Ascension of the Nephilim

It was months ago that the demi-human, Margie, left Castle Rock Kingdom to journey towards the High Lands.

But her landing there revealed terrifying truths. But as she witnessed the horrors and hordes that constantly threatened the Walls that Endured, she knew it was impossible to send a team to rescue them.

She sat down on the floor in her great depression and knew that her hometown would die soon.

The Cardinal stood over her and noticed numerous demi-human races that once hailed in Castle Rock approach.

All wanted to hear of their home. But as they saw her face, they understood that Castle Rock would not live long enough.

Suddenly, a Commander stood forward and greeted his Cardinal.

p "Lord Cardinal! I thank you for protecting my people and me! And even to the Eldrich leaders!" The Commander began.

The Cardinal sighed. He knew that this would happen.

"Let them." The Eldrich answered.

"Let them leave?" The Cardinal was stunned at his words.

"Yes. It's better for them to go there. A fortress that stands can still kill thousands and thousands of these Brimstone Beasts. And if we allow them to leave and sacrifice a few of our flying beasts, it will draw out numerous brimstone beasts to chase them. It will lessen the attacks here, and they will fight on those kingdoms." The Eldrich explained.

"..." The Cardinal was silent as he heard his words. He then turned to the Commander and noticed that more of the demi-humans had stepped forward.

"You are all throwing yourself to die. You do know that, right?" The Cardinal asked.

"Yes, Lord Cardinal. But the truth is, we thought our homes were vanquished already. This gives us hope. We want to choose where we die. The demi-humans who hailed in Castle Rock are all you see before you. We are these few men. We want to go and die in our home." The Commander who stepped forward declared.

"I... see..."

The demi-human was amazed as she looked around. There were Commanders among them.

"You... all... You all will surely be a great pillar that will help Castle Rock stand longer!" The Demi-human wept. At the very least, she could go home with powerful people. There were no Commanders among them, and such a force would greatly help her. She could even recognize some of the Commanders that stood as they were famous demi-humans in Castle Rock who were heralded as heroes.

"Demi-human. What is your name?" The Eldrich asked.

"I am Margie."

"What other kingdoms have you seen standing? Give me a complete list of who they are and the current situation of their forts." The Eldrich asked.

Margie began to tell of the kingdoms and their states.

"Cardinal, I will request many of my Eldrich to fight and hold back the fires. But you call out those listed kingdoms and ask if there will be any warriors willing to head home and fight and die." The Eldrich asked.

"Are you sure?"

"The calculations are clear. These forts will stand and can slay more Eldirch with them going there than if they stay here. If those fortresses fall, we will have thousands more of the Brimstone Beasts. So they must remain as long as they can. My calculations conclude that we will slay perhaps a million more by sending them all home. And such a large force will draw away more of the Brimstone Beasts that attack our walls, giving us time to recover and repair." The Eldrich explained.

"Then it shall be done, Lord Borges." The Cardinal bowed.

"We cannot save you. But we will give you resources to help you survive for a time." Borges spoke to Margie.

"Thank you... Lord Eldrich!" Margie cried.

"Go and die in glory." The Eldrich turned away and began to make more of his preparations.

But unknown to them, a Brimstone Army of millions was already at the borders of Castle Rock. The numbers were so outstanding that Castle Rock knew they would die.

But the four flying figures that remained unnoticed to Castle Rock were casually talking to each other.

"Wow. So many survivors!" Mechiel was amazed.

"So many who live. And so many who died. I am hungry..."

"Lea. You're not seriously going to eat the corpse-like you did in the Vey Woodrealms?"

"I'm still a Grendelor, Listrel." Lea laughed.

Kyros watched as Castle Rock prepared its defenses against the Brimstone tide.

"Hmm... That's odd. They seem to be moving at command, but I don't sense a Brimstone General among them! So it looks like we're in for an easy battle." Kyros chuckled.

"Easy battle? Our enemies still number around two million Brimstone beasts at the horizon!" Lea chuckled.

"And while these BRimstone Beast won't have the form and shapeshifting powers that Histerion could do, we don't have a sea to soak them in or a tree to drop on them." Listrel reminded.

"But we have the Grand Pikes." Kyros chuckled as he gazed back.

The mountains had hidden what was behind Castle Rock.

The elves continued to march and had numerous carts and wheeled carriages with ingenious creations.

After the wipeout of the Brimstone Beast, Kyros and the elven army spent an entire week under the influence of time acceleration and crafted massive weaponry from the tree.

That week equated to months of building and shaping. However, with the motivation of the elves to fulfill their father's wishes and the enhanced strength and power of everyone, they managed to make the most of the tree.

The core wood of the World Wood Tree had a powerful core that Kyros and his team labored to harness. It was strong and hard to even endure a little brimstone without being burned up. And the newfound power of the elves to wield the power of plants and wood could even cause these wood to recover slowly.

And so, Kryos led the entire army into a new age of technology.

The steam-punk, forest-elven fantasy of the Nephilim Liberation Army was formed.

Vast wooden mechs that were powered and fueled by steam were created. The wooden mechs had numerous chambers with metals that the elves managed to mine.

As the furnace of Brimstone beast died, the lava rocks that remained allowed them to harvest metals.

And these were used as chambers to house their wooden creations.

Kyros watched the massive ballistae move at command. The steam-punk creations were only possible thanks to Kyros's wisdom. Calaminus gave him the vision, and Kyros made it possible.

But while a lot of science was used to create this, this was successful because of the awakened power of the elves to control the plant and the wood. The steam engines were used to provide constant power to the rider, and with numerous energy formation circles drawn, it allowed these wooden mechs to rise.

"Time to test out these bad boys. But first, we need to tell the people of this kingdom that we are here." So Kyros gathered massive light energy and shot it above the skies.

The bright light that Kyros created still did not draw the attention of the Demi-humans.

The Brimstone Beast were marching from the East, North, and South. Many thought that the mountain regions to their west delayed the beasts, and so no one turned their hopeless gazes to that side.

But then, the light that Kyros created cast a reflection on a certain Demi-Human in the throne room.

"What is that?!" A demi-human shouted and caused the group to turn to the west.

"Impossible! People are flying in the sky! How is that possible?!" Another demi-human cried.

"Flying?! Those are winged creatures! No, wait! One of them is flying by releasing constant light on the legs! But where did they come from? Is it not the elven Woodrealms of Vey that lie beyond those mountains? Who are these creatures! Two warriors of light! And two who command darkness and water!"

"Call out to them!" The Demi-Human King shouted.

"My lord! Our force energy is so weak it won't reach them!"

"Then light the beacons!" The demi-human king shouted.

"They could be an ally!"

"Yes, my king!"

The demi-humans rushed out, and a massive beacon that was never used was now used.

As the world had fallen, this beacon used to warn and call aid to allied kingdoms far away by lighting the beacons was no longer used. But now, it was.

A bright burning tower stood at the peak of Castle Rock, and Kyros smiled as he saw it.

"The beacons of Castle Rock! The Beacons are lit! The Demi-humans call for aid!" Calaminus exclaimed.

"And the Nephilim will answer." Kyros smiled as he harnessed his power of light and created a bright light of wings.

Mechiel harnessed the power of water, and her wings formed.

Listrel harnessed the Force energy and created a Mirror Armor.

Lea's dark water covered her, revealing her monstrous Grendelor form.

"The hellish fire stands to kill a kingdom. But let's light the fire of hope to our new recruits!" Kyros ordered, and the armies of the Elves suddenly emerged from the mountain top.

The massive wooden structures and the elves over them were now revealed to the Castle Rock Kingdom.

Ballistas and catapults appeared at the side, and all the twenty-seven thousand elves assumed their formation.

"My king... How can these wooden warriors save us? Their wood won't be able to kill a brimstone beast!" One of the advisors asked.

"Fool! Look! We are surrounded by the Brimstone Beasts, all from the north, south, and east! But not one has come up behind that mountain range on the west!"

"You can't mean...?!"

"Yes! No beast emerged because those elves killed them! Everyone! Fight and survive! There is hope in Castle Rock!" The demi-human king shouted.