Ascension of the Nephilim

The moment Kyros met his grandfather, Kyros was sure that the faint power of Fate Challenger was within his grandfather. In truth, he had expected that his grandfather had it.

The more Kyros saw the straits of the Steele family the more he began to realize that Fate must have had been targeting them even before. Yet, despite that, the Steele family did not die out. And even in Kyros's past life, the Steele family would face the challenges they face today yet surpass it all.

Kyros had long noticed that there was a form of limiter or an attack of Fate that must have been affecting his family but he couldn't understand what it was. Kyros believed that it had something to do with Destiny. While the family clearly had no immense curses of Fate, their deaths were still assured. 

Yet this family was able to overcome it all and even reach the level of Duke in their previous life.

Kyros knew that there was something odd in this.

His uncle Aron had a form of Fate-Challenging mechanism in his Warrior's Instinct ability. It was that ability that preserved the life of his men. If his uncle hadn't sensed the evil intents of Mardock, they would have all died. So Kyros only won and overcame that challenge because his uncle helped him challenge Fate.

Another great mystery was how his father had also sensed the changes of Fate together with his grandfather. It was then that Kyros guessed his family had this strange ability but couldn't understand how.

"The Temple bestowed it to you? The Fate Challenging Temple?" The Patriarch asked.

"Yes, Grandfather." Kyros nodded.

"Interesting. I don't know whether to consider that Temple as my family's salvation or the curse that could slay us. I knew that Fate was against my Steele family in how it constantly brought hardship after hardship among us when I compare it with other families. To think that the Temple almost killed my son."

"The Steele family is my family too. And I think it is our shot at saving the destiny of the Steele family."

The Patriarch smiled at Kyros's words.

"You speak so fondly of my family, and there seems to be some sense of great ties that bind us. Considering how you brought my daughter-in-law to such an embarrassing state, I can't help but notice and draw amazement at your loyalty to my family. Let it be so then. I, too, approve of your status as part of my Steele family."

Kyros bowed.

"I am honored."

The Coven also bowed. Even Grugnyr had no choice but to do so.

"We thank Patriarch for accepting our master into the Steele family." 

"Such an interesting crowd. And you even brought a powerful archer. They call you master, so they are your dhampirs?" The Patriarch turned to the group.

"I am the current Patriarch of the Steele Family. Mezal Steele. And I welcome you all to my family. I see that there are members of other fallen houses here. Porter, Trodden and the Lockfield young nobles. It seems Fate has been cruel on you as well. Then there is a Bowheart clan member. And finally... an orc?" Mezal turned curiously to the orc.

Grugnyr could only keep his head bowed down. He knew that his servitude to Kyros would draw in various contemptuous reactions from all sorts of people. 

"I have a question for you, orc!" Mezal asked seriously.

Grugnyr took a deep breath.

"Do you know how to cook Airom Bacon?" Mezal asked with immense passion.

Grugnyr was surprised at the question.

"I... I believe so."

"Good! Good! This is amazing! I take it that your servitude to a human is making you feel quite problematic! You can join my family and make your sons vassals to my family. Together, we shall improve Airom Bacon!" Mezal laughed.

"Ah, Bacon. The great equalizer." Kyros laughed.

"Um... Grandfather. Going back to my previous question... How do you have Fate Challenger? This is quite a pressing concern considering that I found a Temple that is altering the Fate of our family."

"Oh! Right! That one! It pertains to my adventures on my younger years. My real family went by the name of Olander clan."

"The Olanders?" Martha and Diana exclaimed together.

"Oh, you two know of it?"

"Forgive my rudeness!" Martha apologized and bowed and refused to speak further.

Mezal smirked. He knew why Martha didn't want to continue.

"Perhaps my daughter-in-law could tell me the tale of the Olanders.

"I have heard of the Olanders from my mother and father. They were a powerful family in my father's time. I hear that name from the mouth of my mother. The story goes that the Olanders were a powerful but wicked family. They were arrogant and desecrated various temples of various gods. It was said that their downfall could have been an act of the gods themselves. But..." Diana frowned.

"Despite my stupid husband's disgracing attitude... I would say that your family is rather upright."

"Interesting. My daughter-in-law now knows how to praise my family. You did well, Kyros." Mezal laughed.

Diana was blushing, but she revealed a hateful expression towards Mezal, who ignored her looks.

"The truth is, I did not reveal my family name as it would draw more unwanted attention. This Bowheart member surely knows of it. The rumors are true. My family was very wicked. And perhaps because of our atrocities and disregard to the gods, they cursed our family. I ran off and survived the calamity of that day and became a wanderer for many years. But Fate was cruel. It still tried to kill me. In the end, I found myself in a strange and far-off village that worshiped an ancient forgotten goddess. And there, the village shaman tried to undo the wickedness surrounding my bloodline." Mezal explained.

"An ancient goddess?!" Kyros exclaimed. Calaminus was also curious.

"Do you remember what the goddess looked liked?"

"She had three suns that appeared to be floating behind her, and her hair cascaded all the way down to her feet. At least, this is what the picture looked like."

Calaminus shook when he heard it.

"Ancient Fate! That's Ancient Fate! Kyros! That village should be one of the many villages that Ancient Fate left in this world! You have to go there someday!" Calaminus urged.

"Grandfather... Going by the description, that should be the Ancient God, Ancient Fate. My departed master told me of her."

"Fate is a goddess? Who knew?"

"What happened in that village?"

"The shaman told me that a malevolent curse affects me. I was destined to die, and that the curse assured that my family line would die out. To subvert it, he helped me by casting a spell on me that allowed me to see Fate. Also, I underwent a ritual in which I was to change my name and the family I was in. I thought that fixed it. I managed to find a wife within that village who was brave enough to take me."

"Grandmother was a member of that village?"

"The shaman's daughter, to be exact. Don't get me wrong. Your great grandfather was quite fond of me and did his best to revert the curse. This was how I was able to change my family and fool Fate. At least for a time. It slowly returned, and now, I'm convinced that it's trying to wipe out my family. My sons have shown potential in having the same ability I have. That meant my father-in-law's spell worked. So the appearance of this Temple is something that I am curious of." Mezal smiled.

Kyros was amazed at the backstory of the Steele family. He didn't know of this past in his past life, for Mezal was already dead when Kyros became a normal boy.

"Your father has told me of the plan in his messages. You are to send all of these items directly inside the Temple so to make it look like we are just sending a normal squad of men, right?"

"That is correct, grandfather. The next days are critical. More soldiers from different kingdoms will arrive soon. I managed to stop others from journeying inside. Fate has recently lost all of its attacks, and we are safe for the next seventeen days. But we need to use this time effectively. I will send my men to rescue Martha Bowheart's sister and investigate another similar event in Airom Logat. It could be possible that another Temple is present there. The orcs talk about a being known as the Blood Calamity there. I believe it is linked to Fate."

"That is too dangerous. You can't charge into orc territory just like that!"

"Yes, I can. I can walk right into that orc territory."

"No, you can't."

Calaminus couldn't resist the meme potential.

"Actually, he's right. One doesn't simply walk into an orc-infested territory." Calaminus explained.

"Shut up." Kyros sighed.

"WHAT?!" Mezal glared.

"N-no! Damn it! I was talking to a- oh never mind! Grandfather, forgive me for my reaction. But I know of a secret entrance near the Airom Canyon. It is a secret trading route that most orc smugglers use." Kyros explained.

"There is such a path?" Grugnyr exclaimed in orcish.

"Yes. It's actually near the place where we met you." Kyros also answered in orcish.

"You know orcish?" Diana was amazed.

"My master taught me many languages. Grandfather, I can speak orcish and understand their words. This will help me in that mountain region."

"No! Didn't I just tell you? Fate wants to kill all my descendants! You are a Steele, and that makes you a target!"

"Grandfather, please. I have to go." Kyros requested.

"I refuse. Our priority is being together again. Fate will be trying to kill my son, and they are now in a place where the two of them are present. I always kept them separate or near me for a reason. If it weren't for that blasted Viscount hindering me, I'd have gone to rescue Aron and wouldn't need to send Branze." Mezal rejected.

"I can't tell you now, but just as Fate is after father and mother, more harm will be done if this Blood Calamity is left unchecked. I have to go! Just like you, I have some things I must protect!"

"Whatever it is you are trying to protect or save, it is less important than your life!"

"Fate has already tried to kill me, and she has failed. I won on one occasion, and that allowed uncle Branze to survive. And I have outsmarted Fate in another! I can handle it, grandfather. I have the power of Fate Challenger just like you!"

"No. You may have that ability, but you don't have the power to fight Fate."

"I have! Ask them!" Kyros pointed to Martha and the group.

"Patriarch, Lord Kyros has-"

"Silence!" Mezal shouted at Martha, who was about to confirm Kyros's power.

"Kyros Steele, You are now a Steele and are bound by my orders. You will go back with me." Mezal frowned.

"I refuse, Grandfather. That which I need to protect is more important than me!" Kyros argued.

"I am taking you with me. That is final. Aron told me of your wisdom. But that won't do anything in a real fight! You have to have real power to fight Fate." Mezal declared.

"So if I defeat you, would you agree?" Kyros sneered.

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