over fifty soldiers.

Leading the group was a man carrying a large halberd. 

"Faster!" The leader urged.

"Viscount, there are several powerful forces nearby. I am sensing that there are two more beings with roughly the same level and strength as you." A hooded man next to him replied.

"That should be our allies that serve Master Lorjdenheign. Let us hurry. The group that finds the mysterious temple where Zid Blood Blade died will receive the most rewards!"