Ascension of the Nephilim

That night, the Prince spoke with Emeros about the details of the underworld region in the Zarefard kingdom. He asked about the Mine of Dunchars and why the magic in that place was doubly greater than the rest. He asked about the Troglodytes that appeared.

Emeros had the memories of Rorcast, and with the knowledge from Vivindel, he now understood the curse of the Imp\'s blood and how it creates and breeds monsters of numerous forms. Imps were made from the blood of devils and merged with the soil of the ground. And so, depending on the soil or ground cultivated, it would give rise to all forms of Imp kind such as Puks, Chorts, and so on. As for the Troglodyte, it was formed when this demonic blood would gather in large amounts. The blood would pull the bodies of imps and the soil of the ground and come alive, taking form a grotesque form.

But Imp Troglodytes would only have a lifespan of two days, and the blood would vanish.

As for the magic of the mines, Emeros had already explained that the entire underground world is a massive energy conversion circle, and the mines were one region where the point of magic was high.

"So there are numerous places of high magic concentration?" The Prince asked.

"Yes. The place where the portals are would have an energy conversion circle that would be twice in power. This makes that place... a holy land. Even for the Floating Continents."

"...Indeed. So it seems that my kingdom must send out an army. Of course, acting like that would spur other kingdoms of the Floating Continents. I will discuss with King Vergos how my kingdom can aid him. But this must be done in secret. The politics will be worse if several kingdoms of the Floating Continent take part in this..."

The corpse of the Troglodyte had been brought, and it was an intriguing study done by many. For the Imp, Troglodyte had never appeared in the kingdoms before.

The Prince asked Emeros, and Emeros was able to explain it easily.

"The imps are believed to be made up of the lifeblood of Devils."

"Devils? Like the Fallen?"

"To be exact, Devils, what our planet calls those who are the sons of Fallen Spawns. If a Fallen has a son or daughter, and that offspring gives birth, they are called Devils." Emeros explained. This knowledge was not within the kingdom.

Memories of Greed, Gluttony, Jealousy, and Lust, remained in Emeros\'s mind. As a boy who had lived on a very weak planet, he knew the vast distance of power that these devils had over them. Should a Fallen Spawn be present in this Tri-Planet, it could mean total annihilation. And so, he knew that the ones that lived in the region were an offspring of a Fallen Spawn, or perhaps even a generation after it.

Had it been a Fallen Spawn, it would have been more similar to the horrors that Noxus faced with all the Greedlings and Greedlords. The magic that summoned a Troglodyte through the blood of fallen imps and the dark magic that the Krampus could create were signs that the leader of the Imps was from these devils. 

He even suspected that the other races that appeared also had similar heritages.

The Prince listened to Emeros\'s explanation and was amazed at what Rorcast and the rest had learned.

"So there are two more mages in there? This will be interesting."

"And we must capture them, my dear prince. But this will be an undertaking that will take more than a year. Stronger imps will reside. The mana in the mines gives the creatures a way to cultivate their plants and till the soil. It will become a permanent bastion. And since the portals will open, they will always have more forces entering."

Emeros didn\'t bother to say the secrets he had known. A great conflict was bustling within him. He gazed out the window and kept the truth to himself. Although he wanted to warn the prince of the truth, he couldn\'t.

They were flying high up and overlooked the kingdom below. Even the massive mountain range that divided the kingdoms could be seen. Seeing the land and all the lives around this place, Emeros could not help but feel a sense of pain, for he knew the truth and the terror that awaited.

If his guess was true, then the three planets face an incredible threat if the portal is fully opened. But in the perspective of Emeros, the invasion of the four races on a planet wasn\'t that important. Even if millions and millions were to die, Emeros should not care. His heart was heavy, but he knew that if necessary, he would throw away all the lives here. He had a greater battle to face, and he needed to leave the planet. 

All that mattered was the path to the palace inside and the Crown within.

And so, even though the humanity of Emeros hoped to save the planet, his mission prodded him to consider abandoning it for the sake of his goal. 

"I have no attachments that remain in this land... The only group of people he loved had been lost to me when the invasion attacked the orphanage. These new friends of mine will journey with me out of this planet. But even then... how can I... abandon this?" Emeros asked himself.

"You seem... rather lost, young hero." The Prince noticed.

"I am just tired, your grace. And worried. We don\'t know what\'s on the other side of the portal. The Imp Demon may not be the peak of their strength. I am honored by your invitation. But I decided to solidify my connection with Paladin Merovus so that they will have a place to fight, grow stronger, and help push back the team. I plan to head to the Floating Continent only with Vivindel. I have thought it over, and I have decided that my allies would do well to remain while I study up there."

"...I see. You\'re quite generous to think of this kingdom."

"Hmmm... And to think I am trying to be more cold. But somehow, I just can\'t help but worry. I feel that... I am responsible for their lives. Even though they should not care for it, what are these kingdoms? What are these people who mean nothing to me? Does his majesty have ever had this sense of responsibility that you shouldn\'t be responsible for?" Emeors ask.

"A curious question. Do you know that the Floating Continents are said to be responsible for the prosperity of this planet? We were supposed to be the model kingdoms to help grow the grounded kingdoms. Yet most of the time, we abuse these kingdoms. I would not have been sent if not for the conflict that damaged our money. You want to protect these people you should not be responsible for. While I am sent to care for people, who I honestly couldn\'t care any less but am obliged to serve." The Prince chuckled.

Emeros quietly watched the lands beneath him.

"I see this moral obligation as a hindrance... I hope to be as cold and calculating as the Prince..." 

The Prince laughed as he heard Emeros\'s statements.

"What joy that I can be honest towards you. I can tell that you are a very smart and cunning person. Your plans on how you outsmarted a Duke and a King were very impressive. Not anyone could do that. Even I, myself, would not know how to have silenced them. I\'ve seen honorable and righteous people die before the kings who accuse them. And even if you are gifted and have received such a legacy, you would need quite a wit to surpass such intricate situations where you could die. Most of them didn\'t even understand what you did. The true treasure isn\'t necessarily the treasure down there. Any fool could gain the knowledge that you have yet would die. But you... lived."

"I\'ve had a good teacher who had struggled through greater scenarios."

"Oh? So that\'s how it is... And who would be this great man that you call the teacher?"

"He is long lost. As for his background... I prefer not to say."

"How mysterious. But I am sure that whatever legacy you received wasn\'t freely given, was it? You are either worthy of it or were destined to have it."

"I\'d say Fated..." Emeros reacted.

"But you are correct, your grace. No one down there can gain the very same legacy I have attained. And no one can make me say it. I was bound by its laws that only I would have this knowledge. This is how I tamed Vivindel."

Vivindel rose like a serpent with a whipping vine coiling up and bowed to the Prince.

"I also gained Rorcast\'s memories because he tried to take it from me. My Prince. You can send powerful people and have them try to take my memory forcefully or through Vows and Bonds. And they will fail."

"...Are you confident in that?" The Prince asked.

"Yes," Emeros answered without hesitation and looked into the eyes of the Prince.

"...You should know that I\'m asking this not to take your memories from you but to use you as bait."

"...You want your enemies to do that to me and have me gain their memories?"

"It will benefit you as well. Won\'t that make you even more smarter."

"It seems that your grace is keen on investing to me, a youth and a stranger."

"You are a child, and your current knowledge only proves your claims. How can a mere child be so learned of numerous powers? Force Paladin? A Mage? Energy Conversion Circle experts? It takes a lifetime to master them. And you have shown the level in each area that surpasses the geniuses in my kingdom. This is why I took you. Of all the treasures and knowledge hidden in that underworld region, I\'m sure you\'ve already taken what you need. That\'s why you left."

"My Prince is quite smart to discern this. That is correct. The only treasure they can hope to acquire is if the portal is opened and they travel and find that secret palace of the long-forgotten king. I believe you took me to know more about this legacy. Perhaps you can even answer the mystery of that place."

"It is but an ancient legend in the history of the three planets. It is said that these three planets were once brought together for these three things to carry a Throne. A great Throne for a great King. An Ancient God! It was said... that his kingdom vanished almost overnight. In a time of great terror, horrifying beings of darkness tried to fight him. All we have left are stories and pillars that declare his great legacy. And a promise."

"A promise?"

"One day, an inheritor will arrive. And he will inherit everything." The Prince smiled as he observed Emeros intently.