"Interesting... If our hearts are set on guarding this place, it might just be possible for the golems to go there. Your words have meaning. But we are not sure."
"Where is this vow inscribed anyway?"
"In the Gigantes Earth Core. We do not understand it, other than the fact that that core used to be the Core of a Gigantes being that ascended to godhood."
"I expected that. Then can you check if your vow allows you to send your golems back?"
"Let me inquire with the Gigantes Earth Core. It will judge whether it is possible or not." Petra moved back and headed towards the Gigantes Earth Core. Kyros followed.
As Petra approached, he touched the core and closed his eyes.
"It is possible for us to go. But we cannot fight any monster along the way. If an enemy approaches, we can only stare or even get ourselves killed. Any golem that acts out of this will die." Petra explained.
"You were hoping to have an army?" Calaminus teased. He knew Kyros was looking for a way to pull the golems out and help him fight certain battles.
"Worth a try, right?" Kyros laughed. He planned to test just how he could exploit the rules and vows bestowed on the core. But after seeing Petra and the Gigantes Earth Core interaction, Kyros knew that the Gigantes Earth Core was still alive.
"It's possible that I can use this Gigantes Earth Core to revive the being..." Kyros thought to himself. He saw the core, not as some magical artifact but a large version of the cores he had.
Kyros touched it and willed to send the object to the Temple.
---
Sending failed. The file you're sending is inaccessible.
---
"..." Calaminus no longer concerned himself with what he saw.
"Was this place sealed before? I mean... the path leading here, the one my father used to get here. It should have only opened up recently, correct?" Kyros asked Petra.
"Yes. The truth is, this path you claim to be leading towards the Nephilim Sealing Temple was closed until a few weeks ago. It mysteriously opened up and created a deep tremor around the mountain."
"That must have been the time I was unsealed," Kyros whispered to Petra.
"Sealed?"
"I was sealed here. I'm not human. It's rather hard to explain. These people really ARE my family, and I would kill to protect them. But I am a Nephilim."
"You are the Nephilim?!" Petra was startled at Kyros's words. But then, Petra's expression changed.
"It does make sense. With all the powers that you've shown, it's clear that you, the Cornerstone, would have such identity."
"I hope this gives you enough reason to trust me. But please keep this secret between us. No humans must know of my real identity. Gods and Fallens are seeking my doom. The reason why this Gigantes Earth Core is here is clearly so I can summon and revive it."
"Revive this? You have the power to revive the mighty Gigantes?" Petra was amazed.
"Not now, but yeah. I think I can. I am fighting against the gods and fallen who are fighting those who created this entire Temple. So it only makes sense that they will give me something to shelter me from the coming storms. With how Destiny and Fate are at work to kill me, it won't take long before they find me. So it's a race against time, and both Fate and Destiny are challenging me. This entire place is designed to help me overcome it all. So the logical thing is to revive this Gigantes core. I saw how you interacted with it. It's clear that this Gigantes Earth Core has intelligence. And if the Jewel Golems and you have souls stored in their core, then this thing should have the same."
"That does sound plausible. It seems that our destiny goes beyond being mere guardians of the Nephilim Sealing Mountain." Petra laughed.
"The Gigantes Earth Core bestows its energy depending on your will, right?"
"Yes."
"Is it possible for me to link up with it? I want to know exactly what the Gigantes Earth Core can do. And I noticed that it is already linked to you." Kyros asked.
"Link with the Gigantes Earth Core? You mean to control it?" Petra thought.
"You are the Cornerstone. And it was prophesied that you would be both our salvation and our leader. But I don't know how to pass on the powers that the Gigantes Earth Core has on me."
"Hmm... How about we try holding the Gigantes Earth Core together?" Kyros suggested.
"If a transference of power is involved, it should involve the two of us. So let's reach out to the Gigantes Earth Core and see what happens. Honestly, I would rather that the summoning of Golems and the upgrading is up to you. I just need to have some form of connection with you as I would be spending more time in the Temple to train my men. Just as you have your mission to protect the monsters from going out, I have my own troubles to deal with the monsters outside."
"That would be an excellent arrangement." Petra smiled and held the Gigantes Earth Core.
Kyros did the same.
A bright light flashed as Kyros and Petra felt a rush of power linking them together.
[Establish Temple-City link?]
The notification appeared, and Kyros immediately clicked on yes.
A strange glow manifested. Kyros could feel a link that connected him to the senses of Petra.
"Oh? We're linked together?" Kyros smiled.
Petra was startled at the thoughts and pulled back his hands. Kyros felt the link got terminated.
"Oh. The link only happens when you are touching the core. Still, this is good enough! We're practically connected." Kyros smiled.
Petra was stunned but wanted to see if Kyros's theory was right and reached out towards the Gigantes Earth Core. He moved slower to see if the touch was indeed the cause of that link or if Kyros managed to communicate with him through other means.
As expected, the link was established when he touched it. And as the link confirmed, Petra sent a message that was the only thing message a person would send given the unusual circumstances of communicating telepathically to another.
"Hello? It's me." Petra began.
Kyros felt and resisted a strange urge to sing a powerful ballad that began with these very words. Kyros felt as if he became a woman full of nostalgia and regret and who has been trying to reach the person on the other side but failed for at least a thousand times.
"Ye-Yes. I can hear you." By some miracle, Kyros managed to resist the soulful power to answer in poetic expression, imitating a dark-clothed woman with a fabulous long, black scarf on her neck.
It was then that Kyros could feel see the entire City of Golem and even see the continuing movements of the golems who were still bringing up the dead body of lizards into the city. Kyros could also see several golems scattered near the area of the city. Kyros could tell that these Golems were searching for possible routes and paths that the lizards must have found or any other opening caused by the earthquake.
There were golems moving near the temple area and were also patrolling the region towards the Temple.
"The Temple! And it seems I can see your vampire friends!" In the same manner, Petra could see the exact place of the Temple.
---
City-Temple Link complete.
The world is changing.
Who now has the strength to stand against the armies of City and Temple? To stand against the might of Kyros and Petra and the union of the Two Towers?
---
Kyros and Calaminus looked at the impressive statement.
"I'll admit it. I liked this one." Kyros sighed as he read the oddity of the Temple's notification.
"Petra. With this we should be able to communicate easily. I'll take my leave then. We can discuss more of our plans once I discuss things with my father. Have your golems send a few lizards to test the efficiency of the Temple's power."
"Alright. That seems to be within the laws of the laws."
"Let's move out then! Since you can see the Temple, I'm sure you can direct them to go towards that place. I'll talk with my family now."
Kyros went to his family, and the group immediately departed.
The group moved with haste. The Knights of Branze had various requirements at the ready, including stretchers as they were prepared to go on a rescue mission to save all of Aron's knights.
As the group marched, Kyros began to lay out most of the plans he has. One of the previously unconscious knights had recovered and managed to share some parts of their successes while Kyros was talking.
"This is amazing! If what we heard was true, Aron has perfected his path as a Force Paladin! And if our men can gain mana..." Branze began to dream.
"Father... The Temple bestows things... but it immediately pushed us into a very brutal trial. If not for the accidental alliance and favor of Petra the Golem King, we would have been wiped out. So... there is an exchange for everything we acquire."
Branze was awakened from his dream.
"So it's very dangerous? With what they told us, the battle was insanely difficult that it's a miracle they are alive."
"Yes. We are all going to be fighting and challenging Fate itself. So I have a suggestion. Fate seems to have a way to gauge our current standing as a family. It only sent us to that place when Uncle awakened the powers of Force Paladin and when our knights received mana. Because we received so much, the Fate that governs the Temple found it necessary to test us. But I wonder... what if our standing isn't all that high?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if we suddenly decline as a family?" Kyros proposed.
"Decline? How will our family decline?"
"Think of it this way, father. We currently have 100 points. Let's assume that the next limit when Fate begins to attack us is 200 points. We haven't lost anything we can recover in Fate's first test... Well, except the humanity of these three." Kyros pointed to the three knight-turned vampires.
"But what if we give up our lands, our businesses, and even our nobility! That will put us way down, allowing us to gain more advantage to fight Fate's next test!"
"That sounds mad!"
"Please, father! Urge grandfather to give up our nobility!"
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