Chapter 262 - Fight Of A Commander
The Eye of the Supreme Commander was a powerful Force skill that only the best of Generals could acquire.
Only a few in the entire world of cultivation could acquire this. In the Planesworld, only certain generals in the Highlands had this. There was no direct Blessing from a Code or Corruption that could help a cultivator walk on this path. Even Kyros acquired a weaker form of this through experience.
Kyros, who fought as a general in his previous life, already had a sense of the entire battle. But since no powers could formally help him make it a skill, it always acted as a pseudo-skill or a hidden trait that he carried. It was only after he received the empowerment of the Temple that it became a skill.
And with his various links and summons, the Temple gave him Micro-management as a sub-skill for this.
Not everyone could go through the experience and achieve this pseudo-skill. Most cultivators won't have the chance to face situations that were necessary to birth this skill. Only those who commanded and fought wars as generals could.
Most cultivators and fighters would only be concerned about what was in their direct location. They would fight to deal with the immediate threat and would rely on messengers, their Captains, Champions, and so on to direct the orders of the battle. They are usually blind to what is happening and cannot see the battlefield.
Generals see the battlefield and are concerned with it. They try to read the battle as if their life depended on it. And so, this allows them to harness their senses in this. Those whose senses were so keen that they wanted to sense the entire battlefield would find themselves unconsciously releasing a faint Force energy that would spread out and sense things around the battlefield.
Branz had led several terrifying battles that the Steele family fought. And the fights he faced were so critical to the family that Branze not only had to focus on the current fight but had to consider their escape routes, the terrain, the possible ambushes o the enemy, and so much more. Just like Kyros, who faced all these in his previous life, Branze had numerous experiences. But as his skill was small, he needed a little push to turn this hidden, pseudo skill and make it an actual skill.
And Kyros gifted him something that could give him that last push.
The Crab Commander was a very meticulous General. Unlike the Dragon Commander, who was confident of his skills and fought head-on, this Crab Commander fought and waged war with his armies in mind. He hated losing men, and if there were a way to avoid losing men if he fought, he would take it. It wasn't that he cared for his men, but rather, he disdained losing men.
His experience and fighting style allowed him to evolve and use the darkness to help him create a skill to have a constant sense of the battlefield. Kyros expected this and plotted a counterattack against the Crab commander that required everything to occur within a split second. The stabbing of Aron and the anal annoyance of his shadows happened almost at the same time.
And with this skill that the Crab Commander had, it was now converted by the Temple and became the missing ingredient that would allow the Temple to bestow the Eyes of the Supreme Commander to Branze finally.
The vision of Branze was limited. But as the battle was happening within a limited path, he could easily see everyone.
The Steele knights and servants were currently on the defensive.
"Brian! Be more focused on your surroundings. Trust the men next to you and the archers behind you! Emylee! Your aim is accurate! Release the arrows faster and aim for the next one! Wendy! Trust your instincts, and don't worry about whether your target is someone else target! Everyone can adjust to you as you are faster! Get used to the whispers of Fate! Larrev! Your swing is too wide! In this tight formation, you are hindering those near you! Concentrate and get used to slashing and stabbing! Jathras..."
Branze gave out a series of orders as he watched the battle from his perspective. The power of Molding was being used, and it grew.
Diana watched his man give out the orders, and almost immediately, several areas of the battlefield were moving forward and were gaining ground.
Diana could not help but smile.
"I never noticed it before... But you are... very amazing." Diana told herself as she saw Branze lead.
Branze soon stopped giving orders and noticed that those he commanded were slowly adjusting to the pace of the battle.
The Coven was amazed at what he did.
"I've never seen such a skilled Commander!" Gojirrah was amazed.
"None in my former kingdom can compare to him either. He alone can usher in our victory. So this is the power of a skilled commander!" Reptilia added.
"The battlefield is no longer a place for his soldiers to fight. It is his battleground. This is a true commander. He doesn't lead an army to fight. The entire battle is his fight!"
"Coven. Prepare to charge forward. You are to show everyone how to fight those giants. Giants are appearing. Diana. It seems we need to act as well." Branze added.
"Reptilia, Gojirrah. Can your jump carry a few people there?"
"Easily. I can bring four or five depending on their size and weight." Gojirrah answered.
"That will not be a problem. I can manage the same people."
"Alright. Diana, Scarlet, go to Reptilia. Myas, Mechiel Join them as well. Hunter, Avary, and Gregory go to Gojirrah. Jathras, Rocksteed to me." Branze gave the orders.
The group assumed their position.
"Am I... Suppose to be here?" Mechiel asked.
"Mechiel..." Scarlet called out.
"If you remain weak, I can get Lord Kyros from you." Scarlet smiled.
"So you better strong quickly."
Diana smiled as she heard Scarlet's challenge and encouragement.
"Men. Hold the line. We will be testing the strength of those gigantic creatures. Each ought to naturally have the strength of Captains. Some would even have the vitality and power of Champions. Be careful, everyone. Go!"
Gojirrah and Reptilia began their force leap.
BOOM! BOOM!
The two leaped and made their attacks as they fell and cleared the soldiers around the area. They landed nearly thirty meters from the defensive lines.
"What about us, Lord Branze?" The two knights that Branze handpicked asked.
"Relax. I am the force of pushing itself. It's time for me to do another experiment. And as always, you will accompany me in this."
The two knights smiled.
"So the usual crazy attacks? Alright, Lord Branze. We're ready."
"Good. [Force Catapult]!" A massive force erupted from the group, and it was as if the group was standing on catapults. The group was vaulted and flew at the same trajectory that Reptilia and Gojirrah made their leap.
BOOM!
Branze created a massive wall the protected the team, and the trio landed safely at the destruction and death of those nearby.
The group was still within the Temple's empowerment range and had Holy energy in their swords.
They held their ground and fought, waiting for the arrival of the giants.
Meanwhile, back on the other side of the portal...
The death of Commander Shellcross brought and instability within the region. Shellcross and Pyrestarter were the main Commanders who were in charge of the immediate region. When they died, their forces grew wild. Unless a Commander made an effort to control them and bestow to them their consciousness, the creatures would remain wildly rampaging around.
The remaining army of Shellcross and Pyrestarter continued to march into the portal. The portal was standing in a different location and was clearly moved and tossed to another place. But as the portal continued to function, the armies of shadows continued to make their march. No living being could be found amidst the armies.
A Commander had arrived and saw that the creatures were all moving towards the gate. The Commander had the wings of a bat. His appearance was that of a human, except that he was pale white, as white as the moon. He wore a black cape and hovered over the region. Next to him were several men and women who also bore similar traits.
"Such a pity. If I had more Commander Energy, I would control these things. Shellcross's massive army would have done well as our mounts. It's quite wasteful for these creatures to be sent to the other side."
"Was it Lord Cardinal who ordered them to make an attack?" A Champion asked.
"Yes. Since none of us can command them as we are already at our Commander Limit, it's best to have them attack the forces of the Nephilim. But it seems that the Nehpilim's forces took the time to kill those who are living beings and are not Shadow Summons. But where are our enemies? Where did they go?"
"Perhaps they retreated back to the portal and made their defense behind it."
"That would be a problem... Who will go and scout if the enemy is defending behind the portal?" The Commander asked.
"Allow me, my lord. My Vampiric Mist is the strongest among the vampire Champions you command. Therefore, I can turn into the mist and escape."
"Do not underestimate the enemy. Two Commanders have fallen from their hands. None of you and even all of you wouldn't last a minute fighting Dragon Commander Pyrestarter or Crab Commander Shellcross."
"I am still confident of my powers, Commander." The Vampire bowed.
"Then go. Move through the portal and peek and quickly return to my side." The Vampire Commander ordered.
The Vampire Champion immediately flew towards the portal.
SLASH!
As he approached, a [Force Slash] shot out from the army of darkness.
"Hmph!" The Champion sneered and transformed his body into Mist.
The slash passed through his Mist body, and the body of the Vampire reformed. But as it did, it was sliced in half, and the body of the Vampire fell.
SMASH!
A dark-cloaked man struck the falling body of the vampire and threw it towards the portal.
"Everon!" A female vampire shouted and was about to rush forward to catch the body of her beloved.
"Stop! Hold your ground unless you want to die! That man is stronger than all of you." The Vampire Commander ordered as a powerful blood-red force field appeared.
"Impressive sword. Your attack cut his soul."
"It's his fault he left it wide open." Aron laughed as he jumped up and stood on a nearby hill.
"Tat force field is strong. It should be twice stronger than the force field that that crab ordered his men to make. Now, this is troublesome..."
Aron had a strange dark armor that made him look like one of the shadow beings marching around.
"I see. The Nephilim hid his forces by giving them dark garments to wear."
"Great disguise, right? It's simple, and I actually laughed when my father suggested it.. But who knew that these mindless soldiers couldn't tell if I wore this suit!" Aron laughed.