Chapter 270: Fight of the Middle

Martha watched as the Cardinal appeared. She assumed her dragonic form to rush out of the zone and fly as fast as she could.

But as she tried to activate the portal, a strange power was affecting the space as the Wyvern was close. Faced with no choice, Martha raised her bow and pointed her arrows at the Cardinal. But then, it was as if space had somehow stopped.

"I... can't... move!" Martha felt it.

The wind around her grew thick and turned into a strange force that stopped her. It was then that Martha could feel the power of the Cardinal. She saw the darkness and the power that brought in the massive wind blowing all around her that made her incapable of moving.

"Ah... So Beautiful." The Cardinal approached as his face glanced at Martha's beauty.

"My Lord... I apologize for taking too long to capture her." The Commander bowed.

"No need. Her powers of Space are even stronger than yours. And here I thought you'd be the most special dragon. But it seems this one is better!" The Cardinal laughed.

The Commander bowed her head, but her heart was raging in anger.

The moment the Cardinal revealed his power, Martha could tell the difference. The power between the Cardinal and the Wyvern was so vast.

Puff's Wyrm form allowed him to wield strength that almost reached the Crab Commander. In the Crab Commanders' strongest form, the Crab Commanders' strength reached 335 points. And that was twenty points weaker than the Dragon Commander.

Puff's strength was at 318, but he could only wield that form for a few minutes.

The Wyvern had a strength that was clearly weaker than Puff. Martha estimated that the power of the Wyvern would be in a range of 300-310. But the Cardinal that appeared had might be so thick and strong that the difference between them was difficult to calculate.

Martha recalled Kyros's words.

"I guess... I should be delighted to hear such praises from a Cardinal. That thick strength... If this Wyvern has a Crown's potential, you should have a High Crown's Potential.

The Cardinal smiled.

"Oh? We just met, and you already know how to make me blush? You will be a great Chamber Maid. I just need to destroy that binding of Coven and make you mine."

"How can... human necromancer... wield such strength?" Martha wondered.

"Ah... As expected of a dragon. Such prideful look upon your strength. Your dragonic blood is not the only thing that adds massive points to strength. Shellcross, that Crab you fought had his strength through his monstrous form. My other Commanders that your friends are fighting also have their means to match dragons. Shaman Commander Neteri can wield a strength that is only a hundred points lower than mine. That ally of yours must be really impressive to push Neteri to use [Army of One]."

The Wyvern was shocked as she heard this.

"Neteri used that ability?!"

"More impressive is your other ally that is making my Vampire Commander use his blood clone. Of course, Eredus must be trying to make that friend of yours a Coven of his."

"That... is my husband..."

"Oh? This is interesting. I can't wait to see the despair in his eyes when I take you."

Martha grew angry as she fiercely stared at the Cardinal.

SMASH!

"Impudent!" The Wyvern whipped her tail at Martha's face.

The strength of the whip nearly made Martha fall unconscious. 

"Qara. Relax. Be kind to your companion. Since your husband is dead, I presume that you won't have any concerns with joining this dragon?"

"No, my Master! It will be a great honor!" The Wyvern bowed.

"Like I'll ever be a part of your harem. My Lord will kill you!" Martha declared.

"Ah yes, the Nephilim. Where is this Nephilim?" The Cardinal asked.

"Who knows? Just wash your necks, for his blade is sharp!" Martha asked.

"So loyal. Our two allies are bound to be defeated, and those at the Temple will face three Commander armies. Shellcross, Pyrestarter, and now Eredus's vampire armies are moving in. Your allies will die. And we know the plan your Nephilim intends. He will ambush one of us, correct? But who will he choose? Or is he running away now?" The Cardinal laughed.

On the other side of the planet, a massive slash was sent out and killed many incoming bats. The gigantic creatures that were the remnants of the Crab Commanders army were also caught in the attack.

Aron stood in front of the passageway towards the portal. He used his kick to create the power of the cut.

His breathing was heavy, and his blood was no longer being blocked by the Shadow Ghouls that became his suit. Instead, the blood dripped from the two stomps on his arms. Aron's vision was becoming more and more blurred from the pain.

The Vampire Commander watched from above and saw the readiness of Aron to die.

"It's no good if he's dead. I need a reason for him to keep fighting alive." The Vampire pondered. He could feel a power similar to the Shaman Commander appearing over Aron.

Suddenly, the Vampire Commander spat out a huge ball of blood, and it quickly took shape, and his figure emerged.

The two vampires immediately raced towards the place, and an army of bats followed.

Aron could sense what the group was trying to do.

"So you won't even make me die in peace, huh? I have to keep standing for as long as I can if I want my brother and friends to survive?" Aron laughed as he canceled the energy that he was preparing to activate [Death Stance].

The movement of the bat army was encircling him and was following a curving line. If Aron focused his energy to attack a single place with his puny legs, he would still allow most of these bats to attack. His [Death Stance] in his current weakened form could only last a few seconds, so Aron decided to fight and kill as many bats as he could until he died.

Aron knew that the Vampire Commander was aiming at destroying his morale and was leading the armies to go through the portal.

Massive blood-red attacks from the two vampires were shot out.

"Brother. You can deal with the clone, right?" Aron sighed and jumped to evade the attack.

BOOM!

With Aron out of place, the bats and the Blood Clone of the Vampire Commander managed to move inside the portal along with an army of bats.

Aron made several kicks, and several [Force Slash] attacked the approaching bats and began to fight the Vampire Commander.

On another battlefield, the speed of the Shaman Commander was too fast for them.

The Force Wall was barely able to hold the approach of the Shaman Commander. Her form appeared once more and had an irritated expression.

"How annoying. [Purging Aura]? No. This is just an imitation. Still... it's pretty impressive. But not strong enough." The Shaman Commander's large figure began to ready a punch. Previously, she was just moving to chase them. But now, a real attack was being made.

Demerus saw it and sighed.

"[Over Mana]." He activated the energy source deep within his body and began to expend the elements that consumed his very body.

The others saw it and sighed.

"Big sister. You should stay and try to save Mezal Steele as you are the fastest among us." 

Triona and Ressi immediately followed and activated [Over Mana].

Faye was quiet, but her heart grew heavy in pain as her siblings were now using life-expending techniques.

Destiny watched as the events played out and laughed.

"Your schemes and plans are defeated, Fate!" Destiny mocked.

"Your arrangements are over. What shall your Nephilim choose? I know that he will plan to make his move and ambush one of the Commanders and save them. But who shall he choose? His grandfather is destined to die. Martha will be held captive by the Cardinal and will be turned into a bride! Or is it his uncle? That unborn of Hyperion? Whoever dies now will weaken your forces! And with my preparations, more than one will die today!"

Destiny had influenced the armies to take the necessary preparations. He overestimated the Nephilim and his Champions and made the Commanders who attacked make exaggerated preparations to kill them.

"You think that you can kill all my forces and leave me with no move to attack you? Then we shall see! What can you do, oh Nephilim, when everyone is dead? Who shall you aid and rescue, and who shall you sacrifice?"

In another time on another realm...

A beautiful woman with beautiful faint pink skin and dark red hair stood and watched the projection with several Gods and Fallens that had been forgotten.

"So the sons of Hyperion shall be no more? Only Gannaios Steel will remain! But what can that untrained Paladin do against Destiny's forces?" One of the gods that watched asked.

"Looks like Destiny won this round. But this also means we lose. Unlike Destiny, we cannot afford any setbacks. Even if your Nephilim survives, your champions that are already few will be decreased by one." Another God frowned.

"It seemed that our defeat in this battle is sure if your champions shall fall as early as now in your first war against Destiny." The first God added.

"Have you planned to use Calaminus once more, Fate?" A Fallen asked.

"Calaminus has already been used with great preparations. His powers are not that convenient that we can turn back time once more." Fate smiled.

"Destiny sees the end. His arrangements will be very precise. We can only aid our Champions to be fated to meet and fated to fight. With Destiny's tremendous advantage, the Fight of the Middle seems all the more impossible to win. Lord Beginning, perhaps it's best that we start the war now." Then God called out to the space.

"We wait. I'm sure that your plans are not so easily defeated, am I correct, Fate? Who shall the Nephilim save?" A voice asked.

Everyone turned to Fate. But Fate gave everyone a calm smile.

Annoyed by Fate's response, some turned to another woman standing near Fate.

"Who will your son choose?" A Fallen asked.

The woman smiled.

"Who indeed? Husband?" The woman laughed.

"My wife. I can sense our son's choice is... none of them."

Fate and the woman smiled.

"Indeed. He will choose to save none."

"What?!" The Gods and Fallen exclaimed.