A light flashed and Raphael found himself in a golden room filled with glowing jewels. He looked around and all of his siblings were nearby. Kelz wasn’t that far from them.

“We’ve decided to go with you, is that alright?”

Raphael asked. Kelz thought about it for a bit and nodded.

“I don’t see any problem. Just stay outside the temple when I go in.”

Kelz turned to Fayax and Brix.

“You guys go meet with Zander and the others. Try to be as discreet as possible and blend in. We’ll regroup after I regain my powers.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Everyone split up into groups as they exited the building. The droids were left behind and were tasked to blend in on their own and keep hidden. As for everyone else, they wore clothes that would allow them to blend in.

“Whew~!”

Roxanne whistled in amazement. The scenery that opened up before them was one of beauty and glamour. There were skyscrapers in the distance that glistened a golden colour under the sun. There were flying beasts in the air soaring in harmony with aircraft. The trees didn’t lose to the skyscrapers in size. They towered in the distance forming something like a wall around the island. The roads were filled with polished gems that twinkled like stars in the black roads.

“……..”

Kelz looked around with widened eyes.

“I take it that this place has severely changed in the time you were gone.”

Raphael said to her. She slowly nodded.

“It’s to be expected when so many outsiders are here. They’ll definitely leave their mark.”

“I see…”

That was all she said before she started walking. They walked down the streets trying their best to blend in with their surroundings.

(There’s a lot of outsiders. More than I thought.)

Raphael looked around. He noticed some people had blue hair mixed with different colors. Some had different ethnicitic features.

(Mixed bloods? It’s been decades so I guess it’ll make sense they crossbreed.)

He looked at Kelz. She was dressed in a cloak to hide her features. She walked in the middle of the group with the tallest of siblings blocking people from getting a good look at her.

“Still, there are a lot of people. It even feels a bit congested.”

Gina mumbled.

“It's like we’re in a metropolis. Does this island have the resources needed for such a population…”

Her eyes slowly widened.

“I see.”

She glanced at Kelz.

“The reason you people appeared out of nowhere was because you were short on resources.”

“….We weren’t short yet, but we would be in a few decades. In less than a century, our resources would be completely depleted.”

Kelz sighed.

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

“Our people have extremely long lifespans. We also don’t normally kill each other, and because of this our population only increases. To prevent a population issue we rarely reproduce, like probably once a century for a couple. However, eventually, we reached a critical point. Before we start killing each other for resources, we returned to the surface.”

“I think I’m seeing where this is going.”

Roxanne spoke up.

“You can get resources from other countries around you, but there was a problem. How would you get resources? Would you trade peacefully or would you take them with force?”

She glanced at Kelz.

“That’s what caused you and your brother to fall out, you couldn’t agree on a method.”

Kelz slowly nodded.

“I wanted to slowly build relations with the rest of the world and establish some trade. However, Zagon didn’t think it would be possible. He believed we would be exploited and could face destruction if we let our guard down.”

“So he suggested you take on the world and rob it.”

Kelz nodded.

“While we were arguing, Outsiders attacked and we found out how superior we were. This made Zagon more desperate. He proposed we destroy the outsiders and conquer their countries, but I wanted to live in harmony.”

(I can’t say this out loud, but Zagon had the right idea. The rest of the world saw this new place as a possible treasure chest for the taking. Wars were going to start over who could claim it. If history has shown anything, the locals here would suffer if they had their way. Their godlike strength saved them.)

“Sadly, peace was never an option from the beginning.”

Chul spoke what Raphael was thinking.

“I know that now. I acknowledged I was naïve back then. However, my brother wants to commit genocide for our people. I can’t allow that as his sister and the rightful ruler. I can’t condone the massacre of innocents whose leaders put their lives at risk all for greed.”

“I see. That’s quite honourable. I’m an outsider, so your ideology benefits me.”

Raphael said.

(The outsiders here most likely betrayed their countries and are helping Zagon in order to obtain riches and power once the world is his. He and his people had the strength, with their help it’s almost certain.)

“Are you mocking me in your head?”

Kelz said while tugging on his shirt seeing him laugh.

“No, I was just thinking humans will always be humans.”

“…I see. Anyway, the temple is less than 5 minutes away. So be on your guard. There might be a battle if the shamans turned on me.”

The siblings nodded. They arrived in front of a golden temple shortly after. Statues of a serpent and a Phoenix was on the top, with blue gemstones forming ancient writings on the sides. It was in a yard surrounded by a tall fence and with a huge gate.

“Can you just walk in?”

Damini asked.

“Yes, the temple is for the public. Only the section where the ritual to become Lord is hidden.”

Kelz moved to whisper in Raphael’s ear.

“On the eastern side, there’s a statue of a Saintess under a tree bearing purple fruit. Shift the statue and a stairway will appear in the ground. Use it to follow me if I don’t make contact in 5 minutes. Attack everyone if I’m not down there by 30 minutes.”

“I assume you’ll take the normal route down there but you’ll contact us first.”

Kelz nodded.

“Do as I say if that doesn’t happen.”

“Understood. Be careful.”

“I will.”

Kelz headed inside the temple while the siblings headed to the yard.

“Are we going to go use the stairway immediately?”

Raphael nodded to Gina’s question.

“It’s better to prevent a problem before it occurs than wait and see if it will happen. If things go well Kelz will figure out where we went and act accordingly.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“Then we’ll be prepared to act.”

Raphael looked around a bit.

“Gina, tell the remaining droids to cover the temple grounds. Tell them to meet with Kelz if she comes out, report if anyone is following us, and anything suspicious.”

“Roger.”

Meanwhile, Kelz was walking down the halls of the temple. The interior was luminous with markings of serpents and phoenixes made of blue gems on the walls and ceilings. The floor was made of silver marble with golden stars forming different constellations.

(It’s been a while but as I expected this place remains unchanged. I was worried Zagon would tear the temple down to prevent the birth of another Lord…I guess he isn’t too far gone.)

She walked until she arrived in front of a giant statue of a warrior sitting on a throne. A serpent and a Phoenix stood on his right and left respectively. She looked at the statue in silence. Soon after a man draped in azure robes approached her.

“Hello, High Priest.”

Kelz spoke without taking her eyes off the statue.

“Praises to the child of the Phoenix and the Serpent.”

The priest cuffed his sleeves together and lifted them in front of him.

“Do you know the reason for my visit?”

“Of course, to regain your throne as the child of the heavens.”

“Then are you willing to restore my mark and help me regain my powers?”

“As you will it.”

The priest bowed his head. Kelz looked at him and narrowed her eyes.

“Then, lead the way.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

The priest walked off. Kelz looked around a bit before following behind him. She didn’t move to communicate with Raphael and his siblings. She smiled while staring at the priest’s back.

(Alright, let’s see what you’re planning, my cute little brother.)