Ascension of the Nephilim

The power of life continued to flow through and empower the armies of the elves.

In the entire battle, not a single elf was lost or slain, which gave the Dryad of Vey great hope that Kyros could fulfill his promise.

A miracle occurred at that moment when the Vey gave its life.

While Brimstone was a torturous hell as an element, the powers that governed it was still within the alignment of light. And in its alignment and nature, Brimstone was guided by a Supreme Emotion that defined the character of Histerion. And this emotion was joy. The souls were tortured, but when they returned to the tree, the souls sensed the will to give life, and in doing so, it merged in its joy and cleansed the emotions of everyone and purified them.

The cleansing forced all the impurities into their bodies and caused them to grow stronger and stronger.

Those without cultivation easily rose ranks, crossing the first ten levels with ease. Elves who were wounded or had injuries that prevented them from being useful on the battlefield began to recover. The burnt limbs regrew. The blind could see. The lame could walk as the life energy restored all of these.

They regained their form that had been forgotten as the lineage had waned and the power was lost. The Woodland Elves, first-born mortals of the Veiyos God-line returned.

It wasn't just Kyros and the elves that received an inheritance.

The power coursing through Mechiel was so potent that the Blood Calamity took over.

"Blood Calamity?! What are you doing?"

"This is to make us stronger! This is amazing! A powerful plant with the blessings and heritage of Veiyos! They are the gods of the plants! Did you know? Charm is born from beauty! Thema Veiyos was the epitome of beauty and was defeated and devoured by a Phaulos. And that woman corrupted beauty. Beauty was a concept that gave. It was not meant to be for oneself. For though a plant is beautiful, it is not meant to be kept but to be seen by all. But when that Phaulos devoured Thema, she became Xermolipi! The Charmed Fallen! That which uses beauty and charm to draw power for selfishness!"

"What are you talking about?!" Mechiel was confused.

"You have become a water mage! Can't you feel it? The ocean has gone dark from Lea's power! Blood, Dark Water, and the power of life through this tree that wishes to give! Take it all in! We can recreate that power!"

"Young one who walks the steps of Xermolipi..." A voice suddenly called out. The Blood Calamity realized that it was the Dryad.

"Dryad Vey?!"

"I am here at the request of the Nephilim. When he sat down on the roots of my body, he spoke to me and told me of the battle. He also asked me many things. One of which was a crazy request. But seeing his success now, I am inclined to help him for the sake of my children. Thema was a beautiful orchid that floated gracefully over water. Its purity and gentleness were loved by all. Xermolipi was a rose of bright bloody red. Her thorns were her selfishness to seek to be desired but never to belong. The power of Nephilim and Fate has granted us the raging elements and ingredients to build the Bloody Rose Over Bloody Water. Though I rejected it, Kyros, your husband, has insisted on doing this. I only ask that you keep my sons and daughters safe through this power."

The Dryad spoke, and the power surged within Mechiel.

Inside the soul realm of Mechiel, a small seed was planted.

The dark soul of the Blood Calamity was granted life and began to condense. Like Calaminus, the Blood Calamity was so weak that she was similar to a Soul Wisp. But now, her element and form gathered as seed began to seep inside the soul wisp and gather the energies of darkness and water flowing inside.

The Blood Calamity was stunned.

"Plants can absorb water! The Dryad is pouring out the life energy and has brought in the power of water absorbed and the dark Abyss that Lea called out!" The Blood Calamity saw her soul becoming more condensed, and finally, it became a Soul Core!

The darkness of her Soul Core grew and grew, and suddenly, a small bud broke on top of it!

A flower bud had breached out and continued to grow.

The flower slowly bloomed, and the immense life energy from the tree surged to the soul of Mechiel.

The flower absorbed the life of Mechiel, and the essence of the soul flowed directly into the core of the Blood Calamity.

That was when the Blood Calamity felt it.

"What, no! My soul!" The Blood Calamity was alarmed as she felt her soul becoming one with Mechiel. The emotions and desires of Mechiel were being injected into her being.

"The Nephilim! Dryad! You tricked me!"

"Daughter of Xermolipi, plants represent the balance of darkness and light. A seed brought down in the earth where no light touches it. There is no life in that darkness, yet it uses the darkness to grow. It grows over the soil and takes in the rain and the dead to bud and draw in the light. Light nourishes the plant. And the darkness fortifies it. A plant cannot grow if one is missing. You are the darkness, the daughter of man is the light. In this role, you are united." The Dryad explained. There was a slight glee in his tone.

"Your mother devoured our orchid goddess, but now, may you become our new orchid!" The Dryad chuckled.

The Blood Calamity resisted and tried to break free, but she was already a Soul Core, and the plant kept taking in the soul of Mechiel, which had the power of life.

At that moment, the Blood Calamity felt the reverence and respect that the Dryad felt for Kyros.

"No...! No...! How could this be?"

"Do you feel it, Daughter of Xermolipi? This was the plan to resolve your allegiance. Right now, you are not just taking in her soul, but my reverence and gratitude to the Nephilim. Do you know what such adoration leads to? Love."

"No! I will conquer you! You plant! I was born before you!"

"A sealed little girl dares to count the years of life? Even if you might have lived for eons, I am the culmination of centuries of life. I am the tree that saw and took the souls of the elves that lived, loved, and left this earth. I am confident that my gratitude will be enough to weaken your heart."

"No! I am still a Daughter of Xermolipi! I am a rose that he can never have!"

"A rose may have thorns, but a hand decided enough to snatch it will still take hold of it even if the hand bleeds. You will be his soon. And that will break the curse!"

"No! How do you know of the curse?"

"You fool... Didn't the Nephilim already explain it? How can I, a World Wood Tree, stand in a world where the Gods and Fallen have disappeared? In this timeline, a son of Veiyos has found his way here! His memories became mine!" The Dryad laughed as the energy erupted inside, and finally, a small rose bloomed over the soul.

The Soul of the Blood Calamity had become a Core. Mechiel was able to harness the blood since her body was a vampire that had taken in the power of Eredus. But now, she not only had a body of Blood, but she had a Soul Core of Blood!

The Blood Calamity struggled to recall her duty. She recalled her purpose and her calling. But slowly, she could not resist as she began to cry at the thought of harming Kyros.

"The Seed is planted. And the fire of love cannot be stopped. So grow well, daughter of Veiyos!"

At that moment, the bestowal of the Dryad had ended.

The elves began to cry as the power of the Dryad could no longer be felt.

"Do not weep. He is in you. You are the forest. You are the trees." Kyros smiled as his two hands harnessed opposite energy.

His left hand held darkness from his Dark Core. But his right hand held the plant core that had gathered such light.

Kyros's form remained that of a Templar. One side was the Dark Templar, and the other side held the power of a Knight Templar.

Lea and Listrel were amazed the moment they opened their eyes. They were about to brag about their powers but saw the strange miracle of Kyros.

"How can he do that?! How can Light and Dark exists at once in one body?!" Lea was stunned. Although Kyros was able to use the power of Skotos Eis Phos and Phos Eis Skotos, they were converting energy from one to the other. But now, these two energies exist together at the same time!

"Impossible! Does he have three souls?!" Listrel marveled.

The sight of Kyros made the elves marvel at him.

"Lord Miracle! Thank you for helping our father fulfill his wishes!" Logon bowed.

"Your father wished for you to live. The battles that we face from now on are more treacherous! We will be the ones on the offensive. Everyone, we prepare for our departure! Create more weapons from this tree! While we cannot carry it all, we have to honor the wishes of Dryad Vey and make the most out of this wood!"

"Yes, Lord Miracle!" The Elves chorused together.